Disclaimer: Don't own it.

The laugh seemed to fill the whole room. "Easy on the merchandise," Dally said with a grin as he was shoved down into the dinky, metal chair.

"Shut up, Dallas," Detective Sisto said, circling around to the other side of the table, "And tell us what happened."

"How can I tell you what happened if I have to shut up?" Dallas quipped, "Make up your mind."

Detective Abraham banged his fists on the table, but Dally didn't flinch.

"How very 'N.Y.P.D.' of you," Dallas said, and chuckled when neither detective cracked a grin, he just said, "Easy boys. We're all friends here."

"I don't make friends with the dirt that collects in the bottom of my shoe," Detective Abraham muttered as Dally clutched his heart.

"I told you officers, I don't know who hurt Ponyboy," Dally said, shrugging his shoulders, but looking firm, "I left him and Johnnycake at the drive in. Johnny told me that Two-Bit came along later. Then-"

"Two-Bit?" Detective Sisto said, "Who is Two-Bit?"

"Two-Bit Matthews, another buddy."

"Another JD," Detective Abraham whispered to Detective Sisto. Detective Sisto waved him off.

"What's his real name?" Detective Sisto said.

Dally raised an eyebrow, "Hell if I know."

"What? You don't know your buddies real name?"
"I probably knew at some point," Dally said, "But it wasn't important. So I forgot. Anyways, as I was saying, Two-Bit, Pony and Johnny split up after the movie, Pony went home. That's that."

"That's that," Detective Sisto said with a small sigh, "Do you really not care at all that one of your friends is dead?"

Dallas' eyes flickered to life, but his voice remained steady, "Of course I care. Ponyboy was a good kid. I hope you find the sonofabitch who did it."

"We're doing the best we can, Dallas," Detective Sisto said, "We're trying to put all the pieces together. We need to know every detail about what happened that night."

"Which is why we need to talk to Jonathan Cade," Detective Abraham said, "Where the hell is he? We went by his house and he ain't there."

"What?" Dally said, "Can't find him? That's a shame."

"Spit it out, Dallas," Detective Sisto said, "Or you might make him snap."

"I ain't lying," Dally said, "Dunno where he is. I just told you what happened though, ain't that good enough?"

"No," Detective Abraham said, "We need to speak to him. There's a hearsay law, ya know?"

"Right," Dally said, pulling out a cigarette. Detective Sisto raised his eyebrow, and Dally put it away, "Well good luck finding him."

"His parents will call when he gets home, I'm sure," Detective Sisto said.

Dallas snorted, and then stood up, "Well, is that all?"

Detective Sisto looked at Detective Abraham, and knew that his partner was just waiting for an excuse to lock Dallas Winston up, but he turned to Dallas and said "We'll be in touch."

Dally stalked out of the room. He bounded down the steps of the police station and turned the corner.

"So, we following him?" Detective Sisto said, grabbing his coat.

"You bet your ass," Detective Abraham said, bounding out the door.

Dallas stopped at the corner to light a cigarette. Stupid cops. They don't know anything about anything. He had to admit to himself, he was a little worried he would lose his cool when the one cop asked whether he cared about Ponyboy dying. Of course he cared! He just had to play his cards right. Cops weren't able to do shit. Dally was gonna find out who killed Ponyboy himself. And when he did, he wasn't gonna give him a trial. Oh no. Straight to the sentencing…

xxxXXXxxxXXXxxx

Johnny shivered, and Soda pressed a warm cup of cocoa into his hands.

"Thanks," Johnny said, not looking Soda in the eye.

"Sure, kid," Soda said.

"Where's Darry?"

"He's out."

Soda didn't have enough energy to explain how Darry was killing himself over this. How Darry had taken a leave of absence from his job and when he wasn't busy setting up the details for Ponyboy's funeral, he was at their parents graveyard, praying to them. For what, Soda didn't really know. Forgiveness?

"I have something to tell you Soda," Johnny's timid voice was still enough to jolt Soda from his thoughts of Darry. Soda gave Johnny a nod.

"I found Ponyboy the night he died. Before the cops, I mean. I went through the park and I saw him there. I wanted to tell you guys that night, but-"

"Why didn't you?" Soda said, trying to keep his voice calm.

"I went to Dally first. He said I had to wait, cause if you knew before the cops knew, they'd be suspicious or somethin'."

Soda put an arm around Johnny, "That was probably good thinking, man. Just don't tell Darry, okay?"

Johnny nodded.

The phone started to ring. Soda got up and answered it, "Hello?"

Johnny looked into his lap as Soda chatted with the person on the phone. He figured the person on the other end must have been doing most of the chatting, though, since Soda was only grunting a few "Uh huh"s every now and then. Johnny stood up and started heading to the door, but Soda waved him to stay.

"Okay, yeah. Thanks, Dally." And then Soda hung up.

"Hey, Johnny. Dally says that there are some cops following him around town. They're looking for you, kid. You better just lay low here for a while."

Johnny chewed on the inside of his bottom lip for a minute, "I'm going to the police station to tell them what happened. I mean. What I know for sure."

Soda paled, "I don't think that's a good idea, man. I think that Dally's probably right. Right now the cops ain't got no suspects and they're probably just trying to close this case as fast as possible. I mean, who knows if they're gonna find Ponyboy's killer for sure? I don't want you to get in trouble just because they're lousy."

"They ain't just gonna pin this on me, Soda," Johnny said, "It ain't like Two-Bit shoved a pack of smokes he stole in my pocket. I gotta go in there and tell them about what happened with the Socs."

"The Socs?" Soda said, "What about the Socs?"

"We had a run in with a couple of them while we were walking their girls home," Johnny said hurriedly, "It wasn't a big deal. But I know Dally didn't know that and the fuzz are gonna want to know the whole story."

"You think one of them Socy kids hurt Ponyboy?" Soda said.

"Gee, Soda," Johnny said, shrugging his shoulders, "I dunno man. It's possible. They were really mad, and a little soused. It's possible. That's why the cops are gonna want to interview them."

Soda sat down and started to drum his fingers on his knee, "What were their names?"

"Soda, I don't think-"

"Names, Johnny."

"Bob and Randy, I think."

"And the girls?"

"Cherry Valance and Marcia something," Johnny said, opening the door, "I'm going to the station. Don't do anything stupid."

"You either, Johnny."