Kid Cop - Chapter 5
This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to anyone in real life is a coincidence.
A special thanks to Wayne for his editorial help. Thanks to all those who responded to my call for a new editor.
Please let me know what you think -- wep363@ameritech.net My Web Site http://wpstories.tripod.com/
This is a story of love, hope, and trust. It is not a sex story. However, this story deals with love between two male teenagers. If you are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, please do not read this story. There may be some sex scenes in this story; however, sex is not the main theme and will not be graphically described. If you are under age 18 or 21 or it is illegal to read this story where you live, don't get caught reading it. Reproducing this story for distribution without the owner's permission is a violation of the copyright.
Don Miller looked at the stack of folders on his desk and sighed. His biggest case involved millions of dollars. Over the course of the last six months, hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time had been withdrawn from a number of different accounts from a number of branches of the same bank chain. At first local police were perplexed, as it appeared that everything was in order. Everyone who complained about losing money from their account was elderly. The bank branches all had withdrawal slips that appeared to come from their bankbooks and the signatures all matched.
By the time it was turned over to Don, several life savings had been wiped out. Don believed it was an inside job. He had three different branch managers brought in and was letting them stew in his outer office when Roy showed up. Don had several unsolved murders in several high schools he'd very much like to solve. These schools were dangerous places to get an education. As much as he would have liked to put Tommy in any one of them, he didn't want to risk the boy's life.
Roy had called him earlier in the day to arrange a meeting. Don made sure that he was there at least 30 minutes prior to talking to him. Being the ever-diligent investigator, Don questioned Roy's motives. He had decided that, unless Roy was totally honest about his motivation to help Tommy, he wasn't going to allow them to work together. All of Don's previous experiences with federal agencies had left a bad taste in his mouth.
After calling Roy into his office, he was pleasantly surprised. He found that they were very much alike. The harder Don tried to establish himself as Roy's boss, the more he felt Roy take control. Don knew he could live with that as long as Roy communicated with him. They ended the interview with Roy slam-dunking Don. Don learned when he was a young investigator to never look a gift horse in the mouth, and to follow up on every lead no matter how strange.
After interviewing the three bank managers, he called the DuPage County district attorney's office. They arranged for a court order to search the safety deposit box that Roy had mentioned. Then Don called the station captain to arrange for surveillance of the bank branch the next day. He then went to observe Roy with Tommy and Danny. Having Danny with Tommy had created a conflict in Don's mind. He would never dream of bringing his wife or son, Bill, to work with him.
What Don saw calmed his thoughts about lots of issues. He saw that Roy was an excellent teacher. He observed the way Roy, Tommy, and Danny interacted, and decided he would say something about Danny being there, but would not intervene. Don entered the interrogation room and once again tried to control Roy. In the end, all Don managed to do was wrestle with him like two rams butting heads. Don was shocked when he learned that his captain had observed their actions.
Don's superior explained that a search warrant had been issued and the bank manager was going to meet them in a few minutes. Don also learned that the safety deposit box contained pretty much what Roy said it would. He marked the money in case Everything went wrong the next day. Then he had the bank manager lock up the safety deposit box. He had done a quick check on Sandy Jeffery and had learned that she worked for a printing company that printed checks. To really make his case he needed to connect the money and tickets directly to Sandy Jeffery and Sean Collins.
Like any good investigator Don thinks analytically. Things about Roy were adding up in his mind. Don understood that Roy's security clearance is as high as it could get.
Shortly after Don and the Captain left the interrogation room Danny asks, "Roy, what does G-12 mean?"
"It means Government Man level 12," replies Tommy. "I saw the movie 'G-men' with James Cagey."
"Actually, guys, it has to do more with my pay-grade and security clearance than anything else," Roy clarifies. "How much authority it gives me is another matter. I want to apologize for what Don said earlier. I kind of got him wound up and he took it out on you guys. I feel it's important that Tommy have some fun and companionship. There is no reason why work can't be fun. That is something you need to realize. You get old too quick and wise too late!"
"What do you mean?" asks Danny.
"By the time you figure out that you have chosen the wrong career, it's too late to try something else. You have to get your nose bent a few times before you learn to keep your mouth shut. You have to make your own mistakes instead of learning from others. What I'm saying is, wisdom is gained through experience, and by the time you have experienced what you need to be wise, it's already too late! Do you understand now, Danny?"
"I think so, but now you're starting to sound like my dad."
"Then I would say your dad is a wise man. We should probably go to Danny's house and I should meet your parents, boys. We still have a few days to get to know each other before we get really busy."
"If I had known that all we needed to get Roy working again was some boy toy to play with, I would have found him some action a long time ago."
"That's uncalled for Jones," replied Director Johnson. "We both know that one of Roy's biggest complaints was that he had no life. He really wanted a family. Besides I believe he chose Tommy for a reason other than someone to bond with and train. He might sense that Tommy is gifted also. Whatever the case, I want you to keep an eye on them. If something big comes up, we'll use the boy in order to get Roy to do his thing."
Driving home Tommy saw something that blew his mind. Two cars in front of him seemed to be playing bumper-cars. They were swerving into the other lane to hit each other. On a really bad collision, both vehicles ended in a pileup on a curve. Tommy pulled to the side of the road and called it in on his radio. He watched as two black women got out of the cars and started fighting. Turning on the outside speaker, and in a squeaky, breaking voice, he identified himself as a police officer and told them to stop fighting. They just continued their fight.
Tommy grabbed his nightstick and got out of the car. "Danny, open up the trunk and get out some flares, I'll be right back." He calmly walked over to the women rolling on the ground pulling each other's hair. "I'm a state police officer and you are both under arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. If you do not stop fighting now I'll have to do something unpleasant!" They kept on fighting, so Tommy pulled out his pepper spray and gave both of them a generous amount of spray to the face, eyes, and nose. The fighting stopped and the screaming started. While the women called Tommy every obscenity known to man, he calmly handcuffed them and read them their rights. Then he put them both in the back seat of his car. He got on the radio and called in that both suspects were in custody and relayed additional charges.
The crime scene location was in a neighborhood. The traffic was heavy. Even though the pileup was on the right side of the road and one lane of traffic was open westbound, cars were backed up for several blocks. Tommy showed Danny how to light the flares and where to put them on the street. Even though it wasn't dark yet, Tommy remembered being told at school last summer that flares were a good idea even in daylight. He looked around and didn't see anyone who looked like a potential witness. Several people had come out of their house to watch what was going on. Tommy was ready to question them when he spotted a county police car approaching from the other lane. The car hit its lights and pulled in front of the wrecked cars.
Tommy saw a very large black police officer get out of the car. He was short and very fat. "What is happening here?" he bellowed out. Tommy explained that he was a state police officer and what he had witnessed and done. The officer looked at Tommy like he didn't believe a word he said. The officer instructed Tommy and Danny to wait by his car while he talked to the suspects in the back of Tommy's car.
The officer observed the crime scene and noticed the make and models of the vehicles involved in the collision. Both were late models worth more then he made in a year. He saw the ladies in the back of Tommy's unmarked police cruiser and made a decision. He opened up the back door, "Ladies, I understand that boy over there ran you off the road and then assaulted you with pepper spray. Then he falsely arrested and confined you. Is that correct?"
Both of the ladies were stunned. They had spent the last 10 minutes trying to blame each other. They had never considered blaming Tommy. "Yes, officer, that is exactly the way it happened. Isn't that right?"
"Yes, it is. That boy ran us off the road and then when, we asked him why, he sprayed tear gas in our faces and hit us with his night club. For a second there I thought I was going to end up like Rodney King."
"Don King more like it, with an act like that. I'll handle this one for you, ladies, but it's going to cost you. Do you think we can work something out? After all I'd be cheaper than a lawyer. What do you say, ladies?"
"I think we can come to an arrangement."
`Who says crime doesn't pay,' thought the officer as he approached Tommy. "You're under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon by running those poor ladies off the road, aggravated assault and battery, and false arrest. Turn around and put your hands on the vehicle." Tommy did what he was told and the fat cop handcuffed him. Then he turned him around and got in Tommy's face. "Now if you're willing to change your story, I might be able to work something out and get the ladies to drop the charges against you."
Tommy was pissed. Now he understood why Sergeant Miller told him not to arrest anyone. He did witness a felony, and he had to respond. "It's like this, officer, I have nothing to lose. On the other hand you have everything to lose."
"Are you threatening me?" bellowed the county mounty.
"By this time tomorrow you'll be looking for a security job at K-Mart."
"You are threatening me. It's your word against their's. Along with my report, your days of play-cop are over, son."
"Excuse me." The fat cop turns around and sees Roy holding onto a clear plastic, half-moon shaped cone with a pair of headphones on. He takes off the headphones and puts down the plastic cone. Then he pulls out a mini tape recorder from his pocket. Roy pulls out a gold shield, "I'm an FBI agent and I have video and audio tape of the entire event, including your comments to the suspects and Tommy. Now I suggest that you release Tommy and get in your vehicle and leave."
The officer gave Roy a long hard look and then he undid Tommy's handcuffs and walked to his police car and left. About that time a state police car pulled up and an officer by the name of Rick Cross took charge of the scene. After he had interviewed everyone, he reviewed Roy's evidence. Roy, Rick, and Tommy filled out the police reports. The ladies were still sticking to the story the black cop had given them. One of them asked where he had gone, and Danny replied, "The donut shop."
Tow trucks came to remove the vehicles, and Officer Cross took the ladies to jail. Tommy was given credit for the arrest. Danny had called home and his mom had insisted that Roy join them for dinner. After introducing Roy to Don and Ann Smith, they sat down for dinner. Danny explained the events of that afternoon to the Smiths. Roy made comments playing up the boys whenever he could. Receiving praise from an adult produces about the best feeling a teenager can experience.
"Why didn't you arrest that fat cop?" asked Danny.
"Can you answer that, Tommy?" replied Roy.
"I'm not really sure myself, why didn't you arrest him, Roy?"
"Last summer, did they teach you anything about working with other departments, Tommy?"
"It was never brought up."
"What law did he violate, Tommy?"
"I would say his crime is obstruction of justice."
"Very, very good Tommy!"
Tommy just beamed with the praise he was receiving.
"Instead of giving me a specific crime you gave me the overall crime. What do you think will happen to him?"
"I told him by tomorrow, he'd be looking for a security job at K-Mart."
"I bet that just pissed him off. Anyway, the report will be turned into the state police department here in DuPage County. Then the report will be handed over to the county sheriff. It's up to the county sheriff to take action."
"That doesn't seem fair? It's like this county cop is above the law!" Tommy almost shouted.
"Sadly, it's often the truth. I once had to arrest a county sheriff on a federal warrant, but I couldn't even arrest him myself. I had to have the county coroner arrest him. Laws vary from state to state and county to county, but the county sheriff is the most powerful law enforcement officer in the county. It pays to let him make the decision on how to handle his officers and deputies. If he doesn't like the deputy, he might fire him. He could even turn over the case to the district attorney. More than likely, he'll suspend him without pay for a few weeks for embarrassing him. Local cops hate the state telling them their job or catching them in a crime."
"So what can I do to get justice?"
"You could sue the county for false arrest. Because you didn't go to jail I don't think you would have much of a case."
"But Roy, it's NOT fair! He was going to arrest me, but we didn't arrest him."
"Get mad Tommy, let it out. You have a right to be mad. If it will make you feel better, I'll talk to the county sheriff when I see him."
"Wait a minute!" Mrs. Smith said, "time out! What I don't understand is how did Roy know to stop in the first place?"
"I was following Tommy and Danny home when I saw the cars in front of them bumping each other. I grabbed my high definition digital camcorder and started recording. After the pileup on the curb, I was able to turn the corner and capture the fight and Tommy's arrest. Then I parked my car and got out my tripod and distance sound recording equipment. I positioned myself where I couldn't be seen. I wanted to see how Tommy handled himself under stress. I felt he handled himself well."
"You said that the cop is probably going to get off with a hand slap. What about the ladies? About a year ago I heard about the same thing happening and one lady pulled a gun and killed the other."
"This is where it gets complicated. Tommy, can you tell me what offences the ladies violated?"
"I would start with improper lane change, failure to yield right of way, reckless driving resulting in an accident, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault and battery, resisting arrest, and making false statements to police."
"They did a very good job teaching you last summer, Tommy, and you have good recall. Can you tell me what type of violations those are, Danny?"
"I don't know what you mean, Roy," Danny replies with a puzzled look on his face.
"Does anyone besides Tommy, know the answer?" asks Roy.
"I do," replied Don Smith. "You have traffic violations and criminal violations."
"Very good! There are also some civil violations. The traffic violations are cut and dried. Reckless driving will result in their losing their licenses. Using a car as a weapon is both a criminal and a traffic violation in this state. It will be a long time before either of these ladies has a regular license again. However, they could be driving under a restricted license in a very short period of time."
"Restricted license? What is that?" asks Danny.
"Great question Danny, don't ever be afraid to ask me questions. What do you think it means, Danny? You know what the word `restricted' means, don't you?"
"Yes, it means there are conditions that keep you from doing something, unless you have permission. If you see a fence that has a sign on it that says `restricted area,' you may only enter it if you have permission."
"Very well said, Danny, and that is what it means in this case, too. You can drive only with permission to drive certain places - like to and from work. It's just a matter of paying a lawyer enough money to get one. It's an unfair law for someone poor. They can't afford a lawyer and they end up losing their jobs, because they can no longer drive."
"What about the criminal charges, Roy?" Tommy asks. "What's going to happen?"
"It all depends on whether or not either of them has a prior arrest. If they are clean with no arrests, more than likely they will have to serve no jail time at all. They will be booked and released from the county jail after they pay a lot of money to some criminal lawyer. They will go to court and plead guilty to a lesser crime like aggravated assault. It's still a felony, but it's not as bad a felony as assault with a deadly weapon. They'll have to attend an anger management class, pay a large fine, and be on probation for a few years."
"It doesn't seen right that they get off so easy." Ann Smith interjects. "I have to drive in tight traffic every day and I would just die if someone tried to hit my car with their car."
"I agree with Ann," Don Smith replies. "Someone could have been killed, including my son or some other kid."
"And if someone was killed, it's still possible that no one would have gone to jail for it. I've seen cases of drunk drivers killing someone and getting off with probation. In our society there is rarely justice. For example, 150 years ago, if I had a disagreement with Mr. Smith, we would work it out between ourselves by having a duel. Personally, I'd like to see them put both ladies in a boxing ring and let them beat the hell out of each other. In high school if you got caught fighting, they gave you a few days off. On the job, as an adult, you get fired."
"So," Mr. Smith says. "What you are telling us, Roy, is the system isn't just! The crooked cops get away with it. The criminals often get away. Lawyers get rich and the victims get nothing."
"Let's start with cops. They are people doing a job just like anyone else. They work for the public sector. Most are union employees and are at best average at performing their jobs. Over the years the pay of an average police officer has greatly increased. Most police officers are reasonable people. The good ones, like Don Miller, are overworked and underpaid."
"Then there are the offenders. When I say the word 'offenders,' I'm not talking about the two ladies arrested today. I'm talking about incorrigible, habitual offenders."
"What's incor-it-able?" asks Tommy.
"That's 'incorrigible,' Tommy, and it means that your behavior can't be changed. 'Habitual' means they keep doing it. This type of offender only knows a life of crime, and a life in prison."
"Then you have the average person who gets caught from time to time. There are two kinds of crimes: Some that are done on purpose, and some are committed where you don't realize that you are committing a crime. I know this guy who didn't have a car seat for his three-year-old and didn't buckle her in. So every time he would see a police car, he would tell his daughter to duck. The message he was telling his daughter was to hide from the police and to deceive them. This guy knows he's breaking the law. I know someone else who has a bedroom in his basement not realizing that the city has a ordnance against sleeping in a basement."
"The point I'm trying to make is the system tries to keep casual offenders from becoming habitual offenders. However, life is not fair and there is no real justice in our court system. The victims of crime are the ones who usually receive the greatest punishment. That's one of the reasons I want to help Tommy catch them while they're young. School should be a safe place."
"Well, you have been very up front and open with us. I also noticed how you interact with the boys. You don't put them down when they have a question. Instead you praise them for asking. I don't know if you have ever worked with kids before, but you seem to be a natural at it. I could have used someone with your skills the other day when we were discussing some issues about sex."
"Dad, don't tell him about that," whined Danny.
"We both know it's best that that kind of advice come from his father, Don. Anyway, I do need to get home. Thanks for the great dinner, Ann, and the pleasant conversation, Don. It's already late and the boys have school tomorrow. If you decide to run tomorrow, Tommy, I'll be up. I wake up at 5:00 every morning whether I'm tired or not."
"Feel free to come over any time, Roy. Thanks for keeping an eye on Tommy for us."
To Be Continued...