Part 4 – New Job – Part 4
The old Delray Studios in Downtown Alexandria wasn't really a studio and wasn't really in Downtown Alexandria. The studio was basically a large metal shed that would be rented out from time to time as a soundstage. It wasn't in Downtown Alexandria, it was out in the middle of the woods one mile to the east of the city.
As Shikamaru pulled up to the main gate they saw that Jacob wasn't exaggerating when it came to the armed guards, really it wasn't guards, it was a few guys in tactical gear carrying civilian-issue rifles and shotguns. Probably some good old boys wanting to raise more money for their families.
As they stepped out of the truck, the man on the right spoke up, "Sorry boys," he said, "No visitors today."
"I'd like you to make an exception," Sasuke said as he flashed his badge, and held up the warrant, "We have a warrant to search the premises."
"Mr. Richter said no one on the premises," he said, "If you don't leave we will defend ourselves."
"Assaulting a cop will get you five months to ten years," Shikamaru said, "Now open the gate, or we'll come back with a tactical team, and break it down."
"Whatever gets you to sleep at night." He replied.
Sasuke and Shikamaru turned around and walked toward his truck, "Get on the phone, and get S.W.A.T. down here?" Sasuke asked.
"Get a few pop guns?" Shikamaru asked.
"You know it," Sasuke said.
Thirty minutes later…
As soon as the S.W.A.T. Unit arrived, the team loaned Sasuke and Shikamaru a few weapons.
The two detectives had parked Shikamaru's truck a few dozen feet away in a wooded area that kept them out of view of the studio.
"Good to see you again, Detective," S.W.A.T. Leader Shino said as he handed Sasuke a Colt M4 with an A.R.M.S. S.I.R. system, and an attached EOTech sight, "You know how to use one of those right?"
"Used one during my time in Army Intelligence," Sasuke said as he slid three magazines into a set of magazine holders he attached to his belt.
Shikamaru checked the action on the Benelli M4, "Think we're ready." He said.
As Sasuke and Shikamaru strapped on their Kevlar vests, the S.W.A.T. Team mounted their Lenco BearCat and set off toward the Studio.
As the BearCat was approaching the gates, the two 'guards' that stopped Sasuke and Shikamaru before raised their hands to signal them to stop, as the BearCat sped up, the one on the left raised his Mossberg 500, and the one on the right raised his AR-15, and let off several shots into the glass of the BearCat which bounced off.
As they crashed through the gate, the gate slammed into the two of them and knocked them both out cold.
"POLICE," the S.W.A.T. Officers yelled as he jumped out of the gate, "SEARCH WARRANT!"
As Sasuke and Shikamaru stepped out of the van, a single 'guard' came around the corner carrying a double-barrel shotgun and raised it to fire only to have Sasuke drill three rounds into his chest with the M4A1.
Shikamaru went around the right to come face-to-face with another guard, the guard swung the butt-stock of his AR only for Shikamaru to duck underneath the swing, but the guard across the jaw, and blow the guard away with the Benelli.
The S.W.A.T. Team ran into the Studio, several more guards opened fire with AR-15s only for S.W.A.T. to put them on the ground.
Richter meanwhile bolted for the secondary exit, but as he ran out, he ran right into Sasuke and Shikamaru who lifted him above ground and slammed him into the dirt.
"Evan Richter," Sasuke said as Shikamaru secured his arms behind his back, "You're under arrest!"
Back at the Station…
"I know my rights," Richter said as he looked up at Shikamaru who circled him like a hungry shark, "I don't have to say shit to you."
"You're damn right you don't," Shikamaru said, "Then again, you could just explain to the Grand Jury what you were doing forging all those paintings?"
"Creating reproductions," Richter said.
"Alright then," Sasuke said as he held out the ledger he picked up after he and Shikamaru dropped Richter into the dirt, "Then explain this entry," he opened to the second to last page, "5:30, Thursday Duller, $50,000. Was that the Picasso you sold him last week days ago?"
"We had our someone else appraise it when we sent him over to Mr. Duller's," Shikamaru said, "It's fucking fake, and Mr. Duller is pissed out of his mind."
"Is it my fault they can't tell left from right?" Richter asked.
"Alright then," Sasuke asked as he looked at the last entry, "Final entry was this morning. 4:30, Wednesday, Compton, $150,000. You're being blackmailed, aren't you?"
"It was the painting wasn't it," Shikamaru asked, "The one you wanted to be stolen from the Denis's house?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Richter said.
"Ok then," Sasuke said as he picked up all the evidence, and stepped out with Shikamaru.
As soon as they stepped out of the interrogation room into the observation room, Iruka was leaning against the wall, "He's gonna hide behind his rights," he said, "We're going to get nothing out of him."
"We won't get anything out of him unless we beat it out of him," Shikamaru said, "But we don't want Internal Affairs poking around this case."
"What if we let him go," Sasuke asked.
"What?" Shikamaru and Iruka asked at the same time.
"Well think," Sasuke said, "He wants that painting really bad. He gets his hands on it, he turns it over to the French Government, and he's a hero. But you can't bring a cylindrical holder into a park in broad daylight without someone noticing."
"You think whoever's holding our sixty to seventy-five-million-dollar painting hostage has it stored somewhere?" Shikamaru asked.
"Why not," Sasuke asked, "That's how I would do it. If you have a painting that valuable, then you're gonna keep it safe."
"Then when he shows up to make the drop," Shikamaru said, "We grab him, and we question him about the painting."
"We'd need a good place to observe the park," Iruka said.
"I have a friend that lives not once house down from there," Sasuke said, "I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"Set it up," Iruka said, "I'll what I can do."
As Sasuke and Shikamaru walked out of the station, Iruka walked into the interrogation room.
"Are you my attorney," Richter asked.
"No," Iruka said, "I'm Lieutenant Umino. Alexandria Robbery."
"You here to read me my Miranda Rights," Richter asked.
"Actually no," Iruka said as he walked around to Richter's keys, and unlocked them, "Unfortunately a typo down at the D.A.s office serves as the basis from something that would come back to bite my department in the ass."
"A faulty search warrant," Richter said.
"Yes," Iruka said, "We don't have any sufficient evidence to charge you with anything. So, you're free to go."
Richter stood up, and turned towards Iruka as he walked out, "You can tell your two detectives that they can be expecting a call from my lawyer." He said.
As Richter walked out of the station, he quickly called for an Uber driver which took him straight to the bank.
Flashback…
During a walk around Central Park, Fugaku and Mikoto walked in front of Sasuke and Itachi.
"You're sure the F.B.I. won't accept you?" Itachi asked.
"They might," Sasuke said, "But unless you have a Master's Degree, they won't take a fresh-faced kid like me walking into Quantico with only four years Army training."
"You could work for the Sheriff," Itachi said.
"That's not a half bad idea Itachi," Sasuke said, "You really think they would take someone like me?"
"Like you said," Itachi said, "You had four years of Army training. You have a degree in Criminal Justice, could you do any better than that?"
"Sherriff's office doesn't seem like such a bad idea," Sasuke said, "What do you think of, Sherriff Uchiha, Sherriff of Rapides Parish?"
"The only sheriff in Louisiana history to leave for a job in plumbing," Itachi said.
"Oh, fuck you," Sasuke said as he playfully pushed his brother away.
Wakefield Boulevard…
The large two-story house closest to Compton Park could have gotten you any good view of the park if you wanted to.
Sasuke's friend, the son of a teacher and a small businessman downtown had become a heart surgeon at Christus Saint Frances Cabrini Hospital.
Houses in that area, right around J.B. Nachman Elementary was prime real estate.
Sasuke and Shikamaru set up shop in a second-floor room with several members of the APD's technical support.
"Hey guys," Sasuke said as he walked in with the food he was sent to retrieve, "Went to Eddie's just up the road."
Eddie's is quintessentially an Alexandria thing, if you want authentic Louisiana Barbecue, you go to Eddie's. When you go to Eddie's, don't just expect the normal barbecue staples like pulled pork or ribs, expect a nice piece of fried fish, maybe some butterfly shrimp. For sides, have some nice fried okra, some corn maque choux, or some rice dressing.
That my friends is Southern Hospitality, enjoy it because there's plenty to go around.
As the crew ate, Shikamaru began talking, "It's hard to believe it's only been two days since we began this case," he said, "And we've learned that we're chasing a real Monet painting, we've broken up a mass art-forging ring, and was almost killed by a bunch of angry rednecks with guns."
"Sir," one of the technical guys said as he signaled the detectives over, "We have activity!"
Sasuke observed the park through the Stiner 10x50 binoculars the police had on standard-issue and watched as Richter walked into the park, he held a large MacDonald's bag in his hand that budged weirdly: because it was full of money.
He threw the bag into the trashcan near the street-side entrance, he then turned around and walked in the opposite direction of the trash can.
Sasuke picked up one of the radios, and turned it on, "All units, the egg is in the nest," he said, "Repeat, the egg is in the next."
It didn't take ten minutes before a hooded figure walked over to the trashcan, reached inside, and as he picked up the bag, he looked inside for the cash.
"I think we have our man," Shikamaru said.
Sasuke activated his radio, "All units, move in," he said, "All units, move in!"
Soon the entire park was filled with cops, "APD," the undercover APD officers yelled as they held the man that picked up the money at gunpoint.
Sasuke and Shikamaru ran to the park and quickly cuffed the assailant. They pulled his hood back to reveal Jamal Lincoln, "Jamal," Sasuke said.
"Detective," Jamal said.
Station…
"You lied to me when you said you went to college to be an artist," Sasuke said.
"You really are a smart detective," Jamal said, "Maybe there'll be a future for you in the police after all."
"We have detectives searching your apartment right now," Sasuke said, "What are you willing to bet that they're going to find a .380 Walther and a priceless Monet painting?"
"You'd win that bet," Jamal said, "But you still lose detective, you see, I still outsmarted you. You still don't know my motive, or why I tried to kill Mr. Denis."
"That's where you're wrong," Sasuke said, "Because you didn't. Your partner did, I know that because your partner couldn't lift his arm up high enough to fire," Jamal looked at Sasuke with a shocked look on his face, "You didn't go to school to be an artist, you wanted to be an art authenticator, that's why Richter hired you. You were initially satisfied with the money he was giving you to break in. But your partner panicked and fired, but the rotator cuff tear in his shoulder prevented him from raising his arm all the way up. You ran with the painting in hand, and made it away, but once you realized what you had in your hands, you knew that Richter was good for more."
"How did…" Jamal asked.
"One doesn't steal a priceless painting without good reason," Sasuke said, "So tell me, what was yours?"
Jamal sat back, defeated, "That painting belonged in a museum," Jamal said, "I was going to donate most of the money I made from the ransom to the American Cancer Association."
"Your mother had brain cancer," Sasuke said, "She bought a painting from Richter that turned out to be fake. That was your motivation."
Tears started to fall from Jamal's eyes, "She was my only means of financial backing," he said, "When she did, I couldn't finish art school. I sat there in the hospital and watched as she took her last breaths. Meanwhile, he was making millions selling fake paintings to good people like her! I've been wanting revenge ever since, and I damn well got it!"
"You did," Sasuke said, "He's going to jail for conspiracy and forgery. The painting is going back to the Louvre."
"And I'm going to jail," Jamal said.
"Hopefully the judge will see things your way," Sasuke said.
Sasuke walked out of the room, and into the observation room where Shikamaru and Iruka were waiting, "It was him the whole time," Shikamaru said, "Right, and he stared us down."
"I wouldn't worry about it," Sasuke said.
"I wouldn't," Iruka said, "What we have here is a classic case of revenge. Since he didn't shoot, he'll only get charged with extortion and breaking and entering. Meanwhile, Richter is looking at forgery, conspiracy, and tax evasion. He's looking at twenty years, and Jamal here is only looking at a few months."
"Maybe he can set his life straight," Sasuke said, "There are many people that deserve one."
"Yea," Iruka said, "But with a priceless painting on it's way back to France, ten million dollars going towards Mr. and Mrs. Denis, and fifty thousand going towards Jacob, I'd say you boys earned yourself a little celebration. Well done."
As Iruka left, Shikamaru looked up at Sasuke, "So first case we get together as partners we find a priceless painting that's been missing since World War 2, break up a mass forging ring, and set a kid on the path to success," he said, "I don't know about you Uchiha, but I think I'm going to enjoy working with you."
"Likewise," Sasuke said, "Want a beer?"
"I don't want one," Shikamaru said, "I need one."
"I know a place," Sasuke said.
Konoha, the premier local bar in Alexandria right across from Chuck E. Cheese's, several Mexican restaurants had come and gone, now Konoha stood there, and ever since Sasuke moved back, it had become his favorite watering hole.
Upon entering, a young blonde man shouted, "SASUKE!"
Seeing this young man with spikey blonde hair, blue eyes, and facial hair that looked like cat whiskers working behind the bar, you might not think two thoughts about him, believing him to be a simple bartender. That was until you realized that the young man was Naruto Uzumaki, the owner of the bar.
"Hey Naruto," Sasuke said as he walked over to the main bar.
"New partner," Naruto asked, "What'll it be this time?"
"This is Shikamaru," Sasuke said, "He's my partner in Robbery."
"No shit," Naruto said, "You made detective! Congratulations! So what'll it be?"
"Two beers," Sasuke said, "Very cold."
"You got it," Naruto said as he reached underneath the bar, and picked up two pint glasses.
As Naruto was pouring the beers, someone snuck up from behind, and covered her hands over Sasuke's eyes, "Guess who?" the woman asked.
"I recognize these soft hands anywhere," Sasuke said as he pulled them off his eyes, and kissed each of them before turning to see the face of Sakura Rebecca Haruno, his good friend and a rising surgeon at Saint Francis Cabrini.
"I heard you made detective," Sakura said as she embraced him, and took a seat next to him.
"I did," Sasuke said as Naruto handed him and Shikamaru their beers, "We just closed our first major case."
"Congratulations," Sakura said as Naruto handed her the usual thing she ordered: a Tokyo Rose, "To you two solving your first major case."
"Here, here," Sasuke and Shikamaru said as they tapped their glasses against Sakura's, ad swigged them back.
Not bad for the first day on the job, don't you think so…