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I lean against the counter and ask Carrie, “Do either of these pieces of human garbage look familiar to you?”
She motions toward the bloody lump on the floor and says, “I can’t tell with that one but this guy…” She turns her gaze to the scowling bum seated against the wall and says, “He was definitely one of the three guys at the party. He chased me down the street.”
The rage burns in my chest, and I want to crush him like a paper bag. I clench my fists and roll my head to release the tension that’s started to build. “What’s the deal, dickbag? You idiots were peddling drugs and grabbing asses, and you went too far and killed a girl. Who did you think was gonna talk? One of your customers? This girl? She doesn’t even know your name. Why would you risk coming after her here?”
“I’m not talking to you,” he groans.
“You’re right. There’s only one question you need to answer. Who are you working for?”
He grins and says, “Yeah, right. Nice try.”
“Carrie you should probably go back upstairs,” I tell her but never take my eyes off the perp.
“Why?” she asks.
“Because he’s about to be bloodier than the other guy, and I don’t want you to have to see this,” I answer and take two steps toward the cowering idiot.
“What are you gonna do to him?” her voice shakes as she asks.
“First, I’m gonna beat him. If that doesn’t work, I’m gonna start shooting. Arms, legs, dick, feet, hands. There are so many places that aren’t fatal. Leave the room now, princess. It’s gonna get messy in here.”
“But, Chris…” she tries to argue.
“Go, I’ll let you know when you can call 911. He’s gonna be grateful for the ride to the hospital.”
Carrie reluctantly turns and heads for the stairs. I crack my knuckles and cock my pistol then take another step in his direction. I grip the gun in the palm of my hand and lean down positioned to pistol-whip the side of his face.
“Last time, asshole. Who are you working for?” I raise my arm to swing and he cries out.
“Stop, wait! You don’t get it. If I run my mouth, I’m dead. If you don’t, you might be dead tonight and I promise, it won’t be quick.” I raise my arm again and he shakes his head and says, “Alright, alright. Just wait. I can’t talk unless you promise me that I’ll get some kind of protection.”
“You’ll have lots of protection. There are hundreds of guards at the State Penn. You’re going down for rape and murder if you make it out of my kitchen alive.”
His stalling is getting on my nerves so I grab him by the shoulders and bring my face close to his. “This isn’t a game, man. I ain’t playing. I will torture you until I get what I need from you and then, well, I’m not sure what I’ll do then. But, if you talk now, you can go to lock up instead of the hospital or the morgue. That’s better, right?”
“It’s a cop, okay? He supplies the product and we sell it. When this crazy shit went down, he told us we had to tie up the loose ends. Your girl is the only loose end there is. I swear man, I would’ve just let it go if it was up to me. It’s not. He’ll kill me.”
“I think we’ve been through all of the scenarios regarding your future. Now, give me a name or I’ll save my energy and just start shooting.”
“Simpson. His name is Simpson. That’s all I know.”
I walk toward the staircase and find Carrie sitting on the top step, “You can call 911 now, baby.”
She smiles and pulls out her phone.
11
THE WRAP UP
CHRIS
Officer Simpson generally works the night shift, which is why I’ve never heard of him. I imagine cops who are drug dealers prefer to keep a low profile. He’s also the guy who logs entries into the evidence room, which gives him easy access to drugs and weapons.
We take them off the street, and he puts them right back out there. He must have had an exit strategy, though. There’s no way he could have expected this to go on forever. Eventually, someone would put two and two together on the missing contraband.
The Chief did a quick inventory of the evidence room after I called him and already has Simpson in lock up when Carrie and I arrive at the station. It’s just a hunch on my part, but when only two perps showed up at my cabin, I wondered where the third guy could be. Sure, maybe he was already locked up on a different charge or maybe he didn’t want to get caught breaking into a cop's house because he was also a cop.
That’s why I asked the Chief for a lineup. Carrie said that neither of the two guys who broke in was big enough to have been the killer. Maybe, just maybe, it was Simpson himself who went too far that night. It would explain why he was hellbent on getting Carrie out of the picture.
