Page 47 of Bazooka
“We had ice cream,” Luz cut in before I could reply. “After that, we took a nap. Together. Yourself, Officer Vile?”
“Detective Vile.”
“Pardon me.”
I rubbed my forehead in frustration when Jordan Slade came into the room, only to stop in his tracks.
“Jesus Christ, Luz,” he gasped. “What did they do to you? I didn’t know it was this bad, man.”
“Me neither, but everyone keeps reminding me,” Luz retorted. “Stop looking at me as if I’m an ogre, Jordie.”
“I’m sorry,” Jordan muttered. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Yeah, stop flattering me.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as Luz grinned and winked at me. I made a mental note to add it to the list of things he wasn’t allowed to do, which was getting longer by the day.
“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” I said with a sigh. “Patricia, where do you want to do this?”
“Maybe in the interrogation room. Luz will probably feel more comfortable if we have some privacy.”
Luz had the same expression on his face as on the day when he set that poor woman’s hat on fire at Tye and Carter’s wedding. I ignored it because ignoring him sometimes helped. After Patricia and Luz disappeared into the interrogation room, I went through the CCTV footage with Adam.
“See here?” Adam said, pausing the video. “The four guys behind those trees over there.”
“Yeah, I can see them,” I said grimly.
The camera angle wasn’t doing us a favor, but I could see four large guys running out of the park and across a crowded avenue. One of them looked just like the guy that Patricia drew based on Luz’s description.
“There’s a parking lot nearby, so they could have left by car,” Adam said. “And of course, if they’re locals, they could have walked home.”
“Where does this avenue lead?” I asked him.
“To Grangetown.”
“I know a guy there who’s also a cop. Marcello Biancchi,” I mused. “I’ll call him and see if he can help us identify them. Anything else?”
“Yeah. There’s word on the street that Mendoza changed his hiding place a few times. Apparently, he’s a bit paranoid since we got so close to him recently.”
“Not close enough.”
“Bradley,” Chief Bibb bellowed from across the room. “In my office.”
I headed there when my phone pinged. I pulled it out of my pocket only to see a text from “Future husband”.
I burst into laughter. That fucking brat. When did he do this? And now did he bypass my screen lock? I changed the name to “Pest” and read the text.
Pest:I’m bored.
Me:Are you behaving yourself?
Pest:Pfft. Duh.
I grinned before walking into the chief’s office.
“Sit down, Bradley.”
“Something wrong?” I asked him because he looked distressed.
