'Of course not. That's what I am-a mister. No title.'
'Well… you know,' Suarez said with his wry smile, 'some retired cops prefer to be addressed by their former rank -captain, chief, deputy… whatever.'
'Mister will do me fine,' Delaney said cheerfully. 'I'm just another civilian.'
'Not quite.'
They sat across the table from each other. Delaney saw a long-faced man with coarse black hair combed back from a high forehead. A thick mustache drooped. Olive skin and eyes as dark and shiny as washed coal.
A mouthful of strong white teeth. – He also saw the sad, troubled smile and the signs of stress: an occasional tic at the left of the mouth, bagged shadows under the eyes, furrows etched in the brow. Suarez was a man under pressure-and beginning to show it. Delaney wondered how he was sleeping-or if he was sleeping.
'Chief,' he said, 'when I was on active duty, they used to call me Iron Balls. I never could figure out exactly what that meant, except maybe I was a hard-nosed, blunt-talking bastard. I insisted on doing things my way. I made a lot of enemies.'
'So I have heard,' Suarez said softly.
'But I always tried to be up-front in what 1. said and what I did. So now I want to tell you this: On the Ellerbee case, forget what Deputy Commissioner Thorsen told you. I don't know how heavily he's been leaning on you, but if you don't want me in, just say so right now. I won't be offended. I won't be insulted. Just tell me you want to work the case yourself, and I'll thank you for a pleasant evening and the chance to meet you and your beautiful family. Then I'll get out of your hair.'
'Deputy Thorsen has been very kind to me,' he said.
'Kinder than you can ever know.'
'Bullshit!' Delaney said angrily. 'Thorsen is trying to save his own ass and you know it.'
'Yes,' Suarez said earnestly, 'that is true. But there is more to it than that. How long has it been since you turned in your tin, Mr.
Delaney-five years?'
'A little more than that.'
'Then you cannot be completely aware of the changes that have taken place in the Department, and are taking place. A third of all the cops on duty have less than five years' experience. The old height requirement has been junked. Now we have short cops, black cops, female cops, Hispanic cops, Oriental cops, gay cops. At the same time we have more and more cops with a college education. And men and women who speak foreign languages. It is a revolution, and I am all for it.'
Delaney was silent.
'These kids are motivated,' Suarez went on. 'They study law and take courses in sociology and psychology and human relations. It has to help the Department- don't you think?'
'It can't hurt,' Delaney said. 'The city is changing. If the Department doesn't change along with it, the Department will go down the tube.'
'Yes,' the Chief said, leaning back. 'Exactly. Thorsen realizes that also. So he has been doing whatever he can whenever he can to remake the Department so that it reflects the minority. He has been pushing for more minority cops on the street and for advancement of minorities to higher ranks.
Especially appointive ranks. You think I would have two stars today if it was not for Thorsen's clout? No way! So when you tell me he is trying to save his own ass by bringing you in on the Ellerbee case, I say yes, that is true. But it is also to protect something in which he believes deeply.'
'Thorsen is a survivor,' Delaney said harshly. 'And a shrewd infighter.
Don't worry about Thorsen. I owe him as much as you do. I know damned well what he's up against.
He's fighting the Irish Mafia every day he goes downtown.
Those guys remember the way the Department was thirty years ago, and that's the way they want it to be today-an Irish kingdom. I can say that because I'm a mick myself, but I had my own fights with harps in high places. I agree with everything you've said. I'm just telling you to be your own man. Screw Thorsen and screw me. If you want to work on the Ellerbee case on your own, say so. You'll break it or you won't. Either way, it'll be your way. And God knows if I do come in, there's absolutely no guarantee that I can do a damned bit of good-for you, for Thorsen, or for the Department.' There was silence, then Suarez said in a low voice, 'I admit that when Deputy Thorsen first suggested that he bring you into the investigation, I was insulted. I know your reputation, of course. Your record of closed files. Still, I thought Thorsen was saying, in effect, that he did not trust me. I almost told him right off that I wanted no help from you or anyone else; I would handle the Ellerbee homicide by myself.
Fortunately, I held my tongue, came home, thought about it, and talked it over with Rosa.'
'That was smart,' Delaney said. 'Women may know shit all about Department politics, but they sure know a hell of a lot about people-and that's what the Department is.'
'Well…' Suarez said, sighing, 'Rosa made me see that it was an ego thing for me. She said that if I failed on the Ellerbee case, everyone in the city would say, 'See, the spic can't cut the mustard.' She said I should accept help anywhere I could get it. Also, there is another thing. If the Ellerbee crime is solved, Thorsen will try to get me a third star and permanent appointment as Chief of Detectives when Murphy retires. Did you know that?'
'Yes. Thorsen told me.'
'So there are a lot of motives involved- political, ethnic, personal. I cannot honestly tell you which is the strongest. So I gave the whole matter many hours of very heavy thought.'
'I'll bet you did,' Delaney said. 'It's a tough decision to make.'
'Another factor…' Suarez said. 'I have some very good men in my bureau.'
'I trained a lot of them myself.'
'I know that. But none have your talent and experience. I don't say that to butter you up; it is the truth. I spoke to several detectives who worked with you on various cases.
They all said the same thing: If you can get Delaney, get him!
So that finally made up my mind. If you would be willing to help me on the Ellerbee homicide, I will welcome your help with deep gratitude and give you all the cooperation I possibly can.
Delaney leaned forward to look at him. 'You're sure about this?'
'Absolutely sure.'
'You realize I might strike out? Believe me, it wouldn't be the first time I failed. Far from it.'
'I realize that.'
'All right, let's get down to nuts and bolts. I've been following the case in the papers. Reading between the lines, I'd say you haven't got much.'
'Much?' Suarez cried. 'We have nothing!'
'Let me tell you what I know about it. Then you tell me what I've got wrong.' Speaking rapidly, Delaney summarized what he had read in newspaper accounts and heard on TV new casts. Suarez listened intently, not interrupting. When Delaney finished, the Chief said, 'Yes, that is about it.
Some of the times you mentioned are a little off, but not enough to make any big difference.'
Delaney nodded. 'Now tell me what you didn't give to the reporters.'
'Several things,' Suarez said. 'They may or may not mean anything. First of all, the victim told his wife he was staying in Manhattan because he was expecting a patient late on Friday evening. We found his appointment book on his desk. The last patient listed was for five P.m. No one listed after five.
The receptionist says that was not unusual. Sometimes the doctor got what they called 'crisis screams.' A patient who is really disturbed phones and says he must see the shrink immediately. The doctor makes the appointment and neglects to tell the receptionist. She left at five o'clock anyway, right after the last patient listed in the appointment book arrived.'
'Uh-huh,' Delaney said. 'Could happen…'
'The second thing is this. The Medical Examiner thinks the murder weapon was a ball peen hammer. You know what that is?'
'A ball peen? Sure. It's got a little rounded knob on one side of the head.'
'Correct. I asked, and found that such a hammer is used to shape metallike taking a dent out of a fender. Ellerbee was struck multiple blows on the top and back of his skull with the ball peen. They found many round wounds, like punctures.'
