Kapitel 74: Fooling a cop
In the dimly lit alley, Errol met with Leroy Tate, a patrol officer known for taking bribes. Unbeknownst to the officer, Lorenzo observed their clandestine meeting from the shadows. His keen eyes followed every move, his sharp ears attuned to their hushed voices. If Errol were to double-cross him and alert the corrupt officer, his plan to gather incriminating evidence against Floyd Rose would be doomed.
To Lorenzo's relief, Errol's fear of him ran deep, and Errol began to execute their plan. With a discreet gesture, Max and Patrick emerged from the darkness, closing in on the unsuspecting officer. Before the man could utter a word, they had already sprung into action, silencing him with a cloth.
Lorenzo let out a smile, adjusting his hat as he witnessed the scene unfold. The gears of their nefarious scheme were now in motion, and there was no turning back.
Leroy Tate, the corrupt patrol officer, thrashed in the grip of Max and Patrick as they held him tightly. A cloth gag muffled his cries for help, but his terrified eyes spoke volumes. "Fucking Errol! What's the meaning of this!?" he managed to gasp out.
Errol stood by, his face a mask of stone. He hesitated only for a moment before taking the officer's revolver and handing it over to Lorenzo.
Lorenzo nodded in approval, a cold glint in his eye.
"I'm sorry. I have no choice but to do this with you," Errol said, bowing his head in a show of submission.
Leroy's eyes widened in fear as he realized the gravity of the situation. "Do you know what will happen to you if Mr. Rose heard of this!?" he spluttered, renewing his struggle against his captors. "Let me go, you bastards! I'm a police officer!"
Lorenzo had enough. With a swift motion, he delivered a solid punch to Leroy's gut, causing the air to rush out of the man's lungs.
"Ugh!"
Doubled over in pain, Leroy's pleading gaze met Lorenzo's steely stare.
"Now, now, Officer Tate," Lorenzo said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'd advise you to cooperate if you value your life."
"Who the fuck are you!?" Leroy Tate demanded, his voice muffled by the gag. Fear crept into his eyes as he looked at the mysterious figure before him.
Lorenzo chuckled darkly. "Me? Who am I?" He chuckled again, relishing in the officer's discomfort. "Let's just say I'm the reason you're in your current predicament."
"Fucking bastard," Leroy spat out, but before he could say more, Lorenzo's fist connected with his jaw, silencing him effectively.
With a nod of his head, Max and Patrick dragged the semi-conscious Leroy Tate towards a waiting car. They had a long night ahead of them, and the interrogation room in the apartment would serve their purposes well.
***
In the room, Leroy Tate sat bound to a chair, his mouth taped shut and his eyes brimming with fear. He squirmed in his restraints, desperately trying to break free, but to no avail.
Lorenzo stood before him, puffing on a cigarette as he observed his prey. "Are you willing to cooperate now, Officer Tate?"
Leroy's terrified gaze darted around the room, eventually settling on the menacing figures of Max and Patrick. He had no choice. Nodding frantically, he silently pleaded for mercy.
"Good," Lorenzo purred, gesturing to Julius. "Remove the tape from his mouth."
Julius roughly yanked the tape off, causing Leroy to wince in pain as it took some hair along with it. Gasping for air, he glared at his captors. "What do you want?"
Lorenzo leaned in close, the smoke from his cigarette curling around Leroy's face. "It's simple, really. You see, we know you're an underling of Floyd Rose."
Leroy's eyes widened, but the cold stares of Max and Patrick told him that resistance was futile. Defeated, he muttered, "You're correct."
A cruel smile curled Lorenzo's lips. "Then, you should know him quite well, wouldn't you say?"
Leroy Tate swallowed hard, unsure of what was coming next. "A bit," he finally admitted.
Lorenzo's smile widened. "That's good." He took a puff of his cigarette, the smoke dancing around them like ghosts. "You see, we're after a very important piece of evidence, something that could incriminate Floyd Rose for good. Something that would prove just how corrupt and rotten he really is."
Leroy hesitated, but the menacing glares of Max and Patrick were enough to make him crack. Nodding, he gulped audibly.
"Excellent," purred Lorenzo. "We've already gathered information from some of the people he's silenced, but it's not enough to bring him down for good."
Fear crept into Leroy's eyes. "W-who are you? Why do you want to collect information on Mr. Rose?"
Lorenzo's eyes glinted with amusement as he looked at Max and the others, especially Errol. "Well, Officer Tate, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Special Agent Lorenzo 'Iron Wolf' Lupo, a former army man who retired from the rank of brigadier general to serve my country as an FBI agent."
Errol's eyes rolled, but he remained silent. However, Leroy's face paled as the realization dawned on him.
"F-FBI!" Leroy stuttered, his voice trembling with fear.
Lorenzo's smile widened. "That's right. And these fine gentlemen," he said, gesturing to Max and the others, "are my fellow undercover agents. We've been watching you and your boss, Floyd Rose, for quite some time now."
Leroy Tate's eyes darted between the men in the room, finally understanding the gravity of his situation. He knew all too well the stories about the ruthlessness of the FBI when it came to bringing down corrupt officials. His heart raced as he contemplated his next move.
"They went undercover, posing as thugs to infiltrate the organization of this dirty local employer, Errol Schroeder," Lorenzo explained, glancing at Errol. "They've been working for him for days now, gathering evidence and information on who's pulling his strings."
Leroy Tate's eyes darted between Max and the others, realizing with dawning horror that they were undercover FBI agents all along. He'd seen them himself, working as errand boys for Errol's illegal operations.
"I-I'm just a pawn in this! I swear, it's all Floyd Rose! I have no say in his dirty business!" Leroy blurted out, his fear overwhelming any sense of self-preservation. "Please, believe me!"
"Don't worry, Officer Tate," Lorenzo said reassuringly, "Nothing will happen to you as long as you cooperate with us. In fact, if you perform well, who knows? You might even get a promotion out of this."
Leroy's eyes lit up with greed and desperation. "I'll do my best, I swear it!"
Lorenzo smiled, patting Leroy on the shoulder. "Very good. I expect nothing less from you, Leroy Tate."
"Yes, sir!" Leroy tried to salute, but his bound hands hindered him.
"Boys, untie Officer Tate," Lorenzo ordered, "He's been very cooperative."
Max and the others quickly set to work, freeing Leroy from his restraints. Once freed, Leroy saluted them all, his eyes filled with newfound respect.
With renewed determination, Leroy listened intently to their plan to bring down Floyd Rose, eager to prove his worth and secure his own freedom in the process.
Lorenzo nodded in approval at Leroy's newfound determination. "Good, Officer Tate. The success of this operation is now in your hands. I trust you won't disappoint us."
"You can count on me, Mr. Lupo," Leroy replied, his voice filled with newfound confidence. "I'll stop at nothing to bring that dirty cop Floyd Rose down."
Max clapped him on the back, grinning. "Attaboy, Tate! We're counting on you!"
The others in the room nodded their approval, sensing the change in the once-corrupt officer. They knew they had found their inside man, and together, they would bring down the corrupt Floyd Rose once and for all.
"Good to hear, Officer Tate," Lorenzo said, his smirk widening. "I trust you won't disappoint us."
"You can count on me, Mr. Lupo," Leroy replied, determination in his voice. "I'll do everything in my power to bring that dirty cop, Floyd Rose, down."
Max and the others nodded in approval, impressed by Leroy's newfound dedication.
Lorenzo's expression softened, "I apologize for the rough treatment earlier, Officer Tate. It was necessary to ensure your cooperation."
Leroy waved it off, wincing slightly. "It's nothing. Water under the bridge. Let's just focus on nailing that son of a bitch."
However, in his mind, he thought, "If you had just told me you were FBI agents earlier, we could have avoided this whole ordeal."
Lorenzo's brow furrowed. "Won't your bruises arouse suspicion with Floyd? If so, we might need to find another officer—"
"No, no!" Leroy interrupted, panic in his voice. "I've got it covered. I'll tell him I slipped. Accidents happen, right?"
Lorenzo chuckled at Leroy's frantic demeanor but didn't press the issue further. "Very well, then. Just make sure you're convincing."
Leroy Tate's mind raced with the thought of a potential promotion as he left the room. He couldn't believe his luck at having been given a second chance by the FBI.
Once Leroy was out of earshot, the room erupted in laughter.
"Haha, that gullible cop! He fell for it hook, line, and sinker!" Julius doubled over with mirth.
"I know, right? He was so scared, but still wanted to work with an FBI agent!" Patrick joined in, wiping tears from his eyes.
Max shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips as he puffed on his cigarette.
Lorenzo couldn't help but grin at their success. "Alright, boys, tonight was a big win in our plan to bring down Floyd Rose. But it's just the beginning. Tomorrow, we'll meet with Adam, Richard, and the others."
"Understood!" the others chorused, still chuckling.
Their plan was in motion, and with Leroy Tate none the wiser, they were one step closer to taking down the corrupt Floyd Rose.
---
Early in the morning, the sun just beginning to rise over Los Angeles, Adam, his girlfriend Tiffany, Richard, and the others gathered with Lorenzo in a second-story apartment in Boyle Heights. As they settled in, Lorenzo and his men relayed their plan to bring down Floyd Rose.
Adam frowned, rubbing his chin. "It's a risky plan, Lorenzo. But I trust you."
Richard nodded in agreement. "It's a good plan, boss. With Leroy Tate on our side, we've got a shot at taking down Floyd Rose."
The others in the room exchanged glances, but they too, had confidence in their leader.
Lorenzo smiled. "Thank you, gentlemen. Once we have control over Floyd Rose, we'll have a foothold in this city, at least in this neighborhood, without worries. With his protection, we'll be unstoppable."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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