Chapter Eleven

Standing behind the one-way mirror, Bryan watched as Maggie and Justin stood up from their seats in the interrogation room, and made for the door. They had been questioning Khalil for some minutes , but so far, the teenager had refused to talk.

‘Snitches get stitches.’

Was a code that was upheld by most gangs.

“Hey. I guess you enjoyed the scene you just watched.”

Justin said to Bryan in his usual manner.

“I would have, if  not for your ugly face in it.”

Bryan quipped.

“Well…. You saw the whole thing  yourself. It’s like we’ve hit a wall.”

Maggie said, with resignation in her voice.

“On the bright side, he has not demanded for a lawyer yet.”

Jamal pointed out.

“I and my partner will going in now. Seat tight with your popcorn, and watch how it’s done.”

Bryan bragged before leaving for the interrogation room.

“Also get your notes, cos you’ll be needing it.”

Jamal added before following Bryan.

“Let’s use our Good cop/Bad cop method.”

Jamal suggested, on their way to the interrogation room.

“Ok, but you’ll be taking the lead in the questioning.”

Bryan replied.

“I hope you know that being black does not mean Khalil will automatically trust me.”

Jamal  opined.

“Yeah I do, but it’s worth a shot.”

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The interrogation room was small, with only a desk and three chairs in it.  Khalil was seated on the other side of the desk, while facing the agents who sat beside each other.

“Hello Khalil, I’m Jamal. I went through your file, and I saw that you are a co-captain of your school’s football team.”

“Yeah.”

Khalil replied.

‘This is a good sign.’

Bryan though. He was responding, which meant that they had his attention.

“With your talent, you might be able to secure a college scholarship, which could change your life.

I would be a shame, if you  threw away such opportunity, because of a mistake you made at a young age.

I’m not blaming you for what you did, as I know what’s it’s like to grow up in the hood. Most of the time, it’s poverty, peer pressure or even the desire to try something new, that makes teenagers like you get entangled with the wrong people.”

Jamal said.

“We found eight kilograms of cocaine with you, which can earn you up to twenty years in jail, if we charge you with drug possession and intent to sell.

 However, you have a chance to make this right, by giving us information on everything you know about your gang.

Bryan said.

There was silence for a while, as the agents waited for the conflicted looking teenager to say something.

“These people you’re trying to protect do not care about you. All they do is exploit young boys like you. They don’t have your best interest at heart. If push comes to shove, they’ll throw you under the bus.

I have a daughter who is younger than you. It would shatter my heart if I knew she’ll be spending time in prison for keeping the wrong company. That is the same way your parents would feel. Think about the pain you’ll be making your family pass through.

I know you’re not the owner of the drugs we found, which is why we need you to do the right thing, by pointing us towards the direction of your boss.”

Jamal counseled.

“It will be foolish of you to take the fall for someone else.”

Bryan added.

“Will you let me go if I talk?”

Khalil asked with fear in his voice.

“Yes, but you’ll be mandated to enroll in a program, after which you’ll carry out community service for a month. Trust me, it’s better than jail.”

Bryan replied.

“Okay. All I know is that we are expecting a shipment at the habour tomorrow night. I don’t know what time the handoff will happen, but the gang leaders are usually present.”

Khalil said.

“What else?”

Bryan asked.

“Nothing. I’ve told you all I know. I swear.”

“Alright. You’ll remain here with us till we confirm what you just said.”

Jamal said to Khalil, before he stood up and walked out of the interrogation room with his partner.

“What do we do next?”

Jamal asked Bryan.

“We send a surveillance team to the harbour, and hope our raid of today doesn’t make them change the venue of  their tomorrow’s meeting.”

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Big Trey had gotten word of the bust on his crib, and the arrest of Khalil, which made him contemplate on going to the handoff the next day, as he knew that it was likely the boy had told the DEA all he knew.

He would have loved to excuse himself tomorrow, but that would lower his street credibility, which was another important attribute a Blood leader must possess. It would be glaring that he chickened out, which would make his subordinates lose their respect for him.

However, Big Trey knew that no matter how careful you were in the drug game, your day of reckoning could come anytime. Which meant that you just had to be lucky, to stay long in the game without getting arrested, or catching a bullet from a rival.

He was more than aware that the line of business he was in, was not for people who were afraid to take risks.

‘No pain no gain.’

Which was  a popular slang on the street, further reinforced that the game was not for the weak hearted.

Ironically, their Columbian connect was a man who was extra careful. Perhaps even paranoid.

Big Trey was sure that he would cancel their meeting if he was aware of  what was on ground. But there was no way of reaching him, as he never made phone calls on matters regarding the business, for fear of being recorded.

Anything he had to discuss was always done physically, which meant that the meeting will have to hold tomorrow night as previous agreed.

They all had to be at alert, and hope that their luck doesn’t run out.