I reluctantly sat down, folding my hands in my lap. What did he want? I had always been a good officer. Never got into any trouble. Okay, there was the kiss between Officer Reed and I, but that was months ago. A minor incident after a long, stressful stake-out. "What's this all about?"
"We have made contact with the Pythons." Commissioner Madison smiled, grabbing the desk for support. "We put in an order for two cases of .38s."
The Pythons were a mafia group that made their profits by providing people with black-market guns and drugs. I still didn't see what that had to do with me.
"I don't like sending women into dangerous situations," Commissioner Madison continued. That didn't come as any surprise, considering I was the first woman to be let onto the Medora Police Force. "But Officer Reed tells me you are our best undercover cop."
He knew that. He didn't want to admit it. "With all due respect, sir, can we cut to the chase?"
"Direct. I like that in an officer." He smiled again, showing a bit of teeth. "I need a money man."
The money "man" would make direct contact with the Pythons. It would be necessary to make them believe I was from the streets. I knew I could do it. I was deliberately slow to answer. "I would be honored."
"No, I need you to serve on the back-up team."
My heart fell into my shoes. "No." I rose to my feet and spun toward the door. "Like you said, I am the best undercover cop on the Force." I turned the knob. "I can no longer stand by while you pass me over for assignments."
I would probably be fired, but I didn't care. I was blazing the trail for future female Medora officers.
"You are making a big mistake, Detective."
"I am one of the best officers you ever had."
He stood up straight, walking around to the other side of his desk. "I think we can work something out."
I faced him. "I have been the money man in thousands of cases, Commissioner Madison, over the past few years."
"Small cases compared to this one."
"Check my record, Commissioner Madison." I turned to the door again. "I was the money man in plenty of gun and drug deals." All before Madison made Commissioner. I walked out into the hallway.
Looking back on the scene in Madison's office, I realize how cocky, extremely green, I was. In the 1960's, women didn't speak to their supervisors like that. Women were nurses in the armed forces, but they weren't undercover police officers.
* * * * *
Being a widow with three children, I was faced with the reality of a mortgage payment and utility bills. I swallowed my pride and became a back-up team member before Madison changed his mind.
The van was parked a half a block away from the rendezvous point, but Officer Kennedy's wiring and our binoculars allowed us to hear and see everything.
At first, everything was routine--Evans, the Pythons' leader, arrived, Officer Kennedy got out of his car, Evans unlocked his trunk, and Kennedy opened a crate to make sure we were dealing with real.38 magnums. Somewhere between inspecting the guns and exchanging the money, something went wrong.
As I mentioned, Kennedy popped the lid off one of the crates with a crowbar. "Just making sure the goods are real. You know how it is."
"Of course," Evans said as he took the money envelope from Kennedy, checking the bills inside. We climbed out of the van and made a cautious hike to the scene. As Kennedy turned around to walk to his car, Evans pulled out a gun and shot him. Kennedy fell forward.
We were moving in on Evans when he fired another shot. I approached Evans from behind, "Freeze!" He tried to run, but he was surrounded by officers with their .44 magnums pointing at him. He dropped his weapon. Officer Wakefield arrested him while Tannen helped me carry Kennedy to the van.
* * * * *
The phone rang. Rubbing my eyes, I groped around for the receiver. After greeting the caller in a gruff voice, I blinked my eyes several times before adjusting to the darkness of my room.
"Detective Colton, we need you." My mind scrambled to recognize the voice. "Kennedy died. We need you to be the money man to finish this gun sting." My heart started to pound. "Meet me at the station in half an hour."
"Commissioner Madison?" If I sounded surprised, it was because I was. I thought the kids and I would moving back to New York City to live my parents. I'd even started packing.
"Let's forget about everything I said before," he replied. His voice--a bit shaky.
I agreed, but I would never forget.
About fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the Medora Police Station. I paced the hallway in front of Madison's office until he showed up.
"Let's get down to work." A man followed Madison into the office. I stayed out in the hall until Madison ordered me in. "Officer Green is going to teach you to walk and talk like a man."
"What's going to be different this time?" I bit my tongue deeply until I tasted my own blood. I had never gone undercover as a male officer. A man would be a challenge, but one I could handle. "If Evans shot Kennedy, what's to say one of the others won't kill me?"
"Maybe a bullet-proof vest?" Officer Green suggested, taking a seat next to me.
"That's a start." I shot Green a warm smile. "I was thinking--"
"If you'll follow Officer Green into the conference room..." Commissioner Madison pointed to the door.
I knew that I would be stepping over boundaries. I could always go back home, but I couldn't replaced what I believed in. "Wouldn't a mafia drug dealer be less likely to shoot a woman versus a man?"
The Commissioner rubbed his chin. "I don't know."
"The mafia is rooted in the Catholic religion." I paused, took in a deep breath, and continued, "A religion that places the Mother Mary and women in general in high regard."
"Well noted, Detective, but it would be too dangerous."
"If I get shot, I will be hurt whether I am a man or a woman."
Officer Green turned to face me. "I believe she's right, Commissioner." He glanced at Madison, who now wore a worried scowl.
"We'll go with the man."
"Not if I refuse to instruct her." Officer Green told the Commissioner, leaning on the desk.
The Commissioner stood up and paced the blue carpet behind his desk. He walked like that for several minutes before answering. Green and I exchanged glances numerous times during the incident. I didn't know what to think. If he liked the idea, good. If he hated the idea, I could be looking for my next job.
He stopped in front of his desk. "Your theory makes sense, Detective. That doesn't mean I have to like doing it, though." He looked up at me from his "thinking" position--his fist under his chin. "I will be adding extra people to the back-up team."
"Of course, Commissioner." I rose to my feet and shook his hand. "I'll get started on it right away." Green followed me out the door. Spinning around on my heel, I examined him. "You didn't have to stand by me in there."
He smiled, "You owe me one."
I walked further down the hallway, then called back, "Thank you."
* * * * *
I pouted as I outlined my lips with a scarlet-colored pencil in front of my vanity. Filling the lips in, I noticed the reflection of a small figure in the doorway. She was dressed in a flannel nightgown, holding her teddy bear. I turned to her, motioning her over. "Jenny, what's wrong?"
"Bad dream." I picked her up and sat her down on my lap, hugging her tightly. She looked up at me with her lower lip thrust out; her hound dog eyes glanced downward. The type of look that use to make her daddy melt. "Mommy, are you going to die like Daddy?"
Oh no, here it comes. I had dreaded this moment. Sometimes, I cursed him for dying and leaving me to raise these girls alone. "Your daddy died serving our country, defending against bad guys."
"Isn't that what you do?" She was very observant for an eight year old. I couldn't say that it was different because the basic concept was the same.
"Daddy lived in constant danger, sweetie." I smiled, studying my middle daughter. Her long nose and coffee brown eyes reminded me of her father. "Mommy isn't." I lifted my foot, trying to put my tennis shoes on.
Tears started running down her cheeks. "You died," she said in between sobs. She leaned her head on my shoulder, soaking my blue blouse.
"In your dream?" She nodded. "Oh baby, I am not going to die." I lifted her head, wiping her tears. "Listen, I have a responsibility to raise you and your sisters." I held her away from me. "I am not leaving you." I didn't plan to die until I was really old.
I held her again, glancing at my watch. "I have time to read you a quick story and tuck you in before Aunt Sara arrives." Her face brightened. Putting her down, she grabbed my hand and led me to her room.
* * * * *
It was the Pythons decision to meet at night. I didn't like leaving my kids, but I needed to fight the enemy, to rid out streets of gangs.
I pulled my green Dodge up to Benton Park, the rendezvous spot the Pythons and I had decided on. I waited until I saw another vehicle park next to me. Patting my .44 Magnum sidearm, I climbed out of the car. The back-up van was hidden in close proximity.
I walked over to the their trunk, one of the Pythons was already unlocking it, then pried open a crate. As I reached into the trunk to picked up a gun, he stabbed my hand with a knife. "You're a fuzz," he yelled as he removed the weapon. It was hard to tell in the illumination of his flashlight what he was wearing. All I could make out was his small, cold, black eyes, his crooked nose, and his long face.
How did he know that? I was dressed in a blue, button-down blouse and dark slacks. No signs that I was an officer. Suddenly, a hand covered my mouth. Grabbing it with both my hands, I flipped him over my shoulder. As his head hit the dirt, I gasped. Officer Green. That's how they knew I was an officer.
I pulled out my gun, pointing it at him. Kicking the gun out of my hand, he reached for his .38 and shot me in the leg. "You son of a bitch," I called after them as they ran away. I tried to go after them but instead let out a blood-curdling scream. Both my hand and leg throbbed.
I crawled to my car, inch by inch. Hopping would have only intensified the agony. I was fortunate the car was parked close, but those few feet seemed like several miles when on all fours. Picturing my daughters face as she told me about her nightmare gave me the strength. I stopped every few inches to take a deep breath and rest.
When I finally made it to the car, I lifted myself up, using the car as a support. I opened the door. Getting in, I sat down. Feeling a cold object under my chin, I glanced down to see a knife poised at my neck. Oh God. The pounding of both my hand and leg beat in my ears. I bit down hard on my lip. "What do you want?" I tried to stay calm, but my heart raced, my palms sweated and my stomach knotted.
I heard a tap on the window. "This is the Police! Open up!" I didn't dare look back.
"I'll kill her, Fuzz, if you shoot." He tightened his grip on the handle of the knife.
In my side mirror, I could see the figures draw their weapons as each beat the windows in with their clubs. One officer grabbed the knife before the Eagle could slice my throat. After struggling with them, the back-up team took the Pythons into custody and me to the hospital.
* * * * *
After removing the bullet from my leg, the doctor decided to keep me overnight. The door flew open to my hospital room. Commissioner Madison smiled at my leg in traction, carrying a bouquet of roses. "I know what you're going to say." He set the roses on the nightstand.
I folded my arms against my chest. A white bandage covered the stab wound. "This should be good." I feared after the way I screwed up last night, he would never learn that how good an officer I really was.
"If they didn't have an inside informant, you wouldn't have been caught off-guard." He pulled a chair up to my bed and sat down.
"That's right." I studied his reaction before proceeding. His features were soft, almost jovial. "I know, I disappointed you."
He looked up and gave me a bright smile, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "Don't be so hard on yourself. That's my job."
"We caught them. That's all that counts, right?" I heard the words coming out of my mouth. In my heart, though, I didn't believe them. I had failed.
"Exactly." He jumped up from his seat, hitting his bald forehead with his palm. "I almost forgot...some people have been asking to see you." He opened the door, letting my three daughters file into the room.
Jenny pounced onto my bed, giving me a big hug. "See Mommy's okay," I told the girls. My two other daughters climbed onto the bed too, smothering me in hugs and kisses.
I turned to see Commissioner Madison twisting the doorknob. "Hey, Commissioner, I'll be back in a few days."
"Take your time, Laurie." he faced her. "I need my top officers in good shape." He smiled.
"Thanks." He walked out the door, and I turned my attention back to my daughters.