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your arse into gear and get dressed, the sooner we can find out." Casey noted how Bruce was already attired, doing up the last few buttons of his shirt.
    Both men fronted up to Sarge's office well before their shift was due to start. The man didn't look like a rabid dog ready to bite someone's head off. Always a good sign. "Come in gentlemen and shut the door," he barked.
    "What's up, Sarge?" Bruce asked, taking the lead.
    "Seems the perp you apprehended last night, the charmer who pulled the knife, has been found dead in a shallow grave out there in Baker's forest. He was shot up real bad. His buddies didn't waste any time dispensing with him, that's for sure."
    Bruce looked at Casey. "Damn, sorry to hear that. I bet Case here could have got some more information out of the scumbag if we could have got him into the interrogation room. How'd they know it was the perp we got last night?"
    The Sarge leant over to his filing cabinet. He pulled open the drawer, retrieved a file. "The lab boys were only able to identify him because this was placed on top of his body." He shoved a piece of paper from the file onto his desk, one stained with blood. The note read, An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Because Drummond was taken out of the business, Casey Watson, you are next. Love and Kisses, Randy Piper.
    "Excuse my French, but fuck me, the guy's got some balls." Bruce patted Casey on his shoulder, more for reassurance than anything. "We should march over to that gym of his and arrest him for threatening a police officer. No one does that to my buddy and gets away lightly."
    The Sarge gave a smirk, the first time Casey had ever seen the man smile. "You will do no such thing. How long do you think we could hold him on a charge like that? You can bet your salary he didn't fire the weapon which killed this Drummond fellow, either. Sure, his name is on the note, but forensics could determine in an instant if it was even written by him, which I can safely assume it wasn't. No, we've got to get hard evidence, gentlemen. Evidence which will hold up in any court in the land if we are to catch this shark and catch him for good. He's not stupid, so we have to do this by the numbers. I've got you a warrant so you can enter the Argos Gym on the grounds of being allowed to question him about the note and search for a weapon. I suggest you go from there."
    Casey couldn't hold his voice any longer, "Yeah, but whoever murdered Drummond would have done so because he was ordered. He would have disposed of any evidence, too."
    Again the Sarge smiled. "Exactly. So I need a confession from Piper at the very least. Oh, and Casey, from what Bruce tells me, you're the man to do it. I want you and Bruce to go on stakeout, but make sure he enters that gym before you act. I want both of you to get the solid evidence we need. Dismissed."
    When they were clear of the Sarge's office, in a corridor free from any others who might listen, Casey said, "You shouldn't have told the Sarge I could get the information out of him, Bruce."
    "Why not, buddy? You always get the information we need. Why shouldn't you be recognised for it? It's a talent, and one I've come to admire. You're a damn fine cop, Case. Better than me when I was your age, at any rate."
    Casey's cheeks burned. He so wanted to tell Bruce, his partner, his mate, about his talent, but couldn't. How was docking with criminals to get information out of them covered in any procedure? The Sarge was a stickler for protocols as it was. If this ever got out, he'd be suspended at the very least. Probably without pay. "I, um…it's not that--I just don't want the whole station to know, that's all."
    "Bullshit. Don't be so modest. If you always get your man, and you do, shout it out. Be proud." Bruce slapped Casey on his shoulders. His skin burned.
    "Gee, thanks."
    His partner must have picked up on his sudden discomfort, the proud smile fading from his lips. "Why, you ain't doing anything wrong to get the perps