Page 72 of Shadow of Doubt

“Look around this place,” Gibert responded. “It’s a war zone. Hard to have respect for people who don’t even respect themselves.”

“You’re a real asshole,” MoMo said as he climbed out of the car. “You know that?”

“Trust me,” Brunelle stated as she also stepped out of the car. “He doesn’t have a clue.”

“For fuck’s sake,” said the cop. “Can we just focus on what we’re supposed to be doing here?”

MoMo and Brunelle ignored him as they walked over together to examine the Peugeot.

Having seen more than a few burned-out cars in his day, MoMo wasn’t particularly impressed. Instead, he was interested in who was looking at them as they looked at the car. It took him a moment, but then he found a window and a pair of eyes.

“Be right back,” he said, before crossing the street and approaching a building on the other side.

Brunelle continued to investigate the Peugeot.

When Gibert joined her, she remarked, “That was one hell of an accelerant. Look at how badly everything’s melted.”

“If the goal was to destroy evidence,” he replied, his head on a swivel, taking in their surroundings, “that’s the way to do it.”

“Let’s hope MoMo has some luck,” she stated.

Nodding toward a group of young men who had gathered up the block and were checking them out, he added, “And let’s hope it’s soon.”

It only took MoMo about five minutes, and when he came back he had struck gold.

“Come with me,” he said.

“Where are we going?” Gibert asked, his eyes still on the group of young men.

“The soccer field around the corner.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see.”

Worried that the kids there might disperse if the trio rolled up in an unmarked police vehicle, MoMo convinced Gibert that they should leave his car behind and walk the short distance. The cop wasn’t crazy about the idea, but understanding its merits, agreed to go along with it.

When they arrived at the field, a half-dozen kids were playing soccer. MoMo walked over to where their sweatshirts and jackets were in a pile on the ground and said, “Boom.”

“?‘Boom’?” Gibert repeated. “Boomwhat?”

“What else do you see?” MoMo asked. “Besides the jackets and sweatshirts?”

The cop looked. “A bunch of empty energy-drink cans.”

“Brand-nameenergy drinks. Not cheaper knockoffs. And what’s going on out on the field?”

“They’re kicking a soccer ball around.”

“Notice anything about the ball?”

Gibert looked. “No. Should I?”

“It’s brand-new.”

“These kids have come into a little bit of money,” Brunelle responded.

“Precisely,” said MoMo. “And they’re about to come into a little bit more. Which one of you has some cash on you?”

---