The Serpent and the Crow

Book 4: Chapter Six

Lawton looked at Mason Sullivan. He was a shadow of a man. Sully ran his Private Investigator venture out of a small rundown office at Pidgeon Park. There was a reason they called it that. It was once the old post office and had been standing since the 1700s.

In those days, homing pigeons were used to deliver messages. Some of those birds found service in every single war America fought. However, the post office moved closer to Solemn Central, they left the pigeons. However, they bred and kept coming back to this part of town. There're only lowlifes, homeless folk, and a ton of pigeon shit here. One would think they painted the building drab, but that was the pigeon's contribution. It was the place Mason Sullivan would feel right at home because his detective skills were as grey as that pigeon shit that stained most of his documents on his counter.

Sullivan said, "Hadley was insubordinate. He tried to bend the evidence to fit the narrative with his cases, and the last one he worked was no different. Basinsky was worse. A grunt that cared about his profession. He was more interested in his side hustle that he operated out of Elm & Maple."

Lawton said, "We learned all this shit already. We just prefer to know why you two didn't inform the FBI the CIB Director Mick Flavell."

"Because Detective Nez's settled the case. Do you comprehend what happens when you re-open a publicised case after they settled it? You get questions. I don't appreciate Douglas wants to answer. No one wanted it open again. The Mayor, The Vic's families, and Director Mick Flavell."

"You did what every cop in Solemn does...you didn't do your duty."

"Hey, Douglas, learn this fucking kid some manners. I've been a sleuth since you were sucking your mommy's titty, son."

"Is that what you did for Mick Flavell?"

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means we know you had a relationship with Mick." Douglas said.

"Fuck off. I'm a decorated cop."

"Yet, they pushed you out. We read your file, Sully. By none other than Mick Flavell."

"We had our differences for sure. But I won't give up anything that would smear his good name?"

Lawton said, "What about your good name?"

"What do you mean?"

"Basinsky runs an extortion racket. He hosts a bunch of important individuals. Delegates. Senators. Governors. CIB directors."

Douglas throws Sully photos of him performing indecent acts on Flavell's asshole.

"There's an abundance more smut there." Douglas sad.

"How's the wife, Sully?"

"What do you figure Flavell will do, if he discovered these pictures were circulating around the place?" Doug said.

"He's up for a promotion, ain't he?" Lawton asked.

"What do you want?"

"We want Flavell, you can continue to have a good name." Douglas said.

Sully looks over the photographs. He leaned back in his chair. He reached into the top drawer on his counter. Lawton and Douglas palmed their guns but relax when they see he's pouring himself a shot of whisky. He took two shots.

"You guys are great. What do you want to learn about Flavell?"

Lawton and Douglas shared a smile.