"everyone must sign in and we will let them line up to sign in for the grand prize. That way we get all their names and where they are from. While they are doing that and by the way the very pretty hostesses will keep them busy with drinks and flirting, we the Vegas police will have a list of all outstanding warrants from all the major cities in the states, for that is where these guys are coming from. We have invited special police from each city to be here, and of course your friend the Captain, to make sure we get this Tony you have recognized, that will be a big one for you Jake. Jake was still bothered with the two murders of Juan and Terry, and these guys sure did not seem to be involved in that, no Jake said to the Sheriff I want to get those involved in their murders, what good is this going to do? Sheriff looked at him with pity, he could see how this was ravaging his friend, and told Jake, I promise you after this is over we will find and get those responsible for those killings. That seem to make Jake more at ease and they turned to the "hall incident" as they named it and laughed the rest of the meeting at the embarrassment of those tough mobsters.
With that Jake knew in his heart that Sheriff would keep his promise, actually he probably had a good idea of exactly who the "drug man" is and who his hit men are, since the Sheriff has been around for so many years it is inconceivable he does not have at least a slight suspicion. So Jake struck with that question how much do you know about the drug industry here in your city, and who is involved in it? The Sheriff looked at him with a strange look as if he was assessing him, trying to peer through that New York detective cloak that he wore, and it was this one time that he looked very exposed and the Sheriff noticed that Jake was slightly trembling with his hands, a man under great pressure he thought, he decided to break up the meeting and reschedule it at later date closer to the actual date for the "hall incident" and at that time Jake will have had more time to heal. They said goodbyes and parted with the promise to meet shortly. Jake set off to meet with Brian as he had promised. Jake arrived one half hour later, still not feeling the best, he had to arrange for a funeral now for Terry, and did not know who or any of her relatives were, except there was a sister somewhere, but that sure did not help. Brian got right down to business and told Jake as much as he knew, Brian felt that Jake knew more than he was telling or letting on but that is the way the Sheriff wanted it, and what the Sheriff wants he gets. They went over the flyer that Brian proposed to have printed, but with a few minor changes, rather suggestions, Jake made, Jake was very careful not to step on Brian's toes, and always acted as if Brian knew best. They decided to have the printer run about 300 flyers, the more the better, and each one of them will have a different number on them except for 100 of them, they will all have the same number A4550-001 the rest of the flyers will be ready in one day. Excellent thought Brian as he dropped off Jake at his hotel and returned to his own office, with the thoughts going through his mind what is this all about?
When Jake returned to his hotel and to his room there was a note slipped under his door, but under the rules of the game they won, hotel rules say he must vacate the suite by tomorrow evening. If that is not agreeable please contact the front desk understand your sadness at this time and wish you all the best, thank you, and it was signed Frank Romano...Manager
Jake woke the next morning, it was late for him the clock showed it was 9:00AM that was about two hours behind his usual schedule, but he figured he needed it and it was well worth the extra two hours. He ordered some breakfast and headed to the shower, where he saw some of the ingredients that Terry used to use, and the thought came rushing back to him, what a loss and what a waste of a human being. He strengthened himself with the knowledge that between he and the Sheriffs office we will find the scum that did that to her. He finished the shower, and found the front door buzzer ringing and the phone ringing at the same time, what a way to start the morning he thought, all the while opening the door for the breakfast service, and picking up the phone saying this is Jake, it was one of his old buddies from the old precinct, wanting to see him. Yeah Don come on up to the penthouse and have some chow with me, and he heard the exclamation on the other side say you bet here I come. It took almost ten minutes for the buzzer to ring and there he was Don Reynolds, looking as fit as he always did, with a great big bear hug and asking him how did he rate the penthouse while everyone else is down below? Jake skipped over most of the story, figuring Don will catch the rumors soon enough so they talked about the city, and how it had changed since Jake was there, and it was a change not for the better Don said, every liberal is out cussing the police and it caught on with the general public, he said I do not know where it is all going to end frankly Jake. The police departments are demoralized with everyone against them and many of the old timers are quitting, letting in this new breed of liberal cops, you know they come right out of those liberal colleges where they are all taught by professors who actually believe this junk, honestly I cannot stand it and I have four more years to go. Then I may get out and head out maybe to Vegas, he joked, Jake said come on we need good men. They both had a good laugh and Jake realized it was the first time he had a good laugh since he moved to the hotel.
Jake went over the plan in a great deal of detail, and told him to have any one of the men who does not understand it to contact him directly. Briefly the flyers will be given out to about 200 people for drinks, eats and some prizes, but each flyer will have a number on it, the numbers are very important since they will designate who are the men we are looking for. Now others will have received that flyer too but their numbers will not be the same, so when we announce that all those whose numbers are not A4550-001 I am sorry but you do have the $100.00 gambling chip but we have another drawing for those who have that number. When that crowd has left the new prize we will announce is a two week vacation for two, but you must sign up at the desk and present your flyer so we may verify the numbers. Once this is done and you have all the names of those present, match them up to the warrants and you have them. I must make sure the Sheriff has enough men along with the other police to take care of them, and get them out of the hotel before problems arise. They both had another cup of coffee and laughed really about the plan and other funny stories from New York, it was just good to relax Jake thought. It will be a blast he decided and gave Jake a big bear hug and said we sure do miss you Jake. That meant an awful lot to Jake and he almost teared up, but of course big boys don't cry.
The planes arrived into Las Vegas airport from all over and the people all looked the same, except the crowd from New York, they were all well dressed and looked like wealthy executives or from Wall Street, they just stood out with their $1500.00 suits and $500.00 shoes, these were the money people of the organization. They flew first class instead of taxis they had limos waiting for them, they knew how to live and they did not try to hide that fact. By the afternoon everyone had checked into the hotel and Jake felt assured that all was going well, so he ordered the bell boys to distribute the flyers to each room, as well as those rooms who were not their target, and he sat back to wait and see if heard anything about the party. He was working on his second beer when a group of them came into the lounge, mainly to look for that waitress they all wanted, not knowing of course she was a plant from the Sheriff's office, but she sure was good looking, sweet and with a figure that would stop a clock, as Jake's dad would say. She took their orders for drinks along with all their clowning around like a very experienced waitress, in other words she gave as much as she got and no man was fast enough with cracks or innuendos that she couldn't handle. Jake admired that and when she was finished with them she ambled over to his area and asked how are you doing Jake, she knew his name but of course the Sheriff had I imagine tipped her off to watch for him. She bent over as if to listen to his order, but whispered to him they are going to discuss the party tomorrow night, but Jake did not hear a thing, for he was getting full sight of her two breasts hanging almost out of her uniform. She recognized what had happened and straightened up holding her blouse tight and under her breath said you bad man, smiled and left. His mouth was still open and his eyes had a glassy look to them, God that was sure unexpected he thought, I wonder if that was deliberate, and she meant him to take a look. She was taking care of the group in the corner when one of them slipped his arm around her ass and gave it a pinch, playful but not very nice. She turned her body around so he was holding air, then playfully slapped him on the head with her tray, and then said no gentlemen that is not in the job description, she was good, and knew how to keep these guys in their place, she brought over his beer and again bent down to whisper, but this time held her blouse tight, no peeking she said, I need to see you tonight after 9:00PM and I will come up to your room, I must tell you what I am hearing about the party, the Sheriff asked me to keep you in touch with everything, and then she placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it and said in a very low voice, but not too low that Jake did not hear it "nice feel to that." Jake just looked after her as she went to the bar again for the mobsters, they sounded as if they were getting ready for a big night. He hoped they were going to be that way in two days, when he and the rest of the police world were putting together party just for them. He left the lounge and went into the casino to try his luck, though lately his luck has not been too good, all things considered, but what the hell spend some time there watching people, and did he like to do that, all the human beings, all the different backgrounds, what is it all about? It brought back memories when he and his dad would go out to the airports in New York, usually JFK though it was known as Idlewild then and they would sit for hours in the terminals just looking at all the people going by and make up stories, funny ones about the passengers and where they were going and coming from, it was a happy time.
Jake wandered around watching the various type of gamblers there and decided that in itself was a study in human behavior, he picked up a small sandwich, he loved the deli sandwiches they served in this hotel, and coffee, sat down and finished it and looked at his watch it was almost 8:30 PM and he was to meet with the deputy from the cocktail lounge at 9:00 PM, so he decided to go back to his room and tidy it up before she arrives. As he left he heard loud laughing from the lounge and knew the mobsters were having a good time, he thought that is good, keep them happy until we give them a party they will not forget.
The next day flew by and Jake was busy with all the flyers being slipped under the hotel room doors, and overseeing who was going to do what and when. He finally chose ten officers from different cities to be the ones that will be stationed on desks, just as you will have them when you check into a convention, you know they will sit outside of the hall where you have been stationed, and check their credentials, these officers will make certain of the mobsters getting into the room. He finally arranged from the catering department to have some nice chairs and tables delivered there, both inside the hall and for the cops outside checking them in, and next he had to arrange for the drinks, both soft and hard liquor to make every one happy and content. There must not be any problems with these guys, they maybe packing guns, who knows, so the police stationed inside are all made aware of the situation and will be most careful.