Read Online Dark Harbor by David Hosp - Free Book Online Page A

stooped over him.
    “What’s going on in Weidel’s office?” she asked.
    “Looks like some kind of weasel convention to me, but I wasn’t on the invite list, so I’m not sure.”
    “Yeah, well, don’t feel too left out, because I’m bringing you as my date.”
    “Shit. And me without my makeup.”
    “It’s just as well. I wouldn’t want you looking prettier than me, Kozlowski.” She waved him over to the door. The sea of sycophants gathered there parted grudgingly. One young man in khakis and a blue blazer looked at the two detectives with particular disdain.
    “Come in!” she heard Weidel bellow when she knocked. Flaherty opened the door and she and Kozlowski entered the room.
    The first thing she noticed was that the office was crowded. She was used to dealing with Weidel one-on-one, as he chewed her out from behind his desk without the benefit of an audience. She wouldn’t be so lucky this time. Weidel was at his desk, all right, but he wasn’t alone. The room looked like a who’s who of Boston politics and law enforcement. Bill Moyer, the Suffolk County district attorney, was leaning against a filing cabinet in the corner, next to the police commissioner, Randy Backton. Jimmy Tribinio, the recently elected mayor of Boston, was slouched on the low sofa facing the captain’s desk. Also on the sofa was Rich Loring, the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, and sitting in the chair directly in front of Weidel was William Clarke, the governor of Massachusetts. It felt like an ambush.
    “Lieutenant,” Weidel began, “I think you know everyone here.”
    She stared at him, dumbstruck. “Not personally, no, but I believe I know everyone by reputation.”
    The men in the room looked at her from their perches with expressions that conveyed nothing but skepticism and superiority. Only Clarke rose to greet her.
    “Lieutenant Flaherty, it’s indeed a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” he said, standing up and taking her by the hand. It wasn’t as much a handshake as a hand press, the soft flesh of his right palm cradling her hand as he covered the grasp with his left hand, drawing her in toward his chest as he leaned in. It oozed of warmth, friendship, and trust, and it immediately put Flaherty on guard.
    “You know, when this Little Jack unpleasantness started, I talked with Police Commissioner Backton, here, and I told him we needed the best investigator in the department leading the charge. He spoke to Captain Weidel, and they both agreed there was no one with more competence or a better record than you. I can’t tell you how happy we all are that you’re on the case.” As he finished, the governor looked around the room, nodding, drawing reluctant agreement from everyone.
    Flaherty had no idea what to say. She’d never been politically adept. Fortunately, Kozlowski made her look like a UN diplomat as he responded for her.
    “Thank you, Governor, we’ve all been working hard to put an end to the ‘unpleasantness.’ ” What the hell did he care, he already had his twenty years in, and he was never going to make lieutenant anyway.
    Clarke looked at Weidel, who nodded venomously at Kozlowski. “Governor, this is Detective Tom Kozlowski. He’s helping Lieutenant Flaherty with the investigation. For now.” The last part was added with emphasis.
    Clarke turned back to Kozlowski. “You, too, have all of our confidence, Detective.”
    Kozlowski shrugged.
    The governor nodded as though a solemn pact had been reached between them, and sat back in his seat, spreading out like a king holding court. “Obviously, the last few days have brought a renewed urgency to this matter.” He paused dramatically, like he was delivering a stump speech. “The loss of any life is a great tragedy, no matter how the first six of these women earned their living. But I think we’re all even more greatly moved by the senseless killing of a young woman on the rise; a woman of promise who’d worked so