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MT. PLEASANT HIGH - SERIES
The last chapter:
Our boys had a fun night in the last party before classes started.
Definitive developments on the operation to arrest Capo Monteiro and all the people involved in his escape.
Somewhere in Georgetown, on a disposable phone, a number was dialed.
"Who's this, at this time?"
"Is this Lopez?"
"Yes, who are you?"
"It doesn't matter but you have to listen to me. You have to get on the run... Run and hide!"
"W-what? Who's this? What are you talking 'bout?"
"Listen to me! The FBI is gonna come in the morning to get you! RUN AND HIDE! You understand me?"
"I do.. I guess... I do..."
"That's for real Lopez. Get some stuff and run. Hit the road!"
The call was disconnected suddenly and Lopez didn't understand what all this was about but he was not going to risk it. He called Miles.
PART 14 - GEORGETOWN COUNTY GAZETTE
Richard Desbordes walked out of the Gazette's building so excited that he didn't notice that the FBI agent that was supposed to be around protecting him did not follow his car. He only got aware of that when he left that convenience store. He drank too beers and decided he was definitely not going home without the agent around. He waited in his car. The radio played "Radar Love" by Golden Earring and he got carried away with the song. When he knew it, he was drumming on his car's dashboard while driving around. He laughed at that and thought of himself as Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire. Then it hit him. It was really half past four and he was shifting gear! Time to wake those FBI guys up. He did not trust that O'Neal guy anymore, the guy might as well be drunk, so he called Carlson instead.
"Rise and Shine!"
"Hi..." Carlson was obviously sleeping.
"How do you guys feel about traveling to Gresham?"
"Where the hell is this?"
"About an hour northwest of Georgetown."
"What's there?"
Carlson sounded like he was yawning.
"Not 'what', but who's there."
"Who's there, Desbordes?"
"Who did you come down here to arrest? The Capo Monteiro, dammit!"
"All right. We're on our way."
"I'll send you the exact address."
"Where are you?"
"I'm driving there already, just stopping by the Gazette to meet with my team."
"Do you have a 'team' on it?"
"Yeah. I'm taking a cameramen also. This thing's gonna be on the news too. Mount Pleasant TV station's hired me to do the story. How fancy is that? Wear your best suit."
Richard's phone call triggered other phone calls, the journalist to his coworkers and his editor, Carlson to O'Neal and they to all the other involved. The DA did not have to participate on the operation but he wanted to be with the FBI when they got to Gresham.
Before the FBI left the hotel, the Georgetown County Gazette was in their hands.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY GAZETTE. ALL ABOUT CAPO MONTEIRO. There was a big picture of the farm house where Capo Monteiro was, there were more pictures of his escaping from the hospital. There were pictures of Darlene Mayer giving money to Miles. The story had all the facts. All the fact the police couldn't get together, and the FBI couldn't even begin to search. There were images captured from the video recorded by that kid in St. Claire, showing the sequence of Lopez and Miles' acting toward the young Monteiros, with the transcription of the dialogue. It was beautiful, Carlson and O'Neal had to admit it. And the cherry on top of it, the photos of the money, the money that was mentioned on the St. Claire's video. The money that was the point of origin of this whole thing.
This Richard Desbordes guy really worked hard to get this done. Photos of the involved talking suspiciously to a guy who worked in the County Jail, the Capo Monteiro leaving the 'fake' ambulance in front of that Gresham's house, being hugged by his daughter-in-law. Lopez and Miles picking up the ambulance in an old storage house... It was all there, it was all true. The DA himself had to admit that the journalist basically built his case against Monteiro on his escape.
Rex, the old man from Internal Affairs did not go with the FBI to Gresham, he chose to be with the men who were going to get Lopez and Miles. Oh he wished to put a bullet in each of those guys heads. The shame of the Department! Days like this made him wish to quit everything, get his wife and move to someplace where he could sit on the porch on a rocking chair, smoke his cigars, booze himself to sleep after lunch, go to church on Sundays and just wait until the Lord called him upstairs.
The Police Chief and the Assistant DA went to Darlene Mayer's house.
Oh Darlene Mayer, a know-it-all gal, bright student in Duke Law School decided not to join big law firms and start her own practice, a shark in court rooms, a devil in high heels for witnesses, specialists... Even prosecutors feared the sound of her name being pronounced as defendant's counselor. Too bad she chose to join the Dark Side of the Force, become gangster's lawyer. She really could've done better.
It was still early but Darlene couldn't get any more sleep, she was too worried about her actions on this case. She made a decision, she would go to the DA, get a deal and send Monteiro to hell. Better go down brew a pot of coffee, get the newspaper and think of my life from now on.
When she got outside to pick the Gazette on her robe, and didn't even have time to read the headline. She was arrested right there, in her front lawn.
"What is all this about?"
"Like you don't know, Mayer." The Assistant DA was glad to see that in person.
The officer who handcuffed her also read her rights and took her away. No resistance, piece of cake.
Rex couldn't believe what his eyes saw when he entered Lopez's house. The officers had to break in, since no one would answer. The guy was not there.
"But his car is on the driveway, what the fuck happened?"
"I don't know man. I've been standing here next to his house the whole night." That's the FBI agent who was responsible to watching every move from Lopez. "He must have ran away through the back."
That's exactly what Lopez had done. After he received that privileged information, he got on the phone with Miles and told him everything he heard. They had to hit the road. Being cops, they knew if the FBI was planning to arrest them soon, someone was out there in the front watching them.
"I'm gonna come out through the backyard, I'll get some car here on the street and go pick you up. Do the same thing, get out trhough the back, they're not waiting for this."
Miles was stunned he didn't have anything to say. All he wanted was a nicer life. Now what? Live on the run? He shouldn't complain, he brought this on himself.
Said and done, Lopez took an old Ford pickup truck, that one surely didn't have an alarm system, and he drove to Miles' place. They didn't know for sure where they would go... It was a little before 4 am when they ran away. Miles was the first to offer an idea.
"We can't run away. Our money is with those kids and we still have to figure out where they live."
"We're gonna have to do that tomorrow."
"Yes, but what do we do until then?"
"Why don't we go to Monteiro?"
"Are you dumb or what? If they're coming to get us, they're going get him too!"
"I'm not saying we visit him for a social call, idiot, I'm just thinking we should be around see how that goes."
"Oh, right, we watch the whole thing from a distance, is that what you mean?"
"Yes, they're not gonna expect us being around, right?"
"That's not the worst idea you've ever had."
"I know, and until tomorrow we can hide in that county... I mean, there's a lot of places to hide there. Tomorrow early in the morning we go to Mount Pleasant and figure out what school those kids go to..."
The successful arrest of Darlene Mayer and the failed operation on both cops were duly registered by the reporters of the Gazette. The editor was receiving photos and calls from his reporters from time to time.
Richard Desbordes stopped at a gas station few miles from the Monteiro's hideaway. That was the address he'd given them. He drank coffee with photographer and the crew from the Mount Pleasant channel 6.
When the FBI cars arrived Richard told them the real address and they all followed as a great caravan. They surrounded the house and clearly Monteiro had nowhere else to go. Richard and his photographer registered everything as well as the Channel 6 crew. Richard looked like a kid that just got a new Lego. The FBI agents got into the house and Richard went in as well, that was part of the deal. He was few feet away from Monteiro for the first time. He asked the guy some questions but he was not going to say anything, predictably.
"Why do people call you Capo if you're not Italian?" Richard asked while the FBI guys had Monteiro sitting on the sofa. Monteiro laughed at that question. He looked like someone who was tired of all that.
"I don't know that but I like it."
That was the only line he could get from the man. He didn't really need anymore.
Lopez and Miles watched the Capo being taken in custody along with his three sons and two of the wives from a certain distance, the exact same hill where Richard photographed the house on the night of the escaping. The only one person they didn't see being taken away was that younger woman.
"So she's probably not in the house." Said Lopez.
"Or she's hidden. I say we go check."
"What for?"
"We have to know if the deal Monteiro promised us is still valid. About the jewelry."
Lopez though he was the smartest guy:
"I have a different idea. I say we sell the damned jewelry ourselves. I mean, if he wants it so much, probably it's worth more than he's willing to pay us for it."
Lopez presented a valid point, Miles had to admit it.
There was nothing else for Richard Desbordes and his crew to do anymore so they left. He would go straight to Channel 6 studios to help on the editing of the material. He didn't have experience but he was entitled to take part in it, then afterwards he would go to the Gazette, prepare the Monday's follow up stories.
Josh was not the kind of guy who could stand being in his bed for too long. No matter how late he'd get in, before nine o'clock he was up. This Sunday was no exception to the rule and he got downstairs while his father was reading the Georgetown County Gazette.
"Anything good on the newspaper today dad?"
"The Police and the FBI are probably going to arrest that gangster today. According to the paper, he should be in jail by now..."
"What gangster, that Monteiro guy?"
"Yes, that's him. Have you been reading about it?"
"Oh, yeah, I've been following this story. Let me read it."
Mental note to Josh: do not appear to be too interested on this.
The kid read it over a cup of coffee and had two different feelings over this. First, he was proud of himself and Shawn, they participated in a major event in Georgetown County event, even though they didn't live there, the pictures of the money they found were on the front page, and in the second one, a bigger photo. The second feeling, was a sudden fear dominating all his body. The fear of the gangster's revenge, the police finding out where they lived, all sorts of things they might suffer and that he couldn't even begin to imagine.
I have to show it to Shawn. I don't care if I'm going to get him out of bed, I just have to share it with him. Desperate, huh?
He knocked on the door and Mr. Hunter let him in.
"I think he's asleep but feel free to wake him up... I understand you two have a 'thing' going on..."
What's it with parents being so comprehensive with their son's gay life? World wasn't like that until recently.
Shawn was sleeping in his undies and he looked so nice like that. Josh thought of the things he might do but that was not the reason he was there for, although, you should totally take advantage of it, Josh... Never miss an opportunity, that should be your motto. Just saying... His mind brought back that day when he was a total virgin and he missed the opportunity to suck that boy in his mom's minivan parked on a beach. Oh he regretted that. It was months until he had a real chance again, this time with Matt.
He waved those thoughts away and tried to wake Shawn up unsuccessfully. Then again and again. Gee, Shawn must be exhausted. He's probably not used to partying. Go figure. His life back in Mississippi is nothing but a big mystery, he won't tell anything. Probably if I sucked him up, I'd get him awake. Josh was trying to find a plausible reason for him to do what he wanted to do without conscience issues acting up for taking advantage of Shawn while he was asleep. There were times when Josh should just let go, let himself be dragged by the moment...
The 'boy in the minivan' event crossed his mind once again and he decided not regret anything anymore. He sat on the bed with Shawn and pulled down his boxers revealing his boy piece. Yummy. Even soft that thing had attractiveness to a boy like Josh. He pulled his own cock out of his shorts and started 'fondling' it.
He took Shawn's dick in his mouth and, damn, that was the first time he took a soft one. The feeling it provided was good anyway, he just had to figure out how to do it properly. Soon enough he found his way through this and he noticed that soft cock started to grow in his mouth and the sucking became natural, very enjoyable. He left the shaft for some instants and went to the balls. If Shawn didn't wake up to him sucking his cock, the balls were a more sensible part, he would be up any second. That was not the case, Shawn continued lost in another dimension, probably thinking this was a very vivid dream he was having.
It seemed clear that Shawn would not wake up but since Josh was working down there, he'd better keep doing a good job anyway. He was obviously enjoying it. Shawn was this life-like toy that he was using for his very own entertainment. And what a toy! He loved the 'joystick' the most!
He kept getting the whole thing in and out of his mouth and now he completely forgot about waking Shawn, he just wanted to see where this was going, like was he gonna cum totally unaware of what was going on?
There is something about having sex with a person that's awake and aware of everything, it is the fact that the person will give you signs of when he's about to cum, which is turned off when said person is asleep. Very creepy, though.
Josh was busy sucking Shawn when out of the blue he felt the sleeper's load float into his mouth when he was clearly not expecting it! Holy crap! He did the only thing possible at that moment and swallowed the whole thing without giving it much thought, that was a new experience to him. A good one though. Only after Josh had finished his service, Shawn showed signs of coming back to life. And he did not know anything that had taken place right there.
"Really?"
"Yes... I have no idea of what you're talking about, Josh."
"Oh, right then."
"So, what have you done?"
"If you don't know, I'm not gonna tell you."
"Whoa... Seriously? I wake up with my boxers around my knees and you're not gonna tell me what happened?"
"Ok, I sucked you."
"Oh, you did what?"
"I sucked you... because, well, uh, I thought the moment my lips touched your cock you'd wake up."
"And then I didn't?"
"No."
"And you kept sucking?"
"Yes."
"And did you like it?"
Josh laughed shortly.
"Yes."
"Then, it's ok, right? I just wish I could remember it..."
"I can do it later, while you're really awake, if you'd like to have a memory of it."
"I like the sound of that."
He sat on the bed and kissed Josh.
Seeing those people on TV kissing their loved ones right after they wake up seem so romantic but in real life, people do have morning breath. It's not that romantic.
"Sucking your cock while you sleep is ok, but kissing you before you brush your teeth it's not."
"All right, mister, I'm gonna brush'em now!"
"P-lease."
"All right, my breath now feels like mint. Can I have a kiss from my amazing cocksucker?"
"Yes, you can. How do you know I was amazing?"
"You always are."
Josh smiled and they kissed. Lover boys.
"All right, Shawn, let's talk business."
"Business?"
"Yes... Sucking your cock is not the reason I'm here this early."
"O-kay."
"I thought you should see this."
"This morning's paper... Oh! This morning's paper! That story on Monteiro guy is out already?"
"Yes. I wanted to share this with you, and also tell you how I'm feeling about it."
"Ok, let me read it first."
Shawn studied the combo of stories that developed since that Police Shooting in St. Claire.
"Man, are we part of this story or what?"
"We're definitely part of this story. Actually we're hiding part of it as well."
"But it'll soon be over, I mean, we're turning the money over to the Justice, right?"
"Yeah, but what happens until then?"
"They're gonna be arrested, that's it. There's nothing we should worry about anymore."
"I just hope you're right."
"Don't over think it, Josh. Later on we'll catch the news, all of them arrested."
"You're probably right. It's just that I got this weird feeling when I read all of this, the photo you took from the money... Don't know... Maybe I'm really over reacting to all of this."
"It's very likely."
"Ok, whatever, you can go back to sleeping, I'm on my way."
"Don't you wanna cuddle a little?"
"Oh, really?"
"Yup."
The FBI agents met with the Internal Affairs Officer, the Police Chief, the DA and Judge Stycer back in the hotel they were using since they arrived in Georgetown. They were trying to understand how the cops could possibly get away without being noticed by the FBI agents on the door of both houses.
"Someone must have warned them." Suggested the DA.
"Who'd do such thing?"
"I don't know, O'Neal. Can it be possible that they spotted the FBI agent in front of the house?"
"Not likely. We're not using FBI cars, the guy by Lopez's house was in a Volvo Station wagon. There was no way that they could be spotted as FBI agents."
"What about that journalist?" Carlson got his obvious suspect.
"Richard? I don't think so." Rex, from Internal Affairs promptly stood up to defend his long time pal.
"It is really possible. I mean, he went to extreme measures to make sure this operation took place only after he'd published it, so... He might have done that to 'create' a new follow up story."
"That would be sick, besides illegal!" Judge Stycer snapped.
"Believe me, Judge Stycer, a journalist is capable of pretty much anything to get a story. Some of them will even invent one."
"What do you say, Rex, you're the one who has more contact with this journalist. Is he capable of such thing?"
"I certainly believe not. Especially to help Lopez. He showed extreme disgust for the guy. Now helping him? I really don't think so."
"I think we can't trust him." Insisted Carlson. "He always knew too much about this. He actually told O'Neal and I that those cops would not run away because they did not get their hands in the money. And we don't know where is it hidden, though he assured it was safe."
The DA was the last to speak this time.
"By all means, don't you guys think we should drag his ass down here?"
"It's not gonna be necessary to drag anybody's ass. I'm here already." Richard bolted through the door.
"How'd you get in?" O'Neal wanted to know.
"I told the receptionist I was being expected and, I also gave her my autograph. Isn't this nice?"
"Very nice." Said Judge Stycer sarcastically.
"The thing is, Lopez and Miles escaped, certainly because of the incompetent agents working outside."
"Have you come here just to tell our men are incompetent?" O'Neal was really pissed at that commentary.
"Well. I'm gonna tell you why I think that, then you'll tell me if I'm right or wrong."
"Start talking."
"The simplest thing ever to be done in a situation like this is what? Stand outside my job, wait until I leave the building and follow me home to make sure I'm safe, am I right?"
They all agreed.
"Ok. What happened is, I left the Gazette at 2 am this morning, thinking about how things would turn out and didn't notice your agent was not following me! I only noticed this when I stopped by a convenience store to buy some stuff. I couldn't go home because I didn't know who might be there waiting to kill me. See? Incompetents."
They were all digesting that information when a field agent barged into the Meeting Room West.
"Mr. O'Neal..."
"What? Have you found them?"
"No. Not yet, sir. But we found Lopez's and Miles' phones in a bush in the street behind Miles' house. And also there's a Ford Truck was stolen nearby Lopez's house last night."
"Is there anything on the phones?"
"The last call received by Lopez was made from a disposable phone. We could triangle the signal and it came from the surroundings of a convenience store."
Everyone looked at Richard Desbordes.
"I have nothing to do with it. What convenience store?"
"That's the weird part. The convenience store it down this road."
"What road!?" All seven of them shouted at once.
"Northwood Road. The same Northwood Road where this Northwood Hotel is located."
Richard defended himself.
"I was never on this road last night. I was at a convenience store on the other end of the city, nearby the road to Gresham. I have the receipt, it's in my car. You want me to take it?"
"Later, Richard." Rex was trying to get calm in the middle of that hurricane.
The field agent continued:
"We also found the phone in a dumpster on a bus stop in front of the convenience store."
"How lucky." Richard celebrated.
"Are there any prints on it?" Carlson was impatient.
"We're still waiting the results, they're running it through the system. Any minute now."
The field agent's phone buzzed.
"There. They found identified the fingerprints. They're sending it me, let me just hook my laptop to the projector."
When the image was projected Carlson let his head fall and mumbled "fuck". O'Neal looked at him then at the image and also mumbled "fuck". Old man Rex looked at the image and tried to figure out where he saw that young man. Then he looked at Richard and it hit him. Lopez's file that Richard looked through. Rex also mumbled "fuck". He spoke out.
"I know this guy. Damn, I probably saw him here at the hotel but didn't link his face now with the face I'd seen few years back."
"Who's him, Rex?" Richard wanted to know.
"Richard, uh, do you remember that day when you got to my office looking for Lopez's file?"
"Yes of course, big waste of my time, that day."
"Well, not totally. It all connects with this young man... He is the underage boy that's mentioned in the file."
"The one who Lopez sucked?"
The DA and Judge Stycer were clueless about what the others were talking about. The Police Chief knew about the story, but it happened before he took over the office. O'Neal and Carlson were too much worried about the fact that this boy was the one Carlson had been fucking.
Rex told everyone the story in few words. The DA and the Judge were shocked. They couldn't believe that thing was covered by Rex.
O'Neal was thankful he wasn't the one fucking the bell boy and Carlson was angry at his bad luck. He could fuck any boy and ended up with one who was somehow connected to one of the criminals he was trying to arrest!
Richard had this huge doubt:
"Ok, now we know that this boy called Lopez. But what is not clear is how he got this information."
Carlson stepped in.
"Oh, he, uh, he, ah, he MIGHT have over heard me and O'Neal mentioning the name Lopez... And he probably did the Math, you know? I'm willing to bet there are not many Lopez officers in the Police Department here in Georgetown County, am I right Chief?"
"Actually he's the only Lopez we have."
"See. Now he wave to get him."
The field agent was sent to the hotel manager to find out the address of the bell boy.
All those who were in the Meeting Room West got to the cars, Rex went with Richard. And Richard, this lucky bastard, was going to get a follow up story for Monday! How great is that?!
"Rex, you know it's not gonna look good for the Police and especially for you when the word get out that this boy..."
"Don't you think I know it, Richard? I'm here thinking you were right, Lopez should have been gotten out of the Force right away..."
"It's never too late, you know?"
"If I'd gotten rid of him at that time, now we wouldn't be here..."
Richard sighed. The old man was right but sitting on his passenger seat was not only the Internal Affairs Officer, this old man was his friend. One of the few people in the world he dared to call friend. He felt sorry for him, but how could he let that part out of his story? That figured probably as the 'motive' for the bell boy call Lopez and alert him about the operation.
"Maybe they developed some feelings, Rex. Maybe they've been seeing each other secretly all this time."
"That's impossible, Richard. I had Lopez under surveillance, I told you."
"I know... Calm down, in a few we're getting him. Then we'll know for sure."
Rex was really hurt. This old man loved the Police Department. His men were like sons to him.
"Rex... I'd like you to know that... As much as I can, I'll try to leave your office, that previous story, out of it."
"I appreciate that Richard, but I believe that ship has sailed."
"I bet you can sink it, in that case."
Rex laughed shortly and hopelessly.
The bell boy's mother was semi drunk when the FBI cars and Richard arrived. According to neighbors that was she, a wino, no wonder the boy has turned out the way he did. No excuse to do what he did anyway.
"Anthony Gordon, you're under arrest."
The bell boy thought of trying something, but there were just too many people in front of his house. There was no way out of it.
Back in the Police Department the boy confessed he did provide Officer Lopez information that helped him escape and the reason for doing what he did was simply "once he helped me when I needed, I just wanted to pay him back." O'Neal and Carlson were extremely angry at his reasoning. Carlson actually told him something while he was alone with him in the interrogation room and he made sure O'Neal would turn off the camera.
"You're gonna have so much fun in prison, kid. You're not gonna be able to complain about a sex drought."
"About that, you know I'm gonna reveal how I knew about the information I got on Lopez, right?"
"You may try that out, see how that goes. But that'll just make your situation worse. If you keep it shut, some one will come and help you out of it."
"Are you promising me anything?"
"No. I'm just telling you how things work. It's up to you to believe it, or not."
After a very full Sunday morning, everyone needed a break, but not everyone was hungry enough to have lunch, some of them just wanted an excuse to officially start drinking. It was past noon, so it was now socially acceptable.
Richard e-mailed in the story he'd just gotten and phoned in some more information to his editor. Now that Lopez's and Miles' whereabouts were unknown, Richard feared for the safety of Josh and Shawn, he knew those cops were after the money, and it meant that at some point they would happen to find the boys, given all he learned from that investigator he hired, that gave him proof that they were, in fact, searching for them.
Shawn wanted to see how Matt was and he walked to his house in the afternoon. He was still recovering from the last night heavy drinking.
"Man you drank everything and a little more last night, huh?"
"I don't even remember how I got home... But that's not new."
"Listen, Matt, I have to ask you... How are you dealing with your thing with Josh?"
"Oh, Shawn, I don't remember much about last night but I do remember Josh. You know what? He's good without me as a friend. Actually he's great, you know? He was fucking that blonde..."
"Who, Philip?"
"You know him already?"
"The three of us got to the party together. No wonder they were gone for so long."
"See, I don't wanna talk about him anymore, I'm not... I hate Josh. Just wanna forget about him at all."
"Did you see them fuck?"
"I heard them. Loud AND clear."
"What were you doing when that happened?"
"That's... Not important, ok?"
"Whatever you say, dude."
"I'm ready to move on... Find someone new, expand my possibilities. Know what I'm talking about?"
"I guess I do."
Matt was wearing just soccer shorts, no shirt.
"What are you doing now, Shawn?"
"Nothing, I just came here to see you, have no other plans for the afternoon."
"Why don't we go for a walk. I mean, I'd invite you for a drive but I'm still a non driving person."
"A walk is fine. I am not the kind of guy who goes out with someone just because they have a car, you know?"
"Right... I don't really know much about you... Thought we might use this walk to catch up, whatta you think?"
"I think my life is not that interesting but, of course, we can catch up."
"Ok, I'm gonna get dressed."
"You want me to step outside?"
"Really? I'm more likely to ask you to help me undress..."
They both laughed. It was a joke but at the same time it was down right serious.
Richard Desbordes invited the District Attorney and the Judge Stycer to a very serious conversation. The Judge went first.
"Ok, Mr. Desbordes, what did you want to talk about?"
"Judge, Mr. DA, the thing is, well, how are you seeing the 'money' issue? I mean, the 'money' that was initially promised to Miles and Lopez to help Monteiro escape from the prison in the very beginning of this situation."
"All he have, Desbordes, is your story on this. We haven't seen any actual evidence that this whole thing is not an invention from you." The DA was serious when he talked business.
"It's a compliment you saying that I might have such a creative mind, Mr. DA, I take you haven't seen the video."
"It's not only me who hasn't seen it, I do believe that Judge Stycer hasn't either. Have you, Judge?"
"No, just read about."
Desbordes took iPad out and played the video. They were shocked and understood why Desbordes investigated the whole matter much better than the police.
"For how long have you had this video, Mr. Desbordes?"
"It's not important, Judge, with all due respect. The thing is, I investigated the matter from day one. All I have published is entirely true, I'll send you the originals from my investigation as soon as the DA's office require it. Video, photos, transcriptions... Everything. And the money."
"Are you with this money mentioned in the video?"
"No. But I know who's keeping it."
"Who might this person be?"
"Not one person, but two young men from Mount Pleasant, 16 year-olds, nice kids. They found the money on the day of the shooting, they just happened to be nearby when the dead Monteiros dumped it, as they affirmed in the video. The kids got curious about it and when they saw it was money, they freaked out and took it with them. Which now seems to be what is crucial to your case, Mr. DA."
"I do have a name, you know that?"
"Yes, but I also know how important the office you occupy is to you, Mr. DA. That's why I choose to direct to you by your position, other than by your name."
"Whatever, you obviously have some authority issues, Desbordes. I take you were a comunist in college, weren't you."
"Nope. Democrat. Always been."
"Gentlemen, please, we're not talking politics at this table, are we?"
"No, sir."
"Absolutely not, Judge."
"Great. Now, Mr. Desbordes, as the Judge who's probably going to preside this case, I'd like to know about this money."
"The kids are willing to turn it in as soon as required."
"I thought they were spending it already."
"Not everyone is as greedy as you, Mr. DA."
"Ok, I'll not answer to that, Desbordes. What's the point, if they want to turn it in, just send them to my office."
"It's not that easy, just send them to District Attorney's office. Now with Miles and Lopez on the loose, I think they might be in danger."
"That's right."
"Listen, I'll talk to them tomorrow and I'll let you know. I have a feeling those cops are gonna look for them."
"So we should have the police around them."
"That's my point, but not too close to scare Lopez and Miles away."
"I see, Desbordes, you are suggesting that those kids should be used as a trap, to catch Lopez and Miles."
"I'm just a journalist, Mr. DA, I'm in no position to suggest anything. But as long as they're safe, I think that's an alternative. Let's be frank, neither the Police Dept nor the FBI seem to have great expertise on what they're doing."
Judge Stycer mostly watched the discussion between those two, but after this he spoke up:
"Off the records, I agree with you, Mr. Desbordes."
"Ok, gentlemen, tomorrow after I speak with the kids I'll talk to you both."
"That's a deal, Desbordes."
The journalist and the DA shook hands. Richard did certainly have an 'authority issue'. He just was not willing to admit it.
Those fugitive cops were not used to being the on this side. They used to be the cat, not the rat. They were still in Gresham when the sun checked out of one more day of work. Night settled and they still didn't know what to do but they knew few things for sure.
"We can't use this truck to go back and search for the kids tomorrow."
"I know that Miles."
"How'd you get it?"
"Like the guys we arrest do. Stealing."
"Can you do that again?"
"Of course."
"Then you're gonna have to, because by now, this one's probably on the system."
"Of course it is. Thankfully we're in a rural town. It's not gonna be hard to find another old truck without an alarm system."
"I thought you were going for a better one."
"I'm not buying, Miles. I'll take the one that seems easier."
"All right. I get it."
So that's how they entered in Mount Pleasant the next morning. In an old truck they stole nearby a gas station on the road. Miles looked online about schools in Mount Pleasant. They were lucky enough because there was only one public high school in the city. There were other private schools but they were planning to visit Mt. Pleasant High first.
It's an undeniable fact that very few high school students look forward to going back to school, but for the ones in this metallic green convertible VW Golf, it was not bad at all. Philip liked school although his mom was a teacher there, or maybe because of that, he felt safe in school. Shawn felt that starting in a new school would give him the possibility of a fresh start, away from all the mess he left back in Mississippi, a place where he could never set foot again if he liked his freedom. Josh would start this school year finally on the driving seat, not only of his car, but on the driving seat of his life as well, he was doing what wanted to do, discovering a new world of possibilities. Being gay didn't scare him anymore, he figured out he wasn't alone in that walk, there were Shawn and Philip on the same boat, he sure knew Zack Gahm was doing Matt in that party, and he obviously was aware that Chad was gay too. So it made at least six other guys that were going through the same experiences, it was not like he was the only different guy. The odds were a whole bunch of other guys were on the closet in school. There was nothing to fear. Or was there?
Lopez drove the stolen truck and parked it nearby the school's lot entrance. Now it was just a matter of waiting and watching and hoping that the kids would drive the same car they saw in St. Claire's church to the school. Miles felt they might not be that lucky while Lopez thought that was their only chance to ever see that money and the mysterious jewelry that Monteiro wanted so badly. They might become right beyond their wildest dreams.
"Or we might end up in jail which is the worst scenario."
"Be optimistic Miles. We're here, aren't we? So let's just try to keep our hopes up."
"Whatever."
Miles was thinking about his family. Since he sent them away he had this disturbing feeling that he might never see them again. Or that they might never forgive him. He didn't know what was worse.
Josh turned the Volkswagen in the corner before school and Philip chose a song to start the new year. School Days, by Chuck Berry. It was his choice of song every first day of school, but this time he was not going to school with his mother, but with his friends, that's some improvement.
"Miles?"
"What?"
"Are we lucky or what? Check who's driving in..."
"That's the car! The little fuckers who got our money!"
Miles silently thanked God, but if he thought again, he was being so paradoxical that he should really not thank anyone, especially not God.
"Now it's just a matter of time. After school we follow them and figure out where they live."
"Are we gonna wait here?"
"Better not. A car parked in front of a school for too long with two men inside might look suspicious. Trust me."
Lopez knew what he was talking about.
------ End of chapter 14. I love reading your e-mails guys... Keep'em coming. Find me here: boy-driver@hotmail.com