The buzzer went on and on as if someone had their finger stuck on it.
Suave swore under his breath as he pushed himself off the bed, still in the clothes he wore the day before and his sneakers on his feet. He staggered a little when he stood up. His head hurt like crazy. “I’m coming!” he yelled when the buzzer continued singing. “This better be important!”
Suave marched into the living room and peeked around the curtain to see the veranda. His heart leaped in his chest when he saw that Detective Bird had the nerve to come to his house early in the morning and wake him up. “That two-faced rat.”
Unclasping the lock on the front door, Suave pulled it opened and stepped out on the veranda, wrinkled clothes and all. “What do you want?” he yelled.
Detective Bird smiled cynically through the grill. “Good morning, Suave. I’m glad you’re home.” He looked off to the side and made a signal with his hand. Out of nowhere, four uniformed officers appeared at his side.
Suave’s mouth opened wide when the officers pulled their guns on him. “What’s this?” He looked at Detective Bird for an explanation.
“You’re under arrest for the murder of Danny Moore.”
“You’re out of your mind.” Suave took two steps back.
“Don’t move,” Detective Bird warned, his gun now pointed at Suave. “Please come and open the burglar bars right now and let us in. We don’t want to hurt you, Suave.” But the look on Detective Bird’s face was almost begging Suave to move so he could take a shot at him.
“Detective Bird is on King Kong’s payroll and has been for years.” Phil’s words filled Suave’s head. He knew Detective Bird arresting him now was King Kong’s doing. No doubt King Kong had now realized that Joel was rescued, and he wanted to put some pressure on Suave by using the dirty police officer.
“All right.” Suave held up both hands in the air. “I don’t want any trouble.” I need to play it cool and bide my time.
“Wise decision.” Detective Bird looked disappointed. He would have preferred to kill Suave and later justify his actions. But there were four other officers on the scene, meaning four witnesses. “Let us in now.”
“The keys are inside.” Suave still had his hands in the air. “I need to go get them,” he said, anger and hatred spilling out of his eyes.
Detective Bird sucked his teeth loudly. “Go get them and come right back. We have the house surrounded, so don’t even think about trying to run.”
Suave nodded and walked backward, still facing the detective and the officers until he got to the door. He went inside and rushed into the kitchen. Peeping through the window into the backyard, he glimpsed two armed, uniformed officers. Detective Bird wasn’t kidding. He did have the house surrounded.
Suave entered the bedroom and saw his cell phone on the bed. He grabbed it and noticed that the battery was almost dead. He quickly dialed Daddy Lizard’s number. “I’m surrounded by pigs,” he said when Daddy Lizard answered in a sluggish voice. “And the rat is heading the operation. Contact our lawyer and have him meet me at the station as soon as possible.” Suave flipped the phone closed and threw it back down on the bed. He grabbed his keys off the dresser, then walked out the front door to the veranda, pulling it shut behind him.
“Took you long enough,” Detective Bird snapped, a scowl on his face.
Suave ignored him and walked up to the grill. He unlocked it and pulled it open.
“Hands on your head!” Detective Bird yelled in total exaggeration. “Don’t move! Turn around!”
Suave did as he was told. His hands were roughly twisted behind his back, pain shooting up his arm before the handcuffs were on him. But Suave said nothing as he was shoved down the steps and out onto the street.
“Watch your head,” Detective Bird screamed as he jostled Suave into the back of his police car. “You comfy?” he asked before he closed the door.
“Like a king,” Suave replied.
Detective Bird stared at him for a few seconds.
“I would like another officer to ride with us to the station, please,” Suave said loudly through the opened window for the police officers close by to hear him. He didn’t want to ride alone with Detective Bird.
Detective Bird chuckled a little nervously as he peered at Suave, trying to figure out why he made that request. However, Suave just looked straight-ahead, refusing to meet his stare.
As Suave requested, with a uniformed officer riding beside him, Detective Bird kept looking into the rearview mirror at Suave in the backseat. He noticed that Suave didn’t seem nervous at all. The guy was just charged with murder, and he wasn’t ranting and raving. What’s he up to? Detective Bird pondered. Did he find out about King Kong and me? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
The handcuffs were almost cutting off the circulation in Suave’s hands that were still crammed behind him. He felt Detective Bird stealing glances at him, but he kept his face turned toward the window. On the outside, he appeared calm, but on the inside, Suave was a little worried. He had been brought in for questioning on drug-related matters before, but never for murder. It was even stickier when the arresting officer was dirty and was being paid and directed by his worst enemy. I have to be careful on this one. I can’t let this dirty cop and King Kong frame me for murder.
Upon arrival at the Half Way Tree Police Station, Suave was taken to the same dingy interrogation room that he and Daddy Lizard were questioned in before. Detective Bird removed the handcuffs
