Take Down

FORTY-SEVEN

“Tell us about Saturday,” LaBadie said. “We want to hear what happened in Galaxy’s casino. Don’t leave anything out.”

LaBadie, Zander, and Tricaricco were not happy campers. Their all-day deodorants were starting to fade, their chins sprouting five o’clock shadows. Dinnertime had come and gone, along with any hope of spending Sunday night with their families. Billy wasn’t going anywhere, and he took his time drinking a warm can of soda before answering the question.

“A strange thing happened on Saturday,” he said. “I discovered that another crime was being hatched, right under Doucette’s nose, and he didn’t know a damn thing about it.”

“Another crime besides the Gypsies?” LaBadie asked.

“That’s right.”

“Tell us about it.”

“Doucette had a pair of gay football players on his payroll named Ike and T-Bird. I got to know these guys pretty well. They told me that Doucette’s strip clubs were a front for a drug dealer named Rock, and that Rock had bankrolled Galaxy. Needless to say, I got upset.”

“You got upset.”

“That’s right. I know how hard the gaming board tries to keep drug money out of the casinos. I mean, it’s what you guys get paid for, isn’t it? And here I’m being told that a drug dealer pulled the wool over your eyes and actually got a casino built with drug money.”

“You’re not funny, Billy.”

“I’m not trying to be funny.”

“Keep talking.”

“Where was I? Oh yeah, Ike and T-Bird told me that Doucette was using check-cashing stores in town to launder the profits from Rock’s drug operation and turn the cash into money orders. They said Doucette was laundering eight million a pop, which I couldn’t believe. Doesn’t the gaming board monitor those stores to make sure stuff like that doesn’t happen?”

“Make another remark like that, and you’ll pay for it.”

“I’m just trying to be helpful.”

“I’m sure you are. Tell us about this crime Ike and T-Bird were planning.”

“Ike and T-Bird were planning to steal the eight million in money orders from the cage and wanted my help. Of course, I said no.”

“Those money orders were stolen yesterday afternoon,” LaBadie said, barely able to contain his anger. “Are you saying that you and your crew had nothing to do with the theft?”

“I already told you, I don’t have a crew.”

“You’re lying.”

“My client did not rob Galaxy Casino and does not have a crew,” the attorney said, having not spoken a word for several hours. “Please stop repeating these false allegations.”

LaBadie retrieved his briefcase from the floor and placed it on the center of the table. From it, he removed a stack of eight-by-ten glossy photographs taken from a casino surveillance camera. Each photo had the date and time stamped in the corner.

The gaming agent placed the top photo on the table so it faced Billy. It showed Ike standing at the cage, cashing in the fake gold chips. T-Bird was also in the shot, accompanied by Misty and Pepper in their disguises.

“Admit, it, these two women work for you,” LaBadie said.

“Never seen them before,” he said.

“They’re not part of your crew?”

“Stop saying that.”

“Then explain this.”

Three more surveillance photos were produced and placed on the table. The cameras had caught his crew doing the pigeon drop and stealing the eight million in money orders from Ike and T-Bird.

Shit, he thought.

LaBadie had a smug look on his face, having backed his suspect into a corner.

“Ready to confess?” the gaming agent asked.

“To what?” he asked innocently.

“We’re willing to cut you a deal, provided you give us the names of the people in your crew. And, we want the eight million in money orders returned. Give us those two things, and we’ll go light on you. Think about it, Billy.”

Even the best cops made mistakes, and LaBadie had just made a major one. The gaming board didn’t know the names of Billy’s crew.

“I’m not interested in cutting any deals because I didn’t do anything,” Billy said. “Do you want to hear the rest of my story or not?”

LaBadie left the incriminating photos on the table and returned to his chair.

“Go ahead with your story,” he said. Then he added, “It’s your funeral.”