The detectives looked back. The older one smiled upon seeing Dino, then stood and walked over.
“Commissioner Bacchetti, good to see you again,” he said.
“Detective Lyne.” Dino shook the man’s hand. “How are the kids?”
“Not kids for much longer. Thomas Junior is about to start college, and his sister is just a year behind.”
“They grow up so fast, don’t they?”
“Truer words have never been spoken. Have you met my new partner, Detective Hanson?”
The younger detective was on his feet now. “Commissioner Bacchetti, a pleasure to meet you, sir. We’re in the middle of interrogating the suspects.”
“Actually,” Lyne said. “I believe we’re done for now.”
Hanson looked at him, alarmed. “We need to go over their stories again. I’m sure they’re holding something back.”
“Trust me, son. We’re done.”
He put a hand on Hanson’s back and pushed him toward the door.
“But—”
“No buts.”
They left.
Dino took a seat across from the couch where Stone and Jack sat. “Who wants to tell me why I’m not lying in bed, sleeping right now?”
“Would you like to do the honors?” Stone asked Jack.
“I’m more than happy to leave that to you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Stone told Dino about his and Jack’s encounter with Estrada and Kroger.
“And shooting them was not part of the plan?” Dino asked when Stone finished.
“Neither of us shot Estrada,” Stone said.
“But you did shoot Manny Kroger, who, I might remind you, is the man who destroyed your car and put Fred in the hospital.”
“Well, I’m not going to lie and say that I’m devastated that he’s no longer with us, but my hand was forced when he shot at me.”
“The shot that you say hit Kroger.”
“The first shot hit Kroger. The second one he fired right after was not similarly obstructed.”
“But it didn’t hit you.”
“Itdidpass through the spot I’d been a moment before.”
“You want to know what the most surprising part of this whole story is?” Dino asked.
“Please, enlighten us,” Stone said.
“That you actually hit him.”
