Free Two Graves (A Kesle City Homicide Novel) by D.A. Graystone Page A

Virginia.”
    “Virginia?”
    “Langley.”
    “All part of the new happy family that 9-11 produced. They’ve been training deep undercover operatives for all the alphabet soup and some of the police forces too. They make me bandulu Lenworth, zeen?” Cliff said, dropping into his Jamaican. “I know Patois ca I flexing with my bredren from Ja for a lang time. Ya nuh see it? Tap bein Babylon. Ku pon dis. I brin Lambsbread to Angelino, mon. Til informa su-su to the fat jacket.”
    “What?” Mann asked.
    Cliff smiled. “They turned me into Lenworth, a drug dealer from Jamaica. I learned Patois, Jamaican, when I was in school. A bunch of the guys on the track team were from Jamaica. I stopped being part of the police, Babylon. Look at me, would you even recognize me? I came back into the city and nobody even gave me a second look. I got this scar in Jamaica while I was still trying to establish myself. I was bringing in marijuana to Angelino’s operation in a big way. And then someone turned on me and told him I was a cop.”
    “You know who?”
    “No. But I am going to find out. I was under for two years without so much as a sniff. Only two guys in Narcotics even knew about me. Then, I get close to Angelino and my CO, decides it is getting too political. He brings in the SOCU just before my big meeting with Angelino and two nights later, I get three shooters in my apartment. I don’t believe in coincidence. Somebody in SOCU is dirty.”
    Davis looked at Mann who shrugged and spoke. “Could have come from anywhere but the timing is suspicious.”
    “Unless somebody in Narcotics was just waiting to find a scapegoat.”
    “I swear, nobody but the two guys knew. They could have had me taken out anytime. It came from SOCU.”
    Davis nodded. “OK. What’s your plan?”
    “I need to be somewhere I can investigate SOCU and figure out who ratted me out. Basically, I need somewhere to lay low but I need access to the department main frame. I need information.”
    Davis raised his eyebrows at Mann. It was Mann’s turn to nod.
    “Ya, I want this guy as much as you do,” Mann said. “And if we can take down Angelino at the same time, I got no problems with that. I can get him into Southfield somewhere. I’ll talk to Walsh. Won’t be our squad but we’ll still be around to keep an eye on the boy.”
    “Bumboclot,” Degget muttered.
    Mann just looked puzzled, not realizing what Degget had said. “I’ll set up a meeting with Olinyk. He’s retired but he was in SOCU for about two years. He’ll give it to you straight.”
    “Where are his loyalties?” Degget asked. “Sorry, but I’m a little paranoid.”
    “Don’t worry. Nothing will get back to SOCU. There wasn’t much love lost there. He didn’t so much leave as was forced out. We’ll set it up when your back is better and you are out of here.”
    Before Degget responded, a nurse walked in the room.
    “Sorry gentleman, I need some time with my patient.” She said, all but pushing Mann and Davis from the room.
    “Wa’ppun goodaz,” Degget said, falling back into his Jamaican accent.

Chapter 14

    “Yes, si...si...sir, your pictures are ready,” Bert Haynes stuttered out to the man in front of the counter. “I th...th...think your High School reunion group is going to be very happy with th...th...them.”
    He watched the man carefully flip through the eight by tens. Each had turned out even better than he had hoped. Aging pictures from old black and whites was always more difficult than color pictures with their lack of subtlety and depth. Normally, he did this for missing children but it was becoming more of a novelty item, especially for reunions. Attendees would compare their aged photo and see how different they were to reality. There were automated services online but they lacked his skill and finesse. Obviously, it was worth it to this customer to have the best. Haynes could see he was pleased.
    Poor guy. Haynes recognized the type from when he