Chapter 25
MAGGIE CHIN AND I stood together on the walkway leading to the Vega household. Maggie said, “Who on Earth do you think is the devil?”
“Internal Affairs. And not just anyone from Internal Affairs. Investigator Sergeant Virginia Gaines. Affectionately known throughout the NYPD as ‘The Terminator.’ My boss gave me the heads-up that the jerk who assaulted the Pakistani woman earlier has been telling the media and IA that I assaulted him.”
“That’s insane. Does IA really get on a case from merely a single phone call from a citizen, without doing any background at all?”
“I can’t think why else she’d be here.” We stood there silently and watched as the middle-aged Black woman, dressed in an exquisite and professional skirt and top, stepped out of the Ford. She could’ve been someone’s mom headed to church.
Then she looked up at me and made a face. I took it as a bad sign. She grabbed something out of the back seat and walked toward us.
“Hello, Virginia.” I put on my best fake smile as she stepped onto the walkway near us.
She gave me a curt nod and said, “Bennett.” Then she looked at Maggie and asked, “Who’s this? Another partner Dennis Wu can’t make a case on?”
“Ha, funny. Except we caught the real sniper.”
“And I’m sure you didn’t try to hinder the investigation into… what’s his name…” She snapped her fingers. “Trilling. The Army vet. Where is he?”
“On vacation.” I decided to try and move the conversation to another subject. “This is Maggie Chin, with the ATF.”
She gave a polite nod and smile to Maggie but didn’t say anything else. That silent look had broken many a suspect.
I blurted out, “Look, Virginia, I know why you’re here and I know what you want me for.”
“Bennett, what the hell are you talking about?”
I hesitated. It took me a moment to realize I’d misread this situation. Perhaps badly. I quickly moved on and said, “What are you doing in Queens?”
“You mean, besides living here?” She looked past me to the house.
Then said, “Armando Junior wanted a new controller for his Nintendo.” She held up the small red-and-white box in her hand.
“Since I live close by, I’m the contact for the family with the different fraternal organizations.
We bring by toys and food and other things they might need.
Contrary to what you might think, the NYPD takes care of its own. ”
“At least the dead ones.”
That one seemed to bite into Virginia. She snapped back at me. “At least the ones who don’t break policy. Jesus, Bennett, you been around long enough to know not everyone follows the rules.”
I held up my hands. “You’re right. That was a cheap shot. I’m sorry. I should’ve realized you were here visiting the family on behalf of the NYPD.”
That seemed to satisfy Virginia. She straightened up and said, “A group of us bring dinner twice a week, babysit when Armando’s mom is unavailable, and we set up college funds for both the kids.”
“That’s really nice.”
Virginia gave me one of her patented stares. “You thought I was here to talk to you. Why is that, Bennett? What’d you do?”
Maggie jumped in and saved me. She said, “Detective Bennett and I are working on the bombing that killed the clerk who worked in the Office of Technology and Innovation yesterday. We’re trying to see if it’s linked to the bomb that killed Sergeant Vega.”
Virginia shook her head. “Heartbreaking. I saw a photo of the victim, such a pretty young woman. Did the same group claim credit yet?”
I shook my head. Frankly, I was afraid to say too much more.
We stood in silence for a moment. Then Virginia looked over her shoulder at my blue Impala. “How many of your kids can you cram in your car?”
I felt my whole body tense. Transporting family members in a city-issued vehicle was one of the policies that tended to get a lot of cops in hot water. “Never tried.”
“And I’m still a virgin.”
“That might explain your disposition.” I regretted the words immediately. Why had I said something like that? It wasn’t like I was hanging out with a couple of my buddies. This woman wasn’t known for her sense of humor.
But Virginia smiled. She even laughed a little bit and said, “Good one. Maybe you aren’t the button-down tight-ass I always figured you for.” She let out another chuckle, then got serious again. “Now, tell me why you thought I was coming here to talk to you.”
I stepped around her as Maggie and I continued to my car. “Nice seeing you, Virginia. Gotta scoot.”
And we did.