BOILER

Chapter 10

Kids were playing under the lights in the parking lot when they returned. Toland drove a lap around it and pointed out the Toyota with gold wheels. Charlie made a note of the plate. May had searched the files but had no luck finding Marcus or Spice. The detectives parked and sat quietly in the dark. Toland brought out a thermos and poured himself a cup of coffee.

'Any for me?' Charlie asked.

'You got a cup?'

'No.'

'Then no.'

Parents had stuck their head out of windows and called the kids, and in singles and pairs, they disappeared. Toland found a tv guide in the back and was reading that. Charlie was watching the entrance to the building and the light falling out of it. One man came out and they watched him cross the parking lot. They set off when his head dipped under the roof of the Toyota. They accelerated hard and came to a stop in the headlights. Charlie got out and brought up his pistol. Toland came around and ordered him to shut off the engine. Spice made his hands clear and flat in the window.

'Keep 'em up!' Charlie ordered.

Toland went to the driver door, pulled Spice out, and had him put his hands flat over the roof.

Spice had his eyes closed and was shaking his head. He was sweating, and then he was crying.

'You know what's going on here?' Toland asked.

'I'm fucked,' Spice said.

'Keep your hands flat,' Charlie said. 'Don't even move.'

'I'm not moving, man!'

Toland searched the pockets of Spice's coat and came up with a handful of bills and wraps of heroin. Eight of them.

'This turned into a terrible night for you, huh?' Toland said.

'I'm a delivery boy. That's all.'

'What else you got?'

'Please man.'

Spice was sweating. Tears were still rolling down his cheeks. Toland put handcuffs on him and sat him down. Charlie kept the barrel on him, but all Spice seemed about to do was damage his underwear. Toland went into the car and rummaged under the front driver's seat. When he came out, he dropped a package on the roof. He took small bags out of it and counted them.

'Nineteen,' he said, finally. He looked down at Spice. 'You have got a large problem here, kid.'

'I'm just a delivery boy.'

'Not now, you're not,' Charlie said.

Toland stood near Spice and put a hand on his shoulder. He asked whose delivery boy he was.

Spice sobbed. Toland asked him again.

'Marcus.'

'Marcus who?'

'Marcus Hughes.'

'Where is Marcus now?'

'Am I going to jail?'

'Hell of a chance, but for how long is negotiable. Do you know where Marcus is?'

Spice was quiet until asked again. 'His house maybe. 31 Beetle Street.'

'Will he be alone?' Toland asked.

'I don't know.'

'Is he armed?'

'He's got a couple of pistols.'

Spice was loaded into the back and patrol were called. Toland and Charlie stood outside. Toland looked in at the miserable man in the backseat.

'What are you thinking?' Charlie asked.

'I think we get patrol up to Marcus while me and you get him here down to control.'

'Don't you wanna go take a look?'

'No. I wanna get this done with as little pain as possible. And I wanna go home.'

'We should go.'

'No,' Toland said.

'Come on. You always send patrol in. We should go.'

'Tell me something, Charlie. In your life, did you ever aim at anything that wasn't made out of cardboard? What are you gonna do if this guy wants to put up a fight? Are you gonna draw on him? Can you take his life? Tell me, Charlie.'

Charlie didn't answer. He didn't look at him either.

'You better find an answer before you wanna play the hero. Patrol handles it 'til then. So get the address over to them and make it clear to they might be facing an armed man. Wanted on a murder charge. That should get them interested.'