Read Online The Good Cop by Dorien Grey - Free Book Online

of the beat.
    Since Glen O’Banyon had left his home phone number—the first time I’d ever had it—I returned his call first. The phone rang several times and I was just about to hang up when I heard the receiver being lifted and O’Banyon’s voice: “Glen O’Banyon.”
    “Glen, hi. Dick Hardesty. Sorry I missed your call; I just got home.”
    “No problem. I heard about the shooting—as a matter of fact, that’s about all I’ve been hearing about all day. How do you manage to do it?”
    I was puzzled. “Do what? I didn’t do anything; I was just there.”
    There was a note of mild amusement in his voice when he said: “My point exactly. You have a magic knack for being ‘just there.’” Then his voice took on a more serious note. “Your friend Tom Brady is turning into something of an instant hero in the gay community. I’ve never met him, but would like you to pass along word to him that if he needs legal representation, have him give me a call.”
    I was more than a little impressed. While O’Banyon’s being gay was an open secret, he had always been careful never to flaunt it. His power and success gave him access to the upper strata of straight society, and his financial support and leadership qualities had earned him a seat on the boards of several influential charities. He had also been very shrewd in avoiding making enemies in the department, partly by having established, and largely supported, a scholarship fund for the children of police officers killed in the line of duty. Not even the most homophobic members of the force would dare openly attack him. So given all these factors, his offer meant a hell of a lot.
    “Tom will be very grateful to hear that, Glen. Thank you. I certainly hope it never comes to that, but if it did…well, Tom wouldn’t want you to put yourself on the line for him.”
    “Nonsense. That’s what lawyers do, and if anybody in the department gets his nose out of joint, tough. If Chief Black were totally in charge now, your friend very well may not need one at all. But given the power struggles going on in the department, I’m pretty sure Chief Black’s enemies will jump on this as a way to undermine him. The very idea that there may be a gay officer in a department with as strong a tradition of rampant homophobia as ours is, I’m afraid, just too explosive an issue for Black’s foes to ignore. I suspect this whole thing has the potential to get very messy.”
    “Yeah. Plus, were you aware that Tom’s wife is Chief Black’s goddaughter?”
    “Ah, so it’s true. I’d heard something about their being related; but I don’t think a goddaughter/godfather relationship exactly qualifies as nepotism. Still, it’s interesting to note, and I’m sure it will add fuel to the fire.” He was quiet a moment, then said: “Just let Officer Brady know I’m here if he needs me.”
    “I’ll do that, Glen,” I said, sincerely impressed. “Thank you again.”
    “Keep me posted.”
    We hung up shortly thereafter and I called Jared, Bob, and Phil and Tim in order. Each of them expressed their admiration for what Tom had done, and any support they may be able to provide if the issue of Tom’s being gay became a major problem. And each commented on the sense of…pride probably describes it best…sweeping through the community at the thought that one of their own might actually be on the front lines of integrating the police force. Everyone knew, of course, that there were other gays on the force, but this was the first time a specific name had emerged, and in circumstances so directly involving the community.
    If all the gay cops on the force served openly, Tom’s actions would still have been considered heroic, but that he was the first of our own on the force to whom the community could point with pride…well, it elicited a rather unrealistic degree of hope that other gay officers would somehow begin opening their closet doors. Still, it was hope, and the community