Read Online The Jake Helman Files Personal Demons by Gregory Lamberson - Free Book Online Page A

they’d had a brain between them, they’d have become florists instead of stickup men.”
    A shrill ringing filled the room, and all three men examined their cell phones.
    “It’s my partner,” Jake said, checking his phone’s display screen. “This might be important. Do you mind?”
    Hammerman switched off the recorder. “Go ahead.”
    Jake pressed the phone against his ear. “Yeah, Edgar?”
    Edgar’s voice crackled through the receiver. “How’s it going with those cheese eaters?”
    Jake turned away from his inquisitors. “Peachy. What’s the word?”
    “Jackpot. Bartender named Teddy Kanaley works at McGinney’s on West Forty-Ninth. He remembers seeing Shannon with a guy at closing last night and thinks they left together. I’m taking him to a sketch artist now.”
    “So my hunch paid off. Even when I’m not working, I’m working.”
    “And vice versa.”
    “What’s our guy look like?”
    “White boy, mid-twenties, professional looking.”
    “Keep me in the loop.”
    “You got it.”
    Jake switched off his phone and returned it to his pocket. “We may have just gotten our first lead on the Cipher.”
    Hammerman closed his folders. “Congratulations. I think we’re finished here. We’ll contact your CO tomorrow with our findings.”
    Jake rose to his feet. “You want to tip your hand just a little?”
    Hammerman smiled. “Don’t lose any sleep, Detective. This is a clear case of self-defense. According to Tom Kearny, you’re a hero.”
    Jake pulled on his coat. “Tom used to be a hell of a cop.”
    “I think he relished getting back into the game today. You’ll get a citation for this.
    Jake snapped his coat up. “When do I get my weapon back?”
    Hammerman stood. “Ten days after you submit your report to the Firearms Review Board. Bring a pillow to work, ‘cause you’re going to serve time at your desk.”
    Damn
, Jake thought. He had hoped to help collar the Cipher if the bartender’s description paid off. The biggest case of his career and he had to warm the bench. “I guess I can’t complain.”
    “We’re not quite finished here,” Klein said, and Jake and Hammerman looked down at him. He removed a paper evidence envelope from a blue folder in a small leather case.
    Hammerman snapped his fingers. “That’s right, I almost forgot. We need a lock of your hair for a genetic follicle test.”
    Jake felt his heart plummet in his chest. “What for?”
    Hammerman shrugged. “The city requires the Department to cover its ass whenever a cop kills a citizen. Since you didn’t have anything to drink at Kearny’s, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Right?”
    Jake stood frozen as Klein removed miniature scissors from the case and snipped at the air with them.
    “These guys weren’t citizens,” Jake said. “They were perps who tried to take me out.”
    Hammerman cocked his head to one side. “Sure. I already said it was a clean shoot. This is just a formality.”
    Jake clenched his jaw. A genetic follicle test would reveal if he had used narcotics any time during the preceding six months, about the length of time that he had been getting high. He had to stall long enough to find a way out of this. “I put my life on the line for this city every day for ten years, and my number almost came up this morning. I don’t deserve to be treated like a suspect.”
    Hammerman and Klein did not look at each other, but their faces assumed identical, stony expressions.
    “Take it easy,” Hammerman said. “Why don’t you sit back down?”
    Jake’s eyes darted to the door. He wanted to make a run for it. Instead, he returned to his seat, as did Hammerman. Both Inspectors stared at him and the room seemed smaller now.
    “Look, fellas,” Jake said. “This has been the worst day of my life. I’m going to have to live with what happened for the rest of my life. Let me skip the test for now and I’ll bring you a hair sample tomorrow.”
    Hammerman seemed unimpressed. “No dice.