Dave nodded to the dispatcher behind the plexiglass wall as he made his way to Grady Larson’s office. It was the largest of three offices on the first floor of the Public Safety Building.
The CLPD had nine sworn officers: a chief, one patrol sergeant, two detective/sergeants, and five patrol officers. The detectives were also considered patrol officers, but with added duties. Grady’s door was open, so Dave walked in, finding his boss poring over a stack of papers. “I made it as fast as I could. What’s up?” He held his breath, hoping it wasn’t bad news.
“Sit down.” Grady nodded to a chair as he scrutinized Dave’s shirt. “Where’s your badge?”
“My … what?” He looked down. “Oh, shit.” He’d been racing out of his place this morning and instead of taking the time to pin it on, he’d pocketed it, thinking he’d do it once he was in the car. But he’d forgotten. “I—” He removed it from his pocket.
“Jeez, Tamborsky. Wake the hell up.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want excuses. Are you tired or something? Not getting enough sleep? Where were you last night?”
Dave’s head snapped up. “Excuse me?”
Leaning closer to the desk, Grady spoke out of the side of his mouth. “Look, son, I know you’ve been sleeping with that woman up in Clarksville. Paula something-or-other. She’s pretty, and she has a good job. Why don’t you put me out of my misery and marry her?”
“Put you out of misery?”
“If I had a nickel for every time someone said to me, ‘Hey, Grady, why don’t you help poor Dave Tamborsky find himself a wife and settle down—’”
“People actually say that to you? Poor Dave?”
“Enough said.” Shifting back in his chair, he continued, “I’m taking you off the Romilly investigation.”
“What?”
“I was at a party last night. One of the guests pointed out that you were a friend of Sam Romilly’s. That you were in the same class. That might be a conflict.”
“Are you serious?”
“The case is sensitive, son. It has nothing to do with your job performance. You know I think you’re a good officer. You work hard, you’re fair, and you care about the people you serve.” Narrowing one eye, he asked, “Ever heard of a true crime podcast?”
“Yeah.”
“Well I hadn’t. Checked it out online this morning. It’s some kind of internet radio show that deals with Minnesota cold cases. The same woman who mentioned that you and Romilly were friends told me she works for one. She plans on looking into Sam’s death. She’s pushy, so we may have some problems with her.”
“What’s her name?”
“Jane Lawless. She’s up for the art center festival, staying out at the Granholm place. But forget about her. She’s not your problem. Reopening the Romilly case is going to be a huge headache for this department. I need to avoid any appearance of impropriety. So you’re done. I’m putting Bobby Saltus on it.”
“Saltus? But he doesn’t have my experience.”
“No, but I’m planning to work with him as needed, so no worries.”
Dave thrashed around inside his mind for a way to make the chief reverse his decision, but since he’d never anticipated being removed, he had no idea how to argue against it. Saltus had only been on the force a few years. He was a pretty boy. He’d grown up in the Cities, so he didn’t know people in town the way Dave did. How Grady could see that as a plus was beyond him.
“I’m putting you in charge of the fire at the Gilbert house.”
“Okay, but—”
“We’ll get the official word on whether it was or wasn’t arson once the fire investigator finishes his examination. Between you and me, it would surprise the hell out of me if it wasn’t.”
As if on cue, Bobby Saltus appeared in the doorway. “You wanted to see me, Chief?”
“Sit down.” Grady tossed his pen on the desk.
Saltus sat on a folding chair and looked quizzically from face to face.
“I’m putting you in charge of the Romilly investigation,” said Grady.
“Me?” A slow smile spread across his face.
Dave tried to hide his loathing. Saltus was a Justin Bieber look-alike with air for brains. He spent the majority of his working hours chatting up girls.
“Look, Chief,” said Dave. “Okay, so I might not be able to help in the field, but I could for sure help on background. I knew Romilly. I knew his friends. That’s worth something.”
Grady tapped a finger against his double chin. “You have a point. Let me think on it.”
Dave turned to offer Saltus a smile of his own, but instead nearly laughed out loud when he saw the pout forming.
Grady pushed the stack of papers aside and picked up an envelope. “Next. I’m gonna give you both a chance to weigh in on this.” He opened the envelope, removed a piece of white typing paper, and waved it around. “This was shoved under the outer door sometime before I arrived this morning. It’s typed. Short and to the point. I’ll read it to you.
“To whom it may concern. I have information on the Romilly murder, but I can’t come forward because I fear for my safety. Check into these four people. I know they have information they’ve never talked about.
Jim Hughes
Kurt Steiner
Scott Romilly
Darius Pollard
“I’ll help more if I can. Sincerely, A Friend.” Looking up, Grady said, “So what do you make of that?”
“I’ll check into it,” said Saltus.
“Hughes was a friend of Sam’s,” said Dave. “So was Steiner. They were on the high school swim team. Don’t know much about Pollard, but Scott’s Sam’s younger brother, works at Lakeside Community Bank. Never done anything wrong, far as I know. None of them have.”
Grady nodded, as if settling something in his mind. “Well, I think we have some work to do. Bobby, I want you to call each of these people down to the station for an interview.”
“I’m on it,” said Saltus.
“Dave, go check out the house fire.”
He hesitated. Couldn’t the chief see what a bad idea it was to take him off the Romilly case? He knew so much more about the people in Sam’s life than Saltus. Then again, Grady hadn’t totally cut him out, at least that’s what Dave hoped his comment, “You have a point,” had meant. And he figured he could push Saltus around if he needed to. No way on earth was he going to back away from the investigation.