By Robmacz

A group of officers moved into the apartment, and I saw Billy turn around and put his hands behind his back. I was thinking what the fuck was happening, but also how hot Billy looked cuffed up. I got up from the sofa and walked towards Billy and the arresting officer.

‘What the hell is going on?’ I asked.

‘Who are you?’ the officer shot back.

‘He’s got nothing to do with this,’ Billy replied before I had a chance to say anything. ‘You’d better leave.’

‘Not without giving me your name and address,’ the officer said.

I gave him my details and then turned my eyes toward Billy.  He looked beat.

‘Call Mike, will you,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry!’

Stunned by this, I rushed out the door and down to the street, where I called Mike on my cellphone. I was breathing heavily and trying to get the words out, but they must have got lost in the stream of garbage, because all Mike could say was ‘what are you talking about?’  Eventually I explained it clearly, and he said he was on his way and would be there in ten minutes.

I was standing outside Billy’s apartment block as Mike drew up in his Mercedes. He parked the car and started walking toward me. As he did so, the door of the block opened and Billy was brought out in handcuffs. He looked so helpless, but also so hot. His white t-shirt was showing his muscles nicely; his beige chinos hugged his legs well. And was there a bulge to be seen? I think there was. The officers walked him right past me as Mike came up.

‘Where are you taking him?’ I heard him say as they kept walking toward a black car. ‘What is he charged with?’

I didn’t hear the response. I just saw Billy being put into the back of the car and the door slamming shut.

Mike came back to me. ‘It looks like they are internal affairs officers. They’re investigating Billy for bribery and corruption. I always wondered how he could afford such expensive tastes.’

‘You’re not saying he’s guilty?’ I shot back.

‘Listen Paul, it’s not always black and white with these things. We’ll just have to wait until I get to see him. I’d better head over to the jail now. I suspect they waited until early evening so he would have to spend the night behind bars, but he should be before a judge in the morning. Hopefully he should make bail.’

Mike headed off and I went home. This was not the night I was expecting.

The next day I woke early to find a text from Mike saying that Billy was being arraigned that morning and I should be at the courthouse by 10:00.  I rushed to get ready and have something to eat. I hadn’t eaten a thing yesterday evening, unless you counted half a bottle of my best scotch to help me sleep, and I was starving.

As soon as I had eaten, showered, and shaved I was on my way to the courthouse, arriving there just before 9:00. I know I was banned from driving, but this was an emergency. I was far too early; I didn’t want to be late. As I approached the courthouse, a van drew up outside. I didn’t pay much attention at first, but as I got nearer I saw police officers get out and walk around to open the doors at the back. As they did so I could see guys dressed in orange and cuffed and shackled gingerly climbing out of the van. One, two, three, then ‘Oh fuck, there’s Billy.’

I’m not sure if he saw me or not. He didn’t make eye contact, but I was only thirty feet away. He shuffled with the other prisoners up the steps to the courthouse. He looked so hot. His muscular body filled out the inmate uniform, and the rings of steel around his wrists looked inadequate to hold his muscular arms together–though they did the job just right. I followed the prisoners up the steps and saw them taken down a long corridor, at the end of which there was a sign: STRICTLY NO ADMITTANCE TO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS. I didn’t venture further, but found a seat and waited.

About half an hour later Mike came over and sat beside me.

‘What’s going on, Mike?’ I asked.

‘I’ll be honest with you Paul it’s not looking good. They have evidence of Billy accepting bribes from this guy Tony Carter. He’s got his fingers in a lot of pies, some legal, some not, but no one has ever been able to pin anything on him. Anyway it seems that Carter was arrested a few weeks ago for bribing an official in City Hall. He would probably have gotten ten years if convicted, but he’s made a deal with the DA to testify against a bent cop in exchange for a plea deal.’

‘But why would the DA deal with someone like Carter, if they’ve been trying to nail him for years?’

‘Because the DA is planning on a run for governor next year and police corruption is a big issue, not so much here, but in other parts of the state. He wants to present a zero tolerance attitude. We should go in.’

We walked into the court room and saw the prisoners seated to one side. Only a few weeks ago I was sitting there. Now it was Billy. I wasn’t sure which I found hotter. Billy looked over; his face looked strained but he wasn’t giving much away. When his case was called Mike went with him to appear before the judge. He pleaded not guilty and was given bail of $25,000, which Mike had already sorted out. Mike put a reassuring arm on Billy as whispered something to him before he shuffled his way back to his seat. Mike came over to join me.

‘Look, there is going to be a lot of press attention on this.  The local news crews are going to be outside wanting to get a shot of Billy. I’m going to arrange for him to be released from here rather than going back to jail. Can you get a taxi and go back to Billy’s place and pick up some clothes for him to change into– something smart, suit, tie, etc.? Nothing flashy or too expensive, but I want him to look smart for the cameras. Then come back here and have the taxi parked as close to the courthouse as you can.’

‘I’ve actually brought the car.’

Mike looked at me in exasperation. ‘Just make sure you don’t get caught.’

Half an hour later I was back at Billy’s place. The cops had been through everything and not put it all back as they had found it. The place was a mess. I went into the bedroom and found an overnight bag. I opened the wardrobe and found a charcoal grey suit. I checked the label and was relieved to see it wasn’t too expensive. Just a normal business suit. Then I took out a white shirt and folded it neatly, trying to avoid getting it creased. Ties were something that Billy did not have in abundance. Only three were hanging in his wardrobe – a black funeral tie, a pink one ideal for a garden party, and a maroon one, which seemed like the best choice.

While Billy didn’t seem to go in for ties, the same could not be said about shoes. He had eight pairs of dress shoes and that was before you got into sneaks and boots. I picked out a pair of black loafers that I thought would go well with the suit. His underwear drawer had been ransacked by the cops. The neat piles of boxers and briefs had been jumbled up along with his socks. I took out a pair of black socks and blue and white striped boxer shorts and put them in the bag before heading back to the car.

I drove past the courthouse three or four times before I saw a car pull away leaving a space just a dozen or so yards from the entrance. That would have to do. I grabbed the bag and headed for the main entrance. Outside there were now lots of reporters and TV cameras. None of them were interested in me as I ran up the steps.

I almost immediately ran into Mike.  ‘Give me the bag,’ he said. ‘I’m going to take this to Billy now. I want you to go out to the car and have the engine running.  I’ll text you as we leave. As soon as we’re both in the car I want you to drive away and go straight to your place, not Billy’s. You got that?’

‘Sure.’

‘Great. We won’t be long.’

I hadn’t seen Mike in action like this before.  He was running on adrenaline, but completely in control of everything. I did as he told me, went out to the car and got ready. Fifteen minutes later, my phone buzzed. A text from Mike: ‘we’re coming out.’

I turned on the engine and looked ahead towards the courthouse steps. Mike and Billy walked out, calmly and slowly. They stopped in front of the press and Mike waved his arms to calm them down. I couldn’t hear what he said, but he made a brief statement, Billy said nothing. Then they walked slowly down the steps and turned towards the car. The press followed, shouting questions, but the two of them walked calmly on without quickening their pace. They eventually reached the car and Mike got into the front passenger seat and Billy got into the back. As the doors closed Mike just said ‘Go.’

There were a million and one things I wanted to ask Billy, but i concentrated on driving, heading away from my place initially just in case any of the journalists were following. Then I turned toward home. Billy started to speak, but Mike told him to save it until we were back at my place.  Twenty minutes later we were walking in my front door.

‘Okay, we need to have a talk,’ Mike said, ‘but first I could do with some coffee.’

While I made it I could hear Billy and Mike talking in the other room. A few minutes later I went through to join them with the freshly made coffee.

‘Sit down, Paul.  Billy is going to tell us everything, and we are going to do the best we can for him. But I want you both to know that these are very serious charges and there may be no escaping a lengthy prison sentence.’

To be continued…