The Protectors: Vigilante Justice (Vigilante Cops Book 1)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Certainly,” Stennis agreed, as Connor took off his jacket and put it under Ellie’s head before picking up Ellie’s automatic and putting it back in her holster.

  Connor grabbed up the unconscious stocky one by the jacket as he snored raggedly. He dragged him over between the moaning Jerry and the thin man he’d kicked in the face. Within moments, Connor had plastic tied their hands behind their backs and frisked them for weapons with his Nitrile gloves on, propping the thin one up against the bench to help his breathing. The thin man’s nose had been smashed and he gulped air through his mouth. Connor found and bagged drugs and knives, silently saying a little prayer of thanks one of them hadn’t knifed Ellie. Connor called for an ambulance before contacting Officers Yost and Gerard who said they could be there in ten minutes. Ellie began to groan. Stennis helped her into a sitting position. Connor spotted the malevolent look on Ellie’s face as she patted her holster. She then began looking around for her stun-gun. Connor beat her to it as she rolled away from Stennis to grab it off the concrete.

  “Give me the stun-gun!” Ellie managed to growl, shakily getting to her feet with Stennis’s help.

  “Can’t do it, El.” Connor put his arm around her shoulders. “Looks like you and the darkness are even. Man, that was scary.”

  “Bradwick gave you some closure.” Stennis gestured at the three men.

  “Ellie did in the big moaning lump over there, named Jerry,” Connor corrected him, picking up and donning his jacket. “Looks like you dislocated his knee, El.”

  “Give me my stun-gun back and I’ll give ‘em all the smoke test,” Ellie grumbled, taking some satisfaction in seeing her thin, pockmarked attacker was coming to from his meeting with the metal bench.

  Her attacker, crying out in anguish, looked genuinely frightened at the amount of blood from his broken nose. Ellie rooted around in her jacket pocket. She sighed in relief, extracting her still intact camera. The Capitol Corridor train was due in the station. A crowd of commuters were lining up near the boarding area while staying well clear of the altercation scene. Sirens wailed steadily nearer.

  “I was afraid my camera didn’t make it,” Ellie informed them, turning it on and filming the three men on the platform concrete. “They blindsided me in this damn fog. My filming really pissed them off.”

  “They’re going away for this encounter. Sorry about the complications, Councilman.”

  “I’m not. I’m glad you both are okay.”

  “We’ll get to what you wanted to talk with us about. It looks like it will take longer than I expected.”

  “I have the time. When do you two go on duty?”

  “Not until eleven,” Ellie answered. “Yost and Gerard will take the bust on this. We had already cleared it with them. Because of the injuries, we’ll all have to make official statements.”

  “I’ll go check if anyone saw enough through the fog to make a statement before the train arrives. Will you be okay here watching the three stooges, El?”

  “If I have my stun-gun back, I will be. I’ll have to Mace them otherwise and Gerard will have a conniption fit over the smell when they transport them.”

  Connor handed the stun-gun over. He pointed at his eyes with right forefinger and middle finger and then at Ellie, repeating the movement comically as he hurried away toward the people waiting for the train. “I’m watching you.”

  “Are you sure you’re alright, Officer James?” Stennis watched Ellie give Connor the wave off.

  “It’s Ellie. Yeah, I’m okay.” Ellie put away her stun-gun before checking her holster. She looked questioningly at Stennis. “Did I lose my Sig?”

  Stennis nodded. “Only for a moment. Bradwick laid out the one sporting a broken nose with a kick to the face, and then clocked the one snoring over there just as he pulled your gun free.”

  “He didn’t draw on them?” Ellie seemed somewhat shocked at Stennis’s revelation.

  “No, but it didn’t look like he needed to,” Stennis replied, wondering if he had missed something. “Was that a mistake?”

  “Can I answer without a board of inquiry?” Ellie joked worriedly, cursing herself for not thinking before speaking.

  Stennis grinned. “No board of inquiry. It was risky, huh?”

  “It was risky. So was following these dolts into the fog. It looks like the two of us have used up all our good Mojo for awhile. Here comes Yost and Gerard.”

  A patrol car drove slowly up into the area between the parking garage and the station, stopping near the scene. A blonde haired officer nearly six feet tall exited the driver’s side door, looking at Ellie worriedly. He had been in Ellie’s academy class. His partner, Kevin Gerard, a stocky black man with piercing dark eyes, set in a face cloaked with a perpetual scowl, hurried over to where the three attackers were. Gerard was a fifteen year veteran of the force.

  “Things didn’t go well with the filming I take it,” Denny Yost remarked, checking Ellie over closely. “Councilman Stennis, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” Stennis shook hands with Yost. “I was observing today and became an eye witness to those men attacking Officer James.”

  “It doesn’t look like that worked out too well for them.” Kevin Gerard chuckled. He walked over to join his partner and shook hands with Stennis. “Glad we have a witness the suits will believe. We’ll get your statement later, Councilman. Where’s Connor?”

  “Over taking statements before our potential witnesses hit the commuting trail.” Ellie gestured at the boarding area. “This will mean extra paperwork, Kev. Sorry about that.”

  “Not to worry, since you and Dirty Harry will be helping with it.” Gerard gestured at the panhandlers. “We still get the bust though, right?”

  “Agreed,” Ellie said quickly, glad Gerard accepted the scene at face value.

  “Hey Kev, Denny.” Connor waved as he walked up, emerging from the still thick fog bank. “I didn’t get anything. No one could see what happened through the fog. They only heard Jerry scream when you did knee surgery on him, El.”

  Gerard and Yost laughed appreciatively.

  “You and Ellie on for a double over Christmas, Connor?” Gerard asked, as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

  “Of course,” Connor acknowledged with a forced smile. “It’s our favorite time of the year, right El?”

  “Ho ho ho.” Ellie shrugged.

  The ambulance arrived. The EMT’s quickly ascertained they would have to take all three men with them to the Emergency room. They did some stop gap measures on the two walking wounded but Jerry was cuffed to a gurney for loading with injured leg immobilized. The other two men were loaded under their own power with hands still plastic tied behind their backs. Gerard rode along with them while Yost followed with their patrol car. Connor turned to Stennis after they left.

  “Want to grab breakfast with us over at the ‘Chicken and Bisquits’? You can tell us how we can help you while we eat.”

  “Sure, I’d like that. Do you feel like eating, Ellie?”

  “Oh yeah, electroshock treatments always make me hungry.”

  * * *

  “How’s your hand, Opie?” Ellie asked Connor, noting he was eating his rye toast left handed.

  “Swelling a little,” Connor admitted, holding up his right hand and flexing his fingers. “How’s your biscuits and gravy? I never figured you’d order that.”

  “The gravy soothes my electrified nerve endings.” Ellie forked in the last mouthful.

  “My omelet is very good,” Stennis added, after chuckling at Ellie’s gravy remark. “The reason I came to see you two this morning has to do with my son. His getting busted for supplying drugs at the high school was one of the lowest moments in my life. I don’t know if I can correct everything I’ve done over the years but I can at least help Ray avoid emulating me.”

  “Ellie and I know how tough it is to get elected in this city without playing ball. We’re not your judge and jury, Councilman. Tell us what you know and how we can help.”


  “I’ve accepted campaign funds from everyone for a start. Before you ask, yes I did know where the money was coming from. I’ve never sold drugs or marketed them but Ray has seen some of the guys who’ve dropped off contributions. I know I’m on the database of those computer records confiscated in your bust the other day. Luke Morton and I went to school together. He was best man at my wedding. I got scared when I heard about the bust and called Luke. You have to believe me when I tell you I had no idea there would be any terrorist connections.”

  “I never considered you had, Sir,” Connor replied.

  “I didn’t either, Ray,” Ellie said. “I’m glad to hear Morton was trying to do you a favor rather than making collections too. Whose idea was it to try and film Dr. Morrison at Connor’s apartment?”

  “It was Luke’s. I didn’t stop him and I could have. At the time, we thought it was only an investigation into phony documents. The fact my use of a good friend could have led to his firing and even jail time entered into this decision too. I went to the agent in charge from Homeland Security. I gave him everything I had, including my campaign database.”

  Stennis paused and sipped his coffee. He looked at Connor and Ellie, trying to form words, but instead stayed silent for another moment. The two police officers exchanged questioning looks when Stennis looked up with a crooked grin.

  “It all starts one day when you’re running for the first time, all idealistic, fresh and new. Someone real likes what you have to say, donates space for a campaign headquarters, and people start jumping on board. Despite all the help, your campaign money runs low - you get punchy going house to house like a vacuum cleaner salesman. It’s a tight race against an incumbent, and you figure a few more well placed ads on radio and in the paper might put you over the top. Guys dressed in suits stop by, stating they’re from organizations you know are front groups with dealings a hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with your platform. They claim to just want an even break, promising there’s no quid pro quo for the money. You look at the money, and think all the ideals in the world won’t do shit if you don’t win, so you take the money while expressing stern reminders you can’t be bought. They pat you on the back and say no strings attached. Wonder of wonders you win. Then the favor requests start. They’re small at first and gifts are received in return. Incrementally they start adding up and become traceable.”

  “By the time you say no way I’m doing that, they show you a money trail list, recorded phone calls and canceled checks,” Ellie inserted when Stennis fell silent again.

  Stennis’s face showed surprise and then rueful acceptance. “Yeah, the fun starts in earnest. It’s like living a double life. On one hand, you’re providing very well for your wife and kids. Your lot in life improves more than anything you could be getting legally. On the other hand, friends who supported you in the past notice what’s going on and stop coming around. Soon after, when reelection comes up, the only people at campaign headquarters are the ones with their own agendas.”

  “Ray Jr. very astutely reminded me when I jumped all over him about drug dealing how it was I keep getting reelected. He said, ‘hell Dad, I’m just supportin’ your campaign’. It turned out one of my big money contributors supplies the guys you two busted. He also owns the house where they ran the false document factory. I can’t lose my son. My daughter Renee is only three years younger than Ray. She knows what’s going on. She looks at me now like I’m a stranger. When Ray was arrested my wife Shari came unglued. Everything’s falling apart.”

  Connor didn’t want to feel compassion for Stennis. He hated politics and Oakland ran on politics. It all started small. Drug dealers couldn’t get a stronghold in a city by owning the Governor. They needed local authorities to look away. Illegal alien processing plants weren’t located in a different dimension. They processed their clients in a city like Oakland where local authorities shrug and claim it’s harmless - until people are processed who were anything but harmless - people with a purpose far beyond the destruction of a city. This man Stennis was one of the ones looking away. Now the bad is hitting home, like waking up one morning to find graffiti on your own garage or house. Connor took a deep breath.

  “Councilman… Ellie and I aren’t bodyguards. We can’t change what’s happened. While I sympathize with your family’s plight, I’m not sure how two patrol cops can help.”

  “Connor’s right, Ray. The time to come see us was when the bribes started, not when the danger starts for your family.” Ellie appeared less enthused than Connor about Stennis’s family troubles. Like Connor told her repeatedly during Ellie’s first year: ‘empathy is for saints not cops. We represent the people who live here and don’t break the law - the victims who nobody empathizes with anymore’. “Maybe you can plead your way into witness protection with what you know.”

  “I tried. I’m a small fish. They don’t see what I have for them as worth putting my family in the program, at least not while my disappearing could tip off one of the main targets of their investigation: Terrell Araya. So far, no one but a handful of people know the FBI and Homeland Security were called in and have taken over the case. Ray got roughed up after school yesterday as a signal to me. He recognized a couple of them. They were Terrell Araya’s men.”

  “Oh boy, there’s some good news,” Ellie stated solemnly. “Araya’s been backing you for how long?”

  “Since the beginning.”

  “And Homeland Security doesn’t think being on the payroll of an MS-13 gang leader rates witness protection?” Connor asked incredulously. “Look, Councilman, you need help but you need more than Ellie and I can supply. Why don’t you see DA Gravitts? Maybe you can cut a deal with him to-”

  “Been there, done that,” Stennis interrupted. “Gravitts is out of it until the FBI and Homeland Security conclude their investigation into what and who was found at the site on Penniman. I put my wife and kids on a plane to where our relatives live in Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon. The kids are on break at school anyway as of today.”

  “Smart move,” Ellie commented. “Why don’t you join them, Ray?”

  “I’ve already jeopardized the investigation by sending the family East. I can claim it was simply a holiday visit, planned well in advance, especially if I’m still here for Araya to see. With my family safe for the time being, Luke came up with a plan how I might be able to get out of this mess, or at least reduce the danger.”

  “Morton hates our guts,” Ellie said.

  “When we talked over his plan, Luke recommended bringing you two in on it. He also wondered if Connor could talk Ladd and Arvizo into it. I’m going to set up a meeting with Araya and wear a wire of sorts. Luke obtained a modified wire called an Infinity Bug from the FBI. It works through a cell-phone call to my Blackberry while I’m meeting with Araya. Luke will call me before the meeting which activates the bug without answering it. From the moment of activation the bug picks up everything through the phone mic.”

  “Luis has kids, and Jas is married,” Connor replied. “I don’t want them anywhere near MS-13 gang contacts, at least not with the backup we get from our fearless leaders. I’m okay with helping but I don’t speak for Ellie. I’m not bringing in Luis and Jas. I’ve never even heard of an Infinity Bug so if Morton’s getting hold of top tech equipment from the FBI maybe he can recruit someone from them.”

  “If Connor’s in, I’m in. He’s right about not involving our friends. You can forget that, Ray. I expect you need backup in case something goes wrong. That’ll take a lot of planning. We screw up the sting if we’re too close and get spotted. We screw you if we’re too far away.”

  “It’s your call, of course,” Stennis agreed quickly. “I’ll take this to Luke right away and fill out the report from the incident this morning. Will you two be going in early?”

  “We’re headed in as soon as you pick up the tab, Ray,” Ellie replied. “What’s the plan after you get Araya to incriminate himself?”

  “Luke takes him d
own with your help immediately. We present the case to Homeland Security and the DA. Normally I would have had to be listed as an informant before hand for this to be a legitimate bust with my knowledge.”

  “Wait a second.” Ellie’s detached look drooped into displeasure. “You never actually came clean with either Homeland Security or the DA, did you, Ray? You pretended to be an informant on an undercover assignment from your pal Morton, saying secrecy was of the utmost importance because of the danger. Opie… we’ve been had.”

  Connor chuckled. He leaned back with a sigh. “Tell me you and Morton aren’t going to have us whacked after we help you, Godfather.”

  “You both know everything now. I’d like to stay out of prison if I can. Will you help me?”

  “We’ll help you on one condition, Ray.” Ellie leaned forward, all levity gone from her features. “You’ll make us a video confession of the truth along with a written one with your signature containing all the details.”

  “Wha…what!?”

  “Nice, El.” Connor smiled at Ellie and then looked over at Stennis. “We don’t plan on blackmailing you, Councilman. Ellie and I need some insurance we won’t become adjustments to keep you out of prison. If you have a problem with Ellie’s condition we’ll all walk away and nothing further needs to be said. Hell, I’m not sure having the two of us along on this would do you much good anyway. You and Morton can probably handle the sting by yourselves.”

  “Luke and I can’t do this on our own.”

  Connor stood up from the table. Ellie did the same. “You’ll let us know of your decision later then, Councilman?”

  Stennis held Connor’s gaze for a moment and then looked down at the table. He nodded his head.

  “Thanks for breakfast, Ray.” Ellie followed Connor out of the restaurant.

  “That was slick, El. Maybe we won’t have to help after all.”

  “In your dreams, Opie.”

  Chapter 11

  MIB’s

  Connor and Ellie walked in comfortable silence, hands stuffed in their jacket pockets against the late December chill, each lost in thought. The fog drifted slightly around them making anything beyond fifty feet nearly invisible. The sun began dispelling the hazy mist as the officers walked to Connor’s apartment, small beams of light knifing eerily downwards, creating small pockets of clarity. Their morning stroll to Ellie’s Jeep was unmarred by interruption. This began to worry Connor after a few minutes when he realized Ellie had not made a sound. She had a small smile playing out on her lips. Ellie reverted to talkative form when they reached the Jeep.