Death Instinct - Jed Rubenfeld [93]
“See, the Posse Comitatus Act,” continued the detective, “that’s a federal law, and it says that anyone who orders any part of the United States army to deploy on U.S. soil for law enforcement purposes—well, he’s breaking the law. Anyone except the President, that is. So do me a favor. Tell Big Bill that Captain Littlemore of the New York Police Department’s coming back at five o’clock with a gang of reporters and a warrant for his arrest. And tell him that the reporters are going to want to know what he’s hiding inside the Treasury.”
On the fifth floor of the massive, gray, château-inspired jail known as the Tombs, the order was given at two-thirty Monday afternoon to unlock a temporary detention cell. The flesh around Drobac’s eyes remained swollen and bruised. His mouth was wired shut, and a circular metal apparatus was clamped around his jaw and cheeks.
A well-dressed lawyer, highly satisfied with the proceedings, entered the cell the moment it was unlocked, accompanied by the murderer’s surgeon. They each reached for one of the prisoner’s arms to assist him from his cot. Drobac shrugged off their hands and rose on his own.
Littlemore stood a long way off, at the other end of a long corridor, chewing his toothpick, a barred door separating him from the cells. Several guards and officers milled about near him, including Roederheusen and Stankiewicz. Younger, having come down from Boston that morning, was there as well.
“You sure you want to see this?” Littlemore asked him.
Younger nodded.
At the end of the corridor, Drobac emerged from his cell, walking slowly, unaided, his wired chin held ostentatiously high. Lawyer and surgeon followed behind, chatting with each other.
“In that case I’ll need your gun, Doc,” said Littlemore in a low voice.
“What gun?” answered Younger just as quietly.
“Right now,” said Littlemore.
Younger didn’t move. Slanted light fell on Drobac and his coterie as they approached.
“Boys,” said Littlemore, raising his voice very slightly, “restrain Dr. Younger.”
Roederheusen and Stankiewicz stepped up behind Younger and seized his arms.
Littlemore reached into Younger’s jacket, drew out a revolver, and handed it to a prison guard for safekeeping. “Sorry, Doc. Cuff him.”
Arriving at the barred door, Drobac saw Younger being handcuffed. Their eyes met. If a man can smile with his jaw wired shut, Drobac smiled.
“Open the gate,” ordered Littlemore.
“Don’t let him go,” said Younger, hands locked behind his back and arms still in the grasp of Stankiewicz and Roederheusen.
“Open it,” Littlemore repeated.
A guard opened the barred gate. Drobac’s lawyer spoke: “Thank you, Captain. I’m glad my little conversation with the Mayor was so effective, but I shudder to think of all the other impoverished men in here unconstitutionally. Do you enjoy breaking the law, Captain? Sign the release, please.”
A clerk handed Littlemore a clipboard. “If your client’s so poor,” asked the detective, “who’s footing your bill, Mr.—?”
“Gleason,” replied the lawyer. “I charge nothing for a case like this, Captain. It’s pro bono publico.”
“Sure it is,” said Littlemore.
“Don’t let him out,” said Younger.
“No choice,” said Littlemore, signing the release. “The law.”
Mr. Gleason accepted his copy of the release with relish. He addressed Younger: “So you’re the one who beat my client within an inch of his life. We’re pressing charges, you know.”
Younger didn’t reply.
“How agonizing it must be,” Gleason continued, “to stand there believing the fantastic delusions you do. That my client is a highly trained killer. That he’s going to pursue the pretty French girl no matter where she runs, from New Haven to Hamburg to the farthest ends of the earth. That one night he’ll find her, slip into her bedroom, and cut her throat.”
Younger’s straining at his handcuffs only caused Roederheusen and Stankiewicz to hold him more firmly. “Not if I find him first,” he said.
“You heard that, Captain!” crowed Gleason. “He threatened my client. I demand that you revoke his bail. He belongs behind bars. I’ll have your badge, Captain,