The Case of the Stolen Artifact
Chapter 8
1
Eli Schneider was leaving nothing to fate. He picked up the phone and dialed the number of Tracy Oliver. He was going to make sure Alexandra Hughes was framed for stealing the Tiger. He and Louis would get away scot-free with the valuable item. Eli would make sure Alexandra paid for not holding on to the Tiger and sharing the profits. No, the stupid woman had to leave it behind for Ironside to return it. He should have known better than to deal with the woman. She had a past with the detective and she probably stilled loved the man.
He had banked on her being a professional and would be able to keep up her end of the bargain. Eli had worked with her several times. Alexandra had been professional as well as efficient. Schneider had been certain she would be that time, and she would have been if it had not been for her feelings for Ironside.
The caper had gone off perfectly. They only had to get out of San Francisco. The time it took Ironside to track them down was short of amazing. He was going to leave as soon as he got the artifact. No hanging around this time. However, Alexandra would be in the museum when it disappeared.
Eli waited for the phone to be answered.
"Hello," a man's voice said.
"May I please speak to Tracy Oliver.
"This is her father, John Lovell. May I help you?"
"No thank you, I must speak with Mrs. Oliver. I am calling for Chief Ironside," Eli lied.
"Just a moment, I will see if she is available."
There was silence on the other end of the phone before a feminine voice answered, "This is Tracy Oliver."
"Mrs. Oliver, Chief Ironside was wondering if you could meet him at the Museum in a half hour?"
"I can, but what is this about?" She dared hope that Bob Ironside was calling for social reasons. She had not seen him since the one date they had after he cleared her of her late husband's murder. Tracy had been tried and the jury could not reach a decision. She had cut her wrist because she could not handle the looks from the people who said she got away with killing her husband. Ironside took an interest in her plight and discover the real truth. Her husband was terminally ill and had taken his own life, but not before he framed her of his death.
She and Bob Ironside went out for the evening, another wonderful evening to match the one years ago when he had saved her life as a policeman. Unfortunately, she had to make a trip to Europe after that second date, and they lost contact. Whenever she called, he was out of the office. When he called, she was taking care of business out of the country. It was the one big regret in her life. She had really been attracted to Robert Ironside. Maybe this was her chance to see him again, despite the fact that she had heard he was seeing someone. She had no idea the someone could be her twin sister.
"I don't know what it is about, Mrs. Oliver. He simply asked me to call you and have you meet him. He left immediately after."
"Well, alright, please tell Bob I am on my way." She hung up the phone, grabbed her purse, a light jacket and headed out the door. She could hardly contain the excitement she felt at seeing him again.
Tracy Oliver drove directly to the museum. After parking in the parking lot, she got out and hurried inside. She noticed immediately the Tiger that had gotten such extensive coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle. Tracy walked over to it and studied it. It certainly was a work of art considering how old it was. When her curiosity was satisfied, she began looking around the museum for Robert Ironside. He was nowhere in sight. She wondered where he could be. Tracy hoped he had not been delayed. She would be so disappointed if she did not see him again. She had thought of him daily since the day he showed up at her hospital bed. Tracy had quit trying to contact him, believing he had changed his mind about seeing her.
After walking around the museum, she spotted a man who, although was in plain clothes, was known to her as Lieutenant Reese. She walked over to him and told him, I am supposed to meet Chief Ironside here. Could you tell me where I can find him?"
The sergeant gave her a perplexed look and then said. "He is not coming here today. You can reach him in his office." Lieutenant Carl Reese was pulled away immediately by a museum employee who needed his attention elsewhere. He wondered why Alexandra Hughes had come into the museum instead of just calling Chief Ironside at his office. Carl had noticed that she went over and gave the Tiger quite a bit of her attention. He would have to mention this to the chief when he saw him. Maybe there was a reason Alexandra Hughes had entered the museum.
Tracy was confused. Why had Bob's office called and said he would be here if he had no intentions of coming to the museum in the first place? There must have been a mix-up somewhere along the line. Bob was extremely punctual. If he said he was going to be somewhere, he was there.
She supposed all she could do was go home and wait for him to call again. Tracy Oliver took one last look around and left the museum.
2
Judge Herman Thatcher entered his chamber. After having presided over an extremely long and nasty trial, he was looking forward to the rest of the day without having to go into court. He sat down behind his desk and began going over future trials that would be brought to his courtroom.
There was a knock on his door. Annoyed at having his solitude interrupted, he waited before inviting the intruder into his chambers. When the knock sounded again, he sighed and relented. "Come in."
His secretary entered his chambers and announced, "Mayor Patrick Simpson is here to see you. He realizes he doesn't have and appointment, but would like to speak with you if you can spare a few minutes."
"Did he say what he wanted to see me about?" the judge said.
"No, I asked him, but he said it was confidential," she told him.
Thatcher sighed again and then told her to show the mayor in. He had a pretty good idea what it was about and he had no intentions of getting involved.
His secretary disappeared out the door and returned a few minutes later with the mayor in tow. After showing him into the judge's chambers, she again left and closed the door.
"Your Honor, I apologize for the intrusion. The problem is I have no one else to turn to. May I sit down?" Simpson asked.
Judge Thatcher pointed to the chair in front of his desk. "What did you want to see me about?"
After seating himself in the chair, the mayor got right to the point. "Well I have a mutiny on my hands and I am hoping you can help me with it."
Thatcher lowered his brow and asked, "What kind of a mutiny?"
"You are aware the Chinese Exhibit is in town at the museum?" the mayor asked.
"How could I not be aware? It has been all over the papers, especially since the last time there was an unsuccessful attempt to steal the very valuable Tiger," Thatcher said.
"Yes, and we are trying to be sure it doesn't happen again."
"I don't think you have anything to worry about. Robert Ironside is heading up security and he is the best there is here in San Francisco. But, you know that already," Thatcher said.
"Yes, I do not doubt Chief Ironside's abilities as a detective, well, it is just ……"
When the mayor hesitated, the judge frowned and demanded, "It is just what?"
"Ironside has a history with the woman that attempted to steal the Tiger last time. He even considered buying a home with her."
Thatcher snorted. "That's ancient history. The reason they are not together is Robert would not tolerate her stealing valuable artifacts."
"Then why did he let Alexandra Hughes get away with it?" the mayor complained.
"My understanding is that she was in a vehicle bearing down on him in his wheelchair. Just exactly what did you expect Robert to do? Stop the car from his wheelchair?"
Mayor Simpson hesitated and then decided he had no choice. This conversation was not going the way he had hoped. He opened his briefcase and pulled out the article he had run off the Spicy Bits site. He set it down in front of the judge.
"What is this?" Thatcher asked.
"It is an article that just went up on Spicy Bits. It suggests that Ironside was in on the robbery; that the intention was for Alexandra Hughes to throw the Tiger out the window so Ironside could hide it and come back for it later." Simpson watched the judge for a reaction.
Thatcher just stared at the mayor for a moment and burst into laughter. When he composed himself, he said, "You have got to be kidding. You came in here to waste my time over this. Robert Ironside was no more in on that robbery than you were. He is an honest cop, one constant we can depend on in this city. What proof do you have he and Alexandra Hughes conspired to steel the Tiger?" Thatcher's voice had taken on a stern, no nonsense tone.
"I would suggest you read that article. I have the others that were printed on Spicy Bits before that one came out," the mayor said. He reached into his briefcase and pulled out the previous articles.
Thatcher put up his hand. "Don't bother, I have seen them. What is it you want of me, Mister Mayor?" Thatcher asked.
"I would like to know if I file in court to have Ironside removed from this case that you will support the decision. In other words, I want to know if you will sign off on it?"
The judge looked at the mayor in disbelief. "You are not kidding are you?"
"No, Your Honor, I am not. Ironside is compromised and should be removed from the security detail at the museum."
"And you want me to help you do that?"
"Yes, Your Honor, I do."
"Why not have the city council vote to order Commissioner Randall to remove him?"
"I tried that earlier today. They won't do it. I don't have the votes."
"You still could order the commissioner on your own with your authority as mayor," Thatcher pointed out. He was disgusted Simpson would try to involve him because he didn't have the guts to do it himself.
"I did, he refused. He and Ironside are friends."
"He told he wouldn't order it because they are friends?" Thatcher asked.
"Well, no. He feels Ironside handled the situation the last time Alexandra Hughes was in town just fine. He said Ironside could not possibly have stopped her."
"I agree with the commissioner," Thatcher growled. "Besides, it was probably her feelings for him that got her to throw the Tiger out the window in the first place. She could have taken off with it."
This was not going well at all. Ironside seemed to have the judge in his pocket as well. "Look, Your Honor, I tried to order Murray Simon to start an internal investigation just to be sure Ironside was not involved. I don't think he was in on it, but I would prefer to clear him. In the meantime, I think he should step aside. The appearance is ….."
"Is what? You have brought me nothing but gossip. You have nothing. If you think I am going to help you remove Robert Ironside because of that trashy website, Spicy Bits, you came here for nothing. We are talking about a cop with an impeccable record, or haven't you noticed? I am fully aware of your activities where Robert is concerned and I am not the only one. Are you aware Perry Mason is now in town?" The judge didn't need an answer. The look on the mayor's face answered his question. "Did you really think you could mess with Robert Ironside without Perry Mason getting involved? The answer to your question is no, I will not help you. I suggest you drop the entire thing. Now, if you will excuse me."
Mayor Patrick Simpson got up. "I will not drop it, Your Honor. I simply believe Ironside is compromised in this situation and I want him removed from anything remotely to do with the museum. He has plenty of other work he can do. I just feel strongly he should not be on this case."
"Good day, Mister Mayor," the judge said sternly.
Mayor Simpson left the judge's chambers. There was one man in Internal Affairs that would not bow to Ironside. He would go see him right away. He didn't care if Mason was here or not. Robert Ironside could not possibly think objectively where Alexandra Hughes was concerned. He would be removed from at least this case. Simpson simply did not trust Ironside to be objective when it came to Hughes.
3
Katherine Deneuve looked out over her Vineyards. Everything was going extremely well. They were getting just enough rain to cause the grapes to grow. The wine was being made and selling extremely well. She was making a very good living from the Vineyards. Someday, when she and Robert married, she would change the name to Ironside Vineyards, and she had no doubt that they would marry sometime in the future.
Katherine had known from the moment she had met him he was the man for her. Having spent as much time with him as she had only cemented the love for him that had already began to grow from the moment they started seeing each other. She still remembered Della Street calling her and inviting her to spend time in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. Although Robert and his brother, Perry Mason got involved in a murder trial, Katherine was able to spend some quality time with Robert, and she still believed it was when he began to fall in love with her.
Having watched Perry Mason and Della Street, she wanted with Robert what the two of them shared. She never did understand why they didn't get married. It was so completely obvious that they loved each other. It certainly was not the manner in which she wanted her relationship with Robert to go. Katherine had every intentions of being Mrs. Robert Ironside. She wanted a marriage. When Robert finally decided to retire, he would move to her place in Sonoma County and together they would run the Vineyards.
She headed into the house for lunch. Just as she got in the door, the phone rang. She smiled at the thought it might be Robert. He quite often called her right around lunch time when he stopped to eat. He didn't seem to have the time when he was working.
Picking up the phone, she greeted the caller, "Hello."
"Hello, I am calling for Chief Ironside's office. He is going to be at the Museum. He told me to tell you if you would stop by, the Chief would like you to see the exhibits, but he wanted me to warn you that he might not be there when you arrived."
"Tell Chief Ironside, I will stop by this afternoon," Katherine said. If Robert wanted her to see the exhibits, she would certainly take a look. Both of them loved to go to museums and art shows.
"I will. He said if he is not there when you get there to take your time and enjoy the exhibits."
"Thank you." Katherine hung up the phone. Well, there was no time like the present. She called over to the Vineyards to issue some instructions. Katherine would go into San Francisco, do some shopping and go over to the museum. In particular, she wanted to see the Tiger. It was the talk of the town. Everyone wanted to see it.
She headed for the door, left the house and got into her car. Katherine made the hour long drive into the city and went to the Museum. When she arrived, she did not see Robert's vehicle anywhere. She decided to go in and see the exhibits since that is what he wanted. She remembered whoever called her for him told her to pay special attention to the Tiger. She would have done so anyway as she had heard about it from Robert.
Katherine parked her car, put money in the meter and headed into the Museum. It was crowded as she expected since there had been much publicity regarding the Tiger, which was generated because of the attempted theft the last time it was in town.
Katherine walked around looking at each of the exhibits. Was it her imagination or were those that were there to protect the exhibit staring at her? She almost laughed out loud thinking she was becoming paranoid. She decided Robert's job was causing her to be the latter. When she arrived at the Tiger, she smiled. So, this was the artifact that was causing such a stir. It was indeed beautiful, and to think that it was worth millions!
Carl Reese notice Alexandra Hughes hanging around the Tiger. He just didn't trust the woman. He wondered if the chief really thought she had approached him to help them. The lieutenant didn't believe her for a minute. Chief Ironside had turned her loose in San Francisco, and here she was at the Museum for the second time today. Reese walked over to one of the guards and quietly told him to keep a close eye on Hughes. The guard was to report back to him her every move. He then left to make a security check of the grounds.
Katherine studied the Tiger for a few minutes. Having seen the entire Chinese exhibit, she decided to leave and go to Robert's office. At least she could see him for a few minutes before leaving San Francisco for Sonoma County where he Vineyards were located.
Katherine left the Museum, satisfied Robert had been right to suggest she see the exhibit, she had enjoyed it completely. As she got out of the vehicle, she saw Alexandra Hughes enter the building. Katherine immediately felt a pang of jealousy. She did not like the woman near Robert. She started to get back into her vehicle, and then decided there was no reason she could not go up to Robert's office simply because that woman was here. After all, it was she that Robert chose to be with, not Alexandra Hughes. She felt foolish for the thought. There was no reason for her to be jealous of this woman. Robert loved her, she was certain of that.
She decided to go through the police garage and use the elevator. Hughes had gone through the front door. Katherine had been given permission to use the private elevator into the building. She thought it was best she use it rather than run into Alexandra Hughes.
She walked through the entrance to the police garage and headed for the elevator. Taking the elevator to the floor where Ironside's office was located, she got out and walked up the ramp. Katherine could barely hear the voices on the other side of the door. She opened the door slowly and peaked in. If Robert was in the middle of something, she did not want to disturb him.
Alexandra Hughes was standing beside Robert with her hand on his shoulder. "That is when it is going down, Bob. I trust you will have the personnel in place to arrest Schneider and Blaine."
"I will," Ironside said.
"And I can trust you to protect me," she added.
He looked up at her and said, "You know you can."
With no warning, Alexandra bent down and kissed him. Katherine closed the door and ran for the elevator, tears stinging her eyes.
Ironside pushed Alexandra away quickly as he had not expected her to kiss him. He looked at her and shook his head, making it clear he was no longer interested. He had Katherine and he was not about to do anything that would endanger that relationship.
"I suppose I should not be surprised," she said. "It is just that I hoped...well, it doesn't matter." She sat down in the chair. "So, how are we going to handle this?"
On the street, Katherine got into her vehicle, tears pouring down her cheeks. Why did that woman have to come back to San Francisco? Robert was the best thing that ever happened to her, and now it seemed he still cared for Alexandra Hughes.
Katherine stepped on the accelerator and sped away from Police Headquarters.
4
"Did you follow Alexandra to Ironside's office?" Louis Blaine asked Eli Schneider?
"What the hell do you think I have been doing all day?" Eli snarled. "She went straight to Headquarters, just like she was instructed to do."
"How do we know she has not further betrayed us to Ironside?" Blaine asked.
"She hasn't. She obviously still loves the man and will do anything she can to protect him. For God's sake, will you relax. Everything is going as planned. It won't be long now and we will have that Tiger in our hands," Eli said with a grin.
"So what? We have to divide the money between the guard and that blackmailer..."
"Will you stop it!" Eli shouted. "We are not going to divide it with anyone. "You and I are going to a bar and we are going to be noticed. They will have a hard time proving we had anything to do with it. So, just keep your cool and we will be just fine."
Eli's cellphone rang. He reached into his pocket, pressed the necessary icon and said, "Yeah."
"The city council would not order Ironside off the case. He is still in charge of security. However, there is one man in Internal Affairs that would love to take down Ironside. He will be contacted shortly."
"How do you know? Have you got a pipeline to the police department?" Eli asked.
"I have something better than a pipeline. You don't worry about it. You just make sure you get the Tiger when it all goes down. Everything else will be taken care of. You got that?"
"I got it," Eli responded. The line went dead. He put the phone back in his pocket.
5
Perry Mason was getting frustrated. He had been talking to his brother and trying to convince him the seriousness of the Spicy Bits articles. Robert Ironside, despite his brother's warnings, considered Spicy Bits nothing more than noise. Even with Della's help, he could not convince the detective of the legal implications if Internal Affairs decided to get involved.
"Perry, I don't have the time or the inkling to be bothered with a gossip internet site," Ironside growled.
"Robert, what Perry is trying to get across to you is the Internal Affairs already have enough questions about your connection with Alexandra Hughes. You can't ignore this. Please listen to Perry. He is trying to help you."
Ironside dropped his fork down on his plate with a clang. "May I remind the two of you that you are also the subject of gossip on this site. You don't seem to be too worried about it."
"What they are printing about us is strictly gossip. Nothing there can really hurt us, Robert. What was written about you is an accusation of misconduct. The mayor is calling for an internal investigation of you. Bob, I am hear to protect your rights."
"I don't recall asking you to!" Ironside thundered. Realizing the tone he had just used, he immediately softened his voice. "Look, Perry. Dennis has to sign off on an internal investigation. That is not going to happen. He knows the truth here. An internal investigation is not going to be called by Dennis Randall."
The door to Ironside's office opened. Two men came into the office and down the ramp. Ironside recognized one of them immediately. "Sergeant Terry Cox, this is my brother, Perry Mason and his secretary, Della Street.
"I know who they are. I am just surprised you called him in this quickly. How did you know you were going to need a lawyer?" Sergeant Cox asked.
"I didn't. Why would I be in need of a lawyer?" Ironside said.
"I am here to inform you that you are under investigation by the Internal Affairs," Sergeant Terry Cox told him.
Everyone in the room stood up except, of course, Ironside. Ed Brown took several steps towards Cox and his companion. "Based on what?"
"Based on his handling of Alexandra Hughes," Cox said. "Come now, Chief, you can't tell me you weren't expecting it. Now, I am ordering you to turn over your badge and your gun until the investigation is completed."
"Just a minute, Sergeant. It is my understanding according to the police personnel procedure, the commissioner must sign off on any investigation on an officer as high-ranking as Chief Ironside."
"Under normal circumstances that would be the procedure, but the commissioner will not sign off on an investigation of the chief," Cox said.
"Than this cannot be considered an official investigation by Internal Affairs," Mason said. "Therefore, I am instructing my client not to turn in his gun or badge. He will continue to conduct his duties as set forth by the commissioner."
"As I said, these are not normal circumstances. Since the commissioner will not order an investigation that is not only warranted, but is demanded, the mayor himself has ordered the Internal Affairs to conduct an investigation."
"Demanded by whom?" Eve Whitfield said. "No one in Internal Affairs would have anything to do with investigating Chief Ironside in this manner because there is nothing to investigate. Yet, you are willing to start an investigation? Could it be because Chief Ironside embarrassed you when he went undercover to find out who was leaking the drug raids to the mob? You fell for everything, hook, line and sinker. You refused to join in on the set up to catch those involved, so you ended up with egg on your face. This is nothing more than trying to get back at Chief Ironside."
"This has nothing to do with that, although I have never believed the chief is the squeaky clean cop that everyone makes him out to be. I have no doubt the investigation will prove that once and for all," Terry told them. "Now, Chief, I want your gun and your badge."
"And I told you we don't recognize an investigation that has not been ordered by the commissioner," Perry said.
"It was ordered by the mayor who happens to rank above the commissioner."
"The mayor cannot order an investigation, Sergeant," Perry said.
"He says he can if the commissioner refuses a direct order and he has done exactly that," Cox argued.
"He doesn't have the authority. That would take a majority vote of the city council, and the last I heard you don't have it," Mason said.
"Chief Ironside, your badge and your gun?" Cox questioned.
All eyes were on the veteran detective. Ironside stared at Cox. If he thought the sergeant was just doing his job believing it to be a justified investigation, he would surrender his badge and gun immediately. However, he had no doubt this was nothing more than revenge against him on the part of Cox. Ironside looked over at his brother whose eyes were boring into him like the witnesses he questioned on the stand. Maybe he should have listened to Perry in the first place. He certainly was going to listen to him now.
"I am sorry, Sergeant, but on the advice of my attorney I cannot comply with your request."
"Alright, Mister Ironside. We will take it to the courts." He and his companion turned to go.
"Chief Ironside," Ed, Eve and Mark said at the same time correcting the manner in which Cox had addressed the chief.
Sergeant Cox turned back and looked at the staff of Chief Ironside. "Not for long." He left the office confident he would finally be able to destroy the man that had stifled his career.