Black 01 - Black Rain (2 page)

We flipped a coin for the bed and Chase lost. I dozed off to sleep, and after a while, felt her warm body slide in the bed next to me. We kissed and fondled each other, but I could not go all the way with her. I knew there was an attraction, she’s a beautiful woman. But I love my family and it was too high a price to pay. I could not bring myself to break my vows to my wife. She respected my feelings for my family, and knew I would never leave my wife.

On another case about a year after that, Chase saved my life. We were assigned to track down two escaped convicts. Deep in the mountains I came across one of the escaped killers getting water from a spring. As I confronted the convict at gunpoint, disarmed him and put him in cuffs, a shot rang out. Chase had shot the other escapee, who had been silently sneaking up behind me with an ax held over his shoulder.

Chase’s shot hit him in the shoulder and the ax dropped inches from my foot. We were able to disarm
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the bad guys and get the situation back under control.

As we waited for assistance to take them into custody, I hugged her for saving my life.

I’ve always felt the energy between us, but have always been able to control it. I keep things in perspec-tive; if I weren’t married, Chase would have been the woman in my life, but since that’s not the case, we continue as friends.

That event defined our true friendship. I remember the conversation we had after cuffing the suspects together and waiting for the ambulance and the rest of the search team to extract the killers.

The area by the spring was really beautiful. The trees, wildflowers and thick grass were quite enchanting in spite of the circumstances. We listened to the water bubbling and churning as it rolled to the waterfall eight feet to our left. Chase sat on a boulder as we guarded our suspects.

“Chase, you saved my life. I didn’t have a clue that guy was behind me with the ax.”

Chase looked at me with big brown caring eyes, “Joe, we got into this business to serve and protect. Not a lot of people can appreciate what we do. If anything had happened to you, then I’d be up here alone with these two thugs, and I couldn’t let that happen.” She winked at me.

I took a seat next to her and tried to ease the nervous-ness running through me from being so close to death.

“We did become part of a brotherhood when we took our law-enforcement oaths. You’re right, we’re bonded no matter what agency we work for. Chase, we always have to have each other’s backs, no matter what. We put our lives on the line every day, and we have to be able to trust somebody.”

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Chase nodded in agreement. “And God knows we’re outnumbered and outgunned by the bad guys.”

I reached over and took her hand. “Thanks for looking out for me. I owe you my life. I can’t thank you enough.

I guess I’m so used to having Vernon watch my back, that I didn’t take time to check the area around me.”

“Joe, you were busy with the other suspect, he was struggling and you can’t be everywhere at the same time. I was here for a reason and I know you’d have done the same for me. Don’t worry about it.” She punched me in the shoulder. “I’m always there for you.

I know the eerie feelings you’re having. I had them, too.

Get over it and move on. The reality is we live to see another day and do some good. We caught the bad guys and they’ll be off the street. That’s a good thing.” Chase kissed me on the cheek as we heard the helicopter and sirens approached.

At that moment I knew that if it weren’t for my wife and family, Chase would have been one hell of a woman to have in my life. I felt the natural attraction that we had for each other, the kind that stirs your emotions. I shook the feelings and jumped off the big rock.

“C’mon Chase, let’s get these scumbags down the hill so we can get out of this heat. These mosquitoes are starting to eat me alive.”

Chase slid down the rock and stood next to me. I said,

“Chase, I’ll never forget the friendship we have. I trust you and I got your back for life.” She nodded in agreement and punched me in the shoulder. We got the bad guys to their feet and marched them through the thick woods to the dirt road over the hill.

I put down the ice cream-filled spoon and immedi-Vincent Alexandria

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ately dial the number of the one person who can explain the project Chase is working. It’s after midnight and a queasiness of fear builds in my gut. I don’t like what I am feeling. I’m fearing the unknown, feeling that circumstances are about to be out of my control, that dues are about to be paid, but it is a call I must make.

The ringing phone rouses Agent Royal James from a deep sleep. He reaches for the phone at once, his senses sharp and focused.

“Hello,” Agent James answers gruffly. He sits up in bed, and his eyes take in his surroundings. His bedroom is as austere in nature as he is. His windows are covered with white horizontal blinds and the only other furniture in the room are a matching wooden dresser and nightstand.

Agent James is a lead officer in charge, which is the equivalent of captain of a police department. He is also Agent Chase’s direct report. If any one knows where Chase is and what case she’s working, he does.

“Royal, Johnson here. I got a message from Chase.

She says she’s in need of help and is working deep undercover. I need to know what case she’s working, the circumstances of the mission and the players involved.

I’ve never known her to sound the way she did. She sounded desperate.”

After what seems like a long silence, Agent James blurts, “Joe, we can’t talk over the phone. Let’s meet in thirty minutes at the place where we had lunch the last time we were together.” I hear the click on the other end of the phone. Agent James has hung up, leaving me no choice but to meet him. I hate it when people do that. I
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can imagine the ugly frown on his long walnut-brown face. He always looks that way when things upset him.

The last place I met Agent James for lunch was at the Longview Lake Marina. There’s a popular hotdog vendor named Jeffrey Bradley, whose cart always draws a long line. Vernon and I caught Jeffrey several times trying to pickpocket people on days when his assistant worked the cart. Once, he even tried to pickpocket Vernon, which was the last straw. After Vernon slapped him around a bit, he decided to work for us. He was terrified of going to jail, but he knew what every other lowlife on the street was up to. So now, he doubles as a snitch and gives us great information, as well as discounts on the food. We pay him pretty well, since the info has always led to arrests.

Longview Lake is about twenty minutes from my home. I frequent the lake, riding fifteen miles a day in summer on the park bike trail.

I go upstairs and throw on some jeans, sneakers and an old Baker University T-shirt I bought after graduate school, and I leave a note on the nightstand for Sierra in case she wakes. She can reach me on my cell phone anytime. I grab my ankle holster and .25 automatic pistol, take the keys to my black 300 Nissan convertible, and head for Longview Lake.

The marina is isolated. I sit in the car listening to the autumn leaves rustling in the night wind. The night sky is majestic in its crisp, starlit display. The faint smell of fish rising off the water, the view of the wooded area and the rhythmic sound of the waves splashing against the rocks have a way of putting one in a state of meditation.

One of the reasons I enjoy biking in this area right now is the array of beautiful colors in the autumn leaves.

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I remember sometimes when I rode my bike in the wooded area around the lake I saw black snakes cross-ing the bike path; one in particular had to be at least four feet in length. I stopped my bike to let it pass. The thing was huge and I marveled at its quickness.

Another time I heard what sounded like a stampede and about nine deer came running up a hill just in front of me and majestically jumped into the air over the bike path. It looked as if they were flying and they gave no care that I was there. They were running for their life from something. Caught in the moment of the view, I finally came to my senses and realized that whatever was chasing them could just as well decide to start chasing me. I knew it was most likely a pack of feral dogs, but I had left my off-duty revolver in the car that was parked at the entrance of the park. I pedaled as fast as I could and got clear of the area. Sometimes knowing when to run can literally save your life.

Time melts like the ice cream in my cup at home.

Agent James eventually pulls up in his new, navy blue 944 Porsche. We get out and exchange greetings. James is a stout, bald man. Taller than me at six feet, two inches, weighing about 190 pounds, his brown skin is clean-shaven and he appears neat and pristine like a federal agent about to go into the office. Even his hooded sweat suit has ironed creases in it.

We walk over to the dew-covered boat dock and have a seat on a bench facing the lake. Agent James’s dark eyes dart back and fourth as if he expects something to jump out at us. He frowns as he wipes the sweat from his brow. I’ve never seen him look like this before.

“Joe, what I’m about to tell you is top-secret shit, and
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once I tell you, you’re involved. So, if you really don’t want to get into this, walk away now.” Agent James struggles with shaking hands to light a cigarette.

We stare at each other for a minute. My first thought is to walk away. Life is good and I really don’t need any problems, but the loyalty to Chase leaps up.

“I’ve never known you to smoke, Royal.”

He takes a long drag from the cancer stick and exhales a big cloud of smoke. “I haven’t smoked since college. I’ve always kept it together, but this case that Chase is on is one of the biggest cases I’ve ever handled in the midwest region, and I don’t know how high up this thing goes. It’s a great possibility my phone is tapped and I’ve been followed on several occasions. This case is getting really ugly. Agent Purvis Smelley is missing.

We have a burned body at the morgue that matches his body dimensions, but we can’t make a positive ID until we get his dental records.”

This is the first time that I’ve ever seen Agent James spooked. Chase has to be in grave danger and there’s the possibility that Agent Smelley is dead. This can’t be good.

Agent James lets out a long belch and holds his stomach. “I hate burn victims because it can take so much time to identify them. It can set cases back weeks.

Neither Chase nor Smelley has reported in for the last six weeks. They were on this assignment together.”

My heart rate increases at the implications of Agent James’s last sentence sinks into my mind. If Smelley is assumed dead, Chase could be, too. If the bad guy got to Smelley he can just as easily blow Chase’s cover.

I look at Agent James and his demeanor and can’t help wondering how far his neck is out on the line with
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this case. He seems almost desperate, like he might be in over his head on this one, but I trust him and I owe Chase my life.

Agent James pulls out a small packet of antacid tab-lets, pops four in his mouth and chews them slowly. He rubs his stomach. “So, are you in or out?” He flicks the half-smoked cigarette into the waves of the lake and looks me squarely in the eyes.

The current takes hold of the butt and carries it farther away. I feel as though I’m about to be carried away from all that I care for and hold valuable, but I can’t bear the thought of someone harming Chase. What will Sierra say? I know she will lose it when she finds out that Chase and I spent the night together, even if I didn’t make love to her. She will not want me on the case. Am I truly doing this for the right reason? I can’t forget my partner, Vernon. His reaction to me going on this case alone will be just short of a heart attack. We have been through a lot together and I’m sure he will question my loyalty, but I don’t want him getting hurt because of my debt to Chase. I feel bad about my hesitation, Chase would risk her life for me; shit, she already has.

“I’m in.”

Agent James pulls a folder and a bulky envelope from his trousers—they’d been hidden under his pullover sweatshirt. “Joe, several officers in the four-state area and agents have come up dead. I’m sure you’ve heard of the car fires lately? We’ve kept it under wraps—and the press doesn’t know—that the victims have all been law-enforcement officers.”

I nod. “The media has put out reports that the car fires are gang-related. They’ve reported some kind of retalia-28

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tion for gangbangers disrespecting each others’ turf.

Are all the victims on the take?”

With a half smile Agent James opens the folder.

“That’s the bullshit we’ve been feeding the press. The media loves gang hype. They bite every time we fish that story to them. Ghetto paranoia sells! The truth of the matter is every one of the victims has been in law enforcement. They have been professional hits. We can’t arrest a soul because there isn’t enough evidence to pin it on anyone.”

“That’s some heavy shit. How can the departments let something like this spread to different states? Either the guys running this dirty outfit are smart as hell or they’re getting direction from someone higher up the food chain who’s keeping them abreast of the operation procedures. It looks like you got someone on the inside of the department keeping their eyes and ears open for the bad guys. This stinks to high heaven,” I state.

James moves the folder into the rays of the overhead lamppost that lights the dock and pulls out photos of bodies burned so badly that they are unrecognizable. In some instances the gold chains, clothes and jewelry are burned right into the flesh.

One picture is a montage of black, brown and red burned flesh. The heat was so intense that it burned deep enough to expose bone matter.

“After doing research into each officer killed, we found bank accounts, cars, homes and boats that the poor bastards couldn’t afford if they worked for the department for ten years. All were crooked as a monkey’s ass. We know this is internal, but we don’t know how high up it goes. That’s where you come in.