Do or Die Read Free

office five minutes later, flicking lint from his jacket as if to cleanse himself.
    â€œThank you, Michael—” he began but got no further. Green thrust the file aside.
    â€œAdam, I can’t work like this! I’m not allowed to ask too many questions, I’m supposed to defer to university security! Since when! How the fuck am I supposed to solve the crime?”
    â€œDon’t worry. The Deputy Chief just has to keep an eye on City Hall.”
    â€œYou mean on the Chief’s pals! In case I probe too deeply into their love lives or their bank accounts. Either he trusts me and lets me do my job, or he lets the staff sergeant handle it just like any other case. I won’t have him second-guessing me at every turn!”
    Jules drew his lips in a thin line. “Michael, Lynch would never obstruct a criminal investigation. He may be more…pragmatic than you or I, but he’s not unethical. He’s seen the preliminary reports. The crime needs you and he knows it. Forget about him. Just proceed as you usually do.” He hesitated and gave his dry approximation of a smile. “Well, try to follow procedure a little more often. He’ll be watching.”
    Green was silent. Adam Jules had always been his greatest ally, encouraging him up the promotional ladder so that he would have the freedom to set his own course and running interference for him when his quest took him outside the bureaucratic box. But the name “Jules” no longer commanded the same respect and influence in the bigger pond of the newforce, and Green could see defeat and disillusionment creeping into the man’s eyes.
    â€œI’ll do my best, Adam,” he replied. “Kick me if you see steam starting to come out my ears.”
    Jules’ smile faded. “For all the good that’s ever done. Just solve the case for me, Michael. Brian is waiting for you outside.”
    *    *    *
    Sergeant Brian Sullivan was a former high school linebacker who took up most of the free space in Green’s little office, particularly when he paced. His blonde hair stood in tufts, and his square jaw was set.
    â€œWhat a fuck-up!” he exclaimed as soon as he shut the door. “Everything that can go wrong in a homicide case went wrong in this one, and who does it turn out to be? Some friend of the goddamn Police Chief!” His expression changed abruptly as he registered Green’s suit, and he burst out laughing. “You look like a bargain basement shoe salesman!”
    â€œDon’t start.” Green grinned as he stuffed the reports back in the file and pocketed his keys. “Let’s go over to the crime scene. You can fill me in on this stuff as you drive.”
    Outside, they found themselves in the crush of the morning rush hour. The June sun glared off chrome and glass, making Sullivan squint as he bulldozed the unmarked blue Taurus into the traffic. In front of them, traffic oozed along the elevated Queensway which bisected the city. Exhaust fumes shimmered in the rising heat. Another scorcher, Green thought, wondering how the city’s tempers, frayed by unemployment and government cutbacks, would handle yet another stress. He glanced at Sullivan, who was fuming at a red light.
    â€œSo tell me about the fuck-up.”
    Sullivan rubbed his face wearily. “First of all, some moron sounded the fire alarm, so when the fire trucks arrived, there was near-panic on the main floor. Firemen rushing in, students trying to get out. Any hope our suspect was still in the building went up in smoke. Then the security guard who called in the 911 only asked for an ambulance, said someone was hurt. Didn’t say stabbed. Didn’t know, apparently. So the dispatcher sent a routine patrol unit along with the fire ambulance. One constable—a rookie who hardly even remembered the procedure book. He tried his best. I mean, the victim was still alive, so I know his first