176638.fb2 The Hundredth Man - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 30

The Hundredth Man - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 30

CHAPTER 28

Like so often happens, the moment that Ava had been dreading her return to work, seeing Clair passed by almost without touching. Clair sat behind her desk peering at correspondence over half-glasses. She seemed to barely notice as as Ava and I walked by.

"Good morning, Dr. Davanelle," Clair said. "Good to have you back."

"It's wonderful to be here."

Clair tucked back into her paperwork and that was that. Ava checked her in-basket and correspondence, set a few pieces aside, then dressed for Burlew's postmortem. Ava had been scheduled to handle today's first procedure before I told Clair about the drinking; Clair hadn't changed the roster, even after knowing it would be Ava's first day back.

It was faith rewarded when Ava stepped into her role with the quiet command I'd seen before, the powerful yet economical motions, the sense of respect for the deceased. I studied the photos of Burlew's back as Ava recited them for transcription.

You were with, weren't you doesn't she girl bad things inside of you Mama We have to make sure She makes how Time to get the bad things Mama that girl again out you He you She's to get her out deep I'm scared makes us pure What do you know What did you say Don't me in you I have pain No Don't Don't me there Hurdy-gurdy Namby-pamby Willy-Nilly You're scaring Roly-poly Very scary Don't scare At the bottom, across Burlew's coccyx, was written:

Boston and Indianapolis please touching Will it be Big Boston or Little Indy? Kokomo Booooo Peeeeee Mama Squill arrived after schmoozing the media outside, this case now pulling heavy news glare Harry and I had laid the tattered history of events before Hyrum, Squill, and the three deputy chiefs. They'd winced and grimaced through the entire presentation. Consensus was reached: Displaying Burlew's untidy closet would only embarrass the department and the Peltiers. Clair was an innocent caught in the taint and Zane was too monied to cross, especially since he'd been guilty of nothing beyond carnality and general stupidity. That left only Terri Losidor, and her indictment would lift the lid from the garbage can.

I suggested Zane demonstrate his kinship with the Fourth Estate by sponsoring the resurrection of an alternative newspaper. He seemed amenable, especially since I was the last person seen with the photographs.

Ava finished the post and went to wash up, leaving just Squill and me in the suite. During the procedure he'd stayed in the farthest corner, studying anything but the autopsy.

"You checked on Peltier?" Squill said, walking up from behind me.

"He's clear?"

"Zane couldn't slice bologna without instructions. Besides, he's alibied." At the time of Burlew's death Zane Peltier was with his personal attorney, discussing details of an impending separation.

Squill said, "We're shit-canning Piss-it, Ryder. The task force'll take this over. Burlew fucked up, but that's life."

I expected this. Squill'd gotten smudged by his adjutant's actions and the only way to get clean was putting his task-force types into full-court press. That meant locking PSIT out. But with the threads of Burlew and Losidor and Zane pulled from the box, Harry and I had a clearer picture of what was left.

Plus tonight I was discussing the case with a pro.

I said, "It isn't going to fall that direction, Captain. Harry and I are in till the end."

"Guess what, junior? It just ended."

I stared into Squill's liquid eyes. "Why were you trying to keep us away from Burlew, Captain?"

"Who's saying that?"

I pulled a folded sheet of paper from my pocket and handed it to him, pertinent sections highlighted in yellow. "Notes from our meeting where Harry and I told you about the missing papers. Anyone reading those notes might be inclined to think you were leery of us coming up with the papers. Especially since we did. Remember, the ones leading to Zane?"

Squill studied me like I was dog leavings on his shoe. "How could I possibly know Peltier was a fag?"

"You didn't. But I think Burlew insinuated he had some kind of chain around Zane's neck. He'd maybe give it a few tugs for you before he left the department. Burlew owed you; guy didn't have to do cop work for years just ran your rinky-dink errands."

I expected anger, got smug instead. "You're saying I put the brakes on the investigation, Ryder? That what I'm hearing?"

"What's a few more days of maybe keeping a head-chopper on the loose if it ups your chances of becoming a DC?"

He shook his head, a ghost of smile haunting his thin lips. "You think you're something, don't you? I'm going upstairs, Ryder. Better put a bucket on your head when I get there."

"I know you got juice, Cap. Somebody told me Plackett owes you. Seems like you're the one turned him into a media dandy, a first-rate sound-bite slinger. And probably the next chief."

Squill made sure no one had slipped into the room. "Just between you and me, Ryder," he gloated, "I made Plackett. I took a piece of shit-clay and sculpted the new Chief of Police."

"Meanwhile, you kept tossing nails in our road."

He smiled and winked. "It only looks that way to a paranoid like you, Ryder. Go back to your unit and solve some nigger shootings."

"You're a hell of a cop, you know that, Squill? If we'd been able to see things without Burlew's little games, he might not be laying there."

"The breaks. Like in breaking my heart. You're off the case."

"You know Zane Peltier has an in with the Police Commission, don't you?"

He tapped a hand over his heart and feigned surprise. "No way."

"Zane's CEO of Mobile Marine Resources. The president of the company chairs the commission. You knew it; you know every piece of lint on the scale. Was Burlew going to add a little something to his demands?

Get Zane to pull some strings? Just for insurance?"

"Here's a little advice for you, Ryder: don't meddle when adults are playing."

"You're going to win at any cost, aren't you, Captain?" He laughed and punched my arm on his way out. "You're not a win, Ryder, you're an ant I step on. Don't elevate yourself."

Before preparing for my night's work I called the Indianapolis, Boston, and Kokomo homicide departments and asked if they'd had anything similar to what we sere seeing here. No, the people I talked to said, not even close, good luck. Glad it's yours and not ours.

I passed Ava's office on my way out and hugged her and told her she'd done a great job. A crystal vase of fresh-cut flowers overwhelmed her desk and brightened the air, a gift from Clair. Ava passed me a thick folder with copies of photos and reports from several cases. I put them in my briefcase.

"How about that other little matter?" I asked. "Were you listening?"

"I heard you clear as a bell," she said, handing me a small white envelope. I tucked it in my pocket.

"Tomorrow I'm taking you out to celebrate your return to the world of the living," I told her.

"I'd rather it was tonight," she said. "Tonight we have places to go, things to do. Are you going to be ready?"

"If being scared is getting ready, I've been set all day."