'Why don't I feel like dancing?'
'We both know the whole demand for a special investigation was
bullshit. But we also both know ... once they open that door, they
don't always close it again without slamming it on some poor innocent
bastard's fingers. So we'll count our blessings.'
'They clear Luther too?'
'Yes, of course.'
'All right.'
Crawford said, 'I put your name in for a commendation--Luther too,
posthumously. Both are going to be approved.'
'Thank you, Captain.'
'Deserved.'
'I don't give a damn about the dickheads on the commission, and the
chief can take a hike to hell too, for all I care. But it means
something to me because it was you put in our names.'
Lowering his gaze to his brown cap, which he turned around and around
in his brown hands, Crawford said, 'I appreciate that.'
They were both silent awhile.
Jack was remembering Luther. He figured Crawford was too.
Finally Crawford looked up from his cap and said, 'Now for the bad
news.'
'Always has to be some.'
'Not actively bad, just irritating. You hear about the Anson Oliver
movie?'
'Which one? There were three.'
'So you haven't heard. His parents and his pregnant fiancee made a
deal with Warner Brothers.'
'Deal?'
'Sold the rights to Anson Oliver's life story for one million
dollars?'
Jack was speechless.
Crawford said, 'The way they tell it, they made the deal for two
reasons.
First, they want to provide for Oliver's unborn son, make sure the
kid's future is secure.'
'What about my kid's future?' Jack asked angrily.
Crawford cocked his head. 'You really pissed?'
'Yes !'
'Hell, Jack, since when did our kids ever matter to people like
them?'
'Since never.'
'Exactly. You and me and our kids, we're here to applaud them when
they do something artistic or high minded--and clean up after them when
they make a mess.'
'It isn't fair,' Jack said. He laughed at his own words, as if any
experienced cop could still expect life to be fair, virtue to be
rewarded, and villainy to be punished. 'Ah, hell.'
'You can't hate them for that. It's just the way they are, the way
they think.
