“What?” Kyle’s head snapped up.
“That’s why you need to talk to Mister Heurbach. He handled this last time,” I answered. “You’ll also need to contact the state police offices, but you’ll find there’s an order of restraint out, for me against him. The judge granted ten years, and it’s only been six.”
Vincent leaned forward. “I know Kyle doesn’t ask this, but I do. I have one question for you before we move forward another inch. Are you guilty of this in any form.”
“No.” The answer was simple. “Not even a little.” I sighed. “I went to great lengths to avoid him at the studio. Jerry put a rider on the contract that he and I should never be in the building at the same time, and that if we found we were, one of us was to leave immediately. I always did. I was not going to let him get the upper hand.”
Vincent was scribbling furiously on his legal pad and Kyle was tapping a finger on this chin. “The reports here are pretty damning, Mister Romano. I have to be honest.”
“I expect no less,” I answered. “I am innocent.”
“I don’t think Chase would have asked Vincent if you weren’t.”
There was a sob next to me, and I looked over to find my mother broken down in tears. “Please, please don’t let them put him in jail. This man is a monster and a bully. Marcus hasn’t done anything wrong. He never did anything wrong. His only crime is being gay, and that’s only in Roberts’ eyes.”
She grabbed my hand and squeezed.
Kyle cleared his throat, and Vincent spoke up. “Are you saying this is a bullying or hate crime related attack on you? Slander and libel?”
“I don’t know what that hospital report says,” I answered, “but I personally never laid a finger on him at all.”
Tapping the paper, Kyle leaned back. “This is a full evaluation of Ed Roberts, two nights after he claims you raped and beat him. He has physical damage, including a bruised throat.”
Mom made a gross sound, but I patted her hand. “You’re going to hear worse, Mom. This is Ed.”
“So we want to get you out of here. You’re not a flight risk, we’ve convinced the DA of that,” Vincent said. “Would you be willing to wear an ankle monitor? I’m not sure we can get the DA to just agree to bail.”
“Damfrey knows you’re in a bad place to be in gen pop on Riker’s,” Kyle said. “They do bad things to gay men. Especially one who is on a rape charge.”
“If an ankle monitor keeps the cuffs off and keeps me out of a holding cell, yes,” I said. “House arrest?”
“No, just an ankle monitor and bail.”
Mom leaned forward. “What’s bail?”
“Seventy-five thousand,” Vincent said. “We might be able to get it reduced if you have a record of showing up for your previous court appearances.”
My mother choked and tears rolled down her face. “I don’t have that. I don’t have it. I have to find a bail bondsman.”
The door behind me opened, and we all turned to see Chase walk in, suited and tied and polished. He moved to the corner and looked at the two men. “Repeat the bail amount?”
Vincent sighed. “Seventy-five thousand.”
“Check, or do they want a bond?”
I whipped around and stared at him. “Chase!”
He stared me down and repeated the question. “Check, or bond?”
“Bond,” Kyle said. “If it was a few thousand less, I’d be okay with a check. But it’s a lot of money. Can you get one?”
He pulled out his phone and tapped out a message quickly. “Done. It’ll be here in under an hour.”
“Good, excellent,” Kyle said. “I’m going to go get some of this paperwork going, and request these documents from Massachusetts.” Kyle stood and put a hand on my shoulder. “Marcus, my goal is to get this dismissed and expunged. There’s no reason for an innocent man to suffer any of this.”
“Thank you.” My voice was shaking.
He marched out and Vincent let out a breath. We all looked at him, and he blushed bright red. He cleared his throat. “I…uh…I’m not used to working with him. Just against him. But he’s the best across the aisle, and I know that you wouldn’t ask me for help if you weren’t serious, Chase.” He closed the folder and shoved it inside his small over the shoulder portfolio. “I have things to do as well. Kyle will be back to get you out of here and Chase will give you my office address so we can get going on this.”
