Devane Donely Investigations
Felicia did a double take at the image she saw when entering Anna's office. Her boss and friend was reclined in her chair and her booted feet up on her desk. She was sound asleep.
"I shouldn't wake her," murmured Felicia. "But she did want an update on the Montfort case."
Felicia was spared a decision by Sean sending out a loud greeting as he passed by the office door.
"Good morning!" said Sean.
"Morning," said Felicia.
Anna lurched to sit upright in her chair. "Wha-what's next?"
"Didn't get enough sleep?"
Anna blinked rapidly trying to clear the fog from her mind. "Sleep? Could not settle down to ... one, um, never mind. Was that Sean I heard?"
Felicia nodded. "Let's go into his office and I can brief you both at the same time."
Felicia stacked the folders that Dr. Hardy had given to her. "These are Alicia's records. From what I've seen, Steve may be right. Alicia did take care of herself. There was no indication of something obvious like clogged arteries."
"We need to have an independent set of eyes on those records. Call some hospitals in New York City. See if you can find a cardiologist who would be willing to sign on as a consultant. Have him or her study Alicia's medical condition in detail," said Sean. "Good work there, princess."
"I just asked some questions and Steve went in the direction I wanted him to," said Felicia.
"That's what happens when you ask the right questions," said Sean. He glanced at Anna who seem barely able to remain awake. "Are we keeping you from a nap?"
"What I wouldn't give to be nineteen again," said Anna under her breath.
Sean chuckled. "Wait until you reach my age. Is this exhaustion connected to you, Rabbit's and Robert?"
Anna's eyes opened wide. "Did Robert tell you something?"
"I know nothing.
"He DID tell you something. What or who was it?" asked Anna.
"I know nothing," repeated Sean.
"What are you two talking about?" asked Felicia.
"Robert and his fantasy woman," said Anna.
Felicia's jaw dropped.
"You said it not me," said Sean.
Anna's eyes narrowed. "So, it IS a woman. Who? Which one?"
"I know nothing," repeated Sean again. The mischievous gleam in his eyes told Anna that Sean was enjoying toying with her.
"Fine. Don't betray Robert's confidence. I'll find out on my own," said Anna.
"The things you learn about people," said Felicia.
"C'mon, Anna, don't tell me that you don't have one or two bedroom secrets?" teased Sean. "We all have fantasies."
Anna blushed a deep red.
Felicia's jaw dropped, again. Sean used his index finger to gently push Felicia's jaw upwards.
"We're not talking about me," said Anna. Her eyes fell on the folders. "Um, what about the ... the autopsy results?
Anything suspicious?"
"I haven't gotten to that yet," said Felicia.
'The local medical examiner's trained to spot the obvious. Another set of eyes wouldn't hurt," said Anna.
"Good idea, Anna. I'll pass it on to a WSB examiner for a second look," said Sean.
"Besides looking for a consult, is there anything else you need me to do?" asked Felicia.
"While you're on the phones, see what people think about Repose Hill and mention it's manager Chris Tremont," said Sean. "Call up senior citizen referrals centers, managers of competing businesses, suppliers and hospital social services. I want to know the good, the bad and the ugly. Got it?"
Felicia scribbled notes on her notepad. "Yeah."
Anna ran a hand through her loose hair. "Wish I could help but I'm going to PCU today. I want to speak with Nicole Rohmer's counselor and her teachers in person."
"You sure you can drive in your ... condition?" asked Sean in mocking tones. He had a very strong idea as to the source of Anna's unusual lethargy.
Anna glared at her friend and former mentor. "I'll manage."
"Sleep is the best medicine," said Felicia who clearly had no awareness of the innuendoes in the air.
"Oh, I intend to catch up tonight. Believe me," said Anna. "I'm, um, doing surveillance at Rabbit's tonight."
"Need help?" asked Felicia.
Sean and Anna shared a look that Felicia did not miss.
"I do KNOW what goes on in places like that. I'm not THAT innocent," said Felicia.
"I didn't say a word," said Sean.
"Aren't detectives supposed to know the shadier side of life? I need more work experience," said Felicia.
"Not that kind of work, princess," said Sean.
"Actually, Felicia, I may need your help," said Anna. She was thoughtful for a few seconds.
"You cannot bring Felicia into that den of-" began Sean.
"Of course she can," said Felicia. "Can I come with you tonight?"
"Not help at the club. I meant on the phone," said Anna. "Nicole's father said that Nicole recently got a scooter. Call around the scooter and cycles shops. Find the one that sold it to her. There's a picture of Nicole in her file."
"Will do. Anything else?" asked Felicia.
"That's it. Thanks," said Anna.
"I better get started or I'll be here all day." Felicia scooped up the folders and left Sean's office.
Anna cast a meaningful glance in Sean's direction. "What do you think I'll find at Rabbit's?"
Sean shrugged. "It's your typical gentleman's club if rather quaint by big city standards."
"What kind of woman would intrigue Robert so much that he'd visit more than once?" asked Anna.
"You really have no idea?" asked Sean incredulous.
"The kinds of women that he's been involved with wouldn't be seen in those places. I don't get the ... the fascination for a man like Robert," said Anna. "Maybe, she's outrageously beautiful? Or unbelievably sensual? Or, maybe, she makes him feel something that no one else can?"
Sean stared at Anna. "You sound jealous. I don't believe it. You?"
"I don't have a jealous bone in my entire body," protested Anna.
"Let's try insecure."
"Absolutely not."
"Your interest in the place goes beyond professional curiosity. Why?"
"Because I'm finding more and more things about Robert that I didn't know. Did you know he has a brother that he's estranged from?"
"He does?"
"Yeah. That's just one example and Rabbit's is another," said Anna. "Oh, Sean, I want this second chance to last forever. I can't think about going back to a friends only relationship with Robert. I couldn't see him with another woman. I know I couldn't."
"That's what you did for years."
"But I wasn't in love with him during that time. Everything is different now," said Anna.
"Not from where I'm standing it's not."
Anna couldn't meet Sean's gaze. "I suppose I do get a tad territorial where he's concerned."
"A little bit," said Sean. "He's the same way with you. More so now after your second go around"
"Has it been obvious?"
"Is the sky blue?"
Tiffany's voice echoed from the front office. "Sean!" The staccato beat of heels grew louder as they got closer.
Anna picked up on the generally angry tone in Tiffany's voice and made her exit. She passed Tiffany on her way to her office.
"Hi, Tiff!" said Anna.
"You better be ready to pick up the pieces after I'm through here," said Tiffany entering Sean's office and closing the door.
Sean smiled his most charming smile. The effect seemed to bounce off his wife who dumped her purse and coat on a chair.
"I want answers not runarounds. What did you do, Sean?" asked Tiffany standing beside her husband with arms crossed and posture tense as a hunting dog on a scent.
"Do about what? What are you talking about?" asked Sean continuing with a soothing tone of voice.
"Do not talk to me as if I was a five year old having a tantrum," said his wife. "I called Irene Montfort to make arrangements for the feature I was going to do on her and Chris' wedding. She barely said ten words to me. Guess what she said. Guess!"
"I'm sure you're going to tell me."
"She's cancelled. I don't get my feature. A feature I might add that I have advertised for weeks now," said Tiffany. "A feature that people want to see."
"Fluff pieces are a dime a dozen. You're a serious journalist and-"
"Features sell ads. Ads keep my station on the air. Every feature matters!" said Tiffany. "I may not save the world on a regular basis but my work is important!"
"I know it is, honey. I know how much of yourself you put into the station. I'm proud of you."
"But you don't hesitate to push me under the bus when it's about a case do you?"
Sean glared. "No! How could you say that to me? I support you two hundred percent."
"Irene said that you're investigating Chris. She didn't like it. She didn't like you and by association me," said Tiffany. "Therefore, feature is not a go."
Sean led Tiffany to an armchair. Now that she'd vented, Tiffany calmed down.
"I'm investigating Alicia's death. All I said to Irene was that I wanted to question her husband to be. That's all," said Sean. "She being too sensitive."
"Of course she is. She adores him," said Tiffany.
"The man must be a paragon of manly virtues. I couldn't even find a parking ticket," said Sean.
"Oh for the love of ... you ARE investigating him," said Tiffany.
"I'm not. Not directly. Remember when Lila and Amanda came by the penthouse?"
Tiffany nodded. "The two of them together is pretty intimidating."
"They asked me to verify that Alicia did die of natural causes. I have four days to give them a report," said Sean. "Given that, you can see why I have to talk to Tremont. It's routine procedure. He runs the place. He knew Alicia on a personal level. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't talk to him. Irene just ... just overreacted."
"She's defending her man, Sean. I can't say I blame her," said Tiffany.
"Why do you say that?" asked Sean sensing that here was yet another source of information on one Christopher Tremont.
"Irene went through a bad time after she had that accident that was news for months."
"The one where she was driving and her passengers died?"
"That one. People blamed Irene not the drunk driver that plowed into them going in the wrong direction because drugs were found in her car," said Tiffany. "Her friends deserted her, Sean. Only Chris stood by her. He was a counselor there before he became the director. Don't ever question her loyalty when it comes to Chris."
"The family seems to think highly of him."
"Gregory does. He thinks the world of him."
"Just Gregory?" asked Sean.
"Based on what I've noticed at parties and things, The family is happy for Irene and they tolerate Chris. I mean she could have done worse, right?"
"They don't see him as a gold digger or a social climber?"
"I've met Chris. He's not either of those things," said Tiffany. "God knows, Irene is so high maintenance, I commend him for putting up with her. He's a good, decent man."
"That's what everyone says about him so far," said Sean.
"So far? Irene wanted to be married years ago but Chris held off until he got the director job. He didn't want more talk about him marrying Irene for her money. Does that sound like a social parasite or money leech to you?"
"I reserve the right to make up my own mind after I've met him," said Sean with his poker face on.
"I know better than to try to change your mind when you have that look." Tiffany got to her feet. "I have to get back to the station."
"I'm really sorry about you losing the feature, honey," said Sean pulling his wife close against him. "Maybe after I wrap it up, Irene will change her mind."
"A little kiss may get you back into my favor a teeny bit," teased Tiffany.
"Here's a downpayment for later." Sean's eyes lingered over his wife's features before he swooped in for a kiss that left her in no doubt about his intentions for later. "Do try to get home early, hmm?"
"Can't. Sorry."
"Why not?"
Tiffany extricated herself from his arms. "Because I have to meet with my team to brainstorm what to put into the slot that was intended for the Montfort feature. Ideas don't grow on trees, darling. Plus, I have to talk to the advertisers and sponsors to keep them from changing their minds."
Tiffany waltzed out of the office in a much better frame of mind than she came in with.
After a few minutes of thinking and analyzing his case, Sean put his blazer on. "Tremont, I'm getting really curious about you. It's time we had a chat."
Kelly's Diner
Robert stopped in for an early lunch. He took a seat at the counter.
"Hey, Ruby, one of your grilled cheese specials, please," said Robert.
"I thought you were starting to eat healthier? That's what I heard when Anna was in here," said Ruby. "I don't want to get in trouble with her."
Robert leaned across the counter and said in a low voice, "I won't tell the wife if you don't. Scout's honor."
"Well, maybe just this once. I'll add a salad to it." Ruby left to fix his sandwich.
"Hey, commissioner," called out Sadie, one of the waterfront's long-standing transient residents. She was seated at a table by the windows so she could keep an eye on her cart of belongings which was parked outside. She nursed a hot mug of coffee and a muffin.
Robert crossed the room to sit by Sadie. "You got something interesting for me, Sadie?"
"Maybe." She looked around the half full diner to see if anyone saw her talking to Commissioner Scorpio. She had a reputation of cranky independence to maintain. "A couple of new people moved into my area of the catacombs two weeks ago and I haven't seen them again."
"Maybe they've moved somewhere else," said Robert.
"No place warmer than the caves. And they left all their stuff. That's crazy," said Sadie. "One of them was a vet. Had bad dreams about war and bombs."
"A vet, huh?" Robert's mind began to work. Veterans could be tracked through the network of veteran's hospitals. It sounded to him that the missing man was in need of medical attention for post-traumatic stress disorder. "You think you could give me or a sketch artist a good description of him?"
"It's a her. Yeah, sure," said Sadie. "But not here. Know what I'm saying."
Robert nodded. He said loudly. "Listen, Sadie, you can't be loitering here and-"
"I'm not. Ruby invited me in," said Sadie also in a loud voice.
"I'm going to have to take you into the station as soon as I've had lunch," said Robert. "Don't bother trying to get out of here before then. I got eyes in the back of my head you know."
Ruby called out to Robert, "Here you go!"
Robert munched on his sandwich mulling over in his mind what Sadie had said. There had been a tiny but noticeable increase in crime on the waterfront. Long timers like Sadie noticed a lot of things that the police didn't. Over the years, he'd learned to not discount what anyone said no matter what they appeared to be. Maybe there were connections to be made here.
