The Executioner

Hundred and Nineteen

Captain Blake was standing in front of the new picture board, studying the four suspects’ photographs left on it, when Hunter and Garcia arrived back at the RHD. Hopkins had already brought her up to speed with the latest developments.

‘There’s one thing I forgot to tell you about me when we first met,’ Captain Blake said calmly, closing the door once Hunter and Garcia reached their desks. ‘I’m not the kind of person who swears easily.’ She lifted both hands in an ‘I admit’ gesture. ‘Don’t get me wrong. I’m no Miss Goody Two Shoes. Sometimes you need to swear to properly express yourself. In my case that happens only when I’m really pissed off.’

‘Are we in any danger of you getting to the point anytime soon, captain?’

‘Shut the fuck up and listen, Robert. Does this look like a fucking two-way conversation to you?’ Her calm tone had vanished. ‘Do you two have shit for brains, or are you both just plain imbeciles? I’m getting goddamn tired of repeating myself to you. What did I fucking tell you two? I told you I wanted to be informed the second you located the psychic girl. Do you wanna know what I just found out?’ Her heels clicked as she paced the room. ‘I just found out that you not only knew where the girl was, but you transferred her into a hotel, and now you fucking lost her. Shit, Robert.’ The captain slammed her closed fist on his desk with an emphatic thump. ‘Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?’

Hunter kept his voice even. ‘Because I know what would’ve happened, captain. You would’ve brought her here, stuck her in an interrogation room and bombarded her with questions she wouldn’t have been able to answer. Not because she wanted to hide anything, but because she simply doesn’t know the answers. I’ve asked her everything that could be asked. She doesn’t know why she sees the things she sees, and she can’t control it.’ Hunter breathed in sharply. ‘If she made it into your report, I’m sure Chief Collins or Mayor Edwards would’ve requested she’d be interviewed by a psychologist, who’d certainly be looking to discredit her rather than understand.’

‘You’re a goddamn psychologist,’ the captain shot back angrily. ‘You could’ve done the interview yourself.’

‘Do you think the mayor would’ve allowed me to conduct the interview?’

‘I told you I’d deal with the mayor. He’s my problem, not yours. I always stand behind my detectives, but you don’t seem to wanna trust me. I would’ve listened to you first, Robert.’

Hunter ran his hand through his hair.

‘Now, the chief and the mayor will inevitably hear about this, via my report or not. And all of a sudden the pressure that I’m already under will start to reach boiling point. The two of you have undermined my authority twice. If I don’t take action, I’m gonna look weak in my position as captain, not only to them, but to everyone in this department and the LAPD.’

‘What do you mean by “take action”?’ Garcia asked.

‘I mean suspend your asses.’