9: Cranking Up the Heat

Think of how stupid the average person is,
and then realize half of them are stupider than that.

George Carlin

Commissioner Mike Eddleson stood before the assembled reporters, tapping his papers before beginning.

“Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, we’ve located Martha Adams, Councilman Adrian’s wife.” He took a moment to compose himself before continuing, which keyed those listening to the fact the news was serious.

“She was discovered murdered in a motel room. The act was staged as an apparent suicide, but from what Detective Rules assures me, it was a clever deception. Someone involved with the city’s finances orchestrated the killing of two people in cold blood. The murders were committed to further their own agenda designed to hurt the citizens of this New York.” He paused again, letting it sink in. “Our condolences go out to their friends and families, as well as everyone who conducted business with them. They were honest, decent people who only had the best for the city in their hearts. They’ll be sorely missed. Now, to supply you with the details in this case, let me turn this over to Detectives Rules and Wei.”

Stepping back, he motioned the two detectives forward. Once again, Doug hung back, supporting his partner emotionally but letting her take the heat. He knew he’d further his career simply by standing before the cameras, while remaining silent sheltered him from any recriminations to follow.

“Good morning. I’m sorry to deliver such unsettling news, but it provides us with many advances. We’ve got new leads and insights into who committed these attacks. Unfortunately, we haven’t yet identified the suspects or the motive in this case. However, it’s only a matter of time until we’ve apprehended the people who committed these acts. Once we do, they’ll undoubtedly lead us to whoever ordered these hits.”

A few reporters waved, trying to get her to answer questions, but she held her hand up, signally she wasn’t finished. “This proves there’s an actual conspiracy involved. There were several suspects moving in parallel across different parts of the city, each advancing separate parts of this plot. While Councilman Adams was being murdered and his wife kidnapped, someone else was distracting the neighbors with a suspicious vehicle so they’d overlook the less obvious getaway car. The distraction vehicle was dumped in Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn. Concurrently, the murderer drove Martha to the Bronx, where he murdered her in the middle of the night, when few would have an airtight alibi.

“The people involved think themselves of superior intellect, but they continue to make a series of stupid blunders. While they confused the hotel clerk and blinded the hotel’s surveillance, they missed the nearby camera across the street, capturing them entering and leaving. These people appear to have no criminal record; otherwise they’d know how to cover their tracks. Instead, they seem to be cold-blooded amateurs, stopping at nothing to get what they want. We’re currently running a DNA analysis and hoping to get a positive ID, but we suspect they won’t be in our offender database. That means we won’t identify them immediately. However, we will possess convincing evidence once we apprehend them, which shouldn’t take long given the number of clues left behind.

“Don’t underestimate these men. While they have no clue what they’re doing, they won’t hesitate to hurt whoever gets in their way. If anyone has knowledge of these events or witnessed anything, don’t speak of it to anyone. Instead call the Tip Line immediately. If word leaks out, say via the media, these people have enough connections they may discover who the witnesses are. However, if you contact us, we can keep your name confidential.”

She turned to Mike and continued. “Now, if the commissioner doesn’t object, I’d like to open the mic up to any questions.”

Mike made a sweeping gesture to the assembled crowd of reporters and a number of inquiries were shouted at once.

“So you have no specific subject at the moment?”

“No, ma’am. At the moment we haven’t identified who initiated and is controlling these acts, but ... we do have a lead in who murdered Martha. Since this bears the markings of a political crime, we’ll compare our sketches with those frequenting the city’s many political events. We’ll target groups who’ve had dealings with Councilman Adams. We also have video footage from our traffic cams of several participants in this conspiracy. We’ll search for each of these people.”

“So you have isolated a number of suspects, you just haven’t determined who they are yet.”

“Exactly. Since they have no criminal records we’re aware of, at least here in New York, they’re a little harder to identify. However, it’s only a matter of time until this house of cards they’ve built tumbles. It’s already badly fraying along the edges.”

“Can you tell us the state of Martha’s body when you found it? Was her death quick or was she held captive for a long time? Can you discuss the specifics?”

Here the commissioner leaned in, taking the question. “The details are especially lurid and were intended to inflame the public with wild speculation rather than answer who committed these acts. For the sake of honoring this fine woman who did so much for the city, we’re respectfully keeping those particulars private. We have no desire to play into the killer’s hands by behaving as he wants.”

A single reporter standing front and center shouted over the others. “Commissioner, how do you respond to reports you were involved with Mrs. Adams in more than a ‘professional’ manner? How does the relationship affect the investigation?”

Mike straightened, stunned by a question he’d long anticipated. Em dove in, motioning to someone to the side. “We’ve long known of the Commissioner’s relationship with Martha, but haven’t focused on it because it doesn’t directly impact the inquiry. The commissioner has been very upfront about his involvement with both the victims, and they triggered no red flags. Those details were personal rather than bearing on the case.”

At the revelation, the cameras began clicking, making it hard to hear the questions. The photographers maneuvering for shots made it difficult to see who they were addressing. The reporters shouted out questions over each other. “What was the extent of their involvement?” “Was it political, economic or romantic?” “Was Councilman Adrian aware of the affair?”

Mike started to mumble an answer when Em leaned in again. “The Commissioner will address the issue at a time of his own choosing. Since it has no bearing on the case, it’s not appropriate to this discussion. Was the inquiry specific or simply a general fishing expedition?”

The reporter who’d asked the question, an older man with short hair and a thin, almost gaunt look, wearing wire-rim glasses stoke up. The man’s dimples increased as he smirked from behind his innocuous appearance. “We’re still compiling our investigation. We plan on calling the Commissioner’s office for a response to the specific details before publishing the report in the morning.”

“That’s Roger Specks, a journalist on the crime beat for a national newspaper,” a voice in Em’s ear informed her. “No one heard anything about this beforehand,” Natalie’s voice continued. The commissioner cupped his ear and whispered something under his breath which the reporters couldn’t hear. Doug edged away, moving off the stage.

The queries were now flying fast, but Em waved for quiet. “Since there are no more questions about the investigation, I think we should conclude this news conference. The commissioner will convene a separate press event to respond to these inquiries, once he prepares a response to the still unasked enquiry. His office will contact you about the time of his next news conference.” The event concluded, Em pressed her arm against Mike’s chest. She then turned and they both exited the stage, leaving the reporters scrambling for answers and scribbling quick impromptu notes.

“That could have gone better,” he quipped.

“It’s what happens when you turn up the heat,” Em replied. “The pot simmers and you get sprayed with random splatters. We got the response we were looking for. Now’s the time to stir the mixture and see what separates out.”

The thin reporter bristled as Em and Commissioner Eddleson approached. Doug and another two cops surrounded him. He was clearly upset at being held back. “May I ask why I’m being restrained? I’ve got to file a report. Our readers will be interested to know you’re attempting to stifle the honest reporting of the news.”

Mike grinned in response. “Oh, we’ve got no problem with you reporting the details. In fact, we encourage you to contact your editor. We’ve just spoken with him, but he wanted a few minutes to consult with his legal staff. So he may not respond to your call while he’s compiling an official reply.”

“Our issue isn’t with you covering what happened, but with how you gained your information,” Em informed the reporter. “We’ve been waiting for that particular shoe to drop. You’re being made a patsy. The material you’re publicizing is the result of a criminal conspiracy. It was discovered from reading emails on Councilman Adam’s and his wife’s private computers, which were stolen from their house after they were brutally murdered.”