“Take her away,” I said.
Herrera was more than glad to.
I saw someone I was glad to see. Clara Terries. She had just turned the corner and was walking with another officer. I was relieved to see it was Nemdharry and not some young, good-looking fellow.
Not that it mattered…
She smiled as she came closer.
“I guess, we did it, Jon.” Her smile widened.
Jon. I blushed. I lowered my voice, “Ma’am, I’m also referred to as Jonny.”
“Is that right?” she said, playing along. “I’m referred to as Clara. Not Officer Terries or Officer Clara. Just Clara.”
“It’s a deal. Clara.”
We both went silent. I glanced at the warehouse.
“Are we still on?” she asked.
“I’m sorry?” I said.
“When we first met, you asked if I liked bubble tea. I’ll take you up on that offer.”
My face dropped. It was the last place I wanted to go-not that I had anything against bubble tea. As a matter of fact, I still cannot stop praising the strawberry kind.
“Uh, I…if you really want…” I started.
She leaned closer and whispered. “I’m only kidding. I heard what happened.”
I was relieved.
“Maybe, somewhere else then?” She winked.
I nodded and smiled.
I sat on the cold pavement and leaned back on my palms, trying to soak up everything. Reporters, followed by cameramen, approached the secured area. More people were led in handcuffs to marked cruisers. Aldrich talked to reporters as if it was he who had stopped this new and unknown threat.
I later found out it was Garnett who had called Aldrich here.
Apart from Longfoot, Garnett, Beadsworth, Nemdharry, and me, of course, no one knew Aldrich’s ties to RACE, not even the other members of Operation Anti-RACE.
Aldrich would be disciplined but it would all be internal, I was later told.
Garnett emerged from the warehouse. I waved him over.
Reluctantly he came.
I didn’t bother getting up. “Detective Garnett, shouldn’t you be talking to the media instead of him?”
Garnett looked in the direction of Aldrich and said, “That might be his last time. Let him talk. He’s good at it.”
Was that a joke?
“Sir,” I said. “I would like to thank you for saving my life. Twice.”
He looked at me intently. “Officer Rupert, I had no choice. I didn’t want any mess on my hands. Remember clearly what I’m about to say. If I had a choice you wouldn’t be talking to me right now.”
That, I knew, was not a joke.
Beadsworth was bending down to a cruiser window. He was talking to ZeenaStankovich, the mastermind behind this operation. He said a few words and then approached me.
“I’m glad you’ve found a good spot,” he said, referring to the side pavement.
“Only one available, I’m afraid. If you want I could probably find a spot for you,” I said looking around.
“I’ll pass.”
“She give you any trouble?” I said, jerking my head toward the cruiser.
“As a matter of fact, no,” he said. “She was very cooperative. She knew we were coming.”
There was a moment of silence when he said, “Are you still interested in being a drug enforcement officer?”
“It’s too dangerous. Right now I’m not sure about anything.”
Beadsworth said, “I’ve just spoken to Joseph Lenard. He is alive and staying with a friend. He said something that didn’t make sense, but he said you would understand. He said he was watching television when he heard gunshots, bullets ripped through the window and…I’m not sure if this is correct, but that they hit Michael Jordan?”
I grinned. “A friend.”
“He then saw a flaming bottle come through the window. He didn’t know what else to do but jump through the back window to the porch roof and escaped. We’ll clarify his statements later.”
Joey was alive.
There was silence and then Beadsworth spoke. “Officer Rupret, you’re still welcome to stay at our home until you decide what to do.”
“Can you stop calling me Officer Rupret,” I snapped. “Haven’t we gone through enough? Can’t you call me Jon or Jonny?”
He paused and then said, “Jon.”
Wow. I was making progress with him.
“Then can I call you Phil or Phillip?” I said.
He thought about it.
“No,” he said, and walked away.
The sun came up. I was the last person to leave the sidewalk and the area. Beadsworth had offered me a ride but I declined. I wanted some time alone. I didn’t know whether I was going to stay in the force or not, but there was one thing I did know for sure. I wanted to go back home and, over tea and biscuits, have a long talk with my mom.