Peter's shoulder hurt like hell, but he refused to stay in the hospital.
"I'm fine and I want to be there when that bastard is interrogated. I have a few questions for him myself."
"Pete you need to take it easy. You can talk to him tomorrow." Trevor said.
"I'm going... where are my clothes? Peter asked looking around the small cubicle.
No amount of talking could convince him to stay. His mind was on Andrew Kelly. He wanted to know why he shot him and where the clip to the gun was. He also wanted to know who else Andrew planned to kill. His feeling was that men like Andrew Kelley didn't stop with one kill.
Trevor helped him put on his bloodied shirt and draped his jacket over his shoulders. He agreed with the doctors; Peter needed to go home. When he suggested it again, Peter gave him the look that told him back off.
"Let's go... I want to be there by the time he's in the interrogation room."
********
Andrew looked around the dingy cell with disgust and anger. The anger was at himself and at Kenji. In his mind, if Kenji hadn't been in his class, if Kenji hadn't gotten into the summer program, if he hadn't done this or hadn't done that; he wouldn't be sitting in jail. The anger at himself was because of his stupidity.
If he had taken the time to think about it, he would have realized that Peter was too good to be true. His background and viewpoints regarding the Japanese was too convenient. And he had fallen for it in his desire to have someone that he could rely on as his second in command. What were the chances that his choice would turn out to be a federal agent? He felt a little like Julius Caesar must have felt at the betrayal by Brutus.
What he didn't get was why Kenji warranted the protection of the federal government. After a few minutes he came to the conclusion that it was personal. Someone with clout was watching out for him and he wondered who it was.
In retrospect Andrew realized that he had made one fatal error. He didn't learn everything that he should have learned about his enemy. If he had, he would have done things differently; but he had let his anger and hatred lead him. It was a hard lesson learned and one that he would never forget.
He had to start learning to control his anger if he wanted to survive prison. He knew that was where he was going; it was a given. He also realized that he could be sentenced to death. That was a sobering thought. He could die while Kenji Takeda and his bitch would live happily ever after along with the Jew. He wished that he had used the woman more than he had. That was another thing that he had to change. From now on, anyone was game. Their ages and sex no longer mattered.
There was something wrong with the fact that the melting pot was free and probably celebrating his capture he thought as he stood up and walked around the small cell. He did wonder about his parents; his mother especially. Both of them had been so proud and now so disappointed. He had to admit that disappointing them was the only thing that he felt guilty about.
"I'm sorry mom and dad." He murmured.
The clinking of keys alerted him that someone was coming.
"Let's go!" A gruff voice said. "Turn around and put your hands behind your back."
Andrew hesitated but complied.
"Where are you taking me?" Andrew asked as he was led from the cell.
"You're going to the interrogation room; some folks want to talk to you."
Andrew took a quick glance around looking for an exit.
"Don't think about it kid." The police officer said tightening his grip on Andrew's arm. "You'd never make it outside and even if you did; where would you go?"
Andrew relaxed. The cop was right. He had just learned another lesson. When he got out of prison, if he got out of prison; he would surround himself with people that he knew he could trust. That trust wouldn't be easily given and would have to be earned. He also realized another error; he had made no contingency plans.
The cop took Andrew into a small interrogation room and left him there still handcuffed.
******
Harlan Kelly sat in another interrogation room with a tepid cup of coffee sitting in front of him. After he got to the station and confessed to Milton Vaughn's murder, he had been taken to the room and left sitting alone with the cup of coffee.
He had been sitting in the room for almost forty-five minutes before someone came in.
"Harlan? What are you doing here?" Peter asked when he walked in.
"Peter? Are you alright?" Harlan asked.
"I'm fine; but what's this I hear about you confessing to killing Milton Vaughn?" Peter asked.
"I did it." Harlan replied in a firm voice.
Peter gave Harlan a long hard look and sat down across the table from him.
"Tell me why you killed him."
"I...I don't know... he was giving Andrew a hard time...."
"Where did you shoot him?" Peter interrupted.
"I met him in the parking lot of the vacant grocery store." Harlan replied.
"No, I mean where did you aim your gun? Where was the shot that killed him?"
"I shot him in the face." Harlan replied.
"How many shots did it take?"
"One, but I shot him a second time to make sure." Harlan replied.
"Before that night, had you ever met Milton Vaughn before?" Peter asked.
"N...No."
"Then how did you know who he was or what he looked like?" Peter pressed.
"Andrew told me... look, I'm confessing and you or somebody has to take my statement!" Harlan exclaimed.
Peter gave Harlan a sympathetic look. He knew and understood what the man was trying to do but he couldn't allow it.
"Harlan, you're not helping Andrew by confessing to a crime that you didn't commit."
"I did it." Harlan repeated.
"No you didn't." Peter replied. "There was only one shot fired. That alone tells me that you didn't do it. Let's not forget that I heard you asking Andrew where the clip of the gun was and what he did. I repeat; you're not helping him."
"This is my fault." Harlan said softly.
"How do you figure?" Peter asked. "Andrew made his own choices."
"I knew that he was into something. I thought that I even knew what it was... but I didn't say anything. I didn't feel that I had room to talk. Andy was raised hearing me talk about other races in bad ways. I didn't think anything about it... they were just words."
"Harlan, Andrew would have killed anyway. I'm not saying that the way that you taught him to believe wasn't a factor, but Harlan; Andrew has a problem and you're going to prison for him isn't going to help him."
"And prison will?" Harlan retorted. "He's my son! He won't survive in prison!"
"I can't pretend to understand how you must feel." Peter said sympathetically. "I don't have children. I understand that you want to help and protect him, but it's out of your hands. You need to go home and be with your wife; she needs you."
"You won't let me confess?" Harlan asked.
"No." Peter replied.
"Can I see him? I want to be able to tell his mother that's he's alright."
Peter didn't answer for several seconds.
"It's not normally allowed; but let me see what I can do."
"I'd appreciate that." Harlan said softly.
When he was alone, Harlan let the first of many tears fall.
*******
"Are you sure it's over?" Patricia asked as she dried off.
"That is what Nick says." Kenji replied. "He will call back later with more details."
"We can go home!" Patricia exclaimed. "I can go back to school!"
"Yes Kirei, we can do both of those things." Kenji said quietly.
Patricia looked at him surprised that he wasn't more excited.
"Kenji? What's wrong?"
"I am glad that it's over, but Kirei; it is another life wasted."
Patricia walked over to him and hugged him. She understood what he was saying, but she was glad that Andrew was in jail and hoped that he stayed there a good long time.
"Kenji I'm sorry, but he chose to do what he did. I understand what you're saying; but I don't feel sorry for him. If I feel sorry for anyone; it's his parents."
"I know." Kenji said returning the hug. "But it is still a waste of life and that saddens me."
Patricia didn't reply. She didn't feel quite the same way Kenji did. While she agreed that Andrew had wasted his life, she also believed that one reaped what they sowed. He deserved to be where he was and if he killed Milt Vaughn, then he deserved whatever happened to him. But then Kenji's father had been in on the plan to kill her and she had prayed for him and she eventually forgave him. She wondered what the difference was and finally understood why Kenji had been so long in forgiving his father.
"I'm just glad it's over." She said kissing his chest.
"As am I." Kenji replied.
*********
Ernie looked over his notes and finally gave up. He was much too nervous to concentrate. Andrew's thinly veiled threat kept coming back to him. He had no doubt that Andrew meant it and had no issues with admitting that he was scared. He was seriously rethinking whether he should be meeting with Kenji and Ernie the next day. It would be like putting an even bigger bull's eye on his back.
He examined his options. He could take his chances and not get the help which would mean failing the class or he could take his chances and meet with Kenji and Joel. The first option would save his life, but the second option would save his academic life.
"Damn." He muttered as he continued his internal debate. He asked himself what would be the worst possible thing that could happen if he failed the class. "I wouldn't graduate." He murmured. Then there was the money. Things were already tight and if he had to repeat a class; he didn't know where the money would come from.
