C20 Chapter 20

Zane started the car and they drove off.

“Where we going now Chief?” Johnson asked.

“We’re going to see the next informant,” Zane said. Zane was in a quandary. He did not know if Johnson could be trusted. If Johnson couldn’t be trusted the last thing he wanted to do was reveal another source to a corrupt cop.

Instead of driving to the next informant, Zane drove out of town to a deserted farmhouse. They slowed and turned off onto the dirt road. They drove up the dirt road and Zane parked in front of the house. He turned off the car and climbed out.

Johnson climbed out and closed the door.

“Are we really meeting someone here?” Johnson asked.

Zane stood on the other side of the vehicle. His body was hidden and he drew his gun without Johnson noticing. Then training his gun on Johnson he stepped forward.

“Give me your gun,” Zane said. “Nice and slow.”

Johnson hesitated as his eyes shifted between the gun and Zane’s face. He slowly unholstered his weapon and removed it from its holster.

“Toss it over here,” Zane said.

Johnson threw the gun over the car and it landed in the dust on Zane’s side of the car.

“Look chief, I don’t know anything. Really.”

“You’re lying. You never saw Jerry yesterday. You were confused when we stopped at his place and you were confused when I introduced you to Jerry. Jerry told me he never saw you or anyone else yesterday. So, when were you planning on telling me?”

Johnson opened his mouth and then closed it. “I… I don’t know chief. I knew something was wrong when we stopped at Jerry’s place. It wasn’t where I met the guy Brian introduced me to as ‘Jerry’. I figured maybe had more than one place but when we stepped inside and I saw him, I knew he wasn’t who I met yesterday.”

“So why didn’t you say something?”

“I didn’t know what to say. I have been trying to figure out what’s going on since we left Jerry back there. I figured Jerry might have told you he didn’t meet me yesterday but when you didn’t say anything I decided to wait and try to figure out what to say to you.”

“Why should I believe you? I’ve got a bunch of kids in the morgue and a queenpin on the loose. I’ve also been told she’s working with corrupt cops and I’m now asking myself, who are the corrupt cops on my team? Who can I trust? Who’s telling me the truth?”

“I’m sorry, chief. I didn’t know what to say. I don’t want to make trouble,” Johnson replied.

“Lives are at stake Johnson. I’ve tried not to believe that I have corrupt cops on the team but now I have to believe I have. The question is, is it you or Brian? And who are you working with?”

Johnson shook his head. “It’s not me chief. I swear. I’m still learning the ropes and to be quite honest I feel my training’s been dragging for some time, almost as if people don’t want me around, don’t want me to train and learn.”

Zane narrowed his eyes. Was Johnson lying, he wondered? “So why haven’t you said anything? Why haven’t you come to me?”

“I’m the new kid on the block. I don’t want to rock the boat and get anyone in trouble. This team’s real tight, like a family and it’s tough fitting in as it is. If I make trouble that’s all I’ll ever be to my colleagues and I may as well ask for a transfer.”

“Well if you came to me it wouldn’t mean that you were getting anyone in trouble. I could help you in a way that no-one’s embarrassed at all. But let’s talk about that later. Do you know where you went with Brian yesterday when he said he was taking you to meet Jerry?”

“I could show you,” Johnson said.

Zane hesitated, still not sure if he could trust Johnson. Then he relented and put away his gun. He picked up Johnson’s and handed it back to him.

“Get in the car,” Zane said as he climbed in behind the wheel. He started the car and they headed for the place where Johnson had met Brian’s ‘Jerry’ the day before.

As they drove, Zane brought Johnson up to speed on what was happening.

“I’m guessing there’s a lot you haven’t been told,” Zane told him. “I’m going to tell you what I can but I need you to keep this between us. Not a word to anyone. None of the other officers got it?”

“Okay,” Johnson said hesitantly.

“The gang we arrested the other day with the major shipment of drugs are trying to set up their business here in Hurstville. We have to stop them. The woman who runs the team goes by the name of Flamingo. Her real name is Hope Ryder. She seems to be like a start-up specialist that gets sent ahead to each town where the cartel she works for wants to set up operations. We have to bring her down.”

“Got it,” Johnson said.

“Now, she’s been caught no less than six times in other cities and every time she’s escaped.” Zane broke off letting the words sink in.

“That sounds very convenient to me,” Johnson said.

“My thoughts exactly. I’ve since got word that there are corrupt police involved. I can understand there might have been in the cities where she’s been before but I didn’t want to believe it in this city, on my team. I have to admit though, that my attitude towards that has changed.”

“Hence the reason you drew your gun on me?” Johnson stated drily.

“Exactly. I do apologize but I’m sure you can understand my situation. I’m at a point where I’m questioning who to trust. And when we turned up at Jerry’s today and he told me he didn’t see you or anyone else yesterday and I saw the look of confusion on your face, I knew something was wrong.”

“Sure,” Johnson nodded.

“I need you to pretend that we didn’t see any Jerry today at all. I need to tell the team, any one of them if they ask, that we never made it to Jerry but that we got sidetracked with one of my old friends who’s thought someone’s stealing his livestock.”

“Okay but what if we were being followed?”

“I don’t think we were followed. I think whoever is not on our side is just going to question us later. If you tell them we went to Jerry, they’ll know we know so we have to make them believe that we didn’t see Jerry okay?”

“Okay,” Johnson replied.

“So let's drive by other ‘Jerry’s’ place and then head back to the station.”

“We’re not seeing any other informants?” Johnson asked. Zane thought he detected a note of relief in Johnson’s voice.

“I think we’ll give it a rest for now. I’m thinking that the queenpin and her crowd might just have gotten to everyone in this town already. Seeing more of the informants might just be a waste of time. Besides, if you didn’t see the real Jerry yesterday, I’m guessing none of the guys you saw yesterday were the real deal. The further we stay from them the better.”

“Okay Chief,” Johnson replied. “I was kinda enjoying my time with you. It’s been refreshing.”

“You think we’re dating Johnson?” Zane joked. “Want to go see a movie? Hold hands maybe?”

Johnson laughed. “No sir. I was just saying that it’s been refreshing going around with you for a change. I haven’t had the chance to do any training with you yet. It’s interesting to talk to you and see how you work.”

“Well, I haven’t shown you much have I?” Zane asked.

“No, but I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from you Chief, given time.”

“That’s good. I got a feeling that this time we’re in right now is going to be a steep learning curve for you. Steeper than you imagined. You best keep your eyes and ears open and watch your back.”

“The department got politics Chief?” Johnson asked.

“Anywhere has its politics Johnson. Not just us. Let me worry about that though. No, I’m referring to every person you meet and question or arrest. Trust none of them. They might just do you in if you so much as give them the slightest bit of trust.”

They made small talk on the way back to the station and Zane got to know Johnson quite a bit better. He liked Johnson and doubted that he was corrupt. At least that was his impression from talking with him as they drove. Zane felt a new concern. Now that he had been out with Johnson, would the others in the team lock him out? Was Johnson in danger simply by association with himself now?

If Brian was corrupt, Brian might suspect that Johnson and even Zane knew the truth about yesterday’s visit to Jerry. If he suspected anything they might make trouble with Zane and Johnson. He knew trouble was coming for him but he didn’t want trouble for Johnson. He thought of the young children who had all been killed in drive-bys.

“Don’t you have some leave due?” Zane asked, looking for a way to get Johnson out of the way.

“I guess but I haven’t thought of taking it,” Johnson replied.

“Well, you might want to think of taking it now. Go see your folks or whatever. I spoke with the commissioner this morning and informed him that we might need reinforcements so I’m pretty sure we’ll have reinforcements soon. It’s going to be about the best time to take time off now because I think it’s going to get hectic soon.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning on taking leave Chief but I’ll give it some thought.”

“Okay. I’m just thinking aloud and trying to give you some advice.”

“Thanks, Chief. I appreciate it.”

They arrived at the station and Zane decided to go in with Johnson. They saw Brian and Zane decided to head off any inquiry Brian might have.

“Damn Feds. Always interfering,” he said to Brian. “We got nothing done today. The Commissioner called me and asked me to look into some records for an urgent case the Feds are working on. Didn’t get to see a single damn informant.”

Zane kept Johnson behind him and noticed that Brian looked past him a few times to Johnson. He seemed to be trying to gauge the truth of what Zane was telling him. Johnson said nothing and when Zane felt that any unspoken questions had been addressed he excused himself and left the station. He climbed in the cruiser and backed up. He didn’t know where he was going but he felt he needed some air.