Part XIV, from post #79
"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want"
"Name?", the deputy sheriff barked out his questions one word at a time without emotion or feeling.
"Tom"
"Occupation?"
"Investment Banker" All Tom could do was answer the deputy's questions and look around the drab surroundings of the Harris County Sheriff's Department. Bars on windows, metal desks lined up by rows, manual typewriters, old black phones, occilating fans and a copy machine that surely must be an antique completed the decor.
"Nick Names or Aliases?"
"Tom-Tom. Some people call me Tomstocks".
"Tatoos or scars?"
"No"
"Sexual Orintation?"
"Do I have to answer that?"
"No, I guess not. Wait here." The Sheriff's deputy was a classic case of Joe Friday gone bad. Deputy Dawg, as he is known, is from a family of law enforcement officers. Never one for small talk and often-times over reactive to tense situations, he is perhaps one of many in the department wishing they could do something else for a living, and knowing full well that they never will. After consulting with other deputies near by, Deputy Dawg returned to Tom.
"Who else was at the R.E.B. cafeteria this morning?", Deputy Dawg continued.
"I recognized a former co-worker of mine, Denice. And I also recognized the waitress. She always waits on me."
"Describe this Denice to me"
"She is average height, average build, brown hair, she looks like Elain on the T.V. show Sienfield. Her boobs are small and she has a tatoo of a battleship on her butt."
"What did you see at the R.E.B. cafeteria this morning from 6:30 a.m.?"
Tom then proceeded to describe the events as he saw them from 6:30a.m. until the time of the shooting at the R.E.B. cafeteria. Tom described the how he heard a slap and instantly knew what had happened.
"After that guy got slapped, I thought he had shot my waitress friend. I dove under the table to protect myself. I knocked a glass of water over - that's how I got this wet stain on my pants here".
Deputy Dawg rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief.
"Tom that water, as you call it, sure smells funny".
"Yea, I noticed that two. Then this guy starts shooting and jumps through the window and everyone is yelling and screaming and running and crawling. I just stayed where I was and cooly observed the situation."
Deputy Dawg exhaled deeply and shook his head once more.
"You can go now Tom. I'll have a deputy drive you back to the R.E.B. building".
After another conference with other officers in the department, Deputy Dawg heads for the door.
"I'll be at the Houston Metropolitan Hospital", Deputy Dawg said as he shoved papers and supplies into the brief case as he walked.
End of Part XIV |
