Recovery
Chapter 29
The Journal of John Nolan
Harper and I watched the weight-limited streets leading from the center to the freeway for three days before we nailed a driver reckless enough to attempt a prohibited shortcut. But it was worth the wait. The driver handed over his license, registration, and insurance. Unfortunately, he didn't resist in any way. So we could only ticket him and send him on his way. But we had enough.
The truck was registered to a shell corporation. It wasn't the same one as the fleet of cars, but the department's forensic accountants found a connection. The trucks belonged to La Fiera as much as everything else did.
But the best part is we alerted the patrols on the freeway to look out for similar trucks that tried to take routes that skirted the scales. They managed to stop several and examined their loads. They found two things: car parts and digging equipment. La Fiera finally made a slip. The spaces she's using are zoned for warehousing, but she has no permits to excavate.
Like anywhere I've built, L.A. is very strict about excavations because of the danger of hitting gas or water lines. The routes of the lines have to be flagged before you can break ground. The fire department sometimes gets involved as well due to the danger of gas leaks.
The digging equipment was a flimsy excuse to send anyone into those buildings. But Sonia, a very brave fire inspector, went in. We made sure she had a vest. Still, that wouldn't have saved her if La Fiera's soldiers decided to take her out. But La Fiera's organization wasn't that reckless. Sonia handed the person who claimed to be in charge a list of violations to be remedied within thirty days. Then she got the hell out of there. But she'd kept her eyes open to a lot more than fire hazards.
The warehouse spaces contained heavy-duty floor-to-ceiling shelving. That's not unusual for a storage facility. But those shelves held carefully sorted used automobile parts. That matches up with what was in the semis. So Grey assumes that the warehouses are clearing-houses for chop shops. The inspector didn't see any digging equipment, but she did see signs of digging. I'm not sure what that means, but those machines have to be somewhere – most likely underground. However, the question is not just where but why. As the person who knows La Fiera the best, Angela, is trying to figure it out.
When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, I heard about guys doing a lot of unexpected things. But going to baby showers wasn't one of them. Still, I went to the one Jackson threw for Angela. I had no idea what to get for the baby. I knew what Sarah and I needed for Henry when he was born: everything. But the Evers' money can shower Miracle with anything she could possibly need, and probably a lot that she doesn't. So the shower was more of a show of support for Angela as a fellow cop. I brought, as Jackson suggested, a spa certificate. After everything Angela went through, I felt good about that.
Mostly those of us who are parents sat around trading stories about our kids. I didn't talk much about what Sarah and I went through with all of Henry's surgeries as a baby. That could have put a damper on the most celebratory mood. But everything that came later, like the first word and the first step, were things anyone who's ever been around a baby could relate to. Yet, I could almost see the thoughts running through Angela's head as she was figuring out how she could experience all those milestones and still be a detective. She and Harper disappeared for a while. I suspect they might have been talking about how Nyla managed - if she did. She's never said much about when Lila was that young. I suppose if she ever wants to tell me, she will. But I'm not holding my breath.
The day Bailey and I spent together was a lot more energizing than the shower. With her martial arts and dancing training, I thought Bailey might want to do something athletic, like a hike. After chasing down two purse-snatchers and a shoplifter the day before, I wasn't enthusiastic about much exertion. Fortunately, neither was she. We spent most of the day vegging out in front of the T.V. I don't remember what we watched. I don't think either of us cared. We just enjoyed some downtime together.
She spent the night in my bed but had to leave early. We both had to go to work. But it was wonderful waking up next to someone who, as far as I can tell, has yet to lie to me. Still, it took me a long time to catch on to Grace. Too long. Ironically for a cop, I think I'm still gunshy.
"I have a reminder for you," Grey announces, taking the podium in the roll call room. "Bradford will be returning in two weeks and will be starting his class for training officers. So those of you who have already signed up should be prepared to allocate your time appropriately. I don't want any of you less than fully alert for duty because of staying up cramming for one of Bradford's infamous tests. And, as his former boots have no doubt informed some of you, cramming for them doesn't work anyway. If you haven't signed up yet, but want to, registration is still open. You can pick up the paperwork at the desk.
"Now, as to today's assignments, we will be concentrating as much attention as we can around the community policing center. We suspect that among her other undertakings, La Fiera will be shipping out stolen auto parts. But we have yet to catch sight of that activity in progress. So keep your eyes open.
"We also have reason to believe that she is digging something somewhere in the area. The detectives have eliminated the usual targets of tunnels such as depositories and banks. So be alert to unusual vibrations and any other signs of excavation. If you detect anything, call it in immediately. The detectives will take it from there. Is that clear?"
John raises his hand, and Grey rolls his eyes. "Nolan. Of course. So what's your question?"
"It's more of an observation, Sir. I was around a number of excavations during my years in construction. First of all, the soil and rock have to be removed. La Fiera's people can't just load it into an open truck as a legal operation would. Chances are, they're sending it out in the semis, possibly in the crates used to bring in auto parts. But we should be watching out for dirt trails or dirt-smeared containers. The other thing is that unless those tunnels are properly engineered, they could cause subsidence. The ground over them might sink slightly. It would be safer to have our neighborhood lookouts watching for that instead of trying to keep surveillance on La Fiera's forces."
"Both good points, Officer Nolan," Grey grudgingly allows. "All of you patrolling in that area should talk to your eyes on the street. Put Nolan's suggestions in motion. But caution them again not to approach anything they find suspicious. They are to notify you, and you are to notify me. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir," rumbles through the room.
"All right. You'll be performing your regular patrols unless you get a call directing you otherwise. Stay on your games. Keep your piece of the city and yourselves safe. That's all."
"You did good in there, Nolan," Harper notes as she and Nolan load their gear in the shop.
John shrugs. "I just hope I put us a step closer to stopping La Fiera."
