Six Bad Things_ A Novel - Charlie Huston [64]
I point into the room where Sid is watching the Winter X Games.
—TV.
The story isn’t getting full-blown, nonstop coverage, but CNN has given it a title: Henry Thompson: The Return. I am a sequel.
When we tune in, they’re showing tape shot earlier in the day in front of Wade’s house. The two trucks are being untangled, yellow tape is strung everywhere, sheriff’s deputies and State Police and guys in dark suits are walking around. I catch a glimpse of a chalk outline at the base of the garage door. They cut to more tape from the strawberry field off of Las Palmas: the wrecked Monte Carlo, a sheriff’s car parked next to it, cops combing the ground for evidence. Cut to an earlier shot at the same scene: a covered body on a gurney being loaded into the back of an ambulance. On the bottom of the screen, a name: Deputy Theodore T. Fischer.
Sid points at the screen.
—That’s him, that’s him.
Rolf puts his hand up, hushing him.
—Cool it.
—Dude, that’s my guy.
I look at him.
—You shot the deputy?
—Yeah. My first.
—Your first?
—My first kill.
He’s staring at the screen, eyes sparkling. I give Rolf a look. He shrugs. Kids these days. Great, Sid the Junior Psycho is stoked because he just earned his Murder Merit Badge.
More tape: the outside of Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, three ambulances unloading, and the back of a head between two state cops. Danny. The reporter is listing names and injuries and legal statuses.
Hector Barnes (aka Fat Guy): lacerations, abrasions, contusions; in good condition. “No charges as yet.” Kenneth Pitlanske (aka Ponytail Boy): abrasions, contusions, multiple fractures; in stable condition. “No charges as yet.” Willis Doniker (aka Mullet Head): DOA. Unidentified female eighteen (aka Leslie): abrasions, contusions; released from hospital. “In police custody.” Daniel Lester (aka Danny): facial lacerations, contusions, abrasions; released from hospital. “In police custody.” Unidentified female minor, six (aka Cassidy): facial laceration, minor concussion; in fair condition. Wade Hiller: DOA.
And more tape: the front of my home, cops, Mom and Dad being led to a sheriff’s car by two deputies, reporters shouting and shoving cameras into the air to get a shot. They’re in custody, uncharged, but being questioned.
The punch line comes last, a statement from the San Joaquin County Sheriff taped a few hours ago.
—We are still investigating the incidents in Patterson that occurred early this morning, but we do have some information. Um, there have been three deaths, two in an apparent automobile collision and the other a shooting. Deputies responding to the collision were informed that shots had been fired at that location and, and, wait, I’m sorry, and T. T., uh, Deputy Fischer was responding to that call when he was redirected to an alarm call that we had reason to believe might be, uh, connected with the earlier, uh, earlier call. The collision and shots fired. He, uh, gave pursuit. He gave pursuit to a vehicle fleeing the scene of the alarm call, and the suspect vehicle, uh, crashed, and while the deputy was, we believe at this point, that while the deputy was apprehending the suspect in the, uh, suspect vehicle, another vehicle arrived at the scene and one or more people shot T. T., shot Deputy Fischer at that time and fled with the suspect, the first suspect. Uh. Just give me a . . .
He turns from the microphones and wipes at his tearing eyes.
—Um, at this time, we believe that the suspect that fled, the second scene, the alarm call? We believe that suspect had already fled the scene of the collision and shots fired and that, we have eyewitness testimony at this time that this suspect is Henry Thompson, the suspect wanted for several murders in New York, uh, three years ago.
There is a great deal of hubbub from the reporters. Sheriff Reyes, a man clearly out of his depth, raises his hands for silence.
—I’m not, we’re not going to answer