The Neighborhood by Anthony Pellicano

Author:Anthony Pellicano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phoenix Books, Inc.
Published: 2022-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

47

COMING UP SHORT

Slowly, Tania Caldwell begins to warm up to Paulie. His drive for excellence reminds her of herself. One day, she relents and takes him up on his offer to get lunch. Soon, it becomes almost a daily occurrence. He learns that she has good reasons to be private. The photo that stands on her desk is of her 11-year-old son, Tyler. The boy’s father, Edgar, had been a gang member, but he disappeared a few months after getting shot. Afraid for his life, he left 17-year-old Tania to fend for herself and their toddler son. Tania’s mother watched little Tyler while her daughter went to school and worked. She still does. Tania is someone to be admired, which Paulie frequently tells her.

Meanwhile, the two agents develop a solid rhythm to their working relationship. Six weeks into the job, they are called to Baranson’s office for a status report. In preparation for the meeting, they send their recommendations in advance: two of the bank cases are ready for grand juries, and two others are ready to be presented to the U.S. Attorney. They’re confident as they make their way to his office.

“Good morning,” Agent Baranson says, after they sit down. “I have your reports here. You’ve made remarkable progress on these four cases.”

Paulie and Tania share a look. Here comes the praise. “But,” Baranson continues, picking up another report on his desk, “you seem unable to land a foothold in the Mendoza money-laundering case. How do you explain yourselves?”

Apparently, Baranson doesn’t subscribe to the coddling technique of management.

“We have ceased active visual surveillance on him,” Paulie says. “From the outside, he’s as innocent as a baby. His routine is rigidly disciplined, like an unending loop. Essentially, we’re stuck, unless we can set up audio surveillance and wiretaps. But we need your go ahead for that.”

“We’ll also need access to the informant,” Tania adds. “If you’ll note in our reports, we’ve requested access for both the audio surveillance and the informant multiple times.”

“As to both of those issues,” Baranson frowns, “confer with Boswhite. And show more initiative in the future. I want an update later this week. That’ll be all.”

Back in their cubicle, they discuss the meeting.

“Did Baranson seem,” Tania pauses, “not upset exactly, but sort of short with us? It’s weird he had no interest in discussing the other cases, only Mendoza.”

“Maybe this is a test to see if we can solve this without wiretaps. But that seems strange, too. We should call Anton and ask him what’s what. And it’s definitely odd that we have no access to the informant.”

Caldwell’s phone rings.

“Yes, this is Tania Caldwell. What? Yes, of course, I’ll be right there.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I don’t know. That was the principal of Tyler’s school. I’ve got to go over there now,” she says, packing up her things.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“I don’t even know what’s wrong.”

“Okay, let me know.”

After she leaves, Paulie glances at his calendar. Knowing Vincent will be in town the next week brings Paulie a feeling of calm.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.