CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
1300 hours Tuesday July 4th
Station House No. 4
"Murdoch! You'd better have something good!"
All eyes in the station house fixed on him the minute they heard Brackenreid demand information. The men's curiosity bore into him from behind as he presented himself to the inspector's desk, aware how he looked, hat-in-hand. This getting called on the carpet by Brackenreid like this was getting old. He made sure to pitch his voice so the ears attached to those eyes heard the news.
Might as well put everyone out of their misery at the same time.
"Sir, Dr. Ogden confirms Mr. Argyle Hudson died from being fed poisoned mushrooms, which we can link, with physical evidence, back to Mr. Randolph Swift, whose autopsy is also complete. The Crown Prosecutor agrees there are no charges left to file. The Hamilton constabulary have been informed and closed their murder investigation."
Brackenreid sighed heavily. "So, nothing left but the paperwork, and the bleeding press."
"Yes, sir. Mayor Maguire is planning to make his comments in time for the afternoon papers," Murdoch explained. "I believe Miss Ruby Ogden will be there, representing the Toronto Star."
Not even that news cheered Brackenreid up, while the men stifled sniggers in the bullpen. "Oi! Don't you lot have any police work to do?" Brackenreid bellowed, which sent them scuttling back to their tasks. His voice, while softer, remained irritated when addressing Murdoch. "What about Perri? You know Maguire is going to be asked about it. He's been on me himself about our progress!"
It was his turn to sigh. He walked around to close both of Brackenreid's doors for some privacy, then closed the blinds as well. "May I suggest you personally encourage the mayor to repeat 'No comment during an ongoing investigation', while reminding him how delicate it is at the moment when we are just about to spring our trap?"
Brackenreid made a chuffing sound. "What else have you found out about this old bomb factory?"
"Canada Wire revived its pre-war plan to move their operation to Leaside. A brisk business, two shifts of workers run nearly day and night as demand for wire increases. At the same time, the complex is being re-engineered for even larger milling operations, supplying wire to the U.S. as well as domestic markets."
"A real money maker then. Perri's operation? Are we sure this company's management is all that blind to the goings on?"
"Hodge and I traced the batch of poisoned alcohol directly back to the Leaside facility. Perri's gang use shift changes and construction to cover the operation. For the owner or manager to collude in bootlegging would be too risky, although it is true plant workers are involved. Perri, or John Salt as his agent, has slid a temporary re-distilling operation into a small unused building near the plant's water tower, poaching the existing water and electrical resources. Hodge discovered Mr. Salt used to be a chemist for Royal in Hamilton before it shut down- another point for Dr. Ogden who suggested chemists might get paid better by bootleggers than by legitimate distillers. The Leaside set up is nothing as grand as the Royal but larger than a moonshiner's still as the Americans call them. Delivery of raw materials is aided by a bribe to one of the gate guards - which is where we got our final bit of information, in exchange for leniency. We have confirmed all the particulars. It is large enough to produce liquor in necessary quantities, but small enough to hide - or to abandon if necessary."
"Are we ready for tonight? It's all set up? I expect each detail is double-checked." Brackenreid's face was keen, his colour high. "Christ! Keeping this whole thing secret is a slippery thing."
Murdoch nodded. "In combination with the money trail we have already established, we can present the Crown Prosecutor his case."
"Best we do," Brackenreid said with feeling. "Too much about all of this is circumstantial. We have to 'catch 'em red handed' as Higgins so colourfully put it."
"Yes." He also knew just how dangerous a plan he and Brackenreid concocted. "I think we should recall Higgins to keep the station house open. He's too green, sir, for an assault like this. Rocco Perri's bootleggers are likely to be heavily armed and merciless. Worseley and Weston will be back at four-thirty, leaving Crabtree and Hodge in place. The men will be ready to leave here at five."
Brackenreid sat up, squared his shoulders, and tugged at his vest to straighten it. "More than both our badges are on the line, Murdoch." The emotion in his old captain's flinty eyes: it was not fear, but determination, the sort which kept the both of them alive in the war. "Right then. Over the top, eh Murdoch?"
He snapped to attention. He couldn't help it; it was so natural. "Over the top, sir."
