Return of the Crown Prince
Chapter 5
5.1
Mark woke to a loud crash. He glanced at the clock which read three forty. Jumping out of bed, he ran out of his room to check on the chief. He found him in the kitchen. At his feet, a bottle of orange juice was splattered all over the floor. Broken glass was scattered everywhere.
"Don't come in here bare footed," Ironside warned.
"What happened?" Mark asked.
"What does it look like?" The detective growled. "I dropped the orange juice."
"Chief , what are you doing up at this hour?" Mark asked concerned.
"I couldn't sleep. Go put on some slippers and help me with this mess," Ironside snapped.
Mark headed back in his room. He reached under the side of his bed, removed his slippers and put them on. Grabbing his robe, he put it on and tied it around his waist. He then re-joined Ironside in the kitchen. The chief had grabbed a towel and was attempting to mop up the spilled juice, reaching over the side of his chair. He was not having much success. Mark took the towel from his boss and began cleaning up the mess. Once he had the orange juice cleaned from the floor, Mark got the broom and swept up the glass.
Ironside turned and wheeled his chair over to the window and sat silently. Mark reached into the fridge and pick up another bottle of orange juice. After pouring a glass of the liquid, he walked over to the window and reached over Ironside's shoulder.
Ironside glanced to his left as the glass appeared over his shoulder. He took it from his aide and friend. "Thanks, Mark."
"You are worried about Ed?" Mark asked. "Is that what is keeping you awake?"
"Why did they take him? Why did they not just knock him out and leave him there? It does not make sense."
"Chief, I hate to say it but we cannot be sure that Ed is still alive."
"He's alive." Ironside said.
"How can you be so sure?"
"If they were going to kill him, they would have done so and left him with Carmell. They had no trouble leaving him there dead, for us to find. No, Mark, Ed is alive."
"Okay, let's say he is alive. What are they going to do with him?"
"That is the part that does not make sense. By now, they must know that he is a cop. Why would they take the chance of holding him?"
"Maybe our kidnappers had nothing to do with taking Ed. Who knows what else Simon Carmell was involved in?" Mark sat down next to Ironside. "Maybe it is just a coincidence."
Ironside shook his head in disagreement. "I don't believe in coincidences, Mark. No, Ed was taken by our kidnappers."
"Then we just wait until the kidnappers contact us with their demands, then."
"I have no intentions of waiting for the kidnappers to make the next move. I will not stand by and allow thugs to determine how long Ed will live. God will determine that. We are going to find him, hopefully today. I don't want to have to worry about Eve, the crown prince and Ed," Ironside said forcefully.
"And how are we going to do that?" Mark inquired.
"I am going to take a shower. While I am doing that, you wake up Eve and Carl and get them in here. Then we'll decide how we are going to proceed." Ironside turned his chair and wheeled into the bathroom.
5.2
The crown prince boarded the plane that would take him to America. His mind was still on the pretty police officer in San Francisco. He was completely aware of the excitement he was feeling about seeing her again. Was she feeling the same excitement about seeing him? The prince knew that Eve had been only doing her job when she showed him her beautiful city. He was sure she had enjoyed the time they had together as much as he had. In his country, he would have been forbidden to spend time with Eve. His father would not have approved of any potential romance between royalty and someone his father would call a peasant.
Eve Whitfield was anything but a peasant. She was beautiful woman who had a mind of her own. A woman in his country had one purpose in life… to bear a man's children and take care of his home. His father was appalled at what American women were allowed to do.
His country was friendly to the United States, almost always voiting with her in the United Nations but they disagreed with the entire American way of life. A woman could never go in public without a headdress. The king considered it criminal that women were allowed to do so in America. Woman in Miguel's country were not allowed to hold a job. Only men held that honor. They did not receive an education, after all why would they need one when their purpose in life was to serve the man they were married to. The idea of women voting, let alone serving in the government in America was incomprehensible to the people of his country.
"Your highness?" The crown prince was so deep in thought, he did not hear his aide speak to him. "Your highness!"
The prince, having been startled, was brought out of his daydreaming. "Yes."
"I was able to pick up an American newspaper from the city of San Francisco. I think your attention is required. You will find this most distressing."
Prince Miguel took the newspaper from his aide. He unfolded the San Francisco Chronicle and read the headline:
"LOCAL POLICEWOMAN TO MARRY VISITING CROWN PRINCE."
Under the headline there were two separate pictures of Eve Whitfield and one of himself. Prince Miguel smiled. He did not find it distressing at all. If fact, he wished it were possible.
"You should lodge a formal complaint with the American government. This is inexcusable for an American paper to print such a thing," his aide said with the air of a man who had been insulted. "No one in our country would consider marrying an American woman. They are so vulgar! They have never been taught their place."
"There must be an explanation for this," Prince Miguel said. "Perhaps Chief Ironside will be able to check into this for us."
"At the very lease a formal apology should be issued by the Americans. You should demand Mr. Ironside explain such vulgarity on the part of his newspaper."
"Chief Ironside does not own the newspaper, nor does he control it. The press in American is a free press. Do not trouble yourself with such trivial matters," the prince said."
"How can you call this trivial, your highness? This of the highest insult to you for the Americans to announce a marriage between you and a vulgar American woman."
"Eve Whitfield is not vulgar. Do not ever call her that. If it were possible, I would be most honored to have her for my wife," the prince said with a yearning.
"Your highness!"
Prince Miguel put his hand up to silence his aide. Let us enjoy the flight to America."
5.3
The phone in Ironside's office began ringing. "Mark! Answer the phone!" Ironside yelled from the other room.
Mark came out of his room. "Chief Ironside's office...just a moment. Hey, chief! Jamie Morgan, the President's national security advisor is on the line."
Ironside wheeled out of the bathroom to the main table. He picked up the phone, punched the lighted line and barked into the phone, "Ironside."
"Chief, this is Jamie Morgan. I called to find out how the plans for protecting the crown prince is coming."
Ironside was not about to share anything with him. Somehow, the kidnappers always seemed to know where their victims were. The only way they could know that was a leak somewhere in Washington, probably in the state department. As long as he was in charge, he would run the investigation keeping everything close to the vest. "Everything is going just fine, Mr. Morgan."
"I am going to need to know more than that, Ironside."
"Chief Ironside," he corrected him. Ironside could hear the frustration and disgust in Morgan's demeanor.
"Look, Ironside...Chief Ironside," he corrected, not that he cared whether he showed any respect toward the crusty detective. Morgan only used his title in order to get his cooperation. "Do not force me to go over your head."
Ironside just lost whatever patience he had, which was not much where Jamie Morgan was concerned. He found people who used their position to bully others for self-gratification disgusting. "You can't go over my head, Mr. Morgan. No one in the police force outranks me in this city."
"The police commissioner outranks you Ironside," Morgan sneered.
"For the last time Mr. Morgan, that is Chief Ironside and the commissioner never interferes with the way I handle a case. By the time a case is assigned to me, it is because they know I will investigate it my way and no amount of pressure can make me do otherwise. I would suggest you talk to your boss. You will find that he has entrusted me with this entire operation. I will handle it as I see fit...which does not include consulting you." Ironside slammed the phone down in the cradle so hard, it made Mark jump.
Ironside slammed his fist on the table. "Where in the blazes are Eve and Carl?"
"They will be in any minute, chief. I woke them up. You have to give them time to get here."
Almost as if Carl and Eve heard the chief, the door opened and the duo walked down the ramp. "Maybe I should have just slept here like you ordered to begin with. Between traveling back and forth, getting to bed late and dragged out of bed early, I didn't get any sleep anyway." Eve sat down beside Ironside.
"Don't expect to get any sleep here. Someone here stays up all night, banging around in the kitchen," Mark said.
Ironside looked directly at Eve and snarled, "I told you to stay here and you did not want to...and you," he said, directing his attention to Mark, "have kept me up many nights reading school books with the lights on."
"Do you expect me to read them with the lights off?" Mark asked.
"Just one big happy family," said Carl grinning.
Ironside gave Carl a look that wiped the grin off his face. "We are wasting time," said Ironside. Let's get back to work. We have to find Ed. Carl, were there any finger prints found that will help us?"
"I know you are expecting me to say no but we got lucky. Some of the prints belonged to a two-bit hood by the name of Neil Weeks. They were on the front door handle, one thumb print, that is. Another partial thumbprint was on the bedroom door as well. Weeks may have had on a glove that had a hole in it because there were no other prints of his anywhere in the apartment."
"Carl, put out..."
"An APB on Weeks. Already done, chief." Carl announced.
"I trust you put out one on Ed as well."
"Already done, chief."
"Eve, you check out Simon Carmell. Check his bank accounts. Find out if he had been receiving large sums of money. I want to know whom he has been associating with. There had to be a reason why he was always there when the kidnappings took place."
"Alright, chief," Eve said
"Carl, what about the blood found at the door?" Ironside inquired.
"Same type as Ed's"
"Carl, get everything you can on Neil Weeks. I want everyone back here no later than noon. What about the prince's protection?"
"Just as you ordered. One limo will pick up the prince and his people at the airport. He will be brought directly to your office. We will have a police escort and police following behind as well. Plain clothed police will be all along the route."
"Shouldn't we use the limo just for the prince's people? The crown prince could ride in the van with the chief," Mark suggested.
"But would that not be considered an insult?" Carl protested.
"If the van is good enough for us, it is good enough for the crown prince to ride in," Mark said.
"Chief, I think we should stick with the original plan," Eve suggested. The media will be there. Washington will be very unhappy with the picture of the prince being picked up in the van. How will that look? He is visiting royalty after all."
"I am not interested in appearances. They are less likely to try anything if the crown prince is with me." Ironside said seemly agreeing with Mark. "But we are sticking with the original plan. Carl, make damn good and sure that route is well protected. I don't want them abducting the crown prince until we are ready."
It was obvious the chief was worried about Ed. "I don't have to tell you that Ed could be in great danger. We need to find him and fast. I believe he is alive and they have a purpose for him. I would rather locate him before they reveal it. By then it might be too late."
"Eve, what about the elderly woman? Could she identify the man she saw outside Carmell's apartment building?" Ironside asked.
"She picked out four men. All of which looked very much like Neil Weeks."
"But Weeks has been arrested several times. His picture should be in the mug files," Carl pointed out. "Didn't she pick him out of the files?
"I am afraid not," Eve said. "She stopped and stared at his mug shot for several seconds and then passed it by for the others."
"Get moving," Ironside said, breaking up the meeting. Eve headed out of the office. Carl lingered behind. "What is it Lieutenant?"
"I just wanted to apologize for the 'big happy family' comment, chief. It was inappropriate under the circumstances."
Ironside looked at Carl and then waved his hand in dismissal. "Forget it. We are all a bit on edge. Besides, sometimes those little remarks we make to each other helps break the tension. "Find Weeks, Carl, and we find Ed."
"On my way chief." Reese left the office. He passed Commissioner Randall who was on his way in."
"Hello Dennis," Ironside called out. "What are you doing here this early?"
"I got a call from Jamie Morgan, the president's …"
"Yes, I know who he is and I am not telling him a damn thing," Ironside snarled.
"Bob, you just can't talk to the president's national security advisor like that. He not only called me but also several members of the city council. Now they are on my back to reign you in."
"Then tell them to protect the crown prince and find the kidnappers. Dennis, there is a leak in Washington somewhere. The only two people I am talking to there is the president himself and Artie Hinson. The rest of them can call their boss if they want information. Ironside wheeled over to the desk where Carl had set a written report to him laying out the plans for the prince's arrival. He grabbed the report, set in between his leg and the side of his wheelchair, wheeled back to the main table where Commissioner Randall had sat down.
Mark came from the kitchen and placed a cup of coffee in front of the nervous commissioner. Randall took a sip of his coffee and set the cup back down on the table.
"Was there something else, commissioner?" Ironside asked.
"I would like to know how you are going to handle the prince's arrival tonight."
Ironside took the report that he had picked up from his desk and dropped it in front of Randall. "Read for yourself, Dennis."
Randall read the report with a frown deepening on his face with each page. "You are not doing anything any different than usual." The surprise in his voice was evident.
"Of course not. What were you expecting? Do you want to tip off the kidnappers that we are on to them?
"No of course not. I am a little nervous about your plan, though. Why are you not going to the airport to meet the prince?"
"That would tip them off. We had considered it but if I show up there, the kidnappers will know we have more than just the normal protection procedures. I am having Eve and Carl meet them at the airport. It would make more sense for Eve to be there since we announced their engagement."
"You should have talked to the crown prince first, Bob. His country doesn't think much of American women. They have considered it an insult that our papers are reporting that she is marrying the crown prince."
Ironside grunted. "The crown prince should be so lucky as to marry Eve Whitfield! He would not find a better woman anywhere."
"His father doesn't agree with your assessment. He has already called the White House, protesting the announcement."
"He's a king living in a palace, who has his every whim attended to. What does he know about Eve? "What does he really know about American women? At least this country treats them with respect, not like second-class citizens in their own county. The question is more as to whether the crown prince is worthy of her, not the other way around."
Randall smiled. Just like Bob Ironside being protective of Eve Whitfield. She seemed more like his daughter than an employee. "Well, you are the one that is going to have to face the prince's wrath when he arrives tonight."
"What wrath? I dare say the young man wishes it were true." Ironside pointed at the coffee cup in front of Randall. "The price of that stuff is going up constantly. Don't waste it or I am going to instruct Mark to quit serving it to you when you come in here," he grumbled.
Randall stood up. "I have to get back to my office. Keep me informed Bob. I don't want to be left in the dark on this operation."
"What did you tell Jamie Morgan?" Ironside asked looking up at his boss.
"I told him I had no idea what you were doing with this case and doubted that you would tell even me… or the city council for that matter. After all, until I walked in here, that was the truth as I knew it. I am surprised you shared your plans with me."
"Well Dennis, you are my boss," Ironside said with a twinkle in his eye.
"You might try remembering that once in a while." Randall knew Ironside extremely well and could read the worry on his face. He also knew the subject of his concern. "Any news on Ed, yet."
"No, but we do have a lead on Neil Weeks. His prints were on the door of Carmell's apartment. Carl is checking it out. Eve is working on Carmell."
Randall placed his hand on Ironside's shoulder. "You'll find him Bob."
"I have no doubt of that, Dennis. The question is what shape will he be in when I do?"
5.4
Lt. Reese pulled his Pontiac up in from of the house which Neil Weeks was living in. With a search warrant in his hand, he walked up the sidewalk to the door and rang the doorbell. When he received no results, Reese rang it again. While he was waiting, two police cars pulled up. Four uniformed police officers joined him at the door. "Chief Ironside called, Lieutenant. He said if you have the search warrant, you are to proceed into the house even if it means kicking the door in," Duffy told him.
"I have the warrant," Reese assured him. "So kick it in boys." The two officers that were with Officer Duffy, lowered their shoulders and at the same time rammed their shoulders into the door. The lock gave way and the door opened. Reese pulled out his service revolver. He motioned for three officers to go around and cover the back. He nodded at Duffy who has also pulled his service revolver.
The two men entered the house. Reese motioned for Duffy to head one way and he went in the opposite direction. "Weeks, this is Lt. Carl Reese, SFPD. Come on out!" He shouted. Reese and Duffy went from room to room. After a complete search of the premises, they both met at the back door. Outside the three police officers waited with their guns drawn. "Nothing?" Reese asked.
"Nothing," Duffy confirmed. He unlocked the door and let the other officers in.
"Okay, let's take a look around."
5.4
Phillip York watched Neil Weeks house from down the street. He did not dare get any closer. Two police cars were parked in front of his house. York had been headed to Week's house when a car pulled up in front. A dark-haired man in civilian clothes got out of the car and went to the door. He may not have been a police uniform but York could smell a cop a mile away. They all had the same stink about them, in or out of uniform.
York watched as three of the cops went around the back. The plain clothed cop and one uniformed cop went in the front door. This was not good. It meant that Weeks had left Ironside a trail in Carmell's apartment. Ironside had traced him to this rented house. York waited. He could not leave without knowing whether or not Weeks was in the house. If he were, York would have to kill him. He could not allow Weeks to talk to the police. He did not trust the man to keep his mouth shut. York had too much money tied up in this operation to allow a low life like Weeks to screw it up.
York continued to watch the house from a distance, remaining behind a six-foot picket fence. Who in the hell puts up six foot privacy fences that one can see in between the boards? York did not understand Americans. They sure were a strange bunch of people.
York perked up when he saw all of the cops leave Week's house. They stopped by the patrol cars. The plain clothed cop seemed to be the man in charge. York watched while the cop reached into his car and pulled out a radio. Who could he be talking to? York figured it must be Ironside. He had to get over to the basement of the abandon house, or better yet sent Weeks. There was no longer any doubt that they had to get rid of Ironside's cop. He had been stupid to let Weeks keep him alive. They had no idea what Brown knew or what he had seen. He had to be eliminated. He could not allow Brown to talk to Ironside. He certainly was not going to come in contact with him to find out what he knew. He would be taking a chance Brown would be able to identify him later on. No, he simply had to make sure Brown was taken out.
York reached into his pocket for his cell phone. It was clear Weeks was not at home. The police knocked down his door and went with guns drawn. If he had been home, Weeks would have been brought out under arrest or at least on a stretcher headed for the morgue. He dialed Weeks number and waited.
"Hello," said Weeks.
"What in the hell did you leave in Carmell's apartment?" York asked.
"Nothing, except the dead body," Weeks laughed. "Why? What is the problem?"
"Your house was just raided by the police," York said waiting for the idiot to respond.
"How could that be? How could Ironside possibly know about me?"
York could not believe the stupidity of this man. "Because you moron, you must have left fingerprints somewhere and you have a record."
Weeks' head was spinning. Was there anything in his house that would lead them to the abandon house where Ed Brown still laid in the basement, tied up. Then it hit him. "York, I left a map on the table. It had every abandoned house and building marked on it. If the police have that map then they have Brown's location."
"You fool!" York screamed. "We have to take care of Brown. Get over there and kill him. Leave the body there."
"But Phil, I could get caught. The police know about it," Weeks protested.
"They don't know where we are holding Brown. It will take them some time to figure that out. They will have to check every location on the map. By the time they get to Brown, he will be dead. Take care of it or you will join Brown." York hung up the phone.
5.5
Neil Weeks pull up beside the abandoned house in the country. Nervous and sweating, he got out of the car and went around the back of the house. Why didn't he just plug that damn cop at Carmell's apartment? Why? Because he is Ironside's man. York just did not understand what Ironside was like. Now, he did not have a choice. Weeks could admit to knowing Carmell. They would have to place him in that apartment at the time he killed Carmell. They would not be able to do it. Jillian would vouch for him. She would say he spent the night with her and never left. But if Brown did see him, he would be able to identify him. York was right. They should have killed Brown immediately.
Weeks pulled out his gun and headed into the house. Better to get the job over with.