Two Graves (A Kesle City Homicide Novel) (36 page)

Mann waved it off. “Now we are in a bad spot. Flem is truly connected. Forget Angelino, Flem has some major political weight behind him.”

“Untouchable,” Davis added. “And an illegally obtained phone and a nickname aren’t going to convict him.”

“We can’t just let him walk away,” Degget said. “We know the guy is dirty. All we have to do is prove it.”

“What if you didn’t have to prove it?” Dani asked.

“Meaning?” Mann asked.

Dani looked at Mann. “How far can we go with this?”

“What do you mean?” Mann asked.

“You know what I mean” Dani answered. “I’m talking about the boys.”

“This blows up, it’s going to be one more nail in the door between you and the boys,” Davis agreed. “She’ll have even more ammunition against you. They will hate you forever.”

“You got a way to get him, let’s hear it,” Mann said to Dani.

Dani shrugged and turned her iPad so they could all see the screen. “OK, see that list of files. Those are the dates of Flem’s appearances on the nightly news. I can access any of those dates for a brief summary of the interview. The main interviews are all digitized on our network at the station.”

“So, you have every one of his appearances?” Mann asked.

“That’s right. Every piece of tape that egomaniac has made.”

“So?” Degget asked. “That helps us how?”

“Gregg, remember when you said that if the news ever got out about the leak, the guy would be as good as dead?”

“There wouldn’t be a hole deep enough to hide in.”

“Ever see the
Running Man
?” Dani asked.

“Ya, that Schwarzenegger movie about the game show,” Degget said.

“Remember the bit when they showed Schwarzenegger getting killed only they mapped his face onto another guy?”

“No way!” Degget said.

“Way,” Dani said. “We’ve got hours of audio that I can work with.”

“Can you do the video?” Mann asked.

“I could use a friend.”

“Can you trust him? Would he do it?”

“He’s underground. He’s a throwback to the sixties with a techno fetish. If it screws up a cop, he’d do it for free.”

Mann looked at Dani, Degget and Davis. But he was thinking about his sons. Once again, he was doing exactly what his wife always accused him of – cutting corners on the system he supposedly stood for. But he was getting the job done and the ends
did
justify the means. Besides, the boys had to love him as he was – not some ideal political bureaucrat that their mother wanted him to be. And then there would be the satisfaction of knowing he had seriously screwed the Hinge.

Now he just had to get Flem alone and controlled. He knew exactly how to do it.

*

Mann stood in the pool of light in front of the large double doors. He couldn’t help but look over his shoulder but he needn’t have worried. He couldn’t even see the street from where he stood. The door finally opened and Commissioner James looked surprised to see Mann.

“Lieutenant? Is this something that can wait until my office tomorrow?”

“Frankly, sir, you don’t want me in the office with this,” Mann said.

The Commissioner smiled. “I think I should tell you to just get back in your car. It hasn’t even been twelve hours and you are already cashing in your chip from this afternoon? When I said don’t wait too long, I thought you would have more faith than six hours.”

Mann just shrugged and James stepped back to let him in the door.

“Follow me. My office is just up here on the left. My wife wants me to call it the study but I can’t do it. I married into money pretty late in life. The only time I was in anything called a study, it was detention in study hall with Sister Theresa Marie. Not a memory I want to relive every time I work at home.”

On the way behind his desk, James motioned to the sideboard. “I’d offer you a drink but I’m a Coke man, myself.”

The Commissioner laughed at Mann’s expression. “Don’t look so surprised. I was in the task force fridge and saw all those red, white and blue cans. Patriotic as I am, I was appalled at the sight. Blaak ratted you out. OK, so since you arrived, I have done all the talking. I think it is time you started doing some.”

Mann nodded. “Then I won’t waste anymore of your time and get right to it.”

An hour later, Mann left the Commissioner’s house with a promise to have Flem at the warehouse by three in the afternoon on the day after tomorrow. And he would be alone.

“Inspector.”

Inspector WH Flem walked into the cavernous room. Without the desks and chairs, the warehouse seemed enormous. Flem walked slowly across the cement floor toward Mann standing in the half shadow. His hard shoes clicked harshly, sending echoes bouncing off the walls.

“What is this all about, Lieutenant? Who is that behind you?”

Mann turned around and Dani moved out from behind the television monitor. Flem stopped until he could see her fully. Her red hair flashed as she stepped into the full light. “Danett Wood, Inspector.”

“Ah, the famous Flashcam and bedmate.”

Mann did not respond and Flem continued forward. “You only answered one of my questions. Why am I here? The message from the Commissioner seemed urgent.”

“Simply put, Inspector, we want you to testify against your employer, Giovanni Angelino.”

Flem did not flinch or so much as pause. “And what would I be testifying about?”

“The years that you have been working for Angelino, misdirecting investigations, informing of pending searches and arrests, helping hit men get rid of witnesses. That sort of stuff.”

Flem walked toward Mann, his eyes still flat, almost bored.

“You don’t deny my accusation.”

“Why bother? It is ludicrous. I am only staying because I want to see you hang yourself. You seem determined to end whatever bit of career you have left.”

“It isn’t my career that is over.”

Flem’s eyebrows went up, wrinkling his forehead high into what was once his hairline. He had arrived beside Mann. Dani had moved off to the side.

Mann bent down and pressed the button on the DVD player. The television whined for a minute and then the picture solidified into a full face shot of Flem in his uniform. Dani’s voice could be heard off camera.

“Tonight, we bring you an exclusive interview with Inspector William Harrison Flem who has a shocking announcement. The Inspector is a veteran of the Kesle police force, winner of the medal for conspicuous bravery, appointed head of the Mayor’s Special Organized Crime Unit, well respected both within the force and in the civilian population. How could this officer become linked with the Mafia? How could this decorated veteran become an informant on his own brother officers? Inspector, how did it all begin?”

“At first, it was innocent,” Flem answered. “It was something that everyone did more or less. Turn a blind eye to this crime or that, just to help out a friend. Take a free cup of coffee, a bottle of Scotch.”

“But, you did more, did you not, Inspector?” asked Dani, as the camera shot flashed to her. “Did you not interfere with other officers and ongoing investigations?”

“Yes. Over the course of several years, several undercover investigations were jeopardized. However, no officers lost their lives as a result.”

The camera continued to go back and forth from Dani to Flem. Even Mann, knowing what to look for, barely saw the subtle changes from one shot of Flem to another. Dani’s video tech was a genius especially considering how quickly he put it together.

“But,” Dani said severely, “several almost died. In fact, only recently, a contract was taken out on an undercover detective you fingered. He was injured and there have been six deaths as a result of the contract on his life.”

“That was regretful. However, the deaths were men who were anything but innocent. Nobody likes to see anyone get hurt. However, that is the nature of the job.”

“But, betrayal by your own commanding officer is not part of the job. Why have you decided to come forward?”

“The opportunity to turn State’s evidence has been offered.”

“So, you were the object of an investigation? In fact, you were caught.”

Flem did not respond and the picture returned to Dani. “And after this taping, you will be going into hiding?”

“Arrangements are being made.”

“And can we assume that the indictments brought down by your information will involve high ranking members of organized crime?”

“I can tell you this. Before I’m finished, I will have put Giovanni Angelino behind bars.”

“Thank you, Inspector. Or should I say ex Inspector Flem? We will have further updates as more information becomes available. And now, back to you Mark.”

Flem lightly applauded, his hands coming together in slow, measured applause. “Excellent work.”

“It airs at six.”

“The video is good but anyone can tell it was doctored. And the audio? Christ, I could identify each one of my appearances. Nobody will believe it. You show that tape and I’ll sue you and your station so dry, you’ll be farting dust.”

“Very picturesque,” Dani replied. “The tape still airs.”

“Nobody will believe it. It won’t stand up under analysis.”

“It won’t have to,” Mann said. ‘You won’t live to see a courtroom.”

Flem stared at Mann, a puzzled look crossing his face.

Degget stepped out from the shadows and laughed.

“You don’t get it, do you, you sorry sack of shit.” Degget said. “We don’t have to convince a court. We only have to convince Angelino of the possibility. Do you think he will take time to analyze the tape before he wastes your fat ass?”

Flem swallowed hard, realization sinking in. Then, his confidence returned. He squared his shoulders. “I can end this with a single phone call.”

“If you could make the phone call,” Degget said.

Flem turned and stared at the gun in Degget’s hand. Seeing the hatred in Degget’s eyes, even Mann took an involuntary step forward. Degget’s hand was rock steady as he pointed the automatic at the shorter man’s head. Flem made a gurgling sound that Mann thought was some sort of a plea.

“Angelino will be especially anxious to talk to you when he discovers you have disappeared for several days. When his snitches do find you, and they will find you, do you think he’ll ask you if it’s true? Then again, you could just disappear permanently and we won’t have to worry about any of this. Really depends on how cooperative you are.”

For a moment longer, the tension hung in the air and then Degget raised the barrel of the gun until it was pointing at the ceiling. He carefully released the hammer and put the gun in his shoulder holster.

“Nah. It’s going to be more fun watching you try to dodge Angelino. How long do you think you’ll last?”

Flem’s knees buckled and he sank to the ground. None of the three bothered to try and catch him.

*

Dani was setting up her camera on the tripod while Flem sat in a chair – a blank look on his face. Behind him, Mann, Degget, Davis and Commissioner James were talking quietly.

“I wasn’t sure if you were going to pull the trigger,” James said.

“You know,” Degget said, with a smile, “neither was I.”

James laughed. “The Mayor is going to stroke out when he sees this.”

“What’s he going to do to you?”

“What can he do? He’ll be so busy trying to distance himself from Flem, he won’t have time for me.”

“I think I should have a lawyer.”

The three looked at Flem in his chair. They looked back at each other and laughed. James walked up behind Flem and leaned down close to his ear. His voice dripped with the disdain he felt for Flem.

“You are not getting a lawyer. You are going to sit and answer the nice lady’s questions so we have a proper tape to air tonight. You will turn over on Angelino and give us everything you’ve got. You understand?”

“I’ll get you for this,” Flem said.

“Do you really think we are the ones you should be threatening?” James asked, slapping Flem lightly on his cheek. “We are your new best friends. None of your old buddies will come within a mile of you once we’re done. We are your only protection. You understand that, right? Your life is in our hands.”

James stepped back and straightened.

“In fact, as Commissioner of the Kesle Police Department,” James said, stressing his position, “I am officially assigning Sergeant Davis and Detective Degget to your protection detail. His life is in your hands, Detective.”

Flem whirled in the chair and jumped to his feet. Hatred burned in his eyes. James looked down at the overweight, balding man. Scorn met hatred until Flem finally backed down, beaten.

“Right then, gentlemen,” Dani said. “Let’s get this thing done.”

Mann stepped back and watched Dani fine focus the camera but what he saw in his mind was Angelino finally heading behind bars. Dani stepped forward with the mike and had Degget move the chair out of the way. Smiling with satisfaction, Mann leaned against the wall and listened to Dani start her interview.

Excerpt from

The Schliemann Legacy

By D.A. Graystone

THE CITY OF PRIAM WAS FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER

FOR ITS WEALTH OF GOLD AND BRONZE.

THE ILIAD - BOOK XVII

NEW ILIUM, TURKEY

JUNE 1, 1873

The small shovel dug into the dusty earth and rang with a dull metallic clang. The sound reverberated up the handle. Heinrich Schliemann barely stifled the cry welling in his throat. He threw the shovel aside and clawed at the dirt. Slowly, the object emerged; a harsh bright scar marked the shovel's impact. His hand caressed the exposed edge and the rough tarnish flaked off in his gritty fingers.

He squeezed farther into the small hole with the torch held in front of him and squinted at the object concealed in the semi darkness. Schliemann recognized the green cast of tarnished copper. He pulled the artifact aside and could see the unmistakable gleam of rich, brilliant, beautiful gold. "I've found it," screamed aloud.

He immediately clamped a dusty hand over his own mouth. He risked a quick glance out of the mouth of the small tunnel. Blinking against the strong sun, he surveyed the camp. The scorching, mid-day heat had driven the lazy native Turks to the stifling shade of their tents. Relieved that no one had heard his cry, he turned back to the treasure gleaming in the flickering light.