Chapter One: The Raid Part Two

…As the man in the grey raincoat opened chest draws and poked about, his suspects eyed his every movement.

“What’s your name, boy?” he grilled in a gruff voice, facing them.

“Chris Rhodes,” he replied. Though appearing in control, inside his stomach had turned to jelly. His mind raced. He’d seen the interrogator before. But where?

“And yours, Miss?”

“Janis Boyd.”

Glancing about the room, he then peered at Rhodes. “How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“What’s your age, Miss Boyd?”

“Seventeen.”

“You look younger.” Sneering at Rhodes, he yowled, “Have you been having sex with this girl?”

“Yes, but not here.”

Realising his response may have been too forthright, Rhodes’ trepidation increased.

Narrowing his eyes at Janis, the prober pushed, “How old were you when you first had sex with him?”

“Still seventeen.”

“Mmmm,” he muttered, curling up his top lip derisively, then resumed scouring the room.

“Why don’t you take the back off the portable radio?” Rhodes suggested, neglecting his inner turmoil.

“Been searched for drugs before, have you?”

“No, but it’s an obvious hideaway.”

Not quite true, but now was not the time to disclose anything. Previously, he had come across the inquisitor!

“Don’t test me with a know-it-all attitude, lad.” Pursing his lips threateningly, Rhodes felt the punch of his displeasure. “You could get into a lot of trouble.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“No, but I have to take out my wrath on someone.” Ceasing his forage, he said, “You’re just visiting this apartment, aren’t you?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Where are Morris, Curcio and Harley?”

“Dave Harley is away for the weekend. Bob Curcio and Dai Morris have gone to get some provisions.”

“Were you surprised when you opened the front door to me, and I introduced myself?”

“Why should I have been, Detective Sergeant Tadman?”

“You didn’t put two and two together, and conclude it was a drugs bust?”

“No.” He lied, but it was a convincing lie.

“We’ve been monitoring this apartment for some time, noting the goings-on and the visitors. Some are known pushers, but before closing in we wanted to establish the complete ring.”

“Complete ring?” Rhodes tested, regaining a modicum of mastery.

“Yes, it’s not just the minnows we’re after. We want the big cheese as well.”

“I see. But has your inspection revealed any drugs in this apartment?”

“Not yet.”

“Perhaps there are none to be found.”

“Oh yes,” he retorted, his lineaments saturated in a got-you expression. “Then how do you explain the odour of cannabis in this room? Smells like a Turkish tram driver’s jockstrap.”

Before Rhodes could answer, Tadman’s walkie-talkie crackled into life. Putting the receiver to his ear, he then responded. “Right. Got that. Out.”

Facing the accused, he instructed, “Tell Curcio and Morris, I’ll be back. They’re still on the hook.”