To address these issues, a meeting was called exclusively for HPD officers.
"Even the chief is catching hell from the mayor. He wants this guy caught before he comes up for reelection." The police captain presiding over this pep rally couldn't see his shoes for his overhanging gut. As he lectured on, Dodge's scorn increased. He wondered how many years it had been since this fat ass had covered a beat, tracked down a perp, made an arrest. He had his nerve to chew out subordinate officers when all Dodge had seen him do to distinguish himself was mooch coins for the cigarette vending machine and tell the stupidest jokes.
Because they had nothing else cooking, the task force members were discussing the viability of the suspects they had, based solely on their criminal profiles, not because any of them could be placed at or near one of the banks during a robbery.
One of these suspects had been arrested for drunk driving over the previous weekend. "He's in jail for parole violation. So if he's our man, he won't be holding up a bank anytime soon," the captain said.
"I don't think he's our robber anyhow," one officer remarked. "He's a punk. Cocky. Hotheaded. Hasn't got the coolness required to plan and execute these jobs."
Another cop said, "Last robbery, the guy flipped off the security camera."
"So?"
"So, if this guy is cocky, doesn't that sound like something he would do? Our robber is a smart-ass. He struts his stuff."
"From behind a disguise."
"Yeah, but you know what I'm saying."
A debate ensued. Dodge, who agreed with the first officer, had nothing to contribute, so he tuned out the argument and tried in vain to stifle his yawns.
Then, "Hanley!"
Dodge roused himself and sat up straighter. "Yes, sir?"
"How far have you got with Madison's girlfriend?"
Tommy Ray Madison, one of their suspects, was also on parole, having served his time for the armed robbery of a fast-food restaurant. He also had one botched bank holdup on his record. He fit the general height and weight description of their unidentified culprit.
Dodge replied, "In the way you mean, sir, I haven't even got to first base."
"First base?" Another officer chortled. "Admit it. You've struck out."
Dodge confirmed it with a weary nod. "I've struck out, Captain."
"How come? You're supposed to be the department's Romeo."
"The chemistry's off. The lady is knocked up."
"Aw hell. Who by? Madison?"
Dodge made a thumbs-up gesture. "She's four months along. She and Tommy Ray are in love. He's walking the straight and narrow, loves her, loves the baby to be, wants to get married."
"You said she was a sharp girl."
"That's how she strikes me."
"Madison is a goddamn felon!" the captain shouted. "She's falling for that hearts and flowers crap?"
Dodge shrugged. "That's love for ya. Besides, she says Tommy Ray found Jesus in prison."
"Jesus was in Huntsville?" another officer quipped.
"Always the last place you look," said another.
The captain squelched the responding laughter. He asked Dodge, "Who
does she think you are?"