ASE-37
Scorpio Penthouse
In the living room, Frisco had set up his map on an stand-up easel. Dinner was buffet style. They were all positioned around the room eating and talking.
"Hmm, I feel a hundred times better," declared Anna. "Hi, Frisco!"
"I wish I could have been there when they found you," said Frisco.
"I thought I was hearing things when I heard Remi's voice," said Anna as she made a plate for herself.
Seated next to Sean and Robin on the couch, Robert said, "Remi's getting a commendation when the dust settles."
"Isn't she still in the academy?" asked Frisco.
"Graduated last month. I think I'm going to ask the academy provost to let Remi do a presentation to the senior class on Anna's case later on," said Robert. "It'll be good for her and motivate the cadets to finish the year out. We need more people like Remi on the force."
"More women certainly," said Anna. Sean gallantly gave up his seat for her. Robin scooted over so Anna could sit next to Robert.
"They're making their presence felt slowly but surely." Robert cleared his throat. "Now that you're rested, why don't you give us all a full account. First, what happened at the ball." He pointed at the map. "We've got a good idea of your movements that night. Based on pictures, I knew you were on to something or someone - eavesdropping. Why didn't you let me know?"
"I couldn't, Robert. It happened too fast," explained Anna. "I was leaving the ladies and I needed some air. I went to the terrace."
Their eyes were trained on the map as they listened to Anna's account.
"The terrace was occupied. At least I could hear several voices having a conversation. It was dark and the voices were coming from a secluded area. I was about to leave when I heard your name and Bettina mentioned," said Anna. "I crept closer and got the bits and pieces I told you about."
"That someone was out to frame me and Brewster," said Robert.
Anna nodded. "The conversation wasn't very long. But the last part was the most interesting. Several voices were urging the one voice to step up the plan and to strike while the iron was hot. Words to that effect. One voice said that he wanted to discuss things in person with someone who had to make the final decision. Someone who was at the party."
"But why not meet all at once if they're all in the same place?" asked Frisco.
"It's another layer of protection for all concerned. Spread the information around so no one except for one or two people have all the knowledge," said Sean. "It's a smart if complicated tactic. What happened next, Anna?"
"They started leaving one or two at a time. There were five people altogether. I recognized one Assemblyman Roach. The last to leave was Mayor Cromwell." Anna wasn't entirely surprised by the shocked faces around her. "You think I'm making this up?"
"No, but ... but there has to be a mistake," said Sean.
"Are you absolutely positively sure?" asked Robert.
"Whoa, talk about a scandal," said Frisco.
"I heard what I heard," replied Anna.
"The mayor is the one that asked me to look into this case," said Robert.
"Exactly!" exclaimed Anna. "Who else would you EXCLUDE from your investigation automatically if not him? This way he gets whatever he wants and your resignation or firing is icing on his cake. And all the while no one else would be the wiser because you'd never look in his direction. It's brilliant and very devious."
"It's plausible to suspect that he leaked the information somehow to the press, maybe via Bettina then to Cassandra," said Robert.
"But why? He's damaging himself," said Frisco.
"No, he's not," said Sean. "He's playing an end sum game. The end result is all that matters. He wouldn't care if he lost a skirmish as long as he won the war. In fact, in this case, losing a few moves IS to his advantage as it deflects attention off him."
"I accept that the theory has merit but why would he even do this in the first place? What's his goal?" asked Robert. "Let's get back to what we DO know. I assume you followed them out, luv?"
"There were too many to follow so I picked the biggest fish. I followed Cromwell back in. He was chatting up people the whole time and I was dodging photographers as best I could." Anna stood up and moved to the map. With a finger, she traced her route. "We left the terrace and slowly I followed him past the Lounge. I was going to try to find you Robert when we passed by the ballroom doors but Cromwell was moving ahead. You were standing with Bettina near the front."
"Must have been close to the time Bettina collapsed," said Robert. "Then what?"
"She collapsed? Is she all right?"
"I'll fill you in later. Keep going."
"We got past the storage room and I had to watch my step. Cromwell turned left down the back hallway," said Anna. "The further along he got the more nervous he seemed. I ducked behind the stage. I saw him enter the dock. I was about to follow but Brewster delayed me. After I got rid of him, I went to the dock area. But there was no one at the dock. Then there was a commotion, shouting. I turned and someone came up behind me and chloroformed me. The last thing I did was take the flower off. Did you find it?"
"Uh, huh. That's how I knew you were gone," said Robert.
Anna sat back down on the couch close to Robert. Their legs touched. "At least something worked out as it should have. They were ready to snatch someone or why else did they have the chloroform? I don't think it was for me. I was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Next thing I remember I woke up in the buried van."
Robert glanced at Sean then Frisco. "The van had water and food inside."
Sean looked at Anna. "You feeling all right, Anna?"
Anna stretched like a cat. Her robe accentuated every line and curve of her body. "That bath was wonderful. My skin doesn't feel like sandpaper anymore. I feel like a new woman."
Robert coughed. "I'd feel a lot better if Monica could run those tests on you."
"You suspect the water and food was tainted?"
"Yes we do," said Robert. "You didn't feel ill at all? Dizziness? Weakness?"
"After the chloroform headache faded, I felt fine."
"If you feel anything, no matter how minor, you have to tell us and we'll get you to the hospital." Robert looked sternly at Anna and he took her hand in his hands. "No arguments on this."
Touched by his blatant concern, Anna could only nod.
"Robin? Olin? You understand? Call me and 911 immediately should Anna feel anything different," said Robert.
"Sure, Commish," said Olin.
"I got it, Dad," said Robin.
Anna looked at all their faces. There was something they were hiding. "The water wasn't just tainted was it? Was it poisoned?"
"You asked about Bettina before, luv. She collapsed at the ball. Her champagne was spiked with a strong drug. She's in a coma right now," said Robert. "Monica doesn't believe she'll make it."
"Oh,no," said Anna. Unconsciously, she wrapped an arm around Robin and held her close.
"Gets worse. The day after the ball Cassandra disappeared. Before we found you today, we found Cassandra locked inside her car. She was dead," said Robert. "The lab has confirmed that the same drug that was in the Bettina's glass was in the water we found in the car."
Anna gasped. "That ... that could have been me!"
"Yes," said Robert softly.
"But it wasn't," said Robin snuggling closer to Anna.
Anna looked at her body. "How fast does it work? What are the symptoms?"
"We're in the dark on the drug's exact behavior, Anna," said Sean. "It was created, we believe, as part of an experimental project now shuttered and forgotten run by Ferris Pharmaceuticals and the WSB."
"The WSB? That doesn't sound good," said Frisco.
"Getting information about the project from the Bureau is worse than pulling teeth," said Sean. "They're hiding the information. I'm sure of it."
"They can't do that! What about Cassandra and Bettina?" asked Anna.
"Collateral damage."
"In our day, those words didn't sound as bad, Sean."
"Things change."
"The drug was used full strength against Bettina. The water in the car had a higher dilution of water and drug. It's effects were slower," said Robert. He hadn't let go of Anna's hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I ... I think they didn't want you dead. Or maybe, you got lucky."
"I finished one gallon, Robert. Most of the second one spilled on the floor. Maybe that was the one poisoned," said Anna. She paled as she realized fully how perilous her situation had been. "They could have ... have left me there to die. You may not have ever found me." She hugged Robin even harder.
Robert took a deep breath. "So far so good. You're home. You're safe."
"And you were found," said Sean. "It's obvious to me that the mastermind of all this had no intention of that. As long as he thinks you're dead, you're safe."
"He's made his first mistake. I intend to capitalize on it," said Robert. "We have twenty-four hours to flush him or her out. The fallback plan is to ... to declare Anna dead and see what happens."
"What's our next move?" asked Frisco.
"We have to put on a little show. Make the other side think that the department has come down with a case of the stupids. We discuss this case only amongst ourselves, Guy and Remi. That's it." said Robert. "Frisco, I'm putting you on full surveillance on Cromwell. You and Remi. I want that man followed door to door. Sean, you and I are paying the honorable mayor a visit. I'll give him a report in person while you leave a few bugs in his office."
"And me?" asked Anna. "I can't just lie in bed doing nothing. I had enough of that in the van."
"Anna, I want you to go over the statements and other documents we have." Robert looked at Frisco. "Did you finish plotting out positions?"
Frisco held up a long plastic cylinder. "Yeah. They're on two maps. One for the VIPs and one for the non-VIPs. I've also got the cameraman and roving photographer's descriptions and statements."
"Very good. Hand them over to Anna. Robin, you're staying home for a few days. I'm sorry you'll be missing school."
"I'd rather be with Mom," said Robin.
"Olin, I don't trust anyone else to be around here. Would you mind staying here for a few hours a day, running errands?"
"No problem," said Olin.
Robert looked at Anna. "Match things up. We have to find out who Cromwell was meeting with. I can't interrogate the mayor yet. It would tip our hand. But I can talk to the junk man and to Brewster one more time. If I can figure out why he's being framed, it may lead us to the real boss."
"Junk man?" asked Anna.
Robert smiled. "Little Scorpio there did her own investigating."
Anna looked at Robin. "What?"
"Me and a group of friends-" began Robin.
"Bobbie told me it was a mob," said Frisco.
"There was only twenty-five, Frisco. We went door to door for two days asking about you, Mom."
"Sweetheart, that could have been very dangerous," said Anna. She looked at Robert. "How could you let her, Robert? You know there are some crazy people out there."
"Me stop YOUR daughter? Hardly," said Robert.
"It was okay, Mom. Olin followed in her car and Friday was with me," said Robin. "He found your cashmere wrap in the back of the junk man's truck."
"I don't know that I believe his story of finding the wrap at random," said Robert. He rose to his feet. "I better get to the station and question him. I can't put it off."
"Robert, I'll meet you at the station in an hour. I want to call Garrison. See if a little arm twisting will get us more information," said Sean. "Also, I contacted a friend at the Department of the Treasury about Brewster. I'm waiting for his call."
"The Feds?" asked Robert.
"Yeah, there was something in Brewster's financials that set my radar off," said Sean. "Remember, I said that Brewster was a career politician from a relatively well to do family? You'd think he'd have more in the bank but he doesn't. I'm thinking off shore accounts."
"Tell Tiffany about the plan. I need her contribution to make us look even more incompetent."
"You got it. I'm going to pull some data on Cromwell, too. You never know what might turn up." With that, Sean left the penthouse.
"Thanks for dinner. I'll start that surveillance right now, Robert," said Frisco. "Can I tell Felicia?"
"You better. I don't want her coming after me for monopolizing your time," said Robert.
Frisco left. Robin went into the kitchen to help Olin clean up leaving Anna and Robert alone.
Robert moved towards the elevator. He put on his coat.
"Robert?"
"Yes?"
Anna stood close to him. "I came really close didn't I?"
"I suspect so. We'll know for sure when the van forensics report is done," said Robert.
"About earlier. Teasing you. I'm sorry. I didn't know you had so much on your mind."
"I like your brand of teasing." Robert raised her chin with a finger. "I want you to be extra, extra aware. Anything even a mild headache and it's off to General. I don't care if it blows up the operation. You come first."
"I want YOU to be careful. You're the target for sure," said Anna.
"If they wanted to kill me, they've had plenty of opportunity," said Robert. "Though going after you and Robin would be the same thing. I'll be careful."
Robert gave Anna a quick kiss and was gone.
City Hall
Mayor James Cromwell dialed a number he knew by heart. He waited through three rings.
"Yes?" came a masculine voice over the line.
"We have to talk," said Cromwell.
"No! This is a critical time-"
"Dan was just in here. He's scared that Scorpio has him in his sights. I say we drop the hammer now."
"It's not the right time."
"Scorpio will only be diverted for a few days maybe a week if we're lucky," said the mayor. "This wasn't suppose to go this far."
"Cold feet? Second thoughts?"
"We're all going to sink together if Scorpio digs any deeper," said Cromwell.
"Then I have to make sure he stops, don't I?"
"How?"
"I'll think of something," said the voice. "Don't call me. I'll call you." He ended the connection.