“I wasn’t,” he said.
“He lies,” Bazel said.
Carter shook his head. “We know. This is all part of the dance.”
“Dance? No one dancing,” Bazel said, puzzled, but watched as Atlas sat down.
“You know this dog, don’t you?” Atlas asked, and Evie grew tense and growled. “You’re afraid of her. Why?” The man’s legs shook.
“She tried to attack me in the car, and she ripped apart my friend.” He continued shaking as Atlas gently stroked Evie’s head.
“How do you know what happened?” Atlas asked, clearly and calmly. Reginald didn’t say anything. “How do you know?” he repeated more loudly.
“I don’t have to talk to you.”
Atlas nodded. “You don’t. The FBI has already been called, and they are on their way down to take you to a federal detention facility somewhere. Don’t ask me where because I don’t know. But those folks do not take human trafficking very lightly, as well as drug smuggling. We have plenty on you, and they’ll find more. I’m sure of it.” He petted Evie once more. “Maybe I should leave her alone with you.”
The man shook all over, and Bazel wondered if he was going to pee himself. “I don’t have to say anything.” His voice was feeble.
“Maybe not. But telling me what I need to know will help a lot. Evie here will be very pleased. How long have you been in town, and who sent you?”
“No one,” he answered firmly. “That dog killed my friend. He barely made it back to Maryland. He was cold, and his bandages were soaked in blood. He’s probably dead, I don’t know. Damned dog bit an artery or something. He had told me where he was going, so I came to get revenge.”
“Why was Wendell here?” Atlas asked gently. “Why did he bother trying to find someone who could barely identify him?”
Reginald shrugged. “He said that this foreigner could identify him and the ship, and when things went wrong, he had to make sure he couldn’t talk. So Breaker….” He hung his head, shaking it slowly. “He said they could put his entire life in jeopardy, so he had to take him out.”
Atlas sat down across the table. “We took it all down. The ship has been impounded. Breaker is dead, and the rest of the crew are in custody. The driver told us everything he knew, and now you’ve done the same. It looks to me like your friend’s legacy of pain and hurt is over. It’s all over.”
Reginald shrugged. “I don’t know anything about that. I was never given any details. I just wanted to get even with the guy who killed my friend.”
“You do know that he broke into my home, and that Evie was just protecting us? Your friend was a criminal, and now he’s gotten you involved in all his crap. Your misplaced loyalty could cost you a great deal.” He shook his head and then left the room, taking Evie along with him.
Soon Atlas joined them in the little room, watching the man. “Do you think he lies?”
“I don’t know. But one thing I do believe, I don’t think he knows anything about the smuggling. He isn’t the brightest bulb, and I really believe that he could have come here because of the death of his friend. We can check that out. But it seems to me that maybe this is truly over.”
“What you mean?” Bazel asked.
“Breaker was here because he thought you knew something that could hurt him. And it seems that you could. You knew the name of the ship, even though you didn’t realize it at the time. That could hurt him and bring the entire operation down, and itdid. But he was trying to get to you before you could tell anyone. This guy was here just because Evie hurt his friend.”
Bazel nodded. He had gotten that much.
“It means…,” Atlas said gently, “that there isn’t some important or powerful person who is after you. This should be it. Breaker is dead, and this man is going to answer to federal authorities about what he might know about the whole smuggling operation.”
Shaking his head, Bazel looked through the glass. “He know nothing. Just let him go and tell him to go home. I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me. This man is dumb. He rush here to avenge his friend, and what he get is trouble. Maybe he learn lesson, that friend wasn’t a nice guy.” He turned to Atlas. “I just want all this to be over. I want to build life and be happy. Not make people sad.” He continued looking at the man, who had lowered his head to the table and might have been crying. “What did he really do other than scare me?”
Atlas said nothing, and Carter nodded slowly. “We still need to turn him over to the FBI. They want to speak with him because he may know something.”
“Then do it and leave him alone. Let them find out what we know.” Bazel turned away from the man. “Can I go home now? I no want to be here anymore.” He was tired and had been too damned scared for too long.
“Yes. That’s a good idea. Atlas, your shift is almost over. Stop in to speak with the chief and let him know what happened.”
“Did I get you in trouble?” Bazel asked
Carter shrugged. “He just sent a message.” He held up his phone, and Atlas opened the door. Bazel went with him and Evie down to an office with an open door.
“You wanted to see me?” Atlas asked.
