Author's note: Guess what? I am feeling good today, so I decided to give you guys another chapter to read. Strange enough, I like this one, and I'd love to read some good reviews... ;)

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Chapter five – Lies

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"What do you mean he's gone?" A very angry-looking Lieutenant Swersky asked an equally pissed Cruz as he approached her at the entrance of the building.

"I told you, I went upstairs as soon as I got off the phone with you, and he was gone!" she replied, her cold eyes glaring at him.

She couldn't believe her perfect plan might not work. She'd left him alone only for a couple of minutes, and he was still unconscious. How in hell had he managed to wake up and run away?

There was no telling now what could happen. Did he realize she'd set him up? Did he hear what she'd told the Lieutenant? Standing outside the old apartment complex, hands on her hips, Maritza Cruz realized that not knowing was far more worse than building up a castle of lies, and for a moment she debated whether or not to go on with her story.

Her lips eventually broke into a small smile. She already knew the answer to that question. Go ahead. They trust you.

Half of the precinct was already there. Cruisers, EMS trucks were parked all the way down the street, their roof lights spinning and blazing in the night.

The building that was quiet only half an hour ago was now buzzing with police activity. Two officers were setting up bright yellow tape, taping off the area as a crime scene.

On the first floor, detectives were nervously walking around as the coroner's investigative team and a pathologist exchanged their opinions and took pictures of Ray Diaz's body.

Crime scene scientists were dusting for fingerprints, groaning as they realized the place was so big they were never going to make it by the end of the shift.

Lieutenant Swersky ducked under the tape and approached one of the detectives, his eyes laden with concern as he surveyed the scene.

"Sir, this is bad. Whoever did this didn't really like this man." A 40-year old black man held out his hand to Swersky and shook it. "Detective Cooke."

"I can see that, Detective." The old man frowned.

"Sergeant Cruz tells me you already have a suspect?" He asked as he pulled a notebook out of his pocket.

Swersky immediately turned around, his brown, narrowed eyes meeting Cooke's dark ones. "The only thing we have here is a missing officer. Our Sergeant should know that a man is innocent until proven otherwise."

Cruz, who was standing beside him, cast her eyes downward.

"We have no proof Boscorelli's responsible for this." He continued. "For all we know, Diaz could have an accomplice and he could be in danger as we speak."

"Oh, come on Lieu! You know how these things work." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Stay cool. You've nothing to worry about. "Boscorelli's got a temper, we all know it, and I think we should prepare ourselves for the worst."

The man couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Which side are you on, Sergeant?" he inquired, his gaze never leaving her side. "Boscorelli's one of my best officers, why should I believe he murdered a man in cold blood?"

"Because that's what I'm telling you!" she insisted, an exasperated look in her eyes. "I was there, remember? And because that's what those guys will find out when they run the ballistics on the bullets that killed the bastard!" she finished, pointing to the CSU techs.

"So... what exactly happened here, Sergeant?" Detective Cooke finally stepped in.

Cruz tried to regain her composure and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I got a call about Diaz. He is ...was, a drug dealer. Worst of the worst. Anyway, one of his men ratted him out, told me where I could find him. ... They're all the same, you know. You rough'em up a little bit, they start crying like babies." She added, a smirk on her face.

"We parked the car one block away to avoid unnecessary attention and got into the building. The first floor was clear so we headed upstairs. I told Boscorelli to be careful, but he kept saying he had everything under control. ... I should've gone first, Lieu." She reasoned, trying to show some concern.

"We heard a noise but couldn't locate our suspect so we decided to split up. I went left, and he went right. Next thing I remember, someone hit me from behind." She stopped and reached out a hand to stroke the back of her head.

This is where he hit me, the gesture said. Can't believe how stupid you two are.

"Are you alright, Sergeant?" The Lieutenant asked. "You should let the paramedics check you out."

"I'm fine. All I want right now is to find Boscorelli."

"I know." He agreed. "That's all that matters."

"Did you see the guy?" Detective Cooke pressed. "I really need to know what happened here, Sarge."

" I saw someone out of the corner of my eye. White man, tall, hooded sweatshirt. Didn't realize it was Diaz until I saw him later."

"You saw him later?" Swersky chimed in. Damn.

"Dead. When I saw him –dead- later."

Cooke gave her a questioning look but went on. "So he knocked you unconscious?"

"You can say that. I was out cold for a couple of minutes I guess." She lied. "When I came to, I heard voices coming from the hallway. Boscorelli was threatening the guy, telling him he was gonna make sure he wouldn't sell his stuff to little kids anymore..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at the dead body.

"You sure it was Boscorelli's voice?"

"What kind of question is that?" Cruz snapped. "He's one of my men, detective. Of course I know his voice!"

Cooke held up his hand to cut her off. "Whoa, calm down Sergeant, I'm just doing my job!"

"And I need to do mine!" she angrily replied. "Are we done?"

"Not yet." Lieutenant Swersky spoke again. "I still need to hear the rest of the story."

"Fine." She grunted. "Shots were fired, and when I got there, Diaz was laying on the ground where you can see him. Dead. Boscorelli was standing beside him, visibly upset. I asked if he was okay but he wouldn't answer. He kept saying that the situation got out of hand and that he'd made a mistake."

"Did he tell you he shot the guy?" Cooke said as he kept writing on his notebook.

"No, not directly." Cruz replied. "But I sensed something was wrong. I told him to calm down, and that I needed to notify the Department so I left him alone to call you. You know the rest." She finished, facing the Lieutenant. That's it, Boscorelli. Your career is officially over.

"I think that's enough for now, Sergeant. But I expect a full report by tomorrow." He shook his head in frustration. "This doesn't look good."

"Sir, do you think Boscorelli's capable of murder?"

The question hung in the air for what seemed like eternity, time only making things worse as they all exchanged worried glances.

"No." Swersky finally said. "But him disappearing from a crime scene sure doesn't help."

"What are we gonna do now? Cooke asked.

"I'm gonna send two units over to his place in case he shows up, and alert the department to be on the lookout for him." Swersky explained.

The detective nodded his head.

"And somebody get a hold of Yokas. If we're lucky he'll contact her."

"I doubt it." Cruz whispered as her lips curved into a smile.

"What?"

"I said I hope so."

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TBC...