CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 55: INFORMANT

"Good news! We got a job for you," Rockie told me when he came to my house one day.

"What's the job?" I asked.

He showed me a photo of a fluffy white dog on his phone. "This is Hal. He's a member of the Family. Unfortunately, he was just arrested last night for selling drugs. We need you to find out if he snitched to any of the cops."

"I'll ask around and see what I can find out," I said.

"If you find out he hasn't said anything, we want you to make sure he disappears."

"Why? If he didn't rat out the Family-"

"We don't want him to have a chance to rat us out. We can't let information about us get out."

"And what if he did tell about us? You still want me to kill him?"

"Nah. If he's an informant, we'll wait until they release him from prison and then we'll make him suffer," Rockie said, "to send a message to anyone else thinking about snitching, but I do want you to find out what he told if he did and to whom."

"I can get the information, but I can't kill him. There's no way I would get away with it while he's in custody. There'll be cameras on him at all times."

"It doesn't matter if it's on camera. I brought poison. You simply put it in his drink. It'll take a few days to kill him."

"It'll be difficult to poison him when I'm not even involved in his case."

"Key word is difficult," Rockie said. "Not impossible, but you only have to worry about it if he didn't snitch."

"Alright. I'll do what you asked and I'll let you know when I find out if he said anything or not."

"Great. Don't mess it up. This is your first real task. That means you'll be graded for it."

The morning before I went to work, I mixed the poison Rockie gave me into a disposable cup of iced latte and brought it with me to the police station. We had our daily roll call and briefing before our shift started. The captain complained to us about how we needed to do our jobs better, that so many criminals were getting away with murder every day. He stressed that we needed to be on the lookout for animals with drugs and guns. Those two things were our biggest issue. They were the reason for most of the murders.

"Any questions?" the chief asked.

I raised my paw. "Wouldn't it be more effective if we found out the source of where these criminals are getting the drugs and guns in the first place?"

"It's not your job to monitor every package that comes into the city, Officer Federici, and it wouldn't be possible either," he said. "Your job is to arrest the criminals who are selling anything illegal. If there are no dealers, there are no buyers, and then we'll have less crime. Any more questions?"

Everyone was silent.

"You are dismissed," the chief told us, and everyone started to file out the door, but I stayed behind.

"Hey, chief," I said as I walked up to him. "Do we happen to have caught any of the dealers recently?"

"A drug dealer was arrested last night. Why?" he asked.

"I was just curious if they said anything about where they got the drugs."

"He refused to speak to any of the officers without his lawyer present."

"Could I talk to him?"

"Are you a detective?"

"No..."

"Then why are you trying to do the job of one?" he asked. "You aren't even the one who arrested him."

"I know, but I just want to see if I can get him to talk. Criminals tend to like me better for some reason. There's no harm in trying."

"Alright. I'll give you five minutes with him, but make sure it's okay with your partner first."

"Thank you," I said. I went outside to find my partner and I let him know we weren't leaving quite yet.

The drug dealer, Hal, was brought out of his jail cell and into the interrogation room.

I entered alone. "How are we doing today, Hal?"

"I already told you guys, I'm not talkin' without my lawyer," he said. "But while I'm here, can you get me some water? It's ******* hot in here."

I set the cup of poisoned coffee in front of him. "How about an iced latte? I have very limited time with you right now so why don't you just tell me where you got the drugs."

Hal gulped down the latte and then pretended to zip his lips.

"Did you get them from the Honored Society?" I asked.

His eyes went wide and then he looked at the camera in the corner.

"Don't worry. It's off," I lied.

"Where did you hear about that?" he asked in a low tone.

"Same as you. I'm on your side, Hal."

"Then help me out," he said, lifting the handcuffs around his wrists.

"You know I can't do that."

"Then why are you here?"

"The police are closing in on your drug dealing business. I need to know where you got the drugs."

"This is a trap," he said.

I shook my head. "This is life or death, Hal. I just need to know the information so I can cover up our tracks. If you don't cooperate, I can't guarantee your safety."

"You're not part of the Family. I don't recognize you."

"That's because I'm a cop, Hal. I can't let everyone know my identity."

He took a few seconds to think it over. "Okay," he finally said. "I'll tell you who gave me the drugs. It was Nitro. He can tell you everything you need to know."

"Who's Nitro?"

"He's a nine."

"But what does he look like?"

"Whoever sent you to talk to me will know. Just don't tell your police buddies I said anything,"

"You have my word." I took the coffee cup and stepped out of the interrogation room.

"How did you know all the right things to say?" my partner asked me.

"I've spent a lot of time around guys like him when I was younger," I told him. "Never did drugs though."

"Good job, officer Federici," the chief said. "We still don't have much information but at least you were able to get him talking."

"Now we just gotta find out who this Nitro guy is," my partner said.

"Leave it to the detectives," the chief said. "I'll let you know when they come up with a profile."

"You got it, chief," my partner said.