I NEED A HERO (𝓒𝓞𝓜𝓟𝓛𝓔𝓣𝓔)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

After their early morning raid on the drug operation, the SWAT unit went for breakfast. Some of them went home for a few hours more sleep, others opted to start their day and clock out early.

Ban Goot and Sai Omik went to their surveillance office to examine the feed from the extra cameras they had placed in the Communications center. They had surmised that whoever was passing information knew where the regular security cameras were stationed and when they cycled, making it possible for them to avoid scrutiny. After hours, Sai had set up tiny wireless cams that covered the blind spots in hopes of catching the culprit.

Tau, Orr and Nemera caught a few hours on the bunks in the locker room before heading for the case room. The message center had several pages of alerts and requests that they had to clear before they settled down to work. The drug operation they had shut down was a supplier not just for Om Basset, but for the entire quadrant, and everyone wanted information on it. That kept them busy for a few hours.

The next task was to take another look at properties to make sure they hadn't missed any. With the bust, they were down to three - two drones and one manned surveillance, as one manned unit had been on the drug house.

They found an estate that had been overlooked because it was in foreclosure. Despite that fact, it had been rented out to an organization by the mortgage company. After a bit of discussion, a drone was launched to cover it. Tomorrow they would decide whether or not to redeploy the other manned surveillance team.

It was late afternoon when Sai asked the three to come to the Surveillance center. As they walked in Ban was cueing up a video.

"We have our culprit," said Sai as they walked to the main monitor. "We caught it all on video. It wasn't one of our own."

"Not a cop?" Nemera showed her teeth. "What is a civi doing in Coms?"

"Good question," said Ban. He turned from his task as they came near. "And the answer is that some brilliant bureaucrat in Personnel decided that it was OK to put a civilian temp in a sensitive operations area."

"A temp?" Orr shook his head. "Like an office temp? Seriously?"

"Seriously," said Ban, flicking his tongue. "Captain Prass is mad enough to spit nails. She took the video straight to Commissioner Veta. I predict that heads will roll."

"I predict that you're right," said Nemera. "So was this temp a plant from the first or did Rakshasa get to them after they were hired?"

"We don't know yet," said Sai. "Sheila and Andar brought them in and have them cooling their heels in interrogation. Captain Prass wants to nab whoever authorized their hire, also."

"Here is the pertinent section," said Ban. They watched as the information from Captain Prass came through, and moments later the Tav in question was on their personal comm. "We logged and traced the call," said Ban. "The Bureau picked up the person on the other end under cover of a medical emergency. They have them in their secure holding." He looked up as the door opened. "What's the word, Captain?"

"The word is traitor," growled Sekani Prass. "We turned one Ellis Schiff from Personnel over to The Bureau. Seems he's gained some unexpected payments to his bank account, and he falsified that temp's bonding status." Her pale gold-green eyes glittered with temper. "Corruption." She nearly spit the word out. "Damn nasty business. Looks like Om Basset PD has another security sweep in the offing."

"Well, maybe the City Council will finally authorize monthly checks," said Orr. "As much as I hate the necessity and the invasion of privacy, we need to police ourselves first. Bad cops hurt everybody."

"Agreed, Detective," said Sekani Prass. "I'm going to recommend an independent contractor - specifically Eamon Security. No one will put Mr. Anais in their pocket." She looked at Orr, Tau and Nemera in turn. "I'm going to talk to that temp myself. You three go do whatever you need to do to get that hairball Rakshasa. I want him in the slammer ASAP. I'll make sure you get any information we come up with." Her short tail twitched with temper as she spun around and stalked off down the hall.