Mr. Massey was on his plane within one hour of hearing the news. He wouldn’t sit down, even during takeoff. He kept yelling at his staff, but none of them knew anything because they had been out of the country with him. He picked up his phone.
“Mr. Allen.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How in the hell did this happen? This was your responsibility and you blew it. Now you have to get me a name. Someone must have told the cops we got word of their plans to take my son, and that is why they came early?”
Mr. Massey listened and then abruptly interrupted Mr. Allen as he was about to answer.
“It must have been Sonia who called and told us the cops had a court order to get my son. I know Sonia. She wouldn’t tell us, and then go tell the cops that she informed us. She cares about me too much, and it would most certainly end her career.”
Mr. Allen spoke up, “You’re probably right, it wasn’t Sonia.”
Mr. Massey was getting angry. “It had to be. We know a female called, and we don’t have any women cops on the inside. Whoever called didn’t ask for money. She is the only one it could be, or maybe a man had his girl call. Someone else must have found out Sonia called, and it is your job to find out who. I don’t care how much money it takes. I want to know by tonight and I want someone in place to be ready to act fast. If we can’t find out who I at least want the name of who ordered this.”
“I hear you, sir. I’ll have the ball rolling within half an hour, and we should get some information back within a couple. It might cost you more this time,” Mr. Allen said. “I am not sure you want to attack police officers though. Enough of them like you but if you start a war, they may all turn and cut you off no matter how much you pay them."
“I at least want some names. No amount is too much,” replied Mr. Massey. “You can pay for some cop’s retirement, his kid’s college tuition, or whatever. Whether I pay them back I’ll decide later.”
“I understand, sir,” said Mr. Allen. He knew there was no way in hell Mr. Massey could attack a police officer. They would all turn on him. On the other hand, they had taken his son. Mr. Allen knew he better get Jay back soon. Real, real soon.
Kate Mangino arrived at the scene. After talking to Dr. jones, who is, the medical examiner and Chanello’s half brother, she walked outside. She had heard everything over the radio. What she had to do was what the chief had told her over the phone. She walked up to Chanello.
He spoke first, “Are you going to gloat?”
“No, I am not.”
“Then why don’t you get out of here.”
“I came with Internal Affairs. This is one of the worst screw-ups in recent police history.”
“Look, I don’t need to hear your crap. I just got a lashing from the chief. I am on administrative leave, and probably will never get to be an officer again. You don’t think I know what’s going on here? I do, and I sure as hell don’t need a lecture from you. I am waiting for whoever the hell the chief is sending to take my gun and badge.”
“Jim, it’s me.”
“It’s me? It’s me what,” he asked annoyingly?
“I am the one who is here to take your badge.”
He looked at her incredulously. She saw betrayal in his eyes. “I don’t want to do this,” she said.
“So, the chief sends a rookie to really throw cold water on my face and wake me up to what I’ve done.”
“I don’t know why he sent me, but…..but I’ll need your badge and gun.”
He handed them over to her in front of all his friends. Although police usually stand by each other, he doubted it would happen this time. Another officer’s child was dead. His own mother would never forgive him of this.
“Internal Affairs wants to talk to you,” said Kate. Chanello watched as Dr. Jones was taking the body to the car.
Detectives Johnson and Fiske asked him to come with them.
As he was walking away with them, Mangino called out Chanello’s name. He turned around, “Do you want to press charges against Detective Morrison?”
“What,” he didn’t understand?
“For assaulting you. He put his hands on your neck and said he was going to kill you.”
Chanello had forgotten all about this incident but realized he deserved it. “No,” he said as he got in one of the Internal Affairs cars.
Kate walked over to Detective Morrison and spoke. “I know there isn’t anything that I can do to make you feel better, but I want you to know I am sorry.” He didn’t look up at her. “We know you attacked Chanello because of what happened here, so we are just going to let sleeping dogs lie.” She now looked at agent Dawkins. “Take the cuffs off the detective and drive him home.”
“Yes ma’am,” he said.
They got in a squad car and left.
As the agent slowed down to drop detective Morrison off, he told him how sorry he was. Morrison got out of the car and started walking toward the front door of his house. It was like walking the plank. He was glad he didn’t have any guns in his house because his wife probably wanted him dead. She had seen the news already because the media already reported that an officer had used one of his own children as a lamb. He got to the door and stuck the key in. When he opened it three suitcases were already on the living room floor. He wondered if they were for him or if his wife was leaving. Then, a teary eyed woman whose soul was gone appeared. They just stood there and staired at each other. Seconds passed.
“How did this happen?”
“I don’t really know. It didn’t seem like this could happen at all when I agreed to it.”
“Why would you agree to such a thing? Why would you use your own children? Our children?”
“I let Chanello push me. It’s my fault I know, but I let him take advantage of me.”
“Couldn’t you have just said no? Would it have been that hard to stand up for your children?” She was crying harder now.
“I didn’t think anything would be any different from any other day they went over to Mr. Massey’s house.”
“From what I’ve been hearing they never should have gone to that maniac’s house. Ever! You knew that he has been a suspect in many other crimes, didn’t you? Didn’t you?”
“Everyone knew it.”
“I didn’t!”
“I’m sorry. Where is John by the way?”
“I already sent him to my mothers. I’m leaving you.”
“Please don’t do that,” he had tears welling up in his eyes. “It has already been a bad day.”
“It has been a bad day because of your stupidity. You never did answer my question? Why use your own children?”
“After that c.b. incident I was destined for a life of crappy duties. Chanello said this would clear the way for me to put it all behind me. I really didn’t believe they would be in any danger. I swear.”
There was a knock on the door. His wife opened it and instructed her father to take the bags to the car and wait for her. He did this without saying a word.
As she picked up her coat, he begged, “please don’t go baby.”
“There is no way I can let you raise my other son after this,” she said.
After she shut the door, he went and got a beer, and strolled over to the couch. It was perfectly dark and quiet. As the time passed the emptiness filled his soul. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he started balling. He put his face in his hands and the tears just flowed. A few hours ago it looked like he was going to get himself out of the mess he put himself in. Now, he had lost his whole family.