“Enough of this!” he rumbled. “It’s getting us nowhere. Regardless of your thoughts on the matter, it’s clear we have a bit of a problem here in River City.” He glanced at Renee. “In your initial briefing to me, you made some statements about this particular brand of gangster. Would you mind repeating those for everyone else present?”
Renee nodded and cleared her throat. “Basically my point to the chief was that the Russian gangs tend to be more organized and more ruthless than we’ve seen in our gangs of the homegrown variety. Aside from some of the Central American gangs, I don’t think you’ll find a criminal organization more willing to do considerable violence than with the Russians.”
“I already know that,” Payne said. “That’s why I’m here.”
The chief held up his hand. “I just want everyone on the same page, Special Agent.”
Payne shrugged and motioned for Renee to continue.
Renee said, “The problem is that immigrant communities such as the Ukrainian community here in River City tend to be very insular and suspicious of law enforcement. We don’t get much help, if any, from the community members even though the vast majority are hardworking and law-abiding people.”
“So,” the chief said, “what is your recommendation?”
Renee raised an eyebrow. “Sir?”
“Your recommendation,” the chief said. “If you were sitting in my chair, what would you do to solve this problem?”
Renee felt her heart race. She’d been a crime analyst for twelve years. In all that time she was very comfortable with her facts and even her speculation, but she couldn’t remember a time when anyone other than a working detective asked for her opinion on a solution.
“Renee?” the chief said, still looking at her.
“I think you have to strike at the head of the snake just as you would in any other organized crime case,” Renee finally managed. “Since the agent has an asset that can give us that information.”
Payne held up his hand. “Wait a minute. Now we’re getting into confidential material that these gentlemen aren’t cleared to know.”
“Do you mean the protected witness that we’re helping you guard up at the Quality Inn on North Division?” Captain Reott said.
Payne set his jaw and sighed. “That’s the problem,” he said, “with sharing information with the locals. There’s no sense of security.”
“Your information’s safe enough,” Reott said. “And not known to the majority of my troops. I do think it’s fitting that the division commander of patrol should be aware of this. Don’t you?”
“Fine,” Payne conceded. “But I’d appreciate it if you kept the information circle as tight as possible.”
“Certainly,” Reott replied curtly.
Payne turned back to Renee and shrugged. “I guess you can continue.”
Renee imagined clawing out the eyes of the arrogant agent in front of her. Then she said, “If you can get the names of the major players from your asset, then maybe patrol or the detectives can squeeze those leaders. Even if we only get them off the street for a little while, that might stymie this push for dominance.”
“That’s not going to work,” Payne said. “In fact, by arresting them on something weak only to release them a short time later, all we’re doing is emboldening them.”
“I disagree,” Renee said. “They are already contemptuous of our jails and our criminal justice system. It’s not going to get any better or worse, but by taking them off the street-”
“It’s pointless,” Payne said. “We need to build a stronger case and hopefully get them on federal racketeering charges. That way I can build a RICO case-”
“And get all the glory,” Crawford interrupted.
Payne pressed his lips together in exasperation. “It’s not about glory, Lieutenant. It’s about doing a job right and making a case that sticks.” He looked back at Renee. “And they might be contemptuous of your jails, but I don’t think they’d have quite the same cavalier attitude when faced with spending time in a federal penitentiary.”
No one spoke for a few moments. Then Renee looked at the chief and said, “That’s my opinion, sir, and I stand by it.”
The chief nodded. “Thank you, Renee.”
Detective Ray Browning lifted his hand to catch the chief’s attention.
“Yes, Detective?”
“I’d like to lend my support to Renee’s analysis of this situation and perhaps add another wrinkle to it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I had a conversation with Officer Chisolm at the scene of the ambush. He offered an interesting analysis of what occurred. I asked him to come down so that he could explain it to all of you in person.”
“Is he here?” the chief asked.
“I believe so. I could check.”
The chief nodded, and Browning rose from his chair and left the room.
Renee watched the color drain slowly from Payne’s face as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. She wondered what that was all about, but she couldn’t think of any way to tactfully ask.
A few moments later Browning returned with Thomas Chisolm in tow. Chisolm was dressed in a pair of worn jeans and a black T-shirt. His badge hung from a lanyard in the middle of his chest. As always, Renee’s eyes were drawn to the thin white scar that ran from his temple to his chin. His eyes looked slightly sleepy. Renee realized that this was the middle of the night for him.
Browning sat down and Chisolm took the final empty chair next to Renee.
“Detective Browning said you had a theory,” the chief said. “Go ahead and explain it.”
Chisolm nodded. “I do, but it’s not a theory, sir. It’s pretty much fact. If you recall, the drive-by assault on the Crips gang went like this. There were shots fired from an unknown vehicle through the front window of the house. Inside were a half a dozen gang members, sleeping. The car drove away immediately after firing the shots. This drew the majority of the gangsters out from the protection of the house and into the front yard. At this point at least three gunmen opened up on the assembled group with automatic weapons fire. They used short, controlled bursts that indicated technical proficiency with their weapon. Their positions of cover and concealment set up an almost perfect triangulation of fire.”
The chief nodded slowly. “Go on,” he said.
“Immediately after the initial attack, a van arrived to provide transport to the shooters. As they got into the transport vehicle, one of the remaining gangsters fired at them. The shooters didn’t panic, and returned fire using the van as cover in similar fashion as they would an APC or a tank.”
“So,” the chief said, “your belief is that these men had to have military training.”
“That’s my analysis, sir,” Chisolm said.
“And I take it you are familiar with all of these tactics firsthand?”
“Yes, sir. Two tours in Vietnam.”
The chief nodded slowly, his expression betraying admiration.
“These are very common tactics,” Payne cut in. “I’ve seen them, too.”
Chisolm turned his gaze on to Payne. “I’m sure you have, son. In books.”
“Yes,” Payne said. “In books. But you probably don’t think much of books, do you, Officer Chisolm?”
Chisolm shrugged. “Actually, I like books. I’ve learned a lot about the world from books, but they are not the be-all, end-all of knowledge that you seem to think they are.”
“I have experience, too,” Payne snapped back. “Experience and education. I went to the University of Washington, Officer Chisolm. I graduated with a 3.8 in criminal justice and international studies. Where did you go to school?”
Renee watched as Chisolm smiled.
“Vietnam,” Chisolm answered. “It was pass/fail.”
Payne’s cheeks flared red again.
Chisolm’s smile broadened. “And graduation was a bitch.”
Renee suppressed a smile. Behind Payne, Crawford let out a low chuckle and shook his head.
In the end the chief came to Payne’s rescue. “Thanks for your insight, Officer Chisolm. I appreciate you coming down here in the middle of your night.”