I hid my knowing smile as I pulled up my pants. “I’ll call you,” I said, knowing fully well that would never happen. I couldn’t have her hanging around, especially when I had a kid at home to worry about.
I was dressed long before she was, but I showed her to her car and was careful that no one else had seen us. She started her car and as she drove out of the hotel garage with one headlight, I shook my head.
Some people never learn.
***
Getting a call that the chief wants to see you a few hours into a shift was never a good thing, but I had a plan in place for my daughter and I and so I was anxious to get back to the station and see what he had in store. I turned my car around and headed back across the city hoping to beat the midday rush. Rumor had it there was a new case building, and a few of the boys were hoping to land a bit of undercover work.
The chances of me landing it were slim, and if by some fuckin’ miracle I did, I’d have to take a lot of heat from seniority. It was less than six months since we moved into town, and being the ‘new guy’ in a big unit was not easy. I had to do what it took to make a better life for Livvy, even if it meant the cold shoulder from a few of my peers. Besides, what others thought about me wasn’t my damn problem. At least my end game wouldn’t rattle them too much. There weren’t many men in my unit chomping at the bit for a desk job, but I was hoping after one or two more tough cases I’d be able to get off the streets - for good.
Her mother had been deemed unfit, and cared more about herself than her daughter, so I’d be damned before I stuck her with two deadbeat care takers.
Chicago was a tough city to work, and with crime statistics rising daily, I wanted to ensure I’d see my daughter’s sixth birthday. An undercover assignment would be just the perfect notch in my belt to get me closer to my goal.
After getting full custody of Livvy, and several months of trying to do things completely solo, I realized I needed a little help. I’d learned that the hard way, so I put in for my transfer and got it a month later. That’s when I moved us from Dallas to Chicago - to be closer to my mother. She’d been my rock and done everything to help us, but her one request was that I try to settle down a bit. She didn’t want her only granddaughter to be without any parents. I’d never seen myself sitting behind a desk, but taking a seat was my way of fulfilling that promise I made to mom.
I pulled into the station hoping it wasn’t another paperwork issue left over from my transfer or some trivial issue like a signature or something being misplaced. I’d dealt with that kind of bullshit already and had seen enough office screw-ups to last a lifetime.
The fact that I walked in and no one mentioned the chief looking for me was a good sign. If everybody knew my business, chances were, it didn’t have to do with undercover work. I made my way around the clutter of desks and to the back, where the chief’s office door was closed. His blinds were pulled, so I knocked on the dark wooden door right above the knob.
“Enter,” he called, his voice muffled through the door.
I pushed the door open and found him sitting behind a stack of folders, which he quickly pushed aside, and then he reached across his desk for another folder, this one a bit thicker.
“You wanted to see me, Chief?” I waited for him to gesture to his
chair and I took a load off, staying upright, my posture straight to make it clear I was ready for whatever was in store.
“Langston, yes, I’ve got a proposal for you. I know you’d inquired about taking the desk opening down the hall. I read your letter, and I have to say I’m impressed and …well, I’m also sympathetic to your situation with being a single father in this business.”
“Thank you, Sir.” I nodded and continued to listen.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the boys whispering about a new case coming up?”
I gave another nod, not needing to go into detail about who told me what and when. No one liked a damn snitch, even the chief, and per courtesy, he didn’t ask any questions either.
“I know what you’re thinking; you’re the new guy, why should I throw you a bone?”
“Yes Sir, the thought crossed my mind. I wasn’t really expecting any offers.”
“Truth is, my boys around here are a little too … well-known for this one and since it’s a cross-jurisdiction deal, it’s going to be tricky. A few of the local officers have been to the location a time or two and so have some from my own unit. It’s kind of a landmark just outside of the city. Since it deals with some inner city involvement as well, I need a man no one knows, but someone with the right experience. I read in your records that you’ve done quite a bit of solid undercover work back in Dallas.”
“Yeah, I was on a few high-profile cases,” I said
“Well, let me be straight with you. I really can’t take no for an answer - being you’re my only unknown in the unit. Take this one and I’ll make sure you get that position you’re wanting.”
“I appreciate the offer. Since I can’t say no, I guess you can tell me what it’s all about.” We exchanged a smile, and I relaxed in my seat, but not because he’d put me at ease. The chief was asking me to put my neck out for him and we were both in the same boat, having no other option and offering something of true value to the other.
“I got a small timer, Scott Jones, a troubled 27-year-old with a gambling problem. His grandmother owns The Starlight Bar just outside our jurisdiction around the city. He got himself mixed up with a local drug lord, Kingston Mitchell. They call him Kings for short. He’s big timer, done a lot of time, and has made himself scarce since his biggest rival mysteriously disappeared about a year ago. We have reason to believe he’s strong-arming Scott Jones into using the family bar as a hub of sorts. I need you to go to work there and feel it out. One thing you should know about Kings is he’s got a violent streak. He’s as fucked up as they come and what’s worse he’s got eyes and ears everywhere. I have a theory that the sick bastard got out of doing more time behind bars because of his connections inside the system.”
“You don’t have to worry about Kings. I’ve dealt with the likes of his kind in the past. I’ve got just one question. You want me on staff at this bar?”
I thought my bar days had ended with college when I worked as a bartender and bouncer.
“Yeah, the guy who’s been our tip off was a bartender and now wants out, which leaves his job available. He can assure you’re hired. You’ll come well recommended. There’s a sister, Starla Jones. She’s the acting manager, and a single young lady. You will be working closely with her, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea if you exchange some flirtatious jokes here and there to keep things real. Just a thought. Then, of course there’s the owner, Lu Jones. She’s lived down there her whole life, and she’s supposedly a tough cookie. I’ll make sure you get a copy of the case file, and unless you have any questions for now, I’ll let you go home and make arrangements. You know how these things work. This could take a week or a month, maybe two, there’s no guarantee, but we don’t expect things to be too drawn out. The other bartender provided us with enough information that we’re confident to wrap this up sooner than later. I’d make sure your family understands that. ”
“I understand. I’ll do my best to make sure I’m not away too long, but my family will understand. I appreciate it.” Without any small talk, I headed out of his office and across the room earning a few stares on the way. Anytime one of us had been with the chief it was like a kid coming out of the principal’s office. They were gauging your demeanor and if you’d gotten a swat on the wrist or praise. I didn’t know many of them well enough for them to ask, and the few I’d connected with had more to do than stand around at the station all day.