Redemption

Chapter 25

The Judge did a double take when he looked down first at the docket sheet and then up at Amos Decker, who stood behind the counsel table.

At the prosecutor’s table stood Elizabeth Bailey, a veteran prosecutor who knew Decker quite well. They had worked numerous cases together while he’d been on the police force.

Behind the waist-high rail where the public could sit, there were only two people: Blake Natty and Superintendent Peter Childress, a tall portly man in his late fifties with gray hair cut short and a puffy, pockmarked face. He had on a dark suit, crisply starched white dress shirt, a blue-and-white-striped tie, and a white pocket square.

“Decker?” said the judge, a diminutive man in his late sixties with a reedy neck and an abundance of silvery hair that contrasted starkly with his dark robe. He peered at Decker through thick black-framed glasses. “Amos Decker?”

“Yes, Judge Dickerson. It’s me.”

“Obstruction of justice charge?” said Dickerson, glancing at the charging document. “Interfering with a police investigation? I thought you were with the police.”

“I left to join the FBI a couple of years ago, but I’m still a sworn officer here in Burlington.”

Dickerson moved his lips as he read something off the papers lying in front of him. Then he slid off his glasses, set them down, steepled his hands, and looked at the prosecutor.

She stood there looking quite anxious.

“Ms. Bailey, can you explain to me what in the world is going on here?” said Dickerson.

Bailey was in her forties, her frame big-boned. The woman’s blonde hair had dark roots. She wore a beige suit and white blouse along with a small chain necklace. Bailey took a moment to deliver a quick scowl at Natty. She cleared her throat as she looked back at the judge.

“Mr. Decker is being charged with obstruction of justice and interfering with a police investigation.”

For a moment it looked like she might continue, but Bailey set her lips in a firm line and said nothing more.

Dickerson looked perplexed. “Well, I know that. That’s what I just read off the document. What I mean is, I would like more of an explanation.”

“Mr. Decker was approached by a man named Meryl Hawkins.”

“Meryl Hawkins? The Meryl Hawkins?”

“Yes, Your Honor. He was released from prison early because, well, because of medical issues. He met with Detective Mary Lancaster and Mr. Decker, proclaimed his innocence for the murders, and asked them to clear his name.”

“And he was subsequently murdered?” said Dickerson.

“Yes.”

“And how does that bring Mr. Decker here today?”

“Mr. Decker was asked by Captain Miller to look into the murder of Mr. Hawkins and also to reexamine the previous case against Mr. Hawkins.”

Dickerson tapped his finger against the top of his bench and said patiently, “That in no way answers my question about why Mr. Decker is here today. Indeed, it only deepens my confusion, Ms. Bailey.”

“Yes, Your Honor. I can understand that. But—”

Childress gripped the railing and abruptly stood. “Judge, please, if I may? I think I can clear this up.”

Dickerson slid his gaze over to Childress, and Decker thought he could see a shadow pass over the jurist’s features at the sight of Burlington’s top cop.

Decker had not been the only one to think the superintendent of police was an arrogant, incompetent jerk who crossed the line when it suited him. There were many who had been stunned to see Childress leapfrog over the more senior Captain Miller for the superintendent job. But rumor was that Miller had declined the position because he wanted to remain closer to the people on the police force. And though he habitually treated underlings badly, Childress was polite and deferential to those above him in the pecking order. And he could make the biggest bunch of bullshit sound totally legit. Decker thought he might be about to get a sampling of that talent right now.

Dickerson said, “Superintendent Childress, I didn’t see you over there. Can you explain what exactly is going on? If Captain Miller authorized Decker to—”

“That is absolutely true, Your Honor. However, after we looked at this matter again, we came to conclude that Mr. Decker, who is no longer a member of this department, could bring untold legal liability to the city of Burlington if he did something outside legal parameters while ostensibly acting on the department’s behalf. Indeed, he was found searching the residence of Mr. Hawkins’s old home without benefit of a search warrant.”

“I didn’t need a search warrant since I had the permission of the homeowner,” interjected Decker.

Childress carried on smoothly, “Be that as it may, we can’t run around behind Mr. Decker to make sure he follows the law. Indeed, he was formally told by this department not to involve himself in this investigation, and yet he disobeyed that request. We had no alternative but to take him into custody, and that’s why we’re here today.”

Dickerson seemed to be wavering. “As I recall, didn’t Detective Decker solve the case behind the terrible shootings at Burlington High School a couple of years ago?”

“Indeed, he did,” said Childress. “In fact, the department awarded Mr. Decker a commendation for his work on the case, and I was there applauding as loud as anyone. This is clearly nothing personal, as I’m a big fan of Mr. Decker’s. But we have a department to run and I can’t sit by and see him do damage to it.”

“All right, I see your point.”

Bailey said, “Your Honor, this is simply a bail hearing and a chance for Mr. Decker to enter his plea.”

“Not guilty,” said Decker immediately.

“Are you represented by counsel, Mr. Decker?” asked the judge.

“Not yet, sir. I’m working on it, if it comes to that.” He glanced over at Childress and saw the man staring at him with a grim expression.

Bailey quickly said, “Because of Mr. Decker’s previous relationship with the department and his current work with the FBI, we’re fine with him being released on his own recognizance.”

Childress stepped forward. “I think Ms. Bailey’s facts need to be somewhat updated, Your Honor. Mr. Decker no longer has ties to this community. He moved away over two years ago. And he obviously no longer works for the department, which is one of the reasons we’re here today. And I have it on good authority that he may not even work for the FBI, so the points made by Ms. Bailey for his being released on his own recognizance fall away.”

“Do you really consider Mr. Decker a flight risk?” asked Dickerson.

Childress spread his hands and said in a very sincere voice, “Again, when he was on the force, he had no bigger cheerleader than me, Judge. But he’s been gone a long time now. I can’t say that I know the man anymore. And, quite frankly, him going rogue like that after he was warned off the case, well, it does not inspire confidence, I have to say.”

Dickerson looked over at Decker. “Is all that true?”

“I still work for the FBI. And I do have ties to the community.”

Childress jumped in. “I’m afraid that’s simply not true. He has no home here, or other property. Or job. Or—”

“My family is buried here,” said Decker quietly, looking not at Childress, but staring directly at Dickerson. “That’s why I came back to town. To visit the graves of my wife and my daughter. It would have been her fourteenth birthday.” He paused. “So my ties to this community run very deep. About as deep as they can, in fact.”

Natty clucked his tongue and rolled his eyes at this. Childress looked visibly put out by the statement. However, Bailey’s eyes watered and she looked down at her hands.

Dickerson nodded. “Mr. Decker, I accept your not-guilty plea, and you are released without bond on your own recognizance. A trial date will be set. I just ask that if you are planning to leave the area that you let the court know.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Your Honor, until all of this is settled.”

Dickerson disappeared into his chambers. As soon as the door was closed, Childress stepped directly in front of Decker and looked him up and down. Now that the judge was no longer around, the man’s entire demeanor had changed from professional and genuine to cocksure and mean.

“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you’re back in town, Decker. Because your ass is going down for this.” He looked over at Natty. “What are the sentencing guidelines for this again, Natty?”

“One to three. Double that for aggravated circumstances.”

Childress stared gleefully at Decker. “Here’s hoping for aggravated circumstances, then.”

Decker looked him over. “You must not want to solve Hawkins’s murder.”

“Why do you say that?” said Childress, the grin still planted on his face.

“You assigned Natty to it. He can’t even solve the mystery of why you’re a dick.”

Bailey coughed and looked away, rubbing at her eye.

“You think you’re so much smarter than everybody else, don’t you?” barked Childress.

“No. But I know I screwed up the Richards and Katz murders. And I’m here to fix that.”

“The only thing you should be working on are your obstruction and interference charges.”

“I think that’ll play itself out okay.”

“Oh, you do, do you?” said Childress, his grin deepening as he shot a glance at Natty before looking back at Decker. “And why the hell is that?”

“I don’t want to waste my time telling you, because you wouldn’t understand.”

Childress jammed a finger in Decker’s chest. “I’m smart enough to be the superintendent of this fucking police department.”

“No, you’re really not. That’s all due to you benefiting enormously from a principle.”

“You’re damn right I have principles.”

“No, I said principle. Singular.”

Childress looked at him strangely. “What the hell are you getting at?”

“It’s actually named for you, Childress.”

“What is?”

“The Peter Principle.” Decker turned to Bailey. “I guess my lawyer, whenever I find one, will be in touch, Beth.”

She nodded. “Thanks, Amos. I can give you some recommendations.”

Decker looked over at Natty. “When I find Hawkins’s and the Richardses’ and Katz’s murderers, I’ll let you know.”

“You’re not to go anywhere near that,” said Natty angrily.

“Somebody tried to kill me,” said Decker. “I don’t take kindly to that.”

“We’re working on that,” said Natty.

“Any leads?” asked Decker.

“We’re working on it,” repeated Natty. “I don’t like you, Decker. You know that. But I like even less people trying to take out a cop. I’m gonna get whoever did that.”

Childress appeared to still be focused on what Decker had said to him.

“There’s no law against an FBI agent investigating a crime,” said Decker.

“I know you’re not working this case for the FBI,” said Natty.

“Based on what?” said Decker.

“Based on... based on... based on I damn well said so.”

Bailey gave this comment a well-deserved eye roll, picked up her briefcase, and said in an incredulous tone to the still confused-looking Childress, “The Peter Principle?” When Childress still looked perplexed, she added, “For God’s sake, just Google it.”

She walked out.

Decker followed her.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” snapped Childress.

Decker kept right on walking.