25

Dorothy’s Warning

Tuesday, February 9, 10:35 p.m.

Boone had trouble keeping a straight face. Naturally, he had never seen Fletcher Galloway dressed for bed, and he certainly had never seen Dorothy that way either. It seemed strange to see this handsome, late-sixties black woman in a long robe over pajamas, wearing fuzzy slippers, yet still with her hair just so and her makeup in place after the evening out with her husband.

Fletcher himself was dressed the same way, striped pajama pants showing at the bottom of his robe. He greeted the cops warmly, beginning a fancy handclasp with Jack, then seeming to resign himself to a conventional shake. “Forgot,” he said. “White boys got no style.”

“Guilty,” Jack said, winking at Boone while reaching to shake Dorothy’s hand. “An unexpected pleasure to get to see you too, ma’am.”

“Mm-hm,” she said, seeming to reluctantly extend her hand.

The Galloways sat next to each other on a couch near the fireplace in a small TV room next to the kitchen at the back of the house. It struck Boone as dated but cozy. Dorothy looked locked and loaded; Fletcher, nervous and wary.

“Sorry,” Jack said, settling into one of the matching lounge chairs next to Boone, “but we don’t have time for small talk.”

“You don’t say,” Dorothy said. “Normally you would at this time of night?”

“No. Doesn’t surprise me you’re as good an investigator as your husband—”

“Okay, listen, Jack Keller. Don’t patronize me. I see what’s happening here, so let me say my piece and I’ll leave you gentlemen to whatever it is you think is important enough to drive all the way—”

Jack began to speak, but she stopped him by raising a hand.

“Something’s up,” she said, “and I don’t need to know what. This one here, he won’t tell me because he knows better. He’s never brought his work home, and I didn’t expect him to. I’m glad he didn’t.

“But let me tell you this. Whatever you think is important enough to bring you here had better be worth the trouble. Fletcher has been retired only a couple of days, and I’m not about to lose him back to the job. If it’s advice you’re after, he’ll give it to you. But if you’re here because you think you just can’t get along without him, well, too bad. He always said his greatest satisfaction came from seeing his people succeed. Hanging on to the old boss is not succeeding.

“Now, he gave himself to the CPD for a lot of years. It’s taken its toll, and I prayed he would get a chance to enjoy life before the years got away from us. Since the end of the party, when we walked out of that office for the last time, I’ve seen a new man. It’s like the weight of the world rolled off his shoulders. Know what I mean?”

Boone nodded and saw Jack do the same. Again Jack appeared to want to say something, but Dorothy cut him off, inhaling loudly and shaking her head.

“Hear me out. This man here is sleeping. He’s smiling. He’s even walkin’ with me every morning, and we’re enjoying life like we haven’t since before we had kids. You do one thing to jeopardize that, you’re gonna answer to me. You got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“He’s already distracted himself wondering what it’s all about. I don’t want that. Call me selfish, but I want him all to myself now.”

“I understand,” Jack said.

“You may think you do, but you don’t. What Fletcher’s told me about you over the years? You’re just like he was. What’s the highest compliment you guys give each other?”

Boone said, “He’s all cop.”

“That’s it,” she said. “And when I heard people say that about my husband, I knew what it meant, and I was proud. I’m still proud. But I also know what it cost. Because it cost me, too. Well, no more. Don’t be trying to take him back.”

Jack cleared his throat. “One thing about your husband, Mrs. Galloway: we always knew where he stood. He didn’t talk in riddles. I see it runs in the family. Boones and me, we got the message.”

“Well, all right, then,” she said, standing. This brought all three men to their feet. “I’ll say good night. And I’ll also say don’t make this a habit. Next time you come here it better be because your cholesterol is a quart low. We can talk kids and grandkids and sports and church and anything you want except . . . well, you know.”

“Like I say, ma’am, rest assured that Boones and I heard you.”

“Then come’re and give me a hug, both of you. I’m about to put up my hair and wash my face, so you won’t be seeing any more of me tonight.”

Dorothy pecked her husband on the cheek and said, “I know where your gun’s at, Fletcher.”

Fletch widened his eyes in feigned terror and they all laughed. Dorothy wagged a finger at Jack and Boone. “It’s got more’n one bullet.”

When she was gone, the three men sat quietly staring at the floor.

“Wow, you’re a lucky man, Chief,” Boone said.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“Just saying, I’d give anything to have a wife who’d say something like that at the end of my career.”

Galloway nodded. “The end isn’t easy. But it’s easier when you’re happy with your partner. She worried about me, prayed for me, every minute I was on duty. Even the last twenty years when I was behind the desk and not likely to see action.”

“Because she knew,” Jack said. “I remember at least three times when you went right to the scene, while the action was still going down. No one expected you to. No one would have even questioned your waiting for a briefing. But your men were out there, so—”

“So was I. There’s a way to do a job and a way not to do it.”

“And you always did it the right way.”

“Okay, enough shinin’ each other’s shoes,” Galloway said. “I want both barrels, and I want ’em now. What’s happening?”

“Well, Boones here is going to fill you in, but first we’ve got to get something out of the way. It’s about whether you’re officially retired yet or are still a sworn offi—”

“We both know the answer to that, Jack, but she doesn’t. My official severance date is March 1, but for all practical purposes, I’m out now and nobody—but you and Drake here, apparently—is expecting anything out of me but to act like a retiree. And I’ve been okay with that up to now.”

“You want to keep it that way? Because we don’t have to involve you. It’s your call.”

Fletcher Galloway gave Jack Keller a look that would have put a wart on a gravestone. “Yeah, that’s me, Jack. Let you guys show up with some bee in your bonnet that’s already stung you clear to the brain, and you think I don’t at least want to know what it’s about?”

Boone leaned forward. “If I may, Chief . . . As you can imagine, anything big enough to bring us to your door is likely going to be something that will engage you. But it’s not going to make you happy. In fact, it’s going to turn your stomach. Frankly, I don’t think it’s something that’s going to let you pretend you’re carefree, the way Dorothy likes you.”

“I’m pretty good at compartmentalizing, Drake. If I have to keep it from her, act like things are okay, I can do that.”

“I’m not so sure,” Jack said.

Fletcher sat back and sighed. “I’m not going to want to hear this, am I?”

Boone shook his head.

Fletcher stood and moved to the fireplace, turning his back on Jack and Boone. He grabbed a brass tool and poked at a log. “Is it what I feared?”

Jack and Boone looked at each other. “Not sure we know what you feared, boss,” Jack said.

Fletcher turned to face them, suddenly looking his age. “Pete Wade.” He settled back on the couch, somehow appearing heavier now, sodden, as if it would take the both of them to help him up again. “We go way back, Jack. You know that.”

Jack nodded.

“We worked together before there was a policy manual. Before Personnel became Human Resources. Before affirmative action and sexual harassment and anger management and political correctness. Back then every other cop had your back and you had his, and there was never even a question. We would have taken a bullet for each other.”

Boone was grateful Jack let the silence hang in the air, lending gravity to Fletcher’s memories.

Galloway covered his face with his hands and rubbed his eyes. “I knew this didn’t smell right. I as much as flat-out told you that, didn’t I, Drake?”

“You did. I thought you were just making me feel good because you knew I had a thing for Haeley.”

“You ought to know me better’n that. I don’t say things to make people feel good. I told you I disagreed with Pete, thought he was on the wrong track. But you’ve got to trust a man you’ve known as long as I’ve known Wade and who has that much history with you.”

“Forgive me for asking,” Jack said, “but is that why you left so soon after the big bust and Boone’s shooting? You knew something was fishy in your own office and you wanted to distance yourself from it?”

Galloway seemed to study the ceiling. “I wouldn’t do that. I wasn’t running from anything. I hoped it would go away and my fears would be proven wrong. But it didn’t sit right. One thing that won’t surprise me is that young Ms. Lamonica is in the clear. Am I right about that?”

“Yes. Boones has been personally investigating the case for her attorney.”

“Fritz.” That brought a wry smile to Fletch’s face. “The guy we love to hate and hate to love. Perfect choice. Anyway, if I know Haeley Lamonica, there was no way she had any part in this, unless by accident. I mean, that would be serious, but not a crime.”

“She’s going to be cleared,” Boone said. “But Pete is dirty. There’s no other way to say it, and I know you don’t want anything but the unvarnished truth.”

“You got that right. Now when you say dirty . . .”

“You’re going to have to hear it all,” Boone said. “Then you’ll know. The tough part is that it goes well beyond this case.”

“Don’t tell me that! This case is enough! Something he did almost got a fellow officer killed. Almost got a prime witness killed. There doesn’t have to be any more.”

“And yet there is, Fletch,” Jack said. “I’m so sorry to have to dump this on you. But there is.”

Fletcher Galloway slowly rocked until he was in position to rise again. He shuffled into the kitchen. “You guys need anything?”

They didn’t respond.

The old man opened the refrigerator and stood staring in. Finally he idly grabbed a bottle of water and slowly returned. He looked as grave as Boone had ever seen him, and the last thing Boone wanted was to lay out such a devastating case.

But there was no way around it.

Galloway removed the cap from his water bottle but made no move to drink from it. He just sat shaking his head and breathing loudly through his nose.