CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 61: TRUST

As we followed the detectives' car to Nitro's address, my paws were sweating. My secret wouldn't be a secret for long once Nitro recognized me. He might even give me away to my partner and the detectives. This was it. My life was about to be over.

"This is why we became police officers, isn't it?" Dedrick asked me. "We get to keep others safe and occasionally get a rush of adrenaline. Sure, it's dangerous, but that's what makes it kinda fun, right?"

I had to tell him. It would be better coming from me than from a criminal. It wouldn't look good if Dedrick found out I was trying to keep this hidden from him.

"Listen, Dedrick," I said. "There's something I have to tell you that I should've told you a long time ago. I just wasn't sure if I could trust you or not, but I'm sure I can trust you now."

"Okay... I'm listening," he said, concerned.

I took in a deep breath. "I'm working for the mafia."

Dedrick's mouth dropped open as he tried to process. "Please tell me you're joking."

"This isn't a joke. The mafia doesn't know I'm an undercover cop."

"Does the chief know?"

"Nobody knows but you and me."

"You need to tell the chief."

"I can't. I don't know if I can trust him. The mafia is involved in the justice system. He could be working with them."

"That's absurd."

"You said you had my back, Dedrick. You can't tell anyone about this, okay?"

My partner shook his head. "You're asking me to be your accomplice. How do I know I can trust you?"

"I'm trying to fix the corruption in this city. I'm not asking you to join me. I'm just asking that you don't tell anyone."

Dedrick sighed. "You've put yourself in a very dangerous situation, you know that? But fine. I won't tell anyone your secret."

"Thank you." I was relieved to have finally told someone, but at the same time, I knew I was taking a risk. Now I had to worry about him not telling anyone.

"So I'm guessing you know Nitro?" Dedrick asked. "Is that how you knew his license plate number?"

I nodded.

"And how you got Hal to talk?"

I nodded.

"Well, I guess you can stay in the car while we deal with Nitro so he doesn't see you."

"Thanks for understanding."

"I don't understand nor do I agree with what you're doing, but I'm gonna protect you anyway," he said, "because that's what cops do."

Dedrick told the detectives over the radio that he was going to park the police car out of sight so as not to make Nitro nervous, and that's what he did. I waited in the car while he left to back up the detectives. I hoped they wouldn't need me, but I was pretty sure they'd be fine. All three of them had guns and were more experienced than I was.

My partner came back a couple of minutes later.

"He didn't answer," he told me. "We're pretty sure he's not home so we'll have to wait until we see him." He picked up the radio and told the other police officers to be on the lookout for Nitro's car.

After about an hour of waiting, a yellow car went speeding through the residential area, passing us at 50+ miles per hour.

"That idiot didn't even slow down!" I said.

Dedrick turned the lights and siren on. "Let's get him."

I radioed in that we were in pursuit of a yellow porsche, and then I recognized the car. It was undoubtedly Rockie's. What's he doing here? I wondered.

The car slowed down and pulled over when he saw us following him.

One of the detectives came through the radio. "Nitro's car just came out of his garage. We're in pursuit."

"Just give this guy a warning," Dedrick told me. "We don't have time to write him a ticket."

I got out of the car, turned my body camera on, and walked up to the sports car. Rockie rolled his window down.

"I'm just gonna give you a warning this time," I told him.

"Wait, officer," Rockie said. "Aren't you going to tell me what the warning is for? Why'd you pull me over?"

"For speeding."

"I wasn't speeding."

"Yes, you were."

"No I wasn't."

"You were going fifty-five in a residential area."

"What's wrong with that?"

"The speed limit is twenty-five."

"Oh, my bad, officer."

I looked back at my partner who was waving me over. I took a step toward him.

"Wait!" Rockie said. "Don't you want to see my driver's license and registration?"

I suddenly realized why he was there. He was sent as a distraction.

"No. You're free to go," I told him. I jogged back to the police car and hopped in.

"What took so long?" Dedrick asked as he turned the car around.

"The guy was just asking a bunch of questions," I said. "Apparently, he didn't know the speed limit."

"Wow. Even when you let them off with a warning, they still make dumb excuses," Dedrick said.