“What about the others? Should we tell them the IPF is here?”
Bollar looked over his shoulder and said, “I don’t give a rat's ass damn about the others.”
“What about Moffit?” This made Bollar stop in his tracks. Colus glanced nervously around and said, “Should we tell Prodor?”
Bollar turned around and walked back to face Valda, “Would you rather Prodor Moffit find out that we’ve known all along that the IPF was here?” He paused and thought. “I’ll tell him tonight.” He turned again and walked to the front door and opened it. Colus Valda was bathed in a rectangle of bright sunlight, causing him to avert his eyes.
Chapter Thirty
Jeff Trent, Jennifer Winkles, and Genghis Khan were at a small round table inside Dave’s. Genghis was sitting on his haunches in between Jeff and Jennifer. There was another couple at the far end of the small coffee shop with a gray miniature schnauzer that did nothing but stare at Genghis. Monica came by with a small tray and two large cups of latte. “Here yah go,” she said, with a big silvery grin. Monica placed the cups in front of them both, retrieved their empties, and placed them on the tray. Then she pulled a chair over from an empty table and sat with them. “What a day!” she said. “We’ve been swamped.”
“Yeah,” Jennifer said, while taking a sip of her coffee. “It’s tourist season. I’ve been pretty busy too.”
“Oh, really!” Monica said sweetly. She reached over and rubbed Genghis’s head. He closed his eyes, really beginning to enjoy this ritual of the human race. When he opened them the schnauzer was still staring at him. “Oh, crap! He knows.”
“What do you do, Twinkie?” Monica asked.
Jennifer looked over at Jeff, took another sip of coffee, and said, “I’m self employed. Hospitality!”
“Oh, cool,” Monica said. “I always wanted to work in a hospital.”
They all sat and talked and had a good time. Monica got up several times to service other customers, but always wound up sitting with her new friends. It was late afternoon when Trent and Genghis drove Jennifer back to her apartment. She unlocked the door, opened it, and told them to come on in.
Jennifer kicked off her flip-flops and asked, “Jeff! Want a beer?” She opened the fridge, and Trent looked down at Genghis, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “Sounds delightful, Twinkie. Thank you.”
She twisted off the top and handed the cold bottle to Jeff. He looked at the label, but could not pronounce the name of the company that manufactured this particular beverage. There was an image of a large bird with spread wings, and below it a boast that it was the oldest brewery in America. Jennifer then filled a big bowl with water and placed it on the ground, and said to Genghis, “You didn’t think I was gonna forget you, did you?”
“No, but I’d rather one of those.”
Jeff tipped back the bottle and took a drink. He coughed lightly as the carbonated bubbles shot up his nose. Jennifer laughed and said, “Not much of a drinker, are you?”
The black curtains were open, and natural light filled the room. Jeff looked around the meticulously clean apartment and saw a framed photograph on a small side table. It was a picture of a smiling Jennifer. She must have been in her early teens, with a small dog sitting on her lap. It was the only photograph in the room. The rest were store-bought prints. She asked Jeff to sit down, and he sat on the couch. Genghis walked up to where Jeff sat and slid his hindquarters onto the seat, keeping his front paws on the ground. “That’s funny the way he does that,” Jennifer said as she sat on a cheap cushioned chair with her own beer. “Did you teach him that?”
Trent looked at Genghis as Genghis glared up at him. “Oh, yes! You’ve taught me sooo much.”
“Ah, no.” Jeff looked at Jennifer. “He just started to do that on his own.”
“So,” Jennifer asked, while taking a sip of her beer, “How long have you been a cop?”
“Oh, let's see. Well . . . since I got out of school. It’s the only thing I ever wanted to do. It’s in the family. My father and his father before him were agents. Ah, cops.”
“That’s cool. Family traditions are cool.”
“And what about you?” Jeff asked.
“What about me?”
“You. I’m sure this is not what you always dreamed of doing.”
Jennifer was quiet and introspective for a second. “No. It’s definitely not what I always wanted to do.” She looked at Jeff. “That’s another story, for another time.”
Jeff and Genghis both understood.
“So, Officer Trent,” she said, tucking her right leg under her left, “Tell me. What cool cases are you working on?”
“Well, to be honest with you Twinkie, Genghis and I,” he caught himself, “Ah, we’re, I mean, I’ve been working on the arson fires. In fact, the old friend we were looking for today is not a friend. We feel he is responsible for all these fires.”
“Really?” she said, genuinely interested. “You said you had pictures. You should let me see them. Maybe I do know this guy.”
“That’s a good idea Twinkie. We’ll swing by tomorrow morning with a couple and show you.”
“Yeah, that would be cool. Hey Jeff! You hungry? Let’s order some pizza.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Jeff and Genghis watched in amazement as Jennifer used the telephone. They shared a glance, both thinking that, so that’s what that white thing on their kitchen wall is. The pizza came and Jennifer brought the box into the kitchen, followed by Jeff and Genghis. The aroma of the pizza filled the apartment. “This is what I call my mobs pizza.” She said, as she flipped up the lid. “Mushroom, Onion, Bacon and Sausage! The best, Baby!” She got two plates and placed two slices on each. Handing one to Jeff, she asked, “Can I give a piece to Genghis? Is it okay? I mean, he’s not gonna get the screaming shits or anything, will he?”
Jeff was dumbfounded for a second, then said, “Ah! No . . . I don’t think so.” She grabbed another plate, put a slice on it, and placed it next to the water bowl. “There you go, big guy.” She rubbed his head as he approached.
Jeff watched Jennifer and mimicked her. He picked up the triangle by the crust and took a small bite of the tip. “Oh, this is good!” He took a bigger bite and thought to himself that he was really beginning to like the cuisine of this planet. Genghis had already finished his and wanted another piece. But how? he thought. Then he thought of what a human canine would do: A dumb, drooling human canine and produced a sharp bark. Jeff looked at Jennifer and answered her question before she asked, “Go ahead, you can give him another.”
It was dark by the time Jeff Trent and Genghis Khan left Jennifer’s. She told them that she didn’t feel like working tomorrow and they could come by anytime with the pictures. She gave Jeff a hug, and Genghis too, before they departed.
They were driving back to their apartment. The top of the Thunderbird was down and the stars were bright. Genghis asked for his computer to be brought up and it diligently obliged.
He did a quick check on the status of the cruiser, then brought up a screen with multiple views of the different surveillance cameras in Old Town. Some showed the staticky snow of a functioning Electronic Pulse Interrupter while some were operating as normal. Then a thought came to him.
“You know,” Genghis said, “why don’t we use the Interrupter to our advantage?”
“How do you mean?” Jeff asked.
“Well, if the Interrupter is always on and disrupting cameras in a three block radius, then why not use those cameras to track Valda? We drive around Old Town like we did today but this time, see which cameras are working and which aren’t.”
“And that way,” Jeff added, “if he’s on the move, then cameras that were working will stop operating and we can narrow down his approximate location.” Trent looked at the Doberman Pinscher sitting in the passenger seat and . “Brilliant, Mister Khan! I knew there was a reason why I recommended you for this mission.”
Genghis rolled his eyes. “Oh! Pa-leaz
ze, Mister Trent! You are such a biped.”
The following morning they were up and driving the roads of Old Town. There was a three-block radius of the Compton Square district of town with non-functioning cameras. “He’s here,” Genghis said. “Now we just have to wait and see what his next move will be.”
“You know,” Jeff added, “while we’re here, let's go over to Twinkie’s and show her the photos of Colus.”
“Yeah, and why don’t we stop at that store on the way and pick her up a couple of things? Pick her up some coffee. She likes coffee.”
Jeff Trent looked at his partner and saw again that look in his canine eyes. He thought to himself that Genghis had found another girl to desperately try to help. “That’s a good idea, Genghis. Why don’t we?”
Trent knew that his partner was trying again to compensate for what happened on Ashlar five years before The Great Fire of 4045. They were both involved in the Prodor Moffit case when the call came in. A robbery gone bad with the perpetrator panicking and taking a hostage, a fourteen-year-old girl. Jeff's partner, now known to this world as Genghis Khan, at that time was also part of the special hostage strike team known as the Hostage Recovery Unit, in between his detective work with Trent, called upon when needed. He was their lead sniper.
When Genghis and the rest of the HR Unit arrived, IPF negotiators were trying desperately to talk the suspect into surrendering, but the situation was quickly getting out of hand. The suspect was in the middle of the road that was cordoned off, his arm was around the girl's neck, gun to her head. He was shouting at the police who surrounded him to back off. Swinging himself around, not wanting to expose his back for any extended period of time to an agent who would take the initiative to end the standoff. He was frantic, looking from one angry face to another, gun to the girl's head then pointing it at the IPF and then back to the girl. She was exhausted and could barely stay on her feet while he swung her around like a rag doll. She was hysterically crying and calling to her mother who was being restrained back by two agents. She was in tears telling her daughter that everything would be okay. Shouts for him to drop the gun were going back and forth. His crazed replies were beginning to make no sense at all. The situation was rapidly deteriorating.
Genghis had already situated himself on a rooftop and was viewing the standoff through the scope of his Volcker 9 sniper rifle. The scope was equipped with a video output that transmitted everything that was viewed through it to the command center where the supervisors could evaluate the ongoing scenario. The suspect still had a firm grip around the girl's neck, but had slid her to his side exposing himself to a shot. Genghis radioed down to his supervisors that he had a clean shot, which all the supervisors agreed that he did. It was time to end this. They gave him the go ahead to take the shot.
He steadied his breathing and slowed his heart rate. The suspect was moving too erratically for a headshot so the cross hairs of Genghis's scope were targeting critical mass, the center of the man’s chest. He momentarily held his breath and squeezed the trigger. And at that precise moment the suspect made another erratic move to his left, inadvertently putting the fourteen-year-old girl into the crosshairs. The round struck her in the head splattering warm blood onto the man’s face. She went limp and slipped from his arm crumpling to the ground. The gunman was dumbfounded to see his shield gone, then he made a fatal error. He swung around with a look of uncertainty on his face and pointed his gun at the IPF agents who surrounded him. A cacophony of gun fire filled the air as the IPF opened fire. He jerked with the impact of rounds that ripped through his body. Quarter size holes erupted in his chest and lower abdomen. One round went through his throat stifling any sound that he may have produced. They continued to fire until the threat was neutralized.
Genghis was numb, he had no feeling in his extremities and could not fathom what he viewed through his scope. The gun fire echoing from below was deafening, but the only thing he could hear was the girl's mother's mournful wails. And still could, even on a distant planet.
With three weeks on administrative paid leave and a two month investigation into the shooting the panel of Independent Agents determined that the shooting was an unfortunate accident due to the actions of the mentally disturbed suspect. All supervisors and the sniper who took the shot were cleared of any and all wrongdoing or breach of Interstellar Police Force protocols.
Jeff thought back that even though his partner was completely cleared, he really never did get over the shooting psychologically. Who could? Through the course of their long career together they would come across a poor unfortunate young girl. Whether a crime victim or petty criminal herself, Genghis would always try to steer her on the road to recovery. Either with medical or psychological help for the victims, or a mentor for the ones who had lost their way and were about to enter a lifetime of criminal activity. He helped many and lost only a few.
They pulled into the Food and More parking lot. Genghis chose to stay in the cruiser and monitor the cameras while Trent went into the grocery store. He came out ten minutes later with two light brown plastic bags. “Colus is still held up somewhere,” Genghis said, as Trent put the bags in the back seat and started up the Thunderbird.
After the short drive, they parked in front of Jennifer’s building and climbed the stairs to her floor. Jeff knocked. “Who is it?” came the response from inside the apartment.
“Hello, Twinkie, it’s Jeff Trent and Genghis Khan,” he replied.
“Oh! Hold on.”
They heard her unlocking the many locks on the other side of the door and she swung it open with a smile. “Hi, come on in.”
“Good morning, Twinkie,” Jeff said, as he and Genghis entered. “We went shopping and thought you might need a few things.” He held out the bags for her.
“Ohh, Jeff! You didn’t have to do that.” She took the bags. “Thank you very much.” And brought them into the kitchen and started taking things out. Three cans of Chef Boyardee Spaghetti O’s, a box of Captain Crunch cereal, two boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and a loofah. She raised an eyebrow at that one. Then, “Coffee!” she said, elated, as she pulled out a small can. “Cool! I was out.”
“Thought so.”
“I’m gonna put some on. Want some?” Jennifer was still in her pajamas, which consisted of a long gray flannel t-shirt that ended just above her knees. As she got the coffee going, Jeff said, “Twinkie, we brought some pictures we would like you to take a look at.” Jeff handed her two photos. She took the photographs and combed her fingers through her long strawberry blonde hair, tucking it behind her left ear.
“Now take your time. Have you seen this man, is he familiar to you?”
She looked at the pictures for a few moments. “Yeah! Yeah, I have seen this fat ass. I’ve seen him going into Ray’s a couple of times. This is the kind of guy you don’t forget. I mean,” she looked up from the pictures, “look at him. Gross!” She looked back down to the pictures in her hands. “This is the kind of guy you pray doesn’t come up to you waving a twenty. Can you just see this ugly putz with his pants around his ankles?”
“Ah . . . no, I can’t, but thank you, Twinkie, for that mental visual.” The coffee pot made a beep. “The visual that I will never be able to get out of my head, ever!”
Jennifer laughed while getting a couple of cups from the cupboard. “Sorry about that!”
As she was pouring the coffee she said, “You know, now that I think about it, I’ve seen him inside Ray’s a couple of times. He’s always talking to this other guy.”
Jeff and Genghis shared a look with each other. “Ah . . . another guy?” Jeff tentatively asked.
“Yeah,” she said, as she handed Trent his cup. “They kind of reminded me of Abbot and Costello that I used to watch on Saturday mornings when I was a kid. I guess that’s why I noticed them,” she said, as she took her seat on the cheap cushioned chair. “The little fat guy was always talking with his hands and the tall one would just sit there listening. Like he was
annoyed.”
“Twinkie, this, this other guy, the tall one.” Trent sat on the couch, Genghis stood next to him. “Can you describe him?”
“No, not really, tall like you. Black hair, I think,” she paused, trying to remember. “I only saw him a couple of times. It’s not like I talked to them. I usually let my clients come to me.”
“That’s okay, Twinkie.” Jeff looked over at Genghis. “But if you do remember anything, will you let us know?”
Jennifer couldn’t help but grin as she looked at them. “Yeah.” she brought her cup to her lips. “I’ll be sure to let you both know.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
At that very moment on the corner of Ninth Street and 11th Ave., Colus Valda stepped out of a row of duplexes. He turned and gave Chloe a sloppy kiss using his tongue quite inappropriately. She didn’t mind, she hadn’t had a boyfriend in about three years. And she could overlook the unorthodox way he made love to her. Chloe was in her late forties, heavy with short hair, and wearing an old thin bathrobe which she used the sleeve of to wipe her face. “Will I see you tonight, Alfred?”
“I don’t know baby, I’ll have to see,” Colus said, while using his hands to try to smooth out the wrinkles in his shirt. He had mustard stains down the front of it. “I have a couple of things to do.” He looked back at her. “Maybe tomorrow night.”
“Okay, Doctor Carroll,” Chloe said, after a draw off her cigarette. “One more smoochie before you go?”
Valda smiled big and leaned into her. “Oh! No baby.” She put up an index finger, “No tongue this time, Sweetie.” He planted one more on her, and again she used her sleeve and watched him as he walked to the sidewalk.
Colus stood in front of Chloe’s duplex looking around and breathing in the morning air. He grabbed his belt and pulled his pants up higher upon his girth. He then started walking toward Grant Park.
Fifteen minutes after that, Jeff and Genghis were in the Thunderbird. They left Jennifer’s with a promise of checking in on her in a couple of days, and both got a hug and thank you in return. They were traveling south on Compton Road when Genghis called up his computer. “Whoa! Our boy is on the move. I’ve got cameras here that are now operating.” They continued south, and all the cameras in that area were operating as normal. So Trent turned the Thunderbird and retraced their steps. He then turned right on Seventh Avenue. “There we go!” Genghis said, “I just had a camera go out.” They continued up Seventh.
The Interstellar Police Force, Book One: The Historic Mission Page 15
