Chapter Five -- BLACK and BLUE
"So Howie, how long have you been working as a cop?"
"Oh, almost 5 years already. And I'm a good one too!" Howie laughs.
"Yea... yea... yea... whatever Howie!"
Brian was surprised the way Lori talked to Howie. Lori never joke around with people like that.
"Lori, you guys know each other?"
"Oh yes, Brian. He's my best buddie!"
Detective O'Keefe walked out from his office, holding a big stack of files, scanning through the group lists. "I guess the groups are fine, here's all the information you guys need..."
The phone rangs, Nick picks up the phone. After a minute or so, he puts it down, looking depressed... ...
~ In Nick's car ~
"Nick, you've been so quiet the whole day, want a sandwich?" Mandy offers him one.
"No, I'm not hungry, give it to Lori. I just don't feel like talking."
Lori can see there's something wrong with Nick. They had been sitting in the car the whole morning and Nick has not been saying a word. She looks at Nick from the back seat, he's leaning against the car window, thinking to himself. She could see the sadness in his eyes. Throughout the whole morning, Nick has been staring at his cell phone, looks like he's waiting for someone to call. All of a sudden, they heard "ACTION!" from their head phones. All of them get out of the car, have all the guns pointing at the drug dealers.
"LAPD! Freeze and drop your weapon!"
The dealers could see that they have no way to go. They dropped their guns and surrender.
"Take them!"
~ LAPD Headquarter -- suspect questioning session -- 8:30 pm ~
Nathan, Nick and Brian were in the room, questioning the suspects.
"You better tell us who's behind all this!!! You guys have injured a FBI agent and caught in the act with illegal drug tradings. I don't think you can go anywhere but to stay here until you tell us the truth!"
The words "injured an FBI agent" just keeps on repeating in Nick ears. "Why did you guys shoot the FBI? Why? You bastards!" Nick couldn't hold himself back anymore and was about to hit the suspects.
"Nick, don't, hold it Nick! Nathan, get Nick out of the room!" Brian commended. Nick was then sent to O'Keefe's office.
"Nick, I understand you are very upset about Agent AJ McLean's injury. But you've been a cop for a pretty long time now, so you should understand there are rules to follow as a cop. If you are unable to handle and follow these simple instructions, I'll be sorry to tell you that you won't be participating in this operation anymore."
"I'm sorry, sir. I understand. I promise this will never happen again. Please let me participate in the operation.
O'Keefe can see how eager Nick is to take those drug dealers down. "As long as you understand, Nick. You must be tired, go home, take a rest and the other guys will take care of it tonight. Come back next morning. Also, on your way out, tell the girls to go home too."
~ In the BLACK & BLUE bar ~
It's almost 11:30 pm. Nick has been sitting here in the bar for a pretty long time. There are about 8 finished beer bottles on the table. Nick picks up his cell phone and make a call...
"Hello?"
"Hello. May I speak to Lori please?"
"Yes, speaking."
"Lori, this is Nick, is it too late to call?"
"No. It's okay... what's wrong?"
"Do you mind coming to BLACK & BLUE bar now? I need to talk to you..."
