Fire Escape - Book Three: Troubled Heroes Series (An Action Thriller) (25 page)

             
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm headed home."

             
Gregg shook his head. "Ah, I know! You're Michael's little brother, aren't you? How could I have not caught on right away? You look just like him. Definite strong family gene with those green eyes!" He laughed and it sent a chill down Casey's spine. "Damn, did he get you to do this? Let me ask you something, Baby McGinnis... You learn anything on your little journey tonight?"

             
There was no need to deny it. He hadn't been as conspicuous as he had thought. "Why in the hell do you need a gas can?" His voice shook but he stood his ground.

             
"I fly model airplanes. Wanna come up to my apartment and see? I just finished building a Cessna. On my days off I go..."

             
"You're so full of shit, Walsh. You're planning on torching another building now that he's out on bail."

             
Gregg arched his eyebrow. "Mikey got out on bail? I had no clue, but that's good to know!"

             
"When are you planning on doing it? Tonight? Make the cops think that he's back at it since he's not locked up? There were no jobs done after he got arrested. You steal his badge from his locker? We're on to you, Walsh."

             
"And you have no way to prove anything. There's a small thing called evidence that the police and the jury needs to build a case. Where's your evidence? From what I heard on the news, Mikey's got ample evidence against him. Even if it is just a badge at the scene and a witness pointing him out, that's all they need. In an arson, a little goes a long way. It's a lot harder to solve, so they take what they can get."

             
"You're gonna fuck up. And we'll be right there when you do."

             
Gregg clicked his tongue and patted Casey's cheek. "That's where you're wrong, Baby McGinnis. Your brother is going to jail. Give it up and get back to doing what you do best. I've heard you're really good at smoking the crack rock. I've always been told to go with your strengths. Have at it. While you're at it, pour Mikey a shot of whiskey. He's going down, might as well do something he loves while it happens."

             
Casey fought hard not to give in to his emotions. "You've got more against you than you think." It was a lie, but Gregg didn't have to know that. He gave him one last, hard look in the eye and turned away. He had to get back to Mikey. Gregg was up to something and they had to figure out what they were going to do about it.

Chapter Seventeen

              Michael paced back and forth in the living room. His mother had gone upstairs for the evening, still unable to talk much about what was happening. Casey had not made it home and he was beginning to worry. The gas can was a sure bet that Gregg was planning something else. And why not? It would be an excellent way to put one final nail in his coffin.

             
He let out a sigh of relief when Casey came up the front steps and through the door. He looked worried, pissed, and scared all wrapped into one. "What happened?"

             
"I need a damn cigarette." He dug through his jacket and pulled out a package, offering one to Michael but he declined. "Let's go out on the porch."

             
Following him, Michael's patience was gone. "What happened after you hung up with me?"

             
"Gregg knew I was following him. He stopped me in the alley."

             
"What? What did he say? Did he hurt you?"

             
"No, he didn't even put his hands on me. He's smarter than that. He didn't even say anything to implicate himself. I asked him about the gas can and everything. All he kept saying was you've got a lot against you and that you're going down. That's all I could get out of him." He took an extremely long drag off of the cigarette and exhaled the toxic smoke out of his lungs. "I'm sorry, Mikey. I thought I was following him better. Now he knows what we're up to."

             
Mikey looked out into the yard, his brain going a thousand miles per hour. "It's not necessarily a bad thing."

             
"What do you mean? Now he's gonna be even more careful."

             
He glanced at Casey from the corner of his eye. "Now he knows that we know what he's up to. He knows we're watching his every move. He's gonna feel panicked."

             
"Which proves what I just said. He's gonna be even more careful to cover his tracks. We've got nothing on him, Mikey."

             
"I'm glad he knows. That son of a bitch was probably strutting around thinking I was completely helpless and clueless. Now he knows I'm not gonna go down without a fight."

             
"What are we gonna do? We can't follow him again. And we don't know when he'll do the next torch job."

             
Folding his arms over his chest, Michael watched two boys ride their bikes down the street, both laughing and just being kids. It reminded him of his childhood.

             
"I could go to the detectives and tell them. Get to them before it happens. Maybe it'd be enough for them to go question Gregg." Who was he kidding? He was named the main suspect. The cop's trust in him was about as solid as his trust was in Gregg. He didn't know of anything else he could do. It was a Hail Mary pass late in the fourth quarter and he was trailing by a touchdown.

             
Casey looked doubtful. "It's about the only thing you have left to do. We just have to hope that your word is enough to raise enough suspicion to make them want to do it."

              Michael couldn't sit still. The longer he waited, the chances were greater that Gregg would solidify the evidence against him. It was after eight PM. Would the detectives working the case be at the station? He didn't want to sit around and twiddle his thumbs. Even if they weren't, he would hope someone there could contact them.

             
"I'm gonna head down there."

             
"Now? It's late. You sure it's a good idea?"

             
"I'm not sure of anything right now, Casey." He looked out onto the street. "We've pretty much concluded that Gregg is gonna strike again. I can't just sit by while he fucks up my future worse than he already has."

             
"Let me come with you."

             
Shaking his head, Michael stepped off of the porch. "No. Stay here. Make sure mom is okay. I'm just gonna make a quick trip down there. I'll have my phone. Keep yours nearby. We'll be in touch."

             
He pulled his hat bill low and kept his face ducked. It was dark outside and the night air was cold. He wasn't sure why, but felt like leaving Casey and his mother behind meant he wouldn't see them for awhile. On the subway he tried to avoid eye contact with people. Again, he had to wonder if it was his imagination or if people recognized him from the news. When he had heard of crimes on TV or in the newspaper, he didn't really pay much attention to the people around him. Maybe it was true for others.

             
He got off of the train a few stops before he needed to. He felt claustrophobic and needed a walk to clear his mind and ease the tension. He had to think up what he was going to say to the detectives. Would admitting that Casey had followed Gregg implicate him? It wasn't a crime unless stalking could be proven. With the way things were going, Michael was hesitant to admit anything. They were turning everything against him.

             
Pausing on the sidewalk outside of the building, he watched as cops hustled in and out, some with people in handcuffs, others in a hurry to hop in their cruisers and head out on patrol. Michael buried his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie. Hopefully Detective Vasquez and Detective Reynolds would be there. They hadn't been much help to him, but he wanted to speak with the people who were most familiar with the case.

             
Walking in, he waited his turn in line. The front desk sergeant smirked as Michael came up, almost as if she remembered him.

             
"What do you need, sir?"

             
"I need to speak with Detective Reynolds and Detective Vasquez." He felt his phone buzz in his pocket but ignored it.

             
"They aren't in right now. You'll have to come back."

             
"No, I can't. Is there any way you can call them or something? This is really important."

             
She flashed a sarcastic smile. "You know how many times I hear that a day? Sir, you'll have to come back. They are out on a call right now and I can't just call them back to the station for every person who thinks they need to talk to them."

             
He wanted to plead his case. He wanted to scream out that he was innocent, that he knew exactly who the arsonist was, but his voice wouldn't work. Before he could suggest talking to someone else, the next person in line shoved through and he found himself at the back of the line again. He was in such a daze that he didn't even fight for his spot.

             
Looking down at his phone, he saw a text message from Eva. "Call me" was all it said. He was just a few blocks from the apartment, so rather than call, he decided to stop by. It was probably the last thing she'd want, but he had to see her. She always knew what to do.

             
Pushing out of the door, he quickened his pace down the street. Hopefully Gregg would hold off on whatever plan he had for another night. At least long enough for him to contact the people he needed to. He punched in the code for the apartment and made his way up the flight of stairs. She had the chain latched, hindering his attempt at going in.

             
Her hazel eyes peered through the other side. She looked like she had been crying. "Mikey?"

             
"I know you said to call, but I wanted to see you."

             
She closed the door and unlatched the chain. Stepping aside, she allowed him to come in. It had only been a few days and he missed everything about their home. He missed everything about her. He cupped the side of her face and ran his thumb down her cheek, wiping away the moisture on her skin.

             
"Mikey... I... I'm so sorry for how this is happening."

             
"Me too."

             
"You staying with your mom?"

             
He shook his head yes. "Casey is in town."

             
"Really?"

             
"Yeah. He wanted to come up and help me."

             
Eva leaned in to his touch. Closing her eyes, she let out a low murmur as Michael's hand trailed down her neck and rested on her shoulder. Leaning in, he lightly kissed her, savoring her taste. He was surprised when she pulled him closer and leaned back against the wall, wrapping her leg around his waist. Their kiss grew more passionate and he was unable to control his hands. They moved down her side and rested on her belt.

             
"Damn, I've missed you..." he whispered, feeling her stomach.

             
His phone rang, pulling their attention off of each other. "Speak of the devil, it's Casey." Pulling away from her, he almost ignored the call, but figured with everything happening, it was best to keep in touch.

             
"Hello?"

             
"Hey, man. You  need to get away from the police station. Now. Get out of there."

             
Glancing at Eva, he tried to keep calm. "Why? What's going on?"

             
"It's all over the news, Mikey. Another arson. Gregg did exactly what we thought he'd do. Your face is all over the TV. They're talking about how you're out on bail but now are wanted. The police are looking for you."

             
"I'm not there. I'm at my apartment." He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. His mug shot was plastered right there with a caption that said everything Casey had just explained. "Son of a bitch..." he said, feeling as if the walls around him and toppled on top of him.

             
"What are you gonna do, man?"

             
"I'm uhh..." Michael didn't even realize that Eva was standing beside him, watching the news story play out. "I can't get caught. I can't get locked up. I've gotta find Gregg and prove my innocence."

             
"I'm your witness. I saw him with the gas can."

             
"No offense, Casey, but your word won't do anything for me. You're family, and have a record. You're a known drug addict with the police." Michael hung the phone up. He didn't have time to stand around and chat. Like Casey had asked, what in the hell was he going to do?