Nowhere to Hide

A Mole on the Force

Anger courses through Joe's body as his enemy tromps across the floor. I'm not a rookie anymore. Someone you can push around. Clenching his fists, he stomps around his desk. "I don't appreciate you coming in and disrupting me this way." His brows draw together. He gives his adversary a dagger stare.

"And I don't appreciate you investigating my department." Mike takes a final step, so they are toe to toe.

Joe straightens his posture and then puffs out his chest. I'd love to punch you about now, but It'd be more satisfying to watch you take a fall. He glares into Mike's eyes and says through gritted teeth, "You wouldn't be so worried if you didn't have anything to hide."

"I'm not worried. I just don't like simpletons like you sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong."

"I advise you to be more selective about the company you keep if you don't want to be part of an investigation."

Mike shoves his fists against his hips. He leans forward and says. "What is that supposed to mean, captain?" He spits out the final word like it's poison on his tongue. It was a promotion that never should've happened in his book.

"It means Antonio Gonzales squealed like a pig."

Feeling like he's been gut-punched, Mike takes a step back. Doing his best to keep his emotions in check, he says, "I don't know who you're talking about."

"According to my reports, you reprimanded his arresting officer then went to great lengths to make sure the DA dropped the charges."

"I don't recall the case off the top of my head, but I'm sure I had my reasons."

"The ten grand Romero deposited into your bank account seems like a good enough reason to me."

"Your accusations are bogus, captain, downright absurd." He nervously chuckles. He was sure he destroyed any evidence that connects him to Romero.

"Your chief didn't think so. In fact, your boss was so interested that he said he'd look into it personally."

Mike recalls the third degree he received from his boss just moments ago. His face turns ghostly white. Fear twisted around in his gut like a wild animal trying to escape. Beads of sweat pop out along his forehead. He wipes them away and says, "You went to my chief with your bogus accusations?"

"Along with Romero's taped confession collaborating Antonio's story," Joe lies. The only evidence his detectives showed the chief was the ten questionable cases. "With all this evidence against you, I'm surprised you're not behind bars."

Crossing his arms, Mike chuckles. "You're bluffing, captain."

Joe glares into his cold, soulless eyes. It was a stare that's taken a lot of hardened criminals down.

Unable to take it a second longer, Mike turns away.

Game over, you arrogant SOB, I win. Joe leans in for the kill. His hot breath pelts against his enemy's face as he says through clenched teeth. "You should know by now I don't bluff. So, you can tell me what you know, or I'll make sure you spend the remainder of your life behind bars."

He anxiously shifts from one foot to the other. Then a thought suddenly occurred to him. "You don't have the authority to arrest me."

"My pals do, and with the state and federal agencies gunning for you, you don't have a snowball's chance in hell." Joe looks up at the window and nods.

The door squeaks open. Mike turns to find two federal agents at the door, his chief alongside them. He then notices the harrowing expression plastered across his boss's face. It's a look he gets before he tears someone apart. His heart drops to his stomach. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you what I know for a deal"

"You'll have to talk to the DA about that."

The officers cuff him and then escort him through the door.

The chief turns towards Joe. "I guess I was wrong about him, captain."

A solemn look crosses his face. "It's hard to believe one of your own is corrupt."

"Thank you for bringing it to my attention." He turns and steps into the hall.

"Nice bluff, boss." Jerry beams from the door.

"Thanks, Jerry. You know, this wasn't as satisfying as I thought."

"Revenge seldom is. Tulsa PD just called, said they picked Antonio up when he tried to flee." I have an officer en route now."

Joe smiles. "I wonder what he'll have to say about all of this."

***

Avoiding the employee's watchful eyes, a tall thin man steps into Elizabeth's room. The visitor eases the door closed and then tiptoes to her bed. I'll leave the country a wealthy man. Manny smiles, continuing across the white tile floor.

The moonlight shines through the colorless blinds, silhouetting her angelic face. It's a shame we have to waste such an attractive broad. Gorgeous women have always been a big weakness for him. Manny is a real Casanova, but because of his big heart, his love for women he's often taken advantage of gives more than he gets. Romeo's words echo in his mind as he admires her natural beauty.

"She can send all of us to prison if she's not stopped."

It's either you or me. I'll be damned if I go upstate again, beautiful or not. Manny was recently released on parole after a five-year stint. He' knows he'll serve twenty with no possibility of an early release if he goes back. Pulling a syringe from his pocket, Manny removes the needle from the plastic piece. He's screwing the equipment into her IV when Elizabeth jerks her hand away. "I need to give you some medicine, honey. It'll help ease your pain," he explains.

She glances up at him. "Oh, sorry." Cool air whips across her hand when she pushes it out from the covers.

Manny plunges the poison into her vein. He smiles and says, "Sleep well, hon."

"Thank you." She rolls onto her opposite side.

"Just doing my job." He shoves the syringe into his pocket.

A small ray of light brightens the tiny room. Manny spins around to find the door being pushed open. He turns towards the bed to find Elizabeth struggling to breathe.