Scrabble Spells Murder!
Chapter 02
2.1
"Mark, has Ed or Eve called in yet?" Ironside shouted.
"No, Chief, but you already know that because there is nothing wrong with your hearing and you know that the phone has not exactly been ringing off the hook."
Ironside began drumming his fingers on the table as he read through Vincent Mortimer's report. He did not expect to find anything different in the report then he already knew. Mortimer made it clear that any tampering with the computer would be discovered by the individual that had hacked into it. Yet, he had been hoping there was a chance that Vincent could do some backdoor checking. He had been hoping for some kind of clue as to who was behind this.
The phone rang. Mark reached to pick it up. Ironside slapped his hand away and grabbed the receiver. "Ironside," he barked gruffly into the speaker.
"Chief, it's Ed. I got a list of known computer hackers in San Francisco. The list is long. If we have to go through all of these, it is going to take a while to find out who is doing this."
"We have to narrow the field, Ed. How many of them would have the know how to hack into police headquarters without Vincent Mortimer knowing it. One of the reasons he was hired was because of his ability to recognize any breach that might occur. Yet, whoever this man is was able to hack into my computer right under Vincent's nose. That means this man has to be right at the top of that list of yours."
"Sir, I am not a computer expert. I am just a cop. I don't know how to distinguish how much knowledge they would have to have in order to do it."
"You are not just a cop, Sergeant," Ironside snarled. "You are a detective. So start detecting. Find out which one of them could pull off this kind of job."
"Yes, sir. I will take the list and start checking their qualification and expertise with Vincent. Maybe he can help us shorten the list."
"Now, that is detective work," Ironside said, slamming the phone back in the cradle. "Mark! How about some coffee!"
Sanger went into the kitchen, poured his boss a mug full of coffee and carried it to the table. "Chief, how can you be sure whoever is doing this isn't just pulling your chain?"
"Do you want to take that chance, Mark? Would you bet your Aunt Ruby's life on it?"
"No, of course not. If this cat is for real then you are already behind the eight ball. He is making sure you can't trace him. There is no guaranty that you will be able to figure out where every murder is going to take place and who the target is."
"Chances are we won't be able to prevent all of them but we have to stop them and at the same time find some clue of our own as to who is doing this."
"That's a pretty tall order."
"I know but the toughest cases don't end up in this office because we have not solved the ones that came before them." Ironside looked at his watch. "I have to get ready for dinner."
"For dinner?" Mark asked.
"I am taking Katherine to dinner. I will have my cellphone with me. If Ed or Eve come up with anything I should know about, have them call me." He wheeled out of the main office and into his bedroom. He opened his closet and looked at the numerous suits that he owned. He looked down at the one he had on. It was one of Katherine's favorite suits he had worn around her. He decided to wear it.
He headed to the bathroom to freshen up. He had considered cancelling their date but rejected the notion. They did not have enough to go on right now. He hated to think about it but he knew he was going to have to play the would-be killer's game and take advantage of any mistakes he would make. At this point, he had to rely on Ed and Eve to start the legwork.
Ironside finished getting ready. He wheeled back into the main room of the office and grabbed his cellphone and keys to the van. "Later, Mark," he called out as he wheeled out of the office.
2.2
The Hacker sat at his desk. After hacking into Ironside's computer, he began placing the first clue onto the virtual Scrabble game. He had been planning this for some time. He hated Robert T. Ironside. There was nothing in the world he wanted more than to beat him at his own game. He could have killed him for what he had done but that would have been too good for him. No, he had to suffer. Ironside was one tough cop. And, he was a smart cop. Too smart to take chances with. He would have to be careful. He had to give Ironside enough information to make the game fair but it would be important to make sure he did not give him enough information to figure out whom he was. He could not leave clues that gave him even the slightest clue to his identity. Ironside knew him. He did not know that he hated him but he knew him, non-the-less.
The Hacker checked to be sure that Ironside had not allowed anyone to tamper with his computer. He smiled to see that his safeguards were working. There was no sign that anyone had been checking his work.
He input the first clue and put a timer on it to appear on Ironside's computer precisely at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Now it was time to go home and monitor Ironside from his home computer.
2.3
Ironside pulled into the Warf and parked his van. He wheeled onto the lift and lowered his wheelchair to the ground. After looking both ways down the street, he wheeled across and into the restaurant. Upon entering, he surveyed the tables. In the corner, secluded from the rest of the others, Katherine sat waiting for him. He wheeled in her direction. When he arrived at the table, he reached over and took her hand. He kissed it and said, "You are particularly beautiful tonight."
Katherine leaned toward him and the two kissed. "I am so happy you called, Robert. I have been waiting for you to contact me ever since we got back from Idaho."
He pulled his chair up to the table next to her and smiled. "I am sorry I have not called sooner. Vacations always put the office behind, especially when I take Ed, Eve and Mark with me."
"You didn't exactly take them with you," she said with amusement.
"No, but I did allow them to stay once they came up. Dennis dumped several more cases in our laps as soon as I got home. We have been busy clearing them up. However, I did not want to go another day without seeing you." He kissed her hand again.
"Thank you, Robert. It makes me happy to know you want to see me."
"Why wouldn't I? I think we had a wonderful time in the Sawtooth Mountains… at least after we cleared Milt."
She smiled and placed a hand on his cheek. "I never dreamed when I accepted Della's invitation to join you up there that it would turn out the way it did. I can't remember when I had such a fabulous time. It was all because of you."
The waiter approached the table and set two drinks down in front of them. "I took the liberty of choosing the wine. It is a dry red wine but I believe you will like it."
Ironside raised his glass and said, "To the future."
Katherine touched her glass to his and repeated, "To the future." Both of them sipped the wine.
"A very good choice, although not as good as the wine from your winery," he decided.
"You are just being a gentleman. But I appreciate it anyway."
"No, I mean it. Your wine is better."
The waiter returned with menus and passed one to each of them. "I will return in a while to take your order."
"That is not necessary," Ironside said. "We will have the lobster." He looked at Katherine who nodded.
"Yes, sir." He left them alone to put in their order.
"I would like to invite you for dinner at my place soon. You have had me to yours on two occasions now."
"You just name the time and date and I will be there."
"Robert, I have never watched much sports, mainly because my husband never cared for any of them. I know you love baseball, football and basketball. You will have to teach me the rules of those games so that I can enjoy them with you."
"All in good time, Katherine. Don't feel you have to watch sports just because I do. On the other hand, if you really like them, I would love to take you to a ball game next summer. Tonight however, I have no intentions of sharing you with a television or a sports team. I want you all to myself."
She placed her hand over his. "You already have that."
The phone in Ironside's pocket rang. "I have to answer that. Something is going on at the office." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. He pressed the answer key on the smartphone and barked, "Ironside."
"Check your messages," was all the voice said.
Katherine noticed the frown on his face. "What's wrong, Robert?"
"Just a minute, Kate. I have to check the messages." He pressed the home key and the email. He glanced down the long list of messages. None of them seemed to be of such importance that they needed his immediate attention. Then he noticed at the top of the phone, the icon for text messages. The chief pressed the text messages. There was one new message… an unidentified text message. Instead of a phone number, the word restricted appeared.
Ironside was now sure he knew from whom the message had been sent. He pressed the restricted number and the message popped up.
You have been a good boy. You did not play with the computer. Therefore, you will get the first Scrabble clue at nine o'clock tomorrow. Remember someone's life depends on how well you play the game, Chief. Good luck, Ironside. You are going to need it.
"Robert, what is wrong?" Katherine asked again.
"A work related problem?" he replied.
"From the look on your face, it looks like it is a serious problem."
"Not yet, but it could very well become one." He told her what Mark had found on his computer and about the messages that had been sent by the Hacker. Ironside handed her his smartphone and let her read the message he had just received.
"Could he just be a crank?"
"It is a possibility, Katherine but I don't think so. I think he really intends to do it."
"But how will you catch him if you can't trace him through the computer?"
Ironside shook his head. "It won't be easy. I am afraid some people are going to die before he leaves us enough clues to his identity."
"That is why you had that look on your face when you came in."
He raised his eyebrows. "What look?"
"The look that everyone in the room was a suspect." She smiled.
"Not everyone. Just those with the ability to hack a computer." He looked around. "I can't help but wonder if he is in this room watching me at this very minute. If I memorize every face in the room, maybe I will see him at a later date somewhere else." He continued to check every one in the restaurant.
"He does not sound like the type that would be so careless that he would allow you to see him," Katherine observed.
"You would be surprised how bold these types can get. They think they are invulnerable so they take chances. That is usually how we catch them."
"Robert, could he actually be after you?" she asked him.
"Ultimately, he probably is. But first, he will try to embarrass me by publicly beating me at his own form of Scrabble."
"You mean by the number of people he is successful in killing."
"That's right."
"I am sorry, Robert. Just promise me you will be careful." Katherine requested.
"I promise. You promise me you won't worry yourself sick about me."
"I am not Barbara. I have confidence in your judgement. Do your job but be careful." Katherine smiled at him.
"That's my girl," Ironside said. They ate dinner by candle light. The conversation turned to the vineyards.
"You still have not visited the vineyards, Robert."
"That is going to change. How about I come out this weekend?"
"Job permitting?" she added.
"Job permitting," Ironside replied.
"How about late in the afternoon? Then I will fix dinner for you...say Saturday at four?"
"It's a date." Ironside looked into her eyes. There is a new art exhibit at the museum. Would you like to see it?"
"I would love to, she replied.
Ironside called for the check. He reached into his wallet, pulled out the necessary bills with a generous tip and they left the Warf.
2.4
Ironside reached into his suit coat pocket, pulled out his keys and put the correct key into the lock. He noticed the door was not locked.
After pushing it open, he wheeled into his office and down the ramp. Ed and Eve were sitting at the main work table. It was covered in papers.
He checked his watch. "It is after midnight. What are you two still doing here?"
"Chief, do you know how many known computer hackers there are in the city of San Francisco?" Ed asked.
"No, but I am sure you are going to enlighten me," Ironside said.
"There are over three hundred ranging from kids to adults," Eve said, picking up several sheets of paper and waving them in the air.
"We don't have time to check out three hundred hackers," Ironside snarled. "Narrow it down."
"Vincent Mortimer was not in his office when we got back. We will see him in the morning," Ed said.
Ironside pulled out his cellphone and brought up the text message he had received. "You better take a look at this." He handed his cellphone to Ed.
Eve stood up and read the message over Brown's shoulder. "How would he know your cellphone number? There are very few people that have it."
"He's a hacker, Eve. The number is on file in this building in case Headquarters has to get hold of me. He probably hacked in the main system and got the number from there," Ironside surmised.
"Chief, I think this guy is serious," Mark said.
"I agree, which makes it all the more imperative that we narrow it down to something more manageable," Ironside replied.
"We are going to need Vince Mortimer for that," Ed said.
"Let me see those lists." Ironside reached out. Ed handed him several sheets of paper. Ironside pointed at one of the names on one list. "This man is dead. I think we can safely cross him off."
"We should start with the ones that have a grudge against you," Ed suggested.
"Since he is targeting your computer, I think it is fair to say that is probably a safe bet," Mark agreed.
"Alright, does anyone on this list fit that pattern?" the chief asked his staff.
"Andre Banner," Eve said immediately. "You sent him up for hacking into the city treasury's office."
"Oh yes, I remember that one. He went into their system to change his property taxes from unpaid to paid," Ironside remembered. "If I recall, the reason we caught him is because we were able to trace the trail he left behind. No, I don't think he has the talent for an operation this sophisticated. Scratch him off the list."
"Are you sure? He threatened you at his sentencing. Said he would get even with you when he got out," Ed recalled. "I think we should at least check on his whereabouts."
"Alright, check it in the morning. Right now I think both of you need to go home and get some sleep. It may be the last sleep you get for a while. "Ed, check with Jimmy Smith in the morning. We may need Carl to join us on this one."
"Yes, sir." Ed set down the papers he was holding in his hand. "Eve, you don't have your car here. Can I give you a lift home?"
"Yes, thank you, Ed." She stood up and both of them left headed for the door. "Goodnight, Chief," they both said at the same time.
"Good night," Ironside answered.
Mark walked over to the table with a bottle of bourbon and two glasses. He poured a drink for his boss and set it down in front of him.
"Thanks, Mark." Ironside still had the list of hackers in his hand. His trained eye was going down the names one by one.
Mark took a sip of his bourbon. "How do we know that he is even on that list? It could be someone that has never been arrested or suspected of hacking into a computer anywhere."
"We have to start somewhere, Mark, at least until he starts making mistakes and giving us clues as to who he is."
"Yea. Chief, Ed and Eve are not the only ones that need rest. You should turn in. Tomorrow isn't exactly going to be your typical day."
Ironside looked up. "You go ahead. I am going to study these names for a bit. I'll get myself into bed."
"Chief… "
"I'll be alright, Mark. Go to bed," Ironside said softly.
Knowing he would not be able to change the boss's mind, Mark went into his room and closed the door.
2.5
The door to the office opened. Commissioner Randall walked in. He glanced at his watch as he came down the ramp. It was eight o'clock. He joined his friend and top detective at the table. "Anything on the computer yet?"
"He said nine o'clock, Dennis. He won't post anything until then. Sit down. Mark! Get the commissioner a cup of coffee."
"Coming right up, Chief." Mark poured a cup of coffee, brought it to the table and set it down in from of Randall.
The door to the office opened. Ed and Eve came in and walked down the ramp. Both were handed coffee from Mark as they came by the kitchenette. They too joined Ironside at the table.
The chief looked at his two detectives. Neither looked as though they had had any sleep. "You two are not due in here for an hour."
"I couldn't sleep," Eve said.
"Me neither," Ed told him.
"Alright, don't say I didn't give you the chance to rest. Now… I stayed up a while and studied that list of hackers. I have come up with ten that I believe fit the profile. We will divide them up and check them out."
The door to the office opened and Lt. Carl Reese walked in. He stopped at the kitchen, poured himself a cup of coffee and joined the others. "Anything, yet?"
"He said nine o'clock" Ironside barked. He won't put that clue up one minute earlier."
"Captain Smith told me to report to you, Chief. I am assuming you want me to help with this investigation."
"You assume right. You will be working with this office until further notice."
"Yes, sir."
"Now here are the ten people we are going to concentrate on." Ironside handed a duplicate of the list he had hand-written to each of his staff. "Eve, you will take the first three. Ed, you take the second three and Carl, you take the third three on the list. Mark and I will take the last one and monitor our friend's activity on the computer."
Everyone looked over the names that had been assigned to each of them. Ironside explain to them why he chose the ones he did. After he gave a basic background of each of the suspects, it was close to nine o'clock.
The desk top machine sounded an alarm and a computer voice said. "Good morning, Chief Ironside. It is time to play Scrabble Spells Murder! You will have to figure out what the clue means to stop the death of the person in the clue. The clue contains the person, place and day. Good luck, Chief. San Francisco is depending on you."
The computer went blank and the Scrabble Board reappeared. Everyone stared at the board.
BIRDCODHALL
A/N I have a Scrabble board that is in the body of the word document but it would not transfer over to the Fanfiction site. This was the best I could do. I could not even center it on the page. When I did, it disappeared! Frustrating!
kaleen1212