Eyewitness

James Cordon was an eye witness to a murder. The only problem was his memory was known to be faulty at times. It wasn’t that he was fabricating parts of the story, it was just he had a colorful imagination that kept getting in the way. I was working the Worniski case where someone had helped him off his balcony from twenty stories up. Giles Worniski totaled the Accura he landed on parked in front of the hotel he was staying at.

“I saw the whole thing clear as day.” James told the interrogating officer Julian O’Day. Julian had the photographs taken by me at the crime scene. As it turned out, the crime scene was a bit gory as could be expected.

“Did ya now.” Julian gave James a sidelong glance that told the story we all knew. James Cordon was an eye witness to several homicides, but his version of the story never quite matched the evidence we had collected. Still James was a happy-go-lucky wino who inhabited the darkest alleyways in the city.

“Yeah, I remember everything.” He nodded emphatically.

“You do, do ya.” Officer O’Day nodded without look up at James. He was scribbling some notes. Giles Worniski wasn’t a model citizen. He owned a Zataroff Liquor down on Main Street that was suspected of selling more than merchandise.

James was one of his regular customers at Zatanoffs. Officer O’Day did not expect his eye witness testimony would amount to much. “Alright Mr.Cordon, I need you to write down everything you remember.”

“I don’t write so good.” James shook his head as he smiled.

“Hey, I’m not your high school Literature teacher.” Officer O’Day slid a piece of blank paper across the table.

“It was a couple of weeks ago.” James picked up the pencil.

“Yeah, I know.” Officer O’Day glance over at me as I stood there trying not to break out laughing.

“I remember…” His face became twisted with confusion. He rubbed silver gray stubble on his chin.

“What do you remember?” Officer O’Day sighed in frustration.

“I heard him scream before he hit the car.” James scratched the back of his neck.

“Write that down.” I told him.

“Ahh.” James stared at me with his crystal blue eyes through the thick lens of his glasses

“Just do what Officer Lemmon told you to do.” Officer O’Day was beginning to lose patience with James.

“I did.” He affirmed.

“Good.” Officer O'Day sighed loudly.

“Hey Cordon.” Chief Barlkley walked into the room to get a cup of coffee. “What brings you in here this time?”

“I am an eye witness to a murder.” He sounded proud of his distinction.

“You were in here a few weeks ago with that bank robbery, weren’t you?” The chief said as he pour himself another cup of coffee.

“Ah, I don’t remember.” He bowed his head.

“I do. If I graded you statement on facts I would have given you an F, but for imagination, that story was a pure A+.” He chuckled before taking a sip of his coffee. “Nothing but grounds, just the way I like my coffee.”

“James, why doncha quit wasting our time with your witness statements.” Officer O’Day shook his head snatching the pencil from his hand.

“Hey, I was remembering something else.” James complained.

“What?”

“Now I forgot because you took my pencil.” James stood up. There was a slight wobble as he took a step.

“I’ll call you a cab.” I took him by the elbow as he continued to wobble.

“You guys sure know how to treat an eye witness.” He smiled as we made our way down the hall of the precinct.

“Glad to be of service.” I told him. Maxine was at the front desk. I told her to call James a cab.

“I’m kinda short on funds.” James put his hands in his jeans pockets.

“Don’t worry, James. We got a voucher with the cab company. The ride’s on us.” I patted him on his shoulder as he sat in the empty chair in the waiting area.

“You guys are the best.” He pointed his index finger at me like a pistol and mimicked pulling the trigger.

The lady sitting in the chair next to him did not appear too happy that he was now sitting in the chair next to her.

“I’m an eye witness to a murder.” He told her as she grimaced. She was reading one of our outdated magazines. Her eyes were wide as if he was a criminal.

“Really?” She tried to smile but failed.

“Yeah, I saw the whole thing.” He nodded leaning back in his chair.

Chief Barkley called Officer O’Day and me into his office.

“So, we got anything on this Worniski case?” He asked with his sad puppy dog eyes.

“I talked to James Cordon.” Officer O’Day shook his head.

“I’m sure that went smoothly.” The chief chuckled. “Whahca got Lemmon?”

“Just crime scene photos.” I replied.

“Yeah, I saw ‘em in technicolor. Quite graphic, if I do say so myself.” He groaned.

“Hey, I’m waiting for my call from Hollywood.” I shrugged.

“Don’t hold your breath, Lemmon, you look silly with a blue face.” Chief said with a smile, “The reason I am interested in this case isn’t because Giles was Prince Charming, but there are some heavy hitters who are ready to turn the streets red with blood.”

“Did he work for the Roselli Family?” I asked with my hands on my hips.

“Bingo.” Chief spoke through clenched teeth.

“Well, now I get it.” Officer O’Day said as he exhaled.

“Lemmon, I want you to have a word with Sam Roselli.” Chief said as O’Day exited the small office.

“I see…”

“Look Greg, I know the guy is bad news, but you are my best shot in this.” He smiled, “I know his office is like a fortress, but you know some of his goons.”

“Yeah, I know a few of them.” I coughed.

“See what he knows.” Chief pulled back the Venetian blinds to look out his tiny window.

“Long time no see, Lemmon.” Sam shook my hand vigorously when I was ushered into his grand office.

“Yes sir.” I nodded.

“So what brings you to my humble abode?” He opened his humidor and offered me a Cuban cigar.

“No thanks, gave ‘em up for Lent.”

“Oh that’s a good one, kid.” He laughed as he lit his cigar.

“Always hoping Hollywood is gonna call me any day.”

“Have a seat. We have some business to discuss.” He held out his hand, and I sat in a very cushioned chair. “One of my boys took a trip down to the ground floor without an elevator.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“And I also heard you have an eye witness?” He squinted at me.

“Yeah, but this guy has a habit of stretching the truth a bit too far.”

“But if he saw something, I would like to know.” Sam tilted his head as he puffed on his cigar.

“He tells stories more than he can remember what happened.” I glanced out the floor to ceiling window over his shoulder. From thirty stories up, the view of the harbor was spectacular.

“I’d settle for a good story.” Sam said as a cloud of smoke stung one of his eyes. “Damn, my wife told me I’d be better off giving these things up.Ah, where was I.”

“We were talking about an eye witness. An unreliable witness.” I waved my hand.

“Did you talk to him? What did he say?” Sam leaned forward in his chair.

“Officer O’Day interrogated him.” I said, “He remembers Worniski screaming before he made contact with the car.”

Sam grimaced at my description, “Geese, that was pretty harsh.”

“Yeah falling from twenty stories can really mess up your day.” I shook my head.

“I’ve seen worse.” Sam shrugged.

“I’ll bet you have.” I tried to smile, but Sam did not seem like he was in good humor.

“If you know who done this, I wanna know.” He pointed his finger at me.

“Chief Barkley sent me to talk to you.” I started.

“Ah yes, he’s a good man.” Sam interjected.

“Yeah, he’s aces.” I agreed, “He don’t want no war in the streets.”

“I wish I could promise.” He jammed his cigar into the ashtray next to his elbow, “But I’ve got a business to run, and I can’t afford to have my men getting offed. Giles was a good man. He didn’t deserve to be forcibly taken off that balcony.”

“I agree.” I stood up, “We will do our best to find who did it and charge him with murder.”

“If we done things like my dad did in his time, we’d have this thing all wrapped up with a pretty bow.” Sam shook his head as he opened the door for my exit.

“Yeah, and you’d be doing time at Sing-Sing like he did.” I nodded.

“Alright hot-shot. You be good out there.” Sam said as I heard the door close behind me.

When I got back to the precinct, James Cordon was sitting in the waiting area for me, but his face was covered with bandages.

“What bus hit you?” I asked.

“I got troubles.” He groaned.

“What happened?”

“Can we talk in your office?” He said in a groggy voice.

“James, I don’t have an office.” I told him. He nodded and look down at his worn sneakers.

“Break room?” He mumbled.

“Sure, but it won’t be private.” I shrugged.

“It’ll be alright.” He nodded.

“Follow me.” I held out my hand, and we walked into the breakroom. As soon as we got to the breakroom, James sat down in a chair. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“Can I have some coffee?” His blue eyes twinkled. How could I resist?

“Sure.” I handed him a cup that was mostly grounds, but he began to gulp it down once he had it in his hands. “What the heck happened?”

“I remembered.” He gasped.

“Remember what?” I raised an eyebrow.

“The man who ran out of the hotel after that guy landed on the car.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “His name was Spaulding.”

“How do you know this?” I asked expecting some creative answer like usual.

“The man in the car parked near me called him and waved him to get into the car.” He began to tremble as if he was having the shakes, “He parked his Toyota right in front of the alley I was sleeping in.”

“Go on.” I raised the other eyebrow. Watching his wrinkled face, I began to sense that he was telling the truth about what he saw. I pulled out my pen and pad and began writing down what he was saying.

“Two nights ago I was sleeping in that same alley when that Spaulding guy came in and beat me with a baseball bat.” As he spoke big tears began to roll down his cheeks. Even though most of us through of him as a pain in the ass, I really felt sorry for him as he wiped his tears. I slid a box of Kleenex to him across the table. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” I shook my head as I walked toward the vending machine. “You want something?”

“I could.” He sniffed, “I haven’t eaten in a couple of days.”

“Hot dog?” I pointed. Everyone considered these inedible, but I put my money in, and the door opened on the rubber hot dog. I handed it to him.

“Thanks.” He nodded as he took it from my hand.

“Why haven’t you eaten in two days?”

“Flat broke.” He said as he chewed the hot dog.

“So?”

“I remember him.” He said after swallowing.

“Who?”

“Spaulding.” He coughed in his hand.

“You said he was the one who helped Worniski off the balcony.”

“He was. He was, I remember.” He said unequivocally.

“Do you? Your memory seems flawed lately.” I leaned against the vending machine. “How’s the dog?”

“Wonderful.” He put the last bit in his mouth.

“And this Spaulding fella, he attacked you with a baseball bat?”

“Yeah.”

“Any idea where I could find him?”

“Sorry, not a clue.” He bowed his head.

“S’okay.” I rubbed my eyes. “I’d like to have a few words with this punk.”

“I just as soon not.” He sniffed.

Officer O’Day and I stopped into the St. Vinnie’s Shelter on Main. There was a crowd of shabbily dressed men hovering around the door.The shelter would be open for dinner in about ten minutes. Brother Gallagher had just arrived in his ancient Cadillac to deliver some words of inspiration during the evening meal.

“Officers O’Day and Lemmon, what can I do for you?” His said with his smile already in place.

“Looking for someone.” I shook his hand.

“We got lots of folks. Y’all welcome to come and join us for dinner.” He opened the back door with a ring of a few pounds of keys.

“Sure.” I nudged O’Day as he rolled his eyes.

“I saw James Cordon a couple days ago. Ain’t seen him since.” He put his book on the podium where he would speak to the congregation.

“I spoke to him earlier today.” I shrugged.

“He was lookin’ a little worried.” Brother Gallagher shook his head.

“He’s got himself mixed up in some bad stuff.” I glanced at O’Day who nodded.

“Yeah. I’m used to seeing him in here for dinner, but past few days he’s been absent.” Brother Gallagher chuckled. “Is someone scarin’ him?”

“Yeah. He claims he saw the man who helped Giles Worniski off the balcony.”

“I heard about on the news.” Brother Gallagher shook his head. “He’s gotta learn to keep quiet about these things. He’s gonna wind up in the River and no one will think twice about some homeless wino fished out.”

“Hey, if you hear anything, let us know.” I handed Brother Gallagher my card.

“Y’all got it.” He stuffed it into his jacket pocket.

If I am to believe the story James would tell me the following day, it went something like this…

We got a bottle of rot gut wine that tasted more like vinegar, I split with my partner Boyce Dunn. Boyce was a big burly man who took a liking to me. Weboth got drunk on the rot gut.

“So, you saw that guy fall from the balcony?” Boyce shook his head.

“Yup. I saw the whole thing.” I sniffed before he took a hit off the bottle.

“Wow man. I never get to see anything except the railroad tracks.” Bryce shrugged.

“You gotta get out more.” I chuckled.

“I’m here with you.” Bryce saluted James with the half empty bottle sloshing some on his shirt.

I watched Bryce nod off between two garbage cans. He had some left at the bottom of the bottle that I finished off with one swig. I felt the baseball bat within arm’s reach.

Sweet dreams.

“You punk!” I heard the voice before I saw Zack Spaulding running toward the alley where me and Bryce was snoring. Before I could arm himself with his bat, Zack brought a metal bar down on my’ cranium.

“Who the heck are you?” Bryce sat up just as he saw the blood trickle down my cheek.

“I’m your worse nightmare.” Zack raised his metal bar, but Bryce reached over and grabbed my baseball. While he had a portly build, he swung a mean bat and caught Zack right in his ribs. Zack doubled over in pain while Bryce took a second swing. It was a solid head shot. Zack fell to the cement no longer conscious.

Police cars pulled up a few minutes later.

“Who are you?” One of the officers asked Bryce who was sitting there still cradling the bat in one hand and my the head in his other.

“Bryce Dunn.” He answered. “Can you help my friend? He’s hurt.”

“Hey, it’s James Cordon.” One of the officers was shining his flashlight on James.

“You really knocked this guy out.” The other officer was helping Zack Spaulding to his feet.

“He’s the guy who tried to kill me.” I said as he came to. “He killed that guy.”

“What guy?” The officer helped James to his wobbly feet.

“Giles Worniski. I seen the whole thing.” James pointed at Zack.

“Dewey, cuff him.” The officer told his partner who was escorting Zack Spaulging.

“You are under arrest.” His partner put Zack’s nose to the trunk of the car as he attached a pair of handcuffs to him.

“Do you expect me to believe your story.” I poured some coffee into my stained coffee cup.

“Yeah, I remember it all even though I took a shot to my head.” James sported a big bandage on his head. His curly disheveled hair poking through his crown of white bandages. “And Bryce got him with my baseball bat.”

“Well, he’s been taken to downtown jail. Something happened last night.” I sipped my coffee.

“It happened just like I remember.” James assured me. Suddenly it appeared as if James went into a hypnotic state, “I remember…I remember…I was behind the wheel driving my son home from his Little League game. I had been drinking…”

“James, you don’t have to-“ I sat down next to him.

“I thought I was driving alright. I have driven in worse shape, ya know.” He paused, “But then I went through a red light where I got t-boned. I was alright, but my son wasn’t. He was in a coma when I went to the hospital. He went quietly the following morning. My wife filed for a divorce a few days later.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“There are sometimes I wish I could forget. I wish I could…” He put his head in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably.