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Macy wasn’t about to back down either. “You know what I can do to your career? You’re nothing but a minor cog in city government.”
“For a minor cog, you seem to spend a lot of time keeping me from turning with all the other cogs.”
“I don’t like your attitude one bit. You have no respect for your superiors.”
That caught me by surprise. I’ll admit I’m a smart-ass. I’ll admit I can’t control my mouth. But I have a great deal of respect for my superiors. Any man or woman who worked their way up the ladder at the NYPD deserved respect.
I said, “I respect my lieutenant. I respect our captain. I respect the commissioner of the NYPD.”
Macy said, “But not me?”
“You’re not my superior.”
“I’m the commissioner’s superior.” Macy looked like he was losing it. His voice was becoming a little shrill. His eyes were twice as big as normal. And he was sputtering. Any time a politician is at a loss for words, watch out.
That’s why it didn’t surprise me too much when he grabbed my shirt with both hands. He pulled me close to him like a schoolyard bully and raised his voice. “You hear me, Bennett? I—”
That’s when I decided to react. Maybe retaliate is the better word. But I knew I had to do it subtly.
I’m not saying I set up the mayor’s aide. I will say that as a cop, I’m aware of my surroundings at all times. At least I try to be. I had the chair that was right next to me hooked with my right foot. It was pretty close to Macy. All I did was nudge it. Okay, a little more than a nudge. It hit him directly in the groin. That’s why he stopped mid-sentence.
Macy released his grip on my shirt and stumbled back a few feet until he bumped into the leather office chair and flopped into it like a bag of old potatoes. Clearly his main concern was the excruciating pain radiating from his testicles. Every man knows the feeling.
I casually turned my attention to the cop, Funcher. “How’d you really end up in this embarrassing and awkward position?”
He slowly backed away from me and raised his hands so I could see he wanted nothing to do with me or this situation.
Funcher said, “I know Macy socially, through my wife. In my circles, he has a reputation for being loose-lipped, but he was all business this time. He told my sergeant the mayor’s office needed me, so I agreed to meet him here this morning.”
“So you’re not looking to snake this case?”
“No way.”
“Then we’re good.” I completely ignored both men and went back to work.
After about thirty seconds, Funcher turned to leave.
I called after him. “Wait.” When he turned to look at me, I said, “Take your date with you.” I tilted my head at Macy.
Funcher said, “No can do. I’m going back to the One-Eleven. He’s not authorized to ride in an NYPD vehicle.” The detective turned and walked away without another word.
I liked Funcher. To the point. No fuss. And smart enough to realize when he was in over his head.
Harry walked into the office, passing Funcher on his way out. My lieutenant strolled over to my desk and asked, “Who was that?”
“He dropped Macy off here.”
He and I both looked over at Macy, who appeared to be recovering from the blow to the testicles. Harry dropped his voice, “Jesus, what’s that ass want now?”
I shrugged and said, “I guess he just wanted to hang out.”
We both gave the motionless mayor’s aide another glance, then I said to Harry, “Let’s talk.”
As soon as we were out of Macy’s earshot, I said, “I need to fill you in on a computer company that may be important to the case.”
Chapter 85
I had never done so much investigative work from my desk. By the afternoon, I had compiled all the information on Computelex I could find from the internet. I even had the phone number of the head of human resources, one Lynn McKague. The photo on the company website showed an attractive, friendly-looking woman with a broad smile.
