Chapter 24: A Reckoning

Chapter 25 starts with Margie heading back to the office after losing Sparne and Morales.
Many Cones is a podcast novel based on true crime. The murders inspiring this crime fiction took place 30 miles from Chicago in Northwest Indiana, and captivated the area from the initial brutal crime scene all the way through and beyond discovery of a shockingly bizarre motive.
As Margie skulked into the station after losing Sparne and Morales, she saw a man she didn’t recognize in Grandisha’s office. Ray and the man were standing behind the windowed door. Ray was gesturing, his visitor listening.

Eight other members of the team remained in the bureau. All of them stopped their work and turned tired eyes towards her as she neared her desk. She snuck a peek down herself, to make sure everything was in order, like a man surreptitiously checking his zipper. One by one, each detective returned to his or her task, no longer interested in the straggler.

Before sitting at her desk, Grenk asked, “Who’s the guy with the Lieutenant?”

A voice from a desk abutting hers answered, “The Pisser.”

Margie pulled her battered chair out and sat. A semi-understanding look framed her face. She knew who the “Pisser” was, now if she just could figure out where she was supposed to have been. Ray said to keep her activities quiet. Luckily, no one asked.

Grandisha’s office door opened. The Pisser came out and stood a foot away. Ray closed the door, then yelled something. The Pisser shook his head and pointed to his ear. Ray cocked his head, opened the door a fraction, then yelled again. A thoughtful haze crossed Recker’s face. He raised his hand, cupped his fingers and stroked them back, almost nicking his cheekbone. Ray repeated the shout. The Pisser hung his head for a second, looked up, and smiled. The department had become very quiet by the second test run. All eyes were glued to the pantomime. The silence was interrupted by a surprised, “That’s it.” The other familiar noises immediately returned.

Grandisha jerked the door wide open, shook Recker’s hand and pulled him back in. The Pisser was thrust into a seat. Ray stayed with him for a second, then rushed out to the middle of the detective bureau. He spoke quickly and forcefully. “I need all the media up here, right now. I want TV and radio exposure tonight, newspaper stories tomorrow morning. Drop whatever you’re doing and start contacting them. Tell them we have new information and need coverage.”

Ray returned to his office, spent five minutes with Recker, then hustled him out. One of the team escorted the Pisser to his car, to prevent anyone else from talking to him. Grandisha stood in his office doorway and loudly asked Grenk to come in.

The inflection contained a tinge of displeasure. Margie rose and trod through the door, like a disorderly kid entering the principal’s office. She sat, readjusted her elbow-hugging, sweater sleeves, crossed a leg and demurely cowered. Ray closed the door and returned to his desk. He saw the reserved demeanor and asked, “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated, then spoke, “Well, for starters, I let a high school kid outfox me. I know that doesn’t make you too happy.”

Grandisha backswept his hand in a dismissing motion. “You were out on a limb with no backup or phone, and I told you to keep me advised. You did a hell of a job, considering the situation.”

Margie perked up. “Thanks... How come I got the cold shoulder from my brothers and sisters, when I first walked in?”

Ray looked through the office windows at his crew. “I’m sorry, but I told them you weren’t ready yet. You were going home to regroup, maybe try it again, later. I thought it was a good cover.”