Code of Silence: Living a Lie Comes With a Price

by Tim Shoemaker

  “No idea. But then that’s the point. A good cop is careful and doesn’t make assumptions.”

  His words hung there. That’s exactly what she’d been doing. Assuming Coop was totally wrong. Paranoid.

  “Listen, Hiroko,” Kenny’s voice dropped to a whisper. “This robbery wasn’t just some amateur snatch and grab. These were professionals.”

  Kenny talked so quiet, Hiro had to tab the volume up a couple bars on her phone. “Are you saying organized crime?”

  “I’m not saying anything. To anybody. There was a lot of money in that safe. A lot. And the wrong people found out.”

  People. He said people. This was bigger than she’d ever thought. And if organized crime was involved, there could be dirty cops—in high places.

  “Golden Boy’s letter last night made it sound like the men who tried to kill Frank Mustacci are looking for him. Now why would a couple of pros stick around looking for an eyewitness? Why not skip town?”

  She’d wondered the same thing herself. “Why?”

  “Hey, you want to be the cop. Think it through.”

  “They wouldn’t stay in the area at all. It makes no sense. Unless …” Her mind started spinning. What if they weren’t the decision makers? What if they were taking orders from someone else? Someone who expected them to clean up their mess … or else.

  “Unless what?”

  “They were hired muscle.”

  “Bulls-eye.”

  “Then we’re talking mob connections or something,” Hiro whispered. “And that would explain why the police want the witness so bad. And the surveillance drive.”

  “And they’re going to get both. Today.”

  Hiro sucked in her breath. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m not sure. Word I got was they were going to bait Golden Boy.”

  Hiro started pacing again, the phone in one hand, clutching the star in the other. “Bait him? What would that look like?”

  “Don’t know. They said he’ll turn himself in.”

  Coop wouldn’t do that, unless somehow they tricked him into turning himself in. Which would be a good thing, actually. He’d break the Code—not her. And the police would get the hard drive and maybe the evidence they needed to put some big time criminals away.

  Unless, of course the police were involved. Then turning himself in would be … suicide.

  “Kenny, what would you do?”

  “If I were Golden Boy? Lay low until I could figure out who I could trust.”

  Hiro stopped pacing. Exactly what Coop had been doing. Trying to do, anyway. “And what if you were me?”

  “I’d warn my friend he might be walking into a trap,” Ken said. “I’d tell him this was bigger than he can possibly imagine. I’d let him know that if organized crime is behind the robbery, powerful people will want him dead … hypothetically speaking, of course.”

  CHAPTER 39

  Wednesday morning Cooper overslept, totally missing his chance to call Gordy. Once he was awake, time crawled by. Other than the dread in his stomach, he felt fine. His strength returned. By noon he started pacing the room, wondering what Hiro was doing and if Gordy had blown their cover yet. He half expected a police car to pull up to the curb, and every ten minutes or so he checked the window.

  The text message from Hiro came just about the time he’d be heading to lunch if he hadn’t stayed home.

  RMPD plans to trap you today.

  That was it. No details. And the thing that really gnawed at him was this. How did she know that? Which is exactly what he wanted to ask her. But right now things were way too iffy between them. He didn’t want to make it worse.

  The good news, if this could be considered good news at all, was that at least she’d warned him. That was something.

  Maybe Gordy told her about the second letter and she had one of those feelings. But he didn’t need to be a detective to know the police would try to trap him. He was sure that was why Hammer had asked for more proof.

  He debated whether or not to send a response to Hiro, but how would it look if he didn’t? He tapped out a quick thanks and sent it. It made sense to keep any bridge of communication open between them.

  He hoped she’d send a response back, but when nothing came, he went back to thinking about his next move.

  If he was going to avoid the trap, he’d better know what it was. Maybe they’d try to keep him on the phone long enough to locate him. By 3:30 Hammer would have cars everywhere in hopes to net him. The timing had to be the key to their little trap. He’d have to mess up their little timetable.

  Mom left the house early for work and wouldn’t be back until just before Mattie got off the school bus. Dad was shooting a photography job in Schaumburg and wouldn’t be home until dinnertime. By the time he’d downed his lunch, Cooper knew what he had to do.

  “C’mon, Fudge.” Cooper grabbed the leash and clipped it to her collar. “We’re taking a little walk.”

  Fudge trotted happily beside him. She didn’t seem to care where they went. Maybe if she knew, she’d be as nervous as he was.

  “Here’s the plan, Fudge. The police expect me to turn on my phone at 3:30 again. And they’ll be ready.” Cooper figured they weren’t about to let him slip away again. They’d have police cars all over. Maybe even plainclothes cops in public places looking for a junior high kid with a phone. But this time he wouldn’t wait for the call. He’d call Detective Hammer himself—early. An hour and a half before Hammer would expect it … and hopefully that meant he wouldn’t have the net set up yet.

  Cooper kept a close watch for any suspicious-looking people in the park. It seemed he and Fudge were alone. The phone was exactly where he’d left it. He took a piece of paper out of his pocket with the Rolling Meadows police number on it. Taking a deep breath, he powered on the phone and dialed the number.

  “Detective Hammer, please.” Cooper used his high voice and the paper tube, just like before. Fudge looked up at him and cocked her head.

  He counted off the seconds while on hold. The phone clicked at twenty-seven.

  “Hammer.”

  “It’s me. Silence is Golden.” Cooper looked around.

  “You’re early. Skipped school today?”

  Cooper cringed. How easy would it be for Hammer to check attendance records? He had to cover up his mistake. “I’m between classes—so I’ve only got a minute. You got the letter with more proof, just like you asked. What are you doing to find the real robbers?”

  “Not as much as I could if I had the security tapes,” Hammer said. “I want them.”

  “Can’t. I explained that.”

  “You ever heard of obstruction of justice, kid? This is crazy.”

  Cooper checked his watch. “Not from where I stand.”

  “Really? And exactly where is that?”

  Like he would really tell him. “O’Hare Airport. United terminal.” It was the first place that popped in his head. “I’m leaving the country.” He wished he could.

  “Funny,” Hammer said. “Now you listen good. I have a suspect in custody. But I can’t hold him without something concrete. I need the hard drive.”

  Cooper’s heart kicked it up a gear. “You’ve got one of them?”

  “Absolutely. I think we’ve got Mr. Lucky. Got a solid tip from a student at Plum Grove. We picked him up a couple hours ago. Found the guy hiding out in a shed. Turns out the guy has a very interesting record, and he’s related to an employee.”

  Cooper was too stunned to answer. Lunk’s dad is Mr. Lucky. They got him. Thank you, God! “What about the other two?”

  “We’ll find them. He’ll be ready to bargain when he sees we have the surveillance data. And when you bring it in, I’ll have you identify him in a lineup.”

  He hadn’t expected this. Wasn’t prepared. Cooper looked around. No police cars in sight. Could it be true?

  “You there?”

  “I can’t identify him. I never saw his face.”

  “Don’t w
orry about that yet. You might be surprised at some things you’ll remember.”

  “Yeah, uh, does this mean you believe me?”

  Hammer chuckled. “Absolutely. Unless you don’t show, that is.”

  Cooper wanted to shout. Call Hiro and Gordy. Celebrate. And apologize. Looks like Hiro had been right about Lunk. “Honest?”

  “Trust me, kid.”

  Trust him? He couldn’t trust anybody. How much time had passed?

  “I can only hold him twenty-four hours unless you come in.” Hammer’s voice hardened. “He had a key in his pocket. Looked like a house key. Says he got it from somebody—but won’t say who.”

  Cooper’s stomach clenched. A house key? His house key. They really got him. “He must have gotten it from the guy with the clown mask.”

  “That’s the way I see it. But he’s got lockjaw now. I think the surveillance tape will loosen that up.”

  So they had Mr. Lucky. But that still didn’t guarantee that Elvis and the clown weren’t cops. What if Hammer was working with Lunk’s dad, Mr. Lucky? What if they just wanted to smoke him out?

  “Mr. Golden. You still there?”

  “Yeah.” And that was a problem too. He’d been on the phone too long. Again. He had to think.

  “So give me your address so I can pick you and the hard drive up. I’ll bring the key. If it fits your house you won’t even have to identify Mr. Lucky on a lineup. Your key will pin him to the crime.”

  It sounded on the level. And easy. But if Hammer was part of it, he’d be leading him right to his house. “How long do I have?”

  Hammer sighed. “This isn’t a game. You said you wanted us to find the guy. Now you won’t even ID him? You really want me to cut him loose?”

  “No. NO.” Cooper caught himself. Had he just answered in his normal voice? “How long?”

  “Without more proof he’ll walk tomorrow morning. Ten o’clock.”

  “I’ll call.” Cooper hit the END button and powered off his phone. How long had he been on? Two minutes? Three? He looked around the park and beyond to the street. No police cars. Yet.

  “C’mon, Fudge. Let’s get out of here.”

  CHAPTER 40

  Gordy had something new in common with Hiro. Both of them were ready to skin Coop alive.

  “No call, no nothing,” Gordy said. He sat at the table chowing down a burger. “How about that for a friend?”

  Hiro picked at her food, like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to eat it or not. Neat little carrots in a plastic bag. Celery sticks all cut to the same length. And some kind of health-nut sandwich on whole wheat. No wonder she didn’t tear into her lunch.

  “He’s changed,” she said. “It’s like his conscience is gone. Honestly? I don’t think I’d sit at his table if he were here today.”

  Which was another thing that ticked Gordy off. Coop was messing everything up. How could a guy hope to keep the three of them together if he kept saying bonehead things like he did last night?

  And if he didn’t keep the three of them together, what then? Where would he even fit? He’d stick with Coop, probably, but they’d both be miserable. Hiro was part of them. She belonged.

  “I called Miss Ferrand,” Hiro said. “Left a message.”

  “I figured,” Gordy said. “The way she hugged you before class. How much did you tell her?”

  “Only my theory about Lunk and his dad.”

  Gordy drained a milk carton. “Good. Coop trusts him way too much, if you ask me.”

  Hiro pulled open the seal of the plastic bag holding the raw veggies, then zipped it closed again. “I feel good. Really good about this.”

  Gordy eyed her. “If you feel so good, how come you’re not eating?”

  Hiro looked down at her food and fumbled to open the sandwich bag. “Just thinking, I guess.”

  “You going to come with me to Coop’s after school?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Not a chance. But I was talking to Ken this morning … and I have a message you need to bring him.”

  CHAPTER 41

  Once he got back from phoning Hammer, Coop went to his room and stayed there. He needed time to think.

  Fudge curled up on the rug beside his bed. Her body looked totally relaxed, but she didn’t sleep. Every time Cooper looked at her, she was looking at him. Like she was giving him the space he needed, but keeping an eye on him at the same time.

  He should be feeling relieved. The police had a suspect in custody. Exactly what he’d been hoping and praying for. Well, hoping. He hadn’t been praying as much as he should. Why was that? Cooper knew the answer had something to do with the Code of Silence. It was hard to ask God for favors when you were lying through your teeth to everybody else.

  But right now he had to focus on a new game plan. If they had Mr. Lucky, he had to do everything he could to keep him in custody. And that would mean breaking the Code. The thing was, if they caught the robbers, the Code wasn’t really needed anymore.

  Right?

  He still had a squirrelly feeling about Hammer. He wanted to trust him, but he wasn’t sure he could. What if he was the guy in the Elvis mask? It would be a perfect cover. Who would suspect a police detective? Maybe Hammer masterminded a little side business of robberies to add to his pension. What if Hammer met Lunk’s dad before? What if they were friends? “Business associates.” Maybe he’d done other jobs for Hammer in the past. They helped themselves, and helped each other.

  Or maybe Lunk said something to his dad—even innocently. Maybe Lunk mentioned something about his new job and the safe and how he kept a lot of money inside. Lunk’s dad may have contacted Hammer, and they could have planned the job together.

  The possibilities looped through his head. One thought rose to the surface. He was running out of time. If he didn’t do something, they were going to find him anyway. The police would win the little legal battle to do the interviews. Or they’d do a little DNA sampling and haul him in. If he waited for them to put it together, they’d pick him up on their own terms. And if Hammer was really part of the robbery, that meant trouble.

  No, he couldn’t just wait to see how things turned out. Not anymore. He pulled a spiral notebook out of his backpack and started sorting things out on paper.

  1. Lunk’s dad is Mr. Lucky. Need to avoid Lunk.

  2. Hammer may be Elvis. Can’t go to police station alone.

  3. If I don’t break the Code by tomorrow at 10:00, Lunk’s dad will walk.

  4. If I don’t break the Code, they may find me soon anyway.

  5. Need someone to go with me—someone I can trust.

  Cooper put down his pen and reread the list. They had a suspect now. A suspect. That changed everything. “I’ll tell Dad and Mom tonight.”

  He looked at Fudge as he spoke. Her ears perked up, but she didn’t even raise her head.

  “I’ll get the security hard drive, and we can all go to the police station together. Dad. Mom. Hiro and Gordy too. It will be safer to go as a group.”

  Working out a plan was sort of like trying on a new pair of shoes. You laced them up and walked around a bit, seeing how they felt. He did the same with the plan. Spilling the beans tonight was an idea that took a little getting used to. Cooper needed to see if it was a good fit.

  He ran outside to the shed and dug through the plastic barrel. He pulled out Frank’s set of keys to the diner. They jangled a bit, and his mind flashed back to Frank ‘n Stein’s kitchen. Cooper jammed them in his pocket and reached for the hard drive. Tucking it under one arm, he hurried back to his room with Fudge shadowing him the whole way.

  He stashed the diner keys under his bed next to the phone from Walmart. But he dropped the security hard drive right on top of his pillow and stared at it. Part of him wanted to cover it up. The other part wanted to leave it in plain sight as a symbol of what he had to do.

  His gut felt a little jazzed. Like he’d taken too many rides at a carnival on a full stomach. Only this was a carnival ride he couldn
’t seem to get off. Staring at the fish tank, he let his mind drift like the fish inside. He thought about the horrible secret he’d been protecting, and the lengths he’d gone to keep it from being uncovered.

  Cooper didn’t like what he’d done, but it had all been necessary. If he had to do it all over again, he’d do it the same way.

  Or would he?

  Of course, if he could change anything, he’d change where he was last Thursday night. If only he’d never gone to Frank ‘n Stein’s, he wouldn’t be in this mess. But then who would have gotten paramedics to help Frank? Frank might have laid there all night … and been dead in the morning.

  Images of Frank crept into his mind. Frank getting beaten and crumpling to the floor. Pushing those pictures out of his mind, he flopped onto his bed.

  He thought of Gordy. Did anybody question him at school? Did he stick to the Code? Cooper looked at his clock, wondering why Gordy hadn’t stopped by yet. School had been out for over thirty minutes. He wanted to talk to Gordy, but then again, that would only bring him closer to confessing everything to his parents. Now that the police had Lunk’s dad, it would all be over soon. His stomach churned.

  He heard a car door slam outside. Cops. He peeked out the window and saw Mom and Mattie come up the front walk.

  Fudge tore down the stairs to greet them. Cooper shuffled along behind her. He didn’t feel a bit sick, but didn’t want to get Mom suspicious about his miraculous recovery either.

  Mattie burst through the door just as he got to the bottom stair. She waved, smiled, and hurried toward the kitchen, humming some nameless tune. Totally carefree. Just like his life before the Code.

  Mom closed the door and walked over to him. She gave him a hug and felt his forehead. “No fever. How do you feel?”

  “Good enough to go to school tomorrow.” Originally he’d planned to stretch this sick routine out for another day if he could. But now that the police had a suspect and Cooper was going to tell his parents about what really happened, it didn’t really matter anymore.