Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jackson sat through the morning briefing on the investigation into the burgeoning meth problem.
It appeared the cartels were getting competition from local suppliers.
In addition to the extra product on the street, there was also the real threat of violence as the cartels worked to take out the new entrants into the market.
Captain Lacey had the latest news. “A small lab near Van Brunt and Hardesty blew up last night. We don’t have forensics back to know if it was deliberate or an accident.”
“How are they getting the ingredients, Cap?” The question came from Jackson’s partner. “I thought the controls on buying pseudoephedrine had pretty well squashed local production.”
“It has, but we got word from the DEA of a hit on a truck delivering drugs to pharmacies near St. Louis about six weeks ago. Seems there was enough cold medicine on it to fuel a dozen labs for several months. They’re having the same problems in St. Louis that we are here.”
“Damn. How come they didn’t tell us sooner? Jackson asked.
“You know the DEA. They only share on a ‘need to know’ basis, and it just dawned on them that maybe local law enforcement needed to know. Agent Daniels actually apologized for not sending word sooner. Not that it’s a lot of help.
They don’t have any leads on the robbery.
It just explains how the locals are getting their ingredients,” Lacey replied.
“Anyway, I need you to work your informants. Find out as much as you can so we can shut down the labs. If you should find one, report it immediately. Observe from a safe distance. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt entry. I cannot stress that enough. A meth lab might as well be an unexploded bomb. Go after any informant you have. Find new ones. We need to get this situation under control. Meth in any form is bad. Homemade is worse. Dismissed.”
Jackson and Will headed back to their desks in the bullpen. “So,” said Jackson, “who do we try first? You’ve been here longer than I have. I know a few guys tied into one of the gangs that run heroin and fentanyl, but I don’t have any connections to the meth trade.”
Will answered, “I have two possibles. One’s a low-level dealer with the Marquez cartel and might know something about the locals.
The cartels want to shut them down, too.
The other is a meth user. He usually goes through this dealer, but if one of the homegrown operators is cheaper, he may know something. ”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s roll.”
It took them most of the morning to run down the dealer, and he had only one useful piece of information. The locals were undercutting his prices, and his bosses were mad. His sales were down by a third, and he was starting to get desperate.
The user was even less help because he was still high on the drugs, and all he could tell them was how good the new stuff was. He hadn’t used his full supply yet, though, so they took him in for possession and to see if they could get any information out of him once he came down.
When they returned to the station, they had the bullpen to themselves, so they handcuffed Zach to one of the chairs and busied themselves with paperwork while they waited for the meth to wear off. This was easier said than done, for the perp was loud and irritating.
When Jackson finished the write-up of the day’s activities, he let his thoughts wander to Paula.
She had been exquisite the previous night.
Her mood had been good, her submission graceful and easy.
Her modesty gone, she now took off her clothes as soon as she came in the house.
After he’d fed her dinner, they had spent a relaxing evening watching Captain Marvel .
When he couldn’t have hobbits, he liked to keep up with superheroes.
Paula enjoyed it because the captain was now a woman.
She had started off the evening on the floor by his legs, but he had pulled her up onto the couch after about fifteen minutes, and they had spent the rest of the movie cuddling.
She’d woken him with a blow job that morning, and it had been wonderful.
These days, she was deep throating him and swallowing most of the time.
She was everything he had ever wanted. They had done their Tai Chi together before breakfast, and after eating, parted for the day.
He was only sorry it was Thursday, and he wouldn’t see her again until Saturday.
He was looking forward to her debut at Club Indigo as his sub.
He was glad the trial contract was ending soon, and he intended to push for her to move in with him when they renewed it. He was sure she was the woman for him. He had yet to share the “L” word with her, but he had admitted to himself that he was head over heels in love.
Will pulled him from his reverie. “Jackson, I’ve called you twice. What’s so fascinating about that report?”
“Nothing. My mind wandered.”
“Better not let the captain see you doing that.”
“Yeah, I know. Looks like Zach has calmed down. Have you gotten anything out of him yet?”
“I was just going to suggest we take him to interrogation and see what he has to say for himself.”
An hour later, they had the phone number for Zach’s new dealer and the location where they met, but he claimed not to have even a street name for the man.
“Shall we turn him loose or book him?” Jackson asked.
“I don’t know,” Will answered. “What do you think, Zach?”
“I told you everything I know. I didn’t have nothing but personal stuff. If you let me go, I can help.”
“How can you help?” Jackson asked. “You don’t even know your dealer’s name.”
“When I need more ice, I can call you before I call him.”
“How can we trust you to do that?” Will asked.
Zach raised his hand like a Boy Scout pledging. “Because I promise.”
Jackson and Will could barely contain their laughter. “Okay. We’ll let you go, and we’ll stand you to a fresh dose on Monday. We’ll meet you at Troost and 39 th Street, and then you’ll call, and we’ll all go together.”
“Why can’t we go tomorrow?”
“Would your dealer believe you had money for ice two days after you just got it?”
“Nah, probably not,” he conceded.
They let him go and reported their findings to Captain Lacey before clocking out for the day.
Jackson went home to dream of his Melda and check over his plans for their Saturday night.