Sunday, January 19, 2025

The Merger – 42

 


It was close to two in the morning when they heard a truck then saw the headlights as it came into the larger lot from the street. Both of them picked up their cameras but didn't move closer to use them until they heard the sound of the gate opening. Mike inched forward at that point, peering through the viewfinder. The semi was backing up to the loading dock. As it did, the roll-up door opened and two men stepped into view from the warehouse, silhouetted by the light behind them. One was burly, the other taller and thinner with dark blond hair.

The driver parked the truck, turned off the lights, then he and a second man came around the truck, leaping onto the dock to join the others.

"You're late," the taller man said.

"Yeah, I know, Leades. There was an accident on the freeway," the driver replied as he opened the rear door of the truck.

Mike was already recording the conversation, as well as taking pictures of the four men. The logo on the side of the truck said it belonged to a well-known trucking firm that various companies used to make deliveries, rather than having their own fleets. As the truckers and the burly man began unloading boxes, taking them into the warehouse, Leades watched, his arms crossed over his chest. "Be careful, damn it," he barked a couple of minutes later when one of the men, carrying a larger box, stumbled as he stepped out of the truck.

"Sorry," the man replied, but the look on his face said he'd rather have told him, "Fuck you."

"Did you get shots of the license plate and DOT number?" Mike asked Josh.

"Both of them," Josh replied, his words coming through Mike's earbud. "For pros, they got a bit careless. It's pretty obvious the DOT number's been altered, if you look closely—which with this camera is a breeze."

"I only buy the best," Mike said with a low chuckle. He thought for a moment then asked, "How would you feel about a change of plans?"

"Meaning what?" came Josh's whispered reply.

"I know a detective in the robbery division who would be real interested in what's going down here."

"You can get hold of him at this time of night?"

"Probably," Mike replied as he crawled away from the edge of the roof, bringing his bag and camera with him. He beckoned for Josh to do the same. When they were close to the fire escape, Mike got a cord from his bag, plugged it into his camera then his phone to transfer the photos he'd taken to the phone. He did the same with the ones Josh had gotten, then placed the call. He was transferred twice before reaching Detective Irvine.

"Why are you bothering me in the middle of the night, Mike," Irvine asked once Mike had identified himself.

"I thought you might be interested in someone who's receiving stolen goods. If you get your ass in gear, you can catch him in the act. Give me a second and I'll send you some photos."

"Go for it," Irvine replied, so Mike did. It didn't take long before Irvine asked, "Address?" which Mike gave him. "Stay where you are," Irvine told him, "and don't do anything stupid."

"Me?" Mike laughed softly.

"Yeah, you. I know you. I'll be there with back-up, ASAP," Irvine said before breaking the connection.

"He must really trust you," Josh said, still using his mic.

"I've given him good info before that he's acted on, so he knows I'm on the up-and-up. Now we sit and wait for the fun to begin."

It did, less than fifteen minutes later. Four squad cars pulled up silently behind the warehouse, disgorging officers, guns drawn. As Mike and Josh watched from their perch on the roof, the officers, led by Detective Irvine, approached Leades and his men.

"Stop what you're doing," Irvine called out. "Put your hands on the top of your heads and lace your fingers. You are under arrest for hijacking and robbery."

For a second, it seemed as if the men would resist. Then they obviously realized they were outnumbered and complied with Irvine's order. When he approached Leades, Irvine said, "David Leades, you are under arrest for receiving stolen goods."

Leades protested, saying, "I don't know what you're talking about. I purchased everything from a company that is going out of business."

"Told you he'd say that," Mike said to Josh. 

"Tell that to the judge when you're arraigned," Irvine replied as he had Leades put his hands behind his back so that he could cuff him.

The four men were escorted to two of the squad cars then would be taken, Mike knew, to the precinct house to be booked.

"Shall we go join the good detective?" Josh asked.

"You bet." Mike put everything back in his bag before they made their way down to the street then the lot behind Leades' Distributors.

"I should read you the riot act for not letting me know sooner what was going down," Irvine said with some asperity.

"I know," Mike replied. "But we didn't know if something was going to happen tonight or not. Everything we put together was conjecture, with no proof to back it up."

After instructing two of the officers to secure the truck and the warehouse, Irvine leaned against his car, looking at Mike and Josh. "Give me the short version of how you knew about this, when, and why." Mike did, with input from Josh. When they finished, Irvine said, "I want you down at the precinct first thing in the morning to give me a full report."

"It is the first thing in the morning," Mike pointed out, shutting up when Irvine didn't even smile. "Okay, we'll be there."

As he and Josh walked back to the car, Josh said, "Once again the mighty A and H Agency saves the day. And this time without any damage to life and limb."

"Thank goodness. Since he expects us there way too soon, I suggest we try to get some sleep."

"I agree, and you're driving, so at your place," Josh told him.

"Yep. And all we're doing is sleeping."

Josh rolled his eyes. "No duh. Who's got the energy for anything else? Oh, hell, there goes our Sunday…well, this morning's run."

Mike chuckled, putting his arm around Josh's waist. "I think we can postpone it until this afternoon."

"And break with tradition?"

"Josh, honestly…"

"Kidding," Josh replied. "Just kidding."

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