The cops put me in Interview Room One and left me alone for a few minutes, wanting me to sweat. I put my head on the table and tried to rest. My whole body hurt from that goddamned Taser. They had no right to use that shit on me. I worked for them, didn’t I?
Finally two cops came in. One was fat, his pants pulled up around his gut. The other was Asian with spiky black hair.
“Hello, Darren Lewis,” said the Asian guy, reading my name off his clipboard.
My eyes flicked to his badge. “Chang. You the one who Tasered me?”
“No, our beat cops did. That’s what happens when you run.”
“I wouldn’t have run if they’d been in a cop car or flashed some badges.”
“From what I hear, you didn’t give them a chance to talk to you,” said Fattie. “You took off.”
“If you had nothing to hide, why’d you run?” Chang asked.
“Why do you think? I thought I was gonna get shot.”
Chang’s eyes narrowed. “Why’s that? Has your cover been blown?”
So Chang knew that I was an informant. That was a relief. Then why the hell did they beat on me like that?
“My cover’s intact. But when the unmarked car came after me, I figured it was one of Tony’s goons, or maybe the Bloods. I wasn’t going to stand there while someone rolled down their window and shot me.”
“We’re onto you, Darren,” Chang said. “You don’t need to play innocent. We know you set up Prescott.”
“That’s bullshit. I’m his informant. We were—” I almost said “friends,” but I knew they wouldn’t buy it. “We were cool.”
Chang’s mouth twisted in disgust. “He trusted you, and you hung him out to dry.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“You CIs, you’re all the same.” Fattie sneered. “Snitches can’t be trusted. I’ve seen it a million times. CI gives a tip or two and makes a quick buck, then turns on you. I bet you gave up every bit of information you knew about our operation, and convinced Walker that Prescott was his enemy. Did Walker give you a bonus for that?”
“If he knew I was a CI, I’d be dead by now.”
“How do we know Walker didn’t plant you?” Chang asked. “According to your file, you came to us.”
“If you think I’d . . .” I didn’t even know what to say. And then, suddenly, I did. “Check Prescott’s cell phone. I called him last night and left a message saying he should watch out.”
Chang didn’t blink. “There weren’t any messages on his phone. I checked myself.”
“That’s impossible. I know I left that message. You have to check again. Maybe he erased it.”
A hand smacked the back of my head. I hadn’t seen it coming, so I sprawled across the table like a rag doll, smacking my cheek against metal.
I told myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me lose it. But as I stared at the cold metal table, I felt a rush of panic. Were they going to charge me as an accomplice to murder? I couldn’t get locked up again. I couldn’t.
“Don’t think you’re getting away with this, Darren.” Chang loomed above me. “It’s just a matter of time before we find evidence to put you away—as an adult this time, I promise you. You’ll be eighteen before you see trial.”
I lifted my head. “If you’re done threatening me, I’d like to talk to Prescott’s partner, Detective Kessler.” I hoped I’d gotten the name right. Prescott had only mentioned his partner once, and it might’ve been a slip.
Chang exchanged a not-so-subtle glance with Fattie. “You’re dealing with us, not Kessler. Got it?”
“Tell Kessler if he wants to bring down his partner’s murderer, I’ll help. Tell him he’s gotta check the cell phone records.”
“Tell him? Kessler’s a woman, you dumbass.” Fattie cackled. “Sounds like you and Prescott were really close.”
“I take it you’re not charging me. ’Cause if you are, then I’ll need a lawyer.”
“We’re not charging you yet, Darren. But we will. Prescott was a good cop, but he never should’ve trusted you.” Chang leaned close to me. “Did you know he had two babies at home? Babies that don’t have a daddy anymore. Doesn’t that tear you up?”
“Eleanor and Grace,” I said quietly.
He got in my face. “What’s that?”
“Eleanor and Grace. And yeah, I know they don’t have a daddy no more. And it tears me up.”
I glanced from one cop to the other. “If you want justice for Prescott, you’ll stop dicking around and go after Diamond Tony hard. From what I see, Prescott was the only one in this department with the balls to do that.”
This time I knew the slap was coming. And I didn’t care.