Chapter 108: Chapter one hundred and nine: the friend in front of you.

Officer Joe turned and he looked in front of him and he saw Mike.

Officer Joe was surprised and he looked at Mike, he turned to the waitress and said “Umm… my friend here, will need the same thing also,”. Officer Joe ordered a glass cup of Johnny Walker for Mike.

Mike smiled and he said, “We are friends now right?”. Mike says upright without covering his face from the public or being afraid that someone might call the police.

Officer Joe on the other hand was afraid that he might be seen with Mike, a wanted criminal. “How did you get here?! And we are not friends,” Officer Joe said and he pointed at Mike.

Mike sat down with a smile on his face. “Let us just say we are business partners, that sounds better,” Mike said. He winked with an eye.

“Alright, I am just here because you said you have something for me, what is it?” Officer Joe asked. He looked around.

“Easy, let us have our drink first, then we make a deal and I give what I promised, how about that?” Mike asked.

Officer Joe looked around if there were any police officers in the bar, but there were none. “Look I don't have time for games, do you know how the police department or the public will react when they hear that an officer was a suspect and he did not arrest him, just imagine that on my record?” Officer Joe said. He drew closer to Mike as he spoke.

“Yes, I can imagine, and if so, you better hide your gun and badge properly before you sell out yourself, we don't want to see a cop close to Mike,” Mike said sarcastically and he laughed.

“Are you kidding me? You are joking? Right? Listen, someone, anyone identifies me as a police officer, I will immediately arrest you, how do you feel about that?” Officer Joe asked.

“Relax…. No need to bring in your police mode into this, your record doesn't matter, it is all about doing the right thing, Don't you think so?” Mike asked, he was still relaxed.

“Alright, I get,” Officer Joe said.

The waitress came back with the drinks in a tray, “Here go, this is for you, and this right here is for you, you can call me if you need anything,” the waitress said, she winked at Mike as she walked away.

Mike smiled and he winked back at her as she walked away seductively. Officer Joe looked at both of them.

“Okay, our drinks are here, this yours with the three ices, seems she likes you, here, drink up,” Mike said.

“You are always joking,” Officer Joe said, as he picked up his glass.

“Cheers,” Officer Joe said. He raised the glass and Mike did the same. They both cling the glasses and turn the whole content into their mouths without sipping it twice.

Both of them dropped their glasses on the table at the same.

“Ahhhhhh,” Mike exclaimed as he felt the taste of the liquid he had just drank.

“Ahhhhh, that is good stuff, don't you think?” Officer Joe asked. As he dropped his glass.

“Yeah, It is but I thought police officers don't drink,” Mike said.

“We do but not always especially not on the job,” police officer Joe replied.

“Alright let us get down to business,” Mike said. He brought out a drive.

“Okay but what is that ?” Officer Joe asked.

“That is a hard drive, it has information that will help you and me in finding the truth,” Mike replied.

“Really? How can I trust you on this?” Officer Joe asked. He sat back crossed his hands and looked at Mike.

Mike gasped and said, “Do you want to know why I kidnapped police commissioner Reynold and his him in the basement of the police station and why he did not allow you to do a background check on the case using the computer, do want to know?”. He asked the question that convinced Mason immediately.

“Oh, but how do you know about the computer breach in the case files,” Officer Joe was shocked.

“It's simple because that is what someone hidden something will do, isn't it?” Mike asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” Officer Joe replied.

“Now are you convinced?” Mike asked before giving him the hard drive.

“I am,” Officer Joe replied.

“Okay, this is the drive, protect it at all costs, watch the video, and you will know what next to do,” Mike said. He handled the drive to Officer Joe.

Officer Joe collected the drive and glanced at it. “But what if all of these did not work out?” Officer Joe asked. He placed the drive in his pocket.

“Then, you will lock me up for good, I will give myself up,” Mike said. He smiled with his eyes, as he looked at Officer Joe.

“Okay but I need to hold you by your word,” Officer Joe said.

“Okay, what should I do?” Mike asked.

Officer Joe thought of a way to hold Mike by his words in case he locked Mike up, he could use it in court, he had an idea. “Okay, I will need you to do a video record of yourself, declaring that whatever you say in this video can be used against you in court, and it is the truth and nothing but the truth, can you do that?” Officer Joe asked.

“Sure why not, but what should I say?” Mike asked.

Officer Joe brought out his phone and he gave it to Mike to do a video recording of himself saying the words he was about to give him.

“Now say these words, MY NAME IS MIKE, AND I AGREED TO TURN MYSELF OVER TO THE POLICE, IF WHAT I PROTEST FOR, ARE JUST FANTASY AND LIES. Just like that,” Officer Joe said.

“Alright, I will do that,” Mike said.

Mike put on the video and started recording himself and he said “My name is Mike, and I agree to turn myself over to the police if what I protest for, are just lies and fantasy. Is that okay?” Mike asked. He stopped recording and raised the camera a little bit facing Officer Joe.

“Yes... Yes... You did great,” Officer Joe said.

A lady came into the pub with an old man, the Bell that was hanging just above the door, rang because the door hit the bell when someone entered and it also drew people's attention to them as they walked in.

Officer Joe turned around and looked at them because he backed the entrance while Mike backed the exit door.

The old man looked outside and asked everyone “Who parked the police car outside?”

Officer Joe knew that they were talking to him, he knew he had to arrest Mike as he said earlier. He turned to Mike.

“Mike, it is time to let us go,” Officer Joe said, as he turned, he did not see Mike again, the exit doorbell rang, showing that Mike had used the exit.

Officer Joe was surprised and Mike left his phone on the table. “Next time, at least I have the drive and the video of him,” Officer Joe said. He left the pub that evening and he went back to the precinct to return the car and close work for the day.

When Officer Joe got back to the precinct, he met his colleagues, Officer Ruby and Inspector Eric, they were still working at that hour and that was strange to Officer Joe.

“What's up guys, I thought you all could have gone home by now and it seems that you are waiting for someone,” Officer Joe said.

“Yes we are waiting for you,” Officer Ruby said.

“Me? What is wrong?” Officer Ruby asked.

Officer Ruby and Inspector Eric looked at themselves and that was strange to Joe.

“Is there a problem?” Officer Joe asked.

“We know that you have been conducting a separate investigation on this matter outside the law, and we want to join you,” Officer Ruby said.

“How do you know?” officer Joe asked,

“We are colleagues, I noticed it before inspector Eric, long story cut short. Fill us in about the details so far,” Officer Ruby said.

“Alright, listen, don't judge or get mad at me but I met Mike today and he gave me this drive and he said what I need to know is inside this drive,” Officer Joe said, as he showed them the drive.

“Really? How are you sure, he is not joking?” Inspector Eric asked.

“I held him by his words, and I made a video of him as evidence,” Officer Joe said.

“Can we see the video?” Inspector Eric requested.

“Sure,” Officer Joe replied.

Officer Joe brought out his phone and searched for the video but he could not find it, instead, he saw a video of himself saying, “Yes.. Yes.. You did great,” and when he turned back and looked at the old man entering the pub.

Officer Joe was shocked that he got played