Fallout
Chapter 31
The large man with the graying beard walks uncertainly into the Community Center where Wesley is conferring with James. I'm looking for Wesley Evers.
Wesley stands up, offering his hand. "I'm Wesley Evers. What can I do for you?"
"I heard Wesley Evers takes the cases no one wants to touch. But I wasn't expecting a white guy."
"He's a little crazy, but he's all right," James interjects. "James Murray. The LAPD funds this place, but I run it, more or less."
"The LAPD, huh," the visitor repeats. "Well, that's two strikes."
"You don't like cops?" James asks. "A lot of people around here don't."
"But somehow, you just married one," Wesley teases. "And so did I."
"My daughter's a cop, FBI," the older man confesses, "Simone Clark. She was just working with the LAPD on that terrorist thing. I'm Christopher Clark. Some call me Cutty."
James and Wesley exchange looks. "We heard about her," James acknowledges. "She was the guidance counselor for Zeke Fremont, the boy who made the detonators, right?"
"Is that who you need a lawyer for?" Wesley asks. "Terrorism means federal charges. Zeke's in deep trouble."
"No sh*t!" Cutty retorts. "Look, I know all about trouble. I spent years in the joint for a crime I didn't commit."
Wesley flips a file closed. "At least you got out. Too many guys don't. I'm working on some of their cases now."
"So, are you going to take Zeke on or not?" Cutty demands.
"I'll take him," Wesley decides. "From what I heard, he had no idea he was working for a terrorist, and he helped the task force as much as he could. That's points on his side. But federal prosecutors can be hardasses. He's probably still going to end up doing time. I'll work to make it as little as possible."
"I guess that's the most I can ask for," Cutty allows. "What about your fee?"
"Sliding scale for what you can afford."
"Angela's going to love that," James comments.
"She likes Simone. She'll go along with it – as long as I keep busy enough not to try to fix anything else in our apartment."
"Nolan, can I see you a minute," Grey asks as John starts back to his shop after turning in a purse-snatcher.
"Of course, Sir."
Grey beckons the way to his office. "Close the door. Nolan, I'm putting you up for TO."
John's jaw drops. "I thought I'd have another year, at least, before I was eligible. And with the reprimand in my jacket, maybe more."
"Your reprimand's been expunged. Evers petitioned for your case to be reviewed."
"I didn't ask him to."
"I figured you didn't. But I'm not surprised he did. You saved his ass in Guatemala. And you didn't even get a commendation."
"Because the operation was off the LAPD books."
"Right, but not off his books – or mine. He protested on the basis of unequal treatment as well as inaccurate presentation of the facts. In part, your reprimand stated that you didn't consult your superior officer. He pointed out that you did, Harper. And it was her decision that it not go up the chain. You shouldn't have gone to Armstrong's house, but you didn't have much of a choice. And he did shoot you. The unequal treatment was that you received punishment, and Harper didn't. Her golden ticket shouldn't have factored into that. If anything, as the superior officer, she was more responsible than you were. And then there was the matter of you putting your ass on the line to take out a gang. Again, that would normally qualify for a commendation if not a medal of valor. A new review board convened and took all those matters into consideration. The black mark is gone. So if you want to try going for detective, you might be able to do it."
"No, Sir. I believe being a TO is my calling. I have a lot of life experience to pass on. And if I could handle Simone Clark, I can probably handle any rookie."
A smile tugs at Grey's lips. "That could be. Now, aside from the expungement of your reprimand, the reason you'll be getting the call so early is we're running out of TOs. Harper will be on maternity leave. And she may spend at least part of her time as a detective when she returns. Lopez is a detective now. Bradford is a sergeant who's working as a field commander."
"So I'll be a TO by default?" John questions.
"That's not the most positive way to look at it, but yes. We need someone to fill the position, and you're the most willing candidate."
"All right, then," Nolan agrees. "I'm your man."
Grey claps him on the shoulder. "If the brass signs off, you'll start as soon as we have a trainee for you."
Bailey hands John a plate and settles next to him on the couch. "So you're going to be a training officer?"
"Looks like it. The brass could still hold it up. But from what Grey told me, they don't have much choice. It's me or no one. Not very flattering, but I'll take it."
"You earned it, John. The division is full of officers with more experience than you have. Grey could have chosen one of them for temporary duty."
"That's true," John allows. "He's done it before. He put me with ugh! Smitty! Maybe that was meant to give me an example of how not to be a cop. Still, I feel like I'm slipping in the back door."
"As long as you get in. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, your mother called just before you got home. She said something about celebrating Mother's Day."
"Usually, I send a card to Sarah. She is Henry's mother. But the only thing I would celebrate about my mother would be her absence. The last time she was here, she took off on her fiancé and pawned the ring. Then she used the money to buy some crap lotion that made half the division break out in a rash. And she tried to feed me pecans."
"But you're allergic. She could have killed you."
"Somehow, she couldn't remember that. But she remembered how to commit emotional blackmail. She's a pro."
"That explains how you understood what Jason did to me. It sounds like they're two of a kind."
"As far as I know, my mother was never involved in a drug deal or in prison. But they have their commonalities."
"I'm sorry about that, John. That must have been hell growing up."
"It made me determined to be a better parent than I had."
"You've done a great job with Henry. And isn't being a TO a little like parenting? You take a rookie and help them grow up into a cop. You'll do a great job at that too, John."
"Assuming I get the job. But from your mouth to God's ears."
"You need to stop thinking about it. You want to go somewhere?"
"We're already eating dinner," John points out.
"How about going dancing?"
"You're a capoeira instructor. I look like a lunk next to you. I got away with it at the party because everyone's eyes were on Nyla and James. How about a movie? We could sit in the back and make out."
"We could stay here and do that."
Laying the plates on the coffee table, John pulls Bailey into his lap. "Yes, we can."