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"I-2, Radio."

"I-2, go."

"We have two suspects down, one dead, at the assist officer, shots fired, unit block South Front Street."

"Okay. I'm on my way to IAD."

Then his cellular telephone chirped the first bars of "Rule Britannia."

"Weisbach."

"Inspector, this is Captain Fein, Sixth District."

"Hello, Jake."

"Two suspects down, one dead, at the assist officer, shots fired on South Front."

"I'm on my way to IAD. Thanks for the heads up."

"Out of school, Mike, it looks righteous."

"I sure hope so. Thanks again, Jake."

He had just laid the telephone down on the seat when it played "Rule Britannia" again.

"Weisbach."

"Kimberly, boss. I just got a call from Lieutenant McGuire of Dignitary Protection. He was the first supervisor on the scene in the shots fired on South Front, and he's transporting the shooter here."

"I'm en route."

"You're not going to like this, boss. The shooter's Sergeant Matt Payne."

"Oh, hell."

"You want me to call the FOP?"

"Yes, please. And put Payne in an interview room and don't do anything else until I get there."

"Yes, sir. There's more, boss."

"Let me have it."

"Stan Colt and his entourage were there. The press has hold of it and they're all over the scene. I'm watching it on the television here in the office. They broke into the prime-time shows to cover it live. It's a real cluster fuck out there."

[TWO]

Under the contract between the City of Philadelphia and Lodge #5 of the Fraternal Order of Police, it is agreed that whenever any police officer, regardless of rank, is detained for any reason that might result in criminal prosecution, the detaining unit will, at the same time it notifies senior police officials, notify the Fraternal Order of Police.

The Fraternal Order of Police will then dispatch an attorney to ensure that the rights of the police officer being detained are not violated in any way, and to assist him in any way deemed necessary.

There are lawyers under contract to Lodge #5 to provide counsel on call. There are other lawyers in Philadelphia who provide their professional services, pro bono publico, to Lodge #5.

Perhaps the most distinguished of this latter group is Armando C. Giacomo, Esq., a slight, lithe, dapper Italian who once served his country as a Marine Corps fighter pilot, then came home to become either the best and most successful criminal defense attorney in Philadelphia, or the second best. The other contender for that unofficial title being Colonel J. Dunlop Mawson, Esq., of Mawson, Payne, Stockton, McAdoo & Lester.

The difference between the two was essentially in their clientele. Colonel Mawson, who often defended individuals accused of stealing, misappropriating, embezzling, taking by fraud or deception, or otherwise illegally acquiring huge sums of money--and was compensated accordingly--declined to offer his professional services to anyone with any connection, however remote, to organized crime, or the illegal trade in controlled substances.

Arguing that even the most despicable scoundrels were entitled under the United States Constitution to the best defense possible, Armando C. Giacomo defended, very often successfully, the most despicable scoundrels alleged to be connected with organized crime and/or the illegal traffic in controlled substances, and was compensated accordingly.

Mr. Giacomo's understanding with Lodge #5, Fraternal Order of Police, was that he wished to offer his services only in cases worthy of his talent. As the ordinary thug could not afford to avail himself of his services, neither should the cop charged with, say, drunken driving, or slapping the wife around, have his professional services made available to him, pro bono publico. He preferred to defend officers charged with violating the civil rights of citizens, and--above all-- officers alleged to have illegally taken life in the execution of their official duties.

When the official of Lodge #5, Fraternal Order of Police, was informed by Captain Daniel Kimberly of Internal