Final justice - W.E.B. Griffin [20]
0935 dignitary is stan colt, coming to town to raise money for west catholic high school. So far two $$dinners, two $$lunches, and a $$benefit performance. will know dates locations etc after breakfasting upper floor suite ritz carlton with mcguire, monsignor schneider, terry davis of gam, others. I think I'm in love. 701.
In a moment, the computer told him his mail had been sent. Probably less than a minute later, the computer on the table behind Inspector Peter Wohl's desk at Special Operations headquarters would give off a ping, and a message would appear on his monitor telling him he had an e-mail message from 701, which was Detective Payne's badge number. A similar action would take place on Detective Payne's desktop, and when he got back to the office, he would copy the message into his desktop.
Leaving the computer on, Payne went into the room with the buffet. Lieutenant McGuire, seated at a table with Monsignor Schneider and the other priest, waved him over.
"Yes, sir?"
"Payne, do you know the monsignor?"
"No, sir."
"Monsignor, this is Detective Payne, of Special Operations, which will be providing most of the manpower for Mr. Colt's security while he's here."
"I'm very pleased to meet you," the monsignor said, smiling and standing up to offer his hand. "Your boss and I are old friends."
Was that incidental information, to put me at ease, or are you telling me that if I displease you in any way, you'll go right to Wohl?
"Detective Payne, this is Father Venno, of my office," the monsignor went on, "who'll be my liaison, representing the archdiocese."
"How do you do, Father?" Matt said politely, putting out his hand and looking over Venno's shoulder, finding Terry Davis at a table with two empty chairs, and wondering if he could get away with joining her.
"Why don't you get a plate--the omelets are wonderful-- and join us?" Monsignor Schneider said.
Shit!
"Thank you very much, sir," Payne said.
Although he didn't have nearly as much appetite as he'd had when contemplating taking breakfast with Miss Davis, the omelets offered did have a certain appeal, and Detective Payne returned to the table with a western omelet with everything, an English muffin, and a large glass of orange juice.
"That was an unfortunate business on South Broad Street last night, wasn't it?" Monsignor Schneider said. "At the Gene Autry?"
"The Roy Rogers, Monsignor," Father Venno corrected him.
"Wasn't it?" the monsignor repeated, directing the question to Matt Payne, his face making it clear he didn't like to be corrected.
"Yes, sir, it was," Matt said.
"Have there been any developments in the case?"
"They're working on it, sir," Matt said. "I think they'll wrap it up pretty quickly."
"Greater love . . . ," the monsignor said, somewhat piously.
"Officer Charlton was a good man," Lieutenant McGuire said. "A very sad situation."
Over Father Venno's shoulder, Matt saw that the two empty chairs at Terry Davis's table were now occupied by Sergeant Al Nevins and another man--presumably from GAM--and that everyone was smiling at one another.
"I've just placed you," Father Venno said, a tone of satisfaction in his voice.
"Excuse me?" Matt said.
"You were involved in that . . . unfortunate incident . . . in Doylestown a couple of months ago, weren't you?"
"Unfortunate incident?" And it was six months ago, not "a couple," and I was just starting to think I'd be able to start really forgetting it. Thanks a lot, Father!
"What unfortunate incident was that?" Monsignor Schneider asked.
"At the Crossroads Diner, Monsignor," Father Venno said. "The FBI and Detective Payne were attempting an arrest--"
"Of a terrorist," the monsignor interrupted, remembering. "A terrorist armed with a machine gun. Several people lost their lives." He looked at Payne. "You were involved in that, were you?"
"Yes, sir, I was," Matt said.
"As I recall," the monsignor said, "three people died, and another young woman was