Lady Justice on the Dark Side (Volume 19) (8 page)

    He entered the room with his badge in one hand and the other hand on the butt of his gun.

    “Andrew Pitts, you’re under arrest. Put your hands behind your back.”

    The expression on Pitt’s face was priceless.

    He had nearly gotten away with the perfect crime, but his greed and a skillfully concocted plan by two senior citizen gumshoes had done him in.

    After Blaylock cuffed Pitts and read him his rights, Kevin gave him a smile. “Told you this would be the easiest collar you’ve ever made.”

    Blaylock just shook his head in bewilderment as he marched Pitts out the door.

    “Great work,” Suzanne said. “I thank you, and my client, Jason Knight thanks you. Just send me your itemized bill.”

    “It was as pleasure working with you, as always.” I said, shaking her hand. “If there’s ---.”

    “Absolutely! If I ever need two, over-the-hill investigators, you’ll be my first call. In fact, I might even spread the word to my colleagues that the two of you are pretty darn good.”

    When she was gone, I turned to Kevin. “Archibald? Really?”

    He just grinned and gave me a wink.

    I was elated.

    Justice had been served, and I felt that my moral integrity was still intact.

    Maybe setting up shop on the dark side wouldn’t be so bad after all.

CHAPTER 10

    By mid-week, I had filled out all the forms and paid my fees. As far as the city of Kansas City was concerned, I was a legitimate licensed private investigator

    The next step was to meet with Brian Godfrey, the attorney Suzanne had recommended, to finalize the paperwork that would set up my professional corporation. That was going to cost a small fortune, so I figured before I took that final step I should talk things over with the important people in my life.

    I already had the conversation with Maggie and she was still on board. So far, I had worked four cases and only left my car once, and that was to enjoy a gourmet meal in a fancy hotel room. There had been no bullets, no gang bangers and thankfully, no threats on my life, plus, I had been rewarded handsomely for all four gigs.

    I ordered pizza and summoned the usual crowd, Mary, Willie, Dad, Bernice, Jerry, the Professor, Kevin and Veronica.

    They sat in awe as I shared a few details about the four cases that led up to my decision to become a professional sleuth.

    Dad was the first to speak. “Hot damn! My son --- a shamus! First a cop and now a dick! I couldn’t be more proud.”

    “So are you going to get one of those funny hats and a pipe like Sherlock Holmes?” Bernice asked. “I always thought he was kind of sexy.”

    “No, probably not. That would be a dead giveaway and we private eyes like to stay in the background out of sight.”

    “Sure, I get it,” she replied nodding. “Hush hush stuff.”

    “Have you decided on a name for your new company?” Mary asked.

    Actually, I hadn’t given it a thought.

    “Is Kevin going to be working with you?” Jerry asked.

    I nodded and I could see the wheels turning in his head.

    “Hmmm, two really old guys as private detectives --- I’ve got it! Private Investigative Services by Seniors! It’s perfect.”

    Everyone let the name sink in for a moment.

    Finally, Bernice scrunched her nose in bewilderment. “But that spells P.I.S.S.!”

    “Of course it does,” he replied. “Think about it. His group at the police department was the City Retiree Action Patrol, C.R.A.P., so if he can have C.R.A.P., why not P.I.S.S.?

    “Just think about the advertising possibilities. ‘Got a problem? Get P.I.S.S. on it!’ or ‘Walt Williams and his P.I.S.S. can solve any problem!’”

    “Enough!” I said, holding up my hands. “I think we’ll pass on your P.I.S.S., but I do need a name before I meet with the attorney tomorrow.”

    “And a logo,” Maggie added. “You need a logo. Something catchy that people will remember, like McDonald’s Golden Arches or Target’s bull’s eye.”

    “I have an idea,” Veronica said, “but I need a pencil and paper.”

    With pencil and paper in hand, she began sketching, and moments later she presented her work.

    We all gathered ‘round to see what she had created.

    On the pad, she had drawn a logo and a model for a business card. It was beautiful.

    “Amazing!” Dad muttered. “I had no idea you had that kind of talent.”

    “I’m not just a pretty face, you know,” she replied, blushing.

    “You got that right,” Dad said, staring at her ample cleavage.

    Bernice punched him in the arm.

    “I love it!” I gushed. “What do the rest of you think? Maggie? Kevin?”

    “It’s perfect,” Maggie said, putting her arm around me.

    Kevin nodded, beaming with pride.

    “Then that settles it. Walt Williams Investigations. W.W. I.”

    The Professor had been quiet up to that point. I could see the concern on his face.

    “Something wrong, Professor?”

    “Five years ago, you came to me saying you wanted to be a cop. I encouraged you to take the first step on that incredible journey. You succeeded beyond everyone’s expectations. Now, you are about to embark on a journey of a different kind. I just hope you know what you’re getting into and are up to the challenge.”

    “I suppose you’re talking about the difference between what I was doing as an officer compared to what I’ll be doing as a private investigator --- the light versus the dark side of justice.”

    The Professor smiled. “Ahhh, yes, the dark side. I see you’ve given this some thought. The contrast between the two is quite evident in the
Star Wars
saga.

    “The light side is characterized by honesty, compassion, mercy and self-sacrifice, while the dark side draws its power from anger, rage, hatred, fear and aggression.

    “The Jedi Master, Tolaris Shim, outlined the four stages of the dark side, Temptation, Imperilment, Submission and Redemption. More than one Jedi knight seeking justice fell victim to the Temptation and crossed the line.”

    “I’m surprised that a professor of philosophy is so well versed in a fictional film series.”

    “A wise man recognizes truth wherever he finds it. It might be in the writings of an ancient philosopher or a modern day poet, or even in the fictional lore of a galaxy far, far away.”

    “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not a Jedi Knight and I certainly have no intentions of becoming Darth Vader.”

    “Just a word of caution. Tolaris Shim counseled many knights with good intentions. Her words to them were, ‘To those of you who believe that you are immune to any of these stages, I say you are already victim to the dark side’s seductive tendrils, and urge you to listen as you have never listened before.’ Wise words indeed.”

    “Wow, this is getting heavy,” Jerry said. “Speaking of Star Wars stuff, do you know why Ducktape is like the Force? It has a dark side and a light side and it binds the galaxy together.”

    “Cut the crap, Jerry,” Dad interjected “What I want to know is how Kevin is going to fit into this new operation. He’s actually the one with the P.I. experience.”

    “I’m just along for the ride,” Kevin replied. “This is Walt’s gig. He’s the cop with two Medals of Honor and the guy who saved the president’s ass from an assassin. That’s the kind of reputation that will attract new clients.

    “Every hero needs a sidekick. Roy Rogers had Gabby Hayes, Gene Autry had Smiley Burnette, Matt Dillon had Chester. That’s me. I’ll just be happy to be Tonto to his Lone Ranger.”

    “I’m certainly no hero,” I replied, “and Kevin is no sidekick. We’re partners, just like Ox and I were partners on the police force. It’s just a force of different kind.”

    “Well, I’m proud of you both,” Dad said smiling. “Good luck and may the Force, whatever the hell that is, be with you!”

    The gang had left and I was going over the corporate paperwork Brian Godfrey had given me when the phone rang.

    “Walt, it’s Ox and I’m in trouble.”

    “Hi partner. What kind of trouble?”

    “It’s Amanda. She’s gone!”

    “What do you mean, ‘gone?’ Did she quit?”

    “No, no, nothing like that. She was abducted --- right out of our cruiser, and it’s all my fault.”

    “Okay, just slow down and tell me what happened.”

    “We stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts --- I had a coupon --- buy six, get six free. Anyway, I went into the store and left Amanda alone in the cruiser. When I came out, she was gone. A witness said that a green Chevy van pulled up and two black men in hoodies jumped out, pulled Amanda out of the cruiser and threw her into the van.”

    “Holy crap! That’s horrible! I assume you called it in.”

    “Of course I did. In a matter of minutes, half the department was here. Remember, Amanda is the daughter of the Police Commissioner. There’s a BOLO out on the van, but so far, no luck. Walt, I’m in deep doo doo. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t been in that stupid donut shop, this wouldn’t have happened.”

    “Don’t blame yourself. I’m guessing these are the same guys who killed Vince, blew up the cruiser and shot up the hotel. If they were really after Amanda, they would have gotten to her one way or another.”

    “Maybe so, but it happened on my watch. I just feel terrible.”

    “What can I do to help?”

    “Here’s the thing, if these are the same thugs, I hate to think what they have in mind for a young, pretty, white police officer. If we don’t find her fast, the poor girl will be scarred for the rest of her life ---
if
they let her live. I can’t imagine them letting someone go who could identify them.

    “The problem is that we haven’t been able to identify any of these creeps. If we just had a name, at least we’d have a place to start.

    “I know you and Willie have some contacts on the street. I was hoping maybe you could reach out to them and see if they have any idea who is behind this vendetta against the police department.”

    “Absolutely! We’ll do everything we can to help. If I get anything, I’ll call you.”

    “Thanks, Walt. You’re the best.”

    I hung up and headed to Willie’s apartment.

    “What’s up, Mr. Walt? You look all flustercated.”

    “I have to talk to Louie. Can you reach him?”

    “I heard he’s workin’ a big fish, an’ if dat’s true, he ain’t answerin’ no phone. Why you need him?”

    Hearing my explanation, he grabbed his jacket. “If all dat’s true, we betta hurry. I think I know where Louie is hangin’.”

    Louie the Lip was an old friend from Willie’s days as a street hustler. Willie gave up the life when he went to work for me, but Louie continued to ply his trade as a con man extraordinaire. While he operated on the shady side of the law, he was certainly not a thug like the gang bangers that had abducted Amanda. If fact, during my five years in the department, he had become a good friend and served as my unofficial confidential informant. He hated the violence and brutality of the younger generation as much as we did.

    We found him at a seedy bar and grill on Independence Avenue

    He was seated with a man at a table at the back of the room. When he saw us enter the bar, he gave his head an imperceptible shake.

    “Dat’s Louie’s mark,” Willie said, directing me to a table out of the man’s line of sight. “We’ll just chill ‘till Louie finishes his business.”

    We ordered a couple of Cokes and watched the master at work.

    I couldn’t hear the conversation, but Louie’s gestures and facial expressions had all the fervor of a TV evangelist. Finally, the mark nodded his head and extended his hand. Evidently, Louie had closed the deal.

    After the mark was safely out the door, Louie joined us. He and Willie did the shoulder bump, hand slap thing that cool guys do.

    “Hey, Mr. Walt,” he said, grabbing my hand, “glad to see you’re still above the ground. I hear you’ve had some close calls lately. Took one in the ass. Bet that hurt.”

    “Actually, Louie, that’s why we’re here. Do you have any ideas about who it was that put a new dimple in my butt cheek?”

    “I might, but you ain’t gonna like it.”

    “It’s really important. We think this vendetta against the department, my getting shot, Vince Spaulding’s death, all of it, is the work of one person or gang, and now we’ve got a new situation, Ox’s new partner, Amanda Parrish, was abducted this morning.”