The Longer The Fall by Aviva Gat (best new books to read txt) 📗

Of course, this is optimistic. Maybe you think I am naïve for thinking this could happen, but can we agree this is a very possible scenario? Maybe even a probable one? If this traffic stop ends this way, weren’t those two hours a week worth it for the officer?

At this point in the conversation, the FOP regional leader would have to agree. Two hours—ones that could even be an enjoyable break for the officer—could lead to years of cordiality, respect and understanding. Yes, maybe you’re looking at the short term, but let’s focus on the long term, because this is a long-term solution—something politicians rarely seem to think about. Long term, the effects will be life changing, even lifesaving. Doesn’t that make it worthwhile?

To address the FOP’s second concern, that it added more obstacles for them to receive funding, Madeline would ensure them that the process for applying for federal grants won’t be much different. Yes, the application will be different, but police stations are already filling out these applications and filing reports for the grants. So what if the applications and reports have changed?

Yes, there was no disagreeing with these arguments, Madeline thought. She just needed the FOP regional director in her office so she could convince him. Her eyes drifted to the clock on her wall, on which an American flag was painted on the face under thick brass hands. 10:11 am. The FOP regional director was late.

Suddenly, Jane burst into the office holding her phone to her ear. “Madeline!” she screamed. “We have to go! Evacuate! Now! Up! Let’s go!”

Madeline didn’t take a moment to think. Her instincts took over, she jumped from her desk following Jane out her office door, through their lobby and down the stairs—they couldn’t take the elevator, Jane insisted!—out of the tall office building where her office was housed. The staircase was full of a stream of people all running, pushing each other, screaming as they rushed down.

Madeline stayed behind Jane, seeing the rest of her office staff members dispersing through the stairway as they all rushed down. “What’s going on?” Madeline yelled to Jane, hoping she would hear.

“A bomb!” someone else in the staircase yelled. The exclamation was met with further screaming, a wave of fear rolling down the crowded staircase like a heatwave. Madeline looked at Jane who was yelling into her phone. Jane caught her eye.

“This building received a bomb threat,” she said into Madeline’s ear, pulling Madeline close. Madeline nodded and continued down the stairs. She had many more questions, but this stairwell was not the place to ask. Once they reached the bottom and spread through the lobby’s bottleneck entrance, Madeline and her staff gathered around in a circle in a park across the street, far enough away from the perimeter being set up by the police who had already arrived.

“What else do we know about the bomb threat?” Madeline asked.

“I’m on the phone with my contact at the police station,” Jane said, the phone still at her ear. “They received an anonymous call at 9:53 this morning saying that a bomb was placed somewhere in this building. The call was made from a cell phone that was found in a trashcan a couple blocks away. The police are searching for the caller and in the meantime they are evacuating the building to check for bombs. The bomb squad is on the way. They aren’t sure if it was just a threat or if it is real. They’re already checking surveillance of the building and all nearby cameras.”

Madeline looked at her staff members who, she was sure, were all thinking the same thing. She also had the same thought and let it out in the open. “Do we think it has something to do with us?” All of the staff members must have believed it was possible Madeline was the target of the bomb threat because of the SAVER Bill. There were so many against it, some opponents could even be crazy enough to try to stop it with force. Was someone trying to stop her from meeting with the FOP regional director? Why was he late for the meeting? But there were other questions running in Madeline’s head. Was this connected to the blackmail letter she received the previous week? Was someone trying to take her down from several different angles?

Jane shrugged and nodded at the same time. “I would guess, but we don’t know anything yet.”

“I suggest everyone go home,” Madeline said to her staff. “You can all work from home today, and we’ll be in contact regarding tomorrow.” Her staff members nodded and dispersed, leaving Madeline and Jane together.

“We should talk to the agents,” Madeline said. “This may be connected to the letter.”

Jane nodded and raised her finger signaling that her contact on the phone had returned and was talking. “They think it was an empty threat, that it was nothing,” Jane said. “They’re of course still doing a full sweep of the building.” Jane hung up the phone and looked to Madeline. “Yes, I’ll talk to Agent Murray. And Officer Austin from the FOP. We’ll reschedule that meeting, but it’s strange, no? He’s late, there’s a bomb threat? There are easier ways to cancel!” Jane let out a fake sounding laugh.

Madeline smiled. It was fishy. Even more so that the police were so sure it was an empty threat without doing much investigation. There were a few other meetings scheduled for that day, Jane said she’d try to reschedule or change their locations, but in the meanwhile they could work from Madeline’s kitchen. On the drive, Jane called the FOP offices for Officer Austin. They answered quickly and Jane was put through to the officer’s direct line. It rang and rang with no answer.

“I guess he was already on the way,” Jane said, putting her hand over the phone. Then, when the voicemail