“Your kidding, just like that? Are you going to keep it to yourself or are you going to share?” He looked at Jake.
“Share of course. I will need your help but don’t you share. We need him to continue to be confident and think we are all a bunch of asses. Do you have any suspicions detective?”
Silence fell on the car deep and dark while Murphy now lit a cigarette and focused on his driving.
“The clue is one of the men who were at the restaurant, excluding the foreman. So Wilson, Burns, or Councilman Carter is my guess so far. I don’t think it was either one of the detectives, they could be a part of it in some way your spy theory, which has proven true but not the White Owl himself. NO if I had to guess between the three it would be Councilman Carter.
“The minute he appeared in the restaurant it became clear as glass, after taking the mayor out of the picture, he was the only logical suspect. He saw his wife in the arms of another man under lascivious circumstance, after all she meant to him, his angel, to display herself like that and he blamed her girlfriends as well leading her on the path to destruction”.
“Very good Chief but where is your proof? Without proof your theory goes poof!”
“Can’t you be serious about anything Murphy. We will get proof. We have to find the bird. The white owl, Minerva. That bird is the key.
“One more thing Chief with the meeting place for the cult now a restaurant how are we going to tell the bad guys from the customers.”
“We will have to wait and see on that one, in the meantime we have to keep the place on surveillance and see who or what turns up.
When Jake and Murphy arrived back at headquarters Jake went immediately to his desk and had Millie get Don Gaudio on the phone. Millie completed the call and said the Don was on the line.
“Jake what’s going on?” Gaudio was a man of few words, he did not have to waste words when every syllable was obeyed.
“Answer a question for me Don, who is catering Kendra and Sal’s wedding at the mansion?”
“My secretary found a new place outside of town with a twist, a monastic theme restaurant, called St. Daphne’s Kitchen.”
“Has your secretary been with you long?” Jake continued.
“No as a matter of fact, after I married Elizabeth she suggested I replace Clare and hire a male secretary. She said it was less intimate. You know a happy wife, is a happy life.”
“Can you get out of the contract and hire a new caterer?”
“Not easily. Is it life or death?”
“Probably.”
“Jake they are all excited about the idea of the theme. They and the guests are all dressing accordingly. You know monk’s habits etc.”
“Wow, Don Gaudio I feel you have just given a direct invitation to the White Owl to blow up the party. I will have my work cut out for me to save you and I will probably need some of your men to be deputized to help from allowing that to happen.”
“To that end Jake, you have my complete cooperation. What else can I do?”
“I would take your new secretary out of the picture. No sense complicating it further with an inside man. I will send one of my new recruits to fill in for you until this is over.”
Jake hung up the phone and rubbed his head in disbelief, the luck he thought, so well planned. Carter (Jake was convinced he was the White Owl) must have been planning this operation for some time. You did not take on the Mafia without some thought to your own destruction.
Don Gaudio hung up the phone from Jake and called his secretary into his office and told him to bring his check book containing his petty cash account. When the secretary arrived he took the check book out of his hands and wrote a check for the man’s salary to date and a bonus amount for two extra weeks and told him he was terminated and indicated the door. One of his trusted body guards who adorned his office escorted the dumbfounded secretary out to his car and watched him drive out the gates.
When the head body guard reentered the office he asked him to gather all the household staff, gardeners, and his personal soldiers and meet in the library and he would be there shortly.
“Ladies and Gentlemen everyone who has been in my employ for ten years or more stand by the desk.” The Don watched as half the occupants of the room went over to the desk, everyone who has been in my employ for five years please go over to the window.” The Don indicated the window opposite the desk. “Everyone else follow me to my office.” Once in the office he started writing checks with the bonus two weeks to gardeners, kitchen staff, house hold maids and even his personal guard. His head body guard than escorted this group off the grounds and watched the gate close after them.
Don Gaudio walked back to the library and confronted the remaining employee’s and asked if they were satisfied with their employment and if they would be willing to risk their lives to apprehend a mass murderer who was conniving to blow up Sal’s wedding here in the mansion. He also told them that they were in no obligation to stay, that nothing would happen to them if they chose to leave.
A few of the occupants in that library looked at the door but resolutely turned back to the Don who had been good to them to a man and not just to them as individual’s but to their families as well. They also had faith that nothing was going to happen to Don Gaudio and death would come swiftly to his enemies. So they stayed and asked what could they do for him.
The Don outlined his plan to protect the house starting with, no strangers on the premises, all deliveries left at the gate, Wedding gifts stored and opened in the green house under x-ray vision. All food and wedding cake analyzed for explosives and poison. Although poison was never mentioned. “Can’t be to careful,” the Don concluded with thanks and told twenty of his trusted men to report to Jake Guiliani at police headquarters for further instructions.
“You are going to be deputized.”
“Holy Crap,” was the general consensus.
CHAPTER 28
“Unbelievable Minerva I think we should fly away my birdie things are heating up. I feel the burn on the back of my neck and I am sure Jake Guiliani knows I’m the Keeper of the Keys, the White Owl.” Carter was trembling with fear.
“Get a hold of yourself man. How many times do I have to tell you that you are immune from prosecution that the big score I mapped out for you, acquiring one million dollars from the Mafioso will set you up and insure my freedom from the bonds of this realm. You will enjoy the dollars and I will get the South Sea Pearls (white and pure and manufactured by God) the price of my return.”
The owl ruffled his feathers and threw Carter a look, as if to say I am better than you, but I am here to guide you. We need each other now but soon, very soon you will be without me because I will be on my way to freedom.
In truth the owl was a manifestation of Carter’s diseased mind and did not talk or give orders or live in another dimension or even think of him as his soul mate, but that is the way a criminal schizophrenic suffering from delusions interprets a major personality shift.
Carter was a good man, hard working, above reproach, respected member of his environment, nose to the grind stone kind of guy. Until he fell madly in love with his wife Daphne. He could not believe she was his and she loved him. So he indulged her every whim and she was expensive. He got deeper in debt and was at his wits end, when his friend Tony McCane suggested investing in a camera club on the lower floors of his studio and have men film attractive woman, society matrons especially, for an added kick. McCane even suggested that Carter’s wife be a part of it. He balked at that suggestion but McCane explained his logic, once Daphne accepted her friends would follow.
The girls neglected by their workaholic husbands were thrilled at being a part of a camera club that took pictures of them in scant clothing, Daphne and her friends took pleasure in showing their bodies off to strange men for some excitement in their basically boring lives. As the weeks went o
n and their confidence grew, and no one was the wiser, the clothing became less and less visible and the members paid more and more and more. The Martini’s flowed and the money rolled in. Carter’s debts were paid and he could even watch the filming in a private room with a two–way mirror and to be doubly safe from detection he wore a mask. He got a bazaar rush from the idea that Daphne was working to pay off the debts she herself incurred. What irony.
At one point Minerva suggested in his ear to charge money for guests who would like to buy a seat in the two-mirrored room and soon they were filled to capacity. Mask’s were worn to hide their identities and they were sworn to obey the White Owl. The owl was introduced in the beginning as a mascot, it was only later he became an icon to be worshipped. The camera club became a murder blackmail club paid for by the member’s dues which were significant and then it was announced that Minerva would accept a token of fealty in the form of a South Sea Pearl which the members carried on their person at all times. However, the money did not start to roll in until they targeted the husbands, it was after Alain arrived on the scene and started that ball rolling.
Joe Carter was aghast as he watched his adored wife in the strong arms of another man. Alain enjoyed Daphne above and beyond the fact she was the wife of his boss. She wanted him bad and she went after him. She lived for the moments they were together and though Alain was warned that she was off limits he could not resist her passion. Joe was near collapse at his discovery that Daphne loved another, but he hid it well when he was near her and she did not suspect that he knew. But he went home that night and sat weeping in his garden, screaming to the heavens about the unfairness of his life, when he heard a voice above his head yelling at him to “stop that nonsense.”
Joe looked round and saw a beautiful snow white owl looking down at him from a lower branch of the Chestnut tree in his back yard.
“Did you just talk to me!” Joe asked looking around, seeing no one else.
“You heard me!” The bird exclaimed, immediately flying to him and perched on his arm.
“Why are you crying, a grown man like you, explain?” He stared into his face and waited for an explanation.
Joe after his initial apprehension confessed all to the bird. Told him about the camera club and his wife who betrayed him so horribly and how devastated he felt, that life was not worth living with out her love. He was going to end it and stop his misery.
“Don’t be an ass. We have found each other and I will make you rich and also show you how to turn the tables on all who betrayed you.”
The owl flapped his wings and cozied up to Joe’s ear and explained his plans. After listening to Minerva, Joe became calm and motivated. He no longer wanted to kill himself and he had a new pet that talked to him and gave him orders (which he did not mind) and was going to make him rich. His head was throbbing the pain was intense. He went inside to lie down, leaving the bird to get settled in the Chestnut tree for the night. He no longer felt sad or regretful for his lost love, he actually felt free and could not wait to begin what was promised. Revenge would be served ice cold and deadly.
The owl watched the man go into the house and then turned his attention to a movement in the garden a mouse nosing around the vegetable patch,” Yum,”
“Gosh Jake you crept in quiet as a mouse, what’s up.” Annie asked sitting up in bed the covers falling off her protruding stomach.
“Ahhh Annie I did not want to wake you I know you need your sleep. I should have slept downstairs.” He bent down to kiss her and she folded her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
“Don’t you dare say that, I hardly see you any more.” She moved her cumbersome body over so he could sit down. He cradled her in his arms and told her in no uncertain terms how much she means to him.
“Busy and trying to wrap up this White Owl case with as little blood shed as possible, besides you that is the only thing on my mind right now. I am surrounded by spies in the department with no clue whom to trust.”
“Really darling hit the showers and come to bed you look exhausted.”
“Good advice. Everything will become clearer in the morning,
night doll, big kiss.” He leaned down and kissed her and headed for the shower. She knew he would sleep downstairs so not to disturb her sleep again. She turned over on her side and was sound asleep before the shower water came on in the bathroom.
“Okay men, we have to map out this operation as though we are at war. In reality we are.” Jake spoke to his men assembled in the squad room. He knew that the White Owl had spies in the assembled group of police officers and his words would reach that maniac’s ears but Jake had to proceed as though they did not exist. “The wedding we will be covering is next month and I want the White Owl apprehended before the event, the danger to mass deaths is conceivable if we wait.
Councilman Carter is a person of interest and anything that we can find out about his activities in the weeks to come will give us a better sense of his plans. Make no mistake that man is dangerous and more than likely insane,
Do not engage but contact your superiors if anything suspicious is discovered. Thank you.” The sergeant at arms dismissed the men each one given their assignment. When the room was cleared Jake turned to his detectives and suggested that they divide surveillance on Carter in shifts, but do not be seen
“Burnsey you take charge. Men report to Burney if anything is discovered, good luck. Murphy you are with me.”
“Right Chief. Where are we heading?”
“I want to take a look at Crystal’s apartment again, we might have missed something in our haste to find her and bring her back for more questioning.”
“I doubt it, even though our search was superficial, the apartment was clean and basically empty of any clues to her whereabouts.” Murphy said driving to Crystal’s home where he spent hours making love to her. He did not want to be reminded of that open wound.
“I know Murph but still I have a gut feeing that we should take another look.”
Jake was not sure if he was spinning his wheels or just stalling for time waiting for something to break, but the apartment was as they left it. A bit disheveled from the past search and nothing else.
Murphy started walking back toward the open apartment door when Jake stopped him with, “Hold on Murphy, don’t leave yet, look at that.” Jake pointed to a now open ventilator door in the bedroom wall, empty but now open.
“She was here and she picked up her stash that was behind that open door. She waited to return after the coast was clear, now she is really in the wind with a cash stake. Okay let’s go, she is out of the picture, for now.”
“Where to next?” Murphy asked getting in the car. Jake behind the wheel and driving for a change.
“I want to swing by the restaurant Carter invested in and see the progress that is going on there.” Jake lit a cigarette with his free hand and expertly steered the car down the Main Line toward Wayne, Pa.
“Chief we have men covering that club, I think Burnsey and Wilson are doing that job.” Murphy questioned. “You’re worried about the bomb threat and how many lives will be in danger, its got your stomach in a knot and your brain working overtime.”
“You may be right about all that but I can’t shake the feeling that something is about to break.”
CHAPTER 29
The last of the dump trucks and men in crash helmets left the restaurant building and drove their vehicles off the freshly paved parking lot calling it a day. The landscape trucks and men were the last to leave, putting the finishing touches on the greenery surrounding the restaurant. The spot lights were set to illuminate the trees and the lights in the restaurant gave a warm glow to the scene.
There was quite a hustle and bustle inside the restaurant as the staff got ready for the soft, private opening scheduled for that evening. The last of the wine glasses were polished to a brilliant spa
rkle and the soup in the large copper kettles given a final stir with the large wooden soup spoons. The fresh green lettuce was removed from the stainless steel refrigerators and left to stand on counters in stainless steel bowls to remove the chill and bring the salad to room temperature.
The kitchen and wait staff were in black robes and face masks. The pointed hats were set aside while they worked. The White Owl was in a golden cage on the top of the bar temporarily. The Keeper of the Keys was checking his list written in a large leather book on its own stand by the door.
Detectives Burns and Wilson were watching the goings on from their squad car on a side street across from the restaurant and were fascinated by what they saw. “It looks as though they are open for business. What do you think Burnsey?”
“I’ll tell you what I think man, I think I would like to call it a day. We have been here all day and now it is getting dark. Replacements are going to be contacted. I have errands to do for the Misses and my dinner is calling.”
“Yeah but Burnsey the Chief asked us to stake out the joint and now you are telling me to get replacements, are you serious?”
“Dead serious, I am sick of this place. Hand me the radio phone I am calling headquarters.” Burnsey punched in the numbers for the station and told the desk sergeant to send two of the best men on duty to the restaurant in Wayne, Pa. to relieve Wilson and himself, they would stand by till they arrived.
“Hey pass me the binoculars, isn’t that the White Owl they are moving off the bar. Mystery solved Guiliani won’t have to wonder where they are keeping the bird, in plain sight in front of our eyes.”” Wilson whistled out loud. “Are you sure we should leave. Yeah I know you are in charge, so let it be on your head. Still I am going to take some photos to cover our ass. There got the birdie.”
Wilson continued snapping away taking pictures of the whole scene knowing they would be invaluable to his boss Jake Guiliani.
The Cult of the White Owl Page 25