Recovery

Chapter 30

The Journal of John Nolan

Tamar may have left L.A., but her legacy continues – and not entirely the way she thought it would. All of our eyes around the center were watching for signs of subsidence, but the volunteers working in the community garden Tamar started were the first to notice them. I suppose that they were so subtle, only someone that close to the earth would detect the change.

Grey took the discovery as justification to requisition a copter with ground-imaging radar. I don't think anyone expected exactly what showed up. La Fiera's people had been digging tunnels. That didn't surprise anyone. What did, was where they led. For years, the D.E.A. has known that the cartels dig tunnels under the border for drug shipments. They dig them big enough to drive trucks loaded with arms and drugs through. Those tunnels don't lead to L.A. The city is too far north. But there is another set of tunnels, ignored for years, maybe centuries. They reach inland from some of the many coves along the Pacific Ocean. Some historians believe they were constructed by pirates, but no one really knows.

La Fiera's tunnels are aimed to connect with the ones already in place. I suppose her plan was to bring drugs in and ship auto parts out by sea. Or she could have concealed drugs in the parts to smuggle to other cities on the coast. As far as I know, neither the L.A.P.D. nor the D.E.A. has figured out La Fiera's entire scheme yet. But I'm not the one who would hear if they had. So, whatever it was, local, state, and federal agencies converged to stop it in its tracks.

Unfortunately, what no one seems to know is where La Fiera herself is. None of her soldiers have been arrested for anything more serious than possession of stolen goods. Digging unpermitted tunnels is illegal, but nothing anyone would serve time for. So no branch of law enforcement has much leverage to flip anyone.

However, digging equipment was concealed in the tunnels. It's possible that something or someone else may be hidden there as well. La Fiera has disappeared her share of victims. Any search will be slow and careful. The subsidence indicates that the tunnel walls could use shoring up. The L.A.P.D. isn't about to endanger as valuable a resource as a cadaver dog by sending it down there. The exploration will have to be handled by two-footed searchers willing to assume the risk.

I'm not crazy about heights, although I've pretty much pushed past that fear with what I've had to do on the streets. But I've never been claustrophobic. I don't have a hound's nose, but if there's a body down there, I'll probably smell it before I see it. And if not, I'm better equipped than many cops to detect the signs of digging unnecessary to construct a tunnel. So I'm considering volunteering for a shift.

Bailey's gone up to Oregon to help with a vast wildfire brought on by an uncharacteristic heatwave. And the fire's not the only problem. Usually, the weather there is cool enough so most people don't have air conditioning. The heat's a big health problem now, especially for seniors, even if they aren't close to the fire. Bailey may be called upon to help with that too. Whatever she does, she'll be performing vital services. In my own way, I want to be as useful as I can down here.

Something else that will need my attention is Bradford's class for training officers. That will be starting soon. As much as possible, I'm used to reading ahead for any course I take. But Bradford doesn't seem to be much for reading materials. I said something to Lucy about it, but she just nodded and didn't give her opinion on the subject. I know her well enough to know when she's clamming up. I guess after being Bradford's boot, she learned more about him than most of the officers at Mid-Wilshire. But I got the feeling there was something more to it than that. She shuts up that way when she's been playing therapist. And she's not about to spill about any of that. Despite her resistance to following the path her parents wanted for her, she still acts like her friends are baring their souls on her couch. I guess it's in her blood.

Actually, Lucy and Jackson are joining Lopez, Harper, and me in what's become a bit of a crusade. Every so often, the L.A.P.D. gives an award to a civilian whose services were indispensable. We think it should go to Silas. From helping trace down Angela to identifying the vehicles that were key to moving in on La Fiera, Silas accomplished as much as any cop. Maybe more. He deserves to be recognized for that. However, Grey and the rest of us are concerned that while La Fiera is still out there, it would be dangerous to focus any attention on Silas. Still, when we have her solidly back behind bars, there's no reason Silas shouldn't have the recognition he deserves.


It's not time to break out the Champagne yet," Grey announces from the front of the roll call room, "but we're closing in on La Fiera. Since her tunnels were unpermitted, we were able to close off and seal some of them. We're also still checking for bodies. Her warehouses continue to hold parts we assume to be stolen, but her distribution routes are cut off.

"The fire department will be returning to check on violations. If those haven't been addressed, they'll have a basis to close down operations. And since the tunnels under her buildings create a hazard, the city can justify condemning them." John's hand flies upward. "Yes, Nolan."

"How about the center, Sir? The ground underneath it may be unstable as well. And the residents of that area may have homes and businesses over those tunnels. What happens to them?"

"Nolan, with your background, you may understand this better than I do. But as it was explained to me, the city will have a two-pronged approach. First, it will be shoring up or filling the tunnels where necessary to make the ground above as stable as possible. Second, it will be inspecting the properties in the area for signs of subsidence. Anyone in immediate danger will be evacuated to temporary housing."

Harper shakes her head. "Sir, the people in that neighborhood are suspicious enough of city services to begin with. If it hadn't been for Nolan, their kids wouldn't even have a safe place to play. And a lot of them still don't trust him. So if the city starts going through their territory, they're going to resist. And they could see any evacuation orders as a move to seize whatever they've built for themselves."

Sighing, Grey nods. "That means that you, Nolan, and everyone who works in that area will have to double your efforts to build trust for yourselves and whomever the city sends in to help. Whether that means working in the garden, tutoring, or picking up trash, I want all of you to consider yourselves strongly encouraged to volunteer."

A few groans sound from the back of the room.

"Serving and protecting doesn't just mean catching the bad guys," Grey reminds the assemblage. "In that respect, if not others, Officer Nolan can serve as your example. But that aside, getting La Fiera's infestation out of there should be a start in proving we're not the enemy. Now get out there and keep the city and yourselves safe."

A/N There are many actual tunnels under L.A., but the ones in this story are fictional.