Page 14 of All He Sees
This time, she was ahead of him.
Ken was behind him.
Dean gasped and jumped off his skateboard when he saw Nicky in front of him in the street. He went to turn away, but Ken jogged up behind him.
He was trapped.
"Dean Spanos," Nicky said. "FBI. Why are you running from us?"
Dean looked from Ken, who was behind him, to Nicky. He tried to dart away again, but by then, she was standing in front of him.
"Little help, partner," she said to Ken.
Ken took a step forward, and Dean panicked, throwing a punch at Nicky. She ducked, easily avoiding it as Ken grabbed Dean and held him still.
"Stop it," Ken said. "You're not going anywhere. You're just a kid."
"Let me go!" Dean shouted.
"No," Nicky said, bending down so she was closer to Dean's level. "You're not going anywhere. Why did you break the camera at Dan's Convenience?"
Dean's face flushed red. "That's what this is about? I--I swear, I didn't..."
"Dean," Nicky said slowly. "Tell us the truth. You won't get in trouble. Did someone put you up to it?"
“I ain’t no snitch!” Dean yelled.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Dean.” Nicky’s voice was calm, even. “We just want to talk to you. But if you don’t tell us the truth, we’re going to haul you into a police station and bring in a social worker. We will get the truth out of you one way or another.”
“God! Why can’t you people just leave me alone!”
Nicky looked around at the neighbors, who were just starting to come out of their houses. Nicky looked at Ken and shook her head.
“Come on, kiddo,” Ken said, tugging the boy by his shirt. “If you’re going to be difficult, we’re going to bring you to a place where you can’t hurt anyone.”
Dean began to cry. “I’m twelve!” he shouted. “I’m a kid!”
Nicky could understand that. She sighed, folding her arms across her chest. “Okay, Dean. So why don't you just talk to us?"
Dean bit his lip. He looked like he was about to burst into tears. "It was--he--he gave me money, okay?"
Nicky stiffened, her eyes hardened on Dean. Someone really did put the kid up to it. Her teeth grit together.
Maybe it was the kidnapper.
"Who did, Dean?" Nicky asked. "Who paid you to break the camera?"
"It was just a man, I don't know--he said his name was Pedro," he blabbered. "He was in a green car. I swear, that's all I know!"
"Are you sure?" Nicky pressed. "You don't know anything else about him? A license plate number? What did he look like?"
"He was wearing sunglasses, even though it was dark when I was out skateboarding," Dean said. "I didn't really see him. Maybe he was sort of pale and had short hair, but honestly, I don't know."
"How much did he pay you?" Ken asked.
"Twenty dollars..." Dean kicked at the road.
