Mrs. Kelly nods. “I’ve heard of that. Children and animals.”
A knock at the door signals their visit is over. “I’ve asked my son to come collect me. Do take some time to think about why you’re here, Inspector. It will be important, and you’ll not cross over until it’s fulfilled.” Mrs. Kelly peers closely at Frank. “Unless, of course, you do not want to cross?”
Chapter 45
T ommy has Maggie’s hand and is hauling her down the street. They had been on their way to Tommy’s regular haircut at the barber, but now Tommy’s insisting on a short detour.
“Come see this, Mother. Come look. Lo-o-ok.” Tommy tugs at her hand.
“Stop it, Tommy. We don’t have time for this today.”
“Mother, it’s the new Red Racer bicycle. Come see.” He drags her toward a store window displaying an array of bicycles in all colors and sizes.
Maggie pulls up short and grabs her hand away. “I said stop it, Tommy.”
Tommy looks confusedly at her, knowing she rarely scolds, and not without a reason. “But Mother, the Red Racer—.” He gestures to the window behind him.
“We haven’t got money for a bicycle. And don’t ask again. There’s enough trying to take a piece of me, between my homework and the lodgers and my bookkeeping business and everything else. I do not have any patience left for this kind of thing.”
Tommy stares at his boots. Maggie grabs his shoulder, turning him in the direction of the barbershop. “Now march.”
As she strides along, Tommy scrambles to keep up. His mother is cross, and he doesn’t know why.
A bicycle. Like I could afford a bicycle. I did make last month’s mortgage payment thanks to the Minnow money, but it’s going to be tight again this month. It’s crazy that I’m hoping for a rash of dishonest cops so that I can pay off the bank. There’s got to be a better way. What I wouldn’t give for a decent night’s sleep instead of all this worry. When does the bank send the letter saying they’re going to seize the house? Two missed payments? Three? I’m sure I can cover it next month, especially if I’m assigned a few more Minnow shifts. I have got to find another bookkeeping client. I don’t know where I’d find the time, but I’ll have to make time somewhere. The money’s too important. Time. Homework. When is that assignment due? Oh, crap. Tomorrow.
“Tommy. Stop dawdling.” She gives his shoulder another twitch.
What if I can’t find one more client? How soon before they sell the house? I’m going to look through those letters from Mickey’s crowd again. Maybe that barber? I would only do it for a short time, just until I’m on my feet. I don’t have to tell the Inspector.
Tommy stops, watching his mother stride away. “Mother?”
Maggie stops, whirling around. “What? I told you to hurry. What’s the matter?”
Tommy points to the red, white, and blue barber pole. “We’re here. You were going to walk right past it.”
Maggie frowns. I don’t need this expense. If we didn’t have the visit to Boys’ Central tomorrow, I’d turn around and cut his hair myself.
“Mother?” Tommy says, reaching for the door handle.
Next month. I’ll cut his hair next month. I’ll get that assignment done tonight. And I must find one more client. “I’m coming,” Maggie says through gritted teeth, following Tommy into the barbershop.
Chapter 46
A fter supper, Maggie and Tommy head off on their grand adventure. Her obsession with Boys’ Central is complicated. Of course, she wants Tommy to have the best, and Boys’ is the best. But there’s also a bit of pride wrapped up in it; the school’s become symbolic for her abilities to provide for her son, and being able to thumb her nose at her parents in a ‘see what I can do by myself’. Then there is that awful Principal Harris and his ‘boys like Tommy’ speech. Hopefully the evening won’t be a bust with Tommy deciding that he hates the school.
Tommy quivers with excitement; so do the other boys lined up in the hallway outside the door to the Central High School Observatory. Archie has pulled a few strings, and was able to get Maggie and Tommy included in a recruitment tour for the school. It will be a few years yet before he’s old enough for Boys’ Central, but Maggie is sure, if she can make her dream tangible for Tommy, he’ll see why it’s so important to her and, in turn, why it’s vital for him.
Maggie evaluates the parents lined up with their sons. Wealthy and comfortable. Good recruits. Many of the men are alumni from their chatter and greetings. A lot of the women have the look of smug satisfaction that comes from having achieved a goal and others acknowledging it. I want to wear that same look.
Tommy shakes his hand loose; none of the other boys are holding their mother’s hand. Sporting a fresh haircut and dressed in his Sunday best, he still doesn’t look like he’s Boys’ Central potential. Maggie takes a breath, determined to figure out a way to get her son accepted into this club.
“I must say, I think I’m as excited by this as much as Tommy is. Thank you so much for including me, Maggie,” Frank says.
She looks at him over Tommy’s head, and smiles. “Safety in numbers,” she whispers.
“What, Mother?”
“Nothing, Tommy. Just talking to myself.”
Once inside, a man in an academic gown steps up to the podium at the front of the crowd. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I’d like to welcome you to one of the finest observatories in Pennsylvania, possibly the entire East Coast. Access to the observatory is just one of many key advantages students at Boys’ Central High School enjoy. It is one of the things that make a Philadelphia Boys’ Central education superior.”
Maggie can feel the chests around her puff out with pride.
“It is thanks to the generous support of people like yourselves, who believe in the vision of an outstanding education, and the opportunities it creates for our young men, that we can include astronomy as part of the school curriculum.
“Of course, I’d be remiss if I left you with the impression that Boys’ Central is only focused on science. The Humanities also play an important role in a well-rounded education. For the literary inclined, you’ll recall that the moon was held to be the god of drunkards. Of course, with Prohibition, we don’t need to worry about that anymore.”
There is a scattering of tittering amongst the assembled crowd.
Their host basks in the response. “As the Father of Modern Science said, ‘It is a most beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the moon.’ Now, if you follow me, we will go upstairs to gaze at the same moon that so enamored Signor Galileo.”
One by one, the boys are led to the eyepiece of a powerful telescope. Everyone is enthralled; numerous oohs and ahhs inspired by the magnified image of the moon.
Tommy quivers with excitement when it’s his turn. After a few moments peering through the eyepiece, his body goes still. He takes a breath. When he stands and turns to face her, his expression is rapturous. “I saw the surface of the moon, Mother. The moon.”
The parents finally get their turn, with a bit more obsequious fawning on the part of the department head. This is the audience he wants to impress with his performance. He has a room full of donors, and hopes to inspire generosity.
When it is her turn, Maggie leans down and peers through the eyepiece. She feels overwhelmed, almost in tears. The heavens laid out before her, the majesty of its beauty diminishing all the quotations about the mysteries of the universe.
Before tonight, she had been determined to have Tommy at Boy’s Central for the economic opportunities afforded the graduates, but now she is doubly committed. Her son deserves this caliber of education, and she will fight tooth and nail to make sure he too has the chance to look through that telescope again.
Straightening, she glances over to Frank, and then steps forward and blocks the forward progression of the line. “Excuse me, Professor? I have a question.”
While she distracts the professor, Frank moves over to the eyepiece and stoops down to have a look. �
��Oh. Oh, my heavens.”
He looks up. Maggie takes in the wonder on the Inspector’s face.
The line becomes restless, and Maggie steps out of the way.
“I once saw a print of Napoleon in Egypt,” Frank says, “and the caption underneath said ‘Under a waning moon, meditating on the riddles of the Sphinx.’ After tonight, I think I can understand the emotion he was feeling. This has been an incredible experience, Maggie. Probably one of the most profound in my life.”
Chapter 47
“ I must say, Smedley, you look like hell. Are you feeling all right?” District Attorney Samuel Rotan looks at his friend with concern. The men are gathering for an update on Operation Minnow, waiting for Unit One’s captain to arrive.
“It feels like I haven’t slept in days, but it’s always like this when we mount an offensive. Sherman may have said ‘war is hell’, but he was never head of the police in Philadelphia.”
Sam chuckles. “Well, look after yourself, Smedley. Without you, this whole operation falls apart.”
Captain Beckman joins them, Sergeant Kelly in tow. “I understand congratulations are in order, Sergeant,” Sam says, rising and shaking Joe’s hand.
“Yes, sir. And thank you, sir. The wedding was on the weekend.”
“Thank you for coming, gentlemen. I thought this would be a good time to update you on our progress.” Colonel Smedley Butler consults his notes. “As I had mentioned at the last meeting, the number of arrests and the number of convictions regarding the brewery surveillance are disproportionate. So far, our yearlong investigation has resulted in almost four hundred officers implicated. To date, and here’s the rub, gentlemen, from those arrests we’ve only had five officers charged. Five. From four hundred.”
Beckman and Butler turn to face Sam Rotan, waiting for the DA’s response.
DA Rotan shuffles his papers. “We have issues in our office as well, Smedley. Corruption isn’t unique to cops and politicians. It exists within the DA’s office, too. But the low conviction rate isn’t just that. It’s also the frustration of laying charges knowing the judges will just let them walk. There’s a feeling within the office that we shouldn’t bother trying. It’s the whole system.”
“I know, Sam. And I appreciate your support, and the bit of support we do have in your office. But the reality is policing and arrests are just the beginning of the legal process. Without honesty and integrity throughout the legal system, there is no justice. The mayor and I will be meeting with the local magistrates later this week to discuss this.”
“Certainly, getting the judges and magistrates to enforce the law will help with the lawyers. We’re caught in the middle right now,” DA Rotan says.
Butler nods, and turns to his second in command. “Captain, where are we at with the second advance? Our undercover operation.”
“Operation Minnow, to hook the small fish in our cesspool of corruption, is doing remarkably well. We have deployed a dozen civilian undercover operatives, and we’ve had several arrests every night. Of course, the weakness of the operation is maintaining the anonymity of the civilians. We segregate the detainees so that they can’t compare notes. As witnesses, the civilian operatives write out their sworn testimony, but so far have not had to appear in court. Thank you for that, Mr. Rotan. We’re taking as many steps as possible to ensure that the identities of our operatives are protected. So far, at least, we’ve been successful.”
Butler and Rotan both nod. The operation only works if the bigger fish are unaware that there is a hook on the bait.
“And if we could include our liquor sales into the budget, we’d be running a small profit,” the Captain says, generating chuckles around the table.
“Kelly, would you update us on where we’re at with the Phantom?” asks Colonel Butler.
DA Rotan looks askance at his friend, Smedley Butler. New information?
Joe clears his throat. “Thank you, sir. We’ve also been utilizing a confidential informant to identify the traitors within the force who are alerting speakeasies when we have raids planned. Initially, we were concerned that it was someone within Enforcement Unit Number One, but have since identified someone outside the Unit. We don’t yet know how he’s getting his information and are continuing to pursue it.”
“That’s interesting. Someone within the police force?” the DA asks.
Butler answers. “It looks like it. Perhaps a clerical person, or perhaps someone that an officer speaks with on a regular basis. Any sense on the timing, Sergeant?”
“Yes, sir. I’m meeting with our contact later today and will have a report for you before the end of shift.”
“Excellent. I’m anxious to get back out in the field. The speakeasies and clubs are growing presumptuous in the absence of our raids.” The colonel consults his notes. “I’ve also launched a few other initiatives to restore discipline within the troops. Starting last Monday, we’ve started fining intoxicated officers one-hundred dollars for the first offense.”
Sam whistles. “That’s steep, Smedley.”
“We needed something to get their attention. The second offense is nine-hundred; a year’s pay for rookies.”
“And the reaction?”
“Significant push back from the police union, of course. Initially, I had proposed the outright firing of intoxicated officers, but did back away from that after negotiations. However, I am not prepared to back away from the fines. We must regain the trust of the public if we are to ever be effective.”
There is general nodding around the table.
“Speaking of public opinion, I see from the newspaper headlines that you’ve been busy speaking to community organizations. Has Mayor Kendrick noticed?”
“Absolutely. He’s mentioned it to me on several occasions. I’m sure that he’s pleased to be associated with such successful law and order initiatives,” Butler says.
Rotan shakes his head. “I think that your strategy of multiple lines of attack is working well. But I also think you may have misinterpreted the mayor’s reaction. He is getting a lot of push-back from bar owners and patrons. And it’s your name in the headlines, not his. Kendrick’s dealing with all the downside and no upside. And you’re the driver in both situations.”
“What are you trying to say, Sam?”
“Just watch your back, Smedley. Just watch your back.”
* * * *
Maggie pours Joe a cup of coffee. It’s like old times to be sitting at the kitchen table with him. “Thanks for coming by, Joe. I thought that meeting here at the house was the most private place. I’m not sure how you will want to handle this, but my partner has found the leak.”
Joe leans forward, excited about the prospect of plugging it, and curious about who it might be.
“I don’t think you’re going to like it,” Maggie says. “It’s unbelievable.”
“Maggie. Please. Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“My source has not been wrong so far. Before I tell you who it is, could you describe the process you use to authorize a raid?”
Puzzled, Joe says, “First, we identify a target from information the department receives. Then someone, usually me, writes up a request for a raid and goes and gets permission from the department lawyer. A stenographer types the warrant. Colonel Butler briefs the mayor on all the upcoming actions. I’m not sure whether he approves them or not, but he has insisted on being kept informed. Then details of the raid are shared with Enforcement Unit Number One members at Morning Report. A stenographer also types that report.”
The ticking clock on the mantle in the living room fills the silence while Maggie digests this.
“Could it be the stenographer?” asks Joe.
“No. It’s the mayor.”
Joe sits back in his chair, stunned. “No. It can’t be. He’s the mayor.”
“I told you it was unbelievable. But think about it. Kendrick has a lot of pressure on him. By donors, the Machine, bootleggers, to keep everyone well informed. He has a ser
ies of captains he calls after he meets with Colonel Butler, depending on the Precinct the raid is in. Ralph Copeland is just one of them.”
“What are we going to do? The colonel can’t accuse the mayor.”
“No. But he can start limiting what information he shares with him. That conversation and strategy development will be between you and Colonel Butler.”
“Sheesh,” Joe says, raking his hand through his hair. “You’re source has been right so far. Maggie, how am I going to tell Colonel Butler? And if Mayor Kendrick finds out, how am I going to keep my job?”
“You’ll do the right thing, Constable Joe Kelly. I assure you, my source is correct.”
Tasting the Apple Page 20