Page 28 of A Pawn for Malice
When he was a detective, they workedtirelessly and proficiently, cracking homicide cases and cleaningup the streets. His team had worked with the Justice Department tocreate a cease fire with the area gangs. The city streets werebeing ripped by gun violence. A week never went by without someonebeing gunned down in broad daylight.
Dante was a leader of one of the most violentgangs in Albany, known as the Jungle Gangsters’. After threemembers of his own family were gunned down, including his youngwife and five-month old daughter, he agreed to help stem thebloodshed, after Bryan reached out to him.
Their rapport was still strong, six yearsstrong at working together and slowly making changes. Bryan hadgained a valuable insight into the culture of violence that plaguedhis city. Kids as young as ten and eleven, were being sworn inunder the mentality they needed to, in order, to survive on thestreets.
Bryan’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, and herecognized the landmark silhouettes around the port, where he andDante always met. He pursed his lips and whistled, a sound, thatonly Dante would be familiar with. Within a matter of seconds,Dante returned the call and stepped out of the shadows. He spoke inSpanish, since he knew that Bryan would understand.
“Hey, hombre. It has been too long?”
Bryan reached him in three steps, extendedhis hand, and pulled him in, as they bumped shoulders ingreeting.
“I hear you have a new wife and twins. Youare well?”
“I have been blessed, yes. One day we willmove from here. But, my friend, you are here for a reason,yes?”
Bryan smiled and cut to the chase,replying.
“There was an incident a few weeks ago at myoffice. Have you heard anything about it by now?”
The gang leader gave one shake of his headand shrugged nonchalantly.
“If you do –“
Dante interrupted. “I will let you know.”
Bryan had no reason to think, that Dantewould withhold any information from him. Their relationship wasbuilt on years of trust, of borderline working the system, so thatlives could be saved, so that the inner-city kids had a betterchance of growing up to be successful and productive adults.
They shook hands and departed withoutexchanging any other words.
Once Bryan entered his car, he checked thetime on his cell. It seemed much later than 6 p.m. Once the clockswere changed, it got darker earlier and soon it would beThanksgiving. He thought of Jessica and a craving to hear her voicewashed over him. He called her line at the office and theconnection was immediate, as she answered right away.
“Hello, this is Jessica.”
“Hey, it’s Bryan.”
“Did you just remember, that you forgot yournotes for your meeting with Sen. Talbot tomorrow?”
Bryan smiled inwardly. She had only beenworking with him a few weeks now, and she knew him well. He hadtotally forgotten about his notes, but used it as an opportunity todraw her out.
“As a matter of fact, yes. You wrapping upthere?”
“I am. I can stay though, if you’re comingback.”
“Do me a favor, grab my notes and meet me fordinner. I’m starved, I know you barely took a break today, and wecan go over them together?”
There was only a short pause, before shereplied.
“Where do you want to meet up?”
“I’m just a few blocks away. I’ll meet youout front and drive you back to your car later.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
---
She had just hung up her phone, when her linerang again, and she chuckled, figuring it was Bryan.
“Did you forget something else?” Shechuckled.
