"S. Andrew Swann - Zimmerman's Algorithm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Swann S Andrew)

he had underestimated the press' interest in a completely irrelevant temper tantrum, and the District
administration's interest in the Press' interest.
"Have you seen the papers?" Davis asked.
"No." Gideon's stomach sank.
"Yesterday's headline in the Post, 'Wounded Cop says someone "screwed up,"' apparently they decided
to clean up your language. The Times has a picture of you waving a crutch captioned, 'shameless
parasitesтАФ' Did you actually club a reporter with a crutch?"
"He tripped me," Gideon said. "I lost my temper."
"Did you actually use the words, 'rating orgasms?' "
Gideon wasn't able to come up with an appropriate explanation. He tapped his cast against his crutch,
shaking his head. He felt the anger burning again, at the reporters, at the bastard who set them up, at the
men who shot them, and most of all, at himself.
"Gideon?"
Gideon closed his eyes and nodded. Through clenched teeth he said, "Yes."
"You threatened to arrest them?"
"Can you blame me?"
Davis sighed. "No. Not after what happened. But do the words, 'public relations disaster' mean
anything to you? The only thing that mitigates your little tirade is that you went off on the media, which lies
in the public affection somewhere between politicians and lawyers."
It felt as if Gideon had to physically swallow his anger to speak. Slowly, he started to say, "I apologize
forтАФ"
"I don't need your apology. I agree with you."
"Captain?"
"But. . . Look at the big picture. This is a damn delicate situation. Right now we have the publicтАФthe
national publicтАФon our side. This can mean a lot for our department."
Gideon stopped rapping his cast on his crutch. "I don't follow you."
"The administration has a chance to take its case directly to Congress with these hearingsтАФ"
"What hearings?"
"тАФwe could finally get some decent funding for this department."
"What hearings?"
"There are going to be Congressional hearings investigating the incident. It's an opportunity for us to
gain some sympathetic ears on the Hill."
That was the last thing anyone needed. Congress. Gideon couldn't believe that the body responsible for
the crippling of the D.C. civic government would do anything but mangle a criminal investigation. They
would probably end up giving immunity to the people responsible for the screwup that led to the shooting, all
in the name of getting at the "truth." A "truth" that would be little more than a bludgeon tailored to club
someone's political enemies.
"What do you mean, 'opportunity'?"
"First offтАФand this is coming down straight from the MayorтАФyou aren't to talk to any more reporters,
period. You aren't to say anything to anyone that might lose us sympathy on the Hill."
"Oh, God," Gideon whispered.
"I don't like it either," Davis' voice softened. "But I'm not the one with the ultimate decision about what
happens to you after you come off of disability leave."
Gideon's jaw was clenched so hard it ached. It was an effort to speak. "Is that some sort of threat?"
"That's just how things are. It's not worth it to fight the administration on this. You know that
Congressional hearings are just a sideshow anyway, right?"
Gideon lowered his head. "Okay. I won't go around bad-mouthing the department."
"There's more."
"God help us. What?"
"Harris had his speechwriter prepare a couple of statementsтАФ"