Final Act by Dianne Yetman (best free ebook reader .TXT) 📕

feel good message from the Police Commissioner,  latest crime stat reports, bulletins outlining changes in policies, procedures and of course, joke of the week.  She went through the written messages, nothing that couldn’t wait.  She wrote a note to herself to return Hanya’s call, shut down her computer and resumed her conversation with Shirley.

“I followed up on Jeffrey’s propensity for young girls and had some news back from a NYC precinct, can’t remember which one now, it’s somewhere here in my correspondence, positively mind boggling how many stations they have.  Anyway, there was a spot of trouble around a minor.  Apparently charges were brought by the 16 year old girl’s parents but dropped two days later.  According to the officer’s report, parents said they had misunderstood the circumstances, had jumped the gun too quickly.  Having no evidence to proceed on their own, the police dropped it.”

“So Ward was right. The bastard liked them young.”

“Yeah.  Background check on Ward is in.  Young girls aren’t his style but gambling is.  The man’s debts are staggering. Maybe he was trying a bit of blackmail on Stone and it went bad.”

“Sounds probable.”

“Yeah, but you know what keeps cropping up, Shirley?  Young girls.  Beautiful young girls.  It struck me when I thought about Camira.  Young, beautiful, starting out in the theatre, she was just 19, do you suppose there was something between her and Stone?  Thought I might question cast and crew some more.  If there was something between them, one of them is likely to be aware.”

“Young girls?  You used the plural.”

“Yeah.  Roger’s beating ties into these two murders.  Has to given the warning from the drug squad. Here’s my thinking on it.  Stone, Eleanor and Philip all have daughters that fit the same age group.  Philip’s daughter is studying at Dalhousie, Stone’s is overseas somewhere.  Eleanor’s daughter was killed in a car accident, no drugs detected in her system. But drugs and young girls are a lethal murderous mix.  Maybe that’s the motive.  The drug team are out in full force and believe me, the drug community has more leaks than my aunt’s bladder.  We should start to hear things pretty soon.”

“A vein worth needling.  I mean he hadn’t been on the streets for two years and drug dealers don’t wait that long for revenge.”

“I’m going to have to play this tight; I’ve been warned by Gordon to stay off the case.  Alright, let’s go to the theatre and do some digging, deep digging, deep enough to know if the company members still have tonsils.”

Kate and Shirley checked out an unmarked police car and headed towards the centre of the city. They drove past the fort as the noon day canon boomed; the seasoned joggers mounting the hill didn’t miss a beat.  Shirley manoeuvred the car through the congested noon day traffic and managed to catch the light at one of the longest intersections in the city.

“Good save Shirley.  What other hidden talents do you have?”

Nothing I’m going to share with you, Shirley thought.  I’m taking it slow with you.

“That’s it I’m afraid.”

“I doubt it.”

Neither woman spoke for the new few minutes.

“I wonder what’s up with Withers.  He’s been acting strange lately, not himself at all.  Almost carefree, for God’s sake.”

“You mean you haven’t heard?”

“Heard what”, Kate asked.

“He’s fallen for June, hard.  The man’s hurting.”

“June Grayson?”

“That’s the one.”

Kate smiled.  “I’ll be damned; Withers in love with a potential suspect, now there’s one for the books.”

“Not potential anymore Kate, according to Roger, her alibi is solid.”

The two women lapsed into a longer silence.

Shirley thought about Gordon’s call inviting her to become a temporary member of the Murder Squad, working under Kate’s supervision, as an Acting Sergeant Detective.  It took all her self-control not to show her elation and she was able to give a calm, respectful response.

Her elation died a few minutes later when she was telling her husband.  She thought of the reason for her opportunity; an officer down and for all she knew, fighting for his life.  She had trouble sleeping.  Shirley stifled a yawn; the autumn sun pouring into the car was making her dozy.  Her body jerked wide awake at the sudden yell from Kate.

“Stop the car, now.”

“What the hell”, Shirley asked.

“Just stop the car dammit!”

Shirley hit the brakes and Kate was out of the car running towards a tall, black man carrying a briefcase.  She watched in horror as Kate grabbed him by the jacket and pushed him up against the brick wall.

Although she couldn’t hear what Kate was saying over the roar of passing traffic, she knew it wasn’t good. Shit, shit, shit, what do I do now?  One wrong move and I’m off the team. She pulled the car over, opened the door and walked slowly towards them.  As she approached, she saw Kate grab the man’s briefcase.

“Where did you get this?  Tell me now loser.  Where did you get it?”

The man tried to speak but couldn’t.  Kate had pinned him against the wall; her arm across his throat.

Shirley moved in and stood to the right of Kate.

“Kate, let him go.  Drop your arm.  Now.”

Kate was shaking; her breathing ragged but Shirley thought she had eased her grip.

“Good, Kate, breathe.  That’s right.  Now drop your arm, let him go.”

Kate released her grip and stepped back.  The man bent over and spewed on the sidewalk. No one spoke.  He lifted his head, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and glared at Kate.

“What’s wrong with you lady? Are you crazy?”

“I’ll tell you what’s up, you bastard”, Kate said, “The briefcase you’re carrying belongs to a good friend of mine who’s lying in a hospital bed, his body beaten to within an inch of his life.”

“You’re nuts. I’ve had this case for years.  I got it at a car rally in ’95.  See the date inscribed on the medallion.  See my name.”  He reached in his back pocket.  “Look at this bitch, read it, see my name; same as the initials on