The Real Highway to Hell
Heinlein was mute most of the drive back to Warren. He’d checked with his Chief – who told him that the Forensics crew and Medical Examiner’s Office still hadn’t finished with the Ayers Sunoco butcher pit murder site. They still didn’t know who the kids were – but a missing child report had just been called in to dispatch. Heinlein knew the drill: if you identified one kid, the other identities would soon be revealed.
They were almost in the Warren PD Parking lot when Heinlein gave Leeds an impish faux punch in the shoulder and broke the ice.
“Want to get a coffee? There’s a good place ’bout a half mile away in Watchung…”
Leeds mumbled “Sure” while she stared out her passenger window. Soon the both of them were sitting face-to-face at a little table in a comfy coffee bistro, surrounded by bored middle-class housewives and geeky salesmen absorbed in their laptops.
“Look….” Heinlein gently said. “I know the Sachem shocked you – but I sense you’re keeping some world-class secrets from me. That business with him feeling your forehead…he was lookin’ for horns, right?”
Leeds tone in response was a bit edgy.
“Why don’t you ask what you really want to know? Why don’t you just ask if I’m related to that…child murdering Freak? Yeah….the Sachem was looking for horns. My special DNA. I’m not like other girls….
You wanna’ know the rest of my secrets??? Better strap in Detective. What follows is…official.
That National Security Agency guy – Agent Tenerife – wants me to clear the air with you.
They know about your little Commando raid on the Shinski house. They know that your girlfriend and her BratvaRus buddies succeeded in killing a specimen and taking it to a lab in Serbia where it has now suddenly disintegrated. The NSA knows that Russian State Security FSB Scientists are already pouring over the biological data NordPharma generated and is willingly sharing – YES, sharing – to help Russia bioengineer a weapon out of it. The NSA knows Russia got one Hell of a head start in this Freakshow – because of YOU! The NSA knows all about OTRAG – and who killed Beirling. They played you like a fiddle.
Our world is a small place, Detective Heinlein. I’m assigned to this case because they know I’m a Freak. They sent a Freak to catch another Freak – and you’re gonna’ help me do it.
There you have it. You satisfied, Detective?”
Heinlein was stunned. Speechless was more like it. Now he understood why his reinstatement to Police Duty in Warren PD was so expedited – so easy peazie, lemon squeezee. The NSA Guys had put the “fix” in right from the start. They knew he’d meander his way back to his old job. What the Hell else would he do? Become a circus clown? Now the Government boys had leverage over him. Now he was their Bitch…
Now it was Heinlein’s turn to go silent. He sat there slowly drinking his double-shot expresso and staring at the table.
“Buck-up old Chum” Leeds said in a jocular voice dripping with sarcasm. “Alas, we’re all but Actors on a Stage…”
Heinlein was pissed. Defiant.
“What if I don’t cooperate? What if I quit the Police Department and tell everybody – including you – to go screw yourselves?”
Leeds guffawed out loud.
“Really? Within twenty-four hours the US Department of Homeland Security will hand you over to the US Attorney for New Jersey. You’ll be prosecuted for Conspiracy to Commit Bioterrorism and Espionage. Then they’ll throw in Conspiracy to Murder an Israeli Mossad Agent for good measure. They’ll use that blood they lifted off your living room rug – AND that live-stream digital recording of the poor bastard chained to a chair in Shinski’s basement. A nice full-face shot – before he became Kosher snack food. I doubt they’ll show a jury his face being eaten off by a Cryptoid. Maybe they’ll alter it using AI.
OH! You thought the live stream skewering of Mr. Circus Freak was encrypted? Jesus, you’re dumb! Your high-class Pussy Momma bullshitted you from the git-go! And you’re still taking phone calls from her! Holy Christ!
You think she didn’t know the BratvaRus was going to kill her father at the Gamla Uppsala Wedding? Wake up! She wanted his power! His seat at the table of the BratvaRus! You think she actually wanted to marry you in some bizarre costume-party wedding??? The shooter was a throw-away!! You were a throw-away!! It was all staged – it was public KAYFAB to remove her old man – and slide her onto his throne! She had her own father assassinated! An audacious power play straight out of Shakespeare! You think she was gonna’ marry you Jersey Boy??? For years she’s been the Mistress of a Russian General that looks like Dolph Lundgren!!! They have a love child in Moscow! A pretty little girl who takes ballet lessons. You’re outta’ her league, Boy Scout. She’s a Pro!
The Feds will throw you in a High-Security Lockup somewhere in North Dakota and lose the key! And you know what happens to Cops in Jail, right?”
Look, Heinlein…let’s talk turkey.
The Feds don’t give a flying F_ck about your treacherous Ilse or that Lizard-Bait Israeli Agent. The BratvaRus and BratvaVarang can’t take a shit in the United States without the NSA knowing about it. The only thing the Feds think you’re guilty of is really bad judgment – you were thinking with your Dick.
Ilse Sommerlund was a Russian Honey Pot “Op” all along. Yes – she’s an MD. Big Whoop. You, my friend, were used. Used to get something your country now wants: A Cryptoid. And don’t leave here with a hair in your ass about me. None of this is my fault. You stepped into this shit with your own two shoes. In this deck of Tarot cards, you’re the Fool.
Work with me and it all goes away.
Deal?”
Copyright, 2025 Jon Croft
www.bogironpatriot.com
www.bogironslav.com
Email: vlchek1@gmail.com
