This story is part of an ongoing series.
The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
***
Part 1 - Prologue
"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!" shouted the redheaded MILF reporterette at 7:00am, Monday, July 15th, from the roof of the building at the corner of Riverside and College, with City Hall in the background. "Channel Two News has learned that US DOJ Civil Rights observers
will
be in attendance at
all
portions of tomorrow's Town & County Council meeting!"
Bettina began: "Channel Two News has learned that Mayor Daniel Allgood's appeal of the Federal Court order allowing Federal Observers into Council Executive Sessions has rightly been denied, paving the way for the illegitimate Mayor's racist suppression of minority voices to be exposed!"
Bettina: "The Town & County Council is expected to take up the long-delayed issue of the hostage situation at BOW Enterprises a month ago, which claimed the life of TCPD Lieutenant Ivar Irwin. Council action on the Board of Inquiry report has been delayed by Mayor Allgood running scared from being held to account for his actions at previous Executive Sessions. A Board of Inquiry will convene today to make its findings on the application for the Medal of Valor for Lieutenant Irwin."
Bettina: "In other news, the Town & County Police have yet to make any arrests in the case of the severe beating of our colleague Lester Holder. Our colleague has recovered consciousness and is slowly healing, though not as slowly as the TCPD's progress on the case. Commander Donald Troy continues to run away from his obligation to respond to KXTC's repeated requests for comment, which we consider very suspicious."
Bettina: "And in State news, the State House Judiciary Committee continues to gather information and hold hearings on the Abuse of Power by Governor Val Jared in working with the Federal ICE Bureau to deport hardworking Undocumented Workers, and obstructing the Legislature in their investigation by refusing to cooperate and refusing to allow his staffers to testify under oath before the Committee..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"What BOI is that?" asked Captain Tanya Perlman as we drank coffee in the Chief's Conference Room and watched the news report.
"The one Silas is secretly convening this morning." I said.
"Yezzzz." said Chief Moynahan. "We were not inforrrrrrrrrmed of it. There are going to be no witnesses called; it will just be three Board members, which Silas unilaterally chose, and they will make their finding and report it to the Council for tomorrow's mee-tinnnnnnng."
"Talk about rigged." Captain Teresa Croyle said. "Why do I get the idea that Mr. Landau will not be chosen for that BOI, but Finneran will? Can the Mayor do anything about that?"
"He probably could, but is it a battle worth fighting?" I replied. "Silas thinks he's being cute, but everyone knows that it simply doesn't matter what the Board finds; the Council is going to decide what to award Lieutenant Irwin."
"It
will
be the Medal of Valor... won't it?" asked Captain Cindy Ross, herself a Medal of Valor recipient.
"It
should
be." growled Sheriff Griswold, himself a Medal of Valor recipient. "But Susan Weston will try to downgrade it just on principle, or what she calls principle. And Carnes doesn't want to give Irwin anything at all, to make the point that Don and Teresa's alleged mistakes led to Irwin's death, not Irwin's courage and heroism."
I saw pure shock on Teresa's face. "Are you kidding?" she gasped. "How could they not award him a posthumous MOV? What he did was what I did, except I survived and he died."
Chief Moynahan said "I a-greeeeee, but some will say that what Irwin did was the equivalent of what Father Romano did to save you, Ms. Croyle, and they awarded him the Police Cross for that."
"Commander?" said Teresa.
"I could not have been more clear in my written comments on the MOV application itself that I think Irwin deserves it." I said, myself a two-time Medal of Valor recipient. "But Haters gonna hate, and we have some real Haters on the Council."
There was a long moment of silence as the Sports report was given by Jeff Hull on the broadcast. As I refilled my coffee cup, then everyone else's since I was up and with the coffee pot, the subject matter changed.
"Speaking of Nick Eastwood," Tanya Perlman said, "I heard that his lover, or former lover, Amber Harris is pregnant again."
"Where did you hear that?" asked Cindy.
"Elsie Gringer, the local gossip columnist." said Tanya. "Amber was permitted a visit to the doctor by the Court, and the doctor confirmed the pregnancy. Someone in the office must've leaked it to Elsie."
"Not that it's
any
of my business..." Cindy said with great sarcasm in her voice, "but who is the father? I thought Nick wasn't seeing Amber anymore. He's been dating Savannah Fineman."
I said "I think he dropped her when she wouldn't leak anything to him about what the Charter Commission is doing. Not that there's anything to leak. And they apparently didn't think much of each other in bed... so I was told by reliable but confidential sources."
"She must set a high standard." said Tanya, who then grinned as she said "You should take on that challenge, Commander."
"I have nooooo interest." I said. "My own wife is more than enough challenge for me, these days."
Tanya said "Speaking of your wife, last I heard, Nick Eastwood was dating one of Laura's graduate students in sexual psychology."