[Christian Savino]

[nospaces]

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GO

before you lose it all? before they call your bluff and watch you fall?

[break]

[attr="class","quailfoot-text"]With a cup of coffee in both hands, Christian stepped into the observation room. He made a slight noise of surprise in his throat when he saw that Smith had already returned from the interview room and was now standing before the observation window, looking displeased with his thumbs tucked into his waistband. The man was twice Christian's age. A stern but fair officer with a large, round belly, a deep voice made gravelly by chain-smoking, and a proclivity for staining his (slightly too small) button-ups. When Christian had left to fetch their coffees, he'd just been entering the interrogation room. [break][break]

"Back so soon?" He quipped lightly, stepping beside the older man and holding out one of the cups. Smith lifted his shoulders, took the coffee with a muttered thanks, and sighed. "Didn't even let me sit before he asked for his attorney."[break][break]

Christian glanced through the window, eyes hardening a degree as he watched the man seated at the small, unfriendly table in the center of the room. He clucked his tongue. It wasn't Ernie Richard's first time being dragged from the hedges beneath some poor, scandalized woman's bedroom window. Not even the first time being pulled from Reila Stanford's bedroom window. It was a wonder to Christian, why Relia didn't swap her curtains for something darker. An even bigger wonder why Ernie persisted even when being caught for the nth time was no surprise to anyone. It was like he wasn't even trying to be sneaky anymore. He'd been so smug when Christian had brought him in, with his weasel smile and nonchalant demeanor. [break][break]

"Ah, yes. Mr. Rivers." Christian's lips tucked. Ernie's attorney was good. Always somehow managed an acquittal. "He on his way?" He glanced at his coworker sidelong as Smith raised his cup to his lips, answering with just an annoyed flutter of his eyelids and a weary dip of his head. A moment later he spluttered into his cup, splashing the drink into his thick mustache, and Christian's mouth tucked awry. "What the fuck's wrong with this coffee?" Christian chuckled and tipped his head. "Don't be dramatic. There was no whole milk so I used skim." Smith grumbled disdainfully, abandoning the coffee on the lip of the window and wiping at the drops of it that'd spilled onto the front of his shirt. "You gonna let Ernie snake his way from another charge?" [break][break]

"Hell no. We've got him dead to rights. I'll be damned if I let him catch another walk."

[break]

i don't know but i'd like to think i had control [break]
at some point but i let it go and lost my soul

Tag: Ethan Rivers [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes! [break] Or if this setup isn't quite right!

[newclass=.quailfoot-text b]color:#3B3F88;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Ethan Rivers]

Mirror for ya’, what's the difference?
Kangaroo be stoned. He's guilty as the government

---

The restaurant was noisy with chatter. Families out for an evening of fun, a few couples clearly on first dates, and another couple seemingly breaking up. Normally, Ethan wouldn’t notice any of this if, like tonight, he was here with a date. But the woman who sat across from him was perhaps the most boring, self absorbed woman he’d gone out with in some time. She hadn't stopped talking about her skincare routine for the past five minutes.

Ethan picked up his coke and took a sip, trying to keep his eyes from rolling as she began a droll about the different kinds of lotion, and how she thought everyone should care this much about taking care of their skin. It wasn’t that Ethan had a problem with skincare, but he didn’t want to talk about it this in depth, well, ever.

When his phone buzzed, he glanced at the screen. LEPD flashed on in large black letters. Work. One of his clients. He didn’t know if he was more relieved or irritated at this particular date being interrupted.

”Excuse me.” He picked up the phone right at the table, but it seemed his companion barely even noticed, she just kept going on. ”This is Ethan Rivers.”

Ethan placed a finger over his unoccupied ear so he could hear the caller more clearly. One of his clients had been brought in. Of course, Ernie Richard. The man couldn’t keep himself out of trouble. Ethan had half a mind to drop him as a client, but he was related to one of the senior partners, his wife’s nephew or something, so Ethan was stuck with him. He listened to the sparse details intently, already trying to form a plan to get him out of trouble this time.

”Alright, thank you. I’ll be right there.” Ethan hung up the phone and pulled out his wallet, dropping enough cash on the table to cover the meal. ”Sorry, Mandy, I’ve got to go. Work calls.”

”It’s Mindy. Are you gonna come back after?” She asked, a smile still on her face. God, she was oblivious, but she was kinda cute. Ethan could have worked with that, for the night at least. Shame he had to cut it short.

”Sorry, don’t think it’s happening. Maybe I’ll call you tomorrow.” He knew that wasn’t going to happen, but he gave her a warm grin as he rested his hand on her shoulder, bare skin exposed around the string holding up her black halter top.”Maybe you want to find someone else to go home with tonight.”

Ethan walked out, seeing the working beginning as she was affected by his words. She picked up her own phone and began swiping, no doubt on the same dating app they had found each other on.

It wasn’t long before he was pulling into the police station. He pulled on the black blazer he kept hanging from the back of the passenger seat in his car for just these occasions. He didn’t have on a tie, but he was in a blue button down shirt and dark jeans. It would be fine for this, it wasn’t like he was walking into the courtroom.

”Hey, Jess. Where do they have Ernie?” He walked over to the officer at the desk, talking with the familiarity only earned after coming to get his clients several dozen times. ”He’s back in interrogation. Asked for you real quick this time.” They pointed to the correct room, and Ethan headed that way. ”Thanks.”

When he got close enough to his destination to see who was standing outside the room, he was pleased. He wasn’t familiar with this particular officer, but he’d worked with Detective Smith in the past. ”Officer, detective. I just need a moment with my client alone.” Ethan gave a slight nod to each of them in turn, and then walked into the interrogation room.

Ernie’s expression brightened when he saw Ethan walk in. ”You’re getting me out of here tonight, right?

”That depends, Ernie. How many times is this now?” Ethan didn’t have his files with him, but he could access some of them from his phone, so he typed his credentials into the system and pulled up Ernie’s name. It wasn’t his detailed files, just the basics. How many arrests and for what. ”This is the third time at the same address, the-” Ethan paused to count. ”Eighth time you’ve been brought in for prowling. Ernie, when are you going to stop this?’

Ethan had tried using his persuasion on Ernie in the past to get him to change his behavior. It wasn’t strong enough, and it didn’t last for more than a couple hours. He’d given up trying that. Now, he’d just settle for a little remorse.

”Reila wants me to watch her. Why else would she make it so easy?” Ernie looked pleased with himself.

”You know what, why don’t you just let me do the talking? And try to look a little repentant, for god’s sake.” Ethan sighed, not bothering with the touch component to make his gift stronger. Not like it would make much difference with Ernie, anyway. Then he walked back to the door. ”Gentlemen, I believe we are ready whenever you are.”

---

Christian Savino
Omg it's a little rambly. Let me know for changes.

SPOILER: Click to show

Ethan, staring at himself in the mirror having an existential crisis

[Christian Savino]

[nospaces]

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GO

before you lose it all? before they call your bluff and watch you fall?

[break]

[attr="class","quailfoot-text"]Only a little time had passed — in which Christian and Smith mostly went back and forth on the pros and cons of skim milk — before Ernie's famed attorney arrived. The detective had just begun likening Christian to his second ex-wife (nagging about eating and drinking healthier as if he didn't already have a foot in the grave with his drinking and smoking), when the man stepped into the room and, quite succinctly, greeted them and slipped into the interrogation room. He did so with an ease and familiarity that shouldn't have been surprising, all things rationally considered, but still Christian felt the unbidden need to bite his tongue. He supposed the urge to bristle had more to do with the attorney's choice of clientele than the attorney himself. [break][break]

He frowned, shifting his weight and folding his arms across his chest as he observed the silent scene through the window. Ernie visibly perked and the attorney presumably began his coaching. "A bit scruffy-looking for a lawyer, isn't he?" He asked flippantly, tipping the tiniest bit closer to Smith, his brow pinched appraisingly. The detective only muttered something unintelligible, mustache wriggling above his lips as he smoothed a hand over his stomach. Through the mumbling, Christian pieced together that the detective was berating him for stereotyping (his own words less eloquent, he suspected, seeing as the choice few he picked up were "the gays" and "open-minded"). "I'm just saying, usually they're more..." he gestured toward the window, "I don't know... crisp." The attorney didn't look messy. On the contrary, he was dressed well. Almost as if he'd been prepared for a night out. But, still, he somehow lacked the stuffy, sharp-cut look Christian expected. His hair, though obviously clean, was longer and there was more than a faint stubble on his chin and jaw. [break][break]

"Clean-shaven or not, the man's good." Smith straightened as he spoke, then sucked in a long breath (that sounded half a sigh) as Mr. Rivers returned to the door that separated their rooms. Christian 'tsk'ed. "Good for Ernie, bad for Reila," he breathed sarcastically, sounding almost petulant as he stepped back so Smith could squeeze by and grab Ernie's folder. The door opened and Mr. Rivers, with that same self-assured ease, announced they were ready. [break][break]

"Oh," Smith turned, as if struck by a thought that hadn't occurred to him. "Are you coming in, Sav?" Smith stepped across the room, brow quirked quizzically. Christian lifted his hands and shook his head. Really, he hadn't even meant to linger as long as he had. He just liked Smith. As gruff and jaded as the older man was, he could be very funny. He'd already shared the details of the arrest and imagined he'd only throw the detective off his game. Besides, he'd seen enough of Ernie today as it was. Not only that, but Christian had... admittedly... been a little rougher than was entirely necessary when he'd drug him out of Reila's yard. Had said a few, choice words that Ernie might recall and consider repeating if under Christian's hard stare. [break][break]

Smith only nodded then paused in the doorway to cast a weary glance back. "If you're not staying, mind leaving a half-decent cuppa for when I'm done? One with real milk?" He didn't wait for an answer but ducked into the room, making to close the door after him but stopping to add. "Check homicide's breakroom. Those covetous bastards always have the best of the best." The door clicked shut, leaving Christian alone in the observation room. [break][break]

He considered leaving. He did have his own paperwork to do and, if he put it off too long, he'd more than likely end up having to stay well beyond the end of his shift to finish. But, as he watched Smith grumble and groan while settling in the seat opposite Ernie, Christian found himself stepping toward the window and propping against the wall curiously. It would be somewhat rewarding, to see that smug, too-comfortable countenance slip into something disbelieving when he realized he wasn't going to be sleeping in his own bed tonight. It'd be worth a late dinner. [break][break]

Smith scooted his chair in and flipped a few switches on the tables, filtering sound into the observation room just in time for Christian to hear him heave a gravelly sigh and thickly clear his throat. "Okay, Mr. Richard. Now that your attorney is present, I assume we can pick up where we left off?" He didn't wait for a response, just made a show of thumbing through the papers before him as he spoke. "Tonight, we're looking at peeking while loitering, trespassing on private property, and..." without raising his head, he lifted his gaze to Ernie's face. "Indecent exposure." His eye flickered to the attorney before he settled back in his seat. Christian got the impression that, in his younger days, he might have hooked an ankle over his knee. "The last one's new at least. First time you've let us catch you with your pants down."

[break]

i don't know but i'd like to think i had control [break]
at some point but i let it go and lost my soul

Tag: Ethan Rivers [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes or if you need more! Sorry it's messy, I'm working on my old school laptop which hasn't been turned on in 6+ months and needs probably a hundred or so updates. She's STRUGGLING lolol. Plus, I've made my feelings clear already on how I feel about these keyboards. >:l

[newclass=.quailfoot-text b]color:#3B3F88;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Ethan Rivers]

Mirror for ya’, what's the difference?
Kangaroo be stoned. He's guilty as the government

---

Ethan was amused when he overheard bits of the conversation between the detective and the officer. He sat next to Ernie and waited for Detective Smith to sit across from them. Once the file was opened and he started going over the charges, Ethan quirked an eyebrow in surprise. Indecent exposure was new, and he hadn't been given the heads up about the charge. It didn’t mean he wasn’t going to still do his job, but it did make him more disgusted by Ernie.

”Well, that’s a couple more charges than I was informed of.” Ethan glanced at Ernie, who now looked mildly ashamed of himself. Ethan was positive that he wasn’t actually ashamed or remorseful in the slightest, but it had been the persuasion that garnered even this much emotion from him. ”Ernie has assured me that he regrets his actions.” Ethan rested his hands on the table in front of himself.

Ernie looked like he had opinions, but he remained silent, letting his attorney do the talking. Ethan was glad that he wasn’t running his mouth and making this harder than it had to be.

”Detective, I know you are in a precarious position here. I know Ernie has been a little slow to learn, but don’t you think working off a debt to society by completing community service will be a better lesson for him than letting the judge release him on bond in the morning?” If he could keep him from getting booked, he would call it a win.

Ethan really didn’t condone Ernie’s actions. Had he not gotten the indecent exposure charge, He would have done his best to get Ernie a clean walk with nothing more than a slap on the wrist again. But he was honest when he said he thought it would be a better lesson, to have him do community service. Maybe not instead of spending a night locked in a cell, but it would be a better lesson than a complete lack of consequence.

There were times when Ethan regretted his choice to become a criminal defense attorney, like his father and brother. Usually, it was when he had to deal with Guild members. However, clients like Ernie could also get under his skin, becoming an irritant that he wished he could just drop. Sometimes, that was not an option and he still had a job to do. His reputation and career depended on it.

”What do you say, Detective? Ernie here gets down to some manual labor and as a bonus, you don’t have to stay and file all this paperwork tonight?” Ethan leaned forward, holding his hand out expectantly to shake the detective’s hand.

”Everybody wins, right?” This wasn't his first encounter with Detective Smith, so he hoped he wouldn't need to be more forceful than he already had been.

With any luck he would make sure that Ernie was deposited into an Uber headed to his house, and then Ethan would be able to get back to having a night off, perhaps even within the hour. Of course, he’d had no intention of going back for more with the skincare woman, but he was sure that it wasn’t going to be too late for him to make alternate plans.

---

Christian Savino
Let me know for changes.

[Christian Savino]

[nospaces]

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GO

before you lose it all? before they call your bluff and watch you fall?

[break]

[attr="class","quailfoot-text"]As he watched the interview begin, Christian's expectant and curious smile fell into something much more neutral. The attorney was confident and obviously leading the conversation and he was surprised to find that Smith did very little in wresting some control. In fact, the more the attorney spoke, the less confident the detective looked. His gaze dropped to the papers before him and he muttered and hummed as Mr. Rivers made his points and suggestions. As if they deserved consideration, which Christian felt they very much didn't. [break][break]

"What the hell, Smith?" Christian breathed quietly, mouth tipping into a frown. He wasn't seriously considering letting Ernie walk again, was he? After claiming he'd be damned if he did? He urged the detective to snort derisively. To make a barbed joke about how "manual labor" was what got Ernie into so much trouble tonight in the first place before he shook his head and announced firm alternatives. [break][break]

But as the attorney continued, posing more appealing questions, Smith only continued to grow more and more thoughtful. "Oh yes, the paperwork... hmm," Smith sucked in a breath and puffed it within his cheeks, looking absolutely weary at the thought. Christian scoffed. The older detective hated paperwork, that was no secret, but he'd been jockeying a desk for almost two decades. Booking a creep like Ernie, who'd slipped through the cracks seven times too many already, would be a win. [break][break]

Once the breath was blown from his lips, Smith raised a decided gaze to flit between the pair of men across from him. He tapped his pen against the stack of papers on the table for a long, deciding moment then, to Christian's surprise, shrugged and leaned forward to take Mr. River's offered hand. "Everybody wins," he agreed, closing the folder before him. [break][break]

Christian's brow knit and he shuffled his weight from one leg to another, head cocked as he watched Smith stand and scoot his chair in. He'd said Mr. Rivers was charming and all, but wasn't that too easy? Too fast? Was it possible Smith had just grown jaded and lazy after all these years that he didn't care if Ernie went home tonight with little more than a slap on the wrist? Just to be yanked once more from Reila's yard within the week? Maybe he really didn't want to do his job and process him. [break][break]

He shook his head. No. Smith wasn't like that. There was no way. Christian's accusing gaze shifted slowly from the detective to the attorney. "Charming, huh?" He scoffed sarcastically, mind turning. [break][break]

Mateo had briefly dated someone with persuasive abilities years ago and the family — Christian and their mother especially — had caught on fast. He'd been so in love. Doting. Head-over-heels and faithful. After only a week or so of seeing each other, he'd brought the girl home to meet his parents. Mateo had never brought a girl home. In fact, Christian had never heard his brother say one respectful thing about the women he'd slept with, if he mentioned them at all. So when he'd showed her off to the family, smiling and hanging off his arm, and she gushed on and on about all they'd done together in their short time — all things far out of character for Mateo — he'd run a background check and discovered some curious things. [break][break]

The too-good-to-be-true pairing had ended with their mother tossing the woman on her ass from their home, spitting obscenities and threats in Spanish. As much as Alma would love for Mateo to be the stand-up guy the "girlfriend" had shaped him up to be, she trusted it would happen one day. For the right woman, naturally, and not by compulsion. Oscar had been forced to step in and corral her back in the house before she could do some real harm. [break][break]

Christian shifted his weight and lifted a hand to smooth his thumb and forefinger across his lips. He had to admit it would be a convenient Gift to wield in Mr. River's line of work. Was it possible that his track record and reputation were owed to something more than know-how and simple charm? He didn't typically dismiss his own instinctual suspicions — his gut rarely led him astray — but... wasn't it a reach, to assume something similar was happening here? [break][break]

He composed himself as he watched Smith converse with Ernie and his attorney, looking at ease and not all as he had when he'd first entered the room. With his thoughts running astray, he couldn't even care to listen to the words exchanged, he only moved across the room and propped himself against a desk against the wall with his arms crossed as the three men eventually made their way to the door. [break][break]

He hoped Smith would say something about the un-fetched coffee. Christian was dying to make the point that, not only was the interview so short that he didn't have time to even walk to homicide and back, but that the detective damn sure didn't earn it.


[break]

i don't know but i'd like to think i had control [break]
at some point but i let it go and lost my soul

Tag: Ethan Rivers [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes or if you need more!

[newclass=.quailfoot-text b]color:#3B3F88;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Ethan Rivers]

Mirror for ya’, what's the difference?
Kangaroo be stoned. He's guilty as the government

---

Another success. Ethan gave a warm smile as Detective Smith took his hand and agreed, everybody wins. Ethan supposed it wasn’t exactly true. The real victim in all of this deserved better. But Reila Stanford wasn’t his client. He didn’t have the same duty to her as he did to Ernie. As much as he couldn’t stand the man, he was just doing his job by getting him off the hook. Again.

At least, that's what he convinced himself.

It was a hard truth to think about. What would happen if he couldn't get Ernie another free pass? Surely, anyone who looked at his record would be understanding. It could be the attorneys incompetence if a client like Ernie couldn't weasel his way out of trouble for the umpteenth time.

Ethan eyed Ernie after the detective agreeded to the community service in lieu of booking him this time. The man was already back to looking smug, uncaring that he was busted once more. He never had to face the consequences of his actions, and he felt untouchable because of it. Ethan knew that it would be a struggle to get Ernie to comply with the community service, but he would impress upon him how imperative it was. He also resolved, no matter how this worked out, the next time Ernie got hauled him for harassing another woman (especially if it was Reila again) he was going to let him get slapped with charges.

Ernie's behavior was escalating. Ethan had almost as much disdain for the man as he did for the Guild members he had no choice but to represent. But Ernie was different. Failing to get Ernie off the hook wouldn't be as bad for him as it would be if he failed with a Guild member. Ernie may be related to a senior partner, but that didn't mean as much as Ernie himself thought it did.

As he struggled with his conscious over his actions, Ethan held his charming smile for the detective. He promised to bring Ernie around in the morning to sign up for his hours of service, with the threat to Ernie that failing to show up would lead to the charges getting filed after all.

"Promise, this is the last time you guys are gonna have to drag me in here." Even as he said the words, Ethan knew Ernie didn't mean them. Now this was his show, pretending to be remorseful for the sake of the detective and the arresting officer.

The detective was much more relaxed as they exited the interview room. Ethan immediately noticed the officer, looking put off and leaning against a desk nearby. He didn't recognize him, this must be the arresting officer. Maybe he was new, or maybe Ethan just hadn't noticed him before. He looked the officer over, and gave him a similar smile to the one he'd given Detective Smith, warm and charming.

"Officer." Ethan nodded towards him. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of making acquaintance yet."

---

Christian Savino
Let me know for changes.

[Christian Savino]

[nospaces]

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GO

before you lose it all? before they call your bluff and watch you fall?

[break]

[attr="class","quailfoot-text"]Christian did his best to look unperturbed as the three men exited the interview room. And he could feel his failure to do so in the slight rigidness to his stance and the set of his eyes. Smith moved across the room to gather some more papers into his folder and Christian pushed his tongue hard into the back of his teeth as he gave him a quick glance (that the detective didn't meet). His attention turned then to the attorney who, upon meeting his gaze, gave an acknowledging nod and flashed a warm grin. One that Christian suspected he might find disarming under different circumstances. [break][break]

Contrasting the warmth of the attorney's more pleasant smile, the grin that pulled across Christian's own mouth was decidedly thin. Tight. Close-lipped and blatantly insincere, even as it crinkled lines at the outer corners of his eyes and dimpled his cheeks. He lifted his chin consideringly at the other man's casual greeting, head tipping the faintest sidelong while he offered only a quiet, thoughtful hum in response; as if taking a long moment to muse over whether "making acquaintance" was indeed a pleasure or not. [break][break]

He watched the attorney for a weighing moment — saying nothing and offering no introduction — then let his eyes flit dispassionately to Ernie as the man stepped from behind Mr. Rivers and looked in his direction. Recognizing him, he visibly stiffened, and Christian thought he saw a bit of bitterness flit darkly across his too-smug face. His mouth screwed as if he wanted to say something. Emboldened by the night's outcome, perhaps he wanted to gloat or make a stink over Christian's less-than-chipper treatment of him when hauling him from Reila's yard. Christian held his stare, brow lifting infinitesimally further as he bunched his mouth to one side of his face; wordlessly inviting whatever it was. [break][break]

Ernie appeared to think better of it and Christian looked to his colleague instead. "Smith," he started, shoving from his leaning against the desk and uncrossing his arms. "I'd offer to take Mr. Richards to holding while you started his paperwork," he clapped the man on the shoulder, dressing his voice in pretended cheer. "But since that's not necessary, I suppose... I'll just... walk them out for you." [break][break]

Smith grumbled something incoherent under his breath, looking momentarily confused, and Christian leaned close to add in a lowered voice, still saturated with airy civility. "I hope homicide only has almond milk." He grinned, patting at the detective's back before motioning toward the door and casting his gaze toward the other two. "Gentlemen, after you." [break][break]

As he followed them down the hall and back toward the front of the building, Christian ran a hand over his mouth and tried to bite back his lingering want to continue making his displeasure known. It wasn't exactly professional of him but... he scrunched his nose... and found he really didn't want to bite his cheek. "Do you truly think your client will find reform in community service, Mr. Rivers?" His voice was light and friendly; a thin veneer of courtesy that did nothing to slight the obvious disdain in his words. That didn't sound like it even meant to (because it didn't). He looked from the attorney to Ernie, lips still curled in a faint smile. "Or will I be seeing you again next week, Mr. Richards?"


[break]

i don't know but i'd like to think i had control [break]
at some point but i let it go and lost my soul

Tag: Ethan Rivers [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes or if you need more!

[newclass=.quailfoot-text b]color:#3B3F88;font-size:8pt;font-family:Open Sans, sans serif;[/newclass]

[googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Ethan Rivers]

Mirror for ya’, what's the difference?
Kangaroo be stoned. He's guilty as the government

---

Whether it was Ernie making the officer irritated or what his deal was, but Ethan’s casual smile did nothing to help the tension coming off him. Ethan watched the silent face off between the officer and Ernie, hoping his client wouldn’t make his job any harder tonight. At least Ernie seemed to realize it was better not to do any of the mouthing off or gloating he might have been considering toward the officer.

Detective Smith seemed agitated by whatever the officer said to him. Or maybe it was the after effect of Ethan’s persuasion. He honestly wasn’t sure how long it would take, or if he’d even realize it wasn’t his idea to let Ernie walk again this time. Ethan had encountered Detective Smith before, it didn’t take much effort to get him to change his mind. Exploiting his tendency to avoid work, especially paperwork, was something that Ethan had become adept at.

The officer urged Ernie and Ethan to start toward the exit “Ernie.” Ethan prompted, and then waited for his client to start moving. He wanted to keep a buffer between Ernie and the officer, lest Ernie decide to say something stupid after all.

It was clear that Ernie was just as familiar with the precinct as Ethan was. He needed no directions to find his way. When the officer spoke, both men paused.

“You just-” Ernie began a retort, but Ethan held up a hand to stop him. “I can only hope so, Officer.. Savino.” Ethan pulled the name from the officer’s name tag. If Ernie hadn't still been standing next to him, Ethan would have been slightly more honest and revealed that he did not take any pleasure in representing Ernie, but since he was the boss’s nephew, he had little choice.

“Though, hopefully he realizes the seriousness of repeating the same actions and will no longer be a problem for your department.” He spoke pointedly, hoping Ernie would take the hint and say something apologetic.

Of course, as typical with Ernie, he did not offer up any remorseful sentiment.

---

Christian Savino
Let me know for changes.