Chapter 8

"Okay, this is the general area where Shipman last used his phone," Brian said, pointing out cell towers on a map. "I'm figuring we can each grab a mug shot, spread out, and start asking around there."

"Works for me," Paul nodded, still working on his lunch and picking up one of the WANTED sheets of John Shipman as Surety jumped up on the map.

"Not this time, fuzzy buddy," Brian said, putting the cat gently on the floor. "We need someone to stay behind and watch the office."

Surety cocked his head before wandering over to the front window as the group went back to work.

"Any other known places Shipman hangs out?" Britty asked.

"According to Holly, there's a pool hall right here," Jeff replied, pointing to another spot on the map. "That is about in the same area where the calls were being made on the prepaid phone."

"We can check there too," Brian nodded, jotting down notes. "Did Holly give you an address?"

"That and a few other addresses, in fact," Jeff said, relaying them to Brian.

"Great. Better to have too much information than not enough. Let's get this party started."

As they were getting ready to leave, the group could hear giggles coming from outside.

Turning around, Anne placed a hand over her own mouth to restrain herself from bursting out laughing as she spotted Surety's hind leg in the air, licking his butt with abandon, oblivious to the children outside pointing at him and giggling.

"Well, that hairball certainly takes after Brian in one respect," Paul said, shaking his head. "Cat has no shame at all."

Anne patted his shoulder. "Face it, Paul," she teased, "you're just jealous because you can't do a trick like that. Come on, let's go."

Later:

"Anything from the pool hall?" Anne asked.

Brian shook his head. "No one's seen Shipman since the day before yesterday," he replied. "And I will add I don't think I'll be going back in there again. I think some of those guys were ready to ass rape me. I'd sent Jeff, but he would have stood out like a sore thumb, Paul probably would have gotten ass raped, and no one could pay me enough to send you or Britt in that hell hole. Jesus."

Anne playfully pinched his cheek. "How cute of you to want to protect us ladies. Of course, Britt would have kicked someone in the balls if they'd much as looked at her the wrong way."

"Damn right," Britty nodded.

"Midget," Paul came over the radio. "Skittles and I may have gotten something."

"Spill it, buddy," Brian replied.

"There's a biker bar about a mile from he and I are where someone spied Shipman about twenty minutes ago," Paul said.

"Biker bar? Jesus Christ, you two aren't going in there….." Brian began.

Paul cut him off. "Jeff sent his brother."

"He sent Matt in there to get himself killed? Paul, are you all fucking nuts?"

"Matt's handled bigger dudes than that, Midget," Paul answered. "Relax, they don't call him The Black Cloud for nothing. As a matter of fact, he's coming back out as we speak without a mark on him."

Brian let out a sigh of relief. "Thank Christ. Just let me know what you all find out."

He then put the radio mic back in its holder. "I swear sometimes that I'm not going to hell but I'm already there."

"What was that about?" Britty asked as Anne's phone rang and she took the call.

"Our fugitive was spotted in a biker bar earlier," Brian answered. "We should be getting details about where Shipman should be headed shortly."

"Don't bother," Anne said, putting away the phone. "That was Holly. Shipman contacted her to ask if she wanted to 'party.' Apparently he'd scored some crack at that bar."

Brian was interested in this new information. "Did she say where?"

Anne nodded. "The riverbank about two miles from where we are right now."

"Holy shit, talk about sheer luck. Let's go. Maybe we can cut this guy off at the pass."

Brian then radioed Paul and Jeff, passing along the information. "I'm going to need you two on the other side in case Shipman gets any ideas to run. Don't do anything stupid or move too soon, especially since Holly is going to be with him."

"Got it, man," Jeff replied. "Let's get a nice, clean capture."

Several minutes later:

Their target had been exactly where they had expected him, and the capture had gone off without incident; Shipman really had nowhere to go. He had glared at Holly for a few moments, already figuring out she'd been behind the whole thing.

"You know, man, someday you'll thank both her and us for this," Brian pointed out. "Today you have nowhere else to go but up."

As soon as Shipman had been taken to jail, they headed back to the office, this time finding their mascot up to his latest mischief.

Surety was now on Paul's desk, cleaning up the long-neglected remains of Paul's lunch that had been there. Somehow, the cat had gotten the container open and discovered the yummy contents inside.

"Aw, man!" Paul cried, shooing Surety off as Brian doubled over in laughter. "Crazy animal. What is it with you and my desk anyway? Go hang out with Brian and eat his food."

"Oh come on, Paul," Anne teased, "I'm confident Surety won't mind sharing his ocean fish and tuna in gravy that's in the fridge to make up for raiding your lunch."

"Very funny," Paul shook his head, flipping through the phone book for a take out restaurant. "I'm not eating cat food and I'm sure as hell not finishing that stuff there after the fur bag had been in it after licking his own ass."

Jeff inspected the container. "Doesn't look like Surety left anything for you anyway, dude."

"Fucking pig," Paul grunted before placing a new order, glaring down at Surety, who stared back at Paul, licking his chops.