At five past five in the morning the phone in the Browns' bedroom rang.
It wouldn't stop ringing, until a half asleep housewife rolled over onto her husband's empty side of the bed and picked it up.
Five seconds later she was wide awake.
Agitatedly she knocked at the door of her guestroom. "Robert, may I come in?"
The retired detective answered immediately. He was as alert as always when she put the phone into his hand.
"Sir, it's Jerry Abbey. Chief Brown's missing!"
Ironside listened attentively. "Get your people out of bed!" he barked. "We need a large area search! I'll join you in a few minutes."
When Eve hung up the phone she saw Danny standing in the hallway.
"What's the matter with Dad? Is he hurt?" he asked anxiously.
"He's missing," answered Ironside. "Put on some clothes, I want you to come with me!"
For a moment Eve was stunned. "But Robert, he's only a child!"
"Yes, and the only one who knows at least some of the people who may be involved in the problem at hand. I bet this has something to do with the gang he was with."
"He never even wanted to be with them!"
"I haven't said that. But he may be able to help find Ed."
Danny had already stripped off his pajama top and dropped it in the hallway. Sixty seconds later he appeared fully dressed in the kitchen.
Eve put a glass of milk into his hand and a banana. The Chief would need a little longer to get dressed. At first Danny didn't want to eat, but when Eve urged him he gave in.
"Chief, do you want me to come with you or to go to headquarters?" asked Eve.
"I would be glad to have you at headquarters and take care of things there. And if they don't accept you, tell Jerry that I will bust him down to patrolman if he doesn't comply."
This was an idle threat since Ironside had no official position in the Denver police department, but Eve got the picture.
Sgt. Hank Riley was one of the first officers arriving at headquarters after Jerry had called for help. He was grey-haired, fatherly and overweight and had a soft spot for the new Chief of detectives. He thought that it was his job to protect his boss, who pulled his weight... although, actually, he was only half of Hank's weight, but still...
Ironside knew that he would do just about everything to help Ed. Ironside chose him as his driver and left Jerry in charge of the office, with Eve as his consultant. He wanted her to be safe. He had a hunch that he wasn't only up against some kids. There might be more, and she was not a policewoman anymore. Nobody knew how she would react if she found Ed in danger or hurt. He didn't want to endanger the boy either, but he might be a valuable source of information.
"Today is Wednesday. On Tuesday they often go on a foray," said Danny, without even being asked.
"Where do they put the things they have stolen? They can't hide them in the orphanage, can they?"
"I don't know. I have never seen them hide anything."
"Think, Danny! I need to know!"
The frightened child clammed up. Ironside realized that he could not talk to him like to a normal twelve-year-old.
"I'm sorry. I'm worried about your father. Can you understand that?"
Danny nodded, but didn't answer.
Ironside didn't give in.
"Can you tell me of a few places where this gang did some havoc or stole money during the last few months?"
Danny started reciting mechanically the addresses of places of felonies.
"Wait – I need a city map!"
Hank gave him one.
From the back seat Danny glanced over his shoulder.
"Sir, I think I know where they hid the money," he said all of a sudden, his voice as flat as if he were reciting the multiplication table.
Ironside stopped short. "How'd you know all at once?"
"There is a pattern... The places I told you about are lying in some kind of an ellipse. There are two focal points. One is the orphanage and the other is an old factory." He showed Ironside the place on the map.
Ironside squinted his eyes. To him it didn't seem so obvious, but yes, maybe... "Hank, get us..."
He didn't get to finish the sentence. Riley had already turned the van around.
When they reached the old factory building, they saw smoke rising out of the roof.
Instantly Danny started to scream. Ironside tried to ignore him.
"Open the door, Hank!"
The seasoned detective complied.
Inside, the fire had already spread out. The additional air made the flames burst.
Riley got a glimpse of Chief Brown in the most remote corner of the building.
Then a part of the roof crashed down and blocked the view.
"Heavens, Sir, Chief Brown is in there, and he is tied to something!"
"Go and free him!" Ironside had to shout to drown Danny's clamor on top of the crackling of the fire. This could really get on one's nerves.
"I can't, the gap between the outside wall and the part which has broken down is too narrow!"
Danny had climbed out of the car too, still screaming. No chance Ironside could hear Ed or talk to him.
"Danny, stop now!"
As if he had pressed a button the child lapsed into silence, but buried his face in his hands instead, as if he tried to block out the terror.
"Chief, take Danny away!" Ironside heard Ed shout. "Don't let him see this! Please!" His voice seemed to break.
Ironside had to decide lightning-quick. No way could he get through to Ed, and neither could Hank, who was too large. Haggard Ed might make it out, if his life depended on it – which it did. But there was only this frightened, traumatized child who might be able to free him.
"Hank, there is a water bottle back in the car. Go get it!" Riley obeyed instantly.
Ironside pulled his knife out of his pocket and flipped it open. "Danny!" – Just for a second the scared autist looked up. "Your father is in there. You are the only one who can save his life. You have to get to him and cut his bonds. Let me wet your clothes for some protection! I know that it is tough for you, but you are his only chance!"
Shocked Danny nodded and Ironside spilled the content of the water bottle over his head.
The boy took the knife and stepped towards the crashed-down, burning woodwork. But the flames obviously frightened him too much.
"Danny, you've got to try!" urged Ironside, deliberately putting much more confidence into his voice than what he actually felt.
The child obeyed and slid into the small gap. The flames almost licked his clothes. After a few steps he stopped again.
"Daddy!" he yelled, clinging to the wall.
Hank had run back to the car to alarm the fire service. Ironside sat there, helpless. Had he taken the wrong decision this time? Should he call Riley to try and pull the child back out? No, he was too far away already for the bearish detective to reach him. What if Eve lost both her husband and son?
Now he heard Ed's voice. He sounded as placid as if he explained to his son where to fix the stickers on his airplane model.
"Danny, there are only a few yards left. Close your eyes and take three steps."
For a wonder the boy did as he was told. At least he disappeared from Ironside's sight.
"Another two steps – yes, that's my boy. You are doing great. Just a little further... Now cut the rope on my right wrist."
Obviously the child had trouble to cut the bonds. After what seemed an eternity Ironside heard Ed's voice again, just a tad sharper than before. "Give me the knife and get out of here immediately. Hurry!"
Shortly afterwards Ironside saw the boy climb out of the gap.
"Go back to the car, there you will be secure!" he shouted
Danny seemed to work on autopilot now. He stumbled past Ironside.
Would Ed make it?
Meanwhile the flames in the woodwork had expanded, making his friend's escape increasingly difficult. The smoke had become so thick that one could hardly see anything anymore. This lasted too long...
Author's notes:
Dear readers, have you noticed that there is a new Ironside writer on our fandom? Please check out her story, "Coffee". Welcome, Stella KiMara!
Btw there are two new chapters of "Tom Dayton Has Escaped " by 'Kaleenmounty'.