Bobby said, “Okay, I’ll submit it as a John Doe sample. Shouldn’t be a problem. If I do it under Emily’s case number, the sample will get processed immediately. Or maybe sooner.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it.”
For the first time today, Bobby smiled. “Hey, that sounds like a knock on the FBI.”
“Yes, of course it is. What did you expect?”
Chapter 82
I stayed at the Chinese restaurant after Bobby left. The area DC calls Chinatown is a small historic district just northwest of Capitol Hill. I don’t mean to be a snob, but the only real Chinatown on the East Coast is in New York. I don’t care what Boston or Philadelphia or any other big city has to say about it. But for the record, the chicken chow mein at the restaurant was outstanding.
The five customers in the quiet venue were spread out. That’s why I was hesitant to answer my phone when it rang. I looked down and saw the main number to One Police Plaza. I wondered if it was William Patel with more information from the Tech Unit.
I answered it like I always do. “Michael Bennett.”
A man’s voice said, “Detective Michael Bennett?”
“That’s right. Who’s this?”
“This is Alfred Brocious.”
That one caught me by surprise. I knew the dead silence on the phone line didn’t help my position. And the commissioner of the NYPD didn’t help me out by saying anything else. He just let the silence hang there.
Finally, I managed, “What can I do for you, Commissioner?” I tried to picture our new commissioner’s face. I’d met him only once in passing while I was at One Police Plaza. It was right after the city had hired him away from Philadelphia, where he had been a respected deputy chief. His deep voice made everything sound like a grave matter.
“Your lieutenant, Harry Grissom, says he can’t reach you. Is he lying or are you not taking his calls?”
The wording of the question made it sound like something a politician would say. “I was about to call him back, Commissioner.”
“No matter what else happens during this conversation, please don’t lie to me again. Is that clear, Detective?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I was a detective once. Back in Philly. I thought I was slick too. You know what got my head out of my ass?”
“No, sir.”
“I realized we all have jobs to do. We’re all in this together. No matter how the media might twist stories. No matter what a segment of the public may think about cops. We’re lost if we don’t try to help each other any way we can. You’re not helping in DC. In fact, it sounds like you’re a hindrance.”
I said, “None of that is Harry Grissom’s fault, sir. Please don’t take anything out on him. This was my choice and my decision. I’ve been on leave for a while. I had a lot of days in the vacation bank.”
“I don’t want to crush a respected lieutenant like Grissom. I wasn’t trying to get you to rat him out. I don’t even want to punish you. In fact, I don’t really have time to talk to you. So I want to keep this quick and to the point. Where are you?”
“As I said, I’m on leave, sir.”
“I didn’t ask your status. I asked you where you are. As in a place. A tangible, real-life location.”
“Washington, DC.”
“You see, I knew that. Would you like to know how I knew that?”
“No, sir, not particularly.”
The commissioner just rolled along with that sonorous voice. “I knew you were in DC because it feels like every swinging dick with a law-enforcement title of some kind has called me this week to bitch about you.” His voice increased in intensity at a steady pace.
I didn’t answer. Mainly because there was no answer to it.
After a moment, the commissioner said, “Well?”
“I-I-I’m not sure what you want, sir.”
“Now, that’s a good comment, Detective. No one ever seems to care about what I want. It shows me you’re a considerate and intelligent detective. What I want, Detective Bennett”—his voice continued to build—“is for people to stop annoying me. In this case, the solution to my problem is quite simple. You are to come home. Come back to New York. Right now.”
“But, sir—”
The commissioner cut me off. “It sounds like you may have misinterpreted this call. Maybe it’s my friendly demeanor.” Now he was almost shouting. “This is not a negotiation. I’m giving you an order. Come back to New York.”