Hed never lacked for imagination.
Whaddaya think, Doc? Jonnys voice was conversational. If hed been shaken by Cades earlier remarks, hed since recovered. Think I can trust the detective here to play straight with me?
A moment passed. Then another. Cade found himself hardly daring to breathe. Shae ORiley had made no effort to hide her reluctance to be involved in this scene. But instinct told him that reluctance stemmed from more than her unwillingness to leave the E.R. There was something in her voice when she talked to him, something in her eyes that shouted distrust. Since hed met her just a few days ago, he could only figure it was directed at all cops, not just him. And if that was the case, she was the last person in the world he needed advising his perp.
But her words, when they came, were noncommittal. Seems to me youve been playing roulette with your choices for some time now. The question is, are you man enough to face the consequences?
Honey, Im man enough for anything you have in mind. Cade sprang forward when LeFrenz reached for her with his free hand, but the uniform got to him first, restraining him. Jonny never took his eyes off Shae, just kept talking, his voice low and suggestive. Im looking forward to showing you that sometime. You and me, we could have us a real good time.
Make your choice, LeFrenz. There was a slow burn in the pit of Cades belly. Not a little of it was due to the way the punk kept looking at the doctor, as if she was starring in a pornographic movie reel playing in his head. She cant help you with this. No one can. But you can help yourself.
Maybe I can cooperate with this detective, Angel Eyes, whaddaya think? LeFrenzs attention never swerved from Shae. Maybe I can even tell him who put those bullets in his chest. Her breathing stilled. She stared back at the young man, noted the mouth curled in sardonic amusement, so at odds with the angelic face. How did he know about the detectives injury? She saw the same question reflected on the polished ebony face of the policeman at his side. But the man was too well trained to do more than look at the detective. Her gaze followed the direction of his, met Tremaines. His expression was inscrutable.
Think that would interest him, Doc? There was a hard note of glee underlying LeFrenzs words. Im betting it would. Im betting hed arrange a pretty fine deal if I was to tell him where to look for the shooter.
Dont change the subject, LeFrenz. You have one piece of information I want, and thats pretty simple. Just a name. Amazingly enough, the detectives voice sounded bored. Make it easy on yourself and give it up. Then you can start planning for your retirement.
He dont believe me, LeFrenz told Shae confidingly. Id think I would. We have something in common, me and him. We both know what its like to have a bullet plow into us, to watch the blood pour out. Course, I dont know what its like to watch my partner die on the sidewalk next to me. There was a stillness in the room that reminded Shae of an explosive waiting to detonate. But then, maybe Tremaine dont care about none of that. Maybe his partner was as dirty as everyones saying.
There was no warning of his intention. One moment Cade was standing there, face grim. The next hed leaned down, yanked LeFrenz up with one fist on the neck of his hospital gown. Youll show a little respect. The words were murmured almost soundlessly, but the warning in them sent a shiver down Shaes spine. Here was the control shed sensed that first day from him, dangerously close to slipping. Here was the lethal intent that would drive a man from his hospital bed back to the streets much too soon.
And if LeFrenz was even half-right, here was the reason for that sense of purpose.
A good cop is dead, Cade went on. If you have anything to report on that, lets hear it. But dont even think about yanking me around on this, LeFrenz. Brian Hollister got a heros funeral. No one in the city would even blink at the death of a two-bit drug dealer.
The two mens gazes did battle, while LeFrenzs face slowly flushed red from the stranglehold the detective had on him. When Tremaine showed no signs of releasing him, Shae put her hand on his arm.
Lets give his wound a chance to heal before we inflict any further damage, shall we? For a moment she didnt think the detective was going to respond. LeFrenz was turning scarlet. She exerted a bit of pressure on the detectives arm, and he slanted a look at her, the bitterness in it as sharp as a blade. Then in the next instant he released his grip, allowing the patient to drop down to the bed again.
Youre the doctor was all he said.
The pent-up breath shed been holding streamed out of her. Thats right. And I need to get back to the E.R. Lets end this.
You tell the D.A. I got information on the shooting, Tremaine, LeFrenz said when he could speak again. You tell him thats what Im dealing. The name of a cop killer ought to trump a dead kid, right?
No one is going to believe you have something to trade on Hollisters murder. Shae listened in horrified fascination as the two men bartered. Do you think you can just throw out some street gossip and beat a murder rap with it? You cant be that stupid.
I got more than that, Tremaine. I got me a personal relationship with Freddie. You member Freddie, doncha? Shae saw from the look on the detectives face that the name was all too familiar. Ive had me sometransactions with him.
You mean you deal to him, Cade said flatly.
LeFrenz rolled his shoulders. Dont matter how I know him. Just that he came to me that night in a big hurry. Had to get out of town and he needed somesupplies before he went.
Cade folded his arms over his chest. Let me guess. You set him up with a quick fix. Easier to pump a junkie for details when hes just starting to reach for that high, isnt it? And Freddie must have been getting desperate by the time he found you.
You never know when this kind of information is going to come in handy. One eye slid closed in a sly wink. He was shook up, all right. Figured you both for dead. Had himself a wad of cash, too, so someone paid him off. Since cops dont deal in that kind of money, Im thinking the shooters did.
The conversation was painting an all-too-vivid picture for Shae. She could almost hear the gunfire, see the bodies crumpled on the ground. But if the words were bringing back traumatic memories for Tremaine, it didnt show in his expression. That awesome control was back, and the rage that had briefly flared had been reined in, hidden. Somehow that evidence of his restraint was as fearsome as his temper had been.
Wheres Freddie now?
Again LeFrenz shrugged. Split, man. Guess it wouldnt be too healthy for him to stick around here. But before he left, he told me all about the whole thing.
Cade considered him for a long moment. Ill run it by the D.A., see if he wants to deal. But your tip has to lead somewhere before he even considers trading for it. And were still gonna need the name of your supplier, too, if youre hoping to slip out of a murder rap.
Her beeper sounded, an insistent reminder. Shae didnt reach for it. She was transfixed by the scene playing out before her.
LeFrenz laughed, an ugly sound. Now whos blowing smoke? I give up a cop killer, they gonna give me the key to the city. You go on and call the D.A., Tremaine. Run this by him. Hell deal. I guarantee it. He looked at Shae then, clearly finished with the conversation. So Angel Eyes, you gonna stay up here a while and keep me company? Fluff my pillows? Give me a sponge bath, maybe?