I was covered in ripe sweat. Brill was still glaring at me, but the intensity was gone. He said, “So what do we do with the DA?”

“We tell him that we got El Paso to confess and name names. Then we tell him that we’re going to visit Renaldes and bring him on board. We know he’ll cooperate because he didn’t participate in the rape. So that means we’ve got El Paso’s and Renaldes’s testimonies against Fedek and Chatlin. And we can tell the DA that we found out about Renaldes because El Paso gave him up. That’s it! Done! Okay?”

“No. Not okay. If you ever, ever, ever pull shit like this again, you’re going to be writing traffic tickets for a very long time.”

“I am duly warned—”

“I mean it, Decker!”

I lowered my eyes, then returned them to Justice’s face. “I know you do. Thank you for going with me on this.”

“Who said I’m going with you?” The rage had returned to his eyes. “If I back you up, you’ll owe me big time.”

I spoke softly and with deference. “I know and I will return the favor. I am nothing if not loyal.”

“Maybe sooner than you think.” His eyes moved up and down my body.

“No, no, no,” I said. “That is out of the question.”

A smile came across his lips. “What on earth are you talking about, Decker?”

I wasn’t amused. “Sorry. My head’s a little scrambled.”

“I think so.” He rubbed his forehead. “If shit falls, I’m not getting dirty.”

“I’ll take the crap.”

“For a two-year vet, you’ve got steel. I’m surprised.” Brill’s eyes tore into my face. “You know what I think? I think you had help with Renaldes. And I think you know what kind of help I’m talking about. Or should I say who I’m talking about.”

“And I think you should ask El Paso about Fedek and Belinda Syracuse.”

A blank look.

“The hit-and-run I witnessed?”

“Oh, that.” He was taken aback. “Why would Fedek have anything to do with Belinda Syracuse?”

“Both Belinda and Sarah Sanders lived at Fordham Community Center. Maybe Sarah told Belinda about the rape. Maybe Belinda was about to go to the cops.”

“You have nothing to back that up. The hit-and-run was a different vehicle and a different MO. Why would a shit like Fedek take out Belinda with a car instead of a gun?”

“You’re probably right, Justice, but it’s still a remote possibility. Just throw it at El Paso and Renaldes and let them deny it.”

“You’re full of good ideas today.” His expression was sour. “Why the fuck am I putting up with you?”

“Maybe because you want me for your partner instead of that piece of dead meat you’ve been riding with for the last eighteen months.”

“Henry’s not dead meat.”

“Henry is two months from retirement. When was the last time he put himself on the line?”

Justice frowned. “I don’t want you. You’re too damn impetuous. You need to slow down.”