Operation: Beach Angel

by Margaret Kay

  “What’s the matter?”

  “EJ has been arrested. Him and those dumb-shit rich friends of his.”

  “Arrested? For what?” He sat up and turned the light on beside his bed.

  He listened as Shereese told him what the police had relayed to her. EJ and his friends had borrowed the keys to the house that one of his friend’s mothers was checking in on because the owners were away, and they took their girlfriends there for a private party. The alarm went off when they entered, and police responded. Shereese was still at home. She had not gone to the police station, even though the officer had told her she could come pick him up. “A part of me wants to just leave him there overnight, Landon, to hammer home the consequences of his poor choices.”

  “It doesn’t sound very serious in the overall scheme of things.”

  “But he’s the only kid involved that isn’t from a well-off family. Come on, Landon, you know how this is going to play out.”

  Lambchop thought it over for a second. He wouldn’t admit to her that she was probably right. “I’ll see if I can take emergency leave and come right away. You need to go get him out of jail tonight. Something could happen to him just being there.”

  “Do you have any idea how much he has disrespected me? And what if they need a cash bond to let him out? I don’t have any extra money lying around.”

  “I can provide the bond money if needed.”

  “Nope,” Shereese said with determination. “I’m not doing it tonight. Let him sit there overnight and think about it. Can you come tomorrow and help me deal with him?”

  Lambchop sighed as he considered it. Shereese clearly needed help. And EJ did need to understand the consequences of his choices. Shereese was right about that. There was something he could do to protect EJ overnight, though. “I’m pretty sure I can get emergency leave approved. I’ll also place a call to the police station right now to ensure that he is kept someplace relatively safe away from the other detainees. Friday night at an inner-city police station is not someplace he should be. He could accidentally get transferred to the adult lock up pending court on Monday.” There were a few other bad scenarios that came to his thoughts.

  “Thank you, Landon. I’ll let you handle things with the police. I’m going to go back to sleep now. Text me with your plans.”

  Lambchop stared at his phone after Shereese disconnected the call. She was going back to sleep. Seriously? He immediately called the phone number to the precinct that Shereese gave him. After identifying himself, he was connected to Lieutenant Hodges.

  “Thank you for taking my call. How bad of trouble is my nephew in?”

  “That’ll be up to the homeowner and the DA,” the lieutenant said. “Two of the girls were fifteen. That’ll be the biggest sticking point.”

  “I’m in Chicago. I’ll be there first thing in the morning. Can you keep EJ in an interview room or someplace separate? And flag his file with my information. I don’t want him accidentally getting transferred. I know on a busy Friday night that can happen.”

  “Yes, I can do that. He can be picked up right now, you know.”

  “His mother and I want him to realize that there are consequences to his actions by letting him sit there all night. And I want to be the person who brings him home. I think I can get through to him better than his mother.”

  “I’ll make the proper notations in his file.”

  “Thank you, lieutenant,” Lambchop said. He recited his cell phone number and repeated his badge number. After he disconnected, he called into Ops. He was glad that Cooper was still on. “I know my team is supposed to head out tomorrow afternoon, but I need emergency leave,” he said after he had relayed the issue.

  “I can approve it. Take off. I’ll put Garcia on the mission. They have a few weeks before Sienna is due. They were just at the OB yesterday and the doctor said he sees no signs of her getting ready to deliver.”

  “Thank him for me. EJ’s mother is a good woman, but she needs help. I couldn’t tell her no.”

  “No worries,” Cooper said. “Do you need me to notify the proper personnel that you’ll be flying or are you driving?”

  “Yes, please get me cleared through TSA at O’Hare. I’ll take the first flight out I can get on.”

  He disconnected the call and then logged into the travel app on his phone. The first flight was at zero seven forty-five. It was a nonstop. That would get him into Pittsburgh just past ten hundred. That was the best he could do. He booked the flight and sent Cooper a text with the info. He set his alarm for zero four hundred. Then he turned the light back off and laid down.

  Lambchop pulled open the front door to the Pittsburgh Police Department. He approached the duty desk and presented his badge and credentials. “I’m here because you have my nephew, Elias Johnson Junior, in custody.”

  The officer tapped his name into the computer keyboard. “I’ll get the lieutenant. Your nephew is the last of them to be picked up.” He lifted the desk phone.

  A few minutes later, a uniformed officer sporting lieutenant’s insignia approached. He was a black man with gray hair and glasses. Lambchop presented his badge and credentials again. The lieutenant seemed impressed by his creds. “Hodges told me he spoke to you last night and that you’d be in. We’ve released all of them into their parent’s custody for now. Your nephew is the last to be picked up.”

  “We wanted him left here to hammer the point home. They were stupid but from what I understand, they had no criminal intent, just looking for a place to be alone with their girlfriends.”

  “Yeah, dumbass kids. But when the house alarm went off, we had no way of knowing that. Four officers were dispatched. A couple of the kids ran. None of the six we got in custody gave them up. One thing I will say about your nephew, he complied and put his hands up right away. He didn’t run. He’s been respectful.”

  “He’s a good kid. He’s got plans to enlist in the Navy. I served twelve years as a SEAL. We just need to get him through one more year till he graduates and can report to bootcamp.”

  “You pay his tuition, I understand,” the lieutenant said.

  “Yes. His father died before he was born. I didn’t want the streets to take him too.” He paused and shook his head. “I guess even kids that go to good schools get into trouble.”

  “Yeah, some of these rich kids are worse than the kids from your nephew’s neighborhood. More money just buys you better label booze and higher end drugs.”

  “Did you recover anything on them?”

  “One of the kids had a few joints, nothing serious.”

  “Can you make a recommendation for my nephew to the DA. I’ll guarantee he won’t get in anymore trouble.”

  The lieutenant smiled and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. As I said, your nephew has been respectful. One of his buddies was a smart-mouthed little prick. That’s the kid I want them to throw the book at. Not your nephew.”

  Lambchop thanked him, but he knew how these things tended to go. Depending on who that kid was would decide if he got off or not. If his daddy was important enough, the kid would walk. He’d flash his badge in court or wherever he needed to, to get EJ off. He had no problem leveling the playing field.

  The lieutenant led Lambchop back behind the counter. He opened one of the interview room doors. EJ came to his feet and rushed to Lambchop.

  “Uncle L!” He embraced Lambchop. “Momma called you, huh?”

  “Duh! Yeah. Of course, she did. Are you okay?” Lambchop asked.

  “Yeah, just tired.”

  “I’ve gotten you released into my custody.”

  “Thank you, Uncle L. This is a mistake. We weren’t doing anything illegal.”

  Lambchop knew better. “Then tell me why you were arrested.”

  “Can we talk at home? I just want to get out of here.”

  “No, we talk right now.”

  EJ ran his hand through his hair. “Awe man, that cop is listening in, isn’t he?” He pointed to the camera in th
e corner of the room.

  “No. No officers are listening in. But I need to hear it from you.”

  “It was really nothing. One of the guys’ mom is taking care of her friend’s house while they are away this weekend. We borrowed the key and brought some girls there. We were just hanging out, not robbing the place. We didn’t know there was a security system on the house.”

  “A few of those girls were underage. That’s statutory rape.”

  “My girlfriend is seventeen.”

  “But you were there with the underage girls.”

  “No one got raped. Everyone went there with the same thing in mind, even the girls. Just ask them.”

  Lambchop ran his hand over his tense neck. “If the DA wants to be a dick, he can charge all of you with trespassing and conspiracy to commit statutory rape. It doesn’t matter what the girls say.”

  “That’s fucked up! How can it not matter?”

  “That’s the law, EJ.”

  “Well the law is fucked up. Intent matters.”

  “You guys broke into a house that you did not have permission to be in. Your intent was breaking and entering. EJ, what the hell were you thinking?”

  “Uncle L, it’s not that big of a deal. You and mom are blowing this out of proportion.”

  “Out of proportion? You were arrested, EJ. If serious charges stick against you, you can kiss the Navy goodbye. Everything we have planned for you goes right into the crapper.”

  “Nothing’s gonna stick. It wasn’t that big of a deal. My friends and I were just fucking around. No one got hurt. Nothing got damaged.”

  “Let me tell you something about these friends of yours. Their rich daddies are going to get them off and probably try to pin the blame on the poor black kid from the bad neighborhood, you.”

  EJ rolled his eyes, which increased Lambchop’s anger.

  “EJ, you are so like your father. I loved Elias. But he was a smart-ass know-it-all who was attracted to trouble. He got a thrill out of skirting the edge of danger. But he didn’t have the slightest fucking idea what real danger was. Plant your ass in a warzone. See your buddies shot and blown up. That’s real fucking danger, not this petty-ante shit here on the streets. There are real bad guys out there, who don’t give a fuck about anyone but themselves and too many good kids get caught in the crossfire of those guys. You are not going to be one of them.”

  “I still think you are overreacting. I get it. I can’t have a record and get into the Navy. What we did last night was stupid. You had to drop everything and come here. And I’m sorry about that.”

  “This isn’t about me, EJ. But yes, I did have to drop everything and take emergency leave from work. I let my team down because of your actions.”

  “I said I’m sorry!”

  Lambchop took EJ in a strong embrace. “I accept your apology. I’m not mad, EJ. But I need you to realize that actions have consequences. Often unintended consequences that can ruin your whole life. What if making out with that girl without fear of anyone coming home led to your girlfriend becoming pregnant? Are you ready to be a dad? Is your girlfriend ready to be a mom? Your mom sure as hell wasn’t when she found out you were on the way.”

  “It’s not like we haven’t had sex before, jeez.”

  Lambchop sighed. “We will talk about that in the car. We are going to walk out of here. You are going to apologize to the officer for the trouble. It’s going to be yes sir and no sir. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” EJ replied.

  Lambchop led him out of the room. The lieutenant met them by the door to the lobby. The officer had the bag of EJ’s personal effects for him to sign out. “I’m very sorry for the trouble, sir,” EJ said to both the officers.

  “I’m just glad no one got hurt. Last year one of our officers shot a sixteen-year-old when he pointed his phone at them. The cop couldn’t tell if it was a gun. The kid was in the park having sex with his girlfriend. The officer on the scene couldn’t tell if it was consensual or if he came upon a rape in progress. That’s what you have to keep in mind, son. When an officer gets on the scene, they can’t always read what is really going on.”

  “Yes, sir,” EJ said. “I am sorry. I didn’t think it through. I would never damage anyone’s property. Terrance said it would be okay to borrow the keys to that house.”

  Lambchop made eye contact with the lieutenant.

  “That would be Terrance Boyd. His mom was the keeper of the house keys.” The lieutenant laid a hand on EJ’s shoulder. “So, you are confirming that it was Terrance’s idea?”

  EJ glanced into Lambchop’s face. He frowned. “Yes, sir. It was Terrance’s idea.”

  In the car, Lambchop turned to face EJ who was tapping out a text message on his phone. “So, you’re having sex with your girlfriend.”

  “She’s on the pill and I wear a condom. We’re careful.” EJ frowned. He tucked the phone into his pocket.

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Lambchop said. “What’s her name?”

  “Lisa.”

  “Are you in love with her?”

  EJ’s grin was telling. “Yeah, I guess so. I mean, we’ve been seeing each other all year. I don’t want to go out with anyone else.”

  “Has your momma met her?”

  “No, she doesn’t even know about her.”

  “EJ, that’s disrespectful to both Lisa and your momma. Do her parents know about you?”

  “It’s just her mom. Her dad is some big-shot businessman that she’s never met. He has another family but pays for everything for Lisa, just like you do for me.”

  “And you’ve met her mom?”

  “Yeah. She’s alright.”

  “Who were you texting?”

  “Lisa. She left me a message last night. Her mom was really mad having to come get her at the police station.”

  “Should I drive you by there so you can apologize to her momma?”

  “No, let’s just go home.”

  Lambchop put the car in drive. “Going by her place first would be the responsible thing to do.”

  “I know Lisa is okay. The girls are in less trouble than we are, aren’t they?”

  “Yes, they probably are.” Lambchop agreed. “But it’s not about that. It’s about being a man and taking responsibility for Lisa getting in trouble, talking with her mom, and apologizing that it happened when she was with you that is the right thing to do.” Out of the corner of his eye, Lambchop saw the boy roll his eyes again. He waited a second. EJ didn’t speak. “Being a good man and taking care of a woman are two basic principles that show who you are.”

  EJ sighed. “It’s just not like that anymore, Uncle L. No offense, but it sounds old fashioned, out of date with how things are now.”

  “Being a good man is never out of date. Let me tell you something, EJ. It’s all the little things that build character.”

  “I don’t like that you’re disappointed in me, Uncle L.”

  “Then let me take you to Lisa’s. See for yourself that she is okay. Ask her in person to be sure she is. Apologize to her momma. And then introduce her to yours. Let this situation be a catalyst for proving the good character you have.”

  “Fine,” EJ agreed.

  November

  Priced at just over two and a half million dollars, the beautiful four bedroom, three-bath home that overlooked Lahaina Beach and the Au’au Channel, was situated up in the lush hills. Sleeping in the king-sized bed in the master bedroom, Nevaeh Mahao woke and gazed out the floor to ceiling windows that made up the entire west-facing wall and at the island of Lanai across the channel. It was a stunning view she admired. After a few moments of listening for any sounds of life inside the house, she glanced around the room and through the open doorway that led into the main living room of the house.

  She heard nothing and breathed out a sigh of relief, assuming he was gone. He’d woken her before the sun was up and had sex with her before he got into the shower. She closed her eyes and faked being asleep while he got dr
essed after. She still played asleep when he kissed her cheek and left the room. She smelled coffee and heard him move about the kitchen. At some point after the house was again quiet, she must have fallen back asleep.

  She grabbed her cell phone from the bedside table. It was ten-thirty. She hadn’t planned to sleep that late. “Shit,” she moaned. She rose from the bed and donned her robe to cover her nakedness. She went to the bathroom and dropped to her knees in front of the sink. She reached under it to retrieve the cell phone she had hidden there, taped out of sight. She powered it up, entered the password, and checked the text messages. The one she hoped to see was there. Kapalua noon. That was it. That was enough.