The Case of the Failure to Look Beyond the Obvious
Chapter 12
12.1
Della and Perry were sitting on the coach in Mark's room. Perry's arm was around Della. Both were quiet and they sat lost in their own thoughts.
Della broke the silence. "Penny for your thoughts." Perry kissed her forehead. "I am thinking I may need to call John Richards to the stand. It will depend entirely on how Richards presents his case. I don't want to embarrass Richards but I have a client to protect and if it comes down to one or the other I will protect the commissioner. Richards will just have to endure the embarrassment."
"As it should be," Della said. "Do you think it will come down to that?"
"I don't know yet. I need to talk to that boy and Abigail Falconer. I am pretty sure Damon Richards is the killer. We don't have anything concrete yet but I am sure Bob's people will come up with something," Perry said.
"What about Lt. Means? Are you comfortable with how much Robert has involved him in this case?" Della asked.
"I wasn't at first but Bob reads people extremely well. He would not be involving him to the degree he is if he wasn't sure the man could be trusted. After today I have to agree with him. He has gone out of his way to try and help with this case. I think he will be fine. More than fine actually. I believe he will go a long way to help solving this with Ed Brown out of commission. That is the thing that does bother me, losing Ed Brown. He is such an outstanding investigator," Perry told her.
"Well, Paul will be here the day after tomorrow. Why don't you have him stay? I am sure Robert would welcome the help. He is a bit stretched right now. He has brought in two additional officers to work on this," Della said.
"I planned on asking Paul to stay. I don't think the chief will have a problem with it." Perry started rubbing the bridge of his nose and then his eyes.
"Perry, you need to get some sleep. You are exhausted." Della ran her finger down the side of his jaw.
"You're right of course. I just wish we had a little more privacy," Perry said.
"This is easier for Robert. After all we are in a building full of police," Della pointed out.
"That did not stop these people from shooting up his office," Perry observed. "We were lucky today. Any one of us could have been killed." Perry held Della tighter.
"Well, we weren't. Now, Mr. Mason, I want you to get some sleep," Della insisted.
"Alright, Miss Street. I am too tired to argue with you," Perry returned.
12.2
Two police officers approached the officers on duty at Ed Brown's room. "You're in luck, fellas, we have the graveyard shift," the one officer said.
Down the hall Carl Reese was approaching the four police officers. "How's Ed doing?"
"Chomping at the bit to get out of here. You would think he would be happy to get away from the chief for a while," one of the two original officers said.
Carl looked at the two men scheduled to take over. Something wasn't right. Carl knew every policeman's face in the department and these two did not look the least bit familiar. "I am going to go in and see Ed. Can you two wait a minute? I came in a taxi and could use a ride back to the station."
"Sure, no problem, Lieutenant. We are in no hurry," the officer said.
Carl entered Ed's room. "Hi, Carl. Do me a favor and work on the chief to spring me from here. Another day here and I will be climbing the walls."
Carl placed his finger over his lips to silence Brown . "Hey, Ed, how the hell are you? Must be nice lying there all day while the boss orders me around in your place like a slave driver." Carl pulled out his cell phone and quietly sent a text message to John Means who lived just down the street. He continued talking to Ed in a voice loud enough to be sure the men outside could hear him. His cell phone buzzed with a text message. Means was on his way over and had called Ironside. His message came through loud and clear, STALL. The chief had dispatched several officers to the hospital.
12.3
Lt. John Means was downstairs in the lobby waiting on the police officers Ironside had dispatched. When he spotted four cruisers, he walked out of the hospital and met the officers. "Ed's room is on the second floor. Carl is stalling until we get up there. Dave, take three officers and come up the back way. Approach the room from the south hall. You will be coming in from an entire intersection away so be careful where you aim. Our own boys will be in the line of fire. The rest of you come with me. We will take the north entrance. It will bring us out just around the corner from Ed's room. Dave, you guys will call for them to surrender to distract them. We will take them from behind. Now remember the chief wants at least one of them alive. Try to take them out without killing them but if any of our people's lives are at stake, take them out period. Harry Storm and Jules Moran are the officers on duty. The other two are imposters. Let's go." Means texted Carl to let them know they were moving toward him.
12.4
The two imposter officers were becoming impatient. This is not the way this was supposed to go down. They were supposed to kidnap Brown, not stand around while Reese visited with him. The longer they stayed here the more at risk they were. Yet they did not see how they could just walk away without arousing suspicion. No, they just had to stay put until Reese left, taking the other officers with him.
12.5
Carl pulled another gun out of his suit coat and gave it to Ed. "I am going to stay here to protect you but this is just in case they get by me." He walked away from Ed and quietly walked to the door.
12.6
Means brought his officers up the north entrance. When he opened the door he put his finger to his lips to be sure the desk staff remained quiet. He motioned for them to move to the other end of the desk. The halls were clear as Means had hospital security call up and clear them without alerting the two imposter policemen. Quietly and slowly he and his men moved to the end of the intersection waiting on the other officers to make a move.
Dave was at the intersection at the end of the hall. He motioned for two officers to cross the hall and conceal themselves behind the wall. They waited until they were sure the imposters would not spot them. "Police!" he shouted. "We know you are not SFPD. Drop you weapons and lie down on the floor."
The imposters raised their weapons at the two police officers beside them and said, "You move, you're dead." The officers dropped their weapons as the imposters shielded themselves behind them. "Come near us and we'll kill them."
Means whispered, "There is no way we can take a chance with those officers' lives. Shoot to kill," he said. He then yelled out, "Drop your guns, you are surrounded." The one imposter whirled around with his arm around the officer's neck. Means aimed and fired. He shot the imposter in the forehead. It was enough to distract the other imposter who turned and exposed his back to the officers in the north hall. Dave's men opened fire and riddled the imposter with bullets. He fell to the floor.
"It's alright Carl, it's over," Lt. Means called out.
Carl opened the door his gun still drawn. He took a look at the situation and holstered his weapon. He walked over to John Means, smiled and slapped him on the back. "You're alright, John. Welcome to the good guys!"
Means smiled. "I guess I deserved that. Thanks for trusting me to handle the situation."
Reese looked at him and said, "I wouldn't have unless I knew you were on our side and you are on our side. Thanks, partner!"
"You're welcome. The chief is not going to be happy. He wanted one of them alive," Means said.
"You didn't have a choice. You had to protect our boys. You did a good job. The chief will roar like a lion but you will learn his roar is worse than his bite. Let's get this situation cleaned up and get out of here. What do you want me to do?"
Means was confused. "You're the ranking officer here, Carl."
Reese smiled. "True but it was your operation. You're in charge."
12.7
Ironside, Perry, Della and Mark sat waiting impatiently for word from John Means. Ironside slammed his fist on the table, "Why doesn't he call?"
Perry and Della remained quiet. They both knew the chief was just venting his frustrations. The phone rang. Mark reached for it. Ironside slapped his hand away and grabbed the phone. "Ironside," he barked. He listened for several minutes. "I wanted one of those men alive, John," he grumbled. He continued to listen. "Alright, clean it up. Get two men over there to guard Ed. Don't leave until they get there and you identify them. From now on, each team is to call this office and find out who their replacements are. Is that clear?" Ironside continued to listen. "I'll see you in the morning." Ironside slammed the phone into the receiver.
His companions waited for him to update them. "Ed's fine and so is everyone else except the gunmen. John had no choice but to take them out. The sooner we can get Ed out of there the better. Thank god Carl decided to stop by there and see Ed on his way home." Ironside ran his hand down his face. "Let's get some sleep."
12.8
Mark Sanger arrived home from night school. He came down the ramp. When he did not spot the chief he walked over to the window his boss spent quite a bit of time looking out of. "Chief, are you alright?"
Ironside glanced over his shoulder at Mark. "Why wouldn't I be?" came the gruff response.
"Eve called me and told me what happened tonight. Why didn't you call me?" Mark inquired.
"There was nothing you could do, Mark. There was no sense in worrying you. You would not have been able to keep your mind on your schoolwork," Ironside responded.
"After what happened here should you be sitting in front of this window?" Mark questioned.
"Carl had bulletproof glass put in," Ironside informed him.
"Can I get you something?" Mark asked.
"No, just sit down for a minute," Ironside said.
Mark sat down beside his boss and friend. He waited for him to speak what was on his mind.
"I am sure Damon Richards framed Commissioner Randall for murder. In fact I believe he is responsible for the murder of Jermaine Webb, probably Randy Kempt and possibly Mary Gallows. We just have to find the evidence to prove it. What bothers me is what John Richards' part in all of this is? What was he doing at Webb's apartment the night of the murder?" Ironside rubbed his thumb across the stubble on his chin. "How deep is he involved in this? I don't want to smear him if he is not guilty of anything. However, if he is dirty I am going to take him down."
"Why don't you ask him what he was doing there?" Mark asked his boss.
"Because if he is involved in this mess I don't want to tip him off we know he was there. I don't want to interfere with Perry's defense of Dennis." Ironside scratched his chin. It sounded like he was scratching sandpaper as Ironside always had heavy stubble by the end of the day.
"We know it has to be someone powerful who is running this drug ring. I just don't believe Richards has that kind of power," Ironside continued. "No, it has to be someone with more power than Richards."
"If he has several cops like Damon Richards helping him he could be more powerful than you are giving him credit for," Mark said.
"No, Mark, I don't think so. I think I am going to pay David Martin a visit at the prison tomorrow while Perry is in court. I'll need you to take me in the morning."
"Alright, Chief, but don't you think you should get some sleep?" Mark knew if he did not get the chief to retire he would not be able to either.
"Alright, get me into bed," Ironside ordered.
12.9
Perry stepped out of the shower. He dried himself and wrapped the towel around his waist. He combed his hair, shaved and applied his…well, Della's favorite cologne. As he finished brushing his teeth he could hear his brother complaining outside the bathroom.
"Come on, Perry," shouted Ironside. "You are not the only one who needs to use the bathroom."
Perry came out of the bathroom. "Della was in there far longer than I was and you did not oust her out of there," Perry protested.
"That's because the results on her are worth waiting for. It doesn't do you one damn bit of good," Ironside groused.
Mark smiled. "You would not say that if he didn't bother to take showers while he is here."
Perry grinned. "If I did not have to be in court I just might not bother, then maybe tomorrow I could get ready in peace."
"Go ahead if you prefer to sleep in a cell downstairs," was Ironside's comeback.
As Marked helped Ironside into the shower Della set the table for breakfast. She went into the kitchen and began preparing bacon and eggs. She put on a pot of coffee to brew.
Perry sat down and studied his handwritten schedule for the day. Della poured him a cup of coffee. "We will start interviewing possible witnesses right after the Commissioner is arraigned. Bob is headed over to the prison to talk to David Martin. I'll need you with me, Della," Perry said.
"As always." Della smiled.
The door banged open and Eve, Fran, Carl and John Means all arrived at the same time. Carl noticed the table was set for all of them. "I'm starved. My wife is visiting her parents and no one fixes my breakfast when she is gone."
Ironside wheeled into the room freshly showered, shaved and dressed in the suit Mark had laid out for him. "Della, that's not your job. You're a guest here," Ironside scolded. "Mark!"
"I don't mind," Della called out. Mark went into the kitchen and took the coffee and picked up the tray full of coffee mugs Della had set up. Della put the scrambled eggs in a large bowl and set the bacon on a server. She and Mark served everyone at the table before sitting down themselves.
The door opened up and two officers brought in Dennis Randall. Ironside looked over his shoulder. "Sit down, Dennis, and have some breakfast," he called out.
Randall took a seat beside Perry Mason as Carl Reese moved over. "Bob, I am not sure it is such a good idea to bring me up here every day. I have been told the press have gotten wind of it. You are going to start taking some heat over it."
"It wouldn't be the first time now would it, Dennis?" Ironside grinned.
After breakfast was over everyone started heading out with their respective assignments. Eight officers came into Chief Ironside's office. "Chief, we are ready to escort Mr. Mason to court."
Perry glanced at the army of officers and ribbed his brother, "Eight cops to take me to court. That's a bit of overkill, isn't it, Bob?"
"Better overkill than you GET killed," Ironside responded.
Perry, Della and Randall left the office with the officers. As they were leaving more officers came into the office. "Anytime you are ready, Chief," one of them called out.
"Have a seat, gentlemen. It will be a few minutes," Ironside told them.
The door opened and in walked Sgt. Ed Brown. "What the hell are you doing here, Ed?" Ironside shouted.
"I don't think the doctor appreciated his halls being shot up by our policemen. He came in this morning and said he was releasing me. You know hospitals, Chief, they kick you out just as soon as they can. What can I do to help?" Ed asked his boss.
"Get into bed. We'll set up a rollaway bed in the room Mark is in. It will be crowded but you will both survive. I don't want you staying at home alone right now. Everyone is staying together in two or more until we crack this case. You will be staying here with us," Ironside informed him.
"Chief, I have been in bed. I know I was only shot a couple days ago but really I feel fine. I want to help even it only means making phone calls from here," Ed pleaded with his boss.
Ironside was about to order Sgt. Brown to bed when he thought better of it. "Alright, Ed. Get on the phone. Call Lt. Russell in San Diego. Find out if he has discovered anything about where the money was wired to in Sacramento. Have the video checked to see if Damon Richards was near Commissioner Randall's office after Randall left."
"The commissioner's office doesn't have cameras and neither does the hall his office is in," Ed pointed out.
"That hall is a dead end and the cross hall does have cameras. If Richards was in that hall it will be on camera. If he was I want to know what time. And check with Paul Drake and Lt. Tragg and find out if they have found anything in the Griffin file yet that will help us. That should keep you busy until Mark and I get back. Mark! Let's go."
Ed picked up the phone as Mark pushed the chief out of the office.
12.10
Lt. Carl Reese entered the Flamingo Night Club. The manager was cleaning up behind the bar. "Jimmy Davis?" Carl asked.
"Yea, who are you?" the man muttered.
"San Francisco Police," Carl said as he flashed his badge. "I am looking for this man. Have you seen him before?" Carl pulled out a picture of Gerard Bronson and showed it to Davis.
"Yea, he comes in here," Davis confirmed.
"When was the last time you saw him?" Carl inquired.
"Last night as a matter of fact. He was in here with another guy." Davis walked around the bar and started setting the chairs upside down on the table. "We will have to talk while I work. I am on a schedule here. I have to sweep and scrub this floor."
"Was this the man he was with?" Carl showed him a picture of Damon Richards.
"Yea, that's the guy," Davis said as he continued lifting chairs onto the tables.
"Do you know where I can find this guy?" He showed him the picture of Gerard Bronson again.
"He has a girlfriend. Her name is Mary. I don't know her last name. He could be with her. He also has a friend who owns a pool hall. He spends a lot of time there shooting pool," Davis told him.
"Which pool hall?" Carl asked.
"Nick's over on Eddy Street. Now if you don't mind I need to get this work done." Davis left Reese and headed to the back of the bar.
Reese left the bar for Eddy Street.
12.11
Mark pushed Ironside's wheelchair in the private visiting room at the prison. A prison guard brought David Martin into the room. "Sit down, Councilman," Ironside said.
Martin looked at Ironside. "I am not going to help you, Ironside. You are wasting your time. I look forward to sharing a cell with your pal the commissioner."
Ironside looked at Martin. He hid his disdain for the man. "That will never happen, Councilman. Why are you protecting the man that ordered the death of your son?"
Martin laughed at him. "You can't win, Ironside. You have bitten off more than you can chew. Randall suffered because you could not back off. Your sergeant was shot because you would not back off. How many of your cops have died because of you? There's a contract out on you and Mason and the price just went up. It won't be long and you both will be dead and they will go on with business as usual."
"Where are you getting your information from?" Ironside asked not really expecting an answer.
"I told you, I will not help you. Have you got a smoke?" Martin put his index finger and middle finger together indicating a cigarette.
Ironside reached in his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He gave one to Martin and lit it with a match. "Who's Paul Bridges?"
Martin laughed. "You really aren't going anywhere with your investigation, are you?"
"Is he the one who took you for a fool?" Ironside glared at Martin.
"Nobody took me for a fool," Martin snarled at Ironside.
"Is that why you are in jail and he is not?" Ironside baited Martin.
"I'm here because of you." Martin looked at Ironside with pure hatred.
"You're here because you were stupid enough to allow yourself to be used. You ordered the death of your own son. I had nothing to do with that." Ironside started to push Martin to see where it would lead.
Martin's face turned red with barely contained anger. "You and Mason put those ridiculous high ideals in his head. That's what killed him."
Ironside snorted. "No, you killed him."
"Shut up!" Martin roared.
"You killed him and you are going to rot away here in prison while Paul Bridges gets rich running the drug ring." Ironside watched Martin closely. He needed to find out where Paul Bridges fell in the organization.
Martin laughed. "You're way off, Ironside. Bridges doesn't run it. He's just the boss's right-hand man. You'll never get near the boss. He's untouchable. He could have you fired. In fact he probably would but he doesn't have to. That contract will take care of you."
He could have me fired, Ironside thought. He's somewhere in my chain of command? "There is no such thing as untouchable. No one is above the law. You are living proof of that." Ironside watched to find the right button to push. "I'll find him, Councilman, and when I do I will find more charges to hit you with."
"Who cares? I will never get out of here. What could be worse than this?" Martin blew smoke directly in Ironside's face.
"I could put out the word that you helped me. How long do you think you would last in here once I did that?" Ironside asked.
"You wouldn't do that, Ironside. It's a lie. I haven't helped you," Martin shouted.
"Oh but you have, Councilman. I know Paul Bridges will lead me to the boss. You just served him up to me. You have indeed helped me. You're not very bright, are you, Councilman? How did you ever get elected to the city council? One thing is for sure, it wasn't with my help. I did not vote for you. Did you vote for him, Mark?"
"No, sir. I don't vote for crooks," Mark responded.
"I bet your funding will further help me find your boss. All I have to do is check your donors list which of course I can say you provided to me."
"You wouldn't dare, Ironside!" Martin was screaming with rage.
"Wouldn't I?" Ironside asked. "Have a nice life, Councilman, whatever is left of it and thank you for your help." Ironside turned his back on Martin and began to wheel away. Martin pulled a shiny object out of his sleeve and flew over the table. He leaped toward Ironside's wheelchair wielding a knife.
