"I don't know, Mike. Don't you think that this is exactly what this…this killer wants? Now, I will give it to you, you have had many fantastic ideas over the years but this one…this one has got to be the craziest plan I have ever heard from what I thought was a reasonable man!"
Olsen's face had turned crimson, as the conversation continued on in the small confines of his office. Staring at the dreary gray walls, Mike had listened to his supervisor's protest-laden monologue for the past few minutes, although his mind was already made up.
And so was Steve's.
The latest bloodshed pulled on his heartstrings more than anything; the senseless and brutal murder of a promising young man, somebody who had fought his way out of the gutter through hard work and sound decision making; helped by his longtime fiancé who was dead solely because she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
And presumably knew the wrong people.
Mike vividly remembered the night Karpa had ordered for Pauly to kill him, seeing the insecurity in the young man's eyes, a set of good values hidden beneath the boastful and fake ego of a street thug he'd so desperately tried to reenact. Just like on the basketball court, in the end, Pauly came through, doing the right thing and helping them put an end to Karpa's terror.
But now they were back to square one.
As the atmosphere in the windowless corner office grew tenser by the moment, Mike clenched his hands inside his coat pockets, keeping his fraying nerves in check, knowing that any angry outburst would only support Olsen's notion that he had completely and undoubtedly lost his mind.
"It's really that simple, Rudy.", the Lieutenant argued and turned back around to face the other man, "Actual, by-the-book protection will only make us sitting ducks. Four people are dead already. I am not willing to endanger any more lives over this mess. If we play it my way, we have a reasonable chance to do both, capture our killer, and tie these hits directly back to Karpa, keeping him behind bars for the rest of his life."
Huffing in frustration, the Captain ran a hand across his face and leaned back in his chair, letting several tense moments pass before speaking up again.
"What makes you think that there won't be any other people getting killed over this? You and Steve…you guys are putting yourselves out in the wide open with this. What if he tampers with the cars again? Poisons your food? Blows up the whole damn building, for all I care?!"
"He can do the same with traditional protection. That's my point."
Mike's stern argument seemed to rattle the Captain for a moment and he fell quiet again, lips pursed, as if to conduct an internal dialogue about the issue.
It was a risky plan.
He didn't disagree with that for one second.
But so was sitting in some godforsaken motel room, waiting for Esteban to find them. Worse yet, while under protection, he had no control of Jeanie's safety, or that of any of his Inspectors or fellow friends.
And as far as Mike was concerned, his patience had official run out when it came to playing ostrich.
"Listen Rudy, right now he's in charge, he's playing the tricks while we're sitting here doing nothing but react to his attacks. All I am saying is that Steve and I are willing to put ourselves out there as bait, pull him away from this town and its many innocent bystanders, and see if we can lure him into a trap. All I need is four plain clothes detectives with me and we may be able to put an end to this senseless bloodshed."
"I don't like this, I just don't like this…", the Captain mumbled with a headshake, then glanced back up, determined blue eyes meeting those of his Lieutenant of Inspectors, "Mike, you are the one guy I can always trust to go by the book. And now you're trying everything you can to not go by the book. You have been through enough protection orders yourself, you know how this goes."
"You're right, I do know how this goes. I remember dealing with interdepartmental leaks, witnesses dying or being turned. I remember good cops getting cut down in order to get to a witness. I remember killers creating standoffs and hostage situations, involving innocent civilians. I've seen my fair share of this, Rudy. And that's exactly why I am suggesting our course of action."
Rubbing his forehead in obvious agitation, the Captain mumbled something Mike couldn't understand, then glanced down at his name plate as if to derive wisdom from it.
"You really think this is going to work, don't you?"
"It's the only thing I can think of that will accomplish both of our goals. We can create the fake leak tomorrow morning and head out. Some of our Comm Techs can help the staff at Q with the bugged phones, so we can find out who Karpa is using as the middle man the moment he makes that call to Esteban. Then it's all about tightening the net around our killer and apprehending him.", drawing in a deep breath himself, Mike crossed his arms over his chest, then sighed, "Listen Rudy, Steve and I aren't thrilled about being the cheese in the mousetrap either, but it's the only way…the…the safest way for everybody involved."
"What if he doesn't take the bait, Mike? How long are you prepared to stay in this…seclusion?"
"As long as it takes. It would be no different if we were in witness protection, Rudy."
Another long pause ensued as Rudy clenched his jaws, then sighed with a slight shake of his head, undoubtedly less than pleased about the situation.
"Very well. I will address this request with the Chief and explain your thinking. I cannot guarantee that he will approve, but I will try my best, Mike. Just make sure when that…when that mouse trap snaps shut, that you and Stephen are out of harm's way. I just got back from Ret. Sergeant Frederick's funeral and I'll be damned if I have to attend two more."