Johnny and I rolled on the warehouse where I had a meet set up. Hennessy was still sniffing around, looking for evidence that his brother wasn’t dirty. I’d offered up a reward for the wire tape, and wouldn’t you know it, money talked.
I was getting my hands on it today, from another employee of the NOPD, ironically enough. In this world, no one and nothing were ever what or who they seemed to be. The good guys weren’t all good and the bad guys weren’t all bad. Just one more lesson about life.
And why the fuck was I getting philosophical? I was here to get something Hennessy wanted, and then I was going to warn him off Valentina once and for all.
The warehouse was dark and quiet when I walked in. Abandoned twenty years ago after a main Mardi Gras parade route change, the old brick building still held random pieces of broken floats that had never been moved. It was very NOLA.
Gregory Herman waited inside, arms crossed, wearing thick-rimmed glasses that magnified his eyes. From the way he was jumping at every sound, he had to be hopped up on something, because there was no way he could be that nervous. Could he? A tech nerd at the precinct for less than a year, according to my sources, he didn’t do much fieldwork, but he was a savant when it came to computers and surveillance and all that shit.
Johnny was at my back as I approached Herman. “You alone?” I asked. I hadn’t taken the time to search the building, but that was the other thing that could have him so jumpy. “Because if you ain’t, you and whoever you brought are going to have a rather unpleasant evening.”
He shook his head violently, almost dislodging his glasses. Resettling them on his nose, he stuttered, “N-n-no, sir. Just me. I didn’t want anyone to know what I was doing.”
“Because you’re breaking the law and could end up in jail for doing this yourself.”
I wanted to make sure the consequences were clear to him before I handed over the money. I didn’t get the set-up vibe from him either.
“I guess. I mean, it’s just a file. It’s no big deal.”
His lack of remorse would be troubling to his superiors, but it was fine by me.
“Exactly. And you’re getting a decent bonus for your assistance. No harm, no foul.”
Herman nodded. “Right. Exactly.”
“So let’s hear it.”
“Hear it?” he asked.
“The recording.” At his confused expression, I added, “Did you think I’d pay for shit before I heard it? You could be scammin’ me, Herman, although I think you’re too nice a guy to be trying that.”
“I swear I’m not. It’s all here. I thought you’d want to listen to it in private. I mean, this could be big stuff. I don’t recognize the voices, so I’m not much help.”
“We’re listening to it now, and then we’ll both be on with our day.”
“Oh, okay. I guess that’s fine.” He pulled a USB drive out of his pocket. “Do you have a computer?”
Taking it from Herman, I turned to Johnny. He already had the laptop out and open in his hands. I slid the USB drive into place, found the file, and hit PLAY.
Static was all I heard at first, and then a conversation started.
“I told you I’m done.”
“And I told you I’m not. We’ve got at least three or four more runs before I’m going to be ready to call it quits.”
“You’re taking a lot of fucking chances, Hennessy.”
Well, fuck. We listened to the end of the recording, even though I didn’t need to hear any more to have my answers.
I held out a hand and Johnny placed an envelope in it.
“For your good work,” I said.
Herman grabbed the envelope and folded it in half before shoving it in his pants pocket. “Guess I’ll be on my way.”
“You do that.”
He left the warehouse, and I waited several long moments before my curse echoed through the room.
Fuck. As much as Hennessy was pissing me the fuck off right now with his dogged determination to get my woman, I didn’t want this for him. This wasn’t the kind of news I wanted to deliver to any person. It also wasn’t something I was going to keep from him.
“Let’s roll,” I said to Johnny before we turned to leave the warehouse. A shuffling sound caught my attention before we got too far. We both drew our guns in the direction of the noise before taking another step.
“Come out or you’re dead.” My tone was casual, but my words weren’t.
D-Rock materialized from the shadows.
“What the fuck are you doing back in town?” I demanded, lowering my piece.
He was lucky I didn’t shoot him instead. He was supposed to be laid up in his aunt’s guest room, not allowed to step foot in Louisiana again without my express permission. His recklessness had cost people their lives, and had caused me a huge pain in the ass.
“I needed to talk to you.”
“That’s what phones are for, genius.”
“Nah, man. I needed to get back here. Gotta see my girl.”
“Your girl is done with you. Most women don’t appreciate getting kidnapped and staying kidnapped for a week, and on top of that, they’re not big fans of being rescued by people who aren’t their man.”
“But I—”
“All you did was start a war. You need to get the fuck out of town before you cause me more trouble. Told you I didn’t want to see your face anytime soon.”
“But Trinity—”
“Is fucking going to art school, and she doesn’t need a gangbanger like you to fuck with her life any more than you already have. The girl is bright. She’s going places. You’re not what she needs.”