Chapter 4

  Maxwell Stillwater still felt dazed even though it was over three hours since he had woken up in that strange apartment. When he had been brought down to the station they had given him a waxed plastic tarp which he had to wear as a poncho. They had told him that he was not under arrest and that he was just detained pending investigation and they placed him in a small room with a table and two chairs in the middle. That's where he was sitting when two men in suits came walking in.

  “I want my lawyer.” Was the first thing out of his mouth when the door opened.

  “Now Mr. Stillwater, are you guilty of a crime?” Said the younger of the two detectives.

  “No! Of course not, how dare you accuse me of something like that?” Maxwell felt his blood pressure increasing. What was pissing him off even more was the smug calm look of the two cops faces.

  “Mr. Stillwater, you were found in bed naked with the body of a severely beaten women. Look at it from our perspective, that makes you the first and only suspect. All we want to do is ask a couple of questions but you want to bring lawyers into that. If you bring some then we have to bring some and everyone is a lot farther away from being home. So can we just ask a couple of questions?”

  'They must be taking me for some kind of fool, well I am not fool.' Maxwell thought before responding, “Law-y-er.” He was expecting more begging or pleading out of the younger detective he was shocked with what happened next.

  The whole time that Douglas and Maxwell were talking James Swinger was pacing the room. His white shirt was freshly stained with some form of sauce, for the normally put together Maxwell the sight of this overweight, bulge bellied, slob judging him was almost too much to bear.

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  Hearing this suspect say 'lawyer' one last time James decided that he needed to step in. Walking behind the Maxwell, James grabbed the suspect by the back of the head and slammed his face down on the wooden table. All in an instant Maxwell's straight nose was bent and smashed as blood began pouring in a great river. “Oh no. He must have been a little drunk still, don't ya think Dougie?”

  “YOU MOTHER FUCKER! GET ME MY GODDAMN LAWYER! I HAVE RIGHTS!” Maxwell bellowed as his hands tried to cover the flow of blood.

  “We are done here Jim, its clear that Mr. Stillwater is not in a clear mind to answer any questions.” Douglas said as he stood up and began to walk out of the interview room.

  Back out in the hallway Douglas said to Jim, “Why is the first step of you doing in an interrogation to beat the living shit out of the suspect?”

  “If we weren't always bringing down pieces of garbage who refuse to talk I wouldn't need to rough 'em up any.” Jim said aggresively trying to get the flecks of Maxwell's blood out of his sleeve, “Two stains. Can you believe it? This was new shirt, five dollars wasted.”

  “Detectives! We just the wire back from Mid-Town on your suspect.” The desk Commander handed over to them a type written paper.

  Wednesday, July 13 1955

  Records indicate Mr. Maxwell Stillwater lives Staten Island, 100 Elwood Drive

  Mr. Stillwater is currently married to Mrs. Eloise Stillwater, address listed as above.

  No records of prior interactions with law enforcement noted.

  “Looks like we are taking a trip on the ferry.” Douglas said as he passed the note to Jim.