It also gave Edwin someone to ask directions from. But what if all these officers were in this insidious plot together? Would he have to bribe them all? Edwin swallowed hard. There was nothing left for him but to be brave. He stiffened his back, ready to show them the kind of stuff he was made of.

"Excuse… excuse me," he stammered nervously, his trembling hand holding up the map. "Could you help me find interrogation room eighteen?"

Edwin had to tap the policeman on the arm twice before getting any response. In defeat, he was about to reach for his wallet, when the much taller man turned to look down at him.

"Yeah? What do you want?" The man's deep, harsh voice all but caused Edwin a coronary.

"I was only asking you about where interrogation room eighteen might be." Edwin was stammering again and didn't like it, thinking it didn't make him appear manly. The map looked like he was waving it around, his hand trembled so badly.

"Right. As if you didn't know already. Listen, some of these guys have been standing in line a long time, so why don't you just go to the back and wait like everyone else?"

This more than confused Edwin, who couldn't hide his puzzlement any better than he could his stuttering. Why would this many officers be waiting to get into an interrogation area?

"Possibly I didn't make myself clear. I'm looking for 'interrogation' room number eighteen. I'm supposed to meet with my clients there."

"Yeah, yeah. Like I said, get in line… Wait! You said your clients?"

The little mousy man nodded his head until it looked like it had to be a painful act. Edwin fished a business card out of his suit pocket for the officer to look over. The name of the firm was enough to change the officer's outlook.