Couples
Chapter 66
"I've never met Kushman or Flatt," Bradley Merdebutte explains. "Michael Roan recruited me."
"He's a fixer for Kushman and rumored to also work for Flatt." Ryan puts in.
Merdebutte nods. "That's right, except that I don't believe it's a rumor. Roan hired me to keep an eye on the Bulova Boutique, keep track of the hours Celia Bulova worked, and find the easiest way to get in when the place was closed."
"The back door?" Kate inquires.
"You've got it," Bradley confirms. "Those older industrial locks have masters. Anyone, like a developer with locksmithing connections, can get them. That was no problem for Roan. All I had to do was hang around long enough to be sure of when Celia would be showing up and report to him. That's not illegal."
"Actually it is," Esposito inserts. "You knowingly participated in a conspiracy to commit a crime. Giving Roan information about the lock would tie you in with breaking and entering."
"We're not going to worry about that right now," Kate hastily interrupts. "Did you save copies of your notes and any information you passed on to Roan?"
"I save everything," Bradley declares proudly. "You never know when you're going to have to cover your ass, especially with the kind of operators Roan works for. My notes are on a pad I could shove in my pocket. The report is a draft in an email folder on my laptop. Roan's idea. I used that email address just for that job and gave him access. That way, I never had to send him anything."
Ryan's eyebrows rise. "Smart."
"But not smart enough. Mr. Merdebutte," Kate asks, "do we have permission to enter your residence to retrieve your notes and access your laptop?"
"Only if you do something about my shoes," Bradley insists.
"I'll discuss the matter with the property department before I leave," Kate promises. "I may need documentation that they're essential to your health."
"You can confirm it with my doctor. He wrote a prescription," Bradley replies.
"I'll check that out," Kate assures him.
"Damn!" Esposito exclaims as he and Ryan accompany Kate to the prison parking area. "Who'd think it would take that much paper to release a pair of the world's ugliest shoes?"
"I doubt Merdebutte thinks of them that way," Kate responds, "but the bureaucracy managed to waste practically the rest of our shift. By the time we get back to the precinct and park our units, it will be over."
"At least I'll get to leave on time," Ryan declares. "I want to give Jenny her present before she gets any madder at me. You think she'll like it, Beckett?"
Ryan's purchases couldn't begin to compare with the jewelry Kate receives from Rick. But Ryan's a cop, not a bestselling author. Kate offers him a reassuring smile. "I think she'll appreciate your effort."
Kate surveys the party plan laid out on the big screen in Rick's office. "This is going to be quite the affair."
"It's not going to be that big, really," Rick explains. "Lorne didn't invite anyone from his new workplace. I think he's still keeping his business and personal lives separate."
"Or he's not sure how his new colleagues will feel about lightsaber battles," Kate suggests.
"That too," Rick allows. "So Lanie and Lorne will be inviting Ryan and Jenny, Esposito, some of Lanie's friends from the lab, and us, of course. Meryl said she could take Lily to her place for a couple of hours. Lily will probably sleep through most of it anyway. We'll have to take down the corral for the night, but otherwise, it shouldn't be much trouble. Lorne is into deli, and Lanie likes it too. I'll order a spread from Katz's. I've got a special heart-shaped engagement cake coming from our favorite bakery too."
Kate pales. "Rick, it won't look like a …"
"Heart an M.E. pulls out of the chest of a deceased? No. I thought those two could leave the actual organs in the lab. It's the standard stylized form used for valentines and throw pillows in bridal suites."
Kate releases a breath. "Sounds like you're all set."
Rick rechecks his screen. "I hope so. The party is this Saturday night."
Michael Roan's been nervous ever since Bradley Merdebutte was picked up. He's even more nervous now. His source at the prison told him that Merdebutte received a visit from Kate Beckett. Sh*t! She's getting too close. If she hadn't managed to avoid an "accident" with garbage trucks, he wouldn't have to worry. A case that was largely ignored probably would have been buried with her. At the least, it would have been taken up by a less dogged investigator. Beckett's reputation is no secret to anyone dealing with the N.Y.P.D. or who reads her husband's books. Once she gets her teeth into a case, she doesn't let go until she solves it.
Taking her out with an ordinary hit would be too risky. The whole police force would work to track down the shooter. He needs another accident, one more reliable and less complicated to arrange. Flatt has associations developed in the building trade. Roan doesn't have to know much about them. He just needs to get a number to call and provide some information about the target. It will be a real tragedy if new construction collapses on Beckett or she gets too close to some demolition work. Yes, a real tragedy. Kushman and Flatt might even send wreaths."
Kate is almost asleep when a shimmer appears in the corner of the room. "Mom?"
Rick pushes up on his elbows. "Johanna? If you're here, you should materialize for both of us. If my wife is still in danger, I need to know about it."
Johanna solidifies into full view. "That trip to Rikers today poked the hornets' nest. I couldn't see everything, but I looked in on Michael Roan. His reputation is well deserved, Katie. He has people working on going after you somehow, but that's all I was able to see."
Rick turns to Kate. "Can you pick him up and sweat him?"
Kate's teeth grind in frustration. "Pick him up with what cause, the word of my mother's ghost? I can't depend on the self-serving testimony of a prisoner at Rikers either. Roan's a lawyer. He'll know I have no right to detain him. The most I can do is put a watch on him."
"But if he's already passed the job off, that won't accomplish anything, will it?" Rick presses. "We need to find out who he'd call and watch them."
"You're right," Kate agrees. "And that might also lead us to the killer of the body Celia Bulova found in her shop. I'm going to dig into Michael Roan, Saul Kushman, and Joseph Ross Flatt. I'm going to dig deep."
"That makes two of us," Rick proclaims. "But how do we protect you in the meantime? Safehouse?"
"We don't have nearly enough justification for the city to spring for that. But when I'm not here, I can try to stay at the precinct. I'll have the cops with guns that you want all around me.
"And we'll put more security in here too," Rick decides. "I'm going to call Bart Wygard."
"Who's that?" Johanna queries.
"Alexis's new father-in-law to be," Rick explains. "He's a P.I. and security guy, a good one."
"Father-in-law to be," Johanna repeats. "I've missed a lot."
Rick fixes his gaze on Kate's ghostly guardian. "Just don't miss anything now.