The World in Reverse (21 page)

Johnson kept his eyes on the window in front of him.  With his legs in a wide stance, he locked his hands in front of him.  “As of when, ma’am?”

“In the last four hours.  Because you smell like soap and in this hot ass Memphis weather, I really doubt that would be possible if you’ve actually been working like the rest of us.  While I sat here, waiting to get on this case, were you out somewhere using that oh so popular dick of yours? Because if you have, I have to tell you that the families who are patiently waiting for the person or persons who are responsible for their children’s rapes and murders won’t be impressed.”

The overt aggression of his superior officer emanated around the room like a thick fog.

And unintentionally, it turned Johnson on a bit.  Not enough to chase, just enough to notice.  Smacking his lips, he huffed. “No, I was actually tracking down the contents of a jump drive that was given to me by Director Amway.  It took longer than expected,” he said with a snicker.  What did he care if she had a suspicion of him; it wasn’t like she could prove it.  Hell, he couldn’t even prove it, and he was there.

Plus, it wasn’t a complete lie.  He had act
ually gone by the federal building before he ended up at Carmen’s house.  Unfortunately, after their sex session, they had both slept a little over three hours instead of five minutes.

“I know that you think that you’re hot shit, Johnson,” Steele said, looking at his tightly formed ass one last time before she made her way back around to the front of her desk, “but to me, you’re just a guy.  So leave the stere
otypical, bad-boy, fuck machine image out in your city-issued Charger. When you come in here, you come in here on time and you come in here ready to work.”

“Absolutely,” Johnson said, smirking.

“Is something funny?” she asked seriously.

“Just the
fuck machine
part,” he answered.  “And for the record, I’m a one woman man.”

“And why would that need to go on the re
cord?” she asked with a frown.

Johnson shrugged.  “Just in case, you got the wrong idea of who I am,” he said, finally pu
tting his gaze on her. Shit, she was beautiful.  He took his eyes off her again and stared back at the window where it was safe.  He was in a relationship now, and he was happy.  There was no reason to rock the boat.

“Johnson, look at me.  I want you to hear me when I say this,” Steele said, resting her hands firmly on the desk.

Johnson looked back at her.  “Ma’am?”

“You showed up four fucking hours late to our first meeting.  The wrong impression was made then, okay.  Everything that I think of you subsequently is right on the money.”

“Yes ma’am,” Johnson said, biting his lip.

Rolling her eyes, she finally pushed the file over to him.  “I see that we haven’t spoken to this DeMario  yet.  I want to do that today.”

Johnson relaxed.  “Do we have permission from the powers that be?” he asked with a frown. 

“Leave that to me,” Steele said, slipping on her black suit jacket.  It was cut to perfection, highlighting every curve that she had in her slim shoulders, huge breasts and small waist.  She caught him staring at her backside when she turned towards him.  She hesitated at first but continued.  “And I had time while I was waiting on you to get your
jump drive
to review the file on Cane. I want to find him and get him in a hole for questioning today regarding Twist’s murder.  If we can’t find him, then I want to drag in his guys until someone squeals.  But first thing first, I want to see that piece of shit lying bastard at the hospital to find out exactly what intel led him into Nicola Agosto’s truck.”  Grabbing her suit jacket, she slipped it over her gun holster and walked passed him.  “Well, let’s get a move on, lover boy.”

“On it,” Johnson said, following her out of the office.

***

Leaving the pool of reporters outside of the hospital, Councilman Ferris made his way out of the sweltering heat up to the private room where DeMario was being held.  Tapping on the door before entering, he gave a warm smile to the man’s mother, who was sitting beside him watching the television on the opposite wall.

“Councilman,” she said, standing up.  The look in her eyes was that of complete trust considering he had been there since the first moments of the attack to rally the community and be by her side. 

“How are you today?” he asked, extending his arms. 

She hugged him tightly and inhaled his expensive sent.  “Each day, he gets a little better.”

“Good. You’ll be happy to know that we’ve got over 300 confirmed participants for tomo
rrow’s rally at the police station.  I have insider information that Agosto will be present at a closed hearing to determine action against him at 3:00 p.m. and we will be there to let them know that the community is watching.”

“Well, what did the FBI say?” she asked, stepping back and folding her arms.

The councilman heaved a frustrated sigh. “Unfortunately, they felt that they had no case.  So, they have closed the investigation.”

“But his rights were violated,” she said with tears in her eyes.  “Just look at him.”  She pointed back at her son. 

“I understand your frustration and we are going to do everything in our power to remedy this for you.  This lawsuit will be paid by the City and I’m certain that Agosto will face some form of jail time.”

With the sudden raised voices and ruckus, DeMario opened his bruised eyes and looked over at the councilman.  “What’s up, man?  Glad you’re here.  I wanted to talk to you,” he fought to say.  His mouth was still severely swollen and covered in lacerations and brui
sing. 

The councilman looked back with a nod.  “Ms.
Washington, would you mind if I speak with DeMario alone for just a moment?” he asked.  He was tired of speaking to the woman.  Every day it was the same damn thing.  She wanted justice for a son with a rap sheet longer than his driveway.  They were becoming irritants for him though he built the very foundation for his campaign upon their unknowing backs.

Looking back at her son, Ms. Washington turned up her lip and nodded.  “We can talk later, right?”

The council reached down for one last piece of civility.  “We sure can. I’m always here for you.”

As she excused herself out of the room, Councilman Ferris locked the door and took off his suit jacket.  Placing it on the chair beside the bed, he took a seat beside DeMario and pushed up to the bed.  He looked down his nose at the young man covered in gauze and tape and tried not to directly inhale any of the man’s scent. 

“Man, you said that he might bruise me up a little bit.  You didn’t say that he would put me in the fucking hospital.”

“This will all be over for you soon,” he said with a double meaning.  “There is no need to complain.  Even like this, you are better off than you were before.  All your…sins have been wiped clean.”

“Whatever,” DeMario said, rolling his eyes. “I’ve been thinking that this money we’re supposed to be suing for ain’t gone come overnight.”

The councilman raised his brow. “You a
lready knew that.”

“Yeah, well, I’m gone need some more money upfront.”

“We gave you ten thousand dollars cash.  Where is that money?”

“It’s gone,” DeMario said in a matter-of-fact tone. 

“Well, you didn’t do anything to help your family out with it.  I just paid your mother’s utility bill last week to keep your sisters and brothers from living in the dark.”  He found their way of life to be disgusting though he would never lead on to it.

“I need more,” he said in a lower voice.

Councilman Ferris bit down on his bottom lip. “How much more?”

DeMario blew a stinking breath out of his mouth that made Councilman Ferris sit back in his chair. “I’m thinking a hundred thousand. You can have it back from my settlement.”

“You expect me to give you a hundred thousand dollars?”

“You.  Cane.  The city.  I don’t give a fuck who gives it to me.  All I know is that I’m owed it. You hear me?  Man, I’m sitting in here all fucked up. It’s the least that you can do.  After
all like y’all niggas said, I was the cattle in this thing.”

The councilman corrected.  “The catalyst.”

“Look, you know what I mean. I need some money. Now, you gone do that or what?  I mean, I could always get paid by telling the other side what really happened.  That I got busted by that cop Magnelli on the DEA Task force and flipped and was introduce to you and Cane, and was told to set up Agosto to take him off the case.”

Councilman Ferris refused to give DeMario an ounce of pushback on the matter and he would not let him see him sweat.  Pulling a few pills out of his pocket, he cupped them in his hand.  “Do you have visitors? I can’t very well bring the money up myself.  And there is no way that we want you on the other side of this thing. So we’ll do what we have to do to keep you.”

DeMario’s eyes relaxed.  He knew that the man would see things his way once he let them know that he knew how important he was to this entire investigation.  “Yeah, my boys come back and forward to see me.”

“Good, we’ll imbed someone who looks like your boys.  They will bring up a package for you.  Although, I wonder how you’re going to spend it in your position.”

“I’ve got ways,”  DeMario said, happy with himself.

“I’m sure that Cane can get you the money, but it may take a day or two.”

“You’ve got two days,” DeMario said with a bit of grit in his haggard voice.

Councilman Ferris. “Fair enough.”  He raised his hand and showed the red pills in his hand.  “I thought you might be able to help the pain with a few of your little friends.”

DeMario’s eye twitched at the sight of the Molly pills in Councilman Ferris’s hand. 

“Now that’s what I’m talking about. I h
aven’t been able to get high once since I landed in this hell hole.” 

The councilman reached over DeMario and dropped them in his open mouth.  Like a fish, DeMario swallowed hard without water and licked his cracked lips.  “Thanks, man.”

“We do what we can,” the councilman said with a grin.  “Don’t forget. The guy you don’t recognize is the guy with the package for you.”

“Don’t think about sending someone in here to pop a cap in my ass.  There are cops ever
ywhere,” DeMario said, settling in for the rush that would soon come cascading over his body.

“I wouldn’t think of sending anyone to kill you,” the Councilman said, standing up.  “Well, I’ll leave you to enjoy your evening and unlock the door for your mother to come back in.”

“Thanks, man,” DeMario said, looking back up at the television. 

“Anytime,” the councilman said in a low soothing voice.  “You deserve it.”

***

Johnson hated the fact that
Lt. Steele wanted to drive.  Although it was a very short drive, he found her sitting behind the wheel a reminder that she was going to try to emasculate him as much as possible during this investigation.  With his eyes locked on his cell phone, he texted Gabriel, his code name for Carmen.  Evidently, she had gotten some shit for being late back to work also, but like him, she had felt it worth it.

Steele pulled into the hospital parking lot and parked the car.  Looking over at him, she pursed her lips to say something that appeared to be kind but then she stopped herself.

“What is it?” Johnson asked with a frown.

“Nothing,” she said, rolling her eyes.  Ope
ning the door, she got out of the car and slipped on her shades and suit jacket.  “Have you had the opportunity to talk to DeMario at all? Does he know who you are?”

Johnson closed the door behind him and laid his large arms on the top of the dusty car.  “He knows what I look like, yeah. I made the scene.  But I haven’t interviewed him at all.”

“Well, let me lead this.  I know you don’t want to but trust me, it’s for the best,” she said, walking towards the building.

Johnson rounded the car and caught up with her.  “Why you?”

“I’m easier on the eyes,” she said with confidence.  “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“No comment,” Johnson joked. 

Johnson and Steele pushed their way through the reporters mulling around downstairs waiting on a chance to talk to Ms. Washington or better yet DeMario.  So far, Councilman Ferris had been controlling the interaction the family had with the media in order to ensure that they were only seen with him.  Recognizing both officers, a few of the reporters started in trying to get a statement but the two kept their lips shut until they got out of the lobby. 

“Fucking parasites,” Johnson bit out.  “They’ll do anything for a story.”

“They are just doing their jobs,” Steele said, sure that she still wasn’t out of earshot of the media.  Inwardly, she felt the exact same way as Johnson, but she had a show to put on.  People passed them in hoards as they waited on the elevator.  As soon as they got on it and the door closed, she looked over at him.

“So, are you friends with Agosto?”

“You could say that,” Johnson said with a frown. “Why?”

“Did you know all along that he was married to a black woman and had bi-racial children?” she asked, unable to let the thought go.  “I mean, you hear the allegations every day just like I do. They think that he’s a hate monger.  Why didn’t you ever say anything or stand up for him?”