“I guess you’re wondering why I’m... I mean, he and I...”
“It’s none of my business. And I’m not judging anybody. I don’t have the right.”
“I appreciate that.”
“But I will give you a piece of advice. I had a daughter once.”
“I know,” she said, looking pained.
“And if she had had a chance to grow up, I would never let her near Blake Natty. Take that for what it’s worth. The fact that he’s seeing you while he’s still married should tell you all you need to know about the guy.”
Brimmer looked at him sadly, then turned and hurried off.
Chapter 25
The Judge did a double take when he looked down first at the docket sheet and then up at Amos Decker, who stood behind the counsel table.
At the prosecutor’s table stood Elizabeth Bailey, a veteran prosecutor who knew Decker quite well. They had worked numerous cases together while he’d been on the police force.
Behind the waist-high rail where the public could sit, there were only two people: Blake Natty and Superintendent Peter Childress, a tall portly man in his late fifties with gray hair cut short and a puffy, pockmarked face. He had on a dark suit, crisply starched white dress shirt, a blue-and-white-striped tie, and a white pocket square.
“Decker?” said the judge, a diminutive man in his late sixties with a reedy neck and an abundance of silvery hair that contrasted starkly with his dark robe. He peered at Decker through thick black-framed glasses. “Amos Decker?”
“Yes, Judge Dickerson. It’s me.”
“Obstruction of justice charge?” said Dickerson, glancing at the charging document. “Interfering with a police investigation? I thought you were with the police.”
“I left to join the FBI a couple of years ago, but I’m still a sworn officer here in Burlington.”
Dickerson moved his lips as he read something off the papers lying in front of him. Then he slid off his glasses, set them down, steepled his hands, and looked at the prosecutor.
She stood there looking quite anxious.
“Ms. Bailey, can you explain to me what in the world is going on here?” said Dickerson.
Bailey was in her forties, her frame big-boned. The woman’s blonde hair had dark roots. She wore a beige suit and white blouse along with a small chain necklace. Bailey took a moment to deliver a quick scowl at Natty. She cleared her throat as she looked back at the judge.
“Mr. Decker is being charged with obstruction of justice and interfering with a police investigation.”
For a moment it looked like she might continue, but Bailey set her lips in a firm line and said nothing more.
Dickerson looked perplexed. “Well, I know that. That’s what I just read off the document. What I mean is, I would like more of an explanation.”
“Mr. Decker was approached by a man named Meryl Hawkins.”
“Meryl Hawkins? The Meryl Hawkins?”
“Yes, Your Honor. He was released from prison early because, well, because of medical issues. He met with Detective Mary Lancaster and Mr. Decker, proclaimed his innocence for the murders, and asked them to clear his name.”
“And he was subsequently murdered?” said Dickerson.
“Yes.”
“And how does that bring Mr. Decker here today?”
“Mr. Decker was asked by Captain Miller to look into the murder of Mr. Hawkins and also to reexamine the previous case against Mr. Hawkins.”
Dickerson tapped his finger against the top of his bench and said patiently, “That in no way answers my question about why Mr. Decker is here today. Indeed, it only deepens my confusion, Ms. Bailey.”
“Yes, Your Honor. I can understand that. But—”
Childress gripped the railing and abruptly stood. “Judge, please, if I may? I think I can clear this up.”
Dickerson slid his gaze over to Childress, and Decker thought he could see a shadow pass over the jurist’s features at the sight of Burlington’s top cop.
Decker had not been the only one to think the superintendent of police was an arrogant, incompetent jerk who crossed the line when it suited him. There were many who had been stunned to see Childress leapfrog over the more senior Captain Miller for the superintendent job. But rumor was that Miller had declined the position because he wanted to remain closer to the people on the police force. And though he habitually treated underlings badly, Childress was polite and deferential to those above him in the pecking order. And he could make the biggest bunch of bullshit sound totally legit. Decker thought he might be about to get a sampling of that talent right now.
Dickerson said, “Superintendent Childress, I didn’t see you over there. Can you explain what exactly is going on? If Captain Miller authorized Decker to—”
“That is absolutely true, Your Honor. However, after we looked at this matter again, we came to conclude that Mr. Decker, who is no longer a member of this department, could bring untold legal liability to the city of Burlington if he did something outside legal parameters while ostensibly acting on the department’s behalf. Indeed, he was found searching the residence of Mr. Hawkins’s old home without benefit of a search warrant.”
“I didn’t need a search warrant since I had the permission of the homeowner,” interjected Decker.
Childress carried on smoothly, “Be that as it may, we can’t run around behind Mr. Decker to make sure he follows the law. Indeed, he was formally told by this department not to involve himself in this investigation, and yet he disobeyed that request. We had no alternative but to take him into custody, and that’s why we’re here today.”
Dickerson seemed to be wavering. “As I recall, didn’t Detective Decker solve the case behind the terrible shootings at Burlington High School a couple of years ago?”
“Indeed, he did,” said Childress. “In fact, the department awarded Mr. Decker a commendation for his work on the case, and I was there applauding as loud as anyone. This is clearly nothing personal, as I’m a big fan of Mr. Decker’s. But we have a department to run and I can’t sit by and see him do damage to it.”
“All right, I see your point.”
Bailey said, “Your Honor, this is simply a bail hearing and a chance for Mr. Decker to enter his plea.”
“Not guilty,” said Decker immediately.
“Are you represented by counsel, Mr. Decker?” asked the judge.
“Not yet, sir. I’m working on it, if it comes to that.” He glanced over at Childress and saw the man staring at him with a grim expression.
Bailey quickly said, “Because of Mr. Decker’s previous relationship with the department and his current work with the FBI, we’re fine with him being released on his own recognizance.”
Childress stepped forward. “I think Ms. Bailey’s facts need to be somewhat updated, Your Honor. Mr. Decker no longer has ties to this community. He moved away over two years ago. And he obviously no longer works for the department, which is one of the reasons we’re here today. And I have it on good authority that he may not even work for the FBI, so the points made by Ms. Bailey for his being released on his own recognizance fall away.”
“Do you really consider Mr. Decker a flight risk?” asked Dickerson.
Childress spread his hands and said in a very sincere voice, “Again, when he was on the force, he had no bigger cheerleader than me, Judge. But he’s been gone a long time now. I can’t say that I know the man anymore. And, quite frankly, him going rogue like that after he was warned off the case, well, it does not inspire confidence, I have to say.”
Dickerson looked over at Decker. “Is all that true?”
“I still work for the FBI. And I do have ties to the community.”