So youre saying
All Im saying is, chances are good Sonny ODoul knew how much weight he needed on that tarp. And he knew he didnt have it.
Hes only the assistant super.
In charge of scheduling and logistics, isnt that what you said? That includes moving bricks around.
What about his boss, the guy who was fired? Wouldnt the responsibility have been his in the end?
In the end, yes.
Ill talk to him, Ann said. Before I go see Sonny. Anything else?
No, Joe said. Its late, Ann. I have to work in the morning.
Of course. Im sorry. As soon as I find anything new Ill call you again.
Great.
His sarcasm made her smile. She said, Good night, Joe, but he was gone already.
Sutton Place
Early Tuesday morning, Ann searched the files shed inherited. She frowned over her latte and reached for the phone.
This cant be you, Dennis Graham said, answering his cell. Much too early.
Im turning over a new leaf. Did you see Edgar Westermanns press conference yesterday?
On the news. You lucked out, huh?
You think so too? Got to be.
I agree. That why youre calling?
No, no. Though as long as I have you: you know anything about that Block A site?
In Harlem? Not a thing.
No, I dont suppose anyone does, yet. Listen, Dennis, Im looking for Three Stars site super. Im reading your file here. He left the country? What do you mean, he left the country?
Mike Statius? Tried to talk to him myself, Saturday. My last official act, Dennis said cheerfully. Before Greg moved me here and gave you that mess.
The guy wasnt even fired until Saturday!
Morning. And escorted off the site. And apparently to the airport.
Escorted to the airport?
Im exaggerating. But by the time I called Saturday afternoon, he was on a plane to Curaçao. Where hes from.
You didnt find that peculiar?
He goes back and forth a lot, they tell me. His familys there. NYPD Luis Perez? talked to him. They cleared Statius to go because they had nothing to hold him on. But we alerted the authorities down there. If we need him, theyll pick him up for us. If he tries to go anywhere else, well know about it. Or, he added, you will. Me, I dont have to care anymore.
Try not to be so depressed. Does Greg know?
That the guys gone? He wasnt happy, but theres nothing he could do. And like I say, you can get him if you need him.
Is there a number in she looked at the file, Fredrickstown?
I didnt find one. But you can call the cop down there I was dealing with. Lieutenant van Drost.
Ann hung up and let Dennis get back to his task force. Call the cop in Curaçao? Oh, well, why not? It had a nice ring to it.
Lieutenant van Drost. He had a nice ring to him, too, Ann thought. Clear tenor, slight Dutch accent, and friendly, for a cop. She explained who she was and what she wanted.
Yes, I was told someone from New York might be calling. Do you want me to pick him up for you?
I just want to talk to him. Maybe you have a phone number?
Im afraid he doesnt have a telephone. Ive already checked.
Very efficient, Lieutenant. Yes, then, please.
Its possible to be as efficient here among our soft island breezes as up there in the asphalt jungle. Though more difficult.
Then you deserve even more credit. Call me anytime.
She gave him her phone numbers and hung up as Greg Lowry walked into the office. He headed straight for her desk, grinning. Youre here early, he said. You catch Edgar Westermanns press conference yesterday?
Sure did.
Ever get the feeling a politicians speaking directly to you?
Rarely. But you think this is it, too?
The other site? How could it not be? Have you called Westermann yet?
I was about to.
Keep me in the loop. As soon as you talk to him.
Yessir.
Still grinning, Lowry rapped her desk with his knuckles and strolled to his corner office.
Ann called the Bronx Borough Presidents office, checked the Cavalier out of the DOI garage, and headed uptown.
Harlem: Frederick Douglass Boulevard
Wait! Yvonnia stopped Ford as he strode past her desk on his way into his office.
Dont stop me, I have to call Edgar and yell at him before I find a way to put it off.
Later.
Yvonnias tone made Ford halt. Whats up?
First of all, the mayor called last night. After hours.
After Edgar was on the six oclock news?
Thats right. Hizzoner left a message. Hes not happy.
I dont blame him. Okay, whats second?
Shamika Arthur. She called three times.
Is she coming in?
I dont think so. Shes in Georgia.
Georgia?
Crawford County, Georgia. She has people there, her mothers kin. But she wants you to call her. Said shed stay by the phone. Yvonnia handed him the message slips.
Do you suppose its a sign youre getting tired of public life, Ford asked himself, when making a long-distance call to a grieving teenager whos lost her first love is more appealing than speaking to the Borough President or the mayor? He plugged in his teakettle, sat down, and dialed the number in Georgia.
A Hello? came right after the second ring, but it was a mans voice.
Shamika Arthur, please.
Aint no one here by that name.
Ford checked the message slip and the readout on his phone. They were the same. Im sorry. I was told she called me from this number.
That so? And who would this be?
If shes not there, Ford thought, what do you care who this is? He gave his name again. He heard it repeated into the room, and in answer, a girls fainter voice. A moment later Shamika came on.
Mr. Corrington! Hello.
Hello, Shamika. Whats going on? Are you all right?
Im Im okay. Im sorry I run out on you like I done.
Where are you? Who was that? Are you all right?
Im staying with my cousins. That was Ralphie you just spoke to. Dont mind him, hes just looking after me. I
I
I understand, Shamika. Sometimes when tragedy happens we feel like distance will help.
No! I mean, yeah. But it aint just that.
Not just what?
T.D., him him dying like that. Yeah, I feel awful. He wasnt bad, you know, Mr. Corrington. He was just
sorta like a kid. He was sweet when he wanted to be. He had big plans.
I know that. I liked T.D. I wish things had turned out differently.
His mama she okay?
I think she will be. Shes a strong woman and her faith is strong. Right now shes suffering.
You tell her I mean, her and me, we didnt always see eye to eye, but I wouldnt of run out on her, leave her alone at a time like this. You tell her Im sorry?
I will. Shamika
Because, thing is, I, like, I had to go.
Had to?
Yeah. Yeah, cause I was scared.
Scared? Of what?
See, and thats why Im calling you. Cause T.D., see
Shamika?
One thing, like, most people dont know about T.D.? Hes a very
like, he could dance, you know? But not just that. What I mean, he could climb, like in the playground, even up a tree
He was athletic, you mean?
Mr. Corrington? Aint no way, no matter how stoned he be, aint no way T.D. gonna fall by accident off no roof!
Shamika, Ford began gently, but she didnt let him go on.
No, see, and what he told me, she insisted, what he told me, he was making good money, he was doing jobs, working for this guy Kong. You know Kong?
Huge man, light skinned, shaved head?
That him! I told T.D., that Kong, he a nasty fucker oh, sorry!
Dont worry about that. What do you mean, doing jobs?
I told T.D., I said you dont want to be working for no one like Kong, wasnt gonna be nothing but trouble. But T.D., he just kept on. And he was he was making accidents.
He was what?
I knew it wasnt right! I told him he better stop. There was this place he would go, up to the Bronx. They was building a building. Hed just do little sh little stuff, and make something go wrong. Just to cost them some money. I told him, that aint right. But he say some rich white man building it, who cares, he got to spend more money? I ask him how come Kong give a how come he care? And T.D., he say that aint none of his business, he just do what he be told, he gonna come out with enough cash money for him and me to get our own place.
Ford suddenly realized hed been hearing his kettle whistle for a while. He reached over and clicked it off. Shamika? Are you sure about what youre saying?
Yeah. T.D. bragged on it. You gotta understand, he was, like, proud. He was sneaking around, climbing stuff couldnt nobody else climb, getting in and out without no one seeing him. Maybe I should of told someone, or made him stop. I mean, I know it was bad, what he done. But T.D., mostly he felt bad about himself. You know? He didnt have no self-respect. And it wasnt hurting no one, except some rich white man. She was silent for a moment. Im sorry, she blurted.
Shamika, what did you mean when you said T.D. wouldnt fall off a roof?
Because he wouldnt! That morning. Sunday? Him and me was gonna go down to the park. Sort of like a picnic. He was gonna call me, soon as he went and did what he had to do.
Up in the Bronx?
No, uh-uh. Somewhere close. He was hooking up with Kong.
Did he call?
No. And after
what happened, Im like all upset and nervous. Im over to my girlfriends house, fixing to go up to see T.D.s moms, and my mama call. She say, this big shaved-head dude come over, he be asking where I was, and she take one look at him and tell him she dont know. He say he a friend of mine, name of Kong, and when I come home, maybe I can call him? He give her his cell phone number. He say he think I got something belong to him, he want me to give it back. My mama say he say please.
What do you have?
Nothing! That belong to Kong? I aint never had nothing of his!
So what did he mean?
I dont know!
All right, Shamika. Go on.
The girl sniffed. He real polite, my mama say, got gold teeth when he smile. And my mama say to me, Girl, you know I dont never ask you your business. And I aint asking now. But Im telling you: Get your skinny ass out of town.
*
Ford hung up the phone and clicked the kettle back on, waited for it to whistle again, and poured. He went to the window, holding the mug in both hands as he would have on a winter morning. When the tea was brewed he sipped at it, but it didnt warm him.
Sutton Place
The Manhattan Borough President didnt keep Ann waiting.
The minute his receptionist passed her name and business along, Edgar Westermann popped out and ushered her into his glass-walled office. Seeming not at all put out that she hadnt called for an appointment, he waved her grandly to a chair.
I wont take up much of your time, she began, but Westermann cut her off.
No, no! Whenever the citys crime fighters are on the job, Im happy to help. Crime in Harlems down eleven percent the last three years, did you know that? And thats despite how we dont get our fair share of city services. He looked at her severely, in silent reprimand. Then he smiled, giving her a second chance. All right then. Tell me, what can the Borough Presidents Office do for DOI?
I saw your press conference on the news last night. Id like to ask you some questions about some of the things you brought up.
Go right ahead. About time the city looked into how development contracts get awarded. How it is that the same old boys club of wealthy white men gets their hands on prime city-owned sites over and over, while community groups get left out in the cold. Whose pockets are being lined? Thats the question you have to ask yourself, you see Donald Trump, Larry Silverstein, Walter Glybenhall, all walking off with contract after contract at the expense of the communities, the people who built those communities, the people who made them what they are! People who never
Sir? She held up a hand. Can we keep to this specific issue? You said yesterday the city had turned down a community groups bid on the site known as Block A.
He gave her a pitying look. You think this is an isolated issue, youre wrong. This is a problem with the system, cant be solved without a thorough investigation, a complete overhaul! But maybe Im expecting too much, thinking the citys about to look at itself for real. No, most likely youre here to say you came here. Westermanns shooting off his mouth again, best look like were taking him seriously. All right, lets get it over with.
Thats quite a set of assumptions.
Years of experience, Inspector. Ive seen it all before.
Sometimes, Mr. Westermann, you see what youre looking for, not whats there.
Oh, now, is that a fact? You come here to lecture me?
No. Im sorry if thats how it sounded. But youre assuming Im not taking you seriously, and I assure you, I am. Can you please answer my question? Did the city turn down a community groups bid on that site?
Westermann snorted. Charlie Barr didnt give them so much as a how-dee-do. Threw them right out.
Who is this group?
Garden Walls. A consortium.
Who are its members?
People and organizations who have a stake in this neighborhood, whose roots and families and businesses are here
Can you give me some names? Are you a member?
Wouldnt be right for the Borough President to be involved. Block As city-owned property. But my office supports Garden Walls. Wed like to keep the neighbor in neighborhood!