Herb made an innocent face. 'I saw it fall out of your pocket. Didn't you, Jack?'
'I don't even deal that shit, man. I just distribute the herb.'
'Where's your phone, Colin?'
'I told you, I lost the phone.'
Benedict dipped a finger into the bag, then touched his tongue.
'How much you think is here? Eight, ten grams? That's what -- thirty years?'
I moved closer to Colin. 'We found the arms. We know she called you.'
'What arms? I don't carry, man. I'm low-key.'
'Where's the phone?'
'I don't know.'
Colin looked frightened. Though I couldn't arrest him for possession of a known confectionary, I decided to push my luck.
'You know the drill, Colin. On your knees, hands behind your head.'
'I don't have the phone! I swear! You need to ask your people!'
'What people?'
'Cops. When I got arrested last month, they took my phone. I never got it back.'
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Herb was dipping back into the bag for another taste. I stepped between him and Colin.
'You're saying we have your phone?'
'I had it with me when I got booked, and when I got sprung no one knew anything about my phone.'
I had a pretty good internal BS detector, and Colin was either a much better liar than I was used to, or he was telling the truth.
'Have you canceled the service?'
'Haven't got round to it.'
'Why not?'
I saw fear flash across Colin's eyes.
'Colin, do you know who has your phone?'
'No.'
'Colin, the person who took your phone is very dangerous. If you tell us who it is, we can protect you.'
'I told you I don't know.'
'Maybe a trip to the station will help jog your memory.'
Colin glanced at Herb and smirked. 'I don't think you be charging me with nothing.'
I looked. Benedict was licking a large mound of white powder out of his palm.
'I'm testing the purity,' Benedict said. His beard was dusty with sugar.
Colin went to the door and held it open.
'Y'all can go now.'
'Colin . . .'
'I know my rights. If I tell you to go, you got to go.'
'We want to help you, Colin.'
'Yeah, right.'
I handed him my card. He took it, reluctantly.
'If a police officer stole your cell phone, you can file a formal complaint. You can help us get this guy.'
'Whatever.'
We left the apartment.
'Jesus, Herb. Real professional.'
'I couldn't help it. I haven't had anything sweet in over a week. Once I had that little taste, I couldn't stop.'
He drove his point home by upending the remainder of the bag into his mouth.
'Do you know how many carbs are in that?'
'I don't care. It's like an orgy on my tongue.'
'During the orgy, did you manage to pick up on what Colin said?'
