The Wright One

WILLIAM

Gus doesn’t look like he is in too bad a shape when I get to the hospital. I mean besides the fact that he has a bullet hole in his left shoulder. It missed all the vital arteries so he should heal just fine.

He’s sitting back on the pillow with a jello on the tray. He looks like he is on vacation, not in the hospital with a gunshot wound. He’s a young guy like me with far more tattoos. I am actually surprised that he was hired for security of the bank. I checked his rap sheet before coming here. He was released from prison about six months ago for drug solicitation. This guy doesn’t exactly look like anyone I would want protecting my bank.

“Hey, Mr. Stanford, can I ask you a few questions?”

He grunts at me. “All I have been doing since I got here is answering questions. Haven’t you guys talked and shit. I mean come on, I was just shot. I think I should get to rest.”

I nod, even if I don’t like his attitude. Something about him just rubs me the wrong way. I don’t like the way he seems agitated. Like it doesn’t matter if we catch the guys that did this or not. He just wants to enjoy his free food and bed. “I understand. I promise I will be the last for a while. Now you said that you were shot on the way to work. About what time was that?”

He rolls his eyes. “I told the other guy.”

I smile. “Humor me.”

“Six.”

Writing that down, I think that it is pretty late to be heading to work for a bank. “Is there a reason why you were coming in so late?”

He shrugs. “I don’t make the schedule.”

“Can you give me a little walk through of what happened?”

He groans like he is in pain, but I don’t budge. “Fine, I was walking because my car is in the shop. I got to about fifth street when this asshole pulled in front of me in his car, he was wearing a mask and he shot me. Then he drove off while I fell to the ground. That’s it. It happened super fast. I don’t know what else you want from me.”

I write all that down and contemplate my next question. Because this one sounded really rehearsed. “What color was the car?”

He looks at me confused. “I don’t remember.”

“Was the man covered head to toe or were you able to see any skin?”

“I told you it was really fast. I don’t know.”

“How tall do you think the guy was?”

“I don’t know, tall I guess.”

“What about eye color, did you get that?”

“Green I think.” Really, he got the eye color but did not notice his skin?

“Do you know what kind of gun he used?”

“I don’t know.”

“Was it a handgun, a glock, or a shotgun?”

He glares at me. “I told you, I don’t know.”

None of this is making sense. He should be able to tell me that it wasn’t a shotgun. I mean if it was it would have been pretty obvious. It’s like he only has programmed answers and can’t answer outside of that. If he does he makes it up on the spot.

“Alright Mr. Stanford, I am going to check with my colleges that you talked to before, see if we can find this guy. I am sure one of us will be talking to you again to see if you remember anything else. Sometimes it takes a bit for little details to return to us. You know with all the stress of the situation. If you remember anything important, please don’t be afraid to give me a call.” I handed him my business card. I don’t expect him to call at all.

“Can I rest now?”

“Yes, of course.”

On my way out I called the desk Sergeant to see if there was any other information. Kyle answers after a couple of minutes. “Hey Detective, so the brother of your suspect was brought in. He is waiting in the interrogation room to answer questions. We had to call for a lawyer for him. He’s only sixteen. His legal guardian is his sister.”

I sigh, because this is bullshit. They pulled in a kid on a half assed investigation. He is probably scared shitless for his sister. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

When I get to the station I see a very pissed off kid. He looks like he is ready to blow a gasket. When I entered the interrogation room, my Lieutenant was already there. He looks smug as he talks to the kid. “Look kid, it would be best for everyone if you just tell us where your sister is.”

I see him grasp his hands into fists. “I don’t know how many times I can tell you, you have the wrong person. My sister didn’t do anything. Even if she did then I wouldn’t tell you where she is.”

“Kid this isn’t going to end well for you. You do realize that if you don’t cooperate with us then it is going to be bad. You’re not eighteen yet, that means a group home. Now it could be a nice group home or a not so nice one, it’s your choice.”

The lawyer shakes her head. “That is enough. I suggest you don’t answer any questions. It’s obvious that they are trying to use unlawful means here. This interview is done.”

My lieutenant snarls at the lawyer. “I am trying to find a bank robber here.”

The lawyer scoffs. “By pressuring a kid to turn in his sister. I don’t even think you have all that much evidence. So here you sit with a sixteen year old kid trying to convince him to turn in his sister. You threatened him. As his representative I don’t want him to answer any other questions.”

I clear my throat. “Lieutenant, can I take over?”

He grumbles but pushes his chair out. “I doubt he will answer you.”

I wait until he is out of the room before I take a seat. “I would apologize for him but I’m afraid he would probably just be the same next time you saw him. He kind of has it set in his mind that your sister is the robber and there is nothing I can say to make him change his mind.”

He is closed off. “Is this the good cop bad cop routine? I’m not going to change my answer. You have the wrong person. My sister didn’t do this.”

I shrug. “I am inclined to believe you. To me a lot of things with this case don’t add up. That is why I want to ask you a few questions so that I can figure this out.”

He eyes me like I am public enemy number one. No way he trusts me. “Fine, ask your questions.”

“What’s your name?”

“Joe.” He answers.

“I bet your sister calls you Joey.”

He smiles a little. “Not for a long time. She actually calls me Joseph.”

I nod. “Sounds like she thinks highly of you. I mean to give you a grown up name like that. How long has it been just the two of you?”

“Five years.” He looks a little sad.

“That is a while. Does your sister do a good job of looking out for you?”

“My sister is the best. She does the best she can, always making sure I have everything that I need, but she would never break the law to do it. Look, I know we don’t come from the best part of town. We struggle with money. But my sister is always on me about doing what is right, she would never turn around and break the law. Never.”

“Joe, honestly, I am just trying to solve this case. Someone did a good job of making it look like your sister was a part of this. But I don’t think she is. It doesn’t make sense to me. I give you my word that I am going to do whatever it takes to find the people responsible for this.”

He fidgets a little. “Are you being serious?”

“Absolutely.”

“There is this guy in the neighborhood. He keeps asking me about my sister. He’s not a good guy. I know my sister would never be into him. But he watches her sometimes. I don’t know if that helps or if I am just blabbing about something completely unrelated.”

“What’s this guy’s name?”

“Brock, that’s all I know. No one ever uses his last name. He’s a big deal in the neighborhood. He has money but still lives on our side of town. It’s like he runs it. Everyone is afraid of him. He has these big guys with him all the time. I think he is into drugs, but I don’t know for sure. My sister keeps me away from that stuff and people who are into it. My sister got really upset one time when he was talking to me on the corner and she saw. She told me never to talk to him again.”

“Well, I’m going to check him out and see if he is related to this at all. This was really helpful Joe. I want you to understand, I don’t think your sister did this. I am probably the only one though, but I am going to do what I can to prove that your sister is innocent.”

He nods. “I really appreciate it. I know it doesn’t look good, but I’m telling you, this isn’t something my sister would do.”

“I think you can go now. I am sorry about all this. I think the social workers are supposed to be on their way soon. I really hope to clear your sister as soon as possible.”

He looks up at me with eyes that are almost pleading. “Please help my sister. She didn’t do anything wrong. I know her.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“I am going to do anything in my power to do justice here. I don’t think your sister did this.”

I leave the room with a heavy heart. I can’t decide what to do next. I am certain that a woman who is raising her little brother would do whatever was necessary to keep him safe. I just don’t know if that would lead to robbery. Especially a sloppy one at that. None of it is making any sense. Why would some random guy shoot the guard? Why would she rob the bank on her own if there was a man that shot the guard? Why would she leave any evidence that she robbed the bank if she was the only one there? It doesn’t make a lick of sense.

Kyle comes up on my left. “She came in on her own. She is in interrogation room three. I haven’t told the lieutenant yet.”

“She who?”

“Mia Ashbluff.”

Well, I guess I am getting some answers sooner than I thought.