The Protectors: Vigilante Justice (Vigilante Cops Book 1)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  Ellie sighed. “Okay, let’s go see how Mulder and Scully are doing.”

  “Who?” Julie asked.

  “Will you stop doing that?” Ellie admonished, shaking a finger at Julie. “When you hear a reference tonight and don’t have a clue, just giggle or something like you actually are from earth, okay?”

  “Fine!” Julie agreed, still obviously wondering who Mulder and Scully were.

  Fulton stood up smiling with his hand extended as Ellie, Julie, and Connor approached. After the initial hellos all around, the three companions sat opposite Fulton and Guzman. Before anything else was seated, Ben Donaldson slipped into the only remaining chair at the table.

  “Thanks for saving me a seat. You ladies look wonderful,” Donaldson said politely. “Opie, you look like someone stuffed you into that suit against your will.”

  “Very astute observation, Sarg. I was kidnapped from my home against my will. What about you? I don’t see Terry anywhere.”

  “She’s up in Oregon visiting her folks,” Donaldson answered. “I’m flying solo until after New Year’s Day. This works out well after what our friends from the FBI told me earlier.”

  “Is it your opinion Dr. Morrison can hear this conversation, Ben?” Fulton asked.

  “She keeps secrets for a living and her brother-in-law is the DA. She brought along Bradwick and James without any setup. You can bet Araya has people watching us since we busted his document mill. This is the most informal place we could share a few details. Have you brought Joe up to speed?”

  Guzman nodded. “He knows. Araya called Stennis and set up a meet for the 2nd.”

  “That soon?” Donaldson couldn’t hide his surprise at Guzman’s news.

  “Can you put something together on such short notice without any fanfare to tip off Araya?” Fulton asked.

  “If Stennis gives Ellie what she asked for I can come up with enough uniforms to back the play,” Donaldson answered.

  “And what would that be?” Guzman asked Ellie directly.

  “Can’t say,” Ellie replied. “It’s part of an agreement Stennis made to get our help.”

  “You can tell us,” Guzman insisted.

  “Nope.”

  “Listen James-”

  “We gave our word,” Connor broke in. “It has nothing to do with your operation and will provide some added incentive for Stennis to play this straight.”

  “You’re not in the Boy Scouts, Bradwick.” Guzman did not attempt to hide the condescension in her voice.

  “My people are cooperating with you and Drax completely. Don’t make this into a pissing contest,” Donaldson warned Guzman.

  “I’d like some Champagne,” Julie said.

  “They just came by and opened these,” Fulton replied, taking up one of the three bottles on ice in the center of the table. He poured the Champagne into the six glasses. Holding his Champagne glass up after setting the bottle down into the ice again, Fulton made a toast. “To happier times and a safer New Year.”

  Clinking glasses together, the group sipped their Champagne. Julie drank nearly half of hers. A few seconds later she downed the rest. Seeing Julie in action, Ellie copied the intake and poured first Julie another round and then filled her own glass. She toasted Julie. The band began playing again.

  “I’m with you Jules. Let’s get this party started. Opie, you’re designated driver.”

  “Remember, El, DA Gravitts wants to join us a little later. I imagine he may have some input on our operation.”

  “Yeah, James,” Guzman remarked sharply. “We need you to remain coherent for a while longer.”

  “Is this one Scully or Mulder?” Julie asked Ellie, pointing at Guzman.

  “The jury’s still out on that one, Jules.” Ellie met Guzman’s malevolent stare as the FBI agent started out of her seat. Fulton grabbed his partner’s arm.

  “Easy, ‘Nita,” Fulton urged.

  “If you can’t take it, ‘Nita, don’t dish it out,” Ellie added.

  “That’s enough!” Donaldson ordered. “If this deal’s going down on the 2nd, getting blitzed tonight would not be a good idea for anyone. They’ve begun serving. Let’s enjoy the meal.”

  “The Sarg is right, El,” Connor whispered. “Enjoy yourself but don’t overdo it.”

  “Okay, Opie, I get the message.” Ellie exchanged a violently suggestive glare with Guzman.

  Julie leaned across Ellie to get Connor’s attention. “Can I get blitzed?”

  “Why would you want to, Doc?”

  “It seems like a good idea tonight.”

  “It’s never a good idea, Jules. Connor’s right. Let’s just throw a few down and have some fun. I-”

  “Ellie,” Detective Morton leaned over Connor. “Would you like to dance?”

  Ellie looked up in surprise.

  “Go on, El,” Connor urged. “Gravitts won’t come over to say hi until after the meal anyway.”

  “Okay… what the hell?”

  Ellie stood up and walked with Morton to the dance floor where other couples were dancing to ‘Lady In Red’.

  “Dance with me, Connor.”

  Connor peered into Julie’s eyes, gauging how much the Champagne had affected her judgment. “Okay, Doc.”

  On the dance floor, Julie moved closer to Connor than the more formal approach he had in mind.

  “You dance very well, Connor.”

  “I haven’t always been the shut in Ellie claims I am.”

  “She really rides you hard.” Julie giggled, the music and movement beginning to blend together with the Champagne she had gulped.

  “Was that a double entendre, Doc?”

  Julie pulled away slightly with a surprised look. Seeing Connor’s bemused smile, she relaxed. “No… at least I don’t think it was. Have you and Ellie-”

  “Been lovers? No,” Connor answered without waiting for Julie to finish.

  “There is a sexual tension between the two of you.”

  “Anytime a man and woman are together there’s sexual tension, Doc,” Connor pointed out. “I thought psychologists measured us human animals by our restraint. When you grabbed my butt the other day I didn’t grab yours back.”

  Julie blushed. When she didn’t speak, Connor moved away slightly to see her expression.

  “You’re blushing, Doc. Does that mean there’s sexual tension between us?”

  The song ended. Julie released her hold on Connor, wondering why she always felt like a teenager around Connor and Ellie.

  “Point taken,” Julie admitted. “When I’m around you two, I lose all semblance of order. You and Ellie are like walking, talking chaos for me.”

  Connor laughed, grasping Julie’s shoulder affectionately. “Good one, Doc. Let’s get some food in you. It’ll temper the Champagne buzz and allow you to regain your perspective of clinical psychoanalyst.”

  “Ellie’s like one of those mean girls in school I was always trying to stay on the good side of. Ellie and Guzman frighten me.”

  “You have it all wrong, Doc.” Connor prompted Julie toward their table. “Ellie used to eat mean girls like Guzman as a snack. She was the one in school the less popular picked on girls hung around with for protection.”

  “Hey,” Ellie bumped into Connor. “How come you danced with the visitor from another planet instead of asking me before Morton did, Opie?”

  “I asked him, Ellie.”

  “You stay out of this Kal-El la.”

  “Who?”

  “You looked very good out there with Morton,” Connor complimented her. “We have to get some food into the Doc. She’s-”

  “She’s just fine.” Ellie cut him off. She took a closer look at Julie. “Didn’t you eat anything today, Jules?”

  “I had a piece of toast and coffee this morning,” Julie answered defensively as the three walked toward the table. “You surprised me wanting to meet up so early today and I missed lunch.”

  “You need to eat, girl. Pretty soon you won’t have anything le
ft to flash. Opie, can you go to the bar and get me a real drink? I’ll go feed the Who-bird here.”

  “What kind of real drink are we talking about?”

  “How about a Mai Tai,” Ellie replied.

  “Oh boy.”

  “That was a long time ago.” Ellie smacked Connor’s arm, knowing instantly what past moment involving Mai Tai’s Connor was thinking of.

  “One Mai Tai coming up.”

  “That sounds good.” Julie caught hold of Connor’s arm. “Can I have one of those?”

  “We might let you sip one later after you’ve eaten a nice big meal with lots of water,” Ellie answered, pulling Julie toward the table.

  “El, what happened to Morton?” Connor asked, not seeing him or Stennis at the back of the room.

  “He got the high sign from Stennis when the song ended. The prick patted my butt and left.”

  “One Mai Tai coming up,” Connor repeated, turning away to avoid letting any of the snappy remarks filling his head escape.

  “This is just what the doctor ordered,” Ellie said approvingly, looking over the New York Steak and Lobster tail dinners already served at the table.

  “Did Morton say anything to you, Ellie,” Donaldson asked.

  “Just the usual sexual harassment type stuff, Boss,” Ellie answered, getting a laugh from Donaldson and Julie. Fulton and Guzman exchanged looks.

  “How well do you know Morton?” Guzman asked.

  “He’s asked me out. I said no. I hope you’re not thinking of turning this into an Ellie interrogation, ‘Nita. Did you two notice Morton and Stennis took off?”

  “Don’t be offended, Ellie,” Fulton replied quickly. “We did notice Morton leave you rather abruptly on the dance floor to join Stennis.”

  “And the little pat goodbye Morton gave you,” Guzman added. “You didn’t happen to say-”

  “Forget it,” Ellie interrupted and then took a deep breath. “I know what you two are thinking. What’s bad is I thought at least the pat on the butt was real. Now I’m thinking he and Stennis decided to put a little doubt in your minds about me.”

  “It worked,” Guzman said.

  “Where’s Opie with my drink?” Ellie asked, having trouble seeing the bar with so many people moving around. “I need something stronger than Champagne if I’m getting into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.”

  Donaldson immediately looked away, striving to hold back laughter. Julie snorted while staring down at the steak she was cutting into small pieces, avoiding even a glance up at Guzman’s face.

  “One day soon, James, we’re going to have a private chat where we won’t be interrupted.”

  “Oh shit…” Ellie mumbled in surprise, ignoring Guzman completely. Ellie could see the bar now. Connor sat with a red haired woman draped over his shoulder wearing a black halter mini dress.

  Julie turned to follow Ellie’s line of sight. Her pulse jumped seeing Connor with a woman unknown to her. “Ellie, who is that?”

  “Brandy Knutson,” Guzman answered, feeling a little thrill at how Ellie was reacting to the bar scene. “She’s in real estate and Bradwick’s girlfriend.”

  “Ex-girlfriend,” Ellie said, looking at Julie first and then Guzman. “You investigated her too?”

  “She doesn’t look very Ex to me, James. If Bradwick’s phone records are correct.”

  “It’s our job, Ellie.” Fulton stated over Guzman, looking at his partner disapprovingly. “We don’t normally announce the details in public though. Ms. Knutson has brokered two of Sebastian Gravitts’s real estate transactions in the past. She also sold Araya his present house in Piedmont.”

  “Small world here on the Bay, huh?” Ellie asked rhetorically as she turned around in her seat again.

  “It legitimizes these skunks, Ellie,” Donaldson explained. “The more of civilized society they rub elbows with, the less attention they draw in their everyday dealings.”

  “You keep eatin’, Jules. I’m going to rescue my Mai Tai. I’ll bring you back one too but you only get to sip it with your meal. Want anything, Boss?”

  “I’ll stick with the Champagne, Ellie, thanks.”

  Chapter 15

  New Year

  Connor walked to the bar, waiting patiently as there were a number of people ahead of him who wanted something stronger than Champagne. Rather than stand, towering over the other people milling around at the bar, Connor sat down on the first stool available. Moments later, he felt an arm around his shoulder. He smiled.

  “It’s coming, El,” Connor announced without looking up. “No need to put the spurs on.”

  “How sweet,” a familiar voice whispered next to his ear. “What exactly is coming?”

  “Hi, Brandy,” Connor greeted her, looking up with a smile, and some surprise. “You must know one of the Gravitts.”

  “Sebastian and I have done a couple deals. I saw you dancing with Joe’s sister-in-law.”

  Connor felt the woman sway against him as if with the music playing. Familiarity fired a volley of desire through Connor’s nerve endings. In seconds he was glad he had a suit coat on.

  “Julie Morrison is the Department psychologist.”

  “You stopped calling,” Brandy whispered into Connor’s ear once again, sending chills shooting through him right to his toes.

  “Actually, you stopped answering,” Connor replied.

  “The headlines were a little much for a while there.”

  “Who are you here with?”

  “No one special.”

  “Does he know that?”

  Brandy laughed. “Maybe… maybe not. If-”

  “Hey there Brandy.” Ellie slid in next to Connor on the other side. “Where’s my drink, Opie?”

  “Hello, Ellie. Pet names… how cute.” Brandy sent an arctic chill into the air. “Long time no see. It’s been wonderful.”

  “I’ll bet.” Ellie laughed, knowing the two of them had dropped all pretense of civility long ago. “You look great tonight in that special call girl sort of way you have. Planning on heading over to the Castro District later?”

  “Sorry, El, are you working the room here tonight?” Brandy snapped back. “The Carnelian Room’s a little above your pay grade, isn’t it?”

  “Hey,” Connor interrupted the verbal barbs. “Let’s call a truce here, okay? I’m just waiting for the bartender, El.”

  “Barkeep!” Ellie called out with authority, leaning provocatively over the bar. Seconds later, the nearest bartender serving drinks was hovering close to Ellie, pretending to wipe his hands on a bar towel.

  “What can I get you?”

  “Two Mai Tai’s,” Ellie answered, reaching over to gently grasp the man’s arm.

  “Coming right up,” the twenty something bartender agreed smiling.

  “I bet you get some big tips with those moves, El,” Brandy observed with a sigh as she leaned into Connor again.

  “Would you like to introduce me to your friend, Brandy?”

  Brandy straightened away from Connor, looking up with some embarrassment at the tall stocky man gripping her left elbow. Ellie watched with amusement as Connor stood up. The man’s eyes were at Connor’s chin.

  “Hi, I’m Connor Bradwick. This is my partner, Ellie James. We’re with the Oakland Police Department. We didn’t mean to hog so much of Brandy’s time.”

  The man shook Connor’s extended hand and then Ellie’s. “No problem. I’m Louis Gibbs. Nice meeting you both. Our meal’s getting cold, Brandy. Will you excuse us?”

  “Of course,” Connor replied. He moved closer to Ellie as Louis escorted the now quiet Brandy away from the bar.

  “Happy New Year, Brandy… Louis,” Ellie called out as the bartender arrived with her drinks. “Grab the drinks, Opie. Let’s get back to the table. Louis is right, our meal’s getting cold.”

  “Great timing as always, El,” Connor remarked, tipping the bartender enough to keep a smile on his face. “How’s the Doc?”

  “Fine. I fou
nd out the MIB’s have investigated everyone in our lives, including Whiney.”

  “Figures.” Connor picked up the drinks.

  “I heard you been buzzing Whiney’s phone quite a bit.”

  “I told you that.”

  “You carrying a torch for that tart?”

  “It’s more like a candle now. Thanks for asking.”

  “Maybe you should drink the Mai Tai and I’ll drive.”

  “No thanks.”

  “Good, because I’ll go postal if I have to sit at the same table with Guzman sober.” Ellie tugged Connor to a halt. “Because Morton patted my butt and then split immediately with Stennis, I’ve been moved up on the FBI’s most suspicious list.”

  Realization flooded through Connor as he instantly recognized Morton’s move. “That bastard’s a lot smarter than he looks.”

  “Too bad Guzman isn’t.”

  At the table, Ellie saw Julie had devoured everything on her plate. She took one of the drinks from Connor and set it down in front of Morrison.

  “You did good, Jules,” Ellie told her, sitting down and taking her drink from Connor. “Remember, just sip it.”

  “I asked the waiter to warm your food up, Ellie.” Julie sipped the Mai Tai with obvious enjoyment. “He said he’d be right back with your plates.”

  “Thanks, that was sweet of you.” Ellie took a long sip of her Mai Tai, meeting Connor’s knitted brow look. “Oh relax, Opie, I’m having a couple gulps before our heated food returns.”

  Forty-five minutes later, Joe Gravitts put his hand on Julie’s shoulder. “Why don’t you visit with Joan for a moment, Sis?”

  “Do I have to?” Julie smiled up at her brother-in-law. She left the table, getting a laugh from Ellie as she dropped her head and trudged for a few steps as if she were a recalcitrant child.

  Gravitts sat down in her seat. “I don’t have much to say. We still don’t know if Araya will be brought up on federal charges or if we’ll have to handle him locally. We do this by the book or he’ll kick our asses in court and we’ll wind up with nothing. I have all the papers in order covering Stennis and Morton’s undercover op and the warrants for initial searches if Stennis gets Araya to give up something. This thing going down on the 2nd really puts the pressure on.”