“They’re why we found the body,” Ben returned stiffly.
“What are you, Storm, some kind of lap dog? Do you just let these two lead you around by the nose?”
“I’m a cop,” he retorted. “Unlike someone I could mention.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
My friend shook his head and looked away. “Just forget it.”
“No,” Albright snarled. “I want to know just exactly what you were implying.”
“Okay, you wanna know…” Ben replied, thrusting a finger at her.
“Storm…” Constance warned.
“No, Mandalay, she says she wants ta’ know.” He shot a glance her way then looked back to the lieutenant. “It means if you’d quit fuckin’ around playin’ politics, maybe the Major Case Squad could get back to doin’ police work like it’s supposed to.”
“I see,” she returned with a cold chill in her voice. “And you call what you have been doing ‘police work’?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Considering your entourage, I would say that is a matter for debate.”
“Yeah, well who just found Larson’s body?” he chided.
“That is a good question, Detective,” she answered. “An even better question would be, just exactly how did your little group find the body?”
He shook his head. “You don’t really wanna know that.”
“Oh, but I do, Detective,” she told him as she crossed her arms and nodded her head. She didn’t hide her sarcasm. “I do.”
“Listen, I’m not goin’ there with ya’ right now, ‘cause you’re not gonna believe it if I do.”
“WitchCraft, then,” she replied, spitting the word as if it was a bad taste in her mouth.
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll take any lead I can get if it helps me get an asshole off the streets.”
“Even if that lead could compromise the investigation?”
“There’s nothin’ compromised here,” he snapped.
“Are you certain of that?”
“Yeah, I am. Besides, who are you ta’ lecture me on compromisin’ an investigation anyway?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Let’s just say I sure as hell don’t try ta’ help the assholes of the world escape.”
A hush fell between them as Ben all but hung her name on the verbal accusation. My friend was among the few who thought she had simply managed to dodge a bullet when Internal Affairs had cleared her of any wrongdoing in the Eldon Porter debacle. However, I was beyond shocked the he had just made his opinion so blatantly public.
The two of them stood staring at one another, Albright’s jaw working as her mouth curled into a hard frown.
“Excuse me, Lieutenant?” a crime scene technician edged into the envelope of the standoff.
“What is it?” she barked without shifting her glare from Ben.
“The medical examiner just arrived,” the technician answered with a bit of trepidation. “You said you wanted to know when she got here.”
“Thank you,” she returned evenly. “I will be right there.”
She continued staring at Ben, and he at her, as the crime scene tech made a hasty retreat. After a long measure, she looked away for a moment, then back to my friend as she placed one hand on her hip and pointedly stabbed the index finger of her other at him.
“We will discuss this later, Detective Storm,” she forced the words between her clenched teeth. “But right now I want you as far from this crime scene as you can get. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yeah,” he spat. “As a freakin’ bell.”
She didn’t stop there. “And, I want you to take your damnable Satan worshippers with you before I have them arrested for trespassing.”
CHAPTER 26:
The morning sun was filtering through the green canopy of the trees and had already set about the task of bringing on the heat of the day. Even with a slight breeze, it was starting to get hot out here, and the sun was far from the only reason. The two detectives were squared off, their tempers swelling outward with a palpable hatred for one another. I watched on as Ben stared back at Lieutenant Albright, painfully silent in the wake of her voiced threat.
My friend was ready to fight; there was no doubt about that. While the lieutenant was certainly guilty of repeatedly baiting him, for all intents and purposes, he had taken the first swing. It was clear from his current stance that he was planning to finish this without regard for the price it may cost in the end.
I continued watching as he worked his jaw and slid his palm across his chin then allowed his arm to drop to his side. His hand clenched and unclenched repeatedly, and I recognized the motion to be a precursor of him working into a rage. Following the visual cue, I took hold of his arm and then gave him a healthy nudge just as his mouth opened. When he glanced over at me, anger in his eyes, I simply shook my head and mouthed the word ‘no.’
“Is there something you wanted to say, Detective?” Albright spat, daring him to cross the line.
Ben continued looking at me, and I shook my head again. I knew full well that what had just set him off was her verbal assault on Felicity and me. I didn’t like it any more than he did, but I’d grown jaded to such insults over the years. Moreover, I wasn’t going to let him jeopardize his career any more than he already had, especially on our account.
“No, Lieutenant,” he finally growled as he turned back to her. “Not a damn thing.”
“Good,” she retorted and then looked over at me. “Mister Gant, I expect you to be available for questioning.” She shot her glance at Felicity then added, “That goes for both of you.”
“Whatever you say, Sheriff,” I told her with my own injection of sarcasm. “Don’t leave town. Got it.”
“Crack jokes if you want, Mister Gant,” she retorted. “But, make no mistake, as far as I am concerned, both you and your wife are suspects.”
“You have got to be kidding me” was my incredulous reply.
“By procedure, maybe,” Constance interjected. “But, that’s ludicrous and you know it.”
“Is it?” Albright queried. “How did they know where to find the body?”
“We already covered that,” Ben told her.
“Did we?”
“Oh, gimme a fuckin’ break,” he snarled.
“I am,” she replied. “I’m not bringing you up on charges right this minute. Now get out of here. All of you.”
“I’ll be staying, Lieutenant,” Mandalay announced in a cold tone.
“I see no reason…” Albright started.
“I will be staying, Lieutenant,” Constance repeated, emphasizing the words as she cut her off. “If there is a problem with that, we can contact the Bureau field office, and I’m sure the SAIC can give you several reasons for me to be here.”
The lieutenant regarded her silently for a moment, then sighed and motioned toward us. “Suit yourself, Agent Mandalay, but I am still lead detective, and I want these three out of here now.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Constance told her evenly.
“See that you do.”
“One more thing, Lieutenant,” Mandalay replied in a careful but frosty tone. “I suggest that you don’t push me. I’m the last bitch you want to cross right now.”
“Yes, I am sure that you are,” Albright returned in her own cold voice and then paused before adding, “A bitch.”
