Chapter 6

Ed came back with a much calmer Danny. Of course the boy was still worried about his mother, but the firm point of his universe was there again, so he could cope with it.

Ironside sent Suzanne to check out that hermit's past. His name was Hiller. Suzanne was off duty, but it would be better for her to have something to do to help.

"Probably he's got nothing to do with mum's abduction," she said.

"Probably he hasn't. Maybe he has!"

"Maybe he has," she repeated and went to check.

Ed came up with three long computer printouts.

"These are last year's lists of members of wrestling and boxing clubs in Casper and Sioux Falls and a current list of owners of vacation homes in the Denver area. Our suspects may show up on two of these lists. Problem is to find them."

"What do you have your flaming computers for if not for such a job?" asked Ironside.

"I had them sent to me by e-mail, then I deleted them and erased every trace. There is still a crook in my department, maybe several. I don't want them to know what exactly we are investigating."

The Chief nodded. He had always preferred human intelligence to artificial one, and he was convinced that in the long run it was superior. The problem of the traces was just one of the things he hated about computers.

"Ok – Danny, find these names for us!" he ordered.

"Chief, that's not exactly by the book..." Ed objected without much persuasion.

"You haven't seen me do this, Chief Brown. What these kidnappers have done isn't exactly by the book either, therefore I don't care if what I do is by the book or not!"

Ed had to secretly admit that he'd had the same idea. Of course he would have to take the responsibility if someone made a complaint.
Danny had a very special way of seeing things. He might find a name on two lists much faster than anyone else.

Danny sat unceremoniously down on the floor and started to study the lists.

Ironside himself looked for connections between members of the local fighting clubs and Los Angeles, while Ed checked if there were any felonies with wrestlers or boxers as suspects. He thought of a gun not being used. He also studied the available photographs thoroughly. Maybe he could recognize one of the assailants, even though they had been masked. Two cups of cold coffee were standing around on the desk.

"How's your back, anyway?" asked Ironside randomly.

"Huh? What?" Ed looked up irritated.

"Your back. You were hit, weren't you?"

"Oh, fine." Ed was already engrossed in his files again.

Silently Ironside shook his head. His former model student had learned a few things a little too well from him. Just like himself, he was only interested in his own state of health as far as it had to do with the case at hand.

Ed handed a file over to Ironside. "Here's one whose frame looks vaguely familiar."

Ironside read aloud, "Paul Ryan, champion of Wyoming in Greek-Roman wrestling in 1982, came to Denver two months ago to be a wrestling teacher, 220 pounds then... If this was the guy it's no wonder he beat you, my friend." He wouldn't even need to know Ed Brown's weak point. But – he wasn't on the list of owners of vacation homes.

Nevertheless they put an APB out on him immediately.

Suzanne had studied Hiller's file carefully, but she couldn't see any connection with the case at hand.
She chose to come back to Ed's office for an update.
Through the glass door she saw the two men working together like a well-oiled machine. Strange how much they looked alike, being so different: Chief Ironside, strong, large, tough as nails, every line in his face set with willpower - and her unobtrusive stepfather; the creases in his face were much too sharp for his age. It was visible that he hadn't slept or eaten for too long, but he was just as determined and focused. How could she ever believe that he was a wimp?

Danny stood up. "Dad, Sir, I have a name. Jason Levy!"

The name appeared in Sioux Falls and among those with vacation homes in the Denver area. Levy had a cabin in the area of Estes Park.

Ed checked the computer. "That's interesting."

"Was he in Los Angeles in 1972?"

"Not quite. Las Vegas."

"Bingo! Al Bundy was in Vegas while you were in the hospital."

Noting the huge question mark on Danny's face he explained, "Al Bundy was a gangster involved in an accident your father had a long time ago.* Levy must have been around twenty then, and he must have got in contact with Bundy. Off we go to check out that cabin!"

"One problem, Chief..."

"You mean the leak within your department. Who knew where you and Eve would go yesterday?"

"Just about everybody."

"Thought so. Who do you trust a hundred percent?"

"Hank Riley, Suzanne and Jerry Abbey, but Jerry is on holiday and Suzanne is personally involved."

"You are personally involved too!"

"Touché. It's Hank, Suzanne, you and me then."

They weren't exactly a crack team physically. Ironside and Ed were both excellent shots, but what if it came down to something else than a gunfight? Well, they would worry about that when they were there.

Since they could not spare anybody as babysitter they took Danny with them, with the strict order to stay in the car.

As if they were going to have lunch they left headquarters, picking up an accurate map, a sniper rifle, two climbing ropes, mobile phones and whatever else they thought might be necessary on their way. They left in a police van. Hank took the wheel.

The map showed clearly enough the position of the cabin. At a distance of 500 yards they stopped.
Ed and Suzanne sneaked up to it to take a close look at the situation.

Coming back they reported that the cabin was inhabited. There were at least two persons in it. It would not be possible to attack it from this side, since there were people behind the open windows. Somebody would have to rope down over a rock face behind the cabin. There was a spot a hundred yards below the cabin where Ironside would be able to hide though.

"I'll take the rifle," decided the Chief. "Suzanne will be my support. Ed, you go in from behind. Hank will secure you."

Back in San Francisco Ed would have been the obvious choice, but he had been twenty years younger and almost as many pounds heavier then. This was a job for a younger and more athletic man, but there was none available. Ed had to do it. Although he was no match for a wrestling professional his chances were still far better than Suzanne's or Hank's. He was shrewd and experienced, and he would not panic, whatever the situation. He was good with his gun and he would be prepared for trouble.
Still Ironside wondered if he had the strength left to go through with it. He decided that he just had to. He would not let himself be stopped anyway; it was Eve this was all about!

Ed and Hank helped Ironside to secretly get in position with his wheelchair, the rifle and binoculars, then they surrounded the place in a wide circle.

The back of the cabin lay in the shadow. Since it was a warm day for September most of the windows were open. The house was built close to the rock face. Ed would have to rope down halfway to the ground and then push himself away from the rock face to get to an open window.

From his Marine days Ed remembered the moves well.

He fixed one rope around a tree. The other was used as a safety line. He tied it around his waist and Hank secured him when he slowly roped down.

Ed knew that he would have to strike the window that he had chosen at the first try or he would most probably lose the element of surprise.

The adrenalin in his system let him function as if he were still thirty, well rested and in best shape. It seemed almost easy. Without causing any noise he climbed through one of the windows. He landed in a bedroom. Quietly he opened the door, his gun drawn.

Then he ran out of luck: An athletic man had been heading towards exactly that door – Paul Ryan!
He knocked the weapon out of Ed's hand.
Jason Levy heard the fight. He grabbed Eve around her neck...

* Ironside S6/1 Five Days in the Death of Sgt. Brown