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WE STARTED HEADING south from the Bronx. I felt a little more nervous now that we were out of the warehouse. There was a different, more professional aura about Deason’s guys than the gang members back at the clubhouse. No one spoke. The driver focused on the road, and Antonio Deason kept an eye on us.

Even if I weren’t strapped into the back seat with my hands cuffed behind me, the doors had safety locks on them. I hadn’t gotten a good look at the person sitting in the row of seats behind us when they shoved us into the SUV. Deason made a phone call I couldn’t hear very well, but he was clearly annoyed. That didn’t bode well for us.

My hope that these guys might somehow give us an opportunity to escape seemed far-fetched.

I started asking my questions out loud. “Why aren’t we tied up on the floor in the back? Why even bother putting seat belts on us?”

Deason turned in his seat to more directly look at me and Trilling. “Because you’re both fucking morons.”

I said, “That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?”

“I think it’s an accurate assessment. We gave you guys every opportunity to back off. But you’re too stupid to pick up the hints.” Deason opened the glove compartment in front of him. I felt my stomach tighten as I wondered what he was retrieving.

Trilling was starting to lift his legs and draw them close to his body. I realized he intended to try to kick the back of the driver’s seat. I tried to think what I could do to support him once he made his move. I moved my hands as far over as I could, wondering if I could release my seat belt, but my fingers couldn’t even get close to the latch.

Deason held whatever he had grabbed from the glove compartment in his right hand. I tried not to flinch as he leaned toward me. Trilling got ready to make his desperate move.

It was a wallet. Deason held up his hand, then let the wallet fall open. The first thing I noticed was the gold badge. And the official ID.

Deason said, “I think you guys are morons because we’re with the DEA and you’re screwing up one of our biggest cases.”