“Rita”

[At Duke Regional Hospital – Two uniformed police officers stand guard outside a hospital room. Inside, Carritta (Rita) Douglas wears a shoulder harness and a splint on one finger.  She is shackled to the bed by one ankle.]

“But I don’t remember what happened.” Rita’s shoulder was hurting and she had dull pain in her rear, even though she was heavily medicated. “You’re saying some kid kicked my butt — literally — and killed my brother? I don’t believe it. Lotto wasn’t taken out by some 15-year-old. Something else happened, and while I’m laid up in here y’all better find out what…  I know that.”

“According to the boy, it was in self-defense and they’re inclined to believe him since there are no witnesses, you don’t remember anything, and he is just 15. They just won’t believe that a 15-year-old straight-A student would attack two adults on a motorcycle on his way home from school,”  said a man in a wrinkled suit sitting by her bed.

“You’re *my* lawyer, right?  You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I’m just explaining where we are with your case. Without a credible story from you about what happened, you’re looking at assault with a deadly weapon.”

“Deadly weapon? I shot him? Good. Is he dead?”

“The boy accused you of hitting him with your helmet. He’s perfectly fine.”

“My helmet? He’s FINE? I always have my Glock on me, why would I hit him with my helmet if he’s killing my brother? That makes no sense. Something just ain’t right about that boy’s story.”

“We don’t know what happened, but don’t you want to know about your brother?”

“You said he’s dead! What more is there to know?  I know y’all better take care of his body.”

“Cremation…  His ashes should be at the crib by the end of the week.”

“And this kid is just walking around, free as a bird after killing my brother…  with what, his bare hands?”

“My advice, as your lawyer, is to just let it go. You’ll get probation and probably won’t serve any real time.”

“I don’t care about time. I’ve done time. I’ll do time. But when I get out, if y’all haven’t done something to avenge my brother, I will. Then I’m going to find out why y’all didn’t do something…

“And what do you mean ‘let it go?’ I’m not letting a #$&^&*&^ thing go. I don’t care how old he is or how straight A he is — he’s going to $#&@ tell us what really happened.”

“With Lotto gone and you locked up, Cut took over of our North Durham expansion. Handling this can be part of that.”

“So you know who this boy is?”

“It wasn’t hard to find a straight-A 15-year-old who’s a third degree black-belt living on that street. But we can’t just roll up on him. His dad’s a cop.”

“I’m sure we can get somebody at his school to find out the real deal. And, why hasn’t Cut been here to see me?”

“He was here when they first wheeled you in here on a gurney. You were pretty out of it with the drugs, and the cops weren’t letting anybody get near you.”

“OW! &$^#” Rita yelled when she tried to shift in bed. “I need some REAL pain killers!” She pushed the Nurse’s call button repeatedly.

One of the cops came in and said, “Rita, you’re going to have to be quiet. There are other sick people in here that need their rest.”

“Well get the &%$% nurse in here to give me some pain medicine then,” she said, wincing.

Just then a rather large male nurse came in the door behind the cop. “Ma’am, you’ve had all the pain medicine you can have for now. I’ll bring your next dose in 45 minutes. It will help if you lie still and not get agitated. Where does it hurt most?” 

“It’s my butt! My butt is killin’ me!”

The lawyer said, “Let me go so I can check with your associates. I’ll be back tomorrow around the same time.”

The nurse helped Rita turn over on her side, opposite the injured shoulder and broken finger.

“Does that feel better?” asked the nurse.

“It still hurts, dumb *&&!,” she said, still wincing.

“Rita…” the cop cautioned.

“Well it does, but it’s a little better. Why don’t you rub it for me, big boy?” she flirted.

The cop chuckled as the nurse walked out. “Try to relax, Ma’am. I’ll see you in about 30 minutes.”

“Can’t wait,” she flirted — winking and waving goodbye playfully.