Earthquake in San Francisco
Chapter 2
1
Ed Brown looked out the window of the huge airliner he'd flown in to New York City. Ed thought about Vivian Page the entire duration of the flight. He really didn't know what he was doing, coming to New York to visit a woman who'd walked away from him. There wasn't any chance of a relationship. She wouldn't come to San Francisco, and he couldn't give up his job working for the chief. So, why was he here? He knew the answer to that. He still loved her. Seeing her again would give him time with her if only for the three weeks of vacation he'd requested from Chief Ironside.
Ed watched as the plane touched down. The jet roared down the runway. Seeing Vivian was only minutes away. When the plane came to a stop, Ed stood up, removed his luggage from the overhead bin, and waited for his turn to deplane. He followed his fellow passengers in to the terminal. As he entered, he spotted her. She was every bit as beautiful as he remembered.
Vivian smiled and waved when she saw him. Unable to wait for him to come to her, she ran towards him. Ed dropped his suitcase as she jumped into his arms. Their lips met in a long passionate kiss. When they finally parted, Vivian looked into his handsome face. "Hello, Ed Brown."
Ed chuckled. "Hello, Vivian Page." He bent down and kissed her again.
"Well, what do you say we get out of here. I've a car outside in the parking garage."
"Sounds like a plan."
Vivian pulled open his suit coat with both hands. It wasn't there. Ed knew immediately what she was looking for. "You left your gun in San Francisco."
Ed smiled. "I thought that's what you'd want me to do. It was hard though. I feel naked without it."
"I'll tell you what was harder," Vivian said.
"What?"
"I left my heart in San Francisco." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes."
Ed wiped the tears from her face and kissed her again. "Let's go." He picked up his suitcase with one hand and put his arm around her waist with the other. She in turn encircled his waist with her arm. As they walked through JFK Airport, they kept glancing at each other as if to be sure they weren't dreaming.
When they entered the parking garage, they were met with a mob of entertainment reporters. Vivian let go of Ed. She pushed her way through the reporters and opened the trunk of her car. Ed placed his suitcase in the car and slammed the trunk shut.
"Miss Page, who's your companion?" One of them shouted.
Vivian ignored him and continued to push her way through the crowd of reporters. Ed followed her to the driver's door, keeping his body between Vivian and the reporters. Opening the door, he motioned for her to slip in behind the wheel. After shutting the door, he pushed his way through the crowd until he reached the front passenger door. Brown got into the vehicle. She started the car, moved slowly past the reporters and left the parking garage.
"My hero," she grinned.
"Chivalry isn't dead as long as I'm around," he said with a smile.
Vivian ran her hand down the side of Ed's face. "I've never forgotten just how handsome this face is."
Ed removed her hand from his cheek and kissed the back of it. "And I've never forgotten how beautiful you are, but I suggest you watch the road instead of me."
Vivian laughed, and using her hand, threw her hair back. "Last time you conducted the tour. This time I'll do it." She reached down and took Ed's hand in hers. "I'm so happy you came."
Squeezing her hand, he smiled and responded, "So am I."
Vivian turned her attention back to the road. "So, how did your boss react to you coming here to see me?" When Ed didn't respond, she realized why. "You didn't tell him you were coming to see me, did you?"
"No, I didn't. It wasn't necessary to tell him," Ed said, but not very convincingly.
"Not necessary or you didn't want him to know you were visiting me?"
"Viv..."
"No, don't bother to answer. I know he doesn't approve of me."
"That's not true," Ed said, defending his boss.
"Yes, it is and you know it. But, you know what? I don't care whether he approves. You came. That's all that matters to me."
They spent the trip to her apartment bringing each other up to date. Vivian told him all about her work in the theater. She was so animated, Ed could tell she loved acting and theater was where she belonged. It suited her more than the movies. Although, if she'd chosen the movies instead of the theater, she'd at least be in the Los Angeles area. They could be together between movie roles. Instead, they were on opposite sides of the country.
Ed knew this was crazy. They were never going to work out any kind of relationship under the circumstances. Yet, he did not care. He was here now with Vivian and she with him. The moment was all that mattered to him right now. He'd thought he'd gotten over her, but he'd been wrong. Seeing her again made him come alive.
They arrived at her penthouse apartment in Manhattan. Vivian called for a porter to bring Ed's suitcase up to the apartment, despite his protest that he could carry it up himself. She'd have no part of it. She intended to pamper him until he realized he didn't want to go back to San Francisco and that boss of his.
The actress opened the door to the apartment and stood there with her hand out. "Home sweet home." Grinning at him, she backed into the apartment in a seductive pose. Ed followed her in, closed the door, and headed directly to her. Taking her in his arms, Ed kissed her. When the kiss ended, Ed placed his forehead on hers."
"Would you like to see the bedroom, Ed Brown?" She asked in a sultry voice.
Ed pulled back. "Viv, are you sure you want this?"
Looking directly into his brown eyes, she whispered, "I haven't thought about anything else since you said you would come." She grabbed his hands and pulled him toward the bedroom. Opening the door, she watched him as he looked in.
Ed couldn't believe the size of the bedroom. It was larger than his entire apartment. In fact, this penthouse was larger than the office residence Chief Ironside lived in. Eve's parents' house had nothing on this apartment! He looked over to a smiling Vivian Page.
"Well?" She asked.
Ed picked her up and carried her over to the bed.
2
While Eve talked to an employee of the phone company, Ironside was becoming impatient. It shouldn't take that long to get the information on Ed's cell phone. He listened intently to Eve's conversation. They were indeed giving her problems regarding giving up the phone number of the call Ed had received. Unable to wait any longer, Ironside called over his shoulder, "Transfer that call to me, Eve."
Officer Whitfield informed the employee Chief Ironside wanted to talk to her. She then transferred the call as her boss had ordered.
"This is Chief Ironside. What's the problem with giving us the phone number we've requested?" He growled.
"I'm sorry, Chief Ironside. We aren't allowed to give out the information you have requested without a court order," she told him.
"Now listen carefully. I have an officer that could be in trouble. If something happens to him, I'll arrest you for interfering in a police investigation."
"Sir, your officer didn't say it was an investigation. I'll have the information sent over to you right away."
"Thank you." Ironside hung up the phone.
Mark walked over to the table and placed another cup of coffee in front of the chief. "When did Ed's vacation become a police investigation?"
Eve joined them at the table with a smile on her face. "Yes, Chief, do tell."
"You pointed out Ed could be in trouble. We're investigating whether he is."
The door to the office opened. Commissioner Randall entered and came down the ramp. Ironside looked over his shoulder to see who'd come in. "Well hello, Dennis. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Randall sat down. "Mark, is there any coffee? Don't bother if it's the bottom of the pot."
"Mark just made a fresh pot." Ironside nodded at Mark who headed for the kitchen to get Randall a cup of coffee. He returned a moment later and set in front of the commissioner.
Randall took a sip of the coffee, well aware that they were waiting for him to tell them why he was there. Setting the coffee mug back down on the table, he pondered how his friend would take the news he was about to give him.
"Dennis, if you've brought us another case, why don't you just come out with it?" Ironside said impatiently.
"It's not a case, Bob. It's about Frank Hunt," Randall told him.
"Who's Frank Hunt?" Eve asked.
Without answering her, Ironside was looking straight at his boss. "What about Hunt?"
"The warden called me this morning. They have granted Hunt another parole hearing. They ask me to extend an invitation for you to attend the hearing and speak if you choose to."
Ironside shook his head. "When will they learn Frank Hunt should serve his entire sentence? Parole shouldn't be granted to him. In fact, he should stay in prison for the rest of his life."
"Don't you think you might be just a little prejudice on this one?"
"Prejudice? Dennis, what the blazes are you talking about?" Ironside snarled.
"He robbed a bank and you arrested him. The judge gave him twenty years. Bob, he's served fifteen of those years. You've blocked his parole twice now. Yet, the warden said he's been a model prisoner the entire time he's been incarcerated. There isn't any reason he shouldn't be paroled. Why do you insist on blocking it?"
"Dennis, he killed a man," Ironside said.
The commissioner shook his head. "There wasn't enough evidence to prove he did it. You know that. I heard you tell the district attorney just that."
"Just because we couldn't obtain enough evidence doesn't mean he didn't do it," Ironside insisted.
"A man is innocent until proven guilty. You can't keep him in prison because you believe he killed the man."
"Paroling Frank Hunt is a mistake. He'll only kill again."
"I thought we established you didn't have the evidence. Doesn't that mean he's innocent because he wasn't proven guilty?" Randall asked sarcastically. Catching himself, he decided he'd been around Robert Ironside too long. He was becoming as sarcastic as his former Chief of Detectives.
"We established we didn't have enough evidence to take him to trial. If the parole board turns him loose on society, the case will be reopened. I'll find that evidence. I'm telling you, he belongs behind bars."
"Oh, for cripe's sake, Bob let it go! Attend the hearing if you want to. I suggest you let the parole board make the decision and accept it." The commissioner took another sip of coffee and set the cup back on the table. "I've work to do and so do you. I'll be on my way. He nodded towards Mark and Eve and left the office.
Eve sat down beside the chief. "So who's Frank Hunt. I don't remember ever hearing the name before."
Ironside though back over fifteen years ago. He was a detective sergeant and had been assigned a string of bank robberies. All the robberies had the same MO. Two men walked into the back with masks and guns. Each of the banks were small branches. One man kept an AK14 held on the bank employees while the other man collected all the money in the teller drawers and the vault. They left almost as quickly as they came in.
Despite bank employees being able to set off the alarm to the police, Frank Hunt was able to somehow disable them. The FBI hadn't been able to figure out how he'd accomplished it. Ironside didn't believe Hunt had the ability to do so. He pressured the man in charge of security at the branch of Wells Fargo into admitting he'd been paid by Frank Hunt to disable the system. The man turned on Hunt when offered a deal by the district attorney. Somehow, Hunt found out about it. The employee was found shot dead in a motel room even though he had police protection. He'd been shot with a silence weapon through the bathroom window.
Ironside suspected Hunt was responsible, but hadn't been able to prove it. Unfortunately for Hunt, the employee had given up the location of his share of the money. When it was dusted for prints, Frank Hunt's prints were all over the bills. Hunt had no alibi and fit the height and build of one of the bank robbers. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to twenty years in prison.
When the chief got through with his narrative, Mark couldn't stay quiet. "Chief, some people change. He's been in prison for fifteen years of his sentence. The warden says he's been a model prisoner. Give the guy a break. You did me."
"Mark, you were a product of your situation. There was never any doubt you could turn around, at least not to me. Frank Hunt killed a man. I couldn't prove it then, but I know he did it. He belongs right where he is and I intend to do everything I can to see he stays there."
Eve suspected there was more to this than the chief was telling them. "Okay, who was the man that was murdered and who was he to you?"
Ironside's demeanor didn't change, even though his reaction would've caused him to cringe if it hadn't been for years of perfecting his poker face. Eve saw right through him. He shouldn't have been surprised. He trained this officer himself. Regardless of her young age, she was one of the best in the department.
He could've kept it to himself, although he suspected Eve would check into it further. He might as well save her the trouble. "The young man was the son of one of my dearest friends. His killer belongs behind bars."
"But Chief, the evidence wasn't there," Eve said.
"He did it, Eve. I promised Zack Hill's mother his killer wouldn't get away with it. I couldn't prove it, but Frank Hunt killed Zack. He's not getting out of prison on an early parole."
"Chief, even if you succeed in getting his parole denied, he'll be released in five years anyway," Mark pointed out to his boss.
"Not if I can help it. I've never closed the case on Zack's murder. I'll find the proof to make him pay for what he did," Ironside said.
3
The office was quiet except for the pounding of the rain. Eve went home for the evening and Mark retired to his room to study. Ironside wheeled over to the window to watch the rain come down. He couldn't stop thinking about Frank Hunt. Ironside couldn't allow a cold-blooded murderer to return to the streets. The detective didn't care what the warden said about Hunt. He was a killer and a manipulator. Hunt manipulated Zack Hill to cooperate with his plans to rob the bank. Zack's security business had failed, and he was in debt thousands of dollars. Ironside didn't know how Hunt found out about it, but he did.
Frank Hunt offered the young man the exact amount of money he was in debt for. Of course Zack could've refused. Hunt knew Zack not only lost his business, but was also on the verge of losing his home and his vehicle. He didn't want to go crawling to his parents. Hunt took advantage of it and manipulated him into helping with crippling the security system, so he could get away before the police arrived.
The phone rang behind the detective. Ironside turned his chair around and wheeled over to the table. Picking up the phone he answered it, not with the typical "Ironside" he did during office hours, but with the traditional "Hello."
"Robert, I've not seen much of you lately," Katherine said. "I've gotten the feeling you're avoiding me because of my own stupidity."
Ironside smiled. Katherine could always bring a smile to his face. "I'm sorry. I really have no excuse. We don't have a major case going on right now."
"Robert, we need to talk," she said.
"What's wrong, Katherine?"
"Can I come over? I'm not far from your office."
"Of course you can. I'll be waiting." Ironside hung up the phone.
Within fifteen minutes there was a knock on the door. He wheeled up the ramp. Grabbing the knob and pushing his chair back slightly, he opened the door. He took Katherine's hand and guided her inside. Instead of greeting him with a kiss, Katherine smiled and walked past him down the ramp. When she reached the table, she sat down and waited for Robert to join her.
As he wheeled over to her, he was reminded of another woman who told him she was leaving him. He didn't like the vibes, as Mark would say, that Katherine was giving off. He reached out and took her hand. "Have I done something to offend or hurt you?"
She looked at him, puzzled by his question. "Of course not, Robert, whatever gave you that idea?"
"Well the last time a woman looked at me like you are doing . . ."
Katherine interrupted him immediately. "I'm not Barbara, Robert. I don't walk out when the going gets tough. Besides this wasn't your fault, it was mine."
"Katherine, I must admit I've no idea what you're talking about," he told her.
"My behavior. I should've trusted you instead of . . ." She stopped and looked away from him.
Ironside was completely confused. "Please tell me what's on your mind. Whatever it is, we can work it out."
"Alexandra Hughes."
"What about her?"
"I visited your office when she was here," she began.
"I don't remember you being in the office at the same time as Alexandra."
"That is because I didn't stay. I saw . . . well I saw you . . ."
Ironside thought back to the conversation with Alexandra and it hit him what Katherine was talking about. "You saw her kiss me."
She looked at him. "She kissed you?"
He smiled. "You thought I kissed her?"
"Well, I thought . . . yes, I thought so."
"Well I didn't. Obviously, you didn't stay long enough to see me push her away and tell her it was over a long time ago."
"You did."
"I did."
"Robert, I'm so sorry. I was so upset. I thought I was losing you to her and wasn't thinking straight. Then Francois Montre called and I should've known he wouldn't be interested in my wine. I should've seen through him. I caused you a great deal of trouble and I'm so sorry."
The detective kissed her hand. "Don't you know by now that I love you. Alexandra Hughes is past history. You're my future. When it comes to other women, you've absolutely nothing to worry about. Remember, you said when I retire from police work, we'll run the vineyards together."
"I feel so foolish." She could not look him in the eye.
He raised her chin to meet his gaze. "Don't. I'm happy that you love me enough to be just a little jealous."
She chuckled. "I was a lot more than a little jealous."
Smiling at her, he suggested, "It's getting late. Will you spend the night here with me?"
She nodded. "I would love to, if you'd like me too."
"I would. Why don't we retire for the night?" Ironside suggested.
Katherine smiled, stood up and wheeled him to the bedroom.
4
The rain continued in a steady downpour. Mark Sanger closed his text book and prepared to turn out the light. As he reached to set it on the stand, he noticed the glass of bourbon he set there began to slide around. The bed he was resting on started moving. The room shook. Mark realized it was an earthquake. It was the first time he experienced a quake.
The chief! He had to get to the chief. Mark stood up, but the floor was swaying underneath him. He struggled to the door holding the frame. When he regained his balance, he headed into the main room of the office. The papers on the table were sent to the floor with the shaking. Books fell off the shelves and kitchen utensils were rolling on the floor. Mark swayed with the earthquake like a drunken sailor. He was thrown one way and then the other as he slowly reached Ironside's room. He threw open the door. His boss was holding Katherine.
"Chief!" Mark called out.
"We're all right, Mark."
The shaking stopped. Katherine sat up, as Ironside shouted, "Mark, get me into my chair!"
Sanger helped the handicapped detective into his wheelchair. Ironside wheeled into the main room and headed for the closest phone which was on his desk. He picked up the receiver and called downstairs. "Contact all units on patrol. Have them report in. Call in whatever off duty officers that are needed." He hung up the phone. He turned to see Katherine join them at the table.
"Chief, don't you think we should call Eve and make sure she is all right?" Mark asked.
"Go ahead. That wasn't a bad quake. Probably a five pointer or so. I don't think there will be that much damage. We may need extra police to stop looting and help those that may have been affected. I think we will find most won't be any worse off than this office."
Mark looked around. Although there were objects and papers on the floor, the chief was right; it wasn't that bad.
As reports started coming in, his summation was correct. There'd been some damage which was fairly minor. Police were able to prevent any looting. A few arrests were made. San Francisco had been shaken around, but by the most part it was fine.
What they did not know was it was only a prelude to what was to come.