Chapter 8

Near Miss

It was a long shot.

It was such an absurd long shot that Ironside was sure it wouldn't pay off; but he couldn't let that stop him.

During the hard, relentless work of the previous few hours, he, Mark and Carl had uncovered only one other tenuous connection between Richards and Chuck Johnston, though it had taken them most of the night to find it. And with the trail at Johnston's house going cold, Ironside had decided to follow this one up personally, however unlikely it was to produce results.

There were a string of buildings in Johnston's name, all of them in very different places. Odd, and not very interesting perhaps, except the fact that they had all been bought from a shady company years ago before it went bust. And the company had once belonged to Tony-R. And though Mark, and Carl, and even the Commissioner himself, had argued most reasonably that Richards was dead and cold in the grave, Ironside would not be persuaded from his hunch that that man was at the centre of this.

All the indicators pointed to Richards; Johnston, the apparent betrayal of Ed, the car destroyed by fire, the use of the word "understand"… it was the only logical explanation that fitted all the meagre facts they had.

Even Richards' "death" itself could be explained. There were enough discrepancies regarding the fatal shooting, especially since the accuracy of Johnston's testimony was now in doubt, to convince Ironside that Richards might have gotten away before the fire had destroyed the building and all trace of his body. And fire was his trademark for hiding things.

Now they travelled through the city; Mark was driving the van, with Carl Reese in the front passenger seat. Neither man was in the mood for talking and both looked resolutely out of the windows as they drove. Carl and Mark had been up working on the case for most of the night, just like Ironside himself, only grabbing a couple of hours sleep where they could.

'It's likely we'll come up dry here,' Reese said at last. 'Like we have in the other three places.'

Ironside glared at him. That was exactly what he would have expected Ed to say in these circumstances, making sure that if he was wrong there was some sort of preparation to soften the blow. Ironside hated when Ed did that, he liked it even less now Carl had taken up the habit.

They turned onto a quiet cul-de-sac, and pulled up near the large, grey building at the far end. It seemed just like the other three buildings, deserted.

But as soon as the van stopped and the door opened, he smelt burning. Something was on fire. Looking carefully he could see a thin line of smoke leaking from one of the lower windows, winding up into the still air.

Ironside knew in that one moment his instinct had been right. Richards was the one behind this. The door of the van suddenly slammed.

'Mark? Mark!'

But the man was already running towards the closest door in the burning building. He kicked it open and he vanished inside. Carl was set to follow, but Ironside stopped him.

'No Carl! Get round the other side,' he said. 'Check the other entrances.'

'But Mark?'

'Do it!'

Carl vanished off towards the far end of the street, down the road they had just driven along.

Ironside reached back inside the van, picked up his car-phone, calling for the fire department, and the ambulance and a whole lot of back-up. Within a few minutes this whole area would be covered with police.

But during those few minutes, all Ironside could do was wait.

Waiting was what a major part of his life was about now. He wasn't able to run anywhere, and he had never cursed the sniper before as much as at that very moment. There had been time when he would have been the one doing the running, he would have been the first one in there, not caring about the danger, only aware that his friends needed him. But now he could only wait and try not to get in the way.

He hated waiting. He hated the wheelchair. He hated the enforced impotence of having no functioning legs. Self-pity was not in his nature, he made the best of what he had, but at that moment he looked down as his useless legs and cursed them too.

A few minutes later, there was the screech of tyres and the growing blare of sirens. To Ironside it felt like it took hours, and the more he urged himself to wait, the harder it became. Time seemed to slow to a stop.

A fire engine, and four police cars and an ambulance exploded into view. Ironside watched as the vehicles screeched to a stop and the men inside got out. Within a few moments, the area was thick with people all working to control the fire. He forced himself to be calm. Panicking wasn't going to help anyone. He'd done all he could and he would just have to wait for the outcome.

Carl came running back, avoiding the lines of hoses and the bustling people.

'Sorry Chief,' he said breathlessly as he stopped at Ironside's wheelchair. 'If there was anyone on the other side of the building, they'd gone by the time I got there.'

'Didn't you see anyone? Any car? Anything?'

Carl shook his head.

'No one.'

Beside them, water burst into life, and Ironside saw one of the firemen come running up, holding his bright yellow helmet under his arm.

'You called it in, Chief? You know what happened? Anyone in there?'

'At least one person inside,' said Ironside, nodding. 'Likely others, maybe incapacitated.'

'I understand. But you'd better stay back. Get your van out of the way, too. Move it up the street.'

Ironside nodded again, veiling his resentment and anger. They didn't need a cripple getting in their way. And all he could do now was sit and wait in his wheelchair.

Helped by Reese, he rolled himself backwards, and they moved the van further back down the road. Then they waited beside it, not getting in the way of the professionals as they did their jobs. He could see the smoke getting thicker, billowing out of the windows on the higher levels.

Carl stood by his side, shifting restlessly. They just had to wait.

Suddenly there was shouting from the open doorway, and he saw the medics move forward.

As he watched, two people were helped out. One was Mark Sanger, he was coughing and staggering, his clothes blackened with the smoke.

The other person was Eve Whitfield.

She's safe. The relief was far more potent than he thought it would be, more than anything else he wanted to rush over and be with them. But he had to let the medics do their job. He and his metal prison would only get in their way.

Eve was staggering too, and she didn't seem to be fully aware of where she was as she was helped onto a stretcher and into the ambulance. He watched as she lay down, just reminding himself that she was safe, and he could speak to her soon.

He turned his gaze back to the burning building.

Patiently, Ironside waited for the fire crew to bring someone else out. He waited. And waited. A minute or so passed, crawling along no faster than Ironside could move without his wheelchair.

Then there were shouts and a rumble, and the fire officers suddenly began to run. Carl shot a worried look at Ironside, but all the Chief could do was stare in horror.

There was a dull, flat thud and the left side of the building, the end furthest away from where Ironside was, slowly toppled forward, bringing part of the roof down as it went.

At the hospital, Ironside sat alone in the small, featureless waiting room, hunched forward in his wheelchair.

The doctors were seeing to Eve and Mark, Reese was gathering information about the fire. And Ironside was still just waiting. He wasn't very good at waiting, though he had had plenty of practice over the past few days. But this time in the hospital, there was no one to keep him company. Before, he had always had another member of his staff with him. Whenever anything had gone wrong, there was always someone else there. But now his whole team was in danger.

After what felt like hours, Carl Reese appeared from the elevator, looking rushed and worried. He didn't waste time on asking questions, knowing the Chief would have told him if there was any news, and came straight to the point, for which Ironside was extremely grateful.

'The fire's out completely,' he told the Chief. 'Once the wall went, it was easier getting the water to the flames. They had no trouble. Structurally, there's little damage but for the wall. And it didn't spread beyond the one building.'

'Good. At least that's something,' said Ironside.

'And I spoke to the Fire Chief. Looks like it was arson.'

'Arson?' Ironside didn't sound surprised.

'Not much doubt, Chief,' replied Carl. 'The men said they could smell the accelerant. Gasoline. And it looks like it was rigged to go, someone had put fuel over the far end to make sure, up the walls and the beams. They knew what they were doing.'

Ironside nodded. Those were more of Tony R's trademarks.

'Have they searched the building?'

Carl licked his lips.

'They haven't found anyone else, Chief. And there's nothing much left to search, not with half the building down. It's possible that…' Carl stalled for a moment, perhaps trying to find a nicer way of saying what he had to say. In the end he couldn't. 'It's possible that Ed was trapped under debris when the wall came down. We might not know for sure for a few days. Forensics will be down there within the hour to start going over it.'

'Thank you, Carl,' Ironside said quietly.

'I don't think it's going to be much consolation but it was your quick reaction that saved the whole area. They seem to think that it had just started when we arrived. Maybe even just minutes before.'

'Just as it started…?' Ironside stopped. He couldn't let himself jump to any conclusions. But he felt like he had been punched. Perhaps, if they had been a minute earlier, maybe they would have found Ed too, and Richards, and this nightmare would now be over.

'Chief, you ok?'

Ironside nodded.

'What about the other buildings on the list?'

'I had some black-and-whites check them out, top priority. All came up empty.'

'How about witnesses around the warehouse?

Carl shook his head.

'The place is deserted. I can't find a single witness and I've an army of patrolmen out checking. Looks like they came and went without anyone seeing them.'

Ironside's right fist bunched, and he pushed it down on the arm of his wheelchair. They had nothing more to go on, they'd tried for Tony R and missed. And missing was the very last thing you could afford to do with Richards.

'Keep at it, Carl,' said Ironside. 'There has to be something.'

'I sure hope so, Chief,' said Carl. 'I'll check back with you later.'

Carl left, his shoulders drooping more visibly than they had earlier. Ironside watched him leave with a touch of envy in his gaze. At least Carl had something to keep his mind off worrying.

A thousand different scenarios played through his mind, all of them unpleasant. But without more information, all Ironside could do was speculate. Ed was gone, Ironside didn't believe he was dead, but was he a willing accomplice or an innocent victim? Ironside couldn't accept that Ed would betray them, but until he found proof, and until he talked to Eve and found out what she knew, that was still what all the evidence pointed too and that was what everyone else was going to think as well.

But that led to an even more disturbing thought. If he was an innocent victim, then Ironside had missed his chance to help him, as Tony R was not given to making the same mistake twice.

He'd been too flamin' slow on the uptake! For all his so called faith in his instinct, he hadn't ordered each of the buildings searched simultaneously. If he had… The thought and accompanying self-recrimination was cut short. Behind him, there was the noise of a door opening. A thin, wiry man in a white coat came out of one of the nearby rooms, spotting the Chief immediately.

'Chief Ironside?' said the doctor. 'Mr Sanger can see you now.'

'Thank you, doctor. And what about Miss Whitfield?'

'That will take a little bit longer, she's lightly sedated for the moment. It's been a tremendous shock. That, and the effects of the smoke…'

'But I have to speak to her, as soon as I can,' said the Chief urgently. 'Speed is vital. Lives are at stake, doctor.'

'I understand that, Chief Ironside,' said the doctor calmly. 'But she is still asleep. She has been through a very traumatic experience, remember.'

They looked at each other, Ironside giving the man an uncompromising glare.

'Very well, Chief,' said the doctor with a resigned shake of his head. 'I'll see what I can do. But I'll give you no promises.'

'Thank you, doctor. I appreciate your help.'

'Mr Sanger is waiting.'

The doctor stepped back, holding the door open for Ironside.

Eagerly, the Chief rolled his wheelchair past the doctor into the small room beyond. Mark was sitting on the bed, pulling his jacket back on. His right hand and arm were carefully bandaged.

He looked up as the Chief entered, and smiled.

'Hey, Chief!'

'How are you, Mark?' asked Ironside.

'I've been better,' he said. 'Look, how's Eve?'

'Sedated. Traumatised. I don't know what else.'

He and Mark looked at each other in silence for a few moments. Neither man had to ask how the other one felt, that was clear.

They had come so close to disaster. Part of him wanted to shout at Mark for taking such an absurd risk, but he didn't. He'd saved Eve's life. And Ironside knew that, in Mark's position, he would have done exactly the same thing. It was better to let it pass and move on.

'Tell me what happened,' he said.

'The whole place stank of gasoline,' said Mark. 'It was real dark and difficult to see, there was a lot of smoke from the back. But I thought I heard something from one of the back rooms so I went to check it out.'

'You followed the noise?'

'I wasn't sure, but I thought I heard coughing. There was a locked room at the back of the building, she was on the floor, and I picked her up and got out. Just in time,' he added.

The Chief drew a deep breath. Now for the question Ironside didn't want to ask.

'Was there anyone else there?'

'I didn't see anyone,' said Mark, shaking his head. 'I wanted to.'

'Are you sure she was alone?'

'No,' admitted Mark. 'I'm not positive. It was too dark to be positive.'

Ironside gave a terse nod. Ed could have still been in there when the building collapsed. The look on Mark's face told Ironside that he was thinking that as well.

'Is there any news about Ed?' Mark asked. 'Anything at all?'

'No. And they won't know for sure that no one was else was hurt for a few days.'

'Oh.'

It was clear that Mark was genuinely worried for his colleague, just as Ed had once been worried about Mark after he'd been injured in a shooting. Of all the risks Ironside had taken over his police career, offering Mark the job as his helper was the biggest. Mark and Ed didn't always get on, but it never ceased to amaze Ironside that these two men from such completely different backgrounds could have ended up as friends, let alone such good friends. They had worked out their differences, he was proud of them for that. Not that he would ever have dreamt of telling either of them that.

'So we still don't know what's going on,' said Mark. 'Or where Ed could be.'

'Eve will hopefully tell us something soon. Maybe you can too. What can you remember of the room?'

'A table, a telephone, a chair.' Mark hesitated. 'Maybe…'

'Spit the rest of it out, then!'

'I'm not sure, Chief,' he said. 'I think there was a dark jacket. I can't be sure. It might have been Ed's, it was the right colour.'

'What about the heroin?'

'I didn't see anything, no packages, no boxes. Nothing.'

Once more, Ironside nodded.

'Alright, Mark. Get yourself ready, we'll be leaving soon. First, I'm going to see Eve.'

'I want to see her too,' insisted Mark.

'She'll want to see you as well,' said Ironside with a smile. 'Just give me a little time with her first.'

'Sure, Chief.'

Ironside rolled himself backwards, and turned to the door.

'I hope you get the answers,' said Mark as Ironside opened the door.

'I hope so too.'

Outside, Ironside pushed himself down the corridor towards the door of Eve's room. He steeled himself to face what was awaiting him in there, knowing that she was injured, and she would be very shocked by what had happened. But he had to get some answers, and he had to get them quickly.

He opened the door and went in.

Eve was lying on the stark, sterile bed, her face pale, her eyes closed. Ironside rolled the wheelchair up to beside her bed, as close as he could get. Then he sat next to her, holding her cold hand. He waited for ten minutes or more, just sitting there looking at her.

They had been in this position before, when she'd been shot while looking for that ridiculous present. She had pulled through then. She would be all right now. Mark's quick reactions and fearlessness had saved her life.

Though he'd told her it would be blood, sweat and tears in the police force, she hadn't signed up for all of this. And though she was strong, he wasn't sure that she was quite strong enough to go all the way to the end and come out again still as a cop. There had been something else, something different, about her over the past few months. He suspected it had something to do with her boyfriend Scott, but he hadn't asked. And if that was true, then this could well be the breaking point.

She shifted slightly, and though he didn't want to awaken her, he needed answers. He couldn't delay any longer.

'Eve,' he said softly. 'Eve.'

Her eyes flickered and she turned her head towards him. When she saw him, she gave a tiny, wane smile.

'Robert,' she said sleepily. She had never called him that before, never anything so personal. The sleepy look gave way to another smile. Then it changed to worry. Her grip tightened on his hand.

'It's ok, Eve. You're safe,' he told her.

'Ed?' she asked. 'Is he alright?'

He didn't have the heart to tell her the truth, but he couldn't lie to her.

'He's not here, we didn't find him.'

'Oh!' Eve tried to push herself up. 'Chief!'

'It's ok, Eve, lie back. That's why I need to speak to you. I need to ask you some questions.'

'What do you need to know?' she said. Though her voice sounded firmer, she gave a slight cough, trying to clear her throat.

This was a hateful part of his job, demanding answers from someone who had been through so much. It was tempting to say he would come back when she was feeling stronger, or that she should rest, but he didn't. Eve didn't need that sort of indulgence at the moment, and she wouldn't have stood for it. She wanted to help, and she knew he needed her. He handed her a glass of water.

'I want to know what happened,' said Ironside. 'Everything.'

'It was Anthony Richards,' she said quietly.

It was the confirmation he needed. He'd been right, and how he wished he hadn't been. Ironside pursed his lips, then nodded.

'You guessed?' she asked.

'I would have given my pension to be wrong,' he said. 'Mine and yours and the whole department's.'

'Ed didn't do anything wrong,' she said. 'You have to believe that. He was only protecting me… from…'

'From what?' asked Ironside, more sharply than he meant.

'From whom,' she corrected. For a minute she was quiet, her breathing more shallow. 'I don't know what they said they would do, I couldn't ask. The way he looked at me, it was… disgusting.'

All Ironside could do was hold her hand in a vain attempt to reassure her.

'We need a description, and the police artist will be here very soon. Did you find out his name?'

'L-Lonnie,' said Eve, the expression on her face one of repulsion. 'Texan accent. Thick-set, brown eyes, black hair with a slightly receding hairline, a long nose, thin lips, and weak chin. He was wearing a plain dark blue, tailored suit, dark shirt, no tie.'

Again, Ironside nodded.

'Thank you, Eve.'

There was a pause.

'He did it to protect me,' whispered Eve. 'I don't know what Lon… what that man had done to other women, but Ed stopped him from doing it to me.'

Ironside felt her shaking, and tightened the grip on her hand. She smiled gratefully at him.

'But now you're here with us,' said Ironside. 'You're safe.'

'But what about Ed?' There were tears in her eyes now, she had never looked so lost, or so beautiful. Ironside pulled his handkerchief out of his top pocket and handed it over. She took it gratefully, covering her eyes for a moment.

'He'll be safe enough for the moment,' Ironside said. 'Tony R hasn't finished yet. We'll have a chance to find him in time.'

'How can you be sure, Chief? How can you be sure he won't just kill him and walk away?'

'I know Tony R. He wants revenge, all the way to the end, even if that means he'll lose. There are some things more important to him than life. And keeping Ed alive is still the best way to get it.'

Eve nodded shakily, as if she didn't believe him. But he held her gaze, trying to make her realise the true. Tony R wasn't going to be satisfied with just this, not after what Ironside had done to him and his own. But Ironside didn't elaborate on how narrow the line between life and death could be in the hands of a vicious man like Richards.

'You need to tell me what happened,' said Ironside at last.

Eve told him, slowly and carefully, in as much detail as she could, Ironside only rarely having to ask for clarification.

She spoke about the carjacking outside the Bayside Motel, and Ed's inexplicable willingness to do as the man asked without question. She told him what Richards has said about a price, and how everyone could be bought for the right amount of money. Then, in a voice laden with guilt and worry, she told him about the argument they'd had and how Ed had gotten in the way of Lonnie's fist, and how she'd realised that Richards had twisted the truth. Finally, in tears, she spoke about their last conversation, how defeated Ed had sounded.

'They came for us in the morning,' she said, 'and they took Ed through to the other room. There was the smell of gasoline. I waited for them to come back. A few minutes later, there was smoke. I called out, but there was too much smoke. I don't really remember anything else.'

'You waited?' asked Ironside. 'You expected them to come back?'

'Yes, they said it wasn't my turn yet, and I would have to wait.'

'Did they say what was going to happen? Did they say anything about where you were being taken?'

'No,' she said firmly. 'They never said anything like that. It all seemed very well planned. They didn't need to say anything.'

'But they did intend to come back for you?'

'I think so. That's what it sounded like.'

Ironside's chest tightened. That was exactly what he had been afraid of. The fire was just taking hold as he and Mark arrived. Ed and Tony R and this Lonnie were still close to the building. Ironside swore to himself. Minutes! He'd missed them by minutes! He had been so flamin' close!

'Chief, what's wrong?' asked Eve. 'Are you ok?'

Ironside nodded. There was silence, and Eve lay back, closing her eyes. Ironside watched her lying there, marvelling at how she had come though that experience so well. And it wasn't over for Ed. His insides twisted with anger and fear for his sergeant. Tony R had played them all with such expertise. And what was he going to do next? There was nothing, the trail had gone cold

'Chief?'

He looked up at Eve, realising he was glaring out of the window. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but somehow it felt hollow.

'Thank you,' she said. 'I knew you would come to find us.'

'You can thank Mark in a few moments,' Ironside replied. 'He's the one who braved a burning building.'

Eve gave him a look that said that she knew he would have braved much more, but for his wheelchair.

'You're the one who figured out where we were.'

Ironside only nodded, not willing to burden her with his problems at the moment. He couldn't bear to tell her that they had only just missed Ed and Richards.

There was the noise of the door opening, and Mark popped his head around the door. Eve's smile brightened.

'Is it ok to come in?' he asked. 'The doc said I could say hi.'

'Yes, of course, Mark.'

The other man walked up to Eve, grinning at her.

'Good to see you, Eve,' he said.

She reached out to take his hand.

'Mark,' she said. 'Mark, how can I thank you?'

'Get better quickly.' Mark turned to Ironside. 'The doc thinks she needs rest. If you're done, we should go.'

'Is there anything else you can tell us?' Ironside asked Eve.

'No Chief. I've told you everything I remember.'

'Good…'

'Chief,' she said, interrupting him. 'Please find him quickly.'

Ironside gave her hand one more squeeze, and nodded. Eve lay back and closed her eyes. Ironside stayed with her for a few moments long, then placed her hand on the white sheet and wheeled himself out. Mark followed. As the door shut, Ironside let out a long, slow breath.

'What is it?' asked Mark anxiously. 'Did you get what you wanted?'

Ironside nodded.

'I got what I wanted all right. I got it back to me in spades! Where's Carl?'

'I saw him down the corridor.'

'Get him. I need to speak to him right now.'

Mark ran off, and Ironside wheeled himself back towards the familiar waiting area.

Pushing his emotions to one side, he tried to think what to do next; what Richards would do now, and what Richards would anticipate he would do. It was clear they were locked in a game of cat and mouse, and that Richards still thought he held all the aces. He had the drop on Ironside, he had the McDonald evidence, and he still had Ed Brown.

Ed… Ironside forced himself not to think about what was likely to happen to him. Speculation about that was counter-productive. He had to keep his mind on the facts.

Fact, Richards wanted the money, so he would have to do something about that soon, regardless of whether Ironside had upset part of the plan. So it was Richards' move, and Ironside had to be ready.

A minute later, Carl Reese and Mark walked bristly up the corridor.

'What can I do, Chief?'

'I need an ID on another man, likely named Lonnie with a history of violence against women, check with Texan State. We'll need a picture too, so get George to talk to Eve as soon as he can. And I'll need a formal statement as well.'

'I'm on it now, Chief. And George is already on his way over.'

'Good.'

Carl half-turned then turned back, pursing his lips.

'Is Eve ok?' he asked.

'She will be.'

Ironside frowned at the floor, before looking at Carl.

'One other thing,' he said. 'They hadn't intended on leaving Eve behind. It was a snap decision because they must have seen us arriving. So I want Eve's escape kept quiet. Dead quiet. Make sure the newsrooms don't go with any flamin' rescue story!'

'Ok, Chief.'

'We've upset his plans, that's clear,' said Ironside. 'And Tony R isn't going to like that. Not one bit.'

'What do you think he'll do?'

Ironside hesitated.

'I don't know,' he said.

'But you can guess?' said Reese shrewdly.

Ironside made no answer, but looked away.

'You think he'll take it out on Ed?' Reese asked.

There was no point in lying.

'Yes,' Ironside replied. 'I'm sure of it.'