"Jochem Vandersteen - Hard Upbringing (A Noah Milano Story)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vandersteen Jochem)

"I feel... responsible in some way," I said and caught myself rubbing my chin. Nerves. "If I hadn't hesitated to help you I might've been on time."

She shook her head vigorously. "God, no," she said. "Don't feel like that. At least I have someone who believes me now. You must testify against Stewart! You need to help me avenge my son's death!" There was a lot of anger in her face. She wasn't pretty when she was angry.

"I'm not entirely sure I can, Ms. Merrick," I said. "I didn't exactly see your ex-husband beat Kevin. I only saw him with the body. I'm not sure if that's enough."

"Can't you...lie for me. I mean, tell the police you saw him beat Kevin. I mean, it's obvious he did, so why not say you saw him do it?" she pleaded, stepping closer to me again. Her robe fell open a bit. Her breasts were white as whipped cream. I like cream, although it makes me fat. Lots of things that are bad for you are nice. I suddenly got the feeling Wanda Merrick was one of them.

I stepped back. "I don't think so."

"No," she said. "You can't let me down again! You can't." She stepped closer to me again. I panicked.

"I need to go. I need to think about it," I said and hurried out of the appartment like I'd been in a lion's cage. Although I felt more like a clown than a lion tamer.

***

I drove back to my place. I needed to think for a while. Think hard. I didn't feel good about the thought of lying to the cops. I didn't feel good about the prospect of having to lie in court. I didn't really know why though. I'd lied quite a few times to the law in the past. But I always said that the past was behind me.

After a while I noticed an LAPD patrol car in my rearview mirror. It flashed its lights and overtook me. I slowed down and pulled over. Two uniformed cops got out of the patrol car. They were tough looking guys, their shoes and badges polished like Telly Savalas' head. I got out of my car as well. The cardoor fell shut behind me as I walked towards them. The summer sun burned its unrelenting heat on my forehead. I noticed the cops had their hands near their unclipped holsters.

"This is the part when I ask you 'what seems to be the problem, officer' right?" I said.

"Shut the fuck up, wiseass," one of the cops said. He was wearing a big macho moustache. Probably had to make up for a small dick. "Get your hands on the car and spread your fucking legs."

"Sorry pal, you're not my type," I said. It was then I noticed the cop with the moustache looked like he belonged to the village people. "Besides, I always liked the Indian guy better."

He drew his gun. "Get your fucking hands on the car now!"

"Allright, excuse me," I said and followed his orders. The roof was so hot I almost blistered my hands. "I knew I should've said 'Native American'."

Then there was a sharp pain in my ribs. I hadn't even seen it coming. My hands slid of the roof and I had to strain to stay upright.

"No," I coughed. "You've got the wrong guy. You've got me confused with Rodney King!"

This time I did see the nightstick coming. It was the other cop, grinning sadistically as the stick surged towards me in a wide arc. I slipped my left arm under the nightstick and grabbed his wrist with my left hand, his upper arm with my right. I pushed his forearm down by the wrist and his upperarm up. There was a satisfying snap and the nightstick fell to the ground. The cop started to squeal like a pig.

In his sunglasses I could see his partner approaching me from behind, ready to pistol-whip me in the back of my head. I turned, my right fist clenched. I was too late, however. Suddenly there was a flash before my eyes and the world was filled with colors I'd never seen before. This had to be what you saw when you ate magic mushrooms.

Then I saw the gun coming once again. I managed to sway out of its way, but got treated to a boot in the ribs. I thought I heard one go. Coughing, I fell on my knees. There was the gun again. The sunlight was reflected on the shiny gunmetal gray of the barrel. It was the last thing I saw before the lights went out.

***

I heard something ringing. My alarm clock? Was it time to get up already? Then I recognized the ringing. It was my cell phone. I opened my eyes and had to close them immediately. I was staring right into the sun. The yellow globe burned in my eyes. I was lying in the sand, next to the road. Just where the cops left me after they'd kicked my ass.

I searched for my phone. It was still in the pocket of my leather jacket. I managed to make some kind of sound into the speaker when I answered it.

"Noah? Are you all right?" a concerned voice asked me at the other side of the line. It was my best friend and Medical Examiner extraordinaire Minnie.

"Actually, I'm not feeling too dandy," I spat out some sand. There was some blood mixed in it.