Detective Bird looked from Daddy Lizard’s cold face to Suave’s. He had his work cut out for him. “Cobra was killed a little over a week ago. And I’m sure you’ve heard by now that last night Danny was also killed.”
“My condolences to Danny’s family.” Daddy Lizard met the detective’s eyes and held them. “I can just imagine the pain they are going through right now.”
“Let’s stop this nonsense!” Detective Bird jumped to his feet, pounding his hand on the rickety table that rocked unsteadily. “You two think this is a game?” The veins in his neck stood up as he leaned over the table toward Suave and Daddy Lizard.
“No, you think this is a game!” Suave jumped to his feet and leaned toward the detective. “Calling us down here, talking pure rubbish like we’re stupid or something.”
The two men squared off until Detective Bird moved his body upright and away from Suave. He reclaimed his seat and waited for Suave to do the same.
Suave felt Daddy Lizard’s toe pressing down on his and slowly sat back down. “Get to the point, or we’re out of here.”
Detective Bird nodded. “Do you know who killed Cobra?”
The two men stared at him mutely.
“Which one of you killed Danny?”
“That’s it!” Suave jumped to his feet, Daddy Lizard quickly doing the same. Suave reached into his pants pocket and took out a business card. “You should have this already, but just in case you need another one.” He threw down his lawyer’s business card on the table in front of Detective Bird. “He represents both of us.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Daddy Lizard said and walked toward the door, Suave right on his heels.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Detective Bird’s voice halted their steps at the door. “I’m not through questioning you.” He stood and took a few steps toward the men.
“Well, we’re through talking to you,” Suave said. “You either charge us with something now or speak to us with our lawyer present.”
“Hiding something, Suave?”
“Fishing for something, Detective?”
A barrage of emotions played across Detective Bird’s face—anger, disgust, and apprehension. He knew in his heart that King Kong was responsible for Cobra’s death and that Danny was killed in retaliation. This meant Suave or Daddy Lizard killed Danny or, at the very least, ordered the hit on him. “Where were you last night?” He peered at Suave.
“At home with my fiancée and kids.”
“All night?”
“All night,” Suave remarked with a smirk on his face.
“And you?” Detective Bird turned his gaze on Daddy Lizard.
“At home all night with my wifey.”
“Which one?”
Daddy Lizard laughed out loud. “Good question. But I have only one wifey. Natasha. The others are just side chicks. You want her number?”
Detective Bird nodded his head, and Daddy Lizard recited the number as the detective jotted it down on the notepad he held in his hand. But what was the use? He knew Natasha was going to confirm that Daddy Lizard was with her all night. No, what he needed was hard evidence against Suave and Daddy Lizard if he were going to charge them with murder. And by hook or crook, he was going to get it.
“Detective.” Suave tapped the Rolex on his wrist when Detective Bird looked at him. “I’m a busy man. Are we through here?”
Detective Bird grinded his teeth. He glanced at Suave’s watch and wished he could just snap the handcuffs on Suave’s expensive wrists, but on what grounds? All he had now was suspicion. There was no evidence linking Suave to Danny’s death. “For now. But both of you will be back here in no time, and when you are, you won’t be leaving anytime soon.”
Suave grinned, and Daddy Lizard winked. Without another word, they both swaggered out of the police station as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
Chapter Thirty-six
“I need someone to tell me something right now,” Suave yelled, his wild eyes running over the group of men standing before him in his bar. “Where is King Kong? Where is Saddam? Where is my son?”
Earlier that morning, Suave was awakened by Monica, shaking his shoulder. “Suave! Wake up!”
“What?” he asked groggily, his eyes still closed. “A man can’t even get a little sleep,” he complained.
“This is serious. Get up now.”
The panic in Monica’s voice was stronger than a jolt of caffeine. Suave popped up on the bed like a robot. “What’s going on?” Fear filled his eyes when he saw tears rolling down Monica’s face. Not again. “What, Monica?”
“It’s Joel. Nadine just called.”
Suave’s two hands tightly grabbed the sheet on which he lay, and his body began to tremble as if he were about to faint. “Wha . . . What happened to Joel?”
“He was kidnapped.”
The room began spinning around and around. Suave stared at Monica, noticing that she now had at least ten faces that were appearing and disappearing as if by magic, his mind consumed with a poisonous thought. King Kong has my son.
It was now hours later, and Joel was still missing.
Daddy Lizard moved closer to Suave and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Take it easy, man. We—”
“We have nothing!” Suave looked around the room in anger. “We’ve been searching for my son all morning. It’s almost noon, and yet, we have nothing. Did King Kong disappear into thin air, huh? Did crazy Saddam vaporize?”
“Boss?” One worker hesitantly glanced up at Suave.
“What?”
“My people over in Jungle said King Kong’s restaurant had been closed all day, and no one has seen him, Saddam, or Phil since yesterday.”
“They’re in hiding.” Daddy Lizard made eye contact with Suave. “They knew once we got word about Joel that we’d be looking for them.”
Suave shook his head in frustration. He was tired, hungry, and about to lose his mind. Where is Joel? Would King Kong really kill my son?
“Okay, everyone. I want you to head back out and continue the search.” Suave’s eyes implored his men not
