Disclaimer: Copper is a credited to its creators Tom Fontana and Will Rokos and BBC America. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is gained from writing of this fiction.
Chapter 10
Kevin came back with Major Morehouse following him. "I hear your contact has it set up for me to meet with Findley," Robert said.
"Yeah," Francis replied handing him the note.
"You got a story ready to tell Findley?" Andrew asked.
"Yes," Robert answered with a grin. "I'm looking for a man to assassinate someone for me. The man I want dead is former Major Robert Morehouse whose lies were responsible for my court martial."
"You're settin' up your own killin'?" Francis asked in disbelief.
"I'm certain Lovelace would indeed like to see me dead for ending his military career," Robert replied. "Always best to mix some truth in with the lies."
"Good story and completely believable," Kevin said.
"We'll go early before Findley arrives and find a spot where we can listen ta what's going on," Francis said.
The next morning at 9:30, the three detectives, with Robert, entered the park. He chose a bench near a grove of trees where Kevin, Andrew, and Francis were hiding so they could hear the conversation between him and Findley. Robert spotted a overweight man in a suit, cravat, spats and wearing a stovepipe hat hurrying in his direction. "This must be him. Eyes and ears open, Gentlemen."
"Lieutenant Colonel Lovelace?"
"I am Sir," Robert said in his haughtiest tone. "And who may you be?"
Kevin had to smile. The major sounded exactly like Apollo Lovelace.
"I'm Neal Findley. You've requested my services."
"Yes. I heard you were the one to contact if I needed a unpleasant job done."
"What kind of a unpleasant job are we talking about?"
"I need someone punished and then disposed of. He is a foul liar and the bastard who destroyed my military career with his lies."
"I have a man who can perform the job to your satisfaction, Sir. What is the target's name?"
"Major Robert Morehouse. He been a thorn in my side for too long!"
"I'll have the name of the assassin and how he'll contact you when we meet again the day after tomorrow. The price for this service will be $10,000 dollars."
"Fine," Robert said nodding. "I would be willing to pay twice that to get rid of Morehouse."
"In two days time then," Findley replied tipping his hat and then hurrying off.
They waited until Findley was completely out of the park before they came out. "That's seems to have gone well," Kevin said.
"Will the good captain be willing to fund that much money though?" Robert asked. "If not the entire amount; I'd be willing to fund half of it."
"Tammany can fund it easily," Kevin replied. "Neal Findley's organization been a pain in our backsides for a long time."
They went back to the precinct and Robert waited in their office while they talked to Sullivan. Sullivan came into the office and said, "I'll check with Mr. Eustace and let the detectives know of his decision by the end of the day."
Robert nodded and got up. "I'll be in touch then."
"I'd better go and see Mr. Eustace immediately then," Sullivan decided. He went back into his office and donned his uniform coat and his cap and left the building.
"If anybody can get Eustace to spring for the money Sully can," Andrew said sitting down at his desk.
"Yeah especially when we arrest Bramwell and Eustace takes credit for it," Francis said.
"Nah," Kevin shook his head. "Nobody's gonna believe he did all the investigative footwork himself."
Sullivan came back after an hour. "Mr. Eustace has agreed to provide the money and he's going to deliver it here himself the day after tomorrow."
Kevin drew on his coat and grabbed his hat. "I'll let the major know."
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Emma was surprised to find Francis waiting outside of the clinic when she walked out. "Hello Francis, what are you doing here?"
"Thought you might like to take a look at your new apartment," he replied.
"You convinced your landlord to rent to me then?"
"I did."
"Yes, I would. Thank you," Emma replied taking his arm.
They arrived at Francis' building and went inside. He took her up to the second floor and opened the door for her.
Emma walked inside and looked around her. "It's bigger than the one I have now and in much better condition too."
"And ya have a copper that lives on the fourth floor too," Francis joked. "If ya think this place is all right then we can get you moved today."
"This will not take long," Emma said as they arrived back at her building. "I need only pack my carpetbag and I'll be ready."
"I'll wait outside while ya do that," he replied.
Emma nodded and went inside. She came back outside in about 20 minutes. "I gave the landlord my notice. I think he's glad to see the back of me. I will be coming back here though to check on some of the mothers and their children. Many of them are war widows who I can't convince to see Dr. Freeman even if it means theirs and their children's health might suffer." She paused. "Not the landlord would allow Dr. Freeman on the premise anyway."
"Let me know when ya want ta do it and I'll go with ya," Francis said.
"I usually hold clinics on Saturday morning."
Francis nodded. "I'm usually free on Saturday mornin' unless there's somethin' big goin' on."
"If you do not mind doing it then,` I accept your offer."
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Sara and Elizabeth were enjoying a cup of tea at Sara's shop and laughing over the story Elizabeth was telling her about the ball she had held in honor of her cousin the previous night.
"He was quite the attraction!" Elizabeth laughed. "The single women were lining up to dance with him and they were flirting with him as well. I think he was quite overwhelmed by all the attention!"
"Well I'm not surprised as he is a handsome man," Sara replied.
"By the way, everyone was amazed when they saw Cornelia Von Laytonberg. How on earth did you ever manage to get that old dragon into a dress that actually looked astonishing on her with colors that complimented her? Her last dressmaker certainly never managed it."
"When I went to her house and I was escorted into the room where she was waiting; the first thing I noticed were all the pictures of Queen Victoria she had so I assumed she must be a great admirer of hers. As she looked at the material samples and chose her colors or her style of dress; I simply remarked if the Queen were here right now she'd approve or disapprove of the dress style or colors she chose," Sara confessed.
"Well, it worked and I imagine you will be receiving much more business because Cornelia bragged to everybody about how you made her look like Queen Victoria and how pleased she is with you."
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
"Wild Bill" Eustace arrived at the precinct, carrying a bulging satchel and accompanied by two Pinkerton agents. He went into the detective's office where Sullivan and the major were waiting along with the three detectives.
He set the satchel down on Francis' desk. "This is the $10,000 dollars you requested. Are you sure you will be able to apprehend Findley?"
"As soon as he lays a hand on that we're gonna arrest him," Andrew said nodding at the satchel.
Eustace nodded. "All right, good luck and good hunting then." He and Captain Sullivan went into Sullivan's office so Sullivan could sign a receipt for the money.
Robert picked up the satchel and carried it out to his carriage. He and the detectives got inside and rode to Gramercy Park where Robert sat down where he had previously sat while the detectives again hid in the trees behind him.
Findley arrived promptly at ten. He nodded at Robert. "Good day, Lieutenant Colonel." His eyes drifted to the satchel beside Robert. "Is that the fee we discussed for the elimination of Major Morehouse?"
"It is," Robert answered. He opened the satchel so Findley could see the money it contained. "The $10,000 dollar price you named, Sir."
Findley smiled greedily, took a folded slip of paper from inside his suit coat, and handed it to Robert who opened and read it. He nodded. "It's always good to do business with a man who keeps his word." He reached for the satchel and grabbed hold of the handle when the detectives sprang out of their hiding places, guns drawn, and surrounded both of them. "Drop your guns and put your hands up!" Kevin ordered. "You're under arrest for planning to murder Major Robert Morehouse."
Andrew grabbed the satchel while Francis cuffed Findley. "Ya just went outta business, Findley!" He grabbed the piece of paper out of Robert's hand. "I'll take that."
"Corcoran!" Robert snarled as Kevin cuffed him. "I had hoped you'd been killed in the remaining days of the war!"
"Your bad luck I wasn't," Kevin replied. He waved to somebody in the distance and the Black Maria appeared. The copper driving it got down and opened the back of it and two other coppers jumped out and waited.
"Get a move on it," Francis growled, giving Findley a kick in his backside.
"I'll have my lawyer sue you all for every cent all of you have for slandering my good name with this additional false accusation!" Robert shouted.
"Shut up and get inside!" Kevin said shoving Morehouse into the Black Maria beside Findley. He locked the doors and waved to the driver. "I want them put in separate interrogation rooms!"
The copper nodded and snapped the reins to get the horse moving.
The detectives rode back to the precinct in the Morehouse carriage. Andrew took the satchel into Sullivan's office and set it down on his desk. "We got Findley and the major in interrogation. We had to arrest him too so it wouldn't look funny."
"Good work," Sullivan said taking charge of the satchel. He was obviously relieved to see the money.
"Let's go talk to Mr. Findley," Kevin suggested with a grin.
Findley was sitting handcuffed to a chair in the interrogation room. He was outraged. "How dare you arrest me? You have no proof of any wrongdoing!"
Francis leaned against the edge of the table. "Wrongdoin'? Ya meet with Lovelace and agree ta give him the name of a killer for ten thousand dollars." He pulled out the piece of folded paper from his jacket and waved it at Findley. "I think this might be evidence of wrongdoin'."
"We want to know who hired the three men who caused the dynamite explosions on July 4th that killed over a hundred people," Kevin said.
"We know too you sent three men to kill the killer we got under arrest," Andrew said. "We killed two of the one's you sent, but the third's still alive."
"Yeah and it'll be nice ta see ya all hangin' in a row too," Francis added. "Along with the one that started it."
"If I'm gonna hang no matter what; why should I tell you anything?" Findley demanded.
"It might make the difference between hanging and life in prison," Andrew said.
Findley's narrowed his eyes at Andrew. "Is that true or are you just trying to get me to talk?"
Kevin nodded. "Not saying it's for sure, but we can certainly look into it if you're willing to give up the person behind this."
"I'd have to have that guaranteed before I give you a name," Findley said with a smug smile.
"We guarantee the offers only good 'til this time tomorrow and it ain' no good if ya don't give us a name after the offer's made," Francis said. "Then I can guarantee ya'll hang."
Kevin looked at Andrew and Francis and nodded towards the hallway. They went out into the hallway. "Let's give him some time to think it over."
"Yeah, we've found witnesses he's hung," Andrew said. "So maybe if he thinks long enough 'bout himself hanging; he'll give us Bramwell's name."
"Let's go check with the captain about the life imprisonment. He may not want to do it because people here are really angry about all the people who were killed and they want to see justice done," Kevin said.
Francis thought about Mrs. Rubenstein and Mrs. McGarvey. Their husbands had been found on July 5th; they'd both been stabbed to death. Was it fair they wouldn' get no justice?
"I think Sully be willing to see that Findley and the other one at Dr. Freeman's got life imprisonment in exchange for getting Bramwell," Andrew said. "He's the main criminal behind this."
Captain Sullivan listened to what they had to say, but shook his head. "I'd have to check with the prosecutor. It's up to him to decide the sentencing."
"Do ya think ya can get hold of him today?" Francis asked.
"I can, but he's going to want to know how strong the evidence is before he will agrees to anything."
"We have two witnesses who've dealt with Bramwell face-to-face and can point the finger at him even though he's been using the name Cornelius," Kevin said.
"The evidence had better be strong because he won't want to accuse anybody uptown if it isn't," Sullivan warned. "I'll need to inform Mr. Eustace too of course." He reached for his coat and cap. "I should be back within an hour or two at the latest."
The three detectives went back into their office and sat down at their desks. "Do ya think though even if the prosecutor decides to arrest Bramwell; a judge and jury is gonna accept the words of a couple of criminals that he's guilty?" Francis asked. He snorted. "Hell! Ya might as well have me testifyin'!"
Andrew nodded. "Yeah and most of them will probably be neighbors of Bramwell's too."
"We've got a solid chain of evidence though," Kevin pointed out. "We have an ammunition dealer who sold those men some of the dynamite they used on July 4th. We have one of the criminals who did the dynamiting and can testify that Bramwell paid them to get rid of people in Five Points anyway they could so he could grab the land and make a fortune, and now we've got Findley who got the men for Bramwell."
Francis had his doubts, but he'd keep them ta himself for the time being.
Captain Sullivan returned with the prosecutor in tow. Francis remained in their office while Kevin and Andrew presented all the evidence they'd gathered. He figured there was no point in remindin' the prosecutor of his case that'd had ta be dismissed because the evidence had gone missin' or of his continued survival for that matter.
Kevin and Andrew came back into the office smiling. "He agreed our evidence is solid enough and he's going to go before the judge on Monday and get a warrant for Bramwell's arrest," Kevin said.
"Did he agree ta give our two prisoners life sentences instead of hanging 'em?" Francis asked.
Andrew nodded. "He wasn't crazy 'bout it, but he agreed to do it to get the bigger fish."
"He filled out a legal document that fixes Findley's sentence at life imprisonment," Kevin added.
"Better wait until the judge issues the warrant before ya start celebratin'. He could know Bramwell and refuse it," Francis advised.
"That's true enough," Andrew agreed. "All them judges live up there by the major."
"Speaking of the major, we'd best go and release him," Kevin said with a laugh.
They went into the room where Robert was locked. He looked up as they came in. "I thought you forgot about me," he said as Kevin unlocked the handcuffs. He rubbed his wrists. "Did Findley give you Bramwell's name?"
"He's thinking about it," Kevin replied. "We offered him life imprisonment rather than hanging."
"Imagine he's made a lot of enemies over the years so life imprisonment ain't gonna be no picnic either," Andrew added.
"If he decides on our offer," Francis said.
"Well, if you gentlemen have no further need of me I'll be getting home. I imagine Elizabeth is worried about me," Robert said getting up.
"Thanks Major, appreciate what ya did," Francis said. "We know it could 'a been dangerous."
Robert grinned. "Perhaps I should have been an actor except for the fact my father would have suffered a complete collapse had I come home and announced it."
The detectives went back to their office only to be interrupted by Stubby who stuck his head in the door. "The prisoner you left in interrogation is yelling his head off. Captain says to go in there and shut him up."
"Think he might be ready to talk?" Francis asked grinning.
"Let's go find out," Kevin replied.
They entered the interrogation room. "Hear you been squealing like a stuck hog Findley," Andrew said sitting down on the corner of the table.
"I have rights!" He snapped. "And you've no right to leave me handcuffed in this room for hours!"
"You don't have no rights," Francis said recalling his treatment after he had been caught by Andrew with Keating's new counterfeit plates. He sat down on the other corner of the table. "Ya gave up those rights a long time ago."
"Are you ready to give us the name of the guy you hired those men for?" Kevin asked.
"Are you ready to make good on your offer of life imprisonment?" Findley asked smirking.
"Yes," Kevin answered. "But remember the offer will be taken back if you don't give us a name. The prosecutor has agreed to give you life imprisonment rather than the death sentence." He pulled a folded document out of his jacket, unfolded it, and placed it in front of Findley. "Can you read?"
"Of course I can read!" Findley snorted. He leaned over the document, his mouth moving silently as he read it. He nodded. "It's satisfactory except for the fact that I'll need extra protection in prison."
"Why the hell should we give ya even more when you ain' given us anythin'?" Francis demanded.
"Because Detective, I know a lot of things and I could be very valuable to you should I choose to be."
"How 'bout I hang ya myself instead?" Francis threatened.
"Francis," Kevin nodded towards the hallway. The three of them went outside in the hall.
"He's just gonna keep jerkin' us around," Francis complained.
"We should just go back in there and tell him the deal's off. Francis is right; he's just giving us a lot of shite!" Andrew said with his arms crossed over his chest.
Kevin shook his head. "We've got to get him to give up Bramwell."
Francis shrugged. "Maybe we should do like Andrew says and rattle him by pullin' back the offer."
"Don't know," Kevin said. "He could be the key to solving a lot of the unsolved crimes we have."
"Doesn't mean we have to give into every one of his demands does it?" Andrew asked.
"No, because you're both right; he hasn't given us one damn bit of information," Kevin said. He squared his shoulders and went back into the room with Andrew and Francis following him. He jerked the agreement the prosecutor had written for Findley out from under his hands and said, "Deal's off Findley! You don't know anything and you're putting on this show to save your own neck!" He made like he was going to rip it in half when Findley suddenly went pale and shouted, "Don't!"
Francis put his hands on Findley's shoulder, leaned into his face and growled, "Then ya better start givin' us some names!"
Findley knew from what he'd heard around Five Points that Detective Maguire was not somebody to mess with. "All right, all right!" He paused for a few seconds. "He told me his name was Mr. Cornelius, but it was probably a made up name since people never use their real names in this business. I have no idea what his real name is though. He paid me in cash and his money was good so that's all I cared about."
"What'd he look like?" Andrew asked.
Findley squinted as he pictured Cornelius in his mind. "He's in his thirties somewhere maybe, on the short and pudgy side with blond hair and green eyes." Findley snorted. "Spoke genteel like you do if you been to expensive schools. Demanding little shit too, used to getting his own way!"
After Findley had been taken away to the Tombs where he'd be held until his trial, they returned to their office. "Now all we have ta do is wait and see if the judge gives the prosecutor the warrant for Bramwell's arrest on Monday," Francis said as he sat down at his desk.
"Yeah and waiting's the worst part too," Andrew agreed as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He held up the pot. "Anybody else want a cup?"
"I'll take one," Kevin said. Francis shook his head. "Had enough already."
The rest of the day was quiet by Five Point's standards. Andrew and Francis walked home. "What are you and Sybil doin' over the weekend?"
"One of our neighbor's husband died and we're going to his wake. I hope Sybil doesn't tell his wife how good he looks in the box, but she will," Andrew said gloomily. "I told her not to tell Kevin that at Ellen's wake, but she went right over and did it."
Francis winced inwardly. The thought of Ellen's suicide was still very painful for him. He'd wondered since her death if what he'd said ta her in anger that last time they'd seen each other had played a part in her decision.
"What are you gonna do?" Andrew asked.
"I told Nurse Sterling I'd go with her back to her other place. She checks on some of the people that live there on Saturdays. I don' think she realizes between working for the Doc and lookin' after Eva's girls some people object ta her reputation and it could make her a target."
"Yeah, she's pretty green when it comes to Five Points," Andrew agreed. "Too green for own good in fact."
"I'm keepin' me eye on her ta make sure nobody bothers her."
They split up and Francis went upstairs to his apartment. He took off his hat and tossed it on a table then took off his suit coat and hung it up. He sat down and stared out a window. Thinking about Ellen always sent him into a depression. He knew he had loved her completely, but he knew now she'd never felt the same way and had only slept with him because she was angry at Kevin for leaving her to fight in the war.
An unexpected knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He got up, picked up his gun and cocked it then opened his door.
Emma was standing outside with a bowl of what looked like soup or stew. She started when she saw his gun.
He uncocked it and laid it back on the table. "Sorry, bein' a copper ya never know who's gonna be at the door. What did ya need?"
"I made some stew, but I made a bit too much so I thought I'd share it," she replied.
"Ya can cook?"
She nodded. "Yes. Miss Dix wanted her nurses to be self-sufficient in case we were sent to a field hospital and needed to do more than nurse so she taught us how to cook. She always said good food was one of the prime components of good nursing and healing."
Francis accepted the bowl from her. "I do appreciate ya thinkin' about me."
"I'll see you tomorrow then," Emma said. She turned and went back downstairs.
Francis shut the door and set the bowl on the table. He took a spoonful of it and decided it was pretty good.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Bramwell got into his carriage on Saturday morning. He was meeting with another disreputable character from Five Points. Findley had been a complete failure despite his claims. Again he was dropped off within walking distance of Gramercy Park and ordered his carriage driver to wait for him there. Bramwell entered the park and sat down on a bench to wait although he had no idea who he was waiting for.
A very untidy individual came up to him and for a moment he feared a robbery, but then the man smiled showing missing and rotten teeth. "Clement Ticeson," he said.
"Are you the person I was told to expect?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Whatta you want with me?"
"I will need men who are willing to do whatever it takes to get what I want done and I do not care how they do it."
Ticeson nodded. "I can get 'em for you. They'll get your job done."
"Mr. Findley said the same thing and his promises did not live up to his supposed reputation."
Ticeson smiled chillingly. Neal Findley was now sitting in the Tombs awaiting trial. His greed had been his downfall when he agreed to help a client who the coppers had their eyes on. He stood to benefit by taking over Findley's crime organization and combining it with his even though his was a smaller operation. "I ain't Findley."
"All right then. How much?"
"Depends …how many men we talking about here?"
"Five to start with possibly more as the job progresses."
"It'll be $10,000 dollars per man, cash only."
Bramwell nodded. "Fine. When do you want the money?"
"I'll meet you here on Monday and I want full payment before I send any men."
Bramwell nodded. "I will be here with the entire $50,000 dollar payment at ten o'clock on Monday."
Ticeson nodded and left. Bramwell waited until he was out of sight before he walked back to his carriage. He ordered his carriage driver to take him to his bank. He would need to withdraw some money.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Francis knocked on Emma's door and waited. "Who is it please?" Emma's voice called.
"Detective Maguire, Miss Sterling."
Emma opened the door. She was dressed in her uniform and had two large baskets filled with food plus her medical bag. "I'm bringing food to help out the tenants. I know many of the children aren't getting enough to eat."
"That's the lot of the poor in Five Points," Francis replied as he picked up the baskets. They were heavy and he didn' know how she'd been plannin' to bring them by herself.
"I know. It is deplorable and it should not be that way when you think how much food goes to waste," Emma said. She was lucky that her father, likely at her mother's insistence, sent her money practically every week so she was able to use it to help the people who needed help. She had discovered when she became a nurse how really little she needed for herself.
"Aye."
They arrived at Emma's former tenant house and Francis carried the baskets inside for her. "I'll just be outside if ya need me for anythin'."
Emma nodded. "Thank you for helping me, Detective. I appreciate it."
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Julien had dinner at the Morehouse home on Saturday evening. "It strange," he remarked as he took a sip of his wine. "Mr. Bramwell hired me because he said he was expecting an increase in his business, but I've noticed no change in my job duties."
"He may be working on something big and those things do take time before they mature," Norbert remarked. "I've always heard the man's a genius at acquiring real estate."
"Perhaps," Julien replied.
"I think what you need is to relax Julien," Robert said. "I know just the place to do it."
Elizabeth frowned at that statement. Relaxation to Robert meant going to Eva's, drinking with the detectives, and other denizens of the 6th Precinct then returning home completely inebriated.
When dessert was finished and cleared away, Elizabeth rose from the table. "Robert, may I speak with you?"
James came in carrying a bottle of brandy and glasses and proceeded to pour three glasses.
"Certainly my dear," Robert replied. As they left the room Robert heard his father ask Julien, "What is Alcott Bramwell really like? He's quite the mystery man in our set."
They went into the study. "Robert, if you are planning to take Julien to Eva's I do not think that it is one of your better ideas. He would be a lamb to slaughter amongst that crowd that frequents Eva's," Elizabeth said.
"Julien's a big boy, Elizabeth and there's nothing to worry about. I'll be with him the entire time we're there, I promise."
Elizabeth smiled a small smile and leaned against Robert. "I suppose you as usual are right. If Mr. Bramwell is as dedicated to his business as he sounds; Julien most likely does have to work very hard and deserves to relax." She straightened again and assumed a severe expression. "But please do not allow him or yourself to be drawn into any kind of trouble."
"You have my word." Robert said kissing her.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Francis and Kevin we're sitting in Eva's with a drink in front of them. Francis had a beer and Kevin's was whiskey. They were both tense, awaiting Monday to see if the judge would issue a warrant for Bramwell's arrest based on the evidence Kevin and Andrew had presented to the prosecutor.
"He probably has the best lawyers money can buy," Kevin remarked. "No doubt he'll be out on bail five minutes after we arrest him."
"No doubt," Francis said. "He'll likely run too if he gets free. He'd be dumb ta stay."
"I'll sure enjoy seeing his face when we haul him in though."
"We ain't got authority in that part of town," Francis pointed out. "It'll be the 16th Precinct's job to arrest him, won't it?"
"Yeah. I hadn't thought of that, but they'll have to bring him down here since that where the warrant's from."
At that moment Francis straightened up and said, "Well, I'll be damned."
"What?" Kevin asked turning around in his chair. He saw Major Morehouse and another man.
"How much you wanna bet that's the cousin that works for Bramwell?" Francis asked.
"That's a sucker's bet," Kevin replied as the two men started towards their table.
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