Shooters by Lankford Terrill Lee; Raphael Lev; Parker T. Jefferson

Author:Lankford, Terrill Lee; Raphael, Lev; Parker, T. Jefferson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: FICTION / Thrillers
Publisher: Quixotic Books
Published: 2011-05-06T19:00:00+00:00

6

I sat with Martin Smith and Bob Tate in a sterile white conference room in the back of the Van Nuys Police Department. I could tell that neither of them was in a very good mood. I was becoming a burden to the firm. The cops had provided three hard chairs and a small white table to write on in case anyone needed to make out a suicide note.

"Nick," Martin Smith began, "you're not making things any easier on us playing detective."

"Yeah," Bob Tate chirped in. "Let's cut the Mike Wallace shit, okay, buddy?"

"If I don't find out what really happened that night, no one will," I said.

"That's fine by us," Smith said.

"The less you do, the better," Tate added. They were getting into their rhythm now, each stepping on the last word of the other's sentence. When used against the cops I thought it was funny. Now it was simply annoying.

"Right now the police don't have a solid case."

"But they're working on it."

"You keep stirring things up and they may get enough on you to press charges."

"Maybe even get a conviction."

I looked at them both sternly.

"You guys think I'm guilty."

"We didn't say that," Smith said.

"Neither of us said that," Tate added.

"It's not our job to determine whether you're guilty or innocent."

"We just want to make sure you don't do any time."

I stood up and paced nervously. "This is great: Even my attorneys don't believe me."

"We believe you, Nick."

"Yes. . . . If that's what you want, we believe you."

I slammed my fist down on the table.

"Listen to me goddamnit! I'm innocent. I was set up! I don't know how or why but the whole thing was a fucking setup!"

Martin Smith got up and touched me on the shoulder. "Ease up, Nick. We had a long talk about this. We're with you on this."

"We're on your side."

"We just want you to be a little more …"

"Prudent."

"We don't want to go to trial on this thing."

"And if we go to trial we don't want to . . ."

"Lose."

"So do us a favor. Just stay home. Get some rest."

"Catch up on your reading."

"Do whatever you want. But stay away from anything related to this case."

"Things are bad enough already."

"Please promise not to do any more detective work."

I stood up straight and looked at them both. I realized I was totally on my own. A look of calm resolve washed over me. I decided to lie to them.

"Whatever you guys say."

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.