Bad Company

by Jen Schoenbein

  “The police didn’t have Suzy,” I argued. “Good thing I didn’t just sit on my hands for that one. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Do you?” Rhodes asked. “How much do you know about the fire service politics?”

  “I don’t really care about politics,” I countered. “I care about the city and stopping the fires.”

  “I don’t like politics, but they do exist. I’m staying on the suppression side and not the management side because I don’t want to deal with them, but they still exist.” Rhodes spread his hands wide. “If you’re going to work with politics, you need to understand them.”

  I could see where this was going. “That’s why I’m asking questions, Rhodes. I’m trying to learn and find out what’s going on.” I moved to get my jacket, looking at Rhodes, earlier jovial attitude gone.

  “I think I should head on out,” I said, slipping into it.

  Rhodes stood there, eyebrows furrowed, and nodded tightly. He appeared to be fighting with himself, but he didn’t reply.

  I nodded, thanked him for the nice meal and headed out. I sat in my Jeep for a minute, gripping the steering wheel. I was frustrated at his pressure to take his word on Sully, when everything was screaming that Sully was hiding something. I was pissed that he questioned my abilities. I didn’t like that it mattered so much to me. I hit the steering wheel. Damn it! I was also pissed because I missed out on coffee.

  Well, that was one situation I could change. I let the Jeep drive me where she liked to go best, Grounds.

  Chapter 17

  Luckily, it was fairly late by the time she got there, and there were only a few patrons left in the building. Maurice looked up, wiping down the counters.

  “Hey, Mal! Having a good evening?” he smiled.

  I gave him a grimace.

  “That good, huh? Tell Mo all about it.” He patted the counter over where the barstools sat

  “Eh, not much to tell,” I hedged. “Dinner date, ended badly. Big surprise.

  “You went on a dinner date?” he grinned from ear to ear. “With who?”

  I squirmed a bit, “A local firefighter I met the night of the fire down the street.”

  “Really?” he stopped, frowning. “And why haven’t I met him? Did you take him to another coffee shop?”

  “How did you know I had coffee with him?” I replied incredulously.

  “It’s you, Mal. Of course you had coffee with him before a dinner date!” Maurice shook his head, laughing, his salt and pepper side-part bouncing with the laughter. “Tell me the coffee sucked and I’ll forgive you.”

  “Of course it sucked, Mo!” I laughed, bad mood forgotten. “It was like drinking dirt.”

  Mal winked at me, sliding across a perfectly crafted cappuccino. “That’s my girl.”

  I sprinkled on a smidge of cinnamon and readied myself for the first sip of a perfect cup of coffee. It didn’t disappoint.

  Mo didn’t ask me much more about Rhodes, and I didn’t offer it up. He knew I’d talk if I wanted to. Instead, we talked about my previous case with ‘the pizza guy’. I kept names to myself to protect confidentiality. We had a good laugh about it, really and my mood had vastly improved.

  It was closing time, so I settled up with Mo and headed out. Some people sit at a bar late at night. Most of the time, I was sitting at a coffee shop late at night, if I wasn’t working. Yep. I was a real party animal.

  I stepped into the cool night air, nodding at Mo who was locking the door behind me. I zipped up my jacket, juggling with a to go cup of coffee. One couldn’t have too many cups, am I right?

  I noticed a black car pulled up in front of me, between me and where my Jeep was parked. I glanced back to see Mo had already walked into the back. I slid my hand into my jacket pocket to wrap around my ASP telescoping baton. The passenger car door opened and a large man wearing a business suit stepped out.

  “Detective Malone” the man said, not quite asking.

  “Who’s asking?” I answered, widening my stance. I glanced around me and didn’t see anyone else out.

  “My boss would like a word with you,” he nodded to the back seat.

  I took a step back and the man put his right hand on his suit jacket lapel, angling it slightly. I could see the butt of a gun. Crap!

  I didn’t give away the ASP I was clutching, but it wouldn’t do much against a gun. I glanced at the parked car to my right. I was next to the passenger door, not quite close enough to make a dive for it to hide behind.

  I stood there weighing my options when a voice came from the car.

  “Malone, I would just like to speak with you but a moment.” The disembodied voice didn’t sound malicious, but still. The threat had been made.

  I didn’t have much of a choice if it came down with it, so I made nice and walked to the car door, peering in.

  “Would you please join me a minute?” a hand patted the sit next to the dark figure.

  I leaned in a bit, glaring at the brute that had moved to shove me in. He backed off a second, so I slid into the car. The car immediately locked. Double crap!

  The man next to me looked vaguely familiar. He was wearing a suit as well, and it looked expensive, not that I knew that much about suits. But it looked cut to fit well. He was large like the brute in the seat in front of me, but less of a stomach over his belt. Graying hair was combed back, slick. He wasn’t unattractive really, exuding an air of power.

  “Thank you for agreeing to speak with me,” he said with the friendly smile of a politician.

  I glanced at the door handle and raised an eyebrow.

  “Sorry about that, we’ll be just a moment,” he continued in the most non-threatening way, as if I had a choice.

  I watched him dubiously.

  The car pulled away from the curb and my eyes went wide, going to the handle reflexively.

  “Just taking a trip around the block,” he smiled. “I wanted to personally thank you.”

  My eyebrows went up in a blatant surprise. “For what?”

  “For proving my son’s innocence, of course,” he chuckled.

  It took me a beat to put it together. “Marco?”

  He smiled appreciatively.

  Holy Jesus, this man was Domenico Poggiali. As far as I knew, he was the patriarch of the Poggiali’s. I took a deep breath. I knew working with family members could be risky, but Marco seemed like such a normal kid, it was easy to forget who his father was.

  “I appreciate both your investigative skills, plus your appreciation of the sensitivity of the issue.” he nodded, no longer smiling. “Our family’s reputation and name is very important, you understand. If others doubt our honor in a business deal, well it doesn’t end well.”

  I nodded, still not saying anything. I wasn’t really sure what all he knew.

  “Detective, Malone is it?” he asked.

  I nodded again.

  “I understand that you also discovered Shelly’s hand in all of this.”

  I went still, not sure if he was upset at me outing his sister.

  “I very much appreciate your stealth in that as well.” He shook his head. “Shelly has been a bit spoiled, I will admit. I thought she’d do well with Peter, being such a kind soul, but it seems he’s been a bit soft with her.”

  “He said he was going to have a talk with her,” I said. I didn’t want him angry with Peter.

  “Oh he did, not to worry,” Domenico chuckled. “He made her apologize to the crew and quit the co-manager sham. Good boy! How I would have loved to have seen that.”

  I smiled a bit and waited for him to continue.

  “What it comes down to, Detective, is that I am in your debt.”

  “Oh, no.” I shook my head, not wanting any tie to the mob. “Peter paid me fairly. We’re square.”

  “Nonsense,” he shook his head. “When someone helps one of mine, I take care of them. Now what can I do for you? I could offer you a job. I’d be happy to have someone like you on retainer.”

&nbs
p; “I don’t really need anything,” I stammered. “And thank you, but I am busy enough anyway.” I really needed to get out of this car before I got roped into something.

  “Well, how about I owe you one, then.” he replied. “If you get in a jam, you give me a call.”

  “I can definitely do that,” I nodded grateful.

  “You know, if you need somebody taken care of or something,” he replied with a wink.

  I blanched visibly, and he burst into laughter.

  “Oh, you are a peach, Bugsy,” he said amid laughter.

  “Bugsy?” I sputtered out, then mulled on it. “Oh, Bugsy Malone.” I rolled my eyes, then thought better of it and glanced at him.

  He was still chuckling at my expense.

  “Relax, will you? I offered you a favor,” he gave me a friendly smile. “Honestly, though. I sincerely appreciate your aid in this matter. Marco’s name is saved, Shelly’s indiscretion has remained private and my family is in your debt.”

  I nodded. “Your welcome, sir, but honestly I would have done the same thing even if it wasn’t your family. No offense.”

  “No offense taken. I appreciate your honesty and that you didn’t try to use it as leverage. That’s why I’m personally thanking you. Now you remember my favor and call me if you ever need anything.”

  We pulled back up next to the Jeep and the probably-bodyguard opened my car door for me. I looked back at Domenico.

  “And call me Domenico, please,” he smiled and held out his hand.

  “And call me Mal,” I smiled back while shaking it.

  “Oh, I don’t think so, Bugsy,” he winked.

  I got out and Bruiser handed me a business card with the name Domenico scrawled across it.

  They pulled away, while I was still standing frozen in the middle of the street holding the business card in one hand and my coffee in the other. I shook my head in disbelief.

  Just then, Mo opened the front door of Grounds, locking it behind him.

  “Hey, Mal,” he said tilted his head. “Whatcha doin’ still hanging around? You need something?”

  I turned to him and palmed the card, “Nothing. Just took a bit of a walk.”

  I waived goodby and got into the Jeep, gulping down my cooling coffee to wake me up.

  What a day, I thought, and headed home.

  Chapter 18

  The next morning I headed into the office, a little tired from the night before. I had stayed up late searching for news on the Lincoln Park fire. In the end, I only found one, Paul’s article. He wrote a passionate piece about the clothing drop-off and the good it would have brought the community. He talked about how the fires were affecting the community, but didn’t go into more detail on that point.

  The headlines in the Tribune were in regard to legalizing marijuana and a new tollway. Yep, I thought, definitely bigger news than a measly fire. I rolled my eyes.

  When I pulled up to the building to park, I noticed the Sentinel Security van parked outside. I slammed the Jeep door, hadn’t I had enough surprise visitors for the week? The same security guys that were at the Mennons house were sitting in the front seat. They waved and nodded toward my office building. I hurried up the steps, worried about Suzy and Sam.

  I opened the outer office door, expecting to find them in the hallway, but no one was there. Walking to my office door, I saw Wyatt, Suzy and Sam waiting in the reception area. I opened the door and gave Wyatt a hairy eyeball. Apparently, he had let himself into my office.

  He just shrugged, unapologetic, “Safer inside.”

  I rolled my eyes and turned to the Mennons.

  “Everything okay?”

  “It’s so good to see you, Mal!” Suzy smiled and moved to hug me.

  Her sweet smile was too contagious, I ended up smiling and hugging her back.

  Sam moved to hug me, too, and I half-heartedly sighed, What the hell…and hugged him back. It was a regular hug party in my office. I wasn’t sure what it was about these two, but they had gotten under my skin.

  “Everything okay?” I asked again, looking from Suzy to Wyatt.

  Wyatt nodded.

  “Sure, everything’s fine,” Suzy said, laughing. “I just had to get out of that house. I wanted to come see you.”

  “I would have stopped by if you’d have called,” I replied ushering them into my office. Someday I’d get a receptionist.

  Wyatt looked over at the two, eyebrow raised. It looked like he had indicated the same sentiment to them.

  “I was going to call you today anyway, but this works. I checked out that lead. I found out a Dr. Edward Millwood has Stand Up and Dance on “specialized supplements”.” I used air quotes. “I met with him, pretending to be in the market for a horse.”

  “Really! That’s so exciting,” Suzy crowed. “You have such an exciting life, investigating and going undercover like that!”

  I thought about Dr. McSleazy and waitressing, smelling like pizza every night.

  “Not as exciting as one might think,” I murmured.

  “Still, it has to be kind of fun,” Suzy prodded.

  “It has its moments,” I smiled. “But then there’s the bookkeeping and trying to pay taxes and figuring out what to do with a 1099 form.”

  “That’s just a miscellaneous earning form, silly.” Suzy laughed at me. “You just have to log it into your Schedule-C as income.”

  I looked at her like she had 2 heads, “That’s it? Then why don’t they just say that?”

  Suzy laughed again, “Hey! If you won’t take money to keep looking into the case, let me help you out with the bookkeeping!”

  “You’d want to work out of the house. For now at least,” Wyatt jumped in finally.

  Sally waved her hand, “That’s not a problem. I can do it wherever.”

  I told her I’d consider it, and meant it.

  “Boys, why don’t you let us girls have a moment?” I looked at her quizzically while she shooed the guys out.

  After they had left, she sat down and leaned forward, elbows on my desk.

  “Now, spill. What’s going on? You’re stressed.”

  “I’m stressed?” I asked.

  “Definitely.” She nodded. “I mean, you were before. You work too many hours. But something else has happened.”

  “Something else?” I thought back, considering. I really had no control with Suzy, i spilled like a broken mug. “I had a crappy dinner date, then was approached by the mob. Maybe something like that?”

  She blinked and stared.

  “Huh. I was thinking more like a bad haircut.”

  I frowned and touched my wavy hair. It was a bit unruly today, but it wasn’t that bad.

  “Tell me about the guy.” she grinned.

  “The bad date? That’s the one you found interesting?” I shook my head in disbelief.

  “It’s always about a guy,” Suzy said waving her hand.

  “You really don’t know me,” I said shaking my head. “It’s nothing, really. Just a

  date that went bad.”

  “Went bad?” She asked.

  “Yeah,” I nodded. “I mean, it started out good. It was going really well, actually. Then it took a turn for the worse and I ended up leaving before coffee.”

  “What happened?” She frowned sympathetically.

  “Well, he was trying to get me to stop my investigation into a fellow firefighter.”

  “He’s a firefighter?” Suzy practically squealed. “Tell me more!”

  I rolled my eyes at her excitement. “Yes, and I think the Assistant Chief may be behind some of these fires. I’ve been looking into it. Doesn’t all make sense just yet, but there’s something there.”

  “And he doesn’t think it’s the Chief?”

  “Nope, says he knows him, and it couldn’t be him. Doesn’t even want me to ask questions, could cause a stir.” I held up my finger, “Best part is that he questioned me looking into it at all, and to let the police handle it!”

  Suzy gasped,
and I felt validated. Then, I shook my head. What was I turning into?

  “What’s his name?” Suzy asked.

  “Rhodes, Marlon Rhodes,” I replied. “He works over in Bricktown.

  “How’d you meet him?”

  “I wandered into the fire over in Roscoe Village, when I was frustrated by the lack of leads on your case.”

  “Was it love at first sight?” she sighed.

  “Not exactly,” I laughed, shaking my head at Suzy’s excitement. “But he did look good out there. I ran into him again at Mariano’s and we got to talking.”

  “It wasn’t with Sam and I either,” she waved it away. “No worries. I fell for his charm soon enough.”

  I smirked at that. Sam, full of charm? He did have a likeable nerdy charm, I guess.

  “Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she raised an eyebrow. “Sam may be eccentric, but he’s the sweetest guy ever!”

  “And he loves you like crazy.” I smiled.

  “Yes,” she grinned back. “He does. Me too.”

  It was getting a little sappy, even with Suzy’s own brand of charm. I told Suzy that I would let her know what I found out from McSleazy and hugged her goodbye. Hugged? I really was getting soft, I thought, shaking my head.

  Chapter 19

  After they left, I got online and tried to use my search engine to find the owner of the license plate from the fire. I didn’t have any luck with any of my usual searches. I really didn’t want to call and ask Jen for the favor, especially with Harris being in her business about leaving the case to the professionals. It would look bad for her and I didn’t want to put her in that position. I hoped Harris hadn’t given Jen a hard time for passing on his name.

  Pulling out Dom’s card, I considered calling in my favor. I was sure he had a way to run plates. But I wasn’t so sure I really wanted to call in the favor. It was possible that it just tied me deeper into the family. Probably better to just let it ride. I tucked the card into my drawer, at the back. Just in case.

  My phone started buzzing on my desk.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Moll!” Came a voice oozing with hair grease and plastic.