Violent Crimes Read Free

enough for Mr. Roux and he threw a punch.”
    â€œSo our guy is saying it was self-defense?”
    Amanda nodded. “But we may have a problem. Our client was a Navy SEAL and he saw combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. He won’t talk about what he did but I have the impression it was heavy-duty stuff. The problem for Harold Roux is that Mr. Beatty knows how to defend himself and, he grudgingly admitted, he’s very good at it.”
    â€œWhat happened to Roux?”
    â€œHe’s in the hospital.”
    â€œWhoa.”
    â€œYeah, whoa.”
    â€œHow bad are the injuries?” Kate asked.
    â€œThat’s for you to find out. Get the police reports and go to the Lookout and see if you can find someone who saw the fight.”
    The Lookout was an old neighborhood hangout on the far corner of a three-block strip of quaint, trendy boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants running through a middle-class residential neighborhood in Southeast Portland. Kate walked into the dark interior at four, when she figured the bar would be less crowded. A trio of young men were sipping beers and eating burgers at a table. Near the back, a young couple snuggled in a booth, laughing and talking in the low tones used by new lovers. Two locals sat at the bar, eyes glued to a baseball game that was showing on a TV that hung from the ceiling.
    The bartender was fortyish, bald, and potbellied. He was mopping up a spill at the end of the bar near the door when Kate sat down in front of him.
    â€œWhat can I get you?” he asked.
    â€œA Black Butte Porter would be nice,” Kate said.
    When the bartender returned with an ice-cold bottle and a glass, Kate flashed her credentials.
    â€œMy name is Kate Ross and I’m an investigator.”
    The bartender smiled. “I thought you guys couldn’t drink on duty.”
    Kate smiled back. “That’s cops. I’m private, Mr. . . .”
    â€œBob—Bob Reynolds. So what can I do for you?”
    â€œI’m working for the attorney who’s representing Tom Beatty. He was involved in a fight here last night.”
    â€œThey charged him?”
    â€œYou sound surprised.”
    â€œWell, yeah. That asshole Harold Roux started it, and he threw the first punch.”
    â€œSo you saw the whole thing?”
    â€œMost of it, and I’m not likely to forget it.”
    â€œWhy is that?”
    â€œOutside of one of those kung fu movies, I never saw anything like it.” The bartender shook his head. “Tom’s been in here a couple of times. He keeps to himself, watches the game, then leaves. Never causes any trouble. So I didn’t figure him for a guy who could fight like that.”
    â€œCan you walk me through the fight from the beginning?”
    â€œHarold and Tom were next to each other on stools at the bar.”
    â€œWhat’s Harold like?”
    â€œHe’s a loudmouth, one of those guys who peaked in high school. I think he was an all-district lineman or something because he knows everything about football, if you know what I mean.”
    Kate nodded. “If he played on the line, he must be much bigger than Tom.”
    â€œOh, yeah, but the weight’s mostly fat.”
    â€œWhat does he do for a living?”
    â€œHe delivers beer to supermarkets, drives a truck.”
    â€œOkay, so what happened?” Kate asked.
    â€œI was at one end of the bar when I heard Harold yell. He sounded angry, so I turned around. Harold stepped back from the bar and glared at Tom while he wiped beer off his shirt. I walked over because I know Harold and I thought there might be trouble.
    â€œAnyway, everyone backs away and Tom tells Harold he’ssorry. Harold said, ‘Sorry won’t cut it,’ so Tom offered to buy him a beer. Harold says, ‘What about my shirt? You gonna buy me a new one?’ Tom just stared at him. I could see his face close up. When Tom didn’t answer, Harold said something