The Other Path Chapter 80

"Are you teaching a class this morning?" Rick inquires pouring juice.

Kate takes a quick sip. "Uh-huh. I'm supposed to be telling the cadets what they can still say when someone wants a lawyer."

"That should be a snap. I've seen you do it hundreds of times."

"Not such a snap. I struck out with the robbery suspect."

"Sure, but now Robbery has another route to go. And if they hit paydirt, the suspect won't have anything to offer. You still win."

Kate leans across the counter for a kiss. "I love your optimism."

"After our walk last night, I have a right to be optimistic. Who would have thought we'd spot three meteors flashing through the sky?"

"You did. No one else out there was even bothering to look up. What did you wish for?"

"If I tell you, it won't come true. Still, I'm sure you'll share the sentiment. But back to crimebusting. After your class, will you be back on the trail of the plane poachers?"

"If the boys haven't nabbed them first. We think they disguised their truck and drove it to a meet yesterday. But they pulled inside another building, so we didn't have eyes on them and couldn't get a look at the tires. They're back now at the garage where they seem to be making their new headquarters. I'm hoping we'll get another chance today."

"So, you think there might be more than one buyer?"

"Or, whomever they met yesterday needed a peek at the merchandise. Either way, we'll keep watching."

"The most boring yet frustrating part of nabbing the bad guys."

"Maybe. But I heard Officer Barkin and his partner found some pretty good pizza after being relieved yesterday. The pizzeria is right down the block from where our suspects made their meet."

"A serendipitous occurrence. Hopefully, it bodes well for things to come."

"I'd settle for teaching a good class."

"That's not even open to question."


As Kate begins her instruction, Cadet Belkin's arm shoots up.

Kate nods. "Yes, Cadet?"

"We've been seeing two different scenarios presented to us on TV and in some of the information online. One has a suspect asking for a lawyer, and the cops immediately calling a halt to any questioning. The other has the cops telling the suspect that if they do that, their lawyer will tell them to shut up, and they'll lose all hope of cutting a deal. Which one is right?"

"It's not an either-or," Kate explains. "In many or possibly most cases, if a suspect asks for a lawyer, that's it. You process them without asking any more questions until an attorney is present. But with many violations, the suspect won't have anything useful to tell you anyway. If you caught them ripping off a liquor store or breaking into a car, the evidence speaks for itself. A lawyer will help the suspect plead out because that's how 95% of cases are settled. Otherwise, trials which are still anything but speedy would be decades behind – or we'd need a lot more courts and judges." Another Cadet raises her hand. "Cadet Raines?"

"Wouldn't it be better to have more alternatives like drug courts and mental health interventions than that many pleas?"

Kate can't help a wistful smile, remembering her mother posing a similar question. "Some lawmakers are discussing those options, but right now, we have to go with the system we have. So, back to Cadet Belkin's question. Sometimes, we need a suspect to give us information on other suspects or higher-ups in a criminal organization. That's what's usually referred to as flipping. Now, if they're bringing in a personal attorney, or one appointed by the court, their counsel may urge them to cooperate to save their own asses. In that case, the attorney can help elicit the information the justice system will need to reach the target individuals. However, if an attorney is coming in to protect the bigger fish, that's when you need a workaround."

"A lawyer like a consigliere?" Belkin inquires.

"It's usually not someone who fits that stereotype," Kate replies. "But the concept is the same. In that case, you still don't violate the suspect's rights. If you force testimony, the attorney will petition to have it suppressed. But, you can sit in the same room with a suspect and talk to them. That's when you explain how they're keeping their mouth closed to protect a boss who will screw them over or even take them out of the game. But you can never threaten them with harm. Instead, you offer to protect them from it. Many suspects will come to grasp that working with the good guys offers their best chance for survival. If you play it right, you become the savior, not the enemy.

"Now, none of that's easy, especially when you know you're talking to a slimeball. You have to keep everything you say, everything you do, under control. But the same must be said for every bust you make on the street. You go over the line, and you can turn loose the offenders that should stay behind bars. With everything you do as a cop, you're the one who'll be held to a higher standard. And the only way you can gain the control you need is by practice. That starts now."


"Are we all set to make the delivery?" Arseny asks as Ivan closes up the back of their disguised truck.

Ivan nods. "Everything is in order. We make the meet at fifteen hundred. But we'll only have a 15-minute window. If we arrive too early or too late, the deal is off."

"What if we run into heavy traffic?" Arseny worries.

"Siri will route us around it. It's an excellent app."

Arseny shakes his head. "As much money as we make selling American technology, I dislike relying on it." He consults his watch. "At least this is Swiss. We still have more than an hour before we need to leave. We can catch 'The Young and the Restless.'"


Kate's cell buzzes just as she's climbing the stairs to the bullpen. "Detective Beckett," Barkin reports, "the Larking truck is leaving the garage."

"Stay on it, Barkin," Kate responds. "Detectives Ryan and Esposito and I will be joining you to play leapfrog. Give us a location every two minutes."

"On it, Detective. Heading south now."

"Guys," Kate calls across the bullpen. "The truck's on the move. Let's go."

"Looks like they're headed to Queens," Ryan remarks as he and Esposito take the closest position to the suspect's vehicle. "Where do you think they're going?"

"Doesn't matter. We'll stay on them," Esposito declares.

At a traffic light, Kate's eyes flick to her GPS display. The route she's on is veering toward the beach. In this area, that doesn't mean much. There's beach everywhere, right out to Far Rockaway. But her gut tells her that the truck doesn't have that far to go. Much of the shoreline doesn't offer great cover. But there are a few places, including largely abandoned ones, that do. One advantage of an oceanfront location is that it's unlikely to be at the top of a hill. Her quarry will have a more challenging time spotting tails. At least, she hopes so. Also, damp ground holds tracks better. A beach location may be just what she'll need to pick up the telltale mark in the tire. The truck is continuing on its course. This could be it.