Chapter 5
Since the fire escape incident, Detective Lawrence had experienced the best six months of her police career. Her arrest rate was skyrocketing, petty crime had dropped, and Perry’s campaign to end organized crime was operating with great success. But none of these achievements were being celebrated in the precinct because there was a new citywide scourge taking priority. Danny leaned against her desk with her arms crossed as Police Commissioner Hollis began to speak to the station.
“I am here today to discuss your hard work over the last six months. I have never been more proud to call myself police commissioner. But all of your accomplishments have been greatly overshadowed by the rise of vigilante justice infecting this city. This man has prevented numerous crimes and helped us put dangerous criminals behind bars, so you might be wondering why I’m still talking.” The commissioner paused. “We are not vigilantes. We are the criminal justice system and as such, we cannot condone the blatant disregard of the law. Whoever this person is, he has left a trail of bodies across the city. Your city. And that is why we will be tripling our efforts to catch him and bring him to justice in the eyes of the law.”
As the commissioner wrapped up his speech, Danny felt a nudge at her side and glanced over to find her girlfriend grinning at her. She smiled back and leaned down so Laura could give her a peck on the lips.
“Laura, what are you doing here?” Commissioner Hollis spotted his daughter and hugged her.
“Oh, just checking in on my two favorite people! Your speech was very inspirational dad. I feel so invigorated, like I should go out and hunt for that vigilante myself.”
“You will do no such thing!” Laura’s dad sighed as she giggled. “Sometimes I think about how much safer you would have been if you’d only stayed with journalism, honey.”
“But being a private investigator is much more lucrative, dad. It’s actually not that different than journalism anyways.” Laura smiled broadly, knowing that protesting would just lead to another lecture.
“Alright Laura. I have to visit the other precincts, but I’ll see you at dinner.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and paused awkwardly before clapping a hand on Danny’s upper arm in acknowledgement. “Detective.” He gave her a stilted nod and turned to leave the station.
“Hey, I think he’s warming up to me.” Detective Lawrence smiled. “Anyways, as much as I appreciate the visit, I assume you need a favor?”
“Yeah, I’m running down a lead on this case I’m on and I could use a little tip.”
“Laura…” Danny sighed.
“It’s not confidential information!”
“You know I wouldn’t give it to you if it was.”
“I know, you’re miss ‘by the book’. That’s what Mel calls you right?” Danny swallowed the twinge of guilt she felt and sat down at her desk to turn her computer on, only to be met with a bright red screen.
“What the hell? Hey Callis, is your computer having issues too?” Danny looked over at Mel who nodded back.
Suddenly, a computerized voice echoed through the station. Detective Lawrence looked around and saw every screen flashing with the color of blood.
“Hello SCPD, I hear you’ve been talking about me and I must confess I’m a little hurt. I thought that you all could use the help, considering that many of your own are not committed to the law you claim to uphold.” The screens suddenly went still and then began to display a slideshow of photos and names. “I’ve been keeping tabs on all of you and was quite surprised when I found out that almost half of you fine people have been double dipping.” The surveillance photos depicted members of the precinct meeting with known criminals and receiving payouts.
There was a split second of disturbing calm before chaos descended on the station. In the scuffle, a uniformed officer grabbed Laura before Danny could push her out of harm’s way. He stared at Detective Lawrence, daring her to make a move.
“This is your little girlfriend isn’t it detective? She also happens to be the commissioner’s daughter, so I would think twice before trying to detain me.” None of his words fazed Danny. Before he could make a move, she had already pulled out her gun and fired straight at his forehead. As the officer fell, Laura ran into Danny’s arms and the detective could feel warm blood seeping into her shirt. Then, a much more familiar face filled the screens. Melanippe Callis. Danny whipped around and saw her partner fire a shot off at Detective Kirsch. She pushed Laura under her desk and sprang to her feet, cuffing Mel to a cabinet before tearing off her white button-up and wrapping up Wilson’s arm to slow the bleeding.
After she secured her makeshift tourniquet, the havoc began to die down and Danny took stock of the damage. For the most part, the people identified as dirty cops had all been subdued, and only one or two were in the wind. With Laura at her side, she watched as ambulances arrived at the scene.
“Thanks for the shirt L-Dog!” Kirsch ogled her as he was loaded onto a gurney. “Looks like you didn’t need it anyways.”
“I’m going to chalk that comment up to poor judgment due to blood loss.” Danny growled in her tank top, crossing her arms angrily. Her boss shut the door of the ambulance before turning back to the precinct.
“Captain, can I take Laura home and get her cleaned up?” Perry nodded, still brimming with rage.
“We’ll take care of this here. But I want to see you bright and early for your statement and a good load of paperwork.”