The Devil's Racket by Tom Wallace

Author:Tom Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Salvo Press
Published: 2013-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

The press conference went off without a hitch. A gaggle of reporters asked a series of solid, well-thought-out questions, most of which Bird either responded to with a non-answer or parried by employing a bit of deft misdirection. Some questions, he ignored altogether. Bird’s gift in situations like these was his ability to say nothing of substance or real consequence while giving the reporters the feeling that he was telling them every last detail. By the end of the question-and-answer session, they walk away thinking they know as much about the case as do the detectives.

Dantzler wasn’t surprised that many of the questions were directed at him. He’d expected that—it always happened. That’s one reason why he didn’t want to be there. He answered a couple of them honestly, and gave his “Sorry, but I can’t address that at this time” spiel to a few more. Most, however, he deferred to Bird.

When it was over, Bird headed up the stairs to the solitude of his office, expertly giving the brush-off to a few of the more persistent reporters who chose to give chase. Dantzler quickly made his way outside, hoping to make a clean getaway. No such luck. A female television reporter, all perfectly coiffed blonde hair and toothy smile, caught up with him as he was about to get into the Forester. She swung around in front of him, followed several seconds later by her cameraman.

“Detective Dantzler—”

“If you have more questions, you need to speak with Captain Bird.”

“Yes, I plan on doing just that, but—”

“You can find him in his office.”

“Could I follow up on a couple of questions you were asked during the briefing? I would just like to clarify some things.”

“Really, I have nothing else to say. Sorry.”

“Will you confirm or deny the rumor that Marsha Warner and Charles Adams were having an affair?” She shoved the microphone close to Dantzler’s mouth. “And can you confirm or deny the rumor that Marsha Warner and Charles Adams were at the very center of a large drug trafficking operation?”

“Where did you come up with that information?”

“Can you confirm or deny, Detective Dantzler?”

“Off the record?”

“Yes, sure. . . off the record will be fine.”

Dantzler waited for her to give the kill signal to her cameraman. She didn’t, and he knew she had no intention of doing so. The microphone remained within inches of his face, the camera continued to whine.

“Okay,” Dantzler said, grinning, “Off the record, I’d say you just won first place for asking the two dumbest fucking questions I’ve ever heard. Astoundingly dumb, if you want the truth. Prime-time dumb. Worthy of the dumb question Hall of Fame. Now let me give you a piece of free advice. Do some homework before you stick another microphone in my face. I don’t have time for reporters who simply regurgitate unsubstantiated and outlandish rumors.”

Dantzler looked at the cameraman, whose jaw had landed somewhere in the middle of his chest. He then looked back at the flabbergasted reporter, giving her his best Hollywood smile.

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