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"Yes, sir"

He stared at Carmine for a mo, but you’ll be out byas you cooperate Do you want toto get rid of the tears, and groaned when it did nothing but smear blood on his cheek "Abby," he said quietly His throat burned fro, the word barely audible

"Abby?"

"The girl inside," Carmine said "Her naation room at the Cook County police station smelled like sorimaced as he took a deep breath, the harsh stench of a across the ent with distaste

Agent Cerone started to speak, but Corrado cut hiet started "I wasn’t there I was home, I was alone, I was asleep, and nobody saw ht, Mr Moretti"

Corrado raised his eyebrows "Did you?"

"Yes"

"Are you certain?"

"You were even arrested at the scene"

"Was I?"

"Is there so with your memory?"

"Maybe," Corrado said "I suppose I don’t recall a thing froht, then"

Corrado forced a look of indifference on his face as Agent Cerone stared at hiritting his teeth as he flipped through pages of notes He had hundreds of docu Corrado "You know, Vincent DeMarco was a goodhappen to hient shook his head exasperatedly "You’re really going to play ignorant, aren’t you?"

Corrado oodHe wasn’t callous or selfish He cared about his faabout you, too"

The corner of Corrado’s lips turned slightly with aent stared at hi Corrado was ical tactics to work on hih it all before and knew their tricks "Yeah, you’re probably right Out of curiosity, would you be willing to take a lie detector test?"

"I’ion"

His brow furrowed "How?"

"Only God can judge me I certainly don’t trust a machine to do it"

"You only have to worry if you’re untruthful Do you plan to lie?"

"No, I prefer to sit, thank you"

The agent sighed "When did you get to be so sarcastic?"

"I’m not sure what you mean," Corrado said "I don’t even knohy I’ent Cerone said "Anything you want to say before we end this?"

"Just that I’d like to speak to s, not the least bit surprised "Of course Hang tight It’ll take a while to get you released, but we should have you out in plenty of time for the funeral"

"Whose funeral?"

"Vincent’s"

"Vincent’s dead?"

The agent shook his head "At least you’re consistent But yes, he is They should be alerting the next of kin any ent Cerone stood to leave, Corrado’s expression fell He was much too weary to keep up the charade He sat still in the seat and stared at the far wall as his sto much closer to anxiety He hardly noticed the stench anyh to overpower it

"Wait," he said, stalling the agent’s footsteps

"Yes, Mr Moretti?"

"I need to hed "Your lawyer’s already next door with Carmine DeMarco I’ll send him over as soon as we’re done there"

"I don’t need to call my lawyer," he said "I need to call ht now"

Corrado glared at theto think it’sto bethe notification soon As soon as they show up atto think it’s me"

A debate played out on theinto a frown "Her brother, her husbandit’ll hurt either way They’ll explain it to her"

"I ain," he said "I don’t want her to think I broke it, even if it’s only for a ent’s brow furrowed "How could you pro the life you live, you’re bound to break it so I won’t do to keep ?"

Corrado just stared at the h, a deep sigh reverberating his chest as he looked away Frowning, he released Corrado froation room and led him to a small cubicle, where he picked up a black phone and handed it to him "You have five minutes"

Corrado dialed his house nuiving up when he heard Celia’s voice on the line Although she spoke hesitantly, he could detect no distress Worried, but not heartbroken She hadn’t been told yet "Hello?"

"I didn’t think you were going to answer"

Celia let out a deep sigh "Corrado, why does the caller ID say the Cook County Police Station?"

"It’s a long story"

"Does it end with you getting arrested again?"

"No" He glanced down at hi the handcuffs secured to his wrists "Not technically"

"Do you need et you out?" she asked "I don’t think I can coht have--"