others. "That is a very bold request and I don't think we will comply with it and support your dirty business." Cam explained with cold determination, if he just kept calm they might get away with it.
But Ben had apparently thought of a different strategy: "On the contrary, we're going to take your nice cousin to the station tonight, I found this necklace in his pocket and since the necklace looks very valuable, I would like to clarify its origin Mr. Ricardo will certainly be happy to help me. "Silvio didn't change a face. Slowly Ben took his handcuffs out of his pocket and put them around the gnarled joints of the still grinning Ricardo. “Let's go!” Ben walked off with Ricardo in tow, Cam joined them too, but he didn't trust the peace, his stomach was becoming increasingly cramped and he had to fight against the nausea.
"I wouldn't do it that fast either, Detective Brown!", Silvio's cold voice echoed through the cul-de-sac, he had waited until they had arrived at the corner of the street and was now walking slowly behind them. "I think you both should reconsider my request, it really matters a lot to me. And then arrest Ricardo, you don't do that. After all, he belongs to family. And family is important." All of a sudden fixed his fixed eyes on Cam and fixed him. "Am I not right, Mr. Brown? You have to honor, cherish, love your family. You can lose them so easily in any accident or mishap."How short-lived are some happiness ... or so many young lives. "Silvio took a few more steps towards Cam.
Cam fought a bitter struggle to keep his calm as everything began to swirl inside him. "Yes, especially the little ones are always particularly poor. They are still so small and weak, and then a fever, the cause of which cannot be found and that simply does not want to go down, can be very draining. Terrible, just terrible how bad it is." can come sometimes, right? Mr. Brown? "DeCloud was standing in front of Cam, the cold smell of smoked cigars penetrating his nose and burning his eyes.
Ben stepped behind Cam as if to support him, both of them felt sick in their stomachs, now nobody thought of Ricardo who was handcuffed. "Well, you won't be so pale right away, Mr. Brown. I can reassure you that I have taken care of your daughter and her wife so that we can take good care of them. It would be a shame if something happened to both of them. Wouldn't it?"If something happens to both of them. The words echoed over and over in Cam's head. It had to be a joke, a very bad joke. His wife and daughter were safe at home, there was no other option. But if not, what should he do? He had to make sure DeCloud was telling the truth. Though everything in him resisted the claim, he knew inside that DeCloud's words were true.
"As I see Brown, believe me. That's the smartest thing you can do too. But if you hadn't, I would have the proof here for you. Look, do you recognize Bobo?" One of DeCloud's men stopped something plush up high. For someone who saw this, it was just a normal stuffed animal, but Cam realized that it was the little stuffed dog Bobo, which he himself had got for Cassey's birth. The animal wore a small cloth cap around its neck that its wife had knitted.There was no doubt that DeCloud's husband was holding Cassey's favorite stuffed dog.
"That's a lie. Cam, can't you see that the guy wants to put you in? You can get such a cattle in almost every store." Ben's face was expressionless, but thanks to years of experience, Cam knew that it was behind his partner's eyes worked.
DeCloud's lips curled up in a grim grin again. "Gentlemen, do I look like someone who would joke? But whatever you want. Do not fulfill my request and Brown's wife and child will die. It is in your hands. Only if I were you, I wouldn’t be too long Let me think about it. My time is precious, after all. So how do you choose Detective Brown? For or against your family? "
Cam's thoughts got mixed up. What should he do now? There was really only one option, he had to comply with DeCloud's request, as much as he disliked it. But if he gave in, would his family just be released?He hardly believed that, but he couldn't give up hope yet. Even the smallest spark could save his family's life. "Give me your phone, Ben." The brief words were difficult to get out of Cam. "But Cam .." "No buts, I have no choice. Don't you understand?" Frustration was all he could still feel at that moment and resigned helplessness. He just had to keep a clear head now, there was no room for unnecessary feelings. Precious life was at stake and having a criminal like DeCloud was no joke. This was serious.
"I see you've made the right decision Detective. Just be warned that I don't want any games. As soon as a cop shows up and takes hold of my goods, you can say goodbye to your wife and daughter." DeCloud's amused tone had taken on a sharp undertone.
Cam's voice, on the other hand, had gotten a cool sound, although it was difficult for him to keep calm."And who guarantees me that you won't just kill them when you have what you want? Or that you haven't already killed them." "You have my word Detective." Cam almost laughed. "Your word? How much is a criminal's word worth? The word of a man who kidnaps a defenseless woman and a sick child? Tell me how much?"
"Leave Cam. If you provoke him, that won't defuse the situation either." Ben put his hand on his shoulder soothingly. He added more quietly: "At the moment he's superior to us, so don't act carelessly. We'll find a way to save them both. Then this bastard will pay for it, I swear to you."
He's right, damn it, thought Cam. He would have loved to approach DeCloud to show him that he was dealing with a real opponent. Someone who would fight back, but that would have to wait. His family's life was more important.Ben took a step closer to Cam. "Let me take care of the call. You're too upset and that would raise questions from colleagues. I'll do it." Cam agreed silently. Ben then turned to DeCloud. "Everything will be done the way you want it. My cell phone is just in the car. I'll go back and make the call and then they let his family go."
DeCloud's laugh showed his aplomb. “You don't think I'll just let you go back to your car and trust that everything will go as I want it to.” With a short nod, he pointed to Ricardo. "He will come with you so he can give you the necessary details while Detective Brown waits here with me. When everything is done, we will clarify the next steps." Before Ben could reply, DeCloud continued. "Now quickly. We don't have all night, after all. I have appointments. Would you please remove the handcuffs and then finally would start."The sneering politeness behind these words fueled Cam's anger. Only effort and years of training kept him from making a mistake. In the corner of his eye he saw how Ben disappeared with Ricardo towards the car and he was now alone with DeCloud and his men. Cam stood still while one of them lit a cigarette. His gaze was wild and made his face look dangerous in the moonlight. He looked like a predator about to jump. If DeCloud hadn't been a pro, they wouldn't have remained so calm in the face of the situation. "Do you really think you can get away with it?"
Amused by this statement, he took a step closer to Cam. "I think so, after all, I made sure of myself beforehand. It is therefore of mutual interest that everything goes well tonight." "You pig won't stop at anything, don't you? Then people are also sent to do the dirty work for kill you.I guess you're scared of getting your hands dirty. Paid people for all walks of life, right? You probably even need someone to get you started because you can't get that together either. "Now the sneering grin on DeCloud's face was gone and suppressed anger made it look demonic." Be careful Detective. The life of your family is in my hands. So if I don't like something, I can put an end to it quickly and you will know that I am capable of it. "With furious steps he stepped away from Cam.
"When this is over, I will personally see to it that you go to prison. Your cell is already reserved, you can rely on it."
“We'll see.” A movement at the beginning of the alley announced Ben and Ricardo's arrival. "Ah, I see the two of them are back. Everything went according to plan?" DeCloud did not really expect an answer to this question.He does not tolerate it when something went wrong and Ricardo already knew that, as the missing finger under his glove testified. So DeCloud turned back to Cam. "Now wait like a while and then when everything is settled, we'll see."
It was quiet in the narrow alley for minutes. Only the passing of a few cars and the low whisper of Ricardo with one of the men echoed through the area. Cam stood next to Ben in the middle of the alley and kept reminding himself not to lose your nerve, it wouldn't help his wife and daughter. But he would have to think of something, otherwise they were all lost.
Ben's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You know that your colleagues from the border will ask questions and cause problems. I tried to convince them that they should let the goods pass, but you know them." Yes, he did. Before, when he was still in training, Cam should have learned from them too.Some were extremely strict about controls. They could only hope that one of the lighter types was on duty today.
The melody of "Play Me a Song of Death", ironically, echoed through the alley. One of the men took a cell phone out of his jacket pocket and handed it to DeCloud. He quickly grabbed it. "Hello, yes .." He fell silent immediately and you could see that his expression was clearly distorted. Something couldn't have gone the way he planned. Without another word, DeCloud ended the call and angrily threw the cell phone against the nearest wall. Cam guessed what the phone call was about. Something had gone wrong and now they were all lost. His wife, Cassey, Ben, and himself. So he had failed and had