This Girl Who Was A Ghost, page 14
part #2 of Near Future Series
“Arm?”
“Where did you think?”
Sammy shook her head. “Better not hurt.”
“You may feel a tingling sensation.”
“Is that your way of saying that I’ll be on the floor convulsing?”
He moved the probe along the back of her arm above the elbow. “I should hope not.”
“Felt something.”
Leo moved the wave up a notch on the display.
“Felt more like an itch that time.”
He adjusted the wave again. Her elbow twitched. “Good. We’ve been able to create muscle contraction.”
“Is this where the convulsing starts?”
Leo zoomed in on the tree branch display, showing dozens of strands. “Now we’ll target individual nerves until we locate the one that actuates the extending tendon.” As he targeted each nerve, muscles in the forearm, wrist, and finger twitched. “I wonder if it’s in the radial cluster.” Leo selected another nerve.
Her fingers shot out about an inch. Suction cups dotted the tips.
Leo grinned. “So it is in the ulnar cluster.”
“Is this as long as they get now?”
Leo made a note on his tablet. “They’re only partially extended.”
Sammy pressed her palms together. The fingers on her right hand extended out about an inch and a half. “Do they go back?”
“Stimulating one of the four remaining nerves should cause them to retract.”
“Should?”
“I don’t have another subject to compare. Should is the best I can offer at the moment.”
“Could’ve lied.”
He picked up the probe. “Next nerve.” He tested the remaining nerves, but the fingers didn’t change.
Sammy jumped from the stool and paced. “I knew it. I just knew it.”
Leo leaned on the counter, studying the tree branch on the display. “There were three nerves that showed minimal reaction. One of those could signal the retraction.”
“Why don’t you throw a dart blindfolded and pick a nerve that way?”
The door creaked open and Cindy popped her head inside. “I’ve been looking all over for you, Sam. What are you doing in here?”
Sammy shoved her hand into her pocket. “Just talking to Leo.”
Cindy stepped in, looking over the room. “It’s a little different from the last time I was here.”
“Why don’t you shake hands and congratulate her on her new position.”
“Very funny, Leo,” Sammy said. “Give me another boost, and I’ll show you how funny it is.”
“I warned you this could happen.”
“It would’ve happened with anyone.”
“There are more boundaries with strangers.”
“Guess I should get to know this stuff.” Cindy ran her finger along the front counter. “That’s if I get the job.”
“I’ll save you the indignities.” Leo marched up to Cindy. “I spoke with Johnny, and he agreed to make you my assistant.”
Cindy leapt up on Leo and hugged him. “You won’t regret it.”
Leo stepped back, looking flustered. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“Did you hear, Sam?”
“I knew you’d get it.” Sammy wanted to give her a congratulatory hug, but couldn’t with these damned fingers.
Leo ushered Cindy to the door. “Why don’t you see Johnny and have him reinstate you, then I’ll meet you upstairs to set up a schedule.”
Cindy nodded. “Coming, Sam?”
Sammy pressed her fingers against her leg, hoping the tips would fall off.
“I’m conducting an allergy test on her hand. It will need to be monitored for another twenty minutes or so.”
“Can I help?”
Leo opened the door. “It’s more important you meet with Johnny.” He closed the door and locked it.
Sammy pulled her hand out of the pocket. “Thanks.”
“There’ll be more of those incidences in the future.”
“Feel like a jerk for not congratulating her.”
Leo stepped in front of the display. “Let’s stimulate these other nerves and see what happens.”
“Think you’ll figure it out in twenty minutes?”
“If not, we can always opt for bandages.”
Chapter Thirty
________________________________________
Sammy slid into the back of the transporter with Cindy. The tips of her fingers felt sensitive, but other than that, her hand was back to normal. Cindy got a cheap phone with the job. Sammy wanted to ask her what Johnny was paying but figured it was best not to open that wound.
Cindy tapped Sammy’s arm. “It was so good to see the girls. It felt like I haven’t seen them in months. Must’ve talked their ear off.”
“They’re happy to have you back.”
“I was going nuts in that apartment, Sam, absolutely nuts.”
“Now you can go nuts with Leo.”
“Leo’s been so great.”
“I told him more than once that he should be nominated for a humanitarian award.”
“If I had a vote, I’d write his name in.”
“We should check for places that take nominations.”
“What’s his last name?”
“Frankenstein.”
“No,” Cindy said. “Is it?”
Sammy shrugged. “I’m sure only the feds know for sure.”
Cindy narrowed her focus on her. “Sometimes I can’t tell when you’re serious.”
Sammy knew he was hiding from somebody, and it wasn’t some lady looking for child support.
“Johnny was really good about it. Thought he’d have to be arm twisted to bring me back.”
“What did he say?”
“He said if I made Leo happy, he was happy.”
Sammy gritted her teeth. “Creep.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
“I never thought I made Leo happy. Sometimes I get the feeling he doesn’t want me around.”
“Leo’s a complicated guy.”
Cindy nodded, peering out through the front window. “What were you doing down there for so long?”
“He was telling me about his lemonade-making days.”
“Now I know you’re joking.”
“He was known as Leo the lemonade man. Bring him a bowl of lemons tomorrow, and he’ll make you the best lemonade you’ve ever had.”
“You have me tied in knots, Sam. I don’t know what to think now.”
“He had a prime corner spot in midtown and his catchphrase was…” Sammy turned her head in a slow staccato fashion. “When you’re stuck with a lemon, make lemonade.”
Cindy laughed, giving Sammy a playful shove. “You’re terrible.”
Sammy smiled.
“Go to a movie?” Cindy asked as if she needed permission.
Sammy nodded. “Can you see trailers on that phone?”
Cindy examined it. “It’s not as good as the other one, but Johnny’s taking a big risk in hiring me.”
What was he paying? A set of lab coats?
Cindy showed her one of the movie trailers. “Not bad.”
Sammy had to squint.
“I’ll check Maria’s truth poll,” Cindy said, flipping through the screen. “You were up earlier.”
It’d been a whopping one percent lead over Gladys.
“I won’t tell you the results if you don’t want.”
Sammy looked out the window. They were no more than a few blocks away from the apartment. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Whoa, you’re way up, Sam.”
“What happened? Somebody slipped Gladys truth serum?”
Cindy shook her head. “It doesn’t say. Let me check the comments.”
The apartment was the next block.
“The avenging angel has my vote. The avenging angel’s word is good enough for me.” Cindy lowered the phone. “Who’s this avenging angel?”
“Shit,” Sammy said, looking out the window. She banged on the transporter’s front panel. “Go, go.”
“Arrived at destination,” the transporter said. “Please specify new destination.”
Cindy gazed out the window. “Is that Maria Santiago?”
Maria raced to the transporter and snatched open the door. “Aren’t you full of surprises, Sam? Or should I say, ‘Amanda’?”
Chapter Thirty-One
________________________________________
Sammy rifled through her pocket for the key.
“You’re the avenging angel?” Cindy asked.
“That’s just a stupid name she came up with.”
“The parents called you angel for pulling their kids to safety,” Maria said. “You’re a real hero.”
Cindy pawed at Sammy’s arm. “You pulled them to safety?”
“It wasn’t like the building was on fire.”
“You saved twelve lives.”
“I saved myself.”
“Why did you pull them out if you were only interested in saving yourself?”
“I couldn’t just leave them in there. The asshole was still pumping poison into the room.”
“The humble, reluctant hero,” Maria said. “The people are eager to hear your story.”
“See how she spins everything.” Sammy twirled her hand in the air. “What do they call you? Cyclone Maria?”
Maria grinned. “I’ve been called many things but never that one.”
Cindy turned to Maria. “Why avenging angel?”
“Because it’s snappier,” Sammy said. “It sells more of those bots they’re always hawking.”
“Not quite true, Sam. You were implicated in breaking the suspect’s jaw.”
“He was no suspect. He did it.”
Cindy’s brows arched. “You broke someone’s jaw?”
“That’s what she said. Could be spin for all I know.”
“Didn’t you crack a violin over his head?”
Sammy nodded. “Best use I ever got out of that thing.”
Cindy gave her one of those disapproving looks.
“They locked us in a room and gassed us, Cindy.”
“You sure it wasn’t a mistake?”
“Yeah, a mistake that we lived.”
“Why would he do that?”
“The reason why anyone does anything: money.”
“Cass, close-up,” Maria said, waving Cindy and Sammy apart. The bot rolled to within a few steps.
Sammy fished out the key. “Close-up and goodbye.”
Maria grabbed her arm. “Sam, people need to know what happened.”
“Why? So you can run another poll?”
“You’re way ahead in that poll, Sam. People trust you.”
“She’s right,” Cindy said. “They should hear it from you.”
Sammy looked down at the key. She feared this would lead to more shit she’d have to worm out of.
Maria put on her serious news-reporter face. “Sam, you mentioned that the motivation for this heinous act was money. What did you mean?”
“Money? It comes in handy when you want to buy things.”
Maria chuckled. It seemed false. “How does the money fit in here?”
“They were going to burn the violin and get the insurance money.”
“How did you find out about this?”
“I overheard them.”
“Them?”
“Violin Face and Mort the snake.”
“Mortimer Edelson? Paolo’s manager?”
Sammy shrugged. “I guess.”
“So you heard about the plot, then what?”
“I told Clara, but she thought I was just another dumb kid.”
“She works for the hall?”
“She was supposed to be in charge of the kids. A seeing-eye dog would’ve done a better job.”
“She ignored your concerns, then what?”
“Mort the snake tells us to go to the room by the stage because Paolo is going to be there soon.”
“Where was Clara during this?”
“She was the Pied Piper, leading us toward our doom. I tried to break away, but Violin Face came up behind me and pressed a knife to my back.”
Cindy’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God, Sam.”
“Yes, truly chilling,” Maria said. “No one noticed this man’s unusual behavior?”
“The only thing Clara noticed was that I didn’t have a name tag. She took off, leaving us with the creep.”
Maria’s eyes widened. “She entrusted the safety of the group into the hands of a stranger?”
Sammy nodded. “I knew it was a trap. Why else would he be leading me to the room at knife point? I swung the violin case at him at the door and yelled for everyone to get out.”
“She’s so brave,” Cindy said. “I’ve seen it time and again.”
Maria nodded.
“I knew he wasn’t taking us there for foot massages, so I liked my chances better outside.”
A cop car pulled up to the curb.
Sammy glanced past the bot, wondering if she should make a run for it.
The car door swung open and Russo stepped out. He took a quick scan of the area before advancing.
Maria looked back and cursed. “Keep going.”
Russo reached out and pitched the bot back. “Stop recording.”
Maria glared at Russo and ended the recording. Cass’s arms retracted as it sprang back into position. “Damn you, Russo. How’s a girl supposed to make a living with you always lurking about?”
“Lurking is one of the perks of the job.”
“Come on, Russo, just a few more minutes.”
“You’re dangerously close to interfering with an open investigation.”
“Interfering? You wouldn’t have a case if it weren’t for me.”
“On behalf of the police department, I thank you for your contribution. I’m sure there’s a good-citizen plaque in this for you.”
“You know what you can do with that plaque?”
Russo grinned. “No, but I’m open to suggestions.”
“Give a girl a break, and let me have five more minutes. We’ll get a couple of drinks at O’Neill’s on me?”
“Sounds like a bribe.”
“Bribe? What bribe? I can’t buy a friend a drink?”
“We’re friends now?” Russo turned to Sammy. “You’re coming with me. Some people want to talk to you.”
“I knew it was a mistake talking to her.”
“Sorry, Sam,” Cindy said.
Russo turned, nodding for Sammy to follow him. “Just a few questions.”
Sammy brushed past Maria. “Can you just stay out of my life?”
“I’m the victim here too, Sam.”
Russo swung open the door. “Such civic pride brings a tear to my eye.”
“I’ll remember this next time you need a favor, Russo.”
“Goes both ways, Santiago.”
Sammy slid across the seat to the passenger side. Russo hopped in and closed the door. Sammy slumped into the seat and folded her arms. “What is it going to be? Fire hoses or rubber hoses?”
Russo turned on the car and glanced over. “We’ll have to see what we have on hand.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
________________________________________
Sammy tapped her foot outside the office of the assistant district attorney, Kyra Kawaguchi. Russo paced by the door.
The door opened. “Sergeant?” said a medium-build guy in a suit. He held the door for them.
A woman in her forties sat behind a dark gray metal desk and looked up from her tablet, flashing Sammy a polite smile. “Thank you for coming.”
Sammy always checked for necklaces and bracelets when she spotted someone like her. A thin gold necklace hid behind a white blouse under a navy blazer.
Kyra scanned the room. “Where’s Lantz?”
“I’ll get him.” The guy darted out of the office.
The room was sparse with hard tiled floors and bare walls, save for two plaques. The light gray walls felt as if they were closing in on her.
“I understand you’re acting as her guardian in this proceeding, Sergeant?”
Russo nodded.
“Do I need to know the reason for this arrangement?”
“She’s a runaway and a CI in a murder investigation.”
“Is that the normal procedure at the Crime Task Force to use minors as informants?”
“If it helps put the bad guys away.”
A big-bellied guy breezed through the door wearing a suit jacket he got forty pounds ago. “Sorry I’m late,” he said with the breathiness of someone not used to moving much. “Good old Russo delivered.”
Russo gazed at him with a sly grin. “I see you’ve slimmed down since the last time I saw you.”
“What can I say? I married a good cook.”
Did he swallow her too?
“Sit, Lantz,” Kyra said. “You’re making me nervous.”
Wasn’t he the cop who Maria interviewed at the concert hall?
Lantz angled the chair toward her and Russo. “Kyra, the reason you’re involved this early is that this witness has issues.”
“Such as?”
“There is a federal murder investigation, a home invasion, and she’s a runaway, not to mention she broke the jaw of one of the suspects.”
The lady narrowed her gaze at Sammy. “Is that all?”
“She was never considered a prime suspect in the murder investigation,” Russo said. “Recent evidence suggests it’s someone else. The feds took over the case for reasons we can all speculate on.”
Lantz leaned forward, creaking in the chair. “Was that yours?”
Russo shook his head. “It was Garber’s at the One-Nine. The feds shut it down after five states showed interest in Jane Doe for multiple homicides.”
The lady leaned over the desk, looking at Sammy. “Young lady, how did you get involved with this woman?”
“I went to this skin joint on a dare, and I met her there. She became a full-blown stalker. After I ignored her, she called me with Gladys’s phone and told me I’d better come or people will start dying.”
“Why didn’t you call the police?”
“Because that psycho would’ve slit their throats and snuck out the back while the cops were licking donut jelly off their fingers.”
“So you thought you could handle this yourself?”
“Where did you think?”
Sammy shook her head. “Better not hurt.”
“You may feel a tingling sensation.”
“Is that your way of saying that I’ll be on the floor convulsing?”
He moved the probe along the back of her arm above the elbow. “I should hope not.”
“Felt something.”
Leo moved the wave up a notch on the display.
“Felt more like an itch that time.”
He adjusted the wave again. Her elbow twitched. “Good. We’ve been able to create muscle contraction.”
“Is this where the convulsing starts?”
Leo zoomed in on the tree branch display, showing dozens of strands. “Now we’ll target individual nerves until we locate the one that actuates the extending tendon.” As he targeted each nerve, muscles in the forearm, wrist, and finger twitched. “I wonder if it’s in the radial cluster.” Leo selected another nerve.
Her fingers shot out about an inch. Suction cups dotted the tips.
Leo grinned. “So it is in the ulnar cluster.”
“Is this as long as they get now?”
Leo made a note on his tablet. “They’re only partially extended.”
Sammy pressed her palms together. The fingers on her right hand extended out about an inch and a half. “Do they go back?”
“Stimulating one of the four remaining nerves should cause them to retract.”
“Should?”
“I don’t have another subject to compare. Should is the best I can offer at the moment.”
“Could’ve lied.”
He picked up the probe. “Next nerve.” He tested the remaining nerves, but the fingers didn’t change.
Sammy jumped from the stool and paced. “I knew it. I just knew it.”
Leo leaned on the counter, studying the tree branch on the display. “There were three nerves that showed minimal reaction. One of those could signal the retraction.”
“Why don’t you throw a dart blindfolded and pick a nerve that way?”
The door creaked open and Cindy popped her head inside. “I’ve been looking all over for you, Sam. What are you doing in here?”
Sammy shoved her hand into her pocket. “Just talking to Leo.”
Cindy stepped in, looking over the room. “It’s a little different from the last time I was here.”
“Why don’t you shake hands and congratulate her on her new position.”
“Very funny, Leo,” Sammy said. “Give me another boost, and I’ll show you how funny it is.”
“I warned you this could happen.”
“It would’ve happened with anyone.”
“There are more boundaries with strangers.”
“Guess I should get to know this stuff.” Cindy ran her finger along the front counter. “That’s if I get the job.”
“I’ll save you the indignities.” Leo marched up to Cindy. “I spoke with Johnny, and he agreed to make you my assistant.”
Cindy leapt up on Leo and hugged him. “You won’t regret it.”
Leo stepped back, looking flustered. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
“Did you hear, Sam?”
“I knew you’d get it.” Sammy wanted to give her a congratulatory hug, but couldn’t with these damned fingers.
Leo ushered Cindy to the door. “Why don’t you see Johnny and have him reinstate you, then I’ll meet you upstairs to set up a schedule.”
Cindy nodded. “Coming, Sam?”
Sammy pressed her fingers against her leg, hoping the tips would fall off.
“I’m conducting an allergy test on her hand. It will need to be monitored for another twenty minutes or so.”
“Can I help?”
Leo opened the door. “It’s more important you meet with Johnny.” He closed the door and locked it.
Sammy pulled her hand out of the pocket. “Thanks.”
“There’ll be more of those incidences in the future.”
“Feel like a jerk for not congratulating her.”
Leo stepped in front of the display. “Let’s stimulate these other nerves and see what happens.”
“Think you’ll figure it out in twenty minutes?”
“If not, we can always opt for bandages.”
Chapter Thirty
________________________________________
Sammy slid into the back of the transporter with Cindy. The tips of her fingers felt sensitive, but other than that, her hand was back to normal. Cindy got a cheap phone with the job. Sammy wanted to ask her what Johnny was paying but figured it was best not to open that wound.
Cindy tapped Sammy’s arm. “It was so good to see the girls. It felt like I haven’t seen them in months. Must’ve talked their ear off.”
“They’re happy to have you back.”
“I was going nuts in that apartment, Sam, absolutely nuts.”
“Now you can go nuts with Leo.”
“Leo’s been so great.”
“I told him more than once that he should be nominated for a humanitarian award.”
“If I had a vote, I’d write his name in.”
“We should check for places that take nominations.”
“What’s his last name?”
“Frankenstein.”
“No,” Cindy said. “Is it?”
Sammy shrugged. “I’m sure only the feds know for sure.”
Cindy narrowed her focus on her. “Sometimes I can’t tell when you’re serious.”
Sammy knew he was hiding from somebody, and it wasn’t some lady looking for child support.
“Johnny was really good about it. Thought he’d have to be arm twisted to bring me back.”
“What did he say?”
“He said if I made Leo happy, he was happy.”
Sammy gritted her teeth. “Creep.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
“I never thought I made Leo happy. Sometimes I get the feeling he doesn’t want me around.”
“Leo’s a complicated guy.”
Cindy nodded, peering out through the front window. “What were you doing down there for so long?”
“He was telling me about his lemonade-making days.”
“Now I know you’re joking.”
“He was known as Leo the lemonade man. Bring him a bowl of lemons tomorrow, and he’ll make you the best lemonade you’ve ever had.”
“You have me tied in knots, Sam. I don’t know what to think now.”
“He had a prime corner spot in midtown and his catchphrase was…” Sammy turned her head in a slow staccato fashion. “When you’re stuck with a lemon, make lemonade.”
Cindy laughed, giving Sammy a playful shove. “You’re terrible.”
Sammy smiled.
“Go to a movie?” Cindy asked as if she needed permission.
Sammy nodded. “Can you see trailers on that phone?”
Cindy examined it. “It’s not as good as the other one, but Johnny’s taking a big risk in hiring me.”
What was he paying? A set of lab coats?
Cindy showed her one of the movie trailers. “Not bad.”
Sammy had to squint.
“I’ll check Maria’s truth poll,” Cindy said, flipping through the screen. “You were up earlier.”
It’d been a whopping one percent lead over Gladys.
“I won’t tell you the results if you don’t want.”
Sammy looked out the window. They were no more than a few blocks away from the apartment. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Whoa, you’re way up, Sam.”
“What happened? Somebody slipped Gladys truth serum?”
Cindy shook her head. “It doesn’t say. Let me check the comments.”
The apartment was the next block.
“The avenging angel has my vote. The avenging angel’s word is good enough for me.” Cindy lowered the phone. “Who’s this avenging angel?”
“Shit,” Sammy said, looking out the window. She banged on the transporter’s front panel. “Go, go.”
“Arrived at destination,” the transporter said. “Please specify new destination.”
Cindy gazed out the window. “Is that Maria Santiago?”
Maria raced to the transporter and snatched open the door. “Aren’t you full of surprises, Sam? Or should I say, ‘Amanda’?”
Chapter Thirty-One
________________________________________
Sammy rifled through her pocket for the key.
“You’re the avenging angel?” Cindy asked.
“That’s just a stupid name she came up with.”
“The parents called you angel for pulling their kids to safety,” Maria said. “You’re a real hero.”
Cindy pawed at Sammy’s arm. “You pulled them to safety?”
“It wasn’t like the building was on fire.”
“You saved twelve lives.”
“I saved myself.”
“Why did you pull them out if you were only interested in saving yourself?”
“I couldn’t just leave them in there. The asshole was still pumping poison into the room.”
“The humble, reluctant hero,” Maria said. “The people are eager to hear your story.”
“See how she spins everything.” Sammy twirled her hand in the air. “What do they call you? Cyclone Maria?”
Maria grinned. “I’ve been called many things but never that one.”
Cindy turned to Maria. “Why avenging angel?”
“Because it’s snappier,” Sammy said. “It sells more of those bots they’re always hawking.”
“Not quite true, Sam. You were implicated in breaking the suspect’s jaw.”
“He was no suspect. He did it.”
Cindy’s brows arched. “You broke someone’s jaw?”
“That’s what she said. Could be spin for all I know.”
“Didn’t you crack a violin over his head?”
Sammy nodded. “Best use I ever got out of that thing.”
Cindy gave her one of those disapproving looks.
“They locked us in a room and gassed us, Cindy.”
“You sure it wasn’t a mistake?”
“Yeah, a mistake that we lived.”
“Why would he do that?”
“The reason why anyone does anything: money.”
“Cass, close-up,” Maria said, waving Cindy and Sammy apart. The bot rolled to within a few steps.
Sammy fished out the key. “Close-up and goodbye.”
Maria grabbed her arm. “Sam, people need to know what happened.”
“Why? So you can run another poll?”
“You’re way ahead in that poll, Sam. People trust you.”
“She’s right,” Cindy said. “They should hear it from you.”
Sammy looked down at the key. She feared this would lead to more shit she’d have to worm out of.
Maria put on her serious news-reporter face. “Sam, you mentioned that the motivation for this heinous act was money. What did you mean?”
“Money? It comes in handy when you want to buy things.”
Maria chuckled. It seemed false. “How does the money fit in here?”
“They were going to burn the violin and get the insurance money.”
“How did you find out about this?”
“I overheard them.”
“Them?”
“Violin Face and Mort the snake.”
“Mortimer Edelson? Paolo’s manager?”
Sammy shrugged. “I guess.”
“So you heard about the plot, then what?”
“I told Clara, but she thought I was just another dumb kid.”
“She works for the hall?”
“She was supposed to be in charge of the kids. A seeing-eye dog would’ve done a better job.”
“She ignored your concerns, then what?”
“Mort the snake tells us to go to the room by the stage because Paolo is going to be there soon.”
“Where was Clara during this?”
“She was the Pied Piper, leading us toward our doom. I tried to break away, but Violin Face came up behind me and pressed a knife to my back.”
Cindy’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God, Sam.”
“Yes, truly chilling,” Maria said. “No one noticed this man’s unusual behavior?”
“The only thing Clara noticed was that I didn’t have a name tag. She took off, leaving us with the creep.”
Maria’s eyes widened. “She entrusted the safety of the group into the hands of a stranger?”
Sammy nodded. “I knew it was a trap. Why else would he be leading me to the room at knife point? I swung the violin case at him at the door and yelled for everyone to get out.”
“She’s so brave,” Cindy said. “I’ve seen it time and again.”
Maria nodded.
“I knew he wasn’t taking us there for foot massages, so I liked my chances better outside.”
A cop car pulled up to the curb.
Sammy glanced past the bot, wondering if she should make a run for it.
The car door swung open and Russo stepped out. He took a quick scan of the area before advancing.
Maria looked back and cursed. “Keep going.”
Russo reached out and pitched the bot back. “Stop recording.”
Maria glared at Russo and ended the recording. Cass’s arms retracted as it sprang back into position. “Damn you, Russo. How’s a girl supposed to make a living with you always lurking about?”
“Lurking is one of the perks of the job.”
“Come on, Russo, just a few more minutes.”
“You’re dangerously close to interfering with an open investigation.”
“Interfering? You wouldn’t have a case if it weren’t for me.”
“On behalf of the police department, I thank you for your contribution. I’m sure there’s a good-citizen plaque in this for you.”
“You know what you can do with that plaque?”
Russo grinned. “No, but I’m open to suggestions.”
“Give a girl a break, and let me have five more minutes. We’ll get a couple of drinks at O’Neill’s on me?”
“Sounds like a bribe.”
“Bribe? What bribe? I can’t buy a friend a drink?”
“We’re friends now?” Russo turned to Sammy. “You’re coming with me. Some people want to talk to you.”
“I knew it was a mistake talking to her.”
“Sorry, Sam,” Cindy said.
Russo turned, nodding for Sammy to follow him. “Just a few questions.”
Sammy brushed past Maria. “Can you just stay out of my life?”
“I’m the victim here too, Sam.”
Russo swung open the door. “Such civic pride brings a tear to my eye.”
“I’ll remember this next time you need a favor, Russo.”
“Goes both ways, Santiago.”
Sammy slid across the seat to the passenger side. Russo hopped in and closed the door. Sammy slumped into the seat and folded her arms. “What is it going to be? Fire hoses or rubber hoses?”
Russo turned on the car and glanced over. “We’ll have to see what we have on hand.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
________________________________________
Sammy tapped her foot outside the office of the assistant district attorney, Kyra Kawaguchi. Russo paced by the door.
The door opened. “Sergeant?” said a medium-build guy in a suit. He held the door for them.
A woman in her forties sat behind a dark gray metal desk and looked up from her tablet, flashing Sammy a polite smile. “Thank you for coming.”
Sammy always checked for necklaces and bracelets when she spotted someone like her. A thin gold necklace hid behind a white blouse under a navy blazer.
Kyra scanned the room. “Where’s Lantz?”
“I’ll get him.” The guy darted out of the office.
The room was sparse with hard tiled floors and bare walls, save for two plaques. The light gray walls felt as if they were closing in on her.
“I understand you’re acting as her guardian in this proceeding, Sergeant?”
Russo nodded.
“Do I need to know the reason for this arrangement?”
“She’s a runaway and a CI in a murder investigation.”
“Is that the normal procedure at the Crime Task Force to use minors as informants?”
“If it helps put the bad guys away.”
A big-bellied guy breezed through the door wearing a suit jacket he got forty pounds ago. “Sorry I’m late,” he said with the breathiness of someone not used to moving much. “Good old Russo delivered.”
Russo gazed at him with a sly grin. “I see you’ve slimmed down since the last time I saw you.”
“What can I say? I married a good cook.”
Did he swallow her too?
“Sit, Lantz,” Kyra said. “You’re making me nervous.”
Wasn’t he the cop who Maria interviewed at the concert hall?
Lantz angled the chair toward her and Russo. “Kyra, the reason you’re involved this early is that this witness has issues.”
“Such as?”
“There is a federal murder investigation, a home invasion, and she’s a runaway, not to mention she broke the jaw of one of the suspects.”
The lady narrowed her gaze at Sammy. “Is that all?”
“She was never considered a prime suspect in the murder investigation,” Russo said. “Recent evidence suggests it’s someone else. The feds took over the case for reasons we can all speculate on.”
Lantz leaned forward, creaking in the chair. “Was that yours?”
Russo shook his head. “It was Garber’s at the One-Nine. The feds shut it down after five states showed interest in Jane Doe for multiple homicides.”
The lady leaned over the desk, looking at Sammy. “Young lady, how did you get involved with this woman?”
“I went to this skin joint on a dare, and I met her there. She became a full-blown stalker. After I ignored her, she called me with Gladys’s phone and told me I’d better come or people will start dying.”
“Why didn’t you call the police?”
“Because that psycho would’ve slit their throats and snuck out the back while the cops were licking donut jelly off their fingers.”
“So you thought you could handle this yourself?”
