knew that it was going to be a difficult day for everyone. Pat had laid out his dress blues for the funeral. He had placed the black mourning band over his Chief of Detectives three star shield.
Dickie arrived promptly at 0700 hours. He was also dressed in his uniform.
“You know, Dickie, it’s never a good thing when we have to wear these bags.”
“I know. It seems it’s always for funerals or something else bad.”
“When you’re a detective and you have to put a uniform on, the only good thing that could be happening is that you’re getting promoted.”
“I never thought of that, Chief, but you’re right. But of course I’ve only been promoted one time to detective. How about you, Chief?”
“Let’s see Detective 3rd Grade, Detective 2nd Grade, Detective 1st Grade, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Inspector, Inspector, Deputy Chief and Chief of Detectives. How many times is that?”
“That’s ten times. You’ve been promoted more times than I have years on the job. Wow!”
“I’ve been very lucky, Dickie, and you will be, too, if you keep your nose clean. The most important thing about getting promoted is timing. There has to be a slot for you. It gets harder as you move up, because there are fewer opportunities, but you’ll still have more opportunities, because you work in the largest police department in the country. You just need to work hard, use some grey matter, and hit those promotional books until you’re sick of them. Have there been any developments overnight?”
“Not that I’m aware of, Chief.”
“We have to catch a break in this case.”
“Don’t worry, before this is all over, you’ll pull that famous rabbit out of a hat.”
“I’m about tired of hearing about that damn rabbit.”
As Dickie pulled into One Police Plaza, he could see that the flags were at half mast in honor of Tony. Pat felt his eyes starting to well up with tears.
“It kind of gets you seeing those flags, doesn’t it?”
“It’s kind of like the wall inside the building with all those names on it. Our job is to keep our names off of that board.”
“It’s also our job to find the perps responsible for putting them there, and I don’t feel so good about this one.”
“I’m betting on the rabbit.”
Pat walked into the office and was met by Bryan Flannery.
“We’ll have a small crew manning the phones during the funeral to make sure we don’t miss anything, Chief, but most of the guys are in their dress blues today.”
“I understand, Bryan. I want them to be there. By the way, I have to speak at the funeral, and I haven’t written the first thing.”
“I’m not worried, boss, because whatever you say will be from the heart.”
“Thanks, but, it’ll still be tough.”
At about 1130 Hours, Dickie Davis walked in the office.
“I’ve had the car detailed, Chief, and it’s spotless. We probably need to leave soon, because there’ll be a huge turnout.”
“I’ll be ready in five minutes. I want to hit the head, because there’s gonna be several thousand cops with no place to take a leak.”
“Good point. I probably shouldn’t have had that last cup of coffee.”
Dickie rounded the corner in front of the cathedral. Shiny white NYPD RMP’s were already triple-parked in front of the church. Pat recognized the Police Commissioner’s car in front. He was quickly recognized by the motorcycle officer who respectfully saluted him and directed him to a spot near the front of the church. Pat returned the salute, and Dickie parked the car. Pat stepped out of the car and put his uniform hat on, with all its gold piping and scrambled eggs on the brim.
Commissioner Longstreet motioned for Pat to come over.
“Hello, Patty, you look sharp in your uniform.”
“That’s because it’s practically new. I never wear it.”
“I’m assuming we’re still fairly empty in the lead department.”
“There’s not much to go on, but we’re working very
Dickie arrived promptly at 0700 hours. He was also dressed in his uniform.
“You know, Dickie, it’s never a good thing when we have to wear these bags.”
“I know. It seems it’s always for funerals or something else bad.”
“When you’re a detective and you have to put a uniform on, the only good thing that could be happening is that you’re getting promoted.”
“I never thought of that, Chief, but you’re right. But of course I’ve only been promoted one time to detective. How about you, Chief?”
“Let’s see Detective 3rd Grade, Detective 2nd Grade, Detective 1st Grade, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Inspector, Inspector, Deputy Chief and Chief of Detectives. How many times is that?”
“That’s ten times. You’ve been promoted more times than I have years on the job. Wow!”
“I’ve been very lucky, Dickie, and you will be, too, if you keep your nose clean. The most important thing about getting promoted is timing. There has to be a slot for you. It gets harder as you move up, because there are fewer opportunities, but you’ll still have more opportunities, because you work in the largest police department in the country. You just need to work hard, use some grey matter, and hit those promotional books until you’re sick of them. Have there been any developments overnight?”
“Not that I’m aware of, Chief.”
“We have to catch a break in this case.”
“Don’t worry, before this is all over, you’ll pull that famous rabbit out of a hat.”
“I’m about tired of hearing about that damn rabbit.”
As Dickie pulled into One Police Plaza, he could see that the flags were at half mast in honor of Tony. Pat felt his eyes starting to well up with tears.
“It kind of gets you seeing those flags, doesn’t it?”
“It’s kind of like the wall inside the building with all those names on it. Our job is to keep our names off of that board.”
“It’s also our job to find the perps responsible for putting them there, and I don’t feel so good about this one.”
“I’m betting on the rabbit.”
Pat walked into the office and was met by Bryan Flannery.
“We’ll have a small crew manning the phones during the funeral to make sure we don’t miss anything, Chief, but most of the guys are in their dress blues today.”
“I understand, Bryan. I want them to be there. By the way, I have to speak at the funeral, and I haven’t written the first thing.”
“I’m not worried, boss, because whatever you say will be from the heart.”
“Thanks, but, it’ll still be tough.”
At about 1130 Hours, Dickie Davis walked in the office.
“I’ve had the car detailed, Chief, and it’s spotless. We probably need to leave soon, because there’ll be a huge turnout.”
“I’ll be ready in five minutes. I want to hit the head, because there’s gonna be several thousand cops with no place to take a leak.”
“Good point. I probably shouldn’t have had that last cup of coffee.”
Dickie rounded the corner in front of the cathedral. Shiny white NYPD RMP’s were already triple-parked in front of the church. Pat recognized the Police Commissioner’s car in front. He was quickly recognized by the motorcycle officer who respectfully saluted him and directed him to a spot near the front of the church. Pat returned the salute, and Dickie parked the car. Pat stepped out of the car and put his uniform hat on, with all its gold piping and scrambled eggs on the brim.
Commissioner Longstreet motioned for Pat to come over.
“Hello, Patty, you look sharp in your uniform.”
“That’s because it’s practically new. I never wear it.”
“I’m assuming we’re still fairly empty in the lead department.”
“There’s not much to go on, but we’re working very
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