Black 01 - Black Rain Page 19

  I sit on the concrete stairs amongst my brothers, staring up at the cloud formations in the blue afternoon Vincent Alexandria

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  sky. I make that one cloud looks like a small elephant.

  It makes me think of peanuts and how the elephant and my dad both love them in the shell. My father prefers them salted. I smile as my cell phone rings.

  “Joe, this is Commissioner Wayne. I received a package for you from FBI Agent Chase. Enclosed was some film that we had developed and that got the names of all the dirty cops. I sent a copy of the list to Internal Affairs and they’re in the process of arresting the officers and agents now. We also noticed that Dread has tickets to Cuba, so we took the liberty of canceling his flight arrangements. Agent Chase included a note that she is staying at the Hyatt Regency, but will be at the Plaza this afternoon.”

  My heart begins to race. If Chase is here, Dread is here. Is his accomplice in town, as well? I look at my watch. Close to two in the afternoon. Dread must have been getting ready to make his move and leave for Cuba.

  “Commissioner Wayne, I just lost my dad, but I’m headed to the Plaza. I’ll try and find them. I have an agent with me for backup. I’ll call in if we catch up with them. I’m not sure what cops I can trust to call in for backup, so if you can handpick some of the guys you feel you can trust, and have them wait for my call, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Joe, I’m sorry about your father, my friend. I’ll get some men together. Be careful, Joe, this Dread is one bad dude. Agent James sent me a copy of his file. I know Vernon has to be with you, you tell him I said to stand down. He can’t help you with one bad foot. You know we’ve got to talk about that accident when you get back to the office, right?”

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  Commissioner Wayne always had a way of knowing what Vernon and I were up to. He has been a great boss and a better friend. We have all risen through the ranks together. He has had our backs when things got tough, but we’ve also made him look good with one of the highest solved-murder ratios in the region.

  “Yes, sir. Thanks for the condolences.”

  “Joe, are you sure you’re up to doing this? You just had a death in the family. Your head’s got to be clear on this one, son.”

  “My father and I had a great relationship and I was able to talk with him before he crossed over. My father is at peace, and I’ve done all I can do right now. I’m focused, sir.”

  “Okay, Johnson, but do this by the book. This is dangerous territory, son.”

  We hang up and I go to inform Vernon and the others of the new information. I talk to Sierra and let her know that I have to leave again. She doesn’t say anything, but by the way she looks at me and kisses me, I know that all is well.

  Chapter 16

  I know from my experience with Chase that if they are shopping, it will likely be at Saks Fifth Avenue or some similar store. Chase has incredible taste and told me pre-viously about her favorite stores.

  We pull off onto Linwood Boulevard and head west to Southwest Traffic Way with Agent Duvall following in her SUV. We get to the Forty-Seventh Street turn and ride into the Plaza shopping district. The area is full of shoppers.

  The Plaza, an upscale shopping area, is adorned with beautiful water fountains and European architecture. The oval curves of the buildings are accented with pikes at the tops ascending to steeples and statues of Roman and Greek gods in marble and gold. We pass by popular restaurants such as: The Lobster Pot, Red Dragon and Ruth Chris Steak House. Farther up ahead are the retail chains and boutique stores, Halls, Sebastian’s, Valentino’s, Nine West.

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  Our classic bikes garner us a lot of impressed stares, but we ignore them. We travel down three streets without spotting Dread or his men, and then we spot them mount-ing their bikes on Walnut in front of the Seville Square shopping area. At the same time, they catch sight of us.

  I look into Dread’s cold dark eyes, and we both look around to see how many people are in this public place.

  I get off my bike and nod for him to do the same. We meet in the middle of the sidewalk. I want to reach out and choke the shit out of him for all the trouble he’s caused me to this point, but I have to play it cool. He has that air of arrogance as he raises his nose up at me and frowns.

  I smile at his reaction as I look him up and down.

  “Dread, you know what has to be done. I would like to do this the easy way. There are a lot of innocent people around. You come quietly and no one gets hurt. Who are you working for?” I question.

  “Detective, wat makes you think I would tell you anything about me? If you don’t want a bloody mess wit’ all dese innocent people around, we should meet some other time.” Dread sneers as he looks me up and down again.

  I return his look of disdain. “Look Dread, we can work something out, but I have to know who you’re working for. There’s no way you’re intelligent enough to pull this off by yourself, let’s both be honest. Enough blood has been shed. We need to end this.”

  Dread looks at his men. I glance at Chase to see how she’s going to play this. Chase is more beautiful than I remembered. I have to admit, that when our eyes meet, she gives me butterflies. Her body seems to want to burst out of the denim outfit that she’s wearing. I under-Vincent Alexandria

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  stand how Dread would fall for someone so lovely. But can I count on her to be on our side if something jumps off? Where does her allegiance lie? She’s been undercover for such a long period of time. Something seems different about her. The softness that has always adorned her face is not there. She is still gorgeous, but whatever she’s gone through has hardened her. Thank God she’s alive and well, though. She gives me a nod with the tilt of her head. That’s enough to let me know that she’ll handle her part.

  Dread motions for his men to start their bikes and Dread and I reach for our guns at the same time. We both hold our guns at our sides so as not to draw any more attention to ourselves than we already have. I raise my hand for my crew not to go for their guns. Agent Duvall, Little Tiny, Pretty Kevin and Mo-Mo tense up, but follow my orders.

  Dread pulls out his gloves and puts them on, skill-fully maneuvering the gun from one hand to the other.

  “So Detective Johnson, I see you are one resourceful son of a bitch. I like dat. I would really like to go wit’ you, but I must apologize and humbly refuse your offer. You see, we have places to go and people to see, my friend!”

  Dread yells over the hum of the bikes.

  “Dread, you’re a smart man. I hope you make an intelligent decision here, do you really want a shoot-out in a public place or a chase through the middle of the city?”

  Dread laughs and spreads his arms wide, looking around. “As you see, my friend, it’s a beautiful day to die, and a marvelous day for a ride. I don’t care about these people around here. They will be nothing but casualties of war. It’s your call, Detective.” He puts on his shades.

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  We walk back to our bikes. I give a head nod to my people as Dread and I mount our bikes, “Okay, Dread is mine, if you have to take the others out, do it in such a way that bystanders are not hurt. And don’t hurt Agent Chase, she’s one of ours. I have a feeling it’s about to get ugly. Watch yourselves.”

  Dread takes off, and his men follow right behind. We follow them through the Plaza area, traveling at fifty miles an hour. We dodge shoppers with some of Dread’s men taking to the sidewalk to avoid capture.

  It will be just my luck for some innocent bystander to get injured. I hope and pray we can get this business done without any civilian getting harmed. I have to try to knock this guy off his bike when I get the chance.

  When we clear the district, Dread’s men take aim and start firing at us, and we return the gunfire. They can’t aim straight from the moving motorcycles while they steer the bikes, but no one is hit.

  Dread’s men break off into
different directions. I motion for Little Tiny, Mo-Mo and Pretty Kevin to pursue them. Agent Chase breaks off from the pursuit. Agent Duvall follows her.

  Dread picks up speed when he gets onto Wornall Road. We reach eighty miles an hour. I catch up to him when we turn onto Ward Parkway, a two-lane winding road. Dread fires at me and misses. I pull out my 9 mm and return fire.

  I reach one hundred miles an hour. I come side by side with my combatant. He quickly hits his brakes, crosses the grassy area and suddenly stops, getting off his bike and motioning for me to do the same. Dread wants to fight and I want to kick his ass. So I stop my bike and oblige him.

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  I take off my helmet, set it on the seat of the Harley, and walk up to Dread in the middle of the grassy parkway.

  “A man of honor should be able to battle, don’t you agree, Detective?” Dread asks, smiling as we circle each other.

  “Dread, all I know is you got one hell of an ass-whooping coming. So stop the small talk and handle your business, punk!”

  Dread attacks with an upward elbow. I duck and punch him in the side. As his body lowers from the blow, I hit him in the face. Dread spins and kicks my legs from underneath me. I fall backward. As I land, Dread tries to stomp me in the chest. I catch his leg and throw him to the ground.

  We both jump up and get into fighting positions.

  Cars pull over and watch the battle. Dread rushes me and we exchange blows to the face and chest. Both our noses are bleeding. Dread tries to kick me in the chest.

  I block his punch and knock him to the ground. His head hits the grass. Before he can stand, I pounce on his chest and hit him in the face.

  “I told you, you had an ass-whooping coming, but you didn’t believe me, did you?” I punch him in the face again. “This is for St. Louis Slim, you piece of shit!” I hit him again.

  Dread moans as he grabs a handful of grass and dirt and throws it into my face. I am temporarily blinded as I feel a crushing blow across my face.

  “Yes, I killed your friend and I’m going to get away with it, too, you fucking asshole!” Dread kicks me in the chest. I fall over from the pain and swipe the dirt and grass from my eyes.

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  Dread staggers to his bike, starts it up and roars off, speeding back down Ward Parkway toward the Plaza area. I quickly get up, put on my helmet and go after him. I can’t afford to have us speeding into the area where civilians are in harm’s way. No one not involved in this drama needs to die today.

  I continue to throttle my bike as Dread turns onto Wornall Road. I have to get this fool to crash. I try twice to bump his bike but it doesn’t work. I catch him as we near the Greek god Neptune’s fountain on Forty-Seventh Street. The long-haired and bearded Neptune rides three large seahorses, water spouting from their nostrils. Neptune’s arm is raised with his trident aimed to strike.

  The eight-thousand-pound, cast-lead fountain sits in an oval pool of water. When I see the fountain coming into view I realize this will probably be my final opportunity to get Dread to crash. I concentrate to get the tim-ing just right. I kick Dread’s bike as hard as I can and force him into Neptune. Dread’s bike crashes into the concrete base, catapulting Dread into the air. He comes to an abrupt stop as Neptune’s trident pierces his chest.

  His bike is now a burning twisted pile of chrome, rubber and metal. I stop and get off my bike and quickly taking off my helmet, fill it with water and put out the flames.

  Blood spills from Dread’s chest into the pool. The once clear-blue water that spouts from the seahorses’

  nostrils slowly turns crimson. A crowd swells. I quickly go to Dread. He is in intense pain, his body convulsing violently as a trickle of blood spills from his mouth. His eyes slowly open.

  “Dread, you fucked up, dude. I should have let your Vincent Alexandria

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  ass burn up like you did your victims, because your bike surely would have exploded, and it would have turned your ass into bacon bits. It’s confession time, bro.

  “Who’s pulling your strings, Dread? Who you working for?”

  He grins, spits on my shirt, laughs then grimaces, and coughs from pain. “You’ll never know, you fuckin’

  cock-a-roach. I’ll take dis information to hell wit’ me,”

  he says as his breathing starts to break.

  “So be it, asshole. I have a hunch who it is anyway, so say hello to the devil for me, fucker.”

  Dread tries to laugh, but his face contorts. His eyes roll back in their sockets as unseen demons snatch his soul from his body. He takes a deep breath and relaxes.

  Justice has been done for Agent Smelley.

  When I turn to walk away, Tracy Jackson and a Channel Six cameraman are set up and filming. She walks up to me as the crowd thickens.

  “So, Detective Killer Joe, I see this is another body you can add to your case files. Would you like to explain why a Kansas City police detective would put so many people in jeopardy, shooting and having a motorcycle pursuit in a public, well-populated place?” she asks with all the charm and venom of a poisonous snake.

  I look at Tracy with disgust. She seems to take pleasure in tormenting me ever since I dumped her and married Sierra. A scorned lover can be relentless. I try to think back to what attracted me to her. I never should have gotten mixed up with her.

  I growl at them, “My name is Detective Joe Johnson and I have no comment. Please stay clear of the area or I’ll have to arrest you.” They both take a step back.

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  Tracy has labeled me a killer on national television, and I make a mental note to make her pay. I call Commissioner Wayne for backup as other officers arrive. I give them orders to secure the crime scene, then walk to the back of the crowd to meet with Mo-Mo, Pretty Kevin and Little Tiny.

  The crowd parts as I walk amongst them. It must be the don’t-fuck-with-me look on my face.

  “Kevin, what’s up? Where’s Agent Duvall, and what happened to the other men?”

  “Well, how you doing, too, Joe? Damn, dude, we all shot up and shit and all you can do is start asking for details like we don’t matter,” Pretty Kevin complains.

  “Kevin, I’m sorry, brother, but I’m just making sure that everyone is okay. What happened to Chase and the others?”

  Little Tiny limps over to me rubbing the back of his neck. He’s bleeding from a gunshot wound to the leg.

  “Joe, Agent Duvall took after Agent Chase and we haven’t heard from her. Those fools we were after didn’t know Kansas City too well. They ended up crashing into Brush Creek. The police fished them out of the water. They’re in custody, but the big guy named Brutus got away.”

  Mo-Mo comes up holding his arm, which is also bleeding. “Dude, if we’re here to save Chase, why would she run? Agent Duvall set out after her going north on Southwest Trafficway. This shit doesn’t make no sense. If something happens to Epiphany, Joe, I don’t know what I will do.”

  Pretty Kevin is holding his side, which is bleeding, as well. “Joe, something don’t smell right about your Vincent Alexandria

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  girl, dude. Why she running, man? We all shot up behind that bitch and she runs. What’s up?”

  “Fellas, I honestly don’t know, but I’m going to find out. Y’all get some medical attention. Kevin, call Vernon and let him know what’s up. I’m going to the Hyatt Regency. That’s the only place Agent Chase could be headed.” My senses are going off. Could Chase have been playing me the whole time? I keep the thought in the back of my mind.

  “Joe, you going in alone, that’s not smart, man, you don’t know what you headed into,” Little Tiny complains.

  “Look, you guys are in no shape to help me right now, and time is of the essence. If Chase has turned bad, she’ll be trying to get out of town as quickly as possible. These dudes had access to a lot of money. I’m quite sure Chase knows all about where that money is. If she
has Agent Duvall, I need to get there soon. Dread was working for somebody and Agent Duvall is in grave danger.”

  “Fuck that, Joe, I’m going, man,” Mo-Mo insists.

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “I’ll bring her back.

  You’ll bleed to death if you don’t get that looked at.

  You’ll only slow me down, Mo-Mo.

  “I’m out of here. Little Tiny, let Commissioner Wayne know what’s going on when he arrives.”

  I run through the crowd, dodging people trying to get a glimpse of me and touching on me, I jump on my Harley and race through the crowded downtown area of Crown Center. I dial my cell phone and make a call to a lady friend in Jefferson City about my hunch regard-ing who is behind Dread’s black ring of dirty cops.

  I park my bike in the circle drive of the vast hotel. At the front desk I show my badge and ask for a pass key 234

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  for Dread Cattanno’s suite. The hotel manager asks if I need house security. I explain to him to call and get any guests on that floor off immediately. I explain what’s going on, then take the elevator to the Presidential Suite.

  I find the door partially ajar and walk in. When I get through the foyer, I find Agent Duvall tied and gagged, sitting on the couch with Agent Cheryl Chase sitting in a chair, her thick legs crossed casually with her gun pointed at me as she puts papers into her blue travel bag.

  “Going somewhere, Chase?” I ask as I aim my gun at her. She looks at me and smiles, putting her gun away.

  “Yes, I am. When I got here Dread’s accomplice made me a deal I could not refuse. You could come with me, Joe. You know I have always loved you. We can travel to different countries and see the world!” She stands, holding the blue bag close to her. Her eyes sparkle and her smile is wide and inviting.

  “And what do I do about my family that I love? Just forget about them, my job and my friends? You want me to throw all that away? I can’t do that. I love Sierra.