Free Monster by Walter Dean Myers Page B

knocked out by this bourgie dude asking for crack that I slept the real deal. I laid the rocks on him and he slapped the cuffs on me. Cops don’t usually show lame. That was definitely not correct.
    Â 
    JUDGE
    Â 
    He carried an attaché case?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Can you believe that crap?
    Â 
    PETROCELLI
    Â 
    Mr. Evans, you were promised a deal for your testimony. Can you tell us what that deal is?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    If I tell what happened, the truth, then I can cop a plea to a lesser charge and pull 10 to 15.
    Â 
    PETROCELLI
    Â 
    Are you telling the truth today?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Yeah.
    Â 
    PETROCELLI
    Â 
    Nothing further.
    Â 
    CUT TO: ASA BRIGGS. He shuffles through some papers, nods approvingly, and then approaches the podium from which he will question BOBO.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    Mr. Evans, you admit that you were in the drugstore, is that correct?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Yeah.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    You also admit that you were in the drugstore to commit a felony. Is that correct?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Yeah.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    So you were in the drugstore, committing a felony—the felony in this case being robbery—and during the commission of that felony a man was killed?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Yeah.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    So by your own admission, under New York State law you are guilty of felony murder, for which the possible penalty is 25 years to life without parole?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    So?
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    And you haven’t been tried for this crime yet. So if you ever want to walk the streets again, you had better find somebody to take the weight. Isn’t that correct?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    What you saying? Am I trying to cop a plea? I just told you I was trying to cop.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    And we know who you are, don’t we? You’re the dope dealer and the thief who could see a man killed and then go over to a fast-food place and have a nice meal. That’s who you are, right?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    I didn’t have nothing to eat all day.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    So after you killed Mr. Nesbitt—
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    I didn’t kill him.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    As far as this jury knows, you are the only man who admits being in the drugstore when Mr. Nesbitt was killed. You admitted to planning the robbery. You also admitted to taking the cigarettes, and you admitted to being there when Mr. Nesbitt was lying on the floor of the store he had worked so hard for. But now you blame somebody else for the killing to get a break for yourself, isn’t that right?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    I think King was high or he wouldn’t have shot the dude. He didn’t have to shoot him. He’s the cause of me being in this mess.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    Not you? You didn’t want to do the stickup?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Man, later for you.
    Â 
    BRIGGS
    Â 
    Nothing further.
    Â 
    JUDGE
    Â 
    Miss O’Brien?
    Â 
    O’BRIEN (from her chair)
    Â 
    Mr. Evans, when did you have a conversation with Mr. Harmon about this robbery?
    Â 
    PETROCELLI (smiling)
    Â 
    Perhaps counsel wants to approach the podium?
    Â 
    O’BRIEN stands and goes slowly to the podium, looking at her notes.
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    I didn’t have a conversation with him. He’s King’s friend.
    Â 
    O’BRIEN
    Â 
    So let me get this straight. What wasMr. Harmon supposed to do if there were cops in the drugstore?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Give us a signal.
    Â 
    O’BRIEN
    Â 
    And what was that signal to be?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    Something to let us know there were cops in there.
    Â 
    O’BRIEN
    Â 
    And if there were no cops in there, what was he supposed to do?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    I don’t know.
    Â 
    O’BRIEN
    Â 
    You said you planned the robbery with Mr. King. Didn’t he tell you?
    Â 
    BOBO
    Â 
    I thought King had it hooked up. Hetold me he had everything straight.
    Â 
    O’BRIEN
    Â 
    You testified that you did not have a gun when you entered the drugstore. Is that