He repeated the boom story.
“I see.”
Maddocks waited in silence. People underrated silence.
Fitz cleared his throat. “And your partner, Detective Pallorino, she called in sick today?”
Tension ratcheted higher. “I’ve not yet been informed.”
“Food poisoning.” He waved his hand. “Or some such. Left a message on Sergeant Buziak’s phone.”
“I see,” Maddocks said, mirroring Fitz, whose eyes flickered.
“Sir, all due respect, but if you could let me know why I’m here, I could expedite things for you. Otherwise, I need to be ready to present my aspect of the investigation at Buziak’s briefing.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “In six minutes.”
“Yes. Well.” Fitz rubbed his chin. “You, with Detective Pallorino on occasion, have been having private meetings with Buziak. Apart from the task force team.”
Leo,Maddocks thought. It had to be him—Leo had opened the door on the three of them once.
“Correct. If that’s all?” Maddocks made to get up.
Fitz raised his palm, motioning him to remain seated. “What was the subject of these private meetings?”
Maddocks met Fitz’s beady eyes. “Again, due respect, sir, but why am I being asked these questions in front of an internal investigations officer when you could ask my superior, Buziak, himself? Unless of course I’m under investigation, in which case, I’d—”
“Oh no, no. Nothing at all like that.” He flashed a tight smile. “I called you in because I’d like you to take over Sergeant Buziak’s briefing this morning.”
“Excuse me?”
Fitz leaned forward and clasped his hands atop his desk blotter. “In fact, I’d like to offer you the position as temporary task force lead.”
“Where’s Buziak?”
Fitz glanced at Tillerman. The man remained poker-faced but gave a small nod. Fitz continued. “Sergeant Buziak is on a temporary leave of absence pending the outcome of an aspect of the internal investigation.”
“You thinkhe’sthe deep throat? Giving away details of his own case?”
Fitz rubbed the side of his beaky nose. “Confidentially, there is ... how shall we say ... possible internal collusion occurring among old-guard MVPD officers to undermine the organization.”
“A conspiracy?”
Silence.
Jesus.
“Additionally, we’d like you to formally evaluate Detective Pallorino’s performance over the next few weeks, as she continues to work under you. We’d like a fortnightly briefing. Here in my office. She’s had performance issues, including an incident that resulted in the recent death of her senior partner. Sergeant Hash Hashowsky was one of our longest-serving, most highly respected, and well-liked detectives. I called him a friend.”
Sothatwas Fitz’s motive? He was a revenge guy—he blamed Angie for Hash’s death. As Leo did. And some others. And Fitz wanted payback. He was taking her down, vigilante style, however he could, and he was going to use this internal investigation—and Maddocks himself—to find something, anything, he could use against Angie.
This was nothing like Buziak asking Maddocks to informally evaluate Angie for possible inclusion into the homicide unit. It was retribution. Unjustified. And possibly misogynistic to the core.
No wonder she was paranoid. She had reason. No wonder she was fighting that psych eval.
This guy was a viper.
Maddocks cleared his throat and said dispassionately, “I understood Pallorino was cleared of any breach of MVPD protocol.”
“Officially.” Fitz moistened his lips. “However, there remains contention that Detective Pallorino, a less experienced and junior investigative officer, made errors of judgment under stress, which cost her partner’s life.”
