Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
As the newest member of the Drug Enforcement Unit Interdiction Squad, Jackson was paying close attention to the briefing on the upcoming drug raids.
This was a large operation involving multiple squads—the Interdiction Squad was joined by the Undercover Squad, and the Career Criminal Section, while the Street Crimes Unit was contributing their Gang Squad and both Tactical Enforcement Squads.
Captain Andrew Lacey was going over the operation’s logistics. After months of work, they were almost ready for the raids they hoped would bring enough evidence to take down the latest gang that assumed they could operate with impunity in Kansas City.
“Since the Tactical Enforcement Squads have the most experience with this kind of operation, I’m going to turn this over to Lieutenant Nelson,” he concluded before stepping back.
“Thank you, Captain. We have six sites to hit, so each squad will have a target. As you know, simultaneous strikes get us the most drugs and the most information. The operation will take place at oh four hundred when most of the targets should be asleep. All the locations are confirmed, so we have no-knock warrants for each. Be sure you go to the correct target—we don’t need the PR problem of hitting a civilian home.
The sites are in residential neighborhoods, so be aware. ”
When the briefing was over, everyone headed to the locker room to get kitted out before going on their way.
In the back of a nondescript white van, Jackson listened with the rest of the squad as Lieutenant Rivers went over the plan once more.
This was his first big bust with narcotics, and he hoped his experience in the organized crime unit had prepared him adequately.
His team was solid, and they had been through grueling training.
Today, they were going to take down one of the gang’s suspected drug houses.
“You know the drill. All the squads will be moving simultaneously. If we do this right, we’ll be in and out, nice and clean. We’ll have them cuffed before they know what hit them,” Rivers said to conclude his briefing. There were some ‘ayes’ and nods, but mostly the guys were silent.
Jackson checked his rifle and sidearm, more as a ritual than a necessity.
Most of them had their habits. Carl D’Antonio was refastening his armored vest, and Joel Conway held the cross he wore between his fingers as he said a silent prayer.
His partner, Will Tolbert, had his rifle in his lap and was stroking it with his fingertips like it was his lover.
Jackson wondered sometimes about how useful this sort of operation was. The demand for drugs remained high, no matter how many gangs they stopped. Every time they took one out, another would move into the opening.
They were like orcs. For every one you took out, two more seemed to take their place. He sighed. If he wanted to tackle the demand side of the drug problem, he was in the wrong line of work. Maybe he should join his baby brother. World-saving was his department.
“ETA in five,” Rivers informed them from the front of the van. Before the vehicle had come to a halt, the doors were open, and they spilled out. In twenty-two seconds, they were at the door of the assigned house and using a battering ram to bust open the door.
The routine slipped in as soon as Jackson entered the house.
The team kept close together, with Tolbert taking the lead, and Jackson kept his hand on Will’s shoulder.
They both halted at the first door, while Conway and D’Antonio moved on.
Will nodded, and Jackson squeezed in response.
Will entered the room and took the right side.
Jackson went left as he followed Will in and spotted a man lying on a couch who started to come at him.
He aimed his rifle, and the man immediately dropped to his knees.
Jackson moved over and had the man cuffed in less than fifteen seconds.
Will called out, “Clear,” to let the others know the room was safe.
In less than two minutes, his team had all the rooms cleared and seven men cuffed on the ground outside. The house had a large stash of drugs, not much money, and too many weapons.
Jackson and Will were tasked with guarding the house until a team from the Evidence Collection Unit arrived to take inventory of everything they found.
The house appeared to be a main location for distribution, with multiple kilos of what they assumed was heroin plus baggies, as well as boxes of powdered milk and baking soda to cut with the heroin.
There was no way these guys were getting out on a technicality.
At about 7:30, four patrol cars pulled up to start house-to-house interviews before the residents left for work or school.
It was after eight by the time the Evidence Collection team arrived.
Jackson was dragging, his eyes were gritty, and he needed caffeine.
Even the station house coffee would be appealing right now, but he knew the importance of protecting the chain of evidence in a case this big.
Once the debriefing was over, Jackson had had four cups of coffee, and they were dismissed for the day.
He went to the locker room and changed into his street clothes.
Will and most of the squad had already left, but Carl and Joel were still in the locker room, and he caught the tag end of their conversation.
“Maybe she’s changed since she’s been gone,” Carl commented.
“Do you really think that’s possible?” Joel asked.
“I wouldn’t mind tapping that ass,” Carl continued. “I don’t think she’d be so high and mighty after a thorough fucking.”
Joel laughed. “I wouldn’t risk my junk near that woman. If she doesn’t rip your balls off, your dick would freeze if you managed to get it inside her. She isn’t called H?agen-Dazs for nothing, and it’s not because she’s sweet.”
Jackson didn’t need to ask who they were talking about, even before he heard the nickname.
It grated on him. With Paula gone, the department had been bitter, insecure locker-room gossip about her.
Just because every straight guy in the department had hit on her and been rebuffed didn’t make it right to discuss her as though she were a sex object.
He objected to that kind of talk about any woman. But about Paula?
Unforgivable.
He slammed his locker shut and walked over. “I think it’s rude to talk about people behind their backs. And it’s even ruder to talk about a colleague like she’s a piece of meat.”
He shot Carl a pointed look, he hoped was icy enough to make his dick shrivel to the size of his integrity.
Carl held up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, dude, take it easy.”
Joel chimed in. “Yeah, man, what the hell? We’re not gonna fight over a woman. Besides, she must be gay. It’s the only reason no one seems to be her type. Her type comes with breasts and no dick.”
Jackson’s jaw tightened. “That’s not just ignorant. It’s pathetic. Whether a woman is into men or not is her prerogative. Turning down a few insecure assholes doesn’t make her a lesbian. It makes her smart.”
Joel blinked. “Jesus, chill out.”
Jackson didn’t. “You ever talk about a male officer like that? Ever speculate on whether one of the guys needs a good fuck to be less ‘high and mighty’? No—you wouldn’t dare. She’s a fellow officer. A damn good detective. She deserves the same respect as any man in this department.”
Paula wasn’t cold as ice cream—she was sweet and tempting.
“Maybe you should try not being a misogynist for five minutes. See how that feels.”
“Nah, man, it isn’t us.” Carl scowled. “Not when she turned down every one of us.”
Jackson sighed at the sadness of hurt male pride. “Or she just isn’t interested in dating police officers. Ever thought of that?”
“Nah”—Joel slapped his shoulder—“she turned down Eddie from finance, so it isn’t just cops.”
Jackson didn’t bother replying. He was too busy reminding himself that decking a colleague, no matter how well deserved, wasn’t worth the paperwork.
He grabbed his bag and left, the laughter behind him grating like sandpaper. The taste in his mouth wasn’t just from the coffee anymore.