"Destroyer 009 - Murder's Shield.pdb" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Remo)

That was the moment when Remo decided to take the job. And for a decade, he thought he had long since buried the Remo Williams he used to be-a simple, foot-slogging patrolman on the Newark Police Force. It was so long ago that he had been a cop; and that cop had died in the electric chair.
So Remo had thought… Until now. But now he realized that the policeman had not died in the electric chair. Patrolman Remo Williams still lived. His stomach told him. It was churning at the thought of his new assignment-having to kill fellow cops.

CHAPTER THREE
There was some question whether Representative Francis X. Duffy, D-13th C.D., N.Y., could be buried in Church-sanctified ground. Suicides were not welcomed in holy ground, for to take one's own life was a grave offense against God who had given that life.
Yet, in the strictness of the Church was a humble demand for accuracy, a realistic knowledge of the limitations of man's perceptions. What served as proof to the police department of Seneca Falls, N.Y., and the national news media, was hardly sufficient for the Church.
There were powder burns on Francis Duffy's temple. The paraffin test showed that his finger had pulled the trigger. The police said the bruises occurred when he fell. He had been despondent and drinking heavily. His closest friend, Inspector William McGurk of the New York City police department, told the Church in confidence that his friend had been drinking secretly for over a year, very heavily. He had become more paranoid as alcoholism progressed. McGurk also told this to the U.S. Attorney General who had asked that he keep their meeting quiet
"Did he tell you about a suspected conspiracy?" asked the U.S. Attorney General.
"Conspiracy?" asked McGurk, lifting an eyebrow in his round moon face.
"Yes, conspiracy."
"Which one?"
"You tell me, Inspector."
"Okay, he said the police were banding together to execute criminals and they were going to get him next because he knew about it. Farmers planned to burn him alive in his home because he was going to prove farm parity was a plot by Protestants to hurt Catholics. The Knights of Columbus had been taken over by the Mafia. The United Jewish Appeal had gained secret control over Alcoholics Anonymous in order to ruin the liquor industry or something, and that was why he couldn't go to A.A. There was the doorman in his New York apartment building who reported on his empty bottles and was working for his political opponent. Sir, this is very unpleasant. Frank Duffy was my closest friend."
"Let's talk about the police conspiracy, Inspector. What do you know about it?"
"That he had launched an investigation."
"Did he give you any details?"
"Yes. He had details for everything. It frightened me."
"Why?"
"Because he almost had me believing it."
"Tell me why you almost believed it, Inspector."
"Well, he listed a lot of deaths of underworld figures. And I knew one of them, Big Pearl Wilson. A ni… black pimp. Very cool. Very smart. I mean, there are a lot of intelligent black people."
"Yes, of course, go on."
"Well, Big Pearl took care of people if you know what I mean. Heavy vig. That means…"
"I know the terms of New York corruption," the Attorney General said in a dry Arizona voice. "Go on."
"Well, who would want to kill Big Pearl? He was careful, smart. The cop theory really made sense."
"Excuse me, Inspector, Congressman Duffy told me he shared this information with no one. How did you get it?"
McGurk smiled. "I'm his closest friend. He didn't consider me someone."
The Attorney General nodded. His face was pitted like the drying desert after a hail storm.
"About Big Pearl Wilson. Why do you think he was killed?"
"I don't know. That's why I say the conspiracy theory almost seemed to make sense. Look. I don't know if you're allowed to do things like this but if you want, I'll take a look into Big Pearl myself. To see if Frankie might have had something."
The Attorney General pondered the offer. "Maybe," he said. "Maybe Congressman Duffy was paranoid when he took his own life. Maybe he didn't take his own life. I don't know. But his story had that ring of truth to it. Do you know what I mean?"
McGurk nodded. "I almost believed it too and this was after the doorman, the farmers, the UJA and the Knights of Columbus."
"If Duffy was right, of all the police officers in the United States, you're the only one I can be sure is not involved."
McGurk cocked an eyebrow. "How can you be sure? You just don't know."
"I know. I've seen your records. I had you checked out. McGurk, they had notes in old OSS files that it was risky to send you and Duffy on missions together because you were too protective of him. I know you're a rock-ribbed conservative. Duffy was a liberal. Yet, you two were like this," said the Attorney General, squeezing two fingers together airtight. "Like this. Only a deep friendship can consider deep political convictions irrelevant. I know. And if you were in this conspiracy, if there is a conspiracy, well, I know Frank Duffy would be alive today."
McGurk swallowed. "I wish there were something like a police conspiracy. I. wish there was someone who had killed him. Because then I could skin that scumbag alive. I mean it."
"Calm down, McGurk. I'm not issuing license for murder. But I want you to walk with me a very hard mile."
"Name it."
"Let's assume a conspiracy exists. I want you to check out Big Pearl's death quietly but completely. If there's a conspiracy and you're found out, you'll be killed. Will you do it?"
"For Frank Duffy, sir, I would die."
"You may have to, Inspector." The Attorney General wrote down a telephone number. "Private. Leave no messages with my secretary."
"Right, sir."
"And Inspector. Let's hope that everything Duffy imagined was the result of alcoholic paranoia, because your life isn't worth a coyote's poop if Duffy was right about this."
McGurk's moon face broke into a slashing grin.
"Why, you shit-kicking farmer, everything after World War II was gravy anyhow."
The Attorney General laughed and offered his hand. McGurk took it.
Funny, thought the Attorney General, a man of such honesty and courage has the cold grip of a liar. Well, that disproved another Western saying: that you could tell a man by his handshake.
The President, reviewing the confrontation that evening, was not impressed by the Attorney General's actions.
"Dammit, you're not setting up a special police force in this administration. There are enough cuckoos running around here playing secret agent and I have to clean up after them. That goes for you. That goes for everyone."
"I think, Mr. President, that you're being unreasonable in the face of such a clear and present danger."