It felt good to be back in the loop. The man sitting at the table across from him looked nothing like the sketchy portrait that had derived from the city councilman and Tina's boyfriend's best friend.
Special agent Carter stared deep into the Gadget Man's good eye with a menacing look that spoke volumes. Almost as if to say Go ahead, do something stupid so I have an excuse to kill you. Carter had received the call when he was sound asleep in bed dreaming about mermaids. When he got the news of Vinny's capture he raced over to the police station where Vinny was secretly being detained. The Gadget Man was being held at the Brickerville police station where Alvin worked for umpteen reasons. Primarily because the authorities were not yet prepared to deal with the media circus should they discover the Gadget Man's whereabouts.
Carter looked like a total wreck from being awoken from a deep slumber. There was lint in his curly blond hair, bags under his eyes, and wrinkles in his white collared shirt he had picked up off his bedroom floor. The adrenaline pumping through his body kept him going and increased his awareness.
Vincent slouched a little in his chair with a stoic look on his face. His hands were cuffed in the front since his shoulder hurt oh so much and he had refused to talk should his hands remain cuffed in the back.
Plenty of Brickerville police officers flanked the walls of the room armed with truncheons and mace should the Gadget Man decide to get out of line. Vincent didn't feel intimidated in the least bit. He knew they still needed him to disarm the bomb encircling little 6 month old Clarence's crib. And if they messed this up, then the infant's blood would be on their hands.
Carter could taste blood inside of his mouth from biting too hard on the inside of his cheek. There was a long eerie silence between them as they stared at each other waiting to see who would blink first.
Carter finally spoke first. "You killed my partner and my best friend John Travis." He said looking for signs of remorse.
There were none, just smiles.
"Your friend chose a wrong profession to get into, just like my brother has." Vinny shot back.
Alvin had left the police station immediately after he had dropped Vinny off. He felt sick in the stomach and didn't want to stick around for whatever dire things they might do to his brother to pump info out of him. Vincent had dug his own hole and he was on his own.
"I'm not sure that your profession is all that great either. Do you like needles? That's the last thing you're gonna see because you're getting the death penalty. Mark my words" Said Carter brazenly.
The Gadget Man just chuckled and remained calm and collected. "Oh am I? Whose the one who has to deal with a 6 month old infant laying in a crib surrounded with explosives. You know how those black folk are out there in Baltimore always so quick to pull the race card. If they find out you white Alphabet boys knew of a way to save that baby it'll look like the million man march all over again."
Carter grimaced but quickly became elated realizing that there was a possible way to save Clarence. They only had 32 hours left before the bomb would detonate on its own. Probably even less time if the baby could even live that long without nourishment.
"How do we defuse the bomb?" He asked clicking a pen getting ready to jot.
Vinny slithered his snaky tongue from side to side. "What do I get in return?" He said smiling bigger now.
Carter looked at him as though he just asked a stupid question. "Well, we just might let you live. But you're still doing life."
Vinny shook his head no. "Not good enough. I want a full pardon."
Carter motioned for the lawmen to come closer and surround Vinny. He stood up from his chair. "Are you completely out of your mind?"
If Vinny felt threatened by the guards he didn't show it. "Sounds like you got yourself stuck in a catch-22." He said still sporting an impish smile.
Carter took a step towards the door. "Wait here. I'll be right back."
The Gadget Man's smile disappeared like a balloon that had just popped. "Where are you going?" He asked nervously as the Brickerville lawmen balled their fists. Vinny was finally looking scared.
Carter made his way toward the door and winked at a sentry. "I guess I've got to work on your immunity." He said, then slipped out the door.