Crossing the Lines

by Jacob Ganani

  Log in anyone who comes near? Well, he wouldn’t be getting any closer, then. Thank God for coffee as a tool to make people chatty. He decided the conversation had run dry. If he continued to show interest, it might reach the wrong ears.

  He asked to review the arrest logs, pretended to write something in his notebook, and left.

  CHAPTER 52

  Chief Superintendent Baruch Goldman, District Lieutenant Commander, presided over the meeting. When Cantor entered the room, he saw that the heavyset lieutenant commander, at the head of the T-shaped office table, was engaged in a telephone conversation. His impatient answers indicated that the conversation was about to be concluded. He slammed the phone down forcefully and sat back in his large, imposing, black leather chair, which stood out in stark contrast against the relative simplicity of the chairs intended for his guests. He waited in silence as the others sat down and the room fell quiet. David Azar chose to sit on the left side of the long ‘T’ as his two officers, Haddad and Cantor took their seats to his left.

  Across from them, to Goldman’s right, was Gilboa, the D.A. Beside him sat Goldman’s assistant, a mid-ranking officer. The row was completed by the department secretary, Vicky, who placed a yellow legal pad and several pens on the table and began taking the minutes.

  There was a feeling of anticipation in the air. Something important, and perhaps unusual, was about to be discussed.

  Baruch Goldman was the type who had risen to his lofty position through the directed use of public relations at the higher ranks of the hierarchy, combined with a marked condescension to those below him. The senior ranks often affectionately called him “Blessed Baruch” while the lower ranks called him, behind his back of course, less flattering names. In short, Goldman was not only a commanding officer, but a calculated politician. These conflicting qualities created a real challenge in predicting what he would endorse as something that would serve his own interests, and what he would renounce. Thus, the department members planned to present their proposal with added caution.

  He was now displaying a cheerful disposition that could have been as much an act as it was sincere.

  “David, my friend, how’re things going in the district’s most prestigious unit?” he chirped gleefully at Azar, making the latter blush slightly in discomfort. So now they were considered the district’s most prestigious unit? David Azar, introverted and straight-laced, was not at ease with office politics. He had reached his rank purely based on his professional skills.

  “Doing our very best,” Azar attempted a cautious and noncommittal reply. It was clear to him that the last thing the lieutenant commander wanted to hear right now was an actual review of their activities. He was clearly eager for them to get to the point of this meeting.

  “Well, that’s what they pay us for, right? For doing our very best.” He turned to his assistant to receive an ingratiating smile that no one in the room could miss.

  Cantor glanced at the assistant and reflected that the apple hadn’t fall far from the tree, but he wasn’t one to deride those who possessed the talent to advance up the career ladder.

  The lieutenant now looked around the table and seemed as though he was calculating something in his head.

  “Perhaps we should go ahead and begin with the matter at hand. After all, we are seven people here, which means that every eight minutes we enjoy together are worth nearly an hour of work time. So what did you bring us?” He directed his question to Chief Superintendent David Azar.

  “It’s about the Sexta family.” Azar was happy to get into the thick of things. “We have one of their senior members ready to turn evidence against them.” Concise and to the point.

  The room was quiet as Goldman considered what he had just heard. Cantor reflected that they had no possible way of knowing what his considerations might be.

  “The Sexta family....” Goldman picked up a metal ruler from his desk and bent it out of shape between his two hands. “How did this suddenly happen? Don’t tell me that their whole operation’s falling apart because Isaac Sexta was murdered? Why would one of their men come to us? And request to be a state’s witness, moreover? What is this - a suicidal volunteer?” His assistant uttered a solitary giggle that hung awkwardly in the air and quickly dissipated.

  “Cantor, elaborate please.” Someone needed to cool off the lieutenant before he burst into flames.

  Cantor leaned forward and looked directly into Goldman's eyes. “We arrested him on suspicion of involvement in a contract killing. Certain information came in that led us to him. After days of silence, he broke down yesterday and asked for a plea bargain.”

  “A contract? I suppose you’re not talking about something theoretical?”

  “Definitely not. We have a body that was identified on Saturday night. The victim was a professional assassin called Pinchas Levy.”

  Goldman neither confirmed nor denied that this information had already reached his ears. His hands continued to bend the metal ruler while his brain was busy calculating. They all waited in silence.

  “So there’s a body, and there’s information leading to Sexta's man, and you managed to scare him into turning state’s evidence?”

  This, too, was a way to summarize the matter, and David Azar nodded in agreement.

  “And his consent’s on record?”

  “We sat down with the D.A. this morning. He’s heard it.” Haddad interjected for the first time.

  The lieutenant looked at the D.A. “So, Gilboa? Do we have a fighting chance?”

  They expected the D.A. to open with the usual obligatory reservations. It was prudent to proceed with caution, as anyone with experience was well aware. After all, even if he was forced to admit that the sun shines at noon, Gilboa would look to the horizon for the cloud that may soon cover it, yet he now proceeded with a clear and courageous message.

  “It was very detailed. He sounds like he's serious,” he said with succinct determination.

  Goldman was less pleased with the D.A.’s unconditional resolve. In his opinion, there was a high probability that, while dealing with this so called “witness,” things might go wrong. He would have preferred the D.A. to exhibit some reluctance in such a forum, taking into consideration the person at its head.

  “So how do we continue from here?” Goldman became practical and a demanding tone was now heard in his voice. Cantor thought he was beginning to see the cherry on top of this discussion, and he’d take whatever he could get.

  “We’ll sign the deal and continue to hold him in protective custody until he testifies.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “By the end of the day,” Cantor replied and had the D.A. confirm the accelerated timetable.

  “Good. Time is of the essence.” Goldman was eager now. The gears in his mind began to spin as he thought about how delivering Ezra Sexta would contribute to his record. “It’s imperative that he remains well-protected.”

  “Understood,” David Azar confirmed.

  “So when will you submit the request for approval of the deal and for the extension of protective custody?” he asked, for the record.

  “Haddad?” Azar turned toward him.

  “If we sign the deal tonight, we’ll take it to the judge tomorrow morning and have it approved by noon.”

  Goldman put his ruler down on the table and wrung his fingers. It was a sign that the meeting was over.

  “So, Vicky, how about offering our guests something to drink?” He couldn’t pass up a chance to bolster his public image.

  Cantor couldn’t help but appreciate the lieutenant’s ability to quickly put on a sanctimonious front. Maybe the stage had lost a potentially great actor.

  “I offered, but they declined.” Vicky hurriedly defended their hospitality.

  “We’re fine, really,” Haddad volunteered on behalf of the others.

  They stood up and headed for the door.

  Everything was now officially out in the open and it was time to push forwa
rd.

  CHAPTER 53

  Thursday - night

  At midnight, Moish signed a deal to turn state’s evidence. Cantor collected all the copies and promised to send District Attorney Gilboa his copy as soon as Azar approved. The lawyer's expression indicated that this was not in accordance with procedures, but he was tired and didn’t insist, simply because he didn’t suspect anything.

  At two in the morning, Haddad and Cantor took Moish back to the detention center. He was transferred from the cell where he had spent the last several nights to an office that served the prison guards. A bed was placed in the office, and it was agreed that Haddad would stay overnight to supervise. They couldn’t afford to underestimate the threats their witness was facing. Cantor made sure all was in order and left. An important day awaited them.

  CHAPTER 54

  Friday

  At 6:00am, Haddad woke Moish up from a deep sleep. The upgrade in his accommodation seemed to have had a positive effect on him. By seven, they were ready to move. Haddad checked his Jericho and secured it in its holster. He asked that the car be brought closer to the exit, because the open courtyard was too exposed and needed to be avoided. A police cruiser was ready to escort them on their short journey.

  Cantor was already waiting for them at headquarters, and the three of them stayed secluded in the interrogation room. Cantor glanced at his watch. Three more hours.

  Behind the locked door, they reviewed their files and rechecked the documents. Their guns were on the table within arm’s reach. All the while, Moish sat deep in thought, staring at the wall. Cantor thought he looked far too calm for a man who was a walking target for a murderer, and it wasn’t because he had faith that the police would protect him. It was clear to Cantor that the only person in the world Moish trusted was Ezra Sexta.

  Haddad stood up, picked up the file of documents and headed to the door. He promised to bring back coffee. Cantor locked the door behind him and sat back down. He replaced the Jericho on the table in front of him.

  Haddad went over to Matilda and placed the file on her desk, helping himself without asking to a stick of gum from a pack on her desk. She watched with an amused expression as he unfolded the wrapper.

  “It’s extra minty, just so you know.”

  “Exactly what I need right now.”

  “A tough operation you’ve got going there, huh?” She turned her head toward the interrogation room.

  Haddad raised his voice so that it carried through the room. “It was tough, but now it’s over. This file contains the signed deal and a request for a remand extension. Everything must be put in order and reviewed before it’s handed to the judge.” He pointed at the file.

  “When do you need this?”

  “Yesterday.” He raised his voice a little more. “It’s Friday... I want to leave for court by one o’clock. Okay?”

  “Well, I’ve been sitting here all morning just waiting for you to ask. No problem.”

  Haddad reached out and touched her shoulder lightly. “Just one more little thing, Mattie. This file doesn’t leave your desk. These are all original documents. Okay?”

  “Understood.”

  Haddad avoided looking around the room - not that he didn’t want to, but if they were right, then someone was listening carefully to every word he said. On the other hand, if they were wrong, then it didn’t matter either way. He left to prepare three cups of coffee.

  At 11:00am, Cantor stood up, picked up his gun from the table and stuck it in its holster. He looked up at Haddad, who returned a steady look.

  “I’m going.”

  “Good luck,” said Haddad.

  Moish looked at him with a frozen expression. Cantor wondered what Moish was really thinking. Sexta had handed him over as bait for a murderer. He must be scared to death. And he wasn’t stupid, far from it...

  Only thirty minutes to go.

  ***

  Yeremi Gantz heard every word Albert Haddad had said to Matilda, as Haddad had not been careful enough to lower his voice. Well, why should he be careful? After all, he was inside his own department, almost his home, and a man’s home is his fortress.

  While he was listening to their words, he kept his eyes on the paperwork on his desk so that no one would suspect he was paying attention. But the words “tough operation” and “deal” along with the urgency to have everything completed today certainly told a story. The complete seclusion of the detectives and their suspect also confirmed his fears. A state’s witness who agreed to testify against the head of a crime family was a condemned man.

  This was bad.

  If only he could get his hands on that file. Up until now, Haddad hadn’t let it out of his sight. And even now, in Matilda’s hands, it was too dangerous to try. Haddad had warned her explicitly. He would have done the same under similar circumstances. That meant he couldn’t take any shortcuts.

  Haddad planned to leave for the District Court at 1:00pm. He was going to have to follow. He must regain control and do whatever needed to be done. And, as he pondered this, he surreptitiously reached under the table, away from inquisitive eyes, and stroked the grip of the .38 resting in his sock holster.

  Who knew? Perhaps he’d even have the opportunity to restore Ezra Sexta’s good faith in him. And then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea flashed into his mind.

  If it worked, he could bag all the birds with one shot!

  The chances were no less than good.

  CHAPTER 55

  Ezra Sexta summoned Rice.

  “They’ll be bringing in Moish to court today at one o’clock to sign the deal. Is our man ready?”

  “Today at one?”

  “Looks like it. I just had a call.”

  Rice didn’t ask who had made the call, but their cooperation with the detectives had exceeded all his expectations. He nodded in acknowledgement. “He and his driver are already at the scene. I also positioned surveillance in the area. I’m less concerned with the exact time, since we’ve got the court covered all day.”

  “These guys are very thorough, eh?”

  “Pros, courtesy of the cartel. They don’t come any better qualified than these.”

  “So everything’s set.”

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks, Johnny.”

  Rice nodded and walked out of the room.

  CHAPTER 56

  At 12:55pm, Haddad walked Moish down to the parking lot, where the blue transport van was waiting for them. The driver sat behind the wheel with the engine running.

  Haddad opened the back door and helped Moish, handcuffed and shackled, into the van. A quick glance around the parking lot indicated that they were still alone. His watch now showed 12:57pm. He opened the folder he was carrying and pretended to reexamine the integrity of the documents he would present to the judge. According to the scenario they had predicted, the killer was likely to appear at any moment. Haddad was already running an alternative scenario in his head; if the man did not appear within the next three minutes, they’d make their way to the courthouse and expect some sort of ambush on route. Their way to the judge and back was filled with potential kill zones for an attack on Moish.

  Two more minutes passed and Haddad decided to shift over to Plan B. At that very moment, he heard footsteps approaching and a familiar voice said, “Hey, Albert, are you heading to Abu Kabir?”

  Haddad turned around slowly. “Hey, Yeremi. No, I’m on my way to court.”

  “Really? That’s where I’m heading, too. What have you got to do there?”

  “A remand extension and an authorization for a state’s witness agreement.”

  “I can tie up those loose ends for you while I’m there if you want.”

  “Are you sure, Yeremi? It’s Friday afternoon. You may get stuck there for hours -”

  “It doesn’t matter. I have to get some things done there anyway, and I know the right people to get me to the front of the line.” He smiled. “It’s really not a problem. It’ll be my pleasure to help ou
t.”

  “What can I say, Yeremi? Thanks a lot, bro! Dolly doesn’t like it when I get home late on Fridays.”

  “Well, I have no such problems. Is everything I need in this file?”

  Haddad handed him the folder. “Everything’s in there, Yeremi. Thank you again, really.”

  “It’s all good, bro. See you later.” And Yeremi Gantz climbed aboard the van and sat down opposite Moish.

  Haddad closed the door behind them and then walked around the car and over to the driver’s window.

  “Listen, Tzuri, the court parking lot’s closed for renovations, so just take them right to the main entrance where we usually stop.”

  “No problem, Haddad.”

  “Okay, go on. Have a good weekend.”

  Haddad waited until the van drove out the gate, and as soon as it was out of sight, he hurried to his car and began to follow them.

  A few seconds later, he spotted the van four vehicles away from him. He’d keep that distance all the way to their destination.

  He felt a dryness in his throat. His heartbeat quickened. Fifteen minutes remained.

  CHAPTER 57

  Moish was utterly dismayed by this sudden turn of events. Within seconds, a paralyzing fear took hold of him as he realized that the detectives had screwed him over. Leaving him alone with the murderer? Haddad had simply left him there to die. He was a helpless sheep alone with a hungry wolf, his death inevitable. His fear now gave way to blind rage. Cantor and Haddad were nothing but two damned traitors who’d promised to protect him! But why was he surprised? After all, they were cops, always taking care of themselves and their own. Once again, he saw this to be true. Yes, they fooled him, created a temporary misconception - but now all was in its proper place. But where was Johnny Rice, who’d assured him that everything was under control? The detectives must have fooled him and Ezra as well. He shrank back as a wave of nausea rising in his throat made his body shudder. He raised his eyes, wide with fear, to peek at Gantz. To his surprise, Gantz smiled pleasantly at him.