Searching for Anna By Jenifer Carll-Tong
Chapter 11 - Golden Boy
"You know, you don't get paid extra when you work a double shift," Jesse Moore said.
Will hung his hat on the hook and unbuckled his holster. "It isn't always about the money," Will said in return, once again reminded of his concerns about Jesse. "Sometimes it's about doing what's right."
Jesse stared at Will for a long time. He finally nodded. "Yep, once you figure out what's actually right."
"Is that something you have difficulty doing?"
Jesse shook his head. "Nope. Just saying that what's right for you might not be what's right for me. We each gotta find our own version of right."
Thomas Rogers didn't look up from the gun he was meticulously cleaning in the corner of the office. "In my experience, most of life falls somewhere in the gray area."
"Yep, I guess I agree with that." Jesse turned back to Will. "What about you, Caffey? I bet you see the world as black and white. For you, it's good versus evil, huh?"
"Isn't that how it's been since the beginning of time?" Will asked. "Since the fall from Eden, haven't we all been living in a world of good versus evil?"
Jesse pushed away from the desk and stood. "Hmph! And I bet you think you're always on the good side." He scowled and shook his head. "I'm going out for a ride. You ain't the only one who can catch the bad guys."
Will thought momentarily about following him outside and adjusting the attitude problem he'd had since Will's first day on the job. Will had hoped that once the man had gotten to know him, he would have settled down.
"Don't mind him," Thomas said as if reading Will's mind. "It's just his bruised ego showin' through. He'll get over it and get used to the fact that the force's Golden Boy is running the show, not him."
It wasn't the first time Will had been called "Golden Boy," and he wasn't sure what to make of it. Sometimes, like now, the moniker seemed used with admiration, as if Will’s reputation was something to be idolized. Other times, usually when Jesse Moore was speaking, it was said with such an air of contempt that Will felt the need to knock someone's block off.
"Rogers, doesn't it seem strange to you that we can't get a lead on who burned down the Lambecker place? Doesn't it feel like every lead we get is a wild goose chase? Like things have been cleaned up before we even get there."
Rogers pursed his lips as if contemplating the question. "I hadn't really noticed."
"You don't think there's someone inside that's leaking information, do you?"
Rogers lifted his eyebrows and laughed. "You're thinking Moore, eh? No way. He might be a little moody, but he's not the type. He's neither smart enough nor industrious enough to make the kind of connections you're talking about."
Will wasn't convinced. Something wasn't right and his gut was telling him the problem was coming from within his ranks.
Rogers put his gun away and continued. "I'm sure you've figured out by now that this work is hard. It's hard and it pays very little. Before long, every man realizes that there's more money to be had lining their pocket with bribes from the likes of Lambecker, among others. But most men decide real quick that they aren't in this for the money - they're here for a higher calling."
"You said most men."
Thomas Rogers nodded slowly. "Yes, most. Unfortunately, it's your job to figure out the rest. But I would lay my money on Jesse Moore. He's stubborn and hard to get along with at times, but he's no Benedict Arnold. You need to look elsewhere for your mole."
Will didn't like the idea that one of his own could be working against him, but he knew it could be true. Even Jesus had a betrayer. Will just hoped he could identify his Judas before it was too late.
