“It is as far as interrogations and verbal banter between you and I,” Peace replied. “I have the number of a JAG lawyer, Commander Jessup ordered me to call the moment I was approached by anyone from the SDPD. If you two are here for refreshments, then I won’t make the call. Anything else, and I will obey my orders.”
“We came over to ask you just a couple more questions, and for Lewiston to make an apology,” Mobry explained. “Did you…”
“Apology accepted, and a very gracious one I might add,” Peace interrupted. “No questions. Would you care for something to eat?” “No, I…” Mobry began.
“Then I will leave you gentlemen to your drinks,” Peace said, turning and walking away from the bar to check on Polasky’s customers.
“You were here the other two times altercations took place at this bar, weren’t you, Polasky?” Lewiston said edgily.
“One altercation, and one attempted murder,” Polasky corrected.
“So, Peacenik tried to kill Batiste?” Lewiston fired back.
Polasky looked at Mobry with a concerned look on his face. “Detective, I didn’t know your hiring practices for the police department also included the mentally challenged.”
Lewiston stood up so quickly, his stool fell backwards to the floor, leaving the entire place quiet; but for the jukebox, playing Great Balls of Fire. Polasky calmly leaned on the bar in front of Lewiston, his arms folded under him.
“Oh yes, Detective, please oh please, take a swing at me,” Ed said softly. “It goes against my moral code to rip the head off a mental midget; but I believe an exception can be made in your case.”
Mobry immediately interjected himself between his partner and the bar; but from the look on Lewiston’s face as he glared at Polasky, he was not stupid enough to challenge the big ex-Seal.
“I’m sorry for the disturbance, Mr. Polasky,” Mobry said in a placating manner as Peace had walked up to stand next to him. “We’ll leave, and come back some other time.”
“Call ahead, so I can have my lawyer here to inform you I won’t be taking any more questions either,” Polasky replied. “Now, get out.”
Mobry nodded his understanding, and turned to go. Lewiston hesitated, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. The other patrons in the bar were looking at the Detective as if he had grown a horn in the center of his head. He glared at Peace one last time, and then strode angrily after his partner. Peace turned to survey the faces, still looking curiously at the retreating police detectives, or at he and Polasky. Peace shrugged comically.
“Never a dull moment at Ed’s, right folks? Please tell all your friends.”
Appreciative laughter in response to Peace’s line eased the tension as Peace returned Lewiston’s barstool to its upright position. Nancy walked over to the bar from the restaurant, looking apprehensively at her husband and Peace.
“Trouble?”
“Why no, Dear,” Polasky grinned. “Peace and I were just entertaining his interrogators from yesterday.”
“Oh boy,” Nancy sighed. “You two aren’t in cuffs. I’ll settle for that.”
Ed and Peace laughed as Nancy walked back out of the bar, waving to a few of the familiar faces.
Chapter Fifteen
Revelations
Lewiston slammed the passenger side door, after sliding heavily in next to a waiting Mobry. Mobry started the unmarked car, a brown Ford Taurus, and pulled away without speaking to his enraged partner.
“Thanks for the backup in there, partner,” Lewiston said through clenched teeth, as he buckled his seatbelt.
“Polasky may have had a point about your mental state, Dave,” Mobry retorted. “What part of ‘apologize to Peacenik’ as soon as you saw him, didn’t you understand from the Captain’s little talk?”
“Yea right, me, apologize to that cop killer.”
“If we ever did have a chance to get him, you just killed it, genius,” Mobry added. “They could be readying a case to take to the Chief, and pal, you could be up to your eyeballs in shit.”
“Ain’t this justice? Peacenik kills two policemen in cold blood, and I’m in trouble with the law.”
“We don’t know he killed them, unless of course we’re executing people on hunches,” Mobry sighed. “You need to step back, Dave. I’m telling you, even if you were right, it’s over. You ain’t getting Peacenik now. If you keep getting in his face like you did tonight, I might find you sitting in your car somewhere, with your hands on the steering wheel, without a heartbeat.”
“So,” Lewiston turned towards Mobry accusingly, “you do believe he did it.”
“I believe that young man could do just about anything he put his mind to. I’ve been studying his FBI file. In spite…”
“FBI file? What the hell? You can’t…”
“I have some friends with the Bureau,” Mobry cut him off.
“They could go to prison for showing you confidential files.”
“After the Clintons used a thousand private FBI files, without any explanation other than an, ‘oops, how did that happen’, they do guard their stuff more zealously,” Mobry admitted. “I requested special consideration for the purpose of Homeland Security to cover my friend’s help.” “Nice,” Lewiston said, grudgingly.
“Anyway, Peacenik holds a Top Secret clearance, even though he went to Iraq during the war as a human shield. He was rescued by the same Seal Team Six, he’s a member of now. The moment he hit USA soil, he dedicated himself to becoming a Seal, to the point his own parents disavowed him. When the FBI investigated family and friends for
Peacenik’s clearance, his parents told them they had no son.” “Poor baby,” Lewiston broke in.
“Shut up,” Mobry ordered. “I’m trying to help you here. Peacenik holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering from Cal State Berkley, and supposedly learned his skills as a sniper from Polasky, who is also a former Seal Team sniper. Peacenik speaks four languages, they have listed: Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic. He picked up Arabic while in Iraq, and perfected his usage after returning to the States. Spanish, he picked up in college; but the file is vague about why and how he learned Russian and Chinese. He has a photographic memory. This guy has the whole package, and he never gives up. The people the FBI interviewed, who have known him since his return from Iraq, share one descriptive word for him: relentless.”
“Cut the bullshit. What the hell does all of this have to do with anything, other than re-enforcing my belief he did it?”
“I meant to show you we are out of our league,” Mobry explained patiently. “Especially since you lost any edge we had when you rearranged his face. If this Batiste guy goes after Peacenik again, all we can do is collect the survivors. Internal Affairs dropped their case files on McCray and Miguel upon their supposed deaths as heroes in the line of duty.”
Lewiston was silent for a time, before slamming a hand against the dashboard in frustration. “What about the Batiste angle? Did IA ever connect McCray and Miguel to Batiste?”
“Nope. I talked to them this morning. They claim there’s so many layers in their dealings, they hadn’t gotten close to the money source.” “What do we have on Batiste?”
“Lots of tidbits about reports of his being involved in violent confrontations since he started at San Diego State, but no arrests. It seems almost everything about any trouble he has disappears shortly after the initial report: no evidence, and no witnesses.”
“How heavy duty are we talking about?” Lewiston asked.
“Two assaults, where the victims were hospitalized, and three murders.”
“Bullshit!”
“They didn’t all happen at once,” Mobry continued. “He’s been at San Diego State for three and a half years. The five incidents where his name came up as a suspect were spread out over that time.”
“Even so, his name should have popped up every time after the first incident. They should have been hounding him.”
“Exactly,” Mobry replied, “but n
o one did. It seems he picked on the wrong boy this time. It goes to show, when the law doesn’t work, all hell breaks loose.”
“Peacenik murdered two cops,” Lewiston persisted.
“Maybe they threatened to murder him, or frame him.”
“Okay,” Lewiston retorted, “let’s say McCray and Miguel threatened him. Why not report it to the police?”
“McCray and Miguel were the police,” Mobry said quietly.
“But…”
“But nothing,” Mobry interrupted. “Peacenik gets attacked, and by the accounts of the witnesses in the depositions they delivered, it was attempted murder. The evidence, and report get lost. Then, to top that, the cops who took the report disavow even being there, and the Department starts hinting it may have been Peacenik who was at fault. The whole incident smells.”
“So, we just let Peacenik do a masked avenger stint on cops as well as suspects? Not likely.”
“Look Dave, people look at the police now as if we’re only good for showing up with the body bags after the fact, and they’re closer to being right then I like to admit. You’re facing a suspension, minimum, if Peacenik presses charges. Like it or not, we follow orders and stay the hell away from him. If you want to pursue this behind the Captain’s back, it will be on your own.”
“Fine pal, I’ll do just that. Batiste will be the key to getting Peacenik. He’ll slip up and I’ll be there,” Lewiston said confidently.
“Man, I’ll tell you one thing, buddy,” Mobry looked solemnly over at his partner. “There are two people I do not want to be: you and
Batiste. That kid Peacenik scares me.”
__
“What do you think?” Polasky asked, as Peace joined him behind the bar.
“I think Mobry was right, and Lewiston was supposed to apologize,” Peace replied, watching for any customers who needed service. “Lewiston really believes I killed those cops, and maybe Mobry does too. You can’t blame him for being frustrated enough to keep losing it.”
“I guess,” Polasky agreed, “but all the more reason to stay away from Dink.”
“Dink will come to me. I’ve checked his record. He’s a bad one. Reports link him to two assaults and three murders.”
“Three murders?!”
“Yep,” Peace replied. “In addition, the same thing happened with the evidence and witnesses, Dink’s been trying to have happen with his attack on me. I’m going to need to do a lot of recon so I get a feeling as to what Dink’s up to.”
“I can’t believe that punk has the balls to kill anyone.”
“He tried to kill me. I’m just lucky he didn’t do a drive by like the other three reported murders happened.”
“How did he even get tied to three drive bys?” Polasky asked, confused.
“The first two assaults he was named as the attacker by the victims, who later recanted. The three drive by murder victims all had one thing in common: they all had violent confrontations with Dink just before their deaths.”
“Shit!” Polasky exclaimed under his breath. “That means there ain’t no doubt the cops were aware of his escapades.”
“There’s not enough about him in what was left of the reports to even tell who was in on them,” Peace replied. “He could have done the same to me as he did to them, so why didn’t he?”
“Maybe he didn’t do them. Maybe he had them done,” Polasky offered. “Maybe he couldn’t get his Daddy, or whoever contracts his little hissy-fit revenge gigs, to agree to doing you.”
“You know, Ed, I think you’ve got it,” Peace mused. “That would explain how a guy, tied into so many things, could get clear of them. The assaults were one thing, but he would have needed to have some alibi for the killings. I must have really pissed him off.”
“Considering how close you came to killing him, I would have thought he’d be staying the hell away from you now. After all, he’s already taken care of the police angle.”
“Somebody sent…” Peace shut up immediately; but it was too late, as Polasky started laughing.
“Somebody sent those two cops to educate you,” Polasky finished for him with a big grin. “I am so good.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yea, I know, now tell me how you did it,” Polasky insisted.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Okay,” Polasky sighed. “I guess plausible deniability is the right thing in this instance. So, if someone did send the cops out to take care of loose ends, we can assume enough trouble had been made of Dink’s ninja turtle attack on you, they were getting worried. With their reeducation team getting erased, they’re taking a lot closer look at you now, my friend.”
“It would all come down to how much heat they’d want to take,” Peace added. “If something were to happen to me, they’d be putting Dink in the same position I’d be in if something happened to him.”
“That’s why you’re so worried about Jill,” Polasky added. “Considering what we know, it would seem to follow they would try and use her to scare you off.”
“I doubt the people behind Dink are considering anything right now. It will be up to him whether he drops this or not. I’m betting he doesn’t,” Peace replied, deciding to add another smokescreen to throw Polasky off. “I was sure wrong about Dink. I can’t believe I was dumb enough to think he was just some college jock with a bad attitude.”
“May I remind you who had the right take on him?” Polasky grinned.
“You’re the man, Ed,” Peace admitted. “I’m not sure, as I think about it, we could have handled it any other way besides some violent mix up right on the spot. I was just tending bar at the wrong time of the month for Dink.”
Polasky laughed. “It makes me wonder why any of those other guys hung around with that creep at all. What kind of plan do you have in mind? Anything I can help with?”
“A very low key, quiet one,” Peace replied, “and no, I ain’t dragging you into it. Thanks for offering though.”
“If anything happens to you, son, I believe a lot of people are going to die,” Polasky said grimly.
“I depend on you to make sure nothing like that happens. Like you always told me: shit happens. Something happens to me, you make sure it goes no further. I want your word on it, Ed.”
Polasky looked at Peace for a long moment before answering. “You’ve got it, kid. Just make sure nothing happens to you.”
“Look in on Jill for me too.”
“Okay, but there wouldn’t be a hell of a lot I could do to make her feel better.”
“Just so she’s safe,” Peace said.
“That, I’ll do. I guarantee it. Speaking of Jill, she’s going to love your new look,” Polasky said, changing the subject.
“Dan told me it’s an improvement.”
The two men laughed long and hard.
__
Jill answered the door, rushing into Peace’s arms. Her greeting caught him by surprise, and he awkwardly returned her embrace.
“Oh Peace, I’m glad to see you,” Jill murmured, as she looked up and kissed him softly. “I wanted to say more on the phone when you called, but I…”
“You did just right,” Peace replied. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Jill said, grasping his head and turning it slightly one way and then the other. “You don’t look as bad as I expected.”
“I kept icing it every time I had a chance, and messaging some baby oil in, Nancy gave me. It really helped. You look fabulous,” Peace said, holding her at arms length.
Jill was dressed in a dark blue, strapless evening gown, with black high heels. Her long blonde hair lay swept back to one side. Peace thought, not for the first time, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
“You look pretty good yourself,” Jill smiled. “Too bad you don’t wear three piece suits more often. You look like James Bond.”
Peace laughed. “Yea, right.”
“Hey, I’m serious.
That charcoal gray really suits you, in a manner of speaking. Your hair could be longer.”
“I’ll make a note.”
“Ready to meet my folks?”
“How much have you told them?” Piece asked, looking past her into the spacious suite. “Their mansion is, how can I say this… ah… overwhelming.”
“Everything but the impromptu meeting with the SDPD,” Jill whispered. “This is not a mansion. Did you have any trouble finding it from my directions?”
“It sure looks like a mansion to me. I really didn’t have any problem finding it. I just followed the trail of limousines,” Peace grinned. “Did you have any trouble with the police when they questioned you?”
“No. I stuck to facts, and did not elaborate,” Jill replied, pinching him for the limousine remark. “How in the world did you pass a polygraph test? I thought you were a bad liar.”
“Only in matters of the heart,” Peace replied, pulling Jill’s left hand up to his lips. “I love you. I’m sorry about all this.”
“We’ll get through it,” Jill said, stroking his face with her other hand.
“Who told you about the polygraph test?”
“My Dad. I called him in on it the moment Detective Mobry called me to ask some preliminary questions. The detective told me they’d like to get together with me for a formal interview. I didn’t think that would be a good idea. It only took my Father an hour to find out all the details, and let them know there would not be an interview unless he was present. They never contacted me again. When you E-mailed me about the incident with Lewiston, I expected the worst.”
“You did great, I…”
“Hey, out there,” a booming deep voice called out, “are you coming in or not?”
“Be there in a second, Dad,” Jill laughed, before turning to whisper to Peace. “We’ll talk later at your place.”
“That would not be appropriate,” Peace reminded her, shaking his head in disdain.
“I’ll give you something appropriate,” Jill murmured, grinding against him.
“Don’t Jill,” Peace ordered. “I’ll burst right out of my suit. Your cast is off for a couple of days, and right away you’re in high heels, moving like a ballerina. How do you do it?”
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