Along Came a Spider

Wilkinsburg?”
    There was a brief pause — then he said, “Oh, yes, of course I do.”
    “I’m glad you remember, because I have a couple of questions about the circumstances at McDonald’s. I’m a little unclear about the sequence of events. Do you remember anything you. might have eaten inside the restaurant?”
    I could see his eyes rolling behind the closed lids. He was thinking about it before answering. Gary had on thongs and his left foot was tapping rapidly.
    “No… no… can’t say that I do. Did I actually eat there? I don’t remember. I’m not sure if I ate or not.”
    At least he didn’t deny he’d been inside the McDonald’s.
    “Did you notice any people at the McDonald’s?” I asked. “Do you remember any customers? A counter girl you might have spoken to?”
    “Mmmm… It was crowded. No one in particular comes to mind. I recall thinking that some people dress so badly it’s comical. You see it in any mall. All the time at places like HoJo’s and McDonald’s.”
    In his mind, he was still inside the McDonald’s. He’d come that far with me.
Stay with me, Gary
.
    “Did you use the rest room?” I already knew that he had gone to the bathroom. Most of his actions were covered in the reports of the arrest.
    “Yes, I used the rest room,” he answered.
    “How about a beverage? Something to drink? Bring me along with you. Put yourself right there as much as you can.”
    He smiled. “Please. Don’t condescend.”
    He had cocked his head a little oddly. Then, Gary started to laugh. A peculiar laugh, deeper than usual. Strange, though not completely alarming. His voice patterns were becoming more rapid, and very clipped. His foot was tapping faster and faster.
    “You’re not smart enough to do this,” he said.
    I was a little surprised by the change in his tone of voice. “To do what? Tell me what you’re saying, Gary. I don’t follow you.”
    “To try and trick
him
. That’s what I’m saying. You’re bright, but not that bright.”
    “Who am I trying to trick?”
    “
Soneji
, of course.
He’s
right there in the McDonald’s. He’s
pretending
to get coffee, but he’s really pissed off. He’s about to go nuclear. He
needs
attention now.”
    I sat forward in my chair. I hadn’t expected this.
    “Why is he angry? Do
you
know why?” I asked.
    “He’s pissed because they got lucky. That’s why.”
    “
Who
got lucky?”
    “The police. He’s pissed because stupid people could luck out and ruin everything, screw up the master plan.”
    “I’d like to talk to
him
about it,” I said. I was trying to stay as matter-of-fact as he was. If Soneji were
here
now, maybe we could talk.
    “No! No. You’re not on a level with him. You wouldn’t understand anything he has to say. You don’t have a clue about Soneji.”
    “Is he still angry? Is he angry now? Being here in prison? What does Soneji think about being in this cell?”
    “He says —
fuck you
. FUCK
YOU
!”
    He lunged at me. He grabbed my shirt and tie, the front of my sport jacket.
    He was physically strong, but so am I. I let him hold, and I held on to him. We were in a powerful bear hug. Our heads came together and cracked. I could have broken free, but I didn’t try. He wasn’t really hurting me. It was more as if he were issuing a threat, drawing a line between us.
    Campbell and his guards came rushing down the corridor. Soneji/Murphy let go of me and began throwing himself at the cell door. Spit ran from the side of his mouth. He began screaming. Cursing at the top of his voice.
    The guards wrestled him onto the floor. They restrained him with difficulty. Soneji was much more powerful than his slender body would have suggested. I already knew that from experience.
    The R.N. followed them in, and gave him a shot of Ativan. Within minutes, he was asleep on the floor of the cell.
    The guards lifted him onto his cot and wrapped him in a restraining jacket. I waited until they locked him in the cell.
    Who was in the cell?
    Gary Soneji?
    Gary Murphy?
    Or both of them?

CHAPTER 51

    THAT NIGHT, Chief Pittman called me at home. I didn’t think he wanted to congratulate me on my work with Soneji/Murphy. I was right. The Jefe did ask me to stop by his office the next morning.
    “What’s up?” I asked him.
    He wouldn’t tell me over the phone. I guess he didn’t want to spoil the surprise.
    In the morning, I made sure I was clean-shaven, and I put on my leather car coat for the occasion. I played a