***
Rudy Gantz was bored and annoyed. The boat captain pose was no longer amusing and he was starting to feel like a lackey for Jakob Reisman rather than a partner. At Reisman’s direction, Rudy was planning to send the Clintocks on a quick trip down to Parlor City with a significant supply of drugs to be stashed in the Projects. Rudy wanted to set up distribution in his home town but Reisman had vetoed that idea and, instead of asserting himself, the redhead had pouted.
The alliance between the two Strathmore Prison alumni had already shown strains earlier when Reisman learned that Rudy had made a deal with two college kids to buy a quantity of drugs on consignment in return for paying a premium price later. When Rudy confessed that the drugs were most likely already on their way to Washington, DC, Reisman exploded. It was the only time he dressed Rudy down in front of the Clintocks, a humiliation which the redhead found difficult to forget.
“It’s going to cost me to send someone down there to fix this problem, Rudy” Reisman said, before adding, “and the expense will be deducted from your take. Let this be a warning not to act on your own again.”
In a desperate attempt to save face, Rudy tried to rescind the arrangement with the college boys. Confronted with Rudy’s demand, Ralph Birdsong had laughed derisively, informing him that the drugs were long gone.
Rudy was tormented by Reisman’s dressing down, especially since it occurred in front of the Clintocks. To make matters worse, he was now being treated like an errand boy. While livid that Birdsong had openly demeaned him, he could not deny that he had been played for a fool by two college punks. Without saying a word to Reisman, he made up his mind to confront Birdsong one last time. Rudy Gantz simply couldn’t let it go.
When Reisman learned of Birdsong’s murder and that suspicion was directed at one of the victim’s other college friends, he was certain that the police were focused on the wrong man. While their ineptitude was reassuring, he concluded that his partner was fast becoming a dangerous liability.
Reisman had other concerns of a graver nature than an inept partner. He had sent two men down to Washington, DC to either collect payment or recover the drugs from Drebek. In either event, they had instructions to rough him up. Instead, they called with some shocking news. By the time they got there, Drebek had been murdered and the drugs were gone. When Reisman learned that Drebek’s throat had been slit, he understood that he had made a potentially fatal miscalculation and that events beyond his control were rapidly closing in on him. He concluded that he had no choice but to drastically alter his plans, including the accelerated movement of his cash offshore.
***
When Sweeney walked into the station that evening, Fogarty was there waiting for him. “Helluva job down there in DC, kiddo. You must have really schmoozed those big city cops because the Drebek file just came through the teletype and includes crime scene photos plus a graduation snapshot that was provided by his parents. You need to drive up to Parlor Harbor and deliver some files to the Chief. Get some sleep and head out first thing in the morning.” Fogarty had detected discouragement in Sweeney’s voice when he called in from DC and wanted to buck up the rookie without laying it on too thick. It had its intended effect. Sweeney went home exhausted but feeling like a cop who could do his job. And he didn’t even mind that his boss had called him “kiddo”.
***
A hunch-shouldered Jerry Kosinski trudged into the cottage that evening with itching, sun-burned arms and a hang dog expression on his face. Even his cheeks ached from the number of phony smiles he conjured up every time he caught some stranger’s eye. He had played the role of the gregarious, care-free tourist for several hours, snapping pictures at random, hoping to but never catching a glimpse of either Gantz or the Clintocks. He was anxious to help his best friend but had come back a failure.
“We need to get this film developed quickly, Billy. You never know what unguarded moment he might have captured, especially in the crowd shots. Don’t be discouraged, Sherlock” Gwen said, turning from her husband to smile at Jerry.
Meacham looked up and grinned. “She’s not only a beautiful nurse, she’s a budding detective with all the right instincts. It seems like everyone in this family is a sleuth now. Don’t be too tough on yourself, Jerry, until we see what’s on the film.”
***
That night, Meacham decided to take a chance with the stranger who had been leaving envelopes in the cottage door. His note said “Drebek was murdered in DC inside his parent’s car. The box sent to him by Birdsong was emptied out. Can you get this film developed without drawing attention? If not, leave it in the door. Woody is innocent but of course you already know that. Thanks.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“All We Want Are the Facts, Ma’am”
Chip Sweeney arrived with the Reisman and Drebek files when everyone was finishing breakfast. Minutes later, after a pat on the back from the Chief, he was driving back to Parlor City with Gwen. Billy had given his wife an update the previous night after talking to Fogarty.
“That’s Brad Drebek alright” Woody said when his father showed him the picture that had been taken at his graduation from Thorndyke. Meacham held back the lurid crime scene photos but did feel compelled to tell Woody about Drebek’s death, choosing to describe it for now as under “mysterious circumstances”.
Woody looked stunned and confused so, as a diversion, Meacham quickly opened up the other file and held up a photo. “I’ve never seen this guy before. Who is he?” Woody asked, after looking at the prison picture of Jakob Reisman. “He’s apparently a partner with Rudy Gantz in the excursion boat business, son, but let’s just say that they likely have other mutual interests. They met in prison. I’m not trying to keep you in suspense but need to put together a few more pieces of the puzzle before jumping to conclusions.”
“Okay, I think I get it. You don’t want to get my hopes up but you’re on to a potential link between Birdsie, Drebek, Rudy and this Reisman guy, right? That would explain the two deaths close together in time. I am assuming that Drebek was murdered although you cleverly avoided saying it. Well, there’s only one possible connection I can think of and it’s pretty obvious – drugs.”
Meacham couldn’t entirely stifle a grin and said, “Maybe you should have gone to the police academy and not Thorndyke, son. We could use you on the force. Now, keep in mind that all we have now are suppositions and my well-known penchant for theorizing – sometimes on the wild side. As Jack Webb is famous for saying on Dragnet, ‘all we want are the facts, ma’am’.”
***
There was only one Birdsong in the Parlor Harbor telephone directory so Meacham had no trouble locating Nellie’s family. As he stood at the front door, he pulled out his police credentials, wanting to quickly establish that he was not a member of the press, preying on a family’s misfortune. A middle-aged man peered through the screen and glanced at the credentials before saying quietly, “My brother and his wife are in mourning. We were warned by the D.A. that you might come snooping around, meddling where you have no business – or authority. We have nothing to say to you – and that includes my daughter. If you persist in harassing us, we will contact the sheriff and press charges.”
Meacham knew that the sorrow was genuine even if the speech sounded rehearsed. He calmly said, “I am very sorry for your loss but she will be required to speak to us at some point, Mr. Birdsong. My son did not kill your nephew and I intend to find out who did. What your daughter knows could be invaluable in getting to the truth.” Meacham spoke compassionately and was hoping for some softening in Nellie’s father but he did not waiver.
“You’ve had your warning. Stay away” he said sharply before slamming the door shut.
***
Feeling frustrated as he approached the Parlor Harbor Inn to consult with Busbee, Meacham ran into the Ralph Birdsong’s parents on the sidewalk. He tried to engage them in a consolatory way but they looked away stone-faced and pushed past him without a word. Meacham no
longer suspected but knew that the raw emotions of all the Birdsongs were being manipulated by the D.A. He chose to let them walk on uninterrupted. Suddenly deciding that his meeting with Busbee could wait, he turned around and headed down the street.
***
Meacham walked into Pappy’s looking for a bartender named Buzz Bigelow who had been on duty the night of Birdsong’s murder. It turned out that he had worked a double shift that day and, like everyone, remembered an out of control Ralph Birdsong on that fateful night. Buzz had also seen Birdsong at the bar in a less inebriated state in the late afternoon with a stranger who he characterized as a “scruffy looking little guy”. Meacham described Brad Drebek and the bartender agreed that it could have been him. “Yeah, he was an ugly-looking dude, man. A little bit shorter and he would have been a certified midget. I’m great with faces, ask anyone around here. You show me a picture and I’ll identify him right off if he’s the guy” Buzz said flippantly. “I’ll be back” said Meacham, wishing he had brought Drebek’s photo with him.
Meacham was determined more than ever to find Rudy Gantz. So far, the only potential sightings of the redhead were Woody’s glimpse of someone with red hair at Pappy’s the night Birdsie was murdered. And even then, as Busbee would have cautioned, Woody was not certain he saw Gantz. Frustrated by his lack of solid evidence, Meacham felt he had no choice but to take the risk and search the Happy Scotsman. He was hoping to surprise the redhead and confront him in a confined space.
***
Shortly after midnight, Billy Meacham crept onto the Happy Scotsman, not sure what he would find or who he might encounter. Fogie had called him back and confirmed that Gantz did have the necessary permissions from his parole officer and had given the boat as his address in Parlor Harbor.
Jerry had described a room off the upper deck that looked like the captain’s office so Meacham headed there. The boat was swaying gently but the only sound he heard was the gentle lapping of water against the shore.
Meacham had a pencil flashlight in his pocket but the moonlight provided adequate illumination as he moved slowly along the deck. He knelt down at the office door and was about to fiddle with the lock when he felt a presence behind him. He turned and a flashlight went on, temporarily blinding him. Meacham rubbed his eyes and was able to make out a hulking figure hovering above him. He immediately thought of the Clintock twins. “What the hell do think you’re doing, mate?” boomed the voice of Hap MacQuarrie. Hap had taken to sleeping on the boat, wanting to stay close to the one thing he cherished in life and had almost lost. “I’m a cop. Let me explain, okay” Meacham said calmly, not wanting to further inflame what was clearly a mountain of a man and relieved he was not looking up at one of Rudy’s enforcers.
Hap backed off a few steps and gave Meacham room to turn around. Still seated on the floor, he reached into his pocket for his police credentials as Hap’s flashlight followed his movements.
“Hey, that’s your boy with the murder rap hanging over him” said Hap, when he saw the name. Meacham sat against the door with his legs crossed and said forcefully, “He didn’t do it – it’s either really sloppy police work or it’s a set up.”
“Well, I got no opinion either way but the prosecutor seems pretty damn confident from what I hear” Hap said almost sympathetically.
“Hey, hold on just a minute more. Cops aren’t supposed to break into folks’ property. What gives?” Hap was getting his dander up again and he looked down at Billy with a fierce expression. Meacham apologized and quickly changed the subject. “What do you know about your new business partners – did they tell you that they’re recent parolees from Strathmore Prison? How’d you get mixed up with these guys in the first place?”
Hap scowled and said, “I’d like to see that little lavvy heid behind bars again, I can tell you that. He couldn’t paddle a dinghy in the harbor without falling into the water but when he’s on board, he prances around the deck like a fairy in his new captain’s hat. He looks like a kid dressed up for Halloween.
“Listen, I got myself in some financial troubles and my banker, a guy named Earl Melmotte, pressured me to either raise some cash or face foreclosure. Before I know it, he introduces me to this investor by the name of Reisman – a handsome, well-spoken blonde guy, dressed like a businessman. Later, he introduces this little goon with the red hair as his partner. Within a few days, they emptied out two cabinets in my office and padlocked the doors. Wish I knew what they were storing in there.”
Meacham gazed up at Hap and shook his head. “You realize that if things go bad, you could be left holding the bag, right? These thugs are career criminals, not businessmen. The Canadian was in prison for running drugs for a Mexican gang. What do you think they locked up in those cabinets – candy bars?”
Hap backed off a few steps with a stunned look on his face and held out a great paw to boost Meacham to his feet. “What can I do to help?” he asked. “Hell, I’m ready to rip the doors off those cabinets. Just give me the word.”
“Hold on, Hap. Let’s reason this out. I’m as anxious as you are to bust open those cabinets but if there’s nothing illicit in them, it doesn’t prove anything but it does put your partners on notice that someone is watching them. If they’re dealing drugs, they could be moving them around between various locations. If you could discreetly watch Gantz and catch him in the act of removing stuff from the cabinet, now that would be another story. I would caution you to be very careful and take no action yourself. Is that clear?” Hap felt the impact of Meacham’s warning and nodded in understanding before saying “just don’t call them my partners, okay? If my father ever saw them within an arm’s length of his boat he would have yelled out ‘Ah’ll stoat yer wallies’ ” Hap bellowed in imitation of his father.
Meacham looked puzzled and Hap translated. “It means I’ll knock your teeth out.” Meacham grinned and then asked if Gantz or the Clintocks ever slept on the boat. Hap laughed. “Yeah, early on they bunked here, once or twice I guess. I heard one of those sheepshaggers roaming the deck one night and got up to witness the Gantz character retching over the side. You would have thought we were pitching on the high seas. Can you believe it? Not sure where they sleep now. Sometimes, they all show up a few minutes before we embark – except the Canadian. They ride with me off and on but have no predictable schedule that I can tell. Periodically, they hop off at one of our scheduled stops and sometimes they get back on, other times they don’t. It struck me as strange but after a while I just ignored them. Gotta boat to manage and bills to pay, you know.”
“Listen, Hap. I’m taking you into my confidence because you seem like a decent sort of guy. Just between us, we have placed surveillance on these characters. You won’t necessarily see us but we are around, trust me. However, having another set of eyes on the boat would be invaluable” Meacham said, before handing him his card and adding “Be careful, Hap. These guys are playing a deadly game.”
Hap MacQuarrie looked at Meacham’s card and smiled. “Yes sir, Chief. I am still the captain of this boat, reporting for duty every day. I didn’t realize how much the Happy Scotsman means to me until I almost lost it. Now, I want it all back and I want that arse bandit hauled back to Strathmore.” He then gave Meacham an exaggerated salute and they shook hands.
Meacham had thought that Hap was an unlikely partner for the likes of Reisman and Gantz but now he was certain. As he climbed off the boat, he was convinced that his instincts had not let him down. Hap MacQuarrie was a decent sort of guy who, desperate to save himself from pending calamity, got ensnared in a deadly web. Meacham chuckled when he thought how Hap reverted to his Scottish dialect when he got excited. He had no idea what it all meant but was certain that Hap had leveled some biting insults at Rudy and his boys.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Photographic Memories
The next morning, Meacham opened the cottage door and an envelope fell to the ground. The note inside read: Make sure your lawyer gets all of the crime scene phot
os.
The envelope that Meacham had left with the roll of film shot by Jerry was gone. When Meacham picked up the newspaper, he was in for a shocker.
***
The front page featured two gruesome pictures from the crime scene that, according to the accompanying article, had been leaked by – or stolen from – the coroner’s office. Readers were agape as they looked at the corpse of Ralph Birdsong with over thirty cuts and slashes to his torso. A third photo, not taken by the coroner, was a close-up of the bloody knife with the gold-lettering “Pappy’s” distinctively embossed on the handle. It was not the kind of publicity the popular tourist restaurant was seeking at the start of the summer season.
As if on cue, and feigning outrage, Ozbert Symington Patchett called a press conference to denounce the scoundrels who had purloined the photos and provided them to the Parlor Harbor Gazette. By insinuation, he indicted Cecil Ainsworth either for complicity or for negligence by speculating to the assembled reporters that the coroner was no doubt victimized but should certainly consider upgrading his security procedures. Patchett failed to explain that the photo of the bloody knife had not been taken by Ainsworth but had come from the sheriff’s office. He had no harsh words for the newspaper which had been owned by a Patchett family trust for generations.
***
Later that morning, Patchett showed up at the sheriff’s office and immediately went behind closed doors with Grimsley. Nellie Birdsong kept her head down but out of the corner of her eye could see Grimsley gesticulating wildly while Patchett, smiling benignly, was rudely rebuffed when he tried to pat the sheriff’s shoulder. In his own domain, Grimsley had somehow conjured up a surprising measure of courage.
Nellie got up and walked gingerly to the far side of the anteroom, then slowly sidled up to the corner of the sheriff’s office where Patchett and Grimsley stood behind the glass partition with their backs turned to her. The sheriff’s head was down and he was shaking it back and forth.
A Murder In Parlor Harbor Page 12