The bottom of every bott.., p.18
The Bottom of Every Bottle, page 18
“It appears Detective Gilmartin was first to be discredited, and then killed, to keep him from handing over information about the hit teams.”
“And what information did he have?”
“Apparently, none at the time,” she said.
“But they thought he did?”
“Yes.”
“Commissioner,” Shannon said.
“Yes, Chief,”
“We can get into all of this later,” he said. “Detective Gilmartin is not only one of my men, but I know him personally. I believe he is innocent of any wrongdoings concerning drugs or murder.”
“You’re vouching for him, Chief?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well,” Selman said. “And what about these killer cops?”
“They exist,” Shannon said. “Four of them were sent to Alaska to kill an ex-detective named Anthony Borelli, as well as these three people. Detective Gilmartin was wounded.”
Honeywell broke in. “Only one man knew that I was going to Alaska with Jake and Rob. That’s the man who was running my investigation.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Selman said.
“Well, sir, it was you.”
“AT LEAST,” she went on, “I thought it was.”
She turned and looked directly at the Commissioner’s deputy, Ted Kelly.
“The Commissioner would have nothing to do with such a thing,” Kelly said.
“I don’t think he did,” Honeywell said. “You gave me the assignment and told me it came from the Commissioner.”
“The woman’s obviously delusional,” Kelly said.
“You contacted me weeks ago,” Honeywell said. “I was to investigate—on my own—to determine if the myth about hit teams was true. If I found it was, you told me to find the man in charge.”
“You’re crazy,” Kelly said. “Why would I do such a thing?”
Honeywell shook her head.
I spoke up. “You were taking over from Tony Borelli but couldn’t find him. You thought Jake knew where Borelli was. If we can get anyone to talk, I think we’ll find you orchestrated the frame on Jake.”
“Ted?” Selman said.
“She’s out of her mind, sir,” Kelly said. “Why would I—”
“Can you prove this, Detective?” Selman asked.
“Yes, sir.” Once again, she took a miniature recorder from her purse. “A bad habit I picked up in IAD. Assuming everybody lies, I tape everything, sir. Including my meetings with Deputy Kelly.”
“You bitch!” Kelly screamed. Selman’s shocked eyes turned on Kelly.
“You, Ted? Murder for hire?”
“Meting out justice, Commissioner,” Kelly said. “That’s what we’re supposed to do, isn’t it? That was the one thing old Tony had right.”
“Detective Honeywell,” the Commissioner said.
“Yes, sir?”
“It’s your arrest.”
She spun Kelly roughly, while he was still objecting, and snapped the cuffs on him.
BRIMMER WALKED us downstairs. “You’re off the hook, Detective,” he told Jake. “So I am.”
At the door Jake turned. His badge was in his hand. He held it out to Brimmer. “I’m putting in my papers.”
Fifty-One
WE CALLED ANGELA AND GOT A RIDE HOME.
As we pulled away, Jake looked up at the huge Police Plaza building. “Those guys are up there right now, figuring how to whitewash this.”
“What’s the difference?” I said. “You’re cleared, Kelly’s under arrest, seven of their men are dead. How many more could there be?”
“I don’t want to hazard a guess,” he said.
“Where’s your dykey friend?” Angela asked.
“She’s not a—she’s inside, booking First Deputy Kelly.” Playing ball, I thought. She still liked her job. I asked Jake, “When did you decide to put in your papers?”
“When I was listening to Tony. Think I’m wrong?”
“I’m wondering what you’ll do now. I don’t see you retired.”
“Maybe I’ll go private.”
“You? A private detective?”
“Why not?” Jake said. “You could come in with me.”
I laughed, and couldn’t come up with more of a reply than that.
“Why not?” Jake pressed. “You ain’t stayin’ in the Army, are you? Think about it: Gilmartin and Son. We worked together pretty well on this.”
“Did we?”
“I’m not in jail, am I? We’re not dead. I think we were a good team.”
I stared at Jake for a moment, trying to decide if he was serious. Trying to decide if I was actually considering it. Deciding if what he and Mom had been through was in fact their business, not mine.
“Can I play, too?” Angela asked.
“Why not?” Jake said. “You’re part of the team.”
“Cool,” Angela said.
About the Author
Robert J. Randisi, founder of the Private Eye Writers of America, is a publishing phenomenon. With more than five hundred novels under his belt, he shows no sign of slowing down. His latest work includes the “Rat Pack” series of Hollywood mysteries for St. Martin’s Press and this debut novel for Perfect Crime.
Described by Booklist as “the last of the pulp writers,” Randisi has published in the western, mystery, horror, science fiction and men’s adventure genres. The current count: more than five hundred forty books, fifty-plus short stories, and editorial responsibility for thirty anthologies. He has also edited a Writer’s Digest book, Writing the Private Eye Novel, and for seven years was the mystery reviewer for the Orlando Sentinel. In 1982 he founded the Private Eye Writers of America and created the Shamus Award. In 1985 he co-founded Mystery Scene Magazine and the short-lived American Mystery Award; a couple of years later he was co-founder of the American Crime Writer’s League. In 1993 he was awarded a Life Achievement Award at the Southwest Mystery Convention. His latest recognition, in 2009, is the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America.
In the Western genre, as “J. R. Roberts” he is the creator and author of The Gunsmith series, which has been appearing monthly since January 1982.
Randisi was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and from 1973 through 1981 he was a civilian employee of the New York City Police Department, working out of the Sixty-Seventh Precinct in Brooklyn. After forty-one years in New York, he now resides in Clarksville, Missouri, an artisan community of five hundred people. He lives and works with writer Marthayn Pelegrimas in a small house on three acres, with a deck that overlooks the Mississippi.
If you enjoyed this book, look for these other titles by Robert J. Randisi published by Perfect Crime Books. THE END OF BROOKLYN
228 pages. $14.95. ISBN: 978-1-935797-12-8
THE GUILT EDGE
232 pages. $12.95. ISBN: 978-0-9825157-3-0
THE SHAMUS WINNERS VOLUME I (1982-1995)
336 PAGES. $14.95. ISBN: 978-0-9825157-4-7
THE SHAMUS WINNERS VOLUME II (1996-2009)
282 pages. $14.95. ISBN: 978-0-9825157-6-1
Randisi, Robert J., The Bottom of Every Bottle
