Ethical Dilemmas

This story is part of an ongoing series.

The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography, which is currently not updating. Stories after Music Box Dancer are:

Return To Apple Grove, Media Matters, Swamp Frogs, Man of God, Fathers and Sons, Fire In The Hole, Ethical Dilemmas.

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 14 - Resolution

*CLICK!* *CLICK!* *CLICK!* *CLICK!*

A look of horror crossed Judge Elton Boynton's face as he realized his handgun was not firing. Cindy quickly grabbed Joanne's shoulders and pulled her back, then got between her and the judge. O'Brady's Officers quickly rushed up and grabbed the killer, separating him from his handgun.

"But how..." muttered Boynton, still in shock that the gun had not fired. And then he got his answer.

Coming around from behind the foliage behind the pool was a large, broad-shouldered redhead, wearing black civilian clothes and a beige trenchcoat over them, and of course a Tilley hat with Airborne wings over a TCPD hat badge. It was what was in his right hand that revealed his identity to Boynton: the red crowbar.

"Oh, is your gun not working properly, Judge Boynton?" I asked, my voice sounding bright and Rudistan-'ish'. I held up an evidence bag with my latex-gloved left hand, which contained a number of 357 SIG caliber cartridges. "I daresay it would've worked better with these in it."

"The Iron Crowbar." said Boynton, his eyes flashing pure evil as he recognized me. "I should've known. I

did

know: McSwain's ring... it was too bright, too new. I should've realized this was one of your dirty tricks."

"True enough, you should've seen right through it." I said, rubbing it in. "But you didn't. You were too busy looking at my lovely undercover Police Officer here. You should've kept your pants zipped up, Judge. I can assure you the gangbangers won't, when they see your fresh cherry ass brought into their jails."

I turned to O'Brady and said loudly: "Congratulations, Detective O'Brady. You have discovered and arrested the murderer of Leigh Lance, disgraced Judge Elton Boynton." I handed him the bag of cartridges. "I believe you will find Boynton's fingerprints on these, and Ballistics will show that one of these bullets was fired by the gun you just removed from Boynton's hand, killing Mrs. Lance. Read the bastard his rights, and get his ass up to Pottsville as fast as you can."

As the Officers led Boynton away, O'Brady came up and shook my hand. "Thank you, Commander. For this, and for all your help."

"It was fun. I wouldn't have missed it." I said, handing him my card. "If you need me for the trial, just call."

As O'Brady followed his team out of the park, Roy McGhillie came up from the fringes, joining Joanne and Cindy in front of me. "Well, look who finally showed up!" said the Green Crowbar accusingly... to me.

"As if I were needed here." I said. "You did an outstanding job. All of you did."

"And just how did that gun miraculously get empty?" asked the TCPD Deputy Chief as her ice-blue eyes bore into my gray peepers.

"Oh, that was simple enough, and no miracle." I replied. "As part of the sting, I took the liberty of entering the Judge's car and searching it. This was the only gun in it, so I emptied it of the bullets. I figured he might come get it, and having them take it off his person makes the case against him even stronger. And I was watching, so if he'd have tried to pull a different gun, I'd have shot him right then and there. So Joanne was in no real danger."

Roy and Joanne were grinning brightly. Cindy was less amused. "Thanks for letting me know." she said. "I thought I was going to have to cover Joanne with my body and the armor on it, but the bastard got the drop on me."

"I did tell O'Brady to not shoot Boynton." I said. "Your acting was better for not knowing---"

*BRING!* *BRING!* *BRING!* *BRING!*

It was my Police iPhone. "Troy." I said, answering it.

"This is O'Brady." said O'Brady on the other end of the line. "Boynton had a cyanide capsule in his mouth, and he bit down on it. He's dead..."

Part 14 - Law And Disorder

"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Fox Two News!" shouted the redheaded MILF reporterette at 7:00am, Friday, August 31st, from in front of the Courthouse complex. "We are bringing you continuing coverage of the Media's legal victory over the Town & County Police yesterday!"

Bettina looked like she was having an orgasm as she said "Yesterday, Judge Patrick R. Folsom ruled that the Town & County Police were not obligated to provide the Media with a facility or room within Police Headquarters. Judge Folsom also said that Commander Donald Troy could not be required to speak with the Media, and could only be compelled to talk to anyone through a legal subpoena issued by a Court."

"But Judge Leahy of the Appellate Court immediately took up the Media's appeal!" continued Bettina. "He ordered the TCPD to re-open the Press Room pending the hearing of his appeal, saying that the Media's First Amendment rights of a Free Press were being violated by the Police! He also said that as a public figure, Commander Troy was required to answer Press questions, and that if he didn't, Commander Troy could be held in Contempt of Court, and be thrown in jail!"

Bettina went on: "However, the State Supreme Court's Chief Justice, Robert Johnson, who

experts

say is biased toward Conservative views, issued a stay of Leahy's order concerning Commander Troy, saying that Leahy was violating Commander Troy's First and Fifth Amendment rights, and also pointing out that the TCPD collective bargaining agreement does not require Police Officers to speak to the Press nor answer their questions."

"The Police have issued no statements regarding the various rulings, and Commander Troy has refused to acknowledge, much less respond to, repeated requests for comment." Bettina continued. "Commander Troy

did

speak before a meeting of the NCAA with University and Conference officials yesterday morning, and sources tell Fox Two News that he showed that the University was not culpable in the sex crimes of Coach Willy Gonzales. According to the sources, Commander Troy blamed his eternal straw man, Pastor Raymond K. Westboro, for the crimes. Pastor Westboro died just over two years ago in a helicopter crash that Commander Troy

somehow

survived."

"And in other legal news," Bettina said, "the SBI's Office of Ethics and Review has made several arrests in the cases of the suspensions of the medical license of Dr. Laura Fredricson and the law license of Mike G. Todd of the Madison & Ives Law Firm. SBI Inspector General Brittany M. Maxwell issued a statement saying that clear evidence of bribes being taken by State Bar and State Medical Board members was found, and Federal charges could be added, as well."

"Mr. Todd's law license was restored by order of the Governor," continued Bettina, "but Dr. Fredricson's medical license cannot be immediately restored without a review. The Governor ordered a Special Review Panel to determine if there is any merit to the charges against Dr. Fredricson, and can restore her license if the review finds no issues warranting the continuation of the suspension of her license. And now let's go to Nick Eastwood with the Sports report. Nick!"

"Thank you, Bettina!" said the handsome young blonde stud reporter from in front of the University Athletic Complex. "The Bulldogs play Mountain State tomorrow, and fans are already beginning to pour into Town for the game! The Bulldogs are a heavy favorite to win tomorrow as they begin what could be a run for the Conference and National titles! But the biggest issue on everyone's mind is the breaking news of the scandal involving Coaches Willy 'Speedy' Gonzales and Brian Harlan!"

"Commander Don Troy, who busted Gonzales in a PED scandal some years ago," continued Nick, "spoke before the NCAA on his previous investigations of Coach Gonzales, as well as his battle against Crime Syndicate mastermind Raymond Westboro. Sources tell Fox Two Sports that Commander Troy's presentation was 'persuasive', and the NCAA is considering his information as they investigate the case.

Experts

say that this situation is not like the ugly situation that occurred at another University some years ago, and that neither our University nor Eastern State is likely to be placed on probation!..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Are you about to go 'nuclear' on Bettina?" Captain Tanya Perlman whispered to me as we sat and watched with everyone else in MCD, drinking Jerome Davis's well-prepared 'Navy' coffee. Captain Thompson and Chief Moynahan had joined the coffee klatch, as well.

"I'm close." I whispered back. "Verrrry close."

"So the Press Room is open now?" asked Detective Theo Washington more loudly.

"Yes." said Commander Cindy Ross. "But I did not hear a word, nor read a line in the legal rulings, that we have to go in there and give them a Press conference. So they can sit in there all day, if they like."

"One thing we're doing," said Captain Thompson, "is creating a set of written rules for Press decorum that every journalist will have to sign in order to get a Press pass, which we will begin issuing. Then we can kick them out individually for violating those rules and pull their passes."

"This is going to go to the State Supreme Court." said Cindy. "We may prevail, anyway. But if we don't, we'll start issues Press passes and have the written rules."

"What about you, Commander Troy?" asked Jerome Davis. "Can they really force you to speak to the Press?"

"I don't know," I said, "but I'm not going to, no matter what. I'll go to jail for Contempt of Court first. More likely, I'll put in my retirement papers and just walk away."

"It's gonna be 'scorched earth'." said Tanya. The rest of the room had gone silent, hearing my words and knowing that they would lose me before I would submit to having to speak to the filthy journalists of the corrupt Press. I noticed that Chief Moynahan had gotten up and left the room, and that Cindy had watched him leave with a look of concern on her face. She followed him out the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Have a seat, Commander." said the Chief after Cindy had knocked on his office door and been allowed in. She sat down as he said "I suspect this is about this Press Room business?"

"Yes sir." said Cindy. "I was going to discuss this with you, anyway. I was considering re-opening the Press Room. The tension between them and Commander Troy is at a dangerous level, and I'm hoping to ease it before another one of those idiots goes 'Hardwood' on us and tries to kill Carole again, or someone else."

"And you're worried about the flip side of that," replied the Chief, "that it won't take much for Commander Troy to do something a little too active to a journalist."

"No sir," said Cindy, "I don't think he will, unless, as I said, one of them tries to harm one of his family or one of us on the Police Force. But to that point, I think the Press could try to bait him into something, like Amber Harris did in attacking him."

"Very stupid of her, and she's now got some serious legal problems as a result." the Chief said. "Anyway, to your question of re-opening the Press Room unilaterally: I'll back you up in whatever you decide, but I would suggest just complying with the law, at least until the lawsuit works itself out fully. There are some important legal issues in that case, beyond the scope of just our local spat, and you might inadvertently cause a problem with that."

"Also," the Chief continued, "you should talk to Captain Thompson. I bee-lieeeve he will tell you that the Police Force is strongly behind Commander Troy in this Press War, and that any unilateral actions to appease them might look like 'capitulation' to them. It will certainly embolden the Enemy to be even more aggressive and dishonest towards us than they already are."

"So how do we find a way out, sir?" asked Cindy. "How do we work something out where they'll meet us halfway?"

"I'm ah-fraaaaaid, Ms. Ross," said the Chief solemnly, "that with the Media, Don is right: with them, there is no halfway. They'll fight to the last ditch, they'll never concede an inch."

"There's gotta be something." Cindy said. "Otherwise..." She stopped.

"Otherwise, we're going to lose Commander Troy." said the Chief. "Yes, I know, and I agree. He won't back down, either. And he wasn't bluffing when he said he'll retire, or even go to jail, before letting the Press force him to do anything."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I heard," said Theo Washington in MCD, "that my partner here is being nominated for an Emmy Award, for best Daytime drama in an undercover role." Everyone laughed.

"I heard my partner did very well, also." said Julia Rodriguez. "Looked good in that suit, too." Roy blushed, but grinned.

"Trying to out-GQ me over there, Roy?" Theo challenged, though grinning. "Not even Commander Troy can do that!" Everyone laughed some more.

"I concede the fashion trophy to you, Theo." said Roy McGhillie. "And it almost didn't work: I had a wedding ring on, as Commander Troy suggested, but it was brand new and too shiny. Almost gave away the whole thing."

"Commander Ross said that Commander Troy thinks Boynton may have known, anyway." said Joanne Warner. "He went to his car and got his gun, which was otherwise risky to do on Courthouse grounds. He had the cyanide capsule on him, and apparently in his mouth the whole time."

"How would he have known?" asked Teddy Parker.

"Someone may have told him." said Joanne. "A mole, either in the Pottsville Police, or a Palmyra LEO."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Yes," I said in reply to a question after Tanya and Teresa parked themselves in front of my desk for the Angels meeting, "Laura was very worried about her medical license being suspended, and she is greatly relieved that it's being resolved. Carole and Bowser are happier, also. They were feeling the bad vibe."

"When will her license be restored?" asked Teresa.

"The Special Review Panel is already meeting about it." I said. "They're going to work tomorrow and maybe Monday, even though it's Labor Day. The Governor and Britt Maxwell think they'll give the clearance by Wednesday of next week."

"Good." said Teresa. "That was ridiculous. What was the complaint, and who made it?"

"It was made by some woman who'd been a gynecology patient of Laura's three years ago, when the woman was a University student." I said. "It looks like she's now part of these Social Justice groups that get all the Press attention and constantly file lawsuits against us Police, against Conservative groups, and anyone else not in

jackbooted lockstep

with their radical views."

"Her complaint," I continued, "was a somewhat vague insinuation that she was prescribed the wrong birth control medication and she had a reaction to it... though she never complained of anything for three years before now, and has been prescribed the same birth control by her current gynecologist for years."

"Why can't they restore Laura's license today?" asked Tanya. "They restored Mike Todd's."

"True." I said. "But with medical licenses it's a safety thing, and I understand. Even though it's obvious that bribery took place and the charge is specious, it has to be reviewed to make sure there isn't something wrong. Of course we know Laura didn't do anything wrong, but the State is obligated to make sure. And It's nice having a Governor on my side who is facilitating this, as well."

"Especially after you two bonded in that safe during a gas explosion." teased Tanya. We all laughed. And yes, a red crowbar was waved in her general direction...

Part 15 - Ethics And War

"Hello and welcome to the Friday edition of the Reed Hudson Show!" said Hudson as he opened his broadcast at 9:06am. "It's going to be three hours of Conservative broadcast excellence! Normally, this show is about what's important to me, but on this Friday, as we do almost every Friday, we suspend the rules and let you the callers talk about the issues that are important to you!"

"We do have a special guest today on the Reed Hudson Show. Lisa Fillmore, who was fired by the 'Point Taken' show, violently removed from the set, and accused of being a racist, is here today. For those who don't know, she can't discuss the legal case due to a gag order, but she reached a settlement with the network, KSB, for an undisclosed amount, believed to be in the seven figures. Her lawsuit and criminal complaint against the security company, whose officers used physical violence to remove her from the 'Point Taken' set, continues to work its way through the Courts."

"Before we bring her on, I want to make a few comments about the ongoing war between the Press and the Town & County Police." continued Reed. "It continues to be unbelievable to me that Lester Holder of KXTC continues to be employed after his racist statements about Commander Troy and ADA Paulina Patterson's daughter. And the same KXTC that won't fire Holder for those racist statements, and I emphasize that they were

racist

, is the same network that leads the smears against Governor Val Jared, calling him a racist merely for enforcing immigration laws."

"On top of that, KXTC is leading the lawsuit against the TCPD, demanding that Commander Troy be forced to speak to them and answer their questions on whatever they choose to ask. The same KXTC who won't fire their reporter Lester Holder for his racist remarks about a child, demands that the father of that child answer Holder's questions. It is simply unbelievable to me."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Ma'am," said Cindy's assistant Lauren Wilcox on the phone, "your sister is on Line 1."

"Okay, thanks." Cindy said. She hit the button for Line 1. "Good morning, Chief. What can I do for you?"

"You can drop the formality, for one thing." Molly said from her end of the line. "And maybe try 'Hi Sis! How was your week?'."

"Hi Sis, how was your week?" Cindy replied, flat deadpan. The Nextdoor County Police Chief executed her trademark burst of laughter.

"It was good, thanks for asking." said Molly. "I heard of your participation in busting Judge Boynton down in Palmyra County. Great work!"

"Thanks." said Cindy. "My role was small... just keeping the baby-daddy of your boys out of trouble... and failing."

"Don't sell yourself short." Molly said. "Listen, I just wanted to snitch to you about something, which may be important, and you can decide how to handle it. I've gotten word from a couple of places that one of your Detectives, Teddy Parker, has put out some job feelers, and sent out a couple of résumés."

"You know, that doesn't stun me." said Cindy. "He's been pretty quiet, even morose, this whole summer. Thanks for letting me know. I'll check into it."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"And now it's a privilege and a pleasure to bring Lisa Fillmore onto the airwaves of Conservative excellence!" said Reed Hudson.

"Thanks for having me on today, Reed." said Lisa.

"So you have not been hired by any news media outlet since that incident, is that right?" asked Reed.

"That is correct, Reed." said Lisa.

"And is this a direct result of what happened with the 'Point Taken' show?" Hudson asked.