The story so far: A pimp named Mick-the-Tick has photographic evidence that the mayor is a violent pedophile. Mick is in the lockup at the police station. He agreed to give the incriminating evidence to Nina if she can get the charges against him dropped.
Captain Newton and D.A. Winston are sitting in the D.A.’s office. There is a knock on the door and Detective Nina walks in and closes the door behind her. “Okay, Nina. How about telling the D.A. what you just told me,” the Captain said.
Nina nods and turns toward the D.A. “First, I’ve got to have your word on a deal, Mr. Winston. You see, this lead comes from my snitch, Mick-the-Tick. He even has pictures he’s willing to turn over to us, but we’ve got to drop pimping and gambling charges that have him down in the lockup.”
D.A. Winston starts to frown. “Damn pimp. I don’t know about dropping those charges. Tell me what else you have and then we’ll see.”
Nina stares directly at the D.A. and says, “I have under my protection an underage girl who has been having sex with Mayor Richard. She was beaten badly enough to send her to the hospital.
At first, the D.A. is speechless and his mouth is open. “You have her now?” he asks.
“Yes,” Nina replies. “Now, do we have a deal or not, Mr. Winston?” Finally, the D.A. starts to smile. “We certainly do, Detective. As soon as I have the pictures we’ve got a deal and your snitch can walk. How’s that? But for now, we all need to meet in Judge Andrew’s chambers in one hour.”
Nina walks out of the room and heads downstairs to Mick’s cell in the lockup. “Where are the photos, Mick?” she asks. “It’s been a real stressful day and I don’t have time for anything but straight answers.”
“They’re in the trunk of my car, under the spare tire,” says Mick.
“And where is your car now?”
“In the police pound. Now, can you get me out of here?”
“Not so fast, Mick. You sit tight and I’ll be back.”
Nina leaves the lockup, walks across the street to the pound, and asks the officer for the key to Mick’s car, the candy red Caddie in the back of the lot. Nina opens the trunk, moves the spare tire, grabs the pile of photographs and closes the trunk. She walks back across the street and heads straight to Captain Newton’s office. Nina walks in and closes the door behind her. She hands the pile of photographs to the Captain, who looks through them, slowly mutters a few “hmmms,” and puts the pile of photos in his jacket pocket. “Well, Mr. Mayor,” the Captain says to Nina, “I hope you’re ready to clean up this city.”
Nina smiles and says, “Thank you, Captain, but I’m not planning on leaving the Department.” “Not to worry, young lady, the Captain replies. “It seems to me that you and Harry there are well on your way to becoming legends. In act, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if someday some young writer puts your story in print” Nina smiles at the thought of seeing her name in print and then reminds the Captain that they are due at the courthouse.
Five minutes later, joining D.A. Winston and Judge Andrews in the judge’s chambers, the Captain hands the photos to the D.A. The D.A. takes a quick glance and passes them on to the judge. After looking through the photos, Judge Andrews announces, “The city will have the mayor’s head for this.” He then asks, “Is this the same girl you’re having protected?”
“Yes,” says the Captain. “Now, can we have the photos back?”
“ They’re all yours,” says the judge. The D.A. has a few more words with the judge and then turns to Nina and the Captain and says, “You can release the pimp and you’ll have a warrant for the arrest of the Mayor within an hour.”
Back in his office, the Captain calls downstairs and tells the lockup that Mick-the-Tick. Nina tells the Captain that she will be right back. “I have a bit of unfinished business with Mick.” The Captain tells Nina to be gentle and not to mess up Mick’s curl.
Downstairs, Nina watches as Mick struts out of the lockup heading toward the pound. Mick is touching his Jheri curl when he sees Nina sitting on the hood of his red Caddie with her feet on the chrome.” Hey, Ma’am Cakes,” he exclaims. “That car cost $45,000 that you can’t afford. So get off my car, lady.”
Nina stands up and says, “Mick, you need to know that I still have those photos and they sure could fall into the mob’s hands.”
“Come on, woman,” Mick says. “You wouldn’t do that to Mick after I helped you out and all. Look, I’m finished talking to you, Ma’am Cakes.”
“I told you never to call me that, Mick,” Nina says, as she spins around with a back kick that knocks Mick to the ground. His face is in the dirt and his Jheri curl is messed up. Mick wipes the dirt from his face, looks up at Nina and tells her she is a crazy woman. Nina walks back up to Mick, puts her foot on his neck and presses his face back into the dirt. “Just so we’re clear,” she says, “if you had beaten Penny, this would be a lot worse for you.” She takes her foot off his neck and walks away.
Twenty minutes later, back in her office, Captain Newton walks over and tells her, “It’s time to start taking back our city.”
Mayor Richard is at home in his study getting ready to go out and find Penny. Looking outside, he sees three police cars drive up. He watches as Nina gets our of the first car and starts to walk slowly up to the house. Mayor Richard sits down at his desk. He thinks about his wife and how this is going to hurt her. He thinks about all the wrong he’s done. He reaches into a desk drawer and withdraws his gun, puts it up to his temple and pulls the trigger. Hearing the shot Nina rushes into the Mayor’s house and sees him lying dead on the floor. “You bastard,” she thinks. “You took the easy way out. Good for you and good riddance, Mayor.” Nina turns, leaves the house and drives away.
