Peter sat in the waiting room of Erin Paulino and associates, the number one criminal defense attorney in the state. His lawyer. Not that he'd ever needed one in the past, but the organization kept her on retainer for instances just like this. Of course, what this was exactly, he still wasn't sure.
After leaving the cops, he'd gone and called Jean immediately, since she spoke Russian as well, and was their PR go to, he figured she'd be the best one to help him out. At the rate things were going, whatever this was, would be all over the news by tonight, so best to nip it in the bud now. Jean had told him to stay calm, which was easier said than done, then asked him to get dressed and meet her at the lawyer’s office, said she'd take care of setting up a meeting and getting to the bottom of things.
Viktor had driven him, Peter was far too mad to drive himself anyways, and was now keeping him company while they waited. Jean had been in the office with Erin for a good half hour already. It was making him nervous again.
Jean opened the door then, she'd been with the Slashers organization since the onset, and even though she was sixty something, you'd never know it by the youthful vigor her aura projected. She was a tall woman, close to Peter's own height, with short gray hair and a pleasant smile. Jean reminded him of his mother, and really that's how most of the team felt about her, she was always there for her “boys” as she called them. Especially now, when one of them was in trouble, she was like a mother lion, all protective and fierce.
“Peter, you can come in now.” she said, trying to smile despite the dour mood they were all in.
Viktor stood and followed behind him, shutting the door as soon as they both were in.
From behind her big desk, Erin Paulino, who was an impressive woman in her own rights, stood and motioned him to the seat in front of her, “Peter,” she said. “Before we get started, I want you to know that attorney-client privilege is void with them in the room, so if there's anything you need to say to me that would effect that, then wait until they leave.”
He shook his head, “I have nothing to hide. Am innocent.”
“You are damn right you are Peter! What is this girl saying?” Viktor thundered, he had been holding onto his temper for longer than he'd realized, and couldn't restrain himself anymore.
Jean placed a hand on Viktor's shoulder, “calm down Viktor. Let's all just sit and talk about this rationally.” she said in that motherly tone of hers, taking charge and getting everyone settled before Erin spoke again.
“I've spoken with the sheriff, and at this point, we don't know much. After assuring me that your part in all of this will NOT be leaked in any way to the press, the sheriff informed me that he hasn't talked to his detectives to know where they're at with the investigation..”
“What investigation?” Viktor cut in, his voice clipped, as he relayed Peter's exact thoughts.
“A woman claims that Peter sexually assaulted her last night,” Erin said flatly, her voice lacking any emotion as she assessed her client’s reaction.
Peter was stunned. He looked first to Viktor, who was silently fuming, and then to Jean, where he saw sorrow and compassion in her eyes. How could this be? He wondered. Who would say such a thing? And why?
“I do not understand.”
Viktor lost it then, “what is not to understand Peter? That girl of whom they showed you the picture of, she is saying you tried to rape her. Is this not correct?” he yelled, looking at Erin though the comment was to no one in particular.
“That's right Viktor. We'll have to wait for the detectives to arrive, they should be here soon, and then we can find out the particulars. Unless there's something you can tell us now? Peter?”
Peter looked at Erin, he didn't know what to say, Harmony was the only woman he had talked to last
night. Unless.. He shook his head. “I was at McDonough's with Andre last night. There was a girl, but she was still with him when I leave. I do not understand this. Why would girl with Andre accuse me of such a thing?”
“And that was the only girl?” Erin asked, writing his responses down on a piece of paper.
Jean grabbed his hand then, giving it a little squeeze. “It's okay Peter,” she assured him, though it did nothing to ease his mind.
“Is not okay Ms. Jean. But yes, this is only girl I remember. Andre and I talk to her, then he buy her a drink and I pay my bill and leave.”
“What happened then?” Erin inquired, her face a mask as she hid her opinion of the matter one way or the other.
“Then I leave and...” he trailed off, the memories of last night coming back to him in snatches. He hadn't been drunk by any means, hell he'd only had three beers the whole night, but it all seemed like such a nightmare now. Even his time with Harmony was tainted.
Erin prodded him, sensing his hesitation, “and what Peter? What happened?”
“There was girl, net, that is not right, there was two of them, they say they were fans. They ask for my autograph, and a picture.” He shrugged, it really was such an insignificant thing after all, fans approached him all the time. “I give to them, and then I leave.”
There was a knock on the door then, the secretary poking her head in to announce that the detectives had arrived.
“Escort them in, Sandy, thank you,” Erin said, turning her attention to Peter and the group. “Showtime guys.”
Detective Allen in all his portliness took a seat next to Peter, Detective Simms however, stood at the back of the room, leaning menacingly against the back wall, as though to appear bigger than she was.
“Detectives,” Erin began, once everyone in the room seemed to settle in a little. “My client has been advised that he does not have to answer any of your questions if he so chooses,” Simms glowered in his direction then, as Erin continued, “however, he has decided to listen to what you have to say and cooperate at his own discretion.”
Allen cleared his throat, pulling a small notebook from his pocket and flipping through a couple of pages before settling on one in particular. “Let's talk about what happened when you left you the bar son,” he began, his southern accent showing through, he spoke as though this were no more than a casual conversation, and not the horrendous ordeal that it really was. “Did you talk to anyone?”
Peter looked at Erin and nodded.
“My client and I went over this before you got here, he said he gave a couple of girls...I mean, a couple of fans, an autograph, and a picture, and then he headed home. I believe you've already questioned him regarding his movements after the bar, if I'm correct?”
“Yes, ma'am,” Allen said all cordial like, “there was one more question though about that.”
Peter looked to Erin, waiting for the cop to spit it out.
“Why did you take a shower when you got home son?”
What? Peter thought, running through his and Viktor's earlier conversation with the police. When had he mentioned a shower? He hadn't, that must mean... Harmony... they'd spoken to Harmony. Great, just great. What had they said to her? Peter was getting mad then, the tension in him coiling tightly, but he forced himself not to explode.
“My dog. I let my dog out and then back in when I get home. She jumped on me, and covered me in dirt. Is not that reason enough to shower?” he said between clenched teeth. Glaring from one detective to the other.
Allen seemed to flush a little, perhaps embarrassed by the situation, and then reaching into his pocket he pulled out the photograph again, the one he had shown him earlier. It was of a small girl and her slightly plump friend smiling together in a selfie. “Are these the girls?” He asked, handing the photo to him.
Peter looked it over, the girl's image coming back to him now that he had really given it some thought. “Da, yes, that is them,” he said, hiding his dispassion.
“But you didn't recognize them earlier?” Simms said sarcastically, speaking for the first time.
Viktor leapt forward then from his perch in the seat across the room, snatching the photo out of Peter's hand, “let me see this.” he growled, then suddenly laughed.
“What's so funny?” Detective Simms asked, reaching for the picture and looking rather pissed off as well.
Viktor merely laughed again, then allowing her to take the picture, dropped his angry voice to a brooding whisper, though with his vocal capacity, it came out just a few octaves shy of shouting. “If this is girl, you have no case.”
Everyone turned to face him then, waiting for an explanation. Viktor sank back into his chair, shrugging, his face contorted into a self-satisfied grin. “Peter, do you not remember the other night? The three of us? You, me, and Andre? This is the same girl that went home with him.”
Peter shook his head, the memory of that night resurfacing, he could place her, but just barely. No sooner than she and her friend had come over, had he left. “Da, I remember. You are sure is same girl?”
“Oh, is same girl. I never forget a face. Besides, I thought the little plump one was cute. It was too bad she left.”
Simms shot him a disgusted look, then peered down at the picture in her hand, as though contemplating this newest information. Trying to decipher whether or not she believed it.
Allen cleared his throat again, drawing the attention back to him, “Andre, that would be Andre Lepowski?”
“Da. That is him.” Peter replied.
“We'll uh, we'll talk to him as soon as we finish up here,” He pinned Erin with his eyes, the next part of his statement obviously meant for her “I assume he won't need a lawyer too?”
Erin smiled, straightening her shoulders ever so slightly, “I can't imagine why he would. Will there be anything else... detective?” She asked sweetly, pleased by the recent turn of events.
“I think that's about all the questions we have for now. I suppose we ought to get in touch with you first if we have any more?”
Erin nodded, handing him her card.
Allen turned to leave, then as though he had just remembered something, he looked back at Peter, “would you mind giving a DNA sample son?” He asked, trying to play the remark off as an afterthought.
Though no one, including Peter, was fool enough to buy that.
“Is no problem.” Peter said, holding up a hand to cut his lawyer off, “I am innocent, you will see this.”
Detective Allen sent Erin a slight grin, elated by the fact that her client was so easily going against her advice, as surely she had forbid him of such things, just in case. Then shooting a glance at his partner, he nodded to her and said, “Simms, will you tell the crime scene technician to go ahead and get that sample for us.” He put a hand on Peter's shoulder, “thank your son, the sooner we get this all cleared up, the better off you'll be.”
Simms left the room briefly, a small Asian man with thick rimmed glasses, carrying a case that looked more like a tackle box, trailing behind her when she came back. Peter opened his mouth, allowing the technician to take his swab, and then moved to the water cooler for a drink. He wanted to wash the taste of cotton out of his mouth. The man and both detectives filed out of the office, Allen giving the room a small salute before closing the door behind him.
God, Peter just wanted this nightmare to be over.
“Shit,” Darla said, the moment they reached the cruiser and got inside.
“What's a matter Darla? Case not going how you hoped it would?” Allen needled her, laughing under his breath.
“Fuck you Allen.”
“Temper, temper.” He teased, wagging a finger in her face as he maneuvered the car onto the road and in the direction of their next witness.
“I still think he's guilty.”
“Really?” He sounded almost shocked, it got on her nerves that much more.
“The friend's obviously covering for him, you watch, this next friend will be too. How much do you want to bet Petrovic and that giant have already called him? I'm telling you Allen, he tried to rape that girl.”
“I'm not saying you're wrong...”
“But?” she asked piteously.
“The facts just don't seem to support the claim.”
“The facts?” she laughed angrily. “What the hell do you mean the facts don't seem to support the claim? We have pictures of that ass hole with his arms around her! We have a witness, A WITNESS! That saw him run away...”
“No,” he argued, cutting her off mid-rant, “we have a nervous young lady who says she saw a man, who probably had blonde hair, running away. I have my doubts as to her credibility.”
“Oh? And why is that? Please oh mighty Allen, shed on me your wisdom.”
He snorted, turning down one road and then another, “She says she left her friend in the company of Mr. Petrovic and then went back inside to the bathroom. She came out, heard the screams, assumed they were her friend's and ran around the building to investigate.”
“Your point?”
“When you were that age Darla...Okay, never mind, that's not an apt comparison. Let's try this another way. How many girls that age, that have Ms. Thompson's body type, do you think would willingly go out into the streets at night, to investigate another woman's screams?”
She had to think about it for a minute. Then shook her head, “okay, so maybe the friend is lying, that doesn't mean Orsini is.”
“Doesn't it though? It stands to reason that if one is lying then they both are. Or is that not intuition 101?”
“Maybe she just doesn't think her testimony alone would be enough, ever think of that?” She raved, going off on a tangent. “And that Lawyer! Damn it all to hell! Of course he'd hire a woman! Oooh, and I'm sure she'll sell him, good looks and all to any jury. Bat her eyelashes and say 'Why would a man like him have to rape a woman?' It just pisses me off I tell ya!”
“Why are you so hell bent on this kid being guilty?” Allen asked pointedly, pulling up into the driveway of Andre Lepowski.
“Because I'm sick of all these rich athletes getting away with this shit! And who's to say he didn't do it? You saw how he acted in there. That scared and bashful crap is just a bluff, I could practically feel the rage! And the big one! My god! Russian's are such fucking brutes!” She rambled on, her own discrimination coming through in waves.
Allen laughed at her, “a little prejudice are we?” he joked. “Come along Darla, let's see what Lepowski has to say.” He got out and had a smoke, letting her stew a little longer.