Page 130 of Stabby Little

"Only when spoken to." Michael shakes his head. "You don't know how long I pressured him to get him to admit he knew who I was."

I turn my eyes to Kobe. In the basement lights, he doesn't look anything like the boy in the special effects surveillance camera stills.And he especially doesn't look like the boy who exited Rock. Kobe is balding whereas the boy in the pictures had a full head of blond hair when he removed his baseball cap.

"Do you know who this man is?" I gesture to Michael.

Kobe cries as he shakes his head. "I said I did because he threatened to cut my foot off if I didn't confess. I've never seen him in my life."

"Of course you’d fucking said that." Michael lets out a growl as clenches his fists. “You’re a liar who killed my top men. You won't confess voluntarily."

Jagger gnashes his teeth. "I saw the pictures from Rock. This isn't the same boy."

"Those pictures were grainy." Michael flips back to Jagger.

“Kobe’s going bald unlike the boys in the stills,” I snap. "Surely, you can see that."

"You should've provided me with better pictures." Michael's voice is deafening. "You're the reason Anton and Zaire brought this boy here. You found the security camera evidence.”

"I guarantee this isn't the boy who attended Tiffy's wedding."

Kobe sobs. "I don't know Tiffy. I've never heard of her in my life."

"Quiet." Michael picks up a second whip and cracks it on the floor. "Speak when you're spoken to, boy. Otherwise, I'll beat you again."

My boss is a monster.

I can't believe I didn't realize that sooner.

He doesn't give a shit if Kobe Bailey is the correct boy.

I stare into Michael's eyes and see the spark of sadism coursing through them. Now, it makes sense. He enjoys torturing Kobe. He's likely tortured many boys in his Yonkers warehouse.

Rage blinds my vision. "You can see Kobe looks nothing like Crystal's date. His eyes are brown. Crystal’s date had green eyes.”

“Maybe he’s wearing contacts.” Michael points to Kobe's green eyes. “Stranger shit has happened.”

I shake my head. "This isn't Xavier and Gordon's killer. I was wrong, Michael. I’d bet my life this is the wrong boy."

Michael leads Jagger and I to Kobe. He thrusts Kobe's chin up and stares into his eyes.

"My men are going to ask you a few questions," Michael says. "Answer honestly. Otherwise, I'll cut your foot off."

Kobe's lower lip quivers. "I swear I'm not involved with whatever you're talking about. I spend most of my time in the Columbia campus library or volunteering with rescue puppies. I've never heard of Tiffy or Xavier or Gordon in my life."

I push Michael aside. "Where were you on Saturday, May thirtieth?”

"I was with my best friend Becca studying for exams. We were on the third floor of the Butler Library memorizing flashcards."

"Do you have an alibi?"

"The librarian waved to me when I entered and wished me goodnight when Becca and I left."

"She'll prove you were at the library the entire time?"

"Yes. The only way out of the library is past her desk. She would've seen if I slipped out."

"Bullshit." Michael smacks Kobe's cheek. "You could've paid her to say you were at the library while you attended my niece's wedding. This alibi is a load of shit."

"Step back." Jagger places his hand on Michael's chest. "We'll get the truth out of him, boss."

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