Insurgents

27

I handed Reyes the DVD. "There were children in the back of the Escalade when Gretchen and her crew left the airfield." I said. "She's not out for revenge, she's trying to save a bunch of kids. And she didn't kill Becky Pierson, Junior did. That's something Freddie says on the video." We were sitting on a bench near a jungle gym that needed a paint job. The park was empty except for a couple of dog walkers.

"If you're feeling guilty about giving me this it's not necessary. Even if this DVD is hard evidence that she killed someone, I don't think it would be admissible in court."

"Because we stole it?"

"No." She said. "That might be a problem too, but I assume there are things on here that would be deemed sensitive and confidential by DHS. The evidence would be sealed and only a judge would ever see it."

"So it's useless?"

"No, far from useless from your perspective. I assume you have some copies squirrelled away somewhere."

"Yeah." I said.

"Good, you might not be a complete moron." She said. "How come your friend has a public defender?"

"David? I don't know." I said. "I mean they don't have a lot of money, but I figure his mom should be able to scrape together something for a lawyer."

"Thomas Delaney the Third." She said. "That's the guy he should get. I worked on a case that was similar to this and he knew which buttons to push to get his clients off."

"Thanks, I'll tell his mom." I said. "There's something else I wanted to talk to you about before you go. Dennis Reston mentioned that he wanted to give me a job. He made it pretty clear that it was something illegal and I told him I was interested. If he follows through I can get in touch with you and let you know what he wants me to do."

"You're determined to get yourself killed aren't you?"

"These guys are selling children. Don't you want to bust them? They're selling heroin too. I might be able to help."

"There's no way to bust them for the drugs, it's already well known that the CIA is involved in drug smuggling and no one cares. It's an open secret, but the children, that's another matter. If that were to come out there would be public outcry. There might not be anything we could do in the courts but we could give it to the media, and then we might get a government reaction of some kind."

"So I'm looking for something we could give to the media?"

"If you're willing to risk your life for it." She said. "I hope you wouldn't do anything stupid, I don't have to tell you that these people would kill you without a second thought."

"I know."

"And you're not working for me, if you do this you're doing it as a free agent. I have a feeling my partner will be coming for you soon, and I don't want you running your mouth to him about how you're helping me."

"I wont." I said. "Does he have anything on me?"

"He's looking pretty damn hard." She said. "I'll try to give you some warning before they come for you, but not directly. I'll let John Marchin know."

"Why him?" I asked.

"Because he's helping you." She said. "He and I had a long conversation about this mess. He was a good cop in his day."

"But you can't give me any help with Dennis Reston?"

"Like what?"

"Like backup." I said. "If I get in trouble I'd like to be able to call in the cavalry."

"Well I guess I could do something." She said. "I'll have to take your phone."

"What are you going to do with it?" I asked as I handed it to her. "You gonna put a wire in there?"

"No, just a panic button and a GPS" She said. "But you have to promise that you'll only use it if your life is in eminent danger."

"Okay." I said.

"I should be able to get it back to you tomorrow if my tech guy's not too busy."

I thanked her and sat alone in the park for an hour or so after she left. I was wondering if I would have the guts to die for a bunch of kids I never knew. Sitting in the park I was, but I wondered what I would do in the moment if the moment came.

When I got home I looked up the contact information for Thomas Delaney the Third, and called Meredtih Divos. I explained to her that I had a cop friend who told me that Thomas Delaney the Third was the best lawyer for David. She said she'd called Benson and Crewe, from TV, but I told her I didn't think that was such a good idea. "I'm sure they're okay if you're trying to get money from somebody, but David needs a defense attorney." I said. She said maybe that was why they hadn't called back yet. I gave her Delaney's number and she god-blessed me before I got off the phone. "You too." I said.

I went and picked up Jessie at the PFPFP and waited while she closed the place down. On our way home she wanted to stop at the Buy n' Fly and she came out unwrapping a pack of Marlboro Ultra Lights. "What's all this now?" I asked as she got in the car.

She looked at me as she pulled one out. "It's a cigarette." She said. "I'm gonna smoke it."

"Since when did you start smoking again?"

"Since I can't find any weed and I need a fucking hobby, since that's when." She said, lighting it up with a new red lighter. "You have a problem with that?"

"Oh no, by all means, go ahead and smoke that toxic shit right next to me. I love it."

"Well I don't see you making any phone calls about the weed situation."

"Jessie, I've been sort of busy lately, I don't know if you've noticed." I said. "Gimme one of those."

"I thought you were opposed."

"I am, but second-hand smoke makes me gag." I said.

"Welcome to flavor country." She said.