Page 84 of Armed ’N’ Ready

“Joseph A. Myer,” AUSA Bennett began. “We have a warrant for your arrest.”

“I know that.” He hung his head.

“We’ll hold off formal arrest processing until we determine the extent of your cooperation. The charges include money laundering and conspiracy to distribute illegal firearms.”

He jerked his head up. “I didn’t know what the money was from. I swear it.”

“But you knew it was tainted money,” Nick said in a blunt tone.

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you willing to cooperate to the fullest extent possible?” Bennett asked.

He didn’t hesitate. “Of course. I’ll do anything you want.”

“Then first,” Bennett continued, “Special Agent Cox will read you your rights.”

Cox pulled a card from his wallet and began reading. “You have the right to remain silent…”

Andi shifted uncomfortably in her chair. This was something out of a movie. A bad one.

“Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?” Cox set the card down a minute or so later and looked at Joe from across the table.

“Yes.”

“Are you willing to waive your right to an attorney and to have an attorney present during this questioning?”

“Yes.” He smacked his hands on the table. “Can we just get on with it?”

Bennett handed Joe two sheets of paper. “The first page is a waiver of rights form, essentially reiterating what Special Agent Cox read to you. The second is a cooperation agreement. Take a moment to review them both.”

Joe released her hand and grabbed the documents. He quickly scanned them, then took the pen Bennett offered and signed at the bottom of both pages.

“Nick, would you sign as a witness?”

Joe reached in front of her to hand Nick the sheets of paper. Nick pulled a pen from the pocket of his uniform shirt and signed at the bottom before handing them back to Bennett.

“You have our undivided attention, Mr. Myer.” AUSA Bennett leaned back in his chair. “Start from the beginning and tell us how you got into this.”

He took a deep breath. “I have a gambling problem.”

…

Nick wasn’t surprised to learn about Myer’s gambling problem. Most illegal money was made to either line someone’s pockets out of sheer greed or to bail someone’s ass out of hot water. Myer was drowning.

Cox and Bennett had each begun taking notes on a yellow legal pad, leaving him to keep an eye on Myer. Watching Myer sweat it out made him think he ought to cut the guy some slack for having a weakness. What he was having a difficult time tolerating was that after signing the cooperation agreement, he’d grabbed Andi’s hand again and repositioned it firmly in his lap.

Motherfu—

He hooked his thumbs on his duty belt, when what he really wanted was to rip the guy’s hand off his arm and feed it to Saxon for his dog’s next meal.

Keep your head in the game. This is what you’ve been working for—to get Myer in front of a grand jury.

“I owed a casino in Connecticut fifty thousand dollars. I couldn’t pay it off fast enough. The next thing I knew, a couple of thugs went to my office and threatened my secretary while I was out. They broke some furniture and told her I had one week to pay up in full or I’d suffer the consequences. Where was I supposed to get that kind of cash?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Nick couldn’t stop himself from interjecting, “sell your Mercedes, or that million-dollar house of yours and move into a condo?”

For a moment, anger and resentment blazed in Myer’s eyes, but it was quickly extinguished with shame and remorse. “Yeah, I guess I could have, but certainly not within a week’s time, and it would only have been a stop-gap. I have a problem, Sergeant. If I can get myself out of this mess, I definitely need help.”