A slow, controlled smile eased onto Patterson’s face. He was happy to know that what seemed on the surface like an impromptu visit annoyed East. It was, however, anything but impromptu. The morning after the photos and video from Presidential were sent to his personal phone from the burner he issued to his informant, Patterson began his investigation of the man known as East.
On the surface, his attendance could have been viewed as coincidental, but Patterson had been studying men like Alester “Ace” Orr and Eastland Joseph for years. The men were connected. If East was there, he had business dealings of some kind with Ace. Patterson wanted to know what they were, so he could place East appropriately on his list of targets. At the top, of course, was Ace. Either of the two men could be a permanent payday for him, and with the amount of debt Patterson was in, he was eager to get in the pockets of one or both men.
“You know who the fuck I am. Unfortunately for you, I don’t have any fucks to give as to who you are. My only concern is why you’re here.” East’s eyes swept the man in a way that could be perceived in no other manner than disrespectful before their eyes met again. “You’re not here for my services. I’m sure you could use a cut, but this doesn’t seem like your type of establishment. Supercuts is a few blocks over if you’re lost.”
Patterson’s smirk grew. East was as disrespectful as any of the others he had encountered like him, but East had a little more arrogance. Patterson immediately sensed East wasn’t going to be cooperative. Lifting a hand and running it over his sandy blond tresses that were thinning in the center, Patterson shrugged.
“I hear you’re the best in the city. I pride myself on employing the best.”
East’s expression didn’t change nor did his body move or adjust even an inch. “You can’t handle the best, trust.” Thehidden message was clear. East was challenging Patterson, a challenge he was well prepared to take on.
“You were at Presidential a few weeks ago. What’s your relation to the Orr family?”
“There isn’t one.”
Patterson snorted before his eyes darted around the crowded space they were in. Clients lined the walls and all the stations were full. Some avoided his eyes and others glared at him with the same challenge and confidence that emanated from East.
“You were in his private section that night and it was reported that Vega was here at your establishment for a few hours a couple days after. A private get together or something like that, I’m told.”
East didn’t give anything away, even though he was exploding on the inside. The exact reason he didn’t want to be associated with Ace was now staring him in the face. East had done ten years in the streets and not once had he been so much as questioned about his activities. Now that he had made adjustments in his life, here was a gotdamn pig inquiring about his association with Ace when he no longer had one beyond the respect they developed over the years.
“It’s illegal to photograph or video civilians without consent. Sounds to me like I might need to check in with the mayor to see how my tax dollars are being spent with the city.”
“The photos weren’t of you. They were of Mr. Orr. You just happened to be in them.” Patterson shrugged, knowing he didn’t have consent for the surveillance that took place at Presidential that night.
Patterson’s informant was there using a burner phone to capture what he could. He paid his guy a measly fifty dollars, which he was all too eager to accept as payment for the job. Video and photos were captured that would never be presented in court. The evidence needed would have to be legally obtainedby Patterson if he wanted to prosecute, but that wasn’t the intent. Patterson wasn’t looking to climb the ladder from detective to lieutenant like his peers. He also didn’t give a damn about taking down drug dealers and protecting the city. Patterson was only concerned with lining his pockets off the dirty money these men collected in abundance. For all intents and purposes, Patterson had no desire to prosecute or take down any of these men.
This time, East smiled. It was taunting and Patterson saw the amusement dancing in his eyes.
“What’s your home?”
“Excuse me?”
“Who the fuck you under? I think I might want to pay your lieutenant a visit. I feel like my civil rights have been violated. I need to voice my concerns to see if I can do anything about it.” East would never visit the precinct to check up on Patterson, but he didn’t know that.
East avoided cops, detectives, and federal agents at all costs. He had a very dark, extremely illegal past that he wasn’t trying to bring attention to. Even if East was a changed man, he would forever be who the streets groomed him to be.
“I found you, so you can certainly find me. Now, do you want to tell me what your relation is to Alester Orr? Maybe you can tell me about the illegal gambling you host here once a month?”
It was Patterson’s turn to offer a taunting smile. East wasn’t affected. He was intelligent and very careful. The reason local cops attended was that he needed a respected official to vouch for the fact that card night was just a game night amongst friends. The house bets were not done with real money, but instead, imaginary lines of credit that housed no monetary value other than for the bets in place. It was a lie, but no one who attended would speak to the fact that it wasn’t.
“I didn’t know that poker night with my close friends was illegal. There’s no real money exchanged. Just some plastic chips to keep the stakes high but have no value past the doors when they leave.”
Patterson didn’t expect East to be forthcoming or an easy target. From what he learned about him after a little research, he was legitimate on paper. East owned a few businesses, had several accounts, and no record to speak of. His name had never come up in any investigation before now, but that was strictly by chance, which played right into his hand. East had a lot to lose and would likely pay for his freedom.
Patterson also knew Eastland Joseph came from humble beginnings. His mother had done a few runs in and out of treatment facilities and his father wasn’t present in his life. Eastland Joseph Senior lived in Seattle with his new wife with no other children. Something or someone had funded East in order for him to be doing as well as he was. Patterson would bet his life that in some way, what East acquired was connected to Ace.
“You think you have it all covered, don’t you? You think you’re smarter than the system put in place to keep men like you from profiting off illegal shit, making all that dirty money and throwing it away?”
Gotdamn, he’s dirty. He wants money.East now had a better grasp on why Patterson was in his shop.
“I’m a business owner. I don’t know what you mean by illegal activities. As for me being smarter than the system, or more importantly,you…” East’s charming smile stretched wide across his face. “…no sense in me stating the obvious.”
The amusement that danced around in East’s eyes had Patterson’s fist clenching at his side and his rounded jaw flexing.
East further ignited Patterson’s fury by pushing past him so aggressively that he stumbled slightly, while East tossed his final thoughts over his shoulder. “You can get the fuck out of my shopunless you’re about to wait in line for a cut. We’re busy today, so you might be here for a while.”
East was on his way to his office and never turned to face Patterson again. Patterson was fuming from the lack of respect shown and hadn’t moved yet but offered his final thoughts as well.
