FORGOTTEN

by Hastings, Gary

  Pat turned off the lamp and then rolled over and embraced Maggie. As he kissed her, her cell phone started vibrating on the dresser. She exhaled deeply and then cut on her lamp and jumped out of the bed grabbing the phone.

  “Maggie Parker.”

  Maggie listened intently and started writing down some notes.

  “I appreciate the notification; I’ll meet you there within the hour.”

  Maggie put her phone down and looked at Pat.

  “I’m so sorry, Pat, but we have a credible threat out of New York against the President and I have to go. I’ve loved our time together tonight, and I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Sweetheart. You’re an incredible woman.”

  “Thanks for understanding. I better grab a quick shower. I knew there was a reason I brought my clothes with me.”

  “I was hoping to talk you out of them.” Pat teased.

  Maggie rolled her eyes and smiled at Pat’s flirtatious remark.

  “I better get rolling; duty calls.”

  Chapter 34

  Monday, February 7 - Day 20

  Computer Crimes Lab - One Police Plaza

  Borough of Manhattan, New York

  1000 Hours

  Pat was in his office early Monday morning and had knocked out a lot of routine paperwork. He had cleared his most recent emails and was leaving a clean desk to head to a task force briefing. He grabbed a cup of coffee and his briefcase.

  The task force meeting was scheduled for 1000 hours. They were assembled in the high-tech lab of the Computer Crimes Squad. It looked like mission control with all the technology. Computer monitors were everywhere, casting a glow to the dark room. The experts had been assisting Mike O’Neil in analyzing the surveillance equipment which was focused on Margaret Butelli’s house. Pat entered the room on time, and the entire task force was present. Bryan Flannery was in court today, so Pat would run the entire meeting, which he often did, anyway.

  “So is anyone having fun yet?” Pat asked.

  There was a general chuckle in the room and the predictable sarcastic New York cop responses. Wilbur Stone offered the best one. “Oh yeah, boss, this is as much fun as listening to a country music song backwards. The dude gets the broad and the mobile home back.”

  Pat responded with equal sarcasm. “Happy trails, Wilbur. Let’s get this thing started. I know we’ve had some developments over the weekend in the computer department. Would you like to tell us what you’ve found, Mike?”

  “We’re still working on it, Chief. Some of this stuff is over my head, but I have the guys here in computer forensics working on it. They’re amazing. I’m a hacker compared to them, and I thought I was pretty good. Essentially, someone set up a video camera across the street from Margaret Butelli’s house. It’s set up as a real time website. It broadcasts streaming video. They’ve found one person logged into it, and are trying to identify the IP address of the computer accessing it. In addition, there’s a receiver for the wireless transmitter from the phone, which apparently records each call, then compresses it and sends it to an email address which we’re trying to identify. The guys in the lab suspect it may be routed through several proxy servers to disguise its final destination. This is all pretty sophisticated stuff.”

  “Do we know how long this has been in place, Mike?” Pat asked.

  “The air-card was purchased by Harry Pittsford three weeks ago at an electronics store, here in Manhattan. We suspect it was put in place shortly after that. The house has been vacant for a couple of months. We’ve left it up and have added our own alarms and cameras in case someone tries to move it.”

  “That’s a great idea, Mike. Please keep us posted.”

  “Yes sir, Chief.”

  “Is there any word on Butelli’s car?”

  Mary McDonald spoke up. “Margaret Butelli never picked it up from the impound yard. She had it sold as part of the estate. It was purchased by a used car lot in Queens and was later wrecked. According to Motor Vehicle Registry records it is probably part of a man-hole cover somewhere. It was scrapped three years ago.”

  “Too bad, Mary. Are there any other developments from your end?”

  “Not really. The sheriff’s investigators from upstate are coming this afternoon to discuss the judge’s death.”

  “Make sure they know to keep this thing quiet. I’ve said it before, but if the press gets wind of this, it could tip our hand.”

  “Absolutely. We’ve already discussed that.”

  “How about the funeral home paperwork? Are there any results from the document examiners?”

  “I haven’t heard anything.” Mary answered.

  Pat directed the next question to Sergeant George McBain. “Can you check on that for us, George, and see if you can get anything related to this case established as a priority?”

  “Yes sir, Boss. I do know that we’ve located some potential DNA on that receipt in Butelli’s files, but we don’t have a profile yet. If we can’t get it identified, we may have to get some known samples, including your own, Chief.”

  “Just let me know, George. I’m certain I touched it.”

  “I’ll keep you posted. In fact I’ll call the lab now to check on the handwriting examination.”

  “That would be great, George.”

  George McBain went to a phone in the conference room and called the lab. After a short phone call he stood up and reported his findings.

  “Their examination has been completed, Chief. They have to get a second opinion, but they’re certain the funeral home signature was a forgery. Just remember, this is not official yet.”

  “I don’t think anyone is surprised, George, but it does confirm our suspicions and puts more evidence in the murder pile.”

  “Karla, where are you and Wilbur on finding the elusive Daniel Pellegrino?”

  “He is still elusive, I’m afraid. It looks like he fell off the face of the earth last year and hasn’t been heard from since. We have everything flagged including bank accounts, credit cards and his real estate holdings. We talked to the agents over at IRS Criminal Investigations, and they say his taxes are paid through an escrow account and filed electronically. They have deduced that he must have had a lot of cash stashed and an escape plan. They know we’re interested and we’re still covering his sister’s phones in Queens. We were only doing the land-line, but now we’re up on her cell phone as well, but for records only; who she calls and who calls her, Chief.”

  “Thanks, Karla. If we don’t get a break, we may spook her by asking about her brother and then seeing who she calls.”

  “You know, Chief, we can rattle her cage any time you say. There’s something about the words United States Marshal, that just scares the shit out of people.”

  “It probably comes from watching all those cowboy movies and TV shows. You know the Dodge City Marshal never lost.”

  “Yes, and there are other people who don’t have a clue. We were in the Bronx once and went to talk to a fugitive’s grandmother. We knocked and said ‘U. S. Marshals,’ but she refused to open the door. I finally screamed ‘NYPD Police’ and she opened the door. I asked her why she wouldn’t open the door and she innocently replied; ‘I’ve never heard of the Jewish Marshals.’”

  Everyone in the room broke out with laughter. Pat quickly brought things to a close.

  “I don’t care what it takes; we need to find this guy before someone else is killed. He apparently used old Harry Pittsford to do his dirty work. Now, Harry is out of the picture forever. He’ll either find someone else or do something stupid himself. Also, is there any word on ADA Donovan?”

  “Your friend at the bar association can’t find him anywhere, Chief. There have been no requests to check on his legal credentials, so we can assume he’s not practicing law. Since we don’t have any criminal charges on him, we have fewer options. If we get charges on him, we can pull out more tools.”

  “Thanks, Karla. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

&
nbsp; Chapter 35

  Monday, February 7 - Day 20

  Police Commissioner’s Office - One Police Plaza

  Borough of Manhattan, New York

  1145 Hours

  When Pat got back to his office after the task force meeting, there was a message to call the commissioner. Pat called the commissioner’s direct number and was told to see him in his office immediately. He knew something was up, and it would not be good. Pat and Robert Longstreet were close, but when the commissioner said ‘immediately,’ it was not usually to tell him what a great job he was doing. Pat walked into the office and was directed by the commissioner’s secretary to go on back to his large, private office.

  Pat walked in and instinctively closed the door. Longstreet wasted no time getting to the point.

  “Phil Beck just withdrew from the promotional process and informed me he was putting in his papers. Did you have anything to do with that?”

  “I suppose that was his decision.”

  “Have you talked to him yet?”

  “Yes sir, and he was a pain in the ass. It was all about his career, his needs and he just wanted this Butelli case to go away.”

  “I’m not sure I blame him, Patty. It’s been over 10 years.”

  “Would you say that if it were your wife or daughter dead, and some ambitious cop had just blown it off?”

  “Everything is so personal with you, Patty. You always try to insert some moral obligation.”

  “Murder is a very personal crime and one I take very seriously, sir.”

  “Of course it’s serious, but we don’t even know it’s a murder yet.”

  “I’m not so sure about that. We have Butelli shot in a car with no blood. The bullet recovered doesn’t match the gun in his hand. The signature authorizing cremation is a forgery. His suicide note is typed on a typewriter, which Butelli didn’t own. His wife’s phone is bugged. There are cameras on the house broadcasting to who knows where. They’ve tried to kill me and have probably killed a judge, not to mention the fact that absolutely not one single person who knew Butelli thinks he killed himself, and a respected forensic psychologist tells us based on his review of the case, there is an 88 percent chance that he didn’t commit suicide. On top of all that, he was working a sensitive case involving corruption in Kings County that is without a doubt true.”

  “You just have to have the last word don’t you, Patty?”

  “I’m not being disrespectful, but you’re worried about Phil Beck, who did an awful job of handling this case. As far as I’m concerned, he is a disgrace to the NYPD. Don’t forget, Commissioner, the fact that Forrest Butelli was also on the job and from all counts, he was a damn fine cop.”

  “I’m sorry, Patty. I just hate to see a guy like Phil take such a hit after so many years on the job.”

  “That’s his problem, not mine. He was the one who made those poor choices. We all make mistakes in this job, including me. If it was a slip of the tongue or a careless error, it shouldn’t be a big deal. However, in Phil’s case, he intentionally lied to a family member of a deceased victim, who in all likelihood, was murdered after retiring as a cop! We have to hold ourselves accountable, if the public is ever going to trust us.”

  “I know you’re right, but you can be one obstinate bastard.”

  “Thank you. Is there anything else?”

  “Just get this mess cleaned up with as few casualties as possible. We don’t need another black eye.”

  “Understood!”

  Chapter 36

  Monday, February 7 - Day 20

  Chief of Detectives’ Office - One Police Plaza

  Borough of Manhattan, New York

  1400 Hours

  Lieutenant Angie Wilson walked into Pat’s office.

  “Do you have a minute, Chief?”

  “Sure, Angie, what’s up?”

  She shut the office door and sat down in front of Pat’s desk.

  “I had lunch with my girlfriend on Saturday; you know, the one with the DUI handled by Daniel Pellegrino.” Angie explained.

  “Yes, of course. Did you have any luck?”

  “She freaked out. I thought she was going to have a panic attack. She started crying and half-hyperventilating. It was ridiculous.”

  “I hope it didn’t create a scene.”

  “No. We were in my car. I waited until after lunch, and we were alone. I offered to give her a ride, and then I asked her about the case.”

  “What was her answer, Angie?”

  “It was ugly. She wouldn’t even acknowledge she’d been charged. I showed her the records, and she just kept crying. Finally, she agreed to think about talking to me, but only after I assured her she would remain anonymous and her name wouldn’t be used. We agreed to meet for lunch today, and she agreed to let me know her decision. She talked to me today, and she just laid it out to me about an hour ago.”

  “How close were our theories?”

  “Actually, they were quite close. She has a high-profile corporate job. The DUI would have cost her the job which is high-end six figures. She was told by a friend she should talk to Daniel Pellegrino. She went to see him immediately. She had a prior DUI and was in real trouble. Pellegrino told her that for $10,000 he could make it all go away. She would still have to pay the $2,500 for his handling of the case, but the 10 grand had to be paid in full, in cash. All in all she paid $12,500 and when she went to court, Pellegrino made a motion to dismiss the case on some bullshit technicality. It was immediately dismissed. She never heard from him again and her career remained untarnished. She did say Pellegrino told her if she ever told anyone, the case would be reinstated or something very bad would happen to her. She’s scared to death.”

  “I understand why. We can sure use this information to further our investigation and I promise that we’ll do everything possible to keep her out of it. Please thank her for her help.”

  “I will, Chief. She’s a good person and after the last arrest, she gave up the sauce for bottled water and fitness.”

  “Good for her. Now that we have a good idea how they operated, it would be good to find and confirm some of the other cases.”

  “Do you have any suggestions on how to do that?”

  “First of all, let’s run the names by the task force, and see if anyone recognizes any names. After that, let’s check and see if any of the benefactors of Pellegrino’s services are in the joint. If so, maybe we could roll them for information and help them out with their sentences. It’ll help build the case against Pellegrino. The more cases we find, the better. I don’t want to tip our hand, so we have to be careful who we talk to.”

  “Those are good ideas. I’ll start working on it this afternoon.”

  “Thanks, Angie. I know it’s tough to be the cop with your friends, but it confirms what I’ve already observed about your level of dedication.”

  “Thanks, Chief. I’m a cop first, and as you well know, once it’s in your blood, you can’t let go of it.”

  “That’s true. I’m sure that has a lot to do with your decision to not pursue a law career.”

  “I couldn’t go to the other side, boss. I thought about being a prosecutor, but they don’t make enough money for me to leave the NYPD.”

  “For that decision, I’m grateful. You’re a huge help to me in this job, Angie.”

  “Not to get misty about this, but it’s my honor to serve with you, Chief.”

  “It’s also mine, Angie.”

  Chapter 37

  Monday, February 7 - Day 20

  Major Crimes Conference Room - One Police Plaza

  Borough of Manhattan, New York

  1500 Hours

  At 1500 hours, Pat walked into the conference room. The entire task force was present. Bryan Flannery was standing at the podium.

  “Good afternoon, Chief. Thanks for covering for me on Friday.” Bryan said.

  Pat fired a joking remark back. “Someone has to pick up the dead weight around here.”

  There was a
chuckle in the room. Bryan also laughed.

  “So, do you have anything to get us started, Chief?”

  “I feel like all we do is have meetings and briefings about this case. The progress is slow and it’s frustrating, but today Lieutenant Wilson has some important information for us which confirms many of our suspicions. Let’s have her go first.”

  Bryan accepted the Chief’s suggestion. “Sounds good, Lieutenant Wilson, the floor is all yours.”

  “Thanks, Captain, I do think this is pretty important. We’ve suspected how Daniel Pellegrino operated in the Kings County Courts, but we now have a customer of his services, who has come forward and shared information with us. This person must be treated like a confidential source. They’ve refused to get involved, but have agreed to tell us how Pellegrino operated. In short, he required 10 grand in cash up front, in addition to his normal fees. For that he guaranteed the case would go away. In this case, it was dismissed after Pellegrino made a motion for dismissal in front of Judge Fitzpatrick. Pellegrino told the source if these arrangements were ever revealed, he would make sure the charges were reinstated and the source could be in danger.”

  Mary McDonald immediately responded. “So, why does the source want to remain anonymous?”

  “It’s because of the nature of the case. My source has a high-profile job and being exposed would ruin the person’s career.”

  “How did we find the source, Lieutenant?”

  “Someone in the department recognized the name and asked the right questions.”

  Angie did not want to give up the identity of the source, and although she trusted the task force members, she knew she had promised her friend she would not be identified. Pat sensed the uneasiness and intervened. “It’s not important who the source is, Mary. What’s important about this is it lets us know exactly how they operated. What I want is to do is go over the cases which Angie has found and see if we recognize anyone we can approach or see if any of them are in the slammer on other charges. If so, maybe we could help them out with their sentences. You know, squeeze them for information while dangling a carrot.”