La Grandia Aftermath
Matthew Ryan Fischer
“So did you achieve what you set out to do?” Sonny asked Declan. “Did
you take down whatever part of The Dragons you wanted to take down? Settle some
old debt with somebody?”
“I don’t think it works like you think it works.”
“I know I bled for you. I know Kaylee risked her life for you.”
“And she got to lead a police raid that is leading to hundreds of
arrests.”
“Yes, hundreds of low-level thugs and bodyguards from a half dozen
different gangs. But I don’t see any bosses getting hauled out of there in
handcuffs.”
“No,” Declan sighed in agreement. “No, it doesn’t always work out
like we want it to.”
“So, was it worth it? What did we achieve?”
“We saved some lives. Maybe made sure a battle didn’t lead to an all-out
gang war.”
“That’s what you tell yourself?”
“That’s what I tell myself.”
“You fell like telling me the rest? I have no jurisdiction here. I’m
not going to get you in any trouble. I’m just curious.”
“You could tell any of my superior officers that I used to be a member
of the gang.”
“Yeah, but I haven’t yet. I came here and helped you, although I’m
not sure what I actually did. I think I deserve that.”
Declan thought for a moment, then nodded.
“My brother was in there. As was my nephew. I think they both made
it out.”
“So, we saved your family instead of stopping something bigger.”
“We did something important today. You might not believe it, but
we did. Countless people would have been killed if things had spiraled out of
control. We may not have arrested the top, but we crippled several organizations.”
“And your family escapes prosecution.”
“Yeah. They did. You can call me corrupt if you want, but I think
that’s a fair trade.”
“Does Kaylee know?”
“No. Not really. Some of it. Not much. She’ll think she did something
important. The bosses will think she did something important. In a couple months
as the families reorganize, she and I can start chipping away at them again.”
“Once your family is safe.”
“I really don’t know. They’ve had their chances to quit. I don’t
know what I’ll do.”
“You won’t achieve anything meaningful if you’re conflicted. As
long as they’re there, it will stop you. They’ll be in the way, stopping you
from making any real change.”
“Well, at least you won’t have to be here to watch me compromise
any more than I already have.”
“My cases aren’t closed.”
“Aren’t they? I thought the police in Bandung were satisfied and
wrapping things up.”
“Gideon has answers. The tattooed assassin was working for him.”
“Allegedly.”
“I saw them together.”
“Allegedly. You have any proof? And security footage from in
there? From Club B? You don’t have a case. And without the police sponsoring
your investigations, you have no authority here. You’re a vigilante working
outside the law.”
“Your department could request assistance from Interpol.”
“For what? We just arrested a building full of criminals. Nobody
knows who they worked for and nobody can prove it.”
“Just like that Gideon walks away?”
“Just like that? You know how the law works. You don’t get to
suspect someone and go after him. You want me to talk to my chief, I need
evidence, I need facts. Not your suspicions.”
“I bend the law for your family, but I get nothing.”
“I’m sorry. I am. I’ve got your number. If something changes…”
“I won’t hold my breath.”
“You want to stick around, get a beer or something?”
“No. I think the sooner I’m out of this town, the happier I’ll be.”
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