The Case of the Stolen Artifact

Chapter 14

1

Lieutenant Murray Simmons opened the door to Chief Robert Ironside's office and entered. As he walked down the ramp, Ironside turned his chair to see who had just come in. A grin spread across his face. "Well, hello, Murray. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The lieutenant grinned back at the detective. "Pleasure is not what I call this visit," he told the chief, "it is more like bullshit."

"Mark! Get Murray a cup of coffee."

Sanger came out of the kitchen with a fresh brewed cup of coffee and set it down on the table in front of the Internal Affairs lieutenant. "Chief, do you really think you should..."

Ironside immediately interrupted his aide. "That will be all, Mark." He knew what Mark was about to say. Although he appreciated his concern, he did not want him voicing it in front of Murray. Mark was about to warn him away from talking to the lieutenant. The chief had been friends with Murray their entire police careers. Simmons was white-haired now and could have retired from the force years ago. He had chosen not to. As far as Ironside was concerned, the force was better for it. Murray Simmons was an excellent officer, and more importantly...an honest one. The detective was not the least bit worried about Murray trying to railroad him. He would never do it. Since Ironside knew he had not done anything wrong, he had nothing to worry about.

Sanger left the office. He had tried to say his peace, but his boss was not going to listen. Mark did not like him talking to Simmons. He didn't care whether he was a friend or not. He was investigating the chief and he didn't like it.

"Murray, I am sorry they have involved you in this mess," Ironside said.

"Not as much as I am. Listen, Bob..."

"I understand you are just doing your job," Ironside said to set him at ease.

"The whole thing is a load of crap. I no more believe you let Alexandra Hughes get away with steeling that artifact the first time, and I sure as hell don't believe you had anything to do with the theft of it this time either."

"Like I said you are just doing your job."

"Well, why don't we get started so I can tell the city council to go to hell," Murray said.

Ironside smiled. "They are just trying to cover their..."

"That is just what steams me. They don't care if they taint the reputation of a loyal, long-serving officer. They only care they might have to take some heat from the public. And after all the times you have pulled their collective asses out of the fire, it really..."

"Murray, why don't we just get it over with," Ironside said, interrupting him again.

The door to the office opened and Ben Matlock entered. He came down the ramp with a briefcase in his hand. He took one look at the scene in front of him and asked, "Who are you?"

"This is Lieutenant Murray Simmons from Internal Affairs," Ironside told him. "Murray, this is Ben Matlock, my attorney."

With a look of surprise, Murray said in confusion, "Your attorney? I thought your brother, Perry Mason would be your attorney."

"Perry is representing Alexandra Hughes. To represent me would be a conflict of interest. He hired Mister Matlock to represent me."

"Well, okay. I was prepared to work with Mister Mason, but I can work with Mister Matlock."

Matlock looked at Simmons. "Why wasn't I informed of this interrogation?"

"First of all, I didn't even know you were Bob's attorney. I did not even inform Perry Mason, whom I believed was representing Chief Ironside. Bob and I have been friends for years. He doesn't need an attorney for this."

"I'll decide whether or not he needs an attorney with him, and he sure as heck is not going to talk to Internal Affairs without me present. You will not depose my client unless I am present, is that clear?" Matlock demanded.

"Look, Mister Matlock, Murray is a friend."

"I don't care if he is," Matlock insisted. "You are not talking to anyone unless I am present."

Ironside was about to say something else when Lieutenant Simmons stepped in. "It's alright, Bob. Mister Matlock is just protecting you. I should have insisted your lawyer be here. That was a mistake on my part. I apologize, Mister Matlock. It won't happen again. Let's just get started."

Matlock sat down in a chair beside Robert Ironside. He opened his briefcase and took out some notes. Without looking up, he said, "Make sure it doesn't."

"You have known Alexandra Hughes for how many years?" Simmons asked.

"A lot of years. We go way back. I am not exactly sure how many," Ironside answered.

"And you had an affair with her, didn't you?"

As Ironside was about to answer, Matlock stepped in. "My client will not answer that question. It is irrelevant since it allegedly took place many years ago."

"I don't have a problem with answering that question," Ironside said, his voice very gruff.

"Well, I do, and I am the attorney here," Matlock said.

"It's alright, Bob," Murray soothed. "When the last attempt on the Tiger was made, were you involved with her at that time?"

"I..."

"Don't answer that," Matlock interrupted.

Ironside began showing signs of irritation. "Why not?"

"Because I said so, and what I say goes."

Murray looked between Ironside and Matlock. It was clear these two were not on the same page. "It's alright, Bob."

Matlock frown and looked directly at Murray Simmons and said, "Will you stop saying that. I will decide what is alright and what isn't. Now, I would suggest you get to the day Hughes stole the Tiger the last time."

Murray was beginning to think this meeting was a waste of time. Matlock was not going to let Bob say anything. He wondered if the attorney realized it would not look good if Chief Ironside did not answer his questions. "Tell us what happened that day."

"I got a call that the Tiger had been stolen from the Museum."

"Had you had Alexandra Hughes watched when she was in town?"

"Well, no. Most of the time she was with me," Ironside admitted.

"Did you have an idea she would try to steal the Tiger?" Simmons asked.

Before Ironside could answer, Matlock again stepped in. "Don't answer that." He smiled with his southern charm and said, "Next question." He noticed Ironside was frowning and staring at him. Matlock looked back at him and then at Simmons who had not said anything further. "Is that it?"

"No," Murray Simmons said. "How much time did you spend with Hughes."

Matlock raised his hand. "Sorry, my client is not going to answer that either."

Frustration was beginning to set in with Lieutenant Simmons. "Chief, when you found out she had stolen the Tiger what did you do?"

"I instructed Sergeant Brown to find out if any property had been rented recently. When he gave me the list, I chose the most likely place the thieves could be holding out. When we got there Ed and Mark were able to stop and subdue Schneider and Blaine. Alexandra..."

"Miss Hughes," Matlock corrected.

"What?" Ironside said.

"Refer to her as Miss Hughes." Matlock smiled at his client.

Ironside was attempting to hold his temper with Matlock out of respect to Perry, but the lawyer was really beginning to get on his nerves. "Miss Hughes went out the back with the Tiger and attempted to get away in her car. I wheeled out in front of it and she stopped momentarily. Then she started back up and came speeding right at me."

"Did you call for her to stop and tell her she was under arrest?"

The chief shook his head. "It all happened too fast, Murray."

"Lieutenant Simmons," Matlock corrected.

"Look, Mister Matlock, I have known this man for thirty years," Ironside snarled.

"He is Internal Affairs, Chief Ironside, and in case you have not noticed, he is investigating you. Call him Lieutenant Simmons."

Ironside did not want to fight with his lawyer in front of Murray so he said nothing. He would wait until Murray left to address this with Matlock.

"So, you wheeled out of the way of her vehicle?"

"That's right," the chief answered.

"And what did you do to stop her after she left in the vehicle?"

"I put out an APB on her car; had my staff call the bus stations, the airlines and train stations. They were given her name and description. I also dispatched officers to all of them. Roadblocks were set up out of San Francisco as well."

"Even with all that, she managed to slip out of the city," Murray said.

"She is a very resourceful woman," Ironside said.

"Alright, Bob, let's talk about the robbery at the Museum," Murray said. "My understanding is you got the call after you went to bed?"

"That is correct."

"What did you do?"

"I contacted my staff and ordered them to the Museum immediately."

"When you arrived, did you find Alexandra Hughes inside?" Murray asked.

"I did. Jurgens' body was discovered and Officer Duffy had been shot," Ironside said. "There was enough evidence that pointed at Alexandra Hughes, so I ordered her put under arrest."

Ben Matlock knew where this interview was headed and he would cut it off as soon as the questions about Alexandra started.

"How did Officer Duffy arrive on the scene so quickly," Simmons inquired.

"He didn't. He was assigned to be there when the Museum was closed. It was arranged with the curator for him to be there without the Museum security knowing."

Murray smiled. Bob Ironside was thorough. He had handled everything as far as he was concerned exactly as it should have been. He did not play any favoritism with Alexandra Hughes whatsoever. Damn the mayor and the city council for not standing behind this man! He hated it when good cops were smeared. Bob Ironside would arrest his own little ole grandmother if she committed a crime.

"Bob, it is my understanding Alexandra Hughes came to you and told you of the robbery and wanted to help you catch Baines and Schneider. Why didn't you put a tail on her? Also, you got your brother to represent her. Why? You do know how that is going to look, don't you?"

Here it was. Matlock was not about to allow the interview to go any further. "My client will not answer that, Lieutenant. I think he has been more than cooperative. This interview is concluded."

"Just a minute," Ironside snarled.

Matlock looked Ironside directly in the eye. "I said this interview is over."

Murray Simmons stood up. "Thanks for your help, gentlemen." He got up and left the office.

"Look, Mister Matlock, I have nothing to hide, and I resent you not allowing me to answer the man's questions. I have known him for thirty years. He is not about to railroad me."

"He is Internal Affairs, Chief Ironside. He is investigating you. Now, I will concede you know the man better than I do. You need to concede that he will not make any final decisions. Regardless of what is in his report, your city council is looking for a scapegoat. That person is you, whether you realize it or not. Your brother hired me to protect you, and that is exactly what I intend to do.

"You will do exactly as I say or find yourself another attorney. To answer some of those questions might just very well set you up as an accessory to murder. I have no intentions of allowing that. So, you will do exactly as you are told. Is that clear?"

The tension between Ironside and Matlock was so thick neither of them had noticed that Perry and Della had entered the office. They glanced at one another before descending down the ramp. Even as they approached the table, neither of the men removed their eyes from one another.

Perry decided he better intervene before Ben Matlock headed back to Atlanta. "It is clear and he will do exactly as you tell him to do."

Ironside looked up, surprised to see his brother and Della standing there. He said nothing.

"Isn't that right, Bob?" Perry stared into his brother's blue eyes, both men using the look and demeanor that made so many people back down from each of them.

Della watched the confrontation between brothers and decided Perry had met his match in one Robert Ironside. This needed the feminine touch. "Robert, Perry and Ben are trying to help you. They are both lawyers and they know the law. I know you are used to being in charge, and we can only imagine how hard this is for you. You need to listen to them. They are here to protect you." She placed her hand on Ironside's shoulder. His rising temper seemed to disapate.

After a long silence, Ironside finally responded. "Alright."

"You won't talk to Lieutenant Simmons without my okay?" Matlock questioned, wanting a clear declaration from his client.

"No," Ironside said. "I still think it makes me look like I am trying to hide something."

"That is better than ending up an accessory to murder," Perry said.

Ironside turned his head towards Perry. "Do you honestly believe that is possible?" The chief wasn't keen on Matlock as his lawyer, but he trusted his brother.

"It is entirely possible, Bob. Ben is right, they are looking for a scapegoat, and you make a good candidate for that. He is an excellent defense attorney. As an attorney, my advice to you is to follow his advice. Do exactly as he says."

Ironside sat there for a moment. He had never considered they would attempt to drag him into the murder. He was a cop, a veteran cop with an impeccable record. The chief figured they were only trying to keep him out of the investigation. He still felt that way. Someone did not want him anywhere near this case. An individual or individuals had convinced the mayor to have him investigated. The problem was, he had no idea who it could possibly be.

"Alright," was all Ironside said.

"You will do exactly as I say?" Ben asked.

"Yes! What more do you want from me," Ironside snarled.

"Easy, Bob. Ben is looking out for you," Mason soothed.

Ironside was afraid this was not going to be easy. He did not want to stay out of it. He wanted to know who was trying to frame him. His only saving grace was he had two attorneys on his side. He looked over at Ben. "Do you ever change that suit?"

Della chuckled. She had heard much about Ben Matlock, and that trademark suit was one of the things that was most often mentioned. She wondered if he wore it as a good luck charm. If so, she thought he needed a new tailor. It hung on him and did not fit him properly.

Ben looked down at his suit. Defensively, he said, "What's wrong with my suit?"

Perry looked over at his brother who was shaking his head and smiled. He was certain Bob did not think much of Ben Matlock. He should know better than anyone, looks can be deceiving.

"I am getting out of here," Ironside said with irritation. I have not been able to get hold of Katherine. If you need me, you can find me at the Vineyards." He wheeled towards the door.

After the detective had left the office, Ben caught Perry's eye, "Is he always this grumpy."

Mason grinned as Della smiled. "I have never been able to get him to get off the other side of the bed," Mason said.

2

Mark Sanger followed Conrad McMasters to the Museum. He pulled in the parking lot in a borrowed car from one of the police officers friendly to him. He did not want McMasters to spot him, so he kept his eyes to the front, only looking in the mirrors to try to see what he was doing. Mark caught him in the driver's side mirror. He was checking the pavement. What could he possibly learn from looking at the parking lot? Sanger had learned the cameras malfunctioned and there wasn't any footage at the time of the murder. Employees went in and out of the parking lot every day. It just didn't make any sense to him.

Conrad had noticed the minute he left his motel that he had a tail. All he could tell from looking in the rear view mirror was the man was black like himself. He smiled as he realize who the man probably was. Ironside's aide was a black man. Conrad had heard the detective's staff was extremely loyal to him. They had been told to stay out of the investigation, but it looked like they didn't heed the warning.

McMasters made sure Sanger saw him when he rounded the vehicle he was in. Pretending to check something out, he then ducked back and down before Ironside's aide would have a chance of spotting him again.

Mark looked in the inside rear view mirror, but McMasters was no where in sight. Checking the mirror on the passenger side of the vehicle, he again saw nothing. Suddenly, there was a knock on the driver's window. A smiling Conrad McMasters was looking in at him.

Mark rolled down the window and raised his chin slightly to acknowledge that he had been caught. "Look, I am..."

"Interfering with an investigation," Conrad finished for him.

"You can't expect me to stay out of it when the chief is in trouble," Mark protested.

Conrad smiled. "It didn't take you long to join me. I have been waiting for you."

Mark opened the door of the vehicle and stepped out. "What were you looking for? He looked down at the cement where Conrad had been staring.

"Nothing. I had to get your attention so I could sneak back behind the car. I figured you would look to the passenger mirror and I was right. It gave me the opportunity to sneak up on your side of the car.

Mark smiled. "I guess I need practice in this tailing business. "

"Actually, you had the right idea to stay away from me. Your problem is that Ben and I have both discussed it. None of you are going to stay out of this, so Ben said to let you work with me."

Mark was relieved to hear that. He had learned a lot about investigating from the chief, Ed and Eve, but as they say two heads are better than one. "If you were not looking for anything, why are you here?"

"I want to talk to that security guy. Something really is wrong there. Let's go get a look at the equipment."

As they were talking a car pulled into the parking lot. Conrad watched as a tall, big man with gray hair got out. He shook his head as he approached them. "You must be Conrad McMasters. You work for Ben Matlock."

"Yeah, well who are you?" Conrad demanded.

"Paul Drake," Mark said. "He works for Perry Mason."

"You guys are here to talk to Kevin Powers?" Paul asked.

"Yeah, I assume you are as well?" Conrad said.

"Well, let's go inside and see what the man has to say," Drake said. When Conrad walked over to the door, Drake called out, "We will have to go around to the front door. That requires a key card to get in."

"Yeah, well someone forgot to close the door," Conrad said.

As Mark pulled the door open, Paul grabbed his arm. "Wait a minute, Mark." Drake pulled out his gun and Conrad followed suit. Drake indicated for Conrad to move to the other side of the door. The young detective obliged him. Paul pushed the door open with the barrel of his gun. He whispered to Mark, "You stay here, Sanger."

Drake entered and was immediately followed by McMasters. He pointed towards the stairs and Conrad silently headed up the stairs towards the curator's office.

Drake reached the security office. The door was ajar. He remembered from what Perry had told him, that anyone who entered the security had to have a key card, plus know the four digit code to open the door. Paul pushed the door further open with the barrel of his gun. Through the opening, he could see the screens along the wall displaying every nook and corner of the museum as well as outside of it. What the private detective did not see was anyone in the security office. Continuing to use the barrel of his gun, Drake pushed the door open even further. On the floor, a man was lying face down. Paul could not see who he was.

He pushed the door open with his foot. Satisfied that no one could hide behind it, he entered the security office. He went over to the man on the floor, took his wrist in his hand and checked his pulse. The man was dead. As Drake began to stand back up, he was hit from behind. Although dazed, he was not knocked unconscious. Paul struggled to his feet and went in pursuit of his attacker.

Outside, Mark Sanger lit up a cigarette and took a puff from it. His boss's occasional habit had rubbed off on him. Fortunately for both of them, neither was addicted to what Eve referred to as cancer sticks. Yet, both he and the chief like to have a puff or two from a cigarette from time to time. For Mark, it was usually when he was forced to wait when he rather be part of the action.

With his back to the door, the young man did not realized he was blocking it from fully opening. Suddenly, the door slammed open into Sanger and he fell to the ground. A man came running out of the Museum. Without looking down at Mark he had just knocked to the ground, he ran as fast as he could away from the Museum.

The door opened and Paul Drake came running out. When he saw Mark, he shouted, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Mark pointed in the direction the man went and said, "That way!" Drake took off on a dead run as Sanger got to his feet. Once again the door opened and Conrad McMasters came running out. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, but some cat came running out of the Museum and Drake is in pursuit of him." Again, Mark pointed in the direction the man as well as Drake had gone.

McMasters grabbed Mark's hand, pulled him to his feet and shouted, "Come on!"

Itching to get into it, Mark did not hesitate. He ran with McMasters to join Drake. Both men being much younger than Paul, caught up with him. "Where did he go?" Sanger asked as he glanced down the street.

"I don't know, I never even got a glimpse of him. Frustrated, Paul shouted. "You go that way," pointing to his left, "I'll take the other. Conrad and Mark took off and headed down the street.

McMasters asked him, "Are you armed?"

"No," Mark said. "The chief won't let me carry a gun."

"Then stay behind me," Matlock's detective ordered Ironside's aide.

With both looking and checking every face for some indication of guilt, they kept moving. "What did this guy look like?" Conrad asked.

"I don't know," Mark said. "All I saw was the back of him. I was standing in front of the door when he slammed it into me. I didn't see his face, just the back of him."

"What was he wearing?" Conrad asked.

"A suit. He was wearing a gray suit, black shoes," Sanger responded.

Conrad stopped and turned to look at Mark. "That's it? A gray suit with black shoes?"

A bit put out, Mark replied, "I told you he knocked me down when he opened the door. By the time I looked up, he was running away from me. I was a bit dazed and dizzy as the door hit me in the back of the head."

Conrad holstered his weapon. "How are we supposed to find a guy that we have no idea what he looks like. Do you know how many guys wear a gray suit and black shoes?"

"Probably most the business men in San Francisco," Mark said.

"This is a waste of time. Let's go back and find out why we are chasing this guy in the first place." McMasters headed back towards the Museum.

When they arrive, Paul Drake was already there. "No luck?"

"Luck is exactly what it would take since we didn't see the guy," McMasters said. "Why were we chasing him in the first place."

"There's a dead man in the security office," Paul told him.

The expression on Conrad's face changed immediately. Before he could say anything, Paul asked Mark, "Did you get a look at him?"

Mark shook his head. "Just his back."

"Gray suit, black shoes," Conrad said sarcastically.

"That's just great," Paul said.

"You did not see him either?" McMasters asked.

Drake shook his head. "He hit me from behind."

"Well we better call the police," McMasters suggested.

"Already done," Paul informed him as the sound of sirens began to become audible in the background.

A few moments later, Lieutenant Carl Reese pulled into the parking lot. When he saw the three men standing there, it was clear he was not happy with their presence. He looked over at Mark and said, "What the hell are you doing here? You are part of the chief's staff and you were told to stay out of it."

"The chief is being railroaded and you know it. I am not going to stand by and let it happen," Mark said, a bit belligerent.

With his index finger, Reese pointed it into Mark's chest and said with authority, "You are going to do nothing." As two patrol cars pulled up and officers started getting out of their vehicles, Carl shouted. "There is a dead body in the security office. Seal off the area and stop anyone from leaving the Museum."

"That won't do you any good, Carl," Paul told him. "The man clobbered me and took off. He is long gone by now."

"Did any of you see him?" Reese asked.

"Mark saw him as he ran away," Paul said.

Reese looked at Sanger. "Well?"

"All I saw was his back." Sanger explained what happened. "All I saw was a guy running away wearing a gray suit and black shoes."

"That's it?" Carl complained.

"I was on the ground. What do you want from me? By the time I was able to look up, he was running away, you know, with his back to me."

"Don't get smart, Mark," Carl said. He called an officer over. "Take Mister Sanger's statement and then put him in a cab and tell the driver to take him back to Ironside's office.

"No way!" Mark said. He was determined to help clear the chief of the ridiculous smears that were being forced on him by a cowardly City Council.

Reese pulled Mark aside and lowered his voice. "Look, Mark, I know how you feel. I feel it too. I no more believe the chief helped Hughes get away than you do. I don't blame you for wanting to protect him. So do I, and it is what I intend to do, but you have to be a better detective than this. Don't get caught. That lecture I gave you back there was for the benefit of the men. I don't want it to look like I am letting you get away with ignoring the Internal Affairs directives. If you come up with anything, you let me know, got it?"

Mark calmed down. He should have known Carl would be on the chief's side. He nodded.

"Okay, give the officer your statement and get out of here. I am sure Paul and Matlock's detective will bring you up to date later. Okay?"

Sanger nodded in acknowledgement as Carl turned and left him.

Reese walked back to McMasters and Paul. He looked around to see if any of the other officers were close enough to hear him. "Keep Mark out of trouble. He is not going to stay out of this."

"I'll keep an eye on him," Conrad offered. "He can work with me."

"Alright, who found the body?" Reese asked.

"I did," Paul said.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know. I didn't turn him over," Paul said. "I went after the guy that clobbered me.

"Okay, let's go take a look at him."

"It is probably Kevin Powers," Drake said.

"He works nights," Reese said.

Paul and Conrad followed Lieutenant Reese into the Museum where the curator was waiting for them. "Are you the man in charge?" he asked Reese.

"This is Lieutenant Carl Reese," Paul told him.

"Who would do such a thing? This is the second murder in this Museum this week," the curator said. "Kevin Powers had not been working for us that long."

Carl stopped him. "He is the dead man?"

"Yes, of course, I thought you knew?" the curator said, surprised.

"I thought he was on the night shift," Carl said.

"Oh, he was, but I switched him to days. I asked him to see if he could discover anything unusual about the video. You know, check up on the other security guards."

"But why would you ask a man who has not worked for you very long to check up on men who have been with you for a long time. Surely, they would be more trustworthy than Kevin Powers," Conrad said.

He has worked at many Museums, sir. He is an expert in video surveillance."

"What do you mean he has worked at many museums?" Carl said. "Did you check with any of them?"

"Of course I did," the curator said. "I checked with two of them where he said he created their entire security systems. He worked there while installing the systems and then moved on."

"Did he work security in either one of them after he set up the systems?" Paul asked.

"No, he just set up their systems."

"Did you check with any of the museums where he simply ran their security?" Reese asked.

"Well...no. I got such glowing reviews of his work at the first two museums, that I didn't need to check any further."

"Thank you, that will be all," Reese said.

"So he only checked on the ones where he installed their security systems," Conrad said. "I wonder what his record was like at the ones where he only ran the security."

"I am willing to bet, they had exhibits stolen while he was in charge," Paul said.

"We are going to find out," Carl said.

"One thing is for sure," Conrad said. "He was probably in on the robbery and was silenced."

"More money for those that are left alive. Besides a small time hood like Powers would sing like a canary if he got caught at any wrong doing in order to save his own skin," Paul figured.

"Whoever set this up would have known that, or just plain did not want to share in the money," Conrad said.

Reese asked them a few more questions and then sent them on their way. Both detectives were eager to report to their respective bosses.

3

Perry watched as his brother left his office. He wanted to go with him, but Ironside only wanted to go check on Katherine since he had been unable to reach her on the phone, and he was becoming concerned about her. Besides Perry figured he needed some space. He was not used to being told what to do. He borrowed a police cruiser and a driver. He ordered the young officer to take him out of the city to Katherine's vineyards.

Ironside was aware his brother was watching him as he left. He was not only going to see Katherine, he had to know if there was any connection between Alexandra and Howard Jurgens beyond what she was telling. He did not want Perry finding out in court if there was. He had to know it now.

Most police officers under Internal Affairs would be more worried about their own skin, but Ironside knew he didn't have to worry, his staff would take care of that. He did not know where they were at the moment and he was not about to question them on it. Nor was he going to stay out of this case despite the city council, the mayor and his brother. Alexandra Hughes had been set up, he was certain of that. Paul Drake was an excellent detective, but he did not have the stake in this that the chief did.

Ironside had once loved Alexandra. He would not allow her to be convicted of something she did not do. Before he went any further, he had to talk to Katherine. She would not understand his interest in this case; he was certain she would misinterpret his motives. Yes, he had once loved Alexandra, he would not deny it, but that was a long time ago. Was he first attracted to Katherine because she and Alexandra could be twin sisters? Searching his soul, he honestly could not be sure. Why had Tracy Oliver attracted him as well? She could turn the two of those into triplets! They looked almost exactly alike. In fact, he had no doubt each could stand in for the others and people would not be able to tell the difference.

One thing he was completely certain of...both Tracy Oliver and Alexandra Hughes were part of his past. The woman he loved was Katherine and neither of the other two could draw him away from her. He had to make that clear to Katherine. It would not be easy as she would certainly question is motives, and he could not blame her, but he was determined to make sure she understood.

When the hour drive was completed and his driver pulled up in front of Katherine's home, he got out and got the chief's wheelchair out of the back of the vehicle. Ironside refused his help as he got into the wheelchair on his own. The driver waited at the car while watching the chief wheel himself towards the house. Just as he was about to ring the doorbell, Katherine's foreman from the Vineyards walked up to him.

"Hi Chief, what brings you here? Is there something Mrs. Deneurve was suppose to leave for you?" he asked.

The hair on the back of Ironside's neck was beginning to rise. Something was wrong, he could feel it, and he never ignored his instincts. "What do you mean by that? I came to see her. I have not been able to reach her."

The man's expression changed to that of concern. "She received a call from a famous wine dealer in France. He wanted to arrange an agreement to buy a large quantity of wine from us on a regular basis. He told her she had to come right away as someone else was also trying to obtain their business. She left immediately. She said she would contact you and let you know when she arrived their. I don't understand. Has she not called you?"

"No," Ironside said. "Where is she staying?"

"I don't know. Mister Montre was to arrange that."

"From Montre and Sons?" Ironside asked.

"Why yes, you have heard of them?"

"Katherine has mentioned them."

"Chief Ironside, I am worried. If she did not contact you, then..."

"I will look into it," Ironside promised.

"Thank you, sir."

The detective excused himself and headed back to the patrol car. Once inside, the car radio went off. The young patrolman picked up the hand set and said, "Officer Howey."

"There is an urgent call for Chief Ironside from a John Lovell."

The officer handed the hand set to the chief, who barked into it, "Ironside."

"Oh thank God, I have reached you. Chief Ironside, Tracy is missing. I need your help!" John Lovell begged.

Now the hair on the back of his neck was standing straight up. Someone wanted Tracy and Katherine out of San Francisco; two women who could pass for Alexandra Hughes. He had no doubt their disappearance was part of Alexandra being set up.

He told the officer, "Get me Perry Mason and then have Ed Brown located and paged."

A/N: Sorry for the delay, but I gave you an extra long chapter this time!!