The Case of the Stolen Artifact
Chapter 19
1
Mark Sanger and Conrad McMasters pulled up in front of Sergeant Terry Cox's apartment. They got out of the vehicle and headed for his home. They knew what was at stake. They had to find out what this man was up to. No one believed for a minute the witness he had secured was telling the truth. The man had been paid, there was not any doubt about it. However, knowing it and proving it were two different things, which both of them knew from their bosses. Somehow, they had to find proof tonight.
Chief Ironside's hearing was in the morning, and they had to have something to defend him. Right now, all that was out there was the phony witness. If they didn't find something to refute his claims, the chief was in deep trouble and they knew it. Neither had any intentions of allowing that to happen.
Conrad had been working for Ben Matlock for some time now and he had the utmost respect for the lawyer. He was honest and he was good. Conrad was not letting him down. Still, he did not have the stake in it that Mark had. Chief Ironside was not just his boss, but his closest friend. Mark had worked with him for a number of years now, and he knew that the chief was without a doubt the most honest man that he knew. There was no way he helped Alexander Hughes try to steal that Tiger. This whole thing was trumped up to keep him from investigating. Someone did not want him finding out what actually happened. Mark had no idea at this time, but he had every intention of finding out. He had been around police work long enough he had picked up a lot of detective skills. With Ed and Eve out of the country trying to locate Katherine and Tracy, it left it to him to find out what was going on. Mark was grateful for the talents of a private detective. However, he was not going to depend entirely on Conrad McMasters. Fortunately though, both of them could do things that neither Ed or Eve could do as police detectives. Mark was not following the law to the letter. He knew that both he and McMasters could get away with it.
As they walked up the stairs to Terry Cox's apartment building, Conrad checked the front door. It did not have a lock to keep the public out of the building. He opened the door and the two of them walked in.
As they headed down the hall, they checked for Cox's apartment number. It was Mark who spotted it first. He reached for the handle, and of course, it was locked. He looked over at Conrad. "Do you want to do the honors or shall I?"
"You know how to pick a lot?" Conrad asked him.
Mark grinned back at him. "I used to do this a lot before I met the chief." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a long thin instrument. Placing it in the lock, he fiddled with it for a moment before they both heard the lock disengage. Mark opened the door and the two men entered.
Closing it behind them, Conrad pulled surgical gloves out of his pocket. He handed a set to Mark and told him, "Put these on."
Sanger did as he was told. Conrad pointed to the right side of the apartment. "You take that side, and I'll take this side."
The two men separated and begin searching for something to discover just exactly what Cox was up to.
Twenty minutes later, neither one had found anything that would help them. Mark came back into the living room. "Anything?"
"No, nothing. I take it you did not find anything either?"
He shook his head. "Nothing." The frustration was evident in his voice. There had to be something in this apartment that would prove Sergeant Cox had bribed the neighbor into stating the chief conspired with Alexander Hughes. He would have no reason to hide anything as he was arrogant enough to think that he would never be suspected.
"Don't you find it unusual he doesn't have a computer?" Conrad pointed out.
Mark looked around the room. He hadn't thought of it until Conrad had brought it up, but it definitely was unusual that they had not located one. In this day and age, everybody had a computer of some sort. "There must be one around here somewhere. Computers are not exactly easy to hide. Yet, we have checked the entire apartment and one has not shown up."
"Then we have not looked hard enough. We have checked all the obvious places, now we will have to check the places that are not so obvious," McMasters suggested.
"Like where?" Mark said as he stared at the huge screen television that was on the wall over a console in front of him. Sanger walked over to it. He stared, wondering why it seem to stick so far out from the wall. Most people who mounted televisions, mounted them directly on the wall. This one was sticking out approximately two inches.
"What are you looking at?" Conrad asked him.
"Doesn't this look funny?"
Conrad looked in the direction Mark was staring.
"Are you talking about the television?" Conrad wondered.
"Yeah. Take a look at that. It is at least a couple inches from the wall."
Conrad studied the television for a moment. "You know, you are right. Why would anybody mount a TV that far away from the wall?"
"They would if they were trying to hide something behind it." Mark reached his hand behind the television. Not being able to feel anything from the side, he looked back. "Get me one of those kitchen chairs, would you?"
McMasters walked into the kitchen and grabbed one of the wooden chairs to the kitchen set. He brought it back and handed it to Mark Sanger. Mark set the chair as close to the television as he could. Stepping up on it, he leaned over the top of the Samsung set. Turning back, he looked at Conrad and smiled. "A strange place to operate a computer from." Reaching behind the television, he removed the computer from a rack that had been screwed to the wall behind the set. Mark stepped down from the chair and handed the computer to Conrad.
McMasters took it and went back into the kitchen. Mark followed with the kitchen chair in hand. He placed it back in the space that had been left empty where Conrad had removed it.
McMasters lifted the top of the laptop computer and turned it on. They waited until it booted up and then Matlock's investigator began checking the data files.
"Check to see if he has kept any records regarding his savings and checking account," Mark told him.
Conrad gave him a look that let Mark know he didn't need to be told that. He was no amateur. His fingers went expertly over the keyboard. Within seconds, he had brought up Terry Cox's financial records.
Both men begin to scrutinize the figures on the screen. As they read down, they saw nothing out of the ordinary. Conrad pressed the icon for the next page. Three-quarters of the way down the page, there was a large deposit into his checking account.
"This guy isn't even a smart crook," Mark said as he pointed out the deposit with his index finger.
"Don't get too excited until we find out where that deposit came from," Conrad warned.
It did not temper Mark's excitement. "I know from the chief's record on this guy that he has no family in San Francisco. He was an only child and both of his parents are gone."
"The deposit could have come from an aunt or an uncle" Conrad pointed out.
"Nope," Mark said, "both of his parents were also an only child. I have a pretty good idea what an officer makes. This guy has not received any raises because of his performance. He will be at the bottom of the totem pole for a police sergeant. They're just simply isn't any way he could deposit these large sums of money. I think we need to find out where it came from."
"The problem is, we cannot explain how we know this. We certainly cannot tell a judge that we entered his apartment and turned on his computer," Conrad said as he stared at the deposits on the screen. He had no doubt that Mark knew what he was talking about. If he said that Cox had no way of making this kind of money, then he was probably right. "We can't go to a judge with this information. We can't even voice our concerns about Sergeant Cox in any way. After all, he is the officer that located the witness against your boss."
"You mean bribed the witness against my boss," Mark corrected.
"It doesn't matter. A judge would look at it that Chief Ironside was attacking the officer's credibility."
"His credibility deserves to be attacked. I have no doubt he paid that man. There has to be a way that we can use this," Mark said.
Conrad's eyes lit up. "I believe there is a way. Get your cell phone out and take a picture of each screen of his account. Then let's get out of here. We have one other place to check on."
Mark took out his phone and pulled up the camera application. He took pictures of all of Cox's financial information.
2
The phone on the desk of Terry Cox began to ring. He picked it up and barked into the receiver, "Sergeant Cox."
"We have a problem," the familiar voice on the other end stated.
"What now? I have your witness against Ironside. After tomorrow, he will be suspended from the department. That will end his reign in San Francisco."
"That is not necessarily true. I just got word that they are getting ready to bring Officer Duffy out of his drug-induced coma. He has been improving steadily according to my man. If he talks, we're finished."
Sergeant Cox reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He was beginning to wonder if the money was worth it. "You told me that Duffy would not recover."
"That was the medical opinion of his doctors. Unfortunately, they were wrong. It now looks as if he will definitely recover. We can't allow that. Duffy must never be allowed to talk to Robert Ironside."
"Then I highly suggest that you have Officer Duffy taken out."
"That is exactly what I intend to do."
There was an extremely long pause on the other end. Terry had a pretty good idea as to why. "You want me to take him out, don't you?"
"He is heavily guarded. You are a police officer. You will be able to get in where my men would not be able to do so."
"Getting in is not the problem. Just how in the hell do you expect me to get out without being discovered. In order to get in, I will have to present my police credentials. They will know who I am. If he shows up dead directly after I leave there, who do you think they're going to come looking for?" Cox said, irritated.
"You are a cop. You've been telling me for a long time now that Ironside has kept you back; that you are a better cop than he is. I would suggest you find a way to get in and out without discovery."
"I'm not the one who shot him. If you were going to shoot him, you should have made sure he was dead," Cox growled.
"I shot him square in the chest. The son-of-a-bitch should be dead."
"Well, he isn't. Now, I have to clean up your mess. That is going to cost you. I want more money. I am the one taking all the risks. I'll get in and out, but it's going to cost you another $500,000. Ironside is not going to be fooled forever. If you think getting him kicked out of the department will stop him from investigating, you are dead wrong. He is going to come after us. When this is all over with, I am getting the hell out of Dodge."
"I would be careful, Sergeant. Don't get too greedy."
"Are you threatening me? I think it is time you realize that you go down if I say a word or decide to give you up. I would be very careful about threatening me if I were you." The sergeant's voice was very low and deadly.
"I am simply giving you a friendly warning. Our friends are not going to take too kindly to you demanding more money."
"That is your problem. You deal with them. I want more money. I am the one taking the risks. Not you, and not Schneider and Blaine."
"Alright, I will talk to them. In the meantime, take care of Officer Duffy." The phone went dead on the other end.
Terry Cox looked around the room. Fortunately, nobody was paying any attention to his conversation. He stood up and headed for the duty desk. "Hi Mel. I'm going to be out for a while. I have to secure the witness against Ironside today."
Officer Melvin Townsend lowered his eyebrows. "You are making a big mistake. Ironside is not dirty and you know it. I don't know what you were up to, but you're going to get caught."
"I'm not up to anything, Mel, and you are wrong. Ironside is dirty and it will be proven tomorrow. When that hearing is over, Ironside will be in jail. I would not be a bit surprised if he is charged as a co-conspirator to murder."
Officer Townsend shook his head. "You're dreaming. Do you honestly think that these people are not out there breaking down your witness?"
"Ironside's people are in Europe. They are not breaking down anything." Sergeant Terry Cox turned and left the front desk.
Officer Townsend watched him leave. Something was wrong. He knew Ironside's people were out of the country, however, nobody knew exactly where. How did Terry Cox know where they were? Townsend made a decision. He picked up the phone and dialed. When he received an answer from the secretary, he said, "I need to speak with Commissioner Randall. Tell him it is urgent."
Moments later the commissioner came on the line."Yes, Townsend, what is it?" Randall asked the officer.
"Sir, I did exactly as you asked me to and I listened in on Sergeant Cox. You were right, he is part of this conspiracy. He is headed for the hospital right now to kill Officer Duffy."
"Thank you, Townsend." Commissioner Dennis Randall hung up the phone and dialed Lieutenant Carl Reese.
"Lieutenant Reese," the officer greeted the commissioner.
"Carl, I just got a call from Townsend. Bob was right. Sergeant Cox is up to his eyeballs in this robbery and murder. He is headed to the hospital to murder Officer Duffy. I am sending more men over to you. I want you to let Cox get in the room. I want proof that he is attempting murder, but make sure he doesn't hurt Duffy. Bob would never forgive me if anything happens to his favorite uniformed police officer. Is that clear?"
"It's clear Commissioner. I'm on my way."
3
Paul Drake felt his smartphone ring in his pocket. He reached in and pulled it out. Looking at the screen, the private eye could see that it was Perry contacting him on his cell phone. Drake pressed the green phone icon and answered, "Perry, I was just about to call you."
"Paul, this is Della. Perry asked me to call you. Can you join us for dinner. We are eating dinner with Ben Matlock. Perry and Matlock want to update you on what happened in court."
"No problem, Beautiful. Where are you having dinner?"
"Robert's office," Della reported.
"Ironside's office? You have to be kidding. Why are we not eating out? We are not having sandwiches for dinner again, or is it burgers?" Drake's voice was dripping in sarcasm. "I have been investigating all day. They can spring for a decent dinner. I can get sandwiches or burgers anytime."
"No burgers or sandwiches. Robert and Ben Matlock are arguing over chili and hot dogs. Neither would give in, so we are having both in Robert's office."
"I'll tell you what, I'll get dinner and then meet you there."
Della shook her head. "Sorry, Perry wants you there immediately."
"Come on, Della, have a heart. I haven't eaten a thing all day. Chili and hot dogs are not my idea of dinner."
She said nothing, smiling into the phone. She knew Paul was going to give in.
Drake rolled his eyes. "I don't believe this. If having to eat chili because of Chief Ironside isn't bad enough, now we have to eat hot dogs because of Ben Matlock."
"Cheer up, Paul, be glad that their favorite food isn't a salad."
Drake shook his head and huffed. "Well, no sense putting off the inevitable. I'll be in Perry's office in fifteen minutes." He hung up the cellphone and the line went dead.
"Was that Paul?" Mason asked his secretary.
"He is on his way in," Della informed her boss.
"I take it he was not happy about the hot dogs and chili?" Mason asked with a chuckle.
"Are any of us happy with it?" Della said, smiling.
Mason grinned at her. "Yes, Bob and Matlock!"
Matlock entered the office just as Ironside was coming out of his bedroom. "And it begins," Mason said as sat down at the table.
Matlock and Ironside joined Perry and Della at the table. "I haven't had a hot dog since I've been here. I want hot dogs," Ben insisted.
"Naturally," Ironside complained, "A hot dog for a hot dog."
Della looked at Perry as she sat beside him. She smiled at him and the attorney smiled back. There had only been one way to settle this problem.
"We are having chili and hot dogs sent in," Della told the two arguing men.
Matlock grinned. "Now why didn't you think of that, Chief Ironside? You are supposed to be the greatest detective in the world! At least that is what everyone says."
"But everyone doesn't say that you are the greatest lawyer in the world," Ironside growled as he turned and looked at his brother.
Matlock knew exactly what he was saying without saying it. "It will be a long time before this whippersnapper has tried as many cases as I have. I will remind you that I have an excellent record as an attorney." The animated lawyer waved his hand at Perry Mason.
The door to the office opened. Conrad and Mark entered and came down the ramp.
"Good! They are here," Matlock drawled. "Conrad already informed me that he has found out quite a bit."
"You mean Mark and Conrad," Ironside corrected his attorney.
"Conrad is the investigator, your aide just went along with him."
"Mark Sanger has been around detectives for a long time. He is an excellent investigator in his own right," Ironside growled at the Georgia attorney.
Both greeted their respective bosses. Before anyone could say anything, The door to Ironside's office opened. This time, Paul Drake walked in. The private eye greeted Della with his customary, "Hello, Beautiful." He looked over at Ironside and Matlock who were still arguing over chili and hot dogs. He glanced back at a grinning Perry Mason.
Mason decided he had to put a stop to the disagreements between his brother and his attorney, or they would never get anything done. "I remind you both that we are all in the same side."
Ben Matlock looked at him in bewilderment. "There has never been any question of that." He glanced down at the detective in the wheelchair.
"Just what makes you think that we are not on the same side?" Ironside demanded. "We simply disagree on dinner choices."
"And everything else, apparently" Perry said, but only Della could hear him.
The office door open, a police officer walked in with a very large tray of food. She set it down on the table to the right of Mason's desk.
"Hot Dang!" Matlock said excitedly. He turned and grinned at Ironside triumphantly. "Hot dogs!"
"Perry!" Ironside began before he was interrupted by his brother.
"Relax, Bob. The chili is on its way. I knew neither one of you was going to give in so I had Della order both."
The door to the office opened and another officer came in with a tray filled with hot chili. He set it down on the table to a grinning Ironside.
"Chili has all the nutritional needs a person needs to consume," the chief said.
"Chili?" Matlock said in disbelief. "You must be kidding!"
"It sure as hell is better for you than those hot dogs" Ironside grumbled as he began to eat a bowl of chili.
Perry noticed that Mark and Conrad were looking at each other with grins on their faces.
"I don't know which one is worse," Drake muttered to Perry and Della's amusement. "Is there something to wash this down with?"
Mark went into the kitchen, pulled several bottles of Pepsi out of the refrigerator and brought them back to the table. They all ate in relative silence except Matlock and Ironside who continued to argue over chili and hot dogs. Perry shook his head. He thought bringing both chili and hot dogs in would settle the argument between the two, yet they continued to argue. Mason stood up, took the bowl of chili away from his brother, and removed the hot dog out of Matlock's hand. Using a spoon, he spooned up some chili, spread it on all the hot dogs. After putting chili dogs in front of the two men, they stared at them as Mark, Conrad and Della laughed.
Paul's grin expanded as he said, "You got chocolate in my peanut butter," quoting the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial.
Mason, attempted to hold back a laugh, but his dimples betrayed him as they appeared on both sides of his face. "Now can we please get some work done? What did you two find out?" he said looking at Mark.
"Terry Cox has a rather large amount of money in his bank account, most of which is one deposit," Conrad said, not bothering to wait for Mark to respond.
"How do you know that?" Ironside inquired.
"We found his computer behind the entertainment center in his apartment," Mark said unapologetically.
"And I suppose you had a search warrant for his apartment," Ironside growled sarcastically.
Conrad came to Mark's rescue. "The apartment door was not locked, Chief. We were concerned Cox might be in danger. After all, he is associating with some pretty dangerous people."
Perry had to turn away to keep his brother from seeing the grin on his face. Ironside, on occasion, had Mark do things that were not exactly legal. Yet, he was giving these two men a hard time over entering Cox's apartment. He notice the slight upturn at the corners of Della's mouth. She had to be thinking the same as he was.
"Did you get any proof of the deposit?" Ben Matlock asked.
Mark reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. After bringing the image up he had taken of Sergeant Cox's account, he attempted to pass it to Matlock, but Ironside snatched it out of his hand before the lawyer had the chance to receive it.
Ironside studied the pictures of Cox's account. "There is more than one deposit here. I know what the sergeant makes. There is no way he could make these kind of deposits legitimately."
"What about family, Bob? Could it have come from a parent or another relative?" Perry asked.
"No. Both his parents were killed in a car accident when he was only a year old. His grandparents raised him. They have been dead for a while now. He grew up in a very poor home, an only child. He worked full-time while at the police academy. His parents and his grandparents were from Cuba. The rest of his family were murdered by the Cuban government. He has no relatives."
"What about investments?" Ben asked.
Ironside shook his head. "You have to have money to invest. He had none, at least not that he obtained legally."
Perry noticed Paul was engrossed in paperwork he brought with him. He did not seemed to be listening to the conversation, but Mason knew better. "What is it, Paul?"As all eyes turned to the private detective, Drake looked up from his paperwork. "Let me see Sergeant Cox's bank records."
Ironside handed Mark's phone to Drake. For a couple minutes Paul studied the records and compared them to those he had found. Chief Ironside was becoming impatient. After having given the private eye several minutes, his patience ran out. "Well?"
Paul looked up. "I think I know where he was getting his money. He stood up and walked towards Ironside. The chief put out his hand to receive the paperwork Drake had, but the detective walked right past his outstretched hand. He dropped the papers in front of Perry Mason.
Mason looked over the two sets of records. He could hear the impatience in his brother's huffs and sighs. It would not be long before he demanded to know what Drake had found. Perry decided to head off his brother's tendency to be in charge.
Ben Matlock stood up and went around to stand behind Mason. He looked at the records over his shoulder. "These deposits coincide."
Ironside surmised what Ben, Paul and Perry already had. Since Paul had been investigating Howard Jurgens, his deduction was easy. "The money Cox deposited is the exact same amounts Howard Jurgens withdrew from his accounts."
Mason smiled. It was rare when his brother missed anything at all. "And both were using overseas accounts."
Grunting, the chief said, "I am surprised Cox used an overseas account. I never gave him credit for being that bright. Paul, you didn't by any chance think to find out where the funds coming into Jurgens's account were coming from, did you?"
Paul gave him a do you think I am stupid look, and answered, "Of course I did, and many of his wire transfers came from another overseas account in the name of..."
"Eli Schneider," Ironside finished for him.
Paul glanced over at Perry and Della who were both smiling. "That's right, how did you know that?"
"A simple deduction, Mister Drake," Ben said. "Jurgens had to be tied into Schneider and Baines somehow. This is it, and it ties Cox to Jurgens, Schneider and Baines. Which means, it ties him into the Museum robbery."
"And proving it is just a bit of a problem," Ironside said with sarcasm, "since we obtained this information illegally."
"Not on my end," Paul said, defending himself. "Like I said, Lieutenant Tragg helped out."
"How did you get the Lieutenant to help?" Della asked.
"I reminded him Perry defended him against that murder charge."
"What murder charge?" Ben asked with interest.
"One of the lieutenant's men was murdered. Tragg was obsessed with bringing the mobster to justice. They killed one of their weaklings and framed the lieutenant," Della told him. "Perry stepped in to defend him."
"Obviously since Tragg is still a cop, you did so successfully," Ben said.
"That's right," Mason responded with a smile.
"How long did it take you?" Matlock asked.
Perry reached back into his recollection and told Matlock the time span of the trial. Ben listened with interest. "Oh, I remember that trial now. I always wondered what took you so long to identify the killer. You should have known who it was as soon as the vegetable and fruit stand owner disappeared after his business was burned to the ground. He had plenty of motive to do the murder."
Mason smiled. "I take it you could have solved it sooner then?"
"I reckon I could have," Matlock said with a grin. "That's okay, Mister Mason, you have not have the experience in the courtroom that I have. You did okay."
Della had to keep from laughing. Perry's face had flinched with that last remark, although Della doubted no one else in the room would have noticed except maybe Robert. The competitive nature of both of these lawyers was as evident as that between Perry and Robert.
"Well, I don't know how many more times we are going to be able to use that on Tragg," Paul said. "I didn't think it was going to work this time."
Mason chuckled. "We will just keep using it until it finally fails."
"Can we end the down memory lane trip?" Ironside said impatiently. "If I had been investigating, there probably would not have been a trial at all."
Paul was about to say something when Perry thought he better intervene before it escalated. "Let's keep to the matter at hand. We need to find out why Jurgens was sending money to Terry Cox. Paul, see what you can find out. I am going to see Judge Thatcher and see if he will give us a court order for Terry Cox's account based on the fact that he was receiving money from Howard Jurgens. We can use what Paul brought us as it was obtained through the Los Angeles Police Department. That way, Ben will also be able to use Cox's financial statement against him at the Internal Affairs Inquiry tomorrow. Now, does anyone have anything further?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do," Ben said. "In talking to some of the people that work for the city, there is a rumor going around that there is a substantial amount of money missing from the city coffer." Matlock raised his eyebrows.
Ironside and Perry both turned their heads towards Matlock. "A lot of rumors go around the city every day, Ben," Ironside said. "Is there anything to back up this rumor?"
"I don't know, but I reckon we should find out. Terry Cox could be involved," Matlock suggested.
"That is doubtful. He doesn't have access to Police Department funds and he certainly would not have anything to do with city funds," Ironside reported.
"Not normally, but could he have found a way to embezzle funds?" Matlock asked.
"Anything is possible. It is more likely he is working with someone who does have access," Ironside said.
"That would mean you have more than one dirty cop, Bob," Perry pointed out.
"It could or someone in the city government is corrupt," Ironside suggested."
"Someone on the city council perhaps?" Della surmised.
"Bob, do you trust the mayor?" Perry asked.
"Pat is a politician. He panics when it appears the city council is going to look bad, but he has always been a good mayor and an honest one," the chief responded.
"Can we get him to look into the city council members. He would have access to their activities. Maybe it is one of them that Cox is involved with," Mason suggested.
"Pat will become very defensive of the city council members," Ironside told him. He is loyal to a fault. He won't believe for a minute that any of them are dishonest. He has known all of them for years. It might be better if we have Dennis look into it. He will be more objective than Pat would be," Ironside said.
"Why not just do it ourselves," Ben asked. "Suppose it is the commissioner or the mayor that is embezzling? Do you really think they are going to let us find out what is going on?"
"Dennis would not take a cent of the city's money," Ironside growled. "There is no more honest police commissioner anywhere. I will vouch for him. He can handle it. Hell, Pat could handle it if it were not for the loyalty to the council members."
"Alright, you know your people better than I do," Ben conceded.
"If everyone is done eating, I think we need to break this up and go over to the museum," Perry said.
"I don't think it is necessary for all of us to go," Ironside told them. You and I and Ben will go. Everyone else continue with the case.
"No problem there," Paul agreed. I want to do some further checking with Lieutenant Tragg. He promised to find out if Jurgens has accounts anywhere else. I have a feeling he has been black mailing more than one person."
"Paul, I know I told you this, but find out why Jurgens was sending money to Terry Cox," Perry insisted.
"I suggest we all get moving," Ben said.
Everyone left the office but Ben and Perry. Mason could see something was really bothering his brother. "What is it, Bob? Something is wrong."
"I have not heard from Ed or Eve. It is unlike them not to contact me. All I know is Eve was going to allow Francois Montrea to lead her to Tracy Oliver. She seemed certain Montrea was the clue to her whereabouts. Ed was going to the American Embassy for help in locating Katherine. I have text both of them, but neither of them has responded."
"Your people are very capable. They will check in as soon as they can. Don't worry, they will find them," Della said, trying to reassure him.
"Let's head over to the Museum," Ben said. "Maybe they will check in later."
Ironside wheeled his chair towards the ramp. Perry, Della and Ben followed. He stopped abruptly and looked back at Matlock. "You still have that same flaming suit on? He shook his head and headed up the ramp.
4
Sergeant Terry Cox changed into jeans and a sweatshirt hoodie. Keeping his head low, he entered the hospital. Stopping near the main desk, he waited until the two women there were extremely busy. Cox scratched his chin through the fake beard. It was driving him to distraction. For some unknown reason the damn thing was itchy. He had no choice but to put up with it until his task was completed. He certainly could not enter the hospital without some sort of disguise. He had stopped by the evidence room at the police station and slipped past the officer in charge. Cox removed a gun that had already been involved in a homicide. Killing Officer Duffy with his own gun was completely out of the question. The only other place he could get his hands on a weapon was the evidence room.
Terry would be sure to wipe it clean before he returned it. It would not be missed for a while anyway. After all, the trial in which the gun was evidence would not start for another month. He would have it back there long before then.
As he stepped to the counter, Cox kept his head low in order to keep the woman who waited on him from recognizing him later on. When she finished with the man in front of him, Sergeant Cox stepped forward. "I would like the number of Officer Duffy's room ."
She lowered her head trying to get a look at him. The man had a shaggy beard and mustache. The employees had been warned to inform anyone calling about or asking to see Officer Duffy. Lieutenant Carl Reese was on duty at the hospital, along with another officer for Duffy's protection. Other officers had been dispatched to the hospital by Commissioner Randall as soon as he was informed of the threat to Duffy's life.
She ran her fingers across the computer keyboard and informed him, "Officer Duffy is still in ICU. Only one person at a time is allowed to visit him. However, I will warn you, he is being kept in a drug-induced coma until such time his body has had some time to heal. Are you a relative, sir?"
"Yes, I am a cousin. I just got into town. I only heard about him yesterday."
She looked at him with suspicion. She had dealt with Chief Ironside before and it had not been pleasant. If there was one thing she had learned, it was that you followed his instructions to the fullest. She had been told to give him his room number, but to ask for identification. "Can you show me some ID please?"
"What for?" Cox asked.
"I am sorry, sir, but it is Chief Ironside's orders. I am sure since your cousin works for the San Francisco Police, you are quite aware of Chief Ironside. He expects his orders followed."
Cox smiled. He had anticipated this. He had been quite certain, he would run into something of this sort. Fortunately, his friend had provided him with what he needed. He pulled out a drivers license and handed it to the young lady and waited while she scrutinized it.
She put the license into a small machine, which produced a pass with his picture on it. Handing it back to him, she smiled, "You are all set, Mister Redford. You may go see Officer Duffy now. ICU is on the fifth floor."
Again, he smiled and thanked her. She waited until he had entered the elevator and then picked up the phone and dialed. A moment later, it was answered.
"Lieutenant Reese," Carl announced
"Lieutenant, there is a man on his way up to see Officer Duffy. He claims to be his cousin. He had an Illinois drivers license. It had a Chicago address on it." She went on to give Reese a detailed description of his features...what she could see of them, as well as what he was wearing.
Sergeant Cox stepped out of the elevator on the fifth floor and headed for the ICU. Keeping his head low and trying to remain unnoticed, he arrived at the door. The sensor picked up the badge with his picture and automatically opened. Cox stepped through. He was greeted by an employee. She checked his badge and smiled. "Officer Duffy's room is the last one at the end of the hall.
Terry Cox headed in the direction she indicated. He could feel his nervousness beginning to rise. Unfortunately, he did not have any choice; he had to enter this way to kill Duffy. If he had been on a regular floor, he could have disguised himself as part of the cleaning crew. The sergeant touched the pocket where he had placed his silenced gun. It was only to be used if things went wrong. His plan was to do the job and get the hell out of the hospital before anyone detected Duffy was dead. In the other pocket was the needle. It had been provided to him from the man he had been working with. Cox had been told he was to inject the contents into Duffy's arm. According to what he was told, the drug could not be detected in case of an autopsy.
As the police officer approached Duffy's room, a street cop assigned to protect him stopped his entrance. He checked his badge and nodded. "No more than five minutes."
Terry nodded. He did not want to speak for fear the officer might recognize his voice. He pushed the door open and went in.
Lieutenant Reese came out of the room next to Duffy's. His cellphone was in his hand. On the screen was the inside of Duffy's room. The wounded officer was in the bed in the drug-induced coma. Reese watched the screen intently waiting to see if this was the attempt on Duffy's life they had been expecting.
Sure enough the bearded man pulled a syringe and needle out of his pocket. Reese nodded to the officer and the two of them burst into the room.