Chapter 5: The Devil's Bargain

Vajesh Bozanti was a caporégime of the Bargaratti mafia. The highest ranking member of the organization that the BCPD had ever gotten their hands on. Even more groundbreaking was the fact that they had managed to keep his arrest a secret for three whole weeks. It was a great feat that was achieved by the hard work of a few bold cops on the police force and the foresight of Captain Joseph Yilmaz.

Only the officers directly involved in Vajesh's arrest and documentation knew he was in police custody. His detention was on a need-to-know basis. Even his trial was set to be behind closed doors. Basically, only a total of ten people knew that Vajesh was under arrest and set to stand trial. This created a very special opportunity for the BCPD, particularly Kira.

Staring through the one-way view window, Kira tried to get a read on her target before walking in. He looked quite gruff and brutal in the plain clothes he had been arrested in, which he was forced to wear once more before being taken to the station.

He was dressed in a black shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of tight black jeans. On his feet were heavy black boots with their laces pulled out. The first three buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, exposing hairy and curly chest hair. As he slouched in the chair, looking around nervously, Kia could see a man who was weak, unstable, violent, and volatile. This meant he was dumb and easy to manipulate but also immensely unpredictable.

"You sure you wanna do this?" Jean asked.

"No," she said with a sigh. "But I don't have a choice," she added before walking out of the observation room.

As soon as Kia walked in, Vajesh sat up and said, "This is unconstitutional."

"So is drug trafficking and murder. But you don't see me bitching about it do you."

Vajesh suddenly paused and took a good look at her. His face went from an angry smile to a flirtatious smile, which he clearly believed was charming.

"My, my. I didn't know the BCPD started hiring beautiful damsels. What's a doll like you doing being a cop? There are betters ways for someone with your… talents to make a living," he said, looking her over and licking his lips.

"There are also better ways for you to get kicked in the nuts. I would be sticking with my choice. You?"

"Short and feisty, I like it."

Without missing a beat, she raised her feet and slammed it forward, sending the heels of her booth right at his balls.

He curled up in pain and yelled. "What the fuck is wrong with you bitch?"

""There is more where that came from."

"That's, that's police brutality."

"What is? I didn't touch you."

"There. There are cameras."

"I switched them off. It's just me and you in here."

Vajesh squinted his eyes, suddenly seeing Kia in a new light. He sat up straight and rested his back on the chair. "You have my attention. What do you want?"

"I want in."

"In what?"

"The family. I want in."

Vajesh chuckled. "This must be the newest trick in the book. You guys must be really getting desperate to try some shit like this. Sorry, the only family I have is by blood and marriage. Want to marry me sweet heart."

"I let you out of here, and you get me a meeting with Baglor. Deal?"

"Yeah. Whatever," he said mockingly.

"Good. Five minutes after I leave, all the lights in this station will get switched off. Here are the keys to your cuff," she said as she pushed her palm forward on the table.

"Wait, you are serious?" Vajesh asked, wide-eyed with shock as he stretched forth his hand and collected the key.

"Listen. Once I leave, start working on the cuffs. The lights will go off in five minutes. And would stay off for just five minutes. Run out, turn left and run down the hall. You would see a red door. That's the stairwell. Open the door and run downstairs. Keep running until you arrive at the underground garage. I would be waiting there in a red mustang. It's my personal car. The booth would be open. Once you get in, I will close the booth and get you out of here. Got it?"

"You aren't kidding around."

"Got it."

"I'm not daft. Of course I do."

"And we have a deal."

"Yes, yes," Vajesh said as he began to tinker with his cuffs.

"Meeting with Baglor?"

"Yeah. Meeting with Baglor, into the family. I got you girl. Don't even worry about it," he said dismissively.

She knew he was lying but couldn't worry about that now.

"Good," she said, rising to her feet. "Wait until the lights go of then run like hell."

"You don't need to tell me twice."

Kia nodded and walked away. As soon as she shut the door, Jean popped out of the observation room.

"You sure about this?"

"Nope. But as I said, what choice do I have?"

"It isn't too late to turn back. You can quit, go home and put this whole thing behind you."

"No. I'm doing this Jean. I'm going down to the parking lot. You good with the lights."

"Yeah. On my way down to the generators. See you on the other side."

"Or in hell," she said jokingly.

"Please don't joke. Please," Jean said, his voice heavy with fear and his eyes as sincere as a puppy's

"Yeah. Sorry," she apologized, nodded once, and walked away.