“I feel like we’re going around in circles,” I told him flatly. “And if he is as bad as you indicate, then shouldn’t you be happy he’s out of business for good?”
“I’m not that type of person,” he said and I could see a soft honesty in his eyes. “He belongs behind bars, paying for what he’s done. His men deserved to be taken down right along with him, and his business needs to be shut down for good.”
Yeah, he had me there. Now that Ray was gone, his underlings would be fighting for the position. Things would go on and there would be a new top dog. But then again, if they shut him down, there were people out there just waiting to take a piece of what was left over.
“I want justice for those families that lost people at his hands,” he said clearly not caring that I didn’t want to hear any more of his rant.
“You want justice?” I asked with a bite in my tone. “You are such the good guy and cops are so perfect just here to make the world a better place, yeah? Well, let me tell you something about justice.”
I flipped open the folder with my rap sheet and once I saw the date I had permanently burned into my mind, I flipped the paper around and pointed it out.
“How about justice for a sixteen-year-old girl that had no place to live? How about the man that raped her and left her in a dirty alley, beaten and bloody? Because as far as I know, he’s still out there.”
His eyes dropped away from me for a long moment.
“And how about the cop that took me in that night and harassed me for loitering?” I went on. No, I didn’t expect him to come up with answers to any of these questions. “Who booked me for disturbing the peace when it was obvious that I wasn’t coherent enough to know my name.”
“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “But that wasn’t me. It doesn’t excuse what happened to you. And I understand that you’re angry. Rightfully so. I can’t do anything about that. However, I can tell you that I’m nothing like that. I would never do that to a victim.”
“Am I not one now?” I asked as I pointed to my face. “Or have you already forgotten what he did to me?”
“I just need to know what happened. Someone killed him and three of his men. I have to catch this person because there can’t be people out there that think it’s alright to take matters into their own hands. Good or bad that Mr. Ramos is dead, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s not legal.”
“You live in your world, Detective, and I live in mine. I can’t say that I’m not sorry he’s dead. But I also can’t tell you anything because I didn’tseeanything.”
“I can help you now if you tell me. Once you leave out that door…” He let those words hang there for a few beats before going on. “If I find anything that indicates you had any involvement in Mr. Ramos’ death, I won’t be able to help you.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you won’t find anything then.” I held firm to my story as I stared him down. “Am I free to go now?”
With a sigh, he nodded. He had nothing to hold me on and we both knew it. I shouldn’t have let this go on as long as I did but I knew if I looked like I was trying to be bold, then I’d end up coming off like I had something to do with it. Or at least knew something.
I stood at the same moment he did. I waited for him to open the door and then I walked out.
“Don’t go far,” he said to my back. “I’m sure there will be some follow-up questions.”
“Yes, sir,” I said and carried on my way.
Once outside, I breathed in a huge lungful of fresh air. I tried not to look crazy, you know, since I was still standing right outside of the police station. But damn, did it feel good to be out of there.
Fuck me.
What was I going to do now?
I couldn’t go back to the condo. I didn’t have any friends, so the option of crashing on someone’s couch was a no-go. I had my purse. Luckily, I’d thought to ask for it before they shoved me in the squad car and hauled me away.
But before I could figure it out, a hand covered my mouth as an arm wrapped around my waist from behind.
I started screaming and kicking but the person hauling me up and away was too strong.
I was tossed in the air and then I hit something hard.
And before I could get anything out, I saw the trunk lid closing down on me.
-17-
Silas
Grace pulled out her phone once I was done with my story. I’d tried to keep it as short as possible but it still took up a good amount of time. I knew I had to give her enough to get a good feel for the whole thing. I didn’t lie to her. In fact, I was completely honest to the point that it pulled at my soul to go through those memories again.
