Rip Tide by Robert F Clifton (small books to read .txt) 📕

“How was she scholastically?”

“She graduated at the head of the class”.

Back at headquarters Wallace sent for Sergeant Stiles and Detective Myers. After they were seated he informed them of what he had planned along with the County Prosecutor. He then turned to Myers and said, Carol I'm going to need a favor from you”.

“Such as?”

“How many bedrooms in your apartment?”

“Two”.

“Anyone using one of them?”

“If you mean a live in boy friend, no”.

“What I mean is there might be times when Qwen has to stay over. Can she crash with you?”

“Sure, just as long as she's not moving in permanently”.

“No, but what I do need for awhile at least is a permanent address. If things go right the Butlers will either call or send correspondence in the mail. I don't anything being returned, “No such Addressee”.

“Fine, I'll put her name on the mail box”, said Myers.

“I'll do better than that. I'll have her name with your address registered with the Post Office”.

Turning to Frank Stiles Wallace said, “Frank, you'll do the wiring.

Naturally, she'll wear the wire only when she's to make contact with one or both of the Butler's. If and when she models, no wire. If they proposition her when she's not bugged Qwen's smart enough to stall until such time that she is. Now, if there are any problems let me know now”.

“I hope she likes watching Lavern and Shirley”, said Myers.

“I hope so too”, Wallace responded.

At eight o'clock that evening Wallace sat in his favorite chair in his living room-den talking on the telephone to Sergeant Qwen Phillips of the Cape May County Prosecutors Office. “So that's the drift of it kid. Are you on board?”, he asked.

“Sure, but what makes you think they'll hire me. I'm pushing thirty five. Just between you and me, it's been a long time since I walked down a run way”.

“Do you still have your photo portfolio?”

“Yes, they're either in the attic or the garage”.

“Just show that. Your story is that you've fallen on hard times, recently divorced, need a job, something like that. They seem to like mature women for their models”.

“Hey, I'll give it a try”.

“Good, I've got a place for you to stay while you're in town. I'll introduce you to Carol Myers when you get here. Also I want you to

fill out a change of address with the post office”.

“No problem'.

“O.K. you got the address. We'll see you when you get here tomorrow”.

Chapter Seven

Undercover

Captain Wallace sat at the kitchen table in Detective Carol Myers ground floor apartment. Sitting with him were Myers and Sergeant Frank Stiles. The three of them were waiting for the arrival of Qwen Phillips who hopefully was on her way driving from Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

Myers took a sip of tea from the cup she held in her hand. After placing the cup on the table she looked at Wallace and asked, “Since I'm going to have a new room mate what should I know about her?”

“Well, to me she's almost family. I've known her for the past ten years. She's not only good looking, but very intelligent. I'd put her on a par with you Carol”.

“Is she married?”

“Divorced. That in itself is a sad story. Her brother was in Vietnam and he asked her to write to one of his buddies, Louis Bergen. As a result of the correspondence the two fell in love. At least they thought they were in love. Like most young married couples starting out they struggled financially. After being discharged from the army and then married Lou took a job as a milk man. He made a liveable wage, but just barely. One day an opportunity came up for Qwen to take a job as an investigator with the Cape May County Prosecutors Office. Immediately, Lou questioned her decision. Then, unfortunately the domestic friction and arguments started.

Qwen was then and is now the niece of my best friend, Manfred Edwards.

He knew that eventually that if she insisted on taking the position that eventually she would turn up as a student in the police academy. At that time I was the Director of Training. So, Doc Edwards asked me to talk to both of them about the challenges they would face as a married couple if she went into law enforcement as a profession.

Lou and Qwen drove up from Cape May to her uncles home and there I sat them down and to the best of my ability explained how her entering law enforcement was bound to destroy their marriage. I saw right a way that I was wasting my breath. He insisted that since he loved her he naturally supported her in what ever profession she chose.

At that time he gave me an opening and I said, “You use the word, profession. Right a way we have a difference. Qwen will have a profession. You will have a job. She will be eventually be a trained investigator. You will be a milk man. She will be called out at all times day or night. You will wonder where she is and what she's doing. She'll have her photograph and name in newspapers while you're placing bottles of milk on back porches.

Each and everyday you will resent it. You will resent that in your mind you think that she has outclassed you, professionally, and financially. And, unfortunately the resentment will grow, the arguments will increase and you will demand that she give up her position. She won't and the marriage is over. Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with being a milkman. Actually, you will be the victim of male ego for the reasons I just mentioned.”.

“What happened then?', asked Myers.

“Exactly what I predicted. Qwen stayed in law enforcement and Lou eventually left. The last I heard of him after the divorce is that he went back to Michigan. I think he's in Flint, building Buick’s”.

“Well, all I've got to say is, good for her”, said Myers.

“Are you speaking as a cop or a woman?”, asked Stiles.

“Both”.

A car drove into Carol Myer's driveway and she got up from the table and went to the front door. Opening it she saw an attractive woman standing behind the open trunk lid of a dark blue late model Ford.

“Do you need any help?”, asked Carol.

“If you don't mind”, the woman answered.

“I've got two grown men in here, one of them can lift anything you have that's heavy”.

“No, all I have is a small suitcase and a cosmetic case. If someone could get my portfolio I'd appreciate it”, said Qwen Phillips.

“Come on in. I'll get it. By the way, I'm Carol Myers. Seems that we're going to be room mates for awhile”.

“Qwen Phillips, thanks for having me”.

Wallace and Stiles met the woman in the living room. “Hi Kid”, said Wallace.

“Hello Wally”.

After introductions the four police officers sat discussing the case and Qwen Phillips assignment. “Frank here will be placing the wire on you each and every time you need to wear it. At the same time he will be out of sight either outdoors or in a different secure location in a building. What you say or do will be recorded. The tapes will then be transcribed and used as evidence in the event an arrest is made,” said Wallace.

“Alright, what am I looking for?”, asked Qwen.

Wallace handed Phillips a photograph. “This is an old mug shot of

Dominick Desilvio, also known as Daniel Barns or Derrick Butler. This photo was taken by the Philadelphia Police when they busted him for pandering. He's slightly heavier and is gray at the temples now.

We have witnesses that have stated that he propositioned them to go into prostitution working for him. What we're really looking for is a motive for the killing of Pauline Harris.”

“So what you want on tape is him propositioning me”, said Phillips.

“That and more. We know that the Butler agency is using middle age housewives as models for most of their convention clients. Carol will give you their names later. There is a strange connection between the Butler's and a married couple named Hanes. We want to know just what the connection is”.

“Why is it strange?”

Hanes is a stockbroker, Butler's a pimp. Yet, they're together socially once in awhile. It doesn't figure”.

“Anything else?”, asked Phillips.

“Yes, you'll probably deal with Erica butler first. What you need to know is that she is a hard ass business woman. She's the type that does all of the talking. You on the other hand are expected to sit and listen. She's short and dumpy, wears a lot of makeup particularly eye shadow and mascara. Her clothes are expensive, but probably purchased with deals made with the designers after she agrees to show them at conventions. In short she's tough, “said Myers.

“Take the next two days to get familiar with Nautilus Beach. Do a little window shopping. After that make contact. Go to the Butler Agency and apply for a modeling position. Show your portfolio. When she mentions that it is outdated that's when you cry poor mouth, divorce, no job, bills the whole bit. Got it?”, asked Wallace.

“Yep, now Carol, if you'd show me my room, I'll unpack”, said Qwen.

“Come with me”.

“I'll try not to take up too much room. I know this has to be an imposition on your part”.

“Just a bit. Nonetheless, make yourself at home.”.

“Thank you”.

Two days later at eight o'clock in the morning Sergeant Stiles sat on Carol Myers couch. As he did he placed a minute adhesive strip to the inside of the leather strip attached to Qwen Phillip's pocket book. To the adhesive strip he then placed a transmitter the size of a postage stamp.

“Alright. Now I'm going outside. I'll be in my car. I want you two to have a conversation. That way I'll be able to see if our bug is working properly”, said Stiles.

“What should we talk about?”, asked Myers.

“I don't care. Talk about anything”.

When Stiles went outside Myers stood in front of the picture window watching the Sergeant as he got into the unmarked radio car. When she saw him seated she turned to Qwen and said, “Did you notice that besides being overweight and balding Sergeant Stiles is also a pain in the ass. Did you get that Sergeant Stiles?”, she said.

Stiles came back into the apartment. “Very funny. The bug works fine. You're all set Qwen.

“Then, here we go”, Phillips replied.

“Remember, I'll be outside across the street. Just be natural. The bug will pick up your conversation. As it does I'll be recording it on another piece of equipment”.

“Got it”.

That evening Robert Wallace sat in his living room with Frank Stiles ready to listen to the first tape recording of the conversation between Erica Butler and Qwen Phillips. Stiles pushed the PLAY button on the tape recorder.

Erica Butler: “And, why did you come to me?”

Qwen Phillips: “I need a job. I'm experienced and you're the

closest modeling agency in South Jersey”.

Erica Butler: “You say that you're experienced. Who have you

worked for?”

Qwen: The Fonter Agency in New york”.

Erica: Oh, I see. I am very familiar with Fonter. How is Shirley?”

Qwen: “You must mean Sonja, the owner. There was no Shirley

when I was there”.

Erica: “Oh yes, how stupid of me. Sonja of course. Anyway, let me

see your portfolio”.

Qwen: These photos were taken a few years ago. Right now I

can't afford to have new pictures taken. But, it does show

how I looked then and if you don't mind me saying so I don't

think I've aged that much”.

Erica:” I'll be the judge of that. You say you're divorced. Do you

have any children?”

Qwen: “No”

Erica: Then you have no stretch marks, no scars?”

Qwen: “No”

Erica: “Stand up and turn around. I want to look at your legs”.

Qwen: The sound of getting up out of a chair.

Erica: “Lift the hem of your dress so I can see your thighs”.

Qwen: “Is this high enough?”

Erica: “Yes, I want to see if