Busted
Chris looked at his fellow colleagues and captain inside the holding cells. The puzzling thing about this was why they were locked up. Chris had an idea of the corruption in the department, but never to this degree.
"Jones, so happy to see you," Inness said.
"What are you guys doing here?" Chris said. "Why are you locked up?"
"It was Hennessey, he put us in these cells when we refused to obey his GAC and agree with his methods," Inness said. "We saw what was going on in the streets, in the city, everything. I may be a desk-jockey, but I still try to protect and serve. Hennessey, all he gave a shit about was looking for Jack, never anything else. Hennessey was too wrapped in his own shit to worry about what was important."
"I know Jack didn't kill Blatz," Chris said. "I told Powell the same thing, and… oh fuck, Jack!"
"What's wrong?" Inness said.
"No time to explain, I'll be back," Chris said.
Meanwhile, Michelle still had her gun pointed at Jack.
"Listen, Powell, let me explain," Jack said as he slowly descended his arms.
"Keep your hands in the air, Slate!" Michelle said. "Hennessey is on his way. I never thought I would catch you here."
"Do you have any fucking idea what's going on here?" Jack said. "If you give me a minute, then…"
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it before, but let me take a guess," Michelle said. "You're here to take some shit from Hennessey, prove that you didn't kill anybody when we all know that you did, and then maybe try to take out Hennessey."
"Two out three ain't bad, Powell," Jack said. "I didn't kill Blatz. Tell me one thing: what kind of bullshit did Hennessey feed you."
"I know what you've been up to, Jack," Michelle said, this time addressing Jack by his first name. "We found your blood at Dock 765. We saw Shadow's fur at other places."
"You're not wrong, but just hear me out," Jack said.
"Not another word," Michelle said. "Hennessey will be here soon. Right now, you're coming with me."
Jack knew that if he drew his weapon, Michelle would open fire on him. Jack peeked beside him. It didn't occur to Michelle once that the box of evidence was set on the floor. Jack also didn't want to risk killing a cop if he knew that it would cause more trouble than it was worth, and he saw how Michelle felt at that moment. If the sweat and trembling on Michelle's part wasn't evident, it occurred to Jack that there was something about her that didn't strike him as someone who Hennessey corrupted. If Eve was here, she would have had Michelle figured out already.
"Just put the gun down," Jack said. "I promise I won't hurt you."
Jack slowly walked around Hennessey's desk and approached Michelle, who saw that Jack wasn't reaching inside his jacket or behind him, but rather slowly guiding Michelle's pistol downward. But Michelle reached behind her and quickly drew another weapon as a cartridge with a wire attached had stuck to Jack's chest.
BZZZZZZT!
Jack felt the shock as Michelle incapacitated with a taser. Jack dropped to the floor. Although Michelle was smaller than Jack, who had also packed a little more muscle during his time in prison, she was able to cuff him and then walk him towards the holding area.
In that time, Chris had stayed out of sight with Shadow behind him as they hid behind some filing cabinets in the main area of the station. After Michelle and Jack were out of sight, Chris noticed that the door to Hennessey's office was left slightly open. Shadow crawled in front of him as Chris followed. Shadow pushed the door open and guided Chris right to the box of evidence.
Surprised that Michelle didn't see this box right here. Chris thought. He opened the box and the tabs on the folders caught his attention, but the one that caught his attention the most was the one that said "P. Jones" on it. He knew it meant his father Prentiss Jones, who was often called "Preacher" and also "Preacherman."
Chris pulled out the folder and opened it up. The record mentioned something about drug-dealing in a church, but then there were photos of someone planting drugs in Preacher's office.
Hennessey, you asshole! Chris thought to himself. Shadow yelped and barked a bit.
"Oh, sorry, Shadow," Chris said.
Chris put the folder back in the box and carried the box out of the office. From a distance, he had heard some chatter. It caused Chris to had behind a wall.
"…You know, I sometimes think that Hennessey wants to rule the entire force," a cop said. "He has gone mad with power and too obsessed with Slate."
"I hear you, but Slate killed Augie Blatz," another cop said.
Cop 1 added, "But Blatz was a criminal. If anything, Slate did the city a favor. Too bad the city didn't get any better."
Chris peered from behind the wall. Given how much of a ghost town the station was, all Chris could do was look around to find a place to hide the evidence. He saw the door to the men's restroom and raced towards it with the evidence box in tow. He got in and went towards an empty stall at the end of the restroom and hid the box behind a toilet.
Michelle guided Jack towards the holding cell area. After she shocked him with the taser, she put the handcuffs on him in case he was to try to escape. She opened up the cell and then shoved him in there.
"Hennessey will be here any minute, Jack," Michelle said. "He should thank me for catching his prime suspect."
"Listen to me right now, Powell," Jack said. "But you don't know the first fucking thing about Hennessey. He is using you. He is using the whole department. How do I know? I found some shit he's got on everyone in the city."
"I'm not hearing this," Michelle said.
"It's the fucking truth!" Jack said.
Without warning, Michelle walked out of the holding area as she ignored Jack's pleas.
"Fuck!" Jack yelled as he kicked the cell door. He looked down and took a deep breath, until a voice said "Slate?" Jack looked to his left and inside the cell next to him was a familiar face.
"Inness?" Jack said. He then saw other familiar faces in the cell he was in and in the cell his former captain was in. "Alvarez? Wilson? What the hell are you guys doing here?"
"I should ask you the same thing," Inness said.
"I asked first," Jack said. "What's going on here?"
"Hennessey locked us in here," Inness said. "I came to him recently and told him that there was more at stake in the city, but all he cared about was catching you."
"Well, he finally did," Jack said.
"I'm not done talking, Slate," Inness said. "Hennessey has fed the entire department, not just our precinct but some of the other squads across Grant City a lot of shit about how you're a killer at large and that you need to be caught whatever it takes."
"Hold up, Hennessey did all this?" Jack said. "What about Redwater? I thought he was the commissioner."
"Red is out of town right now, so he left Hennessey in charge," Inness said. "Hennessey is the Deputy Commissioner, but I know there is something up his sleeve."
"You don't know the half of it," Jack said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Inness said.
"Well, you see-," Jack said until footsteps were heard along with some chatter going down the stairs through a hall. In walked Michelle, along with a grizzled-looking middle-aged policeman with a mustache and a glare on his face as he wore a SWAT uniform.
'Well, well, if it isn't the great Slate boy," the cop said.
"Hennessey, it's been a long time, you never call anymore," Jack said with a mild touch of sarcasm in his voice.
"Real funny, Slate," Hennessey said. "You're coming with me."
Hennessey unlocked the cell door and pulled Jack out of there and walked him towards the interrogation room. Hennessey shoved Jack right in, with no consideration of him falling to the floor or hitting a chair or table. The door closed behind Jack as Hennessey went towards the room where the microphones and cameras were set up for the interviews.
However, unbeknownst to Jack and Hennessey, Chris lurked around and noticed Hennessey's violent behavior to Jack, as well as Hennessey disconnecting the microphone and camera setup. Chris, with Shadow in tow, snuck towards that room after Hennessey went into the interrogation room.
"It's about fucking time I caught you, Slate," Hennessey said after he walked in while Jack sat in the chair. "I got to hand it to you, Slate, first Dock 765, then you went after Sanderville, and then all the bodies at the Peaceful Shores Cemetery, I think 'Old Sparky' is ready to pick up where it left off."
"Fuck you, Dick," Jack said.
"What the hell did you just say?" Hennessey said.
"Cut the bullshit, Dick," Jack said. "I'm not a cop anymore and you're not my superior, and I know what you've been up to."
"Oh, have you?" Hennessey said. "Tell me what you know."
"I know that you have a lot of evidence on a lot of criminals across Grant City, as well as powerful people as part of your scheme to get money out of them," Jack said.
"You can't prove shit," Hennessey said.
"Oh, really? Like you didn't have shit to do with framing my dad with his gun shooting one of Augie Blatz's men," Jack said. "Or anything to do with getting Prentiss Jones put in jail? Or the fact that you have evidence on the mayor working with scumbags like John Sanderville, Fat Chow, and Fahook Ubduhl?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hennessey said.
"And how you found out that my father was on a case about the funds for the subway construction," Jack said.
Right then, Hennessey's facial expression changed as he had suspected that Jack was now onto him. "What did you just say?"
"Tell me something, Hennessey, was the real reason you killed my father because he was snooping around? Or did you see a quick opportunity to fulfill your personal desire to take him out because you knew he had always been a better cop than you?"
"You shut the fuck up!" Hennessey said.
"I guess that's why you had my father framed, as well as set up for Mayhem Inc. to frame me," Jack said. "I want to know one thing, Dick, why didn't you have Patch kill me that night?"
Hennessey growled and shoved Jack from his chair and grabbed him from the floor and pushed him against the wall. Unbeknownst to the two, the light on the camera was on, recording everything that went on in the room.
"Who told you all of this? Pinnacle?" Hennessey said.
"I'm not saying shit, but I'm onto you, you fucking snake," Jack said. "But I know it was you who had my father killed. Why didn't you kill me?"
"Someone had to take the fall for Blatz's murder, and knowing that you were still obsessed with finding with your father's killer, I couldn't just have Mayhem Inc. take you out," Hennessey said. "Someone had to take the fall and then let 'Old Sparky' handle the rest."
Hennessey paused for a few seconds. "Your father should not have stuck his nose where it didn't belong."
"Is that really why you killed him, or had him killed, at least?" Jack said. "I know you hated my dad. You hated me, too. You just couldn't stand the fact that he was a better cop than you ever were."
A venomous glare rose on Hennessey's face. It was no secret that Jack was onto him, but how would Jack know was what rolled through Hennessey's mind. What he didn't know was that Jack had met with Senator Copeland and Mayor Pinnacle before. Jack knew that Pinnacle was corrupt and had worked with various criminals, but if he had told Jack that he had nothing to do with Frank Slate's murder and was also willing to help Jack take down Hennessey, then maybe he wasn't so bad.
"Your father shot a man who didn't threaten him, remember?" Hennessey said. "You killed the city's beloved philanthropist."
"Shut up, Dick, you know damn well that Blatz dealt in drugs, racketeering, as well as in prostitution and illegal arms," Jack said. "I can't believe you're buying into your own bullshit."
For that, Hennessey swung towards Jack's stomach. For an older man, it was clear that Hennessey still trained at the gym, and in that training, he still honed his skills in hand-to-hand combat. Hennessey swung towards Jack's face. Jack would have fought back if he wasn't still cuffed, but instead he lied on the floor as he faced upward towards Hennessey, who then pulled out his gun. All the while he was unknowingly being recorded on camera.
"Go ahead, shoot me," Jack said. "You should have just had Patch kill me that night if you really wanted me out of the way."
While Hennessey faced Jack, who lied on the floor with his hands cuffed, with a gun pointed directly at him, he smirked. After a few seconds, Hennessey's lips started to crack open with his teeth showing a bit.
"I'm not going to do that, because that would be too easy," Hennessey said. "I know you think that you are ahead of me in this, but do you really have any support out there? Aside from your ex-girlfriend who used to work for your dad and also stripped, who do you have? Jones, who quit the force the other day? That Barbie doll whore that was your CI? She won't help you. Yes, I know you were fucking your CI, but she was fucking a lot of people. Exner won't help you either. You're a wanted man, Slate. I could kill you now, but I think Sickle is waiting to finish the job at Iron Point. After you assaulted him before your escape, he was pissed about it. And as for your father, like I said, he shouldn't have stuck his nose where it didn't belong."
That's where you're wrong, Dick. Jack thought. Jack knew that Hennessey meant Ruby when he mentioned "that Barbie doll whore." Any trust he had towards her went out the window not long before.
RING! RING! RING!
Out of the blue, Hennessey's cellphone rang. With all of the money he had been making, he was able to afford a cellphone, a rather expensive one, too. He answered the call.
"Hello? Really? I see, I'll be there in a bit. I'm a bit busy right now, but I'll be right there." Hennessey got off the phone. "This must be your lucky night, but this isn't over, Slate."
Afterwards, Hennessey walked Jack towards the holding area. He threw him right into the cell.
"I'll be back, Slate, just you wait," Hennessey said. "I won't be long."
After Hennessey exited the holding area, he called out Michelle's last name when he saw her. Michelle looked up in response.
"Listen, I have to go look at some things," Hennessey said. "I need you to keep an eye on Slate, as well as the others in holding. Make sure no stupid shit happens. You got that?"
Michelle glanced away as she saw a minor crack on the door to the audio and video area for the interview room.
"I will, Hennessey," Michelle said.
"Good, I'll be back," Hennessey said as he pat her on the shoulder.
Around the corner of the hallway were Chris and Shadow. Chris had a videocassette in his hand. It had the entire interrogation that Hennessey gave Jack. He put the tape into a pocket inside his jacket.
"Come on, boy," Chris said when he addressed Shadow.
Chris led Shadow into the holding area. Jack looked up, as did Inness and the other cops who were locked up.
"Jones," Inness said. "You're back."
"Yeah," Chris said and then looked to Jack. "I got some shit that will bury Hennessey for good."
Just then, it hit Jack. "Shit! I left the box in his office."
"No, you didn't, it's safe," Chris said. "Besides, I found some stuff in there that shows that my dad is innocent, and so was yours."
Inness and the other cops looked on in confusion.
"Jones, what are you talking about?" Inness said.
Jack interrupted, "Let me answer that. Hennessey's been blackmailing criminals and a lot of other people into giving him money. He has power over a lot of criminals in Grant City."
"What?" Inness said. The other cops were more confused than before.
"Don't you guys get it?" Jack said. "Hennessey framed me for killing Augie Blatz. He also had my father killed."
The entire holding area went silent.
"Wow, I didn't know," Inness said. "I was sorry for your loss, Jack. Frank was a good cop. Shit, I knew that after he got kicked off the force, he still wanted to make a difference in the city."
"Don't worry about it," Jack said. "We just need to get the fuck out of here."
"Allow me," Chris said and told Jack to hand him the pick to unlock the cell doors.
Jack, as well as Inness and the other cops all got out of the holding cells. Jack led everyone out of the cells. As they all exited, Chris led Jack and Shadow towards the men's room towards the bathroom stall that had the box of evidence.
"Man, what would I have done without you?" Jack said.
"Jack, you have risked your ass when you were my partner, and I've done the same for you," Chris said. "In times like these, you needed me."
"Thanks, partner," Jack said and then picked up the box. The two proceeded to leave the men's restroom.
"Hold it right there." A female voice caught both of the attentions of Jack and Chris. The two looked up and saw Michelle with a weapon in hand.
"You're not going anywhere," Michelle said.
"I'm only going to say this once, Powell," Jack said. "Hennessey is using you. He's using a lot of the department in his plan."
"What makes you so sure?" Michelle said.
"This box right here proves that he has the whole city wrapped around his little finger," Jack said. "Hennessey killed my dad. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a hand in letting that guy who had my mom killed walk."
"Hand it over," Michelle said. She then quickly snatched the box from Jack's hands and looked through the tabs. Right then and there, her facial expression changed from a look of disbelief to a look of shock.
"What the…?" Michelle said.
"Yeah, he's been using everyone in this city," Jack said.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry I didn't believe you before," Michelle said and then looked to Chris. "And I'm sorry about what happened to your father, too."
"At least we know that we have a way to get my pops out of jail," Chris said.
"Hold on," Jack said.
Jack walked towards Hennessey's office and took down the painting once again and opened up the safe. It hadn't been too long since he had closed up the safe and put the painting back up. After he had picked the lock, the door to the safe opened easily. Inside there were a few things he had missed. One was a bag of narcotics with a label that read "P. Jones." Then he found another bag with a pistol inside. The label read "F. Slate's gun."
You're going down, Hennessey. Jack thought. He proceeded to pick up the bags of evidence and put them in the box.
"So what are you going to do?" Chris said.
"I'll have to see," Jack said. "Right now, I need to look at all of this, and then I will see what I will do with all of this evidence."
"Well, wherever you go, I'm following you," Chris said.
"Okay, sounds good," Jack said. "Follow me back to my place."
Jack led Shadow to the car he drove, while Chris went to his car. Jack had some work ahead of him. All he had focused on at this point was how to bring down Hennessey, as well as finally get justice for his father's murder.