Zane sat down at his terminal and typed in ‘Hope Ryder’ on the search screen. Under offenses, he inserted ‘drug abuse, drug trafficking, drug pushing, drug dealing, and prostitution’. He hit enter and waited.
The screen lit up seconds later and Zane stared as the list of offenses appeared one after another on the screen.
Zane hit the print button and waited as sheet after sheet of information printed out. When the printout was finished he scanned the sheets learning what he could as fast as he could.
Hope Ryder had been operating in small towns near Hurstville for the past few years. She had been caught on numerous occasions but had always somehow managed to slip out of the clutches of the law. She was known as ‘Flamingo’. No information told him why she was called ‘Flamingo’.
He could not believe how many times she had slipped away already. How was it possible? She had never killed anyone, never used violence. But somehow she had escaped prison more than six times already. The odds of that happening were almost impossible. An uneasy thought crossed his mind as he read the information again. And he remembered what she had said to him when he had been questioning her, they warned me about you. Who had warned her?
Something was off. The fact that she had seemed to be coming on to him and offering him sex for her release was a bribe. It was more than a bribe. If he had taken her up on it he would have been blackmailed for sure. Something smelled.
Zane grabbed the printout and returned to the room reading as he went. He opened the door to the interrogation room.
“So, Flamingo ...”
He heard the click of a gun as the hammer was drawn back and he stopped and looked up. He tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Brian sat in the chair where Hope had been. His hands were cuffed to the armrests of the chair and he had a cut above his left eye that was bleeding.
Zane looked around and found himself looking down the barrel of Brian’s gun. Hope held it firmly trained on Zane.
“Done your homework?”
“I guess you could say so,” Zane replied as he tried to think of options.
Hope smiled at the use of her alias. “Good. Toss your gun over here.”
Zane didn’t move.
“You heard me. Toss your gun over here.”
“You don’t use violence,” Zane said bluntly. “Just give yourself up.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” Hope replied. “Does your friend over here look like I don’t use violence?”
Zane looked at Brian who shrugged helplessly in his handcuffs. Zane pulled out his gun and tossed it over to Hope. She picked it up and shoved it into the waistband of her jeans behind her.
“I’m glad we understand each other. Now let’s get going to your office and have a chat,” Hope said then added, “Get your hands up!”
Zane raised his hands and backed out of the room. He turned and began walking slowly to his office as Hope followed a safe distance behind him. When they reached his office, Hope ordered him to sit on the guest's side of his desk. She cuffed his left hand to the chair and then took a seat in his chair behind his desk.
“Now, you can take all the notes you need,” Hope said pushing her file and a pen across the desk to Zane.
Zane looked at her then picked up the pen.
“Do you know why they call me Flamingo?”
Zane shook his head. “You like standing on one leg?”
Hope smiled disappointedly. “It’s got nothing to do with the bird. It’s about the Flamingo Flower. The scientific name is Tropical Anthurium. It’s a symbol of kindness.”
“I knew that,” Zane said sarcastically. “I think you should change that name.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s a lie,” Zane said bluntly.
Hope ignored his remark. “I do good for people. For youth. I use my profits from drug trafficking to send homeless kids to school.”
“So you destroy the children you pretend to help,” Zane said incredulously.
“How do you get to that conclusion?”
“You let homeless kids work for you peddling drugs and in return, you send them to school. If they happen to go to prison along the way it’s just their tough luck right?”
“That’s not how it works. The kids I send to school don’t work for me,” Hope replied.
“Oh, so you get some kids to work for you and give them nothing other than a chance to go to prison and ruin their lives while you take the money from the risk they take for you and put other kids through school? How very fucking noble of you,” Zane said.
“A little weed never hurt anyone,” Hope said. “The other shit you found with the weed? That ain’t mine. But I have to peddle it to stay free. There are some seriously bad fuckers in this world and if I don’t do what they say...” Hope paused, “… well, you’re a cop. You can figure it out. I hope you’re writing this down. Maybe you can make some sense of this after
I’m gone. I’m helping you. For now. It might seem odd, but it’s the truth. There’s a lot more at play here than simply peddling drugs.”
Zane made notes. He would try to make sense of it later.
“How have you escaped so many times?”
“I’ve been lucky and not so lucky. I’ve had help. You should be careful. Things are not what they seem.”
“Who do you work for or with?”
“I work for myself. I like to think so. But I also work for others now. Powerful people. I think you have an idea. Suffice to say, trust no-one.”
“You’re not giving me much to go on,” Zane said frustrated. “Why can’t you tell me?”
“I’m giving you what matters right now. What I can. Listen to me. Take notes and listen, then go do some research. You cannot bring me down. You won’t be allowed to. I am already a prisoner. I am not the issue here. There is more at play and you’re in the middle of it.”
“Earlier you said, ‘they warned you about me’. Who warned you?”
“Look at the information you have. Surely you can answer that question yourself. I would hope a police chief can answer that question.”
Zane was quiet as he tried to digest what Hope was saying. It was all so cryptic.
“What’s your mobile number?” Hope asked.
Zane quoted it for her and she wrote it down.
“I can’t say much more than what I’ve told you right now. I want to help you. You seem like a nice guy. But the best advice I can give you is to leave me alone.”
“This is my jurisdiction. I don’t care who you work for. I will bring you down and whoever you work for.”
Hope sighed. “You guys are all the same. No wonder I’m still single. It’s all about your ego.” She stood and rounded the table. She took the pen from him and cuffed his other hand to the other armrest.
Then, grasping the armrests of his chair, she bent over bringing her face to his level. She looked into his eyes without saying a word. “They warned me about you but they didn’t tell me everything. If only we were on the same side…” Hope whispered as her eyes darted between his lips and his gaze. She inched closer slowly until her lips touched his. She kissed him once. Zane did not react.
She kissed him again and smiled. “Mr. Ego. I think that’s what I’ll call you.”
She kissed him again and Zane felt something stir in him. This woman was an absolute enigma to him. And although he found himself cuffed and helpless he sensed no immediate danger from her. She was beautiful. He recalled how he had thought what a waste her life was being so young, arrested, and on her way to prison. Yet here they were. She was kissing
him. He recalled the thoughts that had crossed his mind when he had seen her at the warehouse. He had wanted her the moment he laid eyes on her but knew it was impossible. But he was helpless.
She kissed him again. He ached to respond but resisted. There were CCTV cameras that would catch everything on tape and if he responded it wouldn’t look good nor bode well for him. Finally, she pulled back, smiling.
Shamelessly she dropped her hand to his crotch and felt his desire straining in his trousers.
“Ah, the ice melts,” she whispered.
“Shut up,” he whispered back.
Let me make it easy for you,” she said pulling out Brian’s gun. She cocked it and pressed it against his crotch. Her eyes were ice blue as she looked into his.
“Kiss me unless you don’t value your balls,” she smiled. She leaned in again and kissed him. This time his tongue reached for hers and found it. Their tongues danced as their mouths melted together. They breathed in silently as they tasted each other.
The control freak in Zane ached to take her in his arms but his arms were cuffed to the chair. He ached to kiss her deeper, longing to put his arms around the back of her neck and pull her into him but he couldn’t. And she knew it. She pulled away, time and again teasing him with her lips.
Eventually, she stopped kissing him. She put the gun on the desk and then her hands settled on his throbbing manhood and rubbed him through his uniform.
“So much promise,” she whispered. “I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed if only I had the chance....” She paused biting her lower lip again as she looked him in the eyes. She watched his reaction as she touched him.
Zane groaned at her touch and ached to kiss her, to take her in his arms and do things to her he had never done with any woman.
Hope finally kissed him one last time long and slow as she pressed the gun against his crotch again and rubbed him with her other hand. He wanted her so badly. He had not been with a woman in ages and Hope was driving him crazy not just because she was the first woman to give him attention after so long but because he was attracted to her.
Hope ended their kiss after what seemed like an eternity.
She straightened and sighed. “Sorry officer, I have to leave.”
“What ...? Stay ... let’s talk ...,“ Zane said trying to think of something coherent to say.
Hope unlocked one handcuff and placed the key on the desk.
“You can free yourself when I’m gone. I’ll call you when you can unlock the cuffs. Your gun will be by the door. Don’t think of freeing yourself before I call. Don’t assume because of what I just did, I won’t hurt you if I have to.”
Hope left his office and he watched her round the corner into the passage as she headed for the front door. She had fished his mobile from his pocket and placed it on the desk in front of him so he could answer when she called him.A few minutes later, his phone rang and he snatched it up, answering it.“Hope, Flamingo?”The call was cut off without any word from her on the other end.Zane grabbed the keys to his cuffs and unlocked them, freeing himself. He ran to the front door of the station and looked outside. Hope was nowhere to be seen. He turned and ran back to the interrogation room where Brian was still cuffed and locked in.He freed Brian who thanked him and rubbed his wrists to get his circulation going again.“What the hell happened?” he asked Brian.“That woman is more dangerous than you think,” Brian said defensively. “She pretended to fall off the chair and I fell for it. Then sh
Zane finished up his report and saved it on the system. Then he did his final rounds before leaving for the night. He said goodnight to the officer on duty, Tex. Tex had come on duty after the day’s drama so had not been in the station at the time that Zane was cuffed in his office.Zane believed it would be a quiet night despite the arrests they had made earlier in the day.Hope’s accomplices were all teenagers. Street kids just trying to earn a buck. Zane was tempted to simply let the kids go but he didn’t have the right to do so.He had seen so many kids just trying to make a buck and getting sucked into doing something criminal. By the time they found out what they would be doing for the job it was too late to back out.Generally, they would be out on the street again in a few days but they’d have a record. Something that could have been avoided if people like Hope didn’t get involved with them.Zane sat in his car
Zane sat up and turned away. He grabbed his shorts and pulled them on. He left the room and returned to the kitchen where their coffee still stood on the table. It was cold.He put their mugs in the microwave and heated them as Hope followed him into the kitchen. She was still naked. She retrieved her panties and put them on. Then she put on her skirt and top and sat at the table.“Those drugs are low-key stuff but still drugs. That’s where it starts. Kids just want a gentle lift or high and before they know it, they want something stronger. Then they move on to the really bad shit and from there it’s a one-way ticket.”“I don’t peddle bad shit. Have you never had your share of weed in your life?”“Who hasn’t tried it? The problem is some people don’t know when to stop. Others can control their need for use of drugs. As I said, it starts with the mild stuff and it’s just downhill from there
Zane woke the next morning and rolled over hoping to find Hope beside him but she was gone. She had left a note for him and he read it eagerly.Sorry to love and leave.It’s not you. I thoroughly enjoyed last night and I enjoy you too. You’re an interesting man.I think it's best that I go and that we don’t see each other again. I’m guessing that the next time you see me will be when you arrest me if you arrest me. It will be best if you do, rather than repeat last night. Even better would be for you to leave. Take a transfer and go settle in another town far from here. You can’t stop what’s coming and neither can I. But we are on opposite sides and I can’t change that. I’m pretty sure you won’t either. Even if you wanted to, other people aren’t willing to give you the opportunity.Please don’t let your ego get in the way. Listen. Think
Zane climbed into the cruiser and swore as he looked at the courthouse. He had always had a good working relationship with Judge Borth but their discussion left him feeling uneasy.Judge Borth had seemed to be less than his usual self this morning. Maybe he had gotten out of the wrong side of the bed.Whatever the reason, Judge Borth had not been himself. He had been distant and cold. Zane pondered what to do. There was no point going back to the station. He picked up the files of the kids he had tossed on the front passenger seat and went through them.James O’Reilly, sixteen, Lamar Pendleton, sixteen, Barry Jaxon, seventeen, George Hartly – eighteen. He didn’t check further. He looked at James’ address and decided to visit him. He was just on the outskirts of town.Thirty minutes later Zane pulled up outside a timber house. The house needed a lot of work but, he suspected, the family didn’t have the money to fix it or they
He headed straight to Andy’s house. He knocked on the door and a big bulk of a man answered. He was surly but seemed to relax when he realized it was Zane, the town’s chief of police.“Yes chief, how can I help ya?”“I’m looking for Andy. Is he here?”“Why? He done somethin’ wrong?” the man asked immediately suspicious.“On the contrary,” Zane smiled. “He’s done something right.”“Oh, well that’s good,” the man smiled. He opened the screen door and invited Zane in.Zane politely declined, saying he was enjoying the beautiful day outside.“Andy!” the man shouted.Moments later a young boy about James’ age rounded the corner into the living room behind the man at the door.“Yes, Dad?”“Police chief here wants to have a word with ya. Take a walk with him outside,” the m
The ‘Hello Goodbye Motel’ was a single-story structure with ten guest rooms. Even so, it wasn’t easy to approach with stealth. All the rooms had windows that looked out front over the main road. The entrance was such that every car had to drive by each room on the way to the reception. The chances of being spotted were high and the chances that Hope wouldescape if she saw him were high. He would have to go to reception and ask if they had a guest fitting her description.If she spotted him driving up in that time she would be long gone by the time he got to her room. He watched for hours but so no movement. He wondered if Hope had checked out already. After her capture, she might have decided to move on. Brian radioed him and asked where he was.“I’m questioning the kids we arrested who were released. So far nothing. Let me know if anything comes up at your end.”Brian assured him that he would.Zane turned his
He breathed slowly and as quietly as he could trying to hear what was happening in the bedroom. He hoped she would leave again soon for any reason. His luck had run out though. He heard her push open the bathroom door and enter the bathroom.He heard the rustling of clothing and saw the blur of her movements through the shower curtain. He wondered if she could see his blurred outline standing still in the bath. From her blurred outline, it was clear that she was undressing. She finished undressing and sat down on the toilet, relieving herself. Then she flushed the toilet and Zane heaved a quick sighof relief under cover of the noise of the flushing toilet.In the next instant, the shower curtain was swept aside as Hope cried out.“Who the hell are ...?” She broke off her question as she realized that Zane stood in her bath. She held a pistol trained on him. A smile slowly stretched across her face.“Well, well, Chief.”
Zane watched Amanda as she posed for the photographer. She was a natural as far as he was concerned. He never tired of watching her at work. How many men had the opportunity to spend as much time as he did with their wives every day?He had to admit that he had been a little concerned at the thought of being Amanda’s bodyguard at first, not that he hadn’t wanted to but he had doubted it was necessary. A few nasty incidents with stalkers had however quickly brought home the reality of the dangers that models could face in their line of work even if they weren’t the world’s most famous models.After Hurstville, he had resigned from his position as chief of police and relocated to New York to be with Amanda full time. They had married a few months later and Zane had started to build his security firm. He had a few small jobs for personal protection so far and on the whole, work was increasing slowly. When he didn’t have other wo
Amanda had watched the news with interest. She heard that Zane had been cleared of all charges and reinstated as chief of police in Hurstville.She thought of calling him to congratulate him but she put it off. She felt guilty for the way she had ended things. She had been right she knew but she also knew in her heart that what she had done went against everything her parents had always taught her. She had chosen money and success over caring for another. On the other hand, it was her life and she had to look after herself. There was no point in destroying her career because she cared about Zane.While they had enjoyed some passionate moments after they met again, a decade had passed and there was no guarantee that their new relationship would last. She could not justify destroying her career for Zane.Now that he was cleared she wondered if he would call her. Over the next few days though, he had not called and she decided that he must have decided it was best
Zane returned to his home after the excitement was finished. He returned the key for the cabin to the person Amanda had left in charge at her home up the road from him.He relaxed for a few days at home just following the story as the ripples from the arrests that had been made in Hurstville spread out across the six other states where he had known Sunflower, or Hope had worked. Police Chiefs, police, and criminals were all arrested in sweeping raids across the states.As Zane watched the updates one afternoon, his phone rang. He answered it.“Sanchez! How are you? I see you guys have been busy. Very busy!”“We sure are,” Sanchez replied. “I’m just calling to tell you that your name should be cleared this afternoon. I asked that it be given top priority so you could move on with your life. Check your e-mail a bit later. I’ll have the documents scanned and e-mailed to you as soon as it’s done. No more crimina
“How much cash is in there?” Loman asked.“Five million,” Jerry replied. “Don’t you just love these old Cadillacs? That’s why they’re so awesome. So much boot space to carry so much money or happy pills.”Commissioner Loman smiled.“Well, what do you want? What kinds of drugs do you want?”“Coke and Marijuana.”Commissioner Loman considered for a moment. “Okay, let’s deal.”He turned to Aaron. “You heard Jerry. You know what he wants. Get it and bring it. Let’s start getting the cash unpacked so we can get it counted.”“Roger that boss,” Aaron replied. He turned and shouted to some of the men. “Help get the cash unpacked and bring the goods.”The men hurried off to comply with their orders.They unloaded the cash and set it on tables that were brought and set down in front of the Cadil
Zane made himself a cup of coffee and drank it while he waited for Johnson to return. Finally, he heard Johnson’s motorbike pull up outside. Zane turned off the lights and locked the house. Then he climbed on the back of Johnson’s bike and together they headed for the cabin.Sanchez let them in and locked the door behind them. They all sat down and ran through the new information they had gathered. Johnson gave them the address he had followed Hope to. It was a warehouse on the outskirts of Hurstville. Sanchez made a call and passed on the information to his team.They were told to meet at a point downtown in the morning at which point a combination of law enforcement agencies would gather nearby to support the team that would go in with Jerry. The rest of them intended to storm the building if necessary.Zane told Sanchez to tell his team to wait until he got the message from Hope that everyone was present. They didn’t want anyone slipping thr
Zane entered his house and found Sanchez sitting on his sofa.“Hey,” Sanchez said as Zane entered. “What’s with the phone?”“I think the battery’s flat,” Zane replied. “Damn thing’s always acting up.” He pulled out his phone, turned it off, and dismantled it.“You think it’s bugged?” Sanchez said.Zane nodded. “Come with me,” he said. They left Zane’s home and drove up the road to the cabin that Amanda was allowing him to use.They entered and settled at the dining table. Zane explained everything to Sanchez about Johnson returning and that he had sent him to get new phones and that he was using Johnson’s phone till he got back. He sent Johnson a message with directions to get to the cabin when Johnson sent him a message telling him he was on the way back.“Can you trust him?” Sanchez asked.“I believe so. I th
Zane tried one last time with Hope and sent her a message informing her that it was his last night in Hurstville. He could only hope that she would take the bait and visit him.She did. But before she arrived Zane had another surprise visitor.He had just pulled onto the road when someone on a motorbike roared up behind him and flashed their light at him.Zane pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The motorcyclist pulled up beside him as he stopped. Zane was surprised when he saw who it was.“What are you doing back here?”“I decided to come back. I think you need some help.”“There’s a roadhouse about ten minutes out of town that way,” Zane signaled ahead of them. “I’ll meet you there. Don’t follow me okay?”“Got it,” Johnson revved his motorcycle and pulled off quickly disappearing into the distance ahead of Zane. Zane took his time enjoying the scenery
Want to meet? No doubt you’re aware I’m no longer a threat to you. Zane sent the message to Hope.Why? As I recall you didn’t like me very much when we last met.I’m sorry Hope. I’ve given everything some thought and I realize that you had no choice but to do what you did. If you were in my shoes, you would have had the same reaction.Come around to my place. Let’s have dinner.I’ll think about it. You don’t seem to be too pissed at the fact that your career’s over.I can sit here and cry about it or accept that life goes on. I have opportunities to explore and some cash in the bank, Zane replied. It’ll probably mean leaving Hurstville but then you go where your job takes you.Okay. I’ll think about it, Hope replied.Zane left the messages at that. There was no more he could do. He contacted the fun
By the time that Zane arrived at his home, he decided he needed to make himself scarce. He needed to leave town. He had no idea where he was going but he would think of something.Zane, opened the door to his home half expecting to have someone pointing a gun at him again. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized his house was empty.Zane bathed and changed into casual clothes then started packing a bag with basics so he could leave. As he packed his phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number but decided to answer it.“Hello?”Chief Zane?”Zane wasn’t sure he recognized the voice. He didn’t admit that it was him. “Who is this?” he asked.“Chief? It’s Johnson.”“I’m not Chief anymore, Johnson,” Zane replied. “How’s your mother?”“She’s fine Chief ... er ... Zane. She’ll be okay. What’s happened there