Chapter 8

Driving back to his office from the meeting with his family, Robert felt relaxed, yet determined. A pothole jarred his sports car blotting his reverie. He stopped at a pay phone at a service station. After returning the wave of a passerby, he dialed Joni's number and instructed her to arrange an immediate meeting in his office with Edgar Landry.

By the time he entered the office, Landry was seated at the front of his desk. He walked past him without comment, sat in his chair and rubbed his face and eyes, ignoring the man entirely. Still rubbing his eyes, he broke the silence. "I assume you've been briefed on my confrontation with that preacher. If you want to call him that." "Yes, I know about it and the gathering planned for Friday night. That could bring on some problems," Landry said. Leaning forward on the desk. Robert rested his chin on his hands and looked directly at Landry. "Edgar, what progress can you report on the Porter case?"

He shrugged and looked down at his lap, then spoke slowly. "There is nothing new or I would have told you. I have my entire homicide staff working on the case to the exclusion of anything else, and all patrolmen have been tasked to canvass the city pressuring their contacts. The reward money is now up to $120,000 but until we can develop something tangible, it's effect has actually served as a hindrance to the investigation.”

"We've checked out more than 200 bits of information; and frankly, none seem substantive." He continued. "When the case breaks, we will be in a position to move quickly to make an arrest; but until then, we're just swimmin' upstream," he groveled.

Robert's face became stern. "Well, I'm pleased that you understand that it is we who are up the creek, but me who will be facing that crowd at the public meeting with Reverend Righteous, Friday night; and I am not going to stand up there and give them your message. I'd be ripped to shreds." His eyes narrowed. "I think you need to understand, Edgar, that if you can't provide me with some ray of hope to share with them, then I will have no choice but to give them you. Frankly, I've taken all the flack I intend to. I don't need to tell you that my failure to appoint a fellow black to the position has always caused me problems from my primary support group, but I've left you there because you assured me that you could handle the problems." His eyebrows were now arched with anger. "They AIN'T being handled, Edgar, and it would obviously take quite a bit of heat off me to bring in new blood," he threatened. "It is now Monday afternoon. May I suggest that you give the matter serious consideration and return tomorrow afternoon with something upbeat ... and, Edgar, if you can't offer some breakthrough in the case, some brilliant new tactic, or some excellent diversion, you will be relieved of your duties come Wednesday morning. Do you understand that?"

"Mr. Mayor, it's not that simple," Landry pleaded.

"Do you understand what I'm saying to you, Edgar?" Robert spoke softly but with folded arms and an intense stare.

Landry looked down at the floor and responded, "Yes, I'm afraid I do."

Landry was not able to fully compose himself before a hastily called conference of his immediate administrative staff and principal homicide division personnel. He began the meeting with angry demands, but it quickly became evident to him that he was getting nowhere and concealing his weakened position from no one. He realized that all present had spent their adulthood reading the emotions of others.

He looked up at the ceiling and slumped slightly as if considering his options. He was aware that none appreciated him, never had, for no better reason than he was not a career police officer. Why couldn't they understand that he brought more to the job than a policeman ever could. Why could they not realize that his connections with the power structure were of incalculable value, as was his knowledge of indiscretions by countless people, which became known to him during his years as a prosecutor, he frequently asked himself. Can they not recognize the twenty percent increase in the staff, the ten percent increase in salary, and forty percent increase in general budget that occurred during his tenure. This would not have been achievable by anyone else during a time of such economic hardship. It occurred to him that these thoughts and this approach would do no good either, so he abruptly changed his tack.

"Gentleman, let me take a different approach. My apologies for my confrontive approach but, frankly, my back is against the wall. Any ideas or suggestions you might have which could be developed to either provide the mayor with something positive about the Porter case to present at his meeting Friday night would certainly be appreciated. I've met with him almost daily since the child's body was discovered. I realize that you have made a solid effort to solve the case. He is also fully aware of the nature and extent of your past efforts. I think what I'm asking is can anyone suggest some novel approach or anything else that can buy us some time until this thing breaks?"

The officers at the meeting looked either at others or toward the floor. After an extended pause, Bill Ed Flint rose to his feet. "Superintendent, I don't think it will help in the long run, but what I hear you saying is that you need a smokescreen."

"Detective Flint, isn't it?"

"Yes sir."

"I don't think I would have put it so bluntly," Landry said haughtily, then paused and collected himself, "but you're right, the time for delicacy has passed. Yes, if we can't conjure up an immediate miracle, an effective smoke screen might help."

"Sir, you might consider bringing in a group of specialists," the detective continued. "You know, experts in gang behavior who have monitored youth gang development in California or Illinois -- someone who is considered an authority on satanism, skinheads, KKK, and so forth, put together a group of ten or twelve, bring them into town with a big media blitz, share all the information we have with them. Who knows, maybe they could come up with something we missed. In any case, it might buy a little time," he concluded.

"I like the idea up to a point, but I can see this group of learned scholars trying to impress one another. I can also see them becoming a large problem in the long term by interfering with the investigation or, heaven forbid, developing a line of communication directly with the mayor or the media."

"That wouldn't necessarily have to happen, Chief. You could place them in separate quarters and assign a different detective as liaison to each of them. You know, check in with them a couple of times a day for any ideas and then the detectives could forward the suggestions to Captain Aubrian who could weigh the suggestions and maintain control of the investigation."

"Detective Flint, I'm very impressed," he said rubbing his neck. "This may be just what the doctor ordered. Does anyone else have any other ideas?" Landry asked as he paused and surveyed those in attendance. "No? Then Captain Aubrian, I am directing you and your staff to consult the local universities and other police departments, or whomever you think best, and develop a list. Don't commit yourself as to cost until you have okayed it with me. I'm prepared to be extravagant, but I still have a tight budget to contend with. Also, I want a consultant covering every conceivable avenue of investigation. Commit us only to a two-week period.It seems to me that if we are going to develop anything from what we have, they should be able to do it within two weeks. At the same time, your staff can be making a judgment of them. You know, decide whether or not we might wish to confer with any of them further, individually, later on, dependent upon the direction the investigation takes.” "But have this understood," Landry injected. "The detectives will take orders only from Aubrian. We can't have these outside experts taking control of the investigation or dominating the time of the detectives. You also need to understand that this step will buy us only about three weeks -- a week to locate them and get them here, followed by two week consulting commitment. We must make meaningful headway in the investigation by then or heads will roll. No, I don't mean to threaten you people. Mine will the first to go, but who knows how many of us will be affected, who my replacement will be, or what action he or she may take." He stood looking squarely at his men. "These are not pleasant times for any of us and won't be until the case has been solved and the agitators and media find some other 'dog to whip'."

He nodded, then turned and walked away.