Free The Legend by G. A. Augustin Page B

She suddenly stopped, pivoted back and glanced up at me.  It was Lolani.  She appeared to be happy; her radiant smile.  I smiled back then seconds later she faded away.  I miss her so much.
     
    "So what do I call you?  Duane or Legend?"   Detective Wu inquired.  She requested to confer with me.  Initially I thought it was a dragnet being that Detective Bernhardt had an arrest warrant issued for me.  Detective Wu, however, assured me it wasn't.  We converged discreetly in an alley near her police station.
    "Legend."   I replied.
    "First I want to thank you for helping me close this homicide case.  I'm very sorry for your loss."
    "You're welcome."
    " I asked you to meet with because I need a favor.  I was wondering…  Maybe we could form some type of a partnership.  I figure you can go places I can't and do things I can't do.  We can exchange info and help each other out."
    "I don't know detective."
    "You know the department offers cash rewards to citizens that help close homicide cases."
    "I'll think about it."  I replied brushing her off.  I then began to saunter away from her.
    "C'mon, you telling me you're going to turn down money?  We're talking thousands of dollars to be a confidential informant!  You can't help out a rookie detective?"  She pleaded.
    "I'll think about it."   I repeated.
    "Well can you think quickly?"   She barked as I continued to pace further. "I'm working this case with a Sex Crimes detective and I was wondering if you could help us with it!  There is a serial killer that's been targeting teenage prostitutes!  He rapes the victims then shoots them in the chest!"  Suddenly I recalled the homicide that occurred outside my apartment and it stopped me dead in my tracks.  The guilt of not helping the victim resurfaced.
    "Do you know what he looks like ?" I growled while slightly pivoting back towards her. 
    "Yes.  One of his victims lived long enough to tell me.  He's a middle aged white male, about six feet tall, two hundred and fifty pounds.  He has a full white beard.  He wore a black skull cap on his head.  During the time of the attack he was wearing a long beige trench coat."  She conveyed.  The description matched the man I witnessed assaulting the seventeen year old prostitute to a tee.  "So does this mean you're going to help us?"  She inquired.
    "Maybe just this one time, detective."
     
     
     
    "We all have wretched memories."
     
     
    Prelude
     
     
    "It's been five months.  Five months since my first encounter with him.  The Legend!  Yeah, I was up to no good but I was no murderer.  I was just a knock-around guy for this local drug dealer.  You owed him money, I'll get it.  You short changed him, I'll beat you down.  You looked at him wrong, I'll break your legs.  But when he wanted me to take someone out, that was crossing the line.  We all have morals and that's mine. 
    The crew hated me for that.  They thought I was soft.  So, they wanted to teach me a lesson.  They set me up.  ‘Told me about this junkie that owed the boss some money.  They said she's been ducking him.  They wanted me to push her around a bit.  So I got her address and went to her apartment.  The front door was locked so I kicked it in.  When I got inside, there was blood everywhere.  I mean EVERYWHERE.  Ceiling, windows, walls, floor, television, sofa, EVERYWHERE.  Her body was battered up.  Whoever did this was a monster.  My instincts told me to get the hell outta there.  By the time I ran out into the hallway, her neighbors were already at their doors peeking out.  I guess they heard me kick her door down and wanted to know what all the ruckus was.
    I didn't make it a city block.  By the time I got outside, squad cars were pulling up.  I ran but with my luck some rookie , fresh out of the academy and in the best shape of his life, caught me.  The neighbors told the police they saw me leaving the place.  No matter how long the cops interrogated me, I