“Don’t you think if there were I would have already gone there? Maybe we should take him back to the jail and let it settle down.”
“Settle down! It’s not going to settle down for months. We might as well get it over with now, while we have the manpower with us.”
Williams studied the crowd some more, then barked into his walkie-talkie. “Okay, let’s move it right down the middle of the street. Take it slow; I don’t want any civil lawsuits because we ran over somebody. We’ll pull onto the lawn directly by the front steps. You clear and secure that area. I want a ring of bod
y armor there, you understand? Then we’ll open the doors and hustle him through fast for his arraignment. But before he comes back out, we’re going to disperse this damn crowd and get these media trucks out of here, that’s for damn sure.”
“You’re gonna have a big First Amendment problem with that, Todd,” said Bailey.
“To hell with the First Amendment! I’ve got a prisoner to keep alive. Even if it’s just so they can execute him.”
The area was secured, the van pulled in front and Eddie Battle was whisked into the courthouse as screams and epithets rained down on the men encircling him, along with bottles, cans, rocks and other thrown items but fortunately no bullets.
Battle’s court-appointed lawyers met him outside the courtroom. They spoke briefly and went inside, where Eddie pleaded not guilty. His counsel didn’t ask for bail to be set, not that such a request would have been seriously considered. His lawyers might have been terrified that a free Eddie would come and visit them in the middle of the night.
“We’ll be in touch,” said his lead attorney, a tall, portly woman with a bad haircut.
“I’m sure,” said Eddie, his strong body nearly bursting out of the too small orange prison jumpsuit. “You think you can get me off with good behavior?”
Eddie and his bodyguards headed back out but were stopped by Williams and Bailey long before they got to the exit doors.
“We’re looking at a near riot out there,” said Williams. “Before we can get him out, we have to deal with it. I’ve ordered pepper spray and tear gas if they won’t disperse on their own.”
Eddie smiled. “Looks like I really lighted up old Wrightsburg’s fire, Todd.”
“Shut up!” screamed Williams, but that did nothing to wipe the smile off Eddie’s face. It just grew bigger.
“Now, you have to protect me, Todd. You can’t let them kill me or the media will be pissed. You can’t deprive them of the show. Think of the ratings. Think of the ad dollars.”
“I said shut up!” Williams moved toward him but Bailey got between them.
“That’s stupid, Todd, don’t even think it.”
“Hey, thanks, Chippy. You’ve always been such a good friend,” said Eddie.
Bailey whipped around, and his hand went toward his gun.
Now Williams stepped in. “Okay, Chip, we’re not going to let him do this to us.” He bellowed to two of his deputies. “Take him to the holding cage on the second floor. We’ll come get him when the crowd’s under control.”
“Good luck,” called out Eddie as the deputies led him away. “Don’t let me down now.”
CHAPTER
89
ONE OF THE DEPUTIES WAS
by the outside door; the other hovered by the window.
“It looks like a damn riot there,” said the one by the window. He was Eddie’s height, well built, with curly hair. “There goes the tear gas.”
“Tear gas!” said the other, a short cop with a bulldog chest, wide waist and broad hips that caused all the gear on his belt to stick out sideways. “Wish I were out there shooting some of that stuff at those sumbitches.”
“Well, go on, I got things here.”
“No can do. The chief said to stay put.” He glanced in the direction of the holding cell where Eddie Battle sat silently watching them. “This mutha’s killed a bunch of people. Dude’s crazy.”
“They don’t riot for jaywalkers, boys,” said Eddie.