America 1982-Chapter 332 - 24: Helping Others with Joy_2
"What do you think?" Officer Ed moved his dissatisfied face close to Earl, as if daring Earl to speak to him in that tone again, he would show him the efficiency of police enforcement.
Earl opened his briefcase and tossed a stack of documents onto the tabletop: "These are copies of my client’s radio licenses, protected by United States law. They are free to use the broadcasting signal transceiver as long as it does not involve commercial use, understand? It seems unlikely you would understand; if you did, you would have graduated from college instead of being a pitiful high school graduate who became a cop. But Mr. Tang should understand, these documents also include the specific data of the transceiver model and power that he used last night."
Chapman picked up the documents and opened them, then with a weak and yet relieved nod said, "Yes, the signal transceiver described in these documents, whether in power or model, are more advanced and powerful than those of this small broadcasting station. If last night it was this transmitter operating near BHH, hijacking BHH’s low-power channel would have been very easy, so easy that it wouldn’t even require any effort. BHH’s transmitter is from the 1950s, and the ones in these documents are the latest models."
After finishing, he looked at the police: "So, Officer Ed, you’ve heard it. This lawyer’s words should also prove that I have nothing to do with last night’s incident. If someone should be pursued for responsibility, you should be asking my client."
"No, no, no, all I know is your station played those songs, leaving the local audience very dissatisfied. Who knows if this lawyer is just an actor you purposefully brought in to play a part, Chapman, I know you old guys can always come up with tricks to avoid police trouble," the officer said, staring with his naively large eyes, switching his gaze between Chapman and Earl a few times before making his judgement:
"I don’t care how you play this out, but now, stand up and go to the police station to cooperate with the investigation willingly."
Earl looked at the troubled Chapman, who didn’t want to go to the police station, and spread his hands: "Need help? Mr. Tang, just a verbal authorization from you is needed, no payment necessary. I’m very willing to handle this officer for you. I can get rid of him first, and then we can discuss how my client can obtain your forgiveness."
"That would be much appreciated..." Chapman looked again at the business card: "Lawyer Earl Rash, I authorize you to handle this matter for me right now."
Earl Rash turned around, picked up the telephone desk set, glanced at the badge on the officer’s chest, pressed the speakerphone button, and dialed a number that made the officer’s eyelids twitch involuntarily. Soon, a cold male voice came over the phone:
"This is..."
Earl cut off the other party: "Officer Gibson, I guess you must be missing me a lot, so you sent your subordinate to see me."
"Earl, Earl Rash..." At this moment, both Chapman and Officer Ed in the room could distinctly feel that the man on the other end came to life the instant he heard Earl’s voice.
It was as if he had been lazily slumped in his chair before, but upon hearing the lawyer’s voice, the man on the other end immediately sat up straight, grasped the phone receiver with both hands, and then spoke with incredulity in his voice.
"Answer me, do you miss me so much that you want your subordinate to take my client to the police station in front of me?" Earl continued to ask, laughing.
The officer on the other end of the line sounded somewhat bewildered and angry: "Which idiot did this? Didn’t I already hand out a list of the top hundred most troublesome black lawyers in California? You’re in thirteenth place, a very conspicuous spot."
"Ed, Ed Finch." Earl glanced at the officer’s badge, naming him.
Officer Gibson on the other end called out directly to his subordinate: "Ed, are you there?"
"Yes, sir," Ed replied helplessly.
"Good, is the case you’re investigating about Rash’s client conspiring with the Soviet Union to traffic nuclear weapons, or selling American secrets to aliens?"
"No, sir. It’s about a small black television station that played songs insulting to blacks last night, and then I suspect that a hip-hop artist was attacked as well..."
"Blacks insult blacks every day. Nigger, I, a nigger, am also calling you nigger. Tell me, does that count as an insult?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"No, sir."
"So now, nicely arrange a time with them, and invite them to the police station when they are willing and have the time. After all that’s done, say goodbye politely, and then get back here, don’t give these lawyers a chance to extort the police department. Damn it, the Los Angeles County Police Department just had a meeting, and last year the lawyers already extorted over three million from the department. I don’t want the latest extortion occurring in my district, understand? If you’re not ready to become a male prostitute to help me recoup the losses, then smartly pull out."
"Yes, sir."
"Goodbye."
"Great, it seems you won’t be seeing me today, Mr. Gibson. See you next time." Earl Rash pressed the hang-up button and looked at the officer: "Now, would you like to tell me that your boss is also an actor brought in by Mr. Chapman Tang?"
The officer eventually pursed his thick lips, looked at Chapman: "Mr. Tang, if you have some free time and are willing to cooperate with the police, feel free to call me. Goodbye."
