The Disappearance of Sergeant Ed Brown
Chapter 4
4.1
When Anna saw the smile on Robert Ironside's face, her heart melted. He wheeled forward and took her hand. "Anna, sweet Anna." He kissed the back of her hand. "You were the one that informed the police Ed was out here?"
For a moment, Anna said nothing. What was it about this man that turned her to putty? Anna Watson had always been a strong, self sufficient woman, but seeing him again made her go weak at the knees.
"Yes, Robert. Everyone was standing around him, doing nothing. I ran inside and told the police. I did not know he worked for you."
"Chief!" Mark called out. He was standing in front of the van. In the confusion, he had gone back into the police garage and brought out the chief's vehicle.
Ironside turned his head to see Mark, waiting for him. He turned to Anna. "I am going to have to ask you to join me. I will see to it that you are brought back here or taken where ever you need to go."
Anna did not say anything, she just followed Ironside back to his van. She took one look at the vehicle and remembered the night she found this very van in a ditch. Robert had driven into it, trying to avoid hitting a deer.
As they approached the van, Mark had pushed the button and the lift had been lowered to the ground. Ironside turned his chair around and backed onto the lift. "Climb aboard," he said to Anna.
Anna Watson stepped onto the lift and Mark pushed the button once again. With her hand on Ironside's shoulder, she was lifted into the air along with him. He backed into the van and moved his wheelchair towards the back. "Alright, Mark. Take us to the hospital."
Mark pulled the van into traffic and headed for San Francisco General. Eve glanced into the back of the van. She wondered who this woman was. She was dressed in blue jeans, with a light blue blouse and a blue jean jacket. She was wearing cowboy boots and a hat. Eve had never seen Chief Ironside with her before, but the tenderness that her boss was treating the woman indicated that he knew her. Besides, there was the spark of recognition in that smile he displayed when he first saw her. At least it appeared that way. Eve did not know for sure, as she had just been coming out of the building when she saw the police officer approach Ironside, the woman with him.
The fact that the chief had moved to the back of the van only re-enforced her belief, as it was apparent he wanted privacy. Eve averted her eyes from the rear view mirror. As curious as she was, she had to shut them out and allow her boss the privacy he obviously wanted.
As Mark raced towards San Francisco General Hospital, Ironside once again took Anna's hand. With a gentle smile, he looked into her face. She was a very beautiful woman whom, whether she knew it or not, had opened a very important door for him. He felt a pang of guilt. He had fully intended to call her after the night they had spent together, but the situation had changed when Barbara had appeared back into his life at Commissioner Randall's cabin. Once he and Barbara were back together, it did not seem appropriate to contact Anna. Even after he and Barbara called it quits, he was not in the frame of mind to call her.
Now the situation was even more impossible. He had met Katherine. They had been seeing each other for a while now and it had been a very satisfying relationship for both of them. He loved Katherine. Yet, Anna stirred something in him, even now.
Anna Watson interrupted his thoughts. "How have you been Robert?"
Ironside smiled at her. "I have been well, Anna. Very busy. Crime doesn't take a holiday in this town." He ran his hand down the side of her cheek. "You are as lovely as ever. What brings you to San Francisco?"
His touch felt like fire. She really didn't realize, despite thinking of him often, how much she had missed him. "There are no stores out where I live. I often come into town to shop."
"What were you doing near Headquarters? There are no shops in this area," Ironside said.
Anna knew he was right. Had she self consciously ended up in front of police headquarters? No, that could not be. She did not know that Robert Ironside lived on the top floor. She thought he worked at the hall of justice. Isn't that what she told the police officer? But was it the truth? Had she not read in the papers that Chief Ironside lived at police headquarters? Maybe, she just wanted to see him again. Even if she did, he obviously did not want to see her again. He had never called her after that wonderful night they had spent together.
"I ate at a restaurant down the street."
Ironside studied her for a moment. He wondered why she was in the area. He could read indecision in her eyes. Had she come to see him? She was having trouble maintaining eye contact with him. Maybe she was embarrassed. After all, they had what amounted to a one night stand. No, it was much more than that, at least to him. Her presence here had to mean that it was also much more than that to her.
They remained silent for a while, each struggling with what to say to the other. One wondering what had led her here to him and the other wondering how he was going to tell her about Katherine. Neither wanting to hurt the other.
Not another word was said between them the rest of the way to the hospital. Mark announced they had arrived, after which, he parked the van in a handicapped parking space.
"Please, Anna. Come inside. As soon as I check on Ed, I think we need to talk," he said softly.
Anna said nothing but nodded. She watched as Ironside was lowered to the pavement. This time, she got out of the back of the van and joined him on the other side. As Mark came around the front of the van, he noticed he had lost his job to this mysterious woman, as she stepped behind Ironside's chair, and began pushing him towards the emergency entrance.
Anna pushed the police detective inside. Ironside then began to wheel himself to the emergency desk. He pulled out his badge and showed the attendant his police credentials. "My name is Ironside. They just brought one of my officers in."
The hospital employee smiled at him and said, "Yes, Chief. They have taken Sergeant Brown to a treatment room. We were informed he was one of your men. The doctor told me to tell you to have a seat. He will be out as soon as he can access Sergeant Brown's condition."
Ironside picked up his badge and nodded. He looked over at Anna and motioned for her to join him in the waiting area.
Eve and Mark had already gone over and sat down. Both of them were watching their boss intently. "Who is she, Mark?" Eve asked.
"I don't know. I have never seen her before but the chief seems to know her."
"I get the feeling he more than knows her," Eve said, still watching the chief with Anna.
Mark shrugged. "She has never come around the office. But then, the chief doesn't confide in me about women."
"She's a few years younger than he is," Eve noticed.
Mark glance back at them. "Maybe she is somebody he has helped in the past. The chief likes to put on that tough exterior, but he has a soft spot for people who need help."
Eve slowly shook her head. No... that isn't it. Look at the way he looks at her. She is more than just a casual acquaintance."
"Look, man, it's really none of our business and he seems to be keeping her away from us," Mark said.
Eve's expression changed. "You are right. It is none of our business." She looked out the window and decided to sit back and wait for word on Ed.
4.2
Commissioner Dennis Randall opened the door to his office and stepped into the outer office. Linda, his secretary, looked up at him. With the phone receiver at her right ear, she held up her index finger, indicating for the commissioner to wait.
Randall could tell by the conversation that it had something to do with Ironside's office. He waited until she completed the conversation. As soon as she hung the receiver back into the cradle, the commissioner asked, "What is going on, Linda? What is Bob up to now?"
"Nothing, Commissioner. It seems Ed Brown was beaten and dumped in front of police headquarters," she told him.
"Is Ed alright?" he asked, concerned.
"They took him to the hospital. Chief Ironside went with him."
"Get Bob on the phone for me."
Linda picked up the receiver and put it back down. "I knew you would want to talk to him, so I have already tried the van. No one answered. Then I tried the chief's cell phone and no one answered that."
"Oh why bother with his phone, he never answers it anyway," Randall grumbled. "Call Eve Whitfield. She is probably with him."
"Yes, Commissioner," Linda said. But as she was about to dial, the phone rang. Linda punched line two and announced, "Commissioner Randall's office."
"This is Senator Murdock. I want to speak with Commissioner Randall."
"One moment, Senator, I will see if Commissioner Randall is available."
Before she had the chance to push the hold button, the senator blurted, "He better be available. Ironside certainly isn't bothering to return my phone calls. Is there ever anyone in his office. What the hell is the city paying that man for?"
"One moment sir." He punched the hold button and looked back at Commissioner Randall. "Senator Murdock is demanding to talk to you."
Randall rolled his eyes. "With another list of demands, I would imagine. I have no doubt Bob threw his last set of demands in the wastebasket."
"I don't think so, sir. In fact, I don't think Chief Ironside has returned the Senator's call. He seemed upset with him," Linda informed him.
Randall shook his head. "He is not going to push Bob Ironside around. Leave him on hold for a few minutes and then put the call through. And keep trying to reach Chief Ironside." Randall turned around, went back into his office and closed the door.
Linda smiled. It looked like the good Senator was not going to push the commissioner around either... at least not until he complained to the city council.
Randall sat at his desk doing nothing, waiting for Linda to send the call through. Just as he requested, she kept the senator waiting for a few minutes before buzzing him.
When Randall pressed the intercom button, she said, "He is not very happy about being kept on hold. He is demanding to speak with you immediately."
Randall sighed. "Put him through." He waited a moment and picked up line one. With all the cheerfulness he could muster, he said, "Good morning, Senator. What can I do for you?"
"You can do something about Ironside to start with. I sent him over our list of what we need when we come to town and he has totally ignored me. I called nearly an hour ago and was forced to leave a message. He has not bothered to call me back," Senator Murdock snarled.
"One of Chief Ironside's men was injured. He went to the hospital to check on him," Randall explained.
"To the hospital? You must be kidding! When something as important as my security has not been settled!"
Randall kept his voice as even as possible when what he wanted to do was hang up on the man. Ed's life was far more important to Bob Ironside and, if Murdock had made such a statement to him, the chief would have exploded. He did not want the assignment of protecting the egotistical senator in the first place.
"I am sure Chief Ironside will call you as soon as he knows his sergeant is alright."
"I don't want to hear about his sergeant. I want my security finalized. Now, since he is not there, I will give you our requirements and you can give me your assurance that everything will be taken care of." As he was reading off his list of demands, Randall reached under his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. There was no way Bob Ironside was going to do what the senator wanted. That, of course, meant that he was going to have to mediate a fight between Ironside and the senator. For if he didn't, there was no doubt the senator would try going over their heads to the mayor and the city council.
When the senator had finished, Randall broke the bad news to him. "I can't guaranty anything, Senator. Chief Ironside is in charge of your security, you will have to talk to him. However, I don't believe we have the manpower to provide you with twenty police officers around the clock, while you are here."
"You are going to have to, Commissioner. Do I have to remind you, you have a superior as well. I can go to the mayor."
"You need to talk with Chief Ironside. But, I warn you, he will handle your security as he sees fit."
"Well, we will see about that," the senator snapped. The line went dead.
Randall put the receiver back into the cradle. He punched the intercom again. "Linda, have you been able to reach Bob?"
4.3
Dante Domenico entered the living room of Benito Corneilo. The crime boss was reading the paper. He raised his eyebrows when Domenico walked in. He lowered them again and returned to his paper.
Dante walked over and sat down across from him. "Brown has been taken care of."
Corneilo dropped the paper in his lap. "And Ava?"
"Frankie roughed her up but didn't hurt her. She has a few bruises on her face and it is a bit swollen. Other then that, she is fine."
Corneilo nodded. "Brown... what did you do with him?"
"Dumped him in front of police headquarters?"
"I trust you did not have him beaten too badly," Benito said.
"His face is recognizable... well maybe a little. He probably has a few broken ribs but he will recover."
"Did you make sure they warned him not to go to Ironside?"
Dante kept a poker face. He had forgotten to mention that to the men, but he was not about to admit it. "Of course, he was warned. I can't guaranty he will heed the warning."
"He better or he will regret it. I don't want to mess with Ironside," Corneilo said. He got up and headed into the den. Domenico followed him.
"What are we going to do about Senator Murdock? Domenico asked.
"I want him taken out when he comes to San Francisco. You decide how and when."
"It might not be so easy," Dante warned.
"Why not? It is just a simple hit."
"Nothing is simple with Ironside involved," Dante said.
"Ironside? What does he have to do with it?"
"He has been put in charge of the senator's security."
"Damn it! I don't want you handling the hit then. Contact Antonio Delano from Las Vegas and have him come in and make the hit. He can disappear afterwards. Pay him well. I don't want him around where the police can find him. Is that clear?"
"Perfectly, I will arrange it."
4.4
The doctor came through the doors from the treatment rooms. He looked around the waiting room. After spotting Chief Ironside, he headed in his direction.
"Hello, Chief. It would be nice if I could see you under different circumstances. I would prefer you keep your people out of here."
"I would prefer it as well, Doctor. Now, how's Ed?" Ironside inquired.
"Well, as you know, he has suffered bruising on his face. He has some cuts, but none of them require any stitches. He has three broken ribs and has a slight concussion. He will recover completely."
Ironside breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing Ed was going to be alright, he asked the next question that was on his mind. "Can we talk to him?"
The doctor hesitated and then said, "Alright, but I am keeping him overnight for observation. Come this way."
Ironside turned to Anna. "Please wait for me here. I will take you to lunch so we can talk."
Anna smiled and nodded. She watched as Ironside wheeled away and disappeared through the door to the treatment rooms.
Mark wheeled his boss behind the doctor. Eve followed them. When they reached treatment room three, the doctor pulled the curtain back. Ed had regain consciousness. He was laying on the bed. He had an IV running into his wrist and oxygen running into his nose.
Ironside noticed the oxygen and turned to look at the doctor. "It is only to make it easier for him to breathe with those broken ribs," the doctor told him."
Ed turned his head and a small crooked smile appeared on his face. "Hi, Chief. Eve, Mark."
Chief Ironside wheeled up and rested his chair right next to Ed's bed. "What happened?"
Ed looked up at the ceiling. "I am not all that sure. When I was going to my car, two men came up behind me and stuck a gun in my back. I had no choice but to go with them. They forced me into a car and covered my head with a hood."
"Where did they take you?" Eve asked.
"It was some kind of warehouse. And before you ask, Chief, I don't know where and I don't think I could find it," Ed informed him.
"Then what happened?" Ironside asked.
"This." Ed pointed to his face.
"Why did they beat you?" Ironside inquired.
"I don't know."
"How many were there?" Mark looked down at his friend.
"About seven, I think," Ed answered.
"Did you recognize any of them, Ed?" Ironside demanded.
"No. They were taking orders from one guy. Didn't know him either."
"Didn't they give you any idea why they beat you?" Eve wondered.
Ed frowned. His ribs were paining and every breath cause more pain. "They said something about me playing in someone else's sandbox. I have no idea what that meant."
"So they attacked you outside your apartment?" Ironside tried to clarify.
"Well... not exactly," Ed replied.
Ironside detected that he was a bit embarrassed. He looked Ed in the eye and asked, "Who was she?"
"Who?" Ed responded.
"The woman you spent the night with?" Ironside asked.
Ed cringed. Was there anything the man could not detect. "I met her in a nightclub. She was a really nice lady. We hit it off. She said something about her ex-boyfriend stalking her, having men follow her. We left through the back door of the nightclub."
"You gave them the slip?" Mark said.
"Yea, that's right," Ed answered.
"Ed, who was she?" Ironside demanded.
"Her name is Ava Blake," Brown told his boss.
"I will check her out. Maybe the boyfriend is responsible for what happened to Ed," Eve offered.
Ironside sat silently, just looking at Ed. Brown noticed the look on his face. "What is it, Chief? Do you know who she is?"
"No, I don't know her but I know who the ex-boyfriend is. Benito Corneilo."
"The mobster boss?" Eve asked.
"The one and only," Ironside said.
4.5
Ironside wheeled out of the treatment rooms and re-entered the waiting room. Anna Watson stood up and faced him as he wheeled up to her. The chief looked back at Eve and Mark. "Mark, you and Eve take a cab back to the office. I will meet you there later. Start checking everything you can find on Benito Corneilo and Ava Blake. Find out who works for Corneilo. Let's see if we can tie any of his men to the beating they gave Ed."
He turned away from them in dismissal. After they left, Ironside took Anna's hand. "Come Anna, I will take you to lunch so we can talk."
Without saying a word, Anna nodded. She stepped behind Ironside's chair and pushed him out of the hospital.
TBC...
Sorry for the long delay. Real life sometimes has a way of taking front and center.
kaleen1212