Consent of the Governed

This story is part of an ongoing series. The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman’s biography.

Feedback and constructive criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.

This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racism, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.

***

(Author’s special note: As astute Detectives will realize from the title, this story is heavy on politics in the upcoming Election season on Earth-Crowbar. The story also cleans up and resolves ongoing issues from the previous few stories.

The next few stories after this one will be the whodunnit mystery stories that you love trying to solve, and will feature our favorite Detective (Carole) at work. So thank you for your patience and indulgence with this story as we move towards those.)

Part 1 – Prologue – Cleanup on Aisle 5

(Author’s note: In the previous story, ‘Town & County Confidential’ Ch. 03, it was mentioned that Commander Troy took the Detective Lieutenants Three out to lunch. This is what happened during that lunch.)

Friday, October 9th. I was treating the Detective Division’s Lieutenants to lunch at the Cop Bar. I’d called ahead to reserve the back ‘Command Room’, and we had it all to ourselves. Ranks were ‘off’ and everyone could speak freely, within bounds of reason.

I had the Double Breakfast Burger Plate. MCD’s Jerome Davis had the Double Cheeseburger Plate. Vice’s Micah Rudistan had fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans. Intel’s Mary Mahoney Milton had the Steak Caesar Salad… and took a vitamin supplement that I recognized… after all, my wife is a gynecologist. Mary noticed that I’d noticed, and said simply “Yes sir, it’s what you think.”

“And what I observe and think is that you and Myron are about to work on having another baby.” I said. Mary nodded, and Jerome and Micah congratulated her… with the requisite share of ribbing of Myron, who wasn’t here to defend himself.

“That’s great, Mary.” I said. “Best of luck with that. Anyhoo, the reason why I got y’all here by bribing you with buying lunch, is because there’s some things I need to tell you all. It’s embargoed, so don’t say anything to anyone just yet, not even your husband, Mary.”

“Sounds like they’ll be too busy to be talking, sir.” said Rudistan with great joviality. We all laughed. Rudistan could be as politically incorrect as he wanted to be, but he was so humorous about it that no one ever seemed to be offended or hold a grudge. But I digress…

“Good!” I said emphatically. “Seriously, though, this is pretty big. It’s an open secret that Commander Ross is going to retire, and is being nominated to succeed Chief of Staff Oswald, who is retiring from the Sheriff’s Department at the end of the year. It’s not so open and well-known a secret, but I can tell you now that it’s a done deal, that Captain Muscone is going to be nominated to be the next Deputy Police Chief.”

Jerome just nodded thoughtfully. Rudistan was busy trying to think of something jovially inappropriate to say. And Mary couldn’t decide whether she should be ecstatic that Tanya Muscone would no longer be her direct chain-of-command boss, or unhappy that Tanya was being promoted… and would be over her husband, I.T. Lieutenant Myron Milton.

I continued: “That, of course, affects all three of you the most. It leaves a vacancy for the position of Captain of Detectives, who will be your direct boss. And I know what you’re thinking… which one of you is going to be nominated to succeed Captain Muscone for the slot.”

I drank some water, then said: “I’ve had some long conversations with the Sheriff, the Chief, and my three Angels about it, and about one of you filling the role. Ultimately, the decision was left in my hands… and that decision is that none of you will be nominated to the position.”

Yep, I could feel the ‘vibe’ of disappointment, especially from Jerome and Mary. I hastily continued: “All three of you are doing outstanding jobs in your current positions, truly outstanding. And we did give each of you a lot of consideration. In the end, it boiled down to the fact that all of you are too young and not long enough in your current positions.”

Your Iron Crowbar: “I know the running joke that it’s hypocritical for me of all people to say that about others’s youth and inexperience, but in this case it’s true. There are Patrol Officers on the force older than each of you, and the Captain position is a whole different ballgame than being the Lieutenants of your units. You’ve got time. Time to grow, time to learn.”

I then said: “Besides, Rudistan, you’re still pissing 2nd Precinct water.” Rudistan burst out chuckling at that. I then said “Jerome, you’re so babyfaced, no one would believe you’re even a Lieutenant.”

“Speaking freely, sir, ” Jerome fired back, “not many people believe you’re a Police Commander, either, young whippersnapper!” That made Mary burst out in laughter, and she could not stop for a moment.

I was laughing also. “Touché. And yes, I’ve had people ask for a Sergeant, because they didn’t realize I was ranked even higher.” (Author’s note: ‘The Credit Card Caper’, Ch. 01.)

“If I may ask, sir,” said Mary when she finally stopped laughing, “are you going to bring in someone from the outside, or are you promoting from within?”

“Yes.” I replied simply…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1:00pm, Saturday, October 10th. Sheriff Griswold, Chief Moynahan, Me, Commander Cindy Ross, Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle, and Captain Tanya P. Muscone were in the back room of The Cattleman’s Club. Also present, and being interviewed, was LAPD Lieutenant Claire Michaels.

“When I left the TCPD,” Claire said, “it was mostly because I wanted to get back home. And it’s been great with the LAPD’s Major Crimes unit. But Commander Raytheon died, Captain Provino is about to retire, and they’re swapping out people.”

“Also,” Claire continued, “things have changed in California over the last few years, and for the worse for the Police. We can’t arrest anyone, and if we do, the prosecutors won’t try them, especially if they’re black. If we’d done to the rioters burning down the streets last summer what you did to your rioters here, the perps would be let go, and we Police Officers would be put in jail and tried for attempted murder… literally.”

“So,” Claire finished up, “I’m looking for a place where the Police know their Leadership and the politicians have their backs. I took a shot emailing Commander Troy, and he told me about the promotions you were having… and congratulations for those, by the way… so I said I was interested and here I am.”

“It’s been pretty tough here, too.” Cindy Ross said. “We have the US DOJ Civil Rights Division suing the Mayor, and they’ll probably sue us after the New Year.”

Teresa Croyle added “And we’ve had our share of violent riots. :Like you said, we fight back and we don’t coddle the criminals, but we’ve had some losses.” She recounted Corporal Inga Gunddottar’s imminent move to the NYPD.

“I know you were here for a few years, Ms. Michaels,” said the Chief, “but a lot has changed here since you left for LA. We have a new Intel Branch that is doing a superlative job, some new Detectives to go with the old Detectives you knowwww, and thanks to the Iron Crowbar and Commander Croyle, the very best Uniformed Police Force I’ve ever had the pleasure to seeee.”

“I have a question for you.” Teresa Croyle said. “What would you say your leadership style is? Top-down, working through your Lieutenants? Or more hands-on, getting in the dirt with everyone, going to every crime scene, and all that?” We all nodded at the question, which was a good one… and potentially tricky.

Claire replied: “As a Lieutenant in my LAPD unit, I’ve always been active in the field, going to crime scenes and participating in raids and arrests. But as a Captain here, I’d have to evaluate what works best for me, for my Lieutenants, and the Detectives.”

Chief Moynahan said: “You’re definitely ready to testify before Congressss, should you ever be nominated to the Supreme Courrrrrt.” We all chuckled at that.

Claire: “And of course, sir, if Sheriff Griswold and Commander Troy are at the crime scenes, I’d want to be there. Just to learn from them, if nothing else.”

Sheriff Griswold’s mustaches twitched merrily as he said “She passes my test. Good asskissing skills, Michaels.” We really broke out laughing at that.

“I have a question.” Claire said. “Who does the Captain of Detectives answer to? Who will my direct boss be?”

“Me.” I said. “Of course, Commander Croyle may give you instructions on my behalf, or she may give you and your Detectives instructions in coordination with operations jointly involving them and our Uniformed Officers. But in the event of any question or conflict, you answer directly to me.” Everyone nodded at that…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was overcast, and would be pouring rain all night, beginning around sunset. The Sheriff, Teresa, Cindy and I were in the greatroom of The Cabin. Laura, Paulina, and Molly had taken their respective children to their respective homes, so we were alone.

“The Chief didn’t even let Claire get on the plane without accepting his offer.” Cindy said. “She starts November 1st. I just hope the Council approves all the moves.”

“They will.” I said. “Besides, your retirement is a done deal, so we can put Tanya in the Deputy Chief slot unilaterally on a ‘temporary’ basis, clearing the way for Claire to come in as Captain of Detectives.”

“How do you think Jerome, Mary, and Micah will handle the news?” Teresa asked. “We didn’t even give them the courtesy of interviews.”

“I took them all out to lunch Friday.” I said. “I didn’t tell them that Claire was all but a done deal, but I did tell them that I wasn’t going to promote any of them at this time, because they are either too young, or too recently installed as Lieutenants. I think they understood.”

“What about Hugh Hewitt?” Cindy asked, naming the 1st Precinct Captain. Claire and Hugh had been in a relationship, and one reason Claire went to LA was because of their breakup, I knew.

“That’s a good point.” I said. “Teresa, put out a friendly reminder email to all personnel that Officers that start a relationship with other Officers need to fill out the paperwork for H.R. And if you or I perceive any issue with Hugh, we’ll have an off-the-record talk with him.”

“Good.” barked Sheriff Griswold. “The Lieutenants and Detectives are all good professionals, and I think Hugh will be fine, also. Anyway, it’s going to be a new era for us, and the Town & County Public Safety Department. Let’s make it a good one…”

Part 2 – Morning with the Media

“This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!” shouted the redheaded MILF reporterette at 7:00am, Monday, October 12th, from the anchor desk at KXTC studios. “Early voting in the State begins today!”

After the hard-charging music intro, Bettina began: “We have full Team coverage of this important day in the most important Election in both Town & County and State history! Let’s go to political reporter Carl Lemay at the Southside polling location. Carl!”

“That’s right, Bettina!” said the handsome black reporter, wearing an expensive suit as he stood in front of Joe Smedley Elementary School, which was just west of the A.M.E. Church. “Long lines have already formed as the Black Community is very eager to vote in this Election! Many consider this a chance to right what they saw as the wrong of the Mayoral election two years ago being stolen from Eldrick X. Weaver.”

Lemay: “And while the stereotypes are that Blacks vote exclusively Democrat, political experts are saying that Republican Katina Jones could do significantly well against former Board of Inquiry leader Edgar Silas for the Council seat being vacated by the retirement of Reginald B.F. Lewis. Ms. Jones is a charismatic young woman that has attracted attention all across the State and this region of the Country.”

Lemay: “And in the extremely important race for Inspector General between former Board of Inquiry member Bruce Finneran and Republican SBI Director James ‘Curly’ Goodwin, experts are saying that it could be a toss-up in the southside districts composed mostly of minorities, even though Mr. Finneran has promised to hold the Town & County Police accountable for acts of Police brutality against People of Color, and said that his first act will be to bring Commander Donald Troy up on charges so that Troy can be terminated from the Police Force.”

Bettina: “Carl, why is the early voting being done at Smedley Elementary? Won’t that interfere with classes?”

Lemay: “No, Bettina. After the newer George Floyd Elementary School was built right down the road, the new School Board shut down Smedley Elementary. They cited the age of the building, which is over 70 years old, and they also cited the complaints of many in the Black Community that the school was named after a white Police Officer, the late Joe Smedley. Even though Mr. Smedley was awarded the Medal of Valor, multiple Police and Fire Crosses, and six Purple Orders, matched only by TCPD Lieutenant Commander Teresa Croyle, many People of Color see him as a symbol of white Police oppression of minorities. Back to you, Bettina.”

Bettina: “I couldn’t agree more, Carl, about a majority-black school being named after a white cop. And next thing you know, they’ll try to name University Hospital after Teresa Croyle, who is Donald Troy’s right-hand-woman implementing his racism and Police brutality. And now let’s go to trusted reporter Amber Harris, who is at Mitt Romney Elementary School with a report on the northside. Amber!”

“That’s right, Bettina!” said the blonde, white, athletic reporterette. “The early voting is being held in the annex building on the edge of the grounds at the school, which shouldn’t disturb the children in their classes. But it may not matter, anyway, as the turnout so far is very light, only about a fifth of the numbers Carl is seeing on the Southside!”

Amber: “In the Council race between incumbent Kelly Carnes and industrialist Bill Redmond, experts are saying that Ms. Carnes holds an edge in the polls, as she is the incumbent, and wealthy neighborhoods are increasingly rejecting the racist policies of the Republican Party. Both Mrs. Carnes and Mr. Redmond are virulent opponents of the brutal Police policies of Police Commander Donald Troy, and have promised to work ceaselessly and tirelessly to remove him from the Town & County Police Force.”

Bettina: “Amber, what about the other races? For Mayor, and very importantly, for Inspector General?”

Amber: “Bettina, I’m told by the Channel Two Decision Desk, our group of expert pollsters and analysts, that the Mayoral race is very tight in the wealthy northern suburbs, and that Daniel Allgood cannot count on wealthy whites to vote for him. Also, Bruce Finneran was gaining on SBI Director Goodwin in this past weekend’s polling.”

Bettina: “Thank you for that important report, Amber! And in other news, the Town Assembly is hearing the proposals of the various agencies in Town & County Government for the Budget for next year. Let’s go to Pat Stellum for more. Pat!”

“That’s right, Bettina!” said Pat ‘Al Capone’ Stellum, reporting from in front of the State Office Building on the north side of Courthouse Square. “The State Legislature did not pass a State Budget in the last legislative session, and if they don’t pass one in the next session this coming Winter, there will be a total State Government shutdown. This will include moneys allocated to the State’s 96 counties and The City. These shortfalls would affect our County’s Budget, as well.”

Stellum: “But more importantly, Bettina, the Democrats on the Town Assembly have vowed to defund the Police and have vowed to block any Budget that contains even one dime for the TCPD. They may even defund the entire Public Safety Department, as the Assembly Democrats are bitterly angry at the role two EMTs played in rescuing an injured white Police Officer in the Jacquez Wilson uprisings.” (Author’s note: ‘Consequences’, Ch. 04.)

Bettina: “Pat, exactly when are the presentations? Specifically on what day and hour will the Public Safety presentation be? And will the Mayor be making a presentation, and when will that be?”

Stellum: “The Public Safety presentation to the Assembly is this Thursday, October 15th, beginning at 9:00am. Again, that’s 9:00am, Thursday, October 15th. It will be outgoing Sheriff Department Chief of Staff Charles T. Oswald’s last presentation to the Assembly. Somehow, Bettina, I don’t think they’ll be throwing him a party with cake and ice cream.”

Stellum: “As to the Mayor’s presentation, the Mayor is technically the Moderator of the Assembly but with no vote, similar to his position with the Council. He usually does not make a presentation, leaving that to the County Administrator. And this year, because of new offices created by rewriting the Charter, the Assembly will be hearing more presentations than ever, including from the School Board. Back to you, Bettina.”

Bettina: “Thank you for that informative report, Pat. And tomorrow night is the Town & County Council meeting, and it will be one of the most important ones in recent memory, as promotions and hirings into the Sheriff’s Department and Police Force will be considered, as well as other promotions and medals…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Maybe I should contact my lawyer, and sue Bettina?” said Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle as she, Sheriff Griswold, Chief Moynahan, Me, Commander Cindy Ross, and Captain Tanya Muscone drank coffee in the Chief’s Conference Room as we listened to the broadcast. Yes, the coffee klatch was ‘awn’.

“Won’t do you any good.” I replied. “And I speak as someone who’s tried. You’d be wasting your time and money. If Judge Folsom doesn’t give it to Judge Nance, who would immediately dismiss it in their favor, they’ll just drag it out for years, literally for years.”

Sheriff Griswold growled: “I’m pissed at the way they smeared Joe Smedley like they did. That man was our most heroic Officer and then Firefighter back in my day, before you young whippersnappers got here.”

Chief Moynahan said “I can’t beee-lieeeeeve blacks hate Smedley so badly that they’d shut down that school solely because his name is on it.”

“Why did they even name it after him in the first place?” asked Tanya.

“Because he went to school there when he was a kid.” said Cindy. “But I agree with the Chief. I know there are issues between Black and Blue, but Smedley saved more black lives as a Firefighter than most of the rest of us put together.”

I said: “Remember, guys, it was the politicians that did that, aided and abetted by the deeply corrupt Press, to keep the racism narrative going. Democrats will do anything, will tell any lie, to further that narrative, and the Press will help them in order to create hatred and division, and violence upon which they can report.”

I continued: “And speaking of that, Bettina and Stellum were tag-teaming to tell the exact time of the Public Safety presentation to the Assembly. Teresa, we’ll need a heavy LEO presence there. I suspect the Assemblypersons that want to defund the Police would love to start trouble, then say the Police quelled the disturbance with violence and therefore should be defunded.”

“I saw that too, sir.” Teresa said. “I’m on it.”

Sheriff Griswold said “I’ll have as many Deputies as you need report to you, Commander Croyle.”

“Thank you, Sheriff.” Teresa said. “I’m most worried about Cindy, since she’s pregnant. Is there any way we can shut off the Assembly Chamber to outsiders during the presentation?”

“That’s a tough one.” said the Sheriff. “It’s a public meeting of a public body, so the Assembly would have to go into Executive Session, like the Council sometimes does.”

“You can forbid them City Hall, where the Assembly is meeting, Sheriff.” I replied. “The Public Safety Department presentation is for them, by them, of them. The Assembly can ask for public input, but not necessarily when it’s the Public Safety Department’s floor.”

“Mis-ter Crowbarrrr, do you realize the optics of the Police shutting out the public at the Police presentation?” Chief Moynahan asked.

Sheriff Griswold replied: “Sean, the God-damned Press is going to do and say whatever they want, no matter what we do or say. So worrying about the optics only plays into the Haters’s hands. But here’s the good news: the Assembly Chamber is small, not like the public Council Chamber. We can issue tickets and passes, giving the Press first priority, and giving the rest only to people who have real reason to be there. And ginning up trouble and violence is not a real reason…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Hello and welcome to Fox University Sunrise!” said Catrina Pierce at 8:00am, from the Fox Eight News studios. “I’m Catrina Pierce, and with me is Meredith Peller. We’ll also have reports from Priya Ajmani and Greg Wallace. Good morning, Meredith.”

“Good morning, Catrina.” said Meredith. “Good morning, everyone. Here’s what’s in the news. Early voting has begun in the State today, and long lines have already formed at the early voting stations, particularly in areas that are considered to lean Democrat.”

Catrina: “Democrats traditionally vote earlier, with Republicans voting later or on Election Day itself. However, with today being a Federal and State holiday, many voters on both sides are taking the time to go to the polls today.”

Meredith: “We have with us Peter Dwayne Gordon of Clear Call Polling. Good morning, Peter!”

Peter D. Gordon came on the split-screen. “Hello Catrina and Meredith. This is obviously my favorite season of the year, and it’s an exciting time in political circles.”

Catrina: “We love reporting on it, too, Peter. What can you tell us about the Statewide races?”

Peter: “Catrina, Meredith, our rolling poll over the weekend, with a 2% margin of error, shows that Conservative Republican Sharon Marshall is leading Democrat Hoyt Stenson by ten points, 55-45%, among likely voters. Mr. Stenson’s numbers have dropped off significantly in the past few weeks, as the SBI and Independent State Counsel investigations of his son Hunter Stenson for both State and Federal crimes continues, and reports that Hoyt Stenson is not healthy.”

Meredith: “But Peter, the numbers for Mr. Stenson could improve in these last few months, couldn’t they?”

“Let me put it this way, Meredith.” said Peter, obviously relishing his words. “One truism you touched on is that voters leaning Democrat tend to vote earlier while Republicans wait until later. Another truism is that Republicans, especially Conservatives, don’t respond to polls, or even outright lie to pollsters. And these numbers are a reflection of those that did answer our polling questions. If anything, Meredith, Sharon Marshall actually has a wider margin than our numbers suggest.”

Catrina: “What about the Lieutenant Governor and State Attorney General races, Peter?”

Peter: “For Lieutenant Governor, State Senator Corey Coons has a 58-42% lead over political novice and Establishment Republican Ruby Russell, daughter of the late U.S. Senator Samuel Russell. And in the State A.G. race, Republican Gil Krasney and Democrat Glenn Alberts are in a dead heat, 50-50.”

Meredith: “What about the local races, Peter? Mayor, Inspector General, Solicitor, and the Council and Assembly?”

Peter: “For Mayor, we have a statistical dead heat between incumbent Mayor Allgood and challenger Eldrick X. Weaver, and again Meredith, we think a lot of Conservative, pro-Police voters are not telling us how they’re going to vote, which will bode well for Mayor Allgood. For Inspector General, despite what your competitor KXTC tells their viewers to think, it’s going to be a landslide victory for James ‘Curly’ Goodwin over NAMbLA member Bruce Finneran. And in the Solicitor’s race, over 50% of our respondents didn’t even know who was running, but among those that did, ADA Savannah Fineman holds a slight lead over incumbent Ted Mason.”

After Peter’s interview ended, Catrina Pierce said “And we’re pleased to report that our new show ‘The Four’ will air at 4:00pm local time today! Greg Wallace and I will be two of your hosts, and today’s inaugural show will be joined by Priya Ajmani and Meredith Peller…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Why bother having polls?” asked Teresa Croyle as she, Tanya Muscone, and Cindy Ross sat with me in my office watching the broadcast before the ‘Angels Meeting’. “Peter Gordon just admitted that Conservatives don’t respond to them, or even lie in their answers. And the polls are rarely right.”

“To answer you, and to make a short story long, let’s break this down.” I said. “There are two groups of pollsters, or maybe I should say polling data: the data reported upon by the agenda-driven Press, attempting to tell us what to think; and what’s reported internally to the political Parties and to the candidates.”

Your Iron Crowbar: “One thing I’ve observed is that when the Democrat wins, the numbers usually align well with the polling data. But when the Republicans win, especially a Conservative, the polling data is usually well off the mark of the actual vote. One reason for this is because the Press skews the polls, or even lie about the numbers, in accordance with their agenda. Another reason is what Peter Gordon told us: the Conservatives don’t respond to polls, and even may lie to deliberately mess up the pollsters.”

Your Iron Crowbar: “The internal data the Parties and candidates get is usually much more accurate and reliable than the data We the People see on the news. The Sheriff gets some of that data, so we in here get to see more realistic numbers. So the short answer is that the Pollsters are not always wrong, and sometimes do a good job. Unless the Conservative wins.”

“Sorry I asked.” said Teresa, flat deadpan, which made Tanya laugh.

Tanya said “What’s this new show ‘The Four’ about?”

Cindy said “It’s a counter to KXTC’s ‘Point Taken‘ morning show, but in the afternoon. Priya told me it’s a way to keep Greg Wallace on the air and having something to do. And because Catrina Pierce is popular with KFXU’s viewers, it gives her more air time and also let’s her give her opinion. The other two hosts will rotate, and they’ll see if anyone stands out enough to become a regular.”

“Good.” I said. “About damn time Fox Eight did something like this.” Teresa nodded vigorously in agreement. The Green Crowbar was much less amused at my partisan comment.

“Changing the subject,” said Cindy, “I’m in this meeting to discuss the possibility of protesters at the Assembly presentation. What are we doing about it?”

I said “I think the Sheriff is going to restrict access to City Hall. Everyone will have to go through the screeners to get into the building at all, and the Assembly Chamber will be closed to anyone that doesn’t have an access pass.”

Teresa added: “And we’ll be on higher alert, and have a contingency of armored Officers ready to deal with any protests…”

Part 3 – Old Problems, New Feds

9:00am, Monday, October 12th. My assistant Helena opened my office door to admit two guests. One of them was FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Karina White. The other was now-FBI Special Agent Tracy Stone, formerly of the University Campus Police. (Author’s note: ‘Jupiter Rising’.)

“I brought my newest Special Agent to see you.” Karina said. “Graduated first in her class at Quantico.”

“Hello again, Special Agent Stone.” I said enthusiastically I shook her hand. “Congratulations. Are you assigned here or the City?”

“Both.” said Tracy Stone as we all sat down. “I’ve asked to be able to focus on this area, since I’m from here and was in the Campus Police. But Jack Muscone and Karina here might have me all over the place.”

“Where is Jack, by the way?” I asked.

“In Washington, D.C.” said Karina. “He’s attending the funeral of DEA SAC Rutherford Lyndon on Wednesday.” (Author’s note: ‘Town & County Confidential’, Ch. 03.)

Karina continued: “And that’s one thing I wanted to tell you. Lyndon’s death has been ruled a suicide, and the case is being closed. Everything pointed to a legitimate suicide. No signs of anyone visiting him in the hotel room, and the hotel cameras were operating perfectly that day, which is a suprise in itself for that particular hotel. He ate his gun in the manner of holding it under his chin then putting it in his mouth, which is the most common way for a cop or other LEO to kill himself.”

I nodded. “That would be Occam’s Razor, the simplest solution.”

“If I may ask,” asked Tracy Stone, “why did he feel he had to kill himself? From what I read, it was just a botched operation. I’m not sure that either he or the DEA committed an actual crime.”

“He left a letter to me,” I replied, “saying the Swamp Frogs were coming for him. Either he knew what they’d do to him physically when they got there, or else they did get there and forced him to eat his gun. In some ways it reminds me of an old Consultant of Crime case, the ‘suicide’ of Dr. Laramie Wilkins that wasn’t.” (Author’s note: ‘The Ensigns of Detection’, particularly Ch. 02.)

Karina said “If the Swamp Frogs were behind his actions in the convenience store robberies, then behind his death, it’s likely they’d planned taking him out well in advance and were ready to cover it up after executing their plan, pun intended. From what I’m hearing, Dr. Robin Isley is both very intelligent and very cunning. Word is that she’s the power behind Chapel’s throne on top of the Intelligence Community.”

“Behind every successful man is a powerful woman.” I said. “Or something like that.” Both women laughed politely.

Karina stood up and said “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go congratulate Captain Muscone on her upcoming promotion. Talk amongst yourselves.”

“Certainly.” I said. Karina exited the office as I went over to the coffeemaker under the monitor screen on the wall and poured myself a cup of coffee. “Coffee?” I offered Tracy Stone.

“No thank you, sir.” she said as I sat back down.

“Soooo,” I asked as I affixed my gray eyes on Tracy, “what did you want to talk about?”

“Not much gets past you, Commander.” Tracy said. Then she got right into it: “I know that Lionel Carmela is trying to harm your wife’s position at the University and at University Hospital. I’ve been looking into his activities, and I’d like to help you and your wife fight what he’s doing.”

I nodded. “I appreciate the offer. But Laura is not going to lose her medical license nor be removed from the Staff of the Hospital. And Carmela can’t prove his laughably false charges that she was running a male prostitution ring——”

“Sir,” Tracy Stone interrupted, “don’t be too sure. You and I both know that people can be framed, and have successfully been framed for centuries. You barely saved Peter Gordon from that false rape charge, and it took the full Power of the Iron Crowbar to do that.” (Author’s note: ‘Falsely Accused’.)

Tracy Stone: “Carmela has been working with lawyers, lawyers that argue for the Socialist Left on cases before the Supreme Court. High powered, high priced lawyers that get results. And they were sent here to help Carmela destroy your wife’s professorial and medical careers. You really need to take this seriously, sir.”

“Oh I do.” I replied. “And you sound like you’re… ‘into’ it. And it’s not just saving my wife that has you so passionate about it. And that’s why Jack and Karina have not decided where to assign you yet, n’est pas?”

Tracy Stone nodded. “You’re right again, sir. When I graduated first in my class at Quantico, I had the privilege of choosing where I wanted to be assigned, and I chose to be assigned to Jack and Karina. And I have not tried to keep the reason a secret. I want to take that filthy slug Carmela down, and I don’t just mean get him fired. I mean I want to see that son of a bitch in prison… or dead.”

I nodded. “Piece of friendly advice: I did not hear you say that about wanting him dead. But don’t ever say it out loud again.”

Tracy nodded. “So that’s why I wanted to talk to you today. I want a piece of the action. I want a shot at the title, so to speak. I want to help you… or have you help me… totally destroy Dr. Lionel Carmela.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Karina White and Tanya P. Muscone were sitting in Tanya’s office, sipping coffee as they chatted.

“Congratulations on the promotion!” Karina said. “Are you excited about the new job?” Somewhat to her surprise, she saw Tanya’s face fall just a bit.

“I…” Tanya started, then caught herself and said “I think I now truly understand why Don refused to take the Police Chief job several years ago. He knew it would take him out of what he loves doing most: solving crimes and busting perps.”

“And leading the Police Force to stand up against rioters.” Karina said. “Especially when other LEOs in other cities are forced to stand down by their leadership and their politicians.

To her shock, Tanya shook her head vigorously in disagreement. “No, he doesn’t love doing that. He does it because he knows how important, how critical it is. But it’s Teresa that loves leading her troops into battle like that, and she has the Purple Orders to prove it. Don hates putting Officers in harm’s way. He’d rather just solve crimes as the Detective he truly is. And that’s how I feel, too. I love being a Detective, solving crimes.”

Karina nodded. “So why didn’t you turn down the promotion?”

“It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, and I knew it.” Tanya said wistfully. “Look, they’ve made every effort they can to make it work for me in the field. They bring in cameras for me to see everything, they accommodate me to the extent they can if I go to a scene. But it’s a chore on their part, and it distracts them from doing their jobs. Don always says it’s working and that I’m doing great, but it’s working only through the sheer force of his will.”

Tanya: “And then there’s the issues with the Miltons. They just won’t help the Feds, and apparently to the point they’d quit the TCPD and leave. I understand that some dirty Agents beat up Myron’s father, almost killed him. But that was a few bad apples. To me, it’s like hating the whole TCPD just because McCombs and Hendricks are dirty, but the Miltons don’t see it that way… and neither does Don, apparently.”

Karina said “Won’t you be Myron Milton’s boss now? Out of the frying pan, into the fire?”

Tanya said “Cindy told me that the I.T. Department is technically under the Deputy Chief, but Myron essentially answers straight to Chief Moynahan. And Myron is the de facto head of I.T. for all the Public Safety Department, so if there’s any problems with me, the Sheriff will formalize that and Myron will be wearing a khaki uniform like Cindy instead of Police blue.”

Tanya: “And because of the problems with them, the ‘People that Count’ around here were worried about where my loyalties lay… to the Police, or to my husband and the Feds. And I know Don loves me like family, but there is one thing he cherishes and won’t abide a lack of: loyalty.”

Karina said “That has to be harder for you than trying to do your job in that wheelchair.”

Tanya said “I’ve never had reason to complain about the wheelchair. I’m alive, my son is alive, and it’s almost fun seeing what I can do in spite of it, and showing others.”

Karina said “I meant no offense, and you’re amazing and inspiring for what you’ve overcome to become Deputy Chief. But about that, what about the Budget? That’ll take up a lot of your time, won’t it?”

Tanya said “And that’s yet another little secret. Cindy got her finance and accounting degrees, though partially to run her father’s huge self-help empire after he turns it over to her. They let her do the Budget, and work with Chief of Staff Oswald on all the Public Safety Budget, because everyone knew Oswald would eventually retire, as he just has.”

Tanya: “But in truth, the Budget was always handled at the Public Safety level. Remember, they didn’t even have a Deputy Chief, nor a Police Commander, until the Iron Crowbar arrived. Cindy was the exception, not the rule; Della Harlow and Robert Brownlee never did the Budget like Cindy’s been doing it.”

Tanya: “So I’ll be an overpaid Property Manager and adult supervision for Personnel & Records and the Public Relations Department. And the Crime Lab…”

Part 4 – Coitus Interruptus

10:00am, Monday, October 12th. Tanya took Tracy and Karina on a quick tour of Vice and MCD, introducing Special Agent Stone to the Detectives that did not already know her. As that happened, I called Lt. Mary Milton and Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle into my office, and with Mary cleared out, Tanya gave the FBI Agents the tour of the Intel Rooms. Tanya later told me that Ranger Terry Halston was bug-eyed when he saw Tracy.

Meanwhile, I said to Mary and Teresa “Okay, we need to start very quietly looking into this situation with Laura.” I was referring to the specious charges by Dr. Lionel Carmela that my wife had been running a male prostitution ring out of her Psychology Department office. (Author’s note: ‘The Babymaker’, especially Ch. 05.)

Your Iron Crowbar: “Mary, this is a list of Laura’s students in her graduate class. The boy named ‘Peter’ was one of the Babymakers, so I’m concentrating on these students. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check them out as thoroughly as you possibly can, and I don’t need to tell you that I don’t want to know the means you might employ to do it. It’s off the books, extracurricular, so you have the right to refuse.”

“Laura’s my gynecologist, not to mention your wife.” Mary said, taking the list of names. “I’ll have no compunction about doing this.”

“Thank you.” I said. “You can go.” Mary took the hint and exited my office. I turned to Teresa and said “I need your help, and you have the right to refuse, as it’s definitely going to be out of bounds——”

“I didn’t hear that.” Teresa said with alacrity. “Whatever you need, I am ready to do it for you.”

I nodded with a smile. “Thank you.” I said. “I am determined to find out who got the information from Laura’s appointment calendar, and I am not going to be worried about a legally defensible case. Once Mary confirms what I expect to hear, we are going be asking some people some questions…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1:30pm. Lt. Mary Milton was admitted into my office, where Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle and I already were. I had Mary sit down after she handed me a file folder with a number of papers inside.

“Give us the Cliffs Notes on all this.” I said.

Mary replied: “After reviewing everything, I believe there are three persons we can start with regarding the case. Everyone in the class was interviewed during the ‘Babymaker’ case. Several of them said that Peter, who was one of the Babymakers, had said out loud that he should be one of the Babymakers as his thesis. He’s something of the class clown, like a toned-down Rudistan, so everyone just thought he was joking. Also, he said that only after the case had already broken. But the key is that he talked out of turn about it to others.”

Mary: “Next is Karyn, who is also a Psychology grad student. A couple of the other students said that Peter and Karyn were dating, seriously dating, which is another reason they didn’t think Peter really was one of the Babymakers. Karyn was the one Peter was bantering with about being a Babymaker as a thesis project, so maybe they talked about it in other places, as well.”

Mary: “Third was a girl named Tamara. She’s an undergrad Psychology major, and will graduate after this semester. She is of interest because she is an activist for women’s causes on Campus, and she has taken two courses from Lionel Carmela, getting ‘A’s in both.”

“Hmmm.” I said, looking at the young woman’s official University ID photo. She was not ugly, but was not attractive, and her stringy, oily-looking hair and glasses did not help her appearance. Yeah, I’m stereotyping, but she very much looked like Leftwing female activists we’d encountered at demonstrations.

I asked: “Did she hear Peter and Karyn talking about him being a Babymaker?”

“No way to tell for sure, sir,” Mary replied, “unless we ask Dr. Fredricson if Tamara had a good attendance record in class. That might be something you could find out, sir.”

“Except that I’m prohibited from officially participating in this case, since Laura is my wife.” I replied. “Flip side of that, anything Laura has said to me is protected by spousal privilege, and no one else has heard me say a word about anything she’s said to me… and never will, if you get my drift.”

“Yes sir.” Mary said. Teresa nodded vigorously in agreement.

“Okay, Mary, this is good work, and I appreciate the speed with which you got this.” I said. “You can go.”

Mary said irreverently as she got up. “Ah yes, no longer a Police matter. A Crowbar Clan matter? That’s different.”

“You are surprisingly intelligent, Lieutenant.” I said. “And smart enough to keep your mouth shut. Dismissed.” Mary got the hint and got out while the getting was good.

“Rather cheeky of her.” Teresa said once we were alone. “Celebrating being out from under Tanya a bit too much, if you ask me.”

“I didn’t ask.” I said. Then I added: “That’s Mary being Mary. Rudistan is the same way, in his own way.”

“Still,” replied Teresa, “I am going to tell her to be more careful about saying things like that when I’m in the room.”

I nodded in agreement, then said “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Ohhhhh, yeahhhh…” Peter groaned as he pumped his eight inch cock in and out of the beautiful girl beneath him. Karyn had a beautiful face, eyes a man could lose himself in, and a curvy, saucy hot body that drove the young stud wild.

Peter himself was handsome, well-built, with black hair and dark eyes, and as one of the most popular studs in the Babymaker Club, he’d been sought after by women that wanted their babies to look like and be like him. And he was blessed with those eight inches of cock that got the job done as well as bringing those women to satisfying orgasms.

“Yeah, fuck me, Peter!” Karyn cried out, encouraging her lover to reach the crest. The last hour had been one of pure pleasure as he ate her pussy, fucked her sweet mouth and throat with his size, then mounted her and took her.

Karyn wasn’t the pure nympho that Karen Warner Harlan had been, but she was the kind of woman that every man who had fucked her would never forget. Then she met Peter, and her heart was stolen. Now she was using her body and the skills that their teacher, Dr. Laura Fredricson, had taught her to bring her fiancé to the crest.

“Do you need to come?” she asked him, seeing and feeling his body’s response as he plunged into her again and again, knowing he liked hearing that.

“I’m close, baby.” Peter panted. “Really close. You want it in your cunt or your mouth?”

“My pussy, baby!” Karyn said. “Come in my pussy! Fill me up, just like you did to those women you knocked up!”

“Unnnnh!” Peter groaned. He opened his eyes and looked down at the beautiful woman beneath him, the woman he’d fallen in love with the first moment he saw her, and far and away the best fuck he’d ever had. He began thrusting into her harder and deeper.

“Yeah, come in me, Peter!” Karyn cried out. “Oh yeah, oh yeah…”

“AACH! I’m coming!” Peter groaned. He buried his cock to the hilt in Karyn’s clutching cunt and shivered as he began firing spurts of ropy jism into her, coating her cervix with his potent, virile semen.

“Oh, yessss…” Karyn cooed happily as she took her stud’s load, loving as always the knowledge and feeling that her body had given a man the ultimate pleasure. As Peter collapsed on her, breathing heavily, she kissed his neck and jaw as her hands caressed his naked body.

“Oh wow.” Peter gasped as he raised his head and kissed his beautiful fiancée on her full lips. “That was amazing. You’re amazing, Karyn.”

“We’re an amazing couple.” Karyn said. “And when we graduate in the Spring, we’ll be the next Masters and Johnson of sexual psychology.”

“And then you can get off the pill,” Peter said, “and have my baby.”

“Yeahhhhh.” Karyn said with a smile, the thought of being the Babymaker’s next successful impregnation reigniting the fires in her loins…

*KNOCK!* *KNOCK!* *KNOCK!* *KNOCK!*

“Shit.” Peter muttered, then called out “Who is it?”

“Campus Police.” said a voice on the other side of the door.

“Just a minute.” Peter said. The young couple hastily dressed, then Peter opened the door. “Yes?” he said.

“Sorry to have disturbed you.” said Cadet Officer Tatum. “We need both of you to come with us…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

To their surprise, Peter and Karyn were not taken to Campus Police Headquarters. Instead, they were taken to the Psychology Building, and to the classroom opposite the offices of Dr. Laura Fredricson, where they attended her class.

Upon entering the room, they saw two persons. One was TCPD Commander of Operations, Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle. The other, wearing black civilian clothes, a trenchcoat over them, and a Tilley Hat with Airborne wings over a miniature Police badge, caused them to hesitate, and to feel a bit of fear. He was Dr. Fredricson’s husband, the legendary Iron Crowbar. And seeing him in person did not do anything to lessen the sense of the legend… nor the fear of him.

“Hello Peter, Karyn.” I said affably. “Come on over here and have a seat.”

“What’s this about, sir?” Peter asked, keeping his voice respectful.

“We just want to ask you a few questions.” I said. “You’re not in trouble, and I have no intention of giving you any trouble… unless you lie to me, and I’m sure you won’t do that.” They nodded.

I said “Peter, we know you were part of the Babymaker group that Carl Ryder was a part of. What I need to know is that if you, or Karyn here, discussed that with anyone else. With anyone in your class with Dr. Fredricson, or anywhere else or to anyone else.”

“Uhhh, do I need a lawyer?” asked Peter.

“No.” Teresa said. “We are not trying to entrap you, here. We’re not asking you to confirm that you were part of that group, and we’re certainly not asking you to say you took money in exchange for impregnating those women… which is the only potential crime in the whole business. You’re both hearing me say we’re not going to bust you, unless you confess to a real crime, of course.”

I said “Look guys, I just need to know who you talked to. Maybe you talked about what you were doing as part of a school project? Anything like that?”

Karyn and Peter looked at each other, then turned to us. “Okay.” Peter said. “Before Carl was murdered and it started coming out about the Babymaker ring, I said something to Karyn about how that would be a great project for my thesis.”

Karyn said “I encouraged Peter to seriously think about it, and told him he should talk to Dr. Fredricson about it.”

“Did you?” I asked Peter.

“I brought it up.” said Peter. “Dr. Fredricson nixed it. She told me about two women that had done their theses on prostitution, and had been prostitutes as part of it… and that both girls had ended up dead. And it turned out she was right; Carl ended up dead, too.” (Author’s note: ‘The Credit Card Caper’; ‘Midnight City’; ‘The Babymaker’.)

“Did you speak out loud about that conversation, and Dr. Fredricson having nixed the idea?” I asked.

“That did come up when we were talking about it after Carl died.” said Karyn. “I remember Peter saying that Dr. Fredricson wouldn’t allow it.” Peter nodded vigorously in agreement.

“Okay.” I said. “Who else may have heard that discussion?”

Peter said “Mr. Crowbar, I think I know what you’re getting at. We heard about that slug Dr. Carmela filing those charges against Dr. Fredricson. And there was one student in our class that also took his classes. Tamara.” Karen nodded vigorously in agreement.

“What was Tamara like?” I asked. “Was she hostile to Dr. Fredricson in any way?”

Peter said “Tamara was a pretty strong feminist. She never really liked it when Dr. Fredricson talked about women and men in relationships. I mean, Dr. Fredricson was talking about ‘the science’ of sex as well as the psychology, and she was teaching about what really goes on in the world, and Tamara actually once said that kind of talk could get Dr. Fredricson ‘canceled’.”

Karyn added: “A while back, I was at the Dining Hall and it was busy. I saw Tamara and a friend of hers at at table, and I asked if I could sit with them, and they let me. The other girl was in Dr. Carmela’s class with Tamara, and they were talking about how Dr. Fredricson’s classes were an insult and a threat to the LGBTQ community.”

Karyn: “I asked what part of the class was a threat, and the other girl said that Dr. Fredricson was teaching that women liked sex with men, and she, the girl, said that Dr. Fredricson should be teaching that all men are rapists and that women should stop letting men use them for sex. I said that Dr. Fredricson was teaching Science, not politics, and that girl all but attacked me, and said that Dr. Fredricson and every professor should teach with the politics and optics in mind. It was clear that girl and Tamara both hated men, and were getting politically active about that hatred.”

“Do you remember the other girl’s name?” I asked.

“Dana something-or-other.” Karyn said, trying hard to remember. “Something like ‘styrofoam’.”

I got out my Police iPhone and brought up a photo. “Is this her?” I asked.

“Yeah!” Karyn said, amazed. “That’s her!” She then began looking at me flirtatiously. “How did you know?”

“Her full name is Dana Stirewalt.” I replied, giving Karyn a flirtatious smile back. “She’s a Carmela student and protégé. So Tamara heard your conversation about the Babymakers?”

“Yes sir” said Peter. “She even asked questions about it a couple of days after we first talked about it…”

Part 5 – The Four

4:00pm, Monday, October 12th. I turned my television monitor on in my office, to see the inaugural edition of Fox University’s new show, ‘The Four’.

“Hello and welcome!” said Catrina Pierce to the applauding live studio audience. “I’m Catrina Pierce, and with me are Greg Wallace, Meredith Peller, and Alison McFarland! This is the inaugural edition of ‘The Four’!”

After the intro music and graphics, the camera returned to a shot of the four persons around a semicircle table. Alison was on the left, and her shapely legs were being shown off. Next to her was Meredith Peller, then Catrina, and Greg Wallace on the right side.

Catrina started them off: “In the increasingly bitter and rancorous race for Governor between Conservative Republican Lieutenant Governor Sharon Marshall and Democrat State Representative and Majority Whip Hoyt Stenson, both sides are trading accusations of impropriety.”

Catrina: “The Democrats are saying that Ms. Marshall will essentially be a third term for current Governor Val Jared, and will continue his policies that they say are racist and misogynistic. But it was this bomb that drew howls of hatred and protest from the Democrats. Roll tape.”

Tape rolled, showing Our Sheriff, Antonio Griswold, saying in a sit-down interview with Alison McFarland: “My wife was suffering from Alzheimer’s, from Dementia, before she died, and I watched her deteriorate over time. And I’m seeing the same signs in Hoyt Stenson that I saw in my wife in her early months of the disease. I believe Hoyt Stenson is already suffering from Dementia, and that he is already mentally unfit to be Governor.”

Alison: “The Democrats have threatened to sue you over that accusation, Sheriff. What is your response to that?”

“I say ‘Bring it on!’.” growled Sheriff Griswold. “We’ll countersue, and demand Stenson undergo a cognitive test and the results be made public. I’ll also point out that Stenson won’t face Sharon Marshall in a debate in front of a live audience and a live television audience. Why won’t he? I call upon Stenson to stop hiding in his basement and face the People of the State so that they can see for themselves.”

Back to Catrina live: “Lieutenant Governor Marshall has also called upon Mr. Stenson to take a cognitive test and to publicly debate her. Alison, what about all this?”

Alison McFarland: “Sheriff Griswold saw these symptoms in his own wife, and I’ve interviewed other family members of Alzheimer’s patients as well as some doctors for an upcoming podcast. They’re saying the same thing, that Hoyt Stenson appears to be in the early stages of Dementia.”

Catrina called on Greg Wallace. As images of Stenson played on the screen, Wallace said: “You can see it in Stenson’s face. He’s reading off the TOTS, the ‘Teleprompter of the State’, as reporters have been calling it, and his facial expression often looks as if he doesn’t realize where he is. If you watch closely, his wife isn’t walking hand-in-hand with him, but is leading him to the podium and away from it, and look here how he’s looking at her as she talks to him, as if he’s trying to understand what she’s telling him.”

“Meredith?” Catrina said.

Meredith said “We were all saddened when Sheriff Griswold’s wife died, but I have to remind the viewers that Griswold is a very close crony of Governor Val Jared, who is absolutely a racist and misogynist, and who was impeached and barely saved from conviction by one misguided vote. Sharon Marshall has said out loud she intend to continue Jared’s racist policies, especially regarding Undocumented Workers. So I question Sheriff Griswold’s motives in saying what he said, which to me borders on slander and defamation.”

After the break, it was Greg Wallace’s turn to moderate: “The ACLU has filed complaints against SBI Director James ‘Curly’ Goodwin, his Campaign for Town & County Inspector General, and the State Republican Party, for ads pointing out that Democrat I.G. candidate Bruce Finneran is an active member of the North American Man-boy Love Association, NAMbLA, which advocates that all laws prohibiting sex between grown men and underage boys be repealed.”

Wallace: “The ACLU says that those are thinly veiled attacks upon Mr. Finneran’s sexual orientation. Mr. Finneran has stated publicly in the past that he is a homosexual, and has admitted to his membership in NAMbLA. Additionally, Fox Eight News has confirmed Mr. Finneran’s membership in NAMbLA, and as of noon today, Mr. Finneran is a current and active member. Meredith, is the ACLU right?”

“Oh, I think so.” said Meredith. “These attacks are sensationalist in nature, and are intended to point out Mr. Finneran’s sexual orientation. And they’re insinuating other things without a shred of proof.”

“What things are being insinuated?” asked Catrina Pierce. “I’ll point out now that no one has said Bruce Finneran is a pedophile. But he’s a current member of NAMbLA, has refused to give up his membership in it, and NAMbLA advocates sexual relationships between grown men and underage boys. Those are facts, not insinuations.”

Meredith: “But just saying it the way you did, is insinuating something really ugly, something for which you don’t have a shred of proof.”

Alison McFarland: “So why hasn’t Finneran resigned from NAMbLA? He could stop any rumors just by——-”

“Why should he have to?” Meredith fired back. “And again, this isn’t about his NAMbLA membership, it’s about the attempts to point out his sexual orientation in a negative way!”

“That’s not what they’re doing!” Greg Wallace fired back, his voice loud and angry. “This isn’t about his sexual orientation! It’s about the tender ages of the boys that NAMbLA advocates allowing grown men to have sex with!”

“We’re up against a hard break.” said Catrina, and they went to commercial.

When they got back, it was Meredith’s turn to hostess: “The race for Mayor may be the most bitter contest in the State this year, and goes beyond mere Party politics. Democrat Eldrick X. Weaver maintains to this day that he won the Mayoral race over Republican Daniel Allgood two years ago, and that the race was stolen from him after Superior Court Judge Rodney K. Watts disallowed a contested batch of ballots that had been in a poll worker’s car trunk and turned in late.”

Meredith: “The same two men are battling once again for the Mayor post, which is the most important office in our Town & County today. Eldrick X. Weaver has demanded a meeting with Police Commander Donald Troy. Mr. Weaver claims to want the meeting to discuss the relations between the Town & County Police and the Black Community, which are badly broken after the TCPD used violent tactics to crush peaceful Black protests last summer.”

Meredith: “So far, Commander Troy has refused to meet with Mr. Weaver. Commender Troy issued a statement saying, quote, ‘If and when Eldrick X. Weaver admits that the outcome of the previous Mayoral race was the correct one, and Daniel Allgood is the legitimate Mayor, I’ll consider meeting with him. But as long as Weaver continues the lie that the election was stolen, I have nothing to say to him nor hear from him.’, close quote. Greg, why is Mr. Weaver demanding a meeting with Commander Troy, and not Chief Sean Moynahan or Sheriff Griswold?”

Greg Wallace: “I do think Weaver does that to deliberately insult and diminish the Police Chief and Sheriff, who are the only two people in this County over Commander Troy in his chain of command. But it’s more than that. Everyone, and I mean everyone, knows who Donald Troy is. If I say the words ‘Iron Crowbar’, everyone in this State, from Rocktown in the southeast to the City in the northeast, to Jacksonville in the southwest, and Midtown in the middle, know who I’m talking about.”

“And even across the whole Nation.” Alison McFarland added helpfully.

“Yes.” said Wallace. “So Weaver wants a meeting with Commander Troy to get the name splash that he’s not going to get with any other name, no disrespect to anyone else.”

“Catrina,” said Meredith, “what could Mr. Weaver want to talk to Commander Troy about? I seriously doubt Troy is going to endorse Mr. Weaver over Commander Troy’s brother-in-law Daniel Allgood.”

Catrina: “No, and not just because Commander Troy’s wife and Mayor Allgood’s wife are sisters. First of all, it’s dishonest reporters like Bettina Wurtzburg and KXTC that says the black riots were peaceful, when they absolutely weren’t. I hope no one has forgotten that a female Police Officer was abducted, raped, beaten nearly to death, and the Police Officers and EMTs that rescued her were shot at and one wounded in the attempt.” Meredith’s face showed she did not like being called out like that.

Catrina went on: “I think Greg is basically right, it’s to get the splash in the news cycle. No matter what they do talk about, the Mainstream Media gets to rehash the riots, but in terms that the Police used abusive tactics to stop the lawbreaking riots. The Mainstream Media gets to rehash the Breonna Bryant trial, and the total crackdown on any riots following the guilty verdict. All that is to agitate the Black Community, and to gin up support for Weaver in the Elections, in which early voting started today.”

Meredith: “Alison, you know Commander Troy, you’ve interviewed him, and he’s given you access that other reporters would die or kill for. Is his refusal to meet with Weaver a politically motivated response, or one based on racial motives?”

“Neither.” said Alison, not rising to Meredith’s race baiting. “It’s a very practical response. There’s really nothing for him and Weaver to talk about. And since you brought it up, I will say that yes, I’ve had access to Commander Troy that many other reporters are jealous of, and I’ve had the opportunity to observe him and watch him in action.”

Alison: “That man’s ability to not only solve crimes but also to outwit political enemies is incredible. I don’t understand why some of these politicians continue to try to use him, attack him, smear his good name, call his daughter racist epithets, and play crap games with him. He keeps chewing them up and spitting them out, and maintaining law and order in this County on top of it. You’d think they’d learn…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Yeah, you’d think they’d learn.” Teresa Croyle said. She’d come into my office during the show, and watched with me.

“Their attitude is the same as their fellow Socialists.” I said. “Socialists say ‘Socialism will work the next time we try it!’. These idiots say ‘We’ll beat the Iron Crowbar next time!’. Let em’ keep trying; I’ll get bored like Sherlock Holmes if they stop.”

“Just don’t resort to cocaine use like Sherlock Holmes did.” Teresa said. A red crowbar was waived in her general direction, followed by both of us chuckling at the joke.

Teresa then said: “How much longer will Meredith be with KFXU?”

I said “I’m not sure. I had the impression that was scripted, on purpose, to drive the adversarial conversation. But Catrina looked genuinely angry at Meredith when Meredith said the black riots were ‘peaceful protests’, and threw in some good zingers in retaliatory reply, which made Meredith angry. They may end up being like that ‘Mike & Mike’ sports show… the two guys hated each other so much that off-air they didn’t speak, but passed written notes through an intermediary.”

Teresa nodded. “I noticed that, too, about Meredith and Catrina. Anyway, I just hope the people watching ‘Point Taken’ in the morning will watch ‘The Four’ in the afternoon. People need to hear both sides, and make up their own minds.”

“Oh, we’re way past that.” I said. When Teresa looked at me inquiringly, not unlike the way my dog Buddy looked at me or Carole at times when wondering what us hoo-mahns were doing, I said “People don’t watch the news to get information, anymore. They watch the channels that give them validation of their own viewpoints. ”

I saw the light come on in Teresa’s eyes. “Yeah, that makes sense.” she said. “Leftists and Establishment Elites watch CNN and SNN and KXTC, who give them what they want. The Conservative Right watches Fox Cable or OANN.”

“Yep.” I said. “Okay, we need to plan our actions regarding Carmela’s lies about my wife.”

Teresa said: “I’m not sure what we can do. Legally, anyway.”

“Oh, we’re beyond legalities.” I said. “Carmela thinks we’re constrained by the Law, but what if I choose to ignore and remove those constraints?”

“Uh oh.” Teresa said. “What are you planning? Or do I want to know?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you; it’s not that bad.” I said. “Here’s what I’m thinking…”

Part 6 – Extracurricular Activities

“This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!” shouted the redheaded MILF reporterette at 7:00am, Tuesday, October 13th, from the KXTC Studios Anchor Desk. “The Town & County Council meets tonight, with huge implications for the Police Force!”

After the hard charging music intro, Bettina began: “The Council is expected to take up the Public Safety Department’s proposed hiring of retiring Police Deputy Chief Cindy Ross as the Sheriff Department’s Chief of Staff, followed by the promotion of Police Captain of Detectives Tanya Perlman Muscone to Deputy Chief. But these nominations may not be as easy as Sheriff Griswold expects. Let’s go to trusted reporter Amber Harris for more on this controversial situation. Amber!”

“That’s right, Bettina!” said athletic blonde Amber Harris, from the rooftop of the building at Riverside and College, with City Hall in the background. “Several Council members have vowed to stop the nominations from being approved, and will use any means available to them to do so. Roll tape.”

Tape rolled, showing Council Member Susan Weston saying “Tanya Muscone is not fit to be Deputy Chief, and I will do everything in my power to prevent her promotion. She has failed as Chief of Detectives, and promoting her past her level of competence is not a solution, but a set-up for an unmitigated disaster within the Police Department.”

Then Kelly Carnes was shown, proving why there are stereotypes about blonde women: “Cindy Ross is only being transferred to dodge proper punishment for actions for which she was insufficiently disciplined. It is imperative that the Council demand a full investigation of the incident, particularly Commander Troy and Sheriff Griswold’s cover-up of it. I believe a majority of the Council will agree with me that a Board of Inquest and further Council action is needed before that hire can be approved.”

Back to Amber live: “Outgoing Council Member Reginald B.F. Lewis declined to appear on camera, but when I asked him about these nominations, and if he was angry that no Persons of Color were nominated, he replied that he’d come to respect Captain Muscone’s abilities in spite of her being confined to a wheelchair, and that it would be appropriate to choose one’s spots over debates on nominations of People of Color.”

Bettina: “Amber, assuming that Captain Muscone’s nomination is approved by the Council, who would be nominated to replace her as Captain of Detectives? Is that what Councilman Lewis meant when he talked about ‘choosing one’s spots’?”

Amber: “Bettina, Channel Two News has learned that the TCPD plans to hire their new Captain of Detectives from the outside. Specifically, Los Angeles Police Lieutenant Claire Michaels, a former Detective with the TCPD, is being re-hired by the TCPD with the intent to take over the Captain of Detectives duties. The Council will also be taking up that hiring and promotion. Commander Troy has refused repeated requests by KXTC for comment on these matters. Back to you, Bettina!”

“Thank you, Amber!” Bettina, then said almost under her breath “The Iron Crowbar moves quickly, doesn’t he?” Then she caught herself and said “And in other news, State Democrats are demanding that Town & County Sheriff Antonio Griswold resign after his incendiary remarks that gubernatorial candidate Hoyt Stenson is in the early stages of Dementia. Griswold is a close crony of White Nationalist Governor Val Jared, and is accused of making those statements to help Jared clone Sharon Marshall in her race against Mr. Stenson. Neither Sheriff Griswold nor Commander Donald Troy responded to repeated requests by KXTC for comment on these slanderous allegations.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“How did they get Claire’s name?” asked Captain Tanya Muscone as she, Deputy Chief Cindy Ross, Lt. Commender Teresa Croyle, Chief Sean Moynahan, Me, and Sheriff Griswold drank coffee as we watched the broadcast in the Chief’s Conference Room.

“From one of the Council Members.” I replied. “We had to include her nomination to Captain in the package we sent to them, and I’d bet Kelly Carnes broke a fingernail in her rush to dial Bettina’s number. But in fairness, it could’ve been any of them.”

“And no mention of the ACLU’s complaint about the ads against Finneran?” Cindy asked. “I heard they filed complaints not only with the FEC, but with the US DOJ Civil Rights Division, asking that it be made part of the lawsuit against Mayor Allgood.”

I said “You may have noticed that they’ve stopped mentioning KXTC’s endorsement of Finneran. What happened is that after Katherine Woodburn bought back KXTC, she withdrew that endorsement, and forbade anyone from talking about it on air. I would venture a guess that Katherine told her reporters to not mention the ACLU complaint, since it involves Finneran.”

“Does she want Finneran to lose?” asked Chief Moynahan, incredulity in his voice.

“Probably not.” I replied. “But she doesn’t want to appear as being strongly supportive of him, either. His NAMbLA membership is killing him with people of all ethnicities.”

“Because he’s a homosexual?” Cindy queried sharply.

“No, because he’s likely a pedophile.” I said. “Oh, did I just slander him without proof? Well… as the X-Files show said: ‘The truth is out there.’… and Katherine knows it.”

“As do youuuuu, Mr. Crowbarrrrr.” drawled Chief Moynahan.

“I yam what I yam, Chief.” I said, in an excellent imitation of the legendary Popeye. It was not a denial…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

9:55am, Tuesday, October 13th. Dr. Laura Fredricson stepped into the classroom across the hall from her office suite and said “Tamara, can you come here for a moment, please?”

Tamara got up and went into the hallway. There were two Campus Police Officers present. Laura beckoned for Tamara to come into Laura’s office through the direct side door to the hallway. When Tamara stepped inside, Laura shut the door behind her without entering the office. Tamara was left facing Cindy Ross, Teresa Croyle, and… sitting on one of the ‘two sofas’ with his back to the windows… the Iron Crowbar.

“Have a seat, Tamara.” I said in my most authoritative voice.

“What the hell is this about?” Tamara said. “I’m not staying!” She opened the door behind her, only to find Campus Police Cadet Officer Tatum blocking the door. The female Officer came inside and forced Tamara to the couch opposite me, and forced her to sit down. Then Cadet Officer Tatum exited through the side door back into the hallway.

“Why are you holding me against my will?” Tamara asked loudly. “Am I under arrest?”

“Why, I can certainly arrange that.” I said. “But right now we only want to have a conversation.”

“I want a lawyer.” Tamara said. “I’m not talking to you without a lawyer present. Am I under arrest or am I free to go?”

“One of your Constitutional rights is the right to remain silent.” I said. “If you will exercise that right and shut up for one minute, I’ll tell you what’s going on.”

“I don’t care what you want to tell me.” said Tamara. “Either I’m leaving or I want a lawyer before any further (air quotes) ‘conversation’ takes place.”

“There’s the door.” I said, pointing to the office door that led to the anteroom where Laura’s assistant normally was. Tamara almost tripped up rushing to it. When she opened it, she almost collided with Melina Allgood, who was holding up her FBI ‘dark agent’ ID.

“FBI.” Melina said. “Get back in there.”

“I WANT A LAWYER!” Tamara shouted. Melina shoved her back into the office and slammed the door behind them. Teresa came over and forced Tamara back to her seat on the sofa, facing me. Then she grabbed Tamara’s face and forced her jaw open, not unlike forcing a dog’s jaw open to give it a medicine pill.

“Bitch, you better shut the fuck up,” Teresa growled in her most vicious ‘Teresa Cunt’ voice, “or I’ll break your fucking jaw right now.”

“Owww!” Tamara protested, twisting her head out of Teresa’a grasp. “Police brutality!”

“I dunno.” I said. “I dunno. Maybe I’m not making myself clear.” I took out my red crowbar and began lightly tapping it on Tamara’s thigh and knee. “You see, Tamara, Police brutality doesn’t begin until I swing this crowbar and smash what little brains you have into your throat. I only need one blow to literally split your head open, to kill you.”

“Then do it, you murdering bastard!” Tamara snarled.

“I’d rather do something else.” I said. “You see, you now have two choices. We the TCPD can take you to Headquarters, run you through full booking, charge you will several felony crimes, and then you can call a lawyer to try to weasel you out of it. Orrrrr, we’ll let the FBI Agent here take you into Federal custody, and you will be (air quotes) ‘disappeared’. You will never be seen again, at least not alive, on the face of this earth.”

“Bullshit!” Tamara huffed. “And I’ve committed no Federal crime!”

“Like that will save you.” I said witheringly. “But just to make the point… let’s watch some TV!” I took an iPad from Teresa and slid the cover off it, then brought up a video file and began playing it.

Callie Carrington appeared on the screen. “I’m a Federal Agent.” Callie said, holding up an ID which had been blurred out. “On Friday, October 3rd, I came into the office of Laurie, Dr. Fredricson’s assistant. We heard a noise in Laura’s office, and I cracked open the door to see what it was. It was one of Laura’s students, named Tamara. She was going through Laura’s calendar book, taking photos with an iPhone.”

Callie: “I had Laurie come over and peek in, and witness it. We didn’t do anything to interrupt because we didn’t know if her actions were authorized or not. I reported it to Dr. Fredricson later that day.”

The next video clip showed Laurie saying what Callie had said. “As you can see,” I said as the clip ended and I handed Teresa the iPad back, ‘we have two witnesses who saw you trespassing into Dr. Fredricson’s things. We also have a clip of Dr. Fredricson saying you were not authorized to be at her desk nor looking at her stuff.”

“That’s a lie.” said Tamara. “I wasn’t even in this building that day.”

“You got an alibi? Someone who can confirm under oath where you were at the time these two, not one but two witnesses say they saw you in Dr. Fredricson’s office, going through her things? Oh, of course you don’t; I checked. Even if these eyewitness testimonies were false, I’m not stupid enough to overlook a simple thing like that.”

“Check my iPhone.” said Tamara. “You’ll see I don’t have any photos of Dr. Fredricson’s calendar on it.”

“Why, let’s do that.” I said. “Open it up.” Tamara did, and I handed the cellphone to Teresa, who turned around. She connected Tamara’s phone to her own, running a program to copy everything in Tamara’s phone.

“Hey!” Tamara said when she realized what was going on.

“You did consent to letting us investigate your phone.” I said. “We all witnessed it. So, Tamara, you face being failed out of the Psychology program and not getting your degree, expulsion from School, and being arrested and prosecuted, and possibly doing jail time. Or, you start telling us the story, and it’d better be the truth.”

“Arrest me, then.” Tamara said. “I want a lawyer. Now.”

Melina was behind the couch Tamara was sitting on. She leaned over the back of the couch very near Tamara’s left shoulder and began speaking, her voice almost a whisper: “I don’t think you understand, Tamara. Dr. Fredricson is a Federal Agent, a very high ranking one. That makes going through her stuff like you did a Federal crime.”

Melina: “The Iron Crowbar is not going to arrest you, Tamara. I am. And once you’re in Federal custody, you’ll wish to God or whatever you consider holy that you’d talked to him instead of me. We will get the truth out of you… and then you’ll disappear forever, like the Iron Crowbar said a minute ago. You’ll be charged under the PATRIOT Act with domestic terrorism, and you will no longer exist… neither in any records, nor literally.”

“You’ll never get away with that.” Tamara said, trying to bluff.

“Won’t she.” I replied flatly. Then I made my voice quiet, and gently hypnotic as I said: “You may think Lionel Carmela has friends, people that can help you. But they’d have to know where you are to help you, and they won’t know, and they’ll never find out. And they can’t outrun bullets, just as you cannot outrun a bullet fired at the back of your head from one inch away…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“We got her statement on a different iPhone than any other used, so far.” Teresa said to me as she, Cindy, Melina, and I ate lunch at Laura’s favorite Soup and Sandwich place. I looked outside and saw the clouds increasing, the overcast adding to the solemnity and gloom of our conversation.

Tamara had admitted that she had gotten into Laura’s appointment calendar at the request of Dana Stirewalt, who was a student member of Dr. Lionel Carmela’s unofficial inner circle, colloquially called ‘the Politburo’. Dana had only told her that she wanted to prove that Dr. Fredricson had started the Babymaker Club and was the ringleader of it. Tamara said she thought Dr. Fredricson was doing it as a research project, and that Dana Stirewalt wanted it to help a friend at The Silver Sentinel, the University’s student newspaper, get a huge scoop.

“Do you think Tamara was telling the truth?” Teresa asked me, and Cindy and Melina were peering at me.

“Yes and no.” I replied. “She was telling the truth about her actions, but not the reasons for them. I hope Tamara does not think I’m such an Agency of the Weak Minded that I would not fail to notice that she was totally betraying her sponsoring professor, and with obvious purpose and intent to cause Laura damage. I suspect Carmela and maybe Stirewalt really worked her over mentally, and Tamara was a very willing sycophant to Carmela’s deeply Leftist causes.”

“But you can’t do anything about it.” Cindy Ross said. “Callie and Laurie’s testimonies were fake.”

Yes, they were, I thought to myself. Both beautiful blondes had willingly (eagerly, in Callie’s case) agreed to make those false witness statements; they had not seen Tamara in the office. I had a good idea about the correct day, and had ‘a friend’ check the pings on Tamara’s cellphone to find out when she was likeliest alone. The additional threat of Melina arresting and ‘disappearing’ Tamara had been devastatingly effective on the young woman’s weak psyche.

“True.” I said. “I told Callie and Laurie that we were going to destroy the iPad the videos were on, and of course we could never call them to testify about something they really didn’t see. No, nothing there is legally defensible, but I wasn’t looking for that, of course. I wanted the information… and to make Tamara useless to Carmela.”

“She’s useless now, fer sure.” said Teresa. “After I sent that video of Tamara’s ‘confession’ to Laura and Dr. Wellman, Laura dropped Tamara from the Psychology program, with a ‘failing’ designation, and Dr. Wellman has referred her to whoever gets referred to for such things, to begin the process of expelling her.”

“Laura’s still in danger.” Melina said. “Sure, it’s all coincidence about her doing checkups on the Babymakers and the women that hired them, but a few pure Haters on the Ethics Board would interpret things as they please.”

“That’s not the true danger, though.” I said.

“What is?” asked the Green Crowbar.

“This is all being done so that radical students can march, protest, and even commit violence,” I said, “with the purpose and intent of ‘canceling’ Laura, and forcing her out as Head of the Department of Psychology at the University.”

“What about her being on Staff at University Hospital?” asked Melina, her voice sounding worried.”

“Oh, I dunno.” I said. “I’m hoping that the Hospital Administrator and a certain very generous Hospital Board Member will exercise influence to keep Laura on Staff and doing doctor things.”

“Damn straight we will.” said that very generous Hospital Board Member, Teresa Croyle. “The anniversary of the Hospital bombing is on October 16th. And I think you’ll like some of the things we’re going to be doing when we commemorate that.”

“What things?”

“It’s a surprise.” Teresa replied. “I can’t say in front of Don.” I just rolled my eyes…

Part 7 – Counseled and Canceled

7:15pm, Tuesday, October 13th. I walked down the steps of the Public Council Chamber to the floor in front of the curved bench behind which the Council Members sat. Lt. Commander Teresa Croyle was already there. We were both wearing armor over our light blue Police uniform shirts.

“Good evening, sir.” Teresa said. “No disrespect, sir, but I thought you were going to be here a little earlier.”

“I planned to be,” I replied, “but Carole started telling me and Laura that something was wrong, that we were both in danger. Laura doesn’t believe Carole’s vibes, so when Carole can’t define the danger, Laura rebukes her for saying anything out loud. That gets Carole’s hackles up that she’s not being believed, and she starts throwing a fit, which gets her in even more trouble with her mother that demands a disciplined, well-behaved daughter.”

“Sounds like Cassandra in ancient Troy.” Teresa said. “She was given the power of prophecy, but also the curse that no one believed her. That didn’t go over very well when she prognosticated the fall of Troy to the Greeks. So, do you believe Carole?”

“In a word, yes.” I replied. “I don’t have her nor Cindy’s power of the Vibe, but I’ve been feeling that something’s wrong, also. And that’s one reason I’m wearing this armor tonight, instead of a Duty Dress jacket for the Executive Session later on tonight. So, how does the audience for tonight’s Council meeting look?”

“Unexceptional.” Teresa replied. “I really thought we’d have more ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Black Voices Raised’ people show up, since they’re going to talk about Police promotions. Maybe they’re marshaling their forces for the Assembly meeting Thursday.”

“Could well be.” I said. “Could well be. Are you prepped for security for that?”

“Yes sir.” said Teresa.

“Good.” I said. “There’s one extra thing I want you to be ready to do. You know I don’t like our SWAT doing crowd control, but in this case we might need them…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At 7:30pm the Council Members filed into the Chamber and took their places at the long, curved bench. Mayor Daniel Allgood gaveled the meeting into session and called for the routine things like lawsuits to be submitted. Then he asked for Old Business; there was none. Then he asked for New Business, and J.P. Goldman introduced the Police promotions package, with Edward R. Steele seconding. The discussion was deferred to the Executive Session that would occur at the end of the public meeting.

And that was not long in coming. When the Mayor asked for persons to address the Council, there were only two persons that approached. One woman, who was young and black, asked what the security measures at the polling places were currently, and would be on Election Day. The Mayor replied that the Public Safety Department was in charge of those arrangements, and that questions regarding that should be referred to the Sheriff’s Office.

The second person to stand up was a young white man with poor hygiene, wearing a green Environmentalist shirt. He demanded that the Council order the resignation of Sheriff Griswold for making dishonest comments about gubernatorial candidate Hoyt Stenson. Kelly Carnes made a motion condemning Sheriff Griswold for his accusation that Hoyt Stenson was suffering from the beginnings of Dementia, and Sheila Sorrells seconded it.

J.P. Goldman then addressed the man speaking. “I would like to ask you, young man, if you will join with me in asking that proof be obtained of Mr. Stenson’s mental condition. Will you join me in publicly asking Mr. Stenson to take a cognitive test, so that the validity or lack of validity of the Sheriff’s comments can be ascertained?”

“Hoyt Stenson is a great man and a champion of Climate Change!” the man said, his voice getting shriller and more towards yelling. “It is Sheriff Griswold who has lied, and I demand this Council act to remove Griswold from office!”

“So you don’t care about getting to the truth of Mr. Stenson’s condition.” said J.P. Goldman. “And I guess you don’t care about the Science, that shows that Climate Change is a fraud.”

“The Science is settled!” the man started yelling. “Climate Change is real, and the greatest threat to mankind! Climate Deniers like you are criminals that are destroying our Earth——” He suddenly stopped yelling when he saw a female Police Officer known for having a bad attitude approaching him. “What, you gonna kick me out for telling the truth?”

“Keep your voice civil, or yeah, I’ll throw your ass into a paddywagon, and you can tell the inmates at County Jail all about the dangers of Climate Change.” Teresa replied.

To her dismay, the man said “Best you heed the Science! You will not be forgiven for ignoring the peril of Climate Change!” Then he stalked off and out the Chamber, not sticking around to watch Carnes’s motion fall in flames, 5-5, with the Mayor declining to vote ‘Yea’, effectively killing the it…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Everyone took their seats in the Private Council Chamber. Besides the Council Members, Sheriff Griswold, Chief of Staff Oswald, Police Chief Moynahan, Me, and the Sergeant-At-Arms were in the room, sitting in chairs against the left side wall.

“As usual,” said Mayor Allgood as he gaveled the Executive Session into order, “we can do this one of two ways: everyone can act civil, and we can have a relatively free and open discussion; or someone will start acting like one of those green-shirted environmentalist wackos, and we’ll move forward under the strictest possible rules of debate.”

Even Kelly Carnes did not rise to the bait, as that wacko slug had when J.P. Goldman had so easily triggered him. However, she did raise her hand, and upon being recognized said “Why is Police Commander Donald Troy in this meeting? He has no bearing on this.”

“He’s here for two reasons.” replied Edward R. Steele with alacrity. “First, he definitely has bearing on the Captain of Detectives selection. And second, because I invited him to be here.”

“And I heartily approve of Commander Troy’s presence at this meeting.” added Mayor Allgood. “Okay, Mr. Goldman, the floor is yours.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mayor.” said J.P. Goldman. “The Public Safety Department has submitted a package of three interrelated personnel actions to us, two hirings and one promotion. The promotion is that of Captain Tanya Perlman Muscone to Deputy Police Chief. The hirings are for hiring the retiring Deputy Police Chief, Cindy Ross, to Sheriff Department Chief of Staff, replacing the retiring Chief of Staff, Charles T. Oswald; and hiring LAPD Lieutenant Claire Michaels as TCPD Captain of Detectives. I move that we approve these hires and promotion.”

“I second that motion.” said John Colby in his baritone voice that belied his short, slender stature.

“Procedural point of order.” said Susan Weston. “For various reasons, I believe we should consider each action separately. For example, I have nothing against Claire Michaels, as I remember the excellent job she did as a TCPD Detective some years ago. But the Captain of Detectives position is not vacant, and I will be doing everything in my power to prevent the promotion of Tanya Muscone to the Deputy Chief position.”

“Why?” asked John Colby.

“I believe Muscone is unqualified for the Deputy Chief position.” said Weston. “She has been a failure as Captain of Detectives. She can’t even go to many crime scenes, being a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. She has bad relationships with some of her subordinates, and some of my constituents tell me she has taken the FBI’s side over the TCPD’s. Yes, her husband is an FBI Agent, but in my opinion that makes things all the worse. Not to be religious, but the Bible says that no man can serve two masters, and I’m not clear on which one Captain Muscone is serving.”

Sheila Sorrells said “I’m not necessarily against any of these actions. But I believe there is one situation that has not been fully resolved yet, and that is the disciplinary action against Deputy Chief Ross——”

“That’s been fully resolved!” Chief Griswold exclaimed, one of the very few times I’d ever seen him lose control. “The matter was handled internally and is closed!”

Five persons yelled “Point of order!”, those being the five Democrats at the table.

“Noted. Please ask to be recognized, Sheriff.” replied the Mayor. “But the Sheriff did make a good point, which I’ll officially make on his behalf. Discipline within the Public Safety Department has almost always been handled internally, and rarely ever reaches us, and there’s no reason this should be an exception.”

“Even so,” said Kelly Carnes, who had not raised her hand to be recognized, but was not stopped, “if you want us to consider voting for Commander Ross’s move to the second highest position in the Sheriff’s Department, and the de facto Financial Officer for the entire Public Safety Department, it is only right that we are told what the matter was about so that we can decide the seriousness of the allegations and the fitness of the punishment, if any. To not tell us that shows a lack of transparency, and therefore a lack of integrity.”

“You have no grounds to speak of integrity, nor financial propriety.” growled J.P. Goldman, knowing that Carnes had barely escaped prosecution for campaign finance violations. (Author’s note: ‘Vox Populi Vox Dei’, Ch. 01; ‘Red Squad’, Ch. 01-02.)

Five voices yelled ‘Point of Order!”. The Mayor tapped his gavel until order was restored. “Don’t start going off the rails, people.” he admonished.

“Sheriff, do you have any comment on the disciplinary action?” Kelly Carnes asked, her voice a snarl.

“Only that it was handled internally, the matter is closed, and I will not speak further of it.” Griswold growled strongly.

“Chief?” asked Kelly Carnes, her voice withering, and accusing.

“As they say in the British House of Commons,” said the Chief, “I refer you to the reply the Sheriff gave some moments agooooo.”

“This is not the House of Commons.” fired back Kelly Carnes. “What was the infraction by Commander Ross?” When she received no reply, she said “Maybe we should lay this on the table and call for a Board of Inquest to determine what happened.”

“The matter is already handled, and closed.” said Ian McGhillie. “The I.G. won’t even bother with an Inquest hearing.”

“Why not?” fired back Carnes. “It’s his job to determine the truth, the real truth, and make sure the proper punishment was applied, especially if the Police are covering up——-”

Five persons yelled “Point of Order!” The Mayor tapped his gavel, then said “Carnes, you’re not going to use this Council meeting to campaign for that NAMbLA slug Bruce Finneran. We have a seconded motion on the floor, and a procedural move to split it into three separate votes. Are there any objections to splitting the vote?” There were five objections.

“Then I move to amend to separate the motion into three parts, for separate votes on each person being considered.” said Sheila Sorrells. Kelly Carnes was not beaten in seconding.

The subsequent vote was 5-5, and the Mayor dropped the bomb: “The Council being equally divided, I vote ‘Yea’, and the motion carries. We’ll have three separate votes.” Seeing J.P. Goldman looking like he might literally lose consciousness, Allgood said “I want everyone, especially these Democrats, on record for each Officer, especially Captain Muscone’s promotion.”

Because Cindy was retiring, the Deputy Chief position was actually open. Therefore, the first vote was for Tanya Muscone to Deputy Chief. And that’s when the fight started.

Susan Weston led the way. “I said before and I’ll say it again.” she started. “Tanya Muscone is not fit to hold her current position of Captain of Detectives, and she’s certainly not fit to be Deputy Chief, a Command Group position with the power of a Principal to sign contracts on behalf of the County. She is not physically fit, being a cripple——”

Five persons yelled “Point of Order!”. But that wasn’t Weston’s real problem. The Sheriff had had to physically restrain me from getting up and attacking Weston.

“Watch your mouth, Weston!” the Sheriff all but yelled.

“Let him go, Sheriff.” Weston said. “That’s right, Troy, I called your little bitch a cripple! Come attack me for it!”

“Don’t do it, Crowbar.” growled Griswold. “Wait until there are no witnesses!”

“Yes sir.” I said quietly, the underlying current of pure menace in my voice unnerving many in the room… including Susan Weston. She’d crossed the line, and she knew it.

Mayor Allgood said “I accept the points of order. Calling a decorated Police Officer slurs like that is inappropriate. Do not call Captain Muscone that again, Ms. Weston, or I’ll have the Sergeant-At-Arms escort you out… and I can’t promise you the Iron Crowbar won’t follow you out the door. Are you otherwise finished with your statement?”

“By no means.” said Weston, who looked over at me as she said: “As i was saying, Muscone is not physically fit to be Captain of Detectives, much less Deputy Chief. She is also not qualified to be Deputy Chief because she has neither degree nor experience in financial matters like Deputy Chief Ross did when she assumed the job——”

“Point of order, and point of information!” interrupted Edward R. Steele. “The Deputy Chief position does not require a financial degree of any kind. Robert Brownlee did not have one. Della Harlow did not have one. Cindy Ross having one is the exception, not the rule. As to Captain Muscone’s physical qualifications——-”

“You can say that during your debate time.” said the Mayor.

“Mr. Mayor,” said Steele, “I was going to state the point of information that there are no physical fitness requirements for the Deputy Chief position, not even to qualify with a gun, though Captain Muscone has. But yes, I’ll state my evaluation of Weston’s absurd comments at the proper time.”

By the way, Edward Steele’s daughter Marie and my daughter Carole are BFFs. Hmm, I wonder who gave Edward those points of information. I wonnnn-derrrr who that could have been…

“Thank you.” said the Mayor. “And you’re right about the qualifications. Okay, any more discussion?”

Malinda Adams asked “Sheriff, Chief, if Captain Muscone were not approved for this promotion, who would you nominate?”

“We have not assssuuuumed the nomination will be disapproooooved.” drawled the Chief as I whispered something to the Sheriff.

“I want Crowbar to answer that question.” growled the Sheriff. The Mayor nodded to recognize me.

I bore in on the feminist Malinda Adams and said clearly: “I can assure you, Ms. Adams, that if Captain Muscone is not approved, then the next nominee will be a man.” The look she gave me in reply was ‘priceless’. The Sheriff’s mustaches were twitching with amusement.

Edward Steele then spoke: “I do not agree with Ms. Weston’s evaluation of Captain Muscone as Captain of Detectives. She’s done an outstanding job. The Intel Branch idea was originally hers, and it’s implementation was hers. It has been a tremendous resource to help our Police do their jobs successfully.”

Steele: “I will add that Ms. Weston’s sneers at Captain Muscone’s condition of being a paraplegic is both unjust and mean-spirited. Captain Muscone’s example of overcoming being a paraplegic is a shining example for other paraplegics. And the highly acclaimed and very successful wheelchair race on Independence Day was all her doing. All in all, we should be proud to have a heroic Police Officer like Tanya Muscone on our Police Force, Ms. Weston’s personal hatreds notwithstanding.”

The Republicans on the Council applauded, as did the Sheriff, Chief, and me. To my surprise, Malinda Adams and Reginald B.F. Lewis also joined the applause.

The vote was taken, and it was 7-3 to approve the promotion. Malinda Adams was one of those. “She’s a woman, and I believe Commander Troy when he says they’d put a man in there if we don’t approve her.” Women! I thought to myself…

The other Democrat vote came from the Council’s only black member, Reginald B.F. Lewis. “How could you?” Susan Weston spat bitterly at him.

“Because I came to respect her after she whipped all our asses in that debate over the Intel Center.” replied Reginald B.F. Lewis with a Cheshire-Cat-canary-eating grin. (Author’s note: ‘Return To Point Hollow’, Ch. 04.) The look on Weston’s face was one of unappeasable hatred.

“Okay,” said Mayor Allgood, “we now officially have a vacancy in the Captain of Detectives slot, and Claire Michaels has been nominated to fill it. Debate?”

“I have one question, and it is for the Police Officers in the room.” said Sheila Sorrells. “Claire Michaels was a Detective with the TCPD, and left for Los Angeles. Why did she leave? Or maybe I should ask why didn’t she stay? What were the issues that made her leave? And if she does come back, how do we know she won’t just up and leave again?”

The Chief deferred to me to reply, so I said “She’s originally from Los Angeles, and the LAPD gave her a chance to go back home, so she went to work for them. She also was quickly promoted to Lieutenant there, which might’ve happened here but not as quickly. She got a ton of experience with the LAPD, but her unit commander died, that unit is being changed up, and she’ll be promoted to Captain upon her return here.”

Sheila Sorrells: “Were political considerations part of her decision to apply to return?” When I asked what she meant by that, she said “The LAPD are much more respectful to people out there than the TCPD has been to peaceful black protesters here. Yet Ms. Michaels wants to leave that positive political environment to come here, and she’d be leaving home, as you just said. So I ask again, are political considerations part of her desire to return here?”

I said “First of all, Ms. Sorrells, I don’t accept the premise of your question that the environment there is ‘positive’ and the subsequent inference that the environment here is negative. That may be your opinion, and it’s very likely not shared by others.”

Your Iron Crowbar: “Second, the TCPD has not been disrespectful to peaceful protesters of any ethnicity, but you damn well better believe we enforce the law when that law is broken by violent protesters, ginned up and egged on by the corrupt Mainstream Media. And not only will I never apologize for that, I’ll call you out when you lie and say that people setting fire to buildings, shooting at Officers and decent Citizens, and raping and beating women is (air quotes) ‘peaceful’ in any way, shape or form.”

“So how do you know that Michaels won’t up and leave again?” Sorrells said, trying to regain a modicum of the appearance of being in control after being called out. “How do you know she won’t go back to LA on a whim, and we have to start this whole process over again?”

I replied: “First of all, she’ll be a Police Captain here. That’s a very high rank in any Police Department, and there aren’t many Captain positions available anywhere. In large Police Forces like the LAPD, the position and rank are usually political, so it’s very unlikely the highly politicized LAPD will hire her back in at the Captain’s level.”

I added: “Of course, she may be hired to be a Police Chief somewhere, like someone in this room was.” I lightly tapped Chief Moynahan’s shoulder as I said that, as he was an example of it, then continued: “And if she is, I’ll be happy for her. But I think she’ll be happy to be with us for a good while. And we’ll go through this process again anyway, because we promote good Officers and give them the opportunities they deserve.”

I saw Council Members’s eyes glazing over, which was good; I hoped they’d get on with the votes. The Mayor asked if there was any more debate, and there was none. The vote was taken, and it was 6-4.