Read Creepers for Free Online

Jean.
    "Why'd you do it, Tommy?" the prosecutor asked.
    He shrugged and rolled his eyes.
    "Come on, son. You don't just stab someone for no reason at all."
    "She wouldn't give me her purse. I asked her real nice and she said no."
    "So you stabbed her?"
    "She began screamin'. I don't likes to hear womens scream. They's supposed to be quiet."
    "So you had to make her quiet."
    Tommy Washington nodded.
    "And you stabbed her?"
    "It was like stickin' my blade in butter."
    Stupidity. Dumb, animal stupidity. A conscienceless following of an inner voice that says nothing matters but I want, I want, I want.
    The Dogs of Hell marched up the stairs and across the station in a tight pack, Hoyte at the forefront. Though they didn't walk in unison, there was an air to their demeanor and carriage that gave the impression they were at least thinking in tandem. Each one wore the green signature jacket which, in the heat, looked noticeably out-of-place. Hoyte's eyes fixed on Corelli and he quickened his pace.
    "'Morning, Corelli," Willie said with a totally insincere smile. "Glad to see the TA's so efficient when the media are around." He maneuvered his way between the two men and turned his back on the detective. "Mr. Thornbeck? I'm Willie Hoyte."
    "Glad to meet you, Mr. Hoyte."
    For a moment Willie's eyes widened at the formality. After a quick appraisal of the suit and tie he relaxed; this turkey wasn't smart enough to jive Willie Hoyte. "Let's just make it 'Willie,' okay? And these are some of my men." He half-turned and proudly read the roll call of the elite corps which was always assembled to meet members of the press.
    "Very impressive," Thornbeck commented as he finished writing each name down in his book. "Now, what have you got in mind for today?"
    "We're headed for Coney Island."
    Corelli had watched the exchange with mild amusement He'd read all the reports on Hoyte--father in prison, mother working her butt off to support herself and her son, a couple of brushes with the law a few years back, but he was clean now. And smart. And Willie Hoyte had an advantage over Corelli and most of the TA cops--for a while he'd been one of them, one of the scum who caused trouble for others, for kicks. Willie understood the workings of that kind of sick mind. He'd tasted the bitter anger and the sweetness of getting revenge on his oppressors. Willie might even understand the workings of someone like Tommy Washington.
    "Hoyte, you got a minute?" Corelli moved into his line of vision.
    "Whatta you want, Corelli?"
    "A few words, that's all."
    Willie studied him suspiciously. Corelli and his pal Quinn were the only TA fuzz who even bothered to pretend tolerance of him and the Dogs of Hell. Still, Willie would have written him off completely were it not for a little matter of the night Corelli saved Willie's ass--and his reputation. Willie was alone that night, off-duty, out of uniform, without his men. And he'd been mugged. Some drunken white sonofabitch plastered him up against the wall of the Ninety-sixth Street station while he waited for a train home from Slade's apartment. Willie was smart enough to see he was helpless against this tall pile of shit, so he just gave up without a fight. He was handing over his wallet when Corelli pushed through the turnstile. He arrested the drunk, sent Willie home, and for the next two weeks Willie lived in fear each time he opened a newspaper. If word got out about the mugging, his credibility was blown. But nothing ever did appear. Corelli kept his mouth shut. And Willie owed him. Owed him big.
    "Tico, you take Mr. Thornbeck downstairs. Answer any questions he has. I'll be right there."
    Willie's temporary second-in-command stared blankly for a moment, then began to hustle the Dogs of Hell and the hayseed reporter down the stairs. Why Willie kissed Corelli's ass was none of his business.
    "Okay, Corelli, what can I do for you?"
    "You get wind of anything . . . unusual . . . going on down here?" Hoyte heard