In the Shadow of Love (8 page)

At a loss for word, Morris stood still feeling the heat from everyone’s staring eyes as the Captain chastised him.

“Report to my office in fifteen minutes!”

Morris struggled to keep is mind on his driving as he headed back to the station for what he sensed would be a reprimand.  When he arrived, the Lieutenant stood waiting outside the Captain’s office.  They made eye contact, and a chill ran through his body.  Each man took measure of the other before entering.

The Captain stood gesturing for Morris to take a seat.  Suddenly it felt more like an interview than a dreaded reprimand.  When the Captain finally spoke Morris braced himself for bad news as The Lieutenant stood guard.

“Detective Morris we know you’ve been seeing Maggie Faraday.”

“I beg your pardon, sir.”

The Captain leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desk and locked eyes.

“You were at her house today for quite awhile.”

“I’m conducting an investigation.”

“And you’re going back for dinner.”

Morris’ stomach tightened as the conversation took an unexpected turn.  He was conducting an investigating and she was a witness.  Catching the call that day was a random event - or was it?

Resentment permeated his body.  Ready to defend himself if necessary, his mind a whirl of activity as he tried to sense what was coming next.

The Captain stood suddenly – so did Morris.  It was an automatic response.  When a senior officer stood so did the subordinate.

Just as suddenly, the Captain walked out of his office and into the main station area where the detectives routinely gathered to solve the crime of the day.  He paused for just a moment then said loud enough for others to hear, “Come with me Detective,” another pause, “NOW!

An uneasy feeling gnawed at the pit of his stomach as all eyes turned in his direction.  He held his head high, yet felt like the condemned walking the proverbial plank.  One minute the Captain was speaking to him with civility the next he was barking orders.  Morris did the only thing he could – he obeyed.

Led into an interrogation room at the back of the building, Morris found himself isolated from the rest of the station.  Decades ago when the police station was first built the room was used to
unofficially
interrogate suspects.  Today it was more of a liability given the public’s distaste for even a hint of police brutality.

Did the Captain have unofficial plans for Morris?

“After you Detective,” it wasn’t an invitation.  All three men gathered uncomfortably in the small room and Morris braced himself for the worst possible outcome as sweat dripped down the back of his neck.

“Relax, detective.”  The Captain’s tone changed with the closing of the door.

“Lieutenant, are you sure nobody can hear or see us?”

“Yes, Captain.  I’ve taken care of everything.”

Morris’ uneasiness returned as he looked at the faces of the two men crammed in the room with him.  He prepared himself to fight his way out if necessary.

“Very well, then.”  The Captain eyed Morris carefully.  “Detective, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Morris’ eyes fixed on the Lieutenant as he opened a side door that led to a connecting observation room.  In walked a distinguished-looking older gentleman.

“Detective Morris,” The Captain’s voice broke through the sudden silence in the room.  “I’d like you to meet Owen Cassidy.”

A thick silence hung in the stale air of the tiny room while everyone waited for his response.  His usual skills at quickly sizing up the situation and taking control momentarily eluded him.

“Does Maggie know?”  Morris fixed his stare on the older gentleman as he asked the question.

“No, “he lowered his eyes.  “No she doesn’t.”

“Just what the hell is going on, sir!”  Morris’ voice held his irritation as he turned towards the Captain.

“Sorry about the little show back there detective but it’s imperative that as few people as possible know what’s going on.”

“And I seem to be one of them.”

“Why don’t we all sit down,” the Captain’s voice regained its authoritative tone.

“How is Maggie - Detective Morris, isn’t it?”  The older man was first to speak, clearly worried.

“She’s alive and safe and yes it’s Detective Morris,” answering the questions in the order they were asked.

“Owen.”  The Captain’s voice was gentle but firm.  “Let me bring Detective Morris up to speed.”

 “That would be nice,” Morris couldn’t hide his sarcasm.  He felt the Lieutenant’s glare and saw anger flicker across the Captain’s face.

“I know you must have many questions,
Detective
Morris, but let me give you the overall picture and we’ll address your questions later.”  The Captain paused suggesting that Morris had a say in the matter but he knew better.  They both did.

“Owen, er, Mr. Cassidy owns Titanium Enterprises, one of the largest industrial products companies in the world.  Materials are bought and sold from every country imaginable, except where there’s a specific ban by the federal government.  At least, Mr. Cassidy thought so.”

Morris looked over to find the older man studying him up.

“We have an undercover operative in the organization,” the Captain continued, “but we’ve been unsuccessful in finding out who’s running the illegal operation.  That’s when Mr. Cassidy here decided to take matters into his own hands,” casting a stern look at the older man, “and without consulting me.”

“I didn’t think I had a choice, Charles.  Somebody’s using the company I built from scratch to not only commit a crime but bleed me dry.  I won’t sit by and let that happen.”

“Calm down, Owen.  Nobody’s asking you to let the criminals get away with anything, but you can’t compromise my undercover officer either.  Now you came to me for help and I told you then that we did it by my rules or we didn’t do it at all.”

Morris watched the exchange between the two men.  He’d never heard the Captain called by his first name before nor seen him as caring yet firm.

“What about Maggie.”  Morris interjected to bring the situation back into focus.

“What about her?”  Cassidy’s voice broke.

“Do you realize how much danger you’ve put her in!”

Cassidy looked down.

“That’s where you come in, detective.”  Morris looked away from Cassidy and locked eyes with the Captain.

“Just what is it that you’re asking me to do, sir?”

“Well, two things, detective.”  He leaned forward.  “First I want you to protect Ms. Faraday.”  He paused and leaned back, twirling a pencil in his left hand.

“And, the second?”

“I’m asking you to solve Mr. Cassidy’s murder.”

The day got stranger by the minute.

“But, sir, he’s obviously alive.”

“Yes, but there are only five of us who know that.”

Morris raised an eyebrow.  “Who’s the fifth?”

“Max, my driver.”

Some of the pieces were beginning to fit.

“Does he drive a black sedan with plates YZW 861?”

“Yes, that’s the car, detective.  Mr. Cassidy instructed Max to keep an eye on Ms. Faraday,” the Captain admonished as he sternly regarded his friend, “–another thing Mr. Cassidy did without seeking my advice.”

“I was worried about Maggie.”  The old man’s voice broke as he attempted to defend himself.  “I got her into this mess after all.

Morris took out his notebook and flipped to his notes from the interview with Maggie and Mrs. Rivers.

“Is he about six foot one, dark brown hair, wears a dark blue overcoat and black gloves?

“Why, yes, how–?”

“Maggie and her neighbors reported him as a suspicious character in the neighborhood.”

“I see.”  Cassidy paused for a moment.  “I was just trying to make sure Maggie was okay.”

“It’s best to leave police work to the police, sir.”

“I see that now.”

“And with Detective Morris on the case, Owen, it should be easy to do.”

“Excuse me, Captain, but –”

“You will help Maggie, won’t you?”  The older man sounded desperate as his eyes pleaded with him.

Morris snapped his head back and forth finally resting his gaze on Cassidy noting the look of fear in the other man’s eyes.  They both had one thing in common.  They both wanted to protect Maggie.

Turning towards his superior, “Just what is it that you want me to do, sir?”

“Keep your dinner date with Ms. Faraday this evening.”

“And, then?”

“Owen does Maggie still have the documents the two of you were working on when
we
had to announce your suicide?”

“Yes.”  The older man’s look expressed the confusion Morris was feeling.

“Good.  Then detective, it’s important that you find out as much as you can from those documents with Ms. Faraday’s help.”

“Am I to tell her that Mr. Cassidy’s alive?”

“No! Not yet.”  The Captain was firm allowing no room for debate.  “We need to buy more time for our undercover operative.”

The Captain’s words tore at his sense of duty and clashed with his discomfort over lying to Maggie.

“I know it’s not what you want to hear right now, detective, but it has to be this way.  You wouldn’t want to compromise the safety of a fellow officer, now would you?”

He had no choice.  If Maggie was the kind of person he thought she was, she’d understand.

“Now, detective, what are your questions?”

“Why isn’t the FBI handling this case?  Sounds like an international fraud and money laundering case.  Isn’t that their jurisdiction?”

“You’re right it is.  Seems they’re too busy since nine-eleven doing other things.  I asked for their assistance but none has been forthcoming.”  The Captain paused.  “We’re not a high enough priority right now.”

“I see – so, you want me to protect Maggie, review the information in the documents in her possession–” pausing for emphasis.  “–and solve Mr. Cassidy’s murder.”

“That’s right detective.”

“What about Fredericks?”

“Who’s Fredericks?”  Cassidy interrupted.

“I’ll take care of that, detective.”

“Who’s Fredericks?”

 “The Detective currently handling your death investigation,” the Captain’s tone was sharp, once again conveying his frustration with his friend’s ill-conceived plan.

“Oh.”  Cassidy became somber at the mention of his own death.

“Anything else?”

“No, sir.”  Actually Morris had many more questions but decided to leave them unasked, needing a better sense of who he could trust.

“Alright, then, detective, I think it’s time for you to leave for your dinner engagement.”

The men stood, arms brushing against arms in the tiny room.

“Here, detective,” the Captain reached in his coat pocket and pulled out a business card.  “This has my cell number on it.  If you find anything out, please let me know right away.”  Morris knew it was an order and not a request.

Taking the card, he studied it briefly before putting it in his own coat pocket.

“Detective Morris?”  Cassidy’s voice stopped him from leaving.

“Yes, Mr. Cassidy.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”  Answering questions with a question was a hard habit to break.

“For taking care of Maggie.”  The other man’s concern seemed genuine.

As he turned to leave he paused.

“Is there something else, detective?”

“Yes, sir,” his eyes locked on the Captain.  “Whose body was found at the Cassidy residence?”

The Captain held his gaze.  “We don’t know.”  Morris held his breath and tongue once again.   “That’s one of the things we’re hoping you’ll discretely find out.”

He left the interrogation room confused and curious, but the importance of the case wasn’t lost on him.  Few had the Captain’s private cell number.  Now he was one of them.

Making his way back to his desk, he mulled over the past hour unable to shake the feeling that his superior wasn’t telling him everything he needed to know.

“Word is you’re suspended for dating a witness.”

Looking up he found Geridano looming in front of him.  The Captain’s efforts to distract everyone from the truth seemed to be working.  He finished gathering up his files and walked away from his desk and nemeses.

“Have a nice day, Geridano.”  It felt good to keep him guessing.

Chapter 8

Morris called Maggie on his way out of the building, her number now on speed dial.  He wanted to see how she was coping, or so he told himself as he pressed the send button.

“I wasn’t expecting you to call so soon.”  Her voice held a breathlessness that signaled he had interrupted something.  The sound of pots clanging and water running echoed in the background.

“Not to worry – I won’t be early.  I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything I could bring.”

“No, but thanks for asking – again.”

“Okay - I’ll see you at seven.”

“Wait.”  Her voice was anxious.

“What is it, Maggie?”  Her first name rolled off his tongue so naturally.

“Just that–I want to–I mean–thanks for believing me about Owen.”

A feeling of shame crept over him as he recalled meeting the man she thought was dead.  He wasn’t happy about deceiving her even though he’d been ordered to do so.

“Detective?”

“I’m glad to help, and it’s Morris.”

“Excuse me.”

“We can drop the detective, don’t you think?”

“Er, of course.”

“See you at seven.”  He rung off before giving into his desire to clear his conscious.

A look in his rear view mirror revealed Geridano following him as expected.  Pulling into the parking garage beneath his apartment building he put the other man out of his mind, having more pleasant things to focus on.

He quickly showered and changed into something more casual for the evening.   Peering through the window he noted that Geridano’s vehicle was still parked outside.  It wasn’t going to be easy losing him after all.  Driving to a restaurant in Greek Town that was owned by a distant cousin, he parked where Geridano could easily see his car.  Entering he took a seat near the window and accepted the menu from the hostess.  He placed an order to go.