“Yes, crystal. Let her rip!”
“Eddy, we need a gumshoe-mouthpiece just like you. Someone that the police, especially your buddy Detective Holler, trusts – sometimes. And, that person must be above suspicion when visiting police headquarters – maybe. This is a big job and if you are not 100 percent with us, you best be leaving Domino’s now! I don’t want to scare you but I will. I know that you have bent the rules before or you wouldn’t be a PI and that you’ll do things just for the money. Right?”
“Right, but with limitations – I won’t ever kill or rob anybody! This must be in the contract or I walk.” The capo casually nodded his acceptance.
Mr. Client proceeded: “We are in agreement. But, we’ve checked and found that you were a religious man of the past – don’t let that Deacon guy get in our way or else it’s deep six for the both of you. We won’t ask you to turn your back on your religious entertainment but keep it in check. Now, take this package with you. Included is a book about a fictitious business and how they handled their money transactions. There are no names mentioned in this book. And, after reading, you will understand what it is that we require. So, take off and remember who it is that you are dealing with.”
I took the package: “I’m good, see you around.” Bub showed me to the back door: “Eddy, I need you to start on this project right away, so get moving!” The Employer did not speak to me during the whole meeting – he just sized me up one side and down the other.
I left Domino’s and walked back to my office, just to clear my head. What was I going to do? I wanted the money but I had my limitations of how to make it. My Biblical memory was rushing to my brain. “Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are they that mourn. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the persecuted. Blessed are those that seek righteousness. Blessed are the pure in heart and a whole bunch more that was blessed.” I was now on a path of not being any of them that were blessed and my conscience was again becoming bothersome.
Later at the office: I opened the package and spent the next four hours reading the material. Some book! It was nothing other than marching orders for a good attorney to set up fake corporations to launder money derived from the family business. My cut was big bucks and if I took their cash, I would be on easy street and I could help send my two grandsons to college – one of these days. So, I told myself: “I’m not hurting anybody. I’m just doing some legal paperwork and that’s what I’m trained for – O.K.!”
It was now past midnight and I was tired. I told myself that I would sleep on it and decide in the morning “Who am I kidding? I going to do it, and that’s that!” Then, something popped into my thoughts: “Lovers of money/greedy – is that me? So, what – back off you watch-dog!”
The next week I worked diligently and I was starting to feel some relief from my mental anguish and twinges of a nagging conscience. And I had completed the paperwork for setting up dummy corporations and was ready to deliver. The illicit money would soon be rolling into my grubby hooks, trash cans full. “Oh, yeah – happy me!”
I dialed Mr. Client: “This is Eddy. We are good to go. Everything is filed with the appropriate government agencies for their review and processing. It should be no problem. When the clerk saw your name on the forms, she started calling me ‘Sir.’ But, if anything does come up or if some wise guy gets frisky, we might need to grease a few palms. We just need to relax for now and wait for their rubber stamp before accounts can be initiated. We’re on our way to a three-point mutual relationship – I deliver, you prosper, you pay Eddy.”
Mr. Client: “I knew that you were the right man for the job, Eddy. Pleasure doing business with a public servant like you. And there’s another bonus waiting for you – that’s point number three. Just come by our Tampa shop down at Pier 5 tonight and pick it up. I think you will like the way we do business. If you want to watch and learn, get there early.”
“Thanks, I’ll be there.”
I just hung up the phone with Bub when things began to change: ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, and ring! On the other end: “Hello, this is Holler, you know, Detective Sam Holler. How’s it going, Deacon?”
Eddy acting surprised: “You mean Sam Holler – that old hound dog from FSU – still validating parking tickets? I’ve got a desk drawer full of those aggravating blue slips. And, nobody calls me The Deacon anymore. Whatever, it’s good to hear from you.”
“O.K. Eddy, I’ll cut to the chase. I need to see you right away. It’s official business. I’m your long-time friend so I want to give you a heads-up and a little advice. I need to do this today – for your sake!”
“Alright with me, Sam. I have an appointment and I’ll stop on the way. Can’t be too important if they put you in charge of this quizzing session. Remember that I finished ahead of you at FSU. You were last in our class and I was next to last. Ha!”
“Very funny, just get here as soon as you can and to me, you’re still The Deacon.”
Later, down at the precinct: “Come on in Eddy and sit down. You know Detective Booth. He is here as a material witness. Before we start, you have the right to have an attorney present besides yourself – maybe you should get a smart one.”
“Now Sam, that’s cold, man! And, it’s not very amusing coming from an old friend and college buddy. I’ll waive anything you want. I got nothing to hide.”
“Eddy, we have here before us a stack of applications for Certification of Incorporation that lists Mr. Client as Chief Operations Officer and you as Lead Attorney. Are you associating with that hood? We have a file on him that needs two 4-drawer cabinets to hold it all. This is not good and looks bad for you in the worst way. We are friends and I just want to help you and keep you out of big trouble.”
“Well, Sam, all I’m doing is some legal work for my client and besides, I need the money. My grandsons want to go to college someday and it’s my job to help them get there. You understand? I’ve done nothing illegal. What’s a granddad supposed to do?”
“Alright, Eddy, I don’t want to alarm you, if you’re on the level. It’s just that we’ve received a few suspicious tips about Mr. Client’s underworld connections and about these new so-called business endeavors that involve you. We know all about their money laundering rackets. Hard cash taken from illegal means is delivered to your Mr. Client and he takes it from there. He distributes the cash to and from these dummy corporations that have offshore accounts. Great setup and he gets big bucks from the action.”
Detective Boone then edged closer to Eddy. He entered the conversation: “Mr. Riffle, may I interject with some advice? One should be careful not to take for granted another’s charity. If you are somewhat on a leash, don’t infringe on their patience because choke holds are not pleasant – just ask my dog.” He then gave a short wink in Eddy’s direction.
Eddy looked puzzled and responded: “Well, I’m sure that advice will be taken to heart if I can figure out what it means.”
Sam had heard enough babble from Detective Boone and ended the chitchat: “Take off, you rascal, and remember to watch yourself and what you are willing to do for your clients. I’d hate to have to arrest my buddy – who would I beat at golf?”
I left Precinct 777 with apprehension because Sam knew more about Mr. Client’s operations than I did and that could lead to disaster. But still on my mind: “Tonight, my next stop will be Pier 5 to get my bonus. Money always makes me feel better!”
Later: Pier 5, Tampa, was way down at the end of the docks where it was the darkest. There was one single little light above the large hangar doors. The sign above read A. Baddon Enterprises. I mused to myself: “This is one of those new corporations I legalized. I can almost see my cut neatly stacked before me in easy to spend small bills.”
Not wanting to make my presence known just yet, I slid around to the backside, climbed up a convenient drainpipe, and sneaked through the roof door. I was able to find a nice viewing spot just above the main working area of the hangar.
I wanted to see what kind of outfit I had hooked up with and how much trouble I was in.
It didn’t take long before those big doors rolled up to a screeching halt. Two white limos pulled inside. Neatly dressed men piled out of those limos. They had automatic machine guns that they pointed in all directions. Thank heavens they didn’t look up in my direction. I hunkered down and held my breath. If they saw me, they would blast me right off my perch. My mind blurted a thought: “If The Deacon is present, he needs to say a little prayer for me!”
The door to the office opened and out walked Mr. Client, The Employer, and a dozen familiar men that also had automatic machine guns. Each one of those men looked just as mean as the one beside him. One twitch and the whole place would go up in a hail of gunfire. “What am I doing here?”
After much conversation and passing of good tidings, they got down to business. A fellow that The Employer called Mr. Sharda did the negotiating and the hand shaking. Then, the trunks of those white limos were opened and exposed the contents to my wide eyes – cash. That’s right, cash, the trunks were full of cash!
The meeting was concluded and the participants got into their vehicles and exited leaving Mr. Client literally swimming in cash. He jumped right into that big pile of currency and started swimming. His men laughed and laughed. Bottles were opened and drinking started. It was a very successful day. In all this delight and confusion, I caught a glimpse of a man in the background and over by the office. He looked to me like a dead-ringer for Detective Boone. He tried to be inconspicuous by using a pile of tires as his lurking spot and a good barrier if gunshots had been required.
I had seen all that I needed to see and slipped from my hiding spot, back out onto the roof, down the drainpipe, and then around to the front. The doors had now been closed shut so I knocked on the side door. I heard clicking like the sound of bullets being chambered in those automatic machine guns. I heard the rustling of feet as they rushed to the other side of the door. Then a voice: “Who’s there?” I let out a big: “It’s Eddy Riffle, let me in, I’m here to see Bub – I mean Mr. Client!”
The door opened and there they stood – all pointing weapons right at my forehead. I could only think of one thing to say: “Is this a private party or can anyone join in?”
Mr. Client then looked at his men and then they looked back at him. They all broke out in loud laughter. They pulled me inside, slapped me on the back, gave me a swig out of a bottle, and handed me a Cuban cigar. I lit the thing, took another swig, and joined the party that lasted and lasted and lasted. “I will have a headache tomorrow!”
The Sting Operation
The next morning at my office, I did have that headache and I felt awful. I wasn’t sure which was worse – my headache or my fret over Mr. Client and his financial business operations. I opened my desk lap drawer and the first thing I saw was a check for my cut of that money shuffling business. “Wow! Just another big check – $25,000.” I realized that it was a very good payday for a little dishonesty, but I did wrestle with myself about being a bought soul. So, after a good slugfest with my conscience, I concluded that I could not and would not be part of this crime ring. My heart and soul knew it was wrong and I felt emotionally compelled to do something – “he’s not going to own me!” So, I called my law enforcement buddy: “Sam, this is Eddy. I have to confess that I have not been a good boy. And, I’m afraid that I have some startling news that you need to hear.”
I explained all about the capo, Mr. A. Baddon’s (a.k.a. – The Employer of Bought Souls) and the illegal operations and Mr. Client’s involvement. Also, I told him about Detective Boone and what I saw at the pier. He was naturally upset about his companion’s connection. He immediately contacted the District Attorney and set up a secret meeting. A plan was subsequently devised and I was included in the action. And, I had to turn over that check for 25k to the District Attorney and that put me in the DA’s good graces – for the first time!
Sam said that he did not want me to be in any more danger than necessary, so he limited my involvement. All I had to do was to determine when Mr. Client was to receive another shipment of cash from Mr. Sharda, the date, and the time. “So much for limited involvement.” I knew that I had to be precise so as not to be detected because I was dealing with certain death if I failed. It was a gamble but I had to take the chance. I was betting on the jackpot with my last centavo.
At the usual monthly business meeting where the capo sits at the head of the table: “To my worker bees, I have to say that it’s been a good month, financially speaking. All of you will be happy with your paychecks.” He then took out a pile of envelopes and passed them out. To my surprise, who do you think was sitting at the big-boy table beside Mr. Client and got a fat check? That’s right – Mr. Macks – another sold out soul – without much choice – and I had a hand in it!
The Employer continues: “Further, we can thank Eddy Riffle, who’s sitting at the rear, for setting up the legal stuff so we can do our unique business like we want. Thanks, Eddy! You get a lot of attention but I don’t want the rest of the team to be jealous.” The boys all politely snickered. This jovial atmosphere allowed for some sniping among the attendees and that’s when Mr. Macks and I caught sight of each other. Just for old time sake, we nodded and tipped our hats. I grinned because his nose was scarred from my double-jab and right cross.
Mr. Client then stood up and excused me from the meeting: “No use you knowing the operational plans, Eddy, it will just get you into trouble if anything goes wrong. The less you know the better for you.”
What they didn’t know: while sitting at the rear, I was able to place a “bug” under the table that would pick up his entire plan. And, Sam was located outside the building in an unmarked police van that was recording all the conversations down to the last detail. Discussed were names, dates, and places – delivered as ordered – now go and hide!
The rest is police history. I located myself in my usual hiding spot before Pier 5 was raided. I witnessed a long and harsh gun battle. As it turned out, The Employer was the only man that was killed in the gunfire. There was a lot of noise but poor marksmanship – holes in everything but the targets. While totally pinned down, The Employer simply charged the machine guns of the police – a suicide attack – 100% sure. He asked for it and he got it – looked like he wanted to make a point! Maybe it was because he failed to buy another prized soul, me. And, with his devil’s temper, he must have been temporarily filled with remorse for being tricked. I personally was relieved that he was gone for good and not able to seek revenge for my tattle-tale.
A well-hidden Detective Boone and Mr. Client were both arrested sneaking out the side window and pleaded that they were coming in and not going out. Mr. Sharda was arrested. He said that he was there to get his car repaired. There were 58 bullet holes in it. The rest of the wounded members of the gang were arrested – they were there for bingo. The confiscated cash from the sting was big bucks which subsequently got deposited into the police anti-crime fund – minus enough for 3 dozen donuts. The success of the sting was kept secret and my name was never mentioned to the press or to anybody. Judge Rule was informed of my involvement. She commented: “I knew he was made of good stuff!”
That bonus check for $25,000 from the mob was kept by the city for evidence and then donated to the police widows’ charity. Detective Sam Holler was promoted to Lieutenant of Investigations. He thanked me privately. We are still buddies.
But there was a hitch: An autopsy revealed something odd. The cold dead body of Mr. A. Baddon (no nick-names on a toe tag) contained one standard police bullet and one stray rifle round – the one that inflicted the kill shot. It checked out to be the same caliper of a sniper rifle.. A puzzled Sam felt that it was his duty to ask Eddy a few questions.
“According to your military records, you fired expert with the M-14, M-16, .45-cal. pistol, and the M-79 grenade launcher. Is that right, Eddy?”
“Yes, but what are you driving at – am
I a suspect of something?”
“No, nothing like that, yet. Everything turned out for the best, it had to be done. It doesn’t matter who did the kill shot or why – it’s bad man down! But did you see anybody moving up high? If it was a sniper, then it could be a murder case. And, there’s something else: The body of The Employer disappeared from the morgue, no trace.”
“What’s this have to do with me?”
“Do you own a rifle – a bolt-action 7.62x51mm M24 with accuracy to 800 meters? I’m being exact for a reason. It’s a standard-issue sniper rifle for the military.”
“Yes, but it’s in storage in my attic. I haven’t got it down or cleaned it for 40 years. Check it if you like!”
“Anything else that you recall that might assist the investigation?”
“Might have been some shadows darting but that’s about all.”
“Alright, Eddy, that’s it for now. I’ll look at that rifle tomorrow, so don’t touch it for any reason. And don’t forget to show up for your award presentation.”
A few days later, the mayor held a closed-door ceremony and gave Eddy a medal. After shaking everybody’s hand multiple times, he made his way out of the event feeling great and unable to hide that big smile that was all over his grubby face. He was elated because he had done something right for a change. “After all, it’s a step in the right direction and Mr. A. Baddon, The Employer of Bought Souls, is out of business – permanent. But who shot him – a sniper?”
Eddy began to worry: “Am I having real dreams or dreaming real. Something is happening to me and my psyche. Am I losing my mind?”
Eddy needed to stay in good graces, so while appearing in the public view, Eddy raised verbal havoc with the brutal police and their outrageous tactics. And, to show loyalty to the family, he spared no quarter when defending Mr. Client before the courts.
A mutual deal: Mr. Client pled guilty to a misdemeanor in attempting to commit a crime but arrived too late for the party – caught entering a side window. He thereby received a time-served sentence. He was released.
The Deacon and the Shield Page 6
