The Deepest Cut by Dianne Emley Read Free Book Online Page B

station. He was handling Kevin all wrong. A better strategy would have been to build a rapport with him.
    “I already told him everything,” Kevin appealed to Vining. In such situations, people often did, believing a female officer would be more compassionate, which was not always the case.
    Kevin said, “I went to look for aluminum cans. When I came back, I saw that clown. He was on the ground, dead. I went to the cigar store down the street and told them to call the police. That’s all I know. I don’t have anything else to say.” He hunched over as he spoke, as if to ward off a blow.
    Clown? Vining thought that was a harsh way to refer to a murder victim.
    Ruiz reached behind his back, beneath his jacket, and brought out his handcuffs. He stepped toward Kevin, who stumbled on a broken block of cement. “Are you coming with me voluntarily, or do I have to arrest you for trespassing?”
    Vining knew that was another lie. The property owner would have to be there to press charges.
    “Tony …” Kissick put out his hand.
    “I called the police.” Kevin’s protests became frantic. “I did the right thing. Don’t arrest me.”
    “Ruiz, come on.” Vining knew all the detectives were running on fumes after working day and night sorting out the gang-war carnage, but Ruiz’s behavior was unnecessarily callous. She’d watched longtime cops grow bitter. Ruiz had never been a ray of sunshine to begin with. He should retire before someone got hurt.
    Ruiz nearly shouted at Vining. “Come on? He’s our witness. I want a good statement. I don’t want to be sitting in court with the defense attorney poking holes in it.”
    “Did you see it happen, Kevin?” Kissick asked. “Did you see anyone?”
    Kevin stared at the ground and rapidly shook his head.
    “I have my own methods,” Ruiz said. “They’ve worked for me for many years.”
    “So much for values-based policing,” Vining shot back. The PPD emphasized not just getting the job done, but how the job is done.
    Ruiz pointed at Kevin. “Don’t move.” He looked at Kissick. “Can I have a word?”
    Kissick followed Ruiz, who walked a few feet away.
    Ruiz spoke in a stage whisper that Vining clearly heard. She turned to the homeless man. “Look, Kevin, if I take you to McDonald’s for some food, will you tell me what you saw, and let me tape record it?”
    “You need to teach her not to second-guess a fellow detective in front of the public,” Ruiz said.
    “Tony, all due respect, but you’re handling that kid all wrong. We need to earn his trust so we can find him if there’s a trial, not scare him to the point that he’ll flee the city and disappear.”
    Ruiz drew his eyebrows together. He was nearly bald, which made his eyebrows seem even more bushy and unruly
    “Tony look,” Kissick said. “Nan and I will take it from here. We’ve all been burning the candle at both ends. Go home and get some sleep.”
    The pink tip of his tongue stuck out from the corner of his mouth as Ruiz gave Kissick a sarcastic look. “Poison Ivy’s got you under her spell.”
    Poison Ivy was one of the two monikers Vining had been anointed with at the station. The other was Quick Draw, which she’d earned after she’d shot the rock star to death. She hated both nicknames and Ruiz knew it. She didn’t respond, but instead continued talking with Kevin. “Where do you usually hang out?”
    Kissick moved close to Ruiz. He kept his voice low, but there was no mistaking the tone. “Tony, I’m in charge of this investigation. You’re either on this team and enthusiastic about being on this team, or I’ll ask Sergeant Early to reassign you.”
    “No problem, Jim. I’ll talk to Sarge myself first thing tomorrow. I just might tell her that I don’t think it’s smart to have two detectives who are fucking each other working on the same investigation. I apologize for being so blunt, but I feel compelled to speak my mind.”
    “Do whatever your conscience dictates,