Stone Investigations (Stone Series Book 4)

lunch again, this timethey were heading to the sushi place.
“I wonder where Jason and Alex are,” Matthew said.
“Alex just texted me; they’re going to hang out with somekids from drama.”  The two hurried to Emily’s Porsche Boxster, it was a tighttimeline to make it to the sushi place and back before fourth period started.
“Matt, I researched the drug thing last night.  Can youbelieve that the street price of Oxycontin is fifteen to fifty bucks a pill?”
“That explains why there’s a new source, big profits.  So,what else did you learn?”
“They can’t figure out where the drugs are coming from.  Theycan just tell that there’s a new source because the old source is complaining.”
“What?  Who’s complaining?”
“The drug gangs.  Undercover cops and snitches are tellingthem that they’re losing money and customers.”
“Interesting.  So, why do they care?”
“Wait, let me park first.”
Emily pulled the Porsche into a parking space and the twohurried into the restaurant, just making it in front of a car full of juniors. “Whew, six in one car.”
“It’s a good thing you drive fast.”
After ordering their food, they sat down and continued theconversation.  “You were going to tell me why they care about a new supplier.”
“Well, they were trying to put the gangs out of business.”
“Sure, and look how successful that’s been.”
“Right, but anyway, the new supplier is different; they don’tunderstand it, so they want to figure it out before something worse happens. And they’re worried about a turf war.”
“Okay, so they want to find the new supplier, and why can’tthey at least figure out where it’s coming from?”
“I don’t know.  Anyway, I’ve got the name of the detective incharge.  I think you should go interview him.”
“Why me?”
“Because you need to get a read on him so you can pop in andcheck things out like you did with Agent Caruthers.”
Matthew sighed.  “Where is he?”
“Downtown San Diego.”
“And how am I supposed to go down there and interview him?”
“I’ll give you a ride.  I have some shopping to do.”
“So, when?”  Matthew was getting a bit tired of beingmanipulated by Emily.
“Tomorrow.  We can skip journalism, tell Ms. Whittaker thatwe’re working on a story.”
“Okay, but why do I feel like I’m going to regret this?”
“Don’t be a baby.  It’s the life of an investigativejournalist.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“I’d like to speak with Detective Vaughn,” Matthew told thedesk sergeant.
“I’m sorry, the detective isn’t in.”
“Sure he is, he’s wearing a white shirt and red tie, and hewalked by just a minute ago.”  Matthew had done a little surveillance on theway down.  He’d seen the detective grab a cup of coffee just before Emilydropped him off.
“Let me rephrase that, he isn’t in for teenage punks.”
“I’m a reporter for the Pacific Coast Gazette.  I’m workingon a story about the recent surge in Oxycontin abuse here in San Diego.  Pleasetell Detective Vaughn I’d like to interview him.”
Matthew used his portal to make Detective Vaughn’s phonebuzz.  Detective Vaughn answered it and after hearing nothing but a dial tone,he walked out front to see what was going on.
“Hey, guys, it’s Clark Kent,” Detective Vaughn said when hespotted Matthew.
“What?!”
“You know, Clark Kent, reporter for the Daily Planet andSuperman’s alter ego.”
“Oh, right.  This is the kid from that article about thediner.  And isn’t he the same one that rescued that kid a while back?”
“Yeah, that’s right.  Matt, isn’t it?”
“Yes it is.  Do you have some time to talk with me?”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“I’d like to interview you for my paper.”
“Okay, come on back.  Sarge, I’ll call you if I need somehelp.”
They went through the door, then walked past a bunch ofcubicles on their way to an office.  The cubicles were full and the cops inthem were working hard, creating a loud buzz of activity.
“Okay, kid, what do you want to ask me?”
“I want to ask some questions about the new drug issue that’sbeen on the news.”
“What kind of questions?”
“Well, first, I’d like to know how you know that there’s anew source of drugs?”
“Because the usual gangs are not distributing it.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because when we bring the usual pushers in, they allcomplain about a loss of customers.  They’re fighting among themselves, tryingto make up for the lost income.”
“So, these customers have found an alternate source?”
“You’ve got it.”
“And it isn’t just them getting the drugs from theirdoctors?”
“No.  When the FDA and DEA cracked down on doctors writingexcessive scrips for opioids, the gangs stepped in and met the demand.  Then ayear ago, all that new demand disappeared.  The gangs had gotten used to allthat new income and aren’t happy about losing it.”
“How is it getting into the country?”
“We don’t know.  The gangs were getting it from the Mexicandrug cartels.  This new stuff must be coming from someplace else, or the gangswould know all about it.”
“Do you have any samples of the drug that you can use totrace its origins?”
“Nope.  We haven’t busted any users, except those buying fromthe usual sources.  All the users that the gangs lost are upscale.  Not yourtypical junkie.  That’s what’s got them so pissed off.  These people werereliable clients.”
“So, is there any hope of figuring it out?”
“Don’t worry kid.  We’ll get them.  Now, if you want to helpus out with your x-ray vision, we could probably work something out.”
Matthew frowned at being teased about the Superman thing, butit was his fault.  He should have done something different when he realizedthat the waitress was in on the robbery.  Instead, he’d just walked up to herusing his portal to stop the bullets.  He didn’t think she’d be that clear-headedabout it.
◆ ◆ ◆
Matthew tuned in on Detective Vaughn’s briefing the nextmorning.
“Okay, we’ve got one potential buyer, Evelyn Frye.  She worksin a jewelry store.  They lost some jewels, shoplifting was the story, but theowner thinks she took them.  No proof, but the robbery guys who investigatedsay her coworker thinks she’s using.  Said she tore her knee up about sixmonths ago and was taking Oxycontin for the pain.  Seems she never quit takingit.”
“Why do you think she’s going to buy from the new guys?”
“She fits the profile.  Middle Class, clean, no record orproblems before now.”
“So, what do we