Goose City

  "Ensure that King Boggen's dressing room has a bottle of Bonfire Nights. He is just so fond of that atrocious drink," said Emperor. Lucy nodded then said, "Sir I'm sure everything will be as it once was especially after the gala."

  "Yes, like the proverbial Phoenix, Henry Emperor will rise from the ashes and become a shining star once again," said Emperor with a smile. Lucy departed, leaving Emperor alone with his anger.

  Suddenly his cell phone rang startling him. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he removed the phone and read the number. He rejected the call after not recognizing the number. He then tossed the phone in the wastebasket.

  Going to the wet bar, he poured himself a glass of aged Red Sky and gulped it. As he poured a second glass, the cell phone in the wastebasket rang again. He retrieved the phone and pressed the answer button.

  "I'm not granting press interviews at the moment," said Emperor angrily.

  "What I'm about to say is very important if you want to stay alive," said the caller.

  "Who is this?" Emperor asked as he furrowed his brow. "How did you get this number?"

  "I have my ways, but none of that matters," said the caller. "What matters is if you want to live?"

  Emperor went silent for a moment then said, "Okay, talk."

  "I've been paid half a million to kill you," stated the caller. "Give me another half million and I'll tell you the name of the person who hired me. It's the same person who made you look like a fool."

  Emperor laughed then asked, "What kind of fool do you believe I am? Do you think I can be swindled again?"

  "No, I doubt you're a fool," replied the caller. "Maybe a little egotistic, but certainly not a fool."

  "Thank you very much for the compliment," said Emperor.

  "By the way, that's a very nice red and black smoking jacket you're wearing," stated the caller. "Did you design that yourself?"

  "Well of --," said Emperor before stopping. He quickly moved away from the windows. His breathing increased as perspiration rolled down his fleshy face.

  "Do not worry, I won't kill you now, it'll be in front of your friends while Boggen is playing," said the caller.

  "How much will it cost?" Emperor asked wiping sweat from his face.

  "I knew you would get on board," said the caller. "An additional half million."

  "Okay, what's the account number?" Emperor asked.

  "I've sent the account info to your desktop," said the caller.

  Emperor sat behind his desk and clicked on a flashing email. Opening the email, he asked, "How do I know you won't kill me after the transfer?"

  "I a man of my word," said the caller. "Besides it would make me look bad in my line of work."

  Emperor made a couple of quick keystrokes then said, "An even one million has been transferred. Now who did this to me?"

  "None other than Lucy Locket," stated the caller. "Everything was arranged by beautiful Lucy Locket."

  Emperor's lower jaw dropped. He could not believe that Lucy Locket would harm him. "Impossible!"

  "It may sound impossible, but it’s true Henry," said the caller. "She even paid me to kill the two swindlers, Smyth, and Redcap, to keep them from talking."

  "What proof do you have?" a red faced Henry Emperor asked.

  "Look at your email," said the caller.

  “What’s in the email?” Henry Emperor asked as he clicked on a blinking email.

  “It’s the instructions on how to kill you,” said the caller. “She even gave me an invitation to your gala.”

  Angered, Henry Emperor gulped his Red Sky and said, “I have another job for you?”

  “That’s going to cost you another one million,” said the caller. "Transfer the money to the same account."

  Emperor’s fat fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard.

  “What’s the job?” asked the caller.

  “No one makes a fool of Henry Emperor,” said Emperor.

  “I understand,” said the caller. “When and where?” Emperor gave the caller the details then ended the call.

  He went back to the wet bar and poured another shot of Red Sky. Returning to his desk he made another call. “Yes, this is Henry Emperor, I would like to speak with Detectives Jackson Horner and Dick Whittington.”

  Chapter 29

  Sgt. Duke York logged another complaint of breaking and entering. It was the fifth one before eight o'clock.

  Apparently a pair of outlaws described as a girl with curly golden hair and a tall lanky kid who left three beans at each crime scene. So far the pair had managed to steal more than half a million dollars’ worth of items.

  “Hello,” said a girl as she nervously looked around. Looking up from his paperwork and recognizing the girl as a prostitute named Betty Blue, Sgt. York asked, “Did your pimp slap you or your john not pay you?”

  “No,” said Betty Blue shakily. “My friend wanted me to bring this to the police if he didn’t call me.”

  “What is it?" asked Sgt. York.

  Betty Blue placed a large brown envelope on Sgt. York's desk.

  He carefully inspected the sealed envelope. "What’s your friend’s name?”

  “Fred Smyth,” replied Betty Blue nervously.

  With a confused look on his cherub face, Sgt. York asked, “Did you say, Fred Smyth?”

  “Yes, Fred Smyth,” said the girl. “He was supposed to call, but he didn’t.”

  “Haven’t you heard?” asked Sgt. York. “Fred Smyth was killed in the EPH Inn. I’m sorry.”

  “I figured that much when he didn't call,” said the girl quietly as she fought back tears.

  “What’s in the envelope?” asked Sgt. York. “I don’t know,” said the girl.

  Sgt. York started opening the envelope, but stopped upon seeing a frustrated Detective Whittington enter the building. “Hey Detective Whittington, you might want to hear this,” called out Sgt. York.

  “Get somebody else,” said Dick angrily as he waved off Sgt. York. “I got to take a call.”

  “This has to do with the homicide at the EPH Inn,” called out Sgt. York. Dick stopped dead in his tracks and went over to the desk. “What do you mean?”

  “Betty has quite the tale and a package,” said Sgt. York. Looking at Betty and the envelope, Dick said, “Follow me.”

  Dick led a nervous Betty Blue through a maze of cubicles. After making it to Dick’s cubicle, he motioned for her to have a seat. “I’ll be with you in a moment, I really have to take this call.”

  Betty sat quietly as Dick talked on the phone. “Detective Whittington, talk to me.”

  The caller said, “Hello Detective Whittington, this is Henry Emperor. I am about to present you the key to your case.”

  “Talk Mr. Emperor,” said Dick politely.

  “It appears that I was swindled by my very own chamberlain, Ms. Locket,” said Emperor.

  “What do you mean?” Dick asked. “My humiliation was created by the hands of Lucy Locket,” replied Emperor.

  “How do you know this?” asked Dick.

  “The person she hired to kill me informed me,” replied Emperor.

  “Did this person have a name?” asked Dick.

  “No,” said Emperor. “However he knew details of me only Ms. Locket was privy.”

  “What about Smyth and Redcap?” Dick asked. “Did you have them killed?”

  “No, that too was the work of Lucy Locket. She wanted to keep them quiet,” said Emperor.

  Dick leaned back in his chair and exhaled loudly. “Where is Ms. Locket now?”

  “She is here at my estate, Misty Morning,” said Emperor. “She is unaware that I know of her betrayal."

  “You may be in danger, especially if she finds out that this hired gun isn’t going to carry out his job.” Dick said. “Where is your estate?”

  Emperor went silent on the other end. He never thought he would be in danger from his assistant Ms. Locket. “I’ll send her to the office on an errand and you can arrest her then,” said Emperor.
<
br />   “We can just come there and arrest her,” said Dick.

  “No,” protested Emperor. “I’m hosting a gala and don’t need the unwanted attention.”

  “You do understand that your life may be in danger,” Dick said.

  “Detective Whittington, my reputation is in shambles. This gala is the only way to repair my reputation,” said Emperor.

  “Okay,” said Dick, “we’ll do it your way, but remember your life is in danger.”

  “I’ll inform you when she is in the office,” said Emperor. “Once there you will make contact with my Chief Financial Officer and second in charge Mr. Peter Piper.”

  “Okay,” said Dick before ending the call. He then turned his attention to Betty Blue. She was no longer there. He had become so focused on his conversation with Emperor, he hadn't seen her leave. He stood and asked, “Did anyone see the girl leave?”

  None of his fellow detectives responded. Frustrated Dick sat down and thought about the information he had heard from Henry Emperor. Lucy Locket was behind everything. Dick sighed heavily. He then turned his attention to the brown envelope on his desk. After opening the envelope, he dumped the contents on his desk.

  A cell phone and a note fell out. Dick unfolded the note. On the note were four numbers and instructions on accessing a file. He turned on the phone and a picture of Fred Smyth appeared. Tapping the screen once, Dick produced a numbered keypad. He quickly entered the four numbers and followed the instructions.

  After locating a voice recording, he pressed the play button. The first voice was that of Fred Smyth. "We'll be posing as developers of a new material.”

  The second voice was that of Lucy Locket. “Yes, the fat fucker is so greedy and gullible he’ll agree to anything.”

  The third voice was that of Dick Redcap. “Are you sure this will work?”

  Lucy Locket responded with, “I’m positive. I’ve been setting the fat fucker up for the last three years.”

  “Why are you doing this?” asked Fred Smyth.

  “Because of him my brother is dead," said Lucy Locket as the tone in her voice became much darker. "Besides the fat fucker turned down every one of my designs.”

  “Let’s talk money,” said Fred Smyth. “How much?”

  “Two million,” replied Lucy Locket.

  “Was that Lucy Locket?” asked Jackson. Dick turned and said, “We got her.”

  Chapter 30

  Dick's eight man tactical apprehension team was assembled in the main briefing room. Detective Nimble and I stood to his right as he went over the details of Lucy Locket's apprehension.

  “Okay people, we're going to apprehend one Lucy Locket for the murder for hire of Fred Smyth and Dick Redcap," said Dick. “Also she will be charged for the murder for hire of Henry Emperor.”

  "Where will be apprehending the suspect?" asked a team member.

  “Apprehension of Lucy Locket will occur at Emperor’s Tower. Mr. Emperor will inform me once the suspect is in the building," said Dick calmly. "I don't expect her to be armed or resist, but stay focused."

  Then the Fitzwarren entered the briefing room and asked, “What’s going on?”

  Turning to him, Dick said, “We’re about to apprehend the person behind the Emperor scandal.”

  “When were you going to inform me Detective Whittington?” asked an angered Chief Fitzwarren. “I specifically ordered you to inform me of information concerning Emperor's case.”

  “There wasn’t time to brief you,” said Dick. “If we don't move on this now, she may flee.”

  “But you had time to organize an apprehension team," said a perturbed Chief Fitzwarren. "When this is over, we’re having a long talk Detective Whittington.”

  Stepping towards Chief Fitzwarren, Dick said, “If you'll excuse me, I have a suspect to apprehend.” He moved past Chief Fitzwarren and exited the briefing room. His apprehension team did likewise.

  Looking at me, Fitzwarren said, "His insubordination is all your doing.”

  “No,” I said. “It's because of the way you run the department.”

  Fitzwarren’s lower lip trembled as he glared at me with hate in his eyes. "You're just like your mother."

  Although angered, I smiled. Nimble and I exited the briefing room.

  We joined an angry Dick in the squad car. He put the car in drive and pulled out of the garage. We were followed by a team van and prisoner carrier.

  “That fat fucker is going to get his one day,” said Dick as he sped through an intersection. I nodded in agreement.

  “As someone told me once, you need to keep both eyes on the Fatman,” I said.

  “What do you mean?” asked Dick.

  “It means that people who cross the Fatman have a way of not reaching retirement,” I said.

  “How so?” asked Dick.

  “The last time he was crossed he got rid of a whole team," I said, "including the old chief.”

  Dick’s cell phone rang. “Hello, Detective Whittington.” He smiled and nodded then ended the call. “She’s at Emperor’s Tower.”

  We pulled under the awning of Emperor’s Tower to the surprise of the doorman and security.

  As Dick got out of the car, he pulled out his cell phone and quickly dialed a number.

  “I would like to speak with Mr. Piper,” said Dick. “Mr. Piper, this is Detective Whittington, is Ms. Locket still in the building?”

  "Yes, she is," replied Mr. Piper. "She's looking over some papers."

  Dick made a circling motion with his index finger which meant it was time to go. Getting out of the car, I checked my service weapon.

  "Where we suppose to bring our vest?" Nimble asked.

  Shaking his head, Dick said, "I have a spare in the trunk."

  Nimble put on the vest, then we went into the building followed by the apprehension team.

  Dick ordered two men to remain in the lobby in case Lucy Locket somehow managed to slip by us.

  On the elevator ride to the top floor, Dick said, “Detectives Horner and Nimble will go in with me. We’ll talk to the suspect then make the arrest. Two guys will stand by the elevators. The remainder of you will cover the corridors leading from the offices.”

  After a couple of seconds, the elevator doors dinged open. We left the team members at their assigned posts and quickly made our way down to the receptionist. Waiting for us at the receptionist desk was Mr. Emperor’s chief accountant, Mr. Peter Piper, a thin balding man with horned rim glasses. He appeared to be a real proper gentleman. Also at the receptionist desk was Ms. Brooks who glared at Dick.

  After exchanging pleasantries, Mr. Piper said, “After I spoke with Mr. Emperor, I did some checking.” On an electronic pad, he pointed out several transactions and discrepancies. "I don't know how I missed this."

  “Is she still in Mr. Emperor’s office?” Dick asked.

  “Yes,” answered Mr. Piper. “Please follow me.”

  We followed Mr. Piper until we came to the large doors of Emperor's office. Mr. Piper went in first, announcing us. “Ms. Locket, Detectives Whittington, Horner, and Nimble to see you.”

  Looking up from some papers, Lucy said, “I hope you have news about Mr. Emperor’s case.”

  Mr. Piper hung back as we approach Lucy. Dick said, “We have some very important news about the case. Where is Mr. Emperor?”

  “Mr. Emperor is at his retreat,” responded Lucy as she stood. “He’s hosting a dinner party there tonight.”

  “I was hoping to speak him,” said Dick. “Is there any way we can go to the retreat?”

  “Not unless you have an invitation,” said Lucy with a smile. “Not even a warrant will get you to his retreat. I'll be more than happy to deliver the information to Mr. Emperor.”

  Looking at me, Dick placed Fred Smyth’s cell phone on the desk. He accessed the audio file and tapped the screen.

  While the recording played, Lucy asked, “What’s this?”

  Dick put his index finger to his lips. Then her voice played on t
he recording. Her face became expressionless. We waited for her to protest, but she made none. She walked over to a large window and stood silently.

  “Murder for hire and now embezzling,” said Dick. “How long have you been embezzling money from Emperor?” Dick asked.

  “About five years,” responded Lucy quietly.

  “Why involve Little Fred and Redcap?” I asked.

  “Because I wanted to embarrass him and ruin his name,” responded Lucy, turning to look at us.

  “So you had Little Fred and Dick Redcap killed to keep them from talking,” said Dick as he stood next to Lucy. "Who was the hired gun?"

  Lucy paused then said, “I would like to speak to my lawyer.”

  Dick sighed then recited her Miranda rights. With her hands behind her back, Lucy turned and Dick gently placed handcuffs on her. He signaled for Detective Nimble to take her away.

  Nimble gently took her by the arm and led her out of Emperor's office. We followed closely behind.

  Looking over his glasses at Lucy as Nimble led away, Mr. Piper said, “I hope they through the book at you.”

  Lucy smiled and said, “You are not as smart as you appear Peter.”