by Steve Richer
Colm swallowed and couldn’t maintain eye contact any longer. He felt again like a kid being scolded. He wished he had drunk that wine after all because he was liable to shake with nervousness at any moment now.
Blanchet stood up and came toward him. “I know Stagnaro talked to you about the possibility of becoming a bishop. And that’s still on the table, don’t get me wrong. You help me and I help you. Perhaps we could even discuss you being appointed to the Apostolic Camera.”
“Yes, sir,” the young man said, the words sinking in.
The Apostolic Camera was one of the most important offices in the Vatican and therefore to be appointed there was highly prestigious. It had been formerly known as the Papal Treasury and the work involved was right up Colm’s alley.
“But if you decide to work against me… Well, perhaps you would better serve the Church reflecting in silence at a remote monastery in Poland. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, Cardinal Blanchet. I will pray for guidance and hope to follow God’s plan.”
“A wise decision, my boy.”
Colm was horrified. It wasn’t that he was scared of being exiled if he worked against him, which he would be, but he was terrified that this man could become the next pontiff. With Cardinal Blanchet in power, the Catholic Church would be set back six hundred years.
And there was no hope of stopping him.
Chapter 39
It was noon, but no one was thinking about lunch now in the conference room at One Police Plaza.
The federal agents as well as all the Major Case detectives the NYPD could spare were hard at work trying to find Wallenberg. For that reason, Donnie and Emma were with the task force instead of in the smaller office.
An APB had been issued, but so far he hadn’t been spotted anywhere. He hadn’t returned to the Secret Service field office and he seemed to have disappeared.
The one thing Donnie had going for him was that everyone believed him when he said that Wallenberg was the more likely suspect. The fact that he had run away had been the clincher.
At the moment, the strategy was rather simple. NYPD was coordinating with other local law enforcement – such as police forces from neighboring states and cities – and the goal was to find and detain Wallenberg. Meanwhile, the federal agencies were looking at the getaway options. Ports, airports, and the Canadian border were being scrutinized since they were the more probable destinations.
Nevertheless, Donnie had a feeling Wallenberg wouldn’t be fleeing. Not right now anyway.
If he was indeed involved in various murders, he knew how this was done. He understood that hiding in plain sight was a far more useful tactic. Most of all, if he had done this before, he wouldn’t choke. He’d have the patience and skill to wait it out.
Like half the people in the building, Donnie was pouring over Wallenberg’s file. Maybe there was something in there that could point them in the right direction.
What real estate, if any, did he own? What were his purchasing habits which could pinpoint his favorite hangouts? Who were his friends? Family? Did he have any informants or people on the street who could shelter him or be in position to know something? No stone could be left unturned.
The FBI’s Cyber Division was going through the man’s digital footprints. His web browsing history, his online purchases, his preferred discussion forums, it was all necessary, not just to establish the man’s profile, but to predict his future behavior. There was talk to involve the NSA’s supercomputers and technicians if they didn’t get results fast enough.
Even Emma was on the phone with her people at the Juvenile Justice Division, making them circulate photographs through schools. The more people were aware of what Wallenberg looked like and the more likely they were to apprehend him quickly.
The room quieted down when two men entered. Donnie looked up and saw that it was Undersecretary Crim and US Attorney Chauvin. They slowed as they walked further in, as if basking in their own importance.
Donnie snorted and leaned toward Emma. “Are they expecting us to applaud or something?”
But then Chauvin spotted Donnie and went straight to him, Crim on his heels.
“What a goddamn mess you’ve created, Detective Beecher.”
“Hello to you, too.”
“You follow the wrong lead, accuse the wrong man, and he gets killed in the process. And now you’re pinning this on an employee of the federal government. Jesus Christ…”
Crim wanted in on this indignation and he came closer. His breath smelled of garlic.
“Do you have any idea how much of a political nightmare this is, Beecher? The assassination of a foreign head of state on US soil and the suspect turns out to be an American who works for our government!”
“Mr. Undersecretary, I don’t deal with politics. That’s your job. My job is to find the who and the what and the how, okay? I’ve done that.”
“No, what you’ve done is set diplomatic relations back ten years! The Papal Household, along with the nuncio and his staff, are at the airport as we speak. They’re going back to the Vatican. So if your suspect, Wallenberg, turns out to be another innocent man, we will have lost any chance we had to solve this.”
Donnie already knew about them going back to Europe. There was no way to hold them here anymore. Besides, they had diplomatic immunity so they couldn’t be prosecuted.
“I’m not wrong,” he told the two of them, looking them in the eye to make sure they understood how serious he was.
“This time,” the man from the State Department said.
“Fuck you.”
“That’s it, you’re off this task force!”
“Says who?” Donnie asked, not taking him seriously.
“Says me.” It was Chief Cashin. He was coming closer, appearing over Crim’s shoulder. “You’re out.”
Donnie stood up, not believing any of this. “But…”
“The decision is final. Thank you for your service, Detective, but it’s time to pass the torch to somebody else.”
“So close to bringing this case to the end and you’re taking me off, Chief?”
“Yes. Go home for a few days.” He turned to Emma. “You’re Officer Aldridge?”
She stood up, almost at attention. “Yes, sir.”
“You can go back to your precinct. Thank you both.”
Without another word, Chief Cashin walked past them and began talking with the FBI and Secret Service agents.
Emma was frozen in place. “He’s serious?”
“Afraid so.” Donnie pushed the file he was working on away, picked up his phone, and dropped his pen when he realized it wasn’t his. “Come on.”
Chauvin had already moved on to a phone call where he was busy appearing mighty and essential, but Crim was standing still, watching smugly as Donnie and Emma made their way out of the conference room.
A part of Donnie was outraged. What was the point of this posturing? What pleasure could he derive from this? Then he remembered he wasn’t eleven years old anymore. The only saving grace at the moment was that Simon Lambright was nowhere to be seen.
Inspector Galfy nodded to him on the way out. “Sorry it turned out this way.”
Donnie shook his hand because the man seemed genuine. “Thanks, appreciate it. See you around.”
Out in the hallway, Emma shuffled her feet as she walked and he slowed down to keep up with her.
“What just happened?” she asked.
“Politics is what happened.”
“But you didn’t do anything wrong? I mean, did you?”
“I didn’t curtsy to Crim and the US Attorney. That was my first mistake. The second mistake was not solving this conveniently within a day, all wrapped up with a pretty red bow. And the raid at Butterfield’s house didn’t help.”
“I just don’t understand, Donnie.”
“They need a scapegoat, someone to take the blame when they write their reports. They’ll say that the task force was ill-conceived, t
hat it lacked leadership, all that usual bullshit. It had to be somebody and this time it’s me.”
Emma exhaled loudly. It was like she had been just pulled out of a car accident. They reached the elevators.
“What happens next?”
“For you? Nothing. You go back to your regular assignment and nothing’s gonna be held against you. You have nothing to worry about, okay?”
“What about you?”
Donnie had to chuckle at this. He had seen this happen so many times during his career that it was mind-boggling that he’d never thought it would happen to him.
“I’m finished, Emma.”
“What do you mean, you’re finished? You were only told to go home. You’re not fired, are you?”
“Going home means they don’t want me back at the precinct until Monday. Then they’ll tell me to take it easy which means I’ll get a few of the leftover cases, the real boring stuff nobody wants. They’ll be hoping that I get the hint and ask for early retirement. If I don’t, I’ll be sent to some dead-end assignment to make my life miserable until I quit.”
“How can they do this?”
“You fly too close to the sun, you get burned. Anyway, screw this. I don’t give a shit about politics. I care even less about this Church business. They can both suck it. I’m done, I’m out.”
Emma shook her head. “No, you’re not.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Donnie, I think you’re lying to yourself.”
“Great, you’ve known me two whole days and already you can tell what’s on my mind. There used to be my wife and now there’s you, awesome.”
She squinted and shifted closer to him. “No, you really are lying to yourself. You’re trying to make light of the situation, but I can tell you were enjoying the investigation. You were doing a good job. You were making a difference.”
“Emma, drop it.”
“You’re going to miss this and you know it. I think everybody knows you were the right man for the job. I don’t buy that you’re simply going to return home and go back to your precinct on Monday as if nothing happened.”
The elevator arrived, but Donnie didn’t move. He was looking at Emma, all the while absorbing her words.
“You’re right. I might still be able to do something. You want to come with me and see what it feels like to break the rules for once?”
Chapter 40
“I’m so happy you’re here.”
Sierra smiled faintly at her mom. They were both at the kitchen table, each nursing a fresh cup of tea. Even though it wasn’t cold in the house, the way it was piping hot in her hands was comforting.
“You can’t believe how worried you had me these last couple of days.”
“Mom…”
“I know it’s been tough around here lately, but don’t do this again, okay? Don’t drop off the face of the earth and not return my calls. Please, okay?”
“I didn’t want to worry you, mom.”
“Not to mention that whole business about you getting arrested for drugs. My God.”
“I’m so sorry, mom. It was a big misunderstanding.”
“You know we still need to talk about this,” Nicole said. “There will be consequences. There has to be.”
Sierra nodded. “I know. It’s just… I couldn’t be here anymore.”
This was the most honest she’d been with her mother in a long time and she had to admit it was pretty therapeutic.
“I can’t say I approve that you’re still not in school though. You’re gonna get so behind, Sierra.”
The teenager rolled her eyes. “That’s, like, so not important right now, mom! You and dad are fighting all the time and my entire life is, like, so totally messed up. I don’t know what you think.”
“That’s understandable,” Nicole said.
Sierra had spent the night at her aunt’s – her mom’s sister. She had always treated her like a little sister instead of a niece and therefore was close to her. So even though she had wanted to stay away from home for a long time, she had convinced Sierra to talk to her mother today.
“Are you and dad going to get a divorce?”
“No! Well…” Nicole said, her voice fading out. “I don’t know. I guess you’re old enough now to realize things haven’t been normal around here for a long time.”
“No kidding,” Sierra snorted before taking a sip of tea. Not being careful, she burned her tongue.
“We made mistakes, it happens when a couple has been together for a long time.”
“Did daddy cheat on you?”
“Where did you ever get that idea?” Nicole asked, caught off guard.
“I don’t know. That’s why couples split up, no?”
“Your father and I made mistakes. That’s all I’m going to tell you. We…”
“What, mom?”
The older woman drank tea, her eyes lost in the distance as she considered what to say next. Then she looked at her daughter again.
“I think we both lost sight of what’s important in life. My cancer, your father’s job, it was like a fog that made us forget about everything else. I don’t know if you’re old enough to understand this.”
“I understand!” Sierra said promptly.
“Before thinking about ourselves, we should have been thinking about you. We didn’t, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, mom.”
Sierra reached across the table to hold her mother’s hand.
“The crazy thing is that I still love your father. Maybe what happened between us was – what do they call it, a cry for help? Maybe I was acting out to bring attention to the fact that our marriage wasn’t working like it used to, like it should have.”
As she spoke, Nicole’s eyes watered and Sierra responded in kind.
“Oh, mom…” She let go of her tea and leaned sideways to hug her mother. “I love you so much.”
A year ago, Sierra would have thought this was schmaltzy, so very cheesy, but at the moment she had never felt closer to her mom. It made her feel like a grown-up that she was confiding in her this way, and she had a sense that things wouldn’t be so awkward anymore.
There was a knock at the door. Sierra unconsciously craned her neck and even through the frosted window she recognized the visitor.
“Ugh.”
“Who is it?”
“I think it’s Ridge, my boyfriend. More like ex-boyfriend, actually.”
Nicole smiled knowingly. “After, I need to hear all about this, okay?”
Getting up, Sierra rolled her eyes and yet she was looking forward to talking about boys with her mom. She went to the door and answered, wiping her eyes on the way.
“Wassup, baby.”
“What are you doing here? I can’t be with you anymore.”
He nodded with understanding and pouted. “I just hate how we left things. Can we talk for a little bit?”
“No,” Sierra whispered. “My mom is in there.”
“For real? Your mom is there? Can I go in and say hi?”
“No. Let’s…” She didn’t want to do this and sighed, wanting to get it over with. “Let’s go outside.”
He took a step back and she followed him out onto the porch. His rusty car was blocking the driveway and for a moment she felt nostalgic. They’d had some great times in that car.
“What do you want?”
“I wanted to see you, baby. I wasn’t lying when I said I love you. I do, you have no idea.”
It was like a knife twisting in her heart. Why did he have to say something like that? He was so handsome, so irresistible. It took all her willpower not to jump into his arms.
But she didn’t. Instead she remembered why she had decided to get out of his car. She remembered why she couldn’t live with him. That lifestyle wasn’t for her.
“We can’t be together, Ridge.”
“Didn’t you like being with me?”
“That’s not the point.”
“It’s totally the
point, baby. When we’re together, we fit perfectly. Hell, I’ll change for you.”
“Ridge…”
“Look at how happy we used to be.”
He produced his phone, called up photographs, and handed her the device. She had no choice but to take it. Before she knew it, she was flipping through a bunch of selfies.
They were all of the two of them in each other’s arms, kissing, making goofy faces. They were the sort of pictures best friends chose for wedding videos and funerals. The happy times.
“I won’t change my mind, Ridge. I’m not made for your world even if I thought I was.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
She frowned. There was something off in his voice, as if all emotions had been drained away from it.
She opened her mouth to speak. “What…”
Right then, two figures entered her peripheral vision. By the time she turned toward them, Ridge grabbed her by the waist. The two men were Boomer and Zhirov.
“Hello again, Sierra. Remember me? I definitely remember you.”
He caressed her cheek as she thrashed, doing her best to get away. But Ridge was holding her firmly.
“No!”
“Get her inside.”
Chapter 41
Ridge put his hand over her mouth to shut her up and still she continued to try to shake his grip. It was impossible. What was happening? She couldn’t think straight.
The Russian opened the door and walked in. Ridge carried her inside and Boomer closed the procession, shutting the door behind them.
“What’s going on?” Nicole said, standing up from the table.
Zhirov smiled broadly. “Oh, hello! You must be this young lady’s older sister. You look much too beautiful to be her mother.”
“What do you want?”
Ridge finally let go of Sierra who rushed toward her mom. She absentmindedly put the phone in her jeans pocket to free her hands and placed one arm around her mother’s shoulders.
