Jamie Hill Triple Threat (A Cop In The Family)

by Jamie Hill

  Taking her cue, Curtis stepped up to Mark. “Let me see that game! I’m a dang good driver.” She smiled at Jack and he smiled back—the first sincere smiles they had exchanged in he couldn’t remember how long. His spirits lifted. He was jazzed to get going and check this lead, and Brady was right behind him.

  Jack made it a quick trip to Moe’s diner, with the marked police car following them. He parked in front. Brady and the other two officers had to move swiftly to keep up with him. He found Moe behind the register.

  “Well, detective, it’s nice to see you! How are Crystal and the children?” Moe smiled at him.

  “Not too well at the moment. We need to talk to Caesar.”

  “What’s happened?” Moe asked, concerned.

  Jack glanced around quickly. “I don’t think we want to talk out here. Caesar?”

  Moe looked confused but nodded and motioned to them. “Back here. Come on.” He led them into the kitchen, where Caesar loaded dishes into the dishwasher. “Caesar, the police want to talk to you.”

  The cook looked up at them suspiciously. He glanced at Brady and the two uniforms, but focused on Jack. “I know you.”

  Jack took a step toward him. “I’m a friend of Crystal Cartwright’s. I don’t suppose you know where I might find her?”

  Moe spoke up. “I thought she was with you, Jack.”

  Jack glanced at him, then back at Caesar. “She was, until she was kidnapped by a man with a red dragon tattoo. Sound familiar to anyone?”

  Caesar looked at him and shrugged.

  “Where’s your brother, Caesar?”

  “I wouldn’t know. We’re not close,” Caesar sneered.

  “When’s the last time you saw him?”

  “It’s been years.”

  “Do you know where he lives?”

  “Somewhere on 22nd, last I heard.”

  “We have that address.” Jack watched Caesar closely. “I was hoping for something more recent.”

  The man shrugged. “Like I said, we’re not close. I don’t know where he lives.”

  “And you’ve got nothing to hide.”

  “Not a thing.”

  “Then you won’t mind if we search your place, just to make sure.”

  “I don’t think so,” he said, shaking his head.

  Jack pulled a search warrant from his jacket pocket and slapped it on the counter in front of Caesar. “I thought you might say that, so we got a warrant.” He looked at Brady. “Notify Reeder that the warrant's been served. The other detectives can go on in. You and I will meet them there. We’ll leave the boys in blue here to keep an eye on Mr. Juarez.”

  Brady nodded and pulled out his cell phone. He stepped aside to make the call. Moe said, frowning, “Caesar's worked for me for ten years. I believe him when he says he doesn’t know where his brother is. That young man is trouble, and he doesn’t come around here.”

  Jack sighed. “You understand why we have to check this out. We have evidence that Rafael Juarez was one of the two men who kidnapped Crystal and Devon.”

  “Devon too?” Moe looked shocked. “That sweet little boy.”

  “Yeah. Sweet and innocent. He did nothing to deserve this. Neither did Crystal.”

  Brady ended his call and advised, “The team is going in. We’ll meet them there.”

  Jack nodded.

  Caesar picked at his teeth with a toothpick and sneered at Jack. “I don’t think Crystal’s all that innocent. Fact is, I hear she puts out regularly for any guy who’s interested. If my brother has her, I hope he watches out. God knows what she might give him.”

  Jack grabbed Caesar by the collar. Brady pulled him off the dishwasher. “Let it go, man,” Brady said quietly. “He’s as filthy as the trash he’s talking.”

  Moe said, “Caesar, please don’t talk about Crystal that way. She’s a nice girl, and you know how I feel about her.”

  “Okay, okay,” Brady put a hand up to silence everyone present. “Let’s break this little party up. We’ve all got work to do.” He steered Moe and the other two officers through the swinging door and into the dining area.

  Jack knew Brady was giving him a minute alone with Caesar. He intended to make the most of it. He grabbed the cook, twisted the man’s arm behind his back and leaned him over the counter. Jack spoke directly and clearly into Caesar's ear. “If your brother lays one finger on Crystal, I’ll see to it personally that he never touches anyone ever again. With his fingers or any other appendage that I might have the notion to snap off.”

  Caesar didn't balk. “I hope he does have her. She could use a real man to show her a few things.”

  Jack tightened his grip and shoved Caesar against the counter roughly. “Believe me, she knows what it’s like to be with a real man. You’re jealous because she didn’t want anything to do with a pathetic sack of shit like you.”

  Brady stepped back into the kitchen. “Let’s go.”

  “Officer!” Caesar called, his face pressed into the counter. “You're a witness! This is police brutality!”

  Brady lit a cigarette. “If you have any knowledge about what’s happening with Crystal and Devon, trust me, you haven’t begun to experience police brutality. Come on, Jack. Cooper and Ryan will stay with this scumbag.” He gave instructions to the uniformed officers, and they settled in to wait in the kitchen.

  Jack released Caesar and dusted his hands off in a show of distaste. He glanced at the two uniforms and said, “Don’t let him out of your sight, even to use the john.”

  They nodded and Jack followed Brady into the dining area.

  Moe met them immediately. “Jack, this is so disturbing. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Jack studied the man for a moment. “You really don’t think Caesar and his brother are in contact?”

  “I really don’t. As I said, Caesar has worked here for a long time. He puts in long hours, and I pay him well. We spend quite a bit of time together. I think I would know if Rafael was around.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Jack noticed the older man’s shirt and had to smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a black-and-orange plaid shirt before, Moe.”

  Moe smiled. “Almost Halloween, you know.”

  Jack rubbed his hands over his face. “Yeah, I know. Devon was really excited about it.”

  Moe put a consoling hand on Jack’s shoulder. “You’ll find them, Jack. You’ll bring them home to us.”

  Jack smiled at the man and nodded. “Yes I will. Thanks.” He walked out of the diner and decided that he hadn’t been quite truthful. He would not bring Crystal home to Moe. He would bring Crystal home to himself and the boys. What's more, if he had anything to say about it, she'd never set foot in Moe’s diner as a waitress again.

  The search of Caesar’s small apartment turned up no evidence that he had anything to do with the kidnapping. The uniformed officers were advised he'd been cleared. Jack was angry and frustrated as he returned to the department. He was also about ready to drop from lack of sleep, and decided to take Mark home early and possibly catch a nap. Brady planned to be at his house by ten p.m.

  Jack and Mark walked into the house. Jack frowned at the disarray. “You know, buddy, we can’t bring Crys and Dev home to this mess. Why don’t we spend a few minutes straightening up? Then I need to try and catch a nap.”

  “Okay,” the boy agreed. They dusted off all the fingerprint powder and set the furniture back in place.

  It felt right to have everything cleaned up, Jack decided. Hopefully, he'd bring Crystal and Devon home tonight. He surrounded himself with that thought as he lay on the sofa and tried to doze. Mark’s TV was quiet, but Jack was too keyed up to sleep. He needed to get Crystal home. He slept better in her arms.

  Brady Marshall showed up promptly at ten p.m. with pizza and non-alcoholic beer.

  “What's this crap?” Jack looked askance at the six-pack as Brady made himself at home.

  “We need to keep our wits about us, but we also need beer. This is my compromise.�
� He found some napkins and started on a slice of pizza. “Come on, you haven’t eaten anything in days. You’ve got to keep your strength up.”

  Jack ate part of a piece of pizza, and then tossed the rest of it back in the box. “I can’t eat. I feel sick. I’ve worked hundreds of cases over the years, but this is the first time since I was a rookie that I’ve been physically sick.”

  Brady shoved the pizza box aside and closed it. He sat back in Jack’s easy chair and kicked his feet up. “So you’re serious about this lady? Not just a fling that’s going to pass?”

  Jack shoved a pillow under his head and lay back on the sofa. “I’m very serious. I’m going to marry her, if she’ll have me.”

  “Wow,” Brady said thoughtfully. He flipped through the TV channels with the sound muted. “You know you’re getting the whole package. Instant family.”

  “I know,” Jack smiled at the ceiling. “I’ve always wanted kids. These boys are the nicest kids I could ask for. Not that they aren’t going to need some therapy, after all they’ve been through. But we’ll handle it.”

  “Sounds like you will,” Brady acknowledged. “I’ve never had much use for kids, myself.”

  “I love kids.” Jack continued smiling to himself. “I hope Crystal wants some more. I’d take a whole parcel of them.”

  “Now I know you really are crazy. A whole parcel of kids, on a detective’s salary?”

  “I might not be a detective that much longer. I don’t love it the way I used to, Brady. My job used to be the most important thing in the world to me. Now all I can think of are Crystal and the boys. They seem like the most important things in the world. I think I’d like a job where I didn’t have to worry about making it home every night.”

  “Or where Crystal didn’t have to worry about you making it home every night.”

  “That, too.”

  They sat in silence for a while, and Brady finally said, “I have a friend who owns a security systems company. He’s always trying to get me to come to work for him. He says I could double or maybe triple my income. Maybe I could hook you up with him. You’d be going to people’s homes and businesses, showing them what kind of products they need for their particular situation. Mike always said an ex-cop or an ex-con would be the best person to set up a security system. With his first choice being the ex-cop.”

  Jack chuckled and looked Brady in the eye. “That sounds really interesting. I may take you up on that offer.”

  They talked quietly and endured uninteresting TV programs until midnight, when the phone finally rang. Brady picked up one phone and Jack another. They nodded, and hit the ‘On’ buttons at the same time. “Dunlevy,” Jack said carefully.

  “Do you have the money?” It had to be Nelson, Jack decided. There was no Hispanic accent like Caesar's, or that of the man they presumed to be Rafael from the audio tape.

  “Yes. I want to speak with Crystal.”

  “You'll see her soon enough.”

  “I want to make sure she’s alive. Devon, too. You need to give me time to ask her about Devon.”

  There were muffled sounds, then Crystal’s voice came on. “Jack?”

  “Crys! Thank God. Are you all right?”

  “We’re okay, Jack. We want to come home.” Her voice sounded so tired.

  “Devon is okay, then?”

  “Yes, he’s holding up. What about Mark? Is he with you?”

  “He’s fine. He misses you. We both do.”

  The muffled sounds returned, and Jack knew Crystal was gone. Nelson came back on the line. “Give me your cell phone number.”

  Jack told him the number.

  “Get in your Explorer and drive south on Broadway. We'll be in touch.” He disconnected the call.

  “Damn!” Jack squeezed his receiver.

  Brady hung up the extension. “It was an untraceable line, anyway. At least you know they’re okay. That’s key, for now.”

  “Yeah, for now.” Jack stood up and stretched. “I guess it’s time to put the wheels in motion.”

  “Good luck, man,” Brady stood up and shook his hand. “See ya, wouldn’t want to be ya.”

  “Me either,” Jack muttered again, and reached for his jacket.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jack drove south on Broadway, which was bustling with traffic, even at midnight. Despite the other cars, he'd never felt more alone in his life. He knew this was exactly why a cop shouldn’t get personally involved in a case. When matters got personal it was too hard to remain objective. Jack was anything but objective. He was nervous as hell.

  His cell phone rang, and he flipped it open. “Dunlevy.”

  “Turn left when you approach Kellogg.”

  “Left on Kellogg,” he agreed, and the line went dead. He picked up another cell phone and hit the speed dial. “I’m turning left on Kellogg.” The corner approached rapidly. He made the turn.

  Brady replied, “That’s all he said?”

  “Yep, then he hung up.”

  “Christ. This could take all night.”

  “As long as he doesn’t have me diving into pools to make sure I’m not wearing a wire, I don’t care. I can drive all night.” Jack juggled the phone and lit a cigarette.

  “We could have done a wire, between you and me. Why didn’t we?”

  “Shut up.” Jack's own cell rang again and he rushed out to Brady, “Now I mean it, shut up. He’s calling again.” He flipped the first phone back open. “Yep?”

  “Turn left on Washington.”

  “Left on Washington. Got it. Are we going to be at this for long? I might stop for coffee.”

  “We can end things right now if you prefer.” Nelson did not sound amused.

  “No problem. Remain calm. I’ve got your money. I’m just anxious to make the trade.”

  “Left on Washington.” Nelson disconnected.

  Jack switched back to Brady’s phone. “Not much of a sense of humor.”

  “Jesus, Jack. You’re making me nuts here.”

  “Just trying to keep things light.”

  “While you’re dying on the inside, right?”

  “You know it. This has to turn out all right, Brady.”

  “I know, I know. It’ll be your ass if you lose that money. We’re lucky to have gotten it out of there.”

  “Some people would call it lucky. Some would say crazy.” He puffed his smoke.

  “Yeah, well I’ve been called both. I’m guessing you have, too.”

  “You got that.” The phone rang again. “Here’s my boy. Hang on.” He answered the first cell phone. “Yes?”

  “Turn left on Douglas.”

  “Left on Douglas. Won’t that bring me back around in a circle?”

  “You’re paying attention. Good for you.” Click.

  Jack sighed into Brady’s phone and said, “Left on Douglas, in case you didn’t hear.”

  “I heard. How’s your driving, juggling two cell phones and a cigarette?”

  “Better than it would be had I stopped for coffee. So tell me, Brady, have you ever done something foolish? Something you knew you probably shouldn’t do, but you went ahead and did it anyway?”

  “Oh hell, yeah! Lots of times. One of the best in my memory was when I was a senior in high school, and I got asked to the backward prom—the one where the girls ask the guys—by the two Warren sisters. They were these blonde twins with the biggest sets of—”

  “I get the picture. So did you go?”

  “Oh hell, yeah!” he repeated, and Jack could envision the grin on his face. “The dance itself was exhausting. The girls each got to sit out every other song, but I had to dance every damn one. Then after the prom, they'd rented this motel room. You want to talk about exhausting!”

  “You are kidding me, right?”

  “Nope, sorry. It was a seventeen-year-old boy’s dream, I can tell you that. The night was incredible. But the relationship didn’t end well. One guy, two gals, there was bound to be trouble.”

  Jack was la
ughing so hard he had to put out his cigarette. “Jesus, Brady! Someday when we have more time, I’d love to hear more of that story. Okay, there’s the phone. Hang on.” He answered the other cell. “Yes?”

  “Turn right on Santa Fe Avenue.”

  “That’s going to put me about three blocks from my house.”

  “You are a detective, aren’t you?” Nelson scorned.

  “Sarcasm—so close to humor. Are we developing a relationship here?”

  “Just across the railroad tracks on Santa Fe, there's an abandoned warehouse with a faded rooster on the sign out front. Pull into the parking lot but stay in your car. I’ll call once you get there.” Click.

  Jack’s heart rate increased rapidly. “You get that?” he asked Brady.

  “Yeah, I think I know that place.”

  Jack ran a hand through his hair. “It’s three fucking blocks from my house! Have they been keeping her three blocks from my house?”

  “Who knows? Don’t think about that. Right now you’ve got to focus on the big game. Are you ready for this?”

  “I think so, but I really don’t want to hang up this phone.”

  “It’s going to be fine. Remember, just because you can’t see me doesn’t mean I can’t see you. I can see you, buddy, and I’ve got your back.”

  “Good to hear. Thanks, Brady.”

  “Good luck, Jack. I’ll catch you on the flip side.” He disconnected and Jack did the same.

  I can see you, buddy, and I’ve got your back. It had been a long time since anyone said that to Jack. They were nice words to hear. The reassurance boosted his confidence as he pulled into the warehouse parking lot. He parked and tossed Brady’s cell phone onto the passenger seat. He unsnapped the strap of his shoulder holster, and made sure he could reach the gun. Then he waited.

  The parking lot was pitch black, except for his headlights. There were two garage-size doors in the front of the warehouse. Jack saw one swing open sideways. He spotted an old tractor parked inside, but no signs of people.

  His phone rang. “Yep?” He answered, his heart practically beating out of his chest.