THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BRAWL: A Colt Ryder Thriller by J.T. Brannan

Author:J.T. Brannan [Brannan, J.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grey Arrow Publishing
Published: 2024-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

We took the Lexus from the garage, McCadden in the passenger seat; there was no way he was fit to drive after drinking all day. My rental car was parked on a side road across the fields, on the other side of the trees I’d been hiding in initially; I’d have to come back for it some other time, or just hand the keys in, tell them where they could find it, and get myself another.

Another reason I wanted to be in the same car was so that I could keep an eye on him, make sure he didn’t have a change of heart; but as we chatted, I realized that he’d meant what he’d said back at the house. I guess he was through running.

“I can’t go back home,” he said. “My dad’ll kill me if he thinks I’m going to the cops, he did everything he could to get me out of this.”

“He spoke to the cops?”

“Of course he spoke to the cops. He couldn’t have his precious little Sammy getting sent down for murder,” he said bitterly. “Imagine the scandal, right?” He shook his head sadly. “I guess most people would be grateful, huh?”

“Maybe,” I said. “But I see where you’re coming from. You just want to make your own decisions, right?”

“Yeah,” he said, snapping his fingers, “that’s it exactly.”

“Who did your father speak to?” I asked. “Do you know?”

“He didn’t tell me outright, but he’s good friends with Dale Abbott, you know him? He’s the chief of police, he controls the whole department. Dad’s friends with the mayor too.”

I nodded my head. I’d assumed as much. When Kraus had complained of pressure from above, he hadn’t been joking.

“Okay,” I said, “so the way I see it, the MPD is compromised. I think we should go to the FBI instead.”

“The FBI?” he said, eyes wide. “You sure?”

“These fights, you know who controls them?”

“Sure, it’s some mob guys, right?”

“Right. The Chicago Outfit, which – being Illinois – means this is a crime which crosses state lines. And with other branches all over the east coast, this is a major criminal conspiracy, something the feds can really get their teeth into.”

Of course, Marcus McCadden might have contacts in the local FBI office too – and from my experience the feds weren’t above corruption – but it was a safer bet than the local PD, given what we already knew. Being a murder case, it might get thrown back to the regular cops anyway, but if they knew the feds were involved then they might treat the matter more seriously. I also wondered if the kid could even work some kind of deal with the FBI, providing intel on the organization in exchange for a reduced sentence. That way, he could tick all the boxes – admit what he’d done, take responsibility and serve some time, but also help shut down the brutal thing he’d been a part of. Actions that he could be proud of. It wouldn’t bring Michael back, but at least some good would come of it.

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