Highwires: The Sequel to Lottery=The Plan

By R.A. Ballard

Detective Lieutenant Lockhart and Detective DiLoggia are sent by Captain Broadhower to Lansing Community College. They were assigned to investigate an apparent suicide in the gymnasium restroom. However, their investigation gets intertwined with a US Army Armory heist. Local law enforcement, state police, and federal agencies are brought in as the events escalate beyond borders and international consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796037395

R.A. Ballard

R.A. Ballard is a Vietnam Veteran and graduate of Michigan State University (MSU). He worked in the auto industry, Driver Education, Public Transportation, and with the Michigan State Police/Homeland Security.

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Copyright © 2019 by R.A. Ballard.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019906903

ISBN:                Hardcover              978-1-7960-3741-8

                          Softcover                978-1-7960-3740-1

                          eBook                     978-1-7960-3739-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 06/07/2019

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Highwires is a work of fiction. Names and some locations were changed or provided for enhancing the novel.

This novel is dedicated to those who are in the law enforcement

and the military who protect us on a daily basis, risking their

lives and their way of life without enough support from us.

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September 2, Wednesday

O n Wednesday evening, Lansing Police Department and guests are gathered at the Lansing Center. This night they are honoring Captain Michael Broadhower, Detective Lieutenant Lincoln Lockhart, Detective Maria DiLoggia, Detectives Bruce Sharp and Edward Leo, and Officers Nathaniel and Nicholas Bravos, twin brothers. They are being awarded Meritorious Service Commendations for their work on the Gable and Nelson Homicides. Nate and Nick Bravos were promoted to Detective 3 rd Grade.

Attending as guests are Special Agent Trent Culver from the FBI, Assistant City Attorney Janice Colter, and Lt. Governor Cyrus James, who is standing in for Governor Terrance Small. Governor Small is in China seeking business opportunities for the State.

The event is moderated by the City Mayor Haskin Brown, a staunch Democrat in his second term after a failed run for Governor in 2014. In the audience is Captain Broadhower’s wife, who is a lobbyist for the Michigan Public Transit Association and pushing the increase in State Road Funding for roads, bridges, and public transportation. Sitting near her is Brian Masters, the previous boyfriend of Maria DiLoggia.

The evening has gone well and a small reception is taking place in the hallway. Many of the officers of the LPD are congratulating the award recipients. The mood is very upbeat and lively with conversation and some gentle joking. Off to the side Brian Masters has found Detective DiLoggia and they are quietly exchanging regrets on their last meeting. Detective Lt. Lockhart seems to be the butt of most of the joking, as he has recovered from the gunshot wound from the Falcon.

In another part of the hallway, Lt. Governor James and Mayor Brown are talking to Captain Broadhower and his wife.

Lt. Governor James offers his hand.

Mrs. Broadhower, you must be very proud of your husband’s accomplishment. I know I speak for the Governor in hoping the Captain continues his success with the LPD. And he hopes you will keep up your efforts to assist getting the Road Funding Bill passed, as that is high on his agenda.

Mrs. Betsy Broadhower, in her mid-forties and former MSU cheerleader, looks the part of an executive in her dark blue pants suit with a cream colored blouse. She accepts the Lt. Governor’s hand.

I am very proud of him and he is very proud of his men and women in the Detective Squad. Please remind the Governor to put the pedal to the metal on the Road Funding Bill, as the voters have spoken in the last election. They want the roads, bridges, repaired and maintained, so Michigan can get back to being a leader in the nation

Lt. Governor James smiled. He will get it done and hopefully very soon.

Mayor Haskin chimed in. He has to get off his ass and push the Republican House and Senate to act, as all the municipalities are waiting for progress on the bill. All it would take is for someone to die due to the failure to fix the roads and bridges. Hell, a chunk of concrete fell off a bridge down in Ypsilanti and damn neared killed a child riding in a car.

Yes, we are aware of that and it just increases the focus on our resolve. Pardon me but I have to leave, as I am meeting with a caucus group this evening to work on some issues. Goodbye and good luck, Captain. Lt. Governor James shook Captain Broadhower’s hand on his way out of the Lansing Center.

Mayor Haskin stepped over to shake hands with Detective Lt. Lockhart, DiLoggia, Sharp, Leo, and Officers Nate and Nick Bravos.

Well we all know the Mayor is not a friend of the Governor’s Office and it will be hard for him to get anything done with this Governor. Betsy stated as she looked up at Captain Broadhower. She looked at her watch. I am going on home and make sure the kids are getting their homework done. Don’t stay too late and easy on the booze, as you have to work tomorrow. She smiled, kissed him on the cheek and walked out to her car. It was just starting to drizzle, as the light in the sky was almost gone.

Janice Colter was waiting for her chance to talk to Detective Lt. Lockhart, once the crowd around him started to diminish.

Lincoln! Congratulations on your award, here tonight. She gently grasped his left arm. I would like to have coffee with you sometime, if you want to. Remember you promised and I haven’t forgotten it.

Lockhart knew what he wanted to say but, I will give that some thought and let you know. How’s that?

She seemed pleased. Great! Let’s find the time, as I we need to get better acquainted.

Lockhart smiled, gave her a wink and turned to talk to the Bravos twins.

8:30 p.m. Wednesday

In a large white bricked home at 425 North Washington Avenue, in an upstairs 3rd floor apartment, two students of Lansing Community College are going over maps of Michigan. Haseem Barik and Mosef Abdul are focusing on the topography, roads, and landmarks. As pre-engineering students, it would not be uncommon to study the surrounding area to make it familiar to them in class. But that is not their intent.

Haseem turns to Mosef. We need to get more detailed maps to make sure we know where the pipelines, sewers, and utilities are located.

Mosef agrees. We should try the Internet, as most information is available without us giving away our identity.

But we must work fast, as our action date is coming up fast. Haseem reminds Mosef. I will call Jazmine and arrange a meeting for tonight.

Haseem makes his call and set up a meeting for 9:00 p.m. at their apartment. Haseem has told Jazmine to be alert for anyone who may be following her.

Jazmine Abdul, a dental hygienist is working late in the office of Dr. Mark Bowman, puts down her cell phone, returns to her patient, and finishes the x-rays, as part of an emergency appointment. She thinks about what the evening meeting with Haseem and Mosef will involve.

Near Thunder Bay Canada, a dark van makes its way along a logging trail north of the Minnesota border. The driver, Zarah Jabeb, is looking for a crossing into Minnesota that bypasses the border patrol manned by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and U.S. Customs. The driver, a part-time smuggler, was hired to drive the van into the U.S. by an unknown Black Wolf (a rogue terrorist cell) contact, which paid him $5,000 U.S. dollars, a week ago. He is traveling under a UNICEF authorized visa. He entered Canada from the U.S. at Niagara Falls, NY and drove around Lake Huron and Lake Superior. He has forged papers for a small pallet of boxes marked medical supplies. The boxes are loaded with C4 explosives, automatic weapons, military gear, and cash. His destination is Battle Creek, Michigan.

Driving slowly, he spots a similar trail leading south that is overgrown with brush. He stops the van and takes the tarp off the boxes by releasing the spring clips. He gathers up the tarp and clips and covers the van, leaving the windshield glass uncovered. The tarp is made of a composite material that would make the van invisible to most radar. He proceeds slowly down the logging trail until he is sure he has crossed into Minnesota, about 1 mile. He then drives to the nearest paved road and he removes the stealth-like tarp and recovers the boxes inside the van, then makes his way south toward Duluth. He continues on to I-35 South and heads south toward I-94 and Chicago. I-94 will lead him into Michigan and Battle Creek. He has a burner cell phone to make contact with Haseem Barik, once he arrives on Thursday.

By 9:30 p.m., Haseem, Mosef, and Jazmine are conferring and going over expected time schedules.

Haseem pours a few glasses of Merlot. Here’s to our success and praise to Allah!

Jazmine begins. Is the shipment on schedule? Has he confirmed he is in the U.S.?

Yes, he is in Wisconsin and should be at our pickup spot by early tomorrow afternoon. Mosef and I will meet him and come back in his van. We will store it at our launching pad until we make our assault on the U.S. National Guard Armory in Charlotte, just twenty minutes from here.

Mosef looked puzzled. Haseem, will we need more Black Wolf operatives to assist us?

Yes and I have made contact with our group at Michigan State University (MSU). There are three that will come upon my call. You, Jazmine, Zarah, and myself will be entering the Armory to get what we need; grenades, rocket launchers, and light weapons. The other three will assist with the loading. We go on Saturday night, the 5th.

What about Malik? I have not heard from him. Mosef was tilted toward Haseem, as to hear his response quietly’

Haseem spoke softly. "Malik will not be joining us, as he has been delayed.

How many U.S. Army guards are on duty Haseem? Jazmine asked.

There are four during the day but only two after 8 p.m. So we will enter around 10 p.m. We will be in there only 5 minutes, as response to the incident will be 5 to 8 minutes away. I know where to go, so we will have the advantage.

Mosef again was curious. What about the guards?

Haseem did not hesitate. They will be dead. We must enter, take what we need and get out quickly. We will all be dressed in black with night vision gear just like a SEAL team. We will return to where the van is stored, as we will prepare for the next action. I will be in contact with Black Wolf 1 (cell leader) prior to Saturday and he will give me our next location to strike.

Jazmine broke in. Do we have orders to take down Mr. Gray (code name of the Governor of Michigan)?

Not at this time, as we are determining schedules and locations from our contact in State Government. But we think it will be very soon, as our attacks need to be coordinated with our attempt on Mr. Gray. Hassem explained.

Mosef turned to Hassem. Do we keep up our communications by cell phone?

Yes and you must remember to use simple codes, as it should sound like we are planning a spring break trip to Florida. But keep the communication tight with short sentences. Hassem instructed.

Haseem went over information he gathered off the Internet on pipelines, fuel storage sites, and power lines. He also gave possible targets code names. They conclude their meeting and agreed to meet again on Friday at 9:00 p.m. at Haseem’s apartment.

Thursday morning, 8:00 a.m. September 3

Detective DiLoggia is going over an intelligence report from the FBI that discusses the possibility of terrorist attacks in the U.S. on the anniversary of 9/11. The indications are that the large metropolitan cities of New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles are the prime targets. It also focuses on transportation with hints of airlines, rail, and ferries being logical hosts of deliberate casualty tolls.

Detective Lt. Lockhart arrives in the squad room and heads straight for the coffee pot. He waves at Detectives Sharp and Leo, who are at their desks. The Bravos twins are standing near the Captain’s Office, evidently waiting for an assignment.

Hey! Here are our new Detectives, Nick and Nate Bravos. Are you ready to get cracking on a new detail? Lockhart grins and walks toward his desk.

Good morning, Detective DiLoggia! Lockhart sat down across from her. You look studious this morning.

DiLoggia held up her FBI report. I’m just going over the latest FBI shout out. Pretty much the same stuff we have been getting. With the September 11th anniversary coming, more concerns stated, but there is nothing really new.

Captain Broadhower practically ran over the Bravos twins standing near his doorway, as he went directly to Lockhart’s desk

Lockhart you and DiLoggia need to get over to Lansing Community College (LCC), as they have reported a student was hung in the men’s room of the gymnasium, just off the basketball court. No details but you need to get over there, pronto. And take the two sequoias (referring to the Bravos twins) with you and let them do some canvassing. Now, go! The Captain waved them toward the office front door.

Lockhart and DiLoggia started for the door and Lockhart summoned the Bravos twins to follow. Once outside, Lockhart and DiLoggia drove the Ford SUV and he told the Bravos brothers to follow in their Crown Victoria, which was a large enough units for their 6’7" frames.

They all headed down to Capital Avenue to the LCC campus and parked in the parking ramp. They went into the gym and found two LPD patrolmen standing with the LCC Athletic Director and two students.

Patrolmen B.J. Biggs began. Detective, this is Athletic Director (AD) Brian Mason and these are the two students who found the victim. Patrolmen Doris Cavanaugh stood back to allow the detectives to pass.

Have them wait here till we check the scene, as we may have more questions. Have anybody call the Coroner, yet?

Both patrolmen shook their heads no.

Get them rolling, as we need to move the body as soon as possible. Lockhart looked back at the AD for affirmation and he got a nod.

All four detectives went into the rest room, as Lockhart wanted the Bravos brothers to see the scene and watch how he and DiLoggia dealt with it. Lockhart slowed all of them down, as he stepped into the main part of the restroom. He saw a body stretched out hanging from a metal ceiling bracket. He looked to be a young man with dark hair, tanned skin, and black eyes that were bulging from his head. He appeared to be of Mid-eastern decent and dressed casually.

Nick Bravos reached into the victim’s pants pocket and pulled out a Velcro wallet. He passed it on to Lockhart. DiLoggia circled around to get near Lockhart, as he opened up the wallet.

Malik Shariff is indicated by his LCC student ID. His address was 202 Trapper’s Cove on Jolly Road, southeast portion of Lansing." Lockhart stated.

He turned to DiLoggia. DiLoggia go over to the Administration Office and get as much information that you can on him and his classes, etc. DiLoggia went out the door in a hurry.

He turned to Nate and Nick Bravos. You guys head out to Trapper’s Cove and question all the residents on his floor and see if anybody visited him, especially in the last 30 days.

Roger that Lieutenant. Nick spoke for Nate. We’re on it.

Lockhart grabbed Nick by the shoulder, as he had to reach up high to make a connection. Call me before you leave, as I may want you to do something else. Got it?

Both Bravos brothers nodded in the affirmative.

The Bravos brothers left and only Lockhart was in the restroom, as that was the way he wanted it. He did not want any distractions as he checked out the room. He slowly walked from one side of the room to the other, as if he was walking in a grid. He would stop occasionally and look up at the body still hanging from the ceiling. He squatted down to the floor just below the body, checking out the tiles. He found scuff marks, as it looked like an object was moved close to the area where the body was hanging. He began to process how this happened and thought that Malik moved something to assist him in getting up to 9’ off the floor. But where was the object? There was a standup trash can but it was upright and five feet away. Could he have tipped it back into place? Lockhart worked his way in back of the hanging body. He looked up at the cord which consisted of several tie downs, interconnected, and made out of hard rubber.

The LCC AD popped his head in. Lieutenant, the Coroner is here.

Lockhart held up his hand. Tell him to stand by, as I will be out in a minute.

Lockhart reached into the victim’s left pants pocket and found a cell phone. He checked for recent calls and two came up. One call was made to Jazmine and one to Mosef.

He got on his cell phone and called DiLoggia. Maria, check on a Jazmine and a Mosef, last name unknown, and see it they are students.

DiLoggia answered. I will have some basic information on Malik and I’ll get back to you on the others.

The Bravos brothers arrived at Trapper’s Cove apartments and found the apartment manager’s office. He led them to Malik’s apartment and let the officers in. Nate reminded Nick that they should leave it as it appears, as they did not have a warrant and it may have to be screened by Lt. Lockhart. They questioned the manager about visitors that Malik had but he didn’t know anything specific. He just reminded them that these are college students and they are in and out all the time. They closed the door and started to canvass the apartment tenants on that floor for information about Malik’s activities.

Detective DiLoggia was able to obtain information on Malik’s classes, his professors, and grades in a first year of basic courses. She also had the administrative staff search for Jazmine and Mosef in their directory. She found Jazmine and Mosef Barik listed. DiLoggia called it into Lockhart and went back to the LCC gym.

Lockhart was still looking over the restroom when DiLoggia arrived. Lockhart’s cell phone rang and Nate Bravos reported in.

Nate, you and Nick stay there, as I will call for a search warrant and be right out. Don’t let anyone into that room.

Got it lieutenant, we are waiting for you and a warrant. Nate repeated the instructions back.

Lockhart hung up and dialed the Captain. He briefed him on the situation and asked him to request a warrant from the City Attorney’s Office for a search of Malik’s room. He did not give the Captain an evaluation of the scene, as he was still pondering what he saw.

What have we got here Lockhart? DiLoggia asked. A suicide victim that, based on his grades at LCC, was not doing well and maybe was distraught?

That could be but, how did he get up there to hang himself? See the scuff marks on the floor? Something was used to get him up higher. See the trash container? That could have been used but it is five feet away. So what does that tell you Detective?

DiLoggia looked at the trash container, looked up at the victim, then looked at Lockhart. Either someone moved it over to stand him up on it, then moved it back in place or, he is the most athletic and lucky victim to have tipped the container back in place.

Right on, DiLoggia, so let’s get the Coroner in here. Tell him to take a lot pictures and then we will see what he has to say.

Lockhart went out in the hall and waved the Coroner and his attendant into the restroom. He then questioned the AD on the normal activity in the gym during evening hours and who may have been in the gym.

AD Mason began. There is a small group of students who play basketball until 10:00 p.m. almost every night of the week. Then the janitor clears them out. He usually sweeps the gym floor and checks the locker rooms for any stragglers or items left behind. He is normally gone by 11:30 p.m.

I will need to talk to him. When would he be available?

He can be called in and I will let you know when he is here.

Here is my card. Call me when you have him here. Lockhart told him to call him immediately.

Captain Broadhower called Lockhart back and told him the warrant would arrive at Trapper’s Cove in 20 minutes. So what does it look like Lockhart? What is your best guess?

Still not sure yet, Captain, but it looks suspicious, as he either he had help to do this or somebody decided he had to go and tried to make it look like a suicide.

Lockhart informed the Captain of his next step was to scour Malik’s apartment for clues and then to track down Jazmine and Mosef Barik. He had a short conversation with Coroner about time of death, which he guessed was between