Carlos stepped into the apartment while Zimmerman spoke with Dispatch. After putting on a pair of gloves that the officer handed him, he started with the recliner. “Could be down the crack of the chair.” He shone a flashlight underneath.
Zimmerman eased his hands down the sides of the seat. “Nothing. Thankfully.”
Carlos did a circuit of the room, then went into the bedroom. A similar mattress and blanket setup, which made him wonder who had used the other room. Maybe these two slept separately? The mattress in here was a double. Carlos tugged it away from the wall, and a cell phone wedged between the mattress and the wall tumbled to lie flat on the floor.
He called out, “Got it!”
The phone illuminated when he pressed the power button—unlocked and with the Elysium app open.
Zimmerman appeared at the door.
“No PIN or lock on the phone.”
“That’s pretty normal. Phones with the app get passed around, unregistered and untraceable, just so junkies can get their high.” Zimmerman shook his head. “You ever try it?”
“Elysium? No, I haven’t.”
“My brother did it in college. Wrecked him for two months. He ended up dropping out and losing his scholarship.”
Carlos looked at the screen, and his head swam. The world around him seemed to rotate, spinning while he remained stationary. On the screen the app showed him an image of a shadowy figure.
You know him. You know he will kill you.
Carlos heard the words in his head and knew they were true.He could see the figure in his mind. Knew the threats he had been making.
There was no other option but to capture him. Question him. Kill him. Justice demanded that he answer for his crimes.
Carlos saw the nails in his mind. Held them in his hand.
The man sat in a chair, as if he had done nothing wrong. He drank from a glass and when he looked at Carlos, he sneered. Evil looked at Carlos through those hooded eyes.
You will die.
Pain tore through his shoulder.
Carlos cried out, his face smashed against the floor. A knee in his back pinning him to the ground.
“Officer Ryson!” Zimmerman’s voice rang with authority and a threat. Plus, a smidge of fear and concern.
The guy had no idea what was happening. Unfortunately, Carlos didn’t either.
“I’m good.”
“Unlikely.” Zimmerman didn’t let go.
“Dude.” Carlos didn’t try to move. “I’m good. Let me sit up.”
Zimmerman didn’t let him go right away but did so incrementally.
“Carlos?” Eliana stood at the doorway, concern on her face.
“I’m good, Lia.” He ducked his head and pushed off the floor slowly, just so he could sit up. “What happened?”
Zimmerman had his hands on his belt. “I’d like an answer to that as well.” He shook his head.
“I heard yelling from the hall,” Eliana said. “The other cop couldn’t come in here, because the woman is awake. So I came in.”
Yeah, the guy wouldn’t have liked that.
