Chapter 20

Lieutenant Ted Baines was disappointed in himself. How could he not have seen what was right under his nose? Due to his implicit bias, he'd thought those two gangsters were the culprits, not knowing it was one of his own men.

He hated it when men who swore to serve and protect, did a one-eighty and became what they were supposed to fight. Damian of all people, too.

Baines who'd always thought himself to be a good judge of character, couldn't believe he'd sorely misjudged him. His only consolation was that he wasn't the only one. Damian had fooled them all.

From the information had been able to gather, Baines learned that Matteo had begun to suspect Damian, and had planted the cameras in the building to catch him in the act.

Then he'd confronted Damian who responded by shooting him dead. Then, when Damian had asked to be given time to console his partner's widow, he'd actually gone back to the crime scene and watched what was on the cameras.

That had given him the idea to frame Jocelyn Turner and Asher Mason for the crime he'd committed, knowing how everyone felt about Ganghaven gangsters.

And Baines had played into his hands. He still couldn't believe he'd been that stupid.

He was busy deprecating himself when an officer entered his office.

"What do you want?" Baines asked.

"Sir, you have a guest!" The officer said.

Baines wondered why the man was shouting.

"Who's this person?"

"It's Asher Mason, sir!"

Baines did a double take, "What?! What's he doing here? How did he get in without my permission?"

"Lester vouched for him, sir."

Baines sighed. Ever since Lester had used his brain right for once and listened in on Damian's conversation with the gangsters, he'd been acting like he was more than a patrol man.

Baines took this to mean he was gunning for a promotion. Well, if he was, he'd totally get it. Lester had proved his worth.

"I take it he's in an interrogation room." Baines said, getting up and tucking his shirt into his pants. The damn thing was always popping out when he sat down. He rubbed his paunch and wondered why.

"No, sir. He's in the conference room." The officer said.

This time, Baines' jaw went slack. He got furious immediately, "I take it this was Lester's doing too."

The officer nodded wordlessly.

Baines gritted his teeth. Lester was taking all sorts of liberties. No matter, he assured himself, he'd cut the man's wings.

He dismissed the officer and left his office to the conference room.

When he got to the medium-sized room that housed original mahogany tables and chairs, Baines was displeased by the sight that greeted him. Lester was laughing with the gangster. They looked like they were friends.

He walked up to them and cleared his throat.

Immediately, they turned to him.

Lester stood up, "Sir! This is Asher Mason. He's -"

"Oh, I know who he is," Baines said. He looked at the hand Ash had put forward for a shake with disdain, "I'm sorry, I don't shake hands with your type."

Lester got an alarmed look on his face and looked at Ash placatingly, as if he feared his wrath.

Baines wanted to kick Lester's ass. That would at least remind him he was a cop and that he shouldn't cower before a two-bit gangster.

Meanwhile, Ash did not seem in the least bothered by Baines' unveiled insult, "It's a pity sir, " He said with a smile.

Baines ignored him and turned to Lester, "What the fuck is he doing here? In case you've forgotten, this is a precinct, and he's a gangster. He should be in an interrogation room or a detention cell, not in our conference room!"

Baines was startled when Ash replied, "Conference rooms are for guests and partners. Since I'm not the former, I hope I'll be the latter."

Baines hated the self-assured aura Ash exuded, but he decided to get whatever was going on over with, so he asked, "What do you want?"

At that, Ash smiled, "The question is; what do you want? If it's a medal and recognition from the mayor or the governor, I can help you get that."

* * *

Ash watched as various emotions transformed the lieutenant's facial features. The first was anger. Then, it was replaced by intrigue, then dismissal.

He laughed inwardly when Baines turned to Lester and asked, "Is this why you brought him here?"

Ash scowled. He hated that Baines was giving Lester shit.

He drew Baines' attention back to himself by replying, "He brought me here because I can help you bring down one of the biggest criminals in Ranem."

At that, Baines visibly perked up, "Tell me,"

"I can help you get Josiah Greenwood." Ash announced.

Baines stared at him speechlessly before he burst into laughter.

When his laughter subsided, Baines wiped the tears from his eyes, "Oh my God! What a rush!"

Then he sobered and stared at Ash and said in a cold voice, "Josiah Greenwood is a good man. He's one of the few rich people who actually give a damn about Ranem. He's donated generously to our department numerous times. The last thing I'm going to do is let you disparage that man."

Ash laughed mirthlessly, "No doubt, he is very generous with his money. The million dollar question is; how did he get it?"

Ash brought out his phone, unlocked it and presented it to Baines, "Take a look at everything in that folder. Josiah Greenwood is not the man you think he is."

Baines saw Ash was serious, and reluctantly took the phone. His forehead creased as he went through documents, photos, videos and call records that proved what an unscrupulous character Josiah Greenwood was.

When he was done, he handed the phone back to Ash and asked him, "How did you get all of this?"

"I have my ways." Ash replied.

Baines looked away sadly. Ash said nothing. He knew the man was going through shock, he'd experienced it years ago too.

At last, Baines spoke, "How am I sure this is real, not some fabrication?"

Ash spread his hands on the table, "You're a lieutenant. I'm pretty sure you'll find the same things I showed you, if you got your people to look hard enough."

Baines regarded him closely, "What's in it for you?"

"If you're asking if I'm doing this for some reward or favor or something, the answer is no. Josiah's one of the bastards whose operations put Ganghaven in such a desolate state. He needs to pay for the lives he's ruined." Ash said. He'd told Baines the truth, but not all of it. Back in Sia's clinic he'd vowed to eliminate all threats to her, both real and perceived. One of those, was his father.

Josiah, in order to get back at Ash could kidnap, maim or worse, kill Jo. In order to prevent that from happening, Ash had decided that his father must be in a place where it would be impossible to do that; jail.

With no time to waste, he'd hastily left Jo's bedside, although it had almost killed him to do so, and had gone around gathering any and every evidence he could to make sure his father went to jail for his numerous crimes.

He snapped back to the present when he heard Baines say, "But you're a gangster."

"People aren't always as they seem." Ash said as he got up to leave.

"Where are you going to?" Baines asked.

"I'm leaving. I'll give you time to think about this. If you're interested, you know how to reach me."

"What if I don't?" Baines asked, looking at Ash as if he was trying to decipher him.

Ash shrugged and gave him a tiny salute, "Then I'll do this on my own. One thing's for sure, Josiah Greenwood is going down."

* * *

Josiah Greenwood surveyed the scene below from his office which was situated on the topmost floor of Greenwood Towers, one of the tallest high-rise buildings in Ranem city.

What looked like three police cars were parked on the driveway.

Josiah chuckled as he wondered which CEO had been accused of sexual harassment or fraud, or both. The police visiting offices in his building was nothing new.

His thoughts turned to Asher, and he wondered what had become of him. When the sanctimonious prick had deserted him, his own father, after living lavishly, Josiah had had half a mind to kill him.

But an instinct, say, paternal affection, had stopped him. Even when Ash became a thorn in his side, obstructing and destroying his operations, he hadn't had the heart to kill him.

Seeing the bounty on Ash's head had filled him with joy. He'd be out of Josiah's way in jail.

His thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of his secretary Karen; a competent but nagging Biddy.

"What is it, Karen?" Josiah asked without turning around to face her.

"Some cops are outside. They want to see you." Karen said with trepidation.

Josiah gave a chuckle, "Karen, why are you scared? This isn't the first time the cops have come visiting." In fact, most had approached him, asking him about his not-so-legal businesses. His benign disposition and his generous donations had always led them to dismiss any such allegations. He had done it before, and he'd do it again.

"I know, sir. But . . . he's with them." Karen said with a quivering voice.

Josiah got impatient, "Who?" He snapped.

Right at that moment, the fool who had half of his DNA stepped in, "Me. Hello, father."

* * *

Ash watched as a murderous expression fleeted through his face, right before he hid it behind a guileless smile, when he saw Baines.

"Lieutenant, what brings you to my office?" Josiah asked, ever the amicable host.

"Business." Baines replied gruffly. He still could not reconcile the man before him with the man Ash had shown him. It seemed he wasn't that good a judge of character as he liked to think.

"Scotch?" Josiah asked, moving to the well-stocked mini bar in the corner.

Baines shook his head. Josiah raised his eyebrows at Ash who didn't acknowledge him.

He shrugged and poured himself a stiff drink, taking a sip, he made a sound of utter pleasure and moved to sit behind his sprawling mahogany desk.

"What is this business?" Josiah asked, "Don't tell me Asher here is in very big trouble and thinks he can come to daddy, and I'll snap my fingers and make it go away."

Baines eyes bugged as he looked from one man to another, "He's your father?" He asked Ash.

"Sadly, yes." Josiah replied nonchalantly, taking another sip of his drink.

"You two look nothing alike." Baines remarked.

"Luckily, I took after my mother." Ash replied.

"Ah yes! The green-eyed whore." Josiah said into his drink.

Within the twinkle of an eye, Ash charged him.

Josiah halted him by bringing out a handgun from a drawer and pointing it at him.

"One more step and I'll shoot you in the face." He threatened.

"Gentlemen, let's all be amicable here." Baines said, not wanting the tension to escalate. If this was the way Josiah treated his son, it was no wonder Ash had given him the dirt on him, he thought.

"What have you two come here to do?" Josiah asked, keeping the gun trained on Ash.

Baines produced a piece of paper and handed to Josiah who tossed it aside and looked at him, "What's that?"

"It is a warrant, for your arrest." Ash replied with obvious satisfaction, stealing Baines' thunder.

"On what charges?" Josiah asked, reading through the paper he'd discarded a moment ago.

"Extortion, prostitution, murder, kidnapping, assault, the list goes on." Baines said.

"False! These are just lies! Allegations that have been made to kill my reputation." Josiah roared.

Baines held up cuffs, "I have men out there in the reception. For your sake, Mr. Greenwood, I hope you don't put up a fight or do anything stupid."

Josiah dropped his gun and held out his hands, "I'll go willingly, but lieutenant, you know me. Do I look capable of doing all those things? Asher here is a disgruntled son, who wants to get back at me for refusing to let him laze about."

"We'll prove that in the court of law." Baines said as he put the cuffs on Josiah. He called his men who led Josiah out, reading him his Miranda rights.

Baines turned to Ash, "Looking capable and being capable are two different things."

"Thank you for believing me," Ash said.

"I believed the evidence."

"That I helped get. His legal counsel will try to rubbish the charges by spinning a story of me being a vengeful son and a gangster." Ash said.

"Don't worry, I don't think there's any way he'd get out of this." Baines assured.

"The man's loaded." Ash pressed, gesturing to their opulent surroundings.

"Still. Is there anything I'll say that'll put your mind at ease?" Baines asked.

"Probably not." Ash said as he took his father's place behind the desk.

"Well, just take it from me. Your father's going to spend the rest of his life in jail." Baines proclaimed.

Ash nodded.

"What about you? What are you going to do?" Baines asked curiously.

Ash looked at him, "Firstly, I'll dissolve all his illegal operations, especially the ones in Ganghaven. Then I'll try my best to make up for the lives he's ruined."

"You're taking over his business?" Baines asked, surprised.

"Yes." Ash said firmly.

"Goodluck. You'll need it."