Episode 1: Dirty Money Dirty Deeds, #1

by Nico Jackson

  She opened the car door and put her bag inside. She rested her arm on the door. "What can I help you with?"

  "Jaylen Sinclair. You know him?"

  Kendra narrowed her eyes. "Don't play games with me," she said. "You know I know him. Otherwise you wouldn't ask the question. What do you want to know? What are you really after?"

  Vasquez put his badge away. "You got a mouth on you, lady."

  "I don't have time for bullshit. Again, what do you want?"

  "How well do you know him?"

  "I suspect you know the answer to that as well. I've known him since we were kids. Why?"

  "What's your relationship?"

  "My relationship is none of your business. Now if you'll excuse me," Kendra said as she slid into the driver's seat.

  Vasquez held the door. "We're not finished."

  "Am I under arrest?"

  "No."

  "Are you detaining me, officer?"

  "It's 'Agent Vasquez'. You could make this easier on yourself. I want Big Sam Bishop, not you."

  "I'm not interested."

  "You think you know Sinclair," Vasquez said. "You are just another notch on his belt. We're going to take him down. You don't have to go with him."

  "I don't know what you're talking about. Now if you'll excuse me..."

  Vasquez took a step back. "Do you want to go to jail, Kendra?"

  "Go to jail for what, officer? You've wasted enough of my time." Kendra closed the door. She started the car and drove off without another look at Vasquez.

  Vasquez watched her as she drove away. "She's gonna pay for this."

  * * *

  Kendra answered on the second ring. "Hey, you."

  Jay couldn't help smiling. "Hey, yourself. How was your day?"

  "Some people got on my last nerve. How about yours?"

  "It was okay. How about dinner?"

  She sighed. "Not tonight. I have a lot of work to do. Can I get a rain check?"

  "Of course you can. Tomorrow? The next night?"

  "I'll let you know. There's a lot going on."

  Jay wondered what was on her mind. Did she have regrets? "Is Isaac bothering you again?"

  "Isaac is the least of my worries. I've got some other stuff to deal with."

  "Are you sure that's all? I don't like your voice."

  "That's all. Nothing to worry about."

  Jay wasn't convinced, but he decided to let it go. "Okay, baby. You change your mind, come on over."

  "Thanks. I'll call you tomorrow."

  Jay put his phone down. It vibrated as soon as it touched the table. "Whassup?"

  "We got a problem. Vasquez put your girl on the board."

  "Kendra? Are you sure?"

  "Yeah, he said he was gonna ask her some questions today. How much does she know?"

  "There's nothing for her to know."

  "Okay, thanks. Take care of it for me."

  "You want the problem solved?"

  "I don't want any more heat on me. Find out what he knows."

  Jay disconnected the call, then slammed his fist on the table. "Fuck!"

  He had trusted her.

  Why hadn't she told him?

  Vasquez got out of his car when he saw George Campbell get out of his. He went to Campbell and shook his hand. Two police officers met them on the sidewalk.

  "Thanks," he said. "I know we'll find something."

  "It looks like his place is around back," Campbell said. He looked through several sheets of paper on his clipboard. "It says here he lives in the carriage house. The main house belongs to his sister."

  "Is it a different address?”

  Campbell looked at the papers, then the porch. "Two mail boxes. One says 110R. The other says 110. 110R belongs to my parolee."

  "It doesn't matter. He's got access to the house. I wanted it all searched."

  "Two addresses. Two separate entrances," Campbell said. "I get the feeling you're not telling me everything. Are you after Mason? Or are you after his sister? If you're using me to get around a search warrant, I swear to God..."

  Vasquez let out a long breath. "Of course not. I wouldn't lie to another officer of the court. Didn't you say he's missed a couple of substance abuse counseling sessions?"

  "I can violate him when he misses the third session. What makes you think that we'll find drugs here?"

  "He's a coke head. Once a coke head, always a coke head."

  Campbell put the clipboard under his arm. "I've seen people change."

  Vasquez snorted. "How many? How many go right back to prison? If we don't find anything, then no harm done, right?"

  "I don't have a good feeling about this. I talked to the sister. She seems like a good person. I've seen people like her get caught in the crossfire."

  Vasquez started up the steps. "Are we going to do this or not?"

  Campbell followed him. He rang the doorbell, then banged on the storm door. They heard movement in the house, and Kendra answered the door.

  She glared at Vasquez. "What are you doing here? What do you want?"

  Campbell took a step forward. "I'm George Campbell, Ms. Mason. We spoke on the phone about your brother. I'm his parole officer. We are here to do a home search."

  "He's at work. I can unlock the door for you. " she said.

  Vasquez shook his head. "We don't need the key. We'll start here. Step aside please."

  Kendra held out her hand. "I'd like to see the warrant."

  "Your brother is a parolee. I'm here with his parole officer. We have cause to believe he's hiding drugs, and he has access to the house."

  "He doesn't have access. That's why he lives in the carriage house."

  Vasquez pushed Kendra to the side. "Let's start in the living room."

  "I do not give consent to this search," Kendra said.

  Vasquez smirked and snapped on a pair of rubber gloves. "You don't have to." He went to the sofa and threw the cushions on the floor.

  Kendra took a step toward him."Hey!"

  A policeman held her back. "You'll have to keep calm, ma'am."

  Vasquez moved to the bookshelf. He pulled out books and threw them on the floor. He had emptied a shelf when he stopped and looked more closely. "Campbell. Look what we have here."

  Campbell looked. "Jesus."

  Vasquez reached in and grabbed something. He held it up. It was a wax paper bag filled with pills. "Black Magic. Name brand Ecstasy. A Sam Bishop special.”

  Kendra shook her head. "I don't know anything about that. It’s not mine.”

  Vasquez nodded to the policeman standing next to Kendra. "Cuff her. Kendra Mason, you are under arrest for intent to distribute a controlled substance. You have the right to remain silent—”

  The policeman put Kendra’s arms behind her back. “I know my rights.”

  * * *

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