The Fourth Deadly Sin Read Online Free PDF Page A

he said, “when I was on active duty, they used to call me Iron Balls. I never could figure out exactly what that meant, except maybe I was a hard-nosed, blunt-talking bastard. I insisted on doing things my way. I made a lot of enemies.”
    “So I have heard,” Suarez said softly.
    “But I always tried to be up-front in what 1. said and what I did. So now I want to tell you this: On the Ellerbee case, forget what Deputy Commissioner Thorsen told you. I don’t know how heavily he’s been leaning on you, but if you don’t want me in, just say so right now. I won’t be offended. I won’t be insulted. Just tell me you want to work the case yourself, and I’ll thank you for a pleasant evening and the chance to meet you and your beautiful family. Then I’ll get out of your hair.”
    “Deputy Thorsen has been very kind to me,” he said.
    “Kinder than you can ever know.”
    “Bullshit!” Delaney said angrily. “Thorsen is trying to save his own ass and you know it.”
    “Yes,” Suarez said earnestly, “that is true. But there is more to it than that. How long has it been since you turned in your tin, Mr. Delaney-five years?”
    “A little more than that.”
    “Then you cannot be completely aware of the changes that have taken place in the Department, and are taking place. A third of all the cops on duty have less than five years’ experience. The old height requirement has been junked. Now we have short cops, black cops, female cops, Hispanic cops, Oriental cops, gay cops. At the same time we have more and more cops with a college education. And men and women who speak foreign languages. It is a revolution, and I am all for it.”
    Delaney was silent.
    “These kids are motivated,” Suarez went on. “They study law and take courses in sociology and psychology and human relations. It has to help the Department-don’t you think?”
    “It can’t hurt,” Delaney said. “The city is changing. If the Department doesn’t change along with it, the Department will go down the tube.”
    “Yes,” the Chief said, leaning back. “Exactly. Thorsen realizes that also. So he has been doing whatever he can whenever he can to remake the Department so that it reflects the minority. He has been pushing for more minority cops on the street and for advancement of minorities to higher ranks.
    Especially appointive ranks. You think I would have two stars today if it was not for Thorsen’s clout? No way! So when you tell me he is trying to save his own ass by bringing you in on the Ellerbee case, I say yes, that is true. But it is also to protect something in which he believes deeply.”
    “Thorsen is a survivor,” Delaney said harshly. “And a shrewd infighter. Don’t worry about Thorsen. I owe him as much as you do. I know damned well what he’s up against.
    He’s fighting the Irish Mafia every day he goes downtown.
    Those guys remember the way the Department was thirty years ago, and that’s the way they want it to be today-an Irish kingdom. I can say that because I’m a mick myself, but I had my own fights with harps in high places. I agree with everything you’ve said. I’m just telling you to be your own man. Screw Thorsen and screw me. If you want to work on the Ellerbee case on your own, say so. You’ll break it or you won’t. Either way, it’ll be your way. And God knows if I do come in, there’s absolutely no guarantee that I can do a damned bit of good-for you, for Thorsen, or for the Department.” There was silence, then Suarez said in a low voice, “I admit that when Deputy Thorsen first suggested that he bring you into the investigation, I was insulted. I know your reputation, of course. Your record of closed files. Still, I thought Thorsen was saying, in effect, that he did not trust me. I almost told him right off that I wanted no help from you or anyone else; I would handle the Ellerbee homicide by myself.
    Fortunately, I held my tongue, came home, thought about it, and talked it over with