I, the Accused
Chapter 6
1
Mark Sanger sat in Ironside's van. He attended many investigations with the chief. Mark knew they took time. Chief Ironside and Sergeant Brown were inside longer than he thought they should be. Normally, the chief would do a preliminary investigation and then leave the rest up to homicide detectives. If he were involved, he would receive copies of all reports.
Mark was fully aware that his boss had a particular interest in this case. He didn't understand why. Ross Howard was a murderer. As far as Mark was concerned, the chief should leave this to the prison and homicide detectives. There wasn't any real reason for him to be involved. The special crime unit that Ironside headed up usually only took on cases that Commissioner Randall requested. He knew Chief Ironside could take any case he wanted, and the commissioner usually didn't interfere. Even if he did, the chief almost always got his way. Why was he so interested in protecting Ross Howard? It simply didn't make any sense to Mark whatsoever.
The phone in the van rang. It was about time his boss updated him on what was going on. He picked up the receiver and said, "What's going on in there, Chief?"
Officer Eve Whitfield realized the van phone did not have caller ID. Mark would have no idea who was calling him. "Mark, it's Eve. Have you heard anything from Ed or the chief?"
Disappointed it wasn't the chief calling to update him, Mark kept that disappointment to himself. "I haven't heard a word as of yet, Eve. I take it the chief hasn't called you either?"
"No, I haven't heard from him, or Ed for that matter. They have been in there an awfully long time."
"He should be done by now. I'm going to wait a while longer, and if I don't hear from him, I'm going to go inside and check on him."
On the other end of the phone, Eve smiled. One of the best things Chief Ironside ever did was to hire Mark Sanger as his aide. The young man was extremely protective of the chief. "You know he hates to be checked on, Mark. Besides, Ed is in there with him."
"It's a prison. A lot of things could go wrong there. I'm going to check on him whether he likes it or not," Mark told her.
"Well, if you hear anything, please give me a call so that I know he and Ed are all right."
"Will do," Mark promised her.
2
Ironside had been investigating as a police officer and detective for long enough to know that when something didn't seem right, it generally wasn't. Something was definitely wrong. He didn't believe that Ross Howard murdered Jeremy Smith. The murder was intended to pin it on him. The problem was, whoever committed the crime, did a sloppy job.
First of all, if Howard was agile enough to remain on his feet in the locker room while stabbing Jeremy Smith, then chances were he wouldn't have fallen down in the shower. Even if he had, he would have hit the back of his head, not the top. Then there was the problem of why he was found unconscious in the locker room instead of the shower. According to Baldwin, Howard fell down in the shower. How does an unconscious man end up in another room? Obviously, Baldwin wasn't telling the truth. It was looking more and more to Ironside that Howard was the one .
It was time he grilled Baldwin and broke him down. Ironside wheeled his chair back to the warden's office. Bypassing the outer office, he knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Grabbing the knob and pushing his chair backwards, Chief Ironside opened the door and went inside.
"Robert, are you done with your investigation?"
"I've only just begun my investigation. Right now, I want to speak with Mr Baldwin."
"I believe he is in the cafeteria. I will have him paged and brought here."
The detective turned his chair around and headed back toward the door. "Don't bother, I'll question him there."
Warden Leyton hurried around his desk. He stepped in front of Ironside's chair. "I don't think that is a good idea, Robert. You shouldn't be roaming around the prison without a guard. Where is your sergeant? He should be with you when you are among any of the prisoners. You must remember you put a lot of these men in this institution."
"You have prison guards. I shouldn't be in any danger. You keep telling me how they can be trusted. Are you concerned they can't be trusted to protect me?"
The warden had a great deal of respect for Robert Ironside. That didn't mean the man didn't drive him crazy on occasion. "I trust them to protect you. You know fully well how fast attacks can happen in this prison. I would feel much better if your sergeant was with you."
"Are you telling me I can't take care of myself?" Ironside said indignantly.
The warden threw the file he had in his hand on the desk. "Oh for cripes sake, Robert! You're in a wheelchair. How in the hell do you expect to defend yourself from several prisoners if they choose to attack you? I am sorry, but this is one time I insist you do as I ask. Otherwise, you will not be allowed anywhere I will not permit. Sergeant Brown will accompany you into areas I will allow you in. You will not be allowed to roam around in the general population. While you are in this prison, I am responsible for your safety."
"I will not be hindered in this investigation."
"And I will not allow you to take chances with your safety. Now, who is the first person you want to speak with?"
"I already told you I want to interrogate Chuck Baldwin."
The warden decided to back off a bit since Baldwin was in the employee cafeteria. "I am told he is in the employee cafeteria. It is down the hall, take the first cross-hall to the right. It will be on the left. You should be all right with that interview. There are no prisoners allowed in that area."
The detective turned his chair around and wheeled toward the door. "This is not my first visit to this institution. I know where the employee cafeteria is." Without another word, Ironside wheeled out of the warden's office and headed down the hall. Passing several prisoners who were accompanied by guards, he experienced name calling, most of it was vulgar, but he ignored it and kept moving.
When he arrived at the cafeteria, he took hold of the door knob, wheeled his chair backwards in order to open it wide enough to maneuver inside. Ironside spotted Chuck Baldwin at a table. With him was Philip Brody. He didn't doubt the two of them met in order to get their stories straight. He wheeled directly over to the table at which they were sitting.
"I want to talk to Mr Baldwin," Ironside told them.
"So, go ahead. No one is stopping you," Brody snarled.
"Alone, Mr Brody," Ironside insisted.
"I think it would be better if you questioned us together. One might remember something the other leaves out," Brody said.
"I said alone, Mr Brody. If you don't mind I'll run this investigation my way. Now, leave the table," Ironside ordered in a no nonsense tone.
How Brody hated the man. He didn't have a choice. He would have to leave. Baldwin was weak. He would never be able to stand Ironside's interrogation. Brody wished he cemented their story before Ironside arrived. The damn cripple would be sure Brody had no idea what Baldwin tells him. If only they took the time to be sure they both told him the same thing. He didn't want to leave, yet he knew he had no choice. He gave Ironside a look of hatred, turned, and walked away.
Chief Ironside said nothing. He simply stared directly at Chuck Baldwin. The young prison guard was unable to maintain eye contact with the legendary law officer. He looked away from him, waiting for him to start his interrogation. Baldwin had heard much about Robert Ironside. He knew the man was a formidable foe. The prison was living proof of that. A good deal of the prisoners in the institution were put there by Ironside himself.
"Mr Baldwin, I'm going to ask you some questions for which I will expect the truth. If I find out you have lied to me, I will see to it that you are prosecuted to the fullest. I don't know what you and Mr Brody were up to, but I will warn you, I intend to find out. Now, start from the beginning and tell me exactly what happened."
Baldwin's mind was racing. What had Phil told him to say? He couldn't remember. Why couldn't he remember? It was only a few minutes ago that he spoke to Brody. Phil made it clear they had to get their stories straight. Otherwise, Ironside would definitely poke a hole in one or the other of their stories. "Well, I was told to accompany Ross Howard to the shower room."
"Why was he sent there before the rest of the prisoners?" the detective demanded.
"How should I know? You'll have to ask Phil that. He is the one who gave the order. He is the one who gives all of the orders around here. Ask him."
"Fair enough," Ironside said. The chief continued to stare at the young prison guard. He knew it was having an effect on him, which was exactly what he intended. The more he could set him off guard, the higher the chance Ironside would get the truth, or the man would stumble enough for him to discover the truth beyond his lies. "Go on," he encouraged.
"I did what I was ordered to do. I brought him to the shower room."
"You stayed in the locker room and watched him through the window while he was in the shower. And you saw him slip in the shower?"
Baldwin hesitated. This was where his story and Phil's went astray. He had to make sure it now agreed with his boss. "Actually, no it is not. I watched him through the glass; that part is correct. However, I didn't see him slip in the shower. He fell when he came back into the locker room just after he stabbed Jeremy. He hit his head on the bench over there." He pointed at a bench that was quite a ways away.
Baldwin was lying. Apparently, the session he just had with Philip Brody wasn't long enough to get their stories straight. Ironside just caught him in a lie. "Before you said he fell in the shower. So which is it? Did he fall in the shower and hit his head, or did he fall in the locker room and hit his head on one of the benches?" The detective raised his voice which further rattled Baldwin.
"Look, Chief Ironside, I have never handled seeing dead people well. It has happened on occasion when one inmate has murdered another. It is something I have never gotten used to. I don't care for looking at dead bodies. So, I was upset. I didn't have time to calm down and think about what happened. Now that I have, I know what happened."
"So then, you didn't try to stop Howard after all, did you?"
"No, I mean yes. I did try to stop him, but I was too late."
"Too late? You were right in the same room. A minute ago you said he came into the locker room and fell after he stabbed Smith."
Chuck Baldwin was becoming agitated. He was certain Ironside was trying to confuse him. "Now just a minute! I tried to stop him. I was across the room. By the time I closed the distance, Howard had already stabbed him and fallen."
"Where did he hit his head? There doesn't appear to be a bench anywhere near where the two of them were found."
Baldwin glanced over at the spot the two men were found. The closest bench was a good distance away. He had to think of something quickly. Ironside was not a stupid cop. If what he said didn't seem possible, the detective would never believe him. It was imperative that he convince him it happened just the way he said it did. "He fell backwards and hit his head on that bench." He pointed at the closest bench to where the men were found."
"If he hit his head on that bench, then can you explain why no blood was found on it?" Ironside said, with skepticism apparent in his voice.
"I don't know. All I know is that he hit his head on that bench right there." He pointed at the bench. "Maybe it broke the skin and didn't start bleeding right away. I have no idea. Isn't that your area of expertise?" Baldwin hadn't intended to lose his composure, but he did. He snapped his answers at the detective.
"All right, for argument's sake, let's say it happened exactly that way. How do you explain that he was not found by that bench, but right next to Jeremy Smith's body?"
Baldwin was thrown by Ironside's question. He wasn't expecting him to doubt his new version. He was at a loss to answer his question. He hadn't thought about the position of the bodies. Why did he let Phil talk him into getting involved? He was the one who wanted revenge against Ironside. Chuck really had no beef with him. So, why was he involved in this mess? Everyone knew you didn't mess with the detective. If you did, you soon found yourself behind bars. The last thing Chuck wanted was to end up in this prison with the very people he was abusing. He could end up just like Jeremy Smith.
The more he thought about it, he realized he was involved in a murder. It didn't matter that he wasn't the one who actually committed the crime, he was an accessory to murder. He knew just enough about the law to know that. God! How did he get involved with it?
"Look, Mr Ironside . . ."
"Chief," Ironside said.
"What?"
"Chief Ironside," the detective corrected him. He wanted the full weight of his position to intimidate Baldwin into telling the truth.
"I am sorry, Chief Ironside, I didn't mean to disrespect you. I don't know why he was not found by the bench. After he stabbed Jeremy, my attention was on him, not Howard. I didn't pay any attention as to where he fell."
Ironside stared at the prison guard. It didn't take long for the man to drop his eyes from the detective. The chief always felt it was a sign he wasn't being told the truth. "Mr Baldwin, I don't know if you take me as a fool, but if you do, you better rethink it. There is no way Ross Howard stabbed the man where he lay, tripped, hit his head, and fell that far to that bench." Ironside left out the fact that blood was found in the shower, all but confirming Ross Howard's version of what happened. A DNA test would likely prove Howard was hit from behind while in the shower. It all led to the man being framed. Since both Baldwin and Brody were the ones involved in insisting Howard stabbed Smith, it was logical to conclude they were involved in the murder. What bothered him was he didn't think either one of them did the actual killing. Ironside believed Brody was too much of a coward to do the deed himself, and Baldwin wasn't capable of it. He was too much of a weakling to do it. Despite not being the one who actually killed Smith, he would be charged with murder the same as the others. He decided to take a chance to get the truth out of him.
"Mr Baldwin, you are lying. I have a pretty good idea of what happened here. The evidence bears it out. Ross Howard didn't kill Jeremy Smith. Blood was found in the shower confirming Mr Howard's version of being hit from behind. When the lab confirms the blood is his DNA, it will prove you are lying to the police. You were involved in the murder. My investigation will prove that. I don't believe you committed the actual crime, but you will be charged nonetheless. You can continue to lie to me and face the maximum sentence, or you can tell me the truth and the district attorney just might seek a lighter sentence for you. It's up to you." Ironside waited, continuing to stare at the man.
He knows! My God, he knows! Damn Phil! His obsession with getting back at Ironside was going to not only destroy Brody, but him as well. He felt cornered. What was he going to do? He couldn't go to prison. Not here! He would be killed for sure. But if he kept his mouth shut, Ironside might not be able to prove it at all. He was known for bluffing to get confessions. Maybe, just maybe he hadn't found any blood in the shower at all. He could have gotten that idea from Howard. Then again, Howard was telling the truth. He was hit from behind in the shower. Did Ironside actually find blood, or did he just say that to get him to confess? Wouldn't the blood have washed down the drain? But what if he was not bluffing? If he told him what really happened, then he might get a lighter sentence.
"Do you know what would happen to me if I ended up in this prison?" Baldwin asked.
"I do," Ironside said. "If you cooperate, I could see to it that you went to a prison where you would be protected from harm." He really couldn't guarantee that. All Ironside could really do was to make sure he went to a minimum-security prison where no one knew he cooperated with the police.
Chuck thought about it. He could only give Ironside part of what he wanted. He couldn't give up the names. Maybe there was another way around it for now. "Chief, I can help you, but not the way you ask. You are right, Howard didn't kill Jeremy."
"Who did?" Ironside demanded.
"I can't tell you that; at least not yet. You go ahead with your investigation. When you find out who did it, I will confirm it by testifying in court." He waited to see what Ironside would do. If he didn't admit to anything else, he was hoping Ironside would agree in order to get the names.
The chief said nothing. He just continued to stare at Baldwin. The man didn't realize he already gave him plenty. "All right. When I nail Brody and whoever actually did the murder, you will confirm and testify against them."
Baldwin nodded.
"I'll have Sergeant Brown take you out of here and put you under protective custody."
"Won't Phil suspect that I have talked to you?" Baldwin said.
"That is the idea," Ironside answered. Reaching into his pocket, Ironside removed his cellphone. He called Brown. "Ed, come down to the employee cafeteria. I have a job for you."
Within a few minutes, Sergeant Ed Brown entered the cafeteria. He spotted his boss and headed straight for him.
"Any luck?" Ironside asked him.
Brown shook his head.
"Nobody saw or heard anything. Is that about right?" the chief asked with sarcasm.
"That's right, Chief. They all claim to know nothing."
"Or they just aren't talking."
"You really weren't expecting them to, were you?" Ed said.
"No."
"How about you?" Brown inquired.
"Well, I had better luck than you did. Mr Baldwin knows who did it," Ironside told his sergeant, "and it wasn't Ross Howard. Ed, I want you to take Mr Baldwin out of the prison and put him in protective custody. I'll explain to the warden what is going on."
Brown hesitated. "Chief, I don't think leaving you here alone is a good idea under the circumstances."
"Send Mark in."
"Mark's not a cop and he isn't armed."
"You keep a small weapon at your ankle like most cops, don't you?" the chief observed.
"Well, yes." Brown had an idea where the chief was going with this and he didn't like it.
"Give it to Mark and tell him to keep it well concealed."
"Chief . . ."
"Just do it, Ed. We'll be fine."
Brown didn't like it, but he knew his boss. Once he made up his mind, he was immovable. He stood there trying to think of something to say to change the chief's mind. He didn't want to leave him in the prison without backup. Mark wasn't a cop. Ed felt he should be the one with him. After all, he made Mark stay outside because he wasn't a cop.
"What are you waiting for Sergeant?" Ironside bellowed.
Brown took Baldwin by the arm. "Come on, let's go."
Ironside watched them leave the cafeteria before he wheeled toward the door. He would head for the warden's office to let him know what was going on. Then he would have a chat with Phillip Brody, but not before he called in more police.
3
Burl Bricker sat in his cell listening to the conversation between Ironside and Chuck Baldwin. When Brody went into the cafeteria in search of Baldwin, he planted a bug on him. Bricker was to listen and report back to him. He picked up the throw-away cell phone Brody provided and called him. Brody answered immediately.
"Yeah, Burl."
"Your suspicions were right. Baldwin turned over for Ironside like a puppy dog. He admitted Howard didn't kill Smith."
"Then he gave us up?" Brody said, his anger seething.
"Not exactly. He agreed only to give us up if Ironside's investigation led him to us. He is putting him in protective custody. Brown is leading him out of the prison right now."
Brody was not one to panic. He was not about to allow Baldwin out of the prison. "We have to stop him. Take him out, but don't kill Brown. He's mine."
"We need to take out Brown now. Ironside told him what Baldwin said. He knows, Brody."
"I told you, I will be the one to take out Brown. Ironside also knows, but we aren't taking him out yet either. Just do as you are told. Kill Baldwin. We can't have him testifying against us in a court. If Ironside testifies what he said, that's simply hearsay."
"He's a cop. You don't think a jury would believe him? I say we take both of them out right now."
"Don't be ridiculous. The way I have it planned, both he and Brown will never be able to testify in court. They will both be killed in a prison riot. You would like to get out of here, wouldn't you, Burl? Just leave it to me. Ironside and Brown will be dead, and you will be free."
This was not part of the original plan, but Bricker liked it. If there was any chance he could get out of this hell, he was going to take it. "All right, I'll leave Ed Brown for you."
"Get moving before Brown gets Baldwin out of here. If he does, we're screwed."
"I am on my way."
4
Ironside arrived at the warden's office. He opened the door and wheeled inside. Without going through the secretary, he headed directly for the warden's door She got up and followed him.
"The warden is on the phone, Chief Ironside. You will have to wait out here."
Not paying any attention to the secretary, Ironside opened the door, grabbed both sides of the framework, and pulled his wheelchair into the office. Warden Leyton was on the phone. When he spotted Robert Ironside, he quickly ended his conversation.
"Robert, please wait until you are announced. I wouldn't barge into your office."
"Actually, you would. I don't have a secretary. We need to talk. Baldwin just admitted to me that Howard didn't kill Jeremy Smith."
Surprised by the revelation, the warden asked, "Who did he say killed him?"
"He wouldn't tell me. He said he would only testify when my investigation turned up the killer. I am having him moved out of this prison and put in protective custody. Once that is done, I believe he will then reveal the killers."
"Killers? What makes you think there are more than one, Robert?"
"If Baldwin was involved, that means Phillip Brody was as well. I don't believe either of them did the actual killing, which means there is a third person; probably an inmate."
"How can you be certain of that?" the warden said, skeptically.
"Gut instinct, but my investigation will provide the proof necessary."
"All right, Robert. If what you say is true, I will have to accept the fact Brody is behind it. I will wait until you are done with your investigation. In the meantime, I want you to stay in this office until Sergeant Brown returns."
"Mark Sanger will be replacing Sergeant Brown, and I have called in Carl Reese and Officer Duffy to assist," Ironside told him.
The warden nodded. "I am sorry, Robert, for doubting you. I just couldn't believe that Phil could be involved in all of this."
Ironside said nothing more. He would comply with the warden's wishes and remain in his office until Carl Duffy arrived.
5
Burl Bricker was going to enjoy killing Chuck Baldwin. He had no use for wimps, and Baldwin was such a wimp. He wondered if he should ignore Brody and take out Brown while he was at it. Then again, if Brody could get him out of the joint with a prison riot, then killing Brown could wait. One thing was for sure, if Brody did not come through and get him out of the prison, he was next. He wouldn't know it but he would become a dead man walking.
Bricker actually couldn't stand Brody. He hid behind his power. Without it, he would be just as big a wimp as Baldwin. Regardless of what happened with the escape, he was going to kill Brody. He would do it before he left, and if he didn't get the opportunity, he would catch him on the outside. Either way Brody was going down.
He could see Brown and Balwin up ahead. He would do Brody's dirty work and return to his cell. With the key Brody gave him, he would be able to lock it. No one would be the wiser. Not one inmate in the prison would say they saw him outside his cell. They knew what would happen to them if they did.
Baldwin moved silently toward the two men. With the brass knuckles in his left hand and a knife provided to him by Brody in his right, he approached them. Bricker slammed the brass knuckles into the back of Ed Brown's head. He went down. Bricker wasted no time. Grabbing Baldwin from behind, he put his massive hand over his mouth to keep him from crying out. Shoving the blade into his back where he knew it would enter his heart, he twisted it and jerked it upward. Baldwin fell to the floor. His eyes stared straight ahead. His job done, Burl Bricker headed for the pre-destined place to dispose of the knife. Brody better have made sure the guards were nowhere to be found in this section as he promised. Bricker wasn't worried about the inmates. They would say nothing. There were guards who wouldn't hesitate to rat on him if they saw him.
After wiping his prints from the knife he disposed of it where Brody told him to. He walked swiftly back to his cell, entered it, reached around to the outside, and locked the door. He threw the key into the toilet and flushed it. It all went as planned. None of the guards saw him. Bricker laid down on his bunk and smiled. Next on the agenda, a prison riot. Then he would escape this hell-hole.
6
Carl and Duffy arrived at the prison. Reese spotted Ironside's van. As Duffy got out of the patrol car, Carl headed for the van. He went around to the driver's door. "Hey, Mark, are you still sitting here?"
"I'm getting kind of worried about the chief. I haven't heard from him, and he is not answering his cell phone."
"You know him, Mark. He rarely answers that cell phone. Anyway, he called us in. I assure you he is all right. Why don't you head back to the office? Duffy and I will see to it that the chief gets back to headquarters."
Mark felt better knowing that Carl and Duffy were going to be joining his boss. "Okay, I'll head back. I just don't like the amount of time he has spent in there."
Carl could appreciate Sanger's concern. The lieutenant could remember when Mark was first hired by Ironside to be his aide. Carl thought Ironside was making a mistake by bringing the young man into police headquarters. So did just about every cop who worked there. The chief had proved all of them wrong. He saw something in Mark no one else did, and he had been right. Mark changed over the years. His lawless days were far behind him. Ironside had turned him into a respectable individual who guarded the chief like a lion. He had become a very valuable member of Ironside's team.
"You know the chief, Mark. He is extremely thorough. He isn't going to leave the prison until he is sure he has all the facts. He'll be fine. We'll look after him. We just won't let him know we are doing it." Carl knew Ironside was a proud man. No one would ever let him know they would treat him any different than any other cop on the force.
Carl watched as Mark started up the van and pulled out of the prison's parking lot. Turning to Duffy, he said, "Well, we better get inside. The chief doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Both men headed into the prison, checked in, and headed for the warden's office. It was there they would find out where the boss was. When they arrived, they were greeted by the warden's secretary. She smiled at them and said, "Warden Leyton and the chief are expecting you. One moment while I announce you. She picked up the receiver and pressed the intercom. When the warden answered, she informed him, "Warden, Lieutenant Reese and Officer Duffy have arrived."
"Send them in," the warden ordered.
Smiling once again at Reese, she told him, "The warden said you were to go right in."
Reese and Duffy wasted no time. Both men worked with Robert Ironside in many cases. One thing they were well aware of, the man didn't like to be kept waiting. They walked over to the door, opened it, and entered the warden's office.
"Hi, Chief," Carl said, greeting the former Chief of Detectives. "Where do you want us to start?"
Ironside looked past Reese and Duffy. "Where's Mark?"
"I told him we would escort you back to Police Headquarters since we have to go back when we are done here. He left immediately."
"He what? I told Ed to have him sent in here. You should have run into him on his way out. He was escorting Chuck Baldwin out of the prison. I want him put under protective custody."
"Protective custody? Why?" Duffey asked.
"He is going to testify against Phillip Brody. Where is Ed?"
"Chief, he was nowhere in sight. We didn't see him outside or inside when we came in."
The hair on the back of Ironside's neck rose. They should have run directly into Ed. Ironside wheeled over to the warden's desk. "Page my sergeant. Tell him to report here immediately."
"I am sure he is fine, Robert. He likely just got delayed, but I'll page him if you think it is necessary." Warden Leyton reached for the phone, picked up the receiver, and spoke to his secretary. He instructed her to have Sergeant Brown paged.
Several minutes passed, but the sergeant didn't appear. Ironside was convinced something happened to Ed. He wasn't going to sit there any longer. He needed to know where he was, and if he was all right.
"Carl, you come with me. Duffy, you stay here in case Ed returns. If he does, he isn't to go anywhere until I get back."
"Yes, sir," Duffy said, assuring the detective he would follow his order.
Ironside wheel to the door. He grabbed both sides of the door frame to pull his chair out of the warden's office, when he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "I want to know where Phillip Brody is, Warden. Find out."
Ironside wheeled his chair out of the warden's office. Carl followed him out. "Ed would have taken a direct route out of the prison. That area does not allow prisoners unless they are accompanied by a guard. He should have left the prison by now. What bothers me is I told him to send Mark in. If you didn't see Ed, and Mark didn't come in, something is wrong."
"We'll find him, Chief," Carl told the boss.
The two men headed down the hall toward the entrance to the prison. Turning down a cross hall, Ironside spotted them first. "Carl!"
Before the chief could say anything else, Lieutenant Reese ran ahead of him down the hall to where two men were lying on the floor. Carl leaned down next to Ed Brown. He immediately checked his pulse. Carl relaxed when he found Ed's pulse was strong. He took one look at Chuck Baldwin and knew immediately he would find no pulse. Baldwin laid in a pool of blood. The loss of blood alone would have caused his demise. Carl had been working in the homicide department for years. He knew by where the blood on the man's back was, that the knife in his back would have penetrated his heart. He checked his pulse anyway.
Ironside approached the scene. "Carl, what about Ed?"
"He should be all right, Chief. He was hit on the back of his head. He's just unconscious. Whoever the inmate is, he didn't fare as well. He's dead."
"Let me see his face," Ironside said.
Without actually rolling the body over, Carl turned his head toward Ironside. "Do you know this man?"
"Ed was supposed to be taking him out of the prison and putting him under protective custody. The man's name is Chuck Baldwin. He was one of the guards. He would have testified that Ross Howard didn't kill Jeremy Smith. He told me what really happened."
Sergeant Brown began to stir. He opened his eyes and looked up into the blue eyes of Robert Ironside. As he attempted to stand up, Ironside put his hand on his chest.
"Easy, Ed." Placing a hand on Carl's wrist, he said, "Go back to the warden's office. Tell him what happened. Call for another forensic team. We will also need an ambulance to transport Ed to the hospital.
"Chief, I'm fine. I don't need to go to the hospital. Can't the prison doctor just have a look at me?" Brown protested.
Ironside didn't want to take a chance Ed was seriously hurt, yet he didn't want to lose him as an investigator either. The prison doctor was very good and had been treating inmates for some time. "All right, we'll have him take a look at you." Ironside looked at Carl who nodded and then left.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Brown sat up. We were headed out when we were attacked."
"Did you see who did it?" the chief asked.
"No, I was hit from behind. That's when everything went black. Never saw it coming."
"Then you didn't see who killed Baldwin?"
"No, it had to happen after I was knocked out."
"The only one who knew I was questioning Baldwin was Brody," Ironside said.
"Brody. Everything keeps coming back to him."
"He's up to his eyeballs in this," Ironside said. "Proving it is not going to be easy. I'll bet he has an alibi for this murder as well. He is having someone else do his dirty work."
"My money is on Burl Bricker," Brown said, rubbing the back of his head. "We need to find out where he was when the murder was committed."
"He'll have an alibi as well. Murders in prisons are rarely solved. Someone is always willing to say the murderer was no where near the crime. It is time to see if Brody can be broken. We are going to lean on him, Ed. My instincts tell me he is the one who arranged these killings."
"I'm all for it. The sooner we get out of here the better."