press charges against the alleged attackers we currently have
in custody?”
“What kind of a silly question is that? Of course I want
to.”
Kalvin was waving frantically at me and pointing to J.R.
The street vendor was shaking his head in a slow, but firm,
negative.
“… Um . . . before I make up my mind on that,
Captain,” I hedged, trying to figure out what J.R. was
thinking, “could you tell me what happens if I don’t press
charges?”
“We can probably hold onto them until tomorrow mom-
ing for questioning, but then we’ll let them go.”
That didn’t sound like particularly satisfying treatment
for a gang that had tried to rob me. Still, J.R. seemed to
MYTH-NOMERS AND IM-PERVECTIONS 125
know what he was doing so far, and I was disinclined to
go against his signaled advice.
“… And if I DO press charges?” I pressed, trying to
sort it out.
“I’m not a judge,” the captain shrugged, “so I can’t say
for sure … but I can give you my best guess.”
“Please.”
“We’ll charge them with Attempted Robbery and Assault
with Intent To Do Great Bodily Harm … I don’t think we
could make Attempted Murder stick.”
That sounded pretty good to me, but the policeman wasn’t
finished.
“… Then the court will appoint a lawyer—if they don’t
already have one—who will arrange for bail to be set. They’ll
probably raise the money from a bondsman and be back on
the streets before noon tomorrow.”
“What? But they …”
‘ ‘It’ll take a couple of months for the trial to be scheduled,
at which point it’ll be your word against theirs . . . and
they’re not only locals, they have you outnumbered.”