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The address the officer had given me was a strip mall a few miles away. He told me his name was Officer Dan Hodgins, and his partner was Wanda Fraisure. He asked me to leave first, and they would meet me later so as not to arouse suspicion, but wouldn’t tell me whose suspicion they were concerned with.
I drove to the strip mall and did a quick lap around it. The parking lot was mostly empty, but there were a few cars in front of the liquor store. There was an area in the back where I guessed the officers “parked up” to finish their reports while on shift to stay out of sight.
I stayed out in the open in a spot at the corner of the lot near the street as I waited for the officers to arrive. My Glock was safely back in its concealed holster in my waistband, and my patrol rifle was within reach in the back seat area with Kruger if things went sideways and we were ambushed again.
I clipped a leash to Kruger’s collar and let her stretch her legs in a grassy area near the parking spot I had chosen. As she finished doing her business, I saw the NOPD Ford Explorer with Fraisure and Hodgins arrive. Hodgins stuck his hand out the window and waved for me to follow him to the area in the back that I had scoped out earlier.
I loaded Kruger back into the truck and gave her a treat. As I got in the driver’s seat, I saw a blue Ford Fusion turn in the parking lot and follow the Ford Explorer. I could see light bars in the back rear by the third brake light, indicating it was a detective or supervisor, but it had driven by too quickly for me to get an idea of who was driving.
When I reached the park up area, I saw Detective Jackson standing next to the driver’s side window chatting with Officer Hodgins. They had backed their Explorer up to the fence line, and Jackson had parked on the other side. He turned and looked at me as I pulled up next to the Explorer with Jackson between us.
“We meet again,” I said as I lowered the window and put the truck in park.
Jackson frowned and then turned back to Hodgins. He said something to the officer and then tapped the roof. Hodgins exchanged a look with his partner and drove off, leaving Jackson standing by my window.
“The old bait and switch,” I said as I watched them drive off.
“I thought we had an understanding,” Jackson said as he turned and put both hands on my door. “Masturbating in public?”
“Let me guess, the church’s security called that in, and y’all are on his payroll.”
“Jesus Christ, Troy, everyone is on his payroll,” Jackson said, shaking his head. “That man spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on details every year.”
“So, they were on a detail?”
“Twenty-four hours.” Jackson nodded.
“Who called it in?”
“What difference does it make, Troy? You stand out like a sore thumb in that neighborhood. What did you think was going to happen?”
“Hey, now, I’m offended,” I replied.
Jackson rolled his eyes. “You’re playing with fire if you think you’ll get anything out of shaking that tree.”
“Why don’t you explain it to me, then?”
“That church does a lot of good for the local community. More than you could ever imagine.”
“But...”
“But nothing. The good reverend has been a staple in this community for thirty years.”
“Okay, I get it,” I said. I could tell by his tone that he clearly had a personal interest in Reverend Sharp and his church.
“So, what’s with all the security?” I asked.
“Did it look like a safe neighborhood to you?”
“If he’s done so much for the community, I can’t see why he’d be so worried.”
“Until you’ve lived it, you have no idea, my friend. You’ll never understand.”
“Okay, fair enough. But who was the other guy with all the security?”
“What other guy?”
“When I was minding my own business, rubbing one out in my truck,” I said, pausing to see if he’d react and break the tension.
“Not funny,” he said with a half-grin.
“Anyway, I saw a man surrounded by security walk up to a younger woman who was watching the kids. She had been texting someone and he took her phone. He looked pretty important.”
“Had to be Deacon Emmanuel Carter,” Jackson said. “Everyone calls him Deacon.”
“Is he a saint too?”
Jackson shrugged. “It’s best to not ask questions when it comes to that entire church.”
“Why not?”
“Money.”
“They seem to have lots of it.”
“And very powerful friends, including most of the City Council and the Mayor.”
“So, it’s political.”
“Isn’t everything?”
I reached into the center console and pulled out the card I had found in the car in the junkyard. I handed it to Jackson and gave him a minute to look it over.
“I found that in Revis’s car in the impound lot.”
Jackson’s eyes widened. “You were digging through an impounded vehicle?”
“Cut the crap,” I said. “Don’t give me that holier than thou bullshit.”
“This doesn’t mean anything,” Jackson said as he studied the card.
“You don’t even think it’s worth looking into?”
Jackson glanced back toward the strip mall and then said, “Not if I want to keep my job.”
“Your job?” I snapped. “Didn’t you just have an officer get ambushed too? What about that? What about the ones I saved last night? You’re not the least bit fucking curious about that?”
“Fuck you,” Jackson snarled. “I’m going to do my job and we will find the people responsible for this. And I don’t need your help.”
“Look, man, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to find answers.”
Jackson leaned in. “Consider this professional courtesy. Look elsewhere.”
“Seriously?”
“As a heart attack,” Jackson replied before returning to his car and driving off.