Until Proven Innocent by Gene Grossman Read Free Book Online Page B

hand out for the poor black people who are being discriminated against.
    “ Well, my question to him is, who’s holding guns to the heads of black kids and forcing them to drop out of school? And how does their dropout rate compare to that of Japanese kids? It’s not the color of their skin that’s doing ‘em in, it’s their culture.
    “ I’ll bet that when you were a kid, one of your parents read a book to you once in a while, or a nursery story. And they probably also told you to obey the law, stay in school, go to college, and become a useful member of society. Do you think that black kids in the ghetto are getting read to, or being told to stay in school, or helped with their homework? I don’t think so, and that’s what I don’t like. I didn’t like school at all, but if I missed a day and my father found out about it, I was in for a beating.
    “ If someone can show me that they have a respect for other people’s rights, and for the law, then I’ve got no problem with them. If they can’t, then they deserve whatever they get. Remember, it wasn’t a white guy who walked into that Mexican restaurant to hold it up and probably kill everyone there. I didn’t go out of my way to hurt him. He brought it on by himself.
    “ Now who’s this black guy I might be working for, and where’s the job?”
    He sure set me straight. I guess you can’t judge a book by its reputation. Maybe Tony has been getting a bum rap, but being predisposed to dislike any culture is not a healthy way to look at people. I tell him I’ll try to get him the job, but I also realize that we can never be close friends.
    Back on the boat, I open the envelope he gave me, and see that the cell phone number of the guy that’s been bugging Olive is registered to a Hershel Belsky in Beverly Hills. Okay Hershel, it’s nice to meet you.
    * * * * * *
    Chapter 5
    I like it when there’s some action going on. The few irons I have in the fire this month aren’t exactly high profile capital murder cases, but there’s still enough to keep my interest level up.
    Aside from Olive’s Hershel, there’s April’s crooked apartment building manager, and my budding career in the entertainment industry. April left a message for me that she actually did go out and get one of those pooper-scoopers on a pole, so I feel good knowing that I made an honest woman out of her. Olive hasn’t heard from Hershel in a while, so I’ve still got some time to set up a surprise for him, and I’ve already got a nice one in mind. I told the kid to have Tony check him out a little more.
    And as far as Tony’s job is concerned, Joe Caulfield wants to meet with him. He’s already agreed with my suggestion to bring in a technical consultant on the cop testimony part of the script, so now it’s just a matter of the two of them seeing eye to eye. I’ve set up a meeting for them on the soundstage. I hope Tony doesn’t shoot him until the movie is finished, or at least until I’ve been paid.
    I give Tony my copy of the script to read, so he can see what the movie cops are supposed to testify about.
    *****
    April is nervous because someone slipped a manila envelope under her apartment door, and she doesn’t know what’s in it or who left it there. I’m glad she called me before touching it. I tell her to leave it on the floor and that someone from my office is on the way over there. I send Tony over to her apartment and give him instructions to make sure he wears the proper gloves when he picks it up to put it into an evidence bag.
    Victor Gutierrez is a friend of mine who operates a private scientific lab out near Pasadena, where he does all types of forensic examinations, from autopsies to fingerprints. After giving Tony directions to Victor’s place, I make a phone call so that Tony’s arrival will be expected. I want to know everything I can about whoever put that envelope under her door.
    Tony’s an organized guy. After dropping off the envelope at Victor’s