Good Cop Bad Cop (A James Harris Series Book 1)

by Richard Nesbitt

  Cautiously, Christi swung the door open and stepped into the lobby. Both men flashed big smiles as she walked towards them.

  “Hello, Christi,” the older man spoke, extending a hand. “I am Commissioner Gerland and this is Deputy Commissioner Dinkins.”

  Christi froze up momentarily. Dinkins, she thought as she eyed the man. So this was the internal affairs prick who was trying to ruin Harris. She shook the Commissioners hand all the while staring at Dinkins.

  “I see my reputation has preceded me,” Dinkins spoke with a smile. He also extended his hand. “I can assure you I’m not quite the S.O.B. you may have been told I am.”

  Christi shook his hand more out of protocol than desire. She turned back to face Commissioner Gerland.

  “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” She asked.

  “Yes,” Gerland spoke. “We apologize for the interruption, but is there somewhere we can chat? I promise we will be brief.”

  “Honestly, Commissioner, you couldn’t have picked a worse time. No disrespect intended but I am truly up against it today.”

  The two men exchanged looks.

  “I’m afraid we must insist,” Dinkins replied. “This is extremely urgent.”

  “Insist?” Christi answered incredulously. She raised her eyebrows.

  “What the Deputy Commissioner means is that we only need five minutes. Please. It truly is quite important.”

  Christi chewed her lip and looked from one man to the other.

  “Five minutes?” she asked.

  “That’s it. This is extremely urgent.” Gerland answered.

  Christi turned to the receptionist. “Cassie, is conference room B open?”

  “As far as I know, yes.”

  “Thanks. Follow me, gentlemen.” Christi opened the glass door and held it for the men. As they passed her she looked back to the front desk. “Can you please ask Carl to join us?”

  “That really won’t be necessary,” Commissioner Gerland interjected as he paused and looked back at Christi. She noted the concern on his face and turned back to Cassie.

  “Please have Carl join us.”

  With that, she walked ahead of the two men. Christi came to a door and opened it. Flicking the light switch, she entered and walked around to the other side of a long, wood grained table which sat in the middle of the conference room. A large white board was perched on an easel in the far corner and a projection screen adorned the wall. She gestured to the open side of the table. “Please have a seat.”

  The two officers sat in the comfortable swivel chairs and faced Christi who took her own seat. She interlocked her fingers together, placing her hands on the table. Before anybody had a chance to begin the door opened and Carl Emerson entered the room.

  “Hey Christi,” he said with a warm smile. He looked towards the officers. “Damn Commissioner, it’s been a long time.”

  Both men stood to greet him and he shook their hands.

  “Uh,” the Commissioner began with uncertainty. “You’ll have to forgive me. I know we’ve met but your name escapes me.”

  “Carl Emerson, I’m the city editor.”

  “Of course, my apologies.”

  “Not at all,” Carl dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “I’m a behind the scenes type of guy. And you are?” He asked Dinkins.

  “Deputy Commissioner Dinkins.”

  “Deputy Commissioner Dinkins is in charge of internal affairs.” Christi added.

  Carl understood the implication immediately but to his credit, did not let on a bit.

  “Well,” Carl said as he took a seat. “What can we do for you gentlemen?”

  Commissioner Gerland looked to Dinkins and then back to Carl. He cleared his throat.

  “Well, to be very blunt, Mr. Emerson, we were hoping to speak with Ms. Sellinger privately.”

  “That’s okay,” Christi spoke. “I don’t have a problem with Carl being here.”

  “Yes,” the Commissioner spoke slowly, emphasizing his words. “But what we have to discuss is extremely delicate and personal. And as you stated, Ms. Sellinger, your time is at a premium today.”

  “Then with all due respect, sir, perhaps you’d better get down to it,” Christi spoke in a no nonsense tone.

  Once again the two senior officers exchanged glances.

  “We need to ask you about your relationship with Lieutenant Harris.” Dinkins blurted.

  Christi smiled and looked to her boss. Carl remained silent and did not return her look. His eyes were fixed upon Deputy Commissioner Dinkins.

  “Well, that’s really none of your business,” Christi responded politely. She flashed a broad smile at the man.

  “Actually I think it is our business since we have a man in custody who claims that Lieutenant Harris tortured him and you witnessed it,” Dinkins continued.

  “Oh, that. Well I gave my statement then, gentlemen. I’m certain you read it,” Christi answered nonplussed.

  “Yes, we read it. But there are circumstances involved that you are not privy to. We really need to ask you again exactly what you witnessed.”

  “Well, Deputy Commissioner, the statement I gave is exactly what happened. I arrived after the fact. I did hear the shooting but did not see the man until later when he was being brought out on a stretcher.”

  “And how long was it from the point when you heard the shooting until the back-up units arrived?” Dinkins asked doing little to hide his growing frustration.

  “Ten, fifteen minutes?” Christi responded. “I really don’t remember. I’ve never been involved in anything like that before and it was all quite overwhelming.”

  Carl listened intently but said nothing.

  “So when the victim said that you were in his house, he was lying?” Dinkins asked in disbelief. “Why in the world would he do that?”

  “How would I know? Maybe he was high?” Christi returned his glare with a grin. “I mean, he is a drug dealer, correct?”

  “Ma’am, may I ask how long you’ve known, Lieutenant Harris?” Gerland asked.

  “Once again, Commissioner,” Christi responded. “I don’t see how that’s anybody’s business. But if you must know, I don’t know the man very well at all.”

  “Then would you care to explain why you were seen leaving his home two nights ago?” Dinkins queried. “The same day you did not witness Harris torturing the suspect?”

  “Are you serious?” Christi laughed. “You assholes followed us?”

  “Look,” Dinkins said with unmasked irritation. “We could take you in and question you at the station if this is the way you want to play it.”

  “On what grounds?” Carl cut in before she could reply.

  “It’s okay, Carl,” Christi spoke, placing a hand upon her bosses arm.

  “No,” Carl replied angrily. “This is starting to piss me off. I won’t have you bullied.”

  “Nobody is being bullied, Mr. Emerson,” Commissioner Gerland weighed in. “But Lieutenant Harris may very well be facing serious charges. If things go badly, Ms. Sellinger could be charged as an accomplice.”

  “That’s a load of horse shit and you know it,” Carl barked angrily. “A decorated cop and a journalist are smeared by a drug dealer, who just shot a police officer I might add, and you walk in here and accuse my reporter of wrong doing?!”

  “A suspended cop who has a long reputation…”Dinkins began.

  “Perhaps you don’t understand exactly what’s at play here?” Commissioner Gerland interrupted. He silenced his subordinate with a look.

  “I know exactly what’s going on. Do you think we’re idiots?”

  “Of course not,” the chief replied.

  “You have a hard-on for this Harris guy and now you’re trying to intimidate my reporter into rolling over on him.”

  “We just want the truth!” Dinkins interjected angrily. “The last thing we want is for this rogue cop to bring Ms. Sellinger down with him!”

  “This is a joke,” Carl laughed. “That’
s what this is. The highest ranking cop in New York and the head of Internal Affairs come all the way down here to do a job that any green detective could handle?! Are you two serious?”

  “Yes, we’re goddamn serious!” Dinkins shouted. He was nearing his tipping point. “We have every right to bring her in for questioning if we believe a felony was committed!”

  “I’m sitting right here, guys,” Christi said with a smirk.

  The three men ignored her.

  “You do that and I will have our corporate lawyers on it in five seconds. And, I will bring such a media blitz down on your heads that you’ll be having nightmares for years.” Carl stood and faced Dinkins.

  “Gentleman,” the Commissioner spoke as he attempted to mediate. “There is no reason for the hostility.”

  Carl was staring daggers into the Deputy Commissioner who had also stood.

  “Commissioner,” Carl turned to face the senior officer. “We want nothing more than to cooperate with the NYPD but you asked your questions and you got your answers. Christi gave her statement earlier and that’s that. End of story.”

  “No, I’m afraid it’s not. There is a lot more at stake here than you know,” Gerland said.

  Carl shot Christi a look. He then turned his attention back to the Commissioner.

  “I know all about the D.A.’s daughter and I also know that Mrs. Blumquist pulled some strings to get your boy Harris out of a suspension.”

  “Temporarily out of a suspension,” Dinkins piped in. “And how the hell do you know that?”

  Carl turned back to face him. This time he actually smiled. “Jesus Christ, Dinkins. What did this guy do, bang your wife or something?”

  “Who the hell do you think –“

  “Enough!” Commissioner Gerland shouted, as he stared down his junior officer. He paused allowing everybody in the room to take a moment.

  “This is getting out of hand,” he finally spoke, looking back to face Carl. “We’re just trying to get to the truth here. You are correct, Deputy Commissioner Dinkins and I wouldn’t normally handle something like this but it’s the D.A.’s daughter we’re talking about.”

  “I get it,” Carl responded. “But what does that have to do with Ms. Sellinger?”

  “The District Attorney is placing a lot of faith in a man who could be doing more harm than good. He may be leading your young reporter here down an unadvisable path. I wasn’t about to let a green detective handle it as you suggested.”

  “Guys,” Christi cut in. She was beaming, clearly amused. “I’m sitting right here.”

  “Gentlemen,” Carl said. “I have every confidence that young Ms. Sellinger is on a righteous path and in no danger of being compromised. But she is working on a very important piece. She is up against a hard deadline so I’m afraid we’re going to have to cut this meeting short. Sorry we couldn’t be of more help.”

  “We have some more questions,” Dinkins spit angrily. “This meeting will end when we get the answers we need.”

  Carl laughed out loud and shook his head as he stared at Dinkins. He paused momentarily, sizing the man up. Finally, he reached towards the middle of the table and hit a button on the phone.

  “Yes?” The receptionist’s voice sounded over the loudspeaker immediately.

  “Hey Cassie, it’s Carl. Is Stevens still in the office?”

  “Yes sir, I just saw him.”

  “Great, tell him to bring his camera and come join us.”

  “Will do, sir.” The line clicked dead.

  “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dinkins asked.

  Carl held up a finger and remained silent. In seconds a knock sounded on the door.

  “Come on in, Tim,” Carl spoke aloud.

  A bearded man entered the conference room. He had blonde, shoulder length, scraggly hair, wore John Lennon glasses and had an expensive Nikon camera around his neck.

  “Hey, boss. What’s up? Oh hey, Christi.”

  Christi gave him a playful wave.

  “Tim,” Carl said as he gestured towards the police officers with a wide sweep of his arm. “The Police Commissioner is about to place Christi under arrest. When they slap the cuffs on her please take a lot of shots. Then ride the elevator down with them and get some tight shots of them putting her in their squad car.”

  “My pleasure, boss,” The photographer said. He grabbed his camera with both hands and looked towards the men.

  Commissioner Gerland rose. “This is ridiculous. Nobody is getting arrested.”

  “No?” Carl asked, feigning surprise.

  “Of course not, we simply had to check some facts.”

  “Tim,” Carl turned back to his photographer. “I sincerely apologize for wasting your time. It appears we won’t be needing your services after all.”

  “No problem, boss,” the man smiled and left the room.

  “Christi,” Carl turned to address her. “Don’t you have a deadline to meet?”

  “I do,” Christi said as she rose. “It was a pleasure meeting you both.”

  With that she turned and began to walk out of the room. She paused momentarily and turned to address Dinkins one last time.

  “Oh, Deputy Commissioner? For the record you had one fact wrong. It would seem as though you are as big an S.O.B. as I’d heard. Maybe bigger.”

  With a final chuckle she turned and left the room. Dinkins face turned red as he stifled a reply.

  “Well then,” Carl said. He extended a hand towards Gerland. “It was an honor having you stop by the Gazette, Commissioner.”

  Gerland hesitated and then shook the man’s hand. He said nothing.

  Carl fixed his smile upon Dinkins. He did not offer his hand, only chuckled and shook his head softly again.

  “I’m confident that two of New York’s finest can find their way out. Have a good day.”

  With that, Carl turned and exited the room.

  With the room now to themselves, the two policemen turned to look at one another. Neither said a word.

  Good Cop Bad Cop

  57

  Harris was at home, sitting behind the desk in his office. He reflected back on the mornings bizarre and dramatic events. They now had a name. A Columbian name. He was on the right track. Carlos had told him, albeit under duress, that his recently deceased sister had met with a Columbian and had pulled a job for him. And then she had been killed. Now Sheldon Blumquist gives up a name which just happened to be Columbian? That was simply too big a coincidence.

  After searching the name Salvador Castillo, he had spent the last hour reading everything he could on the Columbian drug lord. But how could that possibly fit, he thought? Was Sheldon Blumquist in the drug game? Highly unlikely, the man was already fabulously wealthy as a real estate investor. But no other prominent names came up in the search engine. Plenty of FaceBook hits but it would be impossible to chase down every Salvador Castillo in the New York area in time to save Emily.

  Harris fought the urge to call Christi at the paper as he was desperate for an update. But he knew that he’d only be wasting her time. She knew enough to call him immediately if she found anything. Still, the waiting was unbearable.

  Harris stood and stretched. He walked to the kitchen and grabbed a loaf of bread from the counter. Throwing two slices into the toaster oven, he pushed the start button and turned to the fridge. He had just retrieved the orange juice when he heard the lock on the front door click.

  Harris placed the orange juice on the counter and turned towards the kitchens entrance.

  “Jimmy?” Bonnie’s voice sounded.

  “In here,” he replied pleased and surprised to hear his wife’s voice.

  He heard her footsteps cross the threshold. And then she was there, facing him.

  “Hi,” he said with a soft smile.

  “Hi,” she answered in kind. She did not smile.

  “This is a surprise,” he said.

  “I’ll bet,” Bonnie replied as she looked past him into the fam
ily room. Her eyes did a quick scan of the place.

  “How are you?” Harris asked.

  “I’m not sure, Jimmy. How are you?”

  “Okay. I guess.”

  The toaster oven dinged. Harris ignored it.

  “Are you….back?” He asked awkwardly.

  “No. I don’t think so. Do you want me to be back?”

  “What kind of question is that? Of course I do.”

  “Do you?” She asked sarcastically.

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” His smile faded as he realized that she was trying to pick a fight.

  “Oh nothing,” she answered. “I just know how busy you always are. I didn’t think you’d have time to miss us.”

  “That’s ridiculous. We’re a family. I hate coming home to an empty house.”

  “Ha!” Bonnie laughed loudly. “That’s a good one, Jimmy. Very funny.”

  Harris fought the urge to react, to lash out at her. After all, it was she who had left him.

  “Okay,” he said softly as he headed towards the back of the house. “Obviously you’re not happy to find me here so I’ll head out for an hour or so and give you time to get whatever you came to get.”

  “I came to get answers.”

  “Oh,” Harris said slowly, stopping in his tracks. He turned back to face her. “What kind of answers?”

  “Well, let’s see,” Bonnie began as she pursed her lips and struggled with emotion. She clasped her hands in front of her as if in deep thought. “How about who the hell is Christi Sellinger and better yet, why the hell was she in my house last night!?”

  “Oh my God,” Harris blurted as he began to chuckle. “Is that what this is about?”

  “Don’t you dare laugh, you son-of-a-bitch!”

  Harris shook his head and smiled. With a sudden flash of realization, he realized that Dinkins was surveilling him. That motherfucker, he thought as the smile left his face.

  “Let me guess,” Harris said through a clenched jaw. “You got an anonymous e-mail or something like that?”