FORGOTTEN (28 page)

“I appreciate the apology, but I know how stressful this is for everyone, including me. We all probably needed to let off a little steam. I’m lucky to have each one of you guys, Karla, and you’re among the best of the best at fugitive investigations. You earned my respect a long time ago. There’s no harm done, and we can put it behind us.”

“Thanks, Chief. We’ll do our best to find this guy for you.”

“Don’t find him for me, Karla. Find him for Forrest
Butelli, Tony Rodriguez, and the others.”

Chapter 81

Wednesday, April 20 - Day 92

Major Crimes Conference Room - One Police Plaza

Borough of Manhattan, New York

0900 Hours

F
or the next two weeks there were absolutely no new developments in the search for Daniel Pellegrino. A search of his sister’s house in Queens produced no leads, and she readily admitted receiving the phone call from Daniel. The electronic technicians have concluded the phone call was likely made from out of the country. For all practical purposes, it appeared Daniel Pellegrino had successfully escaped apprehension forever.

Pat realized it was time to abandon the task force. Bryan Flannery and Mary McDonald had already started working out of Manhattan North Homicide again. A double-murder had strapped manpower, and Pat had allowed them to help out. He had mixed feelings about his decision, but felt there were enough traps set that if Pellegrino tried to touch his money, send an email, or pass through a border check, he would be
indentified and arrested. He knew the $50,000 would last a while, but not forever. He was also getting some pressure from the other police brass about
milking
the manpower for this assignment. Margaret Butelli had moved to Virginia to live in a retirement community near her daughters. Gloria Moses had grown weary of the protection details and had insisted they be discontinued. Pat knew it was time to move on, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

The task force had assembled in the conference room. Only Bryan Flannery knew what was going to happen, but others suspected it was the end. The mood was bittersweet as Pat O’Connor walked into the room. In an unusual move, Bryan Flannery stood up and announced.

“Atten… Hutt!”

Everyone in the room stood up as Pat walked to the podium. He smiled and told them to take their seats. “The military pomp and circumstance is not necessary, but the respect is appreciated. By now, most of you have probably figured out, that at the end of the day we’re disbanding the task force. Most of you have started working out of your old units, anyway. We’ve done our best to bring closure to these families. We’ve answered a lot of questions, but a great injustice still exists as long as Daniel Pellegrino remains at large. However, this city needs you guys and we’re just spinning our wheels in this case. I can’t justify it any longer. There is much work to be done on other cases. You’ve honored me by your work and your character. The phone calls after our last meeting were important to me, and I hope I haven’t offended anyone by my heated comments. Try to get all your reports completed by the end of your tour. The
Butelli Task Force is officially disbanded.”

Pat shook the hand of each member of the task force. He got hugs from Mary McDonald and Karla Adams. He detected a tear in Bryan Flannery’s eye. Pat thanked him for commanding the task force and walked out of the room without saying another word. He knew he had made the right decision, but worried about what the consequences of not having Daniel Pellegrino in custody would be. The possibilities scared him to death.

Chapter 82

Saturday, June 4 - Day 137

Maggie’s Parker’s Apartment

Borough of Manhattan, New York

1800 Hours

S
ix weeks had passed without any trace of Daniel Pellegrino. He had been named a United States Marshal’s Top 15 Fugitive and wanted notices had been distributed world-wide, courtesy of Interpol. They had received a few calls which were quickly discounted, but it seemed Pellegrino had fallen off the face of the earth. Pat felt depressed and defeated. He hated to admit he and his team had been outsmarted by a corrupt lawyer. He had even reached out to Ken Helms again and was assured if the CIA could locate him; Pat would be the first to know. The FBI was silent about the entire matter. Not even Pat’s trusted friend, Mike Wilson, offered any information.

The weather was warm in New York, and Pat had planned a special evening with Maggie. They had tickets to attend a concert at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, featuring one of Pat’s favorite trumpet players. After that, they had late dinner reservations at the Soul of Tuscany, a well-known restaurant in Little Italy.

Pat was dressed in one of Maggie’s favorite suits. It was a light-feeling navy blue suit which was comfortable in the warm summer night. He wore a crisp, starched, white shirt and a conservative gold-patterned tie. He took a cab from his apartment to Maggie’s building. He took the elevator up to her floor and was greeted with a big smile at the door. Maggie was still dressed in her slip, which Pat found exciting. He made himself at home while Maggie was getting dressed. He took off his jacket revealing his holstered .357 Magnum revolver and sampled some snacks Maggie had put out on the table. Maggie joked about it. “Aren’t you a well-dressed symphony fan?”

“It’s like American Express. I never leave home without it.”

“I follow your lead on that, my dear. At times, this can be a dark and dangerous city.”

“Especially when seen through a cop’s eyes, but tonight we’ll see one of the things I love about New York, the arts. This city has everything to offer. The concert should be great!”

“I’m looking forward to it, Pat.”

“I know you’re just saying that because you know how much I like this stuff. It will be too loud for you from the first note.”

“Probably so, but I’m looking forward to it because it makes you happy and gets your mind off the NYPD.”

“We need to leave soon. I think we should catch a cab. Parking near Carnegie Hall on Saturday will be impossible.”

Pat and Maggie finished their snacks and headed for the door. Maggie was wearing a beautiful black dress with gold trim. She had her black purse over her shoulder. Pat and Maggie had just got on the elevator when Maggie stopped.

“I forgot my cell phone, Pat. I need to grab it. Why don’t you get us a cab and I’ll meet you out front.”

“That sounds good. I’ll see you in a minute.”

Pat took the elevator down to the garage level and stepped out into the parking garage. He started walking toward the street when he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his left eye. Turning his head, he saw someone in a camel-colored blazer standing beside one of the concrete columns. It was Daniel Pellegrino! 

“Why couldn’t you just leave this alone?” Pellegrino screamed. “You have ruined everything. You just couldn’t mind your own damn business!”

Pat reached for his revolver as he saw Pellegrino raise a handgun which appeared to have a silencer on it. 

Doink, Doink, Doink….
.

Pat dove under a car as he heard glass breaking in the cars beside him. The silencer was very quiet. He had to let Maggie know before she walked out into the garage from the elevator. He tried his cell phone but he couldn’t get a signal. He heard another shot and could hear Pellegrino’s feet coming closer. He had to get between the elevator and Pellegrino. Seeing a flash of the tan blazer, Pat raised his magnum firing two quick shots.
Varooom …Varooom …
The magnum roared like a howitzer in the parking garage. It was deafening. He had missed his target, but Pellegrino would have no doubt he was armed. Pat kept watching the elevator door. He had to get closer. He decided to make a run for the concrete column nearest the elevator door. He had to keep this bastard from getting to Maggie.

Pat started to run and he got another glimpse of Pellegrino firing the silenced pistol at him. Pat returned fire, firing three more rounds of the powerful .357. At least, it kept
Pelligrino’s head down.

Pat quickly retrieved his fully loaded second revolver from his ankle holster and then reloaded the other revolver quickly with the speed loaders from his pocket. He was consumed by his worry for Maggie. His ears were ringing from the magnum, and he had difficulty seeing or hearing Daniel Pellegrino. Pat realized he had to move. Maggie would be there any second. Pat put both revolvers in his hand and took a deep breath. He was startled by two quick shots and a third single shot. They were definitely not fired from Pellegrino’s silenced pistol.

Pat took a quick peek around the concrete column and saw a very dead Daniel Pellegrino lying on his back on the concrete pavement. He was bleeding profusely from the head. Pat cautiously walked around the column and saw Maggie Parker in a crouched position with her Sig Saur P-229 pointed at Pellegrino’s body.

Pat looked down at the body. He could see blood, brains and bone fragments hanging out of the back of Daniel Pellegrino’s head. He could see Maggie had put two rounds in his chest. Pellegrino was wearing body armor. She ended it with a third shot to the center of his forehead, just as the Secret Service had trained her. A silenced .22 pistol was lying beside the body. Maggie shouted to Pat. “Are you okay, Pat?”

“I’m fine.”

“Is he dead?”

“Yes, he is.”

“You better call it in.”

Pat walked to meet Maggie. They hugged and assured each other they were safe. Pat walked to the curb and called in a 10-13 (Officer Needs Assistance) using his cell phone. He took his Chief of Detectives shield out of his pocket and stuck it on the outside of his suit pocket. Maggie did the same with her Secret Service badge. They could hear sirens in the distance. Pat turned to Maggie.

“Thanks for saving my life. How did you know?”

“I started down the elevator and I started hearing that canon of yours going off. I knew in my gut it was Pellegrino. I got off one floor up and went down the stairwell. He was headed toward the column you were behind. He saw me and turned raising the pistol. I had no choice but to end it.”

“He’ll never kill again, Maggie.”

“The main thing, Pat, is we’re safe now.”

Chapter 83

Saturday, June 4 - Day 137

Maggie Parker’s Apartment - Parking Garage

Borough of Manhattan, New York

1900 Hours

I
n just a few minutes the parking garage was crawling with police officers and detectives. A 10-13 by the Chief of Detectives received a massive response. The area around Pellegrino’s body had been sealed off with yellow police line tape. Pat had notified Commissioner Longstreet, and Maggie had called her Assistant Director in Washington. There would be an IAB investigation, and the Secret Service would conduct its own administrative review of Maggie’s actions. Pat knew it would be justified.

Pat gave a preliminary statement to the investigating detectives. There were a number of cars with damage from the shooting. Pat saw Commissioner Longstreet and his protection detail standing at the crime scene line. He walked over to the commissioner, who asked him to have a seat in his big Suburban.

“I hope you’re okay, Patty.”

“I’m fine. Maggie Parker saved my life.”

“I’m very happy about that. Before you can say ‘I told you so,’ I want to acknowledge that the gut feeling of yours was right. You could read this bastard’s mind and you knew he would resurface. You have a gift about these things, Patty, and I’m proud to have you as my Chief of D’s.”

“Thanks, Commissioner. It was Pellegrino’s decision that it had to end it this way and not ours.”

“I’m well-aware of that. Take care of yourself, Patty. We’ll convene in the morning at One PP. I’ll need your help with the press.”

“I’ll see you then.”

Pat walked over to Maggie, who was talking to a detective.

“Pat, they took my gun, but I have my .380 upstairs.”

As they started to walk toward the elevator, Pat saw the FBI Assistant Director in charge of the New York Office, Roger Whitaker, and another unknown agent approaching. He looked at Maggie and commented. “This ought to be good.”

“Chief O’Connor, are you alright?” Whitaker asked.

“I’m fine.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m sorry about your source here.” Pat gouged.

Roger Whitaker’s face went blood red. His anger was obvious. “How could you possibly know that information?”

“Because, Mr. Assistant Director, this is my city. I’m the Chief of Detectives and it’s my business to know. Now would you please get out of my crime scene? There is work to be done by the real professionals now.”

Whitaker was speechless. He was blood red and Pat never broke his piercing stare. The agent with him could not look Pat in the eyes. Pat decided to fire one last thought-provoking comment. “When you look in the mirror, how can you live with the fact you helped a cop-killer escape? You made a deal with the devil. Was it worth it?”