The Punishing Game (28 page)

An hour passed without any word from the Westchester command center. Boff’s knee was starting to ache from all the standing around, so he got back in his car.

“I’ve sort of got an idea here,” Cullen announced.

“What might that be?”

“Can you get permission to drive away from here?”

Boff let out a short laugh. “No problem. I think they’d be very pleased to get rid of me. Why do you want to leave?”

“I think I know how we might get the hostages out.”

Boff looked amused. “This should be good. Let’s hear it.”

Cullen frowned. “Boxers don’t just go into the ring and start slugging away, you know. We work a lot of hours on strategy. I’ve got one here that could resolve this.”

“From the mouths of babes.”

“Can you get the phone numbers of that house and Yusef’s cell?” 

“What for?”

“Just do it.”

With a shrug, Boff left the car again, talked to Schlosberg for a minute, wrote something down on a slip of paper, and returned to the car. Damiano was right behind him. Ignoring his bum knee, Boff took the wheel. Damiano chased Cullen and Bellucci into the back seat and rode shotgun.

“Drive away,” Cullen directed.

Boff frowned. He didn’t like it when someone else was in control. When he had gotten two blocks from the scene, he pulled to the curb and turned around to look at Cullen. “I’m not going any further until you tell me where we’re going.”

“Can you find out where Jermain lives?” Cullen said
.

“Yes,” Boff said. “But if it’s in
Long Island, by the time we get there this could be long over.”

“I’m betting he lives not far from here.”

“Because?”

“Solis said Yusef bought Jermain a house, right? Considering they’re supposedly like father and son, I figure Yusef bought Jermain a house close to his so they could see each other a lot.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Boff took out his cell, punched in a number, and said, “It’s Boff. I need a fix on a man named Jermain Simms. The last name has two M’s. Probably lives in Westchester. … Okay, call me back.” He hung up.

Damiano turned to Cullen. “What exactly do you expect to do with Jermain?” she asked. “If you think he can talk his uncle into surrendering, you’re very naïve.”

“We’ll see.”

She threw her hands up. “For chrissake, Boff, this is stupid. Let’s turn around and go back to where we can be useful.”

“Go back and do what?” Boff said. “Sit around and watch the clowns run the show? Now
that’s
stupid.”

Damiano turned back to Cullen. “Why won’t you at least tell me what your so-called plan is?”

“Would Boff?”

“No. But you’re not fucking Boff.”

Cullen looked away. Nobody said anything for a few minutes. Then Boff’s phone broke the silence. He picked up, listened a few moments, wrote something on a slip of paper, and hung up.

“Jermain Simms lives at
one thirty-two Winthrop Avenue in New Rochelle,” he said. “That’s five miles from here. Score round one for Cullen. I have Jermain’s house phone and cell. I suggest you call and see if he’s home.”

He handed Cullen the slip of paper. “The land line is the first number,” he said. “Call that one and put it on speaker.”

Cullen dialed. It rang four times before somebody picked up.

Hello?
a male voice said.

“Jermain?”

Yeah. Who’s this?

“Cullen.”

Say what? Why you calling me? Trying to get in my head?

“Your uncle’s in big trouble. I think you can help.”

What kind of trouble?

“The kind where he can get seriously hurt. Or wind up dead.”

After a pause, Jermain said,
What can I do?

“Just stay home. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

If this is some kind of trick, I’m going to whack you.

Boff parked in front of Jermain’s bi-level colonial. Then he turned around to Cullen. “Now what, junior?”

“You’re going inside with me. Do you have cuffs?”

“Only on my pants.”

“I do,” Damiano said. “And I’m going with you, too.”

“And me,” Bellucci chimed in.

“No, Mikey,” Boff said. “You can’t.”

“Why the hell not?”

Boff pointed to a street sign. “See what that sign says?
PARKING ONLY FOR VEHICLES WITH RESIDENTIAL PERMIT.
I don’t want us getting towed. Somebody has to stay in the car.”

“So Mikey gets stuck? Man, this blows.”

They left Bellucci sulking in the back seat. While walking to the house, Cullen told Damiano the first thing he wanted her to do once they got inside.

“No fucking way,” she
said.

“Just trust me here.
Okay
?”

Damiano looked at Boff. “I could get in hot water for this,” she said.

“Danny and I will cover for you.”

She turned back to Cullen. “This plan of yours better work—whatever the hell the rest of it is.”

As they reached the house, Cullen rang the doorbell. A minute later, someone peeked out the front window. Then Jermain opened the door.

“What are these two doing with you?” he asked. “You want to speak with me, come in alone.”

“She’s a police detective,” Cullen said. “And he’s helping resolve the situation your uncle is in.”

Jermain gave that some thought. “Before I let you in, I wanna hear about this so-called situation.”

Cullen quickly outlined where things stood in Scarsdale.

Jermain grimaced. “Man, you better not be bullshitting me.” He stepped aside and let them in.

And as soon as the boxer closed the door, Damiano drew her gun on him.

Jermain looked stunned. “What the fuck?”

She pointed to the floor with her weapon. “Lie face down with your hands behind your back!”

“Fuck you, lady! Cullen, you lied to me.”

“No I didn’t,” Cullen said. “This is the only way to save your uncle’s life.”

“By arresting me? That’s bullshit.”

“Nobody’s arresting you,” Cullen said. “Just do what she says.”

With obvious reluctance, Jermain lay down on his stomach. Damiano quickly cuffed him from behind.

Looking clearly uncomfortable, she turned to Cullen. “Now what?”

“Turn over, Jermain,” Cullen said. “I’m calling your uncle on his cell.”

As Jermain rolled onto his back, Cullen took out his phone and looked at Boff. “Give me Yusef’s number.”

As Boff read the number off another slip of paper, Cullen punched it into his phone. It rang four times before Yusef picked up. Cullen put it on speaker.

Who the fuck is this?
Yusef said.

“Danny Cullen. Now listen to me carefully, or your nephew is going to get hurt.”

What the hell do you want, Cullen? I’m sort of busy right now.

“I know. You’re surrounded by an army of cops.”

Yusef said nothing.

“I’m at Jermain’s house.”

Prove it.

Cullen leaned down and put the phone in Jermaine’s face. “Tell him, Jermain.”

“Uncle Yusef, it’s me. They got me cuffed.”

Why? What’d you do?

“Nuthin’. Cullen thinks I can help you.”

Cullen took it off speaker. “Here’s what’s going down, Yusef. I want you to release your hostages right now.”

Fuck you. Let me speak to Jermain again.

“If you don’t do it,” Cullen replied, “I’m going to start breaking Jermain’s fingers with a hammer.”

Damiano and Boff exchanged looks of surprise.

You wouldn’t fucking dare!

“Oh, no?”

Putting the phone on speaker again, Cullen kicked Jermain hard in the balls, then held his cell out so Yusef could hear his nephew howling in pain.

Cullen immediately took it off speaker again. “That was only the pinky on his left hand,” he said. “You still have time to save Jermain’s career.”

MOTHERFUCKER! I
’M GONNA RIP YOUR HEART OUT!

“You heard what I want,” Cullen said calmly. “Are you going to give up the hostages?” He could hear heavy breathing on the other end.

Finally, Yusef said in a tense voice,
Okay, I told the pigs I’d let everybody go as soon as Enrique and I have safe passage out of here.

“Wrong answer,” Cullen said.

Putting the phone back on speaker, he walked over to Jermain, who was still writhing in pain. This time he stomped on his nuts. Jermain screamed loud enough to be heard in Scarsdale without a phone. Cullen left it on speaker a few moments, then took it off again.

“That was his other pinky, Yusef. Next time, I get serious. I’m going to bring the hammer down on the top of his hand. Smash every bone in it. Then he’ll never fight again. Never be the champion you want him to be.” Cullen paused to let that sink in. “If you care about Jermain, let those hostages go. Now!”

Cullen glanced at Boff, who was clearly amused. Damiano didn’t look quite as pleased. Cullen could hear Yusef breathing hard again. When Yusef didn’t say anything, Cullen went back on the offensive.

“Your life is over, Yusef. Jermain has a chance to do something special with his. What’s it going to be? Yes or no?”

He put it on speaker so Yusef could hear Jermain groaning. Then he knocked the speaker off. Yusef finally spoke.

How do I know
you’ll let Jermain go?

“I’m a boxer not a kidnapper.” Although Cullen was really nervous, he kept his feelings under control, same as he did in the ring.

I’m sending one hostage out. Okay?

“Not okay. Either send all of them out—and we know how many there are—or it’s the hammer and bye-bye, Jermain.”

COCKSUCKER!

“I’m raising the hammer. Last chance.”

For a minute, Yusef said nothing. Then,
I’m sending them out
.

Cullen heard Yusef tell the hostages they could go. He turned to Boff. “They’re going free,” he said.

Repressing a smile, Boff took out his cell and made a call. “Marty, the hostages will be coming out momentarily. Make sure everybody knows not to shoot. I’ll stay on the line until you tell me they’re out and safe.”

What’s going on?

“Don’t ask questions. Just do what I told you.”

Boff put his phone on speaker. In a moment a loud cheer was heard from the
Scarsdale end.

They’re out! They’re out!
Schlosberg said.
How the hell did you do this?

“Not me, my junior partner did.” Boff put away his phone.

I did my part, Cullen,
Yusef said.
Now take the fucking cuffs off Jermain and let me speak to him.

Cullen told Damiano what he wanted her to do.

“Roll back over, Jermain,” she said.

Still in obvious pain, Jermain gingerly rolled over onto his stomach. Damiano removed his cuffs. As soon as she did, Jermain twisted onto his back and then slowly sat up.

Putting his phone on speaker, Cullen tossed it to Jermain.

“Uncle Yusef?”

Did they release you?

“Yeah, but….”

Don’t worry about your fingers. I’ll get the best hand surgeon money can buy.

“Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with my fingers. Cullen done tricked you. He didn’t hit me with no hammer. Muthafucka just kicked me in the balls.”

There was a moment of silence. Then Yusef let out a howl of rage and the connection cut off.

Slowly, Jermain got up and looked at Cullen with pure venom in his eyes. “You’re dead meat!” he shouted.

Dropping the cell phone, he lunged at Cullen, but before he could get to him, Damiano grabbed him and yanked his arm up behind his back, close to breaking it.

“I’M FUCKIN’ GONNA KILL YOU, CULLEN!” Jermain howled.

“Let him go,” Cullen said in a steady voice.

“No way,” Damiano said.

“Come on, detective. I got us this far. It’s important for you to do this.”

Frowning, Damiano looked at Boff. He didn’t look too pleased, either, but nodded his okay. As soon as Damiano released Jermain, the boxer charged Cullen again and threw a punch at his face. Using what he had learned in the tennis ball drill, Cullen moved his head so he only took a glancing but painful shot on his cheek. Then he stepped back and raised his fists in a defensive posture.

“
Now
grab him,” he said.

Before Jermain could pounce again, Damiano kicked the boxer’s legs out from under him. As Jermain hit the floor, she took out her cuffs, leaned down, and dangled them in front of his face.

“Move and I cuff you for real,” she said.

Jermain stared up at her. “I ain’t done with this motherfucker!”

“Yes, you are. If you attack Cullen again, I’ll arrest you for assault.”

“Me? That cocksucker started it.”

“No, I didn’t,” Cullen said, rubbing his sore cheek. He bent down to retrieve his cell phone. “You did by punching me in the face.” He looked at Boff. “Right?”

“That’s the way I saw it,” Boff said. He turned to Damiano. “So did the detective. Isn’t that so?”

“Yes,” she said flatly.

Jermain sat up. “I’m gonna press charges against this motherfucker!”

“I don’t think so,” Cullen said. “It’s pretty hard to make a case for me attacking you when my face is the only one that’s bruised.”

“He’s right, son,” Boff said. “Isn’t he, detective?”

Damiano just nodded. “Let’s get back to the show,” she said. “Cullen, you and Boff go out first. I’ll be right behind.”

“I’ll mess you up, too, bitch,” Jermain said.

“I wouldn’t if I were you,” Boff said. “Threatening an officer is an indictable offense. Hitting one is serious jail time. Think it over.”

The anger suddenly left Jermain’s face. He turned to Damiano. “What’s gonna happen to my uncle?”

“If he surrenders,” Damiano said, “he’ll get a long stretch in prison.”

Jermain shook his head. “He won’t give up. Not my uncle. You don’t know him.”

“Well,” she said slowly, “if he doesn’t, or if he shoots at the cops, a SWAT team will breach the house and kill him. Perhaps you should call and tell him how you feel.”

Cullen and Boff were already standing at the door. Putting her cuffs away and keeping her eyes on Jermain, Damiano backed to the door. As Jermain dialed his cell phone, they closed the door behind them.