Chapter 13
Ellis sat in the chair in front of Smith's desk, her mind racing. Lucky was dead, and it was likely that Ezio was the one who committed the murder, but it seemed like he had set her up. Did he do it for revenge, or was he acting on Amorielle's orders? The young woman wondered, oblivious to Smith's movements, who had to clear his throat to get her attention:
"So, tell me about Vittorio Amorielle," Smith requested, pointing his finger at the photo of Ellis with the mobster in the parking lot. "And before you say you don't know him, because I know that's what's going through your mind right now... Take a good look at this photo here," he concluded, placing the picture of her leaving Carbone's restaurant and then another photo of Amorielle.
Ellis looked closely at the photos as she tried to devise a strategy. She could open her mouth and tell him everything that was happening in her life and her brother's. In fact, she felt that was what she should do. Maybe the Officer could help her. But what if he couldn't? What if he listened to her and still believed that she was involved in all of it?
"What do I gain from telling you what you want to know?" Ellis asked, crossing her arms.
"What?" Smith asked, surprised.
"You want me to tell you about this man... But what do I get in return?" Ellis questioned.
"The opportunity to not be arrested. I believe that should be enough for a girl in your position," Smith replied, letting out a slight laugh that disappeared when he saw Ellis rolling her eyes. "You don't believe you could be arrested?"
"No. I believe it's all a big bluff. I haven't done anything to be arrested," Ellis explained, straightening up against the table. "I believe you only have these photos, which could be seen as mere coincidences."
"Do you want to bet the next thirty years of your life on that?" Smith challenged. He clasped his hands over the photos and said, "Miss Barker, I have been investigating these mobsters for years, and many people have been arrested for much less than what I have against you. If you don't want to talk, that's fine. But in a minute, I will leave my desk with everything I have against you and take it to my superior. And after that, you're on your own. Unless you speak up and tell me what you know, then I can offer you a deal that would be beneficial for you and Jason. Remember, I am his parole officer, and I can make his life difficult while you're in prison... In fact, he might end up back in jail to serve his sentence. What do you think?"
Ellis stared at the Officer, nervous. He didn't seem to be bluffing. If she were to be arrested, even if unjustly, Amorielle would undoubtedly do everything to erase any connection between them, as well as her brother. Damn it! I'm trapped, Ellis thought, taking a deep breath, and then she turned to Smith, parting her lips to tell him everything she knew:
"Miss Ellis Barker, what are you doing here?" Sergeant Cetraro asked, approaching Smith's table and catching both of them by surprise. "Has something happened to your brother?"
"No..." Ellis began to say, still surprised by the presence of the police officer. "I came to pick up my car..."
"And I invited her to my table... to have a little conversation," Smith interrupted, attempting to hide the photos from Cetraro.
"You brought her to your table to tell her that you are no longer her brother's parole officer?" Cetraro questioned,
causing Ellis to look at Smith even more surprised.
"You didn't know? Well, now I'm in charge of Jason," Cetraro revealed with a smile, which didn't bring much relief to Ellis because it meant that she and her brother were getting more entangled in Vittorio's web.
"Sergeant, now that you've delivered the good news, could you leave us alone?" Smith asked, sternly.
"Why? Is there something else?" the Sergeant inquired, curious.
"It's a matter that's none of your business, Sergeant," Smith replied.
"Well, since the Commissioner put me in charge of this family, I believe everything is my business, Officer Smith."
"I was just asking some questions about a case," Smith argued.
"Miss Barker, do you happen to use the subway?" the Sergeant asked Ellis.
"The subway? No... Why?" Ellis replied.
"Because the only case Officer Smith is currently responsible for is related to the subway," the Sergeant stated, turning to Smith, who was seething with anger. "As you can see, she can't help with your investigations since she doesn't use the subway."
"You've crossed all limits, Sergeant!" Smith said, his voice raised, as he stood up from his seat and faced the Sergeant. "The Commissioner will hear about your insolence."
"And the Commissioner will also hear that you were interrogating Miss Barker, even though you were expressly forbidden from speaking to them," the Sergeant retorted. He turned to Ellis and helped her get up from her chair. "Come, Miss Barker, I'll take you to your car."
Ellis stood up but couldn't take a single step as Smith positioned himself between her and the Sergeant.
"Don't do this, Barker. You'll regret it..."
"Step away from her, Officer, or I will report to Internal Affairs that you were threatening a citizen," the Sergeant threatened, standing in front once again.
"She is a suspect in a double homicide, Cetraro," Smith revealed, receiving a shrug from the Sergeant, further fueling his anger. "Whose side are you on, Sergeant?"
"I'm following orders, Officer. You should do the same," Cetraro said before leaving with Ellis.
"Thank you," Ellis thanked the Sergeant as he opened the door of her car. "Now, I have to go to work."
"As I said, I'm just following orders," Cetraro replied, opening the passenger side door.
"What are you doing?" Ellis asked, surprised, as she sat on her side of the car.
"I just told you," Cetraro responded without understanding Ellis' question. "Drive, Miss, and in the meantime, tell me everything you said to Smith."
"I didn't say anything to him," Ellis replied, starting the vehicle.
"But he wanted something from you. What was it?" Cetraro asked, observing the passing scenery.
"I'd rather not tell you," Ellis retorted, without looking at the Sergeant. "I made it clear to your boss that I only talk to him. So the conversation I had with Smith will be shared only with him."
"Pull over!" Cetraro ordered Ellis, getting nervous. The young woman looked at the deserted street where he asked her to stop, but she didn't comply, further infuriating him. The Sergeant took his gun out of the holster and pointed it at her head as he said, "Come on, pull over. Now."
"What are you going to do?" Ellis asked, pulling the vehicle over. She took her hands off the steering wheel without looking at the Sergeant, who continued to aim at her. "Are you going to kill me because I refused to disclose information that will only be given to Amorielle? Is that it?"
"No, he will simply take care of your car while you come with me," Rocco replied as he opened the door on Ellis' side. "Hello, Miss Barker."