Page 42 of Special Agent Joseph

“Could work. But don’t take any chances. That stink hole is infested with those strung-out losers. No doubt, even the street cops are too intimidated to wander around without backup.”

Megan stood to leave, scratching at the wig covering her hair. “I’ll be careful.”

“Keep me updated.”

“Will do.”

Megan left the office about to head to the elevator when she heard Joe’s voice. Seeing him and Tom approaching, she scooted into the main office and quickly walked to the far door to leave by an alternate route. Thankful she’d missed him; she hurried to her car where she checked her texts.

What she saw made her pale.

Chapter Thirty

“I killed him. Oh my God, I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.” Bending over, Lucia gulped in a lungful of air before continuing, “Megan, he was raping me. I hit at him and shoved him away. I-I’d changed my mind. I couldn’t stand having the creep near me. That’s when he grabbed at his chest and fell over. Maybe I pushed too hard. Raphael ran. I didn’t know who to call.”

“Slow down, Lucia. I’m here now. You did the right thing calling me. Does Vinnie know?”

Shaking so hard she had trouble staying on her feet, Lucia fell back against the wall. “God, no. I don’t want him to know. He’ll use it to keep me trapped.” Emitting harsh sobs, Lucia even had difficulty wiping her eyes. With her hands in constant motion, and her body reacting to the stress in a way Megan had seen many addicts behave, she was a mess.

“Lucia, look at me. I need the truth. Are you taking drugs… pills, snorting, or shooting up?

“I guess. Raphael gave me pills.” Searching for the person she named, she stared blankly all around her.

“He’s gone, Lucia.”

“He takes care of me.”

“By feeding you drugs.”

“Just to help me cope with running away from Vinnie. Raphael’s my man.” Still looking confused, Lucia dropped her head in her hands, running her fingers through the dirty mop of hair massed around her shoulders.

“Okay. So where is Raphael now?”

“He saw this – this happen… and got scared. He ran away. I don’t know where he is.”

“He’s gone. And he won’t be back. Trust me. No way he wants to be involved in someone dying.”

“You’re wrong. He loves me.”

“So who’s idea was it to pimp you out?”

“What? No. That’s not the way it was. He wouldn’t do that.”

“Then it was all your idea to let this guy rape you?” Megan pointed at the dead body.

“No. Yes. I mean I agreed to let him be here, but he’s a pig. I couldn’t… you know. I just couldn’t. Only he wouldn’t listen and get off me. That’s when I shoved him.”

“And he fell over.”

“Yes. Oh, God… I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt him. I just wanted him to leave me alone.”

“Okay. Listen, there’s no obvious wounds, right? I’m thinking his heart probably gave out. He’s been using for a long time from the look of his emancipated body. I’ll get the paramedics to collect him, and they’ll be able to tell us for sure. In the meantime, we need to get you to the station so you can give a statement.”

“What? No. I don’t want to. Can’t I just go home?”

Megan shook her head. “Sorry, kiddo. That’s not what’s going to happen. They’ll take your statement, and if it’s a heart attack, they’ll let you go. If not, you’ll get out on bail while they do an investigation. Then I expect you’ll go to a facility where they can help you get off the drugs.”

Lucia wobbled close to Megan. “Listen. I don’t want to stop. They make me better… relaxed, almost happy.” Her expression wilted when Megan didn’t appear agreeable. “I-I need to pee.”

---