Betrayed (Season Two)

EPISODE ONE

The Husband

HOW WE BEGAN...

I was ushered into a large sitting room. The stillness of it felt eerie, palpable, as though I had been forced onto the canvas of an old oil painting. The ornate chairs were handsome. The floors, beneath me, were polished to an extraordinary shine. Every inch of this place screamed money and the shadows in the corners echoed power. Rarely does a first year 2nd lieutenant get asked to do anything of importance so this little trip was promising to say the least. A tall blonde, whose legs seemed to go on for days, entered the chamber. She approached me with a hand out, forcing me to standup to greet her.

"Detective James, I presume?" she said airily.

"Yes," I replied, taking her hand into mine.

"Congresswoman Clark will see you now."

I followed the blonde to a set of elegant twin oak doors. She gave them a soft knock, before wrenching both of them open simultaneously. I felt like this was asked of her to do, to provide each guest a full view of the structure which was, for lack of a better word, imposing. Three people stood as I entered. The first person to greet me was an older gentleman, salt and pepper hair, big shoulders with a passive sort of stare: Patrick. I knew from his handshake: this was a man that knew too much about everything but not enough about anything he was involved in. On the streets these men are called baggers. They're never in the middle of shit but they're the first to know who is going to get popped or dropped into a ditch, yet they never know by whom or when these things are going to happen. But you can put it in a bag.... it's gonna happen.

The next person to introduce themselves was the Congresswoman, "Sydney Clarke and... I believe you already know Assistant D.A., Pearl Jenison? She has told us a lot of great things about you."

"They're all true," I said with a smirk as I gave Pearl an appreciative nod. Pearl was a promising assistant district attorney and perhaps the most driven woman I have ever met. Yea, I guess it was safe to say that I was quite taken by her.

"That's good to hear. Please," the Congresswoman gestured towards an empty chair, "have a seat. We have a lot to cover with not a lot of time. I'm afraid I have a budget meeting to get to, so let us get right down to the point, shall we."

I sat, Pearl to my right, Patrick to my left. The Congresswoman settled herself into a large chair behind a fashionable marble wood desk that most likely cost more than I made in a year.

"Detective, we called you here for a very important assignment. One that we believe, with your background, would be of great help to us," the Congresswoman paused for effect, "and to yourself."

"My background?" I asked, curious about the use of the word.

The Congresswoman gave me a one raised eyebrow glare, "Patrick?"

"Detective," Patrick began solemnly, "we know about your upbringing. We know about the drug selling as a child and even now as a cop you continue to dip your toe into the muddy waters. Relax," he said the moment I turned in my seat, "nothing here can be used against you. But your unique skills are paramount to the plan."

"What plan?" I asked a little too heated for comfort. The Congresswoman again gave me an inquisitive look.

"It is no secret that I plan to run for Governor this upcoming year."

"Someone in your position should focus more on running for the Senate," I told her. "Being a Governor has diminutive recompense in our state."

"Well, I'll grant you that," she somewhat agreed reluctantly, "but I have higher hopes than the Senate, Detective James."

"How could I help you? What could I possibly do for you?" I asked.

"The crime rate," Pearl erupted unexpectedly. "Who is the top dog on the streets?"

"I guy name Izarah Michaels and his little brother. They're the sort of drug kings that run things like a Fortune 500 company, if you get what I'm saying," I answered immediately. "In theory those two would be your primary targets. However, taking them off the streets may not be the best course of action if you wanna bring the crime rate down."

"Who said anything about bringing it down?" replied the Congresswoman sharply. "Bringing the crime rate down now would only help my opponent and his sorry ass has had enough luck. No, we want crime to get out of hand. And here is where you come in. We need the streets at each other's throats. We need it to get bad enough so that the people will have no choice but to turn to someone new to clean it up. We need a drug war, Detective James. We need you."

"And we know you know how to keep your mouth shut," continued Pearl.

"Is this something you think you could do?" asked Patrick.

I sat for what seemed like days, thinking on this, before I responded.

"What's in it for me?" I said in my most firm tone. They all needed to know that my reward had to be more than remaining a 2nd lieutenant. "I'm the one taking all the risk. And once our plan is completed and you become Governor... I'll still be a cop. Meaning, you'll be asking me, a year from now, to eradicate the problem we created. So I need to know the payout. What's the reward? What's in it for me? Because I'm no fool, Madam Congresswoman, I know if I don't do it... you'll find someone else who will. Then I'll still have to clean up the mess you created."

"What do you want?" The Congresswoman asked grudgingly.

"My own division," I answered, "Homicide."

"That could be arranged." said Patrick. We all stood and went through a second round of handshakes. "Pearl will be our go between. She will be working with you personally. If there is nothing else... then Madam Congresswoman we have to get rolling. Your budget meeting is in 10 minutes."

Patrick walked out of the room, but the Congresswoman stayed behind.

"You're married to Utessa Cornett. Is that right?"

"Utessa James now, yes ma'am," I assured her.

"Has she ever mentioned me?" the Congresswoman asked. I shook my head. "Well, it has been a long time. Pearl has one last thing to cover. Again, thank you. It will be a pleasure working with you detective."

Congresswoman Clarke finally left the room, leaving me alone with Pearl.

"So what do you think of her?" said Pearl, placing a briefcase on Clark's desk. She snapped it opened.

"She's definitely cut out for politics."

"You're not so bad yourself," said Pearl seductively. She turned away from me before pulling a file out of the case. "There is one last thing we need you to do."

"What's that?"

"You're wife and the Congresswoman has a history," Pearl laid a few photos on the desk. With just one look I was taken aback. A rush of shock flooded my insides. "They have a history that can't get out... a history that must be kept unknown and erased. And we need you to do this for us."

I glanced up at Pearl then back down at the horrific photos. Comprehension choked at my thoughts.

"Are you asking me to kill my wife?"

"No, detective," Pearl said in earnest, taking back the photos, "we're telling you that youhave to kill your wife."