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“Thanks, man. No really.” Jackson shook his head with a small chuckle. “You’re a great therapist, even when you’re just tending a bar.”
Scott grinned. “That’s because a bar and a therapy office aren’t all that different. People come in, spill their guts, and leave feeling lighter.”
Jackson tapped the rim of his glass against the counter before downing the last sip. The frustration hadn’t fully left him, but something else had taken its place.
Determination.
Paula was gone, but that didn’t mean he’d stop looking for answers.
He pushed the glass toward Scott. “I think I’m done for the night.”
Scott nodded. “Good. Get some sleep.”
Jackson slid off the stool, rolling his shoulders as he stood. Yeah. Maybe tonight he actually would.
“I suggest you go carefully with her.” Scott’s words halted him, and Jackson half turned to listen. “Don’t spring all of BDSM on her at once. See if you connect without it first.”
“That’s good advice, but it pre-supposes I can get her to talk to me when she gets back.” He tipped to fingers against his forehead in a silent salute and goodbye.
“I have confidence you can make that happen.” With that, Scott moved down to the far end of the bar to take care of Chris.
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’tneed 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.
