Nearing the door, the priest calls out. “Detective, leave my name out of your reports. I’m sure you know what would happen to me if word got out I violated the Seal of Confession.”
I stop and glance over my shoulder. “I’ll write it up as an anonymous tip. I’ll tell my bosses you were too afraid of retaliation.” I continue to the door.
To be honest, I hope the psycho does resist so we can rid the world of trash like him, and I can move on to the next case.
Exiting the cathedral, I see Jason propping up the car with his ass. “What are you doing? Did you not call it in?”
“No, not yet, Devi. I want to talk to you.”
“About what?” I snap.
“I need- uh, I wanted to know. You know what, never mind let’s go get Drake.”
I scoff and grab him by the arm. “No, you spit that shit out right now.”
He glances down at my arm. “Be straight with me. Are you on drugs?”
I level my eyes and smile. “Oh, hell! I laugh. “You let that self-righteous prick get inside your head, didn’t you? I let out a long, sigh. “I used to have a cocaine addiction, a product of being a UC. I had to use cocaine to keep up appearances like I belonged. Because if I refused their cocaine at their parties, it would’ve sent up red flags, and you wouldn’t be talking to me right now. They would’ve washed my mouth out with buckshot.”
“Are you high right now?”
My jaw tightens. “No! Get in the goddamn car and call it in.” I sit in my car and slam my door.
I lied, I am high as a kite right now, but it keeps my past from breaking me down and hindering my work.
“Look, Devi. You may not be on drugs, but I can tell you’re an alcoholic.”
I flash a crooked smile at him. “Oh! What a brilliant deduction there, Sherlock. Now call it in.”
“Devi, if you’re trying to drink to drown your past, trust me, it can swim. The only thing you’re doing is destroying your body and killing yourself.”
“Everybody dies at some point. Now call it in so we can hopefully close this case.”
He stares at me, wearing concern.
I snatch the mic off the hook. “Fine! I’ll do it. Beings you’re too busy worrying about my health or my fucking love life. Dispatch, I need an address for a David Drake, a possible MK suspect.”
A few minutes later, dispatch comes over the radio. “Address is 6009 South Murhee Road.”
“Copy that, Dispatch.”
I dial up my LT. “I believe I found our suspect. His name is David Drake; he is a Caucasian male about 5’8, blond hair, blue eyes body type is athletically built, skin tone is lightly tanned.”
“Give me the address, and I will send a SWAT unit out there.”
“6009 South Murhee Road.”
“Copy that. SWAT is inbound.” He hangs up.
I stuff the cell back in my coat pocket. “Look, Jason. You’re my partner, but don’t you ever give me that fucking pity look again, got it!”
“Okay, Devi. But if you change your mind, I know some people who can help.”
“Thanks, but fuck off with your hand-holders and all your romance advice.”
***
SWAT has the house surrounded and prepping to make entry. Parking the car in the grass next to the other cop cars, I notice the sky finally stopped pissing on us.
About fucking time.
“You going to be alright to go in?”
He takes a deep, unsteady breath. “Yes, why?”
“You just look like you’re about to shit yourself is all.”
He smiles nervously. “I’m fine, really.”
“Good. Let’s grab our vests.” After grabbing our vests, I walk around to the front of the car. “Once more unto the breach.” I draw my Sig and join the entry team. The anxiety builds on Jason’s face to the point he might burst.
“First time on a raid, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, first thing you should know, it will go fast. Secondly, we let SWAT go in first, and then we go in behind them.”
I knew he was lying. Last time I saw someone, this nervous was on the first day of Iraq.
Four SWAT members form a line at the front door. The Element Leader is armed with a Benelli M4, and one behind is armed with an MP5 SMG. The two officers in the rearguard switch off the safeties on their M4s with flashlight mounts.
My boss stands at the ready, clutching a black 1911. “How are we going in?” I say, getting in the line behind him.
“They’re going in teams of four. The first team makes entry, and the second team covers the rear of the house in case the suspect rabbits.”
“Any contact with the suspect?”
“No, which is weird. Are you sure the Priest gave you the right name and location?”
“Yeah. The Priest seemed pretty broken that he inadvertently sheltered the Moonlight Killer.”
He raises his eyebrow. “How did you know he was sheltering David Drake?”
“It was a gut feeling. So I ensured his cooperation by agreeing to leave his name out of my reports.”
He rolls his eyes and scoffs. “You should have run that by me first.”
“I’m running it by you now, sir.”
His nostrils flare in frustration. “Fine, let’s just get this over with.”
The radio lets out a hiss of static. “Sir, the entry team is awaiting your go.”
He picks up the radio from his belt. “Alpha, breach bang, and clear. Bravo, cover the rear for squirters.”
They bash the door open with a ram and toss in a flashbang. I jerk my
