Broken Saint, The by Mike Markel Page A

not so sure the head of
Buildings and Grounds is a bleeding heart. He gave Hector the key to the
computer labs. If he thought Hector was a risk, he would’ve done a more extensive
criminal search. Or he wouldn’t have hired him in the first place. Or Hector
would have screwed up already and been fired.”
    “What about the blue handkerchief in Maricel’s
pocket? The one we thought might be the Latin Vice Lords?”
    Ryan put up his palms. “Hey, I’m not saying
Hector’s clean. I’m not saying he’s dirty—”
    “Yeah, I know. You’re just not saying.”
    Ryan nodded.
    “Okay,” I said, “we definitely need to talk to
him.”
    “Absolutely. Soon as we can find him.”
    “And our girl Amber?”
    He looked back at the screen. “She’s had a
driver’s license since she was 17. No record of any kind. Not even a parking
ticket.”
    “And her stupid boyfriend, Jared?”
    “Well,” Ryan said, “Jared’s a different story. He’s
got a criminal trespassing and vandalism, and a DUI.”
    “Tell me more.”
    “Let’s see. He’s 24, only had a Montana license
three years, so he probably had one in another state, too. When he was a senior
in high school, he and two other kids broke into the computer lab at his
school, tossed some computers around. Fourteen thousand dollars in damages. He
was suspended for a month, and his parents compensated the school district. And
last year, a felony DUI, going down I-15 at ninety-five in the wrong direction.”
    “Kill anyone?”
    “It was three in the morning. Wasn’t anyone to
kill. License was suspended for six months, thirty days in County, whole bunch
of points, fifteen-hundred dollar fine.”
    “Okay, so that’s what we know about him in
Montana. He could have some other stuff in other states.”
    “That’s right,” Ryan said. “Also, I checked with
the university to get his records.”
    “Let me guess: shitty student?”
    “In a couple of ways. Low grades. He gets put on
probation, then the next semester, he raises his grades just enough to get off
probation. He’s been on pro three times so far and he’s only earned fifty-seven
credits.”
    “And the other way he’s a shitty student?”
    Ryan looked down at his notebook. “He was a
freshman, living in a dorm, drilled a hole in the wall, set up a little camera,
videoed a guy and a girl going at it—”
    “And put it on the Web?”
    “Very good.”
    “Okay, don’t tell me. I’m channeling this guy.” I
closed my eyes. “Let me think. I’m a total douche missile. I video the guy in
the next room slamming a girl. What do I do next? What do I do?” I thought for
a moment. “I got it! I blackmail him and the girl. A hundred bucks each or it
goes on YouTube.”
    “No, I’m sorry,” Ryan said. “You’re overestimating
Jared’s entrepreneurial spirit. One more guess.”
    “All right, he isn’t doing it for the money.” I
paused a moment. “Then it’s about embarrassing them.”
    “You’re getting very warm.”
    “He lost wood?”
    “No.”
    “She farted?”
    “Thanks for playing the game, Detective. The
correct answer is, the YouTube video was titled ‘Zit Face Screws a Fat Girl.’”
    “I think I deserve credit for my answers.”
    “Your answers were very good, but wrong is wrong.”
    Ryan and I were silent for a little bit. I enjoyed
our little game, but Ryan was wearing a cloudy look, like he was ashamed. He’s
the kind of guy doesn’t think he should get any pleasure out of someone else’s
misfortune. I say, screw it. I didn’t video the two kids humping. I didn’t put
it on YouTube. If I can get a fifteen-second break without doing any more
damage, I’m going to do it and feel good about it.
    “So what did the university do to him?” I said.
    “They suspended him for a semester.”
    “He got off easy.”
    “Agreed,” Ryan said.
    “I’d like to bring him in. Let him sit in Holding
for a night or two. Watch him cry.”
    “Not sure the chief would