Chapter 38
Warner Wilson had come up with an excuse to spend the day away from police headquarters. Following yesterday’s debacle surrounding Emma Perez, it was the last place he wanted to be.
He’d been skating on thin ice with the chief of police ever since he’d arrested a nineteen-year-old kid he’d been convinced was responsible for a series of restaurant break-ins. It didn’t matter that he didn’t have any hard evidence. He knew he was right.
Except he was not right.
It turned out the guy worked as a valet around town, making money between semesters at college, and had nothing to do with the crimes. The real culprit had been the witness who’d pointed Wilson toward the kid in the first place.
A little before four p.m., he decided to inform the office that he was taking tomorrow off. But as soon as he identified himself to the desk sergeant, he was put on hold.
The person who spoke with him next was the police chief’s administrative assistant, Officer Kwan.
“Captain Wilson, Chief Saunders would like to see you in his office as soon as you can get here,” she said.
“Sure, I can do that. The thing is, I’m a bit tied up and won’t be able to get there until tomorrow.”
“He wants you here now.”
“I get that, but—”
The line went dead.
“Dammit,” he muttered.
He drove to the station and made his way to the chief’s office. He kept getting weird looks from everyone he passed, as if they were annoyed to be in the same space as him.
“Go straight in,” Officer Kwan said as Wilson approached her desk.
“Can you give me a hint as to what this is about?”
“I’m sure the chief will tell you.”
She returned her attention to her computer as if he’d already left.
Wilson frowned at her, then followed her instructions. “Afternoon, Chief.”
Saunders jutted his chin at one of his guest chairs and said, “Sit.”
Wilson did so. “What can I help you with?”
The chief held up a finger, then picked up his phone and made a call.
“He’s with me now,” he said into the receiver. “Is now a good time?…One second.” He switched the call to speaker. “Can you hear me now, Judge?”
“I can,” Judge Fredricks said.
Oh, crap, Wilson thought.
For the next ten minutes, the judge read him the riot act about falsifying search warrants and abuse of power.
Every time Wilson opened his mouth to make an excuse, he was shut down by a glare from the chief.
When the judge finally finished, the chief looked at Wilson again, this time expectantly.
Wilson shrugged his shoulders, not understanding what he wanted.
The chief mouthed, I’m sorry.
Wilson grimaced.
“Do it!” his boss whispered.
Wilson sighed inwardly. “I’m sorry, Judge. It won’t happen again.”
“Damn right, it won’t!” the judge barked. “And you want to know why?”
“Why, sir?”
“Because if another search warrant comes across my desk with your name on it, it will be rejected out of hand. And don’t try to sneak something through one of your detectives, either. If you do and I find out, you will get a lot more than a slap on the wrist. Tell me you understand.”
“I understand. Again, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry, Judge,” Saunders said. “I can guarantee that won’t happen. And thank you for your time. We’ll let you get back to work.”
“Thank you, Chief,” Fredricks said, then hung up.
Before the chief could say anything, Wilson blurted out, “It was just a miscommunication. I promise, nothing like this will—”
“That’s what you told me last time,” the chief said.
“Last time?”
“The Markewicz case?”
The valet.
“That was just a—”
“Miscommunication?” the chief asked. “I told you then, one more fuckup like that, and you’re gone. Congratulations. You’ve reached that threshold.”
“You can’t fire me! The union will be all over you.”
“The union is already aware of your situation.”
Wilson’s eyes widened. “They are?”
“Your rep and I had a nice chat earlier today. I told him that I was putting you on suspension pending an investigation, and given the evidence, I fully expected the results would not be favorable to you. He didn’t seem particularly surprised.”
Wilson gaped.
“Oh, and he told me to tell you to call him, but that he won’t be able to meet with you for another week or so.” The chief leaned forward and whispered, as if sharing a secret, “Going to Hawaii with his wife.”
“But…but…”
“Badge and weapon.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Badge and weapon!”
Wilson set both on Saunder’s desk.
“Now, get out of here,” the chief said. “And don’t ever let me catch sight of you again.”