Tempting Fate

Tommy glides his car onto the highway; a horn blares behind him. Glancing in the rearview mirror he finds a diesel on his tail. "Oh, shit, oh shit, oh shit." Putting a death grip on the steering wheel, he punches the pedal to the floor. Tommy hears a deafening sound behind him as the trucker engages his brakes. Tommy glances in the mirror to find the truck is a distance away. Someone is watching out for me, he thinks as he slows to a normal speed. 

Tommy starts to relax when he sees something in the center of the road. Uncertain on what it is, Tommy eases off the gas. Getting closer he realizes there's a pile-up ahead. He downshifts through the gears as he slams on his brakes. The calipers lock causing him to skid into a ditch.

Tommy wakes up to find the paramedics, fire department and the police on scene. Remembering what's in the backpack, he quickly straightens up in his seat as he says," I can't be caught with that."

He tries to start the car, the engine clicks in response. Not now, he thinks. Jiggling the key, Tommy tries again only to get the same thing I knew I should've replaced the starter. He starts to turn the key the third time when he realizes the steering wheel is bound. Moving it back and forth, he tries again. The car sputters and then dies. You're not pulling that crap today. Tommy pushes on the gas, the car roars to life. "Thank god".

 He starts to put it into gear when he hears a tap on his window. Glancing over he sees an officer beside his car. He peeks over to find the backpack sideways on the floorboard but zipped up tight. The officer knocks again. They have to have a reason to search my things, besides, it'll look suspicious if I run now. He rolls down the window. "Can I help you, officer?"

"I want to make sure you're alright."

"I'm fine."

The officer notices the egg-shaped contusion on the side of his head. "Why don't you let a paramedic check you out just to be sure?" He starts to open the door.

Tommy pulls it closed. "I... I have to get back to work before I'm fired," he quickly explains.

"I'm sure your boss will understand."

"You don't know my boss." He nervously laughs.

"It'll only take a second." He starts to signal for a First Responder but soon realizes they're busy assisting the critical. "I'll tell you what, if you answer a few questions correctly, I'll let you go, alright?" He pulls a piece of paper from his pocket.

Tommy grabs it from his hand then says, "The day is Friday, it's 2019, and the president is Trump. Now can I go?" He holds the paper out his window. Taking the card, the officer steps away. "Thank you."

***

Pulling up to the crime scene, Rachel glances around. She first notices the vast amount of police cars encompassing the house. She then sees canines searching the yard. She's making her way through the tall grass when the Medical Examiner steps off the porch shaking her head. "That can't be good, Jerry." She points towards Sharron.

"Probably not. I'll talk to the officers, find out what's going on." Jerry heads across the yard, he says, darting the other way. 

Seeing the sergeant, Sharon walks out to greet her. "I've never seen anything so horrible in my life."

"What did you find?"

She thumbs behind her and says, "It's a massacre in there"

"What can you tell me about the victims?

"There are three. Mr. and Mrs. Harris and who we believe to be their grandson, John. My team is confirming his ID now. They were shot at close range early this morning."

"What sort of time frame are we looking at?"

"According to rigor and body temperature, I'd estimate the time of death between two and seven. I can narrow it down further once I get them to the lab."

"Thank you, Sharon." Rachel is heading towards the house when Jeff approaches her.

"I believe this is a drug sale gone wrong since the only thing that seems to be missing is the cocaine that was kept in the safe."

"Mr. and Mrs. Harris are drug users?" Rachel questions, picturing the sweet elderly couple in her mind.

"Not them, their grandson, John."

Rachel nods, "That makes more sense."

"I found a set of prints on the safe, I'm running them through the system."

"Keep looking, see what else you can find and let me know if you get a hit on the prints."

"Copy that."

"You've got to see this, sergeant, " Kirk yells. 

Rachel walks to the center of the yard where he's standing. "The dogs must've gotten a hold of the intruder." Taking a glove from his pocket, he bends down and picks up a small shred of tan material, inspects it, and says, "This came from some type of uniform."

"A delivery man maybe?"

"Or someone pretending to be."

 I want you to check the hospitals for anyone who was recently treated for a dog bite and have forensics analyze this." She points to the material.

"I'm on it, sergeant."

Jeff walks over to her. "Sergeant, I got a hit on the fingerprints. It belongs to John Harris, the homeowner's grandson.

"So, John and the grandparents got into a heated argument. John kills them and then kills himself."

"That's a plausible theory, sergeant, only the man on the floor isn't their grandson, his name is Charles Montgomery. He's known to have ties with Hernandez, a drug lord for the Mexican cartel."

"I'm very familiar with Hernandez and his crew." Too damn familiar. She's been trying to take them down since she first started on the force. A childhood vendetta she's yet to accomplish. "Did you find the grandson?"

"He and his car are gone."

"Was he even home when this occurred?"

"His bed looks slept in."

"So, John shoots the perp, takes what was in the safe and leaves?"

"Maybe he wanted to get rid of the drugs?"

"I want an APB out on him and his car. Start interviewing the neighbors, see what they can tell you."

"Yes, sergeant."

***

Tommy didn't want to do business with his old boss after all he had to go through to get out, but he's the only one Tommy can think of that would be interested in that much blow. The drugs should easily pay for all of Jen's operation and her aftercare. Now I have to figure out a way to make the money seem legit. Maybe I'll ask Hernandez, see what he suggests.

Pulling up to a rundown bar, he circles to the back. This establishment is one of many Hernandez uses to launder money. He spots his old boss's vehicle parked in the far corner. Relieved, he jumps out of his car. I'll go in, say hi to my pal's, talk to Hernandez and leave, he thinks as he nervously makes his way across the lot. He's halfway to the door when a gorilla looking goon runs out to greet him.

The man stops in front of him, crosses his arm. In a deep gritty tone he says, "You need to leave."

"I have something that Hernandez will be very interested in." Tommy taps his bag.

"He ain't here, and I'm not sure when he'll be back."

"Bullshit." Tommy tries to side-step around him. 

The man moves, blocking the door again. "I suggest you leave, now."

"I ain't going anywhere until I see Hernandez." 

Two larger men step up beside them. Each grabbing an arm, they escort him to his car.

"I advise you to leave before things turn ugly." One of the men says, shoving Tommy against the vehicle. "Understand?" He pushes him again.

"Look, man, I don't want any trouble."

"Then go."

"I need to talk to your boss; it'll only take a second."

"About what?"

"I have something that might interest him, found it in a safe." He opens the backpack and shows him the drugs. I'm willing to do him a solid."

"How do I know that this isn't a setup?" The man asks, anxiously glancing around.

"I wouldn't do that to my old boss."

Wrapping his fingers around his neck, the man shoves him against the car. "I know all his falcons and you ain't one of them So don't play that game with me."

"I... I used to work for him a few years back." Noticing the skeptical look, He continues. "Just tell him Tommy Campbell is asking for him."

The man quickly sizes him up. "So, you're the one he always talks about, huh?"

The man's glare and his tone make Tommy very nervous. "I.. I guess."

 Grabbing his gun from his waistband, he presses it against Tommy's head. 

"We have orders to take you out."