Legacy and Redemption (22 page)

For Brooklyn born Ray Santoro, being named the Police Commissioner of the greatest city in the world had been a dream come true. Ever since the day he’d raised his right hand and took the oath of office to become a New York City Police Officer (nearly thirty years ago), he had set his sights on the position. He wasn’t unrealistic though. He knew that it was going to be a long shot, but with each promotion his dream came one step closer, culminating with his appointment last January.

Santoro was somewhat surprised at his appointment as the prior Chief of Department seemed to have the inside track after the Mayoral election. Santoro was the first Chief of Detectives in the history of the department to become the Commissioner. Santoro knew that there was no denying his credentials though. He was well spoken, a good leader, and knew what it took to run the department. None of that mattered right now.

So far, his tenure as Commissioner has been largely problem free. But it only takes one problem to unseat even the most competent politician, and Santoro realized that his job was one of politics as much as it was one of policing.

Unfortunately, Santoro was now wrestling with two major dilemmas; the first was the threat of a terrorist attack. It seems like the threat had been neutralized and all parties arrested, but the threat still remained. The second dilemma was much trickier; the cover up into the murder of a police officer—
the bag of shit which Detective Castillo dumped in my lap
.

While the terrorist attack clearly took precedence, the conspiracy to hide Lieutenant Keegan’s involvement with a terrorist organization was just as dangerous for Santoro, maybe even more so he felt.

The people of the city would not hold him personally accountable for a terrorist attack. In truth, depending on how he handled the aftermath, he could even be hailed as a hero and a great leader by the public once the smoke cleared. A police cover up, however…he knew that the buck stopped with him on that. Had he never been made aware of it that would be one thing, but courtesy of Detective Castillo, he was made all too aware. If there was any way to eschew the issue, he would, but Castillo had made that option seem rather unlikely.

Santoro picked up the phone on his desk and placed a call. Once it was answered, “Phil, as soon as Sergeant Galvin and Officer Keegan get here, let me know.”

He set the receiver back down and glanced at the old fashioned clock on the wall of his office. The big white face and black numerals reminded him of the clocks they’d had in the elementary schools which he’d attended so many years ago.

8:40, they should be here soon.

Santoro walked to the corner of his office and poured himself a cup of coffee from a freshly brewed pot. He added two sugars and just enough half and half to lighten it a shade or two. A quick taste to make sure it met his approval and he placed it on his desk. The consummate professional that he was, Santoro removed his light brown suit jacket from the coat rack behind his door and put it on before the officers arrived.

Santoro knew that the next half hour would give him good insight into the mind of Timothy Keegan. His assessment of Keegan would help him make the decision whether to heed Castillo’s advice, or to come clean to the press while making Castillo the fall guy—and in Santoro’s mind, rightfully so. He’d premeditated what he’d tell the officers the purpose for them being summoned was, and he was pretty sure they would buy it. The truth, however, was so that Santoro could gauge for himself what kind of threat Officer Keegan could be to his career.

Santoro picked up the phone as soon as it rang. “Send them in.”

Santoro adjusted his two-toned blue Duchamp tie and stood as the men entered, escorted by a uniformed Inspector.

*

Keegan and Galvin entered the Police Commissioner’s office, both with the hats of their
dress blues
in hand.

Santoro shook each man’s hand and then waved an open hand in front of his desk. “Gentlemen, have a seat.”

They did.

Keegan studied the man. He had seen Santoro almost on a weekly basis on television and once at his graduation ceremony from the Police Academy, but never this close up. Aside from the fact that he was shorter than Keegan believed him to be from television, Santoro was as impeccable up close as he was from a distance. He had a dark olive complexion with a strong jaw line and light brown eyes. Keegan figured with the amount of hairspray in Santoro’s full head of black hair, he’d be able to walk through a wind tunnel without a single hair flinching.

“I’m sure you guys have an idea why I’ve asked you to come see me today.”

Asked…we were ordered,
immediately popped into Keegan’s head, but he knew better than to say it.

Galvin responded instead. “Yes sir. I’m sure it has to do with the incident that Officer Keegan and I were involved with.” Keegan noted a bit of shakiness in Galvin’s voice. Keegan realized that he wasn’t alone in being nervous to see the PC.

Santoro nodded. “You guys did a great job. Between stopping the suicide bomber and then getting the other terrorist in Chicago to cooperate, you guys saved many lives.”

As soon as Santoro mentioned the interrogation in Chicago, Keegan was conscious to his eyes tapering. He hadn’t intended to do so; it was more involuntary, but he was sure that Santoro had noticed it too as he paused and stared at Keegan momentarily.

Then he continued. “I don’t have to remind you that this is still an ongoing investigation and that it’s a matter of national security. With that being said, Washington will paint it however they feel is in the best interest of the country. Anything you may have heard or have been told while you were in Chicago may not be repeated…
to anybody
.”

He paused once again. “From our end, however, while we may not acknowledge publically the exact role you guys played…” Santoro looked directly at Keegan before he continued, “…especially you Tim and your trip to Chicago, we will recognize you two as best we can. I am personally going to make sure that you both receive the Department Medal of Honor at next year’s Medal Day ceremonies.”

Keegan could see Galvin’s eyes widen. While Keegan didn’t really know just yet about the different names for all of the medals that the NYPD had, he was familiar with this one. It was awarded to his father, posthumously, the June following his execution, back in 1995. Tim Keegan had gone to the Medal Day ceremony and watched as his mother had accepted the medal on his father’s behalf. Even as a rookie, Keegan knew this was quite an honor. There was just something that didn’t seem on the level about it though. Keegan couldn’t quite figure out what was bothering him about the whole scenario. It was something about Santoro’s demeanor; nothing more than a hunch on Keegan’s part, but it just didn’t
feel
right to him.

Santoro continued. “They’ll be no mention of Chicago, what the terrorist said to you guys, or what he told the FBI. Like I said, that has to be kept confidential. Instead, I’ll award it to the both of you for stopping the suicide bomber and leave it at that.”

Once again Galvin was quick to respond. “Thank you sir; this is quite an honor.”

Keegan knew enough to follow suit. “Thank you, Commissioner. Did you know my dad received the same medal when he was killed by the
Mid-Eastern
radicals?” intentionally stressing Mid-Eastern.

“Yes. I’m aware of that.” Santoro’s response came at the same time that Galvin kicked him under the desk. That was followed by Galvin placing a cautionary hand on Keegan’s knee.

All Keegan wanted was the truth, but everyone seemed to be telling him not to search for it. Detective Castillo had been adamant that he not bring it up with the Police Commissioner and Sergeant Galvin had echoed those sentiments as well in the car ride to headquarters. Keegan weighed the pros and cons of being more direct.

I may never have another chance of speaking to the Police Commissioner face to face again. I have to ask. He’ll listen to me now…he’s calling us heroes. If not now, I may never get the chance again.

Keegan could feel the butterflies in his stomach as he tried to work up the nerve to ask if he could have the case reopened. Galvin’s kick had shut him up, if only temporarily. He didn’t know himself what he was going to do. He trusted Galvin’s instincts unequivocally though.

Santoro began speaking before Keegan would have the chance to utter another word. “I find it fascinating how much you share in common with your dad as far as the department is concerned, Tim. You both started in the
Six-Seven
. You have the same shield number and now you will have both received the department’s highest medal. And from everything I’m hearing about you, you’re a natural cop.”

Santoro held up his hand preventing any response. He picked up the phone and ordered the Inspector into the room.

“I have one more similarity for you, Tim.”

Once the Inspector entered, “Phil, call down to Personnel. Have Sergeant Galvin and Officer Keegan temporarily assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force effective immediately.”

Keegan was stunned and from the ashen look on Galvin’s face, he was as well. “You’re transferring us to the JTTF Commissioner?” Galvin seemed to need clarification.

Keegan wanted justification. “With all due respect Commissioner, why? Maybe Sergeant Galvin, but I’m a rookie…and I’m still in field training.”

Could the Police Commissioner be trying to buy my silence? Is this his way of keeping me from looking into my dad’s case?

Santoro defended his decision, “Yes, Tim, you’re a rookie, but you’re a rookie who saved countless lives because of his actions. You thwarted a suicide bomber. Hell, you thwarted a network of suicide bombers nationwide. I was the Chief of Detectives before I was the PC, and I always said the cop who breaks a case should be able to see it to fruition.”

He looked over to the Inspector once again. “Also, after you call Personnel, get Inspector Enton on the phone for me at the
Six-Seven
. I have to apologize for stealing two of his best cops for the foreseeable future.”

Best cops?

Skeptical as Keegan was, he liked the sound of that.

Maybe I am over thinking things.
Everything Santoro said made sense...or do I just want it to be true.

Keegan silently pondered this internal conflict.

Santoro turned back towards Galvin and Keegan. “I’ll owe Inspector Enton a big favor for this, but you guys deserve the temporary assignment; one caveat for you though, Keegan. You’re still going to have to work Times Square on New Year’s Eve. They always pull guys from every command, even one token body from JTTF. I promised the Commanding Officer of the unit, Inspector Talbot, that body would be you this year.”

Maybe this is legit after all. If he were truly trying to shut me up, he wouldn’t still send me to a detail…would he?

Keegan took a deep breath before he asked, “Commissioner, would I have access to old case folders once I’m assigned to JTTF?”

Galvin shot him a disapproving look and answered before the Commissioner. “Let’s close this one before we worry about cold cases, Tim.”

Keegan realized that Galvin was trying to protect him from himself, but still, the transfer might make it easier for him to look into his father’s assassination.

Santoro stood up and shook each man’s hand again without ever responding to Keegan’s question. “Thank you both for coming in. Your transfer to the Joint Terrorist Task Force is effective immediately. I’d suggest you get back to the
Six-Seven
and change out of your uniforms. Inspector Talbot will be expecting you guys for a noon briefing today. The Assistant Director in Charge of the Eastern District, Robert Wolf, will go over the very momentous day, we as a law enforcement family shared yesterday—largely, if not exclusively, thanks to you two guys. He’ll also go over what the future of this investigation holds. Don’t be late.”

*

Santoro paced the floor for a few minutes once the men left his office. It hadn’t been hard to read Keegan…and that worried Santoro. As Castillo had feared, the rookie cop seemed to very much believe what Murad Zein had told him. Now it was Santoro who would have to make a tough decision, and sometime soon.

Santoro sat back down and took a sip of his coffee. He swiveled his chair facing the morning rush hour traffic in lower Manhattan; searching for an answer that the pedestrians below could not afford him. He found it ironic that today—the day after Thanksgiving—was known as Black Friday. He turned back to his desk and picked up the phone. “Phil, call DCPI and get Chief Edwards on the line for me.”

The Deputy Commissioner of Public Information’s office was the liaison between the NYPD and the vast press and media in New York City. The office was responsible for reporting the news to the media as well as giving official department statements regarding anything that the press has inquired about. The office was quite often used by the department—more specifically the Police Commissioner—to put the appropriate spin on an issue.

Santoro sat in silence waiting for the phone to ring. He gently tapped a pen against the desk; the tapping rivaled the hum of the heating system as the only audible noises in the office. He had to be careful how he played this situation with Tim Keegan, while not losing sight of the arrests of the terrorists and the nationwide threat as a whole. The common belief was that the sleeper cell had been dismantled and the threat against the nation had been short circuited, but Santoro realized that New York was, as always, a prime target for a terrorist attack.