handcuff him, again behind his back, and lead him out of the room, carefully holding his chained wrists. You will stop at a position from which Mr. Brownlee can clearly see the specimen whom you have moved to the position indicated. At that point, you will turn to Detective Summers and inquire, ‘Where does the boss want this one to go?’ or words to that effect, whereupon Detective Summers will say, ‘He said put the ones going to the Detention Center over there,’ or words to that effect, as you point at Mr. Williams. You will then take Mr. Brownlee to the chair beside Mr. Williams and handcuff him to the chair, and to Mr. Williams. You will then lead the previously positioned specimen with the watery eyes into the interview room and cuff him to the chair.”
“Okay,” the sergeant and Detective Summers said, smiling.
“I will then reappear, enter the interview room, and chat with the specimen for no more than three minutes. I will then open the door and order that he be taken to a stenographer—tangentially, I presume that the good ladies have answered the call to duty despite the obscene hour?”
“One of the ladies is a him,” Summers said. “Guy named Forbes. But he’s good.”
“Washington, you really think you can get that scumbag to talk in three minutes?” the Highway sergeant asked.
“I’m not even going to try,” Washington said. “Just look at him. He would make a terrible witness. What I will do is ensure he will come out of the interview room looking enormously relieved, or pleased, and possibly both.”
“Which, Sergeant,” Summers said, “will not be lost on the two who think they’re going directly to the slam, do not pass Go, do not collect two hundred bucks. They will wonder what they’re missing out on.”
“I think three minutes will be sufficient time for Mr. Brownlee to inform Mr. Williams of the deal he was offered and rejected, and for Mr. Williams to conclude that Mr. Brownlee made a gross error in judgment in not accepting it.”
“You really think that will work?” the sergeant asked, smiling.
“Are you a betting man, Sergeant?” Detective Summers asked. “I’ll give you three-to-one that it will. I’ve seen this guy at work before.”
TWENTY-THREE
Thank you, Jason,” Peter Wohl said, his voice very serious, even disappointed. “It was worth a try.”
Wohl dropped the telephone handset into its cradle and looked, not smiling, at Dennis Coughlin.
He shook his head sadly, but said nothing.
“You might as well tell me, Peter,” Coughlin said.
“Mr. Amos J. Williams and Mr. Marcus C.—also known as ‘Baby’—Brownlee,” Wohl began, and smiled broadly before going on, “either having recognized the error of their sinful ways, or perhaps in the misguided belief that the charges against them will be dropped, have given statements to Sergeant Washington indicating that the amount of narcotics seized as evidence from them at the motel was approximately twice the amount Officer Grider and the rest of Five Squad turned in to the evidence room.”
“You bastard!” Coughlin said. “You had me going.”
“I’m not finished,” Wohl said. “Additionally, Mr. Williams has given a sworn statement that he had approximately three thousand dollars in his possession at the time of his arrest, which is fifteen hundred more than was turned in, and Baby Brownlee is about to sign his statement, in which he says he had approximately two thousand dollars more in his possession than Five Squad turned in, and was wearing a Rolex wristwatch which seems to have disappeared between the time it was taken from his person at the place of arrest and Central Lockup. He actually bought the watch, and is sure Bailey, Banks and Biddle has a record of the transaction, including the serial number. Do you suppose we’ll get really lucky and find one of these—”
“Forget it, Peter. These characters didn’t get this far by being stupid.”
“I suppose . . .”
“And Washington didn’t have to make a deal?”
“He assured both of them he would personally go to the judge and tell him, or her—it’s a shame that won’t be Hanging Harriet—how cooperative they have been.”
“They didn’t give him anything that can tie Prasko to what he did to the Longwood girl?”
Wohl shook his head, “no.”
“When do we lock them up, Peter?”
“The statements will be enough to get warrants for their arrest, which I think we should do as soon as we can, but I’d rather wait and see what happens in Harrisburg before we actually bring them in,” Wohl said.