Betrayed Devil

by Tom Haase

  “Come in,” he greeted them. In the kitchen, he produced three beers. After handing each man a brew, he preceded to the dining room area.

  “Have a seat. What’s new?”

  “Well, we did find out a few things,” Roberto opened the conversation. “One of my associates was able to track this Ramon to a location up on 71st Street. He informed me of the general location a couple of druggies gave to his kid. They could not say the exact address, but I called Sam yesterday around noon and told him the area.”

  Sam took a big gulp from his beer and then said, “I sent my friends who agreed to help out in that area. These were the guys who assisted you in the operation we didn’t conduct on a building we didn’t know about against an organization we never heard of.” Sam chortled at his joke.

  “Okay, okay, so what did they learn at this location?” Chuck asked.

  “They surveyed the area for ten hours. At the end of that time, they were able to identify what they believe is the location of the Ramon gang’s operating address. It’s on 71st Street as Roberto originally believed. There were numerous goings in and out of the building. They were of all the usual types you would associate with pushers, not users themselves. They recognized one or two of the people going to the address, and they were definitely pushers. They had the impression the suppliers of goods to the users were very unhappy and went away in less than elated moods.”

  “Why was that, Sam?” Chuck asked.

  “One of the men stopped a guy he had met before and questioned him. Appears they promised them a new delivery should arrive soon and they’d get their supplies and distribute them in a day or two. They supposed a supply run would be coming from Florida, and Jacksonville was their guess.” Sam stopped his narrative and waited for any more questions.

  “Where is the location?” Roberto said.

  “Like you found out, Roberto. It’s on 71st behind the strip mall on DeRenne. It's an old house. We believe based on the info collected this might be a distribution center or perhaps even the organization’s central clearing house. It's a ways out of downtown where most of the drugs are distributed, and it’s off the beaten track for police cruisers to go by on a regular basis.”

  “Anything else?” Chuck said.

  “Yes, I have more,” Sam said. “The men watching the place observed a truck stop at the address. They considered it unusual for a truck to stop at the house, and there were no signs on it to indicate any business delivery. Two of my men jumped into their cars and followed the truck. It went to a warehouse in Pooler, west of the city where the Port of Savannah is located. There’s more.” He paused for a few seconds before he continued.

  “The men believe the drugs are coming into the port, being offloaded there, moved to that warehouse where it’s sorted and distributed by this Ramon, who has a place on 71st Street. They saw no evidence of drugs at that location and believe the place is empty. It’s their conclusion, but it sort of makes sense as there are few drugs available now,” Sam said.

  “It sure does,” Roberto added.

  “One more bit of information,” Sam said. “They watched when the place was not active, and two men seemed to live there or stay there at all times. There were between seven and fifteen people who came to the house each day and all left empty-handed from what they could observe. They most likely came there to drop off the proceeds to Ramon for the sales they did. It’s a good neighborhood in which to start as most of the other residents in the area work at the hospitals and other medical facilities in the local hospitals. All upstanding citizens who don’t cause a problem and don’t have dealings with the police on any regular basis.”

  “How do we get them all at one time,” Roberto asked.

  “Perhaps we can’t,” responded Chuck. He didn’t want all them, only the one who ordered his death. Cut off the snake’s head, and the body dies.

  “Maybe we can do more than try. I have an idea. To get them all, we'll need extra help. If we are determined to engage these bastards,” Sam said.

  “We are,” said Chuck and Roberto as one.

  “Let’s meet tomorrow night again,” Chuck said.

  “Okay then, in the meantime, I’ll see if I can call in the cavalry,” Sam said with a grin.

  “Where are you going to get any cavalry?” Chuck asked.

  30

  After they departed, Chuck sat and consumed the remainder of his beer. A very fruitful meeting had taken place and he believed the information would prove valuable. He needed to decide on how to handle it and what to do with the data. Should he call Emma as he had promised, to keep her informed? They had a modicum of intelligence on the gang, but was it actionable intelligence at this time?

  The information should be corroborated, so he would wait until he could give her more rock-hard evidence than they now possessed. On reflection, he assumed the reference Sam had made about the “cavalry” meant he intended to contact Qing. She remained a friend of Sam’s despite their break up a long time ago. She now enjoyed a same-sex marriage in the Washington, D.C. area with her significant other and a small girl they had adopted. She had assisted Chuck in breaking up the human trafficking ring, which dealt in LGBT and child pornography. That was sufficient motivation to entice her to help them in their efforts to eliminate the human traffickers. She enjoyed her position as a consultant to the NSA. Qing possessed the ability to get into information banks and manipulate them, among other technical skills in which she had demonstrated her ability to tap into all methods of communications.

  Whatever Sam had in mind, if he could get Qing’s help, then perhaps it might be possible to get all the bad guys in one place at the same time. With Qing’s assistance and her equipment, it could happen.

  He’d have to wait and see.

  When Sam arrived home, his sister, Hachi, greeted him with the news his mother was back in the hospital. Hachi, meaning “stream” in the Seminole language, was a year younger than her brother and stood five feet seven with lustrous black hair pulled back into a ponytail.

  “What happened?” Sam asked her.

  He left the army when his father died and returned to Savannah to run the furniture store business. The old man had developed a substantial retail establishment, and now Sam ran it with his sister. She did most of the paperwork and accounting.

  “She had heart palpitations. I took her to the ER, and they admitted her for observation. You know how she is. She ran me off once they had her in a bed for the night. I didn’t get the impression from the medical people that it was a major problem, but you can never be sure with someone so old. Remember dad died in only a few minutes.” She looked at him accusingly as he was off in the army when it happened and she hadn’t forgiven him for not being there. He had never told her what he did in the military, and he didn’t suppose it would make any difference to her.

  “I’ll go visit her first thing in the morning, and, if possible, I’ll bring her home.”

  “Okay, I’m off to bed, and I’ll be at the office when we open to cover,” Hachi said.

  Sam went to the room in the house he used as an office and dialed the northern Virginia number.

  After the third ring, Qing's voice said, “What are you calling me for at this hour. The little girl just got to sleep, and we’re in silent mode.”

  “Sorry, I can call back,” Sam said.

  “Never mind, we are talking now. So why did you call? Not another sex trafficking problem in Savannah? Oh, by the way, I thought the city was a beautiful place. You’re lucky to live in such a historic place.”

  “You live in a very historic place too. The nation’s capital is not a shabby dump. I enjoyed my time there at the DIA a few years ago. I’m not going to beat around the bush. Yes, I need help. Actually, we need help. The same group of us you helped last time is in need of your help again,” Sam said.

  “Listen, I don't want to do things for you guys. It almost cost me my job last time. Fortunately, I was able to cover my track on being gone and usi
ng the equipment to help you. I can’t take that chance again because I have a little girl to consider and my livelihood to support her.”

  “I got you. I agree you probably can’t help. I wanted to ask you for advice.”

  “What kind of advice are you looking for?”

  “Before I get to that, let me answer your question on why I called you tonight. It won’t take long, and I know you remember Darlene from over at Chuck’s place?” Sam asked.

  “Yes, of course. They seem to get on quite well. How are they?”

  “Chuck is okay, but someone murdered Darlene.”

  “What? How?”

  “Let me start at the beginning of the story with a speedboat chase that ended up with a man impaled on Chuck’s boat dock rail. This all deals with drugs.” Sam took his time in explaining the events leading to his call tonight. He omitted nothing, including the meetings at Chuck’s house and the surveillance he and his friends had conducted.

  Qing remained silent during his narration of the events. When he paused, she broke in with, “You have got to be shitting me.”

  “You got any ideas out of this?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I need to assimilate all you said. A few things don’t make sense. Why are you doing this? Is it a vigilante strike on the ones who killed Darlene?”

  “No, it’s providing the information we need to assist the AG and the police to take them down. This Emma has asked Chuck to help her and the AG to get actionable intel on the gang.”

  “Am I to understand two gangs are operating there?” Qing said.

  “It appears to be, but there’s only one we found that has a base here now. It does look like there’s the possibility of another group beginning to set up operations here. The drugs Chuck found don’t belong to this Ramon because he seems to have been after them. But we think by following the men at the place we located we can give the info to the police. It will help get rid of that drug gang in our city. At least we get rid of one,” Sam said.

  “Maybe, but that’s a small pebble in the ocean of drugs.”

  “We know, but like last time you helped, it’s a start and one that could hurt many more of those trying to deal with drugs here in our city.”

  “I don’t understand how I could help. There’s nothing I presently see where I can use my skills to assist, even if I wanted to,” Qing said.

  “I know you’re reluctant, but any idea how we could get them all to come at one time to one place where we could take action?”

  “What kind of action? I smell a Chuck McGregor operation designed to terminate them and not to arrest them.”

  “No, really, we want to force them off the streets. How can we get them all together? Any ideas?”

  “Well, there might be something I could prepare to assist if that is what you are planning on doing. I’m not coming to Savannah again. It raised too many problems last time.”

  “Okay, but what is percolating in that geek mind of yours?”

  “I can accomplish a lot from here. I suggest a distress call by this Ramon to all his people to come to his aid as he is being attacked by a rival.”

  “Brilliant. How do we do it?”

  31

  Chuck received a call from Eddie the following morning at eight. The police captain wanted to see him right now. Chuck said he could be there in an hour. Eddie greeted him when he arrived at nine and escorted him to the captain’s office.

  “Chuck, good to see you again. I’m grateful for your assistance in the raids we conducted on the human trafficking operation here in our city. Now we have a new problem. As you already know, this time it’s with drugs,” the captain said.

  Chuck nodded agreement as he sat and waited to hear why the captain wanted to see him. The man had not accused him of any vigilante action on the sex trafficking takedown even though Chuck realized the captain thought he had been acting as a vigilante but couldn’t prove it.

  “Our sources are telling us a shipment of drugs is coming into Savannah in the next day or two. No one seems to know anything else. Nothing specific as to where or how. You have worked with Eddie Gordon before, and I’d like you to continue. You have your unconventional methods, most of which I don’t approve and don’t want to learn about, but I understand you told the AG you’d help get intel on this group. Not to press, but we need it soon so we can act.”

  “I understand. I have no more intelligence than you at this point. Since you asked, I’ll get on it today and see what I can find out regarding this shipment. I’ll keep Eddie informed of anything I pick up. Any idea where it’s coming from?” He thought this response would keep the captain happy.

  “I appreciate that. We have rumors it’ll be coming in through our port and simultaneously we picked up talk of a shipment coming out of Florida, we don’t know which way they’ll use,” the captain said and stood showing the meeting was over.

  Out in the hallway, Chuck moved Eddie out of the line of corridor traffic. They stopped by a water fountain. “What the hell was that all about?”

  “I got word the AG called him and told him of your willingness to help Emma. He wants in on it. That was his way of saying he’ll protect you no matter what methods you use as long as we get the drugs and the credit.”

  “Funny way of asking,” Chuck said. “I’ll keep you up to date on whatever I find. It’ll make you look good.” Chuck smiled, slapped his old partner on the shoulder and they both headed out of the building.

  They shook hands and said goodbye and then Eddie descended the steps first and almost ran into a man walking on the sidewalk. He apologized and walked along for a few steps with the man before he turned and headed for his car. Chuck observed the man walking on the sidewalk before Eddie almost plowed into him. He saw this from the top of the steps as he dug out his phone and car keys before he went to his vehicle.

  In his car, he called Emma.

  “You blabbed to the AG on my offer to help, and he informed the police. I’m not a happy camper.”

  “Oh, shit. I didn’t mean for that to happen. He’s my boss, and I kept him informed concerning my operation with you. I never thought he’d tell it to the police. I still forget he is a politician and plays by different rules than I do.”

  “Well, now the captain has charged me with giving him information on the possible drug delivery in the next forty-eight hours, you want in on the information or should I give it to the locals?”

  “No way. The AG wants us in on it, so the governor gets the lion’s share of the credit. Remember, he ran on a pledge to wipe out human and drug trafficking in Georgia. He wants to be in the spotlight,” Emma said.

  “I'll give any intel I pick up to both of you. Then I'm out of it. You guys can fight over who gets the glory. I want the man who ordered Darlene killed. He has to pay.”

  “Come on, Chuck. Don’t do that. We’ll take care of him if you get us the information.”

  “I have to go find them first before you guys can squabble over who gets the credit,” Chuck said.

  He ended the call.

  32

  The flight carrying Kareem, the Bahamian boss man and the representative of the Tsarina in Savannah, arrived in Savannah. She charged him with establishing an organization in that town and he arrived at three in the afternoon. He landed, a long way from his home, yet he still felt the unseen ever-present scrutiny of the lady. He had a quick flashback to his first attempt to set up operations in the city which had gone badly with his man getting killed by another drug lord. That wouldn’t happen again he swore to himself.

  He rubbed his bulbous nose as he walked out of the Savannah–Hilton Head International airport. The intense heat wasn’t noticeably different from Nassau, hot and muggy. He took a taxi to the location given to him by Jalen. The man had arrived two days prior and was trying to learn about the rival organization. His secondary mission was to look for a place to begin their operations.

  When he reached the bread and breakfast near Forsythe Park where Jalen had take
n a room, he paid the taxi and entered the house. Jalen sat in the main parlor and rose to greet his boss.

  “Welcome to Savannah. I’ve been busy. Are you tired? Do you need rest before we start?”

  “No, I’m fine. Tell me what you have done so far.”

  “I purchased the Mercedes Benz motor home you suggested. Man, they are expensive.”

  “I wanted something to give us mobility. I visualize the operation here would run from the vehicle. No fixed address, no place for the police to raid on a tip. I feel it will be the best solution for our needs,” Kareem said. “When do we get it?”

  “Tomorrow morning. It will be ready for pick up, and I’ve already signed and paid for everything. I also located a house for rent in the Southside, near a mall called Oglethorpe. We can take occupancy tomorrow. You wanted that to be the place the distributors picked up their goods, right?”

  “Yes, because we will start a new way of operating here. All our orders and pickups and deliveries will occur at the rented place, but all orders on what we are doing or having our men do will come from our mobile command post. We will be somewhere else.”

  “Sounds great. How does it work?”

  “A second phone synched to mine would provide a foolproof plan. It will work if the message went from my burner to another one connected electronically to the normal phones we employ to make contact with the distributors. Then any message would never be traced back to us if the police confiscated one of their phones. There would be a cut out phone. Now tell me about the vehicle.”

  “That sounds complicated. I’ll get one of our men who is an expert in that stuff to set it up.”

  “Now let me hear about the Benz,” Kareem demanded.

  “It’s a Plateau XLMB with a bed and a comfortable lounge and dining area. It also has a bathroom with shower. I think you will enjoy it. It’s a few years old and can get around on city streets.”