Latoya: Episode X – Hidden Assassin

 

 

I put the pack of photos on Captain Donald’s desk and shook my head.

“Our crazy visitor is not among that lot,” I said.

 Captain Donald puffed at his cigarette, and his fingers were tapping on the worn surface of his desk.

 “We still could not figure out who he was. My boys don’t know him. He is a complete mystery here. You think he meant business, don’t you?”

 “Oh yes – he does. He was  high on some drugs, and I am surprised he didn’t shoot us there and then.”

 Jamal, a tough black guy who was a Jamaican immigrant, showed tobacco stained teeth in a hard smile. He was one of the police officers Captain Donald had assigned to me as a bodyguard.

 “Don’t worry, Emeka,” he said. “I’ll take care of him if he starts any trouble.”

 I looked at my Omega wrist watch. The time was ten minutes after eleven.

“Well,” I said. “Keep your eyes open, Jamal. He might start any minute now.”

Captain Donald said, “I suggest you should stay here until we pick him up.”

“I have a different idea,” I replied. “The quickest way to get him is for me to show myself on the street. Then if he starts something, your boys can simply take care of him.”

Captain Donald don’t like the idea.

“You stay here until it is dark,” he said. “No need to show yourself in daylight. That would make it too easy for him. We may have arrested him by then.”

What he said made a lot of sense.

“I guess you win,” I said. “You guys wouldn’t give me a gun, will you?”

Captain Donald and Jamal exchange glances.

“Do you have a gun license?” Captain Donald asked.

“Of course I do,” I replied. “Though a foreign student and aspiring journalist, I still have to defend myself, don’t I?”

“Then we have no choice than to get you a gun,” Captain Donald said, looking over at Jamal. “Get him a gun, will you? And don’t forget to watch him, for you are now responsible for him.”

“Yes, sir,” Jamal said, looking as if the responsibility is weighing him down. He got to his feet and said to me, “What kind of gun do you want - Colt .38 Special or a Luger?”

“I’ll have a Luger,” I replied. “That would give me a lot of confidence.”

“Have a Browning,” Jamal said jokingly. “We’ve got one in our armory.”

“A Luger will do.”

While he was out of the room, I told Captain Donald about the guy with the tattoo in his forehead. He made notes while he listened to my story and then said he would send a man down to talk to Stephen.

“We should be able to get some information about him,” he said. “My boys are after the gold bracelet with a tiny triangle-shaped object and we are getting LaToya’s picture in the papers. By the way, she wasn’t one of the girls in the Hollywood, California troupe. Yes – we located the agent who got Breonna Adams and the other girls the job in Hollywood, California, and he couldn’t identify her picture.”

Looking at the pile of papers spread out on his desk, he said, “I’ll have to get on with my other work, Emeka. You go downstairs and wait. The boys downstairs will take care of you. However, I want you back here at around five o’clock so we will work out a campaign for tonight.”

I said I would and went downstairs where I ran into Jamal coming from the armory. He handed me a Luger and a clip of ammunition.

“Have you handled a gun before?”

“Yeah,” I said, “but give me lots of room. I haven’t be practicing shooting in a very long time.”

“In that case, be careful,” Jamal said. “I suggest you leave him to me.”

“Only if you see him first,” I said.

I found Medgar in a room with a high barred window, sitting in a table, scowling at his portable electric typewriter. Sitting by the door was Bruce, Medgar’s bodyguard, a tough-looking cop who looks like an Irishman.

“How are you doing, pally?” I asked Medgar.

“I just can’t focus on my writing when I’m expecting to be shot at any moment,” he replied. “That’s how I’m doing.”

Bruce laughed.

“He thinks I can’t protect him from the assassin’s bullet,” he said. “I keep telling him he is safe here with me but he won’t believe me.”

“I’ve never trusted a cop,” Medgar said, “and I never will.” He then looked at me. “What’s up?”

“Baltimore Police got my back,” I replied. “We are waiting until it’s dark. That’s when the whole action begins. As soon as it’s dark, we’ll go out and set a trap for the gunman.”

Medgar’s eyes popped.

“I don’t follow,” he said. “What do you mean – a trap?”

“Well,” I said. “The plan is simple: you and I will walk, side by side, around town, hoping he’ll spot us. And, if he starts something, these guys here will fill his body with lead.”

“I can’t believe you fell for this crazy idea, Emeka,” Medgar said. “Suppose they miss him?”

I pulled out the  Luger and flourished it.

“Then I’ll take him down with this Luger,” I said. “Everybody in Baltimore knows  they shouldn’t mess with Emeka.”

Bruce and Jamal laughed, but Medgar recoiled.

“Put that away, Emeka,” he said. “That’s how accidents happen.” He then leaned forward and said, “Who told you I’m going to go with you on this stunt of yours anyway? I gotta tell you now: I’m not going out on this street after dark – especially not after the warning from that crazy guy. I’m will be right here in this room until he’s caught. If you want to be a hero, go ahead and have fun. Like the Jews says, mazel tov (good luck). But, I’ll be right here in this room.”

I looked helplessly at Bruce and Jamal.

“See what I have to put up with?” I said. “Our friend here have no balls.”

“What are you worried about, Mr. Medgar?” Bruce said to Medgar. “We got your back.”

“I’m staying right here,” Medgar said firmly. “And, don’t try to convince me because it won’t work.”

I sat down.

“Take it easy, Medgar,” I said. “Let’s do some work.”

“I don’t mind working,” he replied. “That’s why Mr. Sessoms is paying me. But I will not be used as a bait for a trap. I’ve got a wife and a dog, Emeka. You seem to forget that always.”

“Alright, Medgar,” I said. “No worries. I’ll do it alone. But you’ll do more on the writing part.” I lit a cigarette. “Now, let’s get you started on this story.”

 

 

END OF EPISODE 10

P.S. Stay tuned for Episode 11, which  will be published here next Sunday.