Bad Pennies Chapter 21
Previously In Bad Pennies
About two years ago former lovers, Josh and Paul robbed Paul’s employer, a process server named Cooper, of almost $300,000. Josh suggested they run off together. Thinking it’s too dangerous, Paul insists they must go their separate ways.
Now Josh is in a relationship with a woman named Erica who is pregnant with his child. He confesses his involvement in the robbery and she drops him at police headquarters to confess.
Detective Pandy questions Josh, but he’s much more hesitant to tell the police what he told his girlfriend.
Meanwhile after his own brush with Detective Pandy, Paul enlists the help of his unscrupulous bounty hunter friend, Dano to help him get away, preferably with Josh, but Detective Pandy isn’t the only one on the hunt. Cooper is still looking for both Paul and Josh.
Josh sat in the interrogation room looking at Detective Pandy who had a grin and a playful look in her eyes. Would she let him leave if he got up and tried to leave or did he really have to tell her the real story of what happened or end up in a cell?
“I think telling my side of the story might require a lawyer,” Josh said tentatively.
“But I thought you weren’t a criminal, Josh?”
“I’m not.”
“You know who needs lawyers? Criminals.”
Showing up with a lawyer would make him look guilty. Then again she already thought he was guilty. Some unhelpful voice in the back of the head whispered, ‘And, you are guilty, pal. Don’t forget that. Not a criminal. Right.’
Josh didn’t say anything. He felt like anything he said or did would be a mistake. He’d felt that way for a while now. He wondered what Erica was doing right now. He thought of Paul. Did Paul really put him in for this robbery that was Paul’s idea in the first place and if he did, why not just tell the Detective?
No. He couldn’t think of a way to tell the story that didn’t implicate himself. He’d have to get immunity and while he didn’t know how that worked, he knew it involved lawyers.
“Am I under arrest?” Josh asked.
“Not right now.”
“Then I think I want to come back later with my lawyer.”
Detective Pandey’s big brown eyes narrowed to slits. She seemed to be looking at him as if she was trying to read his mind. Then her eyes opened wide again as if she’d found what she was looking for.
“Okay,” Detective Pandy said. She grabbed the files in front of her and shut them and stood up. “I’ll escort you to the entrance. And if you like, I’ll be happy to let Erica know that you told us absolutely nothing. I’m sure she’ll just love that.”
Dano pulled up outside Paul’s ex’s condo for what seemed like the 100th time. Paul had insisted they go there and make sure Cooper hadn’t gone after him. Paul didn’t see Cooper’s car.
“I’m going to go up and make sure everything’s okay,” Paul said.
Dano watched as Paul hopped out of the car and walked towards the building. Dano noticed that Paul brought the duffel bag with him. Paul might be a little drunk, but he still had his wits about him enough not to trust Dano with a literal bag full of money.
Paul returned about five minutes later, still carrying the bag and looking largely the same.
“No one answered,” Paul said.
“It’s late. Maybe they’re asleep.”
“I didn’t see that big blue Galaxie in the lot.”
“What do you want to do?” Dano asked.
“Let’s wait,” Paul said.
Dano rolled his eyes.
“And what do we do when Cooper shows up?” Dano asked. “He’s gunning for you as well as your buddy.”
“You’re not going to help me if Cooper comes after me?”
Dano laughed. “If there’s money in it.” he said. Paul partially unzipped the duffel bag he held like a security blanket. He reached in and handed pulled out two banded stacks of cash and placed them on the dashboard.
“Does twenty thousand buy your services and loyalty for the next few hours?”
Dano grabbed the cash and stuffed it in an inside pocket.
Dano smiled and said, “Let’s fine out.”
Josh had been certain that Detective Pandy would not let him leave police headquarters. He’d been sure of his fate for hours. And yet, when they got to the front door she handed him her business card and said, “Get some rest. Go talk to your lawyer. Then call me and we’ll all talk.”
Now, an overpriced Uber ride later, Josh was back in his condo feeling like the longest day of his life wasn’t over. But Erica wasn’t here. Evidence of a quick packing job were everywhere. Most of Erica’s clothes were gone. Would she be back for the rest?
Josh didn’t so much fall asleep as pass out from exhaustion. He dreamed of drowning in the air, desperately seeking the sea where he could breathe freely.
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