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Qui
“I guess the mule was busier than I remember. There were a lot of trips to Miami and back.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about all the trips?”
“Like I said, I can’t remember everything. When you’re on the run like that, you tend to forget things.”
“Do you remember using either of the guns for anything, Qui
“No.”
“Did you use the guns, or do you just not remember using the guns?”
“I did not use the guns.”
Pankovits found another sheet of paper and studied it gravely. “You sure about that, Qui
Qui
CHAPTER 14
There was no ballistics report. The Smith & Wesson .38 was at the FBI crime laboratory at Quantico and would be analyzed as soon as the technicians arrived for work in about five hours. The sheet of paper Pankovits held like a weapon was a copy of some useless memo.
He and Delocke had an entire repertoire of dirty tricks, all approved by the U.S. Supreme Court. Using them would depend on how far Qui
Timing was crucial here. To divert attention away from the issue of a lawyer, the agents quickly changed the scenery. Delocke stood and said, “I need to take a leak.”
Pankovits said, “And I need more coffee. How about you, Qui
“No.”
Delocke slammed the door as he left. Pankovits stood and stretched his back. It was almost 3:00 a.m.
Qui
His girlfriend fetched him some pills and he eventually settled down. He would call his lawyer in the morning and raise hell, but the entire episode would soon be forgotten.
In the drug trade, you don’t expect happy endings.
When Delocke returned from the restroom, he held the door open for a moment. A slender, attractive secretary of some variety entered with a tray of drinks and cookies, which she set on the edge of the table. She smiled at Qui
“No.” He served them all night at the bar, Red Bull and vodka, but had never cared for the taste. The break in the action gave him a moment to catch his breath and try to organize his thoughts. Should he continue, or should he remain silent and insist on a lawyer? His instincts were for the latter, but he was extremely curious about how much the FBI knew. He was reeling from what they had already discovered, but how far could they go?
Delocke fixed himself a Red Bull too, over ice, and munched on a cookie. “Have a seat, Qui
“What’s he got to do with anything?”
“Just filling in some gaps here, Qui
“No comment.”
“Okay. Your younger brother, Dee Ray, is he still in the D.C. area?”
“I don’t know where Dee Ray is.”
“Have you seen much of Dee Ray in the past three months?”
“No comment.”
“Did Dee Ray go to Roanoke with you when you got arrested?”
“No comment.”
“Was anyone with you when you got arrested in Roanoke?”
“I was alone.”
Delocke exhaled in frustration. Pankovits sighed as if this were just another lie and they knew it.
“I swear I was alone,” Qui
“What were you doing in Roanoke?” Delocke asked.
“Business.”
“Trafficking?”
“That’s our business. Roanoke is part of our territory. We had a situation there and I had to take care of it.”
“What kind of situation?”
“No comment.”
Pankovits took a long pull of his Red Bull and said, “You know, Qui
“We’re getting nowhere, Qui
Qui
“To kill him?”
“No, we don’t operate that way. I couldn’t find him. He apparently got word and took off. I went to a bar, drank too much, got in a fight, had a bad night. The next day, a friend told me about a good deal on a Hummer, so I went to see it.”
“Who was the friend?”
“No comment.”
“You’re lying,” Delocke said. “You’re lying and we know you’re lying. You’re not even a good liar, Qui
“Whatever.”
“Why did you title the Hummer in North Carolina?” Pankovits asked.
“Because I was on the run, remember? I was an escapee, trying not to leave a trail. Get it, fellas? Fake ID. Fake address. Fake everything.”
“Who is Jakeel Staley?” Delocke asked.
Qui
“And where is he now?”
“Federal pen somewhere. I’m sure you guys know the answer.”
“Alabama, serving eighteen years,” Pankovits said. “Jakeel got busted near Roanoke with a van full of cocaine, right?”
“I’m sure you have the file.”
“Did you try to help Jakeel?”
“When?”
Both agents overreacted with feigned frustration. Both took a sip of Red Bull. Delocke reached for another Oreo. There were a dozen left on the platter, and there was a pot full of coffee. From the looks of things, they pla