Ben sat in a stiff-backed chair outside the office of the Newberg PD chief, determined to gut it out. It had been thirty minutes since he had asked to see Chief Jorgensen and, if need be, he’d wait all afternoon. His new place in the department pecking order was right around the level of whale shit, but he told himself that just meant he could sit right there and put out a serious stench.
It had been right in this room that Lars Norgaard had been recognized as Newberg’s Officer of the Year almost twenty years ago. Ben remembered standing beside Alex during the ceremony. It was their sophomore year at Newberg High. They were crazy in love and already dreaming of a future with each other. Lars had introduced Ben to the mayor and chief of police, bragging that someday Ben would join the ranks of Newberg PD. Well, Ben thought, the old man was right. Just took a few years longer than expected.
“This is just ridiculous.” Bernice was on her feet in a huff and headed for the chief’s closed office door.
“Hang on, Bernie. I can handle this,” Ben said with a wave that stopped her at her desk. “I’ll announce myself.”
“I must say, Benjamin. You need to stand up for yourself.”
She’s right, Ben thought. You’ve got an out-of-control detective and a chief holed away in his office. Get on top of it, Sawyer.
He stood and gave a light knock on the chief’s door, then pushed it open.
“Excuse me, Chief, I’ve been out here for a while. I just need a couple of minutes.”
Thirty seconds and Jorgensen didn’t bother to look up. Ben rested his shoulder against the office doorjamb, projecting an air of I can wait all day. When it became clear that Ben wouldn’t leave, Jorgensen exhaled in exasperation and spoke.
“What do you want, Sawyer?”
Ben walked into the office, still uninvited, and took a seat in front of the chief’s massive desk. “I want to revisit the idea of a transfer for Detective McKenzie. I think we’d be better off with some new blood in Narcotics.”
Jorgensen reached forward and opened the glass-topped humidor on the corner of his desk. He pulled out a fat one out and snapped the lid shut, making it clear that he wasn’t in the mood to share. The big man took a V-cutter from his vest pocket and, with a quick flick of his wrist, expertly removed the end of the cigar. A silver lighter came from another pocket and he lit up. After several puffs, he had the cigar stoked to a full smoke. He took it from his mouth and spit a flake of tobacco off his tongue.
“We’ve been over this, Sawyer. McKenzie has the contacts, he has the experience. He is the department expert. I don’t know what you and Lars had cooked up, but under my administration McKenzie will be the narc for NPD. Now if that’s all you wanted, we’re done. Get out.”
“I’m surprised you want to involve yourself in the day-to-day operations, Chief. I thought that’s what I was brought on to do.”
“I had nothing to do with bringing you on, Sawyer. I think it’s been pretty much established how you got here.”
Ben ignored the jab and returned to the subject of McKenzie.
“I know McKenzie’s type, Chief. He talks a good game, he may even put together a major case once in a while. But he’s cutting corners, and from what I can tell he might be even be cookin’ the books a bit. He needs to be given an assignment where he can be more closely supervised.”
“That’s a powerful accusation,” Jorgensen said. “Particularly coming from you. You really think you’re in a position to accuse another cop of misbehaving?”
“Chief, if you’ve got something to say, then fire away. Let’s get it out in the open.”
Jorgensen got up and walked around his desk, and his large frame towered over Ben. “I’ve got a lot to say, Sawyer. I’ve got a sergeant in my department who was shitcanned for abusive force and then has the balls to waltz in here and attack the character of a veteran detective. The only reason you’re here is that your father-in-law felt sorry for your dumb ass. Believe me, Lars and I had that argument more than once. I lost.”
Jorgensen paused, but when Ben offered no comeback, he went on. “If I had my way, you’d be gone already, but it’s out of my hands. You might not be the chief’s boy anymore, but you’re still a union-protected cop. But know this. You’re damn right I’ll be ass-deep in day-to-day ops, and if you don’t like it, you can walk. And if you can’t work with McKenzie in Narcotics, then you can go back to graveyard patrol. Is all that clear to you, Sergeant?”
Ben reached into his inside jacket pocket. He pulled out a trifolded piece of paper and laid it on the corner of Jorgensen’s desk.
“This is my official recommendation that McKenzie be transferred out of his current assignment. I’ve provided ample written documentation as to why. You’re free to ignore it, but there may come a time you regret that decision.”
Without ever breaking eye contact, Jorgensen picked up the paper, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it into the nearby trash can. Ben smiled.
“I kept a copy, Chief. I’ll note the time and date of delivery.”
At the door, Ben stopped and looked back at the chief of police.
“By the way. McKenzie didn’t show up today and he’s not answering his department cell. You wouldn’t happen to know where he is, would you?”
“How would I know? You expect me to keep tabs on him?”
Ben sauntered toward the door, talking over his shoulder as he left. “I heard there was an opening for Chief’s Boy. Word has it McKenzie got the job.”