P is for Ponder
Don was pondering how to tell Charlie that Hog was in jail and that it was not feasible for him to visit or talk to him. But that problem was taken out of his hand when urgent matters came up.
He had no time to ponder now. The case of the drugs supplied to school children was escalating. Another two schools suffered, and this time it was in another state. These details were not known, so Don did not have them in his files.
Charlie was able to give them information about the local scene. He had received details and description from FBI and LAPD.
Lt. Walker was collating all the drugs cases for FBI. The Lt. knew that Don would want as much information as he could gather for Charlie to help them. He had faxed the details to Don that evening.
Don said he would be able to take the data to Charlie so he could compute his mathematical probability for them. Don said he would keep the lieutenant in the loop.
Don had a feeling that these cases were related to the one they were chasing not too long ago. The house that they suspected was the distribution center was not the main one. Instead, it was one of the small centers. There must be a place that was very well hidden that even the FBI would not suspect.
Now with these cases escalating in the schools…..
Luckily Charlie did not bring up the subject of Hog that night when Don went home for dinner.
They were busy arguing about the finer points of golf, and of course, their father had the upper hand for Charlie was lousy at the game. They were playing or rather "putting" the ball on the computer game.
Don decided not to bring the school drugs case into their conversation. Instead, he joined in the golf game after his delicious dinner of chicken stew and slices of bread.
Don was not in favor of Charlie looking for Hogan. Hogan Phillips, known as Hog P, was listed as a felon in the FBI files. He was currently serving a two year sentence for drunk driving and plunging into a crowded marketplace and injuring three people.
He was slightly relieved that Hog was in jail doing time.
He wondered how to tell Charlie this news and to make sure he didn't meet up with Hog. He wondered what was so important that Charlie needed to talk to him.
He thought back to the time he was beaten and remembered that Hog said something like, 'Sorry, tell Charlie sorry.'
What was he sorry about?
Was it because he could not stop Bart? Did Charlie know Bart wanted revenge? He was curious now.
Before he could ponder further, Megan called out from her place. "Don, we've got a situation in St. Johns."
"Megan? You're back? I thought you wanted ten days off. Were you feeling claustrophobic at home?"
"Yea, something like that. I need to talk to you later. But now, we have a situation." Megan said tapping her file
"OK, we'll talk later. What have you got now?"
"Lt. Walker sent some information about the arrest of students in possession of a small cache of drugs, mainly pills found in their lockers and more."
"David, Colby." Don called out to his team members.
They gathered in the mini conference room, which was actually a small room with a screen on the wall and a big white board.
"Early this morning, LAPD received a call from St Johns Headmaster.
They found a student walking in a dazed condition and another on the rooftop." Don started briefing his team.
"After they had them, they searched their lockers and found a small cache of pills. They have the boys in the police station, and the parents are crying foul. They say they are good boys and have been framed. They demand that they be released."
"After talking to the DA, they decided to release the boys into their parents care until they decide what to do about it. They are still minors, but drug charges make a serious case," Don continued.
I want discreet checks made on the boys and their parents. See if you can find any connections," Don added looking at each agent. "Also ask the teachers if they noticed anything unusual. Please do this quietly. We do not want to make this obvious. We want to flush out the real culprits."
"Don, Are we after the big one not these small fries?' Megan confirmed with Don. She once again got mixed emotions about children being caught in a big man's world doing drugs.
"Yes, we do not want to rustle the grass. Walk softly when you check the background. See if the other boys noticed anything, like these two boys talking to other people , anything," Don said in his authoritative way that made him such a good leader.
"We don't want to be seen as harassing them, and please be quick for this is getting bad. We want this done as soon as possible before any more students get caught in this. Alright?"
After his team members gave individual nods, they went back to their tables, and Don turned to Megan.
"Megan, can we have that talk?" Don waited until the rest of the people left the room and waited for her.
"Yes Don please." Megan said, and she closed the door and sat in front of Don.
tbc