CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“What are you guys talking about? Charlie wouldn’t have done that,” said Mike. “He’s for us. All of us. This is why we’re doing this.”
“We heard him,” said Frank. “We heard every word of it. He killed our own men, and he’s hiding money for himself.”
“This is sounding less and less appealing,” said Miller, staring at the men. “You guys assured us that this guy had our best interests at heart.”
“He doesn’t,” said Al, stepping forward. “He doesn’t give a shit about any of us. I’ve been trying to tell Mike for weeks now that he’s using us all, that he’s taking a bigger cut than we know about. Don’t you all get it? We’re the ones risking everything. If someone dies, it’s on us. Not him. He’s kept his distance. If he wins the election, he’ll be so far removed from all of us we won’t be able to touch him.”
“But the rally?” said someone in the back.
“The rally will only make him look good. Not us. What do you all think will happen when the men and women we put behind bars are given free reign over the city? Have any of you thought about it? I have.”
“You’re in as deep as the rest of us, Al,” said Mike.
“You’re right. I am, and I’ll have to pay for that. I’m almost relieved to even say it. I’ll pay for it however I need to, but I won’t jeopardize millions of lives because Charlie Gates wants to be president one day. Not anymore.
“We use these people, mostly women, and take advantage of them. I’m ashamed of who I’ve become, and I won’t do it any longer. You should be ashamed too, Mike. We were good cops once upon a time. We did a lot of good. Put a lot of bad guys away. Now, we’re just gigolos stealing from old women.”
“Fuck you!” yelled Mike. “You’re fucking these old broads too, Al. You got your cut of everything and enjoyed the pussy just like me.”
“You’re right, I did. But not any longer. I don’t want any part of it any longer. I’m done,” said Al.
“Me too,” said Frank. “I might go to jail for my part in this, but at least I’ll have a clear conscience.”
“What are you going to do? Are you gonna run to the D.A.? Do you have any idea what he’ll do to all of you?” yelled Mike.
The cacophony of voices yelling above one another was nearly more than Miller and Addie could stand. They knew that everything was being recorded, but to see it was something entirely different.
Taking a seat in the back of the room, they sat quietly as if just observing all of it. The massive space was used to hold parties, weddings, birthday celebrations, and more. Today, it was holding a gathering of angry, angry men.
They heard a loud knock on the door, and everyone quieted. As it opened, they were shocked to see the smiling face of Patti. The others tried to clear their expressions, but Mike was too far gone.
“Patti, now is not the time. Get out,” he said curtly.
“Mike, don’t speak to me that way,” she smiled. “I’ve got an issue, and I think you should come with me.” Her sly smile told him it was about sex. This bitch just couldn’t be satisfied.
“Patti, I swear to God, if you don’t get the fuck out of here, I’m going to hurt you.”
Patti pushed the door open further, standing in the entrance. There were a dozen men behind her, and Miller noticed another dozen gathered on the patio outside.
“I don’t think you’ll hurt me at all, Mike. Not like you did the others anyway.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” he whispered.
“Special Agent Patricia Nasher. FBI. You’re under arrest. All of you.” There was utter silence in the room, then Al burst into laughter, shaking so hard he bent over to catch his breath.
“This is priceless. Your past has caught up with you, Mike. With all of us. And the best part is you were fucking her.”
As the agents entered the meeting space, men were zip-tied and sat against the wall. When Patti got to Miller and Addie, she smiled down at them.
“Don’t worry,” she smirked. “I know exactly who the two of you are. I wanted to tell you who I was, but there wasn’t time. I recognized your wife, your real wife, the day she came in with Teddy. We’d met once before at a gathering the president threw. You allowed me to get enough information to nail all of them.”
“What about Gates?” asked Addie.
“He’s on the run, but he’s stupid enough and conceited enough to believe he can get away with it all in Atlanta. We’re setting up teams now to bring in the convicts that he hired.”
“I can help with that,” said Al. “I will help with that. I don’t expect any favors in return. I just want all of this stopped.”
“It will look good if you do help us,” said Miller. He stared at him and shook his head.
“I knew the day you walked in that you weren’t just some retired cop. Not a fucking cop in this room looks like you or her.”
“I am a retired cop, Al. I just happen to be a lot more than just that. If you can help us, we’d be much obliged. We’ll make sure the feds and the D.A. know that you cooperated.”
“Won’t matter,” he smirked. “I’m a dead man either way. If I go to jail, one of these assholes will kill me or some derelict that I put in prison. As I said, I’m okay with that. Maureen took a lot out of me.” He had a sad expression that stuck with Addie.
“You loved her,” she said quietly. He stared at the beautiful woman and gave a sad smile.
“I think I actually did. The bitch of it is, I didn’t realize it until she was actually dying from what I did to her. She was a good woman, kind, generous, thoughtful. Everything about her was what I’d been looking for my whole life, and I let it go. Serves me right.”
“Do you have any idea where all the money, cars, jewelry, all of it are?” asked Miller.
“We’ve got a room here. Mike showed it to you. Every home has the same thing. We collect everything for a month, then send it to Atlanta where one of Charlie’s team handles the returns.”
“Is it sent to a warehouse or something?” asked Patti.
“I think so. I know Charlie owns a couple of buildings near the airport. Makes it pretty convenient for him if he wants to get out fast. He owns a few different homes, all modest and in small neighborhoods. It’s not where he lives, though. I tried to go see him a few months ago and couldn’t find him anywhere. He just said he wanted to be unavailable for a while.”
“You might not think so, Al, but that helps,” said Miller.
“What are you?” he asked, staring at the big man. “I mean, I don’t deserve to know or anything, but you aren’t the average person. Neither of you.”
“My name is Pierre, but not Landry. I’m Pierre Robicheaux. My friends call me Miller. This is Addie Frode. We’re part of Voodoo Guardians and Gray Wolf Security.”
“Holy fuck,” he whispered, shaking his head. “Holy fuck. Oh my God!” He started laughing and laughed so hard he took a seat on the floor, doubled over, breathless.
“Are you okay?” asked Patti.
“Okay? I’ve never been better. Charlie won’t get away with this. None of us will. You just made my day, and I already know I’m gonna die. At least I know it won’t be for nothing. I’ve helped to end Charlie Gates.”
The agents took the men away, piling them into trucks to take downtown and process at the local bureau office.
“I wanted to tell you who I was,” smiled Patti.
“I get it,” nodded Miller. “Do you have a partner in Atlanta working the case there?”
“I do. They know that you’re all involved now and have been cooperating where they could without revealing too much information.”
Miller nodded his head, then looked at Addie.
“Looks like we’re getting divorced,” he smiled.
“Oh, no, big fella. Before we divorce, you’re buying me a beer. I deserve it!”