Cleaning Up Chapter 7

"Do you know what you're doing here?" Elijah Stone asks as Ellen Sims gazes around his office.

"I figured you were friends of Rosalind's," Ellen answers. "She always had people helping her, even in prison."

Elijah's guffaw blows across his desk. "Rosalind didn't have any friends. She had followers like you, but mostly she had customers. She sold intelligence. Do you even know what that means?"

Ellen stares at him with a confident grin. "Rosalind was very smart. She was the smartest person I ever knew."

Elijah and lawyer Jaleel Morgan exchange looks and Elijah shakes his head. "She wasn't selling smart, she was selling information, the kind of information I need to get my business going again. You're the only member of her little flock left, so what did she tell you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. But she said she left everything that mattered with John Nolan. That's why she wanted to get rid of Bailey Nune. She didn't want her near it or John Nolan."

"So she left something at John Nolan's house?" Elijah questions. "Money? Drugs?"

Ellen shrugs. "I don't know. She never said, just that it was the most precious thing she had. She told me that she wanted John to live there without knowing he had it. That's why she wanted him to kill her, so he'd never know."

"She was crazy," Jaleel offers.

"But she always won," Elijah declares, "as I do. And whatever she had, I should have it. I need to get into John Nolan's house, take the place apart if I have to."

"How?" Jaleel asks. "After this little bitch was there, the police are going to be watching the place."

"Then we'll have to make sure the police have other things to worry about." Elijah decides.

Nolan takes a seat on the couch beside Bailey. "You're going to hate this, but you need to know. Ellen Sims is out and hooked up with Elijah Stone."

"Elijah Stone? Isn't that the drug dealer who made Wesley's life hell?"

"That's him. Stone has one thing in common with Rosalind. He uses people. He must think he has a use for Ellen Sims. His lawyer got her out of holding."

"How the hell did he do that?" Bailey demands.

"Smitty was supposed to be guarding the gate."

"The same Smitty who let La Fiera go without a fight?"

"That's him."

"If a firefighter fell down on the job like that, they'd get bounced before someone got killed. How come Smitty's still a cop?"

"Probably connections. He was union rep forever until I beat him in the last election. He could have made a lot of high-powered friends. And some of the other cops think he's funny."

"Sounds like he's funny like a flashover. But if Rosalind's disciple is with Elijah Stone, what do you think he wants from her?"

"Damned if I know. But Rosalind knew a lot about drug deals. She knew a dirty cop was involved and where he kept his stash. Maybe Stone thinks Rosalind passed some of that information on to Sims. When we busted him we broke his supply chain, or part of it anyway. He may need a new source and think Ellen can point him toward one."

"Do you think she can?"

Ellen isn't exactly Rosalind's swiftest acolyte. I doubt she'd trust her with information like that. Or maybe she didn't trust her. Maybe she told Ellen something she wanted spilled."

"Like what?"

"I have no idea. But Rosalind was obsessed with me, and Ellen was watching the house. There might be some connection. Still, Elijah Stone isn't going to come parading around here. He'd spot the surveillance and know that every cop in the city knows his face. It could be that whatever Ellen can tell him won't be worth the bother."

Bailey presses herself against John's shoulder. "I hope so."

He draws her close, brushing her hair with his lips. "So do I."

Air travelers were pulling into the long-term parking lots surrounding LAX. After the congested traffic on the freeway, their biggest worry was catching a shuttle quickly enough to make it through TSA in time for their flights. When they grabbed their bags from the rack behind the driver, they didn't think twice about one left behind. By the time the driver noticed it, he never noticed anything else again. Neither did anyone within 100 yards.

Grey takes his place in front of the podium at roll call. "You've all heard about what happened at LAX. So far the death count is at 50 and still rising. The number of injured is at least three times that. The FBI has officially designated the incident as a terrorist attack. LAX is shut down, as are all Southern California airports as far as San Diego. That means the streets will be full of frightened and desperate tourists trying to get home or find a place to stay. Angelinos will be fleeing as well. Many city residents will be in a panic, not knowing whether to go to work or even send their kids to school. While the emergency exists, we'll be shifting priorities on how our forces are allotted. Sergeant Bradford will give you the details.

Tim steps forward. Every available shop and unmarked unit will be on the street. We'll be suspending all non-essential surveillance and patrols, to aid the FBI in checking out other terrorist targets. I'll be posting assignments. For those of you not working with the FBI, no traffic stops unless a life is in danger. No cruising around looking for drug dealers. All calls will be handled as quickly as possible with a minimum of arrests. Keep yourselves as available as possible for emergency duty."

John raises his hand. "Has anyone claimed responsibility for the bomb at LAX?"

"About half a dozen terrorist groups so far," Grey replies. "The FBI is trying to determine if any of the claims are credible. And be aware that until we know more, we'll have to assume a threat can come from anywhere or anyone. So watch yourselves out there. That's all. Get moving!"

As the other cops file out, John quietly approaches Grey. "Does non-essential surveillance include my house?"

Gray puts a hand on John's arm. "I'm afraid it does, Nolan. You and Bailey may want to find another place to be until this crisis is over."

"Bailey's on duty for the next few days. She'll be staying at the firehouse," John considers. "I can crash at the guesthouse where I lived when I first joined the LAPD. I moved out of there before Rosalind focused her interest on me. I should be all right."

"Just watch your ass, Nolan," Grey advises. "With the LAPD distracted, Ellen Sims and Elijah Stone have an opening to try something."

"How about Angela and Wesley?" Nolan asks. "Stone has a beef with them too."

"I know," Grey acknowledges, "and so does Lopez. She'll be watching out for him, but she still can't figure out what Stone wants with Ellen Sims. Neither can Harper."

"Which makes at least three of us," Nolan replies. "But I can't worry about it now. I've got to get out there."

Elijah Stone high-fives his lieutenant, Ethan Jones. "The cops are all running around crazy. Is the next one set?"

Ethan grins. "Already planted at an Albertsons. Looks just like a case of Sugar Pops."

"It's going to pop all right and put us on the road to the sugar. When's it going off?"

Jones checks his gold watch. "Now."