Page 91 of Sean's Sunshine
“Not funny,” Billy said direly, and Andres held out his hands.
“No, no—you’re right. And judging by the way Sean’s breathing, this was a big deal. I hear you.”
“Fucking night air,” Sean rasped. “Who knew your mother was right about that shit?”
“It’s terrifying, I know.” Andres nodded fervently, making Sean wonder if he didn’t have an overbearing mother inhisfamily roster. “But what do you have for me?”
Sean shot Billy a look. “You guys, follow my lead. I’m going to talk to Roberto, and Andres?”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s see what we can do to keep this kid out of the system. I think you’re gonna see he’s had a raw deal.”
“You go first, partner.”
Sean remembered Roberto’s and Billy’s arms-crossed, spines-upright glowers, and as he walked up to Roberto, he relaxed his shoulders, put his hands in his pockets, and made sure his expression was neutral. Not too pleasant—people didn’t trust that. If he could get Roberto to respond, he might try smiling a little.
“So,” Sean said quietly, “Roberto. I’m a friend of your brother’s. My name is Sean Kryzynski, and I’m a detective for Sac PD. This here is Andres Christie. He’s my partner on the force, another detective. Our usual beat is homicide, but your brother and I started looking into the local robberies while I was on medical leave.”
“Good for you,” Roberto said sullenly.
“No,” Sean replied. “Good foryou.Because this bust was off books until I cuffed your father and called the cops. And the only people who knowyourname are standing right here.”
Roberto swallowed and automatically glanced at Billy, whose anger had melted as he’d realized his little brother’s options.
“Sean’s a good guy,” Billy said, his eyes on Sean’s. “He’s going to try to do right by you, but you’ve got to cooperate.”
Roberto nodded. “Fine. I’ll cooperate. What’s that mean?”
All the attitude. Well, apparently it ran in the family.
“Let me tell you what I know, or what I think I know. You can correct me if I’m wrong, okay?”
Roberto appeared a little more animated. Sean was asking for his input and not bullying the kid with his world view or his badge.
“Okay, cop. What do you think you know?”
“Well, I think this all started when your mom had a little bit of money. You were being a good kid—walking dogs for pocket cash, getting to know the neighborhood. Was that when you ran into the old man?”
Roberto swallowed. “Yeah. He was getting drunk in the park.”
Sean nodded. “And he told you how bad his life was now that he’d lost his family, didn’t he?”
There was a miserable nod. “Started talking about how he shouldn’t’ve hit mamithat way. How he missed us. Sounded really fuckin’ sorry.” That bitter stinger at the end told Sean all he needed to know about how truly disillusioned Roberto had become.
“Yeah,” Sean said. “Abusers like your father? They’re pros, Berto. They hide that shit all the time. They’re like con men, but your bruises are the con. Don’t feel bad that you got taken in. You wanted a dad—there’s no shame in that. And you wanted not to have to struggle for money. You remembered when your folks could afford a better place, better food. You wanted that back. You were vulnerable, and you’re only a kid. Every kid wants two parents, right?”
Roberto crossed his arms again, but this time it was to protect himself. “Yeah. It was stupid. I bet mamididn’t want nothing to do with him. I was dumb.”
“You were a kid,” Sean said again. “And suddenly you were the grown-up. You’d lost Guillermo, you’d lost Teresa—you were the new man of the house, and you were scared.”
Berto didn’t answer, but he blinked rapidly, and that was enough for Sean.
“And your old man says, ‘Kid, I got some money with your mom. I know she doesn’t want to talk to me right now, but I think maybe if I get a little of my money back, I can get back on my feet.’ Am I right?”
The rapid blinking spilled over, and Roberto nodded miserably.
Billy said, “Aw, Berto. No.”
