Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 19

Detective Massey shook his head as he looked at Mike. "It's too dangerous. It puts you right in his sights."

"That's the idea," Mike retorted. "All you have to do it let it out that there was a witness to what happened. Describe me, say I was"—Mike paused, picturing the basement door and its surroundings—"just coming into the kitchen when I saw him and Micky at the door. They didn't know I was there. When I saw what happened I…I ran to Mr. Jones office to tell him about Micky and to call 911."

"Instead of trying to catch Mr. Keefe?"

"I was more worried about Micky because I'd just seen Mr. Keefe shove him down the stairs. Besides, I didn't want to be victim number two if Mr. Keefe saw me."

"It's a decent idea, but I'm not certain it will bring Mr. Keefe out looking for you. Once he finds out he failed he's going to try and find the kid he's supposed to eliminate."

Taking a deep breath, Mike said, "That would be me."

"Excuse me," Massey spat out. "You?"

"Yeah. I sort of neglected to tell you something when you were at the shelter yesterday. The picture Mr. Keefe was flashing around was of me. My sister took it about a month before I ran away from home. That was four years ago." He cracked a small grin. "I was pissed as hell because my father had set me up to meet the daughter of a friend of his, and I looked it. Amanda thought that was funny and took a couple of shots of me looking like I wanted to kill someone. I did. My father."

"Did you go on the date anyway? Okay, that's way off topic," Massey said.

Mike smirked. "I did, much to the girl's disgust. I made it real clear I had no interest in getting to know her, which was true. I'd dated a couple of girls from school, neither of whom met with my father's approval, so he decided it was time to step in and find the right one for me." He rolled his eyes. "He never did get that it wasn't happening."

"I see." Massey studied Mike for a moment. "You weren't about to be forced into a relationship just to make him happy?"

Mike looked back at the detective. "I wasn't about to get into one with a girl, period. They're not my thing."

"Okay," Massey chuckled. "That clears that up. Now back to your idea. Letting it out that Micky is still alive, and that his name is—well whatever we decide to use—is one thing. Letting the reporters know there was a witness might, just might, bring Mr. Keefe out of the woodwork. Or he could change his appearance and continue on with what we're presuming he was hired to do, find and eliminate you. Just because he chose the wrong kid the first time doesn't mean he's going to stop trying."  

"Give the reporters my name."

"Mike, he's not going to associate Mike Desmond with Michael O'Donnell."

Mike blew out a breath. "True."

Paddy spoke up, asking, "Is Mike Desmond your legal name now?"

Before replying, Mike looked squarely at Massey. "Is there such a thing as privileged information between a cop and a citizen?"

"Technically, no. If you admit to a crime I'm legally obligated to do something about it."

"Figured. Okay, let's just say I have the paperwork to prove I'm Mike Desmond and leave it at that."