Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 122, Nos. 3 & 4. Whole Nos. 745 & 746, September/October 2003

The cop said, “Before we go on, Mr. Francis, I need to talk a bit about the status of Officer Conrad.”

He said nothing. The cop looked embarrassed and said, “A day after the shooting, a videotape arrived at our Internal Affairs office, mailed anonymously. Um, I’m afraid the tape was from a surveillance system at your store. You do have such a system, do you not?”

“I do,” he said, keeping still.

The cop said, “Well. It seems that, um, the tape showed... well, it showed a woman I believe to be your wife and Officer Conrad in a rather intimate encounter. In your store. Mr. Francis, we believe somebody at the store, perhaps a disgruntled employee or somebody like that, mailed the tape to the department.”

He tried to put a bit of shock into his voice. “Why are you telling me this?”

The lawyer stepped in. “We believe that when Officer Conrad’s future is determined, the local news media might find out about this tape. We’re sorry, but we felt you should know about this beforehand. I mean, well, were you aware that Officer Conrad and your wife were... involved?”

He turned his head on the pillow and said, “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

Stacy, in this room, begging forgiveness, begging understanding, willing and able to do anything he wanted to make it right.

The cop came back. “We understand completely. And Mr. Francis, you should know that by the end of this week — even though his union might make a fuss — Officer Conrad will be off the force. His shooting of you, combined with the relationship he had with your wife... it makes his continued future with our department and in any law-enforcement department in this country impossible. He may even face criminal charges when all is said and done.”

He knew they couldn’t see his face, so he allowed himself just a brief smile. “I see.”

It was the lawyer’s turn. “Mr. Francis, if I could have your attention for just a moment. As counsel for the city, we have an interest in reaching an equitable settlement so that this doesn’t have to go to court, waste your time and the city’s time, cost you attorney’s fees and so forth. I’m prepared today to make such a settlement offer to you.”

The lawyer opened his briefcase and passed over a sheaf of papers, and clipped to the top of the papers was a cashier’s check. Craig kept his emotions in check as he looked at the numbers. He looked at the lawyer and the cop.

“I sign this and drop any claims against the city, and this check is mine?” he asked.

“That’s correct.”

He handed the papers and the check back to the lawyer. “Change the five on the check to a seven and you got yourself a deal.”

The cop looked at the lawyer, the lawyer looked at the cop, and there was the briefest of nods back and forth. The lawyer put the papers back in his briefcase and stood up. “Then we have a deal, Mr. Francis. We’ll be back within the hour.”

He smiled at both men as they left his hospital room, and checked the time. Stacy would be coming by shortly, and then, well, he’d pass the news along. The store would go up for sale, and combined with the city settlement, there was plenty there to start new, start fresh, and get out of Porter. He had taken a bullet for his life and his marriage, and that was the fact. And with the size of that check... he was in a forgiving mood towards Stacy.

The time for sacrifices was over, and it just took one shot.

Not a bad deal.

Darkened Drops of Red by Jay Alter