The Vigilantes (Badge of Honor 10)

As if trying to bring attention to them, Francis Fuller took an inordinate amount of time to straighten the tiny round Ben Franklin glasses at the tip of his big nose. Then he cleared his throat. He smiled and leaned forward to speak into the black stalk microphone that curved up from the lectern.

“Thank you for coming,” Fuller began. “I do have an important announcement today. My assistant, however, tells me we’re to start with your questions.” He pointed forward, toward the unseen reporters. “Yes, madam?”

A female reporter’s voice asked, “There’ve been a total of six dead dropped here—”

“Five dead evildoers,” he correct

ed, “and one looking like he soon may join them.”

“Okay, five dead, one nearly so. What is your reaction to Mayor Carlucci’s statement earlier today that clearly was triggered by these dead men left here at Lex Talionis?”

“Well, of course I agree with Mayor Carlucci, whom I consider not only a fine leader of our city but also a close personal friend.”

“Bullshit,” Matt said.

Fuller went on: “We agree that evildoers must be held accountable for their actions. I fully support Jerry’s efforts and those of our hardworking police department. Which is why today it’s been my great honor as a citizen of Philadelphia to present the reward checks for ten thousand dollars”—he gestured toward those holding the ceremonial checks—“to these fine folks who have helped rid our society of those who chose not to be law-abiding. Today alone we have two additional evildoers who will never again roam our free society to harm the innocent. And we have Xavier Smith—now at Hahnemann University Hospital in critical condition and under police guard—a career criminal with more than twoscore arrests who has been brought to justice. Regardless of any differences the mayor and I may or may not have, I would suggest that real progress in cleaning up our city is being made here at Lex Talionis.”

Amanda said, “You know, rationally, I can’t say that I disagree with Fuller.”

“Not you, too?” Matt said incredulously.

She shrugged and said, “It’s really no different from what my father said about humans not being very far removed from other animals. He compared the criminals, particularly the most heinous, to hyenas, saying they were nothing more than opportunistic savages. And that it took a predator, like a lion, to weed them out, essentially cleaning up its environment. If someone had done that a long time ago with Delgado and Jiménez, a lot of people would never have been hurt.”

Matt looked at her for a moment.

Well, I can understand her wanting vengeance for being abducted.

He then said: “I’m afraid to ask what you think about the mating ritual of the female praying mantis.”

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, grinned playfully, and replied, “Nothing to lose your head over, sweetie.”

On-screen, Fuller was taking his time pointing toward the crowd, then said, “You, sir. Your question?”

A male voice said, “How do you respond to those who say that your reward to ‘remove evildoers from free society’ actually encourages killing, as opposed to simple capture and arrest?”

Fuller tried to square up his short, paunchy body, and then said with strong conviction, “I believe the results, as noted, speak for themselves. Next question.”

“And the Law of Talion is above our legal system?” the same reporter asked.

“No. Of course not. I would simply characterize it as a more effective system, both for dealing with the worst of our criminal element and for discouraging others who consider crime acceptable. People have choices. Some make very bad ones, time and again.”

He picked up from the lectern the Wanted sheet for Kendrik LeShawn Mays. He held it out toward the crowd and cameras. The mug shot was clearly visible on the television.

“Take, as an example, this latest evildoer. Among his many other crimes, Kendrik Mays preyed on children, forever corrupting their innocence for his sexual pleasure. He was a fugitive, on the run for years after serving time for involuntary deviant sexual intercourse and rape of an unconscious or unaware person. It is my understanding that his victim was a fourteen-year-old girl whom he drugged and then committed unspeakable acts upon. Mays’s mother told me that he continued such corrupt and contemptible behavior right up until his moment of Lex Talionis.”

Fuller paused dramatically, then went on: “I put to you that the traditional legal system failed not only to either change or stop Mays, but that it also failed to protect us citizens from him. And there are countless other evildoers just like him, ones fearless of the legal system.”

Amanda said, “And I don’t disagree with that, either.”

Matt caught himself nodding, then he stopped himself just before he said aloud: That’s what’s known in my business as job security, baby.

Fuller pointed to another reporter: “Yes?”

“What are your thoughts about Operation Clean Sweep?”

Matt said, “Now, this should be interesting.”

Fuller nodded solemnly, took a long moment to gather his thoughts, then said: “My first thought on the police department’s task force is this: If anyone can make it successful, it’s the Wyatt Earp of the Main Line.”