Struthers?” Coop asked. “You don’t think local can handle it?”
“I’m sure they can,” I replied, with a snarled laugh. “But I wanna get this case out of the way as quickly and as efficiently as possible. I don’t want to leave any margin for error… I don’t want L.A.P.D. glossing over something, or letting him go without getting everything I need. So I’d rather take care of it myself.”
“Alright,” the chief said, dragging his word and his breath. “I’ll have admin set up a two-day expense account for you. You’re the only detective I can send out though. You want someone on this with you? Ramirez?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “I want someone with me… but not Ramirez. You need him on the streets here. Have Barnes come with me.”
“Barnes?” Coop asked. “You want Barnes to go out to L.A. with you?”
I could understand why the chief was so perplexed. As I’d mentioned earlier, Barnes was just a clerk officer, and just about anybody else on the force would have been a better, wiser ad hoc partner. But I didn’t really want a partner for this interrogation. I wasn’t just talking about L.A.P.D. when I told Coop I’d rather take care of it myself.
I couldn’t have Ramirez join me. He was too smart. He’d figure out that something was up in no time, and he’d know what to do about it—and nothing could stop him. And the same could be said for the half a dozen or so other beat cops I could have selected.
But Barnes… Barnes was meek, meager, and fresh under the collar. He didn’t know what questions to ask and didn’t know how to read between the lines to find answers. And if he did happen to stumbled into the “know,” he’d have no idea where to go from there, and he could easily be manipulated or persuaded.
I needed someone like him at my side for this trip and interrogation.
“Yes, Barnes,” I answered. “We don’t need to waste a beat cop on this, but I need someone there. And Barnes is good enough. Plus, I’m sure he’d be happy to go on a little field trip.”
“Alright, Knowles,” Coop said. “I’ll go see if he’s on board and clear everything with admin.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I replied. “I’m gonna finish up here with Ramirez, then run by my place to get some stuff for the trip. I should be back at the station in about an hour.”
“See you then,” the chief said, hanging up the phone.
I went back over to the scene, where Ramirez was eagerly waiting.
“When we going to L.A.?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.
“ I’m going to L.A. as soon as I go pick up Barnes at the station,” I answered. “You’re gonna have to wait ‘til your next day off or vacation. Chief couldn’t spare a beat cop.”
“Makes sense,” Ramirez replied. “Just be careful out there, especially since you got a rookie with you.”
“I will,” I answered with a smile.
I helped Ramirez close up a few things—you know, dotting some “i’s” and crossing some “t’s”—and left the scene several minutes later, headed for my apartment. I rushed in, quickly packed an overnight bag containing another skirt suit, a change in undergarments, and a nightgown, along with the typical toiletries—makeup, deodorant, toothbrush, and whatnot—and was on my way back to the station in no time.
When I got back to the station, Coop had me sign some paperwork and take care of some other administrative matters. Then all I had to do was wait for Barnes. The chief told me he’d gone home to change and pack his bag and would be back soon.
But “soon” ended up being about a half an hour later. And when Barnes walked into the station, I’m surprised the floors didn’t shake from all the laughter.
He came in wearing a nice enough pair of trousers with a white button-down shirt. But on top of it, he wore an oversized three-quarters-length trench coat, and he had a fedora on his head. Given his age and his getup—and the fact that he was wearing geeky
“I’m sure they can,” I replied, with a snarled laugh. “But I wanna get this case out of the way as quickly and as efficiently as possible. I don’t want to leave any margin for error… I don’t want L.A.P.D. glossing over something, or letting him go without getting everything I need. So I’d rather take care of it myself.”
“Alright,” the chief said, dragging his word and his breath. “I’ll have admin set up a two-day expense account for you. You’re the only detective I can send out though. You want someone on this with you? Ramirez?”
“Yeah,” I replied. “I want someone with me… but not Ramirez. You need him on the streets here. Have Barnes come with me.”
“Barnes?” Coop asked. “You want Barnes to go out to L.A. with you?”
I could understand why the chief was so perplexed. As I’d mentioned earlier, Barnes was just a clerk officer, and just about anybody else on the force would have been a better, wiser ad hoc partner. But I didn’t really want a partner for this interrogation. I wasn’t just talking about L.A.P.D. when I told Coop I’d rather take care of it myself.
I couldn’t have Ramirez join me. He was too smart. He’d figure out that something was up in no time, and he’d know what to do about it—and nothing could stop him. And the same could be said for the half a dozen or so other beat cops I could have selected.
But Barnes… Barnes was meek, meager, and fresh under the collar. He didn’t know what questions to ask and didn’t know how to read between the lines to find answers. And if he did happen to stumbled into the “know,” he’d have no idea where to go from there, and he could easily be manipulated or persuaded.
I needed someone like him at my side for this trip and interrogation.
“Yes, Barnes,” I answered. “We don’t need to waste a beat cop on this, but I need someone there. And Barnes is good enough. Plus, I’m sure he’d be happy to go on a little field trip.”
“Alright, Knowles,” Coop said. “I’ll go see if he’s on board and clear everything with admin.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I replied. “I’m gonna finish up here with Ramirez, then run by my place to get some stuff for the trip. I should be back at the station in about an hour.”
“See you then,” the chief said, hanging up the phone.
I went back over to the scene, where Ramirez was eagerly waiting.
“When we going to L.A.?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.
“ I’m going to L.A. as soon as I go pick up Barnes at the station,” I answered. “You’re gonna have to wait ‘til your next day off or vacation. Chief couldn’t spare a beat cop.”
“Makes sense,” Ramirez replied. “Just be careful out there, especially since you got a rookie with you.”
“I will,” I answered with a smile.
I helped Ramirez close up a few things—you know, dotting some “i’s” and crossing some “t’s”—and left the scene several minutes later, headed for my apartment. I rushed in, quickly packed an overnight bag containing another skirt suit, a change in undergarments, and a nightgown, along with the typical toiletries—makeup, deodorant, toothbrush, and whatnot—and was on my way back to the station in no time.
When I got back to the station, Coop had me sign some paperwork and take care of some other administrative matters. Then all I had to do was wait for Barnes. The chief told me he’d gone home to change and pack his bag and would be back soon.
But “soon” ended up being about a half an hour later. And when Barnes walked into the station, I’m surprised the floors didn’t shake from all the laughter.
He came in wearing a nice enough pair of trousers with a white button-down shirt. But on top of it, he wore an oversized three-quarters-length trench coat, and he had a fedora on his head. Given his age and his getup—and the fact that he was wearing geeky
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