Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 31

It was getting late in the day. One of Captain Vanderson's Tech guys had set up cell interception for the area Michael Paul had chosen to meet the source so any emergency calls would go through the department. Real emergencies would be rerouted, but his men would handle the rest. His men had been in place since the night before. Some in excellent costumes and some just well hidden. The building, on suggestion of the The Electrician, had been the last place they had seen Jeanie alive. It had to work. He felt bad for the officers with families. They had little warning for this assignment and didn't get much time to tell their families they'd be gone for a while. Occupational hazard though. In this respect, Seth was always glad he didn't have a family to ditch, but always wished he'd had a wife at home to ease his worries.

As the pre-determined time drew closer, his surveillance vehicle, parked on the other side of the block, away from any doors or windows could hear and see what was going on. They were banking on The Electrician's arrogance and confidence to not be as well prepared.

When Paul got dressed that day, he outfitted himself with the wire that Captain Vanderson gave him a long while ago, followed by his Ultra Thin Bullet Proof Vest t-shirt, followed by his t-shirt and hoodie. He didn't want to, but it had to be this way. He'd hope Grady wouldn't try to take a shot at him. Again, he'd bank on Benson's death to deflect the damage to the organization. Perhaps Steele would get suspicious that Benson is dead and want his own investigation as to why there were so many police. He wouldn't know. He'd be dead.

*****

"It's time." Vanderson said into his phone. "There's movement a block away." He received confirmation from a "vagrant" that it was indeed Benson, and that he did have some of Steele's men with him. The vagrant also confirmed the names of "Grady and Chaz" were also with him, along with some others. It would take a lot of trust on Paul's part that he'd come out with minor injuries. "Hopefully they won't mind the intrusion because their own will be dead. Take careful aim men." From Michael Paul's early intel, he knew that The Electrician kept a physician on retainer, so they wouldn't have to visit the hospital or have bullet wounds reported. It would be tricky, but they had to be precise and exact. Minimal wounds and only one death. Based on previous reports, they would leave the body and check the morgues later.

"Do you really think your contact is going to be there?" Grady asked. "Alone?"

"He knows the way Steele operates, and I'm pretty sure he knows I'm not coming alone, so if he does, that's on him. You know?" Benson knew Grady and Chaz never left home without weapons and he had to follow suit. His sidearm was uncharacteristically in his waist holster. When he was in uniform he'd carry in a shoulder holster, but hadn't been able to for nearly a year. He allowed himself to think about the clean shave he was about to have too. Something he missed was seeing his jawline unobscured.

"I hope it plays out and we're out of there pretty quick. I got's a date." Chaz said.

"Sure, you're quite the ladies man aren't ya? Didn't you have a date for lunch to?" Grady asked.

"Sure did.  And she's pretty--" he stopped. "Never mind. It's none of your business who I get with."

"Whatever. Guys, we're there." Matther said, as they came upon the building. After they entered, Benson made note of the probably replacement masses he believed to be the fake garbage  from when he was here last and mentally congratulated his department on their camouflage. He had forgotten how good they were, only now remembering where he learned his skill for blending in.

Some of his emotions must have shown through, because Grady mentioned, "she was pretty. I'm sure you do miss her" The gravel in his voice covered any semblance of feelings he might have had. And it always showed greater when he thought of the pretty girls. Matther thought he was disgusting. If he ever had the chance to apologize to Jeanie, he would.