CHAPTER NINE – Firestorm
No matter how fast a man is –
he cannot out run his shadow. ~~ African proverb
"So did you kill him?" the smarmy voice asked, knowing he hadn't. If Jack had accomplished his task his face would look different, not happy, but perhaps relieved.
"No," Reese said snapping word like it was a dry twig.
"You know the situation," the man explained from his high horse. "Crews has you. If he gets you, then he can get to us. Crews is all that stands between you and returning to a leisurely life of retirement and working on your handicap."
"I know," Jack shouted. "Don't you think I know? I want to go home – be with my wife, live in the house I built, not slink around like a criminal on the run. A criminal pursued by only one cop," he added sarcastically.
"Two," the man reminded.
Jack's eyes narrowed and he knew where this was headed. Somehow they knew – about Crews and his daughter. They knew or they had expected it.
"It would seem your daughter has joined in her partner's crusade," the man taunted. "That must sting, Jack," he had fun with the elder Reese's discomfort, "your little girl – the one who idolized you growing up – now hunting you like a common thief with the man you put in jail for a murder he didn't commit."
Reese sighed and ran a hand through his thick white hair. "This would be easier if I could get some help," Reese suggested.
"Out of the question," the man shut the door. "This thing with Rayborn left us exposed. We cannot be involved. You must do this alone. Think of it as the price of your ticket home," the man tempted.
"And what if I can't do it?" Reese dared.
"Then you may find yourself dead, Jack. We can't afford loose ends. Either you are with us or you are a liability. And you of all people know how we deal with liabilities," the man's voice grated on his every nerve. Jack's anger showed clearly on his face as unconcealed hatred.
"Do this one thing and you'll be taken care of. You, your family – even your daughter – you will all be protected," the man baited the trap.
"That's what you said about the Seybolt thing," Jack reminded.
"Yes, well if you and Carl Ames had done that properly - Crews would still be in prison wouldn't he?" The man let their failure set uncomfortably for a moment and then darkened things a little, "and we all know what happened to Carl when he got sentimental about Crews don't we?"
"Yeah, he ended up with a bullet in the head," Reese repeated what they all knew.
"Inside the LAPD parking garage, in a case that remains unsolved to this day," the man let the insinuation set in. They could kill any one; anywhere and no one could touch them.
"Why not do the same to Crews?" Jack demanded. "Why involve me?"
"We find we need proof of your loyalty Jack," the man studiously examined his nails. "And really, it's you or him," the voice laid out the stakes in the clearest terms. "Every night he's out there looking for you. He's close and when he finds you this time – I don't think even his affection for your daughter is going to keep him from hauling you in to jail. We won't let that happen Jack."
"You'll kill me first," Jack reinforced his understanding of things.
"You understand your dilemma completely," the man dismissed him. "Time is short. Deal with Crews soon or the next time you visit with your family will be at your funeral."
