Let me know what you think. I just wrote these two chapters and thought I would share them and get your opinion. Keep in mind that the format here is not the same as it appears in the book format since this blog doesn’t have novel formatting availability.
Chapter 24
The traffic was light on the way to the Las Vegas County Jail. The drive was easy and relaxing. Sally pulled up into the parking lot of the County Jail and drove around to the secured gated garage. She stopped the K-9 Unit at the designated spot of the secured camera and communications box.“How may I help you?” The voice said.
“I’m Officer Sally Jacobson.” Sally held up her ID for the camera.
“And who are your occupants?”
“I’m Commander Nathan Walters.” Walters held up his ID for the camera.
“What do you have in the rear of your vehicle?”
“That’s Jimmy, my K-9,” Sally smiled for the camera.
“Okay. I’m going to open the gate and you need to drive straight in past the gate and come to a complete stop.”
“Thank you,” Sally smiled at the camera and then waited for the gate to roll up for her to enter into the garage.
Inside the garage, officers with mirrors attached to long poles checked under the vehicle for any possible contraband and explosives. The K-9s sniffed the around the vehicle and then left.
“Okay, pull the unit up over there” The Sergeant pointed to an empty stall to Sally’s right, past three other law enforcement vehicles.
Sally parked the K-9 Unit and slid out of the driver’s seat. Walters jumped from the ‘Shotgun’ position as Sally freed Jimmy from his backseat kennel. Jimmy adorned in his SWAT vest walked between Sally and Walters into the lobby and stopped at the check in point. The armed officer checked Sally and Walters’ identification and glanced at Jimmy.
“How can I help you today, Commander?”
“We’re here to see where we stand with the Jersey Boys who were brought in last night,” Walters said as he scanned the lobby
“Okay. Right now it’s visiting hours and they may be with their guest,” the Detention Officer pointed to his watch.
“That’s fine but can you check for us? We want to see the one called Ben,” Walters flashed a smile.
“One moment please.”
Walters scanned the lobby area, but didn’t recognize anyone. Sally shifted her weight from foot to foot impatiently as she looked around at the people.
“I wonder why all of these people look so scuzzy?” Sally grimaced.
“That’s how life is in the inner city. They have nothing to do and do nothing to better themselves, yet they want you to feel sorry for them and give them everything,” Walters spoke softly as he leaned in towards Sally.
“So these are the have-nots?” Sally said with furrowed brow.
Walters looked from the detention officer’s window to Sally and nodded, “Yeah. They’re the bottom of the food chain.”
“Excuse me Commander, but the inmate, Ben, has a visitor at this moment.”
“How much time does he have left in his visit?” Walters frowned.
“He’s got another thirty minutes.”
“Can we look in and see his visitor?” Walters’ eyebrows arched up.
“Sure, I don’t see why not. You’re both law enforcement officers. Come around to the side and I’ll let you both in for a look.”
Walters, Sally and Jimmy walked around towards the back of the secured station. The detention officer pushed the concealed desk switch for the buzzer door lock to admit his guest. The officer pointed back and to the left for the two way mirror glass that monitors the visitor’s room.
Sally and Walters scanned the room of inmates for Ben. “There he is in the corner to the left, Commander. The visitor is wearing his Fedora.” Sally pushed her left finger on the glass as she glanced at Walters.
Ben and his visitor stood and shook hands. Ben’s visitor turned and walked towards the Sally and Walters. In the middle of the visiting room, he turned left and walked towards the officer standing by the visitor entry door.
“Commander, that guy looks faintly familiar.”
“How’s that, Sally?”
“That crooked nose and his wide set eyes. I’ve seen that face before many times over. It almost seems that I’ve had nightmares with that face staring at me and mouthing words.”
“What was he saying?”
“I don’t know. I never heard the words. I just saw his lips moving like he was talking.”
“Did he have the same build? Was his hair style the same? Did he have the same pallid complexion?”
“Yes and no. The only thing different was his build. He was thinner. He was more muscular. But that face I’ll never forget, because it seemed to haunt me almost every night as I was growing up. Only my pony could keep me sane and not go crazy.”
“Okay, we’ll have him brought in for questioning and go from there. How’s that sound?”
“Let’s do it. See if we can detain him and do it here and now,” Sally hurried.
Walters turned to the detention officer, “Sir, have the door officer detain the man that’s about to exit. We want to question him.”
“On it sir,” the detention officer said picking up the radio.
“Officer Victor One, detain the large man in the fedora for questioning.”
Walters, Sally and the Detention officer watched Officer Victor One as the man in the fedora approached the exit door.
Officer Victor One held up his right hand to indicate that he wanted to speak to the suspect who was about to leave the room. “Sir, my Commanding Officer would like to speak with you before you leave.”
“And what if I don’t want to talk to him? What are you gonna do if I push you out of the way and walk through that door?”
“Well sir, if that’s what you think you want, then by all means. But I’m sure you will want to meet with my Commanding Officer.”
“And where do you get off telling me what you think is best for me when you aren’t my boss?”
Victor One pointed to the officers behind the large Jersey Boy. “Well sir, if you don’t wish to comply, I’m sure my two friends behind you will assist me in escorting you to his office whether you’re walking on your own or not.”
Turning to look back, the Jersey Boy saw one Detention Officer on his right and one on his left. The officer on the right had his hand resting on his taser. The officer on the left had his right arm extended for the Jersey boy to proceed through the door. Returning to face the officer at the door, the Jersey Boy noticed that his hand was also on his taser.
“Okay, I guess I have a few minutes to talk to your boss. Let’s go.”
Detention Officer Victor One with his hand still on his taser, opened the door of the Detention’s Visiting Room for the Jersey Boy to be escorted out. The two officers behind the Jersey Boy walked forward herding him outside of the Visiting Room to his waiting escorts, Detention Officers Brett Kenwood and Jeremy Sheppard.
“This way sir,” Officer Kenwood said pointing to the hallway up ahead. The three walked twelve feet up to the hallway and turn right. Half way down the hallway, they stopped at a room on the left side of the hallway.
Officer Sheppard pulled out the chain lanyard from his retractable belt clip chain holder and opened the door. The three of them walked inside the large room and Officer Kenwood escorted the Jersey Boy up to the chair and was seated him at the interrogation table. Looking across the table, the Jersey Boy faced Walters and Sally. Jimmy sat next to Sally and stared at the large man sitting across the table from him.
The Jersey Boy stared back at Jimmy with a pinched face, but Jimmy did not flinch. Breaking eye contact with Jimmy, he looked at Walters and Sally. “How can I help you, Commanding Officer or is it Commanding Officers?”
Sally’s shoulders tightened up and her chin began to tremble as he spoke.
“What’s wrong with your partner?” The Jersey Boy laughed as he pointed at Sally.
Jimmy jumped into a standing position when the Jersey Boy extended his arm across the table. Jimmy’s large white teeth showed through his black mask, but he didn’t make a sound.
“You better control that mutt of yours or I’ll have him taken care of,” the Jersey Boy said as he stood up, his chair flying back towards the wall.
Officers Kenwood and Sheppard were standing behind the Jersey Boy, Kenwood to the left and Sheppard to the right. When the Jersey Boy stood up, they both stepped inward and forward slamming their shoulders into his back like two pro football linemen and sent him flying forward into the table.
Walters was on his feet blocking the table from bolting into Sally, Jimmy and himself.
“Sit down and shut your fat mouth. I’ll tell you when you can talk,” Walters face inches from the Jersey Boy.
Kenwood and Sheppard pulled the Jersey Boy back and sat him down in his chair. The Jersey Boy shrugged their hands from his shoulders and then turned towards them flashing his teeth.
“Hey fat boy. I’m over here,” Walter banged his hand on the table.
The Jersey Boy jumped up out of his chair again at Walters’ remark and instantly fell to the floor when Kenwood pulled his taser and fired it. The large body began to quiver from the current which traveled down the wires to the electrodes that had fastened their small barbs into the Jersey Boy’s clothing.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Walter waved his hand at Kenwood.
Kenwood released the trigger of the taser and removed the barbs from the Jersey Boy’s clothing and assisted him back into his chair. The Jersey Boy sat with hands pressing hard against his chest, shaking his head, and his mouth hanging open.
“Can we talk now?” Walters eye brows pinched together as he demanded the Jersey Boy give up his resistance and cooperate.
“Yeah, what do you want to know?” The Jersey Boy gritted his teeth.
“What’s your name?” Walters leaned in towards the Jersey Boy.
“I’m known as Draco. My name is Mickey Dragano.”
“What’s your position in the Jersey Boys, Mickey?” Walters pressed.
“I’m the Don of the Jersey Boys. Now if you’re smart, you’ll drop your Q & A and I’ll forget everything that was said and done here.” Dragano said as he continued to shake his head trying to clear the pulsating pain.
Sally’s body began to shake uncontrollably. She wrapped her arms tightly about her body. Jimmy quickly placed his head across Sally legs to calm her but she pushed him off. Sally jumped up and stumbled backwards. Color began to drain from her face. Kenwood ran around the table to assist Sally and keep her from falling. Sally flung her arms outward to keep from being restricted by Officer Kenwood, “No stay away from me. I won’t say anything, I promise.”
“Sally, this is Officer Kenwood, let me help you.”
“No. Stay away,” Sally’s voice wailed hysterically, looking for an exit from the room.
“Kenwood, get her out of here, now,” Walters said as he opened the door.
Chapter 25
Kenwood called for backup as he managed Sally out of the Interrogation room in a hammerlock. Officers Doug Bracken and Michael Welker came running to assist Kenwood with Sally.
“Take her down to Medical and get her sedated, per Walters,” Kenwood said as he released his hammerlock on Sally’s arms.
Bracken grabbed Sally’s right arm and Welker seized her left arm. They struggled with her bouncing from wall to wall down the hallway to the Medical facility in the Detention Center. Jimmy followed behind and watched carefully. The Nurse Practitioner grabbed a syringe and needle, filled it with a sedative and injected Sally. Jimmy sat near the table and monitored the nurse and Sally.
Sally lay jadedly as her body relaxed on the table. The nurse restrained her to the table so she wouldn’t fall off, and left the room to attend to her other patients. Jimmy sat in guard of Sally as she slept under the sedative.
Bracken and Welker walked back to the Interrogation Room and called Kenwood out into the hallway.
“Is she okay?” Kenwood’s brows furrowed.
“Yeah, she’s fine,” Bracken smiled. “She’s been sedated and the nurse has her strapped in. Funny thing was that dog. He followed us and then watched the whole process and then stayed behind to watch the woman.”
Kenwood smiled, “Yeah, that’s her service dog and SWAT K-9. He’ll keep guard of her.”
“Okay, but you’ll need to personally go down to medical in order for her to be released.”
“Okay, thanks guys.” Kenwood smiled as he shook Bracken’s hand.
“Mike, if you’re not busy, can you assist us with this clown?” Kenwood said as he held Mike’s handshake.
“Sure I’m free,” Welker shot glance at Bracken, who gave him a nod.
“Later,” Bracken said as he went back to his position in the Visiting Room. Welker smiled and walked into the Interrogation room with Kenwood.
The interrogation room was quiet when Welker and Kenwood entered and saw Walters with a strong posture and Dragano with a set jaw, both locked in a dead stare with each other.
“Sir, Officer Welker will be taking Sally’s place.” Kenwood cleared his throat breaking the stalemate.
Walters’ body relaxed as he glanced at Kenwood, “Thank you Officer Kenwood.”
Dragano’s jaw was still set strong, unmoving. His eyes fixed on Walters.
Kenwood walked up to Dragano’s chair and kicked the rear metal leg jarring Dragano back to reality.
“Let’s see that tattoo on your left forearm,” Walters said with a seer standing to his feet and leaning on top ofthe table.
Dragano removed his Fedora slowly with intent, stared Walters in the eye as he kicked his chair backwards with his legs, he stood up straight, slowly curled his hand back towards his body and flicked his Fedora towards Walters’ face.
Dragano sprang forward towards Walters when the brim of the Fedora slashed Walters’ left cheek and ricocheted off the back wall falling to the floor.
When Dragano flipped the Fedora, Kenwood had his taser out and its barbs connected to Dragano’s right trouser leg and feeding its electrical energy into his thigh. Dragano quickly crumpled to the floor, his body quivering from the electrical shock.
“Enough,” Walters waved his right hand at Kenwood.
The shock of the taser continued as Kenwood kept his finger on the trigger not hearing Walters’ plea to stop. Officer Welker reached over and tapped Kenwood on the shoulder getting his attention. Welker drew his hand across his throat area when Kenwood looked back. Kenwood then released the trigger of the taser. Dragano’s body lay quite and motionless on the floor. Welker walked around Kenwood to Dragano’s body to see if he was still alive from the intense power shot that he had received.
Kenwood walked up to Dragano’s feet and drew back his right foot and kicked Dragano’s left foot. Kenwood’s strike moved Dragano’s leg upward and outward like a giant ragdoll’s limp leg flying through the air.
Welker knelt down at Dragano’s head and reached over to feel his carotid artery for a pulse.
“There is a faint pulse,” Welker nodded as he glanced between Walters and Kenwood.
“Kenwood give me your radio. Lay him flat on the floor and begin CPR.” Walters said as he extended his hand for the radio.
“We need EMS to the Interrogation Room immediately.” Walters said as he pressed the radio’s transmission button.
There was a hard knock on the door as soon as Walters released the button. Opening the Interrogation Room’s door, Walters saw two paramedics with a gurney and medical bags. They pushed passed Walters and entered the room. The lead paramedic, Andrew Wade, saw the two Security Officers administering CPR to a large figure lying lifelessly on the floor.
“Okay Officers, we got him,” Wade said as he swung his left arm outward waving Welker away from the body. Kenwood moved away as the rear paramedic, Roy Bradley moved around to the side of Dragano’s body. The paramedics began calling out their information to one another as they worked to bring their subject back to the living side of the faint readings.
Shortly Dragano began to slowly move. His eyes cracked opened. His speech wasn’t very fluent. Wade talked to him softly to calm him down so they could finish their job.
Wade, lead paramedic, stood up and looked from one person to the other, “Who’s in charge here?”
“I am.” Walters said as he raised his hand into the air.
“Okay. Here’s the good news and the bad news. Let’s start with the good news first.”
Walters shook his head holding his bloody handkerchief to his cheek, “Okay. Let’s have it.”
“Well, he’s going to be okay if he doesn’t have any more taser usage. His heart will not hold out from the shocks if they continue. We’re going to need to transport him to Mount Vista Hospital Emergency so they can take care of the trauma that has been inflicted on him….”
“What if I need to ask him some more questions?” Walters interrupted. “When could I be able to do that, because he’s a possible suspect in a cold case killing”
“You’ll need to speak to the ER doctor after he does his evaluation on him.”
“Very well, then have the ER doc call me at this number when his finishes,” Walters said handing his business card to Wade.
Dragano was helped onto the gurney and strapped in. Wade and Bradley wheeled him from the Interrogation Room out to their EMS truck and loaded him into the rear of the vehicle and secured the rear doors. Wade called in the transport to Mountain Vista Emergency and finished his paperwork. With one last check to verify that everything was secure, Wade crawled up into the front of the transport. Bradley waited behind the wheel for Wade to give the command to light up the truck and complete the transport.
“Light her up and let’s go,” Wade said glancing back at Dragano and then to Bradley.
Dragano wiggled around on the gurney and got his hand into the pocket of his Sports Jacket. Pushing buttons on his cell phone, an emergency help signal was transmitted to Dragano’s lieutenant. Within seconds, Dragano’s cell phone vibrated indicating that the message was received. Dragano pushed some more buttons to activate his phone’s emergency GPS signal. The phone sounded with a tone indicating that the emergency GPS signal was activated. Wade turned with his brow furrowed when he heard the sound of the tone.
“What was that noise,” Bradley looked at Wade.
“I don’t know. We don’t have anything that makes that specific sound. Let me go back and check. Keep driving.” Wade moved between the seats.
Looking around the transport cabin, Wade found nothing that could have alarmed. Wade glanced at Dragano’s body he laid there motionless, and then returned to the front and secured his seatbelt.
Bradley turned right onto Vista Rhodes Way for the hospital. Sirens screaming and no one in the way, the street suddenly became congested with vehicles from the side streets and stopped the EMS Transport dead in the middle of the massive traffic jam, and unable to get out or around the non-moving vehicles.
Out of nowhere, the transport was surrounded by masked men banging on the sides of the transport. Wade picked up the radio to call for help when one of the masked vigilantes pulled out his gun and tapped on the passenger’s window. Wade immediately dropped the radio and put his hands above his head. Bradley followed suit.
The mask person on the Wade’s side moved his hands as if he was using a key to open something. Wade looked at him and pointed down as he leaned over. The vigilante motioned his hand as to say, “Give me the key.”
Wade held up the key to the back door and rolled down the window enough to drop the key out the window. The vigilante caught the key and ran back and opened the rear door, climbed inside and released Dragano from the gurney and they jumped from the transport.
As fast as the vehicles appeared, they all disappeared. Wade and Bradley then looked around for the masked vigilante and they too were gone as if they were never there.
“Hit it and get going,” Wade screamed looking around for a possible surprise reappearing.
Bradley hit the gas pedal and they were speeding down the street towards the hospital with no one in pursuit. Reaching the hospital, they both jumped from the truck and ran inside to report the incident to 911.