“Lucy.”
“Don’t ask. It’s Wednesday.”
“Ah, two more nap days.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we learned that in all probability, Stanković, the guy who fingered Lazar, is not involved in the current mess. He may be a candidate in the future, but right now, with all his connections, he is a hot potato. The team wants to know more from Lazar about Cortez and Taggert. The ADA will need some pretty substantial firsthand evidence to go forward with an indictment. Our team is heading back into the interrogation room. We better get there to hear what is next.
“Okay, so Mr. Popović, it seems I’m going to need a little more information from you before we can talk about any kind of a deal.”
“What kind of information? I’ve told you about Taggert and Cortez.”
“you. Have told us nothing. Right now, you are looking at spending the rest of your life behind bars unless we can get some substantial information on how Cortez and Taggert are connected.”
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, Mr. Stannis.”
“My client is terrified of what can happen to him if he speaks up regarding the activities of his associates. We need to work out a way where he can tell you what you need to know and then be safe.”
“I’ve already said if the information is actionable, he will get all the protection he needs. So far, though, he has said nothing. You both need to trust that if lazar knows something, he should talk.”
“We had the same conversation while you were out of the room. I think my client is ready to give you more details.”
“That sounds good. So Lazar, what kind of information can you provide? Can you make a direct connection between Taggert, Cortez, and the drugs?”
“I sure can. In fact, I have phone conversations recorded.”
“You what?”
“Conversations.”
“With who?”
“Me and Taggert. Me and Cortez and Cortez, me, and Taggert.”
“Where are these conversations now?”
“In the cloud somewhere.”
“Can you get them?”
“Yeah. I just access Dropbox. They are all there.”
“Ok, so wait a minute. How is it that you were able to get phone conversations?”
“I got this app called TTSPY. It works on Android phones, which are the burner phones of choice of Cortez and Taggert.”
“They didn’t know you were recording.”
“God, no. I would be a dead man if they found out. I set the phone to record whenever they call. I never call them, so I didn’t get the other way conversations.”
“What made you decide to do the recordings?”
“You know, Ms. Thomas, I’m a God-fearing man. I figured I better protect myself since the deals were getting bigger, which means the stakes were getting higher. I just looked up on Google, how to record off a mobile phone, bought the app, and the rest is history.”
“So, how many conversations?”
“I’d have to say maybe forty or fifty.”
“Excuse me, Ms. Thomas.”
“Yes, Mr.Dunfee.”
“Can I ask a question?”
“Certainly.”
“Did these guys discuss getting rid of Andrew and me?”
“Yeah, you bet. Cortez told me he was putting out the hit and would I be interested.”
“Well?”
“Not my kind of work, Mr. Dunfee. I said I was a God-fearing man. Thou shalt not kill.”
“I get it, Lazar. Maybe God would have appreciated it if you gave out a warning.”
“I didn’t need Cortez putting out a hit on me, which would have happened had I done that.”
“Okay, gentlemen. We now have attempted murder to add to the stack. When can we start listening to the recordings, Mr. Popović?”
“I can call them up anytime.”
“Maybe we’ll have someone transcribe them. For now, let’s talk about a few things.”
“Like what?”
“Like how much drug trade have you’ve been involved with and how deep are Taggert and Cortez in it.”
“Up to their eyebrows, Ms. Thomas. Could I get a glass of water.?”
“Yeah, let’s take a break. This has been very interesting.
Fiction Favorites 
These conversations (if they exist – I don’t trust Lazar) should be interesting. My breath, as they say, is bated; my interest is piqued; my fingers are strumming.
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All good signs, Keith. 😁
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Now we’re getting somewhere.
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I hope so. 😁
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“In the cloud somewhere.” I’ve never trusted the cloud…things seem to disappear.
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Always a risk, Jill. Look at Lazar. You think he knows what he’s doing? Pretty iffy.
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This was unexpected and I love it! Of course, if the conversations disappear and we return to ground zero, I’ll be bummed. 🙂
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Hahahha. Oh ye of little faith. (Well founded I might add.) 😊
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Uh oh. I think something’s gonna happen involving that glass of water.
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Sometimes a glass of water is just a glass of water. Thank you, Liz. 😁
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Ha ha! 😀
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😁
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Ok, we have evidence, hidden in a safe-ish place. Let’s make this guy a deal and move forward before they kill everyone. I have a bad feeling about this interrogation. Something tells me all is not right. I need more coffee, and two more naps.
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I think we could both use the coffee and naps, Dan.
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Wi-fi connection with Friday 🙂 I adore their sleeping shots, dear John. They are so funny.
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I always have a good selection of them too. Thanks, Maria. 😁
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🙂
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🤗
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Smart guy if he’s telling the truth. And actually knows how to access his Cloud.
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Yes he does. Thanks, Teri.
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Feels like we’re getting somewhere. Water ought to be safe. It’s coffee that heralds the gunfire.
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I with you on that. What is it about coffee anyway?
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I need another cup, but I’m keeping my head down.
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I would get lower on the floor but my shirt buttons are in the way
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Forty or fifty conversations floating around in the cloud. Hmm…something tells me this isn’t going to be as simple as it sounds.
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Of course, it might just be that easy. Heh, heeh, heh. 😁
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I’m cautiously optimistic, John, that all is as it appears. Of course, I know how twisty your stories are, so perhaps I should be more on my guard?!!
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I would be very careful about trusting me, Debbie. Thanks for the optimism. 😁
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I hope these conversations dont disappear and they can keep him safe, if he really has them:)
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That would be something if they did disappear wouldn’t it?
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Looks like Cortez and Taggert are going to be toast once those recordings are retrieved. But, of course, you never know. Intriguing scene, John. 🙂
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I think we can warm up the paddy wagon. Thanks, Diana.
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On principle alone, I think Taggert and Cortez should fry. Never, ever ever ever discuss important business on the phone fellas! Not directly.
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I knoe right but think of the fact that if they were that smart I wouldn’t have a story.
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As always, you are spot on Boss.
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😁
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I don’t trust Popocič as far as I can their him. Wants water? Why does that bug me? And what kinda guys are these for even allowing themselves to be recorded? I dunno, Boss..
Looking forward to next week!
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Thes guys didn’t know they were being recorded. They thought because they were using burner phones that they were safe.
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Oh, I know … Still. 😉
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Yeah you are right. Still.
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He he he
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You know you are always right. He he he. 😊
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Buahaha! I would never say that…
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Wow! That was quite a big reveal! Now to actually back it up with the phone conversations. 🙂 I think he might need something a bit stronger than water! Good scene, John!
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Thank you, Jan. let’s hope Lazar knows how to use Drop Box. 😁
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The dialogue is so revealing. I think Thomas is lying about something..
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As they say, “We shall see.” Thanks, Rob
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Something is ‘off’ in his tone of voice. But that may be a personal spin on the words.
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I’ll have to look into that.
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It may have been something I read into the lines.
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The real question is how do you know these things? There we all were thinking that John, nice guy and all the time he’s rooting around the darkweb looking for spyware!!
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Trapped like a rat. All in the pursuit of the art. 😇
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Can he really do that with a app? This is fascinating. I think Larry and Andrew might be getting somewhere. Now, let’s see if he can retrieve the phone recordings.
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Yes he can do that with an app. it is easy with an Android phone. Harder with an iPhone, but it can be done. Thanks, Jennie. 😁
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Wow! You are a man of many talents, including spy sleuthing. 🙂
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Yes. Black ops here. Dirty deeds done dirt cheap.
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Haha! 😅
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I’m just suspicious by nature, I guess, but Lazar is a bit too cheerful, it seems, and a bit too quick to volunteer these phone conversations. I shall wait for proof …
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He is in a tight spot which you will see tomorrow.
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I await with bated breath!!!
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Or something like that. 😁
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That reminds me …
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😊
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