The Door to December

are. I'm not letting them meet with any cops from any division, either to give a statement or to identify Wexlersh and Manuello in a lineup. I don't trust anyone anymore.'
     'You're not talking like a responsible cop, Dan.'
     'I'm such an imp.'
     'For God's sake, you can't take personal responsibility for the McCaffreys.'
     'Just watch me.'
     'If they need protection, you've got to arrange it through the department, which is what I thought I was doing when I sent Wexlersh and Manuello over there. You can't handle this by yourself. Good heavens, these people aren't your own family, you know. You can't just take charge of them as if it's your legal right or something.'
     'If they want me to, I can. They aren't my family — you're right — but just the same ... I've got something at stake here.'
     'What're you talking about?'
     'You said it yourself, at the Sign of the Pentagram tonight. This isn't an ordinary case for me. That's why I'm holding on so tight. I'm attracted to Laura. And I pity the girl. What I feel for them is stronger than anything I've ever felt for other victims, so you keep that in mind, Ross.'
     'Right there's reason enough to disassociate yourself from this case. You're no longer an objective officer of the law.'
     'Fuck you.'
     'This explains why you're so hostile, hysterical, filled with all these paranoid conspiracy theories.'
     'It's not paranoia. It's real, and you know it.'
     'I understand now. You're distraught.'
     'I'm just warning you, Ross — back off. That's why I even bothered calling you. Those two words: back off.' Mondale said nothing, so Dan said, 'This woman and this child are important to me.'
     Mondale breathed softly into the phone but made no promises.
     Dan said, 'I swear to God I'll destroy anyone who tries to hurt them. Anyone .'
     Silence.
     Dan said, 'You may be able to keep Wexlersh and Manuello quiet. You might even find a way to have the charges dropped and the whole thing covered up. But if you keep coming after the McCaffreys, I'll find a way to break your ass. I swear it, Ross.'
     At last Mondale spoke, but not to the point, as if he had heard none of Dan's warning. 'Well, if you won't let Mrs. McCaffrey make a statement, then Wexlersh and Manuello can't be arrested.'
     'Oh, yes. Earl Benton can make the statement. He was pistol-whipped. By Wexlersh. Earl's at a hospital, getting patched up.'
     'Which hospital?'
     'Get serious, Ross.'
     Finally, out of frustration, Mondale showed a little of what he was really feeling. The dam didn't break, but a hairline crack appeared in it: 'You bastard. I'm sick of you, sick of you and your threats, sick to death of having you hanging over me like a goddamned sword.'
     'That's good. Get it out, Ross. Get it off your chest.'
     Mondale was silent again.
     Dan said, 'Anyway, if Earl's released from the hospital, he's going back to that apartment to talk with the uniforms who answered my call, give them a statement, see to it that Wexlersh and Manuello are booked on charges of assault and battery plus assault with intent to kill.'
     Mondale had control of himself now. He wouldn't lose it again.
     Dan said, 'And if the doctors want to hold him overnight for observation, then police from this division will be coming here for his statement. Either way, Wexlersh and Manuello aren't going to skip out on this one ... unless you work your buns off to slip them free of the hook. Which I figure you'll have to do in order to keep them quiet.'
     No response. Just heavy breathing.
     'When and if you finally smooth it over, Ross, you might be able to convince Chief Kelsey that you and Wexlersh and Manuello weren't involved in a plot to snatch the girl and kill her mother, but the press will still figure something was going on, and they'll never quite trust you again. Reporters will always be sniffing around you for the rest of your career, waiting for you to put a foot wrong.'
     Silence.
     'You hear what I'm saying, Ross?'
     Silence.
     'At best, you'll hold on to your captain's bars, but you won't be on the mayor's short list for chief. Not anymore. Now, see, this is a warning, Ross. This is why I called you. Listen close. Listen good. If you keep coming after the McCaffreys,