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“That confession’s nothing more than a smoke screen,” Whitney put in “An attempt by a father to protect his son”
“So you believe,” Tibble said mildly “But the fact is, it’s now on record and is public knowledge The psych profile doesn’t fit, the weapon doesn’t fit, and in ht on It happens when it’s one of your own”
He held up a plate-sized hand before Eve could speak “I’ll tell you e’ve got, what it looks like to all those fine people watching their screens A grieving family hammered by cops, circumstantial evidence, and three women with their throats cut open”
“No one’s throat’s been cut open since David Angelini’s been locked up And the charges filed against him are clean”
“True enough, but that handy fact won’t get an indict to feel sorry for hi diminished capacity”
He waited, scanning faces, tapped his fingers when no one disagreed with hienius What are the odds on the grand jury if we send our boy over toes?”
Feeney hunched his shoulders “Fifty-fifty,” he saidthat idiot Morse’s latest news flash”
“That’s not good enough Spring him”
“Spring him? Chief Tibble—”
“All we’re going to get if we push those charges is bad press and public sympathy for the son of adeeper Put someone on him,” he ordered Whitney “And on his daddy I don’t want the leak,” he added, his eyes going hard “I want to knohat asshole fed that idiot Morse data” His grin spread suddenly, terrifyingly “Then I want to talk to hielinis, Jack This isn’t any time for friendship”
“I’d hoped to talk to Mirina I ive any more interviews”
“It’s a little late for dae control there,” Tibble considered “Hold off on that I’ve worked hard to get the stink of the word cover-up out of this office I want to keep it that way Get me a weapon Get me soets sliced”
His voice boo, as he snapped orders “Feeney, work soic Go over the naain, cross them with Furst’s Find me somebody else who had an interest in those ladies That’ll be all, gentleot to his feet “Lieutenant Dallas, another moment of your time”
“Chief Tibble,” Whitney began formally “I want it on record that as Lieutenant Dallas’s coation to be exemplary Her work has been top rate despite difficult circumstances, both professional and personal, some of which I have caused”
Tibble cocked a bushy brow “I’m sure the lieutenant appreciates your review, Jack” He said nothing o back a ways,” he began conversationally “Now he thinks since I’ here where that corrupt pie-faced fucker Si to use you as a handy scapegoat and feed you to the s” He held Eve’s eyes steadily “Is that what you think, Dallas?”