In the interrogation room of Warwick City Police Department, Hugh Spade felt uneasy despite the lack of any physical restraints. It was similar to the feeling he had as a teenager camping in the forest, always sensing some predator lurking in the shadows.
At this moment, a young lawyer sent by the teacher's union to provide assistance sat across from him, perusing a file with a complex expression:
"Mr. Hugh Spade, you're saying you sold a total of eighty addictive prescription pills to the other party, including fifty Adderall and thirty Lunesta, and received ninety-six dollars and twenty-five cents, correct?"
Hugh Spade nodded, "I've said many times, yes, eighty pills, the most would be a warning talk, it's not heroin."
"But the high schooler Dennis Herbs informed the police that he used ninety-six dollars and twenty-five cents to buy a total of one hundred fifty addictive prescription pills, including one hundred Adderall and fifty Lunesta. The police then, with his assistance, retrieved these drugs from his Lincoln High School locker," the lawyer said with a soft exhale.
"I've told you, that high school kid is lying," Hugh Spade said assertively.
The lawyer spoke slowly and clearly, "He submitted a recording to the police. Although it doesn't specify the exact numbers, the amount of the transaction is mentioned. Both Dennis Herbs and the police, with their understanding of the illegal trade of prescription drugs, can confirm that the amount from the recording couldn't have come from only eighty pills, unless the buyer was a newcomer who'd never bought such drugs before and was ripped off. But Dennis Herbs is not a newcomer; he plays rock music and inquiry also revealed he's had a habit of using prescription drugs before and is not ignorant about them."
"That bastard is lying; I only had eighty pills, a total of eighty, and they weren't even mine, I got them from..." Hugh Spade said, his voice irritated as he looked at the lawyer.
Seeing his agitation, the lawyer gestured to calm down and interrupted, "This is what I was getting to next. You told the police you got these drugs from Miss Melanie Bianconi at her apartment in the port district of Warwick City. When the police questioned Miss Melanie Bianconi, they got seventy Adderall and twenty Lunesta from her, the opposite of what you claimed. She stated she always refused to help you sell them to students due to her moral compass, despite your insistence."
"That bitch is lying! Her tenant is the real drug dealer!" Hugh Spade shouted, clenching his fists and pounding the table for emphasis.
The lawyer continued calmly, as if unfazed by Hugh's anger, "Sir, you've already told the police this. They are indeed puzzled why Dennis Herbs would record the transaction, but they are curious about something else. Why would those two lie to frame you? So far, there's no apparent reason. At least, the police haven't found a logical reason for such a lie over a small matter of trading prescription drugs. That's why I'm here asking again. I hope you'll consider carefully why they would target you with lies—it might help you to accuse them."
Hugh Spade suddenly froze, staring intently at the young lawyer across from him!
He felt he had fallen into a vexing moral dilemma!
If he were to argue that Melanie was deceiving him, he'd have to admit that he once blackmailed her with photographs. He might not be a lawyer, but he understood the basic legal concepts. If he divulged everything, or if the police learned from Melanie about what he'd done, a mere disciplinary issue over selling drugs could turn into a criminal offense involving blackmail and assault charges.
Either he admits to dealing the drugs and puts an end to the issue, or he admits to his past actions against Melanie, giving the police a clear direction to investigate, which would ultimately backfire on him.
Quietly calculating in her mind, Melanie thought it was, of course, the best choice to admit to selling one hundred and fifty pills and quickly understand the trouble. A quantity exceeding one hundred would get her registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration, placed on a watch list, and subjected to periodic investigations by the Food and Drug Administration. Although troublesome, strictly speaking, she was not committing a crime and did not need to be incarcerated.
The other option was that, if she lost in court, it would be a bona fide criminal offense.
Before the police dug deeper into this lightweight case or Melanie's past, Hugh Spade felt he had to cut the Gordian knot and leave. He needed to find her and at least placate her before that woman spilled everything to the cops, ensuring she wouldn't say anything she shouldn't.
"I want to know, if I admit what those two guys said is all true, what would be the consequences? Would I lose this job?" Hugh Spade tried to control his emotions, making his voice as calm as possible, and asked the lawyer.
The lawyer shrugged, "Assuming no other issues arise, the current situation certainly won't cause you to lose your teaching job, but you will be on a watch list. However, don't worry, as long as you really stop dealing in this business in the future, your life won't change at all."
"After I choose to admit, when can I leave this hellhole?"
"Are you sure about the admission? Also, admitting that the ninety prescription pills were left for Miss Melanie Bianconi? I mean, if you admit it, you can leave as soon as you sign the police caution, after all, it's only one hundred and fifty prescription pills."
Hugh Spade made up his mind and said, "I admit, let me leave this hellhole as soon as possible."
"Please follow me, sir." The young lawyer accompanied Hugh Spade as he left the interrogation room, then went to the police chief's office to sign the caution, register personal information, and acknowledge that his information was passed to the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Finally, he escorted Hugh Spade out of the police station.
However, the lawyer did not leave but returned to the police station, knocked on the door of another waiting room, then pushed it open and said to Andy Nelson and Melanie, who were casually chatting on the sofa:
"He admitted it, just left."
"OK, it's our turn now, Miss Melanie Bianconi. I will accompany you to file a report. With the help of a lawyer, muster the courage to tell the police the details about that illegal prescription drug trafficking case. For instance, Hugh Spade used extremely despicable coercion. Poor man, just as he walks out, he'll be brought back in." Andy Nelson rose from the sofa and, smiling, reached out to Melanie, "Miss, you have a very sharp and meticulous mind, you know what I'm talking about. Of course, you don't have to admit, I merely wanted to compliment you. Making use of the Saint Cross High School parents' committee's influence, to deal with a man that hurt you, and saving on expensive costs—very slick. My only regret is that you are a teacher and didn't consider using your brains to become a lawyer and join my firm, otherwise, I guarantee that you would have been my favorite student."
Melanie slowly stood up, took a deep breath, and clasped hands with Andy Nelson, not responding to him, but instead asked, "What punishment will he get?"
"The trafficking of a large quantity of addictive prescription drugs, he admitted to that himself. Once he admitted to that, everything else cannot be washed away, like using despicable means to coerce others to sell drugs for his profit, methods involving blackmail, extortion, and bodily harm. This public safety case will become a criminal case. Considering that guy is broke and can't afford a lawyer, the court will have to appoint a young public prosecutor to defend him, and at this moment, the state's best lawyer is standing right in front of you, fighting for the minors at Saint Cross High School who have been victimized, I can't say much more." Andy Nelson adjusted his tie in front of the mirror reflection on the glass window, finally saying in a relaxed tone:
"Without considering digging into his other issues, just your testimony in court, I can give him a three-year sentence. You might as well wish him good luck in prison in advance."