sawhim. He was a good six feet tall and at least two hundred pounds.”
“Yep, he was a Poly High wide receiver. They expected to start him on varsity next year.”
“Then what was he doing shooting people and speeding through town with a gun?”
“It’s gotten so convoluted. The family retained Hester Shockley —you know, that civil liberties lawyer? They’re saying their innocent kid tried to give up, and you shot him in cold blood.”
Brinna groaned. Every cop in the city knew the name Hester Shockley. A high-profile attorney who did anything and everything to get in front of television cameras. Suing cops always worked liked a charm. Her last excessive-force case against the LBPD netted her a couple million dollars.
“Ben searched for the slug the kid fired at me that night but couldn’t find it.” Brinna rubbed her forehead. “What about the kid’s victims, the ones you talked to that night? Did they ever say why he shot them?”
“They still won’t cooperate. Both of them had minor injuries and long police records. The kid you shot, Lee Warren, had no record. Shockley’s MO is to make a saint out of the crook and a sinner out of the cop.”
“Wow. I’ve seen these situations go sideways for other cops, but I shot that kid because he shot at me first. It’s so black-and-white.”
“Shockley excels at clouding the issue. Rumor is you’re going to be reassigned until it all blows over.”
“That’s why Janet wants to talk to me.” Brinna slappedher thigh. “She wants me in her office tomorrow night.” She stifled a curse. “Just where do they think they’re going to put me?”
“Haven’t heard that. What time do you meet her?”
“Five. This is so bogus. I can’t believe it. Every time Hester Shockley says jump, the PD asks how high.” Fatigue fled, kicked in the butt by anger.
“Call me after you talk to your sergeant. We’ll meet for coffee.” Sympathy tinged Maggie’s voice.
“Will do. Thanks for the heads-up.” Brinna snapped the phone shut and groaned.
Are they going to move me inside? Or just to another shift? What about Hero? And what about my Innocent Wall? Will I still be able to search? With each question she couldn’t answer, anger swelled.
After a while, Milo’s pep talk of the night before echoed in her ears and Brinna calmed somewhat. Milo’s advice was like armor. She couldn’t believe that he could ever think anything he’d taught her was wrong.
I know what I did was right, she thought. I won’t let them sack me.
Taking a deep breath, Brinna walked back to the recycle barrel and pulled out three of the bundles. When she opened one, the headline made her gag: “Kid Crusader Turned Kid Killer!”
11
BRINNA LOADED the kayak on the roof of her personal truck and secured the straps, her movements jerky with anger. From her small house in Belmont Shore, the trip to Alamitos Bay took five minutes. She parked at a meter and fed it enough quarters for an hour and a half.
As she dragged the kayak across the sand to the water, the traditional accoutrements of summer swirled around her and she felt the anger mute. Putting the shooting out of her mind, she let the exhilaration of being back in her crowded, sea-breeze-tickled universe replace it. The shoreline teemed with kids splashing in the gently rolling surf; the smell of salt water mingled with the aroma of sunscreen. It was another scorcher. Heat seemed to roll up off the sand in waves. After Maggie’s call, Brinna knew she needed a paddle or she’d go crazy wondering about what was going to happen to her and Hero. A paddle always helped her head to clear.
To her left, the Second Street Kayak Rental Outfit stood open, doing a brisk business. Brinna scanned the beach forTony DiSanto, the owner of the rental business. Tony, the quintessential New York Italian, even resembled a smallish Tony Soprano. While Milo was what Brinna always wished her father were like, if her father weren’t a drunk,
“Yep, he was a Poly High wide receiver. They expected to start him on varsity next year.”
“Then what was he doing shooting people and speeding through town with a gun?”
“It’s gotten so convoluted. The family retained Hester Shockley —you know, that civil liberties lawyer? They’re saying their innocent kid tried to give up, and you shot him in cold blood.”
Brinna groaned. Every cop in the city knew the name Hester Shockley. A high-profile attorney who did anything and everything to get in front of television cameras. Suing cops always worked liked a charm. Her last excessive-force case against the LBPD netted her a couple million dollars.
“Ben searched for the slug the kid fired at me that night but couldn’t find it.” Brinna rubbed her forehead. “What about the kid’s victims, the ones you talked to that night? Did they ever say why he shot them?”
“They still won’t cooperate. Both of them had minor injuries and long police records. The kid you shot, Lee Warren, had no record. Shockley’s MO is to make a saint out of the crook and a sinner out of the cop.”
“Wow. I’ve seen these situations go sideways for other cops, but I shot that kid because he shot at me first. It’s so black-and-white.”
“Shockley excels at clouding the issue. Rumor is you’re going to be reassigned until it all blows over.”
“That’s why Janet wants to talk to me.” Brinna slappedher thigh. “She wants me in her office tomorrow night.” She stifled a curse. “Just where do they think they’re going to put me?”
“Haven’t heard that. What time do you meet her?”
“Five. This is so bogus. I can’t believe it. Every time Hester Shockley says jump, the PD asks how high.” Fatigue fled, kicked in the butt by anger.
“Call me after you talk to your sergeant. We’ll meet for coffee.” Sympathy tinged Maggie’s voice.
“Will do. Thanks for the heads-up.” Brinna snapped the phone shut and groaned.
Are they going to move me inside? Or just to another shift? What about Hero? And what about my Innocent Wall? Will I still be able to search? With each question she couldn’t answer, anger swelled.
After a while, Milo’s pep talk of the night before echoed in her ears and Brinna calmed somewhat. Milo’s advice was like armor. She couldn’t believe that he could ever think anything he’d taught her was wrong.
I know what I did was right, she thought. I won’t let them sack me.
Taking a deep breath, Brinna walked back to the recycle barrel and pulled out three of the bundles. When she opened one, the headline made her gag: “Kid Crusader Turned Kid Killer!”
11
BRINNA LOADED the kayak on the roof of her personal truck and secured the straps, her movements jerky with anger. From her small house in Belmont Shore, the trip to Alamitos Bay took five minutes. She parked at a meter and fed it enough quarters for an hour and a half.
As she dragged the kayak across the sand to the water, the traditional accoutrements of summer swirled around her and she felt the anger mute. Putting the shooting out of her mind, she let the exhilaration of being back in her crowded, sea-breeze-tickled universe replace it. The shoreline teemed with kids splashing in the gently rolling surf; the smell of salt water mingled with the aroma of sunscreen. It was another scorcher. Heat seemed to roll up off the sand in waves. After Maggie’s call, Brinna knew she needed a paddle or she’d go crazy wondering about what was going to happen to her and Hero. A paddle always helped her head to clear.
To her left, the Second Street Kayak Rental Outfit stood open, doing a brisk business. Brinna scanned the beach forTony DiSanto, the owner of the rental business. Tony, the quintessential New York Italian, even resembled a smallish Tony Soprano. While Milo was what Brinna always wished her father were like, if her father weren’t a drunk,
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