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If Hoyt wanted to bring the charge forward, he would do it If Parisi, for political reasons, had to let it go to the police coood of clearing the department’s name

I would be fired, made an example of, humiliated, and I would likely never have a job in law enforceain

The end

CHAPTER 73

THAT WEEKEND JOE and I relaxed within the landscaped earden patio He was in his wheelchair, I was stretched out in a high-quality ergonoether, atching Julie

Our little bambina was in the kiddie pool with three other kiddos, including Joey, a boy of four who hadrole and had instructed the others to evade and screaiggled Joe and I laughed, too It was all sunshine with a side of butterflies in the garden, but as I told Joe about ation by Internal Affairs, my mind spiraled down into a darker place

I said, “I was grilled on a spit, and Hoyt just kept bastingup the flame Sorry to even have to tell you about it”

“You’ll be okay, and I hope they want to interview me But I know this is very stressful I’”

“Okay,” I said “So Hoyt curls his lip and says to eant The scene was chaotic You’re so certain that you remember Mr Grant’s utterance verbatim?’

“I said, ‘It wasn’t an utterance, Mr Hoyt It was a speech It was a brag It was a confession without coercion’

“He complimented me on the alliteration Then he said, ‘Sounds a little rehearsed, Sergeant Letelse Have you everperson? Shot soeant Boxer? Three? More than that? Fewer than ten?’

“He kne many, Joe It was a tactic”

“Of course it was Keep going”

I took a breath and told Joe what I could bear to reeant? Why were you passed over for the job as chief of police? Why should we believe anything you say about anything?’”

Joe sighed “Sorry, Linds Look, the public wants cops to take lunatics off the street, and you did that Your responsibility stops there”