Darkness the Color of Snow (26 page)

“The police department issued thirty-­one citations for failure to control speed, six for failure to come to a complete stop at a traffic sign, one for failure to produce proof of insurance, four for illegal dumping on public land, and three for discharging firearms on posted property. Twenty-­seven warnings were issued, fifteen for inadequate vehicle lighting, and the rest for excessive speed. The police department answered four calls during the period for ­vehicle–deer encounters. Let me remind you all, the deer are foraging and you have to be careful. Remember that when you see one, there's probably a ­couple more coming. And if you see a deer on the side of the road, or if you hit one, please call it in. There was one on the side of the road on 417 for a ­couple of days. It's not the kind of thing we want drivers coming through here to see. We had two calls for domestic violence, and eight for the theft of tools and equipment from various barns and sheds. Let me say here that we have a little crime wave going on. It's in your best interest to keep your sheds and barns locked and secure, especially until we can identify the perpetrators here.” Involuntarily, he looks over at Martin.

“Revenues for the period amounted to five thousand, three hundred and eighty-­seven dollars. Expenditures came to six thousand, two hundred and twelve dollars. Nine hundred and seventy-­four dollars and eighteen cents was spent on repairs to cruiser number four, a 2003 Crown Victoria with two hundred thousand and sixty-­eight miles on it. We will be coming to the council for money to replace this vehicle as the cost of maintenance on it is exceeding its value now.

“We have two pending investigations. The before-­mentioned break-­ins and thefts that have been going on for a ­couple of weeks, and the hit-­and-­run accident that occurred on Route 417 on the night of December seventeenth. I can tell you that we have now recovered the vehicle that we believe to be the hit-­and-­run vehicle. We're waiting on the state crime lab for confirmation of that. We have a suspect in custody for the hit-­and-­run death of Matthew Laferiere. Once we get the crime lab results, we're confident we can conclude this investigation in a timely and orderly manner. This concludes our report.”

Jean Burke immediately moves to accept all three reports, and Tony Bracco, also of the council, seconds.

“Is there any discussion?” Martin asks.

“What about the news report?”

“Again,” Martin says, “if you wish to ask a question or make a comment, you must be recognized by the chair.”

“Sid Maclin.” A man in a tan barn coat and jeans stands up. “There was a report on television last night that said Matt Laferiere and Ronny Forbert were fighting and that Matt got shoved into the road where he got hit. Is that the way it happened?”

Gordy looks over at Martin.

“You are recognized for the remainder of the meeting, Chief. You can respond to all questions asked of you.”

“That is an unsubstantiated report. I had heard nothing of that before I saw it on television, the same as you.”

“Roger Wilkins. You have a suspect?”

“We do. We're withholding his identity for the time being, but he is a twenty-­year-­old from Waynesville who has indicated that he was driving the car that hit Mr. Laferiere. He has been arraigned in Warrentown.”

“You have a confession?”

“Not an official confession as such. The man in custody is conferring with his lawyer before signing a confession, but there has been an acknowledgment. Yes. We're confident we have the driver of the hit-­and-­run vehicle.”

“Art Samuels. If what the television is saying is true, what's our liability in this case?”

“I don't know. You'll have to ask the town solicitor. And we certainly don't know that the report is true. It contradicts everything we know to be true in this case.”

“Stan Woodridge, town solicitor. It's too early to speculate on whether the town has any responsibility in this matter. This is an unsubstantiated report, and, to my knowledge, there have been no claims filed against the town.”

“Gayle Laferiere. There will be a claim. We're suing for wrongful death. Our lawyer is making up the papers right now. That officer murdered our son, and Hawkins is covering it up. The whole police department is in on it. We have proof of that. We can prove it. We will prove it. Ronny Forbert's a murderer, and they're all protecting him.”

There's a clamor of shouting, talking, and whispering as Gayle Laferiere sits back down. Gordy starts to speak, then thinks better of it and stands back, letting the audience work off their energy. Martin Glendenning begins to bang the gavel on the table in front of him. “Order. Order. We must have order.”

When the noise has died down, Stan Woodridge responds. “The revelation of impending action doesn't really change anything. Filing an action is not the same thing as winning one, and I would hope the Laferieres are well counseled on that point. Filing a legal action can be a costly and risky process.

“There is still no evidence that Patrolman Forbert has done anything actionable, anything, in fact, beyond his sworn duty as an officer of the law. The news report last night, which I did not, I regret to say, see, was made by an unidentified person who claims to be a witness to the event. This witness has not come forward to the police or any other authorities. The very fact that the witness has gone first to the television news challenges his credibility. Witnesses do not hide their identity. Persons hide their identity when they have something to hide.

“Personally, I think this whole thing stinks, and I will be filing papers tomorrow to make the station reveal the identity or to cease and desist further reports based on his testimony and a retraction of the original report. Fair is fair, and we need a fair hearing, not one based on accusations from someone who won't show his face.”

“What if he is afraid of police retaliation?” Sam Colvington asks.

“Police retaliation? That's preposterous.”

“If I may,” Gordy says. “We are in the middle of an investigation that is proceeding very rapidly. If there is a witness, we want to hear from him, not shut him up. This may, in fact, be a tactic to stall the investigation.”

“Let me get this straight,” Roger Wilkins says from where he sits.

“Stand and be recognized.”

Wilkins stands. “I was already recognized. Now, let me get this straight. The police department is investigating an incident involving one of its own officers.”

“That's correct.”

“And the police are being represented by the father of the officer's girlfriend.”

“I represent the town of Lydell,” Stan Woodridge says. “Not the police department. And if there is an action against Patrolman Forbert, I will recuse myself.”

“It's wrong,” Wilkins says. “It's all wrong. It's not an investigation, it's a whitewash.”

“No, Mr. Wilkins. Roger,” Gordy says. “It is an investigation. It's very much an investigation, and it's being done by the police department because that's our job. We're trained in investigation. Who would you rather see investigating this incident?”

“Anyone but the police.”

“Because you think it's a whitewash. I think your insinuation and premise is, at best, insulting and probably slanderous. I have been chief of police in Lydell for the past ten years, and a member of the police department for seventeen years. In that time, I have never given anyone a reason to suspect my integrity or the integrity of anyone else on the force. This department and I have served this community faithfully and honorably for a long time. We don't, any of us, deserve this vicious and idiotic slander.”

“Chief. Chief. Let's keep this debate on a civil level. There's no call for name-­calling. And, Roger, there's no call to be accusing the chief of police in this matter. Now, please. All of you. This meeting is a discussion, not a trial. Let's have no more incivility.” Martin Glendenning looks around the room and nods.

Art Samuels stands. “I want to commend the chair and agree that this is a meeting where civility and cooler heads are needed. I want to add something to the discussion, though, in regard to Roger's point. I agree that the chief of police should be in charge of the investigation of this tragedy. The chief is right about that. But would it be wrong, or out of order, if there were a ­couple of towns­people involved in the investigation, too? It just seems fair.”

“Do you want to make that as a motion?”

“No. I don't think so. I just want to know. Would that be all right?”

“The investigation is winding up,” Gordy says. “I don't see what purpose adding civilians to the process would serve.”

“Just some extra eyes on what's going on.”

“Again,” Gordy says, “we're trained in investigation, and investigations necessarily require confidentiality. A case can be compromised when some piece of confidential information leaks. I wouldn't want that to happen here. We need to know what happened and just how it happened. I understand the need for answers in a relatively short time, and we're getting those. So, no, I wouldn't be in favor of that.”

“A motion, Art?”

“OK, yes.”

“I should add,” Gordy says. “Once our investigation is complete and the case closed, it will become a matter of public record. Anyone in town can come in and review the materials of the investigation, with the exception of material that may violate the privacy of the individuals involved. There are photographs of the scene, for example, that no one needs to see.” Gordy looks back to where Pete is standing close to Ronny. He watches them for a ­couple of seconds. Pete's stance is a gesture of protection and warning. No one can get close to Ronny, but Ronny can't move, either. Fatherly, Gordy thinks.

“Does anyone want to make a motion to appoint someone to serve with the police on this investigation?”

“There's already a motion on the floor,” Stan Woodridge says.

Sam Colvington says, “Would you do it, Martin?”

“If the citizens of Lydell wish me to do that, I will. Yes.”

“Then I move we authorize Martin Glendenning, president of the council, to sit in with the police on the investigation into the death of Matthew Laferiere.”

“Second.”

“All right,” Martin says. “It has been moved and seconded. Before we proceed to a vote, is there further discussion?”

“It has not been moved and seconded,” Stan says. “There is a motion already under discussion.”

“With all due respect,” Gordy says. “This is a political move. While Martin has the interests of the town at heart, I'm sure, he has no training for this. His contribution will necessarily be a political one. And I don't think the pursuit of justice is a political action. Let us do our job. We do it fairly and impartially.”

“Are you saying you're not political?”

“I don't run for this office. I serve at the pleasure of the town council.”

“I think you need to listen to the chief,” Stan says. “I served on the council for many years, and I serve the council as solicitor. I know Chief Hawkins is a good and honest man who, above all, serves the needs of the community. Adding Martin Glendenning to the investigation will add nothing, and it's likely to slow things down.”

“A politician is a politician is a politician. And Gordy Hawkins is a politician who takes our money and then denies us the right to have input into the major affairs of the town. We need Martin Glendenning to be a part of this to look after the best interests of the town,” Roger Wilkins says.

“That's right,” someone says. “Now the police chief is telling us we can't have any say in how our town is run. It's just a matter of time before he's coming to our houses to demand our guns. That's how this shit works.”

“Stand and be recognized,” Martin says. “And mind your language. This is the town council, not a barroom.”

Art Samuels stands again. “I think that putting Ronny Forbert on the police force was a huge mistake by Gordy. We need to cut him loose before any lawsuit is brought. This is his fault, not the town's.”

“Irrelevant,” Stan says.

“It's not the time to bring this up,” Martin says. “That's another discussion. We're discussing the motion to appoint the town council president to investigate the death of Matthew Laferiere.”

“When I had an accident last year,” a woman says, “Gordy Hawkins helped me with the paperwork and even got someone to bring me meals when I was laid up. I don't know how anyone can say Gordy doesn't have the interests of the town at heart. He does. And I don't trust anyone who claims he doesn't.”

There's a smattering of applause as she sits down.

“Can I call the question?” Sam Colvington asks.

“You may. I don't think this discussion is going anywhere, anyway. Do I hear a second?”

“Second.”

“All right. The question is called. If there is a two-­thirds majority to cut off discussion, we will proceed to the vote. All in favor, please say aye.”

There's a loud chorus of ayes.

“I think that's two-­thirds. We'll move on to the vote.”

“I don't think that's two-­thirds majority,” Stan Woodridge says. “You never called for the nays.”

“Very well. All those opposed, please say nay.”

There is another chorus, this time of nays.

“The ayes have it. We will proceed to vote on whether to appoint me to the police investigation.”

“That's not a clear majority,” Stan says. “You need to poll the room. Paper ballets or a show of hands. This is out of order.”

“You're out of order. All those in favor of the motion please say, aye.”

Another chorus of ayes, louder this time.

Martin looks at Stan. “I hear a clear majority. Do I need to ask for the nays?”

“Of course you do.”