Detective Lanniker was a mostly-honest man. The concern was that when he colored outside the lines, he had no inhibitions. With a near eidetic memory, he knew at least something about most of the serious criminals in the city. Much of that information he stored away and held until it became useful. Like that fateful night that the famous football player walked into the restaurant.
The detective was wearing his best suit and had a beautiful woman sitting across from him. One of the cooks was selling coke out of the back of the kitchen. He'd stepped up his weight lately and that was the excuse Lanniker needed to have the department expense his dinner and companion, who was a discreet CI.
The athlete showing up was inevitable. He'd been there five of the previous six Wednesdays. He was predictable. For a professional team, that was a bonus. He put up the same excellent stats year in and year out. For a detective, it was even more of a bonus. The behavior of the athlete in his previous city was repeated here.
Smiling at his beautiful companion, he watched the athlete approach. Ignoring the detective, the large man asked the CI to dance. She appeared to blush, stood and moved onto the dance floor. Three dances in, the detective approached them and tried to cut in.
"Go finish your dinner. I'll bring her back when we're done."
The detective tried not to grin. "Will you, you stupid fuck? What if she moves to the right, like she's rushing the passer? She'll slip right past you. You know that's your weak side, not that you have a strong side. She's going back to the table with me, you--"
That's when the man who had ruined his nephew's life punched him with a sledgehammer of a cross. The detective went down and the handsome athlete left with the woman. Two diners and a waiter helped the detective to his feet. Walking over to the bar, he ordered a whiskey and pulled out his phone.
"This is Lanniker, badge number 4506. I need a bolo on Marc LaValliere. He drives an Escalade, black or an Audi R8, maroon. Possible drug possession and assault on an officer. I want to be called as soon as he's seen or stopped."
"The football player?"
"Yup."
