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Earthquake in San Francisco
Chapter 12
1
Ironside hung up the phone. He could feel the rage within him begin to rise. If there was one thing he hated it was definitely when criminals used cowardly tactics to get to him. That included his family and friends. Victoria was his only living aunt. His mother and father had been gone for years now. Victoria had never married. Robert Ironside felt an obligation to look after his aunt.
He had believed she had no children. That was until Victoria decided to investigate an adoption agency that was kidnapping children and selling them to childless couples at a high price. She'd gotten herself into trouble, but didn't feel she could ask for her nephew's help. She was being blackmailed by the owner of the agency. He found out that she had a child out of wedlock when she was very young. The child was stolen from her and placed by an agency in adopted home. Victoria kept the secret for 50 years. She was afraid of losing the respect of her nephew, so she attempted to solve the problem on her own.
Ironside was able to protect her from the owners of the agency. In his investigation, he found out about Victoria's son. The detective arranged a reunion between Victoria and her long-lost son.
Once again, he was forced to protect her against those trying to hurt him. He'd been given instructions as to how he could save her life. Ironside wasn't kidding himself. Frank Hunt and Roland Hubbard had no intention of allowing either one of them to leave alive. Hunt wanted revenge, and his kind of revenge was death. He had nothing to lose because Ironside had the evidence to put him back into prison for the murder of Zack Hill.
His instructions were to come to the newly-opened Trans Tower. With its construction, it became the tallest building in San Francisco. With a total of 84 floors, it was used entirely for business offices. Although every office space in the tower was not occupied, most were. Frank Hunt had demanded that he come alone and arrive at ten o'clock in the evening.
He knew he would get an argument from his staff. Each one of them was aware that Hunt's intention was to kill him. He had no choice but to keep the information from them. The detective would not take chances with his aunt's life.
He knew Hunt would get into the building even at that hour. Likely, no one would be working that late and the building would be locked. Yet, from his experience, criminals were never stopped by locked doors. No doubt, Hunt and Hubbard would be waiting for him when he arrived.
He looked around the office. Mark was in his room studying for an exam. The door was closed. Ironside would not disturb him. He would be on his own this time. There wouldn't be any staff to back him up. He simply couldn't take the chance that Hunt would kill Victoria. Frank Hunt was a cold-blooded killer. If he saw any police or members of Ironside staff, the chief had no doubt he would kill her in retaliation.
Victoria was in trouble because of him. He and only he could get her out of it. He began looking around his office for things to protect himself with. If he took a gun, Frank Hunt would certainly search him and discover it. There had to be other means he could use to protect them both.
Wheeling over to his desk, he began opening and searching drawers. He found a small container of pepper spray. He picked it up and placed it in his pants pocket because Hunt would likely search his suit coat pockets. It would be far more difficult for him to search his pants pockets without lifting him from his chair. He located a fingernail file and added that to his back pocket.
As he continued to look through the desk drawers, Ironside checked for anything else that he might be able to use as a weapon. There was a box of heavy-duty rubber bands in the middle drawer. He reached in and pulled out several of them and placed them under his left leg.
In the middle drawer, he removed his service revolver. Ironside thought about the times he had placed it under his leg and pulled it out to use when the thugs that thought they had the drop on him weren't looking. He wondered if he could get away with it just one more time. Shaking his head, he declined the thought and dropped the gun back into the drawer. He would have to find other ways to defend him and Victoria. Then an idea hit him!
The detective reached for the phone and dialed the kennel where Otto spent most of his time. When a feminine voice answered the phone, Ironside said, "This is Robert Ironside. I need to speak with Dunlap. He waited for his friend to come on the phone.
"Hi Chief. I wondered when you were going to pick up Otto again. It has been awhile since you took him to your office."
"I need you to do me a favor," the detective told him.
"Anything, Chief, you name it," Dunlap said.
"Take Otto over to the Trans Tower 15 minutes before ten o'clock. When I am let into the building, I want you hidden in the general vicinity. You'll have to break a window. Let Otto inside. You can't be seen doing it."
Dunlap didn't like the sound of these instructions. "What's going on, Chief? Do you need more dogs?" You know I will provide whatever you need."
"No, I just need Otto. Make sure he gets in the building. He will find me. And Dunlap, make sure he's wearing a bullet-proof vest," Ironside said.
Concerned, but knowing fully well Robert Ironside wasn't going to tell him anymore than he wanted to no matter the prodding, he agreed and hung up.
The chief looked around his office-residence again. Now he needed something of Victoria's. Otto would need to know who else he was to protect. Otherwise, he would consider anyone he came upon a threat. He didn't want his dog attacking his Aunt Victoria. He decided on a locket she had given him recently that once belonged to his mother. He placed it in the pocket of his shirt.
2
Sergeant Ed Brown looked out the window of the airliner. He hated window seats. With his tall frame, there simply wasn't enough leg room. He much preferred the aisle seat. Unfortunately, when he booked the flight, there wasn't any aisle seats left. He had been lucky enough just to be able book a straight through flight.
As he stared out the window into the clouds, he couldn't help but think about Vivian. He wasn't questioning his decision to leave. He knew it was the right one. Vivian loved him, he knew that, but she loved the stage more. Ed should have known it would never work. He loved San Francisco and the job he had with Chief Ironside. He's supposed he was just as guilty as she was. His love for his job was obviously more than his love for her, for he couldn't give up what he did either. The relationship had been doomed from the beginning, and he should have seen it. Despite knowing he did what was best for both of them, Ed had a knot in his stomach. It was one that came with heartache. It would take time to heal. No doubt, the chief would keep him busy. He had done that when Ed lost his fiancé to Tom Dayton's rage. Ironside would be perceptive enough to know that work was the best thing for Ed right now. He sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. Sleep would probably be elusive, but if not, the heartache would leave him well he slept.
3
Frank Hunt and Roland Hubbard were inside the Trans Tower. As soon as they arrived, they headed for the basement. It would be the perfect place to hide. Frank had arranged to disable the alarm system that protected the building. They would have access to turn off lights in any portion of the building to leave Ironside blind. He would be expecting them to meet him at the door. He would be disappointed. They had to make sure he didn't bring any cops with him.
Frank had warned him. If he saw any police at all, they would kill his precious aunt. He was almost certain that Ironside would do exactly what he was told to do. He wouldn't take any chances with his aunt's life.
They actually had wanted Katherine. She would have been an even better hostage to threaten the detective with. Unfortunately, when they went out to the vineyards, she wasn't there. They didn't have time to wait if they were to lure Ironside to the building. If they had known where Katherine was, they would've gone after her. Since they had no idea, their only alternative was to go to their second choice. Frank figured it would be almost as good. Other than Ironside's brother in Los Angeles, his son from Montreal, and his foster daughter, as far as he knew he had no other relatives. It didn't matter now anyway; the wheels were in motion.
"Do you think there's a chance that he will bring the police?" Roland Hubbard asked.
"No, he won't bring the police. Ironside is very arrogant. He doesn't think he's vulnerable in that wheelchair. He's about to find out different. Believe me, he'll come alone."
Hubbard wasn't convinced. "I don't know, Frank. I have a feeling he'll bring police with him. He'll just keep them out of sight."
"That won't do him any good. You see, I paid somebody to hack into their security system. The cameras are all being forwarded to my smartphone. We will be able to monitor this entire building as well as the surrounding area. If he brings cops, his aunt is a dead woman. Then I will make sure we take Ironside out with us. Either way, he is not leaving this building alive."
"You're assuming that the aunt means something to him. I've always had the feeling that nobody means anything to Ironside."
"Roland, everyone has a breaking point. For a man, it is always his wife and family. Ironside doesn't have a wife, but he has family. He's no different than any other man. You threaten them, and he'll cave."
Hubbard shook his head. "Robert Ironside has never caved on anything. I think it is important that we don't underestimate him. Many have, and they reside in jail."
Frank cocked his head to the side. He had never heard words like that come out of Roland's mouth. "Correct me if I am wrong, but are you afraid of Ironside?"
Roland smiled. "Anyone in their right mind is afraid of Ironside. It's that fear that will help you outsmart him. If you're not scared of him, you'll make mistakes, and that includes you, Frank."
Ignoring his friend's warning, Frank walked over to the massive computer boxes which controlled the lighting system of the building. He read the wording on each one until he found the one he wanted. Hunt pulled a smartphone from his pocket and brought up the application that would control the computerized boxes. He wondered if whoever invented the system where just about everything could be controlled on the internet had any idea the monster they had created.
Anything that could be controlled on the internet could be hacked into. It hadnt cost him that much money to pay off a hacker to hack into the system for him. The man made sure that Frank would be able to control the electricity and the communication system from his smartphone. If Ironside brought a smartphone with him, Frank would be able to block the signal, so that he would not be able to call for help. Nor would he be able to use any phones in the building. Hunt also had control of them.
He would leave Ironside completely in the dark. It would be much more difficult for him to fight back with the lights turned off in the building. Frank reached into the box that he had brought with him. He handed Roland a pair of night vision goggles. He pulled another one out for himself. Ironside would be blinded, but they would not. He'd been looking forward to this for a long time. Quite frankly he didn't care if he came out of it alive or dead just as long as Ironside was dead. He would pay for every minute that Frank spent in prison.
After checking his night vision goggles to be sure they were working, Frank pulled up a chair and sat down. Now, all that was left to do was wait for Ironside's arrival.
4
Robert Ironside drove his specially equipped van through the streets of San Francisco. His mind was on his Aunt Victoria who had been drawn into Frank Hunt's plans because of him. He reached on the dashboard of the van and grabbed his smartphone. The detective called his foster daughter. After speaking to Kwangsoo and Chong, he felt a bit better. They were out of town. The couple had decided to take a vacation. Since Ironside had agreed to loan Kwangsoo the money to complete his college education, they had more money to work with. They called it a vacation, but were only taking a couple days to drive north and rent a cabin. At least Ironside knew they were safe.
He worried that he had not been able to reach Katherine. She was a prime target for those that were threatening him. Despite his concern, he knew that if Hunt had her, he would certainly have let him know it. Ironside could be fairly certain she was all right. Still, he wasn't taking any chances. He couldn't call Eve or Mark without raising a red flag. They would want to know what was going on and where he was going. He couldn't involve them. This was something he had to do alone. He could think of only one person who would follow his orders to a tee, Officer Duffy. The young officer never let him down in that area. The chief called Duffy at home. The policeman lived alone in a modest apartment fitting an officer on the San Francisco Police payroll.
"Hello," Duffy answered.
"Duffy, it's Ironside."
"Hello, Chief, what's up?"
"I need you to do something for me."
Agreeable as always, Duffy replied, "Sure, Chief. What do you need?"
"I want you to locate Katherine for me. Stay with her until you hear from me."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then Duffy asked, "What's going on? Are you in trouble?"
"Nothing I can't handle," Ironside assured him.
"Chief, if you are in trouble, I can call Mark, Eve, and Ed."
"Ed is in New York. Mark is studying, and Eve is at home. I can't involve them, Duffy. I trust you to do as I ask."
Duffy's instincts told him the chief was indeed trouble. He'd no idea what his office had been working on, but something certainly was causing him a serious problem. Duffy could read it in his voice. "All right, I'll take care of it, but tell me where you are going."
"That's not important right now. Just take care of Katherine for me. Thanks, Duffy, I'll call you when things change." Ironside hung up the phone.
"Chief, Chief, are you there?" Duffy shouted into the phone. The line had gone dead. He sat in his recliner for a moment before picking up the television remote and turning off the big screen TV. He wanted to call Eve, Mark, and maybe Carl. Ironside was in trouble. He was sure of it. It wouldn't be the first time he headed into a dangerous situation with no backup. Duffy knew he was capable of taking care of himself. The problem was the wheelchair. He couldn't get away from someone trying to harm him.
Duffy hurried into the kitchen, grabbed his keys and cellphone from the counter and left his apartment.
Having made sure his foster daughter, son-in-law and Katherine were protected; Ironside continued toward the Trans Tower. He wasn't worried about his son or his brother. Hunt couldn't get his hands on them; they were too far away to abduct in the time frame he was operating.
He didn't know exactly what he was heading into, but felt better that Otto would be there with him. The dog would protect him with his life. The only downside was Ironside didn't want anything to happen to Otto either, so he would have to protect him as well.
He pulled the van to a stop about a block from the Trans Tower, and parked at the side of the road, unconcerned whether Dunlap would find him. The man wasn't stupid. He sensed immediately that there was a problem. He would come and with Otto. He would've liked to take him up on his offer of more dogs; it just wasn't something he could do. If Hunt saw anything as a threat to his plans, he would kill Victoria.
A van from the kennel pulled up behind him and parked. Dunlap got out of the vehicle and joined Ironside, who had lowered his wheelchair to the ground in the lift. "Okay, Chief, are you going to tell me what this is all about?"
"No," Ironside said. "You are going to have to trust me on this one."
Dunlap stood there unsure of what to do. He didn't like leaving Ironside to go into whatever it was he was going in to face, yet he knew first-hand how stubborn the detective could be. He remembered when Ironside first came to his kennels because dogs trained by his facility were failing to do their jobs in stores they were supposed to be guarding. His dogs were being rendered as harmless as puppies. Ironside decided to train with one of his dogs in order to figure out what was happening. He refused to train with any other dog except "crazy Otto." As it turned out, the detective figured out how the perpetrator was doing it, stopped him with Otto's help, and put the man behind bars. Ever since that time, the chief would pick up Otto for assignments or just to have the dog around him.
Knowing there was no sense in trying to change his friend's mind, Dunlap gave in. "Okay, how do you want to handle this?"
"First get Otto out of the vehicle so I can calm him down."
Dunlap had been so concerned about the chief; he'd noticed Otto was making a fuss, although it wasn't surprising. His sense of smell would've alerted him Ironside was near. He walked back to the rear of the van, opened the door, placed a lead on Otto's collar and brought him to Ironside. With the dog's tail wagging wildly, he barked happily and jumped into the detective's lap."
"Hello, Otto. How are you doing, boy?" Ironside grabbed both sides of the dog's neck and roughed him up playfully. After giving the German Shepherd a couple minutes to greet him, it was time to settle him down. With just a couple of words, Otto calmed and sat down beside Ironside's chair.
Robert Ironside pulled out his phone and logged into Police Headquarters. After finding what he wanted, he put the phone back into his pocket. "I am going in the back door. The cameras don't cover the left side of the area. You bring Otto, but stay in that area. Remove his lead, break a window, and help him into the building. He will find me from there."
"But Chief, it'll set off the alarm system."
"I doubt it. The alarm system will have been deactivated. Besides, they'll be too busy checking the surrounding area for police."
"I don't like this. Let me go back and get more dogs, or at least let me call Eve and Ed," Dunlap said.
"No. I'll be fine. Thanks for bringing Otto. Now, let's get started." Ironside ordered Otto to stay with Dunlap, then turned and wheeled his chair toward the Trans Tower. Dunlap and Otto followed at a distance. It was a quarter to ten, therefore Ironside didn't believe Hunt would be looking for him yet, at least he hoped not. He didn't want him to discover Otto until he was ready for him to do so.
When he arrived at the door he had been ordered to go to, he found it unlocked. The chief opened the door and went in. Glancing up at the alarm box, no lights went on. Ironside reached up and opened it. It required a key to disarm the system, just as he expected. However, he knew Hunt had already disarmed it. He closed the box and headed for the nearest elevator where he would ride it up to the 83rd floor.
Waiting a reasonable amount of time, Dunlap broke a window to the left of the door, removed Otto's lead, and hoisted the German Shepherd up through it. He turned and headed back to his van. As soon as he had the chance, he was going to call Mark in Ironside's office and alert him to what was going on.
When Ironside arrived at the elevator, he pressed the button and waited. The doors opened when the elevator arrived. Ironside backed his chair inside, pressed the button once again for the 83rd floor and what awaited him there.