Chapter 2 Coffee Time

Noon Jamal walks into the Bistro on fourth it took him just minutes to be seated at a table in the back.

Dan comes to the table with a scowl on his face. As he sits down he whispers "we got new IA to deal with."

"Hey we did what we should have how they can have a problem with that? You worry too much. Besides its Internal Affairs their just cops that are too old to do our job anymore. You said that yourself."

Dan leans across the table whispering. "Keep your voice down. Don't say anything "I say" out loud again or at least until this thing with Price blows over. Ferrelli has been getting a lot of heat from our new "innovative" Commissioner. She has in brought NIA."

"Is that even a department?" Jamal asks not remembering hearing of a NIA.

"Yeah it's a department that has to be approved for each state. There are 22 states that have accepted the idea of a National Internal Affairs. I think the ides was a bust when they thought of it and I voted against it but I guess it's up to our new Mayor appointed Commissioner."

"Well anyways we did the right thing. So we have nothing to worry about." Jamal says smiling at his worry-wart older partner.

Dan sinks into his chair and is looking around. "Damn I thought I lost him."

Jamal looks around bends over the table and says "lost who?"

Dan sat up and then got to his feet "I'm outta here I won't be stalked by the government. You need to stay from me for a while that's all I came to tell you."

"We're partners how the heck am I going to stay away from you. Face it buddy you need me."

Dan's jaw clenched as he grabbed Jamal by the shirt collar. I don't need any punk kid rookie slowing me down I'm warning you kid stay away from me or I'll..."

"You'll let him go" A man says from over Dan's shoulder.

Dan releases Jamal and turns around "Look pal…" Dan is face to mid chest he looks up. "I don't want any trouble buddy. I'm leaving. What are you, the Bistro's new muscle man?" Dan says looking up meeting the man's icy green eyes and stepping back.

Jamal had never seen a guy that could punk Dan so easily until now. The guy was at least 7ft tall. He had tattoos on his arms and he spoke with a southern drawl. His hair was slightly below shoulder-length its color a mixture of red and brown. He was about late 30s early 40s.

Jamal had learned to notice describing features in the academy. The academy said, to mentally note the facts of the person's appearance and things not easily changed. Well the thing that really stuck out was the guy's height. Looking around the room the guy was almost a foot taller than everyone else in the place.

"I'm your worst nightmare boy. You gotta a meeting don't be late. I'll see ya later."

Jamal had had enough of this guy intimidating his friend. "Ok dude he's a cop I think you need to be moving along it's not wise to threaten a police office." Jamal says to the big man looking him straight in the eye.

"Its no threat, here wouldn't won't you to be late" The guy gives Dan his card. Dan tucks it in his pocket.

"I-I'll see you later kid" he says to his young partner. "Excuse me" Dan says as he moves around the man and rushes out of the Bistro.

Jamal stood dumbfounded for a minute then asked the big man that still stood in front of him "Hey who are you?"

"I'm the man with questions. Who are you?"

"I'm officer Jamal Not playing with yo ass Taylor"

"Rookie I'm willing to bet you have no idea who I am because if you did you'd be more respectful. You may not like me but you will respect me. Now I have a meeting with your partner. You've caught my attention don't leave town, take this" the man gives Jamal his card and leaves.

Jamal looks down on the card, his breath catches in his throat. The card has a gold colored police star in the middle and the words National Internal Affairs in big black block letters Detective Markus Callaway Texas branch. Jamal was numb. He silently walks over to the bar and though it's only half past noon he orders two shots of bourbon and downs the drink in one swallow.

Jamal returns home no body is home he goes to the mini bar and drinks a glass of vodka. He knew he should not drink but he was nervous he'd worked hard to keep his problem under control but with this Callaway guy snooping around and asking questions his drinking problem would come out. He'd missed Price setting fire to that building last night he'd had a few bottles in his canister for coffee. He'd passed out during the stakeout and didn't wake until the smoke had started to get at him.

He caused Mike to get killed Jamal didn't need a partner of any kind right now anyway. All he got partners was hurt or killed. He'd hurt Dan it was just a matter of time. "Shit I don't need this not now not now" Jamal screams as he throws the glass across the room. It shatters into millions of green shards of glass. Jamal puts both his hands on the bar and pushes downward so hard the bar tips and quickly leans back to it's upright position, sloshing the drinks around in their glass bottles.

Jamal walks down stairs to his weight room and passes out. In the corner of the room sits Amanda she is tied up and gagged. From the shadows of the stairs a tall blonde man walks into the light. He smiles at Amanda "he's done my job for me he has. Say goodnight Sweet prince"

He grabs a handful of Jamal's hair pulling his head up and slamming it on the ground repeatedly until Jamal moans in pain and is his head is bleeding. "Dear sweet rookie, don't you ever think you can catch me up or I'll kill you and your family. Just so you know I'm serious I'm taking you daughter I will put her in hiding When NIA leaves I'll release her but until then she's is my guest." The man slams Jamal's head to the ground once more.

He walks over to Amanda who is fighting to get free. "You are a fighter I see. Be grateful I don't kill you and make it look like a double suicide. Your daughter never made it to her class the nurse took her home. You'll remind your hubby that the name Strut is never to come from his lips if he wishes his little family to live." Strut says waving a hand at Jamal as if he were nothing. "Don't push me lady now calm down"

Amanda releases her left hand and swings on Strut hitting him square in the face. He returns the blow and knocks her out of the chair. Strut kneels down and ties her arms to her legs hog tying her. He then pulls a knife. Sliding it under her chin he nicks her on the cheek. She flinches her anger has evaporated into fear. "Remember this moment dear princess the next time you touch me you will die." He rips off her taped on gag. She is prepared to scream Strut trades his knife for his gun he points it at her. "Don't" is all he says.

Strut gets to his feet walks over to Jamal and kicks him in the chest then in the head. He watches Amanda ready to shoot her the moment she makes a sound silent tears stream from her eyes but no sound is made.