Watson Manor Investigations (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 3)

by Ronald S. Craig

  *****

  Marina Police Officer Ron Marks approached the driver's side of the black Chrysler while his partner took his position on the passenger side. Officer Marks tapped gently on the driver's window and after a moment, it rolled down. The two men inside were in their mid-to-late thirties, clean shaven and were dressed business casual in dark slacks, pale stripped shirts and sports jackets.

  "Good afternoon sir. I'd like to see your license and registration please."

  "What's this about?" the driver asked.

  "We are responding to an APB on a car matching yours. License and registration, sir."

  "It's a rental car."

  "Then your driver's license and rental contract will be fine, sir."

  "Look in the glove box," the driver told the passenger while reaching for his wallet. The driver using his left hand, rolled his body away from Officer Marks to reach his wallet in his left rear pocket. The driver's jacket fell open and the handle of a pistol was exposed.

  Officer Marks immediately had his pistol in hand, "Hands on the dash, both of you!" His partner, also ready to fire, pulled the passenger side door open. Across the street from a staged and ready position, Detective Edwards crossed the street, nosing his car into the curb in front of the black Chrysler, then jumped out and took position on the driver, as officer Marks opened the driver's door. Chief Rodney Walker moved to the passenger side.

  "Do you have a permit to carry that weapon sir? Marks asked.

  There was no response from either of the two men.

  "OK gentlemen," Walker said, "keeping your hands in plain sight, get slowly out of the car and assume the position on the hood." The two men complied and were cuffed and their weapons retrieved. "Marks, check their ankles for additional weapons, then place our guests in your car. Edwards, call for a tow and let's have a look in their trunk."

  "Good call, chief," Marks called back, showing the two additional small pistols.

  "Marks, run their ID's, we'll get prints at the station," Walker said, heading toward the trunk with the keys. Just as he was about to insert the key, the trunk popped open. He glanced over at Edwards, straightening up in the driver's doorway.

  "Sorry, Chief. There's a button... didn't see you had the keys."

  "We're even, I didn't see the button. Here, put them back in the ignition," Walker said as he tossed him the keys. He swung the trunk lid up and spotted a scoped rifle, briefcase and two small carryon bags. Edwards and Marks joined him and stared into the trunk.

  "Chief, these Illinois Driver's licenses were not issued by the State of Illinois," Marks reported.

  "Can't say I'm surprised. Probably didn't find a hunting license either."

  "No Chief."

  "I was kidding Marks, why don't you and Samuels get these two processed and we'll wait for the tow truck."

  Chief Walker went back to his car and removed two sets of plastic gloves from its trunk. He handed a set to Edwards and they put the rifle and luggage in their trunk. Walker placed the briefcase on the hood of the Chrysler and popped the latches. They discovered four ID bundles wrapped with rubber bands, the top one being a driver's license. Quick examination of the first bundle showed the driver's face on an Arizona issued license grouped with matching named credit and business cards.

  "Looks like some heavy hitters, Chief."

  "These two are professionals. I won't be surprised if their prints are a dead end. I want full ballistics on all of their guns."

  Edwards picked up the top nine-by-twelve envelope that had only a question mark on it. Inside was a photo of Charlie and Jenny standing in front of a desk. There was a young woman behind the desk they were apparently speaking with. The angle of the photo implied a ceiling mounted security camera."

  "Oh shit," Edwards said. "Look Chief in the corner on the door…SEN."

  "Sentinel Corporation, they went out there a couple days ago. So far this is good news, Edwards. They don't know who Charlie and Jenny are and the only way our new guests could get this photo is from the place it was taken…a definite tie."

  Edwards checked the envelope for any other contents, found none then slid the photo back into it. The next envelope stated Eden Downey and they quickly checked the remaining envelopes and stopped at the one marked Rosalyne Wilson.

  "You'll need to spend some time here Edwards. Fine toothed comb for any ties," Walker said. "We can take the mug shots of our guests over to the hospital tomorrow. Hopefully Rosalyne can make a positive ID."

  "Chief, I received an email from Jenny before we got the call from Charlie. She is in contact with Dave Reed as Rosalyne, using her email account. There is a good chance he has seen these two as well."

  "Good point. She can send the mug shots and maybe he'll come in and fill in some blanks. The problem is we have the hired guns but not the one that hired them. When we get back to the station, we need to find more ties like the SEN you spotted on the door."

  "On it, Chief," Edwards said as the tow truck pulled in and they returned to the station.

  *****

  Charlie wasn't surprised when he pulled into parking lot of Watson Manor and found Jenny, Madison and Shadow on the front porch. Jenny was in the antique porch swing with Madison in her lap and Shadow bounced down the steps to greet him. He knew bringing Eden and Emily there for their safety was the right thing to do, but removing the twenty miles between his past and present concerned him greatly. He looked up after greeting Shadow at the door of his truck and saw Jenny had walked Madison to the bottom step freeing her to greet her Daddy as she headed toward Eden's car.

  "Watson Manor looks wonderful, Jenny," Eden said extending a hand. "Charlie insisted we come. I hope this isn't an imposition for you."

  Jenny moved in with open arms offering a hug. "You and Emily are very welcome here. Charlie told me about your …ordeal, I'm sorry it happened." Jenny pulled back and looked at Emily, "Hello Emily, I'm Jenny and that little gal in Charlie's arms is Madison, but we all call her Maddy. You might enjoy the beach while you're here."

  "This is a great place! I didn't know the beach was so close too," Emily said as her attention was drawn to the wiggling mass of black fur beside her.

  "And that is Shadow, Emily," Charlie said as he approached them with Madison still in his arms.

  "Hello, Shadow," Emily said, smiling as she squatted down to pet him.

  Eden looked at Jenny with a slight sideways nod of her head and they moved to the back of Eden's car. "Emily hasn't seen the photo I received," she whispered. "I told her we were working with you two on a story for the newspaper."

  "That’s good," Jenny said softly, "from what Charlie told me, it would have terrified her." Jenny reached into the trunk and pulled out the two bags. "Charlie, you want to take these to unit 202?"

  "Sounds like you two are in luck," he said grabbing the bags, "we remodeled last year and 202 is a two bedroom unit now."

  "We don't need that," Eden said. "I feel badly enough you have to make room for us at all."

  "Nonsense," Jenny said walking back toward Emily to ensuring she could hear her, "we are working on a big story here, after all." Jenny took Madison's hand and added, "Dinner is down stairs at six, gives you an hour and a half to settle in or check out our beach. You can follow Charlie to your room."

  Eden took Jenny's free hand and turned to face her. "You have been very gracious, Jenny. I insist on paying for our stay here."

  Jenny smiled at her while holding her hand and looked directly into her eyes, "Eden this doesn't need to be awkward and," she added laughing to lighten the moment, "it seems your luck is continuing as we are running a reunion special this month."

  Eden smiled with relief. "Thank you Jenny."

  "Are you two coming?" Charlie called from the porch. When Eden and Emily fell in behind him they went inside.

  Charlie went back downstairs when Eden was settled and entered the office closing the door behind him. Jenny had two modes of makeup, her everyday light coat and then the more str
iking dinner out. She was in the dinner out mode but he didn't want to verbalize its implication or that his radar was peaking at full power. Jenny got up from her desk, moved into his arms and gave him a passionate kiss. "I wanted to do that earlier, Charlie, but saw it as the trite territorial gesture of a high school girl marking the football stud in front of his following."

  "Jenny, I'm sorry. I didn't see another option here."

  "You did the right thing bringing them here, "she replied. "But, damn Charlie, did she have to be so gorgeous?"

  "There's no competition here, Jenny. This football stud is all yours."

  "I'm thinking this 'Charlie's Angels' fantasy has gone to your head," she said laughing, "but, this 'has-been' football stud before me is still my greatest pleasure." She kissed him again then added, "I got a return email from Dave, come take a look."

  Chapter 12

  Charlie followed Jenny back to her desk and she picked up the printed email from Dave Reed. "I have a copy for Chief Walker as well," she said handing it to him.

  Rosie, thank God you're ok. Lacy told me and I've been worried sick. The hospital wouldn't tell me a thing about your condition and I was so relieved to get an email from you. This thing is way out of control now we need to let it go! I think I told you I met Sandy at a seminar in March. She's the one that got this whole thing started when she contacted me about Assemblyman Mitchell's phone conversation, remember 'it won't be the first time a heart attack allowed us to get the sale. Whatever it takes we need that property now.' Sandy was working as an intern for Mitchell and overheard that when she went back into the office late because she had left her phone there. We met twice and she was trying to get something on paper to give me when I started to feel someone was following me. I called her cell phone, but it went to voice mail. Sandy's office said she wasn't working there any longer. That same car was always around, two guys in it and then it pulled up beside me at a red light and the passenger said 'Sandy's gone, want to join her?' I freaked out Rosie, when they pulled away I went to my apartment and packed. You have to stay away from this, but I think I'm too late with that warning and so sorry I didn't warn you sooner.

  "Probably the same two guys I saw at Emily's school. They were following us back from Salinas and I called the Chief to intercept them, but don't know if they could hold them," Charlie said pulling out his phone and hit a speed dial button.

  "Chief Walker."

  "Hello Chief, any luck with my tail?"

  "They'll be staying with us awhile. I'll have more in the morning. We need to compare notes, ten a.m. tomorrow work for you?"

  "We'll be there, thanks for the assist today."

  "No, my friend, thank you. These two are heavily involved with a lot of evidence. See you in the morning. Oh, and Charlie, we'd like to talk with Eden Downey as well."

  "Chief, if you could email us the photos of these two, I'll have Jenny run them by Dave."

  "I'll have Edwards do that right now."

  Charlie put his phone away and turned to Jenny. "They're locked up. The Chief wants to get together, ten in the morning. They'll email the photos of the two men. Maybe Rosie could check with her buddy Dave?"

  "That'll work, and make him feel a little safer if it's them and they're off the street. I wanted to get a last name for Sandy from him to follow up on that as well." She sat at her desk and keyed up Rosalyne's computer then turned her computer on as well. After a few moments she said, "The photos are here. I need to send them to Rosalyne to forward them to Dave. I think I'll introduce Watson Investigations to him also, give us a direct connection. Why don't you take your … girlfriend for a walk on the beach before dinner?"

  "Jenny! She is not my girlfriend. I thought you were OK with this."

  "Just a joke Charlie, only teasing."

  "The way you have always handled stress was to make a joke. The last thing I want to do is make the situation worse, Jenny," he said and pulled up a chair and sat beside her. "We can all go."

  Jenny turned away from her computer and faced him head on. "Charlie my trust in you is complete, but I've seen her and in the brief conversations we've had, like her as well. She's beautiful, if I was anywhere close to the orientation fence, I'd be tempted to jump over it and sleep with her. I guess, just knowing what you two have shared… I'm trying; it's just hitting me harder than I thought it would."

  "If the two guys that are locked up are where her threat came from, I'll take Eden and Emily home tomorrow, Jenny. Whatever you need."

  "You and I both know, behind bars is the A team and the B team may be in motion as we speak. Eden and Emily will be our guests until the head of this is cut off. I'll say, I'm much happier they are staying with us rather than you sleeping on her couch for protection. Now take our guests to the beach, I'll be there in about thirty minutes."

  "We can wait for you here."

  "Don't be silly, I already feel better having gotten that off my mind," she said and bent over the chair to kiss him.

  "I love you, Jenny. OK, Maddy and Shadow will be with us," he said, walking toward the door and then turned back to her. "Stay away from that damn fence. I've made this complicated enough." Jenny laughed and it pleased him to hear it.

  Before the door closed behind him, he heard her reply, "It would serve you right though!"

  Eden and Emily were seated in the dining area drinking a soda. They were both in tee shirts, shorts and sandals. Charlie walked over. "Looks to me like a couple of ladies ready to visit our beach. I'll get Maddy and be your guide. Jenny will join us shortly."

  "If that's not a problem, I'm sure we can find it," Eden said. "By the way, our room is six star, Charlie. Even with the reunion discount Jenny offered, I don't know if we can afford this place."

  Charlie was laughing so hard he had trouble speaking. "Reunion discount, I do so love that woman, be right back." He was still laughing when he returned with Madison in his arms and Shadow only a step behind. They all walked out the front doors to the path leading to the beach.

  Emily was holding Madison's hand, searching for sea shells as they pulled further ahead of Eden and Charlie. Shadow was performing well as their spotter, stopping to sniff whatever he found.

  "Charlie, that car that was following us…was it the same people that sent me the…photo?"

  "They're behind bars, we'll know more in the morning."

  "I hope it's them and we can go home. I know this is hard on Jenny. Turning the tables, I don't think I could be as gracious as she's been."

  "Eden, in her own words, you and Emily are our welcome guests until this is over. Emily is wonderful. You've done a splendid job raising her."

  "Thank you. My folks couldn't have been more supportive while I finished college. My brother, you remember Brian. He was also always there. I have to tell you, I am so overwhelmed and pleased with the dream you found, Charlie, especially Jenny and Maddy."

  "I don't deserve the blessings I have, but realize I have something very special to focus on and fight for. You must know, I want that for you also and hope you find it."

  Eden didn't turn to face him but ran ahead to inspect the shell Emily had found and was calling her to come see. Her thoughts were exploding as she fought for composure. She couldn't let Charlie see her tears or sense how much her heart was racing or see in her eyes how intensely the love that had never left her was blazing within her now. She bent down in the small waves breaking on the shore, scooped up a handful of water to hide her wet face in the pretense of a water fight with Emily, who jumped in beside her returning handfuls of water.

  Charlie watched from a distance, as even Madison was enjoying the splashing around. He turned back to look at the trail and saw Jenny headed toward him. He walked back, meeting her half way and took her hand.

  "The kids are having fun," he said, smiling.

  "I wouldn't be surprised if you started it and then backed away."

  "Are you calling me a trouble maker?"

  "I was thinking fun maker, but maybe you're
right."

  Charlie kissed her and they walked over to the others. The splashing stopped when they were a few feet away. Charlie reached down to pick up Madison and Jenny was laughing as she looked back and forth between Eden and Emily. She handed one of the towels she had brought to Eden. "Looks to me like Emily won that round! I should have brought more towels."

  "Mom started it," Emily replied in delight, "and I kicked butt."

  That brought a much needed smile to Eden's face. "Ok, smarty. Next time I'll toss you in the waves!"

  "Oh the love between mothers and daughters," Jenny said joining in their laughter. "I'm thinking these two warriors might want a shower before dinner." Jenny handed the other towel to Emily.

  "I think Jenny's also a mind reader," Eden said.

  "We'd better get back then. Lisa, our chef waits for no one," Charlie stated.

  They all walked back to the manor and Emily was sharing her sea shell collection with Jenny. When they reached the second floor landing and started to divide Emily said, "This is a magical place, I love it here."

  "We're pleased to hear that, Emily," Jenny said starting the climb up the next stair case. Eden was unlocking their door and when she looked back, her eyes locked with Charlie's. In that instant before he turned away to follow Jenny up the stairs, he realized his fight had only just begun.

  The addition of offering dinner at Watson Manor was well received and the majority of their guests were in the dining room sharing their adventures of the day. Emily was making new friends and plans were set for her to join a family on the beach the next day while Eden and the Watsons met with Chief Walker. The Watsons were comfortable with the Baker family, this was their third visit to the manor and they had two children, Tommy and Susan, close to Emily's age. Charlie found his role as host to be a welcome distraction, greeting and making small talk with the guests, away from the table his family was sharing with Eden.