Chapter 3
They went to the registrar's office to pick up schedules for the other boys on their list. The receptionist there was efficient but decidedly cool. Apparently she knew who all of the kids' fathers were, and thought more of them than she did a random detective in a non-descript suit.
One by one, he and Fran tracked the kids down and talked to them. They were evasive and nervous, eyes darting everywhere as they gave short, repetitive answers to the detectives' questions. Ed was on his guard, but there were no more incidents like the one at the fraternity house. There was, again, little progress in the case.
They had interviewed most of the boys, with two exceptions, when Ed called Det. Henderson. Lewis was awake, but weak. Henderson was heading to the hospital in about an hour. Ed agreed to meet him there.
"Bill's case?" Fran asked.
"Yeah. The other officer is conscious and Henderson is heading over there," Ed replied.
"And you're going to meet him there." It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"We have two more people to talk to," she said. "Does the Chief know you're meeting Henderson?"
"No," Ed said, "but I don't intend to keep it from him." Ed clenched his jaw.
"Okay," Fran huffed, "you go do what you have to do, and I'll finish up here." Ed rolled his eyes.
"Absolutely not. Didn't you hear what happened this morning?" he asked impatiently.
"Do you think I can't handle myself?" she countered angrily. She sounded so young. He could hear the same indignation in her voice that he had felt so many times early in his career. This one had a mouth on her, though. Most of the time, he had tried to cover his frustration with stoicism. Steady Eddie. He smiled, unintentionally infuriating her.
"Is it because I'm a woman? Because I'm young? Because no one can do what Ed Brown can do? Why don't you think I can do this alone?" She tried valiantly to eliminate everything but fury from her voice, but her eyes began to moisten and her voice shook slightly. Time was slipping away.
"Fran," he began, gently. He stepped toward her.
"Leave me alone, you condescending chauvinist!" she shouted.
"Fran," he repeated.
"I mean it! You are impossible!"
"Fran! Listen, please," he shouted. She paused. "Fran, stop, please. It isn't you. He doesn't want me alone, either, remember? You're still a bit green…"
"Ed Brown, how dare you…" she exclaimed in a near shriek.
"Wait a minute! Don't take offense! How long have you been working for the Chief? Weeks? You think I was never green, that I somehow skipped my rookie year? I remember how it felt so clearly, being on the job for a few months, feeling like you're on the jv working your butt off with no acknowledgement and itching to play with the big boys. You're not jv, Fran." She gaped at him and wiped her eyes. "You've proven yourself. To the Chief. To me."
She looked at him, surprised.
"Really?"
"Really."
"If I find out you're buttering me up to get me to come along, you WILL pay. Hell hath no fury like a woman manipulated." She glared at him fiercely to emphasize her point.
"I swear I'm telling the truth. When have you known me to lie?" He valued his integrity above almost all else, but still felt a bit vulnerable with this one.
"Not yet, but there have been some questionably convenient truths at times," she observed. Was she baiting him? Tick tock. He decided to let it go. He slid into his seat.
"Whatever. Get in," he opened the door from the driver's side. She raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "Please?" he added, and she sat down primly.
"Buckle up," he said as he started the car.
"Call the Chief," she retorted. He checked his watch and reached for the radio. Fran smiled.
They arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes behind Henderson. He was interviewing Lewis when they arrived. They approached his room, but were intercepted by Lewis' doctor before they could enter. They introduced themselves, but the doctor motioned for them to stop.
"I know who you are and I know why you are here. I'm sorry, I can't let you in. Detective Henderson is with him right now, and I'm about to kick him out. Officer Lewis' condition is extremely serious and he needs uninterrupted rest if that is to change."
"Doctor, this is a murder investigation. I may have some angles that Detective Henderson doesn't know about yet," Ed insisted. Although he had been impressed by what he had seen of Henderson so far, he desperately wanted to talk to Lewis himself. The Chief had understood his determination to be at the hospital, but had been less than happy about the unfinished business at the university. The Commissioner must be pressing for results.
"No Sergeant, I'm sorry. Not tonight. I don't like some of the readings I'm getting and I won't risk pushing him any further. Call tomorrow and we will try to get you in then. Call first, though." And with that, the doctor pushed past him and hurried down the corridor. Fran looked at him sympathetically and sat down to wait for Henderson to emerge. A few minutes later, he did.
"Sergeant," he said by way of greeting. He looked drained.
"Detective Henderson. This is my partner, Officer Fran Belding." That felt and sounded a little odd, but he felt that she needed to hear it just now. She schooled her reaction, but he thought he saw her expression brighten a little. Better get used to it, because, effectively, they were partners.
"Officer Belding," he greeted her warmly. She flashed a businesslike smile in response.
"Detective." He dialed back the warmth slightly. He had heard about this one. Spunky, ambitious. Definitely attractive. He shook off the reverie to find Brown and the girl regarding him coolly. He cleared his throat.
"What do you have? They wouldn't let me in. Sorry I couldn't back you up," Ed explained.
Henderson shared what Lewis had told him. They had entered the alley expecting to find it empty as usual, but when Bill, who was a few feet ahead of his partner, rounded the corner, Lewis heard a shout quickly followed by a shot. Lewis fumbled with his gun and headed for cover a few steps away but never reached it. A boy darted past him out of the alley. He appeared to be fifteen or sixteen, and his face registered terror. He stepped toward the boy as another loud pop issued from the back of the alley, though he couldn't see anyone. There was another pop just as something slammed into the side of his head and he lost consciousness.
He had described a boy, five seven or eight, light brown collar length hair curling out if his baseball cap, blue eyes, pale, a handsome kid, well dressed.
"Anything specific enough for a sketch?" Ed asked.
"It's vague," Henderson answered, "but it's better than nothing for now. You got anything else?"
"No, I've been tied up at the university with the Cochrane case. The Chief really wants some answers yesterday. They've been hard to come by, though."
"I'll send a copy of the sketch over in the morning. Good luck with the case. Officer Belding," he acknowledged.
"Detective Henderson," she responded.
"Officer Belding," Ed began, "ready to go to college?"
"Can't wait," Fran replied.
It was dusk when they pulled onto the campus. They went to the boys' dorms and to the fraternity house, but the boys were not there. They checked the dining hall, the gym, the library, and the student union without success. No one had seen them, no one knew where they could be. They agreed that their targets were probably hiding out, avoiding them. By the time they got to the fraternity house, several hours had passed and they were tired. Several boys had gathered at the house, none of whom were on the list, and the tension was thick. Ed and Fran divided the occupants, seeking their versions of events they hadn't witnessed and digging for information on the missing boys. They painstakingly recorded information from each interview, noting its source, and left late in the evening. Ed called the Chief from the car, outlining the events of the last few hours.
"Back to the barn?" Ed asked, yawning.
"I suppose."
"If you want me to, I can take you home. Your apartment's not far. Then the last snake in the garden can come and pick you up in the morning."
Fran groaned, "Will you just let that go, please? Yes, if you don't mind. I just want to be home. Now. An hour ago."
"I understand, and no, I don't mind. I guess we both have a few things we just need to let go."
"Deal," she declared.
Pulling out of the university's entrance gate, they met a car, a gray sedan with dark tinted windows. Luxury sedan, better befitting a businessman than a student. Probably a parent bringing a kid back after a late dinner. Ed's stomach growled. Great, he thought, frustrated, tired, and hungry.
"Are you hungry?" he asked Fran.
"Yes, but I think I just want to go home," she replied with a stifled yawn.
"Home it is, m'lady."
Just out of sight, the sedan stopped in front of the fraternity house. Two young men emerged from the back seat.
"Thanks, man," the first boy said. "Not sure what this is about, but sticking it to the cops is kinda fun."
"Yeah, gracias, Carlos," added the second boy.
"Thank you for playing, gentlemen. If we have them chasing the two of you, they can't be doing more important things. Here is a little token of my appreciation." The man spoke lightly accented, carefully enunciated English. He handed a small vial to each boy.
"Awesome!" said the first boy. "Whatever you need us to do, man! Anytime!"
"Yeah, anytime!" echoed his friend. Carlos' window rose as the boys clapped each other on the back.
"Tonight?" the first one asked.
"Yeah, tonight! No sleeping tonight, Paul!" said his friend.
"We sharing?" asked Paul.
"NO!" came the reply. They entered the front door. The car pulled away.
Ed and Fran drove through the quiet, nearly empty streets. They arrived at Fran's building and parked in front, where Ed exited quickly and opened the door for Fran. She smirked.
"What's this?" she asked.
"You're off duty, Miss Belding, or should be. Do you mind?"
"No, I don't think I do. You have a reputation as a gentleman, among other things. Now I guess I know." She took his hand and rose from her seat. "Thank you, Sergeant. For everything."
"Good night. See you in the morning. Eight?"
"Eight."
He smiled as he went back to the driver's side and slid into his seat. It had been another frustrating day with little progress, but they had notes that he was sure would yield something they could go on, they had the inner circle on the move, and Randy had been stuck in The Little Room with the Chief. It was only a matter of time before something important broke loose. And Bill's case had a witness and a face.
Officer Thomas Lewis slept peacefully, the many monitors registering his vital signs. Around 4 AM, he sat upright, gasping and panicked, then collapsed unconscious on his bed. His monitor alarm shrieked until the duty nurse dashed into the room. She paged the doctor and ordered a crash cart. Blood began to pour from his nose and trickle from his left ear. At 4:15, they stopped resuscitation efforts and pronounced him dead.