A Courtroom Massacre

by Mark Porto

  Johnny grabs his arm taking him aside, he tells him to keep away from her unless he wanted “twice” what he gave him in prison. His eyes glitter with the lights of the establishment.

  “Look who’s barking orders, this guy got his butt thrown in the hole, then into the loony bin!”

  Johnny tells him he only gets one warning, if he approaches her one more time, he will regret it.

  After Johnny returns to the table to talk to Doreen, her former boyfriend comes back and tells her she either comes with him or he’ll drag her out.

  The guy furnishes a switchblade, but Johnny gets up, grabs him by the arm and uses a judo maneuver to knock him to the floor. When the guy attempts to strike him, Johnny disarms him by throwing him out the door while the guy is still laughing.

  In the meanwhile, the owner orders him to leave while calling the police, Doreen advises Johnny it would be better to leave. He left with her, but not before giving the owner, the Italian salute. The owner starts laughing, but the couple is out the door.

  Johnny asks her if she knew the loudmouth was harassing her.

  Doreen tells him he was Troy Grayson. “He and I were going together until he met Carl Lucero.”

  “How did he get involved with him?”

  She explains Troy was trouble from the start. “How I got involved with him is anyone’s guess, other than not knowing any better. My family knew his and my parents urged me to go out with him since we went out in high school.”

  “How did he get to be such a bad influence?”

  She frowns continuing further, Troy was always skipping classes. “When he was there, he’d sass the teachers and come to class without books and fall asleep or have his head down while the teacher was performing class.”

  “You should’ve broken up with him; it’s obvious this guy is a loser.”

  She shakes her head, “You don’t know my family, my mother and his were close since they were in high school. Whenever I would talk about his actions to my mother, she would only scoff at it, telling me he’d grow out of it.”

  “What happened after high school?”

  She wipes her face of makeup that had dripped as a result of sweating during the row in the shop. “Our high school graduations, gave me an excuse to break it off with him, because he

  was bumming around for a long time, while I left for college.”

  Johnny laughs asking her if he ever held down a job.

  “No, he was hired at J’s Bar on Willy Road, that’s north of town. It’s my guess it was there where he met Lucero. They became fast friends after they decide to go to Old City to hit on girls.”

  “How did you endure this abuse for so long?”

  Doreen rubs her temples. “I don’t know, I only dated him once a week for nearly two years, but it felt like centuries.”

  “Have you seen anyone else since Troy?”

  “I’ve gone out with a few men, but nothing serious ever came of it.”

  He stops to stare into her bright, beautiful blue eyes while his desires permeated his thoughts. He asks it was alright to kiss her, they kiss on the lips.

  After dinner, as she was washing dishes, Johnny assists his mother in putting them away. Anita broaches the subject about the woman he met.

  When he put the last dish away, his heart palpitates at the mention of her name: Doreen Norman. Johnny discusses his day with her.

  Sal walks into the room telling his wife and son Mr. Menden wanted them to come into the office some time to talk. “You’re serious about this false arrest suit.”

  Anita turns back, telling him it would solve anything. “Don’t you realize we’ve got to live in this town?”

  Johnny shot back explaining, “Someone has to be taken to task for wrongly imprisoning me and secondly, I don’t want to live here anymore.”

  “Do you realize we have a business? We can’t keep spending money, because you feel like you’ve gotten the short end of the stick.” She pauses. “Where do you want to live?”

  Johnny shouts. “You had to pay to get me out of that damn hellhole! Besides, I haven’t decided where I want to move? What the hell is your problem?!”

  Sal yells in a projected voice. “Hey, hey, hey, you don’t have the right to talk to you mother that way!”

  Johnny retorts. “Just a minute, Pa, when I was arrested, Ma wanted me to plea bargain.” He glares at his mother. “You’ve always told me to fight for my rights, but when push comes to shove, you want me to back down. All my life, it’s been this way.” He turns to face them. “I don’t have anything further to say!”

  Sal asks him, “Do you think you’ll have to go to court?”

  “They’ll settle if there’s one thing bureaucrats and politicians don’t like, it’s the enormous publicity a suit like this generates.”

  “Have you discussed this anyone?”

  Johnny remarks that after he left solitary confinement, he had to talk with Dr. Benjamin. “She and I had a long conversation and determined I needed therapy. Her boss, Dr. Kimball, was the one who ordered me to be institutionalized.”

  Sal sighs remarking he understood his feelings. “I have to show you the legal bill from Mr. Menden. Here it is.”

  Johnny examines it. “If we sue, the settlement would most likely recoup some of the money, pay off Mr. Menden and have money for something else.”

  “How did you keep those papers?”

  Johnny explains while he was being transferred to the Mental Institution, he took the paper from his prison uniform, crumpled them into a large ball and held it in his hand through a closed fist. “I put the papers in my other uniform. When I escaped, I kept them with me.” He showed it to his parents. After they reviewed it, Sal’s eyes jut out as he sat back rubbing his forehead.

  Anita remarks. “You make it sound so simple.”

  “I don’t care, because there has to be some accountability.”

  The Bellow family was in Mr. Menden’s office a few days later. Whenever Doreen walks inside, Johnny ogles her.

  Mr. Menden reviewed the evidence about his allegations of false arrest, imprisonment and commitment. Then he wipes his face of sweat, in addition to taking off his glasses. “Do you really want to go through this?”

  Johnny tells him he was probably afraid of a fight.

  “You realize if you sue the police and the county, you’ll be regarded as controversial, at the very least by the press. Many will shun you over this suit.”

  “Look, what’s the worst case scenario, not the lawsuit, but the social ramifications.”

  Menden sighs remarking it could make the situation worse. “You and your family could be subjected to harassment by the city officials.”

  “Are saying they’re going to go after my father’s business?”

  Menden nods in the affirmative. “Not only that, but it could turn into a vicious cycle: They come after you, you file a complaint, they come after you...it doesn’t end.” He asks Sal and Anita their opinions.

  Anita says she was shocked learning Johnny had been put into a mental institution. “I thought you had to have consent.”

  “The only applies if Johnny had been on the outside, ordinarily it would require it. However, since he was in prison, the officials could justify it by saying he was acting strange, there’s a gray area in this situation.”

  The lawyer went on to say if they won a judgment, he would take a third of it. “It will cost about $5,000 if we went to trial, do you still want to sue?”

  While Sal and Anita were leery, but Johnny thinks about it for a while, then decides to file the necessary motions.

  The meeting was held on the following March 5 in the conference room of the Tappan County Courthouse in Knickerbocker. The parties sat opposite one another in the drab room.

  The County attorney roars. “Your request for $10,000,000 is outrageous, Fred! After all, your client committed a crime and was lawfully convicted!”

  Menden takes a deep breath. “Hold it, Tom, my client wasn’
t lawfully convicted, not only was he placed in a mental facility without due process, I, as his legal representative, was never notified of the commitment.”

  Tybalt has a miscreant smile. “Oh, come on, Fred, you know full well in prison; these prisoners have limited constitutional rights!”

  A strong wind pounded the roof, which was filled with snow. Menden continues to reiterate his client had every right to defend his family against the assailants who attacked them.

  Tybalt interrupts him. “Excuse me, since he could’ve called the police, all we’re willing to offer your client is $5,000.”

  The attorneys continue to bicker over the lawsuits’ merits and then Johnny speaks up by pounding on the table. “Excuse me, gentlemen; please don’t talk about me as if I’m not here!”

  Tybalt interjects with a look as if he had constipation. “Look, you’ll get your turn.” He motions for him to sit down while his wretched face twists along with the words.

  Johnny talks away explaining he had called the police, “This is why they were there so quickly, but we’re not here to reargue the case. The fact is Senator Croydon sent me to prison, primarily because his nephew was the gang leader who was killed; another fact, the senator’s brother, who is the warden of the prison in collaboration with Dr. Kimball, made sure I was committed.”

  Cecil Padgett, the lawyer from a law firm who represents the county speaks up acidulously. “Young man, you either remain silent or I’ll order you to leave the room!”

  Johnny speaks softly, but his arms are folded. “Are you afraid this lawsuit will expose some of your cronies?” He remarks trying desperately to hold back at a laugh.

  Tybalt’s fat face protrudes. “Well, son, in this life, just because you’re wrong doesn’t mean you’ll get justice!”

  Johnny insists the settlement is too low, even his lawyer agrees with him. “I’m not the least bamboozled by your legalese.”

  The lawyers expel breath from their lips at Johnny’s assiduity. Tybalt looks across the table at Menden. “I think, Fred, you ought to tell your client to control himself.”

  Mr. Menden leans over to Johnny to tell him he wasn’t helping his case by antagonizing the attorneys. When Johnny doesn’t respond, he maintains his silence until the attorneys could not seem to come to an agreement. “I believe gentlemen it’s time to go to court.”

  Johnny looks at Padgett and Tybalt. “I think you’re giving me the shaft!”

  Tybalt reclines in his chair and the voice becomes as caustic as the atmosphere. “Oh, yeah, what about those fight you started in prison?”

  Johnny remains calm despite the brusque treatment. He tells them it’s obvious they had never been to prison. “Most of these inmates have done God knows what heinous acts with innocent people and people like you don’t have any qualms about representing these gorgons.

  I know they’re entitled to representation. What I won’t tolerate having these issues being thrown in my face. Otherwise, I’ll see you in court!” He proceeds to leave.

  After an hour of haggling, a settlement of $375,000 was reached; Menden advises Johnny to accept their offer suggesting a court fight would only result in a waste of time and money. He signs it reluctantly despite his feelings of being taking advantage of, because of his relative youth and inexperience in legal procedures.

  As Johnny leaves the meeting, the two lawyers walked out looking at him, shaking their heads at him as well as Menden. Johnny and Menden approach the elevator. “Why did you want me to settle for $375,000?”

  “You might have lost going away with nothing.”

  He looks curtly at his lawyer. “How, what could they have done to win the case?”

  Menden pushes the button for the elevator to go down. “I came across this by accident; they had evidence when you were in high school, your mother had to go for treatment for anxiety. While she was there, you thought a hospital worker was abusing her, you took it upon yourself to punch the worker in the mouth.”

  His face falls like a rock, “Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”

  Menden smirks. “Well, I’m telling you now, besides, I think you need psychiatric care.”

  Johnny steps up to him. “Go straight to hell! You’re a shyster. I talked with a man while I was in solitary. He told me about his case mentioning you threw his case.”

  After the door opens, they walk in. Menden, with a blank look on his face, looking at his watch. “Look, you don’t understand the legal business. Sometimes even if a client thinks he’s getting the shaft, we have to look the other way to get a settlement.”

  “That’s not what you’re talking about; this man in solitary didn’t commit a crime. Somehow for whatever the reason, took a dive.”

  Menden shakes his head, laughing. “You’re a straight shooter.”

  Johnny asserts that whenever someone was wrong and there was a remedy, it was the duty of the lawyers to see to it people get justice.

  Menden takes a deep sigh. “Look, I’ve got to practice law in this town and I can’t afford to be making enemies.”

  Johnny faces Menden’s deviating eyes. “I think the only thing you’re afraid of is facing them, either at a posh dinner or on a golf course. It’s the man who’s willing to take a stand who shows their character.”

  Menden counters. “Character doesn’t pay the bills.”

  “You’re right, it doesn’t. One fact remains indisputable you threw my case, because of your friendship with Senator Croydon. You’ve known him since he was a little known city attorney in Black Meadows. It all comes to fruition; you probably owed this scoundrel, as well as a few others a favor.”

  When the elevator descends to the ground floor, Johnny and Menden depart company.

  Johnny, later that evening, was in his room looking at the Perfect Attendance Award he achieved working in the auto parts factory. When he looks at the light blue uniform, he wore when he was in naval reserves; it was in the closet wrapped in plastic; he gazes at his good conduct medal and wants to cry.

  Sal walks into his room asking why he was here. Johnny tells him he doesn’t have a future in Black Meadows, Sal says sitting down beside his son, “I know it isn’t much, but you can always work at the store.”

  Johnny is leaning against the dresser when he thanks his father. “It’s fair.” Both men share the afternoon newspaper. He comments, at least, the settlement paid off all the legal debts.

  Sal says he was right, commenting about $50,000 were left over. “Son, you can have it, after all, you earned it.” Johnny thanks him for it. He apologizes for his outbursts; his father says to think nothing of it.

  The next day, Johnny updates his resume while walking to the unemployment office to try to get his parts factory job back. Upon walking in, however, a receptionist winces at his sight. He submits his application to her noticing the scowl. He doesn’t understand her attitude, but tries to brush it off looking at a periodical to see if there were any other jobs available.

  The woman shouts in a nasally with a whiny pitch voice as he is reading. “Well, I’ve never met up with a convicted killer before!”

  The voice makes him, but continues reading, she, however, accuses him of being a vigilante. At this point, Johnny puts down the paper walking over to face her. “Look, miss, I’m here to make an application, not to cause any problems .” When he mentions his service in the Navy, she comments that military guys are trigger happy. Johnny is exasperated he calls her an ugly jerk.

  The receptionist orders him to leave, she says shouting with tears in her eyes. “I’m calling the cops!” She wears a scowl while putting his application in the trash. Before calling, she left for the other room. Johnny, then retrieves it putting it between some accepted applications, but slams the glass door upon leaving.

  Two weeks later, he receives a reply from the auto parts factory stating since he was in prison and in a psychiatric facility; his application for reemployment would be denied. Johnny is tempted to crumple it, but decides to shake it.r />
  He receives continual rejections by the other factories in the area and decides to answer an ad in a local newspaper. It was sponsored by Thaddeus Fisher of the Decade Agency, which is located in an old building downtown. He has a tough time finding the place since there were only two parking spaces in the small lot.

  Upon walking in, the room smells of cigarette smoke with a soaked rug inundated with moisture from snow and ice. The smell is so bad, Johnny starts to cough continually.

  He was told by an agent, Tea Twitt, who was typing office listings, tells him, he has to take a class and a test for the real estate license.

  In the first days of employment, Johnny met with Mr. Fisher in his office shivering in the small room since the heat was usually off and there is a draft. Johnny has to shut the door to provide him with a modicum of warmth.

  Thaddeus is tall with a skinny face and short hair; he keeps saying on a weekly basis that he would have his desk and mailbox ready when he had the opportunity.

  However, Fisher is usually occupied with either handling other business or wasn’t there at all, in more ways than one.

  For the most part, Johnny sits around either leafing through MLS books as the other agents tend to their own business. When no one offers to teach him, he assists a woman who is looking for a place to rent by contacting various agencies to see if there were any places.

  Tea found out, her bucked teeth jut out as she let him know she was listening whenever he was on the phone. She reiterates the rule about answering the telephones when it wasn’t his floor time.

  Later that afternoon, Johnny had taken a message for Tea, because she had been out of the office, when she returns, he gives it to her. After her eyes bulge, she stands in the doorway, which leads to a smaller room, demanding he not answer the phone, unless it was his floor time.

  Johnny turns around rebuking her. “What the hell is your problem?”

  She explains the agency couldn’t have inexperienced agents answering the phones.

  He shoots back. “Well, what am I supposed to do all day, nothing?!”

  Twitt has a currish grin with an uppity response. “In time, you will be trained.” She slithers back into the small room in order to make a few calls.