Takedown by Allison van Diepen

say.”
    â€œWait—please. I want to finish what I started. I’m already in with Tony Walker’s operation, and it won’t be easy to get out now. I need the cops to stay away from me. I can still help you get evidence on Diamond Tony.”
    â€œYou were Ed’s CI, and whatever deal you had with him is over. The department thinks you’re involved in his murder. Even if they can’t prove it, they’re never going to work with you again.”
    â€œI spent two years in juvie because of Tony Walker. That’s why I became a CI. Prescott understood. He said he had instinctsabout people. He knew right away he could trust me.”
    â€œMaybe I don’t have his instincts. Why should I trust you?”
    â€œI called Prescott about nine o’clock last night to warn him that he could be in danger. The cops that picked me up said there were no messages on his cell phone. Maybe Prescott got the message and erased it. There’s got to be a way you can check it out.”
    â€œI’ll do my best. How can I reach you?”
    â€œThis number. It’s the secret cell phone Prescott gave me.”
    â€œOkay.” She hung up.
    I sat on my bed and said a little prayer for Kessler to clear my name. For all the good praying did—it had never helped me before.

THE BUZZ
    A few minutes later, the intercom buzzed, making me jump.
    â€œDarren!” Tasha called. “Some guy named Fry is downstairs!”
    â€œTell him I’ll be right down,” I shouted back.
    Fry. It was one of Vinny’s many nicknames. It came from nonstick frying pans, because charges never stuck to him.
    â€œWho’s Fry?” Tasha asked when I came out of my bedroom.
    â€œA kid from school who’s supposed to give me his history notes. Charges twenty bucks, but I should ace the test.” At the mention of school, she lost interest and turned back to her manicure. I glanced at Kiki, who was still staring at the TV.
    When I got downstairs, Vinny was waiting outside the building. For once, he wore a hoodie instead of his fur coat.
    Vinny and I started to walk.
    â€œWe heard,” he said. I figured we meant Diamond Tony and his executives. “How hard they lean on you?”
    I snorted. “Same old shit. They promised they’d be watching us pretty good.”
    â€œWhy’d they think they can lean on you ?” Vinny didn’t pull any punches.
    â€œThey saw me around and figured they’d try to spook me. Don’t worry, Vinny. I gave them nothing. You know me.”
    â€œI do, soljah.” He clapped a hand down on my shoulder. “What they say about the cop murder case? They got any ideas about it?”
    It was as good as an admission that Diamond Tony was behind it. Not that I needed confirmation.
    â€œThey’re saying it was a revenge murder. They think the cop who got killed pissed off DT. Sounded to me like they had nothing. But you know how it is. They’ll be on us for a while. Point is, everybody needs to be careful.”
    â€œWe’ll be running a tight ship these next couple weeks until we can give the cops what they want.”
    â€œHow you gonna do that?”
    â€œSouth Side, Darren.” There was that sly grin, the one thathad freaked me out last night. “We got peeps willing to testify that Andre made the call to kill the cop.”
    I was stunned, but raised my eyebrows, trying to look impressed. “Very nice. Hope it works out.”
    â€œIt will.”
    â€œThat’ll be good for our man DT.”
    â€œGood for us all.”

LAYERS
    H undreds of uniformed cops came out for Prescott’s funeral. A picture of his grieving wife and his twin baby girls took up half a page in the Star . I brought the paper home with me, tore out the page, and tucked it under my mattress. I’d look at it in case I ever forgot what my mission was.
    I spent every second of the next few days expecting the cops to make