LATE NIGHT
Robert Ironside lay in bed listening to the house in the early morning hours. It was far too early for coffee. But once more, his damaged body told him that sleep was done for this night. The house was dark and quiet. Too quiet, he felt, for the number of people in it. It had been good seeing Eve, Fran, Sarah, and Patrice. He was impressed with the team Ed had put together. Jerry Abbey had developed into a fine officer and an even better poker player. No longer the patrolman who hung around serving as a snitch for corrupt officers but the sergeant who closely watched his boss's back. His girlfriend, Brenna, the lab tech, had thoughtful suggestions for improving their security. Mattie Johnson offered updates without consulting the papers she brought. She was a mean poker player as well. He suspected she was a card counter, but her expression never gave anything away. Sam MacAllister; totally devoted to Eve and a more than capable right-hand man. Mattie's husband, Ben, sat like a gentle giant until he began talking about the "bastards who were threatening his Mattie and the folks she worked with." Ben was a man he would want beside him if he ever needed help. Steve Timmons sat quietly listening. Occasionally he would ask questions to clarify what was being said. They were under the seal of the confessional. Everyone could say what they felt in complete confidence. Ed's team functioned like a family like they had in San Francisco.
He heard a sound, a faint cry. The dogs? He lifted his head off the pillow. He heard it again. No, not the dogs. It was human. He had a strong feeling as to who it might be. Reaching up for the pull bar that dropped down from the ceiling. Ironside hoisted himself to a sitting position and put his robe on. Getting into his chair, he went in search of the sound.
The sound came from the girl, Catalina. He corrected himself. She sat on the living room couch, cradling the puppy in her arms, crushing it and her into Fran's side. The other two dogs were protectively at Fran's feet. Catalina was tightly wrapped in Fran's arms and a blanket. Looking up at the Chief, Ironside realized why Fran was so exhausted at dinner. She probably hadn't slept much since Catalina arrived.
"Ladies, I'm sorry for intruding. I couldn't sleep and thought I'd make some hot chocolate. Would you two care to join me?"
Fran smiled at him, knowing the Chief's favorite hot beverage was strong French Roast coffee, two sugars, with a shot of bourbon thrown in for good measure. She moved slightly on the couch, stirring the girl to be upright.
"I think that's a wonderful idea. I've got marshmallows to go with it," she said brightly. They got off the couch, Catalina still hugging the pup. Making their way into the kitchen, Fran put a pan of milk on the burner and got the cocoa, sugar, and spices down from an upper cabinet. Ironside watched her, realizing how much she looked and acted like her mother and feeling nostalgic at the memory.
"Catalina, how about we let Fran get to bed?" He asked. "She's got a long day ahead. I don't sleep much anymore, and we didn't get a chance to talk tonight. I'd like to have that opportunity now if that's all right."
The girl looked at Fran.
"It's ok, sweetie. I can stay if you want me to."
Catalina remembered something Sarah had said about the Chief when they were in the garden. Fran thought of this man as her second father. If she felt that way about him, he was safe.
"No, it's ok. You go to bed. I'll have cocoa with the Chief."
Fran nodded and hugged the girl. "Don't let the milk boil over, ok?"
Cat rolled her eyes. "I won't." She put the puppy down and washed her hands.
Fran bent down, kissing the Chief on the side of his face. Ironside brought his left hand up and lightly caressed her face. "Good night." He said.
"Good luck."
The milk began bubbling. Catalina whipped cocoa, sugar, chili powder, and cinnamon into a froth.
"My abuelita's recipe for cocoa."
"Fran's mother's recipe too."
"Fran said you really liked Mexican food."
"She's right. It's the way to my heart. You seem to know your way around a kitchen pretty well.".
"I used to help my mom and grandma a lot."
Cat filled the mugs, added the marshmallows, and brought them over to the couch. They sipped. Ironside put his mug on the table.
"Why does she call you Tio sometimes?"
"Her dad was my partner when I was young, and I loved him like a brother. She decided to call me that after I found myself at their house almost every night for dinner." He paused, then his voice became serious. "You know why I'm here?"
"I heard you talk after dinner. Jefé and Fran, they're in trouble because of me."
Ironside smiled at the Spanish word she used for Ed. "No, they're not in trouble because of you. What do you remember about the night your parents died?"
The girl froze. This was not a place she wanted to revisit.
Ironside put his hand over the girl's, patting it. "It's alright, Catalina, just start at the beginning."
"I was in my bedroom and heard voices. First, my parents. They were arguing about Jefé's visit. He wanted to help my dad find a job. Mamita said he could help us return to California. Help my papi find who stole some money from his boss."
Ironside paused. Puzzle pieces were sliding into place in his brain.
"Then my parents stopped fighting. I heard the front door break. There was a man. He demanded money."
"Did you see the man?"
"No. But his voice was scary."
"How many voices did you hear?"
"Three. Him and my parents."
"Is there anything you can tell me about what was said?"
"He told papa to give him the money he stole from someone."
"Did he say who your papa stole from"?
"He didn't steal anything. Papi was an honest man."
Ironside knew he'd pushed too hard. "I'm sorry, Catalina. Did the man say who thought your father had taken his money?"
"Someone named Pepe."
If he were still Robert Ironside, Special Consultant to the Police Commissioner of San Francisco, he would be banging on bedroom doors right now, waking up Mark, Ed, and Fran, demanding coffee be brewed, a clear workplace, and start mapping out what they had. He wasn't anymore. He'd allow those three their rest for now. There was time for puzzle-solving later.
"What happened then?"
"I heard a shot. My father screamed, then there was another shot. Before I smelled the fire, I heard the man yell out, "George! Then the fire broke out," Cat sobbed. Ironside wheeled closer to her and cuddled her as best he could until the tears ended.
"You didn't go see what had happened in the living room before the fire broke out?"
"No, Papi said if I ever heard noises like that or strange voices, I was to get out of the house quickly, and they would meet me at a secret place."
"How did you escape?"
"I grabbed my backpack and crawled out my window. My room was in the back of the house." She showed him her scraped wrists and forearms, remembering how little time she had to squeeze her body through the partially opened window.
Ironside thought about the pictures Ed had shown him of the house. Catalina's house was a small bungalow, commonly called a shotgun. According to legend, a shotgun blast would tear the entire house from front to back.
"Then you went to the spot, and what?"
"Not at first. When I got out of the house, I thought I saw a car on the street behind me, on the ridge, so I went through the sewers."
"Did he follow you?"
"I don't think he did. I didn't hear anything."
"Then what?"
"I went to the meeting place and waited for my parents. They never came." Tears showed in her eyes, threatening to spill over again.
Ironside paused, allowing Catalina to tell her story her own way.
"I waited for a long time. Then I went to St Michael's."
"Tell me how you got the money."
"What money?"
"The money you left at the church for Father Steve and the sisters. Why did you do that?"
"I thought it would make them happy."
"Where did the money come from?"
She looked at him, uncertain as to what to say.
"It's alright." He reached out, placing his hand over hers. Catalina nodded, took a deep breath, and began again.
Ironside saw the sun coming up through the front windows. Catalina was curled up on the couch beside him, covered with a blanket, her head resting on the couch arm when Ed walked through on his way to the kitchen. He looked at his mentor and the sleeping child.
"Long night?"
"I persuaded Fran to go to bed about two this morning. Catalina's been asleep for a couple of hours."
"Coffee?"
"Yes."
Ed went into the kitchen. Ironside listened to the sounds of coffee brewing. Mark came out of his bedroom and silently walked into the kitchen, returning with two cups. He handed one to the Chief. Ed followed him with a carafe and another mug. They settled themselves in the living room away from the couch, drinking silently.
Ed broke the silence, "What did you learn?"
"Well, Jefé, "Ironside yawned expansively. "The murders appear to be premeditated. Most likely by Pepe Alvarado. The night her parents were killed. She barely got out of the place herself."
"Yeah, Fran said she was pretty well banged up, bruises and scratches all over. I've seen some."
"We have two names, Pepe and George. Pepe seems to be tied into money that he claims Pete Montez stole. George may or may not have shot the Montezes, but he appears to be involved in the arson. Probably drove the getaway car."
"I'll see what we can find out about George and his partner," Ed said.
"I'll call Gertie. She'll know who to put on Alvarado." Mark said.
"There's the matter of the St Michael's money."
Ed sighed. "They could really use it. Did Cat say how she got the money?"
"It appears her father and mother knew Alvarado was looking for them, and they had this money in reserve at a secret spot."
"And Catalina isn't going to tell you where that secret spot is, is she?" Mark asked.
"Does she have any more?"
"She said no, Ed. I don't quite believe her, but we won't press her for now." The Chief drank some coffee. "Get Mattie to check on the serial numbers for the bills she gave Steve and the sisters."
"Did it yesterday when Steve came in to tell me about the gift. What's your plan for today?"
"Do we know where Eddie Rogers is staying in the city?"
"No."
"Have Jerry find out where he is. Then I think I'll pay a condolence call on him."
"What about Cat? Rogers is her grandfather. He has legal rights."
"I know, Ed. For now, it's important to keep the child out of sight. We're not ready to force anybody's hand."
A/N Thank you, BluesyBelge, for her suggestion for this chapter and La Profa for reminding me about dangling parts of speech. Writing in the time of "Stay Safe Stay Home" makes it interesting. Right now, I'm choosing to ignore that there is a Novel Coronavirus 19. According to my timeline for this story, it is the Fall of 2019. There is no pandemic, no shutdown life. My Ironside team has always been in an alternate universe, and I think I'll keep them there safe and secure. I hope y'all continue to be safe and well wherever you are. Thanks for taking the time to continue reading this little story that started so long ago when my world was turned upside down for other reasons. Now I'm still writing in an upside-down, inside-out world. I'm grateful if this helps you get through this time of uncertainty.~Johanna