In Black and White Ch. 03

The chronological order of my stories is now listed in WifeWatchman's biography.

Feedback and constructive criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.

This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.

Part 11 - Breaking the Cases

"Jayne Hallerton's cell is pinging off the tower nearest her home." Myron informed me.

"Thanks, Myron." I said. Hanging up the phone, I said "Okay, Teresa, take a team and bring in Jayne Hallerton. Person of interest in the disappearance of Priscilla Dejeune. I've called ADA Franklin Washington to get a warrant; get with him on that."

"Yes sir." Teresa said. She was moving with a purpose as she left my office.

I called the Duty Desk. "Who is with the Dejeunes in the Pastor's Room?" I asked.

"Mrs. Williams, Reverend Doctor Martin, Cal and Drusilla Romano, and Charles Macland." said the Sergeant. "And Coach Grimes just came in with several BTWHS football players, and the Principal is here as well. And Mike Todd, who says he's Grimes's lawyer."

"Ask Mike Todd to step down to my office, please."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"We didn't have a choice, Commander." said Mike G. Todd after I'd had him sit down and let him look around the office, as visitors were wont to do upon their first visit. "ADA Patterson was adamant about it, which really surprised me. I did have one conversation with her before they brought Grimes in. When I brought up that the Coach was just helping some near-homeless kids, she said the law was the law and she didn't give a damn about his intentions."

"Wow." I said. "So why did Grimes take the deal? He could've gotten a hung jury, or even a jury nullification."

"I know, and I told him that." said Mike. "I got the sense he was tired of the whole thing, and just wanted to get it overwith. He gets to retire, he'll have his pension."

"Ask him to step down and see me, if you would..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Police cars came to near-screeching halts at the Hallerton home. Lt. Croyle led a team of Officers, all of them wearing bulletproof vests. Mr. Hallerton answered the door.

"Is Jayne Hallerton at home?" asked Lt. Croyle.

"Why do you want to know/' Mr. Hallerton said defiantly. Teresa matched his attitude as she held up a document.

"This is a warrant to bring her to the Station as a person of interest in the disappearance of Priscilla Dejeune." said Teresa in her most vicious 'Teresa Cunt' voice. "This warrant gives the right to search this home for her, as well. Now do we need to do that, or will Jayne cooperate with us?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Have a seat, Coach." I said, indicating the sofa. "Would you care for some coffee? Water?"

"No thank you." said Grimes, sitting down. I pulled up a hot chair to sit next to the sofa.

"Coach, I'm sorry about what has happened, here." I said. "But why did you take that ridiculous deal?"

Grimes looked at me for a second, then said "First of all, Commander, I appreciate you taking charge of that game when the fight began. I told my players when we got back to our locker room at our school that you are the decisive leader I hoped they would all become."

"I appreciate that." I said. "But what about your example? Why didn't you fight the injustice?"

The coach sighed. "I don't know if you'll understand. I think you're a man of Justice, whether it is criminal justice or racial justice. But you're just one man, as am I. After my wife died, I took on the role of football coach as well as teacher. I wanted to instill good values in my students, especially the players. I wanted them to have a chance to overcome the obstacles that are constantly put in front of my people, with only a rare few like you helping to knock those obstacles down... but I realized that my time is over, that I can't contribute to the cause any longer."

"Forgive me if I disagree with you, Coach." I said. "You're respected, you're a leader, and you've built up some really good things---"

"And it's time to pass the torch, let others do it." said the Coach. I could see lines of exhaustion etched upon his features, and I knew it was more than just physical exhaustion. "We've got a missing kid. We've got half this County that I really thought wanted to lynch my players last night. We were all genuinely scared for our lives last night. Commander, I don't know how you do it, you and your people going right into that crowd like you don't have a care in the world. And again, I am grateful to you for it. But... I just wonder if all I've done has been for nothing."

I knew what he was feeling. Even after Westboro sat dead beside me in that helicopter, I knew that someone would rise to replace him... and at that moment only hoped that someone would rise to replace me. The battle was never-ending.

"I understand, Coach." I said. "For me, it's a fight worth fighting, even for just the sake of fighting it. But I can't ask the same of you... you've fought the battle much longer than I have."

"I wish you well in your fight." said the Coach. "I hope it's all right if I and some of my players wait for news of Benny in the Pastor's Room. Do you think there's any hope for him?"

"Until we actually find him dead," I said, "I will always keep hope alive for him." The Coach nodded. We got up, shook hands, and he left the office.

And I knew I had just heard a man pronounce a death sentence upon himself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"She's in Interrogation-Bravo." said Teresa. "Officer Green is with her. Her parents followed us here."

"Any trouble with them?" I asked.

"Her dad gave us some talk, asked us why we were doing this, all that stuff." Teresa said. "But they didn't give us any real trouble."

"Okay, let's go talk to Ms. Hallerton." I said.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The anteroom contained a mighty curious Police Chief, Police Captain, and FBI Special Agents as I went into Interrogation-B with Lt. Teresa Croyle and FBI Special Agent Sandra Speer.

"Hello, Jayne." I said to the beautiful, tall blonde. "My name is Commander Troy, and you've met Lt. Croyle. And this is FBI Special Agent Sandra Speer."

"The Iron Crowbar himself?" Jayne asked, her voice full of wonder. "Look, I haven't done anything, especially nothing to have you coming after me!"

"Jayne," I said, "What I am after is information... information that will lead to finding your friend Priscilla Dejeune alive. Time is beginning to run out if she doesn't have any access to water. I am hoping you can help me."

Jayne looked nervous, so I asked "When was the last time you saw Priscilla?"

"Uh, that'd have to be Wednesday." said Jayne. "She and I went to Rex Rutherford's place and hung out with him."

"Didn't see her Thursday?"

"No, I think it was Wednesday." Jayne said.

"Interesting." I said, almost to myself. "Okay Jayne, let me ask you something else. You're a scholarship basketball player for the University team, yes?"

"Uh, yes." Jayne said.

"Are you getting any extra money from any boosters?" I asked.

"No, sir."

"Any extra money at all? Maybe from a part-time job?"

"No sir." said Jayne. That caused me to look up and peer hard at her, disquieting her.

"Jayne..." I said, "there is an account in the City into which eight deposits of $1000 have taken place. You are known to have taken out $100 withdrawals at a time, about a total of $3600 worth. How do you explain that?"

"Uh... I think I want a lawyer now." Jayne said.

"So be it." I replied. "Lt. Croyle, call Jayne's parents and tell them that she needs a lawyer, and a damn good one..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Would he lay low? Or would he try to run? That is the question."

Eddy the Bounty Hunter was the one making the remark as he sat in his older-model Buick. In the passenger seat was Callie Carrington, gorgeous blonde porn star.

"College football is being played today." said Callie. "Think Jaime might try to make some book on the games today? Especially to get out of the hole he's in for last night's game?"

"All those looks and brains too!" said Eddy, making Callie smile brightly. He got out his cellphone and made a call. "Hi Joey, I need some help... if I wanted to make book with Jaime Silver himself, how would I do that?... No, you can figure out what I'm asking here... Yes, the Iron Crowbar did help you out, you didn't lose anything, did you?... okay, yeah, that's the number? Okay, thanks, Joey."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I'm totally shocked at this." said David Krueger as I watched him type at his console in his cubicle in the office next to Cindy's. "But that number is pinging off a cell tower right there in the Kensington District."

"One of my favorites." I said. "Okay, let me put this to work. David, this is one of those where I didn't ask, you didn't answer, and we'll just forget about that number, okay?"

"What number is that, sir?" David asked.

"I have no idea. Let's keep it that way." I replied. I went upstairs and got out my burner phone.

Part 12 - Breaking the Perps

At 2:00pm, Jayne Hallerton's lawyer arrived. Mr. Fowler, of Succup & Payne, P.C., had been Cassie Sanderson's lawyer from the 'Hot Wife Photos' case. He'd talked to Jayne; now we were ready to get to business.

With Teresa seated beside me, I said "First, I'm going to read you your rights, Ms. Hallerton." I did so from the card, and Jayne said she understood them.

"Okay, Jayne," I said, "we know you've been taking money out of what appears to be a dummy account set up to anonymously transfer funds to you. There have been a number of deposits to that account by someone else, and only you have taken money out. So, are we dealing with a booster paying a University sports star? Or is this some sort of prostitution? What's the answer, Jayne?"

"I'm not a prostitute!" Jayne said angrily. "And it's not money from boosters. We get that in other ways." Mr. Fowler frowned at that admission, but said nothing.

"Okay," I said, "Jayne, do you know a man named Charles Macland?"

Jayne's face fell. My gaze was relentless.

"I need to talk to my lawyer." Jayne said.

"Sure." I said. "But you and your lawyer should both know that time is running out for Priscilla, so you better be ready to come correct on the answers. Because if Priscilla dies..." I let that hang in the air as I got up to go.

"Wait." said Jayne. "What will you offer me?" I sat back down.

"Full immunity from prosecution." I said. "You get to go back to School, you get to play basketball on scholarship, as long as I nail the bastard and find Priscilla."

"Okay." said Jayne. "Yes, I know Charles Macland. He likes to fuck fresh young virgins. He pays me, and maybe other girls, a thousand bucks if we bring him a virgin girl and he deflowers her."

"You brought him Priscilla?" I asked.

"Yes." said Jayne. "On Thursday. I picked her up after school, making sure to pick her up in an area Charles told me about, where he said there wasn't any camera coverage. I took her to the Friendship Inn, which is across the street from the Sunrise Hotel. Some Indian guy runs it; it's a seedy as shit place."

"I know it." I said. "So you took Priscilla there?"

"Yeah." said Jayne. "I'd been buttering her up, prepping her. She sucked off Rex Rutherford on Wednesday, then watched me have sex with Rex. I told her we were going to meet Rex again, then gave her a cherry coke, which was spiked.

"So what happened?" I asked.

"We went, Charles came in, then he told me to leave. Priscilla was buzzed from the drink, but I think she resisted him. I didn't stop, I just walked away, got in my car, and got the hell out of there."

"And you've done this other times?" I asked. Jayne nodded.

"I got a couple of girls I knew in college to go through with it." Jayne said. "One, I promised some of the money. Charles told me not to promise them anything, and to let it be a surprise, so the next time I did what I did with Priscilla. I never saw that other girl, the one I paid, at School again; word was that she dropped out and went back home."

"Okay, Ms. Hallerton." I said. "To be immunized, you still have to go through booking, mug shot, fingerprints, the works. Then your lawyer can take you out of here, and the D.A.s office will give him the full paperwork." With that, I got up to go.

When I got to the anteroom, the people in there went off on me.

"WHY did you give her full immunity?" Cindy asked, her face showing her sheer disbelief. The others wanted to know the same.

"People, we've got to find this girl!" I shot back. "Jayne Hallerton will fuck up in the future, and I will be right there. But for now, all I care about is nailing Macland and finding this girl in time!"

"All right, folks," said Chief Moynahan, "cut the Iron Crowbar some slack, here. Mr. Crowbar, that was probably more of a price than I would've been willing to pay for that information... but I understand your priorities."

Cindy was staring at me as we left the anteroom and went down the hallway. And it was then that I realized something that had happened earlier...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Okay, here's the place." Eddy said, seeing what looked like a normal home in the subdivision. In truth... it was the house where Michelle Schelle had met her Destiny in the hot tub in back, in 'The Swap' case. "I don't suppose you'll wait in the car?"

"You're even asking?" Callie shot back. "Besides, I'm the one with the TASER."

"Good point." They got out of the car and quickly went up the driveway on the right side of the house. Going around back, they saw the patio door was open. Coming up to it, Eddy looked inside.

"He's in the office just off the front room." whispered Eddy. "I don't see any security." Taking out his gun, he led the way in.

Inside the once-library, now office, Jaime Silver was taking calls and making book on the incoming bets. "Okay, University minus the points. All right." Tony the security man was also in the room.

"Okay, I should at least climb out of the hole--- what the fuck?"

Eddy had rushed in and injected the TASER into Tony. Subdued, the man's wrists were swiftly zip-tied behind his back, as Callie held Eddy's gun on Jaime.

"Why, Callie Carrington, as I live and breathe." Silver said evenly. "I didn't think you were the violent type."

"I'm not." Callie said. "And I don't want to start now, so be a good boy, okay?" Eddy came around and zip-tied Silver's hands behind his back. Once secured, Callie went and got the car, backing it down the driveway meant for an RV. Soon Jaime Silver was in the trunk. Police would be called to the home, and would find Tony and a lot of bookmaking paraphernalia...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Charles Macland stepped into the hallway, stretching his arms and legs. He walked up towards the Duty Desk, and was stunned to see Jayne Hallerton's parents in the waiting room off the front lobby.

Going out, he came up to them. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked.

"They brought Jayne in, in connection with Priscilla Dejeune's disappearance." said Mr. Hallerton. "What about you?"

"Oh," said Macland, "I'm sitting with Priscilla's parents on the other side. If you sign in, you can go speak to them. Oh! I just remembered, I've got to get something out of my car... excuse me a moment.

Macland rushed out the front door and down the sidewalk to the parking lot that was on the right side of Headquarters as one faced the front door. As he approached his Mercedes car, he saw too late the blonde standing by the driver's side door of his car... tapping a green crowbar in her hands.

"Going somewhere, Mr. Macland?"

"Er, yes, I have some official business I need to attend to, if you'll excuse me."

"No, I won't excuse you." Captain Cindy Ross replied. "You're not going anywhere, Mr. Macland."

Macland turned around as if to run... and found Sergeant Rudistan's bulk blocking his way, Senior Patrolman Morton right behind him.

"Oh, I wouldn't try to run, sir." Rudistan said jovially. "Running away from people with crowbars is not a very smart thing to do in this County, not at all..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jaime Silver found himself inside an empty, unrented space in a strip mall. He was seated on a chair, his hands still secured behind him. In the dim light, he looked up to see the beautiful blonde in front of him, holding a large syringe half-full of a black liquid, with a long needle protruding from it.

"Know what this is, Jaime?" Callie said. "It's acid. If I put a piece of meat into it, the meat would dissolve. And what I'm going to do... is inject this into your balls, if you don't tell me where Benjamin Hill is."

"What's that to you?" asked Silver.

Eddy was right behind Silver. He whispered "We get the reward money for finding him. Now are you going to tell us?..."

"...Or are you going to scream as your balls dissolve?" asked Callie, coming up to him, the syringe pointed between Silver's legs. As she approached, Silver said nothing.

"He's not talking, babe." said Eddy. "Let him have it." With that, Callie opened Silver's pants, exposing his cock and balls under his boxers. Callie grabbed his balls, squeezed hard enough to be felt, then began bringing the syringe to Silver's nutsack."

"All right, all right!" Silver cried out. "I'll tell you!"

Callie paused. "I'm listening."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Having been put through booking, Charles Macland sat in Interrogation-1. "I want a lawyer." he said.

"I don't think you understand, Charles." Cindy said. "I am less interested in prosecuting you than finding Priscilla. Look, I know what happened... Jayne brought you a girl, and you and Priscilla knew each other. Maybe you panicked, but she's missing... and if we don't find her in time, I'm going to tell her father what happened, give him my crowbar, and let him in here. Now you tell me where she is if you want any chance of surviving this."

Macland considered his options. They were few, and unpleasant.

"All right, I'll tell you, in exchange for immunity."

Cindy shook her head. "Once again, Mr. Macland, you are showing a complete lack of understanding, here. Immunity? If you don't tell us where she is and she dies, then you'll be facing the death penalty. And we will find her, eventually."

Seeing the skeptical look on Macland's face, Captain Ross continued: "We have a confession from at least one woman that procured virgin girls for you, and we'll find others. We have proof that you've set up dummy accounts around the State to pay those women to procure those girls. So... what's it going to be, Macland?"

"Give me something." said Macland. "Chance at parole. But something."

"Give me a location," Cindy said, "and I hang on to my crowbar instead of letting Mr. Dejeune borrow it. And if you think I'm playing, just consider who the man is that gave me the crowbar."

Macland blanched. And he broke down. He gave a location. Cindy wrote it down and handed it to Rudistan, who had come in at her signal.

"It had better be valid, Mr. Macland." said Cindy.

"It is." said Macland.

"I just have one question... why?"

Macland said "In the hotel room, when Jayne brought her in... we recognized each other immediately. As we talked, I realized Priscilla was buzzed. So I came onto her, but she resisted, tried to get away. I knew I had to hold her somewhere so she didn't go running to her parents about me. I was going to go home and pack and run somewhere far away from here, then call in anonymously and tell the Police where Priscilla is. But the Dejeunes called me, and asked me to come over, saying that Priscilla was missing... and I knew that if I ran, I'd immediately be a suspect."