Chapter 8

Lieutenant Ted Baines was beside himself with pleasure at the prospect of having found the murderers.

He invited everyone into the conference room and began to brief them eagerly,

“We managed to find a camera on the premises, and it's footage revealed these two people leaving the crime scene right after the time of the murder to us,” he said, switching on a huge TV that was beside him.

He surveyed his audience to see if they would recognize them and was not surprised when he saw Lester's eyes widen.

“Lester, do you know these people?” Baines asked.

Lester gulped and shook his head vehemently, “But I've seen them in Ganghaven a few times.” There was no way he was telling his boss that he'd met those two the day before, and that he was even friendly with the man.

Baines ignored Lester and continued, “Yesterday, we were able to identify them. The male is Asher Mason, the leader of a street gang known as the Sopranos.”

Many of his audience laughed at the name. Again, he ignored them and continued, “The female is Jocelyn Turner. Like Mason, she is also the leader of a street gang called the Street Hawks.”

Then he faced them all and gave them a deadly stare, “I want all of you to suspend everything and anything you're working on and find these two cop killers, dead or alive. An APB is already out, but we aren't waiting for it. I want more searches. I want a bounty placed on their heads. I want them alive. Nobody should kill cops and get away it!”

Pascal knew he should keep quiet, but he didn't. Instead he raised his hand up.

“Do you have a question, rookie?” Baines asked.

“Yes sir. Sir, we only have this footage of them leaving the crime scene, but we don't have any of them killing Salvador. How do we know for sure that they're the real killers?” Pascal asked.

Before Baines could reply, Damian Wayde did, “First of all, that's Detective Salvador to you. Secondly, we have armed gangsters and a dead cop. What other evidence do you need, you gang apologist?”

Pascal wanted to reply when Baines cut him off, and spoke to everyone “Enough. Bring them in. I'm not planning to execute them jungle justice style. There'll be a fair trial of course. But first, I want you all to get them here, to the precinct. Is that clear?”

The whole room was silent before all present chorused, “Yes, sir!” simultaneously and left.

*   *   *

Andrea was having a meltdown as she entered a patrol car. What had Jo gotten herself into? She wondered. She knew she had to warn Jo.

She wound up all the window panes and dialed Jo's number, when Jo answered, she immediately warned her, “Look Jo, whatever you're doing now, stop it and go to a safe place.”

“What's happening?” Jo asked, bewildered by Andrea's serious tone.

“Jo, I don't know how this happened but we recovered a camera at the scene of the crime and it shows only you and Ash leaving the building some minutes after the time of Salvador's death.

The lieutenant has put out an APB on the both of you and there's going to be a bounty on you. You have to leave now!” Andrea said.

“Shit! But I didn't kill the cop.”

“I know that but the rest don't know that. I'm not even sure they're capable of listening to you objectively at the moment. This is why you have to leave as fast as you can.” Andrea said as she hung up.

Some seconds later, her partner joined her in the car and they drove off.

*   *   *

Jo and Rex had been in his apartment, going through the money they were going to give to some families who needed it, when Andrea had called.

Now, Jo was sweating profusely and with disdain, she noticed her hands were shaking.

Rex noticed the change in her demeanor and going to where she was, held her hands in his, “Jo, what's going on?”

Jo looked at the big man who spent most of his time at her beck and call, devoted to her cause.

She sighed and said, “The police think I killed the dead cop.”

“But you didn't.” Rex said, growing furious.

“I know. But they've put out an APB out on me.”

Rex chuckled, “I don't think the people of Ganghaven are going to turn you in. Not after all you've done for them.”

“There's where the bounty comes in. Look, Rex I want you to make me a promise. Promise me that if anyone comes looking for me, you'll distance yourself from me. Tell them you didn't know that I went into that building that day, and tell them you don't know where I am presently.” Jo said.

Rex scowled, “You want me to betray you? Never!”

“You have to. For your sake, for that of the gang and Gaghaven's too.” Jo said.

“And what about you?” Rex asked, not liking the shape their conversation was taking.

“I'll go into hiding.” Jo said.

“Then I'll come with you.”

“No way.”

“If you think I'm going to leave you to your own devices, you're delusional.” Rex ranted.

“That's an order, Rex!” Jo said, her voice rising.

Rex was about to protest when Jo stopped him, “Please, stay. That everything we've done may not be in vain.”

“Fine.” Rex bit out.

“Good. I'll be on my way.” Jo said, releasing his hands to pat his shoulder.

She was on her way to the door when they received notifications from their phones. Upon checking it, they saw the police had put a bounty of thirty thousand dollars each on her and Ash.

“Shit! For this kind of money, most people would rat their own mothers out.” Rex said.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Who the fuck is it?” Rex asked.

“We know Jo's in there. Open the door and nobody will get hurt.” Came a voice from behind the door.

“Fucking kids.” Rex growled under his breath. On the pavement that led up to his apartment, young adults sat there all day, smoking weed and looking for a gang to recruit them.

Obviously, they had seen the bounty poster and had decided that it was a quick way to make a little money.

“Here,” he said, giving Jo one of his hoodies, “wear this, keep your head down and talk to no one.”

Jo put on the hoodie, which went all the way to her knees, thanks to Rex's bulk and opening a window, used his fire escape to go down the back.

“Open this door!” Came another voice.

Rex growled and did as they asked, scowling at the three scrawny young men who were carrying knives and baseball bats, “What the fuck is your problem?”

“We know Jo's in there somewhere. Hand her over to us.” One said.

“She's not here!” Rex raged, making his displeasure with them known.

Their brains must have been addled by the weed they smoked because they didn't react to the menacing giant in front of them with fear.

“One way or another, we'll get into your apartment. You can either step out of our way or we can make you.” One threatened.

Rex sighed and let them enter. They searched everywhere and anywhere they could find. After a while, they gave up.

On their way out, one of them turned and said to Rex, “We'll keep an eye on you. If she comes here again, we'll take her. You can bet your ass on that.”

*    *    *

Ash was dumbfounded when he received a text message from Pascal that read: There's trouble. Stay sharp.

He was about to call Pascal and ask him to elucidate on the text he'd sent when he received several notifications. Clicking on one, he saw that a bounty had been placed on him and Jo for the death of Matteo Salvador. He pinched him to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

Other notifications were comments on the post by people who were interested in getting the sixty thousand dollar award.

“This must be the trouble Pascal's talking about.” Ash mused. He knew that if he stayed in his apartment, he'd be french toast.

All of a sudden, his door burst open and three men in green jackets, cut-off jean shorts and green baseball hats.

Ash groaned. Just what he needed, to be taken in by the Green gang. From their name, one would think they were climate change activists but that was far from the truth. They were called the Green gang because all they cared about was money which they termed 'green'.

They were loud and ruthless. Their leader, a short Black man who called himself Dinero said, “Yo! Ash man! Turn yourself in.”

Dinero wore green rimmed shades, and his cut off jeans where sagging from his slim waist.

Ash looked him up and down before replying, “I'm sorry man, but I won't. I thought we were brothers, we run these streets together. All of a sudden, you're going to rat me out to the cops. You ain't being loyal.”

Dinero laughed, “You got it all wrong. I was being loyal, right up until I saw the ton of green the cops were willing to dish out. Now, I suggest you come with us. I want to pick the girl up too.”

“No way, Dinero. I didn't kill that cop.” Ash said, trying to explain.

“That don't matter to us.” One of his thugs, whose chest hair connected to his thick beard, said.

Oh well, thought Ash. At least he'd tried to reason with them.

“Fine. Come get me.” Ash said.

The three men exchanged surprised glances. Obviously, they hadn't expected Ash to give in so easily.

“You serious, man?” Dinero asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

“Yeah. I'll go to the cops and tell them that I'm innocent.” Ash shrugged.

The other man who'd been quiet since they invaded Ash's house laughed, “You're stupid.”

“Hey! Don't dissuade the man.” Dinero shouted.

“Yes boss.” The man replied.

“Now, go secure him.” Dinero ordered. The man nodded and approached Ash.

“Now, Ash. No funny business or I'm pumping your bod full of lead.” Dinero threatened as they all brought out their firearms.

“None at all.” Ash assured good naturedly, holding his hands up.

The man nodded and forced Ash's hand down and put it behind his back. He was about to do the same thing to Ash's other hand when Ash twisted out of his grasp, and with a movement that was too fast for the human eye to follow, had his assailant in a death grip.

Immediately, Dinero and the other man pointed their guns at the duo.

“Ash, what's this? Thought you were gonna turn yourself in.” Dinero asked angrily.

“I lied, Dinero.” Ash ground out, pulling the man with him to a window that faced outside his apartment.

Dinero cocked his gun.

“Don't fire, boss. I'm gonna die.” The man Ash used as a shield sobbed.

Dinero tutted, “Sorry, bro. The green be callin' my name. Remember our motto; paper over all.”

Dinero fired, and at that exact moment, Ash forced the man to hit the floor. The bullet went out the open window and lodged in a streetlight.

“You should find another gang. Or better yet, join no gang at all.” Ash said to the man who looked at him with gratitude.

Before Dinero could fire again, Ash took a wooden chair that was near to him and threw at both men.

It hit them and bounced off but before they could fire, Ash had made his way out of his apartment, landing on a car parked just below his window and triggering its alarm system in the process.

The car began to beep loudly and Ash ran off, leaving Dinero and his men to peer out of his window.

*    *    *

Ash disappeared into a dark alley and pulled out his phone. He saw he had several missed calls from Capo, so he decided to return the call. On the first ring, Capo picked up, “Boss,” he said, “I saw the bounty on you. Where are you?”

“Running for my life. The Green gang have already come after me. Shots were even fired. More will come.” Ash said, making his way through the alley. He knew staying in one place for long was hazardous because he could be spotted at any moment.

“Boss, you don't have to do this on your own. Let me help.” Capo pleaded.

“I'm sorry, I must. The only way you can help me is by running the gang. Curbing Josiah Greenwood's activities in Ganghaven is our objective. Nothing, nobody, not even I can come in the way of that.” Ash said.

“Yes, boss.”

“If anyone asks where I am, just tell that you don't know. Tell them you don't know anything about the cop's murder. Okay?”

“Yes, boss. Stay safe.”

“I'll try.” Ash said as he hung up. He wondered how he'd get out of the mess he was in. One thing was for sure, it looked like someone had framed him and Jo for the murder of the dead cop.