Kiss & Tell

by Luke Murphy

  Jason was quick to react. “Charlene,” he screamed.

  He pried Charlene from the man and separated them.

  “I’m fine,” Charlene said, smoothing out her wrinkled uniform with her hand.

  “Are you fucking crazy?” the man screamed, holding his throat as color returned to his face. “That’s harassment. I’ll have your goddamn badge.”

  Jason whirled quickly and stuck a finger in the man’s face. “Not another word or you’ll find yourself in handcuffs in the back of our car.”

  The man must have seen something in Jason’s eyes because he closed his mouth and left the room. The woman scampered after him.

  Charlene returned to Lauren, who was now shaking. Tears streaked down her face. Charlene wrapped her arms around the six-year-old, who was shivering.

  “It’s going to be okay, Lauren. I will help you.”

  “Charlene…”

  When Charlene looked at her partner, he stopped mid-sentence. She ducked her head to her collar and used her radio to call it in, looking for backup. Then Charlene wrapped Lauren in a blanket and carried her outside. She placed the child on the passenger seat of the cruiser.

  Charlene and her partner stood outside the car. “We need to call child welfare.”

  Jason nodded, sweat beads peppering his forehead.

  “I can’t wait to lock up this scumbag.”

  Jason nodded again. “We can’t avoid what happened in there. What if he files charges?”

  “Do you think I care about what happens to me?” Charlene said. “All I care about is this little girl.”

  Jason nodded, put his hand on Charlene’s shoulder, and said, “I’ve got your back.”

  ~ * ~

  “I can’t believe there’s nothing we can do,” Charlene said as she and Jason headed back to the precinct.

  “That’s our US legal system. We let the state handle it. There has to be an investigation before charges can be laid.”

  “What about Lauren?”

  Jason didn’t have a response.

  Charlene didn’t say another word until Jason parked the cruiser outside the precinct.

  “You mind taking this one?” she asked.

  Jason nodded. “I’ll go file the incident report. You hang here.”

  When Jason disappeared inside, Charlene opened the door to let in some air and turned on the radio. She put her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. Her head was still aching, she was dehydrated, and the sun was stinging her eyes.

  Jason returned and hopped in the driver’s seat.

  “What a morning. How about lunch?”

  Without opening her eyes she said, “Absolutely.”

  They stopped at Murphy’s Law Irish Pub for lunch and enjoyed the sunny California weather on the terrace of the downtown eatery. The restaurant was a regular hangout for cops, but on that day, Jason and Charlene were the only officers there.

  The silence was heavy at the table, and Charlene wanted nothing more than to order a stiff drink and forget about the last two hours. But she had never crossed the line of drinking on the job. She had kept a promise to herself that no matter how bad things got, she never would.

  “Did the captain say anything?”

  “You mean did the guy call?” Jason smiled.

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  “Nope, nothing. I don’t think we’ll hear from him.”

  “I’m already fighting for a position in a man’s world. I can’t afford to mess up on the job.”

  The waitress arrived to take their order. When she had left, Charlene said, “I can’t stop thinking about Lauren.”

  Jason asked, “The Dodgers win last night?”

  “Five-four in eleven.” Charlene was grateful for the change of subject. She could talk baseball all day.

  ~ * ~

  When their shift ended that evening, Charlene expected the office to be empty. She just had to grab some things from her locker before heading home.

  But when she walked in, Charlene saw her captain still in his office, surrounded by a billowing cloud of smoke, looking annoyed. Smoking in public buildings appeared to be illegal everywhere except the captain’s office.

  During her four years as an officer, all under supervision by Captain Edgar North, Charlene had come to respect and admire the man. Captain North was a forgiving, mild mannered man who would back his officers no matter what. At sixty-two, North still had a full head of black hair with glints of silver. He was Charlene’s height and kept himself in shape with weekly trips to the local gym. Charlene had never seen the captain in anything other than his police uniform, always neatly pressed and clean.

  The captain got up from his desk and stood in his doorway. “Charlene, a word?”

  Charlene and Jason exchanged looks. Jason shrugged.

  “See you tomorrow, Chip.”

  She took a deep breath and entered the captain’s office.

  “Shut the door.” His restless blue eyes remained on her.

  The captain’s expression was inscrutable. She quietly sat down and looked at the captain, who was perched on the front of his desk. She waited, chewing the inside of her cheek anxiously.

  “How is everything?”

  She shrugged “Fine, Sir.”

  “Sorry I wasn’t in this morning for your first day back. How was your time off?”

  “Fine.”

  “How are your mother and sister?”

  “They’re getting by, Sir.”

  The captain seemed to drift off. Charlene followed his gaze to a scene in the lobby. Two uniformed officers booking a large biker were having trouble controlling him.

  The only sound in the captain’s office was from the steady, low hum of the air-filtering system.

  “Look, Charlene, I’ve got a problem.” He returned his attention to Charlene, who shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Since your father’s death, I’ve held daily conferences with LAPD across the city. Not only did we lose your father, but Donnie Bradley was badly injured in the line of duty and forced to retire. Anyway, during our talks, your name came up for possible promotion.”

  Charlene was sure her expression registered one of surprise, but didn’t say anything.

  “You’ve been a great cop since joining the squad. You could say you have a perfect record.” He still didn’t smile.

  “Thank you, Sir. I hoped—”

  “Please, let me finish. The guys, the ones who aren’t threatened by a woman on the force—don’t worry, I can tell them apart—appreciate your work, and frankly, I agree.” He went on. “Last night I had a three-hour conference call with the Board of Police Commissioners, the chief of police and Captain Dunbar from RHD. That’s right, all the big dogs. I told them my feelings about you as a police officer and as a person.”

  Charlene was stunned, her expression blank. “Sir, I don’t know what to say.”

  That Captain North would overlook her flaws, and the corporate board of police officers and the chief of police were all behind her, made Charlene swell with pride.

  He put up his hand in a halting motion. “Don’t get too excited just yet. I thought I was making the right move, but after today, I’m not so sure.”

  Charlene’s heart dropped in her chest. Her mouth went dry and she couldn’t swallow.

  “What did happen today, Officer?” He spoke in a pacifying tone.

  She didn’t respond.

  “We got a call from some guy screaming police brutality, claiming that you tried to choke him.”

  Charlene sat up at the edge of her seat. She didn’t deny anything. “The son-of-a-bitch is physically abusing his stepdaughter.”

  “You have proof of that?”

  “I saw the goddamn bruises.”

  “And she said he did it?”

  “Not in so many words”

  “Just how many words did she use then?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. “The State is looking into it. I read Schmidt’s report, and he claims everything was
on the up and up, and I have to take his word for it. The last thing this precinct can afford right now is a lawsuit and public humiliation.”

  Charlene sat back and closed her eyes. “The bastard deserves more than he got.”

  The captain shook his head. “That’s the problem, Charlene. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and you let your emotions control your actions. I think you’ll make a great detective someday. Maybe even better than your father. But I don’t know if you’re ready.”

  She opened her eyes. “I am, Captain.”

  He pursed his lips and shook his head. “I can’t have a powder keg protecting my streets. You’re a tripwire, one step away from detonation.”

  “I admit, I got a little carried away this morning. It has never happened before and it won’t happen again.”

  “Damn right it won’t.” The captain never swore and the word coming out of his mouth sounded out of place. “I should write you up on a CUBO—conduct unbecoming an officer.”

  Charlene waited.

  “This guy said his wife saw the whole thing. But it’s their word against ours. I think we can lean on him. But if word got out about what happened, do you know how it would make me look, after recommending you for a promotion?”

  Charlene dropped her head. “I’m sorry, Sir.”

  The captain took a deep breath and relaxed his shoulders. “Did I ever tell you about the first time I met you?”

  Charlene looked up, trying to recall. “I don’t think so.”

  He crossed his arms. “Christ, it must be twenty years now. You were probably only seven or eight at the time. Even at that age, we could see your athleticism and toughness. Because of that, and your haircut, most of us at the department mistook you for a boy. Plus your father called you Charlie.”

  “Yeah, that’s me, his little tomboy.”

  “I remember the first day you came to work with your father. He was so proud. When you first walked in, you were clung to his leg, and I thought you’d never last the day. Most kids that age would have been terrified, but you seemed to be drawn to it.”

  He stopped and waited for a reaction, but Charlene wanted to hear the rest of the story. Although she remembered the moment, she wanted to hear it in North’s words.

  “As your father read his files, you studied the room. You already had a keen sense for detail. We had a good laugh because you kept trying to grab your father’s gun from his holster. I remember thinking to myself that this kid will be a hell of a cop someday. Nothing scared you, only interested you. You belonged right from the start. You have a gift, Charlene. You are like him in every way, a chip off the old block. That’s why we started calling you Chip.”

  Charlene knew that was one reason, but many called her that because they thought she had a chip on her shoulder.

  “So what happens now?” Charlene asked.

  He stood up and paced the office. “Just think of what a promotion could do. You’ll be using a weapon under a caseload with high violence, not to mention the stress of taking on a new role, added to the death of your father. You’ll be working with a team that depends on your clear-headedness, who will be putting their lives on the line for you.”

  “What are you saying, Captain?”

  “Your promotion is contingent on psychological counseling and a report from the LAPD psychologist. Because RHD is so short on manpower right now, you will be eased into a minor role, interviews and paperwork only, to ease the caseload and free up some things. We’ll see what happens when we get the psychologist’s report.”

  Charlene raised her arms in exasperation. “Come on, Cap, a psychiatrist-seeing detective? I’ll be the laughing stock of the department.”

  “This is the only deal, Charlene. Consider the alternatives.” He gave some time for Charlene to answer. When she didn’t, he went on. “If anyone asks, this is standard police procedure for someone who has lost an immediate family member. We’ll say it’s an extension of your return from compassionate leave.”

  She knew the captain had put it all on the line recommending her for the position. But this wasn’t the way she wanted it. She was grateful, but now Captain North had this on her, so the carpet could be pulled out from under her at any time. She would always have to be cautious. Charlene also realized that she was being given this leeway because of her father.

  “I won’t let you down, Sir.”

  “I know you won’t. Don’t forget to call Dr. Gardner and schedule a session.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she said, faking enthusiasm.

  Chapter 4

  She cleaned out her locker quickly and hustled from the building, avoiding conversation with the few evening-shifters who were loitering. Once word got out of her promotion, the retrograde male egos she worked with would do anything to bring her down.

  They would think this had come too soon, too easily to the young officer, even with the stipulations and circumstances that surrounded it. But Charlene had been overlooked for a promotion a year ago. She thought it was because of her gender, or maybe her carefree lifestyle, but either way, she had deserved that job.

  Her father had tried to settle her down. He told her to bide her time, work harder than the rest, and it would happen.

  She didn’t care what anyone else thought now.

  Since Parker Center was no longer their headquarters, Charlene headed to her new home in the new LAPD Administrative Building, the Detective Bureau on 100 West First Street. During the drive, Charlene thought about the statistics. Out of the seventy-six sworn detectives and five civilian personnel in RHD, only six were women. Charlene was the only detective under thirty.

  Ronald Dunbar, Captain III and Commanding Officer of the Robbery-Homicide Division of the Detective Bureau, was in his office, seated behind his desk sipping coffee, the LA Daily News spread out in front of him. A fat cigar hung from the side of his mouth and noticeable sweat stains were present on his shirt. A pair of rimless reading glasses perched the end of his nose.

  He looked up from his reading and waved her in. She peered around the cloud of smoke that formed over the captain’s desk and bit her lip nervously.

  “Sit down, Taylor.” The captain was a husky, burly guy. He spoke like a kid from Brooklyn.

  Dunbar’s dark, greasy hair was matted and combed over a bald spot. He had a sharp chin, his nose was crooked and his face deeply pitted from teenage acne. The reading glasses barely covered his black eyes. Because of the captain’s badly deviated septum, Charlene could hear him breathing from across the room.

  He closed the paper, threw it on his desk, and mopped the gritty sweat from his forehead. He slid his glasses into his breast pocket. He sat back in his chair, inhaled deeply from what smelled like a knockoff Cuban, and blew smoke rings in the air. He looked like he was having trouble focusing, his forehead creased with concern wrinkles.

  “I’m not sure I’ve done the right thing,” he finally said. “Captain North has put his professional reputation on the line for you. Can you handle that?” He looked at Charlene.

  She swallowed and nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

  “I was your father’s boss for a long time. I’ve seen him work, and North seems to think you possess those same traits that made your father a successful detective. You have your father’s instincts. You have an eye and nose for the work. And I couldn’t care less about what other people think. I decide who is on my team. All I care about are results.” He let out his breath. “Goddamn air conditioner is broke again,” he snarled, pulling his clingy shirt from his body. “No bullshit, Taylor. Are you ready for this?” He looked at her with raised eyebrows.

  She answered without hesitation, “Yes, Sir.”

  “Did Captain North lay out the conditions of your promotion?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “I’m up to my eyeballs in shit here. Our caseload is exploding and manpower is down, so I need to know the truth. R&H has the highest level of stress in the department. It’s just going to get worse. Can I count on you or will t
he bottle win?”

  Charlene shouldn’t have been surprised by the captain’s candor, but was stunned that he knew so much. Had her dad mentioned something to him when they had worked together?

  “You can count on me, Sir.”

  He studied her for a long moment. Charlene fidgeted in her chair, waiting for a response.

  “The only reason you’re here is because, with this current heat wave, crime is rising. I’m sure you know that the Celebrity Slayer case is front and center. Even though everyone thinks this guy is a “B” list killer and will eventually slip up, I think this is only the beginning. I’m already short two detectives and I need to fill those positions. I attended a morning meeting with the mayor, who has declared a city-wide alert. Every LAPD department will now work together, share information and manpower on the Celebrity Slayer case. My department workload has just tripled. Don’t make a fool of me, Taylor.”

  “No, Sir.”

  “With your promotion will also come some blowback from the men in this department. I can handle those assholes, but can you?”

  “I’ve been doing it my whole life, Sir.”

  Dunbar nodded. “Good.” Without taking his eyes off her, he reached into his desk and threw a badge and set of keys onto the top. “Take your father’s desk. I’m assigning you to Homicide Special Section with Senior Detective Lawrence Baker. Light duty, Taylor. You’ll observe only. Do you understand that?”

  Charlene nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

  “Welcome to the team.” He extended his hand and her new captain’s crippling handshake almost brought Charlene to her knees. “I already set up an appointment for you with Gardner. Tomorrow morning, eight sharp.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  She made her way to her new desk, where she would take on some of the bloodiest and nastiest crimes in the city.

  She was both glad and sorry to have her father’s desk. Did the captain want to test whether she was sentimental or did he assume he did her a kindness? The desks in the RHD were pushed together to form pairs, so she was right next to her partner.

  Teaming with Larry Baker was a compliment, since he was the most senior detective on the force. Or did it mean she needed a babysitter?