Ch 7 Wired
"Of course I'll be there, thanks for letting me know," Hardcastle said and hung up the phone.
He stood there thinking for a moment before heading down to his files. Waverly could be dangerous, and although Mark would have a wire on, he wouldn't have any backup close by. That was worrisome. More than that, that had him scared.
The next morning at 6 am, Mark showed up at headquarters. He nodded at Giles and Hardcastle. He wasn't surprised to see the judge, but speaking to him would be awkward.
As they fiddled with his jacket to place the wire, he explained his schedule for the day with Waverly.
"He's used other people as shills before, and they just seem to disappear," Hardcastle finally said.
"I'll be careful."
"We're pretty sure he killed em."
"I said I'd be careful," Mark's temper flared. "Honestly, don't you think I can do anything right?"
Hardcastle was taken aback. Is that what Mark thought? Had he given that impression? Well, if he was honest with himself, maybe, a little.
"Of course you can… look, experienced cops get hurt all the time doing stuff like this…"
They stared at each other in silence. Unconsciously, Hardcastle's hand moved over his stomach.
"What's that about?" Mark asked immediately, motioning to the offending hand.
Milt looked down and moved his hand quickly, "nothing."
Mark narrowed his eyes, and heard the words again, "where are you staying? What if I need to get a holda ya?" At the time, he'd thought that the judge might be working a case alone and need backup, a scary thought in itself, but one he had to let go. After all, the man had made fun of him. But what if something was wrong with the judge? What if he wanted McCormick to know something was wrong? That was an entirely different thing.
"Look, I'll get in and get him to tell me what's going on as soon as I can, and then get out. It won't take that long."
"Be careful with a guy like him," the judge said softly.
Mark nodded, "I will," and there was no animosity in his voice.
