The Rooster Bar by John Grisham Read Free Book Online Page B

replied.
    “Sorry to hear. I can help. It’s all I do, DUIs. I know all the cops, judges, clerks, bailiffs, the ins and outs of the system. I’m the best in the business.”
    Careful not to say anything that might show the slightest interest in hiring the guy, Mark asked, “Okay, so what’s he looking at?”
    Darrell deftly pulled over a folding chair and faced the three. Without missing a beat, he asked, “What’s his name?”
    “Gordon Tanner.”
    “Well, Tanner blew a 0.11, so there’s not much wiggle room. First you gotta pay two hundred bucks to get him out. PRB, personal recognition bond. They’ll process him in about an hour and he can go. Cost you another two hundred to spring his car. It’s over at the city pound. Take half an hour or so to get it out. He’ll have a court date in a week or so. That’s where I come in. My fee is a thousand bucks cash.”
    “He keeps his license?” Todd asked.
    “Sure, until he’s convicted, in about a month. Then he’ll lose it for a year, pay a fine of five thousand, but I can get some of that knocked off. I’m really a bargain, you know? Plus he’s facing five nights in jail, but I can work some magic there too. We’ll sign him up for community service and keep him out. Believe me, I know the ropes. You guys in school or something?”
    Mark said, “Yes, we’re law students.” He was not about to give the name of their school.
    “Georgetown?”
    Todd quietly said, “No. Foggy Bottom.”
    Cromley smiled and said, “That’s my school. Finished there twelve years ago.”
    The door opened and two more worried parents walked in. Cromley eyed them like a hungry dog. When he looked back at the three, Todd said, “So we need four hundred cash right now.”
    “No, you need fourteen hundred. Two hundred for the bond. Two hundred for the car. A thousand for me.”
    Zola said, “Okay, but our friend probably had some cash on him. How do we find out how much?”
    “I can find out. Hire me now and I go to work. Your friend needs protection and that’s where I come in. The DUI treadmill in this town will chew him up and spit him out.”
    Zola said, “Look, our friend is not doing well. He’s, uh, well, he’s having some problems and he’s off his meds. We need to get him to the doctor.”
    Darrell liked it! His eyes narrowed as he moved in for the kill. “Sure. Once we get him out I can file a motion for an expedited hearing. Again, I’m tight with the judges and I can speed things along. But the fee will go up, of course. Let’s not delay things.”
    Mark said, “All right, all right, give us some time to think about it.”
    Cromley bounced to his feet and said, “You have my number.” He slithered away, found another cop to chat with as he surveyed the crowd for his next victim. As they watched him, Mark whispered, “That could be us in a couple of years.”
    “What a slimeball,” Todd said, barely under his breath.
    Zola said, “I have $80. Let’s pass the hat.”
    Mark frowned and said, “I’m light. Maybe thirty.”
    Todd said, “Me too, but I’ve got enough in the bank. I’ll run find an ATM while you guys wait here.”
    “Good plan.” Todd hurried from the room as more people arrived. Mark and Zola watched Cromley and the other lawyer work the crowd. Between victims, Cromley either chatted with a cop or took important calls on his cell. Several times he left the room, always on the phone, as if attending to urgent legal matters elsewhere. But he always returned, and with a purpose.
    Mark observed, “The things they haven’t taught us in law school.”
    “He probably doesn’t even have an office,” Zola said.
    “Are you kidding? This is his office.”
    —
    TWO HOURS AFTER arriving at Central, the three left with Gordy. Since Zola didn’t own a car, and since Mark’s Bronco could not be trusted in traffic, they piled into Todd’s Kia hatchback and made their way to the city’s car lot in Anacostia near the naval yard. Gordy rode