Posted by Dominiqua --Previous Message--
on 7/16/2001, 10:42 pm
Of all the nerve! That's all I'm gonna say about that for now. I'm off to read Part 2! :-)
: Dealing with politicians is definitely one of
: the downsides of being the police
: commissioner, Mac thought as he made his
: way to Councilman Reynolds' office. For
: some reason the councilman requested an
: immediate meeting to discuss some budget
: details but Mac really had no idea what
: the issues were to be discussed. The
: receptionist informed Mac that the
: councilman was waiting for him and he
: proceeded to councilman Reynolds' office.
: Reynolds rose from his desk to shake Mac's
: hand and motioned for him to take a seat
: facing his desk. The councilman sat on
: the edge of his desk as he addressed Mac.
: "You may know Commissioner, I'm taking
: additional interest in budgetary matters
: and I want to talk to you about some
: recent large expenditure requests recently
: requested by your department. I believe
: that the expenditures are for overtime and
: extra security regarding the Moreno
: trial." Mac raised his eyebrows a
: bit at the mention of the topic. The
: request for additional money was submitted
: only two days ago. With the normal
: bureaucratic red tape a politician
: wouldn't have seen the paperwork for at
: least two weeks. How is it that this
: councilman is questioning the requests
: only 48 hours after the paperwork was
: prepared?
: Mac held his temper as he spoke evenly and
: hopefully slowly enough for this
: penny-pinching bureaucrat to understand
: his explanation. "Councilman
: Reynolds, you must be aware that Anthony
: Moreno is one of the most notorious and
: dangerous crime bosses in the northeast
: United States. Having enough evidence to
: bring him to trial is just the start of
: the process to bring him to justice.
: Moreno and his associates are absolutely
: ruthless and will stop at nothing and will
: do whatever it takes to sabotage his
: trial. That includes intimidating
: witnesses. The police department has to
: allocate additional resources to see that
: witnesses and people associated with the
: case are protected."
: Flipping through some papers in a binder,
: Reynolds paused and peered at Mac through
: his glasses as he noted,
: "Commissioner, I can understand that
: some police resources are needed during
: the trial. But some of these requests...?
: For example, why is so much money being
: allocated to A.D.A. Jensen's
: security?"
: "Her safety was actually threatened by
: Moreno," Mac countered as he looked
: at Reynolds in disbelief. " I was
: there and I heard the threat myself."
: "That was probably bluster or anger on
: Moreno's part," Reynolds said
: dismissively. He asked, " Has any
: attempt been made on Ms. Jensen's
: life?"
: "As of yet, no," replied Mac as he
: stared incredulously at the Reynolds.
: Does this idiot think that because no
: attempt has been made then no security is
: needed? Reynolds' next statement
: confirmed Mac's thoughts.
: "Then my first suggestion would be to
: scale back or eliminate the security. I
: really do think that it is a waste of time
: and money. I spoke to the DA about this
: and he had no problem with my
: request." Mac refused to even argue
: this point with the councilman. He'd head
: to the mayor's office immediately after
: lunch with Dara to insure that Dara's
: security would remain in tact. Reynolds
: continued to the next issue. "Also,
: I can understand the extensive security
: for the witness Bannion for the trial.
: But the money requested for his lodging
: and care seem a bit excessive to me. I
: need more details about exactly what these
: expenditures are."
: "Only myself and 2 officers on the force
: know that information and we can't detail
: it to you or to anyone else without
: jeopardizing Bannion's safety," was
: Mac's steely reply to Reynolds last
: request. "After the trial is
: completed and Bannion is put in a witness
: protection program, I will have no problem
: going over every receipt and expense with
: you. But until then I can give you no
: more details regarding Bannion's security
: details." It occurred to Mac that
: Reynolds would not be the first nor last
: politician to be associated with organized
: crime. The councilman has always been a
: lightweight on the city council and his
: unusual interest in budget matters related
: to the Moreno case was extremely
: suspicious. To confirm his suspicions Mac
: asked, "Do you have any specific
: budget concerns which are not associated
: with the Moreno case? Perhaps we can come
: to some agreement on those now."
: "I really expect to come to an agreement
: with you on all of these budget issues
: Commissioner, regardless whether they
: relate to the Moreno case or not,"
: retorted Reynolds. "As a public
: official I am entitled to know important
: aspects of the Moreno case," he
: blustered as he drew himself up and stood
: to face Mac.
: "Not when it comes to the safety of
: those involved with this case you're
: not," declared Mac. We can take this
: up with the mayor if you wish and I'm sure
: that the FBI would have some interest in
: this matter also. Let me know when you
: want to meet on this issue again and we'll
: all get together and work out any problems
: that you may have." Mac grabbed his
: coat and left the office. If Reynolds is
: sniffing around for information for
: Moreno, any attention drawn to Reynolds'
: interest in the trial would be
: undesirable, from both Moreno's and
: Reynolds' points of view. Mac doubted
: that Reynolds would continue pestering him
: for information, but the attempt was
: indicative of the fact that Moreno would
: leave no stone unturned in getting out of
: the charges. Mac was still pondering his
: meeting with Reynolds when he saw Dara
: leaving the police station. He was
: relived to see Officer Allen walking a few
: paces behind Dara. Mac called to Dara and
: asked her to wait for him as he rushed to
: join her.
:
:
:
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