FORGOTTEN Read online

  FORGOTTEN

  GARY HASTINGS

  Also By Gary Hastings

  CASE CLOSED

  Pursuing Excellence in Criminal Investigations

  NEW YORK CHIEF OF DETECTIVES

  Copyright 2013 by Gary Hastings

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, businesses, or events, is coincidental.

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without prior written permission from the author.

  Published by Alabaster Book Publishing

  P.O. Box 401

  Kernersville, North Carolina 27285

  Book and cover design by

  D. L. Shaffer

  First Edition

  ISBN:9780986030086

  Library of Congress Control

  Number: 2013954917

  Acknowledgements

  Writing the New York Chief of Detectives Series has been an intense and a phenomenal experience. It has been rewarding to hear that so many readers have enjoyed the work of Chief of Detectives Pat O’Connor and his hand-picked team of top-notch detectives. The overwhelming reader feedback has been their appreciation for the realism of the story as it relates to real police work, and that makes it all worthwhile.

  I would like to express my gratitude to David Shaffer of Alabaster Book Publishing for his hard work and encouragement.

  I would like to thank the many readers who have proofed my drafts and made important suggestions. Without their help, this book would not be available.

  Thanks to my family for their interest and support of my writing projects and their understanding of the hours necessary to complete a successful book.

  I would like to thank the members of the Detective Bureau of the New York City Police Department whose incredible successes inspired this series. I hope you enjoy the continuing New York Chief of Detectives Series with FORGOTTEN!

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to two deeply influential men in my law enforcement career. They were both American heroes of the “Greatest Generation,” who proudly served our nation during World War II and beyond. They instilled in me valuable lessons of leadership, loyalty and character that have served me well for many years. They truly fathered a generation of successful law enforcement officers who passed through the East Carolina University Police Department in Greenville, North Carolina. They should never be forgotten.

  Francis M. Eddings

  Chief of Police

  East Carolina University Police Department

  1922-2013

  Joseph H. Calder

  Director of Security

  East Carolina University Police Department

  1921-2013

  “Gone, but not forgotten.”

  Chapter 1

  Wednesday, January 19 - Day 1

  COMPSTAT Center - One Police Plaza

  Borough of Manhattan, New York

  1600 Hours

  COMPSTAT had survived through several police commissioners since the mid-nineties. Technically, the acronym stood for computer statistics. Others said it stood for comparing statistics. Either way, it was a nerve racking experience for the commanders whose careers were on the chopping block when crime increased in their precincts.

  New York City had experienced more than a decade of declining crime, and the COMPSTAT approach had been given much of the credit. In a nutshell, crime statistics were used to judge the effectiveness of a commander at fighting crime. Commanders were expected to respond immediately to crime patterns and stop the trend. Some liked to call it putting cops on the dots. It required a tremendous amount of resources and created a challenge for commanders to find the needed manpower. Something always suffered when manpower was pulled. COMPSTAT meetings were held at One Police Plaza, the headquarters of the NYPD, universally referred to by the cops as One PP.

  Chief of Detectives Patrick O’Connor believed in the principles of COMPSTAT, but struggled with the sometimes lengthy weekly meetings. Pat was a busy man, and his time was valuable. He was relieved when today’s meeting finally adjourned at 1600 hours.

  Pat was well-known throughout New York as a cop’s cop. He was frequently in the news, and his face was a familiar one to the public, whose trust he had earned. Pat was an imposing figure, with his six-foot stocky frame and his slightly graying hair which conveyed his years of experience and wisdom.

  Pat walked back to his office where he was met by his executive assistant, Lieutenant Angela Wilson. Angela was a petite, attractive blond with a law degree and a confident New York disposition. She was married to Mike Wilson, the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in New York.

  “There’s a lady here to see you, Chief. She’s been here for over two hours, but refuses to talk to anyone but you.”

  “Do you know what she wants?”

  “No sir, she just insists on talking to the Chief of Detectives.”

  “Give me about 10 minutes, and bring her back.”

  “Okay, Chief, would you like me to make some coffee?”

  “Sure. That would be great.”

  Pat made a brief pit stop and then settled into the chair behind his massive desk. He noticed his in-tray was full.

  In just a few minutes, Angie Wilson brought the visitor into Pat’s office. The woman, with short grey hair, appeared to be in her early sixties. She was attractive, well-dressed in a blue business suit, and seemed very self-confident. Pat immediately stood and introduced himself. “Good afternoon. I’m Pat O’Connor, Chief of Detectives.”

  The woman reached out and shook his hand.

  “I’m Margaret Butelli. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Chief.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Butelli. How can I help you?”

  She hesitated, and Pat sensed that Angie Wilson’s presence was making her nervous.

  “Would you like some coffee?”

  “Thank you, Chief. That would be nice.”

  Sensing the need for privacy, Angie left and returned with two cups of coffee on a tray.

  “If you don’t need anything else, please excuse me.”

  “Thank you, Angie. I’ll be fine.”

  Pat took a sip of the fresh coffee. It tasted good after the long day.

  “How can I help you, Ms. Butelli?”

  “My husband was Forrest Butelli. I’m not sure if you knew him, Chief O’Connor.”

  “The name does sound familiar, but I’m not sure of the connection.”

  “Forrest was a detective in Mid-Town South until he retired from the NYPD in 1998. He started a very successful private detective agency called Manhattan Investigations.”

  “I do remember the name, Mrs. Butelli.”

  “Forrest was found dead in his car in Central Park on Saturday, September 8, 2001. There was a suicide note on the front seat and he was shot in the head. I’ve never believed for a minute this was a suicide, Chief.”

  “If I may ask, why’d you wait so long to bring this up?”

  “I didn’t wait, but nobody would listen. Forrest was buried on September 11. There wasn’t a single police officer at the funeral, because of the terrorist attacks. It was impossible to get anyone to listen. I met with a captain at the Central Park Precinct who assured me this was a suicide. He said every base had been covered, and the NYPD had done the best it could.”

  “How do we know this is not exactly what happened, Mrs. Butelli? Suicides are tough for any family to accept.”

  “Forrest and I have two daughters. They were close to their father. He
would never have done this to them. He was supposed to have dinner with all of us the day he was found. We were in the best shape of our lives financially. Between his pension and Manhattan Investigations, things looked good. There would have been no reason for him to do this.”

  “Most of what you’ve told me is based on feelings and emotions. I know how difficult it is to believe Forrest killed himself, but we must have some evidence, not just emotion. Do you have any evidence to support your feelings that this might not have been a suicide?”

  “I’ve racked my brain and couldn’t come up with anything. I’ve been fixing up my house to sell. I want to move closer to my children, who both live in Virginia now. I found a loose board in the closet of Forrest’s old office and I was gonna fix it. When I pulled it up, I saw something under the boards. I pulled it out and saw that it was some of Forrest’s files. I started reading them, and my heart just stopped. Many of the entries were made the week Forrest died. I haven’t read all of them, but I read enough to know it probably had something to do with his death. It reinforced my feelings that this was no suicide, Chief O’Connor.”

  “What was he working on?”

  “I’ll let you read them yourself. Make your own conclusions, and then just do the right thing by my husband. I can’t take much more of this. I have to trust someone, and you’re it.”

  “Who else knows about this, Mrs. Butelli?”

  “No one. I didn’t want to give my daughters false hope.”

  Margaret Butelli stood up and handed Pat a large accordion file from her briefcase. She offered her hand to Pat. He shook her hand and responded.

  “These cases are very difficult for everyone, Mrs. Butelli. The years that have passed won’t make it any easier. I promise you I’ll have someone look at this case and the new information. If there’s anything in here which changes the dynamic facts of this case, I promise I’ll do the right thing.”

  “Thank you, Chief O’Connor.”

  Chapter 2

  Wednesday, January 19 - Day 1

  Chief of Detectives’ Residence

  Borough of Manhattan, New York

  1800 Hours

  Pat O’Connor had his driver, Detective Dickie Davis, take him home at 1800 hours. All NYPD Chiefs were assigned drivers, and Pat had grown to trust Dickie Davis. As the driver for the Chief of Detectives, he was privy to information regarding the most sensitive investigations and had never betrayed that trust.

  Pat lived in a comfortable high-rise apartment in Manhattan. Having no plans for the evening, he had brought along Margaret Butelli’s big accordion file.

  Pat changed into a T-shirt and sweat pants and put some jazz on. He loved jazz and had originally arrived in New York from New Orleans on a jazz trumpet scholarship from the Julliard School of Music. He still played trumpet on occasion and had a soundproof practice room in his apartment. He found music a great way to release some of the stresses of the NYPD.

  At 2030 hours, Pat settled down in his study after a light dinner of leftovers from the fridge. He liked having his portable radio on the Manhattan and City-Wide channels and would listen softly as he worked, thinking of it as keeping his finger on the pulse of the city. He also realized most of the other Super Chiefs, as the Bureau Chiefs were called, never turned a radio on.

  Pulling out the accordion file, Pat was almost immediately impressed with the quality of the writing. It was thorough and professional, which gave it a lot of credibility.

  “At 1600 hours on Friday, August 31, 2001, I was contacted by a client who insists on remaining anonymous. The client, an attorney, was concerned about issues of corruption in the Kings County Courts. I agreed to meet with the client on Monday, September 3, 2001, at the office of Manhattan Investigations at 1500 hours.

  At 1500 hours, I met the client at the office of Manhattan Investigations. The client stated to me that he is convinced of widespread corruption in the Kings County Court System. He stated that numerous cases are being dismissed for a particular law firm at a drastically higher rate compared to other firms. These cases range from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including murders. The client feels this could only occur with the cooperation of someone in the District Attorney’s Office and selected Kings County Judges.

  I explained to the client that in the event these allegations could be proven, I would be required to report it to the police. The client understood and accepted this condition.

  I received a deposit of $2,500 and agreed to accept the case. The client accepted the hourly fee of $100.

  The client stated he could provide a list of suspected cases. I agreed to meet him again on Wednesday, September 5, 2001, at Manhattan Investigations at 1500 hours.

  On Wednesday, September 5, 2001, at 1500 hours, I met the client in the office of Manhattan Investigations. He provided me with a list of 81 cases which had either been dismissed by a Kings County prosecutor or a judge had ruled in favor of a defense motion in what the client believes is questionable circumstances. All of these cases involved the law firm of Brewster, Kemp and Pellegrino. The primary partners of this firm are Roland Brewster, Arnold Kemp and Daniel Pellegrino.”

  Pat was shocked when he saw the name Daniel Pellegrino. He had been an attorney involved in an investigation of a murdered Organized Crime Control Bureau Detective, Anthony Rodriguez. Pellegrino had been a corporate attorney for DHA International and had disappeared. He was never connected to the actual murder, but there were still active warrants against him for obstruction of justice and being an accessory after the fact to murder. Pat’s interest in this case was immediately heightened. He continued to read the report.

  “I informed the client that I would make an inquiry into the suspected cases, and we agreed to meet on Monday, September 10, 2001, at 1500 hours at Manhattan Investigations.

  On Thursday, September 6, 2001, I went to the Kings County Court House and randomly pulled disposition records for 10 of the 81 cases. I determined that all 10 cases were handled by the firm of Brewster, Kemp, and Pellegrino. Seven of these cases were dismissed by the presiding Assistant District Attorney Franklin Donovan, and three cases were dismissed by Judge Robert Fitzpatrick. Daniel Pellegrino was the attorney of record in each case. I contacted the client regarding my findings, and we agreed to meet as scheduled at 1500 Hours on Monday, September 10, 2001.”

  Pat read through the documents in the file. It appeared that Forrest Butelli had done a thorough investigation and had detailed basic background information on each of the attorneys, the Assistant District Attorney Franklin Donovan and Judge Robert Fitzpatrick.

  Two hours later, Pat put the files back into the accordion file. He had re-read Forrest Butelli’s report several times, made some notes and had a gut feeling that Margaret Butelli might be right about Forrest Butelli’s death. After 12 years, it would be difficult to prove.

  Chapter 3

  Thursday, January 20 - Day 2

  Chief of Detectives’ Office - One Police Plaza

  Borough of Manhattan, New York

  0730 Hours

  Pat and Dickie arrived early on Thursday morning. He spent most of the morning signing paperwork, such as transfer requests, retirements and training requests. With thousands of detectives, lots of trees were sacrificed every day. Thankfully, Angie Wilson was a master at sorting through the maze and using color-coded, sticky notes to make it easier. He could easily tell what must be handled today, what needed just a signature, and what could wait a while.

  The Butelli case was on Pat’s mind. He asked Angie Wilson to come in his office.

  “Yes sir, how can I help you?”

  “Close the door please. This is sensitive.”

  Angie closed the door and returned to the seat in front of Pat O’Connor’s massive desk.

  “The lady who visited me yesterday was Margaret Butelli. She is the widow of Forrest Butelli, who retired off the job in ‘98 as a detective in Mid-Town South. He allegedly ate his gun in 2001. He was working as a private investigator
in his own company, Manhattan Investigations.”

  “I don’t remember the name, Chief, but I wasn’t in the Bureau then.”

  “I don’t remember anything but the name myself. Mrs. Butelli thinks this was a homicide and says there’s no way Forrest would have killed himself.”

  “All families think that, Chief, because they can’t believe their loved ones would have put them through the agony.”

  “I know that’s true, but there may be some smoke in this case that’s just come to light.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  “Actually, there are a couple of things. First of all, get me the entire Butelli case file. I want everything we have. Secondly, get his personnel file. I want to know what kind of cop he was. Once you get that done, I’ll have something else for you to do.”

  “Yes sir, I’ll pull the files.”

  “Thanks, Angie.”

  Pat didn’t want to jump to conclusions or give the Butelli family false hope. Therefore, he wanted to be careful about how this case was handled. His plan of action was to get the case completely reviewed by someone he trusted who was an expert in death investigation. He would not reveal the new information until the case had been reviewed and he could determine if there were things that did not add up.

  Pat dialed a familiar number.

  “Manhattan North Homicide, Captain Flannery.”

  “Good morning, Bryan, it’s Pat O’Connor. How’s it going?”

  “I’m doing great, Chief. How are you?”

  “I’m good my friend, but I need you at One PP at 1600.”