Ms. Vasquez,â the same female agent said, pointing to the lone chair opposite the table. The male federal agent who was with her took off his DEA jacket and hung it on the back of the chair he was about to sit in. She kept hers on, but before she sat down she swept it back at the waist so I was able to see her gun, belt badge, and extra ammunition on her belt.
âIâm Special Agent Christy and this is Special Agent Farmington,â she introduced all official, her voice devoid of any emotion. I rolled my eyes and turned my head to the side.
âYou have some choices to make today, Ms. Vasquez. You can cooperate with us or you can never see this little guy again,â Agent Christy said, sliding a picture of Andrew across the table at me. How the fuck did they get that? Why are all of these bastards using my son against me? Tears burst from the sides of my eyes instantly, like she had pressed some button in my brain. I tilted my head back and let out an exasperated breath. I refused to look at Andrewâs little chubby face. I couldnât afford to let me son make me weak.
âThe situation can end up a little better for you than those guys out there,â Agent Farmington chimed in. âThe way we see it, Gabriella, you were doing a favor for your boyfriend and it just got out of hand. They probably told you that you couldnât stop because it was going so well and so easy for so long . . . right? We know how this story goes. Nice working girl gets caught up with bad boy. Bad boy asks her for a one time favor, but it turns into many favors and then she just canât get out,â Agent Farmington said. I finally made eye contact with him. He was basically telling my story. He seemed to get a little excited that I was looking at him. I guess he thought he was making some progress with getting me to talk.
âListen, Gabriella. We see this story all too often in our line of work. Youâre not the big-time drug dealer or distributor. We know that and we are prepared to tell the judge that on your behalf, but first, we need to know some things from you,â he continued. Thatâs where he started to fuck up. I broke eye contact with him and hung my head. Just like he had seen cases like mine so many times, I had also seen these scenariosâlike the one I was in right nowâtoo many times on TV. I wasnât stupid. I wasnât speaking to those agents without a lawyer. In my assessment, I had enough money stashed away that my mother could get me a lawyer.
âYou told me I had the right to remain silent. I am exercising my right and I want a lawyer,â I said flatly through dry, cracked lips. I could see the blood rush to Agent Christyâs face and her fingers curl into fists. Agent Farmington grabbed her arm, I guess to keep her from reaching across the table and pounding me in the face. She was the bad cop, I guess. I chuckled inside. Through my eyes that bitch was weak without that gun and badge.
âSuit yourself, Gabriella, but this wonât end well for you or your son. See, your mother is facing accessory to distribute charges, because when we executed the search warrant at her houseâyour last known addressâwe found stacks and stacks of dirty money. House is in her name . . . she is responsible. She goes to jail too. Not a pretty sight when we had to take that adorable little boy of yours to child protective services, kicking and screaming for his grandma and mama. I donât think Iâve ever heard a baby cry so hard and so loud. Thatâs some set of lungs that kidâs got. Guess heâs never been away from you or your mom overnight. Now he has to stay in a strange place all night, alone. Better hope his foster parent isnât some registered sex offender that fell through the cracks,â Agent Christy said vindictively. I couldnât stop the waterfall of tears from falling, but they were hot, angry tears this time. I was
âIâm Special Agent Christy and this is Special Agent Farmington,â she introduced all official, her voice devoid of any emotion. I rolled my eyes and turned my head to the side.
âYou have some choices to make today, Ms. Vasquez. You can cooperate with us or you can never see this little guy again,â Agent Christy said, sliding a picture of Andrew across the table at me. How the fuck did they get that? Why are all of these bastards using my son against me? Tears burst from the sides of my eyes instantly, like she had pressed some button in my brain. I tilted my head back and let out an exasperated breath. I refused to look at Andrewâs little chubby face. I couldnât afford to let me son make me weak.
âThe situation can end up a little better for you than those guys out there,â Agent Farmington chimed in. âThe way we see it, Gabriella, you were doing a favor for your boyfriend and it just got out of hand. They probably told you that you couldnât stop because it was going so well and so easy for so long . . . right? We know how this story goes. Nice working girl gets caught up with bad boy. Bad boy asks her for a one time favor, but it turns into many favors and then she just canât get out,â Agent Farmington said. I finally made eye contact with him. He was basically telling my story. He seemed to get a little excited that I was looking at him. I guess he thought he was making some progress with getting me to talk.
âListen, Gabriella. We see this story all too often in our line of work. Youâre not the big-time drug dealer or distributor. We know that and we are prepared to tell the judge that on your behalf, but first, we need to know some things from you,â he continued. Thatâs where he started to fuck up. I broke eye contact with him and hung my head. Just like he had seen cases like mine so many times, I had also seen these scenariosâlike the one I was in right nowâtoo many times on TV. I wasnât stupid. I wasnât speaking to those agents without a lawyer. In my assessment, I had enough money stashed away that my mother could get me a lawyer.
âYou told me I had the right to remain silent. I am exercising my right and I want a lawyer,â I said flatly through dry, cracked lips. I could see the blood rush to Agent Christyâs face and her fingers curl into fists. Agent Farmington grabbed her arm, I guess to keep her from reaching across the table and pounding me in the face. She was the bad cop, I guess. I chuckled inside. Through my eyes that bitch was weak without that gun and badge.
âSuit yourself, Gabriella, but this wonât end well for you or your son. See, your mother is facing accessory to distribute charges, because when we executed the search warrant at her houseâyour last known addressâwe found stacks and stacks of dirty money. House is in her name . . . she is responsible. She goes to jail too. Not a pretty sight when we had to take that adorable little boy of yours to child protective services, kicking and screaming for his grandma and mama. I donât think Iâve ever heard a baby cry so hard and so loud. Thatâs some set of lungs that kidâs got. Guess heâs never been away from you or your mom overnight. Now he has to stay in a strange place all night, alone. Better hope his foster parent isnât some registered sex offender that fell through the cracks,â Agent Christy said vindictively. I couldnât stop the waterfall of tears from falling, but they were hot, angry tears this time. I was
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