Read Online Most Wanted by Michele Martinez - Free Book Online Page A

available time slot, spelling Rosario’s name carefully for the clerk. Rosario would testify the following afternoon at three. In the meantime she needed to be prepped.
    “Okay, Mrs. Sangrador,” Melanie said, pen poised over her yellow legal pad, “tell me what happened. Take me through it, step by step.”
    “Nine o’clock last night, man come to door. Mrs. Benson away, and Mr. Benson downstairs in office, so I answer.”
    “Did you get a good look at his face?” Melanie asked.
    “Oh, yeah! I never forget him!”
    Melanie looked over at Dan, who leaned down and pulled the folder with the mug shots from his battered canvas briefcase. Before he could open the folder, she stopped his hand with a touch.
    “Single photos aren’t allowed,” she said. “Did you put it in an array?”
    “This ain’t amateur hour, sweetheart,” he said, meeting her eyes. Too aware of his warm skin under her fingers, she pulled her hand away. He removed a sheet of paper from the folder and handed it to her. It was a color Xerox containing six numbered photographs, all of teenage boys with short dark hair, no facial hair, and thin features. The mug shot of Slice was in position number four.
    “Not suggestive in the least,” she said, nodding. “I approve. Proceed.”
    “Okay. Rosario,” Dan intoned, reading from the boilerplate printed on the back of the array, “you’re about to view an array of six photographs that may or may not contain a photo of the individual in question. Hairstyles, facial hair, and skin tones may vary with time and photo quality. Examine each photograph carefully, and tell me if you recognize anybody. Take as much time as you need.”
    Melanie held her breath as Dan handed the array to Rosario. The mug shot of Slice was so outdated. If Rosario didn’t recognize him, it wouldn’t mean he was the wrong guy, but it could torpedo their case.
    Rosario snatched the array from Dan’s hands, glanced at it, and jabbed her finger at photo number four. “That him! Except he much older now.”
    Melanie breathed out. “Okay. What happened when you answered the door?”
    “I talk to him through video monitor. He say he deliver flowers for Mrs. Benson. I say, why so late? Then I see he have jacket with name of flower company, so I buzz door. Let him in. So stupid!” Tears welled in Rosario’s eyes again and slowly spilled over, reminding Melanie powerfully of the past.
Abuelita crying when she left for the airport. Melanie crying. No, Abuelita said
, mi hija,
don’t you feel bad. This not your fault. Your
mami,
she send me away
.
    “Oh, Mrs. Sangrador, this wasn’t your fault!” Melanie exclaimed. “Don’t blame yourself! Anyone else would have done the same thing!” Don’t blame yourself, she told Rosario, though of course she blamed herself for all her own problems. “What next?” she asked aloud.
    “He push door in and grab me. I feel gun on my cheek, I scream. Then, boom, he hit me with gun. That how I get this.” She pointed to the stitched gash.
    “Did he say anything to you when he came in?” Melanie asked.
    “He say, ‘You make problem, I kill you.’ Then he kick my feet, and I fall down. He tie my hands with twist tie, like from garbage bag. Very sharp. Hurt me. Then he walk back to the door and open it. His friends come. They all wear black ski mask, I can’t see faces. Oh, my God! And they have big dog!”
    Rosario began breathing heavily, wringing her hands. Melanie patted her reassuringly and looked deep into her eyes, trying to convey strength. “It’s okay. Keep going.”
    “Four or five guys maybe, and big black dog. Dog jump for me. His teeth, snap snap like this.” With her hand, Rosario mimed jaws biting. “They laughing. Say he smell my blood already.”
    “Were they armed?” Melanie asked.
    “Oh, yes. Guns. Big guns, all of them. Same like that one.” She pointed to the Glock protruding from Dan’s waistband.
    “Sure?” Dan asked, removing it and displaying it