I'll Protect You (Clueless Resolutions Book 1)

by W B Garalt

  Wealthy, and possibly influential, clients or “Johns” would insist upon complete anonymity, and would need to be able to trust the integrity of the arrangements as well as the arranger. In order to avoid attention the location of each tryst would have to vary and, at the same time, the setting would have to contribute to the desired mood of the “session”.

  To Chace, the locations and settings of the three unsolved murder cases under investigation appeared to meet those criteria.

  In order to re-assemble the factors to stage the sting, it would be necessary to involve Mme. Francine, Mr. Jenson, Ms. Marshall, Mr. Hargrove, Ms. Slavonic, and a willing “john”. Also, a banker client of Ms. Marshall’s with a willing, financially-distressed property owner would be needed. An agreed-upon time and place would have to be pre-arranged, as usual, with the “john”.

  In addition to all that, the killer[s] would have to be motivated enough, stimulated enough, and feel safe enough, to attempt another murder. That is if he, she or they were in their right mind(s). That’s a tall order in a short time, thought Chace. He was typically understating the problem, to himself, with a positive attitude combined with a practical approach.

  Lieutenant Salvadore was welcomed back to work during the morning briefing. He received a round of applause from his fellow officers which he acknowledged modestly. Later in the morning Inspector Chace brought Salvadore up to date on the progress of the investigation and a partial list of those persons connected in the cases. Salvadore agreed with the similarities but had nothing to add. He was quite surprised at the F.B.I. file, just as the chief had been at first exposure. This was understandable. They both knew Francine; both had misjudged and underestimated her.

  Any mention of the sting idea and/or the information on Carrie’s background was withheld from Salvadore according to the chief’s direction. When finished, Salvadore thanked Chace for the update.

  “Is there anything that you want me to help with or do you want me to proceed where I left off?” he asked.

  Chace could see now that Salvadore had developed a different attitude. He was more subdued and was obviously yielding to Chace’s superior background and experience. He appeared ready to accept the role of apprentice for the duration of the homicide investigation.

  Chace did take him up on the offer to help. On his to-do list was a low priority task that he had not gotten to during Salvadore’s absence. Referring to the F.B.I. record on Francine, he asked Lieutenant Salvadore if he knew of any previous police involvement with Francine’s two saleswomen, Aggie Moran and Sheena Green, or if he knew of their possible involvement with prostitution. Salvadore thought that one of them was a lesbian but he “didn’t know for sure.” The other woman was known around town as a ready and willing partner with “any man” after hours, but he didn’t know if it was “for free or for fee”.

  At Chace’s chuckle, Salvadore said, “No problem I’ll get on it. Is there any information in particular that you want me to get out of them?” Chace asked him to keep it low key and routine in nature, but to ascertain the activity of each of them, according to Francine’s activity log, on the dates of each killing, within twenty four hours before and after each time of death.

  “Ask if they were aware of anyone or anything unusual occurring during their phone duty shifts or on any outside sales activities during those times.” he requested. “If Francine is back at her old trade, they are most likely involved.

  You can pass on the trainee; I’ve already questioned her.” Chace added. Salvadore accepted the assignment and went to his office to prepare.

  Chief Devaro stepped into Chace’s office to get his take on the lieutenant’s first day back from special training. They both felt an encouraging new sense of purpose and direction had surfaced within the detective.

  Later, after Salvadore had left the building, Chace went to the chief’s office and, with a closed door, they picked up where they had left off the previous Friday at the chief’s house.

  They spent a half hour swapping the questions they had struggled with in their minds over the weekend. Both agreed that it would require the cooperation of Carrie and the isolation of Francine from the actual sting.

  “Before we go any further, I think we need to have a serious talk with Carrie Slavonic to find out if she is aware of Francine’s record”, suggested the chief.

  “If she is aware of it, and if she’s defensive of Francine, we’re screwed. I say we roll the dice on that one first.” he directed.

  Chace agreed, but added, “I’ve interviewed her once and, as I told you, she’s a cool customer.

  The chief asked his secretary to call the Stanley Realty Office, as he listened on the extension, and to ask for Ms. Slavonic. Francine answered and indicated that Carrie was expected later in the afternoon, and asked if there was any message. The reply was, “Thank you but no, I’ll call back later today.” A delayed hang up suggested that Francine was perplexed, and trying to discern the caller’s number. The calling number, of course, was blocked.

  “Let’s go, Don,” said the chief, “we’ll catch her at her apartment.”

  Within four minutes they were in Chace’s unmarked cruiser and on the way to nearby New Haven. Without lights or siren, but taking advantage of Chace’s expert high speed driving ability, the trip to Carrie’s apartment did not take long.

  They parked with a view of both the back door and the front entrance of the end-unit condo apartment. The chief stayed in the cruiser to monitor any exit from the rear while Chace went to the front and rang the doorbell. After ringing three times, the intercom came on with Carrie’s sleepy sounding voice. Although he was aware that there was a video monitor, Chace introduced himself.

  “I’m here with a partner, he’s parking the car, Ms. Slavonic, we have some information that you should be aware of, it shouldn’t take long.”

  There were some muffled words that sounded like obscenities, and then Carrie agreed, but asked for a few minutes. Chace motioned for the chief, and they waited at the front door for a long three minutes.

  Carrie opened the door and motioned them to enter. They all walked into the great room that Chace was familiar with from his last visit. Missing this time, the inspector noticed, was the cloud of heavy perfume. He didn’t know if he was pleased or relieved.

  Carrie was dressed in a T shirt and jeans and was barefooted. She apparently hadn’t gone through her makeup routine. Chace was surprised at the fact that she was a much more attractive young woman in her natural state, as opposed to the decorated, hardened woman he remembered from the first interview.

  The chief had never met Carrie face-to-face before this. After introducing the chief, who was in plain clothes but showing his wallet badge, the conversation began.

  Violating recommended police procedures but in a very official mode of speech, Chace went through the pages of the F.B.I. dossier, showing Carrie the mug shots and fingerprints of Francine. Chief Devaro was watching Carrie for any signs of nervousness or anxiety. While Chace was going through some of the narrative of Francine’s New York past activities, the chief noticed that, although Carrie remained very calm and composed, the trickle of a tear started down her cheek. She wiped it away and her shoulders began to sag. Sitting forward on the edge of her chair she put up her hands to signal Chace to stop.

  “I don’t understand why you’re telling me all this.” she said. Carrie’s face was becoming red and blotchy. “Are you here to arrest me?” she asked. Chief Devaro spoke up in a sympathetic, fatherly manner.

  “Calm down, young lady, you don’t have anything to fear from us. We have a job to do and one of the things we are expected to do is protect the people in our town. We are probably being insensitive but we feel that this information might be very important to you in doing your real estate work. There are times that you have to meet with strangers while you are learning to show houses and we want you to be careful.”

  Carrie was composing herself as she listened to the chief, somewhat
mesmerized, and completely ignoring Chace. Chace, at that point asked if he could impose himself on her hospitality by using the bathroom. Carrie nodded and pointed to a door of a wash room located off the entry foyer while she wiped off the rest of the tears with her T shirt sleeve. The chief leaned across a coffee table and offered her a handkerchief.

  “Do you have family here?” he asked. Carrie shook her head indicating no.

  “It must be tough to be on your own”, the chief continued, “my wife and I were never fortunate enough to have children, but we keep in touch with our family members. Sometimes you need it.” the chief commented.

  Carrie was taken back. Her father was very strict and her mother was submissive. She was never able to understand why girls that she was friendly with were able to have close relationships with their fathers. She could feel herself letting her guard down talking with the chief and it was making her nervous.

  Chace returned from the bathroom and Carrie reverted back to her cool demeanor. Chace asked if Carrie would mind helping them to understand Francine’s operation. There was no response so he went ahead and wanted to know if Francine had asked her to go to any of the listed properties on her own. Carrie became rather defensive.

  “Francine has helped me a lot”, she said, “I came here not knowing anyone and Francine seemed so warm and understanding. I didn’t know about her past and I don’t care. If she is in trouble I don’t know anyone else I could go to. Right now I have to get ready for work so, if there isn’t anything else,” she trailed off, as she got to her feet.

  The interview was over. The chief thanked her for her time and handed her his card.

  “This is a private number, if you need any help, just call”, he said.

  On the way back to East Wayford, there was silence while Chace was mentally processing how far he had stuck his neck out by showing Carrie the F.B.I. file. Then he spoke,

  “That didn’t go too well. I don’t get the feeling that we can expect too much cooperation from her. She was real cool toward me. Did you get anything from her, ‘Dad’?” Chace asked, kidding the chief about his part in the “good cop-bad cop performance”.

  “I thought for a minute that she was opening up,” replied the chief, “but expecting her to break down completely and spill the beans on the spot, is probably not realistic. God only knows what that kid has gone through with men over the years. From what we’ve heard about her she probably wouldn’t trust us under any circumstances.”

  “Where does that leave us?” asked Chace.

  “Just let her marinate right now, we’ll check back in a day or so. We might have to use a female to get to her.” Chief Devaro replied, “It will be better to have her in our corner, but, let’s move on to the next set of problems. I think I know how we can short-cut some of the steps in the set-up.”

  Chapter 28

  Chief Lou Devaro was awakened by his cell phone at 3:10AM.

  “Chief Devaro?” asked a trembling voice.

  Although groggy, he recognized that the caller was Carrie Slavonic. The chief went into the bathroom so as to not wake up Rose, who was quietly snoring under her attached eyeshades.

  Carrie sounded a little drunk or drugged. She apologized but wanted to know if he could come to her apartment right away. He asked if she was alone and she said yes. Sensing that she was alarmed, the chief told her that he’d be there in fifteen minutes.

  He left a message for Rose, as to the address of his destination, on their kitchen countertop recorder. This was his custom if called out unexpectedly.

  He dressed quickly, including a bullet proof vest, and left.

  This could be a little dicey, I should call for a backup, he thought, but that would call for an explanation and a report, I can’t risk that. I could call Chace but he’s more than a half hour away. “I’ll just have to be on my toes.” Chief Devaro decided.

  While driving he adjusted the position of his personal .357 magnum revolver in its shoulder holster, opened the glove compartment of the unmarked cruiser, took out his standard-issue Glock 9mm automatic and placed it on the console to his right.

  For further reassurance, he reached down and back, between the seats and felt the cold steel barrel of his standard-issue 12 gauge, semi-automatic riot shotgun.

  His Kevlar vest felt uncomfortable but he reminded himself that he hadn’t reached his ripe old age of fifty nine years by being foolhardy.

  He dialed Don Chace’s number and left a voice mail. The message indicated where he was headed and, unless he heard otherwise from the chief by 4:15 AM, to call in back-up by New Haven patrol officers.

  Upon arrival at the New Haven condo complex, the chief circled the streets around the area and then toured the parking areas around the townhouses. With everything appearing to be normal, he parked near the front entrance to Carrie’s apartment unit.

  Holding his riot gun under his open jacket, he rang the doorbell. Viewing the chief on the video monitor, Carrie opened the door.

  The chief stepped into the dimly lit interior quickly and backed against the foyer wall with his riot gun leveled and the beam from its attached flashlight swinging from left to right.

  “Thank God you’re here, it.., it’s okay, I’m alone,” Carrie said with a stunned voice.

  The chief’s actions alarmed her until she realized that he had to insure that no one was using her for bait or holding her captive.

  “Let’s check through the rooms, just to be sure,” directed the chief. After lighting each space as he checked the seven rooms and two and one-half baths on the first and second floors, along with all closets, the chief checked his watch. At 4:05 he called Don Chace’s number.

  “Are you clear, Lou?” he asked.

  “I’m clear, sorry to get you up at this hour, but I had to cover myself here and you know the layout in case you had to direct a back-up action”, replied the chief. “Get some shut-eye. I’ll catch you later on.”

  Carrie was a mess. She had obviously been crying, and her eye makeup had run down both cheeks. The whites of her eyes were bloodshot, her face was pale and her hands were trembling.

  “I didn’t know what to do, or who to go to, I’m scared out of my mind!” she said as her legs were going weak and she stumbled slightly.

  The chief caught her with one arm and leaned the riot gun against the kitchen breakfast island. Carrie began to sob as she leaned against the chief for support. He walked her to a stool where she sat and rested her head in her arms on the granite counter top of the island.

  “The chief looked through the cupboards and found the makings for a pot of coffee. He rinsed out a coffee maker, filled it with coffee grounds and water, set it to dark and plugged it in.

  Carrie composed herself as she obviously felt safer with the chief in control of the situation. “I’m sorry”, she apologized again, “I was afraid to fall asleep. Someone was watching me as I got home.”

  Carrie went on to relate how, after working on phone duty at Francine’s office, she had stopped off at Jerry’s Jug for a nightcap. She had been struggling all day with processing the conversations and information about Francine that the chief and the inspector had presented the previous morning. She continued on about how she was totally stunned. Francine had been like a foster mother to her and was very supportive, as she had been to other women who needed help. Francine would line up dates for the other saleswomen and Carrie knew that they took “gifts” for their ‘companionships’.

  She felt differently now, and very uncomfortable in light of Francine’s past. At the office during the afternoon she began to look at Francine in a different light. Perhaps, in being so helpful, Francine was more interested in lining her own pockets. That didn’t fit the kind, motherly image Carrie had of her at all.

  Like a promiscuous daughter, confronted by her father, she looked pitifully and painfully at Chief Devaro.

  “And I did it too.” she blurted out, “Quite a few times.”

  She looked intently at the chie
fs expression, as if she was waiting for a sign of anger or disappointment, or if some form of punishment was about to be handed out.

  “At some of the locations there were...” The chief raised his hand as a sign to halt her speaking.

  He got up and poured two cups of black coffee. As he sat back down and slid a cup toward Carrie he said softly, “I know. I’ve known for a while. Inspector Chace and I have both known. It’s okay. A lot of people sell themselves in one way or another. It’s not always for money, and it’s not only done by women, either.”

  Carrie didn’t expect this. To her the law was always something to hide from, to fear.

  “Are you having me followed?” she asked.

  “Not yet Carrie.” the chief responded, “We’re doing a homicide investigation, not a prostitution investigation. Inspector Chace and I are thinking that you might be involved in something that revolves around you, but is not directed at you.”

  “Do you mean the killings?” she asked incredulously.

  “It’s possible, we aren’t sure, but if someone is following you it could be the one, or ones that are behind it”, the chief answered. “We think we can smoke them out but we are going to need your help.”

  Chief Devaro went on to tell Carrie how they could monitor her comings and goings and set a trap for anyone acting suspiciously. This way it could help their homicide investigation and, in the process, perhaps prevent any further killings.

  He told her that when the homicides were solved, the fall-out resulting from the investigation would most likely bring about an investigation into the prostitution angle. The chief assured Carrie that her help with the homicide investigation could earn her protection from prosecution for her illicit involvement, and possibly she could get placed into the States Witness Program. They went on until dawn with questions and answers on the details of Chace’s and the chief’s plan.