Page 90 of Dirty

Tegan bent down and picked up the phone. She wiped her tears with her arm, and then met my gaze.

It was bad news. I was sure of it.

I began to sob.

She shook her head and extended her arm. Through her tears, she forced a smile. “It’s…it’s for you.”

I reached for the phone.

“Hello?”

“Alexandra?”

Hearing his voice caused all my muscles to tense. My heart rose into my throat. “Adam?”

“They didn’t kill me,” he said. “But they made me realize something.”

Warmth shot through me. I bit against my lower lip to keep it from shaking. “What…what’s that?”

He sighed. “I need you.”

“I need you, too,” I blubbered through my tears.

THIRTY-ONE

Cholo

I’d never been confined to a hospital bed before, but then again, my list of nevers had diminished significantly in the last few days.

While I prepared to tell another part of my tale, detective Watson came through the door.

I looked at Crip. He nodded his head once and patted me on the shoulder.

“Thought they had a limit on visitors in these places,” Watson said.

“They do,” Crip said snidely. “And with you, we’re over the limit. Make your visit quick, cop.”

“Take it easy, Navarro,” the detective said, his tone flat. “I come in peace.”

Watson glanced around, grabbed the chair from the corner of the room, and sat down. After opening his notepad, he looked up.

“As you might suspect, I’ve got to take a statement. I read your admission form, and I’ve seen the doctor’s reports. I need a sworn statement from you.”

“I’m on a morphine drip,” I said. “But I think I’m ready.”

He lifted his pen to his mouth and tapped it against his lip. “Is your name Adam Wesley Downey?”

“It is.”

“Do you reside at 42031 N. 14th Ave., in Oceanside, California.”

“I do.”

“Can you describe to the best of your ability, in detail, the events that transpired which led to your being hospitalized?”

“I can do my best.”

He stopped tapping the pen. “Begin.”