by S. C. Stokes
Bishop nodded. "Okay, Kovacs. Well, we can leave you here to have a bit of a think about it. We're going to go and wait for a call from the hospital.
“Just remember, your deal expires the second he talks. Whoever gives us the Khan gets the deal. We’ll put in a word for them with the district attorney, ensure they face a lesser charge. Whichever of you stays silent, well, we’ll throw you under the bus.
“Your choice, Kovacs. You sit here and have a bit of a think about just how confident you are that he’ll stay silent. After all, you're safe in police custody but your friend, he's in the hospital. Unfortunately for him, he got shot in the leg, so he won't be running away from anyone. If the Khan is wanting to cover his tracks, and I’m betting he will, your friend is in mortal danger.
“Personally, I think he's far more likely to see things our way. Don’t take my word for it, though. Sit there. Have a think about it. Let me know what you come up with.”
Bishop slid back, her chair grinding against the concrete floor as she stood up. Pointing to the clock on the wall, she stated, "The clock’s ticking, Kovacs. See that you don't let it run out of time."
Kasey followed Bishop back into the bullpen. Closing the door behind them, they left Kovacs alone with his thoughts.
"Well, I imagine that has given him something to think about," Bishop said with a smile.
"That was pretty clever, Bishop,” Kasey nodded approvingly. “There aren't many detectives that could pull off a prisoner's dilemma with only one suspect."
"Thanks, Kasey. I figured he wouldn't know any better. He may yet call our bluff, but I doubt it. Last night will see him spending the rest of his life in a super max. I don't think he has it in him. He just needs a bit of a push.”
"Well, you certainly gave him that,” Kasey replied, patting Bishop on the back. " I take it you're feeling a little better?"
Bishop nodded. "A little. The last few days have been rough, but I'll get through. It's nice to know you have me covered."
"What are partners for?" Kasey replied.
“Well, until last night, I figured your purpose in life was to get in trouble and drag me into the line of fire," Bishop replied with a grin.
"Ow," Kasey said as she mimed pulling a knife out of her back. "I believe this is yours.” She handed the imaginary knife to Bishop.
"Just kidding, Kasey. Thanks for your help last night. I really needed it. From here on, it’s upward and onward. We have to find these lunatics. If they are bold enough to try something like the gala, they are far too dangerous to be left on the street. We need to pick them up before they cause any more trouble."
"It's true," Kasey answered. "They are dangerous."
"What are you thinking, Kasey? I feel a but coming on."
Kasey laughed. "Not so much of a but as an also. Last night, when we talked about the shooting, I left out one detail."
Bishop sighed. "Really? I thought we were past this."
"We are, Bishop,” Kasey insisted. "But last night there was far too much going on. I knew if I mentioned anything you would all think I was nuts."
“Think?" Bishop replied with a tight smile. "Kasey, I know you're crazy. I know you broke into a house on your own while stalking a serial killer. I've always had my doubts about your sanity, so go ahead and spell it out. I doubt it'll change anything."
Kasey took the good-natured taunt in stride. "Well, last night when the shooting started, there was chaos. Bullets flying everywhere, people screaming, it was madness. Everything went to hell, but I swear, I saw a waiter pull a gun and kill one of the guests."
Bishop sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and said nothing.
“I know what you’re thinking, Bishop.”
"You're right, Kasey, that does sound crazy. Even if there was an inside man, why would he give himself away when the robbery went sideways?"
"See, that's what I've been struggling with. I don't think he was one of the thieves. I saw him shoot a man twice in the chest at almost point-blank range. In the chaos, I don’t know that anyone else even noticed it, but I saw it clear as day. It was an execution.”
"You can see how this sounds, right?"
"Yes, I can. That's why I said nothing last night. The victim was on the other side of the table to the thieves. When we found his body, he was sitting against the upturned table with his back to the other shooters. If they had shot him through the table, his wounds would have been in his back not his chest. He was shot by someone on our side of the hall and I saw the man who did it.”
Bishop leaned against the desk. "You realize he could've been shot by the thieves and then collapsed against the table, right?"
"You're right, he could have, but that's not what I saw. Check the security cameras, you’ll see it too,” Kasey clenched her fists in frustration. “I saw the waiter draw a gun, shoot him twice in the chest at point-blank range, and then disappear into the chaos. I went looking for him after the shooting stopped and couldn't find him anywhere. But I’m not crazy, Bishop. I spoke to the other staff and he exists. His name is Ben."
Bishop Shook her head. “Unfortunately, the cameras were sabotaged. Nothing inside the hall was being recorded.”
Kasey let out a deep breath. “Of course they were.”
Before Bishop could reply, a voice called out from across the bullpen.
"Bishop, the suspect is asking for you. It sounds like he’s ready to talk," Johnson called.
Bishop leaned toward Kasey. "I'm not saying I don't believe you, but we have to deal with the Khan first. If we don't catch the Khan, heads will roll.
“So, let’s start with Kovacs. We’ll find out who the Khan is behind that mask and where we can find him. Once we have the Khan in custody, we will go after this waiter of yours. Okay?"
"Sure." Kasey nodded reluctantly. "Sounds like a plan."
She followed Bishop back to the interrogation room.
As the door swung open, Bishop gloated. "You know, Kovacs, that was even quicker than I expected. I'm almost disappointed."
"You won't be when I'm through telling you what I know," Kovacs replied, "but before I do, we’re talking deal."
"Oh, yeah, and what did you have in mind?" Bishop asked.
“I'm a thief, not a killer,” Kovacs said. "I got recruited for the gala job. Payment was fifty grand upfront and a share of the take when we were done. It was meant to be a quick job, in and out. No one was meant to get hurt. We were told the one percent wouldn't miss their jewelry."
Bishop sat down and popped her recorder on the middle of the table. "Mind if I put this on the record?"
Kovacs shook his head. "As I said, I didn't think anyone was going to get injured. The guns and vests were just meant to dissuade the private security. They aren’t mall cops. No offense."
Bishop glared at Kovacs. "None taken. Now tell us something we don't know. Who is the Khan?"
“First, we talk deal,” Kovacs said. “Without it, there is no way I'm gonna give you a damn thing."
“Fine,” Bishop replied. “Spit it out and I'll see what I can do. It is going to be hard to weasel out of the mass murder charge. The District Attorney is going to have to be persuaded. He’ll need a smoking gun. The smoking gun.”
“It shouldn’t be that hard to convince him,” Kovacs said. “I'm sure you'll finish analyzing the scene soon enough. Like I said, I'm a thief, not a murderer. When your techs run ballistics, they will find that I didn't kill a single person."
"I saw you fire your weapon," Kasey countered. “I saw it with my own eyes.”
"That's right.” Kovacs looked at her. “Before the job, I switched out my rounds for blanks. If things went wrong, I didn't want to go down for murder. You check those bodies. You’ll find I didn't kill a single person. Like I said, I'm a thief not a killer.”
“Well, we'll see about that,” Bishop countered as she leaned across the table. “If you did in fact not kill anyone, there is every chance that we can have your sentence reduced, possibly even commu
ted, but that will be based entirely on the strength of the information you give us. So, think carefully.”
Silence descended on the interrogation room. Bishop began drumming her fingers on the table.
“No jail time. That’s the deal,” Kovacs said. “If I snitch on the others, I'm a dead man. There isn't a prison in this country where I'll be safe. If I give you a name, I need witness protection. That's the deal. Anything else, and I may as well say nothing at all. I’ll take my chance in the courts. You get me that deal and I give you a name. Nothing else will do."
“Fine!” Bishop answered, slamming her palm against the table. “Time is of the essence, Kovacs. We need a name and we need it now.
"Then I guess you better make a call, detective,” Kovacs countered. “Because I'm not opening my mouth again until I know you have the authority to make that deal.”
"I get it," Bishop said. “Give me a moment.”
She pulled out her phone and dialed it. There was a nervous pause as the phone began to ring.
After what seemed like an eternity the phone was picked up. "Oh, hello Bruce, it's Detective Bishop from the Ninth Precinct. Can I speak with District Attorney Ryder please? Yes, I'll hold"
Bishop tapped her foot as she held the phone to her ear, grim expression in place. Whoever the Khan was, clearly Kovacs was afraid of him. He would rather go to prison than risk being identified as the snitch who had given up the Khan.
"Ah, Lawrence, it's me, Diane," Bishop said into the phone.
Kasey’s eyebrow crept up. No one called Bishop by her first name.
"Sorry to bother you at work, Lawrence, but I need a favor. We have one of the perps here from last night's shooting. Long story short, he insists he didn't kill anyone. He has information that could help us catch the ringleader and the other thief who are still in the wind. Unfortunately, the only way he's talking is if we drop charges and put him in witness protection. It seems he’d rather risk jail than give up whoever was behind the robbery without protection. Any chance that you’ll work with us on that basis?" Bishop nodded against her phone. "Thanks Lance, I owe you one."
She hung up the phone and looked at Kovacs.
"Well, you have your deal. It’s contingent on two things, though. One, that you didn't kill anyone. If evidence from the scene contradicts your testimony here, it will impact your deal. Second, you must give us something substantial that will not only identify the Khan but bring him to justice."
Kovacs smiled. "No worries on that count, detective. As for part one of our deal, I have no doubt the evidence will exonerate me. As for part two, I can give you the name but if you want to bring him to justice, you are going to have to move fast, because once he cleans house, I imagine he'll skip town. If he goes underground, you won't see him again for years."
"A name, Kovacs. That's the deal," Bishop nudged.
Kovacs paused for a moment, then said, "His name, detective, is… Wendell Samson."
Chapter Eleven
Bishop's jaw dropped. "Wendell Samson. a.k.a. the Ghost. That Wendell Samson?"
Kasey was at a loss. She’d never heard of this Wendell Samson. Pulling out her phone Kasey took to the internet for answers.
Kovacs nodded. "One and the same. Why do you think I wasn't talking without a deal? There isn't a man alive who would cross Samson and expect to live. That's why I want witness protection. In prison, I'm as good as dead. At least in witness protection I'll have a fighting chance."
"You give us the information we need to take him down," Bishop began "and we'll make sure you have more than a fighting chance.” She stood and leaned over the table. “If we get Samson, he'll never see the light of day again."
"If you get him, detective. That's a pretty big if. He’s not called the ghost for nothing."
"Who is this Ghost?” Kasey replied. "I've never heard of him."
“That's because he's new to New York,” Bishop replied. "Up until now, he’s operated all up and down the West Coast. I wonder what bought him to our neck of the woods."
"It was the gala job. Someone got it in his head that the gala would be a great target if he could pull it off. You know Samson’s record. Once he is faced with a challenge, he doesn't back down," Kovacs replied. "The man is a legend."
"So why are you so afraid of, Wendell?” Kasey asked.
"That'll be because of his history," Bishop answered. "Wendell Samson was the commander of Seal Team Five. His unit did two tours of Afghanistan. He was a front-line operator of the highest caliber.
“Or at least he was, until he was dishonorably discharged in 2007 following an incident with a commanding officer. It’s rumored that half of Samson’s unit disappeared during a mission in the mountains of Afghanistan.
“If the same rumors are to be believed, they were pursuing a high level Al Qaeda agent. Unfortunately, it was an ambush. Samson escaped, but most of his unit did not. When Samson was pressed for details by his commanding officer, Samson hit him. Apparently, he punched a two-star general square in the face. Samson was discharged two weeks later.
"Next thing we know, Samson is back in the States and he’s not impressed with Uncle Sam. Samson and his crew have been hitting high profile targets ever since. Armored cars, bank vaults, and jewelry stores. Nothing was safe.
“Samson was well equipped and working with experts. It seemed that a grudge was not all he took with him out of Afghanistan. Some believe his team survived Afghanistan and it was all just a set up. The balance of Seal Team Five are supposed to have made it out with enough heroin to bankroll their new business in Los Angeles.
“Highly trained and equipped, Samson and his team have run circles around the authorities up and down the West Coast. At last count, they had stolen close to fifty million in cash, bonds, and precious stones. Then when the authorities were ready to drop the hammer on them, the team simply disappeared as suddenly as they had emerged.
"Everyone figured they had simply retired and were sipping Mai Tais on a beach somewhere. No one has heard anything from them in over a year. Kind of makes you wonder why they would even try something like this," Bishop replied as she eyed Kovacs.
"Yeah, with that kind of money, hitting the gala doesn't really make sense. Even if they got in and out clean. The risk is phenomenal, and they could just as easily hit a bank or an armored car. If they needed the money I'm sure there are easier places to get it,” Kasey agreed. "And why hire a bunch of amateurs to help?" Kasey tilted her head at Kovacs suggestively.
“I'm right here, you know?" Kovacs replied. "But if I had to guess, I would say they banked on some resistance. No matter how trained a team might be, sheer weight of numbers in an open room is a potent advantage. I imagine Samson wanted the extra bodies for a show of strength."
"Makes sense," Bishop said, making a note on the file. "How about you, Kovacs? Any idea why they hit the gala? It's well outside his usual M.O."
"I have no idea, detective. You'll have to ask him that one. Samson wasn't a very talkative sort and I knew better than to ask too many questions."
"Any idea where we can find him now?"
Kovacs nodded. "Samson and his team were operating out of a warehouse in the meatpacking district. They might still be there. You will have to move now, though."
"What’s the address?" Bishop asked.
"I don't know the number," Kovacs replied. “One of the others were driving. I could point it out to you if I saw it again though."
"Very well, Kovacs. You're coming with us. You ID the warehouse and we will take him down. If you mislead us or you lead us into a trap, well, naturally things will end poorly for you and our deal."
Kovacs leaned forward, his eyes wide in shock. "Going with you? You're crazy. I meant that I could point it out on a computer screen or something. I'm not going anywhere near that place. If Samson sees me with you lot, he'll kill me on sight."
Kasey's mouth turned up into a grin. "Exactly what we are counting on. We don’t want to head into harm’s way without
some insurance. You’ll make sure we get the right warehouse. Otherwise, we’ll cut you loose and leave you for Samson to find."
"Has anyone told you you're a horrible person?" Kovacs asked.
Kasey laughed openly. "Yeah, all the time. I try not to let criminals’ opinions of me get in the way of doing my job."
Bishop stood up. "Hold tight, Kovacs. I'll go ready the TAC team and we're going to take a little field trip."
Kovacs slumped back in his chair. “Sure thing, detective. If you’re going to get us both killed, I don't see that I'm really in a position to stop you."
"On that we can both agree," Bishop replied, opening the door.
Kasey followed Bishop out into the bullpen, sliding the door shut behind her. As she did she looked at Bishop. "This Sampson sounds like a real work of art."
"He's a legend, Kasey. The police never even got close to him. Last night's robbery at the museum is the closest we have ever come to nabbing him. His jobs normally run like clockwork. This is our chance. We need to nail him while he is scrambling. If he goes to ground, we may never get another chance."
"All right, Bishop. I'll leave you to handle the TAC team. I'll head back to the morgue. Vida and I have enough bodies to keep us going all day."
Bishop shook her head emphatically. "Oh, no, you don't, Kasey. You’re the only one of us that was at the museum. We need you to make sure we have the right man."
"But, I don't even know what he looks like,” Kasey protested. “He was wearing a mask the whole time."
"You did hear his voice though. That's something. Stop making excuses. You're coming with us."
Kasey's heart sank. The Khan had been intimidating enough the first time. Now that she knew who he was, and what he was capable of, he was all the more menacing.
"I don't know how much help I'll be, but if you want me there, Bishop, I'll be there. Give me a minute to let Vida know where I'm going, and I'll be right back."
"Don't be long," Bishop warned. "We will be out of here in less than five. We can't afford to give Samson time to disappear."
