Violent Crimes Read Free Page A

like, ‘Well, asshole? I’m talking to you,’ and when Tom still didn’t say anything Harold hauled off and started to throw this big roundhouse punch. A second later he’s flat on his back, screaming. His nose was broke but Tom did something to his leg too, only it was so fast I couldn’t be sure what he did.”
    â€œYou’re certain Harold was the aggressor and threw the first punch?”
    â€œDefinitely!”
    â€œWould you be willing to sign an affidavit that sets out what you just told me?” Kate asked.
    â€œThey arrested Tom?”
    Kate nodded. “He spent the night in jail.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. I’ll definitely sign an affidavit. And the beer is on me.”

CHAPTER 4
    The Veterans Administration hospital was located off Southwest Terwilliger Boulevard high up on one of the hills that overlooked downtown Portland. A week after taking on Tom Beatty’s case Amanda Jaffe entered the office of Dr. Martin Fisher armed with a waiver signed by her client that authorized the psychiatrist to talk openly with Amanda about Tom Beatty’s medical problems.
    Dr. Fisher was a tall, angular African-American with high cheekbones, a wide forehead, and dark brown eyes that appraised Amanda through thick tortoiseshell glasses. His office was typical government issue: a gray, gunmetal filing cabinet, cheap wooden bookshelves stuffed with medical tomes, and an old scarred desk that had probably been doing duty since World War II. The dull green walls were decorated with university and medical school diplomas as well as photographs of the doctor in uniform nestled among other soldiers in some tropical setting. From the doctor’s salt–and-pepper hair, Amanda guessed the photo might have been taken in Vietnam.
    â€œThanks for seeing me, Dr. Fisher,” Amanda said. “I’m representing Tom Beatty, one of your patients. He’s been charged with assault growing out of a bar fight. My investigator interviewed several witnesses and they all say that Mr. Beatty did not start the fight and was defending himself against a man named Harold Roux, who is much bigger than Tom.”
    â€œThen why do you need to talk to me?” Dr. Fisher asked.
    â€œRoux is in the hospital with some pretty bad injuries. I’m afraid that the district attorney may take the position that regardless of who started the fight, Tom used way more force than was necessary under the circumstances. Tom says you’ve been treating him for post-traumatic stress disorder, and I thought it might have some bearing on the way he reacted.”
    â€œIt might,” Dr. Fisher said.
    â€œCan you tell me about Tom’s military service and how he developed PTSD?”
    â€œI can tell you that he was a Navy SEAL, but I’m not authorized to tell you the details of Tom’s missions even with a release, except to say that he was involved in serious combat operations.”
    â€œOkay, I’ll accept that. But he has developed PTSD as a result of his military service?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œUnder Oregon law a person acting in self-defense can use a degree of force he reasonably believes is necessary for the purpose,” Amanda said. “Roux’s knee was shattered, his nose was broken, and his shoulder was dislocated in a matter of seconds. I need to know if you think Tom’s response was overkill or the reasonable use of force, given the circumstances, Tom’s training, and his PTSD.”
    â€œTell me the facts surrounding the fight.”
    Dr. Fisher listened closely while Amanda laid out the story that Kate Ross had pieced together. When she was finished, he stared into space for a while. Then he refocused on the attorney.
    â€œRoux is much bigger than Tom?” he asked.
    â€œHe’s several inches taller and outweighs him by fifty pounds or more.”
    â€œAnd they were in very close quarters?”
    â€œYes. Could his