“Then why did he insist you take this case?” Tori asked, confused. “I know I'm still new, but it doesn’t seem to add up.”
“It's all political,” Flint explained. “Mayor Duffy wanted me to expose Patrick Wilson for who he really is. Mayor Duffy wanted out from under Patrick Wilson's thumb, and certain other people who have power over his political career. That's why he killed Lila Crastdale, to shine light on Patrick Wilson.”
“So why kill the man? Why didn't Mayor Duffy let you finish the investigation?” Tori asked.
“I think Jennifer Reed is the answer,” Flint said. “I think this woman suddenly changed colors on Mayor Duffy. This crook is plastering Patrick Wilson's face all over the news, demanding answers. As long as he keeps Patrick Wilson's death in the spotlight, he's in the clear and able to keep his enemies at a distance.”
Before Flint could say more, Melinda knocked on the door. “Mayor Duffy wants to see you in the Chief's office,” she said, in a tone that told Flint to prepare for a war.
“Let's go,” Flint said. “Melinda, put this tape in your purse and hide it.”
Melinda nodded. Looking up and down the hallway to make sure the coast was clear, she hurried into the interrogation room, grabbed the tape, leaned down, kissed Flint on his cheek, and dashed away. “Flint's got a girlfriend,” Tori began to tease, but stopped when Flint gave her an angry eye.
“Let's go, but play it my way. Just follow my lead, got it?” Flint said. Walking into Chief Cunningham's office, they found Mayor Duffy sitting in a chair. “Yeah, Chief?”
“Detective Flint,” Mayor Duffy said in a concerned voice and then spotted Tori. “Please, this is a private meeting.”
“My partner stays,” Flint told Mayor Duffy in a stern voice.
Chief Cunningham nodded at Tori to stand at the office door. “Mayor Duffy is anxious to see how close we are to finding Mr. Wilson's killer.”
“Jennifer Reed can't be found,” Flint said, throwing hot water in the mayor's face. “You two are real pals, right, Mayor? And before you start playing dumb with me, don't. All I want is the woman. She's the key to all of this. She killed Wilson. She killed Crastdale.”
Tori leaned against the office door. Instead of butting in, she watched Flint lay a trap for a stupid animal. “I'm afraid I do not know the whereabouts of Ms. Reed,” Mayor Duffy lied. “Detective, I am also here to inquire about the intruder you captured at Lila Crastdale's mansion. I must insist that you turn him over. The death of Richard Wilson shocked the entertainment industry and--”
“What happened to keeping Chief Cunningham out of this?” Flint asked, walking to Chief Cunningham’s desk. As he did, he gave Chief Cunningham a look that told him to play along. “You broke our confidence, Mayor. And now you want me to turn over a valuable witness? No way. Nothing doing. Just in case you're not aware, which I'm sure you are, an attempted hit was carried out against my witness. Luckily, he's still alive and I have him hidden away.”
“Chief Cunningham, please do not force me to bring the power of my office down on you. Tell your detective to turn over his witness immediately. I am requesting Detective Flint be removed from this case immediately and--”
“Not so fast,” Chief Cunningham objected. “This is my office, Mayor. I say what goes on here. Detective Flint remains active on this case until I get some answers. Two people are dead. If you try and throw a political water balloon at me, I'll pop it, do you understand me? I have friends in the FBI. I have also had friends in Washington that appreciated my work back in New York. And if that's not enough for you, Mayor, I have some very special friends in the CIA who always have my back.”
“Are you threatening me?” Mayor Duffy asked, in a voice that attempted to sound menacing but came out weak and pathetic instead.
“My butt will be planted behind this desk long after you're gone,” Chief Cunningham answered, feeling his face turn red. Bypassing the stress ball, he leaned across his desk. Flint backed away. “Two people are dead, you worthless worm, and this office is going to find those responsible and bring them to justice. Now you get out of here before I throw you out, do you understand me?”
“I'll... I’ll… have your job!” Mayor Duffy threatened Chief Cunningham.
“Take your best shot. In the meantime, I'm going to make some calls to Washington and speak to Senator Blocker and have him send in a special investigative team to--”
“No, wait!” Mayor Duffy said, throwing is hands forward. Sweating, he looked up at Flint and then back down. “I... obviously overstepped my bounds here. I apologize. There isn't any need to contact Senator Blocker, Chief Cunningham. As you realize, Senator Blocker is preparing to run for president and doesn't need to be bothered with matters that your office is... fully confident in handling.”
“My office is going to bring whoever killed Lila Crastdale and Richard—
“Patrick,” Flint corrected.
“Patrick Wilson to justice,” Chief Cunningham continued. “We offered to help you but it’s very clear you're playing both sides of the field. So you listen to me, you overcooked cheeseburger—”
Tori burst out laughing and they all turned to stare at her.
“Sorry,” she said, trying to be serious but failing miserably. “That was so funny! Overcooked cheeseburger...”
“Detective Flint,” Chief Cunningham said to the mayor, “is going to solve this case, and when he does, you're through, do you hear me. Now run back to your office and try and figure out some way to stop us, because that's what you're going to do. But you better remember one thing, Senator Blocker and I went to school together and we're chums, pal.”
“I'll be in touch,” Mayor Duffy said in a nervous voice. Standing up, he looked at Flint and then scrambled out of the office.
“Do you really know Senator Blocker?” Flint asked.
“I voted for him once,” Chief Cunningham replied with a grin. “Where are we at, Flint? That worm is getting desperate. We just backed him into really tight corner. His next step will be to eliminate us, and he has people to carry out those orders.”
“Cody is who knows where. Jennifer Reed is missing, Wilson is dead. All we have is the mayor,” Flint admitted. “But,” he grinned, “we have the mayor caught on tape. Now I could go to the press, but I think I might just pay the mayor a little visit. Pretend you and I hit odds with each other.”
“Do it,” Chief Cunningham said. “I want this case solved by tomorrow, Flint. No more time. When a man gets desperate, he becomes deadly. I don't want to be looking over my shoulder, are we clear?”
“We're clear,” Flint promised. “Tori, hang out at the station. I'm going to catch up to the mayor.”
Tori watched Flint run out of the office. Shrugging her shoulders, she leaned back against the office door.
*****
Running out of the station, Flint caught up with Mayor Duffy just as he was getting into his fancy car. “We need to talk,” Flint said. “Let's take a ride.”
“Get in,” Mayor Duffy said, studying Flint with uneasy eyes.
“Drive around the block a few times,” Flint said, buckling up.
Mayor Duffy drove out of the station's parking lot and began driving around the block. “I'm listening.”
“Chief Cunningham isn't playing this right,” Flint said. “He thinks you’re involved. He's from New York and doesn't understand California politics. Cut him some slack, okay?”
“He threatened me and I don't take threats lightly,” Mayor Duffy said, attempting to sound manly.
“Chief Cunningham is hot water,” Flint said casually. “He'll cool down and send you a personal apology once I solve this case. Mayor, I gotta find Jennifer Reed. We both know she's the killer.”
“I wish I could help you, but I can't,” Mayor Duffy replied. “Detective, as a favor, drop this case. I can handle matters from here. I'll even overlook Chief Cunningham's threat.”
Flint pretended to entertain Mayor Duffy's request as he breathed in
the faint scent of Jennifer Reed's perfume. “Listen,” he said. “Just come by Jennifer Reed's place tonight, say around midnight. I'll bring my witness by and turn him over to you. Maybe we can flush Jennifer Reed if we take our witness public?”
Mayor Duffy glanced at Flint. “That's a very clever idea.”
“Mayor, for me it's all about the cases. The job is what matters to me. Yeah, I think you're a scum bag, and you know you're a scum bag, and I thought for one minute you were the killer I'd throw you behind prison bars. You're not the killer, though. Jennifer Reed is. You're just a slimy politician, just any other politician out there. I want to solve this case. Can you understand that?”
Flint’s act was so deceptive that Mayor Duffy bought it hook, line, and sinker. “Of course. And thank you, Detective. After tonight, I believe, this very complicated matter will be put to rest.”
“I think so, too. By the way, I found out what Lila Crastdale had on Wilson,” Flint lied. “I'll tell you more tonight. Drop me off back at the station.”
“Of course,” Mayor Duffy said, pulling through a stop sign. “I do have one question to ask you.”
“What's that?”
“What if Jennifer Reed turns up dead? Then what would you do?” Mayor Duffy asked.
“Why would she turn up dead?” Flint asked, looking at the mayor. Surely, he thought, the skunk didn't murder Jennifer Reed. Or did he?
“Oh, I'm sure she's fine. I'm curious because if she turns up dead, what happens?”
“You mean how would her death affect the outcome of this case?” Flint asked.
“Yes.”
“The case would be marked unsolved,” Flint lied.
“I see,” Mayor Duffy said, pulling back into the station and glancing at Flint. “But you would still try and find answers, right?”
“That's my job.”
“I see... Well, Detective, I will see you tonight at Ms. Reed's residence.” His face stretched into a sickening, excited smile. “You'll see, Detective, after tonight we'll both have what we want.”
Flint nodded. “Let's hope so,” he replied, playing dumb. “See you around midnight.”
Flint swung open the passenger's side door and got out of the car. As soon as Mayor Duffy pulled away, he jogged over to his red rental and jumped into the driver's seat. Tori was waiting.
“Where to, partner?”
“Going to follow a rat,” Flint said, and sped out of the station parking lot. With skill, he tailed Mayor's Duffy car. “Just as I expected,” he said, watching the car pull into a private parking lot behind the City Hall. “Listen,” he said, stopping at red light, packed up against other vehicles like sardines in a can. “I have a job for you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah,” Flint said, “You'll see. We have to hurry.” Without wasting any more time, Flint aimed his car toward Lila Crastdale's mansion and, with very little patience, began fighting his way through the traffic, scaring Tori into an early grave. “Bingo!” Flint said spotting no police parked at the mansion's gate.
“Bingo?” Tori asked.
“You'll see,” Flint said. “Now listen, Arnold, this case has turned deadly. The Mayor is going to try and kill me tonight, along with Cody and Jennifer Reed.”
“You make it sound like you want him to try,” Tori said, glancing up at Lila Crastdale's impressive mansion.
“I do,” Flint explained. “But right now we have someone else to deal with. Pull out your gun and let's go. And for the love of everything, don't shoot me.”
Tori watched Flint yank out his service gun. For the first time since she had arrived on the case, Tori realized just how deadly the game had become. With nervous hands, she released her gun from the ankle holster and got out of the car. With scared eyes, she watched Flint jog up to the gate. The space between the bars was tight, but Flint managed to squeeze through. Tucking in her gut, Tori approached the gate and, with much effort, squeezed her body through the bars. “Whew,” she said, glad to be through the bars, “that was really tight.”
“We have to hurry,” Flint said. “We're going around the back side of the property. Come on.”
Tori watched Flint jog off, hugging the fence as he maneuvered his way around to the back side of the property. Praying that her feet wouldn't betray her, Tori took off after Flint. A few minutes later she found Flint kneeling behind a tree close to the pool. “Listen,” he said.
Tori knelt down and listened. “Hey... Someone is playing the piano,” she said. Looking at the back of the mansion, she closed her eyes in order to give her ears more power. “Moonlight Sonata,” she whispered. “But..” Tori flung her eyes open. “Lila Crastdale isn't dead?”
“Nope,” Flint said, “and neither is Richard Wilson. It was Richard Wilson who threw a pillow over Patrick Wilson's face.”
“What?! I'm totally confused.”
“You'll see, come on,” Flint said. At the ready, he lurched out from behind the tree, charged around the pool, and ran up to the back door. With a strong foot, he kicked open the back door and raced inside the piano room, startling an old woman and old man who were sitting side by side on a piano bench.
“Hello, Lila,” Flint said.
Wearing a white flowing evening gown with her long gray hair tied into a beautiful braid, Lila Crastdale simply smiled at Flint. The old man sitting next to her wasn't so welcoming. Standing up, he straightened the silver gray suit he was wearing and eyed Flint with distaste.
“Hey, it's Wilson!” Tori said, slamming to a stop next to Flint. “But which Wilson?”
“Richard Wilson,” Flint said in a calm tone. “Welcome back from the grave.”
“Get out,” Richard Wilson snapped. “You have no right.”
“Oh, do let the detective speak,” Lila said in a charming voice. “After all, he figured out our little plot, didn't he? We must admire his intelligence.”
“Can someone fill me in?” Tori said.
“Stunt doubles,” Flint said, tucking his gun away. “I want some answers, you two, and I want them now. Where is Jennifer Reed?”
“Fortunately,” Lila Crastdale said, “that vicious snake has not returned back to our mansion, Detective.”
“Why did you kill Patrick?” Flint asked Richard.
Richard took Lila's hand into his own and said nothing.
“Come on, spit it out,” Flint said. “And there’s no use lying now. You’re cornered.”
“Money,” he said in a simple voice. “Detective, years ago my wife tried to murder Patrick Wilson in order to protect me. Patrick had her plan figured out. Very clever, he was. Too clever, if you ask me. He got a stunt double from the studio under false pretenses, and lured him right into Lila’s trap.”
Flint folded his arms and listened. “Go on.”
“My poor wife was distraught and believed that she had killed me after my brother made it clear that he was the one that was very much alive. My brother was furious at my wife, of course, and threatened to send her to prison. At that time, I stepped in. You see, I know a great deal about certain business deals my brother has made. Blackmail is a wonderful weapon when used properly.”
“So you blackmailed him?” Flint asked.
“My brother assisted my wife in the courts, then financed her move to New York and made sure my wife lived very comfortably there. I, too, relocated to New York under a false name and, without my wife's knowledge, hired a brilliant stockbroker to assist my wife with her investment endeavors.”
“Why didn't you let her know you were alive?” Tori asked, putting her gun away.
“I couldn't,” Richard explained. “As much as I desired to make myself public to my dear Lila, I could not. Patrick made it very clear to me that if I did, he would kill her, regardless of the threats I made against him. So we made a deal. But after the death of our daughter, Lila returned back to Los Angeles to punish my brother, blaming him for our daughter's death.”
“What did you have on Patrick Wilson, Lila?” Flint
asked.
“Politics,” Lila said in a grand voice, as if she were experiencing a wonderful evening under the stars. “My dear, the game of politics is a deadly one. Men die, men live, men die, men live, and on and on. Years ago, my husband and I were supporters of a man named Ralph Haldale. Ralph was a very fine man. He was part owner of the studio, as well. Oh, those were wonderful times. My husband Richard and I, we loved to make films together. We were wonderful together, were we not, dear?”
“We were,” Richard patted Lila's hand. “We danced on the screen together like two never-ending summer nights.”
Tori smiled. “Oh, how romantic.”
“This,” Flint said bitterly, “coming from someone who flirts with a married, overweight, man who uses his arm as a handkerchief.”
“I didn’t know he was married,” Tori snapped.
“Shall I continue?” Lila asked politely.
“Go on,” Flint said.
“That evil Patrick had Ralph murdered. Drowned, to be precise. I witnessed the murder. Not only did I witness the murder, I took photos. Yes, I was a very clever woman in my day. I understood how to use what a was considered then to be the most modern of cameras, even though the same make of camera I used to my advantage then are now sitting in antique shops today, I'm afraid.”
“Tell me more,” Flint said.
Lila patted Richard's hand and began to walk around the piano room. “Richard and I devised a plan to destroy that horrible Patrick. But before we could act, Patrick left town. He returned with a man, oh, a vicious and dangerous man, whom he had hired to form a local mafia, if you will. This man terrorized local political opponents, as well as some very powerful businessmen. Are you aware that Sky Cloud Studios was burned down?”
Flint shook his head. “Not really.”
“In my day, Sky Cloud Studio was owned by a man named Andrew Faulking, a nice enough man I suppose, but very stubborn. He refused to submit to Patrick Wilson and in return, he was killed and his studio was burned down. After that, other studios quickly caved into Patrick's demands. It wasn't long after that Jenkins Duffy became Mayor.”
Detective Flint Box Set: A Detective Story Box Set Books 1-3 Page 11