Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the plot and Annie. Even the title is borrowed from Van Morrison.
Italics - Spanish
Some bad words, some violence, and fade into black sex-scenes, nothing too graphic.
Chapter 22. Press conferenceThe next day they went to the gym for a work out. Tank asked Hector to take Annie to Ms. Anderson´s house after their breakfast, checked the planning for Juniak´s detail and press conference, and got a report on Morelli from Brown. Thankfully he didn´t have any customer meetings, but he dumped some of the paper work on Binkie, who had been injured during a takedown the day before.
Hector came back looking angry, and finally Tank called Annie to hear what had happened. She laughed a little, and said that apparently she didn´t need to introduce Hector to Murillo, they already knew each other. Yes, that way. She wasn't sure who had broken off whatever the deal had been, but both had acted like the wounded party. She said that he was welcome to Hector and his temper, because she had her hands full with Murillo.
They hung up, and Tank looked at his watch. Half past nine, half an hour until the start of the press conference.
He decided to go down and talk to Morelli.
He took a bottle of water and a sandwich with him again.
"Morelli. I thought maybe you wanted to hear some news from the rest of the world," Tank said.
"So you´ll get a special rendition of some things that has happened the last days. Starting with a conversation held with Helen Plum the other day."
He picked up the old sandwich wrapper and the empty water bottle and left. He could hear the recording from Annie's meeting with Helen begin to play. He went to Hector to double check that he had Morelli monitored, and potential sounds recorded.
Then he returned to the fifth floor and the conference room there. The wide screen TV was on, and he poured himself a cup of coffee in the break room. When he returned there were a couple of other employees having their break in front of the TV, plus Frank Plum. The reporter was talking about an extra press conference held by the mayor, and speculated if it was to announce him running for senator, even if it was an unorthodox way of starting the campaign.
At exactly ten o'clock Juniak entered the dais and began.
"Today´s press conference will be short. I'm resigning as mayor, and will not continue my political career. The reason is that when I was a police commissioner one of my underlings got compromising photos of me with a married woman. He used those photos to get promotions he didn´t deserve, and also got me to cover for his less than stellar work as a police officer.
"At the time I myself was a married man, and I didn´t want to hurt my late wife. Now I´m realizing the consequences of my decision was more far-reaching than just my wife, and so I have decided to resign. I apologize to the citizens who because of my lack of a backbone were exposed to a police officer who never should have had his job.
"I won´t take any questions right now. Thank you for coming to this press conference."
Juniak left the dais and the room was in turmoil. Tank could see the Rangeman bodyguard closing in and getting Juniak out of the room.
"That will hit more than the local news," Tank said. "We´ll have to reschedule some men, Juniak will need a bigger detail the next days. Check if there´re any of the contract workers who can join the shifts. Pair them of with Rangemen, not solely contract workers together."
"Will do," Binkie confirmed.
"Check with Juniak if he wants to come back here, or go to his home later."
He turned to Frank Plum. His shiner was blue-black, but he seemed more aware than he had ever seen him. He wondered how much of the quiet uninterested man was PTSD and how much was Helen Plum´s influence. Frank had after all said it himself – Helen had had his balls in her purse for a long time.
"I was wondering if you could recommend a lawyer. I'm divorcing Helen. Joe and I talked about it, and he says he's willing to testify if she´s reluctant to agree. That way I don't have to pay her alimony, but I'm willing to let her keep the house. She´s got some money after her parents, so she should be able to keep the same standard of living."
"And what will you do?"
"I´ve got my pension. I'm even thinking of travelling a little, maybe buy one of those trailers."
"I´ll call a lawyer. And you can stay at Rangeman until you have more definite plans."
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
Frank shook his hand.
"Maybe you should wait to confront Helen until you´ve got the paperwork. Just call her and say you're away for a couple of days."
"I've turned off my cell phone; I suppose she´s left some messages."
He turned it on, and looked at the display.
"Yep. Helen has called, and some other busybodies after the press conference. I suppose they want me to tattle on Joe."
He left, and Tank didn´t envy him his upcoming talk with Helen.
Binkie returned.
"I talked to Woody. He discussed it with Juniak, who says he'd prefer to stay here at Haywood for the next couple of days. He´s just emptying his office."
"We should start a hotel. Juniak, Frank Plum and Morelli… Fuck, what a mess."
Binkie gave him a smile and a pat on the shoulder before he left.
x x x
Tank returned to his office, where he called Gazarra.
"Hi, Eddie. How about lunch today?"
"Can't confirm right now. The shit has hit the fan after Juniak´s press conference about a crooked police officer. I honestly don't know if I´ll have the time for lunch at all today. Or if my kids and wife will be awake when I get back home."
"I get it. You know where to reach me."
"Thanks, Tank."
Frank Plum returned to the break room later for some lunch. Tank was just finishing his salad.
"There´re various sandwiches, soups and salads."
"Thanks. I don't have much of an appetite, so I think I´ll have some soup."
He got a bowl of vegetable soup and sat down across from Tank.
"I called Helen. She suspects I know about her and Joe, but since I didn´t say anything about it she didn´t bring it up, either. She was vocally against me not being home, but there isn't much she can do about it.
"And then I called Stephanie. She said I should come down to Miami and get some time away from the Burg, and also to get to know Stella. She suggested I could come down with you for the christening, and stay for a while after."
"Sounds like a good plan, Mr. Plum."
"Please, call me Frank."
"Thank you, Frank. I got hold of our law firm, by the way. I gave them the suggestions you had this morning, and someone will be over with an outline before 1600. I suggest you talk to Valerie as well, if I may be so bold. I don't want to tell you what to do, but I think she deserves to hear the story from you. God knows what version your wife will give her."
"Soon to be ex-wife I hope. And you're right. I need to talk to Valerie. But after I´ve met with the lawyer."
"Oh, and if you want to go the gym the lanyard you have will get you inside. Ella can get you some clothes."
"That sounds like a good idea. Thanks."
"There's usually someone in the gym if you want a run-through of the equipment, otherwise I could come with you."
"Thanks, but I realize you have a lot on your plate."
"You're the boss´ father-in-law, that´s quite high in the order of things at Rangeman."
Frank laughed.
"I hope to be able to get to get to know him a bit better as well, when I visit them."
Just then Joe Juniak and his bodyguards arrived.
"I must say I´m impressed by the Rangeman personnel. They managed to shake off the media, even though we went back to get some of my stuff at the house."
"I´m on my way to the gym," Frank said. "Why don't you come with me, so we can talk."
"Someone at least bruised my ribs yesterday, so I'm not that sure of what I can do, but I´ll be over in a while."
Tank looked at Cal, who was in the detail.
"Go with them to the gym and show them the equipment."
"Will do."
Tank turned to Juniak.
"And while you're at Haywood we won't have a detail on you. The lanyard will give you access to the garage, this floor, the gym and your apartment. But if you want to go out please alert us so we have the detail ready."
"Of course. It´s been a pleasure working with true professionals today. And thank you for letting me stay here."
x x x
Tank went to the monitor room.
"Any news on Morelli?"
"He got a bit pale when he heard Helen Plum´s opinions of him and how much she revealed, but he didn´t say anything. I took the liberty to rerun the audio, and he still looks pissed, but hasn't said anything out loud."
"Repeat it another couple of times, then you can shift to the press conference earlier today. Better let him hear that numerous times as well."
"Will do."