James Locker: Detectives in A Trap

Chapter 10 Michael Fuller Seeks an Ally on the Inside

Michael Fuller was sitting on his couch listening to classical music on high volume. The music was composed by a famous French composer and to honour him, Michael was drinking brandy instead of Scotch. He emptied the glass, sighed and summarised the facts to himself.

Michael couldn’t make sense of what had happened to him. Someone tipped Barry Itch off regarding drugs placed at his house. The same person had probably planted the drugs there as well. But how had they gotten Michael Fuller's fingerprints on the bag? And if the cocaine indeed was from the Lopez case, why had his enemies waited until now? And what would be the motive? Michael Fuller wrote down a list of people who would potentially want to set him up. Since Michael Fuller had put a lot of lowlifes behind bars, the last decades the list became extensive, for this story, however, the following names stood out on the list

Barry Itch:

Speaking for it was that Barry Itch had the means to do it. His suspicious looking thugs from that security firm could easily have placed the cocaine in his house and then claim to have found it there to get leverage against him

Speaking against it was that Barry Itch had absolutely nothing to gain from setting him up. Also that he had thrown out the cocaine in the toilet. Why would anyone corrupt with ties to the organised crime syndicates throw away 3.5 kilos of cocaine to have someone resign? There were cheaper and easier ways to achieve this.

John Dean

Speaking for it; John had the means and the motive to do it. He was at the Lopez crime scene before Michael, and he also visited Michael's house a lot of times. The last time he visited was only a few weeks ago. His motive was that he was the likely successor to crime detective position of the team

Speaking against it; John had been his friend for ages and didn’t seem corrupt at all. Besides only a total psychopath would frame his friend for a crime that could give several years in prison just to get a promotion.

James Locker:

Speaking for it; he and Michael had had their disagreements in the past. James was very ambitious, and Michael felt that he could be ruthless at times.

Speaking against it; James was not involved in the Mauricio Lopez case. Furthermore, James was not the natural successor to Michael in the team so there would be no distinct advantage for James to get rid of him.

Antonio DiMaestro: Owned the warehouse where Mauricio Lopez was killed. Since it was uncommon that people working for legitimate businesses got shot at work during the middle of the night, Michael Fuller suspected that Antonio DiMaestro's business was a front for cocaine smuggling. Both the murder victim and his assassin where Colombians which strengthened the cocaine smuggling theory.

Michael had been deeply unsatisfied with this Mauricio Lopez investigation and had made enquiries about the case even after it was transferred to the organised crime department. Michael kept thinking about Antonio DiMaestro, who had both the means and the motive to get rid of him. After all, it was easier for a mobster to sacrifice some cocaine to frame a crime detective, than hiring a hitman to kill him and create a lot of unwanted attention.

Michael Fuller realised that he needed an ally in the police force to further investigate Antonio DiMaestro. Michael Fuller decided to take his chances and called John Dean.

Michael Fuller:

- Hi, John. It's Michael we need to talk.

John Dean

- Hi, Michael. Are you drunk? You should not be drinking with your liver condition.

Michael Fuller:

- I can assure you that my liver health, is the least of my concerns. I am calling to see if you can refresh my memory on Antonio DiMaestro and if possible, send me some information about him.

John Dean

- Well mate, I am not sure. I am not allowed to hand out information on ongoing cases to former team members. Besides, I don't have much since the case was transferred to the Organized Crime department.

Michael Fuller:

- I know that, but please meet up with tonight so that I can tell you my case. There is something rotten in this mess, and I want to investigate it thoroughly.

John Dean:

- Well, I am not sure I am following you, but I can hear you out for sure. I am busy tonight what about tomorrow night?

Michael Fuller:

- Great see you at the sports bar in your neighbourhood tomorrow night. Oh, another thing can you at least give me the address to DiMaestro Mansion? I can't remember it right now.

John Dean

- Well, I strongly advise you against confronting him yourself, but I can't prevent you. The address is The DiMaestro Mansion, The Esplanade, Mosman, 2088, NSW.

Michael Fuller:

- Thank you, John, see you tomorrow!

Drunk and against better judgment Michael Fuller opened a can of energy drink to refresh. He took his car keys and went to his vehicle. “Now let’s see what this bastard has to say for himself” he muttered before entering his car for the 45 minutes’ drive to Mosman. He checked his watch; it was Tuesday the 20th of August 2013 and the time was 09.15 PM.