Chapter 8

 

“Eddie, something doesn’t feel right here.” Harvey dropped his voice so low that even Tony, at the next desk, wouldn’t hear. The skin on the nape of Eddie’s neck prickled.

“You interviewed Sarah?” he asked softly.

“Yes, and I’m going to see Deborah Higgins, but I think there’s something else.”

“Besides her dating Joey, you mean?”

“Yes. Can you step into the interview room for a minute?”

Eddie followed him, his curiosity piqued. All the men in the unit were working on the Bolduc case, and there were no secrets among them.

Harvey faced him, his eyes troubled. “I don’t have anything concrete, but I wanted to keep you in the loop as investigating officer. I’ll be requisitioning some old files on several officers.”

“What, there’s some kind of internal scandal?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“You think Joey was dirty? Drugs or something? I knew he liked beer, but he was always sober on duty.”

“No, no. I just—Sarah gave me a bad feeling about something.”

“Something official?”

Still he hesitated. “Look, Eddie, I need to explore some harassment allegations.”

“Harassment? Sexual harassment? We haven’t had anything like that for a while.”

“Right, it’s been a couple of years, I think.”

Eddie stared hard at him. “Sarah’s making a complaint?”

“No, but … she implied there’s been more of this going on than we know.”

Eddie sighed. “Sarah had enough problems at home. Don’t tell me she was being harassed here.”

“I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I think several officers are involved. I want to speak to Cheryl Yeaton when she comes in for the evening shift. I may end up interviewing all the female officers, and possibly some of the civilian personnel and former officers.”

“This sounds serious.”

“Well, I need to find out. If I find one speck of concrete evidence, I’ll take it right to Mike.”

Eddie nodded. “It’s got to have something to do with Joey, or you wouldn’t be telling me.”

“Only indirectly, I think, but I’m just not sure. Sarah wasn’t very forthcoming. She’s afraid she’ll get in trouble for not reporting something that happened back along.”

Eddie put one hand on the back of a chair and leaned on it. “You know her father used to beat her and her mother?”

“Anything else?”

“She never gave me the details, but I knew it wasn’t good.”

“That probably has nothing to do with this, and I won’t bring it up unless it seems relevant.”

“Thanks, Harv. I just thought it might have something to do with her being shy about reporting something irregular.”

Harvey nodded. “I don’t expect to discipline her for that, unless the brass says I have to.”

“The brass being Mike?”

“Basically.”

“Under that crusty exterior, he’s compassionate.”

Harvey nodded. “Well, I wanted you to know. I’ve got to try to sift this. It may hurt some people in this department.”

Eddie nodded slowly. “Joey liked to flirt, but I don’t think he’d threaten someone.”

“No, I don’t either. Some women might find him obnoxious, I suppose, but I think most people liked him. Do you think he honored his marriage vows?”

“I don’t think he was actually dating before the divorce. You could ask Bob Marshall. He and Joey worked together a lot. I think they were pretty close.”

“All right, I will. What have you got?”

“Well, I’ve been going through all the City Hall employees and people on the Labor Day committee. I’m not finding anything suspicious, Harv.”

“Okay, just don’t assume you won’t. What about Joey’s active cases?”

“Nothing. There was a drug dealer he busted last winter who threatened to break his neck, but he’s in prison.”

“He might have friends on the outside. Check it out. I’m going to call Cheryl and see if I can meet with her this afternoon. I don’t want to put it off over the weekend.”

“What time is the funeral?” Eddie asked.

“One o’clock tomorrow.”

“Is our unit sending flowers?”

“No, Joey’s family decided to start a scholarship fund for kids studying criminal justice. Mike’s announcing it at the funeral.”

“The Detective Joseph E. Bolduc Memorial Fund?”

“Something like that. He didn’t have kids of his own, but this way it will help other kids and maybe encourage some to go into law enforcement. Paula’s collecting for our unit.”

They walked out into the main room of the office.

“Captain Larson,” the unit’s secretary called from her desk near the elevator, “can you take a call? It’s a Mr. Russell.”

“Sure, Paula. Just what I need,” Harvey muttered.

Eddie went to his desk, bumped the screen saver off, and brought in the e-mail.

“John,” he heard Harvey say. He couldn’t help listening. “Well, I’m sorry, but I told you, it was her decision. She told me she wanted to write the book. Well, I can’t answer for her, John. If you want her to come back to work in January, it’s up to you to convince her, but I don’t think she wants to tie herself down. I know … She’s terrific. Well, I think she’s spending the weekend with her parents.”

Eddie checked the crime updates. He’d entered the principals in the Bolduc case in the flagging program Jennifer had designed for the police department. The only new item that came up since his last log-in was a traffic ticket for one of the city hall clerks.

Harvey was off the phone and sat frowning at his computer screen. Eddie walked up behind him.

“Russell rake you over the coals?” he asked.

“He’s not happy. Leeanne apparently called him this morning and told him she’s not taking his offer for January.”

“Do you think I have a chance, Harv?”

“I’m not ready to commit on that one. At this point, if Leeanne comes out of this right side up, I think I’ll be happy. But … I’m still rooting for you.” Harvey nodded toward the computer screen. “I’ve been reviewing the statement Deborah Higgins gave on Monday. I think it’s time to talk to her again.”

“I’ve asked Bob Marshall to give me an hour of his time,” Eddie said.

“Good. He and Deborah will have more insight into Joey’s private life than anyone else. Do you want to sit in when I talk to Deborah?”

Eddie checked his watch. “Tape it. Time’s flying.”

 

*****

Deborah Higgins sat straight in the chair, obviously aware of the video camera in the corner near the ceiling.

“Don’t be nervous, Officer Higgins,” Harvey said. “This is all routine, and I know this week has been stressful for you. I’ll keep it as short as possible.”

She said nothing, but bit her bottom lip.

“Would you like to have another officer present?” Harvey asked.

“I … no.” She glanced again toward the camera. “This will be kept confidential?”

“Unless it’s absolutely necessary. I assure you, it will be kept secure. No one will have access to the tape but me, Detective Thibodeau, and the detective sergeant, and in case of extreme urgency, the chief or deputy chief.”

“All—all right.”

“Now, Officer Higgins, on Monday afternoon you gave a statement to Detective Trudeau.”

“That’s right.”

“You told him that you had been seeing Detective Bolduc for about two months before his death.”

“Yes.”

“How many times did you go out with Joey Bolduc?”

She shrugged. “Saturday nights. Maybe six or eight times. I could try to count, if you want.”

“That’s all right. You were comfortable with Detective Bolduc?”

“What do you mean?” Her hazel eyes were wary.

“I mean, you weren’t afraid of him.”

She laughed shortly. “Of Joey? No.”

“When he first asked you out, how would you characterize his manner?”

“He was … very charming.”

“Did you accept the first time he asked?”

“No, I had prior plans. I told him I couldn’t, but maybe some other time.”

“And he asked you again.”

“Yes, a week or so later.”

“You said yes.”

She nodded.

“Did you tell your partner, Sarah Benoit?”

Deborah’s eyes flared. “Yes, I told her he’d asked me.”

“What did she say?”

“She advised me to turn him down.”

“Why?”

“Because of his divorce. It had only been final for three or four months, and she thought he was on the rebound.”

“What did you think?”

“I thought he seemed like a fun guy, and I decided to follow my instincts.”

Harvey nodded. “Did Joey pressure you in any way to go out with him?”

She smiled regretfully. “Only in ways a man pressures a woman he admires.”

“What do you mean?”

“He asked me several times. He stuck a carnation in my locker door. He sent me e-mails telling me he was very interested, and he left a chocolate bar in my mailbox. He was polite, and a little nutty. I liked him. So I said yes.”

“You didn’t feel obligated in any way.”

“No, what for?”

Harvey nodded. “Before you began to date Detective Bolduc, were you seeing someone else?”

She hesitated. “I had a boyfriend before … last year. I had quit seeing him, though.”

“When did you stop seeing him?”

“About February.” She shook her head. “I don’t remember exactly, but it was after the shooting incident at the chief’s house.”

Harvey nodded. He’d been on the scene, too. “What was his name?”

“Do I have to? I hate to bring him into this.”

“Is he employed by the city of Portland?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t see a problem.”

She sighed. “His name is Derek Anson. He lives in Biddeford. He’s a paramedic.”

Harvey jotted down the name. “Why did you and Mr. Anson stop seeing each other?”

She shrugged. “It was mutual. Our schedules made it difficult after I came to work here, and, well, I think it was going to peter out anyway.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Saw him? Actually saw him, or went out with him?”

“Physically saw him, with your eyes.”

She stared at him, then looked down at her hands on the table. “Last night.”

Harvey didn’t say anything. He marshaled his thoughts and waited.

“He—he came down after I got off work last night. It was his day off.” She looked at Harvey expectantly, but he said nothing. “He came to see how I was doing.”

“He knew about Detective Bolduc’s death?”

“Yes, he heard.”

“And he knew about your relationship with Detective Bolduc?”

“Yes.”

“How did he know that?”

“I told him a few weeks ago.”

“So, you’d had contact with Derek Anson since you broke up with him.”

“Y-yes. He would call me occasionally.”

“Did he want to get back together?”

“I—well, maybe.”

She evaded Harvey’s eyes, and he felt there was more she wasn’t telling him.

“Do you know if Joey Bolduc ever met Mr. Anson?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“And how would you characterize your relationship with Mr. Anson now?”

“We’re—we’re friends.”

“But you were more than that before.”

“We dated for about six months, off and on.”

“But you broke up with him.”

“He’s … a little intense.”

Harvey studied her face. “He was possessive?”

She sat still, giving him look for look.

“Jealous?” Harvey ventured.

“I told you, it was mutual.”

“All right, let’s talk about something else. Have you dated other men in Portland, since you moved down here?”

“A—a couple.”

“Anyone in this department?”

She swallowed and glanced toward the camera. “I—I had one date with—with one of your men.”

“One of my men?” Harvey was startled. Nate and Jimmy were married, and happily, so far as he could tell. That left Eddie and Tony.

“I went to a Sea Dogs game with Tony Winfield.”

Harvey grinned. “Good for you. Did you have fun?”

“Sort of.”

“So, it didn’t bother you that he has connections?”

She flushed slightly. “I didn’t know until after. It was the second week I was here, and nobody told me about the governor. Sarah told me a couple of days later.”

“So, you didn’t go out with Tony again?”

“No.”

“Because of his uncle?”

“No. He just seemed immature.”

Harvey nodded. Tony had a phenomenal mind, but overall Deborah’s assessment agreed with his own. He was surprised Tony hadn’t bragged about the date within the unit, though.

“So, anyone else in this department?”

“I … don’t think so.”

Harvey picked up his coffee mug and took a sip. “I’m going to repeat the last question, Deborah. I want you to understand that I’m not trying to entrap you here. It’s important that you tell me the truth. To be frank, I’ve heard a rumor, and I’d like to know if there’s any truth to it.”

She was frightened, he could tell.

“You don’t need to be nervous.”

Her breathing was shallow, and her lip trembled.

“Would you like me to bring in my secretary?” Harvey asked. “She’s very discreet.”

“N-no.”

He nodded toward her mug. “Would you like a drink?”

She shook her head.

“Officer Higgins, have you ever seen any other men from this department socially? Other than Joey Bolduc and Tony Winfield?”

She leaned toward him and whispered, “If I say yes, you’ll fire me.”

Harvey sat up straight. “I don’t have that authority, Deborah.”

“But I would be fired for breaking regulations.”

Harvey knew he couldn’t make promises at that point. “It’s possible, but I don’t think it would happen in this case.”

She was quiet for ten seconds, then asked softly, “Why not?”

“If we find there was wrongdoing on the part of another officer, you would not be penalized.”

“And if I say no, I didn’t?”

“Then this interview is over. But if I find later that you gave me a false statement, your career in law enforcement is also over.” He frowned. “I’m sorry. That’s the way it is. I’ve reviewed your record, and you seem to be doing well in your duties. I think you’re a credit to this department. I’d hate to see you throw it away because of fear. Women should be able to work here without being afraid of their fellow workers or their superiors.”

She blinked twice. “I—don’t know what to say.”

“Let me ask you this. You started work here in January.”

“That’s right.”

“Have you had any problems of any sort whatsoever with Chief Browning since you started working here?”

She stared at him. “The chief? Oh, no. Of course not. I’ve barely even seen him.”

Harvey nodded. “How about the deputy chief, Jack Stewart?”

“No.”

“Myself?”

“No.”

“The night sergeants, Cheryl Yeaton and Dan Miles?”

“No, sir.”

“Lieutenant Trask?”

“No.” It was a whisper, and Harvey thought she could see where he was going.

“How about Detective Sergeant Legere?”

“No.”

“And Patrol Sergeant Lyons?”

She reached for her cup then and took a deep swallow of the tepid coffee.

“Deborah, did Sergeant Lyons at any time make advances to you?”

She opened her mouth and closed it.

“Take your time,” Harvey said gently.

“I—he might have said some things.”

“Did he ever ask you to go out with him?”

“Do I have to answer these questions?”

“Yes.”

She sighed. “He told me to meet him at a bar in the Old Port.”

“When was this?”

“A long time ago. March, I think.”

“It was after you stopped seeing Derek Anson?”

“I—I’m not sure.”

“So, Brad Lyons asked you to meet him, and you did.”

She hesitated. “He didn’t ask me, exactly.”

“How was it, then?”

“He told me. Be at Raffier’s at 9:30.”

“What led up to that?”

“He—talked to me before that, several times. He would … compliment me, only in ways I didn’t appreciate.”

“Did anyone else hear that?”

“I don’t think so. He might have talked about me with some of the men, but when he talked to me, it was usually when no one else was close. He would … tell me I looked hot in my uniform, and hint that I should be nice to him, things like that.” She brushed her hair back with one hand, and her face was flushed.

“I’m sorry to put you through this. Did you know that when he said things like that, he was violating regulations?”

“Yes. They told us at the Academy.”

“Did you tell anyone?”

“I was afraid to.”

“But why? We have a liaison officer for these things. You knew that?”

“Yes, but I thought I could handle it at first. Later … well, he was my sergeant. If I told on him, he would know, and I—I thought he could make things difficult for me.”

Harvey sighed. “How long did this go on?”

“A few weeks. Then he told me to meet him at the bar.”

“You went.”

“I was afraid not to.”

“Did it seem a little bit daring? Like an adventure?”

“Maybe at first,” she faltered. “But I didn’t like the place, and I was afraid someone would recognize us.”

“What happened?”

“He wanted to go back to my apartment. I told him I have a roommate.”

Harvey looked in surprise at the folder. “Do you?”

“No. I—I lied to him.”

“Were you afraid of him?”

“A little. I didn’t want him to go home with me. I didn’t like him, sir.”

“So what happened?”

“He said, ‘Okay, we’ll go to my place.’ I was really surprised, because I thought he was married. I found out later he’s got a history.”

Harvey nodded.

“Well, I told him I wouldn’t. He was mad.”

“Did he threaten you?”

“Not exactly. Well, he said I should cooperate with him if I wanted a good evaluation. Is that a threat?”

Harvey didn’t comment. “What else did he say?”

“I told him that if he didn’t leave me alone, I’d rat on him. I’d had enough. I don’t know why I waited until then, but all of a sudden, I didn’t care anymore. I figured if he got me fired, it was better than staying in the job and letting him blackmail me. I—I went out on the street and got a cab home.”

“Did Lyons ever do anything to retaliate?”

“He said a few things to me after that, real snide things, you know? Like how I was better than some people. And he gave me some real crummy assignments. But I didn’t complain. I’m a rookie, and I figured I didn’t have a right to complain about that. But he never … he never told me to meet him again.”

“Did he ever touch you?”

“N-no. Well, that one night I met him, he tried, but never at the police station.”

“And he left you alone after that.”

“Pretty much. I think he might have started some rumors about me with the men, but he couldn’t say too much or he’d be in hot water, wouldn’t he? Sarah heard something, and she confronted me about it. I didn’t tell her the whole story. I was embarrassed, I guess. I let her think it was a regular date.”

“Did you tell Joey Bolduc about this?”

The fear came back into her eyes. “Yes, I did. Not until I knew him pretty well. It was … about three weeks ago, I think.”

“What was his reaction?”

“He was mad. He said a lot of bad things about Sergeant Lyons. That he was a predator, things like that. Worse things.”

Harvey waited.

“He said … he would look into it. I told him to forget it. Once I started dating Joey, the sergeant seemed to back off, and I didn’t want anyone to find out what had happened between us. I was still afraid … that I’d be disciplined, you know?”

“All right, Officer.” Harvey closed the folder. “I think we’re finished for today. Please don’t discuss this interview with anyone else.”

“Am I going to be disciplined?”

Harvey shook his head. “No, but you understand, this statement is official. It may be used against Sergeant Lyons, especially if I find he ever made improper advances toward other city employees.”

She nodded. “Captain, I was new, I was scared. I didn’t want to be tossed out a few weeks into my new job. I guess I should have gone to the liaison officer, but … well, the sergeant made it seem like it would hurt me more than it would help me.”

He nodded. “Okay. I understand.”

She stood up. “Sarah told you, didn’t she?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss how I heard. I’m sorry it happened to you.”

 

*****

Harvey called Cheryl Yeaton at home.

“Cheryl, I’m sorry to bother you, but I wondered if you’d meet with Detective Thibodeau and me after you come in this evening.”

“Sure, Harvey. Is there a problem?”

“It concerns the Bolduc case.”

“I come in at 4:30, unless you’d like me to come earlier. I’ll have to do my roll call.”

“Could you come to our office by five?”

“I think so.”

“Thanks. And just keep this low-profile, please.”

“Copy that.”

Harvey drummed his fingers on his desk. He ought to tell Mike. Soon.

Detective Bob Marshall, from Sgt. Legere’s squad, lounged in a chair beside Eddie’s desk, and Eddie had his notebook open.

“Yeah, he started dating right after he got the papers. For a few months he was kind of on the prowl, but then he settled on Deborah. She’s cute, and she seemed to like him.”

Harvey stood up. “Eddie, I’m going down to Records. Oh, and we have a five o’clock appointment.”

Eddie raised his eyebrows.

“It concerns that matter I mentioned to you earlier.”

Eddie nodded. “I’ll be here, mon ami.”

Harvey took the stairs down to the lobby, then down one more flight, to the basement. In the records room, half a dozen women worked diligently. He stopped at the supervisor’s desk.

“Marge, I need a file on a former employee.”

“More than is in the system?”

“I think so. I want to see the handwritten reports, if there are any.”

“Officer or civilian?”

“Officer Deidre Cleridge. She was here for a short time a couple of years ago. And, Marge, this is confidential.”

Marge pushed her glasses up on her nose. “Captain, everything in this room is confidential.”

He followed her down an aisle between desks and file cabinets. She opened a drawer and flipped through folders.

“There you go. Slim file.”

“She wasn’t here long.”

He preceded her back toward her work station and turned, lowering his voice.

“Marge, I don’t mean to impugn your statement, but I mean really confidential. I don’t want anyone but the chief to know I asked for the file.”

“What file?” Marge smiled and sat down at her computer.