Disclaimer:

I do not own the Ironside characters. They are the creation of Collier Young. All other characters were created by me in order to tell this story. Please remember, my timeline is set in present day and not when the show was on the airwaves. Nor do I strictly follow the timeline of the show.

The Disappearance of Sergeant Ed Brown

Chapter 1

1.1

Dennis Randall sat alone in Ironside's office drinking a glass of the chief's favorite bourbon. Chief Ironside had informed the commissioner that he and his staff would be arriving from Los Angeles, where they had been investigating the murder of Frank Rousseau. Ironside's son, Robert Duvalier had been accused of killing the Canadian detective. Chief Ironside's attorney brother, Perry Mason had defended the young man.*

Randall had another panic on his hands and when the city council panicked, Dennis always turned to his top detective to soothe the ills of the council, by placing him in charge of the investigation. He hated to bombard the detective's office with another case so soon after their arrival home but, after all, he was a consultant to the commissioner and Randall was about to consult him.

The commissioner did not like it when Ironside left San Francisco to help other police departments, or in this case... his brother, to solve crimes. Every time the chief left the city, it seemed criminals crawled out from under their rocks to cause trouble.

This was not a new problem, though. It had been brewing for a while. The mob had been in San Francisco for a long time. With Ironside's help, Randall was able to keep a close eye on their activities, thereby constricting them from becoming too much of a problem.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end. Benito Corneilo had strengthen his foot hold in the city and was taking over a lot of businesses. There had been a couple unexplained deaths of business owners, both of which had not been solved. Even though they were unsolved, they were connected to what was believed to be lower level hoods that worked for Corneilo. Despite efforts from the district attorney to make deals with some of his thugs, none of them would turn states evidence on Corneilo and testify.

Corneilo was ruthless, as well as having the ability to reach any of these men in prison. He made it clear to them if they talked, there was no where they could go that he could not reach them. And if he reached them, it meant certain death. He ran a tight ship and no one abandoned it.

Randall's problem was in the form of a California senator who was trying to make a name for himself. David Murdock had been elected to office in the last election and had decided that being a crime buster was his ticket to higher office. He was a Democrat who thought that President James Whitmore was vulnerable in his bid for re-election.**

Whitmore had ridden a wave into the White House, having helped Ironside bring down the governor of California, who had been involved in drug trafficking.*** Murdock was determined to do the same thing and the mob had become his primary target.

With all the television coverage the senator was getting, the city council was nervous and feeling the pressure to find a solution to the crime wave. Their solution was to dump it in Randall's lap. Randall's solution was to turn to the one man he could always depend upon to smooth the ruffled feathers of the city council. Even if there was nothing Ironside could do about it immediately, he could solve one problem concerning David Murdock.

The door to the office opened and the city's most effective detective wheeled his chair down the ramp, slowing his chair as he descended. Ed, Eve and Mark followed him to the main table.

Ironside studied the face of his boss. It did not take much deductive skills to determine the commissioner was not just there to welcome them home. "I hope you are enjoying that, Dennis. It is my best bottle of bourbon."

Randall took another sip and said, "Actually, I am. It is excellent bourbon."

"It should be. I had to pay through the nose to get it. I was saving it for a special occasion... which by the way did not include you!"

"Well, I can see your trip to Los Angeles has not put you in a better mood."

Ironside looked behind him to ascertain Mark's location. "Mark, whip us up something to eat, will you please? Airline food has given me a sour stomach... or is it this feeling we are about to have another case dumped on us?"

"You have such a suspicious nature, Bob." Randall said, taking another sip of bourbon.

"Oh, then you are not here to dump another case on us before we even get our suitcases unpacked?" Ironside asked sarcastically.

"Come now, Bob, you and I both know you are not going to unpack your own suitcase. You are going to make Mark do it."

"Dennis, you did not come here to talk about my suitcase. Now, why don't you tell us what you did come here for."

"To welcome you home," Randall replied.

Ironside lowered his chin and raised his eye brows. "And after you have welcomed us home?"

Randall put his glass down. "Corneilo, I came to talk to you about him."

"Benito Corneilo?" Ironside asked.

"Do you know of another Corneilo? I sincerely hope not. The city is not big enough for two of them."

Mark set a glass down in front of Ironside and poured him some bourbon. "Is hamburgers alright for dinner?"

Ironside looked up and replied, "That's fine. Eve, Ed, sit down and stay for dinner." His detectives joined Ironside and Commissioner Randall at the table as Mark headed into the kitchen to fix the hamburgers.

"Now, what about Benito Corneilo?"

"Well, actually it is more about Senator Murdock." Randall put his right hand behind his neck and began to rub it as if it were stiff or painful.

"Let me guess, he has been on television ranting and raving about the crime in San Francisco and, the police and city council are not doing anything about it. That has the city council nervous, which in turn makes you nervous. Is that about right?"

Randall could not help but smile. Sometimes he wondered if Ironside could actually read minds. "That is about the size of it."

"Exactly what are you expecting us to do?" Ironside asked.

Ed frowned. "Wait a minute, isn't Senator Murdock going to be in San Francisco in a week or so?"

Randall nodded. "And the council is worried that it might be a perfect time for Corneilo to try to assassinate him."

"Murder... why do they always try to use water-downed words for murder?" Ironside complained.

"Okay, have it your way. Murder. Call it whatever you want," Randall conceded.

"What is it you want from us?" Eve asked the commissioner.

"I am putting you in charge of the senator's security. I don't want anything happening to him while he is in this city."

"Dennis, I am a cop, not a babysitter. Assign uniform cops to cover him. Besides, the senator will have his own security as well."

"And he will have yours as well," Randall said, getting up out of the chair. "I'm sorry, Bob. We have enough problems with Corneilo as it is. Until the police can get something on him to bring charges against him, the city council is going to be nervous about all the bad publicity Senator Murdock is bringing to San Francisco."

Randall got up and headed to the door. "Thanks for the drink... and welcome home."

"Drink! You drank half the bottle!" Ironside shouted over his shoulder as Randall left the office.

The chief removed his tie and tossed it towards his desk in frustration. It landed on the floor in front of it. Eve picked it up and set it on the desk, while Mark began serving the hamburgers with potato chips. Everyone ate in silence. All of them aware of how quickly their boss' mood had soured.

"Eve, when you get in tomorrow, call Senator Murdock's office and find out who is in charge of his security. I want to talk to him. We will have to coordinate our efforts with the senator's security detail," Ironside ordered.

"Yes, sir."

"Now if you people are done eating, go home and get some rest. We will start on Murdock's security in the morning."

Ed and Eve got up and headed for the door. "Good night, Chief," they said in unison.

"Good night," Ironside returned. He watched as his officers left the office; turned to Mark and asked, "Where are the keys to the van?"

Mark pulled them out of his pocket and tossed them to Ironside. He watched as the chief wheeled up the ramp. "I am going to visit Katherine. Don't wait up for me."

1.2

Benito Corneilo smoked a cigarette and watched the six o'clock news. His anger was slowly rising as Senator David Murdock was again on the news raving about the criminal element in San Francisco. He was making himself out to be the city's big protector. Corneilo snorted in disgust. The man thought he was a one-man crime buster. God, how he hated politicians. They all were crooks that pretended they cared about the people when, in fact, they cared about money just as he did. They were not there to serve the people; they were there to get rich. The only difference between him and them was they smiled and kissed babies as they ripped off the American people. Benito could not stand kids. He just as soon drop a baby in the San Francisco Bay. Kissing them was out of the question.

It just grated on his nerves that this guy went on television and called him a crook. Oh, he did not do it by name but everyone knew he was referring to him. Corneilo could not stand this man. It was about time someone shut him up.

He had been slowly building his empire right under the nose of the San Francisco Police. Benito had been careful to cover his tracks. So far, he had been successful in eluding the police. They had not been able to get one concrete bit of evidence against him. He did not think much of the police. None of them scared him... well, almost none of them.

He would take on any of them... except one... he would not mess with Robert T. Ironside. He was not the kind of man you messed with. Ironside was much smarter than the average cop. In fact, the man was brilliant. Benito did not mind admitting it. For not to admit it would be suicide. If Ironside was on your trail, you were in trouble. He was like a bulldog with a bone. He never gave up. It was one of the reasons he had chosen to build things slowly and not make waves.

By doing things the way he had, he had been able to avoid putting himself in the spotlight. The police knew about his activities but they could not prove a thing. Benito did not kill people who crossed him... at least not often. Occasionally, it became necessary to waste a guy and set an example. It kept them in line. Yet, when he had to take someone out, he was always careful to make sure it could not be traced back to him or any of his higher level men.

He did not tolerate mistakes in his organization. Guys who made mistakes only made them once. He avoided killing civilians but, he would not hesitate killing any of his men that disobeyed orders or screwed up. After all, the cops never spent much time investigating the murder of a wise guy. They figured it was just one less crook they had to worry about.

As a result of his policies, he had not brought much notice to the city council. Which meant they did not go running to Commissioner Dennis Randall, who in turn, would not have to go running to Ironside. He was able to avoid having to deal with the crippled detective. He did not underestimate that cop one bit. That wheelchair fooled a lot of crooks and the result was they now resided behind bars.

He did not intend to become one of them. Benito was actually proud that he was able to do business in Ironside's town. Most crooks eventually ended up on Ironside's radar and were outsmarted by the detective; landing them a life time home, courtesy of the tax payers.

That had all been up to now. Senator Murdock had been causing such a stir that the city council was now in a tizzy about crime in the city. It would not be long before Dennis Randall assigned Ironside to look into it.

Ironside did not know how to look into anything. His idea of looking into something was a full-blown investigation. Once he started, he did not stop until he had broken everyone involved in that investigation.

Benito had to do something to shut Murdock up. He could not allow the hypocrite to continue to run his mouth, or he would face dealing with Ironside and he wanted to avoid that at all cost. It was time he did something about the good senator. It was just his luck that Senator Murdock was coming to town to continue his crusade. It would be the last one he ever conducted.

1.3

A breeze blew into Ed Brown's black Ford as he drove through the streets of the city he loved. Although, he was exhausted, he was glad to be home. Nothing relaxed him more than being in San Francisco. It would not last very long, though, as the chief would be assigned some important case, and they would once again be working eighteen hours a day. Maybe, just maybe, he should take advantage of the calm before the storm and enjoy himself for one evening.

Ed looked up and down the street for a place to stop and have a drink. He had hoped the chief would offer him a glass of bourbon but he knew all that was on his mind was going to see Katherine, whom he had not seen since they had gone to Los Angeles to clear the chief's son of murder.

He would make use of his night off and seek out some feminine company, a luxury he could not afford very often with his schedule in the chief's office. Ed pulled his vehicle into the lot of the DNA Lounge and parked the Ford. He got out and headed towards the door. A shapely blonde came out just as Ed reached for the handle. She did not see him as she bumped into him. Ever the gentleman, Ed apologized for the contact between them. She smiled, told him it was alright and continued on her way. Brown could not help but turn his head to watch the gentle sway of her hips as she walked away from him.

He opened the door and went inside. A band was playing soft music as some couples were dancing on the dance floor. Brown looked around and spotted an empty table in the corner. He headed in that direction, with an appreciation of being able to enjoy the female scenery.

A waitress soon appeared at his table and asked him what he wanted to drink. He ordered a rum and coke before settling into the chair facing the band. He was pleased the music was not that hard rock the kids nowadays seem to prefer. When he looked around, he notice the crowd was mostly people his own age.

As he scrutinize them, one particular woman caught his eye. She was sitting at the bar and appeared to be alone. Ed watched as every few minutes some guy would stop and try to get her to dance. She was refusing every one of them.

Ed's curiosity was getting the better of him. She was a brunette with soft features, long hair and high cheek bones. From his advantage point, she looked absolutely beautiful. No wonder she was turning the heads of every man in the room. Sitting on the bar stool, her long shapely legs were exposed due to a very short skirt. Ed admired what he was seeing.

He got up and headed towards the bar after finishing his drink. Rather then wait for the waitress to return, he would march up there and get his own drink. When he arrived, he raised his hand, indicating to the bartender for service.

He looked at the woman sitting on the stool, realizing she was even more beautiful than he could see from across the bar. Noticing that her glass was empty, he smiled and said, "May I buy you a drink?"

She looked up at him with a frown but the frown turned into a smile when she saw the handsome detective. She had been hit on all evening but this man seemed different. He had a pleasant voice and his smile seemed to be genuine. She smiled back at him and said, "Yes, I would like that."

"What is the lady's preference?" Ed asked her.

"A glass of red wine would be nice," she answered.

Ed caught the bartender's eye. "Make it two." The man tending the bar poured two glasses of wine and set them in front of the couple. Brown threw some money down on the bar and put out his hand. "Ed Brown."

The woman accepted his hand and said, "Ava Blake. It's nice to meet you Ed Brown."

"I have never been here before," Ed told her. "I have lived in this city all my life and have never come in here."

"It's quiet. I hate noisy night clubs." She took a sip of her wine and smiled at Ed. "I come here often."

"In that case, I should have come in here long before now." He smiled at her again. "Tell me, what brings you here tonight?"

"Just trying to get away from someone. He can't seem to accept that we are finished. He has been stalking me."

"Maybe I can help you with that," Ed suggested.

A man walked up to the bar and ordered a drink. While the bartender was making it, he looked at Ed. "I thought I recognized you. How are you, Sergeant?"

Ed shook hands with the man and said, "Fine, Eddy. How's your son?"

"He's doing great. I can't thank you enough for helping him. You really turned him around."

"That's great, Eddy. I am happy for both of you," Ed told him.

"Well, got to get back to my date. Stop by the house sometime. I am sure Billy would like to see you."

"I'll do that. Take care of yourself." The man picked up his drink, turned and left.

"Sergeant? You are in the service?" she asked.

"In a way. I used to be in the Marines but I am in a service of a different kind now."

She gave him a puzzled look. Ed chuckled. "I'm a cop."

"Oh, a police sergeant."

"Actually, I am a detective sergeant. I work for Chief Ironside."

"Of course, I thought you looked familiar. I have seen your picture in the newspaper with the chief." She looked away from him.

"Is that a problem?" he asked.

She looked back at him and smiled. "No, not at all." A man came into the bar and she quickly turned away.

Ed glanced over to see what had caught her attention. "Is that the man that is stalking you?"

"One of them. Benito has several of them following me. Say, you wouldn't want to take me out of here, would you? Maybe go for a drive?" Ava asked.

Ed reached into his pocket and tossed a couple dollars on the bar. "I would love to? I will also make sure you arrive home safely."

"Can we go out the back door?"

Ed glanced back at the man who had just come in. "Sure." He picked up her purse from the bar and handed it to her. After helping her down from the stool, Ed led her to the back of the bar.

To Be Continued...

*Refers to my fanfiction Crossover, The Case of the Mock Murder

**Refers to my fanfiction Crossover, The Case of the Politician's Wife.

***Refers to my fanfiction Crossover, The Case of the Failure to Look Beyond the Obvious