Chapter Three #2
“Let’s give them the facts of the case and let them know we’re following every lead. Maybe a briefing will lead to some more tips.”
“I’m going to need you to authorize some OT for the squad since we’re shorthanded.”
“I’ll take care of that. You take care of getting me a suspect—after you brief the media.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Can you be ready in thirty minutes?”
Gonzo nodded.
“Very good. I’ll go out there with you.”
“Okay.”
Malone took off, leaving Gonzo to contemplate what the hell he could say to the media about an investigation that was stalled. He went over his notes again, refreshing his memory about what they knew so far, and typed up some brief comments that included a plea for information.
He also made copies of the composite sketch that had been created with the help of one of the victims that showed the attacker’s general height and build as well as the coat he’d been wearing. With fifteen minutes to spare before the briefing, he took advantage of the opportunity to call home.
His fiancée, Christina, sounded breathless when she answered on the third ring. “Hey.”
“Hi there. What’re you up to?”
“Doing a yoga video while Alex naps.”
Gonzo groaned. “Don’t put those images in my head when I’ve got hours to go until I can see you.”
Laughing, she said, “Sorry. So hours to go, huh?”
“Yeah. They suspended Cruz, but that’s top secret.”
“They suspended him? What for?”
“I’ll tell you later, but that leaves me even more shorthanded than I already was. We feel like this knife guy is deliberately taunting us.”
“You sound frustrated and overwhelmed.”
“I’m both of those things. We’re going to have to postpone our plans—again. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s no problem, Tommy. I’m not going anywhere. The next time we have a free weekend, we’ll take off and get it done.”
“I don’t want to think of our wedding as another thing on an endless to-do list.”
Her soft laughter made him wish he were home with her rather than stuck here for the foreseeable future. “Are you laughing at me?” he asked.
“Maybe a little. Ease up on yourself, Tommy. Our wedding will happen as soon as we have a space of time in which we have nothing to think about but each other and Alex.”
“Thanks for being so awesome all the time. It takes a special person to be the spouse of a cop.”
“I want to be your spouse. You could be a garbageman for all I care.”
“Garbage is starting to look awfully good to me right about now.”
“This is an amazing opportunity for you. If you all manage to catch this guy while you’re in charge, it’ll be so great for your career.”
“True, but catching him is a big if.”
“You can do it. I have no doubt.”
“I love you, Christina. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“I love you, too, and I can’t wait either. But I’d wait forever, so don’t let our plans add to your stress when you have enough on your plate.”
“Turn the TV on in a few minutes. Your dashing fiancé has to brief the media.”
“We’ll be watching.”
“I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“We’ll be here.”
Gonzo always felt better after he talked to her.
He never could’ve gotten through the chaotic events of the last few months without her by his side.
First being shot and then being suspected of murdering his son’s mother…
Gonzo shuddered at the memory of that awful day when Lori’s body had been found in her car, and all eyes had turned to him.
Stahl had played them all like a maestro, exacting his revenge with deliberation and cold, calculated precision.
Cruz had played right into his hands by attacking the man who hurt Elin.
Sam had been lured in by the relative safety she felt at entering Marissa Springer’s house alone.
The incident had rattled all of them, but no one more so than Sam.
Gonzo hadn’t told anyone that he was beginning to believe that she wouldn’t be back.
Why should she subject herself to the shit they encountered on a daily basis on this job when she certainly didn’t have to?
Her husband was the freaking vice president of the United States.
What did either of them need with a job that put her in constant danger?
The thought of doing this job without her, however, was not one he was prepared to fully entertain. It would be a much different atmosphere in this squad without her leadership. He would be her logical successor unless one of the current lieutenants put in for it.
With everything happening in his personal life, Gonzo wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to take on more responsibility at work.
But he might not have a choice if he was thrust into the role.
That’s the way things happened in this line of work.
Someone flamed out for whatever reason and the guy standing next in line got caught holding the baton, whether or not he was ready.
His partner, Detective Arnold, knocked on the door. “Malone says they’re ready for you to brief the media.”
“Okay.”
Gonzo collected his notes and a bottle of water and headed for the main entrance to HQ, where the reporters gathered year-round to wait for information. It didn’t matter if it was freezing, like today, or sweltering hot in the summer, they were always there waiting to be tossed a bone.
Sam had gotten very adept at telling them a whole lot of nothing. He hoped he could do the same.
“Ready?” Malone asked when he met Gonzo at the main doors.
“No, but let’s get it over with.”
When they emerged into the biting cold, the reporters surged, quickly surrounding him and Malone.
“Back off and give us some room,” Malone barked.
They backed off by a few inches, but began shouting questions about the knife attacks, when Sam would be back, what was happening with Stahl and everything else they could think of.
Gonzo went through a rote recitation of what they knew so far about the knife attacks, including an update on the condition of the two victims who remained hospitalized. He distributed the copies he’d made and asked for their help in generating more tips from the public.
“Have you found any connections among the victims?” a reporter asked.
“Not yet. Until we know more, we’re operating under the assumption that these attacks are random. We’re asking the public to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times while walking around the city.”
“When will Lieutenant Holland return to work?” Darren Tabor asked.
Gonzo looked to Malone to take the question.
“We have no comment on internal personnel matters,” Malone said.
“But she will be back, right?” Tabor asked.
Malone glared at the pesky reporter. “We have no comment on internal personnel matters.”
“Can you speak to the status of Stahl’s case?” another asked.
“He’s been remanded for trial and is being held without bail at Jessup.”
“Why there and not here?”
“Due to the potential for conflicts of interest in this case,” Malone said, “we requested permission to move him out of our jurisdiction, and the court approved the move.”
“Captain, what is the mood within the department in light of the Stahl case?”
Gonzo could feel the captain’s tension in the way he stiffened.
“What do you think it is? We’re still trying to get our heads around the fact that one of our own, a man we worked with as a close colleague for many years, was capable of what he did, not only to Lieutenant Holland but to the other victims of his senseless crimes. ”
“It’s been a rough couple of months for the MPD,” one of the bottle blonde TV reporters said. “Is there any talk of the chief retiring or stepping down to make way for new leadership?”
“The leadership we have is more than capable of steering us through whatever comes our way. That’s it for today.
Thanks for your time.” He grabbed Gonzo’s arm and nearly dragged him through the doors.
“Fucking vultures. And they wonder why we have to force ourselves to meet with them in the first place.”
“The chief isn’t retiring, is he?” Gonzo asked.
“Not that I’ve heard, and I would’ve heard.”
“You ever think about…” Gonzo had no sooner said the words than he wanted to take them back.
Malone eyed him shrewdly. “Think about what?”
Gonzo sighed and looked up at the captain. “About when too much becomes just that. Too much.”
“How do you mean?”
“The thing with Sam and Stahl… What if it was enough to drive her out of here permanently? And the chief. He’s got to be about to the point where he’s thinking life’s too short for this shit.”
“Are you thinking that, Sergeant?”
“No! I’m thinking about them.”
“It’s been a rough couple of months around here.
No one would deny that. It’s been a rough couple of months for you, too.
Not only did you have a nearly fatal gunshot wound but the mother of your child was murdered, and you were briefly caught in the crosshairs.
And that doesn’t even take into consideration what happened to Sam and how we all feel about her and the animal who attacked her.
Anyone would be having a crisis of faith after all of that. ”
“I’m not having a crisis. It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t know. It’s nothing.”
Malone never blinked, letting him know he’d have to do better than that.
“Is she coming back?” Gonzo asked.
Malone propped his hands on his hips and shook his head. “I honestly don’t know. I thought she’d be back by now.”
“So did I.”
“She’s stonewalling Trulo, even though she knows she has to pacify him to get back to work. That tells me she’s in no rush to come back.”
“Or she’s not ready to air it out.”
“That’s also possible.”
“So I’m not the only one who’s concerned.”
“Certainly not. Came up this morning in a meeting with the brass and the other captains.”
Gonzo wasn’t sure if he was comforted to know the brass was worried, too, or more concerned than he’d been before he asked.
“Look, keep doing what you’re doing,” Malone said. “It’s not gone unnoticed that you’ve stepped up when you’re barely back to full speed after your injury.”
“I’m trying.”
“I’m here if you need me. Don’t hesitate to come to me if you need backup of any kind.”
“Thanks, Cap. I’ll let you get back to work.”
Malone nodded and took off toward his office while Gonzo headed back to the pit to check on the status of the investigation. The sooner they found the knife wielder, the sooner he could see about marrying the love of his life.