Serpent's Tooth (35 page)

Weller passed her a look, then said, “Then what happened?”

“So then Sean…see, he knows that I know certain people.” A small smile formed on Malcolm’s lips. “He says that if
I
don’t want to do it, maybe I can ask around. I’m still like playing along…I said sure. Then I forgot about the whole thing.”

A pause.

“Month later…Sean comes back to me, asks…did I find someone to do the job? I say no. ’Cause I never asked about it. I forgot the whole thing—”

“You already said that,” Decker interjected. “Go on.”

The boy seemed riled, took a few moments to find his footing. “Sean got nasty. You wouldn’t believe how pissed he can get. Tell you the truth, he spooked me.”

Right
, Decker thought.

Malcolm became animated. “He started getting agitated. Like…really aggressive. Said I gotta help him out.”

He hesitated.

“Now this was where I fucked up. Like Mr. Flame said, I got a big mouth. I talk without thinking sometimes. So I told Sean this. I said, ‘Look! If this guy’s a hype, why are you bothering to pop him? Why don’t you play it natural?’ Sean looked at me, asked me what I had in mind. I told him I don’t have anything in mind
personally
, but if I was going to do the pop, I might want to just…put him out in a blaze of glory.”

Carey stalled, went on.

“That’s exactly how I said it. In a blaze of glory. Sean…” The teen smiled. “Now he can be a little dense. But I could see his brain working. He stuck out his arm and made an injection into his vein with his finger. Looked at me questioningly. I nodded. So he asked how. I told him, ‘Man, you’ve stuck yourself. How do you think you do it?’”

The boy took a sip of water.

“Sean thought a little bit. Then he told me that the hype was also a drunk. I say, ‘Man, what’s the big deal? It’s a sure thing. You get the key from your bitch, wait until he gets plastered, then stick him where it counts.’”

Malcolm tapped the table with his fingers.

“I could tell Sean liked the idea. But he didn’t have the balls to do it alone. So he asked me to come along as backup.”

Weller raised his eyebrows. “You went?”

“It was something to do.” Malcolm shrugged. “I told him backup will cost. Ten grand. I never thought he’d go for it, but I was wrong. Sean was real serious about this thing—”

“You mean murder?” Decker clarified.

Carey looked away. “Sean told me the ten grand could be arranged. But for that price, I’d have to supply the dragon. He wanted pure scag. I told him it was stupid to use pure scag. Pure anything in a hype’s vein looks suspicious. I told him I’d have to cut it. But I could deliver.”

The teen licked his lips.

“Sean got a key…we waited for the right time. Garrison got drunk almost every weekend. We did a couple of practice runs…to see the layout. And we had to make sure the hype was under big time…sleeping off a real bender. Third time we checked, the guy was out cold. I put the scag in the medicine cabinet while Sean shot him up. I was out of the room when it happened. I never touched the guy.”

Weller said, “Did you get the money, Malcolm?”

“Yeah, he paid me.” The boy’s lips turned upward. “Sucker wouldn’t
dare
stiff me.”

“Where’s the money now?” Decker asked.

Malcolm sipped water. “Spent it.”

“You went through ten thousand dollars in one month?” Weller said quietly.

A sly smile played upon his lips. “Fine wine and good women cost a bundle. I also bought things.”

“Like what?” Decker asked.

“Coins, stamps…guns. Same kind of shit my dad buys. He’d be real proud.”

“You’re just a chip off the old block,” Marge said in an undertone.

“Detective…” Flame warned.

“S’right,” Carey said. “It’s true. White-collar crime, blue-collar crime, violent crime…it’s all the same. Dad and I
are
one of a kind. Only difference? I don’t mind getting my hands a little dirty.”

Strapp coughed. “Good
news. Sean Amos is being held without bail.” He checked his watch, let out a small shiver. “It’s almost three. My head’s about to explode. He’ll keep until the morning. See you here at eight tomorrow. Now go home.”

Decker hesitated. “All right.”

Strapp studied his lieutenant. “Christ, Decker, what is it
this
time?”

Decker said, “Something was off with Carey.”

“What are you talking about?” Strapp shot back. “I was behind the one-way. Saw and heard the whole thing. What was off?”

A long pause. “Didn’t it sound…rehearsed?”

“No, it didn’t sound
rehearsed
!. It looked and sounded like a psycho kid getting a thrill out of telling us how bad he was.”

Decker rubbed his eyes. “Maybe it’s fatigue.”

“I think so. Good night, Lieutenant.”

“’Night, Captain.”

Strapp muttered, “By the way…good job.”

“Thanks.” Decker left, feeling very unsatisfied.

A kid who had everything—money, looks, connections—and that
still
didn’t stop him from screwing up.

What Martinez could have done with any
one
of those advantages. He smoothed his black mustache, his cheeks
still stinging from an early-morning shave. He wanted to look good in front of the captain.

Pulling out his notes, he appraised the situation. Sean Amos in jail blues, head down, lips smashed together. No eye contact with his parents. Mom was a rail-thin bubble blond on his left. Sitting on the right was a big-boned, ultra-good-ole-boy Texas lawyer named Edgar Ray Trit, wearing a three-thousand-dollar Brioni suit and a string tie.

Dad was at the lawyer’s right. Lamar Amos tried to hide his beer gut under a black suit and white shirt, but to no avail. Ruddy complexion, veiny nose, slicked gray hair like a silverback gorilla.

No ten-gallon hat.

With Martinez were Webster and Katherine Villard, a fortyplus, good-looking deputy DA. Black hair, black eyes, serious expression. A no-nonsense woman. Behind the one-way mirror were Strapp, Decker, Marge, and Oliver.

Webster got the ball rolling, made the preliminary statements. Identification of all the parties in the room. Then the current charges against Sean Amos starting with the murder one of David Garrison.

Trit interrupting, his voice booming, “Now, Kate, we’re all friends here. So I’m going to open up the discussion with plain, old-fashioned honesty. I just don’t understand where you got the gumption to take up on this murder one.” He screwed up his face. “Now if you’re relying on the word of that psychopath, Malcolm Carey…if you’re planning to go to court with that, well, you’re going to end up looking like a fool—”

“It’s Katherine,” the deputy DA answered curtly. “Has the bailiff forwarded you a copy of the statement?”

“Not yet.”

The prosecutor opened her briefcase, took out several sheaves of papers. Handed them to him. “Here you go.”

Again, Trit grimaced. “Reckon I could use a good laugh right now.”

“Edgar, we’re standing behind his statement. You want to go to court, we’ll bring him to court on a murder one—”

Sean broke in. “I didn’t
kill
anyone—”

“Hush up!” Trit snapped as he flipped through the pages, eyes racing over the document.

Katherine said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get the statement sooner. You’ll need time to look it over. We can reconvene at two—”

Sean said, “Malcolm Carey is a fucking liar—”

“Boy, close your mouth—”

“Oh, fuck you—”

An arm reached out and backhanded Sean across his face. Lamar Amos had turned beet red. “You just sit there and shut yo damn mouth and listen to yo lawyah, y’hear?”

Trit stuttered out, “Lamar, I’ll handle—”

“Are you contradictin’ me, Edgar Ray?” Lamar broke in. “I hope not lest y’foget who’s payin’ yo bills.”

Sean held his cheek. Breathing hard, he said, “See what happens when you got a balloon inside your dick.”

Veins bulging, Lamar charged. Mom screamed as Trit and Martinez held Daddy Lamar back, the Texan screaming obscenities until he was purple. The shrieks brought in a posse of backup. After a moment, Lamar stopped rushing, shook loose. He stalked out of the room. Mom’s eyes went to her son, then to the open door. She rose, then raced out.

“Gee. Thanks for the support, Mom.” Sean sighed. “Hasn’t been married to him in ten years and she still licks his boot heels…goddamn bitch!”

Webster said, “‘How sharper than a serpent’s tooth—’”

“Yeah, well, all the better to
bite
with, my dear,” Sean retorted. “And I know that’s from Shakespeare. I’m not as dumb as you think.”

“Sean, we think you’re very bright—”

“That’s enough.” Trit stood. “We’ll reconvene at two—”

“I’m not going anywhere until this is hashed out. Malcolm Carey is a
crazy
fucker—”

Webster said, “Then why were you with him on the night David Garrison was murdered—”

“David Garrison wasn’t
murdered
! He OD’d!”

Martinez said, “Sean, let me tell you so you know what
you’re up against. We have witnesses that put you with Malcolm Carey on the night of David Garrison’s death.”

Webster named the date. “First you went with Carey to shoot some pool, then you went back to your house to smoke some dope, then you went over to David Garrison’s house—”

“I’ve
never
, ever been to David Garrison’s house. If Malcolm told you that, he’s lying!”

“Are you saying you didn’t shoot pool with him?”

“Yes. I mean no. I mean yes, I shot pool, but—”

“And you smoked dope—”

“But—”

Trit said, “Sean—”

“I didn’t
kill
anyone—”

“Why were you stuffing pictures of Wade Anthony down the toilet?” Webster asked.

Sean broke into a cold sweat. “What are you talking about?”

“When we busted you,” Webster said. “You were flushing pictures of Wade Anthony down the toilet.”

“Along with a daily schedule of Anthony’s activities,” Martinez added.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Sean said. “I just panicked—”

“What were you doing with those pictures of Wade Anthony in the first place?” Martinez asked. “Starting a fan club?”

Trit said, “We’re not talking anymore—”

“What does Wade Anthony have to do with this?” Sean said.

Trit said, “He’s a minor. Don’t even
try
to use any of this.”

The DA broke in. “Edgar, he’s been Miranda’d—”

“He’s a minor—”

“He’s seventeen. Old enough to understand—”

“Wade Anthon—” Amos turned pale. “Oh, my God!”

“What?” Martinez asked.

“Let’s go, Sean,” Trit insisted.

“The asshole set me up!” the boy blurted out. “
Again
.”

“What asshole are you talking about?” Webster asked.

Sean slapped his cheeks with his palms. “How could I be so
stupid
!”

“
Who
set you up?” Martinez asked.

“Malcolm Carey! No wonder he asked me…he was gonna set me up. Just like he did the last time. God, am I stupid—”

Trit said, “If you’re going to talk, at least let me get you immunity.”

“Depends on who he implicates,” Katherine stated.

“Who are you going to implicate, Sean?” Martinez asked.

“Don’t answer that!” Trit said. “I’ll let him talk. But anything he says can’t be entered in court unless we strike a deal—”

“No dice—”

“So you go to trial with Carey as your star witness?” Trit muttered. “Good luck to you.”

Martinez said, “Can we just hear the kid out?”

Katherine said, “No, we can’t just hear the kid out. Unless we deal, the entire statement can’t be entered as evidence.”

“So even if that happened, we’d be no worse off,” Martinez plowed on. “We’d just go to court with Carey.”

“Good point, Kate,” Trit said.

“
Katherine!
”

“Deal?” Trit asked.

Katherine threw up her hands.

“I’ll take that as an affirmative response.”

Webster said, “Tell us about David Garrison, Sean.”

“I don’t know anything about
David
Garrison. That’s what I’m
trying
to tell you.”

“He’s your girlfriend’s brother, isn’t her?”

Sean became crimson, didn’t answer.

“We’re referring to Jeanine Garrison,” Martinez said. “Don’t insult our intelligence and deny that you know her.”

“Of course I know her. She’s my tennis partner.”

Webster said, “Sean, you’ve been blabbing ’bout her and you to just about everyone in your class.”

“We’re just friends.”

“That’s not what you’ve been telling people.”

The boy was sweating. “Rumors get started. Maybe I went along with them. So what? That doesn’t mean—”

“Sean, listen up,” Martinez said. “You are seventeen, she is twenty-eight. If you two were in on some nasty thing…guess who’s gonna wind up the baddie.”

“We’re not
in
on anything, let alone something nasty!”

Still the boy continued to sweat.

Webster said, “And you expect us to b’lieve that?”

“Why would I lie?”

“’Cause I reckon you got some kind of misguided notion that by protecting her, you’re being noble. Well, you’re not being noble. You’re just being stupid. Might want to start thinkin’ about savin’ your own skin.”

“He’s not stupid,” Martinez countered. “He loves her.” He turned to the teen. “That’s it, isn’t it? You do love her, don’t you?”

Silence. Sean swiped his eyes. Talked in a hush. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. It’s just that…David Garrison…he was really
bugging
her.”

“Who is her?” Martinez asked. “Jeanine Garrison?”

Sean nodded.

“How was he bugging her?”

“Just asking her for money—all the time. Guy was a hype, shooting up dollars into his veins. Jeanine…like she helped him. But enough was enough, you know. Me? I just wanted to help.”

Martinez commiserated. “Jeanine was so upset. You just couldn’t turn her down.”

“Turn her down?” Sean was confused.

“When she asked for your help,” Martinez said.

“She never
asked
for my help.” Sean was indignant. “She never asked anything from me.”

Webster and Martinez exchanged glances. Webster said, “Sean, there’s no sense protecting her—”

“I’m not protecting anyone. It was all
me
. Actually it was all Mal.
He
was the one—”

“Sean,
you’re
the one in trouble,” Martinez said. “You’re looking at a long jail sentence…or maybe worse—”

“But I—”

“Sean, don’t be an idiot,” Webster said. “You can’t mean to say you’re going to let Jeanine get off scot-free—”

“But she didn’t
do
anything.”

“Sean, listen to me,” Martinez said. “Your girlfriend’s been two-timing you, making time with Wade Anthony—”

“No—”

“While you’re holed up in jail, about to have your life flushed down the crapper.”

“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Webster said, “Jeanine’s the adult, you’re the minor. She’s the one responsible—”

“No—”

“Sean, she set you up!”

“No!” Sean shook his head vehemently. “No,
she
didn’t do anything except
help
me—”

“Sean—”

“It was Malcolm who set me up.” Sean’s eyes bulged from their sockets. “Don’t you
morons
get it?! It was Malcolm! IT WAS MALCOLM!”

The room was quiet. Trit broke it. “Y’ all so anxious to hear him out, why don’t you let him get through his story?”

Sean spat out, “You want facts, then listen to me, goddammit!
It…was…Malcolm!
” Suddenly, the boy slumped, shook his head, and rubbed his eyes. “I’m tired.”

Trit said, “Go on, boy. You may never get this chance again. Tell them your story.”

“I don’t need lessons in talking. Problem is, I talk too
much
! Too much and to the wrong people. I musta been complaining to Mal. Just spouting shit. How hard things were on Jeanine. How much easier things would be on her if he croaked.”

“He…being David Garrison,” Webster said.

Sean nodded.

“Next thing I knew…he did croak. I remember thinking…what incredibly good luck!” He laughed bitterly. “Next day, Malcolm came over to me…asked me to pay up. Twenty-five grand in cash. I asked him what the hell he was
talking
about. He said ‘David Garrison.’ I almost dropped dead on the spot. I swear to holy Jesus, I never offered him a dime to kill anyone including David Garrison!”

A pause.

“Mal acted totally on his own. Totally. But to hear him talk…like I asked him to do it. But I didn’t, I swear.”

“And he asked you for twenty-five grand,” Webster said.

Sean nodded. “Needless to say, I panicked. I didn’t have that kind of bread at my fingertips. My dad holds the purse strings real tight. I can get around it, but I need time. I tried to explain that to Malcolm, but he got threatening. And when Mal threatens…he doesn’t shit around. He gave me three days.”

He wiped sweat off his brow.

“I didn’t know what to do. So I went to Jeanine. Told her what happened.”

Martinez said, “When you told Jeanine about your predicament, how’d she react?”

“She was
furious
! Really pissed! Ready to turn me in! I
deserved
to be turned in! ’Cause it was all my fault!”

The teen was breathing hard.

“
I
was in big trouble. With her, with everything.”

Webster said, “Why did you feel you were in trouble if you didn’t order the hit?”

“Because I made specific remarks.”

“Like what?” Martinez prodded.

“Like how nice it would be if…someone stuffed something in his veins. Jeanine said that my joking could be misinterpreted. And since I was…connected to Jeanine in a personal way—and David had been bothering her—people might believe that I was actually capable of…planning it.”

Moisture welled up in his eyes.