Captain H sat in a booth in the far corner of the Barely Bagels restaurant with his back to the wall, facing the front, and side entryways. His thick dark frame studying Mahdakis with bewildering interest as he picked a small clear bag up off the table. “What is it?”
“You’re the expert. You tell me.”
Captain H put his thick finger inside the tiny baggie with his black eyes darting every which way, and then tasted the white powder it contained. After a savory moment, he looked at Mahdakis with wide eyes. “Where did you get this?”
“I can’t tell you where it came from, directly. I don’t want to put two people at odds with each other over a harmless buy. That’s not important. What I thought might be important to you, was the fact that they were able to buy this in the first place, and right here under your nose.”
“Someone’s dealing my territory then, huh?”
“And without even setting foot on our soil.”
“He’s got a runner?”
“Sure does. There’s a middleman who runs back and forth, across the river, at a moment’s notice, to make these deals.”
“Do you know who that is?”
“Not only do I know, but I can tell you his name, address, and who he dates. You know why?”
“Mm.”
“Because he’s from our side of the bridge…It’s Some Other Old Dude.”
“Mm-hm…and you think Some Other Old Dude’s a defector, or an asshole double agent?”
“What I know is when and where his next drop is going to be. I thought maybe, being the professional you are, you’d like to talk to this enthusiastic entrepreneur yourself, you know, face to face like.”
“You thought right, Mahdakis my boy. So what’s your take? You want in on some of the action?”
“I need a favor in exchange for the info.”
“I’m all ears, Mahdakis,” he said, putting his tea down.
Captain H listened intently to the scheme that Mahdakis and Boodles had come up with, while daintily dunking his tea bag and taking an inquisitive sip every once in a while. When Mahdakis finished, Captain H sat still for a moment, absorbing everything, and then said reassuringly, “A charity fundraiser against gang violence, huh?”
“Well, after further consideration, Boodles and I thought it a more lucrative idea to make it a charity to help get kids off drugs, and maybe the gang violence thing, a secondary cause. I mean seriously, how much gang violence do we get here in Delaware? Sponsors are more likely to donate to a cause that affects them directly, like their children being hooked on something or another.”
“You want me to get their children hooked on drugs so they’ll support the charity event, is that it?”
“Mm…No. No, but that’s not a bad idea. Maybe we should stuff that in our pocket and save it for a rainy day.”
Captain H took another precarious sip of his tea then shoved a small plate in front Mahdakis. “Crumpet?”
“No thanks; I’m good.”
“You’re foolish, you know.”
“You don’t think this plan can work?”
“Oh I think it can work……but this lemon curd topping is quite a delectable little treat. You really don’t know what you’re missing.” Captain H took another bite, and, while wiping his hands on a napkin, continued, “So, let me see if I got this perfectly clear; this bogus anti-drug/anti-gang violence charity fundraiser is to be partially financed through the profits of a cocaine heist that will most likely cause two rival gangs to butt heads and spill blood into the streets?”
“Precisely.”
“You’re alright, Mahdakis, I like the way you think, you know that? Are you sure you don’t want a job? Maybe a front office type thing?”
“Let’s see how the music thing works out first.”
© 2012, 2014 Mark Rogers
Crimes Seen
(Book II)
In Case You Were Too Stoned
(A Retrospective)
The B.U.R.N.O.U.T.S. Chronicles 
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