Rogues

0

Search and Seizure.

Detective-Investigator John McNealy kicked down the door. Behind him, his team [Detectives Ted Otto, Eric Conley and Jarrod Ulsh] followed in and converged on the two bedroom apartment, pointing their weapons and screaming “Police, get on the ground now!”

Three young Dominican men were seated on a couch obliged. On the coffee table in front of them was a disassembled AK-47 rifle and a .9 mm Beretta. Conley came  over and handcuffed all three to each other.

“Don’t fuckin’ move, assholes! No te muevas, assholes!” he yelled.

Otto and Ulsh scattered to the kitchen, bathroom and the two bedrooms. They cuffed a naked man and woman in the first bedroom they entered and dragged them into the living room, drawing chuckles from the rest of the team.

Mcnealy bent down to the naked man, known as Victor Robles. He was the leader of a gang known as the “Quisqeuyano Killaz”, who dealt in crack and guns. 

“Hi asshole.” as he went into his jacket pocket and produced a warrant. “You’re gonna have a lot of problems, Vic.”

“Fuck, Mac. Why the fuck are you doing this?” Vic pleaded. “Listen, man. Your fuckin’ money’s in a suitcase under the bed in the big bedroom.”

Mac nodded towards Teddy. Teddy went into the master bedroom and came right back with a suitcase. He put on the coffee table and opened it up and counted the money. He nodded his head and closed the suitcase.

“Okay, let them go.” John told Eric and Jarrod. “This heat’s brand new, Vic?”

Vic winced. “Nah, Mac. I got mad bodies on ‘em. You don’t want those.”

“That means they just came off the truck an hour ago. Thanks again, Vic. Let’s go guys.”

The detectives walked out into the hallway and down the stairs. They got into the black Chevy Malibu and Mac started the engine. He pulled the warrant out of his jacket pocket and passed it to Otto, who was seated in the passenger seat.

“Was it the ribs at combination one or three that was spicy?” asked Vic as he pointed to the “warrant.”

1

“The Bullpen.”

The office of Mac’s team was in the back of the main floor of the 110th Precinct. It was commonly referred to as “The Bullpen” presumably because of the baseball memorabilia that littered the office, but it was really named that because the other cops at the precinct referred to the character of the squad: “Bulls.”

Mac and the team were walking into the Bullpen when they heard Captain Reyes [The Precinct Commander] calling Mac. Reyes was walking with a man in a black leather jacket and a detective shield attached to his belt clip.

“Detectives, this is Detective Raymond Soffield. He’s a transfer over from the 75th. He’s going to be working with you.”

Mac tried his best to hide his displeasure as he shook Soffield’s hand. “Nice to meet you Soffield. Oh Captain, I wanted to talk to you about that report.”

“Which report, Mac?” asked Captain Reyes.

Mac began to walk down the hallway. Captain Reyes followed.

“Welcome to the Bullpen.” Ulsh shook Soffield’s hand. “Come on in.”

“Thanks. Good to meet you.” Soffield smiled. Otto didn’t like him already.

“Captain, why do we have a new guy? Bobby Crawford from the six-three tried to get in the squad only two months ago when he made detective. Come on, is this guy your rat?”

Captain Reyes smiled. “No. He’s Internal Affairs. What the fuck, Mac? I’ve got too much work to do to hire a babysitter for you. Whatever the fuck you do, you’ll jam yourself up. Dirty cops always manage to hang themselves. You’ll be on the front page of the Daily News in no time, Mac.”

Mac and his team had a unique way of enforcing the law and Captain Reyes has been failing to prove any wrongdoing for the year that he was the Precinct Commander.

“If he’s wearing a wire, I’ll go over your head, Captain.” Mac said. “With all due respect, of course.”

“Mac, he’s not my guy. This came down from the higher ups. Seriously. Not that I have shit to prove to you.” Captain Reyes then stormed off. “And get the fuck back to work!” he yelled from down the hall.

“Fucker.” Mac said.

Otto walked up to Mac.

“Hey Teddy. Run Soffield through the database and let me know.”

“I was just about to suggest that.” Otto said. 

“Put a bug in these guys’ ear that we’ll run shit square until further notice. No side jobs.”

“I think they have more sense than that, but I’ll tell ‘em anyway.”

2

The Temple’s Gift.

Mac began to cry as he walked his old friend, Patrick Gleason to the clearing by the river.

“Come on, Mac. You’re not making this any easier. It was a good run we had, don’t you think? I know that you’ll do a great job. I have run my course as Master and I must leave the Causal. I don’t need to tell you.”

“I know. My tears are ones derived from profane beliefs.”

Patrick smiled and ran his fingers through his gray hair. “Are you also afraid? Do you doubt your ability to run a Temple? We’re all Brothers and Sisters. Ninety Percenters. Same thing as you were doing before, Mac. You’ll do great. Just like you’re a great cop.”

Mac managed a smile through his tears. “I learned from the best.”

Patrick shook Mac’s hand and then embraced him. He then walked into the clearing and performed the Solo Nine Angles rite as Mac watched tearfully. Then he took the long Obsidian blade and held it in front of him, pointing the blade portion inwardly. Mac winced and turned away. He heard Patrick moan and saw as he lay on the floor dying.

Mac came over to Patrick and watched as he closed his eyes and take his last breath. Mac covered his face as he wept again.

Otto, Jarrod and Eric emerged from the brush surrounding the claearing by the river. Otto put his hand on Mac’s shoulder as Jarrod and Ulsh carried Patrick’s body and placed it in a wooden casket in the underbrush nearby.

Some men and women in black robes came and retrieved the casket. “It’s time to get ready for the funeral, Mac.” Otto said.

“Yeah. Let’s do it.” Mac said as he took the blade.

A few minutes later, Mac and his on-again off-again girlfriend, Linda Kriegler (The Master and Mistress, respectively. Linda was known as “Lianna” in their Sinister Tribe) stood with Otto (The Priest) and Liz Freeman (The Priestess, who is known as “Annia”) near an ellipse comprised of nine stones enclosing the funeral pyre all dressed in black robes.

A congregation of approximately twenty people, also in black robes, were gathered about thirty feet around the pyre. The Guardian, Corrections Officer Ralph Vieux – known as Noctulius, stood next to the pyre.

An oak table placed held thirty seven wooden goblets filled with a mead concoction that Otto had created, fermenting water, honey and yeast blended with oranges.

Jarrod, Eric and two other men brought Patrick in the wooden casket draped in a crimson material. They placed the casket on the pyre. 

Mac then commenced the funeral Rite.  ”Agios o Satanas! We gather here to pay homage to our Brother who by his life and magick did deeds of glory to the honor of our name! Agios o Satanas!”

The congregation then loudly repeated, “Agios o Satanas!”

Mac then shouted, “Agios o Baphomet!” and the congregation again repeated after him.

Lianna then said, “So shall we lamenting remember the glorious deeds still waiting to be done!” and the congregation repeated after her.

Otto and Annia then distributed the wooden goblets to everyone as Mac raised his head toward the pyre.

“Ad Satanas qui luetificat juventutem meam.”

Lianna lit the pyre.  Mac drank his mead, finishing it, and then throwing the empty goblet into the fire.

The congregation raised their goblets. “Ad Satanas qui juventutem meam.” they said.

 Lianna then drank last from her goblet and also threw the empty vessel into the fire. “May our memories linger to haunt the spaces and the Dark! So it has been, so it is and so it shall be again!”

Everyone except Noctulius departed the clearing. Noctulius waited about an hour and a half for the pyre to be completely reduced by the flames. He then scattered all that remained into the river.

3

Narc.

“You don’t have anything on the squad? It’s been two weeks!” Captain Reyes yelled seated at his desk.

Detective Soffield sat pensively in the chair across from Reyes’ desk. “I’ve gone out on a few busts as you already know, sir. I got nothing on them.”

“Go get something on them.” Reyes reached into his desk.

Soffield’s widened with panic. “Sir, I’m not wearing a wire! These aren’t regular skels. These are cops! You’ll blow my cover!”

“You’re right. But you’re gonna have to get some hard evidence on them that’ll stand up in court. Do they trust you?”

“Not sure yet.”

“Earn their trust. They’re a thorn in the side of this precinct. I’m not liking what I’m hearing on the streets. But as far as the law is concerned, it’s just hearsay.”

“Right. Um, with all due respect sir, these operations take time and it has only been two weeks.”

Captain Reyes looked at Soffield with impatience. “Son, I’ve been working on cases while you were still in middle school. Your breath still smells like your mother’s breast milk. Don’t tell me shit.”

“Yes sir.”

“Go do some work. And don’t disappoint me.”

“Yes, sir.” Soffield rose and left the office.

Ulsh was walking the halls holding a folder and put his arm around Ray good naturedly. “You in trouble already? Shit, you haven’t even been here for two weeks! You fit right in!”

“Thanks.” Soffield smiled. He almost felt guilty.

“Mac’s got a barbecue at his house tonight. He wanted me to tell you.”

“What? He hasn’t said two words to me since I got here! Oh yeah, ‘Go! Stop! This coffee sucks!’”

Ulsh laughed. “He likes you! Eh, he breaks in all the new jacks like that. He said to come over tonight.”

“Okay, okay. What do I bring?”

“Nothing but yourself. We got everything we need. I don’t there should be any O.T. tonight. You drink beer or hard stuff? Don’t matter, we got everything.”

“Cosmopolitans?” Soffield asked laughingly.

“Sure, fag drinks too.”

“Toodles! What time should I saunter over there?”

“Anytime after six is good.”

“Okay, Jarrod. Tell him I said thanks.”

“Tell him yourself tonight, bro.”

Ulsh walked into the Bullpen as Soffield made his way into the parking lot. He opened the door of his red Dodge Durango and got in. He put his head on the steering wheel.

“Fuck. Fuck. I’m a fuckin’ phony. Damn. I’m sorry Jarrod.”

He started the car and drove off.

4 

Enclave.

Soffield wandered through the front door in amazement. He thought that Mac’s house was incredible. It was a large colonial style house maybe worth about two million dollars and in a beautiful residential area near the scenic Bayside Marina in Queens. Anna showed him out to the large backyard.

“Now, you boys go play nice.” Anna smiled.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. McNealy.” said Soffield politely.

“Just plain old Anna, okay Ray? Nice meeting you too.”

Nothing plain about you Anna, thought Soffield. Goddamn!

He walked out back and saw Mac tending to large grill while Ulsh, Eric and Otto were sitting around in lawn chairs guzzling beers in bottles and smoking cigars or cigarettes. Soffield thought he smelled a slight trace of marijuana. “Nah.” he thought.

Mac looked up from his grilling. “Hey, Ray!”

“What’s up?!?”

Heeeey!”

Soffield waved and smiled sheepishly. He caught a beer that Otto threw to him.

Eric pointed to the empty lawn chair and Soffield sat down.

“Good to hang out with you guys. Nice house Mac!”

“Thanks.” Mac smiled. “Luckily, my wife’s a registered nurse or we would’ve never gotten it.” Anna hasn’t worked in about six years.

“Cool.” said Soffield, not believing a word.

“Anyway, welcome to my humble abode. Just help yourself. I got burgers, Italian sausages, franks and chicken on the table already and these steaks are gonna take about another two minutes.”

“Smells great, Mac. That’s a lot of food! You expecting the whole precinct to come?”

“Yeah, Captain Reyes and all the brass from One Police Plaza.” joked Otto.

Soffield laughed. “Then I’m leaving then.” He guzzled his beer. He looked up and caught a beer that Mac threw to him.

“Hey, are you guys trying to get me lit so you can gang bang me?”

“Hell yeah.” laughed Eric. “Of all the houses and precincts in the world, you had to walk into ours. It was love at first sight.”

The team drank and laughed and talked shop for the next hour.

“Hey Mac. Thanks for inviting me. You’re like the best boss ever.” Soffield slurred.

“Tell me you love me.”

“I love you, Mac! I…wanna…have…your…babies…” Soffield slumped in his chair as the rest of the team howled.

“We’re a family, Ray. On the job and outside. don’t forget it.” Mac sipped brandy from a mug.

“Yeah Ray. One more thing about work and we’ll forget about it.” said Ulsh. “The fuckin’ Str8 Pimps are on the move in Lefrak City. We’re gonna  get a warrant and hit them the day after tomorrow.”

“Dude! I remember when the Mets made the playoffs in 2000! That asshole Bandit shot a 9mm. out of his window.” said Soffield, alert now. “Those are some grimy motherfuckers. It’ll be cool to collar ‘em up.”

“I guess the man’s in!” Otto said. “We’re hitting Mase’s crib.”

“Mase! Armed robbery, burglary, weapons possession, attempted rape and probably lots of other shit that we don’t know about. Oh hell yeah!”

“Not to mention the overdue library books.” added Eric.

“Yeah. Yeah. This is gonna be great! My first big bust with you guys!”

“Good.” said Mac as he finished his brandy.

5

Lefrak is Iraq.

Mac and Otto struck the door with the battering ram, affectionately called “The Key to the City.” They broke the door down with the first try. Ulsh, Eric and Soffield rushed into Mase’s apartment yealling “Police! We’ve got a warrant!” and scrambling tactically throughout the apartment.

There were gunshots coming from the small kitchen on the left. Ulsh fired three times at the black man in fatigues who was hiding behind the fridge door. Then he swung the fridge door inward and Eric shot him.

“Check the rest of the apartment!” yelled Mac.

Mac and Otto spotted Mase trying to run down the hallway of the apartment and into the bathroom to presumably go out the window.

He turned and fired, hitting Otto once  in the chest.

“Fuck!” Otto yelled as he fell back.

Mac let off three rounds hitting Mase with two. Mase fell backwards into the bathtub underneath the window.

Mac climbed into the tub with Mase and put Mase’s .45 back in his hand. He fired two rounds from his own weapon into the ceiling.

“Ray!” Mac yelled.

“Holy shit! Otto!” yelled Soffield as emerged in the hallway. He bent over to check on him.

“Get over to Mac. I’m okay.” whispered Otto.

Soffield ran over to the bathroom. The last thing that he saw was Mac holding Mase’s trigger hand and firing rounds at him with Mase’s .45. He hit Soffield five times, once in the face.

“You motherfucker…” Soffield said as he fell back.

“Rat bastard.” Mac said as he quickly jumped from the bathtub. He stood over Mase and put a round in the already dead Mase’s head.

He went over and took Soffield’s pulse. He was dead.

Otto crawled over to Mac and Soffield.

“Dead?”

“Shhh” Mac quickly nodded his head. “Officer down!”

Ulsh and Eric came running over. Eric smiled when he saw Soffield on the floor.

“Ray!” Ulsh yelled. He ran over and kneeled by Soffield. He felt for a pulse and got up. “Fuck! Fuck!” He stormed back into the living room and picked a glass ashtray from the coffee table and flung it against the far wall.

He then knelt on the floor and wept. Sirens could be heard downstairs.

“C’mon Jarrod. Let’s go outside.” Mac squeezed Ulsh’s shoulder.

“Citrine, man. I was gonna say let’s Initiate him.” Jarrod sniffed.

“Shhh. Everybody’s coming up.”

“Is Otto okay?”

“Yeah. He got it in the vest.”

 Emergency Service cops swarmed the apartment with guns drawn.

“Stand down. Stand down. All clear. We got a downed officer in the hallway next to the bathroom.” Mac said. He started to cry. “He’s dead.

The ESU Sergeant took his facemask off. “You okay, Detective?”

“No. I lost one of my boys, Sarge.”

“Come on, let’s secure the scene! Help these guys downstairs!” The ESU Sergeant ordered his team.

6

End of Tour.

Captain Reyes took the blanket off Soffield’s face at the scene. The round from Mase’s gun took off his right eye.

“Jesus Christ…”

Sergeant Dees from Forensics entered the room.

“What you get?”

“It looks like Soffield ran through here.” Dees pointed at the hallway. “And ran right into an exchange betweeen McNealy and the perp. The perp shoots Soffield and then McNealy gets the perp. Pretty clean kill. Too bad for Detective Soffield, though.”

“Those motherfuckers.” Captain Reyes yelled.

“Are you okay, Cap?” asked Dees.

“Yeah.” Reyes stormed out of the apartment.

“Fuck you, Mac.” Reyes whispered to himself.