Free Presumed Guilty by James Scott Bell Page A

before the inevitable fall.
On his knees in the hallway, Jared picked through his past. A couple of old Chip Hilton books. Trophies from his Little League days. Pictures of his teams — the Orioles, Royals, and Cubs. One year his dad was in the picture as an assistant coach. The season with the Pirates. That was an embarrassment. He and his father did not get along one bit that year —
“What’re you doing?”
Jared looked up. Tiana was standing there. “What I’m doing is my own business in my own house.”
“Just asking.”
He went back to rummaging through the box, fishing out a couple of old Little League mitts. Why had his mother bothered to save these?
“I don’t really want to be here, you know,” Tiana said.
Jared stifled the urge to say, That makes two of us. But a quiet nudge not to be such a jerk interrupted the insult. He sat back against the wall.
“What’s going to happen to you?” he asked.
Tiana shrugged. “Jamaal and I can’t stay here forever.”
“But you can’t go back to your boyfriend.” He looked at her closely. The ugly bruise that had marred her face was mostly gone. So was the puffiness. Tiana was really very pretty, he thought. He wanted her to stay that way.
“He’s Jamaal’s father. He loves Jamaal. Jamaal wants him.”
“Even though he hits you?”
“Not all the time.”
“I say once is too much. Don’t be stupid.”
“I’m not stupid.” She had some attitude in her voice.
Jared started to get angry. He clenched his teeth. “Stupid’s putting yourself where you and your kid are gonna get hurt. So don’t — ”
“Who are you to give me advice?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Means you got a father in trouble and you don’t even go to court, don’t even talk to him. You got no cred with me.”
Jared got up from the floor. His head was tight. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She put her hands on her hips. “And you do? Get over yourself.”
“Hey, I don’t need anything from you, okay? I’m minding my own business.”
“Your mom needs you to go with her to court — ”
“Shut up.”
“ — so get off your — ”
“You want to go back? Get your stuff. Get your kid. I’ll drive you.”
She hesitated, then a steely resolve came to her face. “That’s good by me.”
And she left the hall.
Jared let her go. Good one. Mom’s gonna love you for this. But that’s the way it breaks.
Fifteen minutes later, Tiana and Jamaal were in the cab of Jared’s truck, heading toward Pacoima. This was one of the most run-down, gang-infested areas of the Valley. Jared almost turned around. Forget the boyfriend. What chance would Jamaal have of even making it out of his teens here?
That’s the breaks.
They rode in silence. Once, Jamaal tried to ask Jared a question, but Tiana put her finger to her lips and quieted him.
The only words spoken were Tiana’s directions to the apartment building. It was a prop-up job on Dorado Avenue, within shouting distance of the rail line running along San Fernando Boulevard. What little grass there was in front of the place was brown and patchy.
“Good luck,” Jared said.
Tiana said nothing as she got out, unstrapped Jamaal, and fished her trash bag of clothes from the bed of the truck.
Then she stuck her head in the window. “I hope you find what you’re looking for,” she said.
Jared watched as she and Jamaal shuffled toward the apartments. Suddenly Jamaal stopped and turned around.
And waved.
Jared just looked at him.
Then Jamaal saluted. He stood at attention for a moment, then turned and ran toward his mother.
4.
    Jefferson Waite walked Dallas to the end of the corridor. Cara was down in the coffee shop on the first floor, waiting for Dallas to join her.
    “How you holding up?” Jeff asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll tell you at the end of the day.”
He looked back down the long hallway, like he was avoiding her
    all of a sudden.
“What is it?” Dallas said.
He sighed. “You need to be