Criminal logo

Book

The $20,000 Arrest

By Kent BrindleyPublished 3 years ago 8 min read
3
Book
Photo by Mark Farías on Unsplash

Rupert Crowne had spent much of his days as the free head of a budding empire. Through business dealings, intimidation, and manipulation, he all but OWNED Imperial City. The locals knew of his underhanded dealings; but the law couldn't touch Crowne. He had lower level hoods to take the fall for actually committing his misdeeds or to shakedown politicians and businesses who sought to remain beyond his reach. Crowne's men would roam the streets and commit any number of crimes in his name; he, on technicality, kept his hands clean by remaining in his higher office and making the calls to his gang. He needed only make a few calls, keep at least most of his underlings on the streets, and reap the benefits of organized crime and political and media manipulation.

Then, there came the day when the local officials grew extra tired of the organized neighborhood crime. They gave extra funding for extra training to the Imperial City Police Department. Neighboring police communities chipped in to help out as well.

Finally, most of Crowne's thugs were effectively removed from the streets. Many of his media manipulation experts turned their backs on him, leaving the sinking ship of his criminal empire and threatening to name names. They didn't live long enough to expose that information and, therefore, couldn't return to his services.

The day came when Rupert Crowne was a lone man in his high chrome tower. He still had twenty-thousand dollars stored away in his electronic "Black Book" and, unless he was to physically place his face with petty thefts, $20,000 would have to be enough to satisfy him; for the moment. All of the evidence directly pointing to Crowne was as a businessman who's legitimacy had recently been called into question. Unless he directly wanted to start robbing banks or shaking down local industries, he would have to take that $20,000 electronic Black Book and go into hiding; maybe even spend some of his precious money on a new face and identity.

Crowne glared into the rainsoaked streets below as one more of his thugs was escorted into a police car parked right outside of his office tower.

"Up there!" Crowne heard his sniveling former agent cry. "He's UP THERE; Rupert Crowne! Ask 'im yourself!"

"Get in there!" Alex Hightower, the Police Captain, spat back as two of his arresting officers shoved Landon Subor, a once feared knifeman, into the back of the police car.

Nevertheless, Hightower then gazed up at the chrome, gunmetal building.

"Farris," he called over his shoulder, flagging toward the building, "check it..."

Subor had once been considered Crowne's most loyal subordinate. Now, tragically, he was due to die in prison for the crime of turning out to be a mewling coward and a traitor. Crowne banged his fist on his desk in frustration. The banging motion opened the hidden door and dropped his electronic Black Book into his hands.

"20,000 measly dollars and a getaway copter." Crowne retorted in heavy British as he shook his head of silvery-blonde hair. "So this is how far my empire has fallen."

He picked up a black binder notebook of the few associates that he had left to call upon when he could come back out of hiding again. He then reached for the Electronic Black Book that kept all of his ill-gotten funds close at hand.

"Hold it!" a commanding, yet effeminate, voice bellowed as his penthouse door buckled in.

Crowne was just startled enough by the sudden commotion that he did raise his hands. In doing so, his notebook slipped out from under the shoulder of his coat and his electronic Black Book went flying.

"Lieutenant Hannah Farris, Imperial City Police Department." Farris announced, training a weapon on Crowne with one hand and athletically catching the airborne electronic device in her spare hand. "Your men have bullied my father out of business, murdered my mother, and corrupted my brother. You're coming with me. You have the right to remain silent..."

*****************************

Rupert Crowne, the big money behind 98% of Imperial City's crime and dirty politics, was in a prison cell for life. Imperial City's Police Department was in possession of an essentially worthless notebook of operatives, many of whom were in custody after a failed crime or killed or left for dead for beginning to identify their boss; and they had the electronic "Black Book" that was good for $20,000 spread amongst several shadow accounts. Lieutenant Farris was the heroine of the day who had succeeded in capturing Rupert Crowne with the evidence of his dirty deeds; yet she felt no better.

27 year old Melissa Faustine was Imperial Technological University's brightest young mind with a remaining conscience. She could have taken her skills and smarts and served as one of Crowne's hackers. Lord knew that her family could use the money. Instead, she had turned her services to the police department as their highest skilled young cadet. At present, she had Crowne's prestigious "Black Book" of bank funds under her mechanized microscope.

"Misty," Farris's voice suddenly rang out, "talk to me."

Part of being so studious and smart meant that "Misty" Faustine was prone to really losing herself in her work. Therefore, the sudden voice nearly put her through the ceiling. Nonetheless, she recovered her bearings in time to know the voice and clicked the AI on her electronic glasses to kill the specialty computer program. Now wearing simple specs, the young cadet pushed back her wheelchair and came face-to-face with Lieutenant Farris, Captain Hightower, and a fellow cadet of hers in Andres Bowman. Bowman presented her with a cup of coffee to relieve her tired eyes; and the two cadets shared an extensive handhold.

"Any data on the Black Book to help us return the money to where it came from?" Captain Hightower demanded over a long drag of a cigar that seemed to intentionally blow at the cadets.

Bowman got the message, retracted his hands, and stepped back out of the smoke ring, wheezing from its effects anyway.

"Nothing yet, Hannah; Captain." Misty answered.

Lieutenant Farris looked hopeless. Andres remained deep in thought. Captain Hightower looked almost too pleased with her lack of success.

"Crowne's security passcode was shaky at best. I got as far as the sumtotal in his pocket within a minute of working with this baby." Misty added, haughtily; then, with a sigh as she warmed to her point: "Shady politicians, dummy corporations, legitimate mom-n-pop shops forced under by Crowne's greed, bank robberies, bad business deals; it all adds up to a remaining $20,000; and no telling who made it up."

Suddenly, Captain Hightower had the electronic "Black Book" device in his hand.

"How many legal businesses would really talk to Crowne?" he demanded, tossing the device with the unmarked currency on it to himself. "This belongs to the police department now; and with no way to know that any money returned would go back to the right business!"

Suddenly, Andres showed the audacity to intercept the device in freefall as the captain tossed it to himself.

"The question is how many of these businesses had a choice but to tow the line when Crowne's underlings began making waves." he pointed out, holding and turning the device over in his palm. "Alas, the finances are so well encrypted as to remain unmarked not only as to where they came from but in which account they are now. It is too late for returning them directly. Rupert Crowne used his authority to severely cripple Imperial City for the underclasses; perhaps it should be his ill-gotten gains that go toward rebuilding just that?"

"Right!" Hightower retorted back, snatching the Black Book forcefully. "...and who serves all of Imperial City's classes better than the best-funded police department?"

"Does good money make for good officers, Captain?" Lieutenant Farris asked, innocently.

Captain Hightower glared at her.

"Well, it certainly goes toward hiring and equipping the best!" he spat, gruffly.

With that, he heaved the looseleaf notebook at Farris. She intercepted it just in time.

"Here." he snarled. "You do have a job to do with that! For all we know, a handful of Crowne's men are still out there. Review that, grab your team, and correct that. Crime's infected our city for long enough."

"Very good, Captain." Lieutenant Farris answered. "And then what good is a $20,000 richer police department?"

Hightower handed the Black Book device back to Faustine.

"Decode that and release the funds to us!" he barked, marching out toward the door; then: "You have your orders, Lieutenant."

The captain had gone from the room with the click of the door. Misty and Hannah glanced down at the Black Book. Either of their families could use at least a little of the money; may $500 or $1000 to get off of their feet. However, they both heavily agreed with Andres and where would that leave the much larger community? Certainly, the funds should no longer belong to Crowne; and they would be impossible to return (with interest) to the legitimate businesses that he had stolen from. But did a police department under the direction of Captain Alex Hightower really deserve a $20,000 raise either...?

fiction
3

About the Creator

Kent Brindley

Smalltown guy from Southwest Michigan

Lifelong aspiring author here; complete with a few self-published works always looking for more.

https://www.instagram.com/kmoney_gv08/

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.