New York Chief of Detectives (32 page)

You hear Hector leaving the room and then Joey sends Salvatore to help him. When they are out of the room Harrison speaks. “We need to cut our losses, Joey, especially with Hector Garcia. Once he dumps that body, we need to dump him. Salvatore may have to go as well. I’m not going to let these ‘wetbacks’ get me screwed.”

“Not a problem boss, I’ll take care of it, maybe with this cop’s gun.”

“Do it quickly and quietly. I’ll reward you. We’ll make more in an hour on this project than this cop made in his life.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Harrison, I know what to do.”

You hear the door open and Salvatore and Hector return carrying a rolled up blue tarp. The video goes black as they roll Tony’s body onto it. The conversations go muffled. Dennis explains that they will try to do audio enhancements to see if they can pull out the conversations. The video is fast forwarded until you see lights again. You can easily recognize the vacant lot where Tony’s body was found. You see Hector and Salvatore looking around and then a little dust as the car evidently drives off.

Dennis explains the remainder of the video. “This goes on for about twenty minutes and the pen shuts off. I think it was full. We haven’t really listened to the recording while Tony is wrapped up in the tarp, but it goes on for several hours.”

Dennis shuts the video off and Pat stands up.

“Essentially, Tony Rodriguez has solved his own murder case. Now we have to be careful about how we handle it. First of all, we need to find out who this Hector Garcia is and see if we can locate him.”

Polly Greenburg interrupted. “I’ve checked our NYPD databases, Chief. There are a hundred and fourteen Hector Garcias in the database. I have visually looked at as many mug-shots as I can find and none seem very close. After the briefing, I’ll get with Dennis and try to get some stills and maybe use some facial recognition software.”

“Thanks, Polly. If you don’t have any luck try the ICE database. What does the DA think, Richard?”

“I think we have enough to charge them all with the murder. Hector killed Tony, but the other three were accessories after the fact and clearly conspired to kill Hector and Salvatore although we don’t know if they’re dead.”

“I suspect that the crispy critter will be Hector, because Joey told Hector to get his car. Joey has the Glock and uses it to kill Curtis Gee and Hector. We already know that the DNA on Tony’s coat matches the DNA of the crispy critter.”

“That all makes sense, Pat. How do we proceed?”

“Get with Mary McDonald and Mike Logan and draft the warrants for Tony’s murder. I’m assuming we’ll charge them all as principals. Is that the plan, Richard?”

“Yes, Pat, I think so.”

“We’ll also need search warrants for Harrison’s residence, DeCarlo’s residence, Hector and Salvatore’s residences as well as the offices of DHA International. Let’s divide the tasks and get busy, Bryan. I’d like to execute these warrants first thing in the morning. We should meet at 0600 here at One PP.”

“Tomorrow is Saturday, Chief. Do you think he’ll be in his office?”

“We’ve already thought of that. They’re open every Saturday until noon.”

“Cool deal, Chief.”

Pat walked over to the table where Commissioner Longstreet and Chief Abernathy were sitting. They both stood up and shook his hand. Longstreet offered his congratulations.

“You’ve pulled the case together. I’m really proud of your work.”

“Commissioner, we have a long night ahead and a lot of work to do before we can close this one. You can congratulate me when these crooked scumbags are behind bars at Riker’s Island.”

“That’s a good point, Patty, but we wouldn’t be where we are today in this case without your grit and determination. All of this political bullshit to cover up these crooks was ridiculous.”

“Thanks, Commissioner, when will you tell the mayor?”

“He is over the ocean somewhere now. When do you want me to tell him?”

“Tell him only after these perps are safely and securely locked up.”

“That works for me, Patty!”

Abernathy stands up and puts his hand on Pat’s back.

“You make me proud to be a New York cop, Pat!”

“Thanks, Chief.”

“I know you guys will do great. I’m going to leave it in your hands because I’m really tired.”

Longstreet responded to the Chief. “Charles, go home and get some rest. We’ll call you if there are any important updates.”

“Thanks, Commissioner, I appreciate it.”

When the room was empty Pat told the commissioner about his earlier conversation with Chief Abernathy. The commissioner responded quietly. “He’s sick, Patty. He found out this week that he has lung cancer. He used to be a heavy smoker. He has just put in his papers and will retire in thirty days, but it’s his desire to be positive and right as many of his wrongs as he can, before he leaves. His prognosis is not good, Patty. He knows you’re a stand-up guy and he was bound and determined to settle things with you.”

“As far as I’m concerned, he already has! I’ll say a prayer for him. He has been wearing an NYPD shield for over forty years.”

CHAPTER 69

Saturday, April 17-Day 16

Major Crimes Conference Room-One Police Plaza

Borough of Manhattan, New York

0600 Hours

By
0600 hours the conference room was packed. In addition to the task force, there were several Emergency Services crews there. Bryan Flannery had ESU trucks with each search team. He knew that these perps would be desperate and dangerous. Bryan asked Pat to get the briefing started.

“Let’s get started. We need to be in place before businesses start opening. We’ve covered a lot of ground getting to this point in this case. I truly appreciate the work of this task force. I especially want to thank Captain Bryan Flannery for his leadership. I also appreciate the help from ESU this morning. First of all, we want to be safe. Therefore, vests and shields displayed. We want to hit each of the locations simultaneously. We have arrest warrants for Donald Harrison, Joey DeCarlo, Salvatore Cortez and Hector Garcia. They are each charged with the murder of NYPD Detective Anthony P. Rodriguez. We think that Garcia was the killer and that he may be dead. The others were accessories after the fact, but the Queens DA has charged them with murder as principals. We have search warrants for each of their residences as well as the offices of DHA International. Bryan will assign teams. Mary McDonald, Mike Logan and I will go with the team to DHA International. I just want to say that we must do the most thorough work of our careers this morning and throughout the day. I know we’re all tired, but we must be meticulous. These suspects will have access to the finest lawyers that money can buy. They’ll try to discredit and suppress everything, including the recording we recovered from Tony. We must cover every square inch just like we didn’t have the evidence.”

Bryan Flannery interrupted the Chief briefly.

“Don’t get in a hurry. We’ll take days to complete these searches if we have to in order to make sure we do it the right way. Every ‘i’ must be dotted and every ‘t’ crossed. We’ll be on tactical channel ‘George’ on the radio.”

Pat made some final comments. “Guys, let’s do our best work today for Tony Rodriguez.”

Bryan Flannery began to give out assignments. Each team had pictures of the suspects in an information packet, as well as maps and aerial photographs of the locations. The target time of execution was 0830 hours. Bryan had also arranged for OCCB to conduct surveillance of the Kings Building. The operation would not begin until Donald Harrison was in his office. After everyone moved out, Pat covered the last minute details with Bryan Flannery.  Pat would take one team to the fortieth floor, while Bryan would take a second team to the thirty-ninth floor. Mike Logan volunteered to watch the limo in the garage, along with a couple of ESU guys.

A command post was set up at One PP in the Emergency Operations Center. They would coordinate and monitor the six teams and dispatch any needed assistance. Pat told Rosa Sanchez that she could remain in the command post. He felt good, knowing that a street-savvy detective, who was thoroughly familiar with the case, was there.

Pat went back to his office, took his suit coat off and put on his bullet-resistant body armor. He then put on a nylon windbreaker with NYPD prominently displayed. His jacket had a beautifully embroidered, oversized rendition of the Chief of Detectives shield on the left side. Pat met Dickie in the hall, and they headed for the Chrysler. Dickie also had on his raid jacket and vest. Pat was anxious, and looked at Dickie, almost staring.

“Let’s go collect some garbage!”   

CHAPTER 70

Saturday, April 17-Day 16

The Kings Building -645 Park Avenue

Borough of Manhattan, New York

0825 Hours

Pat
and Dickie were parked in a staging area about half a mile from the Kings Building where DHA International was located.  There was always a little tension in the air when something like this was going down. Pat was sipping coffee with one hand and was holding his portable radio in his other hand. At about 0825 hours the radio crackled with traffic.

“Car 3. Are you on the air?”

“Car 3, 10-4.” Pat answered.

“The target just arrived.”

Pat keyed his radio.

“Car 3, 10-4. All units stand-by for my call.”

Pat looked at Dickie.

“I want to give ‘Mr. Moneybags’ enough time to get in his office, so we don’t have to worry about a chase in the limo.”

“Where is your sense of adventure, Chief?”

“I’ve had about all the adventure I can stand in this case.”

At exactly 0830 hours, Pat keyed his portable.

“Car 3 to all units. Let’s move now!”

Dickie lunged forward in the Chrysler. As they turned the corner in front of the Kings building, they were directly behind a big Emergency Services truck. The ESU truck parked at the curb, and Dickie pulled the Chrysler in, directly behind it. Pat and Dickie got out of the car, and walked into the building with a small army of detectives, ESU officers and uniformed patrolmen. He looked at Bryan Flannery.

“We’ll take the first elevator. You grab the second one.”

They piled into the large wood paneled elevator. One of the ESU men was carrying a large battering ram. The elevator door opened and the receptionist’s eyes opened wide with shock. Attorney Daniel Pellegrino was standing near the receptionist and immediately turned red with anger, put his hands on his hips and pointed at Pat.

“You are violating a court order, Mr. O’Connor!”

Pat quickly responded. “Actually, I’m not, counselor. Also, to set the record straight, it is Chief of Detectives O’Connor to you. I have a warrant for the arrest of several people, including your boss. I also have a search warrant for the premises.”

“You have lost your mind. I’m calling Judge Cornelius!”

“Call all you want, but we’re coming in.”

Daniel Pellegrino stepped behind a large ornate glass wall and quickly locked the door. Pat could see the panic in Pellegrino’s face as he walked away looking over his shoulder. Pat told the
receptionist to open the door. She protested, saying she had no key. Pat then nodded to the ESU supervisor.

“Take it down boys!”

The ESU team quickly moved into place, and with a quick blow of the battering ram took down the entire glass door. Broken pieces of glass went everywhere! With weapons in place, they entered the offices and began securing employees. Each employee was searched and secured in a conference room with uniformed officers. About fourteen employees were rounded up on the fortieth floor. There was no sign of Donald Harrison, Joey DeCarlo or Daniel Pellegrino. Pat located Harrison’s office. It was locked. Keys were found in his secretary’s desk, and they entered. The office was huge, modern and spacious. In the center was a large glass desk. Everything in the room was spotless. There was no Donald Harrison to be found. Pat called Bryan Flannery on his cell phone.

“Flannery.”

“Any luck?”

“We’ve secured the floor, Chief. We have six employees detained.”

“Do you have any sign of Harrison, DeCarlo, or that lawyer, Pellegrino?”

“No sir, is he not upstairs?”

“There is no sign of any of them, Bryan.”

Their conversation was interrupted by screaming on the radio.

“107 Squad, Central, shots fired 10-13. Officer needs help in the parking garage of the Kings Building 645 Park Avenue!”

Pat responded to Bryan. “Check it out and let me know.”

Pat could feel his chest tightening. It had sounded like Mike Logan.

The call was repeated by Central Communications.

“Central to all units, in the confines of Mid-Town South, 10-13 confirmed shots fired in Mid-Town South 645 Park Avenue, K.”