Page 12 of Say Nothing
Franklin Howard sat on one side of the table with his lawyer.They were at right angles to the mirror, not looking directly at it.Franklin was a large man, making it impressive that Samantha had taken him down before her partner arrived to back her up.He looked rugged and a little unkempt, his medium-length brown hair sticking up in places as if he’d just gotten out of bed.He wore a pair of jeans and a plain black long-sleeved tee.A permanent sneer was at home on his lips, and Alison immediately disliked him.The decision had been made not to have him handcuffed at the table.
The lawyer was as stereotypical as they came.He was average-looking and wore a dark grey suit with a thin tie.Alison wasn’t sure what detail or combination of details it was, but she would place him as a lawyer no matter where she saw him—he just had that look about him.
The two detectives entered the room and made their way slowly over to the table to sit opposite the suspect and his lawyer.Alison didn't know what to make of Franklin fully, but her initial impression of him was one of disdain.
Both detectives took their time taking out their notebooks, then pens, an effort that looked practiced.Detective Roisin linked his hands together and looked at the suspect, but didn't speak, waiting for his partner to do so.
Samantha cleared her throat before starting."Mr.Howard, you ran from two police officers, and—"
"You didn't identify yourselves," the lawyer said."My client had no idea who you were or if you were a threat to him."
Samantha flashed an overly large smile at the lawyer before she repeated the statement."Mr.Howard, you ran from two police officers, then you assaulted one of them before running again, and when we finally caught up with you, you tried again to assault a police officer.You don't make the best first impression, do you, Mr.Howard?"
"Am I supposed to answer that?"Franklin asked.
The lawyer opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say a word, Samantha jumped in again.
"The duffel bag you assaulted my partner with was filled with a few changes of clothes.Where were you going?"Samantha asked.
Franklin leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms across his chest.His sneer increased by fifty percent."I was off to do laundry."
Samantha noted something in her book, then continued, her tone not changing, unfazed by his answers."Why’d you run from us, Mr.Howard?"
"As my lawyer said, I didn't know who you were," Franklin said."I saw two people following me, and I thought it was better to run and fight another day."
"Mmm-hmm," Samantha said."Does that happen to you a lot?Do you often have people following you on the street that you have to run from?"
"Here and there, I guess," Franklin replied.
Alison watched Franklin as he responded to each question.He had the self-satisfied sneer plastered on his face, and he answered like a man who’d been in the same situation many times before, and who didn't believe they had anything against him.
"Here and there," Samantha replied, writing something else in her notebook."Maybe from the gangs you ticked off while in prison?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"When you make friends with one gang, it's at the expense of another, isn’t it?You have to pick sides.Do you ever have rival gangs targeting you?"Samantha asked.
"Can you get to the point?"the lawyer demanded."What’s this about?Gang warfare?My client is not and never was part of a gang."
"When was the last time you saw Margaret Donovan?"Samantha asked.
The mention of her name caused Franklin to sit up a little straighter, and he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Margaret?"Franklin took a long breath and sighed."I don't really know.We don't keep in touch all that much."
"No?"Samantha asked.
Franklin stared at her, not saying a word.Samantha played his game, staring back without asking anything else or elaborating.
"What do you want me to say?"he asked."We’re divorced.We don't exactly see eye to eye, and she probably hopes I’m rotting in hell."
"Do you not remember when you saw her last, or…?"Samantha continued.
When Franklin didn't answer immediately, the lawyer leaned in and whispered something in his ear.
"I don't remember," Franklin shrugged.
"You don't remember," Samantha repeated.She wrote something else in her book.
