Chapter 23 — Dan Sees Black
Dan stood under a tree next to the Milford PD parking lot. FBI Agent Black was with him, pretending to smoke a cigarette. Dan didn’t like playing this stupid game with Black last spring and he liked it even less this time.
“Look, Agent Black," Dan began, “I don’t see what the issue is. The FBI contacted us through proper channels earlier today. Special Agent Kehm spoke directly with my captain. I am the formal Milford PD contact for you on this case.”
“Fuck that," said Black, waving the smoldering cigarette in the air. “I don’t report to Kehm. And I don’t want a Boy Scout on my team. I had my fill of you last year.”
Dan growled, “Well we don’t always get what we want, do we, Agent Black?”
Black stared at Dan with a big smile on his face. “Detective, I spoke directly with your captain. And, um, you are now the ex-‘Formal Milford PD contact’ for me on this case. You’ve been replaced.”
Dan wanted to take the cigarette out of Black’s hand and shove it up that smug asshole’s nose. “Replaced? Replaced by who?”
“Captain Black has agreed to take on that responsibility himself. He’ll be accompanying us to the terrorist activity as soon as the sand-monkey snitch gives us the call.”
Dan’s face began to grow red. “You know, Black, I didn’t trust you the last time we met, and it turned out that I was right. So, I sure as hell don’t trust you now. And having that asshole Captain Barr along for the ride just makes it worse.”
Agent Black smirked at Dan. “Why, um, thank you for your input, Detective. And I’m sure Captain Barr will be thrilled when he hears how, um, devoted you are to him.”
Agent Black flicked the cigarette butt at Dan’s feet, showering his shoes with sparks, and walked away. It was obviously a provocative act, but not so blatant that Dan felt he could justify pounding the shit out of him.
Dan realized that Agent Kehm needed to be updated about this immediately. He took out his cell phone and dialed Kehm’s number. After an unusually long number of rings, Kehm answered.
“Dan, I was just going to call you. We got a call from our snitch a moment ago and he told us that the main target is the Cincinnati Water Works. We are dispatching most of our resources down there now. We’ll have a dozen agents and a SWAT team waiting for them.”
“So, does that mean we’re off the hook here? Can I tell Black to get lost?” Dan asked.
“No, I’m afraid not. We were told the terrorists are doing their prep-work somewhere in Milford. We want to have a couple of agents available in case we can snuff this thing out before it gets started.”
Dan sighed. “Well, then you should know that Agent Black just removed me from the case. Captain Barr is his new contact.”
“What? That piece of shit! He can’t do that!”
“Well, he thinks he can. He says that he doesn’t report to you. And if he’s latched onto Captain Barr then I think we’re screwed”.
Now it was Kehm’s turn to sigh. “I hate these freaking jurisdictional problems. But you’re right, this isn’t a good time for me to have a throw-down with Black.”
“So, what do we do now?” asked Dan.
“Why don’t you go and brown-nose your captain a little and update him on what’s happening. I doubt he’s found out yet. You may not be Black’s point of contact anymore, but I want Barr to know that you’re still mine. If anyone has a problem with that then they can call the Regional Director and lodge a complaint.”
Dan walked very slowly back to the police station, and then even more slowly to Captain Barr’s office. Standing outside Barr’s door he could hear the Black and the Captain laughing. Evidently, they were on their way to becoming good chums. The laughter started to wind down when he knocked and abruptly stopped when he entered the office.
Black and Barr both had their feet up on Barr’s desk. A third man sat brooding quietly at the side of the room, cut out of the male bonding ceremony.
“What do you want, Slater," spat Barr. Black smiled at Dan like he was the favorite son about to see his bratty younger brother get a whipping.
“I just got a call from Agent Kehm. I wanted to update you on what I learned.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s necessary," said Black. “My cell phone works fine. And, um, when there’s information I need to know I’ll get a call.”
“Do you hear that, Detective? You’re dismissed," Barr barked. “Get the hell out of my office. Agent Black and I have work to do. Go make some coffee or file some paperwork or one of those other things you do to avoid real work. I don’t want to see you or hear from you again until this terrorist mess is behind us!”