The Sticking Place Page 16

  Biletnikoff leaned forward, obviously anticipating the need to tell everyone to shut up after that comment, but no one said anything.

  Luke thought the troopers were out of line. The reasonable ones respected the Chief and fully appreciated the difficult position Coleman was in. Trying to manage the Mayor’s self righteous anger, while simultaneously implementing Councilman Cleveland’s personal vendetta against the promiscuous homosexual behavior in the park, while also trying to keep the trust of the department’s rank and file, was a Herculean feat.

  Biletnikoff settled back into his chair.

  “The City Attorney’s Office reviewed the package and decided not to pursue the case in court. The City Attorney himself told me he’d have referred the case to a neighborhood mediation center if it had involved two less public figures.”

  “Hey, Denny,” Shimmer said. “Did you know you was a public figure?”

  “The POA has called for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate how we handled Mr. Goddson’s copy of the citation, but it’s my hope we can put this thing behind us and move forward.

  “In conclusion, I want you all to know I have no problems with my officers engaging in picketing. That’s your constitutional right, so long as it’s done in a legal manner.”

  “Okay, that’s it. Let’s hit the streets,” Biletnikoff said. “You plain clothes guys go get some coffee and meet back here in ten minutes.”

  “Can you believe that shit?” Francie said as the group filed out of the room.

  “Unbelievable,” Devree agreed.

  “Bullshit!” Shimmer added. “I never heard so much pure bullshit in my whole life.”

  The officers stopped their sniping when they saw a gaggle of reporters assembled outside the lineup room. Murray headed up the group.

  Sergeant Rood, who stood near the door, her arms folded, approached Denny as he emerged from the briefing room with Luke trailing along. “Congratulations,” Rood said. “We didn’t get the bastard convicted, but we did shove a little of his alleged power down his throat.” She extended her hand for Denny to shake, and whispered, “Here’s what to say when the reporters ask you.”

  She grabbed Devree by the elbow. “Thanks for giving me the heads up on all this,” she whispered.

  Denny glanced at a small piece of paper in the palm of his hand as the reporters questions started.

  “I thought the Chief did a nice job of expressing himself,” Francie said. “It’s good to know we’ve got his support.”

  “Yeah, that’s right,” several others said.

  “Maybe we can put this thing to rest,” Devree volunteered.

  The platitudes registered the public posture of the disgruntled family of officers who were angry at Mayor Pillson and Councilman Cleveland. But public disgruntlement now would make the Chief look bad. They were willing to spout their criticism behind closed doors, but not in front of the world.

  Murray headed straight for Rood. “Sgt. Rood, will the POA withdraw its request for the U.S. Attorney to investigate the ticket fixing?”

  “I think we can put this thing behind us so long as Officer Durango here doesn’t object,” Rood said. She nodded toward Denny. “But you can expect our officers to be visible at public gatherings and cognizant of their rights while we fight for decent wages.”

  “What’s your take on all this Officer Durango?” Murray asked.

  Denny glanced toward the cupped palm of his hand. “Mr. Goddson may be very nice, and under other circumstances, I’m sure I’d like the man.” The political non-sequitur served as a media declaration that the POA would drop any requests for further action.

  “Okay, you officers on patrol, hit the streets,” Biletnikoff said. You plain clothes guys get back in here so we can get this show on the road.”

  Francie, Devree, Denny, Luke, Shimmer and several others filed back into the briefing room. Biletnikoff stepped to the front of the room. “As you know, we’ve been having problems with illegal activity in and around Balboa Park’s bathrooms,” he said.

  “You’re kidding,” Devree spouted.

  “You guys are going to do something about that tonight,” Biletnikoff went on, doing his best to ignore Devree’s heckling. “First, though, we’re fortunate to have a representative from Councilman Cleveland’s Office to give us a little training before we go out there. Go ahead Ms. Cleveland. We’re all anxious to hear what you’ve got to say.”

  Everyone in the room except Biletnikoff, Denny and Luke lifted their eyes toward the ceiling and groaned.

  “The Councilman’s daughter,” Francie said. “That’s just great.”

  “Okay, knock it off,” Biletnikoff ordered.

  Denny edged his chair closer to fix his gaze on Cleveland’s face. Strong cheek bones dominated otherwise plain features. She couldn’t be considered a knockout exactly, but Luke knew her athletic carriage, together with her fully dressed female body, made her as enticing to Denny as a wrapped Christmas present under a sparkling tree.

  Luke sat back and grinned, relishing the chemistry between Cleveland and Denny as part of his ongoing study of Denny’s attraction to, and for women. Women enjoyed Denny’s flagrant attentions the way a good book might appreciate being savored by an avid reader.

  Denny’s face splashed a carnivorous grin. His gaze traveled down Cleveland’s torso, over her legs and back up to take her face in again. He leaned forward, not licking his lips exactly, but giving the impression of a hungry cat about to feed on his kill.

  Fidgeting under the intensity of Denny’s gaze, Cleveland straightened her collar and stepped to the podium. “Well,” she said, “I’ve never really done this sort of thing before. I must say, it’s slightly intimidating.” She glanced at Denny, adjusted her skirt and ran a palm over her hair, a nervous smile flirting with her lips.

  “What’s your first name?” Denny asked.

  “All right, that’s enough,” Biletnikoff said.

  “He just asked her name, Sarge,” Francie said. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “It’s all right,” Cleveland said. “My first name’s Tina.” She looked down at her open-toed pumps and blushed.

  “This galant pins the wenches on his sleeve,’” Luke blurted out. “This is the ape of form, monsieur the nice, That when he plays at tables, chides the dice, In honorable terms...the ladies call him sweet; The stairs, as he treads on them, kiss his feet.”

  “Shut up with that bullcrap!” Shimmer said. “Jeeesus criminy! With all the patrol squads in this whole damn city, you had to get assigned to us.”

  Luke grinned at Shimmer and settled back into his seat. “It’s from All’s Well That Ends Well and it fits the occasion,” he said.

  Tina Cleveland looked at Luke, then at Denny and straightened her skirt. “Okay,” she said. “I’m sure you all know most of this already, but the Councilman’s asked me to go over some of the pertinent laws. You’ll most likely be using one of two penal code sections. Section 647 (a) makes it illegal to either commit or solicit a lewd act in a public place.”

  “No shit,” Devree said. “Thanks for the scoop.”

  “Let the lady talk,” Denny said. “I want to hear what she’s got to say.”

  “That’s not all you want,” Shimmer said.

  “Okay, okay. Knock it off,” Biletnikoff said.

  “Section 647 (d) is a little trickier. It makes it unlawful to loiter in the area of a public rest room with the intent to either commit or solicit a lewd act. Now, as you all know, specific intent crimes are harder to prove.”

  “Since we know this already, and you know that we know it, what are you wasting our time for?” Francie asked.

  “Because the Councilman asked her to,” Biletnikoff said. “Now shut up and let her talk.”

  Tina went on. “For the most part, it’s easier to concentrate on either catching people in the act...”

  “What act would you be talking about?” Shimmer asked.

  “That would be the act of love, wou
ldn’t it?” Devree said.

  “Shut up,” Biletnikoff hollered.

  “Now, you might be surprised at whom you’ll encounter,” Cleveland said. She’d actually said whom instead of who. That caught Luke’s attention.

  “In recent weeks officers working this detail have arrested some famous sports personalities and a couple actors from shows over at the Old Globe Theatre,” Tina Cleveland continued. “Just last week, the actor who’s playing the Duke, Adolpho, I think it is, in Measure for Measure was...”

  “Angelo,” Luke said.

  “What’s that?” Tina Asked.

  “The guy you’re talking about played Angelo, and he’s not actually the Duke...”

  “Shut up!” Biletnikoff bellowed.

  “Anyway,” Tina said, flustered, “I guess you men know enough to get the job done without me rambling on.”

  “Nah, do you really think so?” Shimmer said.

  “Way to go Jones,” Biletnikoff said as Tina Cleveland made her way out the door. “You couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”

  “Sarge, could I go get a drink?” Denny asked.

  “Don’t let him go, Sarge,” Francie said. “He’ll be inside that woman’s shorts inside of five minutes and we need him for the detail.”

  “All right,” Biletnikoff said. “You knuckleheads keep your mouths shut for five minutes and I’ll get you out of here. There’s a couple other things you younger guys might need to know. Nobody’s particularly proud of what they’re doing in those restrooms up there, so they won’t exactly be advertising who they are. They won’t have any ID on them, but you can bet they’ll have a car nearby with a wallet inside. Get inside their cars and find out who they are. Don’t let anybody get away with being booked under a false name. And another thing, you guys stick close to your partners at all times. Some of these characters will try to get away because an arrest for a charge like this could ruin their lives. That’s their problem though, not yours. They should know the risk, and you should know it could turn ugly.”

  “No shit,” Francie said. “You’re saying the sight of some asshole walking toward me with a pulsating dick in his hand could turn ugly?”

  There was a unanimous guffaw.

  “Okay, that’s it,” Biletnikoff said. “Oh yeah, one last thing, we have a reserve transport unit slated for our detail. Be sure your booking slips are complete and you have all the information for the report top sheet before calling for the jail run. Keep in service and make as many arrests as you can. Any questions?”

  “Yeah, Sarge, could you go over that stuff one more time?” Devree said.

  “Yeah, Sarge, some of that stuff ain’t so clear,” Shimmer agreed. “Could you just say everything over again?”

  “Shut up and get out of my face,” Biletnikoff said as he walked out with the troopers following along behind.

  “What was on the note?” Luke asked Denny as they loaded their equipment into the trunk of an unmarked car.

  Denny reached into his pocket, pulled the note out and handed it to Luke.

  “Did you know about this deal before?” Luke asked.

  “What deal?”

  “You mean nobody told you what was happening here tonight?” Luke asked.

  “Nobody told me anything. What’re you talking about?”

  “Somebody cut a deal,” Luke said. “The Chief says there’s enough evidence to file charges on the battery, but the City Attorney won’t do it. Then he talks about the POA wanting an independent investigation of the ticket fixing, but he hopes it won’t come to that. Then Rood gives you this note, basically telling you to adopt a conciliatory tone, after she tells the press she’s dropping her request for an independent investigation. Everybody wins. Nobody loses. You don’t think this is a coincidence?”

  “I guess not,” Denny said.

  “You’re just lucky somebody found that copy of the citation,” Luke said. “It’s what saved your scrawny Rican ass.”

  “No kidding,” Denny said. “I’ll be damned.”

  32

  DENNY PULLED THE CAR INTO A SMALL parking lot at Balboa Park’s northwest corner and jerked it to a stop near the other unmarked cars. The two rookies agreed Luke would take the first turn as the sexual enticement while Denny watched from a secluded spot.

  Luke perched at the edge of a cold concrete table in a portion of the park with no artificial lighting, the splashing light of the full moon turning him into a solo actor on a stage, waiting for a cue from an absent stage manager. The moment oozed with creepy awkwardness.

  He wore a new pair of Levis, running shoes, a purple T-shirt, a windbreaker and a San Diego Padres baseball cap. He glanced around trying to assure himself Denny was paying attention somewhere out there in the darkness as a fireplug of a man with a crew cut and an open-necked Polo shirt came his way.

  “Hi. How are you?” the fireplug asked.

  “Fine,” Luke said. “A little cold, though,”

  “Yes, it is a little cold,” the man said. Then he grabbed Luke’s crotch.

  Luke had heard it would go down exactly like this, but he didn’t believe it until now. “So much for foreplay,” Luke said. He grabbed the wrist attached to the hand that was fondling him. “I’m a police officer, and you’re under arrest.”

  Luke heard a low guttural groan and an “Oh shit!” before the man with the probing hand jerked his wrist away, pivoted and ran toward the crest of the canyon about two hundred yards away. “Denny, I’ve got a rabbit,” he yelled as he took up the chase. Luke was fast enough, but in the time it took to leap from the table and look for Denny, the powerful runner had gained a lot of ground. “Stop or I’ll shoot.”

  The top of a crew-cut disappeared over the horizon of the canyon and Denny was nowhere in sight. As Luke rounded the crest of the hill, the fireplug was standing there, his shoulders heaving from his wind sprint.

  Luke pulled handcuffs from the pocket of his windbreaker and clicked them onto quivering wrists.

  “Would you really”—there was a pause as the man panted to catch his breath—“have shot me?”

  No harm could come from telling the truth now. “Not really,” Luke admitted. “It was a bluff so I didn’t have to chase you into the canyon.”

  “I should have kept running...”

  “That pithy phrase seems appropriate for just about every one entangled in the machinations of this cruel world,” Luke said.

  “What?”

  “Never mind. Where’s your identification?”

  “I don’t have any with me.”

  “Where’s your car?” Luke asked.

  “I took the bus.”

  “Really,” Luke said. “I guess I need to give you a ride home so you can prove who you are.”

  Out of options, Luke’s prisoner blurted out the truth. “My car’s up the street,” he said. “My family doesn’t have to know about this, do they?”

  “I’m not making a point of telling anyone,” Luke said. “I’ll write up the paperwork and someone else will take you to jail. I won’t see you again until we’re in court, unless you plead guilty.”

  “What about my command? Do they have to know?”

  “What did I just say? My job’s done when you get to jail. You tell who you want to tell.”

  Luke’s anger over his missing partner seethed higher with every step as he led his prisoner to get his identification, holding him by the biceps. He wanted to shout, “Where the hell are you Denny?”

  “What’s your name?” was the question he did ask while he rifled through the wallet he pulled from beneath the driver’s seat. “Says here you’re a Naval Commander. Commander Bryant.”

  “Yes, sir, and if the Navy finds out about this, I’ll be court-martialed and kicked out of the service,” Bryant said. Genuine trepidation infused the commander’s words.

  Luke could only imagine the Professor’s lecture about the quality of mercy if he were here. He’d definitely outdo Portia’s famous speech from The Mer
chant of Venice if he had the chance.

  “I swear to God, Officer, this is my only time. Can’t you give me a break this once? This would kill my kids.” The efficacious plea for mercy almost worked.

  Paul Devree, a prisoner of his own in tow, overheard the pleas and yanked on his prisoner’s arm as a signal to stop. “Hey,” Devree said, looking at Commander Bryant but intending his words for Luke. “We got you over in Palm Canyon for this last week and let you go.”

  “I’m sorry,” Luke said. “You should’ve considered the consequences before you came down here.” He escorted Commander Bryant to the prisoner staging area to start his report as Denny finally made an appearance.

  “Hey, Luke, you and me’ve got dates for after work.”

  “Where the hell have you been?” Luke fought to keep his voice civil.

  “Making a date. I just told you.”

  “This guy grabbed my crotch,” Luke said as he sat the commander down. “And ran like hell when I went to arrest him. Nobody was around when I looked for my partner.”

  Denny knew not to say anything.

  “What were you thinking?” Luke’s controlled veneer was close to cracking. Leaving your partner in the lurch was borderline treachery and Denny could get in serious trouble if he made an issue out where the others could hear.

  “Sorry,” Denny said. “But you and me’ve got dates with Tina Cleveland and one of her friends.”

  Luke nearly choked on his anger. Denny should get in trouble for what he did, but he’d deal with that later.

  “Tina Cleveland?” Luke said. “How’d you get a date with her so fast?”

  “She came here to find us,” Denny said. “Gave me some crap about wanting to see how the mission worked out, but she really came here...”

  “To solicit a lewd act of her own?” Luke interrupted.

  “Exactly.”

  Denny laughed and Luke cracked a smile. It was how all their arguments ended.

  “You’re coming along,” Denny said. “She’s bringing a friend, ‘cause she thinks you’re interesting.’ Can you believe that?”

  “I’ve got a date with the book by my bed,” Luke said.