Cauldron

Cops were coming out and others were going into the precinct; it was the end of the day shift and the start of the night shift. A tall lanky cop, in street clothes, coming out hailed another shorter heavier cop in uniform also coming out. “Hey Harrison, just checking that everything’s still good for Friday Night?”

Harrison paused and made an act of thinking for a moment, “Uh, Evan, what’s up Friday night?”

Evan casually slapped him on the shoulder, “Yeah, right, big joke, forgetting your bachelor party at the Cauldron.”

“Oh yeah, right.”

“You do remember you’re marrying my sister, Emily?”

Harrison smiled, “I’m counting the hours.”

“Good.” Evan paused, “I promised my dad I’d protect my little sister and now, it’ll be up to you.”

“Of course.”

“Uh, anything happen with my evidence?”

Harrison pulled back and looked at Evan, “Huh, no. It’s locked up nice and safe in our evidence locker.”

Evan looked around at those passerby, “Ever since we busted that garbage with the four keys of coke, I’ve been getting strange looks.” He shook his head, “Something just seems off.”

“Eh, you’re the hero of the hour. Everyone is proud of yuh.”

“Maybe,” he looked around, “maybe I’m just getting paranoid.” He looked at Harrison, “Anyway, it’s off to the gym for me. I’ve spent too many hours filling out forms and talking to prosecutors. It’s time to push some metal or pound a bag.”

“You go and kill that bag.“

Evan waved, got into his car and drove away. Harrison got into his own car, drove to his usual restaurant and ordered a burger.

After the waitress left, an unshaven man with unkempt hair wearing a cheap suit and carrying a bag slid into the seat opposite him. “Hi, Harry, having your usual?”

Harrison looked around before hissing, “We can’t be seen together.”

“I don’t mind being seen with you. What’s the problem?”

“I’m a cop. You’re a crook. I want nothing to do with you. Beat it.”

“Such ingratitude for all of the times I’ve helped you out! And I brought you a wedding present.” With those words he put a gym bag on the table. “Fifty K.”

“What.” Harrison looked around, opened the bag and shoved it across the table. That’s not money. That’s drugs. Coke.”

“Fooled yuh, baking soda.”

“Huh, what’s your game Lee?”

Lee pushed the bag back across the table, “It’s easy. You take the bag, swap the baking soda for the coke in the evidence locker and get fifty K.”

Harrison pushed the bag away from him. “Take your bag and get out of here.”

Lee leaned back in the booth. “This isn’t me asking. This is my boss, telling you, do it. You really don’t want to make my boss angry. Think of all of the things he could do. He has videos. He has records of your gambling debts. He’s not a man you want to make angry.”

“You…”

“I’ll be at my usual tomorrow, waiting for you.” Lee then got up and walked out.

Harrison threw the bag under the table. He had half of his burger, paid, got up, jerked the bag up and walked out.

The next day Harrison took the bag to work and managed the evidence locker. He tried to appear happy, normal and talking about his coming wedding throughout the day. He checked where the cameras could and could not cover. During the day, one brick of baking soda at a time was swapped for a brick of coke. At the end of the shift the four bricks were swapped. Harrison put the gym bag over his shoulder, walked out, got into his car and quietly screamed for a moment. After calming down he drove over to the “Witch’s Brew” tavern. He found Lee at a back table and jammed the bag into his chest.

With a low growl he said, “We’re done. I never want to see you again.”

Lee looked in the bag, got up and motioned Harrison to follow. “Come on Harry, get your money.” Lee walked back through the kitchen and went downstairs.”

A woman was at a table measuring some powder.

“Charlie, please check the bricks. Not that I don’t trust Harry, but I don’t trust Harry.”

Charlie took the bag.

“Hey, just give me my money.”

“Harry, the coke’s worth a million. It gives people ideas. It’s better I check than the boss checks and finds a problem.”

“I did the swap as you said. Give me the money and I’m gone.”

“Shh, let’s not bother Charlie while she works, she’s an artist.”

Charlie put the bricks on the table, cut into the first brick and the brick exploded spewing blue dye everywhere.

Lee turned, grabbing Harrison, “What did you do?”

The sound of yelling came from the kitchen and a half dozen officers wearing assault gear came running down the stairs and more officers came swarming in the back door.

The lead officer yelled, “Hands up, you’re under arrest.”

Officers grabbed the three of them, pushed them against the table and handcuffed them.

One officer walked over to Harrison, studied him for a moment and then removed his face shield. It was Evan. “Harrison, too much has gone missing in the past. The bricks were replaced with dye packs with

trackers. Hidden cameras were put in the evidence locker. I told you I was paranoid.” Evan turned to another officer, “Get him out of here.”

The officer grabbed Harrison and started escorting him out.

“Oh Harrison,”

Harrison turned to face Evan.

“The wedding is off and uh,” he paused to think for a moment, “your bachelor party will be a good-bye party. Bye.” Evan waved good-bye as Harrison was escorted out.