“But, in the meantime, will you please check your personal belongings?”
“I’m going to sue the city, and I’m going to sue Sergeant Sellers. I—”
“I know, Mrs. Cool. Doubtless you are. But that’s outside of my department. If you’ll please check your personal property—”
“Well, you may think it’s outside of your department, but, by the time I get done, you’ll find out it isn’t outside of anybody’s department. I’ll—”
“When did you intend to start this suit, Mrs. Cool?”
“Just as soon as I get to see a lawyer.”
“And you can’t get a lawyer until you get out, and you can’t get out until you check your personal property, so please check your personal property.”
Bertha Cool ripped open the envelope, pulled out her purse, opened it with rage-trembling hands, glanced through it, snapped it shut, and said, “So what?”
The matron nodded to the trusty.
“This way, ma’am.”