On the Other Side Read Online Free PDF

waist.
    Once inside the apartment, the white officer continued to speak. “We received a call. One of your neighbors thought she heard fighting. She also mentioned that she heard screaming as well.”
    â€œI’m sorry for the inconvenience, officers. You see, my wife andI got married last night and we got home pretty late from the reception. We had a lot of champagne and I’m afraid that in the excitement of our wedding night, we may have gotten a little bit raucous. You know what I mean, my man?”
    Neal smiled broadly and Damita couldn’t help but be disgusted by his insincerity.
    Although the white police officer had been the only one who had spoken since they arrived, Neal switched his focus and directed his last comment to the black officer.
    â€œNo, I don’t know what you mean,” the officer responded stoically.
    â€œWhat did you say your name was, Sir?” the black officer asked.
    Neal offered a handshake, to which the officer did not respond. “I’m Neal Westman. This is my wife, Damita. And, you are?”
    â€œI’m Officer Brunson. This is my partner, Officer Blackwell.”
    Neal suddenly chuckled.
    â€œIs there something funny, Mr. Westman?” Officer Brunson asked.
    â€œI’m sure you must get this all the time, but it’s just ironic, that’s all. A black officer named Brunson and his white partner Blackwell.”
    Neither officer seemed amused.
    â€œI just meant—”
    Damita looked distractedly toward the living room window while the officers spoke.
    Before Neal could continue his thought, Officer Brunson interrupted him. “Are you okay, Mrs. Westman?”
    â€œUh, yes, officer, I’m fine; just fine. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”
    â€œWhat happened to your eye?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYour eye; you seem to have broken a blood vessel. A broken blood vessel in the eye is a pretty nasty thing.”
    â€œShe gets those a lot,” Neal added.
    â€œYeah, I bet she does,” Officer Brunson responded, sarcastically.
    â€œWe saw a doctor about it. Some people are more prone to them. Anything can cause it; coughing or sneezing too loud, eye-rubbing, even hypertension.”
    â€œSo I’ve heard. Do you know what else can cause a broken blood vessel, Mr. Westman?”
    â€œPlease, call me Neal.”
    â€œMr. Westman, a broken vessel in the eye can also be caused by choking or severe eye trauma.” He paused and looked at Damita. “Mrs. Westman, are you absolutely sure you’re okay?”
    Damita’s momentary hesitation was all Officer Brunson needed.
    â€œBlackwell, we need to get to the bottom of where those screams were coming from this morning. We’ll save a good deal of time if you speak to Mr. Westman and I’ll talk to Mrs. Westman. . .separately. Mrs. Westman, is the kitchen okay?”
    Damita replied, “Yes, that’ll be fine.”
    It was Officer Brunson’s hope that once they were alone, Damita might do the smart thing and be honest so he could help get her out of harm’s way.
    Damita offered the officer a seat at the kitchen table.
    â€œThis is a Parsons table right?,” the officer asked.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œThe table; it’s a Parsons. My wife and I had one just like it.”
    He looked around the gourmet kitchen. There wasn’t a thing missing, down to the matching stainless steel appliances. Officer Brunson couldn’t help but think that despite popular opinion, it wasn’t just those below the poverty line that were victims of the worst kind of abuse. He was sure that Damita was one of those women who believed the fairytale before it turned into horror.
    Damita looked at the officer quizzically.
    â€œYou had some questions you wanted to ask me?” she asked.
    â€œMrs. Westman, can you please tell me what actually happened to your eye?”
    â€œIt was . . . There