Soon after Virginia McCoy left the station, a sharply dressed man walked in carrying a briefcase. He walked right up to the front desk and said, "I'm here to see Alice Decrux. I'm Robert Bennet, and I'm her attorney." The man at the front desk examined the card that Mr. Bennet gave him before heading towards the back. He returned shortly and motioned the attorney to follow him to a meeting room somewhere in the station. It wasn't long before Alice Decrux was escorted to the same room, and the two were left alone to talk.
"Bobby, darling, how are things?" Alice started with a sweet smile.
"Save it, Alice," Robert said looking at her flatly. "What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now?"
"Oh, nothing much really. Just another bit of trouble with the boys," she said, still looking sweet.
"Right," he said as he pulled out a few notes. "Well, you're being charged with transforming in the day and disturbing the peace. Minor charges to be sure, but I've heard that you're being investigated with a Statute 1A?"
"Oh, that little thing. Well, yeah, there was a normal involved, and he accidently got scratched in our little...fight. It was Virginia that scratched him, though, and I have no idea why they want to investigate little ol' me."
"Likely due to your history," Robert replied. "Frankly, I'm surprised you got out of the last time you were charged with such a serious crime. It was fortunate for you that I was able to prove lack of intent, otherwise, you'd be in the detention center instead of this simple jail cell."
"Well, that's why I pay you the big bucks," Alice said with a grin.
"Right," Robert said with a sigh. "So, tell me what happened, and no lying to me." Alice told her side of the story which matched what she told the detective an hour earlier. "Okay, so just to make sure, it was Virginia that scratched him, and not you?"
"That's right. Harold is now a weretiger, meaning that I couldn't have done it," Alice replied with a smile.
Robert sat back and thought for a moment. "They really can't hold you long for a couple of minor misdemeanor infractions. Statute 1A is a serious crime, but they have to prove that first you attempted to change him and second that you intended to change him. If Mr. Jenkins is a weretiger, and not a wereraccoon, then it would be very difficult for them to prove your guilt on the first part." He leaned in towards Alice and continued. "I want you to listen to me very carefully. You are not to speak to the detectives without me present. If they say anything to you, just tell them that you want me present. And stay away from Mr. Jenkins until after the investigation is over. Do not do anything, and I mean anything, to give the detectives more reason to suspect you. You're skating on thin ice as it is now."
Alice nodded and then asked, "And how long do you think the investigation will take?"
"Days, if not weeks. It depends on how clear the case is. One thing to be certain, though, is that they're going to turn your life upside down looking for anything to get you, especially given your history. Be prepared for that." Alice nodded indicating her agreement.
With that said, Mr. Bennet got up from the table and turned towards the door, indicating the end of the conversation. He asked the guard, "May I see Detective Miles and Detective Lukasky?" Outside of the meeting room, the attorney met with the two detectives. "Unless you intend to charge my client with something a little more serious than a couple of misdemeanors, I would request that you let her go."
The two detectives looked at each other and then Detective Miles said, "Fine, we'll just need to give her a ticket for her court appearance and we'll let her go. Just warn your client that she is not to set paw on the Jenkin's property or speak with anyone in the Jenkin's household until after we finish our investigation."
Robert nodded and said, "I already have advised my client of this. And if you want to question my client further, you may only do so with myself present."
Detective Lukasky pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at the attorney, but then said, "Very well." The detectives went inside to escort Alice Decrux to the front, giving her a ticket for the misdemeanors and warning her to not contact Harold Jenkins until they finish their investigation. After that warning, Alice Decrux and Robert Bennet walked out of the police station.
Alice took a breath of fresh air and said, "Ah, free at last."
"For now," Robert said, "Again, I want to warn you to not approach Harold Jenkins, his daughter or their property for the time being. You have quite a bit against you, so don't do anything that'll give the detectives any further cause to suspect you."
She put one hand on her chest and the other in the air. "I promise to be a good girl for now. I also promise to keep paying your fees until this blows over."
He sighed and said, "I often wonder where you get the money. But the less I know about that, the better."
She giggled a little before heading back to her home as a free woman.