Chapter 19 #2
“Yes, I’ll wait a few weeks, you know, to feel them out, before I set it up that they can have access.
You know, the fingerprint and eye scan. Those have to be done simultaneously, or the door won’t open.
After three attempts, an alarm goes off on my phone, telling me that someone is trying to break into the room. ”
“Ah, and if need be, you can get to a safe location and call for backup?” Cass asked.
“That’s the plan,” he said with a nod. He pointed to a waist high bench on the other side of the room. “That’s where the contents of Eddie’s bag is. I used gloves as I handled everything.” He even went on to explain how he had wrapped it in a plastic bag to bring it to his home.
“So, all fingerprints and fibers should be Eddie’s?” Cass asked.
“As far as I know, yes. I did everything in my power to preserve everything.”
Everyone nodded, and Paul stepped back to stand beside Petra when the three men looked around, then lifted the cases they carried onto a bench halfway down where the drugs had been laid out. Cass started opening cases, and removing equipment.
“This,” he said as he turned to look at Paul. “This is equipment that will allow you to test the drugs. I’ll teach you how to use it, and the results will go directly to my computer in my office down in Des Moines.”
“Will this prevent us from calling Kessler, Flynn, and even you to come out here every time we need something tested?” Petra asked.
“Yes, once we get the composition of what we’re dealing with, then we’ll know how to proceed.
I don’t have to tell you that depending on the results, some arrests might be made immediately.
You will have no say in that matter.” Cass held up his hand with a shake of his head.
“I know what you’re trying to do here with Tainted Shield.
I agree one hundred percent with it, however, what you might not know is that there are some drugs that have started hitting the streets in the last few months that are bad.
I mean out in LA, and in NY, and even down in Miami, and Dallas, there have been a total of twenty-three deaths due to these street drugs.
The numbers might be even higher by now. ”
“Holy shit,” Paul said. “By all means, test away. You’ll be able to tell me what they’re laced with, if they are?”
“Yes. Eventually, you will be able too. Unless you know your chemical compositions now, you’ll have to wait until I contact you.
” He looked into another case and pulled out a book that was at least six inches thick.
“This is a book with all chemicals used in these street drugs. I have a program on my computer that once something is entered, it will spit out the details in a matter of seconds.”
“Great,” Paul said as he watched Cass set up the equipment, don a pair of gloves, reach for the first bag, and examined it.
“There are no markings on these bags, so it’s going to be a crap shoot to see what’s in them. I’m going to take a sample of each bag and run it through this program.” He put actions to words, and within the first two minutes he was swearing. “Fuck me.”
“What?” Petra asked as she stepped closer to watch.
“This bag contains heroine, but it’s not just heroine, it’s laced with fentanyl.” He pointed to the screen to explain. “See the line, the higher it is, the more potent it is.”
Both Paul and Petra leaned in to look. Petra pointed to the screen. “Am I reading this right? There’s more fentanyl than heroine in that bag?”
“Yes, and realistically, it’s more potent than the actual heroine. This is some of the drug that’s killing people I just mentioned.”
“Damn,” Paul said and watched as Cass tested five more bags, all with the same results, and as he reached for another bag, and shook his head.
“This one is different, it’s cocaine, but it’s not laced with anything.”
“So, it’s pure?” Flynn asked.
“Yes.” They watched as he tested several more bags, and set them aside. The next batch he tested he shook his head.
“What?” Kessler asked.
“Pure Oxy.”
“Like the pain pills a doctor prescribes?”
“Yes, but this is in powder form. As you can see, it looks like cocaine, but it’s not.” Again, he tested several bags, putting them with the others, and the final set of bags, Paul spoke.
“I maybe an undercover agent for both the DEA and ATF, and stupid when it comes to drugs, but I would bet those bags left are ICE.”
Cass nodded as he took a sample and looked at him. “You’re right. ICE, crystal meth, meth, all the same street name, but it’s all the same components.” He finished testing everything, and then leaned against the bench with his hips and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Gentlemen, the amount of drugs here are an automatic felony, plus, because of the way they are bagged, it screams with intent to sell, another felony. Do you know if he has any charges against him already?”
“Yes, a federal felony charge of possession with intent to sell, and another one with failure to appear.”
“Perfect, I can go back to my office and draw up other charges, also federal, and we can go after him. Do you have any idea as to how to get in touch with him?”
“No, I do know that he’s trying to strike for either the Iron Men, the Vultures, or the Bastards.
I talked to the presidents of those clubs and they all agreed that he would never be above the wannabe stage for their clubs.
They also said that he’s trying to strike for all three clubs, but no one is giving him the opportunity, let alone the time of day. ”
“Perfect,” Cass said with a grin, which caused Paul to shiver. He held up a finger and walked over to where several files were laid out on the other side of the room. He came back with Eddie Brickman’s driver’s license. “Don’t ask, don’t tell, but this is current.”
Cass took it with a grin. “Again, perfect. You going anywhere in the next couple of days?”
“We’re going to check out the Toys for Tots run Petra mentioned earlier.”
“That’s next month,” Petra said quickly.
“Okay, then do you have body cameras?”
“We do, we haven’t used them yet, but we do.”
“Good, use them on that run. I’ll look into it, but I assure you that Eddie Brickman will be arrested and sitting in jail by the time that run happens.”
Everyone nodded, and after Paul offered to make coffee for everyone, Cass started showing both Petra and Paul how to use the equipment.
By the time they knew the basics, it was time for them to leave, but Paul offered them a room in the basement of his house.
The three of them spent the night, talked well after midnight, and after breakfast the next day, made to leave.
The next morning, as they were getting ready to leave, Cass looked at Paul from the seat of his bike. “Remember I’m a good two and a half to three hours away from you. If you need me in an emergency, I’ll try to help, but otherwise, expect me to arrive three hours after your call.”
“I understand, and I’ll try not to make a habit of calling you. However, I do like that fact that you are only a phone call away if I need something in a pinch. Also, I’m pretty good at holding my own, but the thought of you coming to the rescue eases the mind.”
“I wish you luck, and again, I’ll go back to my office, draw up the warrants, and we’ll put a team together to arrest Brickman.”
“Thank you,” Paul shook his hand, and he stepped back to stand beside Petra and watched them leave.
After they cleared the road and they could hear the bikes out on the highway, Petra turned to him with a frown.
“What is it?”
“Did they take the notebook?”
“Nope, only the drugs and cash. Cass said he’ll run the serial numbers from the money. I do have them written down though, and I still have the notebook.”
“Good,” she said as she turned and headed back toward the house to finish cleaning up and get ready to head to the diner for her shift.