Bishop Hughes crossed his arms theatrically. “And what mighty white man are you to make this decision?”
Hart’s eyes widened slightly, but he lowered his hands and answered. “I’m Lieutenant Hart. I’m in charge of Day Shift Patrol.”
“It doesn’t sound to me like anyone is in charge of any shift of patrol,” The Bishop shouted.
“Oh, I can assure you, my men are under control,” Hart told him. “They listen to me.”
“So you’re responsible, then?”
Hart paused. “Uh…”
“You’re responsible for this assault on the civil liberties of the black people in this city?” The Bishop continued, waving his arms. “You orchestrated this monstrous — ”
“No, no, no!” Hart pleaded, punctuating each protest with the palms of his open hands. “I’m just saying that my men follow orders.”
The Bishop’s eyes flew open. His eyebrows rose in delight.
Officer Will Reiser’s jaw dropped. He resisted the urge to bring the palm of his hand to his forehead.
“Following orders?” The Bishop nearly screeched. “Following orders? Is that what you said?”
“I only meant-”
“So the jack-booted storm troopers of the River City Police Department should be forgiven because they were only following orders from the master?” He waved his arms in dramatic sweeps. “And I suppose you’ll tell me next that all black people need to report to relocations camps? Or would you prefer death camps?”
Hart tried to mouth a word, but no sound came out.
“Unbelievable!” The Bishop scoffed. He turned to the small but growing assembled group and appeared to notice the camera for the first time. He drew himself up and stared directly into the camera. “I’m glad the citizens of this town are seeing this police department for what it really is. A man of my stature can’t even get in to see the Chief of Police over a matter of Constitutional violations against an entire race of people. Instead I have to stand here and be threatened by one of his minions!”
Hart cleared his throat. “I…I didn’t threaten you.”
The Bishop whirled back to face him. “Oh, you most certainly did. And on camera, no less.”
Hart glanced at the news camera and swallowed in a gulp.
“What’s the matter, officer?” The Bishop asked. “Nothing to say now that a little sunshine has been brought down upon your evil deeds?”
“Evil…deeds?”
“What else would you call stopping everything that’s black and moves? What else would you call interfering with the right of free travel by free men? What else — ”
“A…little girl was kidnapped,” Hart stammered.
“And I am truly sorrowful for that,” The Bishop intoned, “but that does not give you the cause to mercilessly infringe upon the rights-”
“The suspect was black.”
The Bishop grinned. “Officer, the suspect is always black. Don’t matter if he — ”
Hart found his voice and raised it. “It’s Lieutenant,” he snapped. “And the suspect driving the van was black! We didn’t decide he was black. He was black.” He shook his head. “Jesus, it’s not like we’re targeting you people or something.”
“What?” The Bishop asked. “What did you say to me?”
Lieutenant Hart blinked. “I, ah, I said…”
“Did you just say ‘you people?’”
Hart glanced at the camera and back to The Bishop. “What I meant was…”
Officer Will Reiser turned toward the Senior Volunteer who helped man the information desk, intending to ask her to go and get the Chief immediately. He’d have gone himself, but he had a feeling he’d need to stick around and keep Hart from getting lynched by the mob that was forming in the lobby.
But when he looked to his right, the seat was empty.
0728 hours
“Anything to report?” Gio asked Katie.
She shook her head sleepily and turned on the coffee maker. “Nope. No media vans in the front yard yet.”
“They’re all down at the Public Safety Building.”
“Press conference?”
“Almost a riot, from what I heard. Bishop Hughes came to see the Chief and brought along a posse.”
“What’d he want?”
“Too many black guys getting stopped in vans last night,” Gio said.
Katie gave him an incredulous look. “Wasn’t that the description? A black driver?”
“Yeah.”
“Then who did he want us to stop? Eskimos?”
Gio shrugged. Politics was politics and he didn’t like to even waste the time thinking about it.
“Besides,” Katie said, “I thought he and the Chief were friends or something.”
Gio shrugged again. “I think everything would’ve been fine, but when Will Reiser called for a lieutenant, it was Hart that was on duty. He stepped all over things and made a mess before the Senior Volunteer in the information booth had the sense to go get the Chief.”
“How do you know this?”
“I called radio and asked Trisha.”
Katie gave him a knowing look.
Gio raised his hands defensively. “It’s not what you think, MacLeod…”
“Oh, yeah?”
“No, it’s not. I just called her to find out what was going on in the lobby. They sent two units, then disregarded them.”
“So if I asked you where you spent the night last night, the answer wouldn’t be at Trisha’s house?” Katie asked.
“That’s right. I was not at Trisha’s house last night.”
Katie eyed him for a moment, smiling. “You’re such a slut, Gio. If a girl acted the way you did…”
Gio shrugged. “And if my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.”
Katie sighed with exasperation. “Well, at least then she wouldn’t have to worry about her reputation being sullied on the job.”
Gio laughed. “What are you worried about, MacLeod? Your rep is secure.”
“What rep is that?”
“Lesbian.”
Katie hit him on the shoulder. “The definition of a lesbian on River City PD is any woman who hasn’t slept with you.”
“Exactly.”
She shook her head. She thought about asking him about the few women on the department who really were lesbians, but was certain that he’d answer up with some platitude about how they were just waiting for the right man to turn them back, or at least make them bi-sexual. It was an idiotic sentiment she’d heard on several occasions.
Gio swept the arm in the general direction of the rest of the house. “How’s the mother?”
“In the living room, asleep on the couch. Hopefully, she’ll get some shut-eye. She needs it.”
“Were there any phone calls?” Gio asked, meaning ransom calls.
Katie shook her head no. “Just the husband. He’s still trying to catch flights back from the east coast.”
“Any family come by?”
“No. They don’t have a lot, I guess, and they’re spread out across the country. She said the woman whose daughter was with Amy came by yesterday.”
“Jill,” Gio said. “She brought a casserole.”
Katie nodded. “I ate a bowl last night. It was good. Onions were a little strong, though.”
Gio and Katie stood in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. The sounds of the coffee maker hissing and gurgling filled the kitchen. He was thinking about Trisha the dispatcher. Katie was thinking about the lonely night Kathy Dugger had spent wrapped in her daughter’s blanket.
Finally, Katie clapped Gio on the shoulder. “I’m going to go home and crash. I guess I’ll see you around eight or nine tonight.”
“Okay.”
Katie walked out the door and he locked it behind her. Then he returned to the kitchen and watched the glass coffee pot slowly fill up.
0904 hours
“What is that, oh-for-seventeen?” Tower asked Browning.
“Why do you bother keeping track?” Browning said.