Bronx Requiem(113)
“All right. But is anything going to connect to me?”
“Very doubtful.”
“Dad, Ellenville is right near Eastern Correctional.”
“Yes, but you told me the situation with that man on parole had been covered.”
“It’s all in the works, Dad. It led to another investigation, but that’s not a problem. It’s covered.”
“John, I’m aware of what’s going on at One Police Plaza, but listen to me carefully. If anything doesn’t go according to plan, just let it go. Walk away.”
“What do you mean?”
“If the district attorney gets cold feet. If the arrests don’t go right. If complications arise, don’t push it. Don’t try to make a case. Let it go.”
Palmer knew exactly what his father was saying. It would tear his guts out to let it go, but he could do that. What he couldn’t do was stop Juju Jackson. If he double-crossed Jackson now, who knew what he would do? How the hell could he shut down Jackson and his crazy enforcer Whitey Bondurant?”
His father interrupted Palmer’s thoughts.
“You understand, right, John?”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
“Okay, son, I’ll call you in a few days.”
Palmer listened to silence on the other end of the line, replaced the receiver, and stood unmoving in front of the pay phone. Now, what?
And at that exact moment, the throwaway cell phone he told Juju Jackson to use buzzed in his suit-coat pocket.
68
Two hours before Palmer talked to his father, Beck sat with Walter Ferguson and Phineas P. Dunleavy at the table in his large bedroom on the third floor where they wouldn’t be disturbed.
Although it was a Saturday, Beck had asked both men to wear business attire. Walter, tall and trim in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and tie looked like a university professor. Phineas Dunleavy, shorter, broader, with his unruly head of white hair, wore a bespoke brown glen-plaid suit, blue striped shirt, and yellow tie. He looked like a well-groomed bulldog ready for a fight.
Beck had printouts of information, the external hard drive, and the ledgers of Derrick and Jerome Watkins. He selected a single piece of paper from the top of his pile and slid it toward Phineas.
“Phin, Walter and I are ahead of you on what’s going on. Let’s get you up to speed with this list of charges the Bronx District Attorney’s office is going to arrest us for, plus a summary of the evidence they claim to have.”
Dunleavy quickly scanned the page without showing any reaction.
“Walter has provided us with that. I expect the cops will try to arrest us tomorrow, or Monday. We can’t let that happen.”
Phineas looked up and said, “These are serious charges, James. How do we stop them?”
“You and Walter are going to present evidence to the Bronx ADA and the NYPD captain in charge of the homicide investigation that will show them someone else committed those crimes.”
“Will they believe it?”
“Right now, all I need is for them to believe we have enough evidence to undermine their cases against us. But that’s only part of what I want you to present.”
“Go on.”
“I also have information about criminals already known to the NYPD and FBI who have been prostituting hundreds of women and girls, and committing a long list of crimes associated with prostitution including money laundering, tax evasion, racketeering, and murders. This is way beyond what they’re charging us with. I want you to get both the NYPD and the FBI to open investigations into those crimes.”
“How did you obtain this evidence, James?”
“Through a private citizen who came forth voluntarily with evidence that led to me discovering the rest.”
“And you can present this citizen?”
“Yes, with the right protections and immunity. But that’s a negotiation for later.”
Phineas frowned in concentration. “They’ll be questions about illegal searches and all. I’ll have to go over everything. And interview your source.”
“I know. But for now, Phin, here’s the order of attack. Stop the arrests. Present the evidence that will point them to the real criminals. Make a deal to keep my witness safe.”
“Understood. How do we get to these law enforcement people? It has to be done quickly.”
“As soon as I finish briefing you. Walter can put you in touch with a lieutenant in the Forty-second Precinct. And with the Bronx ADA assigned to prosecute. Right, Walter?”
“Yes.”
“As I recall, Walter, you also know people in the FBI who might be able to help us with what’s going on in terms of the women and children being exploited.”
“I have one contact who might. Her name is Julia Sanders. She’s on the Innocence Lost Task Force.”
“Good. Can you call all of them now to set up meetings while I go over everything with Phineas?”
Walter answered, “You want me to tell the cops they’re being set up to make false arrests?”
“Yes. And tell both the NYPD and the FBI we have evidence of serious crimes they should pursue?”
“Okay.”
When Walter stepped out of the room to make his calls, Beck gave his lawyer more explicit information so Phineas would know exactly what he’d be navigating. He was wrapping up when Walter returned.