John leaned back in his chair so Richie could see him. "Right here. Come on
right back."
Siobhan had been out on patrol but John was catching up on paperwork. Besides that , it was his turn to guard the guest who resided in the cell at the office.
Richie found him and walked over taking a seat by his desk, "sorry I haven't been by sooner, I'm trying my
best to get the hell out of Dodge, you know Toni still insists on a honeymoon. So you've found our spray paint artist, what's he got to say for himself?"
"Says he didn't do it. In fact he resisted arrest. If not for Bud White's presence he may have got the best of me too," John shook his head. "I would have added resisting arrest to his charges but I decided not to."
"What have you got on him that says he did?"
John shuffled some papers on his desk before finding the one he was looking for. He handed it to Richie.. It had all of the details of the arrest warrant on it.
"Siobhan and I found several empty paint cans on his property. They matched the color and type of paint that was sprayed on your office." John went on. "Its a little known fact that these paint cans have numbers on them that we can link back to where they were distributed. Now these particular cans came back to an invoice from a store in Coffs... Siobhan and I went to question the clerk and he identified Hando as the man who bought them. He is willing to testify against him. Add that to specks of paint we found on Hando's Doc Marten's and we were able to obtain the arrest warrant.
Placing his arms behind his head, John leaned back in his chair again.. "I wouldn't have arrested him if there was not enough evidence to prove his guilt in court.."
Richie smiled, "I wouldn't have expected anything less John, anyway I could see him?"
"Sure."
John opened his desk drawer to get the keys to the outer cage. Motioning for Richie to follow him, he unlocked the bars and called out. "Hope you're decent, buddy. You have a visitor." Letting Richie enter, John advised him to let him know when he was ready to leave.
"I'll be at my desk if you need anything."
Hando stood up, "What the hell do you want?"
"Oh just came by to see if you're comfy...hey what happened to your face?"
"Nothing," he said with a slight smile
"That happen in here?" not that he was believing that.
"No...some big assed bloke," he turned and sat back down on his cot..
Big assed bloke, Bud White. "So why'd you paint my building?"
"Who says I did?"
"They've done their homework, pretty stupid...You don't strike me as a stupid kind of guy except for your politics."
"To be honest with you...I wish it wasn't painted. I don't like this place."
"That's the idea Hando. It ain't a resort. I checked you out, you're clean. Why the hell mess it up?"
Clean? Hando wondered if he'd talked to anybody in Melbourne. He looked up at Richie, "So when do I get out of here?"
"I ain't your solicitor and right now its up to the Sheriff. He must think you're a flight risk so you'll probably be in here until it comes up in court. Hope you're handy with a paint brush...Hey John!...want some unsolicited advice Hando, tell the truth. Thanks John," Richie left the cell and glanced back at Hando.
"You might want to watch Bud White, John. He punches out the wrong one and somebody will answer for it."
John couldn't believe what he heard from Richie. He paused for a moment then looked up at him. "Remember where you came from? If Bud White had not stepped in then I'd be a grease spot. The only reason he struck Hando was to protect me. Hando threw the first punch."
John stood up and offered his hand to Richie. "No hard feelings, Roberts but if we are not allowed to defend ourselves as cops then what's the point? We may as well hang it up and let criminals run rampant."
"Hey I got no problem with defending yourself, I know all about use of force I been there...this guy here is a street variety punk...you didn't charge him with resisting arrest and he's sittin' back there with his face in a mess. I'm just sayin' if it had been somebody with balls and a bank account, Bud could be in trouble. I'd hate to see that. He's a good cop...so are you by the way and I appreciate your letting me back there." Richie shook his hand.
