Mother's Milk

by Charles Atkins

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, usually when a top-ranking official dies the reporters throw in some accolades from politicos. Not today.’

  ‘This all happened in the early A.M., George, I doubt they had the time to—’

  ‘Of course they did,’ he interrupted, ‘look at how quickly they rallied the forces for whatever inquisition you’re about to step into. I know I don’t need to tell you this, Barrett, but keep your ears open and shift into day-at-court mode, answer truthfully but don’t elaborate. Yes and no are two very good words.’

  ‘Got it,’ she said, as the cab pulled up to the state’s downtown administration building. Middle of the lunch hour and a gorgeous day, which any New Yorker who’d survived 9/11 could tell you is not always a good thing; sometimes nightmares happen on beautiful days.

  She caught her reflection in the plate-glass doors, and then in the admiring glances of the two security guards – one young and thin, the other close to retirement – who had her remove all metal objects and step through the detector.

  ‘Barrett, wait up.’

  She turned and saw Hobbs, dressed in a navy suit, starched white shirt, and striped tie, as he pushed through the doors, and stripped off his sidearm, cell phone, detective shield, and all other metal. ‘You look nice,’ he said.

  ‘Thanks,’ and quickly added, ‘you too.’

  ‘Right,’ he said passing through and setting off the detector. He raised his arms and stood still as the younger guard passed the wand over him.

  ‘It’s your belt,’ he commented. ‘You can go on in.’

  ‘So what’s this all about?’ Barrett asked, as they waited for the elevator.

  ‘Wish I knew, Schmitt told me to put on a suit and get my butt downtown. Apparently our shenanigans last night have got some of the big boys worried.’

  ‘I hate this part … so Chase isn’t dead?’

  ‘Nope, pretty banged up, though. Should I ask him if he wants another date?’

  ‘Bastard.’

  The doors opened and a dark-suited aide met them. ‘Dr. Conyors, Detective Hobbs, please come this way.’

  Barrett shot Hobbs a look. The aide led them to a corner conference room, and opened the door on to a sun-filled space with two middle-aged men, one with gray hair and glasses, the other with a large center bald spot, both in shirtsleeves and ties, their jackets on the back of their chairs.

  The balding man, who had a gut, looked at Hobbs. ‘Ed, good to see you.’

  ‘Same,’ Hobbs said, going to shake hands, and then turned to Barrett, ‘Dr. Conyors, this is Daryl Fisk, Deputy Chief of Detectives.’

  The other man was Reginald Compton, the Lieutenant Governor. Introductions were made, hands shaken, and first names agreed upon before they took seats at one end of the large burnished mahogany table.

  ‘Let me come straight to the point,’ the Lieutenant Governor began. ‘We’ve been made aware that Dr. Fleet has been implicated in illegal activities, and that she used her position and influence to carry these out. We need to know the extent of her involvement and that of any other state employees. Where there’s a criminal investigation,’ and he looked toward Hobbs and the Deputy Chief, ‘we’ll need close coordination between the NYPD and our own internal investigation, as well as considerable … sensitivity. My understanding is that the two of you have the greatest sense of what we’re dealing with, and to be blunt, I need to know just how bad this is.’ He looked at Hobbs and then Barrett. Neither spoke. ‘Well?’

  ‘Go ahead,’ Daryl Fisk instructed Hobbs.

  And Ed dispassionately laid out the facts of the case, from the peddling of dope in the city’s college dormitories to a high degree of suspicion that young girls were being sold into the sex trade. He described how he came to discover Janice Fleet’s body and how she was likely connected to her one-time patient Chase Strand – a DFYS counselor.

  The Lieutenant Governor said nothing as Ed went on to recount the events of the past week. His elbows rested on the table, the tips of his fingers in front of his mouth. He waited for Hobbs to finish and looked at Barrett. ‘This Chase Strand who … fell from the roof, how well did you know him?’

  ‘I met him yesterday.’

  ‘No prior contact whatsoever?’ he asked.

  ‘No.’

  ‘And yet you went out to dinner with him last night.’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, feeling defensive, ‘and he tried to kill me.’

  ‘What will he say when he’s interrogated?’ the Lieutenant Governor asked.

  The question defied George’s counsel of sticking to yes and no. ‘It depends on what offers are made,’ she said, imagining the clockwork ticking behind the Lieutenant Governor’s wire-framed glasses. ‘Chase is a sociopath with a high IQ, he feels no remorse for his many killings, and will do anything possible to receive the lightest punishment. Problem is, he’s directly implicated in several murders, and if he didn’t pull the trigger himself, they would have been under his direction. He’ll try to shift the blame to Janice Fleet. The likely problem is his lieutenant, Marky, and if he’s not under close supervision I’d be concerned that something bad will happen to him.’

  ‘How so?’

  And for the next three and a half hours Barrett and Hobbs were grilled on the facts and asked to posit different scenarios – how many state employees did they think would be implicated? How many kids had been recruited to sell drugs? What did they think happened to the naked girl in the video? And how many people outside Marky and Chase and of course Ed and Barrett knew?

  As the meeting finally wound down, oblique statements and directives were lobbed at both of them. To Barrett, the Lieutenant Governor remarked, ‘How and how much of this finds its way into the press can make or break careers. I am aware of your past achievements, and can see that you’re clearly someone who goes above and beyond … Not always a good thing, and still … there will be new opportunities, Barrett, both in the Department of Mental Health and in Family and Youth Services. The Governor is watching this closely. He’ll need to appoint an acting commissioner and that person will need to be above reproach. Barrett,’ he leveled his gaze at her, ‘you have impressive credentials … you should think about it.’

  Her knee-jerk reaction was to say, Hell, no, but he’d already shifted his attention to Hobbs. ‘Ed,’ he said, as though they were all good friends, ‘I’ve asked Daryl to have you oversee this case and to report to him directly.’

  Hobbs started to speak, but wasn’t given the chance.

  ‘I know this is going over your usual chain of command, and I am not asking for a cover-up,’ the Lieutenant Governor continued. ‘God knows that only makes things worse. What I am asking for is a careful and prudent investigation. I know without doubt that the Governor’s office knew nothing of Janice Fleet’s criminal activities. We’ll handle that side of things, and I’d request that both of you be circumspect with the press. But after talking with the two of you I have some sense of what we’re dealing with, and I am sickened by it.’ His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard. ‘I want to assure you that I’m giving you the juice to get full cooperation from all involved agencies. If you require anything from the Governor’s office I’d ask that you contact me directly, and I will make certain you get what you need.’

  Then another round of hand-shaking accompanied by the exchange of cards. Hobbs and Barrett left. In the elevator down, Barrett looked over at Hobbs. ‘What was that?’

  ‘Fear,’ he said. ‘So, you want to be a commissioner?’

  ‘What are my choices? And could I just opt for a sharp stick in the eye?’

  He laughed, but then stopped as he caught her gaze. ‘What?’

  Barrett felt his closeness and the downward movement of the elevator. She couldn’t pull herself from his eyes, how they twinkled and made something inside of her feel happy and safe. Her gaze floated over the scars, the thought that ran over and over through her head, I love you … am in love with you. While other thoughts screamed
not to say it, not to ruin a friendship that meant so much to her.

  ‘What?’ he repeated, as the elevator lurched to a stop and the doors opened.

  Her hand shot out and she randomly pressed the button for the top floor.

  He looked at her, and waited.

  ‘OK,’ she swallowed hard, and broke from his gaze. Don’t do this, Barrett, don’t, don’t, don’t. ‘I was wrong, Ed,’ she blurted, not wanting to stop herself, ‘I made a mistake. I do have feelings for you, you told me once that you …’

  ‘Sshh.’ He closed the small gap that separated them.

  She felt the heat of his body, and smelled something musky and masculine. She looked up, and felt as though she’d launched into the air, like a high-wire acrobat with no net. One of his hands landed on the side of her cheek.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said.

  ‘No need,’ he whispered. He pulled her in, his lips finding hers, the kiss soft at first.

  She felt something deep inside burst and she grabbed hard. Her hands around his neck, their bodies tight, joined, the kiss like a fire sparked to a flame. Neither caring that the doors had opened, closed, and then opened again back in the lobby.

  ‘Excuse me,’ the older security guard’s voice intruded.

  They broke apart. Barrett felt winded and weak-kneed – Ed was grinning.

  ‘Hate to break this up,’ the guard said. ‘You do know it’s all on camera?’

  Hobbs burst out laughing as Barrett glanced at the security booth and the younger guard, standing in front of the monitor, smiling back at them. ‘Come on, Barrett,’ Hobbs said, ‘let’s get out of here,’ and he did something that made any resistance vanish, he took her hand. ‘Come on.’ He squeezed her fingers.

  ‘OK …’ she said, not able to focus. As soon as they were out the door, she was inundated with sensation, the smell of flowers, the sun, her hand in his. ‘Ed,’ she stopped, not wanting the moment to pass. Not caring who saw them, she pulled him close, and they kissed again, slower, as they both savored the sweetness of it.

  ‘So what do we do?’ she finally said.

  ‘Anything we want, but right now, I’m really hungry … so how about something to eat?’

  Her internal warning bells tried to ring out as the most imprudent of all thoughts popped into her head. ‘I love you, Ed,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe how I almost screwed this up.’

  He kissed the tip of her nose, and then again found her mouth. ‘So it’s a date?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said, loving the way he smiled at her.

  ‘OK, but this will take some planning. I mean if we’re talking about you, should I bring roofies and duct tape?’

  She butted her forehead into his shoulder. ‘No. I’ve had enough of that.’

  He growled in the back of his throat, ‘Glad to hear it,’ and then they kissed again.