Page 106 of Lion & Lamb

MARSHALL: Yeah, yeah. Figured that’s why you were here. Why didn’t Bernstein come down here himself? Hey, wait—you didn’t show me your badge. I don’t think that’s legal. You’re supposed to show me your badge.

LION: The ring?

MARSHALL: Okay, okay.

(Long pause as Marshall leaves, pulls open a kitchen drawer, returns.)

LION: Tell me how you got these.

MARSHALL: You know how I got these.

LION: Tell me anyway.

MARSHALL: I was walking, minding my own business, when I saw this crazy-ass car just sitting in front of the art museum. I got closer and realized who was inside it. I figured he was passed out or something, in which case I would have called for help. But no—he was shot, man. Someone killed him! I didn’t want any part of that.

LION: But before you ran away, you helped yourself to his Super Bowl ring and wallet.

MARSHALL: But I just gave them back to you! So it’s kind of like I borrowed them, right? Or held on to them for safekeeping?

LION: And you have no idea who killed Archie.

MARSHALL: Oh, I didn’t say that.

LION: Excuse me?

MARSHALL: Yeah, I know who killed the quarterback. And for the right price, I’ll tell ya.

LION: For a price, huh? Okay. How much is your life worth to you?

MARSHALL: What do you m—? Hey, come on, now, you don’t have to point that friggin’ thing at me!

LION: Let me repeat: How much. Is your life. Worth to you? Because to me, it’s worth absolutely nothing.

MARSHALL: You’re no cop.

LION: Never said I was.

MARSHALL: I want that ring and wallet back, missy.

LION: Never going to happen. Now tell me who killed Archie Hughes.

MARSHALL: Fuckyou.

LION: I’m not a cop, but I am working for the district attorney. And I have zero problem explaining to them that I found a shot-up corpse in possession of a dead man’s ring and wallet. Who do you think they’re going to believe? Oh, that’s right, they’ll have to believe me, because you won’t be able to say aexpletiveword.

MARSHALL: Man. This week keeps circling the drain.

LION: Tell me who killed Archie.

MARSHALL: I can’t.

LION: What did I just say?

MARSHALL: No, no, no! I can’t tell you because I don’t know their names. But I can show you. It’s right here on my phone.

Chapter114

Transcript of encrypted phone conversation between Veena Lion and Cooper Lamb

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