Good Cop Bad Cop
11
“No intersection cameras?”
“Nope. Not there. The Oyster Bay residents voted them down. Apparently the super rich don’t like to be filmed without their permission.”
The four men sat around the large, wooden conference table. They’d been going over what little they had for the past hour. Lieutenants Danforth and Mullin were Commissioner Gerland’s choice to lead the investigation for the NYPD. The other two men were Federal Agents Forsburg and Spivey.
“Well fuck,” Danforth muttered. He reached to the center of the table and grabbed a picture of Emily.
“She’s a beautiful girl,” Federal Agent Spivey said.
“Yeah,” Mullin answered. “You should see her in person.”
“You’ve met her?
“Policeman’s Ball last year. She was with her mother.”
The four sat in silence, each contemplating a possible angle.
“You know,” Mullin broke the silence. “She’s not just a looker, she’s also a really sweet kid. You’d never guess she was raised in a mansion.”
“No kidding?” Forsburg replied. “I thought all these debutante chicks were stuck up bitches.”
“Most maybe, but not her. She was going to be a doctor. Well…”
The room fell silent. It was an unwritten rule that cops handling kidnappings avoided talking about worst case scenarios. All that mattered was getting the victim back.
“You know what I meant,” Mullin finally spoke, embarrassed by the gaff.
“So the only witnesses saw a white van speed away,” Spivey said getting back to business. “And that’s it? Nothing else?”
“We’ve canvassed that area and spoke to anybody who might have seen the grab and nothing.” Mullin answered.
“How far back did we check the intersection cameras? It’s a long shot but we might get lucky if we run plates of cars that passed through within a half hour drive of the grab.”
“We did that. Closest camera is 3 miles away. And it was getting dark so we couldn’t even read a lot of the plates. Besides, no white vans.”
“So basically we’re fucked? I mean, not one goddamn lead to build on at all?”
“It would appear so.”
“Unacceptable.”
“Yeah, well it may be unacceptable but it’s also the reality of the situation.”
“So what’s our next move?” Danforth asked.
“We wait,” Spivey answered. “We wait for the kidnappers to make contact.”
“If they do,” Mullins said. “We all know this might not be about ransom.”
“Yeah,” Spivey looked around the room. “I don’t even want to consider that.”
The men stared at each other in silence. Each had thoughts that they knew were not unique but would absolutely go unsaid. The grim reality was that the odds of getting Emily Blumquist back to her family were slim if this was a predator. And each man knew it.
“So what do we tell the D.A.?”
“We tell her the truth, we’re exploring every possible option.”
“Are you going to tell her we might not be looking at a kidnapping for ransom? That she may never see her daughter again?”
Mullin rose from his seat. He grabbed his coat from the back of the chair. Danforth followed suit. They walked to the door.
“I think we owe it to her not to sugar coat anything,” Spivey spoke remaining seated. “Not to mention it would behoove all of us to be as forthright as possible.”
Mullin opened the door and as he did he turned back towards the table.
“Sylvia Blumquist is about as smart as they come, gentlemen,” he spoke, a grim look on his face. “We won’t have to tell her that. She already knows.”
The two detectives left the room.
Good Cop Bad Cop
12
“If this is some kind of joke, I’m not laughing!” Harris fumed. He was angry to the point of shaking and he stared directly into the somber face of Captain Shannon, his superior officer.
“Jimmy, my hands are tied. This isn’t my call.”
Harris spun around to stare down Deputy Commissioner Dinkins.
“You internal affairs motherfuckers have had a hard on for me for years. This is bullshit!”
“You better watch who you’re talking to Lieutenant Harris!” Dinkins shot back. “I got you dead to rights on camera so drop the Boy Scout act!”
“Fuck you, Dinkins, you brown nosing asshole! Everybody knows you never worked the streets in your entire, pathetic career!”
“Excellent! You just added insubordination to your charges!” Dinkins was smiling, enjoying the moment he’d waited so long for.
“You better wipe that smile off your face or I’m going to add assault to them as well!” Harris stepped towards the man as he felt his self control leaving him.
Dinkins leapt out of his chair and stood facing Harris. “You lay a hand on me and I’ll have you thrown in a cell!”
Captain Shannon ran from around his desk and placed himself between the two men. He faced Harris.
“You need to get a grip right now, Jimmy. You are digging this hole deeper.”
“Come on, Blake. This is incredible. I didn’t do anything that a million other cops haven’t done before me! I leaned on a perp a bit to gather info. Besides, he swung on me first!”
“The tape doesn’t show that,” Dinkins remarked over Shannon’s shoulder.
“And I wonder why that is?” Harris yelled his teeth grit in frustration.
Shannon turned to face Dinkins.
“Maybe it’s time you leave now, Alan,” he said. “You got what you wanted, to tell him to his face. Now let me do my job.”
Dinkins nodded slowly. “Okay, captain. I’m heading back uptown. But as of this moment, Lieutenant Harris is suspended without pay until a board of inquiry can be established and his case is reviewed.”
“Is that all?” Shannon spoke, not masking the disgust in his voice.
“That’s it.”
Dinkins turned and made for the door. He opened it and before exiting, smiled at Harris.
The door closed.
“Captain,” Harris demanded, shooting his boss an angry look. “Police Brutality?! What the fuck?”
“Sit down, Jimmy.” Captain Shannon walked back around his desk.
“So I slapped a guy around a bit, I’m trying to bust a meth ring for Christ’s sake. This isn’t a fucking game.”
“Look Jimmy, this isn’t your first rodeo. You know the drill. Internal Affairs has you on tape striking a civilian. This is the way it’s got to go down.”
“Dinkins has been after me for years, Captain. This is unlawful persecution within our own walls. For God’s sake pull a string or two.”
“What strings can I pull? Dinkins is a New York City Deputy Commissioner, in charge of Internal Affairs I might add, and he’s already set the ball in motion. The best I can do is to speak on your behalf to the review board.”
“You have got to be kidding.”
“I’m sorry, Jimmy. I really am.”
“I want to see this video they have.”
“You will be allowed. Also, we can assign you a public defender.”
“This is ridiculous!” Harris exploded. “The guy I leaned on is a first rate scumbag! For Christ’s sake, I’m trying to stop these bastards from poisoning kids and I’m the bad guy?!”
“Jimmy…”
“Ahhh fuck this!” Harris turned his back and walked to the door. He paused. Standing with his back to the captain, he did his best to compose himself. After a moment, he turned to face his supervisor.
“This is wrong, Blake. This is wrong and you know it.”
“I know, Jimmy. I’ll do whatever I can. I promise you that.”
“Unbelievable.”
“And don’t listen to that bullshit about pay. You are officially suspended with pay. That string I can pull.”
Harris managed a tight lipped
nod of thanks. He turned the door knob.
“Jimmy,” Captain Shannon stopped him. “I need your piece and your shield.”
Harris stood rooted in place. He locked eyes with his boss.
Captain Shannon stood firm behind his desk. He looked as if a family member had just died.
Harris walked over to the desk. He unclipped his blue and gold shield from his belt and placed it on his captain’s desk. He turned and walked back towards the door.
“Your gun?”
“The 9mm is mine. My service revolver is in the armory.”
“Okay. I’ll be in touch, Jimmy. Go home and cool off. This will get fixed.”
“You think?” Harris said, halfway out the door.
“I hope.”
Harris exited the office and headed straight for the stairs, passing his fellow officers along the way. All eyes were upon him and the room was deathly still.
Good Cop Bad Cop
13
Everyone who had any involvement is the Blumquist kidnapping was in the City Hall conference room. The Mayor himself was in attendance and he spoke with the assistant D.A. in a private conversation in the east corner of the room. Federal Agents Spivey and Forsburg sat huddled at the conference table speaking with Captain Shannon and Detective Mullin in low, hushed tones. They were debating something vigorously and it was clear that not all men were in agreement. Detective Danforth sat alone at the end of the table. He stared straight ahead looking at nothing at all. His face was a portrait of frustration and anger. He looked like a man about to snap. Several other high ranking figures in the NYPD were also present and they filled the room with a steady, muted murmur.
The door opened and Sylvia Blumquist entered, trailed by her husband and two members of her security detail. All conversations stopped as she moved to the head of the table and took a seat. Her husband and the two large escorts stood behind her chair. Gone was the vulnerable mother who had cried in her husband’s arms. She had assumed the role of District Attorney and got right down to it.
“You have something from the kidnappers,” she said. “Let’s have it.”
The men at the table, and those standing, looked to one another and avoided making eye contact with her. Finally Captain Shannon spoke.
“Ma’am,” he began hesitantly. “We did indeed receive a package from whoever has Emily.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that. That’s why I was called here. I was assured she was still alive.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Shannon continued, picking his words carefully. “But, and I think I speak for most of my colleagues, I think that it might be in your best interest to let us glean what we can from the evidence and not involve you in the…uh…details.”
The District Attorney turned to look into her husband’s face. He could not make eye contact with her. “Sheldon? Do you know something that I don’t?”
“Sylvia,” her husband spoke coming closing and crouching by her side. “Perhaps it’s best we just listen to the experts.”
“Cut the bullshit and tell me what’s going on!” She snapped, turning back to address the group.
“Ma’am, a DVD was delivered to your house this morning,” Shannon said.
“To the house?” Sylvia turned to look at her husband. “Sheldon?”
“Just listen, dear,” her husband answered as he looked down, refusing to make eye contact.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought it was best, under the circumstances, to let the professionals view the video first.”
The D.A. cleared her throat. She stared, wide eyed, at her husband. “Is Emily on it?”
“Uh…yes. Yes, ma’am, she is.” Captain Shannon answered for the man.
“Then play it.”
“Ma’am,” Agent Forsburg spoke. “I think it would be highly inappropriate to have you view it.”
“I said play it.”
“Ma’am I must strenuously warn-“
“Goddamn it! That’s my little girl!” Sylvia screamed at the man. “If she endured it, then the very least I can do as a mother is watch it!”
“I understand, Mrs. Blumquist,” Forsburg spoke softly. “We were only thinking of your welfare.”
“To hell with my welfare,” Sylvia’s face was set in stone. She pursed her lips tightly as the federal agent turned on the conference rooms monitor and inserted the DVD into the player on the side table. He hit the play button.
The monitor flickered to life and the DVD began with a black screen. A light came on and the picture came into focus. It was Emily’s face.
Sylvia let out a gasp against her will.
From the camera’s vantage point directly in front of Emily it was evident that she was strapped naked to a table. Her entire back and buttocks were visible behind her face as was the fact that she was trussed up with her legs spread wide. She had an assortment of flowers strewn across her back, spilling onto her neck and falling on the table beside her.
Emily suddenly screamed into the camera and everybody in the room cringed. All eyes went from the screen to Sylvia. Her mouth was agape and her eyes were wide open.
A man’s body came into view and approached Emily from behind. The man’s body, while completely discernible, had been blurred over with computer enhancement so that absolutely no features were distinguishable. A hand reached out and grabbed Emily’s buttocks.
“Daddy! D-Daddy,” they all heard Emily’s voice whimper. Her terrified face turned left and then right, desperately trying to see who was behind her.
The man brought a leather strap down upon the girl. With each loud crack those watching flinched. Emily screamed and struggled against the pain. When it ended, tears streamed down her face as she lowered her chin to the table and stared desperately into the camera.
And then it began. The man moved behind her.
Two of the men left the room unable to watch more than a few moments. As Emily’s screams increased the remaining men all looked down at either the floor or the table. Sheldon buried his face in his hands and wept openly. Nobody could watch the horrible scene.
Sylvia Blumquist never turned away. She watched in shock with mouth frozen open and wide, tortured eyes. She said nothing as she watched her only child being raped.
“Ohhh, my baby,” she finally whispered. “Ohhhh, my poor, darling baby.”
Good Cop Bad Cop
14
Harris sat at his desk in his homes third bedroom which doubled as his office. He poured through the stack of paperwork involving his suspension. It was incredible how fast they put this together, he thought. Dinkins literally had people follow his daily activities. He was just waiting for something like this. Goddamn cameras, he fumed. Who the hell puts a camera in an alley in Harlem?
Despite his outward confidence, Harris felt his stomach tighten as he realized that this might possibly be the end of his career. After everything he’d given to the force, it was almost unbearable to think that this family connected, desk jockey might actually ruin his life.
He and Bonnie had been living well up to the edges of their means and attorneys were expensive. Still, he couldn’t risk getting a court appointed attorney who was tight with Dinkins. He had to get somebody outside the blue line. He thought about asking his parents for a loan and quickly dismissed the notion. I’d rather work at a newsstand, Harris thought.
“Coffee?” Bonnie interrupted, sticking her head through the door. She wore a bright smile and was in a good mood.
“Thanks,” Harris replied without looking up.
His wife disappeared and quickly returned with a steaming cup of Columbian roast. She placed it in front of him.
“Here you go,” she said sweetly.
“Thanks,” Harris said. He smiled weakly at his wife. “This is insanity, Bonnie.”
His wife walked behind him and placed her hands upon his shoulders. She began to slowly massage his muscles, working her way up his neck.
“It’ll work out.”
“
I’ve got one of the best conviction records on the force and I’m being kicked out by a guy who’s never made a single arrest. Insanity.”
“Well,” she began slowly. “There’s always a rainbow after a storm.”
“What?” He answered, turning his head to look behind him.
“I’m just saying that maybe you should look at the bright side.”
“What fucking bright side?” Harris snapped.
Bonnie froze. Her hands stopped caressing his shoulders and she looked down to see the anger on her husband’s face.
“You don’t have to bite my head off. I’m just trying to help.”
“Help? Bonnie, there is no bright side to this. What the hell are we going to do if I lose my job? Lose all our benefits?”
“We will make it. I’m not worried about it. I have faith in you.”
Harris spun around in his chair to face her.
“You cannot honestly think there is anything good about this?” He asked incredulously.
“I am not happy about this but it is nice to have you home. I think this will give us an opportunity to work on our marriage, to spend some time together.”
“Are you serious?! What in the hell are you talking about?! This is my life!”
“Are you serious!?” She spat back angrily. “I thought we were your life!?”
“This shit again? You know damn well you and Danny are my life! But my job is what puts a roof over our heads and food on the table!”
“At what cost?! Your job is destroying our marriage and this family! Maybe doing something else besides being a cop is just what we need?!”
Harris pushed back from the desk and rose to his feet. He stared with disbelief at his wife.
“Have I gone crazy? Are we really having this discussion?”
“Well, goddamn it, Jimmy! I’m just trying to be positive!”
“You think being on unemployment is going to be good for this family? You think losing the house is going to be good for this family? What the hell is wrong with you?”
Good Cop Bad Cop (A James Harris Series Book 1) Page 5