Hate Moves In The Glen

by Atonia and B

Hanging up the phone she pushed her hair back and set her shoulders…Richie!

She found him in the den watching the news on TV, "YOU KNEW," she spat out, "you knew why Jim Braddock went back to New Jersey and you never said a word."

"I couldn’t tell you Toni, "he clicked off the TV and shrugged, "Jim told me in my office before he left, how did you find out?"

"From Ivy who had to find out from the guy that lives in the cracked egg house and it was confirmed by Cal."
"I’m sorry but it wasn’t up to me to tell you or her."

"I think its disgusting Richie."

"Jim should have told her himself, he had his own reasons and it wasn’t up to me."

Toni paced back and forth from the kitchen to the den, "you could have told me you knew I was upset with him for leaving Ivy."

"No, I couldn’t tell you. There has to be a trust, confidentiality between myself and a client."

"I’m almost your wife Richie."

"Doesn’t make any difference. It’s always gonna be this way."

Toni glared at him and picked up her purse, "I’m ready I need to go see Ivy."

Richie drove to the boarding house and Toni went up to Ivy’s room. He walked next door to his office and stopped in his tracks staring at the front of his building. He had been the victim of anti Semitism before but never expected it here, this was beyond comprehension.

Swastikas had been spray painted along with go home Jew in black paint across the front of his office building. Richie was in shock. Turning he saw Sheriff Biebe coming out of the boarding house and called him.

"Holy Shit Roberts," Sheriff John Biebe was open mounted and round eyed.
 
Biebe was on the radio at once to call his partner to the scene.  "Deputy Hennessey I need you at Robert’s office now."

"Ten four, sheriff." she replied

John Biebe inspected the damage. He was a bit sick over it all.  The Glen had been a relatively quiet place to this point but it looked as if things were taking a turn for the worse.

"Roberts, you got any idea who may have done this? Have you had any other incidents that you can remember? Phone calls, nasty letters or …anything like that?"

Richie was sick, he felt he might be physically sick and turned away for a moment before answering. "This is the first thing of its kind I've seen here Sheriff. There’s nobody here I would suspect…the only thing…well it wasn't really an incident…remember that skinhead that came into the tavern a couple of weeks ago? I haven't noticed him around since then but I felt the hate burning as he passed me."
 
Siobhan pulled up and got out of the prowler. She greeted Richie and surveyed the damage. "What the fuck. I have a good idea who did this." she stated accusingly.
 
Biebe acknowledged her with a nod. "Innocent till proven guilty, Hennessy. I want you to check the area for any evidence. Check the trash cans for paint cans. They've all got numbers on them and we can find out where they were purchased.....Roberts, I'm going to check this character out, that you mentioned. I'll go ask him some questions. You know as well as anyone else though, we need evidence before we can prosecute. God sakes, if it was him he's screwed. You're the only lawyer in town. Who would he get to defend him?" it was a rhetorical question. "I'll get a report together and you can pick it up at my office later. If it will make you feel better, the deputy and I can take some extra passes by your office and your house later." 

"Yeah," Richie said still staring at the front of his building, "you know I’m getting married in two days, right back there anyone coming to the wedding is gonna see this, damn it."  Defend him?  Richie thought he might want to kill the bastard. "Toni has never been exposed to this kind of thing Sheriff," He met Biebe’s eyes and turned to Siobhan, "Who is it you have in mind?"

"That bald headed son of a bitch who lives in the run down shack down the road apiece. I knew from the minute I laid eyes on him that he'd cause some kind of trouble here. He's a walking piece of shit."

John sighed. She was probably right but once a cop lost their objectivity they lost their control. He figured Siobhan may have spent a little too much time on the beat back in Philly. "Can't pass judgment like that, Hennessy. If we do it makes us just as bad as the ones who did this."

"Yeah, right, Sheriff. I'll do my best not to profile." she shook her head. "I'll check around to see if I can find any witnesses. No paint cans so far." 

Richie thought if anyone in the green had seen it they would have reported it, "probably happened sometime late last night or right before dawn. Is it okay if I go inside, the lock appears to be intact?" A random act of hate? He hadn’t to his knowledge made any enemies at The Glen. "We’re supposed to meet with Alistair Harris this morning Toni has gone up to see Ivy, I guess I should go and get her. Let me know what you find out okay?" Damn he hated for Toni to see this but it was something she needed to see it may not be the last time anti Semitism would be directed at him and she should realize that.