Persephone Alcmedi 00 - Wicked Circle

toward the car interior. Kurt peered through the back window and saw Evan worriedly watching him. Damn it!
    “Since you’re not in a cruiser or a uniform, could I see some ID, Officer?”
    “I’m a SSTIX investigator.” Kurt tossed his badge wallet to Johnny.
    John caught it, examined it. “SSTIX? Since when did they make arrests for traffic violations? And do you always draw your gun on speeders? Or do you enjoy scaring kids?”
    “Put your hands on the roof of the car.”
    John did. Kurt put the gun into its holster. As he frisked him, he noticed that John focused on the Crown Victoria. “You were following me earlier.”
    Kurt slapped the cuffs onto the tall man’s wrists. “You’re under arrest for an outstanding warrant. Your cooperation won’t be as scary for the kid as your defiance would be.” He then recited the Miranda warning. It surprised him that John didn’t resist at all.
    “What warrant? And how do you even know who I am? You haven’t asked me for my name yet, and I don’t even live here.”
    Kurt steered him toward the Crown Victoria. “Maybe not anymore, John, but you used to.” Kurt gave John a push to indicate he should go toward the green car.
    John proceeded as bidden, silent for the distance. Maybe he’s stunned. After shutting the Crown Victoria’s door, Kurt returned to the Maserati. He retrieved his badge wallet from the roof of the car, then opened the door closest to Evan and, crouching down, showed the badge to him. “I’m Kurt Miller, a federal investigator,” he said. “We’ve met before. I’m a friend of your grandmother’s.”
    “Are you gonna cuff me too?”
    “No. But I do need you to get into my car with your dad so we can go to the station.”
    “My dad?” Evan’s mouth hung open.
    They haven’t told him. Double damn it. “Sure. If he’s driving and you’re in the backseat buckled in, that means you’re his son, right?”
    Evan’s face hardened and he stared at his shoes. “He was only speedin’ ’cause I begged him to ’cause it’s such a cool car.” He crossed his arms. “It’s not his fault. It’s mine.”
    “You need to come with me. At the police station, we’ll call your gram. She’ll pick you up.” She may never forgive me for this.
    Evan slid out, shut the door.
    Kurt offered him his hand.
    “I’m not a baby,” Evan said.
    They walked toward the Crown Victoria on the side that was furthest from the road. “I’ll move my files and you can sit up front in my car.”
    “No. My gram says I always hafta sit in the back.”
    “Does your gram tell you to obey officers of the law?”
    “Yeah. And she says it’s a law that kids sit in the back.”
    Kurt ground his teeth. Evan was still a brat. He didn’t think that John had any reason to hurt the kid, but letting Evan sit in the back might give John an opportunity should his cooperation fail out of desperation.
    Evan suddenly rushed to the car.
    “Hey!”
    Before Kurt could get there, Evan had climbed in the front and slammed the door. He sent files skidding to the floor as he twisted and hit buttons, partially lowering windows and successfully locking the doors.
    Kurt glowered through the window at him and demanded, “Unlock these doors, now!”
    “No!” Evan stuck out his tongue.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

    J ohnny sat in the back of the Crown Vic wondering what he’d done to end up with a warrant. It didn’t matter, really. This detective plainly knew something about him, something that could provide information that would lead him to his family. He was willing to go to the station . . . or wherever a SSTIX agent took you . . . to find out. He was confident that the Zvonul could get him out and cover the incident if necessary.
    Besides, he didn’t want to give Evan the impression that breaking the law didn’t have consequences.
    Suddenly the boy scurried into the car and locked the agent out of his own car.
    So much for that idea. “What do you think you’re doing?” Johnny asked.
    Evan turned the car off and grappled to get the keys out of the ignition. “I’m helping you.”
    Johnny shook his head. “This isn’t helping.”
    Evan crawled into the back beside him. “There’s got to be a key to the cuffs on here. Then we can drive away!”
    “You’re pretty smart to figure that out.”
    Evan beamed.
    “But breaking the law and messing with a detective isn’t smart.”
    “Not in the least,” the detective confirmed. He stood near the barely open