This story is part of an ongoing series.
The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
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, racism, racial 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.
***
Part 16 - Constrained by the Law
6:00pm, Monday, June 22d. The street in front of Town Fitness Centers was closed off, and the scene was lit up by the lightbars of many Police vehicles and a couple of Fire and EMS vehicles. Paramedics Ellen Brooks and Kevin Randolph had checked on the Policewomen, and found that Penny Scott had hit her head against the doorjamb when the cars had collided, and had a concussion.
Captain Tanya Muscone was in her Tank, wearing armor and a Police helmet, and was in charge of the investigation. FBI SAC Jack Muscone was also there, but was just sitting back and watching everything.
I was talking with Detective Sergeant Rodriguez. With me was Lieutenant Jerome Davis. Though he was a light-skinned black man, his face was literally a shade lighter than normal, and showed his shock and fear.
"We stayed together," said Julia, "but we should've had more than one person in each car. We were going in convoy to the Cop Bar, and they hit us just
that
fast."
"Laurer," I said to Joan Laurer, who was sitting next to Penny on the back of the EMS ambulance, "when those guys got out of their car after hitting yours, did you get the impression they wanted to kidnap you, too... or kill you?"
"Now that you mention it, sir," said Joan, "I think they intended to shoot us. They came out firing."
I nodded, then said "Julia, if there had been two people in the car, then they might have kidnapped both... or shot one of you and taken the other one. But riddle me this: did you ladies habitually come here to work out as a group?"
"Not like today." said Julia. "We usually come separately to work out. We came together today as a group because of the threats, and your orders to not be alone."
"Sir," said Jerome, "did they go after Inga specifically? Or just any one of them they could've gotten?"
"I don't know." I replied grimly.
"Sir," said Mark Walker from our CSI Team, "I found this on Corporal Gunddottar's car, under the rear bumper." He held out an evidence bag containing a small black box.
"Tracking device." I said. To Mark I asked "Were there any devices on any other vehicles?"
"Not on these ladies cars." said Walker. "But I checked all the Police vehicles out here, just in case. And we found this... on Lieutenant Davis's vehicle." He held up another evidence bag, with a tracking device in it. Lt. Davis's face turned angry.
"That answers your question, Jerome." I said. "Yeah. Inga, and you, were targeted specifically."
Tanya was on her Police iPhone, then hung up and drove over to us. "Sir," she said, "this perp car is wearing car tags that were reported stolen last week. And we've gotten some footage of the Impala that Inga was dragged into. The car tags are stolen, and different from the ones on the Impala that made the hit at the Quick Stop, but markings on the car suggest it's the same vehicle." (
Author's note: 'Woman In Love', Ch. 02-03.
)
"Jacquez Wilson." I said. "Have we got eyes on the Block House?"
"Yes sir." said Tanya. "There's a couple of people there, but no one has gone in or out since Lester Holder earlier today. And Wilson himself is not there."
"APB on Wilson." I said. "Priority. Okay, who are these two dirtbags?"
"Howard Little, age 54, and Duncan Johnson, age 58." said Tanya, consulting her iPad tablet. "Good number of drug-related priors when they were in their early 20s, ending up doing 20 years each at Jacksonville State Prison when a Police Officer was shot and killed during a drug bust they were involved in. That was in the City. They were released two years ago, and have not been heard of since, until they were arrested in the City as part of the Ferguson Park riots a few weeks ago."
"And they weren't returned to prison for violating their paroles?" I asked.
"They weren't on parole." said Tanya. "One reason they did 20 full years was that their plea bargain included no parole at the end. And they were released with a lot of others that were involved in the City riots, a lot like we've done here."
"Have Intel dig deep into these guys." I said. "This operation was well planned and almost flawlessly executed, but they pretty much committed suicide-by-cop. Gotta wonder what compelled them to do that..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7:00pm, Monday, June 22d. Police Headquarters was busy, but there was a pall hanging over everyone as I walked down the hallway towards the Chief's office suite. MCD and Vice Detectives were on the phones, talking to Confidential Informants and anyone else they knew of that might give us a clue to Inga's whereabouts.
I went into the Chief's Conference room, where the Chief, Sheriff, Deputy Chief, and FBI Special Agent in Charge were waiting. My Operations Commander came in almost immediately afterwards. My Captain of Detectives was getting a briefing in the Intel Center.
"Anything?" the Chief asked as Teresa and I sat down.
I just shook my head. "I've put out an APB on Lester Holder as well as Jacquez Wilson, but it's 'no joy', so far."
"Why have you put out an APB on Holder?" asked the Chief. "What's going to be your probable cause to arrest him?"
"As if I need it," I said, "he interviewed Wilson when Wilson made those threats against the Police. If we find Holder, we might can find Wilson."
"That's no where near good enough, Mister Crowbarrrr." said the Chief. "He'll demand a lawyer, and then we'll have to let him go or face a lawsuit."
"Well,
what the HELL do you WANT me to do, Chief?
" I shouted at him. "I'm trying to find our Police Officer! And if Holder knows where Wilson has her, I
will