"Hey Mary." Pride smiled when the small grey haired woman answered the door.
"Dwayne? Dwayne Pride?" She asked. "How long has it been?"
"Too long. How have you been?"
"Can't complain, too much. I take it you are here for Bill?"
"I am."
"He's out back in his shed, just go round the side."
"Thanks Mary."
"And Dwayne, make sure you say goodbye before you leave."
"Will do." Pride smiled before heading round the side of the house. And knocking on the well weathered shed door.
"Bill you in here?" He called.
"Dwayne? Is that you?" A voice called from the inside moments before the door creaked open. "Is it you. I haven't seen you sinceā¦.hell I can't remember it has been that long. How are you? How are my favourite girls?"
"They are fine. Laurel is in college."
"Well that makes me feel old." Bill grinned. "Linda still putting up with you?" He asked. "From the look on your face I guess not."
"No. We decided it was time for a break."
"I'm sorry Dwayne." Bill sympathised.
"We're still friends." Pride shrugged.
"That's good. So what brings you out here?"
"This." Pride said handing Brody's sketch over to his friend who studied the drawing.
"I see. You better come in."
Pride followed his friend into the shed and took a seat, waiting for his friend to do like wise.
"Where did the sketch come from?" Bill asked.
"One of my Agents. She was attacked and tortured by a group of men. She said one of them had that tattooed on his wrist. I thought if anyone knew where I could track them down, it would be you."
"Damn straight." Bill said standing and moving over to his workbench. He then kneeled and picked up a box from under the bench. Slowly he stood again and stiffly made his way back to Pride. "In here is everything I have gathered on them over the years, including where they currently like to drink." He then handed the box to Pride but kept his hands on it. "You going to get them this time?"
"I am." Pride said.
"About time." Bill said releasing his grip.
-00-
"Hey King, we were starting to worry." Chris said when Pride finally returned.
"Sorry, it took longer than expected."
"You get what you need?"
"I did." Pride said, deliberately holding back information whilst Brody was around. "I'll fill you in back at the office. You get anything from the files?"
"A headache." Chris shrugged. "Brody is still searching." He added. Seeing Pride's worried look he added. "Relax, she is sitting still whilst reading through them so it is actually helping her body to rest."
"She can hear you." Brody shouted from the lounge, causing both men to smile.
"How are you feeling?" Pride asked entering the lounge surprised to see Brody taking up the entire couch with various bits of paper spread out round her.
"There's a system, apparently." LaSalle explained following Pride in.
"I'm fine." Brody said without looking up.
"You need anything?" Pride asked.
"No." She said continuing to scan the papers.
"Make sure she actually rests." Pride said to Cade.
"Will do." The elder LaSalle responded.
"Call if there are any problems." Chris added before following Pride out.
-00-
"So what do you have?" Chris asked climbing into the truck.
"About eight years ago a young Naval Lieutenant, Matthew Adams, was murdered. He had whistle blown on another officer who was selling intel on where and when payroll trucks, for training ops, were turning up. The leak had resulted in several armed robberies."
"The Lieutenant was murdered for speaking out?"
"That's the guess. Problem was there was no evidence left at the scene. There was no paper trail linking the murder to the corrupt officer. The trail was completely dead."
"How is that linked to this?" LaSalle asked, sensing there must be a connection but not seeing it.
"The only shred of evidence was an unreliable witness, definitely the worse for drink, who said the shooter had a tattoo on his wrist."
"The tattoo Brody saw?" LaSalle asked.
"The very same. It turns out there is an underground group of mercenaries, Semper Fortis, all ex-forces, working out of our fine city. All of them have that tattoo on their wrist."
"So even if the eye witness made it to court there was no way to narrow down which of the mercs did the hit."
"We tried for months to get evidence, but there was nothing. Eventually the investigation ended and the group were untouched. Since then I have not heard anything from the group, until Brody showed me that sketch."
"You sure they still operate from here?"
"I wasn't. As I said they have kept a very low profile. But then I went to go and see an old friend, the father of Lieutenant Adams. He has been keeping tabs on the group ever since. They are still here."
"So what's the plan?"
"Sebastian is still running the evidence collected from Brody's. He says if we find him a suspect he will find a match. In the mean time we are going to have a drink."
-00-
As Pride and LaSalle entered the small bar a hush descended and all eyes turned to watch them. Smiling Pride walked over the bar. "Afternoon." He greeted. "Two coffees please."
"Don't serve coffee." The man behind the bar said.
"That's a shame." Pride said. "And strange as the gentleman to my left is clearly drinking coffee."
"What I think he meant to say was this is a private club. We don't serve non-members." Another man, this one bald and muscular, said approaching Pride.
"A private club?" Pride asked. "My apologies, we thought this was open to anyone."
"Out of interest." LaSalle asked. "What does it take to be a member? How much of a lowlife do you need to be?"
"I suggest the two of you leave before there is trouble." The bald man said.
"We are definitely not looking for trouble." Pride said standing. "But I am afraid we can't go. Not until we get what we came for."
"And that is?"
"Information."
"That's not something we trade in."
"What do you think Christopher?" Pride asked ignoring the bald guy.
"Those three over there match the description." Chris said. "Right height and weight."
"That they do."
"I told you to leave." The bald man said. "You are trespassing."
"We are leaving." Pride assured him. "Just as soon as we talk to the guys over there." He added flashing his badge. "If you want us to do a full search of this place we can, but right now we just want to talk to them."
"Unless you have a warrant I suggest you leave now." The man said.
"I can't do that." Pride said standing before pressing. "Not until I have talked to those three."
"Agent Pride." A loud voice called from behind. "A long time no see. Surely we are not going to go through this dance again?"
"I can promise you it will be a different dance this time." Pride said turning. "This time we have evidence linking those three to an attack on one of my Agents."
"I can assure you that you don't."
"Then you won't mind if I talk to them." Pride argued. For a minute the man standing opposite Pride stood in silent contemplation before smiling once more and saying.
"I tell you what, I will personally take them to your office. We will be there in an hour. I should warn you though that you will get nothing from them and the result will be the same as last time."
"We are happy to talk to them here."
"I'm not. It is bad for business. It is your choice Agent Pride."
"One hour. Or else I will be back with a warrant." Pride said leaving the bar.
"Friend of yours?" LaSalle asked when they were outside.
"Prime suspect last time round." Pride said.
"Did he seem to agree to that too easily?" LaSalle asked.
"Yeah, I guess because he doesn't think we have any real evidence and for the next forty minutes he is going to coach them on what to say."
"We don't have evidence." LaSalle pointed out.
"Yet. Sebastian will find something."
TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up tomorrow.
