Papa Jack Chapter 118
Kate would rather pace than sit in the small waiting area outside Manhattan District Attorney Waterhouse's office. Still, there's not much room and she doesn't want to appear any more nervous than she already does. The door to Waterhouse's office opens, and a middle-aged woman named Mildred Cribbage beckons to Kate. "Mr. Waterhouse can see you now."
The almost painfully thin Stuart Waterhouse sits behind a large, battered desk filled with papers. His thick hair and prominent eyebrows are streaked with gray, and his right hand holds a fountain pen. "Ms. Beckett, I was surprised to hear you left the NYPD, but you haven't let the moss grow under your feet. I understand that, as an investigator for Step Up Step In, you have gathered evidence against a protection racket operating in Harlem and southern Washington Heights.
"That is correct, Sir," Kate confirms. "But gathering that evidence was not my primary objective. It became part of my work when gathering evidence for the reversal of Bert Josephson's conviction. The bagman for the extortion operation, Samuel Clinton, aka Flash, aka S.C. Linton, was the witness William Bracken used to get Josephson out of the way when he caught on to Bracken's association with Vulcan Simmons."
"You don't have to tell me about that stain on this office, Ms. Beckett," Waterhouse declares. "Up until this moment, I believed that I studied every sordid detail of Bracken's malfeasance. However, the name of Bert Josephson never entered into the evidence against Bracken."
"That's because Bracken framed Josephson before Bert could expose him. He made a deal to make Clinton's drug dealing charges go away in exchange for his testimony against Josephson. Since then, Clinton's gone to work for Lionel Beetson."
Waterhouse nods. "'The Beater.' The NYPD's been trying to nail him and his protection racket for years, but they've never been able to come up with a victim willing to testify."
"Well, I've got at least two. I'm waiting for the final decision from four others. But I need their testimony to put enough pressure on Clinton that he'll recant his accusations against Josephson."
Waterhouse's eyebrows descend, shadowing his eyes. "Ms. Beckett, the priority of this office has to be shutting down a major criminal organization like the one Beetson's running. That would mean using Clinton to get Beetson."
"I understand that, Sir," Kate returns. "But Josephson was one of your own, a hero, an honest man in an office that was run by a ruthless sociopath who destroyed anyone in his way. He's paying a brutal price for his courage. With the witnesses I have, there will be enough charges against Clinton to put him away for most of the rest of his life, maybe even his whole life. Make it part of whatever deal you strike with him to not only testify against Beetson but to set the record straight about Bert Josephson. Sir, Bert's at Fishkill with rapidly progressing diabetes affecting his heart. If we don't get him out, he could die there. Your office owes him. This city owes him. Please, help SUSI to get him out while he still has a chance at living some part of a decent life."
Waterhouse settles back in his chair, steepling his long fingers. "All right, Ms. Beckett. You bring me your witnesses, and I'll make the best deal I can to take down Beetson and try to clear Josephson."
Kate lets out a held breath. "Thank you, Sir. I'll bring them in."
Linton is unlocking the door of his Fusion when he is surrounded by Kate Beckett, Lily Ealey, brawny SUSI investigator Lyle Harshaw, Ryan, Esposito, and four uniformed police officers. Ryan holds up a warrant. "Samuel Clinton, aka S.C. Linton, you are under arrest for extortion, conspiracy to commit arson, and felony assault."
"Up against the car, hands behind your head," Esposito orders. As his partner snaps handcuffs on Linton's wrists, Ryan begins to drone the Miranda warning.
Kate smiles as Ryan finishes. "But," she adds, "District Attorney Waterhouse has a few words for you. It would be to your advantage to listen."
"So," Richard says, handing Kate a celebratory glass of her favorite red wine, "Clinton flipped."
Grinning, Kate takes a healthy sip of the ruby liquid. "He did more than flip. He signed an affidavit completely recanting his testimony against Bert Josephson and swearing that he only made the statements as part of a deal with Bracken to walk for framing Bert. He also incriminated Beetson. With Waterhouse spearheading the fight, the DA's office should finally be able to get both of the sons of bitches convicted. And in the meantime, Hattie and all Beetson's other victims will be out from under."
"What's going to happen to Clinton?" Richard asks.
"Waterhouse is reducing the charges to perjury and conspiracy to commit extortion. Clinton will still go to prison, but he'll be in the segregated population where he can't be jumped for ratting out Beetson. It's better than he deserves, but it's worth it to have something the SUSI lawyers can use to get Josephson's conviction overturned."
"And how long is that going to take?"
"Deirdre's already submitted motions to the court, but unfortunately, real life doesn't work the way things do on TV. It could still be months or even years before his case is on the docket. It could be even longer than that before he's freed or at least gets a new trial."
"But what about his health all that time?"
Kate sighs. "The SUSI lawyers will do their best to monitor the situation and see that he gets the care he needs, but there's a limit to how much pressure they can put on the Department of Corrections."
"Isn't there any way SUSI can move things along faster?" Richard questions.
"According to Deirdre, the only way to get things moving any faster is to get the governor to commute Josephson's sentence or outright pardon him. But SUSI approached the governor before with no luck."
"The old governor or the new governor?'
"The old one, I think. Deirdre said it was months ago."
"Uh-huh." Richard nods. "As I recall, Governor P was very big on strutting around as the law and order guy. His wife was at one of my book readings, and the law and order theme was bandied about. I doubt Gov P would have pardoned someone seen as violating the public trust without a truckload of evidence of Josephson's innocence. But the new guy served as Attorney General. He may have a much better understanding of the kind of sh*t Bracken pulled on Josephson. Maybe SUSI should take a run at him with Clinton's affidavit."
"As I understand it, easier said than done," Kate considers. "He's busy cleaning up a lot of stuff left over from the previous administration."
"I'm sure he is, but from what I hear, the man has a taste for a certain type of lady."
"Castle, that's just a rumor!"
"I don't think so. One of my writer's crew is working on a book involving the sexual proclivities of powerful men. He said a new, very high-ranking official has some unusual ones. He claimed he interviewed the lady catering to said official's needs. Apparently, they got on famously. She wants him to ghost her memoirs. He owes me a couple of favors. Perhaps he could induce her to whisper in a very high-ranking ear."
"I suppose," Kate muses, "that at this point, anything is worth a try."
A/N The N.Y. State Attorney General, who took office as governor in 2007, had to resign in 2008 because of a hooker scandal. So, the idea of a man in that position being in that kind of trouble is not farfetched.
