"What 'mistake'?"
Vinnie was as sullen as a three-year-old. "I can't tell you. But you've got to get me a place, a new life-like on TV.... I ain't eaten. I ain't even had a bath in more than a week!"
"That I guessed."
"I saw the papers. They're giving you guys the business for not finding the twins. Get me a place to stay and I can help you! There's stuff I know-stuff I can tell you!"
"Vinnie, it isn't even 5:00 in the morning. I'm not doing anything until you tell me something that makes sense."
Vinnie began to rummage through the ashtray, finally picking out a butt left over from Ethel Rosewater. He jammed in the cigarette lighter from his sitting position on the floor. "I ain't had a whole cigarette in days. Have a heart, Davey. Get me something to eat, for God's sake! If I don't get some food, I'll faint or die or something. Go to a truck stop-out of town where they don't know me."
"Vinnie, the only place anyone knows you is in jail."
"You're not taking me serious!"
"No, Vinnie. I'm not taking you seriously. I want to kick the crap out of you for dragging me out of bed!"
"Cops don't do that!"
"I'm off duty. I want to do it as a sleep-deprived Saturday morning citizen. Now, tell me what's going on or so help me God I'll dump your ass right here in the middle of the square!"
"For old times...."
"Vinnie, there aren't any 'old times.' Get this through your thick head-you're the bad guy. I'm the good guy. I'd have my white hat on but it was still dark when I dressed. Now, start making sense!"
Vinnie sounded close to tears as he coughed on another of Ethel's cigarette butts. "You gotta help me! I got nobody! There's stuff I know...I don't want to be a squealer, but they got a contract on me, for God's sake! I can point you right to 'em-just get me a new life!"
"Vinnie, I'm a minor league cop. I play for Parkside, strictly double 'A' at best. I don't want to screw around and play against the big leagues in Philadelphia; all your friends with the crazy middle names like, 'The Shiv' and 'The Hunchback' and 'Three Fingers'-really neat nicknames like that."
"You're a cop! You took an oath!"
"I didn't take an oath to do something stupid!"
"You owe a responsibility to Mrs. Wassermann! I read the paper! And I can spill my guts, honest to God, I can! But you've got to protect me!"