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I WAS WITH BURKE AND Sanchez as we interrogated Jax and Mikey Crane at the State Police Boston Barracks on Leverett Circle. The room was barely large enough for the table and chairs. I stood in the corner. Burke and Sanchez sat across from Jax and Mikey.
As it turned out, I had taken on Mikey Crane in the woods. He had an inflatable cast and sling on his arm. Both Jax and Mikey were cuffed to the table.
“Does he have to be here?” Mikey said as he looked over at me.
“No, he doesn't,” Burke said, “but he is staying.”
“Guy broke my arm,” Mikey said.
“We can see that,” Burke said.
“You got off easy,” Sanchez said. “I would have broken something else.”
“He ambushed me while I was taking a leak,” Mikey said. “That ain't right.”
“Technically, you were zipping up,” I said.
“We are charging you on kidnapping and attempted murder,” Burke said to Jax and Mikey. “It's as solid a case as they come. We also like you for the murders of Jack Murphy and Bradley Whitcomb.”
“You can't prove nothing,” Mikey said. “And we ain't talking without a lawyer.”
“You have the right to remain silent,” Sanchez said, “but you may be more interested in the deal we can offer you.”
“What kind of deal?” Mikey said.
“We have gathered evidence against Jocko Scarpelli,” Burke said. “Enough to put him away for a nice stretch. But we want to see him spend the rest of his natural life in prison. You agree to help, and we can work something out.”
“Go on record for Scarpelli ordering the murders,” Sanchez said. “Confess to carrying out those murders and tell us everything you know about Scarpelli's organization.”
“How do we benefit?” Mikey said.
Most criminals flip to shave even a day off their sentence. The DA would not be offering a reduced sentence, so Burke and Sanchez got creative.
“There are a lot of guys on the inside who would love to get a crack at you two,” Burke said. “Guys you have crossed over the years. Guys out for revenge because of jobs you carried out for Scarpelli. We can make sure you are not in the same prison population.”
“You want us to give you everything we got on Scarpelli, and that is all you are offering?” Mikey said. “No way. It's not enough.”
“Oh, come on,” I said. “Use your head for something other than slamming into trees. You can live out your remaining years in jail without having to look over your shoulder. You might even have time to take up a hobby. I bet you would love woodworking. Or is crafting more your thing?”
Mikey gave me the finger. Seems I have been stirring that emotion in people lately.
“Do that again,” Burke said, “and I'll let him snap it like he did your arm.”
“This is the best deal you are going to get,” Sanchez told the two. “The DA will not put a reduced sentence on the table.”
“Forget it,” Mikey said.
“Maybe we should take it,” Jax said.
“Shut up, Jax. We ain't giving them nothing.”
“Suit yourselves,” Burke said.
He and Sanchez got up and walked to the door. As Burke started to turn the knob he paused. “I just remembered something,” he said as he looked back toward the Crane brothers. “You two were once associated with Harry the Hacksaw, weren't you?”
“I believe they were,” Sanchez said.
“He's an extremely disturbed individual,” I said.
“Out and out disturbed,” Sanchez said.
“And didn't he vow to kill you two?” Burke said to Jax and Mikey.
“He's threatened lots of guys,” Mikey said.
“And how many of those guys are now dead?” Sanchez said.
Jax and Mikey looked at each other.
“I'm pretty sure you two will be prison mates with Harry,” Burke said.
“Doesn't he run a prison gang?” I said.
“Oh, sure does,” Burke replied. “And not just a prison gang. The prison gang.”
“But there are guards, and rules, and such,” I said. “I'm sure you two will be fine.”
“No matter,” Burke said. “They don't want to take the deal.”
“We'll get you that lawyer,” Sanchez said.
“What luck,” I said. “A new public defender just out of law school. Ready to take on their first defense case.”
“But what they lack in experience,” Burke said, “they make up for in eagerness.”
“True,” I said. “Eagerness counts for something.”
“Just not normally a very effective defense,” Sanchez said.
Burke and I nodded our heads. Then Burke opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Sanchez and I fell in behind him.
“Hold on a second,” Mikey said.
Burke stopped and looked at me out of the corner of his eye. He winked at me. The three of us turned back into the room.
“We'll take the deal,” Mikey said.
“But you need to keep us away from Harry the Hacksaw,” Jax said.
“Smart move,” Burke said.
Jax and Mikey sang like the Vienna Boys Choir. By the end of the evening, Burke and Sanchez knew all they needed to take down Scarpelli's organization.