Tom Dayton is Loose Again
Chapter 4
1
The coffee finish perking. Mark removed the pot and poured two cups of coffee. He heard his boss stirring, so he knew he was up. In fact, he was aware Chief Ironside had already taken a shower. Hopefully, that was a good sign. Usually when the chief woke in a bad mood, he quite often would call for Mark to help him out of bed. Getting up himself usually meant the mood was at the very least tolerable. Mark would wait to see what his mood was.
Actually, he would be surprised if the chief was in a good mood. Today was the day they were to pick up Tom Dayton. Mark spent the evening before setting up Dayton's room down the hall. Ironside made the decision that Dayton would not be staying in the office after hours. He considered Mark his aide, not Dayton.
Ironside wheeled out of his bedroom and up to the table. He immediately picked up the coffee cup Mark had placed there for him and took a sip. Mark glanced over at the boss. So far, so good. The chief didn't make any faces when he drank his coffee, and there weren't any complaining remarks. Maybe this was going to be a good day after all. He hated to do anything that would sour the boss' mood, but he did have to know when he could get back to his books. He had a major test coming up, and he wanted to spend a good deal of time studying for it.
"Good morning, Chief."
Ironside looked up from his coffee. "Is it?"
Well, there went his mood. Mark would not encourage him by responding to the remark. "When do you want to pick up Dayton?"
"I don't," Ironside said.
Mark shook his head. "I know you don't, but that doesn't change the fact that we have to. Chief, I have a major test coming up and I would like to spend some time studying for it."
"All right, Mark. We'll go and pick him up right after breakfast. On second thought, you study for your test. I'll have Ed go with me to pick up Dayton."
"Are you sure you want to do that? You know Ed's history with Dayton."
"He is going to have to deal with it, so it might as well be sooner than later. Now, what about breakfast?" Ironside grumbled.
"It is coming right up." Mark went back to the kitchen, brought the chief a bowl of oatmeal, and set it in front of him. "If it is okay with you, I'll get back to my books."
Ironside picked up the morning paper that Mark had set out for him. He looked at the front page. Without removing his eyes from the paper, he said, "Go ahead Mark."
Sanger left the main room at the same time the door to the office opened. Ed Brown walked swiftly down the stairs and directly to the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of coffee. He glanced over at the chief. Seeing that he already had a cup in front of him, he set the coffee pot down and joined Ironside at the table.
"So when are you picking up Dayton?" Ed asked.
The door opened again, and Eve Whitfield enter the office. "Yes, Chief, when are we picking him up?"
"It would be never if I had my way," Ironside grumbled.
"You and me both," Ed said, taking a sip of his coffee.
Eve went in to the kitchen and began pouring a cup for herself. "So, Chief, how's Mark's coffee this morning?"
"The same as usual. One of these days, he is going to learn to make a decent cup of coffee."
Eve laughed. "It's going to be one of those days, is it?"
"One of what days?" Ironside asked, turning his attention to his pretty policewoman.
Eve joined them at the table. "Look, Chief. We don't have a say in the matter. So, we might as well make the best of it. Tom Dayton can't stay in the office forever."
Brown and Ironside looked up at Eve at the same time. "Really, Eve. You want to jinx us. Don't talk about him being in this office forever," Ed said, kidding.
"When are you and Mark going after him?" Eve asked.
"Never if I had my way," Ironside repeated again. "Mark is not going. He has a test coming up he needs to study for. Ed, you are going with me, and now is as good a time as ever." Ironside abruptly turned his chair around and wheeled toward the ramp.
Ed looked at Eve and shrugged before running to catch up with their boss.
2
The bird poked his head in the grass looking for worms. Tom Dayton sat at the window watching it. He envied the feathered animal. At least it was free to do what it wanted and to go where it pleased. He was dreading working for Ironside. The thought of taking orders from Ironside's policewoman turned his stomach. Woman bosses were the worst! Tom endured the woman at the hospital. She fired him for no good reason at all. Brown's girlfriend got in the way. She should not have interfered in something that didn't concern her. It was her own fault she died when she hit her head.
Tom wasn't kidding himself. Ed Brown had never forgiven him for her death. That was evident in the way he and Ironside had set him up. The woman in the library deserved what he did to her. She criticized his work just to bully him. His actual boss had been a man. He was reasonable and was satisfied with the job he did. She was just pushing her weight around.
Brown tricked him into admitting he had attacked her. He and Ironside were responsible for the time he spent in the mental institution. Tom figured they both tried to keep him from getting out. They probably demanded he work for Ironside so the cripple could try to put him right back in the institution. All he had to do was whatever Ironside wanted until he could convince him he could handle life without the detective looking over his shoulder. Yeah, that was it. Ironside wanted to have him sent right back here. Well, he wasn't going to do it. Tom would do whatever he had to do to shorten his time in Ironside's employment.
He walked over to the table beside his bed and removed the last of his belongings and placed them in the box. He had very little to take with him. Since they forced the inmates to wear the same clothing, Dayton had little in the way of clothes. Three shirts and four pair of pants, some under clothes and socks was all he was taking with him. The box contained those items, a few books, and pictures of his mother. He didn't have any pictures of his sister. She was just like all the rest of women; always telling him what to do and when to do it. Tom had no desire to see her.
He was sure Ironside didn't want him in his office anymore than Tom wanted to be there. Just as soon as he was able to convince Ironside he could stand on his own, he was out of San Francisco. Tom would go somewhere and start over. He would make sure he never worked for a woman again.
There was a knock on the door. Dayton turned quickly toward the sound. He wasn't expecting anyone. He thought he would be able to have some peace and quiet time until Ironside came to pick him up. Tom walked over to the door and opened it. Standing on the other side was Sergeant Ed Brown.
"Sergeant Brown, I wasn't expecting Chief Ironside to pick me up until this afternoon."
"The chief is a busy man, Tom. He decided to pick you up now. Are you ready to go?" Brown asked.
"Well, yes, I guess so," Tom said. He walked over to the bed and picked up the very large box with his belongings.
Ed joined him. He looked down at the lone box in Dayton's hands. "Is this all you have?"
"I am afraid so. Most of my clothes were at my sister's house. This is what was provided to me by the institute," Dayton replied.
"I guess we could make a stop at your sister's place and pick up the rest of your clothes"
Dayton looked away from the detective. "My sister hasn't come to see me since I was confined here. When she found out I attacked that woman . . . well, she sort of disowned me. She did call to tell me that she threw out all of my belongings that were in her house. I have nothing else; just what you see here."
Brown couldn't help but feel sorry for Tom Dayton. He tried to remember mental illness was hard to understand. But, then most who had mental problems didn't become violent like Tom Dayton did. Still, if he couldn't show at least some compassion for the man, what kind of a man would he be? Despite his feelings, he should make a serious attempt at helping Dayton adjust. Maybe the doctors were right. Maybe he was cured after all. Only time would tell.
Tom picked up his box and followed Sergeant Brown out of his room. Just before he left, he glance back into what had been his home for some time. Not that he would miss it; he wouldn't. He just wanted to remember how a woman could take away his freedom. He was never going to allow it to happen again. No woman would ever have power over him like they had before.
The doctor was waiting at the front entrance. Doctor Tristan Geisinger put out his hand. Tom accepted and shook it. "Good luck, Tom. I know you will do well this time. Remember, listen to Chief Ironside. He will help you adjust back into society."
"I will," Tom said. The hell he would. He would make sure Ironside thought he was listening to him. He had fooled the doctors into believing he no longer hated women, and he would fool Ironside too.
Dayton followed Brown out of the building to the parking lot. He led him to a van. The sergeant, opened the back door of the van and put Tom's box in the back. He gestured for Tom to get into the passenger seat by opening the door for him. Dayton entered the vehicle and look behind him. There sat the man himself in his wheelchair.
"Hello, Chief Ironside. I want you to know I really appreciate what you are doing for me. I promise I will make you proud of me."
"Hello, Mister Dayton," Ironside said. "We'll head back to the office and get you settled in. But first, you might as well start on the job immediately. Ed change places with Mister Dayton. He will be driving this van from now on.
Brown got out of the vehicle and went around to the passenger side. Opening the door, he waited for Dayton to step out.
"Chief, are you sure about this?" Tom asked.
"Mister Dayton, you are going to be my aide, are you not?" Ironside asked gruffly.
"Well . . . yes, sir."
"Then driving this van is now part of your job."
Tom stared at Ironside for a moment and then got out of the van. Ed held out the keys and gave them to Dayton. Was Ironside really going to allow him to be his aide? He thought the detective would just give him busy work, and Mark Sanger would continue to do the job Tom was supposed to be doing.
"Some time today, Mister Dayton. We all have work to do," Ironside growled.
Tom walked around the front of the vehicle to the driver's door, opened it, and got in. Placing the key into the ignition, he started the van, and pulled it out of the parking lot.
"Do you remember where Police Headquarters is, Mister Dayton?" Ironside demanded, "or do you need directions?"
"No, sir. I know where it is." Dayton turned the van in the direction of Ironside's office. He drove in silence.
Ironside watched him in the rear view mirror. Dayton was clearly nervous, but the chief had been expecting that. He didn't like the man being forced on him, but they would have to make the best of it. Ironside didn't think it would take very long before he would know whether the doctor's were right, or whether he was right.
Whatever the case would be, Ironside decided on the route to take. He would test Dayton every step of the way. If he was actually cured, what the chief had planned would not have any adverse effect on Tom Dayton. On the other hand, if he had been able to fool the doctors, Dayton would be revealed for who he really was.
"You will have a room just down the hall from my office, Tom." Ironside decided to start using his first name. He wanted to put him at ease. If he was not cured, it would give him a false sense of security.
"I don't understand. If I am to be your aide, then why do I not have a room in the residence?" Dayton asked, although he was relieved to know that he would not.
"Mark has had that room since he came to work for me. I am not going to remove him from it. We have installed an intercom system between the residence and the room you are assigned to. I will be able to reach you at anytime."
They again fell into silence. Nothing else was said. Ironside pointed out the entrance where his van was parked. Dayton pulled into it with no difficulty and parked the vehicle. "Do you need assistance getting out of the van?"
"You will find the chief is quite self-sufficient," Ed replied before Ironside had the opportunity to do so. Dayton looked at the sergeant and nodded.
The chief lowered his wheelchair down in the lift as Dayton came around the side of the van. Ed pointed out the button that controlled the lift. Tom nodded in acknowledgement. He awkwardly stepped behind Ironside's wheelchair and pushed him toward the elevator. Ed keyed in the four digit code to open the elevator doors. He told Dayton the code. "This code changes once a week. You will have to check on Friday as to what the code will change to on Monday."
Dayton again nodded in acknowledgement. What Brown didn't tell him was he, Eve, Mark, and Ironside knew the codes three months in advance. Eve was responsible for providing them with the list quarterly. That list would be different than the code Dayton would receive. They made up a special list for him as the elevator could be programmed with multiple codes. The chief didn't want Dayton to know that. If Dayton left the building without the chief's knowledge, Ironside wanted to know it. The code would be changed at night. If he left without letting Ironside know, he was in for a surprise when he got back. He would be unable to enter the building. If he went around to the front doors, his entrance into the building would be recorded. Ironside had every intention of knowing exactly where Tom Dayton was twenty-four hours a day.
The ride up to the top floor where Ironside's office was located was silent. Tom didn't ask the chief any questions, and the two detectives offered nothing further at the moment. The doors open, and the three men stepped out of the elevator. Since Tom had been to the chief's office on a couple of occasions, he knew to turn his chair to the left. He pushed the detective up the ramp with difficulty. He was not as big a man as Mark Sanger and likely not as strong. Ironside was a big man. Wheeling him up the ramps was something Tom would have to get use to. He hoped for not that long.
Ed Brown opened the door to the office, held it, and allowed Dayton to wheel Ironside into the room. Tom noted Ironside didn't help by turning the wheels when they went up the ramp. He was sure he had seen him do that for Mark Sanger when he pushed him. Maybe it had nothing to do with his strength. Sanger had Ironside's help; Tom did not.
As they entered, Eve stood up from the main table she was sitting at. Mark entered the room when he heard them come in. Dayton attempted to hide his contempt for the policewoman. Ironside wheeled over to the table. "Sit down, Tom."
Dayton took a seat at the table. Eve Whitfield sat down beside him. The thought of the policewoman beside him made his skin crawl. He didn't know how in the world he was going to stand her around him on a daily basis. He wondered if he would get any relief on the weekends. Surely, Ironside didn't work his staff seven days a week. No one would work for him if that was the case. Then again, who in their right mind would work for Ironside in the first place.
"So we get off on the right foot, I am going to tell you what is expected of you in this office. First of all, as my aide, you must be available to assist me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week," Ironside began.
"I don't understand. Are you telling me I never get any time off to myself?" Tom asked, surprised at this revelation.
"You will get time when I allow it," Ironside said.
"But, Mark goes to school. He can't possibly be available to you then. Exactly when will I get time off?" Dayton tried to hide is displeasure, but Ironside was extremely good at reading people. Tom knew that. He calmed down. "Chief, in order to do my job right and make sure you are happy with my performance, don't you think it is necessary I have time off?"
"You'll get time off when I say so. Mark can tell you that. Also, I must know exactly where you are at all times. It is necessary in case I need you for any reason."
Tom couldn't believe it. This wasn't a job; it was just another form of being locked up. "Chief, I can't agree with that. What I do with my personal time should not concern you. I should not have to answer to you for my every waking minute like a child does to his parents."
"Would you rather go back to the institution?" Ironside snarled. "That can be arranged. If you are going to work here as my aide, these are the conditions you must agree to. Otherwise, I will inform Doctor Geisinger that you prefer to return to the institution. These were the terms of your release, at least until I deem you ready to be completely on your own. At which time, Mark will return to his position as my aide. It's up to you. Do you want the job or not?"
Tom had no choice but to accept Ironside's terms. He didn't want to go back to the institution. It was no different than being in jail. Then again, neither was this. At least he would be able to work toward his freedom. "I am sorry, Chief. I guess I was expecting an eight to five job. I didn't realize the extent to what I would have to do as your aide. I guess I should have under the circumstances." He glanced down at Ironside's chair. "I promise to let you know where I am at all times, and I will work whatever hours you wish me too. I really do want my life to get back to normal."
Ironside stared at Dayton. He couldn't believe how sincere he appeared to be. He would know soon enough if he really was sincere, or whether it was all just an act. Dayton would have every opportunity to prove himself, but he would do it on Ironside's terms.
"One last thing. Your direct supervisor will be Officer Whitfield. If you need time off, you will address it to her and any other concerns you might have."
This couldn't be happening. He was told he would be working for Robert Ironside. No one said anything about Whitfield being his boss. "Just a minute, Chief. I was told I would take my orders from you."
"And you will. I'm a busy man, Tom. I don't have time to supervise anyone. My staff knows if I have to supervise them, they would not be working for me. I set the agenda, they follow it. You will do the same. You will be answering to Officer Whitfield. Is that clear?"
Tom Dayton clinched his jaw. This was not how it was supposed to be. How would he ever stand taking orders from a woman. She didn't even belong in a position of authority. He tried to hide his anger over the decision. He could not let Ironside know how he really felt about it. "It's clear."
"Eve, show Mister Dayton to his quarters," Ironside ordered.
"This way, Tom," Eve said, her voice giving off an air of authority.
Dayton stood up and stared at Ironside. When the chief noticed, he snarled, "Well, what is it, Tom?"
Dayton decided the best thing for him to do was to just keep his mouth shut. "Nothing, Chief. I will get settled in now." He turned and followed Eve Whitfield out of the office.
Mark sat down in the chair Tom Dayton had just vacated. "Do you think he will be able to handle taking orders from Eve?"
"If he can't, he will have proven he doesn't belong on the outside," Ed said before his boss could answer. "I just hope Eve can handle him."
"Eve is a professional. She will do what she has to do . . . what I told her to do. I want to know if Dayton is cured. If he is, he won't be fazed by her. If he isn't, sooner or later he will blow. When he does, I want to make sure we are there to stop him from harming anyone."
"Including Eve?" Mark said.
"Eve can take care of herself. If she couldn't, she wouldn't be working in this office."
Neither Ed or Mark said anything further. There wasn't any sense in arguing with the chief once he made up his mind. They just hoped he was right, or Eve would find herself the subject of Dayton's wrath.