As Detective Dumer and he changed places, Ned could tell by Delmer’s demeanor that Smith most likely would not speak to him. But that was okay. Ned wasn’t concerned. The career lawman’s purpose that day was to simply deliver an arrest warrant. With Mike Dumer being done with his part and stepping off to the side so that he could step in, Ned moved closer to Delmer.
Delmer looked up at the detective with a slight snarl on his face. Ned smiled in return. After a moment he then quietly spoke.
“Delmer, would you like to talk to me?”
Delmer’s quick response was, “Fuck you.”
Ned’s smile broadened and he leaned forward just slightly. “Delmer, I just wanted to tell you that when you return to your cell and all of your little groupie followers there crowd around to get information about your arrest, I want you to tell them something for me.” He paused waiting for Delmer to look up and when their eyes met Ned said, “Tell them you have been bitch slapped by Minnie Mouse.”
Ned then told me, “The look on Delmer’s face told it all. He paled a bit, and I could see him sink slightly back in his chair as he realized I had him. Up until then he knew it was basically circumstantial evidence that we had but with me bringing up Minnie Mouse he was done. That was hard evidence.”