A Team of One Chapter 2
Cecil Byrne wanted to speak to Tony as soon as he entered the Department. The overweight Baltimore Sergeant didn't speak at first, he made the 'come hither' motion with his finger. It was plainly obvious that Sergeant Byrne was in his trademark bad mood.
"Sir?" Tony asked.
"I thought I told you to work with Special Agent Gibbs," Byrne's voice was only slightly raised.
"You did," Tony wasn't sure where this was headed or how to respond.
"Then tell me why the fuck I have a federal agent going around my city acting like he runs the joint! And why the fucking hell is there an ME from DC performing an autopsy when we have capable people of our own!" Byrne's voice bellowed and carried out the open door.
Tony swallowed before continuing. "Well I had an appointment today and Trevor was run off his feet so I thought," Tony was interrupted.
"You're hanging from a loose thread, boy. So before I throw you out the door myself I suggest you pull your ass into gear and solve this case before that man makes us look bad. Don't make me regret you handling this case… Get out of my sight," Byrne said in annoyance.
"Yes, Sir," Tony said before leaving the office.
Byrne shook his head as he sat down. It was obvious to only a select few that there was a balance of power in Baltimore… Some believed that crime could never be wiped out so some set out to minimize it. That made things more difficult for the people who wanted to be real Crime Investigators. The two never mixed…
Xxxxxxx
Tony met up with Gibbs at the café overlooking the water at the harbor. It was a nice sunny day which made a change from the constant drizzle of winter. He saw Robert and Theresa sitting on a bench closer to the water as they ate their lunch together.
A young man on a mountain bike weaved expertly through the traffic and stopped near the bench after checking the tire. Occasionally, the biker would turn his head and look like he was speaking.
"Not eating much?" Gibbs observed. He came across as gruff and mean but only a handful had witnessed a softer side.
Tony looked at his plate and shrugged. "I have a dinner engagement. So what did your ME find?" He asked.
"He had a good amount of Cocaine in his system. Even only prior to his death. With so much in his system he probably wouldn't have even felt it," Gibbs handed Tony the hastily filled out report.
Tony looked through it. "Found out what the Coke was cut with?" He asked.
"Sending it to our Lab… Our Forensic Scientist would be able to find out quickly," Gibbs said.
"So..." Tony sighed. Evidence going out of the city would not sit well with Sergeant Byrne and the last thing he wanted was another chewing out.
"What's the drug culture in Baltimore?" Gibbs asked.
Tony thought for a moment and decided to answer with what he knew. "It's a big industry and there's a lot running around. If your Scientist guy can find what it's been cut with. Certain criminal groups around usually have their own ways of doing stuff," Tony explained. He didn't know the extent of the Federal Agent's knowledge of the criminal world of Baltimore. Though, he assumed that Gibbs was seasoned since he looked seasoned.
"How well do you know things? What places should we be starting looking?" Gibbs asked.
"There are a few places that's on the watch list," Tony told him.
"Tomorrow evening… You're going to show me around and we'll see if Kris Parrie frequented anywhere else," Gibbs gave the itinerary.
Tony didn't mind taking orders if he agreed with them. Of course he'd have to deal with Byrne if the man thought he was handing the investigation to a foreign force as he once called them.
"Also, we'll also need to get fresh samples around to compare," Tony suggested. Maybe a raid to the evidence locker wouldn't be much use. They needed the fresh samples to compare it with the sample sent to DC.
"Think you better set that up. Have a feeling that your Sergeant will deny any request that comes from me," Gibbs placed the napkin on the plate and left Tony pondering how to tell his superior how things were going to proceed.
Xxxxxxxx
Cale Residence
Whenever his wife Julie did a major cook up, Gordon found himself playing gopher. That was something he didn't mind. From behind, he wrapped his arms around her neck and down to her pregnant belly.
"You mind?" Julie laughed. "So we expecting Tony tonight?" She asked. Just to find out if she should freeze some containers for him, send over Gordon or if he was going to be there himself.
"Talked to Tony yesterday," Gordon answered as he licked the spoon his wife offered him. "Good sauce. Yeah anyway… He had an appointment today and a body turned up and he's working with someone from DC. He said he was going to try and make it tonight," Gordon told him.
"Okay," Julie said cheerfully. She knew that sometimes Tony's 'try and make it' was a way of getting them off his back.
As if to lay their beliefs to rest, there was a knock on the door. "That might be him now," Gordon said. He walked through the short hallway to answer the door.
"Hey," Tony greeted. "Some flowers. Wine and non-alcoholic wine for Julie," he handed the bottles to Gordon.
"Tony?" Gordon asked carefully as he took the bottles.
Tony straightened up a little and sighed. That was what he feared a lot. It sounded like they were hoping for someone else. "It's Tony… Who'd you think it was?" He decided to risk asking the question.
"Coming in with a bunch of flowers… Couple of bottles of wine. Thought you were Mary, Tones," Gordon said with half a shrug. It was often that he made that mistake one way or another.
"Nope… It's me," Tony responded. He was immediately eagerly greeted by Hannah and Brad. "Hey, you two," Tony said. He half listened as they began telling them about his day but did act like he was giving his full attention.
"Really… Must be exciting," Tony commented. They were five and seven respectfully.
"Smells yummy," He put the flowers on the table.
Xxxxxxxx
After dinner, Tony and Gordon sat on a couple of plastic chairs out the back. "How did the therapy session go?" Gordon asked.
"I don't know," Tony answered. He looked as if he was about to say something but held back.
"Spit it out, Tones," Gordon ordered him.
"Nah, it's not all that important… Really," Tony stated. There had been a plan to ask his good friend about what he thought of his alters but decided that maybe it was better not knowing.
"How's the case going?" Gordon asked. Even though they were partners sometimes they were often set on different courses.
"Cocaine was found in the system. That Agent Gibbs is having it analyzed by one of his labs. Hope something useful comes back before Sergeant Byrne decides to tear me a new asshole," Tony told him. "Too soon for an assessment. But hopefully the case will be over quickly without giving him the opportunity to see what I'm really like and get me thrown off the force," Tony gave a shrug. But he knew that Gordon had picked up on what he was saying.
"That won't happen. Damn Tones, I don't think anyone can make the Serge do anything he doesn't want to… And he hasn't gotten rid of you yet," Gordon told him.
'Yet' was what went through Tony's mind as he swiped a hand through his hair. As time went on he was sure the more annoying his condition got. At times he wished that one of his alters would just take over permanently. That would make things easier all round.
"Here's some food for you, Tony," Julie handed Tony a plastic bag with containers of food.
"Thanks," Tony knew better than to argue with Gordon's pregnant wife. On the other hand, these meals made a difference from cold pizza and beer. The monotonous meal routine was sometimes broken by Julie and Gordon's invitations and of course the occasional visits from Alter Mary who always seemed to cook up a storm when she came forward.
Xxxxxxx
The H-Club, Baltimore
Members of the Baltimore PD were dressed in bulletproof vests as they began their raid on the club. It was impossible to tell how heavy the resistance was going to be. Room by room they searched. Fortunately… Due to the drug addicts being high, they offered little or no resistance.
"On the floor, Adian Helms," Marshall Collins raised his weapon. The owner of the H-Club was heavily involved in drug dealing. Collins read the man his rights as he put the handcuffs on him.
"Damn," Adian was pulled to his feet.
Those arrested were escorted to the Department and processed. They'd be formally charged and all done by the book. They were making sure that no lawyer could get them off on a technicality.
Sergeant Byrne shouted across the room to get the attention of everyone who was still in the middle of celebrations.
"Great work men. I just want to tell you that before I go out and face the cameras. We've made a nice dent into the drug industry today… A small dent yes but it's a start. Soon the druggies and dealers out there will be pissing their pants knowing that we're tough and that we're gunning for them," Byrne gave a mini speech.
Tony, Gordon and a few others not involved shook hands with those who were.
"I thought you'd be annoyed that you weren't able to grab the spotlight," Jeffery Thomas said. His partner Jack Valdez laughed at that.
Tony averted his gaze at the moment. Their rivalry was well known throughout the department and they never saw eye to eye. "It was a job well done. Some more drugs off the street. I can recognize a job well done when I see it," Tony tried not to sound antagonistic.
The Public didn't hold police in the highest regard. But The H-Club raid on the twentieth earned those of the Baltimore PD some respect among the general public. Seven druggies and one drug dealer, Adian Helms were taken off the streets without one single shot being fired. It was an overkill when half of the department in full gear and heavily armed with automatic weapons. It served the purpose since the H-Club raid involved no shooting, no damage and no drama… Sergeant Byrne was ecstatic to claim it as a victory against crime… And it was.
