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I could get out of here – I could see Rachel again! –
…but…
…at what cost?
Bernardi stared at me like a wolf sizing up its prey. “You give me anything on Rosolini, and you walk out of here right now. Two weeks – three weeks max – and you’re a free man. What do you say?”
I stared at him for a long time –
And I made my decision.
“Sorry,” I said. “Can’t help you.”
He stared at me in disbelief. “You’re saying you don’t know anything about Rosolini.”
“That’s right.”
Bernardi got a crafty look on his face. “You know… you could just tell me some shit. It doesn’t have to be 100% accurate. I could even suggest some things we already know. I just need you to testify that Rosolini told you.”
I stared him straight in the eyes. “But that would be a lie, Detective. And you’re not suggesting I lie, are you?”
Bernardi clenched his jaw in anger before he spoke again. “You realize that you’re in here for another four years. This is your only ticket out.”
I held up my hands like What can I do? “I’d help you if I could, but as far as I know, Dario wasn’t anywhere near Caproni during the riot… and he hasn’t told me jack shit about his life outside prison.”
Bernardi smirked in disbelief. “You’re cellmates with this guy, and he hasn’t told you anything.”
“He keeps his cards close to his vest.”
Bernardi leaned back. “That’s an interesting phrase – ‘keeps his cards close to his vest.’ A whaddayacallit – ”
“An idiomatic phrase?” I suggested.
“Yeah, an idiomatic phrase.” Bernardi fixed me with a look like he was trying to pin me to the wall. “I wouldn’t expect a Swedish guy just learning Italian to know what it means.”
“Well… like I said, I picked up a few things while I was in here.”
“Uh-huh. Not like your cellmate helped you or anything.”
I smiled. “Nope.”
Bernardi bared his teeth. “You know, I can get you out of here – or I can make your life a living hell. I can tell the guards to make sure you get beatings on the regular. They’d be more than happy to comply. Hell, I could tell my sources – the ones I talked to – to spread the word that you’re a snitch. You know what they do to snitches in here? The guards’ll find you with your dick cut off and your balls in your mouth. So… you can have it easy… or you can have it hard. What’s it gonna be, Andersen?”
I stared at him for a long moment.
Then I said, “Like I told you, I can’t give you anything on Dario because I don’t know anything. And I’m not going to lie for you. So if that’s it, I’d like to go back to my cell now.”
Bernardi got a vicious look on his face. “This is your last chance, Andersen.”
“Well…” I said hesitantly. “There is ONE thing I can tell you.”
The detective almost licked his chops as he leaned across the table. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I leaned in, too, and whispered, “Va’ a farti fottere, pezzo di merda.”
Go fuck yourself, you piece of shit.
Bernardi looked at me with murderous rage, then yelled at the top of his voice, “GUARD!”
