The chronological order of my stories is as follows:
Todd & Melina series, Interludes 1-5, Sperm Wars series, Russian Roulette series, Case of the Murdered Lovers series, Case of the Murdered Chessplayer series, The Swap series, Interludes 6-10, Case of the Black Widow series, Teresa's Christmas Story.
The Case of the Black Badge, Ch. 1
Feedback and constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial or racist language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
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Part 1 - The Black Badge
"Don, have you ever heard of a 'Black Badge'?" Paulina Patterson asked as I strode into the MCD room. Cindy Ross and Martin Nash were also in the room. It was a beautiful mid-February day, sunny but very cold. Just the way I liked it.
"Is this some kind of trick question?" I asked as I sat down. "Our newly-forming SWAT team will have black badges on their combat-ready uniforms so that bright metal won't become a target, but other that that I have no idea what you're talking about."
"It's not a trick question." Cindy said. "Martin heard about 'black badges' a couple of weeks ago, said an informant said something about a 'Black Badge' gang when Sergeant Sharples asked the perp about it. But the reason I ask is because we have a perp in Interrogation-1, some real low-life, and when Martin and I began talking to him he said he was one of 'us', that he was part of the 'Black Badge'. We realized something was up, so we tried to play along, but I think he got suspicious and said he wouldn't talk anymore without his lawyer present."
"Hmm, who was in the room at the time?"
"Me, Martin, and Patrolman Gunn. Gunn insisted on staying in the room and said he was there on Captain Malone's personal orders. And since a uniformed officer has to be present at all interrogations - thanks to Ikea's strong-arm tactics in the past - and we couldn't find Morton, Rudistan or Hicks right away, so we couldn't make Gunn leave."
"Oh, shit." I said. Patrolman Tommy Gunn (yes, that's his name) was a mean-spirited cop who looked English with sparse hair and a jaw that angled to a sharp chin. He seemed to just blend into the Force, his facial features almost nothing in a crowd.
But he hadn't disappeared from my radar, and I'd had my eye on him as a possible mole or dirty cop for whatever organization that appeared to be infesting the Department. "So Gunn said that Captain Malone
personally
told him to stay on duty there?"
"Yes sir." Martin Nash said. "We took the low-life back to a holding cell, and McGhillie and Johnson are holding the line there for us. Morton and Rudistan are coming back in from their patrol, as well." Martin Nash said.
"Good. All right, here's what I want to do." I said. "First, I need my brown trenchcoat and glasses..."
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I entered Interrogation-1 from the "front side", the perp side from where a lawyer would be expected to enter. I did not look like a policeman in any way. I was wearing a fedora hat like the Press wears in the comic books, a heavy trenchcoat over what looked like a suit, and heavy gold rimmed glasses that no one else knew were plain glass and had no prescription. I walked in with what looked like a legal portfolio full of papers, borrowed from Paulina.
The perp was already there. He was white, his dirty blonde hair stringy and unkempt. He was young, early twenties, and he looked like he was by no means the sharpest tool in the shed. Something about his face and hair reminded me of "Big Alex", the well-hung young stud that was murdered by Ned
((Author's note: see 'Sperm Wars: Elizabeth Strikes Back!' for more on Big Alex))
, but this man was not nearly as physically large as Alex.
"Hi buddy." I said as I sat down beside him, knowing that Cindy, Martin and Paulina were watching from the other side of the one-way mirror. "Have they treated you well?"
"Uh yeah, sure." the guy said. "Uh, you're not our normal lawyer."
"He's busy." I said. "Patrolman, you can wait outside."
"No sir." Patrolman Gunn said, his voice quiet but menacing, and certainly challenging. "I'll stay right here. You should have no problem with that, should you?"
"It's okay." the perp said as I glared through the glasses at Gunn. "He can stay."
"All right." I said, wondering if Gunn had recognized me yet. I lowered my voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "The reason I'm here, buddy, is that the word is out that you've broken the honor of the Badge."
"I'd never do that!" the perp exclaimed. I cautioned him to keep his voice down by putting my finger over my lips, then glancing pointedly at Patrolman Tommy Gunn.
"The Badge was the biggest honor of my life. I'd