Cemetery Dance

Chapter 25

Rocker saw D'Agosta immediately, less than a minute after he'd arrived in the commissioner's outer office at the very top of One Police Plaza. D'Agosta took this summons to be a good sign. The Smithback homicide was high profile — very high profile — and he had no doubt Rocker was following his progress in the case with interest. As he passed Rocker's assistant, Alice, a grandmotherly woman with a pile of gray hair, he gave her a wink and a smile. She did not smile back.

He strode into the grand paneled office with all its accoutrements of power, the huge mahogany desk with the green leather top, the wainscoted oak paneling, the Persian rug, all solid and traditional. Like Rocker.

Rocker was already standing at the window, and he didn't turn as D'Agosta entered. Nor, uncharacteristically, did he ask D'Agosta to take a seat in one of the overstuffed sofa — chairs that graced the sitting area opposite his desk.

D'Agosta waited a moment before venturing a small "Commissioner?"

The man turned around, hands clasped behind his back. On seeing the man's dark red face, D'Agosta felt sudden nausea in his gut.

"So what's this Kline business?" the commissioner asked abruptly.

D'Agosta did a quick mental backpedaling. "Well, sir, it's related to the Smithback homicide—"

"I'm aware of that," the commissioner rapped out. "What I mean is, why the heavy — handed search? You trashed the man's office."

D'Agosta took a deep breath. "Sir, Mr. Kline had made direct, verifiable threats to Smithback shortly before his death. He's a prime suspect."

"Then why didn't you charge him with threatening the deceased?"

"The threats were very careful, they stopped just this side of the law."

The commissioner stared at him. "And that's all you have against Kline? Vague threats to a journalist?"

"No, sir."

Rocker waited, his arms crossed.

"In the raid we netted Kline's collection of West African art — art that we can tie directly to an old voodoo — style religion. Similar to the objects found at the murder scene and on the victim's corpse."

"Similar? I thought they were masks."

"Masks, yes, but from the same tradition. We have an expert from the New York Museum examining them now."

The commissioner stared at him, tired eyes rimmed with red. It wasn't like him to be so brusque.Jesus, thought D'Agosta,Kline got to Rocker. Somehow, Kline got to him.

Rocker finally said, "I repeat: that's all?"

"The man's issued threats, he's a collector of voodoo items — I think that's a solid beginning."

"Solid? Lieutenant, let me tell you what you have. You have shit."

"Sir, I respectfully disagree." D'Agosta wasn't going to knuckle under. His entire team was behind him on this.

"Can't you understand we're dealing with one of the wealthiest men in Manhattan, a friend of the mayor, a philanthropist all over town, sitting on a dozen Fortune Five Hundred boards? You can't trash his office without a damn good reason!"

"Sir, this is just the beginning. I believe we have enough to justify continuing the investigation, and I intend to do just that." D'Agosta tried to keep his voice mild, neutral, but firm.

The commissioner stared at him. "Let me just say this: until you get a smoking gun on the man — and I meansmoking — you back off. That search was improper. It was harassment. And don't feign innocence. I was a homicide cop once, just like you. I know why you tossed his place, and I don't approve of those methods. You don't pull that drug — bust crap on a well — known, respected member of this city."

"He's a scumbag."

"That's the bad attitude I'm talking about, D'Agosta. Look, I'm not going to tell you how to run a homicide investigation, but I am warning you that the next time you want to pull something like that on Kline, think again." He stared long and hard at D'Agosta.

"I hear you, sir." D'Agosta had said what he had to say. No point in provoking the commissioner further.

"I'm not taking you off the Smithback homicide. Not yet. But I'm watching you, D'Agosta. Don't go native on me again."

"Yes, sir." The commissioner waved a hand dismissively as he turned back to the window. "Now get out of here."