The Winter Soldier: Master of Madripoor

51

There were three police precincts in Madripoor, including what was known as the Central Precinct, where the administrative offices were located, all upper management and the Chief's office. It still had a mid-sized portion set aside of the actual officers, and among the rank and file, serving there was seen as the quickest way to try for promotions. The building wasn't as tall and impressive as some of the others, but it was respectable for Hightown, imposing to those who would see proof of law enforcement as something to be impressed by. It was ignored by most residents of Hightown including the ultra-wealthy, or the criminal elements that could blend in with the ultra-wealthy. Most of the law enforcement in Hightown was only for maintaining basic order. Officers spent their shifts dealing with traffic incidents, situations involving alcohol or drugs that could impact the general public in some way, or the occasional investigation into more serious crimes, which more often than not led to strategic bribes to close the cases as opposed to any real attempt at solving them.

In the past, the police force had been funded by whatever groups had control in Madripoor. That funding was steady and unquestioned, a way to show that the city could operate like any other and encourage more rich patrons to spend their money there. Since the early 1990's the funding came entirely from the Winter Soldier's organization, along with administration, hiring and orders as to which cases needed to be pursued and which could be ignored. To most of the officers, it was how it had always been, and they were used to it, expecting the competence and smooth operations that came with it. The few veterans who had been on the force prior to the Winter Soldier's usurpation of Madripoor would still talk about how it had been before the bloody battles for control and would try to explain to the younger officers just how much better it was with the Winter Soldier in charge.

Lestari was one of the ones who would occasionally indulge in nostalgia. He was the longest serving Chief in the history of the Madripoor Police Department, and he had no intention of retiring anytime soon. He enjoyed the job, the money and the people he worked with, including the perks of invitations to some exclusive parties simply because of his job title and connections. None of the easy living had dulled his wits, however, and he sat in his office on a morning that alternated between sun and clouds, with steadily rising temperatures that made him more than contented to remain in his office all day, making his way through paperwork that he had to deal with. Even in a lawless city, there was a bureaucracy that had to be followed.

"You have an appointment in thirty minutes," his secretary reminded him. He nodded, and finished the paperwork he had been focused on, musing about how the meeting could go. The city was not tense, not like it had been so many years earlier when the Winter Soldier had cut through his enemies without effort, leaving only death in his wake. Yet, the city, mostly Lowtown, had a sense of anticipation, and he had to smile to himself. Madripoor wasn't afraid of the Winter Soldier, or what he did, but they did seem to enjoy being spectators. The Winter Soldier may have taken over the city, but the city also had long since claimed him, and his organization. No other city in the world would have done so and Lestari loved Madripoor for it.

Exactly at the appointed time for the meeting, the woman entered his office, well dressed without looking like she was trying too hard to fit in among the inhabitants of Hightown, but also not showing she actually lived in Lowtown. She was average in every way, down to her short, straight haircut and her friendly but somehow closed smile. He knew she could probably be anything her job needed her to be, and he tried to guess which way she'd go at the end of the conversation, didn't have an idea, so gave up. He would see soon enough and give a full report to the Winter Soldier. The Winter Soldier was more than capable of making the evaluation himself, but he had never discouraged any of his employees from taking initiative. He had never had any need to micromanage if only because no one worked for him if he did not trust their judgment. Unless, of course they'd only been hired as a way to make use of them for other purposes.