Restoration

Chapter 57

Grey looks up as Percy West strides into his office. "Two visits in one day, Commander. What's going on?"

I just wanted to tell you that I put out a BOLO on Lucy Chen's car this afternoon. I talked to Jackson, and he was afraid it might have broken down while she was en route to her special assignment. He's been worried about her since her abduction. Her shoot out with Serj Derian's soldiers just added fuel to the fire, so I thought I'd put his mind at ease. Turns out, there was no problem."

"I appreciate you letting me know, Commander. Jackson hadn't expressed any concerns to me."

"You're his commanding officer. I'm his father. A few things are bound to spill out. And I like to keep tabs on how traumatized officers adjust. By the time their problems become an I.A. issue, it can be too late for an intervention."

"I understand, Commander, but you should know that every cop here supports Chen. We take care of our own."

"Of course," West acknowledges, "just keeping you updated."

Grey stares after a departing Percy. The IA chief's explanation was too pat and too timely. Something feels off.


Percy can do without being seen entering the lobby of the Vanderlyn twice in one day and slips back in via the pool area, mostly empty around the dinner hour. He takes a different staircase than he had taken on his earlier visit, one that bypasses the mezzanine and goes directly to the floor housing the Cherry Room. A cart, with uneaten meals this time, sits outside the door. He stands out of view as hands reach from inside to grab it. Percy expects that it will be pushed out again before long. The door closes slowly. That will give him a chance to execute his plan, as improvised as it is.

Reaching into his pocket, Percy pulls out a short length of clear but strong tape on a non-stick backing. When the cart is returned to the hall, Percy grabs the door just before it clicks shut and inserts the tape. The door closes but doesn't latch. He's using a very old trick, one that tripped up the Watergate burglars. But they were stupid enough to allow a guard to see the evidence. Percy is smarter than that. He waits in the stairwell and watches until Nolan, Chen, Bradford, and Lopez make their exit toward the elevator. Smiling, Lucy punches Nolan in the arm. To Percy, her move looks like a congratulatory tease. Could the damn overage rookie have found something? Percy is about to find out.

As soon as the elevator door closes behind the departing cops, Percy emerges from his hiding place. He easily enters the Cherry Room, making sure he can get out again when he removes his tape. Four laptops are stacked on a credenza. He immediately recognizes the identifying numbers as corresponding to the badge numbers of the newly departed team. From what Percy saw, the key must lie in the machine assigned to Nolan. He flips open the lid and powers the computer on but is immediately faced with a demand for a touch I.D. Damn! Given time he could fake a fingerprint, but time is the one thing he doesn't have. He hurries out again. He knows where Nolan lives. After Serj Derian's failed attempt to frame the rookie, the address is on countless reports, including those hitting his desk. He has no idea how he'll get information out of Nolan, but he's running out of time. Nolan may be the only chance he has.

"West, a word," Grey calls to Jackson as the young cop heads to the locker room. Grey gestures the rookie into his office. "Close the door. Did your father contact you today?"

"He met me during my lunch break. Our meeting was within the regs, Sir."

"Relax, West," Grey urges, "you're not in any trouble, unusual as that may be. I'm just trying to understand the course of events today. Could anything you said to your father have led him to believe that Lucy Chen might be having difficulties requiring his help?"

"No, Sir. At least, I don't think so. I mean, I told him Lucy's car breaks down sometimes, but she can deal with that. She can deal with almost anything, Sir. What happened in the woods with Serj Derian's soldiers should have proved that."

"Yes, it should, West. Fine. That's all I needed. You're dismissed."

"Sir?"

"Dismissed, Officer West," Grey confirms. "Have a good evening, and if Harper is still around, send her in here."

"Sir, are you sure there's nothing…?"

"Not unless you piss me off, Officer West. Now get out of here and find Harper."


Hands clasped behind her, Nyla stands in front of Grey's desk. "West said you asked for me."

"I need you to help me get a handle on something. Did you observe anything out of the ordinary about Officer West's meeting with Commander West today?"

"Other than the fact that it happened at all? Since when does the head of I.A. pump his son for information?"

"Is that what you think was going on?" Grey queries.

"Sir, I lived and breathed that process for years," Nyla reminds the watch commander. "I know the signs. I wasn't in a position to observe for more than a few seconds, but Commander West situated himself in a way to avoid being joined by a third party. He also took a position where he could observe anyone who approached. His body language was demanding, as if compelling answers. And Officer West appeared uncomfortable with the situation."

"You concluded that after a few seconds of surveillance?" Grey presses.

"Sir, if I hadn't been able to evaluate a scenario even faster than that, I never would have survived working undercover. That's what I saw," Nyla insists.

"I believe you, Harper. Just one last question. Did Officer West seem uneasy about Officer Chen?"

"Not that I observed, Sir. The only thing he was nervous about was his meeting with Commander West."

"That's what I needed to know. Thanks, Harper."

"Sir, do I get Nolan back tomorrow? With the breaks in his training from what happened with Serj Derian, he really needs every moment of street time."

"I agree with you there, Harper. I have yet to formally hear if he's released from his special assignment, but I did get some informal notice. Unless something pops between now and roll call tomorrow, you should have him back in your shop."

"I'm relieved to hear that, Sir. There are some things with him I still have to square away."

A smile lights the sergeant's eyes. "I think we all hope you can pull that off, Harper. Have a good evening."

Nell Forrester is already off for the day when Grey enters dispatch. Erin Morely glances up. A more recent civilian recruit, she's stuck with the night shift. Can I help you, Sergeant?"

"I need to reach Commander West, and I haven't been able to get through to him. Do you have a location?"

"We show him off duty, Sir, but the GPS on his unit is live. The vehicle's still in the field. I can give you the address."

"That would be very helpful, Morely."

Grey immediately realizes the location of Percy West's unit is near John Nolan's place. Lord knows the area's seen enough activity from his people. No way can West's presence there be a coincidence. The sergeant pulls his cellphone from his pocket. He can't let what he needs to do now go out over the radio.

Nyla is barely a mile from Mid-Wilshire when her text alert dings. She reads the message at the next red light. Grey needs her – at Nolan's place.