Hi Folks! Well, I'm not sure if anyone is reading this story on here, but I am posting just the same. Eliza and William are on the brink of executing Eliza's plan to get the papers back to Jimmie's wife. It is dangerous now because Jimmie has escaped prison, and they cannot find the safehouse. As he has it out for Eliza the danger has only increased. William reluctantly is going along with this plan, but he is near in the event that anything untoward should happen to his wife. If you are reading on this site, please let me know what you think. Thank you Love, Carebearmaxi
Frightened
Chapter 6
William stood in the District Attorney's office along with Eliza. Of course, the District Attorney, who became good friends with William during his secondment was glad to see him and meet William's beautiful Private Detective wife.
"Mrs. Wellington, I am so glad to meet you. William always speaks highly of your skills, but left out how beautiful you are," greeted Chip O'Riordan. Chip was short for Charles who was a second-generation Irishman and the first to graduate from law school in his large Irish Catholic family. William and Chip became friends one night when William had had a particularly rough day and they had had a quiet drink at Chip's house replete with Chip's wife and five children underfoot.
Eliza's eyes pivoted to her husband as he stood next to her. Attorney O'Riordan was a large man like William but was sliding toward a middle age paunch. He was blonde as William was dark and instead of blue eyes had the gentlest brown eyes that Eliza had ever observed. Eyes like a giant puppy dog.
District Attorney O'Riordan was not a gentle thinking man. He was fair but when it came to the law he was staunch. That was one of the things that William and Chip had in common. They were both leaders. Not only was their physical being imposing, but their leadership was ethical, moral, and fair.
"Congratulations by the way. That was the other item that your husband omitted in our conversation. Didn't know you had a baby on the way," Chip took his place behind his desk as William waited to sit until Eliza did. He could see the baby was making her usual grace a little more difficult. Finally, William took the matching leather seat next to her and took her hand in his.
After nodding her head in response to William that she was speaking first, she said, "Attorney O'Riordan, we were working a case concerning illegal smuggling, prostitution, and a unification between Irish and Italian gangs. We found the mastermind, Jimmy McAlroy and as you know, he is sitting in jail, awaiting trial. We thought it was odd that no bail bondsman would front bail, so I did some investigation. We needed also to locate those that were financing the illegal operations."
"Yes, I know your firm was employed by the New York Police Department to help find the culprits," Chip stated.
William continued relaying the information from that point although Eliza wanted to state what their dilemma was since it was her fault they were in this predicament.
"Eliza tracked down Jimmy's wife at her doctor's office as Mrs. McAlroy is also expecting a child around the same time as ours. She made a friend of Mrs. McAlroy, had lunch with her yesterday, and when she distracted Mrs. McAlroy, Eliza snooped and found some very incriminating documents."
"How incriminating were these documents?" Chip asked.
William handed Chip the papers.
"I assume you did not issue a warrant to obtain these, correct?"
"Yes," William and Eliza answered together.
"You are a licensed detective Mrs. Wellington?"
"Yes, I am. I am a silent owner in our firm as well. I had my own agency back in England."
"Oh, yes, William had mentioned that."
"Well, because you obtained these illegally…"
"Stole them, Attorney O'Riordan. Might as well state what I did," Eliza interjected.
"Stole them."
"First of all, these would be inadmissible as evidence because the evidence was obtained illegally. Also if Jimmy McAlroy discovers that you were the one that stole them from his home he could press charges that you stole these papers."
"He also has no love for me because he knows I was the one who had identified him and got him arrested."
"There is that also," Chip stated thoughtfully.
Wiliam and Eliza looked at each other as Chip took his time to look over the file and the incriminating documents.
During this time, William and Eliza kept their own thoughts. William as the acting Chief of Police was placed in a very odd position. He was also part of the firm that put McAlroy in jail, but then it was his partner and wife who obtained all those incriminating financial records illegally. He was not about to arrest his own wife.
As for Eliza, she knew she really crossed the line this time. When she used to make these multiple blunders, William was always there to help her out. She embarrassed him so much and put him in such untenable positions that he left her. She was sure he would not do that again and she knew he would not arrest her for stolen documents, therefore, that's why they sat here today.
Finally, after a few minutes, District Attorney O'Riordan closed the file and pushed the documents toward Eliza.
"So, do you have a plan to return these papers to Mrs. McAlroy, so your husband and the police can get a search warrant issued?"
"What do you mean, Chip?" William asked.
"I know you don't want to arrest your wife for stealing and we can't use these in a trial to prosecute Mr. McAlroy. So the only thing to do is to return them."
William blinked and wore an incredulous look.
"That's the last thing I expected to hear from you, Chip," William said.
"As I said, I don't think we want to prosecute your pregnant wife."
"No, of course not. It's just odd because my wife just happens to have a plan to put the papers back. It is dangerous because from what I hear Mrs. McAlroy gets a lot of visitors from the gang's wives."
"They can't all be as naïve or pretend to be as naïve as Caroline McAlroy," Eliza stated.
"Exactly," William agreed.
William sat forward looking concerned. "You do know that there are death threats on Eliza out there, correct?"
"Yes, William, I do. All the more reason to get these documents back and then you can get a judge to issue a search warrant and "find" them legitimately. I know I'm bending the rules, but I don't like what these gangs control anymore than you do. I also don't want to endanger your wife or your coming child in the process."
A couple silent moments ensued wherein all three occupants of the room looked at one another and listened to the clock chime three o'clock.
"Let's hear the plan, Mrs. Wellington," Chip said.
Just then D.A. O'Riordan's office door burst open. Mrs. Hazleton was followed by Officer Carlyle who had an urgent message for the Chief.
"I apologize," Mrs. Hazleton stated. "He said he needed the Chief right away."
"It's fine. Thank you, Mrs. Hazleton," Chip stated.
As Mrs. Hazleton was closing the office door, Officer Carlyle handed the message to William. He opened the small white paper and grew a weary defeated look.
He rubbed his forehead and pinched the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb.
"What is it, William?"
William looked up and handed the message to Chip.
"Jimmy McAlroy has escaped prison."
Two days later, Eliza awoke next to her husband. It was early. Dawn was barely showing through the drawn curtains. She looked at William who was sleeping. She knew he had a bad night because she herself had not slept well either. He had initially fallen asleep at their desk in the living room.
"William, love, why don't we get to bed? You're asleep," she said as she kissed the back of his neck.
"I'm not asleep. I'm resting my eyes," he protested as he rubbed them.
Looking up at her he put his arm out inviting her to be near him. He patted his strong thigh, and she perched upon it as best she could in her condition. She was in a near reclining position, so she placed her arm lovingly around William's neck and he put a restraining arm around her tummy so she would not fall from his lap onto the floor.
"Somehow, I think this was much easier when I didn't have your large son bursting in my belly," complained Eliza.
"My son? I seem to remember it was a mutual undertaking to get you in this state," William teased. He then held her tight and kissed her.
One thing which made it increasingly hard for her to sleep was her pregnancy. The baby was growing in leaps and bounds and kept moving around. She wanted to enjoy this time but due to her job Eliza could not enjoy her pregnancy as much as another woman might.
The other major thing that was making them get less sleep, especially on the previous night, was Eliza's plan to return the papers to her new 'friend' Caroline McAlroy. She was as surprised as William when Chip "District Attorney" O'Riordan was more than happy to agree to Eliza's plan. The one caveat then was to have the much-needed search warrant and the search itself headed by none other than Eliza's husband acting Chief of Police William Wellington.
It had been two days since Jimmy McAlroy had escaped from prison. He had not been caught yet, so the plan to return the papers had become unnecessarily complicated. The first plan was to have lunch again at Caroline's house, but the plan now was to have Caroline come to Eliza's house and Eliza would slip the papers in the voluminous bag that Caroline always seemed to carry with her wherever she went. If Caroline did not carry a bag then another plan would be thought out.
"Has there been any news of Jimmy?" Eliza asked her husband.
William turned over on his side to face his wife. He stroked her belly and then her cheek.
"No, nothing. The theory is that he is checking on his wife and then going to a safehouse. We just haven't been able to find the safehouse."
"It would make sense if it is not too far away."
"I agree. He probably doesn't want to be too far away from his wife since it is almost her time."
William turned his face and looked directly into Eliza's eyes and said almost sadly, "Just like yours."
Eliza touched William's cheek and looked directly back.
"I will be fine, William. I know what I'm doing, and you won't be far away."
"No, I will not be."
"The doctor is coming here today. Caroline is due here around 12:30."
"I will telephone you if there is a change in plans today," William said. "I'm glad we had a telephone installed."
"Change of plans, like what?"
"Like I can't find a judge who can issue me a search warrant shortly after I request it."
"Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem, my love."
"Oh…Eliza I could tell you stories of how many times judges simply won't issue warrants on the grounds they don't feel like it," William warned.
"This is a criminal who was not only arrested but escaped from prison awaiting trial."
"I know, but it has been known to happen."
The clock on the nightstand began to chime 7:00 am. William turned to look at the clock. He lay back down and rubbed his eyes. Eliza never took her eyes from William. It was one of her pleasures to wake up beside him every morning. She watched as he lay beside her almost motionless except for the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. He suddenly turned and threw off the covers.
"William, come back to bed. We don't have to be anywhere for hours yet," Eliza spoke softly and stroking Williams' back as he rose.
He stopped before actually rising from his seated position. He turned halfway to see Eliza's face bathed in the sunny glow of morning's light shine in Eliza's eyes and brighten her already bright skin. William turned from facing the door, and as he lay back down he put his arm around Eliza, and she crawled into his arms.
William kissed the top of Eliza's head. This is where she belongs. Here in my arms is where you belong, Eliza. Not risking your life and our baby's life because of a stupid gang war.
Eliza looked up as much as she could into her husband's face. Alas, she could not see his face let alone his eyes. She knew he was grumpy because of the plan and the danger she had put herself in. Not only her, but their child. She wanted to look into his face, so he would know her thoughts as she lay here: I am in your arms, in our bed, with your son growing large inside me. There's really no other place I want to be and feel safe but as we agreed many years ago, nothing would get in my way, if I could help it, of doing my job.
Dr. Bradley was Eliza's first visitor. She was glad he wanted to make a house call. It was strange going to his office. The only doctors that Eliza had ever known made house calls. Maybe American doctors were different than British doctors, she did not know for sure.
William was there, too, at their house because he wanted to be absolutely sure that all was well with Eliza. If the doctor would give Eliza alone a progress report, William could not be 100 percent sure that Eliza would gloss over any prospective major complications. William loved his wife deeply and trusted her with his life. However, when it still came to her own health, she could be very evasive.
Dr. Bradley stated that all was fine, and that Eliza had made a miraculous recovery from the state she had been five months ago when she had been shot. Furthermore, the baby was in robust health with a strong heartbeat and was always moving about.
"It feels as if the little one is doing somersaults for his visitor," Dr. Bradley said as he felt Eliza's bump.
"You should feel it from this side," Eliza commented. "It's like having loss control of your body. I'm glad, though, he's doing so well."
"You're sure it's going to be a boy," Dr. Bradley commented.
"I've been sure about that since I realized I was expecting," Eliza stated firmly. "As for everything else that has happened, I just wish I could be as firm."
"Well, regardless of any other aspect, you're in fine fettle. The baby may be here, though, in less than two months. Your belly is measuring a little larger than normal for a woman in her seventh month."
Eliza not truly naïve where medicine was concerned but highly unfamiliar with pregnancy asked, "Is that a bad thing?"
"No. Babies come when they are ready. Not necessarily when we want them, too," he assured her.
Eliza bit her lip and rose from the bed. The doctor had left the room in search of William to inform him of her latest state. Eliza knew, though, no matter what the doctor said William would try to dissuade her from her plan as he had been the last two days.
William ventured into their bedroom. He was a little gruff and upset that today was the day that he could either continue to be a happily married man and an expectant father or a grieving widower losing both his wife and child.
"Dr. Bradley said all was well," William said quietly.
Eliza had been standing touching up her hair in the mirror when she saw her husband come in. She turned at his words.
"Yes, William. Dr. Bradley said everything was fine."
He barely took a breath to say something when Eliza began her sermon.
"I'm fine, William. I have to do this. The doctor said I'm good," she said shaking her head and throwing up her hands emphasizing her determination to complete her assignment no matter how William felt.
"Eliza, please," he said has he swiftly grabbed her hand as she tried to breeze past him as he stood in the doorway.
She stopped. She watched as William kissed her hand. He knew how much she loved it when he did that. To her it was such an intimate gesture. Right now though she knew it meant for her to stop and listen to him plead his case one more time so that they could find another way, a safe way, for the documents to be returned.
"Eliza, I don't want you to carry out this plan. It's not safe. Caroline could be followed by one or more of her husband's gang members. She's expecting a baby, too, and I am sure he feels the same way I do. She could also be accompanied by a more astute wife. You said yourself that she is not at all familiar with Jimmie's gang work."
"William, what other way is there? You can't just go up to her door and say that someone dropped these very personal financial documents in the street, and you found them and thought you would return them. That really is not plausible and more suspicious than anything I can cook up."
"Yes, Eliza, I understand that. This, is…." He was at a loss for words with how much fear for her was broiling inside him.
"I'm not exactly brimming with self confidence on this one myself, but we've made copies, and you will only be outside the door should anything happen."
William nodded his acquiescence.
Eliza bit her lip. She raised her chin and looking up at her husband's concerned look took a moment to reach out and kiss him long on the lips.
"Whatever happens now or in the near future, never forget how much I love you," Eliza said and then left the room.
"Eliza, your house is beautiful!"
"Thank you, Caroline. It doesn't compare to yours, however," Eliza said trying to sound genuine.
"How long have you lived here?" Caroline asked as she proceeded through the drawing room.
"We've lived here about two years when my husband's job took us here."
"What business is your husband in?"
"Oh, this and that. Commerce mostly. To tell you the truth, I see him working figures and planning big things. Not exactly sure what he does, though," Eliza lied easily. That came out of me without an issue. No wonder William thinks I'm lying to him sometimes!
"Well, whatever it is, it must be lucrative," Caroline muttered.
"Won't you please take a seat, Caroline. I will get the sandwiches for us," Eliza said.
Eliza swiftly exited to the kitchen which was adjacent to the drawing room. She hung just inside the wall so she could peer at her guest. Caroline McAlroy was not a snoop for certain as Eliza had remained behind the wall peering at her for more than a couple of minutes. If Caroline had been curious she would have leapt from her seat within seconds. Leapt being a relative word since both she and Eliza were heavily pregnant.
The more Eliza looked at her guest's behavior she noticed that the voluminous bag was not in sight. How could I miss this when she entered? She isn't carrying that bag. Why? I'll have to think of some other way of getting the papers to her. Something that can't be too obvious.
Eliza went to her kitchen table and retrieved the sandwiches and tea that she had prepared prior to Caroline's arrival. Her lessons from Ivy and Arabella have paid off immensely since she and William moved to New York.
"Here we are, Caroline. I made these myself just this morning."
"Everything looks so delicious. Thank you, Eliza. I don't have many friends invite me to their home, so this is particularly wonderful."
That statement peaked Eliza's curiosity. Why?
"I thought you said you were close to the other wives from your husband's work?"
"Not really," Caroline said. Her dark eyes were suddenly brimming with tears that would not fall.
"Why not?" Eliza asked. "You're a wonderful person, Caroline."
"I don't socialize with a lot of them because my husband will not allow it."
Eliza bit her lip.
"Where is your husband?"
"He's at work a few miles away. He can't come home just now. He's working on a big project."
Suddenly the phone rang making Eliza and Caroline jump. It rang for a couple of more times until Caroline said. "Those new gadgets. It's a wonder you can stand the noise. Hadn't you better get that before the caller stops?"
Eliza, knowing it was William, stopped. "Yes, I'd guess I'd better."
She rose and picked up the receiver across the room.
"Hello?"
"Eliza, STAND DOWN!"
"Yes, love, all is well. I'm fit as a fiddle, so they say. I understand. Around 3?"
