Chapter 17 Excerpt

Sorry folks but I’m switching up on you. I was going to post an opening sequence from Chapter 17, but decided on the closing sequence because I had to keep on writing to see how this was all going to flesh out. Sorry about the gap that it leaves but those of you who really want to the “fill in the gap” info, can contact me. I may be obliged to send you a piece or two

Darin and Jamie sat in the Brandon York’s office. Jamie was on an emotional roller coaster. Now she was being told that this was NOT going to happen after all. Darin was not too happy either.

“How could this happen, Cap?” said Darin. “I thought everything was pretty much set.”

Brandon York was about to respond when the Commissioner walked into his office without knocking and unannounced.

“Sorry for being so rude, but I figured you three would be in here meeting.”

Nobody said anything because it was already established that all of the decisions to quash the proposed program had come from his office. Nobody would meet the Commissioner’s eyes. After making his initial assessment of the situation he began, with a snort, to speak in his gruff voice.

“So, this is it huh? Judge and jury. I’ve been tried and convicted in a room full of Christians….or so you say. I don’t know a whole lot about Christians, but the last thing I expected was to be judged.”

The Captain, Darin and Jamie each glanced at each other and knew that on that score, the Commissioner was right. Nothing like an non-Christian to get a Christian back in to line by telling them the truth!

Darin was the first to speak up and he spoke for them all. “Sorry, sir, you’re right. We were judging and you are also right, we should not be judging. For that we are sorry.”

“Apology accepted! Captain, may I sit down?”

“Like you had to ask? ” asked Brandon York.

“No,” said the Commissioner, “but every now and then I surprise even myself!”

Brandon York motioned the Captain to his chair and he moved from behind the desk. The Commissioner sat down and began.

“OK, listen up, because here’s the deal. The first thing you need to know, no beating around the bush, is that I didn’t give you the axe! Now lets talk about it. First of all York, is your office clean?”

“Yes Sir, you can speak securely here. No bugs.”

“How can you be sure?” asked the Commissioner.

“I’m afraid all I am willing to tell you on that score is that Darin and I set up the technology in my office and we have our indicators.” said Brandon York.

“Good answer Captain. If you had given me that information, in my book, you and Darin both would have been suspect. A+”

“Glad I passed. And to answer what I perceive your next question may be, I am confident that you can say anything in front of detective Carpenter that you can say in front of Detective Frost and myself. Campinieri does not have his claws in her.”

Jamie was taken aback by the Captain’s need to have to say that as well by the recognition that he had correctly guessed the Commissioner’s next concern.

“OK, we continue,” said the Commissioner, “How do you know I’m clean? You don’t.” He said indicating Darin and Jamie, “But your Captain does, so I’m gonna have to ask you to trust me as you have up to now. What we do know for sure is Campinieri is deep in to MY boss, our grand old mayor. I’ve been meaning to get with you Darin, because I’m sure you’ve been trying to get enough stuff to put him away and prove his guilt but he’s too slimy. I have it!”

The Commissioner holds his hand up because now Darin is ready to start in with the questions. “Save it, that discussion is for another time. Right now we talk about how we proceed with our current dilemma. The Mayor himself overturned my order and put the kibosh on Jamie’s training. He also expedited her transfer to get her out of here and away from you…….. I see the worried looks on your faces, not to worry, I did an end run around him on that one. We have a false paper trail setup so he’ll think that the transfer has gone through. Jamie, you’ll be temporarily reassigned for a couple of days so that he actually thinks you’re reporting to where he transferred you. He’s not good at checking up. It’ll work.

“Now #2, we go ahead with Jamie’s training, after our first rouse is bought into, by having her put on special assignment by my office. We have a clean facility that we don’t believe is compromised and you, Jamie; you, Darin; and you, Max will undergo special training for this new unit.”

“How are you gonna fund that, Sir?” asked Darin.

“I’m not, the Mayor is funding it with his slush fund. He thinks we’re doing other stuff with the money. Oh well, I don’t have any qualms about beating a crook out his money. Now after you training is done—and you guys are gonna have to learn quick because this must be expedited, you will be temporarily replaced on your beat by another team and be assigned to a special detail out of my office. Your job, should you decide to accept it. Sorry, had to throw that in. I love Mission Impossible.”

Everyone laughed briefly and the Commissioner continued.

“Your job,” he continued, “will be to get everything that you have so far together and amass as much more as you possibly can in the ensuing 30 days and we’re going to take those…. pardon me, I have to remember where I am and who I’m talking to….. we’re going to take those no good criminals to court and plaster them to the wall. I want as airtight a case as we can get.

“Now Campinieri is going to feel the pressure and he’s going to try to batten down the hatches, I’ll run interference on my side.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game Sir.” said Jamie.

“Aren’t we all, detective? If you’re going to put yourself on the line, I”m there with you! Frost, your family is going to get lost. You won’t even know where they are until its safe to tell you and there will only be secure communications from them to you. You will not be able to call them. My top people are on that now. Mikey will try to get to your family, but its not gonna happen. I’ve thought this all out and I think its gonna work. Still needs some massaging, but if you have any suggestions….nows the time. I’m all ears.”

Darin and Brandon had a few questions about some rough parts in the plan and helped the Commissioner to better develop some other parts that he hadn’t considered. Jamie sat back, listened, petted Max and learned. They came up with so many things that she never even considered. Jamie knew inside that this was going to work and that, one way or another, Campinieri and family were going down.

Everybody was as bit apprehensive before the meeting but God had worked it out nicely.

“One other thing, said the Commissioner everything about this operation points back directly to me. Nobody else gets implicated so if…..well never mind.”

But everybody knew exactly what the Commissioner was thinking. If anything happened and things were discovered….he was the top level guy. Campinieri would be coming after him.

“We’ll solidify everything in the next few days. No “unusual” contact with my office. Just the normal stuff. We don’t want to raise any flags. I’ll make secure communications with you when things are ready.”

With that the Commissioner rose and left without saying another word.

“Wow,” said Darin, “I don’t know what Campinieri did to him, but I feel sorry for Mikey. The Commissioner is throwing everything he has at him.”

“Let me tell you something kid,” said Brandon York, “A lot of years ago, when the Commissioner was brand new Captain, the family tried to get him on the take. He resisted. One night there was an attempted robbery at this house—at least that’s the way the report reads—the Commissioner took five bullets, one to the throat—-hence the gruff voice—his wife bought it that night. The word on the street was that the Campinieiris ordered the hit. Mikey’s father was in control then. Word is Mikey was the trigger man. Nobody knows, never been proven, except that the Commissioner says he never forgets a voice and Mikey liked to brag to his men while he did his jobs. It’s been a lot of years and the Commissioner has come a long, long way. But you can bet, first and foremost on his mind is that one way or another, he’s gonna get Mikey Campinieri. Now what you just heard doesn’t leave this office. Lets get to work.”