Detroit Combat by Randy Wayne White

rights? Come on, give some of us credit. We’re not dumb , for God’s sake. I knew what happened from the first moment I heard the story.”
    â€œYeah?” said Hawker, amused.
    â€œYes,” said Claramae Riddock. “I knew rogue cops were involved.”
    â€œOr a vigilante?”
    McCarthy slapped his hand on the table a little too hard. “Come on, Claramae, you don’t really believe he’s a vigilante?”
    â€œI believe every word he just said.” She looked at Hawker. “You didn’t expect me to believe you, did you? You thought the truth would be too bizarre for me to accept.”
    Hawker shrugged. “So now that you know, what are you going to do?”
    â€œThis morning I told Detective McCarthy I was going to ask for an internal investigation and press charges if I found any evidence of vigilante behavior on the part of members of our force. And that’s still what I plan to do—only now it will be easier. Much easier.”
    â€œCome on, Detective,” McCarthy snapped. “Get off your white horse. When you told me you planned an investigation, I thought James might be able to talk a little sense into you—that’s why I invited you here. I thought you might change your mind when you saw what kind of guy he is.”
    â€œChange my mind? From what I’ve seen, Paul, your friend is rude, egotistical, ruthless, and a complete boor. Why should that change my mind?”
    McCarthy’s face was getting red. “He saved Brenda Paulie’s life, for one thing,” he said. “That doesn’t mean anything to you? He’s provided us with our first lead on one hell of a tough case. And he’s willing to keep working with us. Now why would you want to spoil that?”
    â€œHe also violated the human rights of everyone involved with that porno ring,” Claramae Riddock shot back. “He killed Solomon Goldblatz in cold blood—a man who had never been found guilty of a crime—”
    â€œGoldblatz was a kink, for Christ’s sake! He raped children.”
    â€œHe was never found guilty in a court of law.” She glared at McCarthy. “In this country, you’re still innocent until proven guilty.”
    â€œThe kids’ parents wouldn’t let them testify.”
    â€œThen that’s the parents’ problem, not the problem of the Detroit Police Department. In the eyes of the law, Mr. Goldblatz was innocent. And for Mr. Hawker to kill him is murder, plain and simple.”
    â€œI didn’t kill him,” Hawker interrupted coolly. “But I wish I had.” He gave the woman a look of appraisal. “Tell me, Detective Riddock, have you done much work in the field?”
    â€œI’m not on trial here, Mr. Hawker.”
    â€œSidestepping the question?”
    â€œNot at all. My job is strictly internal affairs. I’m not ashamed of it.”
    â€œYou’ve never been shot at, or had to shoot someone?”
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œYou’ve never worked the streets—the streets where any one of a hundred people would love to slit your throat just for the fun of it? You’ve never been in the pits with the crooks and killers and the rapists? I’d love to take you out some evening and introduce you to some of these fine, decent law-abiding folks you’re so hellbent on protecting.”
    â€œNow who’s lecturing, Hawker? I’ve met plenty of criminals. I work with them every day. That’s why I know that they’re usually just people a little more unfortunate than you and I, just people who have had some bad breaks. They’re not animals and they’re not freaks. They’ve made mistakes, but they still have rights—rights that must be protected.”
    â€œAnd what about the victims?”
    â€œOnce the law has been broken, there’s not much a cop can do for the victim. It’s unfortunate, but that’s