Well I'm off to my interview. I managed to finish this chapter up a few
minutes ago. I hope you enjoy it. And I do know a woman with the same
last name as the Chief's. Needless to say she hated it.
*-*-*-*-*
Alex received the egg encased in its velvet bag from Dylan when she arrived at the hospital to pick up Bosley and Max. Sitting in the lab she couldn't help but wonder where the red-headed angel had found it. It wasn't like they had a lot of clues to work with, a couple photographs, and a hint from Rutherford that they should find an assassin named Francisco Duarte. Now as she stood dusting the egg for prints many questions whirled around in her mind. She glanced at Kate who stood slightly to her side watching. "Kate!" thought Alex. There was something about the woman she didn't trust but couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was just the way she had been careless about the eggs to begin with.
"Careful," the Russian woman called, "you don't want to loosen the diamonds."
"I am being careful," said Alex through gritted teeth. Or maybe she just didn't like Kate because of the way she went after Dylan's boyfriend. At first she had suspected that Anthony was cheating on her best friend but she watched the Thin Man at the gala and suspected that, all thought she didn't personally like Anthony; he was obviously in love with Dylan. "Anyone could see it," she thought, "even through the unemotional mask he wears."
"Could you maybe hold it by the top? The part of the base where the pearl is, it's very fragile," requested Kate.
"Listen, if I hold it like that then I can't dust the top," said Alex as she ran the brush gently over the tip of egg. As Kate babbled something about the dust destroying the enamel painting of the resurrection, two prints appeared. "Bingo," called Alex.
"What? Did you find something?" asked Kate leaning over Alex's shoulder casting a shadow on the egg. "I don't see it."
"Yes, I found something. Could you please back up so I can work?" asked Alex taking the egg over to a special device that would scan the prints and run them through the database.
"First of all I want you to know," said Kate, "I think your agency is doing a better job than I expected. Second, I have a feeling you don't like me. That is fine but I hope your dislike of me doesn't get in the way of the investigation. And regardless of how the case turns out and how good of a job you do I will have to inform Mr. Townsend that you let your personal feelings get in the way."
Alex just glared at her, knowing that if she said something it would more than likely get out of hand. Looking at the computer monitor she said, "This is going to take sometime. Why don't you go get a cup of coffee or tea downstairs?"
Kate flashed spiteful a look in Alex's direction then headed out of the room. As she left Alex heard the computer beep that a match had been found. She walked over and moved the cursor to the "infoview" button and clicked. Slowly a photo of Anthony came up next to the finger print. Alex closed her eyes it looked like her theory was proving to be correct; the Thin Man did it, but she knew it would crush Dylan. Still she had to be told. Picking up the phone in the lab Alex called Dylan's mobile number.
*-*-*-*-*
He wasn't sure what to do with himself. He wasn't working, because of the promise he made to Dimitri. He had given up his apartment to move to Bucharest then he didn't go. He wasn't sure he was welcome at Dylan's and he had given up the house he inherited to Kate. Not that that was a bad thing. On his long early morning drive he decided removing himself from her was the best thing he could do, but as a man who had always been in total control of everything he felt like he was spinning out of control now. There was only one other time he had that feeling and that was when his parents died. After that he vowed never to feel that way again.
Anthony stopped in a cafe for a cup of coffee and pondered the complexities that were his life. He sighed as he realized he had been thinking about them a lot in the past four days. Maybe he would contact Neville. Sipping on the hot steaming liquid he pulled out his pad and started making notes, jotting down his thoughts. There was always work and he would know of a job. Perhaps he could find him something out of the country. Or there was Pablo Ortega. Considering how out of the loop Neville had been on the Faberge eggs perhaps contacting him would be a better idea.
He went to the pay phone in the entryway of the café and pulled the small battered contact card with the telephone codes for Ortega out of his wallet. He couldn't remember the last time he had contacted the man but it would be good to hear his voice again. Carefully he dialed the number and listened to the ring signal on the other end. When the line was picked up he typed the code in and waited. "Is that my favorite silent assassin?" asked the Spanish accented voice on the other end. Anthony replied by hitting the appropriate button. "Thank god I thought you got yourself arrested." Punching the appropriate keys he asked, "Why?" "Well if you kill off your job contacts and don't make an effort to hide it's you chances are you get arrested, or killed," answered Ortega. "I hear your description is on the police wires."
Anthony was puzzled. He didn't have a clue what the man was talking about. He hadn't tried to kill anyone since the hospital in Chicago when he killed the rogue FBI agent, Reynold Clarke. He pushed 9-4-6, spelling "Who?"
"Who?" asked Ortega. "Neville Rutherford that is who. It's going around that you stabbed the man in cold blood and left him to die in an ally in East LA."
Anthony hung up the phone on the man. That couldn't be right? What was Ortega talking about? He tried calling Rutherford's number but there was no answer. He noticed two cops outside looking at his car from the window in the café door. "This isn't good," he thought. He knew the café had another exit so he inconspicuously made his way too it. As he left he noticed the police go inside and show something to one of the waiters. He watched them from the curb. A voice called to him, "Hey buddy you getting on or what?" Looking up he noticed the city bus there. He shrugged, paid the fare, and took a seat.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan, Bosley, and Max arrived at the office around eleven. She didn't expect to see Kate sitting on the couch sipping coffee, where she and the angels had sat so many mornings. "Kate," she said surprise.
"Good Morning, Dylan, Bosley. Oh who is your young friend?" Kate asked looking at Max. Dylan saw Max as a chance to talk to Alex and get an analysis of the rapier.
"Bosley, can you do the introductions?" Dylan asked then excused herself and went up to the lab. Alex was working on something and was startled when Dylan said, "What's up?" Alex put her arm around her friend and led her to chair. "Why don't you tell me what is up. Where did you find the egg?"
Dylan sighed, "Tell me what you found first." Alex looked at her. "Fine," said Dylan angrily, "Let me tell you what you found. Anthony's prints were all over the egg. Am I right?"
"Dylan." started Alex but her friend cut her off. "Here," she thrust the black bag containing the rapier at her and said sarcastically. "I'm sure this has his prints on it too." Alex unzipped the bag and reached in with gloves on to remove the contents. The sword had blood still coating it which caused it to stick to the bottom of the bag as it dried. She didn't have to look long for prints they were very clearly visible on the curved handle. She scanned them like she did with the egg and the computer quickly found a match, Anthony.
"Where did you get the egg, Dylan?" asked Alex again.
Dylan looking at the floor gave a small snort, "In his drawer in my apartment." She looked up into Alex's eyes. "I know you will disregard everything thing I'm going to say, the old 'Dylan always falls for the bad guy'. But even though all the evidence points to him..." Her voice faded out and then she said, "Alex, I don't think he did this. I'm not saying this because I am crazy in love with him. I'm saying this because I know him."
"You've been with him two weeks."
"And in that time I have learned more about him than we ever thought possible. He speaks to me, with words, out loud, and I don't think he would have done this. He considered Rutherford a friend."
"Okay let's say he didn't stab Rutherford, what about the eggs?" asked Alex. She would love to believe Dylan was right about the Thin Man and wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but there were signs she couldn't ignore and they were flashing in neon red.
"The Chief, he did it." Said Dylan.
"We checked there was no invitation listed to him and the boy who checked invitations, Ted swore up and down that the invitation was authentic, no fakes were found in the pile. The Chief's real name by the way, is Arnold Stinkbottom." Dylan snickered and Alex herself couldn't keep a straight face. "It's what Charlie's contact with the FBI told me."
"Arnold Stinkbottom?" asked Dylan with tears of laughter running down her face, "And here I thought being Helen Zaas was bad." As they were doubled over in laughter Natalie entered. "Hey Nat," said Dylan trying to catch her breath, "how is Rutherford?"
"Stable. I've got bad news," said Natalie looking worried. "It's about Anthony."
Dylan didn't know if she wanted to hear it or not. She took a deep breath and braced herself for the news. It couldn't get much worse. "Okay tell me."
"Someone told the police he did it. They are looking for him and have put guards around Rutherford's room. They think he will come back and try to finish the job," said Natalie.
"That doesn't make any sense," said Alex. Dylan looked at her surprised. "We have the evidence here, the rapier that was used to stab Rutherford. Why would they suddenly have reason to suspect Anthony?"
"Apparently they have a witness who saw him dropping off the body. They don't know Anthony's name but they were given a description which is vague, a tall, thin man with black hair in a dark suit driving a black BMW z-4. There is also a composite but it doesn't look much like him." She placed an arm around Dylan. "Are you okay?"
She was tired of answering that question. It seemed that it was the only thing people asked her lately. Nodding in response she asked, "When are visiting hours? I'd like to see Rutherford."
"Not until six," said Natalie.
Dylan looked at her watch it was only about eleven thirty. What a long day it had been and it wasn't nearly over. "Okay, I'm going home. I need some rest and I have something I need to take care of this afternoon," she said referring to her meeting with Anthony. It would give her time to talk to him before anything else happened. The angels didn't stop her but said their goodbyes as she left. Walking down the stairs she passed Kate on her way up who said nothing except, "Congratualtions."
"Kate," she called out. "Where was Anthony last night between after I left and say.six am?" she asked remembering the time on her clock when Natalie called.
Kate looked over her shoulder, tossed her long hair back and said, "Honestly I don't know. He left right after you did; I assumed he was in your bed."
"Well," thought Dylan, "That explains the mysterious 'congratulations' from her but leaves Anthony without an alibi." For once since the case began she wished that he had been in bed with Kate.
*-*-*-*-*
Alex received the egg encased in its velvet bag from Dylan when she arrived at the hospital to pick up Bosley and Max. Sitting in the lab she couldn't help but wonder where the red-headed angel had found it. It wasn't like they had a lot of clues to work with, a couple photographs, and a hint from Rutherford that they should find an assassin named Francisco Duarte. Now as she stood dusting the egg for prints many questions whirled around in her mind. She glanced at Kate who stood slightly to her side watching. "Kate!" thought Alex. There was something about the woman she didn't trust but couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe it was just the way she had been careless about the eggs to begin with.
"Careful," the Russian woman called, "you don't want to loosen the diamonds."
"I am being careful," said Alex through gritted teeth. Or maybe she just didn't like Kate because of the way she went after Dylan's boyfriend. At first she had suspected that Anthony was cheating on her best friend but she watched the Thin Man at the gala and suspected that, all thought she didn't personally like Anthony; he was obviously in love with Dylan. "Anyone could see it," she thought, "even through the unemotional mask he wears."
"Could you maybe hold it by the top? The part of the base where the pearl is, it's very fragile," requested Kate.
"Listen, if I hold it like that then I can't dust the top," said Alex as she ran the brush gently over the tip of egg. As Kate babbled something about the dust destroying the enamel painting of the resurrection, two prints appeared. "Bingo," called Alex.
"What? Did you find something?" asked Kate leaning over Alex's shoulder casting a shadow on the egg. "I don't see it."
"Yes, I found something. Could you please back up so I can work?" asked Alex taking the egg over to a special device that would scan the prints and run them through the database.
"First of all I want you to know," said Kate, "I think your agency is doing a better job than I expected. Second, I have a feeling you don't like me. That is fine but I hope your dislike of me doesn't get in the way of the investigation. And regardless of how the case turns out and how good of a job you do I will have to inform Mr. Townsend that you let your personal feelings get in the way."
Alex just glared at her, knowing that if she said something it would more than likely get out of hand. Looking at the computer monitor she said, "This is going to take sometime. Why don't you go get a cup of coffee or tea downstairs?"
Kate flashed spiteful a look in Alex's direction then headed out of the room. As she left Alex heard the computer beep that a match had been found. She walked over and moved the cursor to the "infoview" button and clicked. Slowly a photo of Anthony came up next to the finger print. Alex closed her eyes it looked like her theory was proving to be correct; the Thin Man did it, but she knew it would crush Dylan. Still she had to be told. Picking up the phone in the lab Alex called Dylan's mobile number.
*-*-*-*-*
He wasn't sure what to do with himself. He wasn't working, because of the promise he made to Dimitri. He had given up his apartment to move to Bucharest then he didn't go. He wasn't sure he was welcome at Dylan's and he had given up the house he inherited to Kate. Not that that was a bad thing. On his long early morning drive he decided removing himself from her was the best thing he could do, but as a man who had always been in total control of everything he felt like he was spinning out of control now. There was only one other time he had that feeling and that was when his parents died. After that he vowed never to feel that way again.
Anthony stopped in a cafe for a cup of coffee and pondered the complexities that were his life. He sighed as he realized he had been thinking about them a lot in the past four days. Maybe he would contact Neville. Sipping on the hot steaming liquid he pulled out his pad and started making notes, jotting down his thoughts. There was always work and he would know of a job. Perhaps he could find him something out of the country. Or there was Pablo Ortega. Considering how out of the loop Neville had been on the Faberge eggs perhaps contacting him would be a better idea.
He went to the pay phone in the entryway of the café and pulled the small battered contact card with the telephone codes for Ortega out of his wallet. He couldn't remember the last time he had contacted the man but it would be good to hear his voice again. Carefully he dialed the number and listened to the ring signal on the other end. When the line was picked up he typed the code in and waited. "Is that my favorite silent assassin?" asked the Spanish accented voice on the other end. Anthony replied by hitting the appropriate button. "Thank god I thought you got yourself arrested." Punching the appropriate keys he asked, "Why?" "Well if you kill off your job contacts and don't make an effort to hide it's you chances are you get arrested, or killed," answered Ortega. "I hear your description is on the police wires."
Anthony was puzzled. He didn't have a clue what the man was talking about. He hadn't tried to kill anyone since the hospital in Chicago when he killed the rogue FBI agent, Reynold Clarke. He pushed 9-4-6, spelling "Who?"
"Who?" asked Ortega. "Neville Rutherford that is who. It's going around that you stabbed the man in cold blood and left him to die in an ally in East LA."
Anthony hung up the phone on the man. That couldn't be right? What was Ortega talking about? He tried calling Rutherford's number but there was no answer. He noticed two cops outside looking at his car from the window in the café door. "This isn't good," he thought. He knew the café had another exit so he inconspicuously made his way too it. As he left he noticed the police go inside and show something to one of the waiters. He watched them from the curb. A voice called to him, "Hey buddy you getting on or what?" Looking up he noticed the city bus there. He shrugged, paid the fare, and took a seat.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan, Bosley, and Max arrived at the office around eleven. She didn't expect to see Kate sitting on the couch sipping coffee, where she and the angels had sat so many mornings. "Kate," she said surprise.
"Good Morning, Dylan, Bosley. Oh who is your young friend?" Kate asked looking at Max. Dylan saw Max as a chance to talk to Alex and get an analysis of the rapier.
"Bosley, can you do the introductions?" Dylan asked then excused herself and went up to the lab. Alex was working on something and was startled when Dylan said, "What's up?" Alex put her arm around her friend and led her to chair. "Why don't you tell me what is up. Where did you find the egg?"
Dylan sighed, "Tell me what you found first." Alex looked at her. "Fine," said Dylan angrily, "Let me tell you what you found. Anthony's prints were all over the egg. Am I right?"
"Dylan." started Alex but her friend cut her off. "Here," she thrust the black bag containing the rapier at her and said sarcastically. "I'm sure this has his prints on it too." Alex unzipped the bag and reached in with gloves on to remove the contents. The sword had blood still coating it which caused it to stick to the bottom of the bag as it dried. She didn't have to look long for prints they were very clearly visible on the curved handle. She scanned them like she did with the egg and the computer quickly found a match, Anthony.
"Where did you get the egg, Dylan?" asked Alex again.
Dylan looking at the floor gave a small snort, "In his drawer in my apartment." She looked up into Alex's eyes. "I know you will disregard everything thing I'm going to say, the old 'Dylan always falls for the bad guy'. But even though all the evidence points to him..." Her voice faded out and then she said, "Alex, I don't think he did this. I'm not saying this because I am crazy in love with him. I'm saying this because I know him."
"You've been with him two weeks."
"And in that time I have learned more about him than we ever thought possible. He speaks to me, with words, out loud, and I don't think he would have done this. He considered Rutherford a friend."
"Okay let's say he didn't stab Rutherford, what about the eggs?" asked Alex. She would love to believe Dylan was right about the Thin Man and wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but there were signs she couldn't ignore and they were flashing in neon red.
"The Chief, he did it." Said Dylan.
"We checked there was no invitation listed to him and the boy who checked invitations, Ted swore up and down that the invitation was authentic, no fakes were found in the pile. The Chief's real name by the way, is Arnold Stinkbottom." Dylan snickered and Alex herself couldn't keep a straight face. "It's what Charlie's contact with the FBI told me."
"Arnold Stinkbottom?" asked Dylan with tears of laughter running down her face, "And here I thought being Helen Zaas was bad." As they were doubled over in laughter Natalie entered. "Hey Nat," said Dylan trying to catch her breath, "how is Rutherford?"
"Stable. I've got bad news," said Natalie looking worried. "It's about Anthony."
Dylan didn't know if she wanted to hear it or not. She took a deep breath and braced herself for the news. It couldn't get much worse. "Okay tell me."
"Someone told the police he did it. They are looking for him and have put guards around Rutherford's room. They think he will come back and try to finish the job," said Natalie.
"That doesn't make any sense," said Alex. Dylan looked at her surprised. "We have the evidence here, the rapier that was used to stab Rutherford. Why would they suddenly have reason to suspect Anthony?"
"Apparently they have a witness who saw him dropping off the body. They don't know Anthony's name but they were given a description which is vague, a tall, thin man with black hair in a dark suit driving a black BMW z-4. There is also a composite but it doesn't look much like him." She placed an arm around Dylan. "Are you okay?"
She was tired of answering that question. It seemed that it was the only thing people asked her lately. Nodding in response she asked, "When are visiting hours? I'd like to see Rutherford."
"Not until six," said Natalie.
Dylan looked at her watch it was only about eleven thirty. What a long day it had been and it wasn't nearly over. "Okay, I'm going home. I need some rest and I have something I need to take care of this afternoon," she said referring to her meeting with Anthony. It would give her time to talk to him before anything else happened. The angels didn't stop her but said their goodbyes as she left. Walking down the stairs she passed Kate on her way up who said nothing except, "Congratualtions."
"Kate," she called out. "Where was Anthony last night between after I left and say.six am?" she asked remembering the time on her clock when Natalie called.
Kate looked over her shoulder, tossed her long hair back and said, "Honestly I don't know. He left right after you did; I assumed he was in your bed."
"Well," thought Dylan, "That explains the mysterious 'congratulations' from her but leaves Anthony without an alibi." For once since the case began she wished that he had been in bed with Kate.