Justice(17)

“You okay?” I ask.

Harry drops the messages on his desk. “Overwhelmed. It’ll take me a day just to get through all this crap, let alone all the other crap that will no doubt be shoveled in as the day progresses.”

“That’s why you have minions,” I remind him. “Let some of the bright, eager young things out there do your scut work. You just boss them around, do the fun stuff, and take all the credit. Why do you think supervillains have them?”

“You’re very cute when you’re diabolical,” Harry says with a smile.

The door opens again before I can retort. Cam and Kowalski step in, Kowalski obviously not getting a wink of sleep. “Hey, Captain,” Kowalski says with a yawn. They shut the door.

“Did the prison files arrive yet?” Harry asks, all business again.

“No, boss. They’re holding them for us there.”

“Fine,” he says. “What about the list of Ryder’s known accomplices?”

“The preliminary should be on your desk…somewhere.”

Harry shuffles the papers around. “Where, Kowalski?” Harry snaps.

Kowalski rushes over and helps in the search. Harry’s frustration grows with each passing second until it’s found. “Here,” Kowalski says, triumphant.

“Okay, go make twenty copies and divide the names into groups of three. Then go home. But I want you back here by two.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get some sleep,” Harry says as Kowalski leaves.

We all watch the lucky one go. “We’re going to need more detectives,” Cam says.

Harry finds another file and smirks. “I know. We’ll get them.” Harry stands up, as do I. “I’ll try and get Pritchard and Wu from homicide to cover the Mike Spencer angle. Cam, I want you to head up the accomplice interviews. You and Mirabelle can take the real troublemakers. Fallon, you take point at the prison. I’ll give you an officer to assist.”

“I want Conover. He’s had some psych training.”

“You got it. Help me rally the troops first. Both of you.”

He adjusts his tie and smoothes his hair. We follow him out into the bullpen, where the men and women continue their conversations, oblivious to us and the mission. Ever the narcissist, the mayor poses for a picture with a female officer. I wonder if he’ll try to grab her ass too.

Harry, with us in tow, walks around the group to the huge whiteboard on the far wall. He stops, and Cam takes his position on his left and me on his right, flanking him like sentinels. We put on our best scowls.

“A-ttent-ion!” Cam bellows in his deepest, best drill sergeant voice. The chatter wanes and all eyes turn to us, even the mayor’s.

“Good morning,” Harry begins. “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Lt. Harold O’Hara, commanding officer of Priority Homicide, and for the foreseeable future I am the man who runs your lives.” His voice sends tingles to my girl parts. “You sleep when I tell you, you piss when I tell you, and you see your families when I allow it. If I am not here, then Det. Terrance Cameron to my left is in charge. He is the lead investigator on this case. Any information you get goes directly to him or his partner on my right, Det. Joanna Fallon.” I nod at the group who size me up then look back to Harry. “Now, for the reason we are all here.”

Harry opens the file in his hand and slaps the mug shot of Alkaline on the whiteboard. “James Malvern Ryder, AKA Alkaline. Age forty-two. Height, six foot even. Hair dark brown, eyes brown. Arrested three years ago for ten counts of kidnapping, twenty for assault, one count rape, and thirty-five for murder or manslaughter. Was a resident of Xavier prison until last night when he escaped by killing two people and maiming one. We believe he is still in the city, possibly preparing for his next wave of crimes. It doesn’t get worse than this man people, and it is up to each and every one of us to find him before he strikes again.

“This is no time for egos, or misplaced heroics. If you are in this room right now, that means you have either had some tie to this man, or your superiors think you are fit for this task force. No doubt you know what this man is capable of, but in case you don’t, we’re dealing with a super who has two reserves of highly concentrated sulfuric acid in either arm that can melt you down to your spine. Add to that the ability to heal five times faster than normal, super-strength, and a keen intellect. He is smarter than every one of us in this room. What this mean is no going off half-cocked. You get a lead, you tell us. We have SWAT on stand-by at all times. No heroics. I will not lose any of you to this man, is that understood?”