[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.'You'd like some sort of confessional statement?''If that's what's on your mind,' said Milo.'What's on your mind, Detective?''I know about Willie Burns.''Do you?''The tax rolls say the place where he hid out on 156th - where your partnerPoulsenn got nailed - was owned by your wife's mother.The night Willie tookJanie Ingalls to the party he was driving a borrowed car.Brand-new whiteCadillac, beautifully maintained.Your wife likes those, has owned six Caddiesin the last twenty years, all white.Including the one she's driving at thisvery moment.'Page 309 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlBroussard stooped and brushed dust off Janie Ingalls's headstone.'Burns was family,' said Milo.'Was?' said Broussard.'Very much was.It went down last night.Just like you choreographed.'Broussard straightened.'There are limits to protection.Even for family.''What was he, a cousin?''Nephew,' said the chief.'Son of my wife's eldest brother.His siblings wereall respectable.Everyone in the family went to college or learned a trade.Willie was the youngest.Something went wrong.''Sometimes it works out that way,' said Milo.'Now you're sounding like that shrink friend of yours.''It rubs off.''Does it?' said Broussard.'Yeah.Hanging around with the right people is good for the soul.Vice versa,too.Musta been a burden, you playing by the rules, taking all that racistcrap, climbing the ranks, meanwhile Willie's going on his merry way shootingand selling smack.Lots of potential for bad PR.But you did your best to helphim, anyway.That's why he never served much jail time.You hooked him up withBoris Nemerov, probably went his cash bonds.And at first he came through forNemerov, kept you looking good.'Broussard remained impassive.Milo said, 'Musta been a strain, associating with a known felon.''I never broke the law.'Milo's turn to keep quiet.Broussard said, 'There's always flexibility in the law, Detective.Yes, Icarried him.My wife adored him - remembered him as a cute little kid.To thefamily he was still the cute little kid.I was the only one seemed to realizehe'd metamorphosed into a reprobate junkie.Maybe I should've seen it sooner.Or let him deal with the consequences earlier.'The chief's posture relaxed a bit.Bastard was actually slumping.Milo said, 'Then Willie got himself in a whole new level of trouble.Witnesseda very nasty 187 and got paranoid and told you they were going to pin it onhim.''Not paranoia,' said Broussard.'Reasonable apprehensiveness.' He gave a coldsmile.'Black junkie with a felony record versus rich white boys? No oneintended to bring Willie to trial.The plan was to float rumors, plantevidence, have Willie OD somewhere, call in an anonymous tip, and close thecase.''So Willie skipped on Boris, but you paid Boris off.Then you got PoulsennPage 310 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlassigned to the case, to cover it and control it, and meanwhile he could guardWillie and his girlfriend.''That was temporary.We were regrouping, assessing contingen-cies.'None of which included going after the real killers,' said Milo, surprised atthe fury in his own voice.'Maybe Schwinn and I wouldn't have solved it.Onthe other hand, maybe we would've pulled it off.We'll never know, will we?'Cause you stepped in and sabotaged the whole goddamned thing.And don't tellme that was just because of Willie.Someone put the fix in for those richkids.Someone you had to listen to.'Broussard swiveled and faced him.'You've got it all figured out.''I don't.That's why I'm here.Who was the fixer? Walt Obey? Janie was pimpedby that piece of shit who called himself her father and used by twogenerations of rich scrotes, and who's richer than old Walt? Is that whatdoomed the investigation, John? Kindly, churchgoing Uncle Walt worried abouthaving his nasty habits aired?'Broussard's ebony face remained still.He stared past Milo.Let out a low,grumbling laugh.'Happy to entertain, John,' said Milo.His hands were shaking, and he rolledthem into fists.'I'm going to educate you, Detective, about matters you don't understand.I'vespent a lot of time in the company of rich folk, and it's true what they say.The rich are different.Life's little bumps get smoothed out for them, no onehas the temerity to deny them anything.More often than not, their kids becomemonsters.Malignant entitlement.But there are exceptions, and Mr Obey's oneof them.He's exactly what he claims to be: religious, straightforward,ethical, good father, faithful husband.Mr Obey grew rich through hard workand vision and luck - he'd be the first to emphasize the luck component,because he's also a humble man.So understand this: he had nothing to do withany cover-up.You mention the name Janie Ingalls, and he'll stare at youblankly.''Maybe I'll try that,' said Milo.Broussard's jaw set.'Stay away from that gentleman.''Is that an official order, Chief?''It's sound advice, Detective.''Then who?' said Milo.'Who the hell fixed it?'Broussard ran a finger under his collar.Full sun had brought thesweat out on his brow, and his skin glistened like a desert highway.'It wasn't like that,' he said finally.'No one ordered the Ingallsinvestigation stopped, per se.The directive - and it was a departmentaldirective, straight from the top, the very top - was to effect damage controlon Pierce Schwinn's many years of felonious conduct.Because Schwinn wasspinning out of control, heavily addicted to amphetamines, taking extremerisks.He was a ticking time bomb, and the department decided to defuse him.Page 311 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlYou just happened to get the wrong partner.It could've been worse for you.You were spared because you were a rookie and had never been observedparticipating in Schwinn's transgressions.Except for one instance, when youwere observed picking up a known prostitute in your on-duty car andchauffering her and Schwinn around.But I chose to overlook that, Detective.Ihad you transferred to greener pastures rather than drummed out in disgrace.''Is this the dramatic moment where I'm supposed to thank you?' Milo cupped ahand to his ear.'Where's the goddamn drumroll?'Broussard's mouth curled downward in disgust.'Suit yourself and be dense.''I didn't need your largesse, John.When I picked that hooker up I had no ideawhat was going to happen, figured her for an informant.'Broussard smiled.'I believe you, Detective.I had a pretty good notion thatyou wouldn't participate in any backseat calisthenics with a woman.'Milo's face grew hot.Broussard said, 'Don't get all indignant on me.I won't pretend to understandwhat you are, but it doesn't bother me.Life's too short for intolerance.Iknow what it's like to be on the outside, and I've given up on the whole ideaof changing the way people feel.Let bigots feel any way they want to, as longas they don't misbehave.''You're a paragon of tolerance.''Not tolerance, constructive apathy.I don't care about your amusements -don't care about you, period, as long as you do your job.''When doing the job suits your interests,' said Milo.Broussard didn't reply.'You're an outsider, huh?' said Milo.'For an outsider, youscampered up the ladder pretty quickly.''Hard work and persistence,' said Broussard, sounding as if he'd recited it amillion times before.'And good luck.Plus a good deal of yassuh-mastahposterior-kissing.' He unbuttoned his collar and loosened his tie.Aiming forcasual, just one of the guys.His bearing said otherwise.'Back when I workedpatrol, I used to tape pictures in my locker.Photographs of men I admired
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]