The Swindle

I was getting very hungry and thirsty but I couldn't help myself as I paced up and down the detention cell. Paul was taking a long time in arriving and I was getting pissed. I wouldn't have even called him if I had other options.

"seems your golden boy ain't got your time arshehole, you and I are gonna spend a long night together" an officer snorted at me from where he sat playing cards with his colleague. I wanted to slam his face on the cells bars but I tried to maintain my calm. He wasn't worth my anger. I was already in a dip shit with this murder rap hanging on my neck and the mixed feeling of nervousness and anger simply made my tummy uneasy. I didn't kill the bitch, there was all a set-up and I knew it. where was Paul for god sake?

"He killed her? man! what was he thinking?" a voice belonged to my best friend Paul echoed from the sergeant's office and I inhaled deeply. Help at last.

"man! murder? what the hell were you thinking? you have all the money to pay the whore why kill her? " Paul shouted at me as he approached my cell and I stared at him in bewilderment. Paul knew me for a long time that I saw him as family instead of a friend. How could he have simply agreed that I actually did kill the whore? I was shocked.

" I didn't kill the bitch Paul. come on you know me better than that, what's this trash you are blabbering about? " I snapped at him.

" Don't know man, can't say I trust your actions these days. I mean they say they saw the whore dead as stone in ur apartment, how did all that happen?"

Paul was really getting on my nerves. I was so angry with him at that moment that I wanted to start my first murder with him as my victim, I wanted to choke him until he was red in the face and blue in his ears. what the hell was he yapping about?

" has he ever been violent to just women or both men as well?" asked the sergeant that had walked with him to the cell.

"don't quote me though officer but I know this guy can burn a roof with his anger but hell murder!!! that's a new but I guess there is always a first time for everything" Paul said.

I was getting nervous again as I stared at Paul in a mad confused manner. I didn't kill anyone but with the stupid accusing replies he was giving, I was beginning to fear if I wasn't going to get charged for the murder after all. I had called him to help me not make matters worse, what had gotten into him?

"I didn't kill the bitch!!" I screamed and the officer gave me a disgusting look.

" can I have a word with him please officer?" Paul requested and the officer grunted while giving me another look of disapproval as he left the cell area.

"what's this act you are putting on friend? you know me better than anyone, I would never kill a human if it's the last thing on Earth to do. why are you acting all dumb and weird?" I asked Paul.

" I don't know you anymore man! you snitched on us and disappeared defaulting our agreement, why should I believe you ain't lying this time?" Paul asked looking at me with suspicious eyes.

"I swear I didn't kill the bitch man! true I picked her up from the club after we had lots of drinks but I didn't do shit with her. we got home and I went to the bathroom to run a shower and when I got out she was bleeding from her stupid mouth on my carpet floor but I didn't kill her, you gotta believe me when I say I didn't kill the bitch man" I protested innocently

Paul looked like he didn't believe me. I was shocked that he didn't believe me, it killed me to see the way he looked at me like as if I was really a murderer.

"I don't know man but the boss is willingly to pull some strings for you to get bailed out if you accept to join the league one more time, you had be a big fool to let this kind gesture pass" Paul looked intently at me.

This was it. This was why I was set up.... so I could join in swindling people again.

" I didn't kill no one and they can't pin shit on me" I argued. I didn't want to be lured back to the racket again.

" tell that to any judge. you are diced meat friend, no attorney is ever going to touch you. They have enough proof to hang you for life Joe. come on man all you have to do is get her to sign the damn documents, why are you being a floosie? you in or out?" asked Paul impatiently.

I was bait. They had me where they wanted me. There was nothing I could do, I didn't want my hard earned reputation dashed on the wall because of a murder I didn't commit.

"I'm in but when this shit is done, I'm going to come after you" I said trembling in anger.

" you speak too fast my friend, you are the one still in the cage like an animal in a circus. The boss is gonna be spending doughs so you make sure he is getting the value of his money" said Paul as he walked away from my cell. something spooky was going on. if I hadn't been so dead drunk I would have saved myself all this trouble over a sexual urge that I didn't satisfy by hitting off with lotion in the bathroom.

I couldn't believe my best friend was setting me up again for a swindle game.