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Authors: Michael J. McCann
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we’re not playing on the same field. I’m telling you right now if you start pulling local law enforcement off important cases, every department in this county ’ ll be completely demoralized. Yo u have to give us a fair chance . I can’t tell you if there’s physical evidence connecting my suspect to the crime scene if this guy sits on it. Plus,” he ticked off the point on his index finger, “the autopsy won’t be done until tomorrow and it’ll take at least a week to process the stuff that was under her fingernails. Plus,” he ticked off another point on his middle finger, “nothing physical’s been done on Baker yet. I need the crime scene truck to go over to the monastery and turn his room or whatever the fuck he lives in upside down and every scrap of evidence analyzed up the ass. The truck he drove, everything. How the hell can I make any progress when we haven’t even worked him yet? You call this fair? You call this professional?”
It was quite a speech . Hatfield shrugged. “I hear you, Billy.” He looked at Steele for a moment and turned back to Askew. “You have enough to place him under arrest and keep him in custody?”
“Yes,” Askew said.
“Then let’s get the warrant to search the residence and vehicle.”
“Thank you.”
“ Don’t kid yourself, Billy. This office is hanging by a thread. I want you to tell me right now you’ll personally withdraw from any further action directly connected to this case.”
“ What ? ”
“ It’s non-negotiable , Billy. If you expect your office to retain control of this case past the next five seconds , you need to say the words. Deputy Chief Branham will have full responsibility for the investigation and you’ll stay at arm’s length , as you should have right from the get-go . Say the words.”
Askew sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. “All right.”
“Say the words.”
“All right . Branham has the case.”
“You’ll stay completely out of it.”
Askew worked his jaw. “I’ll stay out of it.”
Hatfield turned to Steele. “Get your team over to the monastery and process everything Branham wants processed as soon as the warrant comes through . And get him reports this afternoon on the findings from Saturday night.”
“Yes, sir,” Steele said. It was clear he’d hoped for a different outcome.
Hatfield tapped Branham on the chest with a bony finger . “Keep me completely up to date on everything you find.”
“ Yes sir ,” Branham nodded.
“Bear in mind you can’t keep arresting big guys with beards just because they showed up at some dump on Saturday night. Make this one stick, or it’s over. Let’s go, Ice.”
Askew watched them leave the station, then spun on his heel, strode into his office , and slammed the door.
Karen caught Hank’s eye and raised an eyebrow.
Branham stared at the door for a moment and then turned to Hall . “Get the suspect out of there and process the arrest .”
He turned to Hank . “ If it turns out he did it, w e need to make sure we can nail his ass to the wall .”
Hank watched Hall get to his feet with an effort and shuffle toward the interview room. He looked back at Karen.
She shook her head microscopically and rolled her eyes.
Not good. Not good at all.
10
They walked across the paved area behind the station to the compound where Hank’s Grand Cherokee was locked up. Branham unlocked the padlock, pulled out the chain , and opened the gate. Then he handed the vehicle keys to Hank and cleared his throat .
“Lieutenant, I want to ask you something . ”
“ Sure, w hy not . ”
“I understand your feelings about us right now,” Branham began , “but I was wondering if you’d consider sticking around for a couple of days until we get something solid on Brother Charles.”
“You telling me not to leave town , Deputy Chief ?”
Branham winced. “No, not at all. Just the opposite. I was wondering if you’d be willing to offer some assistance. I don’t
It was quite a speech . Hatfield shrugged. “I hear you, Billy.” He looked at Steele for a moment and turned back to Askew. “You have enough to place him under arrest and keep him in custody?”
“Yes,” Askew said.
“Then let’s get the warrant to search the residence and vehicle.”
“Thank you.”
“ Don’t kid yourself, Billy. This office is hanging by a thread. I want you to tell me right now you’ll personally withdraw from any further action directly connected to this case.”
“ What ? ”
“ It’s non-negotiable , Billy. If you expect your office to retain control of this case past the next five seconds , you need to say the words. Deputy Chief Branham will have full responsibility for the investigation and you’ll stay at arm’s length , as you should have right from the get-go . Say the words.”
Askew sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. “All right.”
“Say the words.”
“All right . Branham has the case.”
“You’ll stay completely out of it.”
Askew worked his jaw. “I’ll stay out of it.”
Hatfield turned to Steele. “Get your team over to the monastery and process everything Branham wants processed as soon as the warrant comes through . And get him reports this afternoon on the findings from Saturday night.”
“Yes, sir,” Steele said. It was clear he’d hoped for a different outcome.
Hatfield tapped Branham on the chest with a bony finger . “Keep me completely up to date on everything you find.”
“ Yes sir ,” Branham nodded.
“Bear in mind you can’t keep arresting big guys with beards just because they showed up at some dump on Saturday night. Make this one stick, or it’s over. Let’s go, Ice.”
Askew watched them leave the station, then spun on his heel, strode into his office , and slammed the door.
Karen caught Hank’s eye and raised an eyebrow.
Branham stared at the door for a moment and then turned to Hall . “Get the suspect out of there and process the arrest .”
He turned to Hank . “ If it turns out he did it, w e need to make sure we can nail his ass to the wall .”
Hank watched Hall get to his feet with an effort and shuffle toward the interview room. He looked back at Karen.
She shook her head microscopically and rolled her eyes.
Not good. Not good at all.
10
They walked across the paved area behind the station to the compound where Hank’s Grand Cherokee was locked up. Branham unlocked the padlock, pulled out the chain , and opened the gate. Then he handed the vehicle keys to Hank and cleared his throat .
“Lieutenant, I want to ask you something . ”
“ Sure, w hy not . ”
“I understand your feelings about us right now,” Branham began , “but I was wondering if you’d consider sticking around for a couple of days until we get something solid on Brother Charles.”
“You telling me not to leave town , Deputy Chief ?”
Branham winced. “No, not at all. Just the opposite. I was wondering if you’d be willing to offer some assistance. I don’t
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