"If you don't mind me asking, what do your parents think of you travelling all over town for a homework assignment?"
Mike was trying to keep his voice calm, as they both sat down to devour the hot pepperoni pizza delivered just as Steve headed out the door. Pulling a corner away and using his index finger to scoop up the stringy cheese before setting it on his plate, the Lieutenant stole a brief glance over at the young man, who seemed relaxed; if not genuinely content to be here.
"I never met my dad. He left my mom shortly after I was born, so I've been growing up just with my mom around. And my stepdad…he's hardly ever around. I don't have any siblings, so I kind of learned early on to be…I guess you would call it a free spirit."
"Has your father ever tried to make contact after…you know…after he left you and your mother?"
Shaking his head, Andre bit off a large piece of pizza and chewed it happily, before answering.
"Never. I've tried to track him down a few times but no luck so far. A friend told me he works over at the boatyards and that he looks a lot like me but that's all I know…what about Steve? I thought he was going to join us for pizza?"
Taking a moment to come up with the right answer, Mike bit off a small piece of pepperoni pizza, careful not to have the hot cheese burn his tongue, before speaking up again.
"He had to run some errands for our case. That happens sometimes."
"That's too bad. Is he always like that? He seems very strung-out."
"Strung out?", the use of that term set off an alarm bell deep inside Mike's mind, for there were only very few social circles in this town that would use it frequently, "No, he's just under the weather. That happens to the best of us. So say, what is it that you usually do when you're not in school? Have you got any friends?"
Andre nodded slowly and absent-mindedly played with his pizza toppings before answering.
"A couple here and there. My best friend quit school and hangs out on the streets now, so I don't see him that often. But we try to get together once a week."
"Quitting school is not a good start into adulthood.", Mike pried and swallowed his bite with a gulp of coca cola, "You should try to convince him to re-enroll. He needs a good education in order to find a good paying job."
"I told him that too but he won't listen. He started to smoke grass when he was still in middle school but now I…I think he's switched to heroin."
There was a deep sadness in Andre's voice and Mike swore he saw him tear up for a moment. As he watched the young man pick at his lunch eagerly, his mind wandered to the other side of town, hoping that Steve was successful in combing the neighborhood for their suspect.
"I shouldn't even tell you that, being that you are a cop, but I am just trying to be honest. Believe me, I am not doing any drugs."
"That's good to hear…", Mike retorted and bit off another piece of pizza, "Especially the honest part. Now, why were you dressed in those light clothes when you travelled across town? Don't you have a coat to wear? You can catch pneumonia."
Hoping that the remark would steer them back into the direction of Green Street, Mike watched Andre shrug, before glancing up at him in youthful bluntness.
"I guess I didn't care. I was on a mission."
"On a mission? Was there something else you were doing in the area besides looking for a scenic view for your homework assignment?"
"Oh no. That…that was my mission."
With his senses cued entirely on the young man ahead and the skillfulness of his lies, Mike never saw Lenny approach until he heard a faint knock on the door.
Glancing up, he cocked his head just enough to convey a welcome, before watching the Psychiatrist enter, wearily eying his young visitor.
"Lieutenant, I came here to talk to you for a bit. But I didn't know you had company…"
"Didn't your secretary tell you that I called?", he answered gruffly, only to see Lenny shake his head.
"Mike, I've been in and out of the hospital on therapy sessions all day. I haven't even been in my office yet. So if you needed me, I guess it's good I stopped by."
Nodding slowly, Mike carefully reached for Andre's shoulder, before pointing back at the book of mugshots.
"You will have to excuse us for a few moments. When you're done eating, you can go through that book again, ok? But not until you are done and wiped your hands. If you need anything, we're in the conference room just down from my office."
"No problem, Lieutenant", Andre said cheerfully and helped himself to another piece of pizza, eating away as if he'd been starving for days.
Getting up from his chair, the Lieutenant slowly guided Lenny toward the east side interrogation room, before closing the door behind them.
"I gotta give it to you, Mike, you start them out young, don't you?"
Not reacting to the smug remark, he spun around, jaws clenched for a brief moment as he stared across the city, eagerly awaiting radio contact from his partner.
"Not this one, Lenny.", Mike finally said somberly, "I think this one is our killer's accomplice."