Free The Betrayers by James Patrick Hunt

you tomorrow. You’re marked, you’re marked. Something else I know: you kill a cop, the cops kill you. I know the rules.”
    Hastings said, “That’s not what we’ve got in mind.”

    Treats said, “Yeah? You know what happened in Soulard four years ago, don’t you. That guy shot a cop in the alleyway and they made Swiss fuckin’ cheese out of him. After he surrendered. After he put his gun down. Tell me if any of those cops got charged with murder.”
    â€œNo,” Hastings said, affecting mock curiosity, “I don’t believe they did.”
    Treats said, “You ever hear about Murray Flint? He jumped bail on a grand theft auto charge. The cops came to get him, and he ran onto the roof of his building. Tall building on the North Side. Well, Murray, he happens to kick one of those guys in the nuts. They get mad and, as they put it, there was a ‘scuffle’ and poor Murray fell off the building. But what really happened is they just plain got pissed. So they grabbed his feet and his hands”—Treats mimed it—“one, two, three ! And threw his ass off.”
    Hastings smiled. “Come on, Steve, cut the jailhouse gossip. That happened about fifteen years ago.”
    â€œI know what I know.”
    â€œYou know what you heard in here. They’re all innocent in here.”
    â€œThose cops that threw that fucker off the roof, were they innocent?”
    â€œIt’s an old wives’ tale, Steve. Why don’t you get to the point?”
    â€œAll right, Lieutenant,” Treats said. “The point is, I wouldn’t go in for killing cops. I’m getting out of here before I turn fifty. Every day I think about that. Every day. It’s the only thing that keeps me going. I’m not going to fuck that up to get even with a piece a shit rat fuck like Chris Hummel.”
    Cain leaned forward. “You better watch your mouth,” he said.
    â€œAh, fuck you. What are you going to do to me, junior?”
    â€œWe can make things hard for you,” Cain said. “You want to find out, you keep pushing it.”
    Treats said, “Junior, I can lawyer up and end this interview right now and you know it. You are here because I let you come.” Treats looked at Hastings as he said it. Then he spoke to Hastings directly. “You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

    Hastings said, “What do you mean?”
    Treats said, “Hummel was dirty, man. He was taking money from dealers all over South County. Selling cases. It ain’t hard to figure out, even for a cop.”
    Hastings said in a flat tone, “Is that right?”
    â€œYeah, that’s right. My guess is, he finally got too greedy, asked for too much. There’s your homicide case.”
    Hastings regarded Treats for a moment. Then he said, “That’s quite a theory you have there, Steve.”
    â€œIt’s the truth, man.”
    Hastings said, “You have proof of this?”
    â€œThe proof is out there, if you’re willing to see it.”
    Cain stood up. “Oh what is this,” he said, “the fucking X Files ? Out there if we want to see it? You’re just talking shit.”
    Hastings said, “Okay, Steve, tell me this: did this … smart bomb of yours ever come up at your trial?”
    Hastings saw the man’s body language shift. Just for a moment, but he saw it. After a moment, Treats shrugged and said, “No.” Like it was no big deal.
    â€œI see,” Hastings said. “Why not?”
    â€œAhhh, my fuckin’ lawyer. I told him to use it, but he wanted to go another route.”
    In addition to innocent men, the prisons were also filled with guys who had dipshit lawyers. Hastings shook his head at the man.
    â€œBut you check it out,” Treats said, “if you got the balls to do it. You’ll see what I’m talking about.”
    â€œWe’re gonna check you out,