Judge, Jury, & Executioner

Chapter 16

"A bar?" Reaves asked as Maddox pulled up outside.

Maddox nodded and then climbed out of the car. The building was a three story brick colossus that looked like it was constructed in the fifties. With green awnings and stain glass windows, the Bar's name fit. The Green Leprechaun.

"What kind of a name is that? That's basically insulting every Irishman in Nee York," Reaves said.

Maddox and pointed at the sign above the door. He looked up and saw the actual name not the Awning brand.

"Rolling Hills, oh. Oops," Reaves said looking embarrassed.

Maddox opened the solid wood door and Reaves followed her inside. Inside it was rather cool. Dimly lit, but with enough green lamps to make a Leprechaun look normal. Tables scattered about. Five TV's all positioned in the corners of the room.

Maddox walked right up to the bar and smacked her badge onto the counter. The bartender looked at her and finished filling the patrons glass before walking over.

He was balding and looked uneasy seeing her badge. Reaves looked down the bar way and saw a questionably aged young man in the corner. Most likely why the bartender was concerned.

"How may I help you Detectives?" He asked, keeping his eye on Maddox.

Maddox leaned on the bar and smiled, "We were just in the neighborhood. Thought we'd stop in, ask how the Mob are handling the Nickels family?"

The bartender backed away, this time he didn't look uneasy, he looked ticked.

"Your barking up the wrong tree. What's your name again Detective?" He asked.

Maddox scoffed and then went to answer his question, "Detective-"

"Ryan Maddox," A man said behind them. He was wearing an expensive suit and had his red hair slicked back. "Daughter. Of Jim Maddox."

"Yeah, well, we're kind of estranged so."

"And you know him how?" Reaves asked.

The man turned to him, "He stole from us."

"Yeah, I heard he's done that a lot."

Maddox shook her head and then looked at the red haired mob boss. (Reaves assumes anyway.)

"And you've heard of me how?" Maddox asked him.

"Because your father often spoke of his amazing Ryan Maddox. He failed to mention you were a woman, or that you were so beautiful," The man said in doing so infuriating Reaves.

Reaves could tell Maddox was biting her tongue. She looked about ready to tear the man a new one.

"Care to tell me why the Mob are killing Jury members!" Maddox yelled silencing the whole Bar.

Causing multiple patrons to leave right after the word killing. The red haired man looked infuriated. He stepped towards Maddox.

"If you came here to accuse me, of doing anything wrong, I can say I haven't. As to these Clovers your talking about, I can't comment because I don't know any of them. And you can sure, I don't care either. Now you two are more than welcome to exit my establishment before my men escort you," He remarked before walking away.

Reaves and Maddox watched him disappear into a back room. Maddox held up her phone and Reaves saw she was recording the whole thing.

"Why'd you record the whole thing?" Reaves asked.

"I never told them the Mob I was referring to was the Clovers," Maddox said smirking as she walked to the door.

"You got him to admit that he and the Clovers are involved because he said Clovers without you telling him that that's the Mob you were talking about. How does that help us?"

Maddox looked at him and then they walked out of the bar.

"There are a bunch of Mobs. How did he know I was talking about the Clovers unless-"

"He's involved."

"Boo yah."

Reaves smirked at the use of his catchphrase.

"So now we know we're barking up the right tree, now we just have to find the right branch," Reaves said.

Maddox unlocked the car and they climbed in. She dialed Drake and left it on speaker.

"Drake."

"I need you to look into any known red haired associates of the Clovers," Maddox ordered.

"That's like asking for a Sober Irishman," Drake replied, getting no laughs. "Too soon?"

"Just look it up."

Drake Asked Cooke to do it and then they pulled up a few.

"Okay, we have four possible suspects. I'm texting photos. Got it?"

Maddox looked at her phone and Reaves saw the photos. It was the third guy. Ian McGregor.

"The third guy. How much dirt does anyone have on him?" Maddox asked.

"We don't have squat. But I can ask the Feds if they have anything," Drake said before shuffling around with his phone.

Maddox pulled out and they headed back towards the precinct. They both waited as Drake discussed it with Doyle and the FBI agents.

"Ian McGregor, son of Art McGregor. And inherited the family business, AKA the Clovers," Drake explained.

Reaves looked out the window and pondered the fact he was face to face with a mob boss.

"So we just talked to the leader of the Clovers? Then I'd say it's safe to assume they are behind the Jury killings. Now we have to find the Hitman. Can the Feds get a wire tap on him?" Maddox asked.

Reaves glanced out the window just in time to see the SUV hurtling towards them. He reached for the steering wheel and jerked it away from himself. The SUV slammed into the side of the car and sent it spinning mixed with Reaves steering wheel move.

They slammed into the a light post and the last thing Reaves heard was Drake yelling.

***

Drake slammed his foot into the accelerator. He was speeding to Maddox and Reaves' last location. Emergency units had already arrived on scene and had called Captain Doyle. Cooke sat in the passenger seat gripping her laptop case as Drake flew around the corner.

They were only a few minutes away. Drake could only imagine the scene. The first responders had radioed in a fiery explosion that engulfed a police cruiser. Drake has ran out of the precinct door before Doyle could even tell him wether or not Maddox and Reaves had survived.

Cooke happened to be in the lobby and followed him out. They took off and were now nearing the intersection.

Red and blue flashing lights were coming from all directions. Several officers had set up crime scene tape and barricades. Drake climbed out of his car and saw the Fire Department putting the car fire out. He felt his stomach twist and he fought through it to run to the scene.

He stopped as soon as he saw the Paramedics zipping up a body bag. Drake ran up to them and shoved them out of the way. His hands shook as he reached for the zipper. Cooke ran up behind him and gasped. He unzipped it, and his heart stopped.