As Ryland Edward Harden is taken into custody, the decision of his fate hangs in limbo. As paperwork and the hard decision are being considered, a new case for Marvin Hammerman is about to unfold. Somewhere in downtown Baltimore, homeless men are gathered around the Baltimore Rescue Mission.
It is Tuesday around 5 p.m., and homeless men are talking about who bamboozled whom and who went where and did what. There is talk of sports and women, and there is a lot of loud profanity. Suddenly, a fight breaks out between two men. One man is heavier than the other, but the smaller man gets the advantage over the bigger man. With his speed and quick movements, he is able to dance circles around the bigger man, and as the bigger man lunges for the smaller man he gets a hard-right hook to the right side of his head. He is stunned.
But he comes back and lunges for the smaller man again. As the bigger man advances, the smaller man lands a wine bottle across the crown of his head and sends him staggering backward. He falls to the ground. As the bigger man lands on the hard pavement, the smaller man takes over and gives him a vicious thrashing. The smaller man, a former prize fighter and track runner, is able to overtake the bigger man because of his athletic abilities.
The bigger man, who has no athletic ability and is terribly overweight with slow reflexes, is beaten down like mashed grapes. Nobody bothers to break up the fight; nobody bothers to get involved. As the bigger man lies unresponsive on the ground, the smaller man leaves the scene. He laughs and brags about whipping a brute of a man. The mission staff is notified and calls an EMS team to the scene to take the bigger man to the hospital.
No one knows who the bigger man is. It is the first time he has been seen at or even near the Baltimore Rescue Mission.
Meanwhile, in Owings Mills, an elderly man is trying to locate his son. He is unaware that his son is homeless and has just been involved in a fight with a much smaller man.
As the EMS vehicle zooms its way toward Mercy Hospital, the big man stops breathing. CPR is administered immediately, and as the EMS vehicle arrives at the hospital, the man is rushed into intensive care.
Back at the rescue mission, homeless men act as though nothing happened. They cuss, swear and talk loudly as though nothing went on. This is the usual life for homeless men. Constant fighting and bickering is an everyday thing for people who live on the streets of our nation. Many homeless people seem to get an adrenaline rush off this sort of thing.
Meanwhile, over on Greenmount Avenue, the smaller man who delivered the vicious whipping is bragging about his victory over a big man. He is surrounded by friends, and they head to the corner to buy malt liquor.
Back at Mercy Hospital, the bigger man has gone into a coma. Efforts to bring him around have proved useless. The hospital staff has no name for this individual. During the fight, the smaller man snatched his wallet and ID in front of everybody. But nobody knows anything, so they say.
As an elderly man ponders the whereabout of his son, he contacts Anna Jackson, assistant to Marvin Hammerman.
As the phone rings, Anna Jackson answers, “Marvin Hammerman’s office, may I help you?”
“Yes, may I speak with Anna Jackson, please?” As the elderly man.
“This is Anna Jackson.”
“Ms. Jackson, my name is Odell Lacey. I was once your neighbor in Baltimore.”
“Why, yes, Mr. Lacey, I remember you,” Ms. Jackson says. “How on earth did you ever find me?”
“I contacted your brother, and he told me how to get in touch with you. I need your help. My son walked out on me one day, and I haven’t seen him since. I don’t know where he is or what’s become of him. I am afraid something terrible has happened to him.”
“OK, OK, Mr. Lacey, try not to panic. I work for a district attorney in this area, and I will get with him about your case.”
“Thank you, thank you very much,” Mr. Odell replies gratefully. “Is it all possible for you to return to Baltimore?”
You know, Mr. Lacey, it has been some time since I have been home. I will talk with my boss and see what can be arranged. Who knows? I may be able to persuade him to come with me.”
“Oh, wonderful. That’s just wonderful,” Odell says.
“Mr. Lacey, allow me to get some information from you, and I will get back with you within 24 hours.”
As Ms. Jackson gets this information, Marvin Hammerman has yet to clear up the last case involving Ryland Harden, but this new case may turn out to be just as important as the last one.
Part II: Hammerman starts a new case. As he is called to Baltimore, his case load increases, and pressure builds.
For comments or questions on this novel, please contact August Mallory at his new e-mail address: [email protected]
