FicWad

“But hes dead.” I said stupidly. And then I saw the date stamp on the bottom of it. It was dated last week. .I felt so faint. Like the walls were closing in on me. The men in the suits came into the room now. Someone brought me some water but I couldn’t say who. They gave me a few moments to gather myself back up. I had managed to latch onto Gerard’s arm and wouldn’t it let go. Even after we sat back down. I had my chair slid as close as I could to his.

He was leaning over the table looking at all the pictures and said the words I wanted to but couldn’t seem to find.

“I don’t understand. Who is this then” he pointed at Mr Samuels picture and the chubby guy in the suit pulled out a new picture from his folder and added it to the table. It was a mug shot. The name on the bottom said C Hunter.

It was like my world was turned upside down. I could hear what they were saying but it didn’t make any sense. Apparently after Ray reported ‘Mr Samuel’ sexually assaulted me, Robocop didn’t let it go like I thought he would. He assumed if Mr S did it to me, then he probably did it to another girl and started poking around a bit. It didn’t take him long to see something was wrong. He managed to get Mr S’s prints from our school and compared them to the ones on file at the DMV and found out Mr S wasn’t Mr S at all. He was Chris Hunter.

They seemed to think Chris Hunter killed the real Mr S and took his place. They also seemed to think, despite how the newspaper reported it, that Chris was responsible for his sisters Sammys death.

They just kept pulling out picture after picture lining them up on the table. There was one of Slim. They said his name was Walter DeLuca. They had one of the creepy blue eyed dude. His name was Eric DeLuca. Walters cousin. And he laid out one of Nicky Walker. I just stared at it. For so long I was so desperate to see a picture of him and here it was. I had just never imagined it would be a mug shot…. I was getting lost in my thoughts and Gerards voice pulled me back.

“And where is he now.” Gerard was tapping on the mug shot of Chris Hunter.

Their answer was simple and bland and not what I was expecting in a million years. Chris Hunter was also dead on a slab in the morgue, laid out right next to the real Mr Samuel actually. They even had a picture to prove it but I couldn’t stomach looking at it. Gerard did though. He stared at for quite a bit actually…

But no matter how many times Robocop said it, I couldn’t believe it, Chris Hunter was dead. Someone killed him outside of Atlantic City. I found myself thanking god Lia wasn’t involved. That she wasn’t there. That she didn’t get hurt too… They said he was stabbed. Someone had cut him up pretty bad. His wounds were twisted and deep and I found myself hearing Slims words that day echoing in my head about twisting the knife… I didn’t dare say anything about it though. Just felt myself getting more and more upset.

You think they would take another break. Let me get some air, have a smoke, something. But no. They just continued on. Started talking about a bank robbery in 1978. The chubby guy said he was the original detective on the case. That he knew all of the men on the table very well. That Nicky was the mastermind. I tried not to smile at that but it was hard. All the shit Ray gives me about my IQ, wait till he hears Im a masterminds daughter! Hed say I was genetically gypped or something.

But only Nicky and Chris were arrested. They refused to give up anyone else involved. But chubby cop was sure of what he was saying. There were seven of them involved. Nicky, Chris, Eric, Slim, Sammy, my mom, and a guy named Joe. He arranged the pictures on the table in front of me now.

Joe was killed 10 years ago in a fire, but they had no suspects in that. My mom died of cancer six years ago. Sammy was killed by Chris just recently. Eric was in and out of jail for minor offenses. The same with Slim. Nicky was scheduled to be released in four months. He would’ve been released sooner but like father like daughter he seemed to have problems with the authority figures in jail. Hmm maybe there is something to genetics after all…

Then he started going on about how theres a statue of limitations on bank robberies. In less then 24 hours it would be 4-1-98 and it would be up. Even if they found the money or evidence on another suspect they couldn’t do shit about it.

Even though Slim was Nickys number 2 man, he didn’t trust him with the money. They seemed to think that my mom was the third shooter, even though they couldn’t prove it. And because of this Nicky entrusted the money to my mom. As she would have the most to lose. But then Chirs was released early. And since Nicky was still locked up and Chris was free they suspected he was trying to increase his cut of it before Nicky got out.

I wasn’t sure what any of this had to do with me. They were making it sound like Chris thought I knew where it was… And if that was his plan it was a stupid one because I didnt. But I don’t know how things would’ve played out. Chris was a professional con man. Just cause I couldn’t see how he was trying to con me didn’t mean he wasn’t or it wasn’t working… Maybe he was just trying to get close to me to extort Nicky? To use me as leverage? I wasn’t sure, neither were they. But it didn’t matter now…

I looked over at Gerard and couldn’t really tell what he was thinking. The cops had stopped talking now and were waiting for us to say something but I didn’t know what. So Gerard spoke for both of us. I was surprised but not really with what he said. I guess he figured it was better to just put it all out there. He told them everything. About how we met Slim. About Eric breaking in to talk to me. About the box Sammy sent me. And that seemed to really get their attention. But then he told them he burned the note to protect me and couldn’t remember exactly what it said, just some letters and numbers. I knew he was lying.

Not about burning it. But about not knowing what it said. It was clearly all over his face but these cops didn’t know him like I did and couldn’t tell… He told them all that was in the box was my old bear and I saw the same murderous flicker in the cops eyes now. They wanted bow-bow.

At first I said no. Simply out of principle. But then they started going on about how much trouble we’d be in for interfering or holding anything back from them. But then I pointed out theyd have to catch us doing that with in the next 24 hours and the mood changed in the room.

It turned into an attempt to scare me I suppose. They started going on about all these bad things my father allegedly did. Saying how they couldn’t protect me if I didn’t help them. And what did I think was going to happen? Four of the seven involved were now dead. Three were left and a 25 million dollar secret was seemingly taken to my moms grave.

He pointed out that if Chris thought I knew where it was then it was safe to assume the others did as well… But I knew. I knew in my heart of hearts that Nicky wouldn’t hurt me. And if Slim had such loyalty to him he wouldn’t either, not for 25 million not for a hundred million…

Finally I told him whatever. I really didn’t care anymore. That bow-bow was in a box in my garage and they could help themselves to him and anything else they wanted for their investigation. They only had around 24 hours left in it anyway. And they weren’t going to find anything in my house to incriminate me in anything.

All the drugs were gone. Half my shit was burnt up too. And bow-bow… well. it was strange. I just didn’t care anymore. Stuff meant nothing to me. The most valuable possession I owned I had. My ring from Gerard. If someone tried to take that from me God help them, but the bear. The bear I could live with out…

They gave us a couple of business cards and the standard call us if you learn anything else but it was unlikely. I mean chubby cop was nice and all but if I never saw him again it would be too soon…

Gerard and I walked back to his car in silence. I felt this tremendous wave of relief pass over me as we got in. I had some answers. Finally. Felt like it took me a lifetime to get them, but it was worth it.

Gerard started the car and it was still silent. He didn’t say where were going and I didn’t ask. He had started chain smoking. And for a while we just drove like that in silence. Him smoking and me staring out the window. Each reflecting to ourselves on what had just happened I suppose. It was a lot to take in. . Finally, I broke the silence.

“Gerard I want to go somewhere and lay down a bit…please.” I sort of asked him and he nodded. He didn’t say it but I knew he was going to bring me back to his house. I could tell cause he glanced up like he was checking what road we were on and where to get off to head in that direction. “Oh but no, not to your house.” I added quickly and he frowned. I didn’t want to go to his house. For so many reasons I couldn’t even count.

“Why not?” He somewhat mumbled as he lit his third cigarette now.

“I just.” I stammered unintentionally. “I mean its Saturday right?” I asked and he nodded. “Yeah so your parents are going to be home and I don’t want, I don’t know.” I felt my body tensing up. “I don’t want to be bringing my problems there.” I just threw it out there and he mumbled something about what problems, or that’s not true, or I don’t even know what he said. “No seriously Gerard. I don’t want the cops coming looking for me at your house.” I point out and he coughed a little and didn’t say anything. “I don’t want your parents to hear us talking or hear me crying or anything okay?” My voice was getting edgier as I spoke. “I just want to go somewhere and lay down for the next 24 hours till this is over.” I sighed.

“Ok I get it.” He nodded and I felt a wave of relief pass over me. We both knew it wasn’t going to be over in the next 24 hours but it was nice to pretend.