On Opposite Sides

Chapter 11

It was late afternoon of the next day when Mike and Connie had gone to the 2-7 to discuss the Strangler case with Lupo and Bernard. All four were seated in the glassed conference room, where the crime whiteboard had been situated.

Mike and Connie were even more more determined to keep things on a professional level. So although they sat directly across from one another at the long table in the conference, neither made eye contact. Instead they listened attentively as the detectives briefed them thoroughly regarding the case. The meeting was drawing to a conclusion. They were all mentally tired.

Connie purposely avoided looking at Mike as she addressed everyone, "So, since Harding's lawyered up, any suggestions on what else we could do?"

Connie gave Mike a fleeting glance. Although she tried to push away the image of their kiss, snippets of how their brief moment together simmered in her mind: one thought, one breath, one touch, one heartbeat. Her cheeks seemed to feel slightly warmed.

"I can arrange for the psychiatrist to interview him," Mike suggested evenly, "Maybe Skoda can delve into the killer's bizarre left-foot fetish and tell us something we can use in court."

"I think that's a good suggestion," she concurred in a businesslike matter. Of course, Lupo and Bernard were oblivious of the awkward situation .

"I've got this here picture of Harding," Bernard showed them briefly, "I'll put it up for all the world to see."

He then got up and posted it on the whiteboard under the word 'suspect'. On the board was also a picture of Larry Grover with the title 'Annoying Witness' written above it. This was placed alongside the names of the three female joggers as 'Victims'. The pictures of the three left shoes remained on the board along with the other clues they had discovered on the way.

Connie was studying the board and noted Lupo and Bernard had used the other side to post information about the murder of Officer Gilroy. There was a picture of him with the word 'victim'. There were also crime scene photos, with a picture of the fallen body. It was sad and depressing.

"I see you've also put the facts of Officer Gilroy's murder up on the board, too," Connie commented.

"It's tough working two cases at once," Lupo explained, "I just wished we could pin up a suspect's name up on the board for Ted's murder."

"Yeah," Bernard added. "Such a waste. Ted Gilroy was just a rookie cop. He only had a few routine traffic violations, some drunk-and-disorderlies and a few nickel-and-dime drug busts before he was tragically gunned down."

"They always get the good ones," Mike said, even though he hadn't known the officer, "Where was his usual beat?"

Lupo shrugged, "He patrolled 110th and 5th," he stated referring to the streets just on the rim of Central Park, "That's a tough beat for a new cop. But from everything I've heard, Ted did a great job."

Connie sat up, "Did you say, 110th and 5th? Isn't that the same area of the Conservatory Gardens?"

"Yeah, they're both on the north side of the park, ..." Bernard began, but stopped when he realized where the conversation was headed, "wait, Connie...just hold on there,..the Conservatory Gardens...you're not implying Ted Gilroy had something to do with the Stangler case, are you?"

"You can just forget about that!" Lupo stated quickly, a scowl on his face, "B and I knew Ted Gilroy as a person as well as an police officer. No way would he be involved in a murder." His eyes looked challenging.

Before Connie could respond, Mike jumped in.

"She's not saying anything of the sort," he defended Connie, "she's just commenting about the coincidence of the location."

Looking at Bernard, Connie asked, "do you have Gilroy's arrest record log, by chance?"

"I don't see why you would want to see it," Bernard said, sounding aloof.

Reluctantly, he shuffled through papers until he found what he wanted. Bernard handed a stack to her, "It won't help you. There's no connection between Officer Ted Gilroy and our suspect Carl Harding. And Ted's never made an arrest outside of his jurisdiction."

"No, I suppose I won't see Harding's name here," Connie stated as she continued to flip the sheets when suddenly she stopped, "buuut..."

Slowly she looked up and stared directly at Mike's eyes for the first time that day. He sat up.

"What is it, Connie?" he inquired, encouraging her to continue.

She tried to sound nonchalant, "...Six months ago Officer Gilroy arrested our witness, Larry Grover, making a drug buy near Garrison Golf Course, which is up the path from the Gardens in Central Park."

"So what?" Bernard didn't look surprised, "We already knew Larry Grover as a scumbucket, so he's a drug addict too."

"Don't you think it's a little TOO coincidental that Officer Gilroy and our witness, Larry Grover, previously came in contact with one another?" she questioned.

"Not really," Bernard stated confidently, "not unless you put can put the suspect, Carl Harding, in that equation," he then challenged her, "So, can you?"

Connie scanned through the log quickly, "No...no, there's no record of Officer Gilroy or Carl Harding meeting up."

"I think you may be barking up the wrong tree, Connie," Lupo agreed with his partner, "Officer Gilroy had made plenty of arrests in the area Grover hangs out in. They were bound to run into each other. This has nothing to do with the Strangler case."

Mike didn't like how Lupo and Bernard seemed to draw conclusions without considering this latest discovery.

"Detectives," piped in Mike, "are you two letting your friendship and admiration for Officer Gilroy cloud your perception of the Strangler case?"

"No," said Bernard, "we just don't want to besmirch Officer Gilroy's reputation unnecessarily."

"We're not, trying to do that, either," Connie declared, not realizing that she had said, 'we', "we're just trying to put all the facts in perspective."

"And remember," Mike added, "initially, Larry Grover's interview didn't sit well with any of us. If you recalled, when we had interviewed him, he had lied twice to us regarding the plants around the Conservancy and also about the license plate numbers."

"Hmmph!" guffawed Bernard, "Not THAT again...need we remind you that it was Grover's information that led to the arrest of Carl Harding?"

"I'm well aware of that, detective" Mike said, "I'm just reminding you that Grover's account of his supposedly witnessing Harding in the park that day could be considered suspect as well."

"I agree," piped in Connie.

"Look, " Lupo tried to put the officer involvement theory to rest, "Gilroy was a dedicated police officer with a stellar record.. I know for a fact that he drove a ten-year old car and lived with his wife and kids in a tiny apartment. He was too busy working and earning a living for his young family...he didn't have time to murder some park joggers!"

"That's a ridiculous statement, Detective," Mike said, "we weren't implying that at all. Seems to me that you two are more interested in defending Officer Gilroy than looking at the case objectively."

"That is NOT what is happening here," Lupo's eyes narrowed at Mike.

"Really?" Mike questioned, sarcasm interlaced in his tone, "it sure looks that way from where I sit."

Lupo's voice got louder and harsher, "Listen, Cutter-"

"Okay, everyone, chill out," Bernard's voice was heard loud and clear as he tried to calm the situation.

"Kevin's right," Connie agreed, "I think we've talked both cases to the ground."

Both Detective Lupo and Mike backed off, although they stared coolly at one another.

Lupo got up, as well as Bernard.

"You're right, Connie," Lupo announced, "we've done all we can with just case for today. Let's just call it a night."

Bernard backed up his partner.

I'm with you, partner," Bernard said, "We've got other work to do. We'll see you two later."

A few mumbled goodbyes were uttered and they left, leaving Mike and Connie alone in the conference room.

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It was early evening by the time they got to Mike's car so that he could take them back to the DA's office.

"Well, that certainly didn't go well," Mike said, twenty minutes later, as they sat in his parked car.

They had barely made it to the car before the snow fell heavier. In ten minutes, the city would be blanketed with a new layer of snow. Already the cold storm had frozen the fire hydrant located nearby. Now looking out the car window, they saw the flakes swirling down in hurried flurries They were fortunate to be in the sanctuary of Mike's vehicle as the whipping winds surrounded them.

They sat in the car quiet for a while, wondering what to say to one another. Connie felt the only safe conversation was to talk about the case.

"I don't think the detectives appreciated us questioning the motives regarding one of their own, " she commented, "but thank you for what you said in there...for...not backing down."

Mike nodded his acknowledgement.

"I know Lupo and Bernard meant well, but like all law enforcement officers, they didn't want to cross the proverbial 'blue line'," Mike stated, referring to how the police stand united alongside their 'blue' uniformed brethren.

When there was silence again, they were both aware that they were alone in a closed area. Mike wordlessly got out his key and inserted it into the ignition of his car. Instead of the engine starting up immediately, however, the dashboard lit for a second and then all they heard was a click. He tried again. The click could be heard again. Then nothing.

"Damn!" Mike mumbled under his breath.

Connie scowled, "What's wrong?"

"I think the battery is dead."

"Now?" Connie looked around outside the window of the car. The falling flakes outside had thickened. Bits of it hit the windshield of his car while the wind began to howl outside. With the windshield wipers not working, the dashboard window would soon be covered in a layer of snow.

Mike had whipped out his cellphone. No reception. Connie tried hers, too, with the same results.

"I don't think we should stay here in the car with the heater not working," Mike commented calmly, "It's best we find a place where we can make a call and seek some shelter."

They looked out from the passenger side of his car, through the window,. The snowy area where Mike's car was parked was replete with office buildings, now closed down for the day. And they could not travel by foot far due to the harsh weather.

As Connie now scanned the buildings in the nearby distance, hoping she could find someplace they could wait until a tow truck could be summoned.

"Look, Mike, over there!" she pointed at the one lit sign. Mike's eyes followed where her finger pointed. Squinting, he tried to read the sign but it was difficult due to all the falling snow. Not exactly the shelter he had been envisioning, but it would have to do.

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