N is for New Girl on the block and Need to know
Charlie is on a quest. He is looking for Hogan Phillips or Hog P. He had an idea to get a member of Don's team to look for the address for him since he was a former felon.
Yesterday after fixing the planks, his father made sandwiches for both of them.
"Lucky I bought some ham. I must have a sixth sense that you'll be coming."
"Thanks Dad, useful sixth sense, ummm, this is nice. What ham is this?" Don asked taking a big bite into his huge sandwich.
"It is smoked York ham, imported." His father said, "Mr. DeSoto said it was fresh and just in. So, I bought it to try. It's very tasty, isn't it?"
His father later left for the office, and he told Don to come back again tonight if he was too tired to drive all the way to his apartment.
Don made no promise that he would come if the stakeout lasted till the early morning hours.
When Don left late yesterday afternoon, he still had the funny feeling that he was being watched or that someone was taking an interest in Charlie's house. He went round the house again before leaving for the office. He made sure the doors to the house and windows were secure before he left for the stake out he and Colby were doing.
When Don arrived at the office, the rest of the floor's staff were ready to call it a day. Some greeted Don as he entered, and David told Don nothing much moved in the office and went off.
It was around 7pm that Colby and Don got ready for their turn in the stake out. Before they could leave, a call came and the stake out was cancelled at the last minute, so he and Colby just went home. It was cancelled since the house was vacated during the day watch. They must have seen the surveillance team in front and vacated through the back.
Don had learned not to go half cock crazy over such foul-ups, and he was glad it was not during the FBI watch but LAPD's under Gary. He went back home to sleep, luckily Gary did not disturbed him during the night.
The next day it was almost lunch time, and the office was quiet. After receiving Charlie's call, he told his team to go ahead because he was having lunch with Charlie.
He smiled when he thought about Gary screwing up his people. He could almost hear him in his mind, and he knew to be expecting Gary's call any minute now since he hadn't heard from him yesterday.
Gary called eventually and he asked Don why he did not get a call from him . He said he was sure getting curious as to Don's attitude towards the foul-up. He confessed that he had expected a blast from him.
Don laughed and then in a mild tone told him there wasn't much harm done in letting them escape. He told Gary not to get too upset with his people over it.
Don also told him that they would catch them in action sooner or later. "They are only small fries," Don said. "We have bigger fish in the pond to catch."
Gary laughed at his attitude and said the sessions with Bradford must be working.
"Believe it Gary, believe me, it helps, and I am not new kid on the block anymore with Bradford. The regular sessions with him almost make me a pro now."
"I believe you Don. Glad to know that you suffer fools gladly." Gary laughed and said it was good that he did not blow off for he added that he had already blew his top at his people.
Don said that once they have any info, he would put him in the loop. Gary thanked Don and said he'll do the same.
Charlie came in and looked around and asked Don, "Where's your team?"
"Lunch. You mean to say you came here to take all of us out for lunch? You should have told me. I would've asked them to wait."
"No, no, just asking. I am going out to lunch with you. Let's go. There's a new sandwich bar just across the road, you know it?"
"Yep, let's go big spender."
"Well, Okay, you can order the most expensive sandwich you can find on the menu."
"The biggest one I can see is only six dollars."
"So alright you pick the place."
"No, Charlie, it's alright. Sandwiches it'll be. Can't eat too heavy for lunch anyway."
After they had settled down with their sandwiches and coffee, Don asked Charlie, "Have you seen any strangers around your area lately?"
"No, not really, but there's a new girl on the block."
"New girl on the block, really? Nice young pretty one?" Don was hopeful.
"N….o., the new girl is an old girl. A lovely old lady I saw pottering around in her garden. Come to think of it she was eyeing my garden..umm maybe she was eyeing dear ole dad or maybe she liked the way Dad had the flowers all pretty in a row."
Don looked at Charlie in a funny way which made Charlie question him, "Don, why do you ask?" Charlie took a big bite on his sandwich.
"The day before, I came home early in the morning," Don paused, thinking, "And where were you?"
Charlie mumbled with his mouth full "wuff inff Armffmtha plfff."
"You were at Amita's place. Hey I thought she was moving in with you and not the other way round."
"Soomthmms therrrr."
"So it's like sometimes your house and sometimes her house?"
"Yes."
"So when did you see the new girl on the block?"
"Last Tuesday, she was in the garden when I drove back."
"Oh alright and may I remind you please sometimes pay attention to your house. Two days ago, Dad was pulling the rotten planks in your porch and planning to replace it with new planks. He's not young anymore, not that I say he's old but then he's getting there you know."
"I told dad I would take care of it. He did it then?"
"No, I did it. But dad started it, and he bought the planks. Can you at least ask him how much he paid and reimburse him please?"
"Yes, brother mine, I will. Now can I ask you a favor? Actually I wanted to ask one of your team members, but since I'm paying for lunch, maybe you might do it for me."
"What? Excuse me, I pulled out and replaced the planks for you. You owe me dinner."
" OK, OK, dinner next day. Now this is what I want, what I-need-to-know…..., will you please look up Hogan Phillips's address for me."
"Who is… Hogan…., Charlie why are you still at this? It's been 23 years and now you are all interested in those creeps?"
"Don, I just wanted Hogan Phillips' address. I could have easily asked David or Colby."
"Why? "
"Well, it's about something I need to know. I'll tell you when I've asked him about it."
"How do you know the FBI has his address? They don't unless he's a felon. You found out he's a felon, isn't he. Then, you can easily get this address from the FBI files. You have the necessary authorization."
"Yes Don, I have the necessary authorization, but if I go about it my way, somehow you would come to know about it. So I thought I'd better come clean with you and get it from you or your team members."
"You're sure you can't tell me?"
"No Don, just let me do this, and I'll tell you. Honest"
"Right, but not now. I am very busy. When I do check, I will need to see what he was in for, OK? I don't want you to clash with a felon. If need be, I'll come with you to see him."
"OK Don that will be alright. Thanks."
They ate their lunch in companionable silence .
tbc