Cardboard Cottages last night. Suspected overdoses. Don't know if those three are related to Grey Death yet but the coroner had two John Does OD this weekend. Both are waiting tox, but according to witnesses, they bought GD, split the buy and died within minutes of toking up. Who do you know in the Southwest District?"
"Detective Kyle McBride. Straight shooter. He's been a detective working Southwest Vice for about five years now."
"Can you trust him?"
"Absolutely." His best friend had always had his back, and he had Kyle's.
"Take a trip, do this in person. I want to know what the scoop is with those three that OD'd and if their deaths are related to what we've got coming in from Peña's airmail delivery."
"You got it. Do we have background on the people who bought the two houses we are putting under surveillance?"
"No. After they pull up the blueprints, I'll put the three stooges on that." Terrell chuckled. "She seems to have gelled with Rayburn and Watson well enough."
"She's good with people."
"Must be if you're walking up to the plate and swinging that bat again."
"Plan on making a home run this time." Brody was going to do his damnedest to make that happen.
"Well hell, I'm rooting for you, but don't strike out and throw a temper tantrum in my ball field."
"Never happen, Cap." Brody smiled and stood up. "Heading to the Southwest."
"I'll send you that email directing you to stand-by on that paperwork. If you don't need it, delete it."
"Roger that." He watched his captain open the file holding the statements before he headed down the hallway to the bullpen. That email would be deleted the second he saw it in his in box. Standing on his own decisions was a lesson he'd learned early and well. The captain had enough to worry about. HR forms were the least of his issues. There was the upcoming “talk” with Anderson. He didn't envy the man. Being a leader was a balancing act. Balancing respect, authority, both earned and given, and the demands levied upon his shoulders by his superiors wasn't easy. Terrell was an excellent leader, and the pressure he protected the team from was unrelenting. Such stress would lay lesser men to waste.
He made eye contact with Amber. A slight nod in her direction was all he could do, but it was enough. She smiled and turned back to her animated conversation with Rayburn. A laugh from Rayburn and Watson tipped his lips north. The three stooges. Yeah that fit.
He called Kyle as soon as he started his truck.
The man picked up on the second ring. "What up?"
"Hey, do you have any intel on the three suspected ODs at the Cardboard Cottages last night?"
Wind crackled through the phone. "I'm there now. Why?"
"Give me time to get there, and I'll let you know."
"Damn it, Brody, these people don't need any more shit to deal with. Please tell me you're not going to bust up their encampment with some massive multi-jurisdictional sweep."
"Nah, nothing like that. I'll be there in thirty."
"I'll still be here. Lots of eyes and nobody has seen shit."
"Isn’t that the way it always flows?"
"True. True. I'll see you when you get here."
Brody shoved his phone back in his pocket and rubbed his face as he waited for the stoplight to turn from red to green. On impulse, he grabbed his phone again and hit up Blay.
"Sorry, man." Blay's comment was out as soon as his phone stopped ringing.
His shoulders relaxed, and he nodded even though his brother couldn't see him. "Yeah, me, too. You know you have a place with me as long as you want, right?"
"Yeah, but if you were serious about the third apartment, I'll take you up on it. I can work on it while I'm saving for my own place," Blay's voice echoed.
"Are you in the apartment now?" Brody hit his blinker and merged onto the interstate on ramp.
"Yeah. Wanted to check it out. Real nice." Blay whistled. "When did you tile the shower?"
"Two weekends ago. You were working." Brody accelerated onto the interstate and merged into the middle lane.
"Nice. Maybe I'll buy this from you and forget about looking for a place."
Brody blinked and then smiled. "Dude, that's a great idea. It's the largest of the three apartments. The other two take care of the payment on the building. I'll cut you a break if you agree to help me with the upkeep of the building and do the rest of the work on the apartment