CHAPTER 2
A knock on his office door interrupted Captain Greer’s thoughts.
“Come in,” he rasped, without even looking up from the paperwork that had demanded his attention since he arrived at his office a few hours earlier.
Sergeant Mary Ann Factor entered his office, cleared her throat and said, “Sir, Congressman McHenry is here to see you. Should I send him back?”
Captain Greer looked up, his usually gruff expression now replaced with one of concern. “Yeah, Mary Ann, go ahead and send him back.” He started to look back down at the form he was completing as the Sergeant turned and started to leave. “Wait,” he said suddenly. “Before you do, sit down. I want to talk to you.”
Sergeant Factor moved into Greer’s office and sat in the chair facing his desk. “Sir?”
“Sergeant, what are you doing here today? I thought I told you to take some time off. I know you’re tough and can handle traumatic events, but opening that box and finding what you did is enough to drive just about any cop to drink. Be honest with me, Mary Ann, how are you doing?”
“I’ve had a difficult time over the last few days, but I’m managing. I knew Mitch,” Sergeant Factor replied. “Not real well, but before he took his last assignment, before he went undercover, he would come down to “The Beat,” you know, the cop bar down on 7th Street. He would have a beer or two with the rest of us. He was a nice guy. He certainly didn’t deserve…” Her voice began to break and tears began to pool in her eyes.
“I know,” Greer grunted. “We live with the realization every day that one of us might not make it back before his or her shift is over. Even knowing that doesn’t really prepare us for when it happens. I’m serious. I want you to take a few days off. Get some rest and deal with this. See the shrink if you have to. You do one heck of a job around here and I don’t want to lose you over something like this.”
“You’re not going to lose me, sir,” she assured him. “And I really don’t want the time off, though it’s a very generous offer that I appreciate. What I would appreciate even more is the opportunity to continue to do my job so the other officers around here can keep doing theirs and fond the SOBs who did this.” Factor was beginning to get testy, her anger at Mitch’s killers rising to the surface yet again.
“Okay, I surrender,” Greer grinned as he held his hands up. “Keep in mind the offer, though. It will still be on the table if you need it.” With that, he glanced at the clock on his desk and continued, “Now, we’ve kept the good congressman waiting long enough. Please show him in.”
Greer watched as Sergeant Factor rose, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and composed herself before turning and exiting the office. Greer knew that many under his command viewed him as a tough man to work for. Sergeant Factor had wound up on his bad side more than once and had received one of his severe tongue lashings. But Greer wanted his people to know he had their backs. He didn’t often reveal his softer side to them, but in this case it was appropriate.
Sergeant Factor ushered Congressmen McHenry into Greer’s office. Greer looked up, literally, at the six foot two inch congressman. Peter McHenry wore his light brown hair conservatively short, had blue eyes that could seem warm and inviting when he was courting the votes of the public but as cold as steel when facing off against an opponent. He was immaculately groomed and Captain Greer couldn’t remember a time when it didn’t appear as if he had just stepped off the page of a men’s fashion magazine. Greer liked Peter, but felt Congressmen McHenry already had the plastic look of career politicians. McHenry was serving his third term in Washington, DC as a State Representative but had his eye on the Senate seat currently occupied by Senator Malcolm Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald had made it clear he would be retiring at the end of his current term and wanted his protégé, Peter McHenry to fill his empty seat. It seemed a certainty, if things continued in the direction they were going at present, McHenry would inherit his place in that illustrious hall of government. Greer always experienced a sense of awe in realizing his friend would one day be returning to Washington as Senator Peter McHenry.
Greer stood to welcome McHenry as the man entered his office. “Congressman, good to see you today. How are the wife and kids?”
“Oh cut the crap, Phil. We’re not in public so stop the charade.”
Greer chuckled. “Okay, Pete. Good to see you, too. It’s been awhile. What’s on your mind?”
“It has been awhile, too long, really since we’ve connected. Campaigning is a pain, an expensive one at that. I’ve been swamped in Washington, too, so I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. But when I heard about this Terrilli thing, my heavens, Phil, how can something like this happen here?”
Greer shook his head. “Things are changing around here, Pete. Used to be we only had to deal with the common criminals and regular crime. But it appears organized crime has been moving into our backyard and we’re beginning to deal with a whole new criminal element.”
It was McHenry’s turn to shake his head in disbelief. “So where are we on this case? Any leads?”
Greer huffed. “We’re pretty certain we know who did it. The problem is finding the evidence.”
“Who else knew Mitch had infiltrated Pergossi’s organization,” Pete asked.
“It was a very exclusive club, I can tell you that. Besides you and me, there were only a couple of other cops who were involved.” Greer paused for a moment. “I can’t fathom that Mitch’s handlers let the cat out of the bag. But somehow, someone else found out Mitch’s true identity and made sure Pergossi was made aware.”
“We can’t just sit back and let him get away with this. What are you going to do? How are you going to catch him? Hell, why haven’t you already arrested him? It’s already been what, five days? Phil, you’ve got to get to moving on this. By God, he has to pay!” Congressmen McHenry’s voice was growing louder with each exclamation. Some of the officers in the squad room looked in the direction of the Captain’s office.
Greer saw McHenry’s face beginning to flush. Those eyes had taken on that look of cold steel. It was times like this Greer was glad to have Pete on his side. “Look, I’m angry, too, Pete. Don’t forget that Mitch was one of my men. My God, I’m the one who tapped him for this assignment. But I can’t afford to go off half-cocked, drag Pergossi down here, charge him, then have his slick lawyers kissing the butt of one of those liberal judges and having the whole thing thrown out of court because I didn’t do my job and gather the evidence that will actually convict him!” Greer’s voice was rising in volume now, as well. He paused, took a deep breath then continued in calmer manner, “We’ll get him, trust me. But we’ll get him when I know we have everything we need to put him away for good. I don’t want any more screw ups on this one.”
McHenry began to calm down. Greer watched as the Congressman took a deep breath then folded his hands in his lap. Greer waited as his friend continued to compose himself and watched patiently as McHenry absent mindedly began to twist the large ring he wore on the pinky finger of his left hand.
“I’m sorry, Phil. I know you’re doing your best and you’re doing it right. It’s just that Tommy Pergossi stands for everything I’m against. I just don’t understand how this country has fallen into such moral decline that someone like Pergossi can flood our streets with drugs and prostitution, how he can run the kind of illegal gun deals that he does and whatever else he’s doing, and get away with it. Surely there are people who know what he’s doing. Why don’t they step up and speak out?”
Greer sat forward in his chair and looked directly into the eyes of his friend. “Perhaps it’s because they don’t want to end up like Mitch Terrilli.”
A knock on his office door interrupted Captain Greer’s thoughts.
“Come in,” he rasped, without even looking up from the paperwork that had demanded his attention since he arrived at his office a few hours earlier.
Sergeant Mary Ann Factor entered his office, cleared her throat and said, “Sir, Congressman McHenry is here to see you. Should I send him back?”
Captain Greer looked up, his usually gruff expression now replaced with one of concern. “Yeah, Mary Ann, go ahead and send him back.” He started to look back down at the form he was completing as the Sergeant turned and started to leave. “Wait,” he said suddenly. “Before you do, sit down. I want to talk to you.”
Sergeant Factor moved into Greer’s office and sat in the chair facing his desk. “Sir?”
“Sergeant, what are you doing here today? I thought I told you to take some time off. I know you’re tough and can handle traumatic events, but opening that box and finding what you did is enough to drive just about any cop to drink. Be honest with me, Mary Ann, how are you doing?”
“I’ve had a difficult time over the last few days, but I’m managing. I knew Mitch,” Sergeant Factor replied. “Not real well, but before he took his last assignment, before he went undercover, he would come down to “The Beat,” you know, the cop bar down on 7th Street. He would have a beer or two with the rest of us. He was a nice guy. He certainly didn’t deserve…” Her voice began to break and tears began to pool in her eyes.
“I know,” Greer grunted. “We live with the realization every day that one of us might not make it back before his or her shift is over. Even knowing that doesn’t really prepare us for when it happens. I’m serious. I want you to take a few days off. Get some rest and deal with this. See the shrink if you have to. You do one heck of a job around here and I don’t want to lose you over something like this.”
“You’re not going to lose me, sir,” she assured him. “And I really don’t want the time off, though it’s a very generous offer that I appreciate. What I would appreciate even more is the opportunity to continue to do my job so the other officers around here can keep doing theirs and fond the SOBs who did this.” Factor was beginning to get testy, her anger at Mitch’s killers rising to the surface yet again.
“Okay, I surrender,” Greer grinned as he held his hands up. “Keep in mind the offer, though. It will still be on the table if you need it.” With that, he glanced at the clock on his desk and continued, “Now, we’ve kept the good congressman waiting long enough. Please show him in.”
Greer watched as Sergeant Factor rose, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and composed herself before turning and exiting the office. Greer knew that many under his command viewed him as a tough man to work for. Sergeant Factor had wound up on his bad side more than once and had received one of his severe tongue lashings. But Greer wanted his people to know he had their backs. He didn’t often reveal his softer side to them, but in this case it was appropriate.
Sergeant Factor ushered Congressmen McHenry into Greer’s office. Greer looked up, literally, at the six foot two inch congressman. Peter McHenry wore his light brown hair conservatively short, had blue eyes that could seem warm and inviting when he was courting the votes of the public but as cold as steel when facing off against an opponent. He was immaculately groomed and Captain Greer couldn’t remember a time when it didn’t appear as if he had just stepped off the page of a men’s fashion magazine. Greer liked Peter, but felt Congressmen McHenry already had the plastic look of career politicians. McHenry was serving his third term in Washington, DC as a State Representative but had his eye on the Senate seat currently occupied by Senator Malcolm Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald had made it clear he would be retiring at the end of his current term and wanted his protégé, Peter McHenry to fill his empty seat. It seemed a certainty, if things continued in the direction they were going at present, McHenry would inherit his place in that illustrious hall of government. Greer always experienced a sense of awe in realizing his friend would one day be returning to Washington as Senator Peter McHenry.
Greer stood to welcome McHenry as the man entered his office. “Congressman, good to see you today. How are the wife and kids?”
“Oh cut the crap, Phil. We’re not in public so stop the charade.”
Greer chuckled. “Okay, Pete. Good to see you, too. It’s been awhile. What’s on your mind?”
“It has been awhile, too long, really since we’ve connected. Campaigning is a pain, an expensive one at that. I’ve been swamped in Washington, too, so I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. But when I heard about this Terrilli thing, my heavens, Phil, how can something like this happen here?”
Greer shook his head. “Things are changing around here, Pete. Used to be we only had to deal with the common criminals and regular crime. But it appears organized crime has been moving into our backyard and we’re beginning to deal with a whole new criminal element.”
It was McHenry’s turn to shake his head in disbelief. “So where are we on this case? Any leads?”
Greer huffed. “We’re pretty certain we know who did it. The problem is finding the evidence.”
“Who else knew Mitch had infiltrated Pergossi’s organization,” Pete asked.
“It was a very exclusive club, I can tell you that. Besides you and me, there were only a couple of other cops who were involved.” Greer paused for a moment. “I can’t fathom that Mitch’s handlers let the cat out of the bag. But somehow, someone else found out Mitch’s true identity and made sure Pergossi was made aware.”
“We can’t just sit back and let him get away with this. What are you going to do? How are you going to catch him? Hell, why haven’t you already arrested him? It’s already been what, five days? Phil, you’ve got to get to moving on this. By God, he has to pay!” Congressmen McHenry’s voice was growing louder with each exclamation. Some of the officers in the squad room looked in the direction of the Captain’s office.
Greer saw McHenry’s face beginning to flush. Those eyes had taken on that look of cold steel. It was times like this Greer was glad to have Pete on his side. “Look, I’m angry, too, Pete. Don’t forget that Mitch was one of my men. My God, I’m the one who tapped him for this assignment. But I can’t afford to go off half-cocked, drag Pergossi down here, charge him, then have his slick lawyers kissing the butt of one of those liberal judges and having the whole thing thrown out of court because I didn’t do my job and gather the evidence that will actually convict him!” Greer’s voice was rising in volume now, as well. He paused, took a deep breath then continued in calmer manner, “We’ll get him, trust me. But we’ll get him when I know we have everything we need to put him away for good. I don’t want any more screw ups on this one.”
McHenry began to calm down. Greer watched as the Congressman took a deep breath then folded his hands in his lap. Greer waited as his friend continued to compose himself and watched patiently as McHenry absent mindedly began to twist the large ring he wore on the pinky finger of his left hand.
“I’m sorry, Phil. I know you’re doing your best and you’re doing it right. It’s just that Tommy Pergossi stands for everything I’m against. I just don’t understand how this country has fallen into such moral decline that someone like Pergossi can flood our streets with drugs and prostitution, how he can run the kind of illegal gun deals that he does and whatever else he’s doing, and get away with it. Surely there are people who know what he’s doing. Why don’t they step up and speak out?”
Greer sat forward in his chair and looked directly into the eyes of his friend. “Perhaps it’s because they don’t want to end up like Mitch Terrilli.”