FOLLOW THE LEADER - Chapter 63

 Chapter 63

That evening Colin was investigating an off-shoot from something Francis had mentioned after he had tangled with Roy Potter. It was something the old ‘Frisco cops called The Chinese Angle. Something that is seemingly unrelated. Unbound by logic.

He cruised along 20^th Street, the south end of Dolores Park. Now he could peer down at Zack’s old “store”:  The sheltered area beneath the bridge that crossed over the streetcar tracks. From his experience on the beat he knew that dealers move around a lot, but once they find a sweet location they stick there as long as possible. If they’re flushed out, they often come back to it later.

He spotted a kid in a hoodie leaving, but it was not Zack Tyler. Had the kid just scored from him?

Headlights in the mirror.

He glanced up and saw a big SUV creeping along behind him.

Colin increased his speed, then turned right onto Church Street, which led up a hill.  He stopped. Got out his binoculars. From there he could not see the bridge, which was hidden beneath a row of trees.  However, looking over the trees, to his right, the SUV was sliding into a parking spot on 20th Street. The driver left his car and headed for the little bridge.  He was husky, this side of muscle-bound, but he walked with a limp. The shades were the giveaway. Yellow, shaped like classic Ray-Bans. His left knee is the one Frank kicked, he thought with relish. Colin left his car and crept into the park on foot.  Potter, himself, might answer the enduring question that hung over Katherine Rollins’ murder:
Why did the gang pick her? Was it just random? Or was there a real motive?  

Like Francis, Colin did not believe in coincidence. But what if Jason Powers knew Potter?  It was entirely possible that Potter did business with him. Colin heard from his brother that someone had stolen drugs from Potter, and that Zack Tyler was the likely suspect. But what if Tyler convinced his dealer that it was Katherine Rollins who robbed him?  Zack and Katherine were an item. Somehow she could have learned from him where Potter lived. The Robbery Division reported that Roy Potter owned an unassuming two-bedroom house, one in a row of seven, all attached. According to the blue suits, the break-in was an amateur job. Somehow he or she gained access to the small back deck. It was second story. A long ladder could reach it.  She could have also gotten on to it from the decks on either side. The thief did one smart thing.  He or she turned off the power, which disabled the burglar alarm.

What if she had already been there? Colin asked himself. It was not improbable that she, Zack and Roy Potter got stoned one night. And what if sex was involved?  In that case Potter could have brought her home with him one night. Maybe he and Zack “shared” her.

So many questions.

Colin took an oblique path to Zeke’s spot beneath the bridge. He heard muffled voices. Two men. A hand-slap. One of the men was coming out.

“Roy Potter?”

Potter started.

“Who wants to know?”

Colin badged him.

“I haven’t done anything.”

Behind him a kid in a black hoodie dashed out and ran toward the streetcar tracks toward some trees and disappeared.

“Then why is your friend running away?”

“Maybe he has issues with cops.”

“You have two choices,” said Colin. “I can bust you for selling drugs to a minor or you can come with me and answer questions.”

“You’re fulla shit. I wasn’t selling.”

“I know where your car is, Potter.  I can find drugs on you or in your vehicle. Do the sensible thing.” He nodded toward something behind them. “Sit on that bench for me and answer my questions.”
Potter glanced over at the bench as if he was considering it. 

“And don’t try anything,” Colin said. “Unless you want me to fuck up your other knee and break your right arm while I’m at it.. You are right-handed. Correct?”

Potter sighed and nodded. 

“Sit.”

Potter sat. 

Colin stood in front of him, keeping a good arm’s length between them.

“Face me. Take off your glasses,” he said.

“I got bad night vision.”

“Off.”

Potter removed his glasses.

“Jason Powers says he does business with you,” Colin lied.

“Never heard of him.”

Colin thought that the leer on Potter’s face resembled that of a human skull.

“I heard he was pissed at you for skipping a delivery.”

“No idea what you’re talking about.”

Potter’s eyes said otherwise.

Colin went behind his back and frisked him. No gun.

“Lay your car keys and wallet on the bench,” he said. “Come on, get ‘em out.”  He quickly copied the number and address from Potter’s license. “Come with me,” he said,

“Are you arresting me?” Potter asked.

“I'm offering you a ride. And you’re going to take it.”

“I haven’t done shit.”

“You were loitering near a drug dealer’s hangout. If I search your car I will find drugs. That enough?”

“Whatever.”