TWO

THE WALNUT PANELED WALLS of Chief of Police Marvin Danforth’s office held rows of mounted animal heads snarling into the room. Interspersed between the hunting trophies hung photographs of Danforth at various times during his checkered career.

Danforth stood up when Sergeant Kohen entered his office, but not to be polite. He brushed by her, slammed the door, and then turned and glared at her with that pissed off expression he wore when things didn't go his way. Ashley braced herself for a confrontation. The smell of stale cigarette smoke filled the room.

"Okay, Kohen. What the fuck happened out there?"

Ashley stood at attention. "I've reported everything to Professional Standards, sir. You should have their report."

"I have it. Answer my question."

"Yes, sir. Last night I worked late and parked the police car in a secured place. On my way to work this morning I heard dispatch report a robbery in progress at the corner of Cicero and Prospect, a retail shoe store only two minutes away. I answered the call and proceeded to that location."

"Standard procedure. Get on with it."

"Yes, sir. As I drove up, I saw Officer Saviano stroll into the store. I assumed he didn’t know he was going into a dangerous situation–a robbery in progress. I parked in the alley behind the store and entered the unlocked back door of the building. I did this so I could approach unobserved and stop any harm coming to a fellow officer. With my gun drawn, I passed through the storage room and heard shouting up-front. When I entered the store I saw Officer Saviano holding Mr. Chan against the wall by the shirtfront and punching him. He yelled he wanted more money. They were alone in the store."

"What did you do?'

Ashley suspected the Chief had not read the report. He should know all of this. "I holstered my weapon and asked Saviano what was going on."

"What did he say?"

"He screamed at me. Told me this wasn't my territory, and to fuck off. His words, not mine, sir."

"What then?"

"Mr. Chan begged me to help him. He said he reported a robbery because he knew Saviano would come by and steal his money. Like he always did."

Chief Danforth edged forward, his eyes fixed on her. "That's bullshit."

Ashley stepped back. "It's not bullshit, sir. Officer Saviano assaulted the store owner right in front of me. Saviano had a fist full of money in his right hand with the cash register drawer open. I had probable cause."

"Probable cause to do what?'

"Arrest Saviano, sir."

"You tried to arrest a fellow cop?"

Ashley took another step back. "Yes, sir. I again drew my weapon and ordered him to get down on the floor, hands on his head. That's when he pulled his gun and shot at me."

"I don't believe you. Joe Saviano didn't do that."

"The fingerprints on his gun are his. The On Scene Investigator dug his bullet out of the wall and bagged it. Ballistics will prove it came from Saviano’s gun."

"More bullshit. If he shot at you, you'd be dead."

Ashley took one more step back. She felt the wall behind her. "Have you ever tried to fire a Glock with a hand full of cash, Chief? We don't train with that handicap. And I don't stand still when someone reaches for a gun. I move fast and return fire."

Chief Danforth got in her face. "You killed Joe Saviano." He poked his finger against her chest hard. "Joe Saviano was my friend." Another poke with the finger. "We served together." One more poke, harder this time.

"Don’t touch me again."

"Or what?"

Her body tightened. She worked out the moves she’d take to put this flabby red-faced piece of crap on the floor. With her years of martial arts training, he’d fall in seconds. Then she relaxed. Stayed in control. "I'll twist your foot."

Danforth blinked. "You'll twist my foot?" He laughed, stepped back and then moved behind his massive hand-carved desk which occupied one end of the room. "I'll tell you what you'll do. You'll put your badge and gun right here." He pointed at the center of his desk. "Right now."

"Are you firing me?"

"What the hell do you think?"

"I have spent my life preparing for this job. To carry out a mission."

He sneered. "What mission?"

"To stop those who would hurt innocent people.” Her expression grew solemn. “Evil people bent on senseless acts of violence."

"So you want to wipeout organized crime all by yourself?"

Frowning, Ashley shook her head. "Something like that."

"Well, you won't do it as a member of this department. I want your gun and badge right here, right now."

Released from the need to be respectful, Ashley moved to the desk and confronted the Chief. "You've watched too many movies, Danforth. That's not the way it works. First I go before a Review Board of my peers for a hearing. Then the Professional Standards Unit makes a recommendation. They will find I acted in self-defense, and in fear of my life. Saviano assaulted me with deadly force while committing a felony. I will be cleared, and you know it."

"Professional Standards will do whatever the hell I tell them to do. Badge and gun." He banged his fist down on the desk. "Right here!"

Ashley didn't move.

"Maybe you don't get it, girlie. Commander Morgan is right outside. If I tell him to arrest you for the murder of Officer Joe Saviano, he will do it. You have ten seconds, before I open that door. Last chance, badge and gun, now."

Ashley unclipped her badge and removed her gun from the holster. She centered both on the desk, and then locked eyes with Danforth. "You made one mistake."

"I don't make mistakes."

Ashley spoke with new confidence. "Last year you took me off the streets and assigned me to records, making me an administrator–a glorified secretary.”

“Yea, so what. You’re a woman, aren’t you?”

Ashley ignored the affront. “When you transferred me last year, you screwed yourself big time. There will be no arrest today, at least not of me."

Danforth narrowed his eyes.

She continued. "You will accept my resignation with regret, and have one of your more intelligent flunkies write a glowing letter of recommendation for me. If you can't find someone smart enough to write it, I'll dictate one."

"You're out of your mind, Kohen. That won't happen. But I can tell you what will happen, and you' won't like it."

"Not before I tell you a story. A true crime story, and you are the star of the show."

Danforth pulled back, clearly shocked at her impudence.

Ashley put both hands on the desk between them, and spoke in a cold level voice, "Last year when you assigned me to records I controlled data for the whole department including the Intelligence Unit. A fancy name for your personal spy club. I heard rumors about you and how you bent the rules to suit your needs. I watched you manipulate this department so you can stay in office.”

Danforth, his fists clenched, shouted, "You're out of line. I'm going to..."

"You're the one out of line. Under your written orders you have conducted illegal wiretaps on innocent people–some famous. You've ordered shakedown operations to fund election campaign donations for public officials, and carried out 'services' for your friends and political cronies. I have copies of your activities spanning the past ten years." Ashley drew breath and got in Danforth's face. "And I have your Vendetta Files."

"You what? My personal files? I'll have your ass on a plate, this..."

Ashley cut him off, again. "The only ass hanging out around here is yours." She straightened and crossed her arms. "Those files hold all the dirty little secrets you used to blackmail your enemies and threaten your friends if they don't do your bidding. I also have the files you’ve collected on your commanders and most of the division heads of the Chicago PD. Wouldn't they like to know what a paranoid bastard you are?"

"How did you get your hands on those files?"

Ashley tilted her head to the side, “Don’t you remember? You put me in charge of records." She had him off balance and relished the feeling.

Chief Marvin Danforth fell silent. His eyes darted about the room. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into Kohen. I have dealt with this 'holier than thou' shit before. No one fucks with Marvin Danforth and lives."

"You mean like those two street cops you had killed–Morris and O’Neil," she gestured with air quotes, “in the line of duty?” Everyone in the department knows about that, only they can't prove it." She leaned into his face. "But I can."

Danforth stood silent for a moment. A bead of sweat formed on his upper lip. "So you think you got me by the balls. Think again."

"That's what I do. I think. I think about those two honest cops. I think about why they died and what they didn't do to stay alive."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever hear of Skyscope?"

"What?"

"Skyscope is a virtual data bank in the Cloud. It's not on my computer or any computer. It's deep in the digital universe–in its own special cloud. I have an account. It's coded. I have transferred all of your records to my Skyscope account. Every dark secret protecting your career is in my account. Did I say it's coded? So a dumb-ass like you can understand what I'm saying, I'll lay it out for you in simple terms. It’s called biometrics. Only a scan of my eye will open it; it’s not a password your cronies can hack. And get this; if I don't check in periodically, the data dumps. Do you get my drift?”

Danforth’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the desk.

"The data dumps right in the lap of the Illinois State Attorney's Office. Also the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and just in case no one is paying attention, I have arranged for an email service to send hard copies to every newspaper in three states." She paused for a moment, with a glint in her eyes. "Do you feel a little tug on your testes, Marvin?"

His face drained of color and became covered with sweat. He stared back at her, but not with the glare of anger she saw before.

In silence, they studied each other for a long moment. Finally, Danforth spoke. "If you turn me in, you lose your edge, and I'll get you. You’ll be dead meat."

Ashley knew he'd do it or have someone do it for him. "That's a given, but you and your buddies will rot in prison for life, and one of the scumbags you sent away will make you his whore. That's also a given."

Danforth proposed an alternative. "If you don't turn me in and give me the files, you're free. No arrest," he said with a straight face.

"Am I supposed to not notice 'give me the files'? You've been dealing with Neanderthals too long. No, deal old buddy, but you can count on this; I'm going on paid administrative leave as long as it takes to get my head together. You will award me a Commendation for Valor and great letters of reference when I resign."

Danforth frowned, shifted his weight, but nodded agreement.

"One more thing. No reports on the Brady List. Nothing!"

"The Law Enforcement Integrity List?"

"I'm surprised you know anything about a list with the word 'integrity' in it." Ashley picked up her badge and gun, and moved closer. “Think of Skyscope as a shotgun aimed at your ass. I control the trigger because my eye-scan is on file.” She paused. “I have only one question for you."

His arms hung limp, his shoulders sagged. "What?'

"Did I twist your foot, yet?"

Danforth rocked back. He didn’t laugh this time.

Ashley knew she had more than twisted his foot, she had humbled him. Yes, she had lost her job, but she had protected herself from one of the most powerful politicians in the state. A man who could have snuffed out her life and her mission to protect the innocent. A mission that would change her life, and the lives of many others in the not too distant future.