He exhaled sharply his chest tight as he thought about his mother she had called. Dana in tears her voice shaking over the phone his mother had seen the reports people had shown up outside her house journalists knocking on her door shoving microphones in her face some had even gone through their old social media posts trying to find something anything to paint them as troubled as flawed as deserving of the treatment. Raymond had endured. Dana had handled it the way she always did head on but she was exhausted and. Raymond knew it the door to the cell block buzzed open.
Raymond looked up expecting an officer but instead he saw his lawyer a tall composed black woman in a Navy Blazer and glasses that gave her the air of someone who had been through too many battles and still had plenty of fight left in her. Nia Caldwell she had been one of the first lawyers to take his case after. Lisa's report went viral and from the moment. She walked in. Raymond knew she was the right person for the job.
She sat across from him pulling out a folder you doing all right. Raymond let out a dry chuckle I've been better. Nia nodded the da is still stalling they know they can't hold you forever but they're waiting to see how the public shifts before they make a move. Raymond's jaw tightened so they're trying to see if this blows over exactly. Raymond sighed and what's the union saying.
Nia's eyes darkened they're in full defense mode saying the officers acted appropriately that you were a threat that they feared for their lives. Raymond let out a slow breath same script different name pretty much. Nia said and they're using every connection they have to pressure the da into keeping you here raymon shook his head the frustration mounting and my family. Nia hesitated for a moment it's getting bad. Raymond clenched his fists I need to see them I know.
She said I'm working on getting you released but they're playing games we've got the video we've got public support but they're betting they can ride it out until people lose interest. Raymond's stomach Twisted. Lisa won't let that happen. Nia gave a small smirk no she won't and she's not the only one keeping the pressure up she slid a folder across the table. Raymond hesitated before flipping it open inside were printed screenshots messages names stories I started collecting them as soon as the video went viral.
Nia explained people started reaching out people from your neighborhood people from across the city all with their own stories about hail and officers like him. Raymond scanned the pages testimonies from black men who had been harassed for walking in the wrong neighborhood parents whose teenage Sons had been stopped for no reason workers pulled over and searched on their way home one message stood out a handwritten letter scanned into the file I was 15 when it happened to me. Officer hail stopped me on my way home from school said I matched a description I was too scared to fight back when he threw me against the car too scared to tell my mom what really happened but I see what they did to. Raymond and I can't stay silent anymore. Raymond exhaled sharply rubbing his Temple they were just waiting for someone to come forward first.
Nia said and now they are. Raymond closed the folder his ribs still achd his head was pounding but for the first time since this all started something inside him felt stronger they're not going to bury this. He said no. Nia agreed they're not. Raymond leaned back in his chair his gaze steady he was still behind bars still in the thick of it but outside the fight was growing and this time he wasn't fighting alone raymon sat in the holding cell his arms resting on his knees as he listened to the faint hum of voices beyond the bars he knew something had changed the air in the station felt heavier charged with something different.