Captain Cranbury entered the back seat of Jake’s vehicle, he looked alert and energized.
“Why are we here?” inquired Cranbury. “Does Jones’ Uncle have more to contribute to the case?”
“We’re here to wrap up this missing money dilemma Captain...Clarice and I have other events to attend, so we thought it best to clear this case as soon as possible,” Jake said, peering directly into the Captain’s eyes.
“Is that right...well, uh, good, the sooner we close this the better, Mr. Spade.”
“Also, there is the matter of my fee.”
“Fee?” Cranbury mumbled with a perplexed face, saying...“Uh, okay. I guess the City of Detroit can come up with something.”
“You’re damn right they can,” Jake snickered.
While Jake keyed on his phone I thought it best to fill the Captain in on what had transpired relative to our interviews with drug lord, Billy Jo Stackhouse, his little brother James Robert, better known as Jimbo, street thug ‘Junk Dog’ White and last but not least, Hector Arroyo, to be further known as ‘Blabbermouth Hec-Tor.’
“Captain Cranbury – while we’re waiting for Jake to free himself of other encumbrances, let me catch you up on what he and I have been doing the last six hours. With the aid of the Irregular team, their methods, their gadgetry, et.al, our investigation resulted in private interviews with certain drug-robbery gang members, who have provided us with certain information specific to this case. We are still uncertain as to who actually shot Detective Jones...”
“Bup, bup, bup...” Jake interrupted.
“As I was saying Captain, the name of the shooter will be forthcoming. Nonetheless Captain, we ask you to pass along to your staff to be on the lookout, within the next three to five days, for these six criminal conspirators attempting entrance into the United States from Canada. We provided passage, this evening, via a Detroit river freighter for their safe deposit into forests unknown north of Sarnia, Canada. They will be on foot when deposited, but may make arrangements to travel otherwise when attempting to cross the river to the U.S. Complete descriptions along with photos will be emailed to you before 8:00 AM.”
05:05 A.M., Friday, June 14, 2013
Jake knocked on Leo’s front door. Captain Cranbury had already called for a patrol backup who were parked conspicuously across the street in their black and white. I stood behind the towering Cranbury. Jake knocked again; finally a front room table light came on as I peered through the window. Leo opened the door without switching on the front porch light suggesting he may have known who was calling.
“Mr. Burris, we need to speak with you on a very important and urgent matter. May we come in?” Jake said, in his best soft, indifferent monotone.
We entered the home.
“Realizing the early morning hour we will not keep you long, it’s just that we need to clear up this missing money matter I spoke with you about earlier.”
Leo said nothing, his eyes focused on the Captain, as we all stood in Leo’s living room.
“You remember me Mr. Burris, don’t you?” I said with a disarming smile. “This is Captain Cranbury, of the Detroit Police Department and the new Commander of the 2nd Precinct. He’s Jules Jones supervisor,” I continued, “who by the way will be released from the hospital today. He’s fine Mr. Burris, but he’ll have a sore shoulder for a little while.”
Leo silently nodded once at the Captain.
Jake leaned closer to Leo, almost whispering, he said...“Detective Jones was shot, we believe, because someone thought he was about to confiscate the money taken from the 2nd Precinct containment area. It’s the money you took Mr. Burris – the same money drug gang members were trying to take from you.”
Leo sat down on the couch – his eyes staring at the floor. He said nothing. Jake continued...
“We know you taped the sound of the digital-toned lock securing the containment area. Later you ciphered the correct numbers from the tones, opening the area just after the last physical inventory. You took the backpack containing the money replacing it with a similar backpack containing newspapers. The gang members discovered you had the money – probably from your daughter Theresa – and that you intended using the money to provide for your granddaughter’s hospital procedure.”
Again Burris said nothing and was now staring alternatively between Captain Cranbury and Jake. The tension in the room peaked when Theresa peered around the corner, carrying her child. Leo’s cheeks became moist from tears as he stared at his granddaughter.
Jake looked at me then Cranbury and then knelt to the floor facing Leo, whispering...
“Mr. Burris...hereafter you and your family will have no further problems with these gang members. Captain Cranbury is here today to further attest to that assurance.” Jake looked up at Cranbury, both with teary eyes, saying...
“Right Captain!”
Leo’s eyes shifted to Cranbury who was nodding, hesitantly, but nodding still.
We all turned and left the Burris’ family. My last vision was of Leo sitting on the couch holding his granddaughter.
Captain Cranbury was somewhat taken aback from Jakes statement – in essence clearing and forgiving Leo for taking the money. Cranbury agreed to the deal because Jakes fee turned out to be $200 thousand – which he forgave the City of Detroit. It was a new time in Detroit with inventive ways of handling problems, besides, the Captain hoped for future investigative considerations from Jakes’ team – he figured it was a small price to pay. Two days later the six perps were picked up entering the U.S. by the Detroit PD, headed by Detective Jones, who enjoyed wide acclaim for the capture. They were held for B&E of the 2nd Precinct. Clarice and Jake drove immediately back to the river, near the bridge, to capture the remaining sunrise. Leo’s granddaughter, Mia, entered the hospital later that day...she’s doing fine now.
Other Works by Garry M. Graves
Non-fiction
Bloody Omaha – My Remembrances of That Day by James Robert Copeland (Biography)
Character Happens! How Golf Teaches You (and your children) About – Honesty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion and Humility (Personal Development)
Fiction
Next in the Jake Spade Series...
Case #2 – FORBIDDEN (Tentative release Fall, 2013).
Case #3 – Pig Farm (Tentative release Spring, 2014).
GGA Publishing, Inc.
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Copyright © 2013 by Garry M. Graves
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.
Edition: July 2013
GGA Publishing, Inc.
The Mystery Maxims of Jake Spade - Case #1 FORGIVEN Page 8