Ellen looked at the semi-circle of cops and friends, including her dad, that formed around her and Brice. She was used to the other FTs in the lab looking to her for direction, the next step, but this was an entirely different ballgame. Good thing that Brice and Big Harv and Bella had been here before. It was always good to have people like that to lean on. Then again, she felt a certain calmness about this situation.
“Everyone clear on what the facts are here?” asked Brice.
“Let me give this a shot,” said Aaron. “We’ve got a serial killer whose sister is a top Chicago philanthropist, a cop who wanted to shoot the lead detective in that serial killer investigation because he and his family were threatened by some well-oiled crime group and they made him do it for a reason we don’t get. Then we have a twenty-year detective giving said serial killer a bundle of money from a fake CPD cruiser for another unknown reason. Throw in cops being shot at and one killed to help that serial killer get away from other cops. Then we have a religious leader who specializes in helping drug addicts clean up their lives and is a friend of that serial killer, but ran when the serial killer ran and has yet to be found so we can ask him why he ran. Does that cover it?”
Ellen shook her head. It did and didn’t, but her partner had captured the essence of why they were all together. “You forgot the murders in this mansion that brought all of those facts, and consequently, all of us, here. But yeah, you got it,” she added. “Now we have to find out where all that is leading. These mansion murders might be the key.”
“I think that’s true. Six deaths related to the political society of Chicago is no coincidence. Again, to what end was all of this death?” asked Brice.
“That’s why we need to talk to as many people that were inside that house as we can. They may shed some light on what happened. But the mayor and Miss Blunt seem like the source we need to interview,” said Ellen.
“They don’t have to talk to us, though,” said Big Harv. “I’ve been down that road a time or two.”
“So we have people who could help this investigation but don’t have to?” said Bella.
“Not without warrants and subpoenas,” said Brice.
“I don’t know about this crap. Just send me back to the lab. This all makes my head hurt,” answered Aaron.
“I get that. Soon enough,” said Ellen. “But now we have to find out what’s going on without giving away what we know.”
“You can’t make this shit up,” said Big Harv, shaking his head.
“I agree with the old man on that, so what’s next?” asked Bella.
“We can’t just rush in and accost the mayor, Amanda Blunt, or, for that matter, Frank Brown,” said Ellen. “We’re still cops and due process is still the way the law says we do what we do.”
“So we can’t afford to screw anything up procedurally,” said Brice.
“That part’s true,” said Ellen. “And we want cooperation and not hostile interview situations.”
Ellen took in the expanse of the mansion, including the hustle and bustle at the front stoop between the four pillars.
There had to be seventy-five cops mulling around in the area. No telling how many more were inside. She almost felt like her and her people were outsiders because of what they knew, or at least what they thought they knew. That alone made it difficult to know who to trust.
The last hour included a lot more detail than Aaron had mentioned. Even if they did everything right, they were going to have their hands full, and what they could do still might not be enough.
Brice touched her hand. “I think you’re on the right path here. Tell us what you think we should do.”
“That’s not my role here. You detective types should be telling the rest of us how to go forward,” answered Ellen, that little flutter of excitement stirring.
“I think Brice’s is right. You’re seeing this picture well. Give it a shot,” said Big Harv.
“I agree,” said Bella. “You’re thinking like an FT and a detective.”
Ellen searched the faces of people around her, exhaled, and began. “Alright. The way I see it is that we have four areas to address, probably five, now that I say that. This is what I think should happen here. Aaron, I want you to go inside and see what you can pick up from the FT crews working the scene. Take your bag and simply say you were delayed.”
“What am I looking for?” he asked.
“Physical evidence, as always. But we know that FTs gossip as much as anyone, so listen up. You never know what might help. Turn on that charm and read between the lines. Then meet back here in an hour or so.”
He saluted in a way that reminded her of Agent Sophie Lee. “Can do. I’m on my way. And God in heaven, I hope they have some food.”
Aaron hurried away, leather case in hand.
She turned to Big Harv, hesitating before she spoke. He looked as good as she’d seen him look in months. There was more color in his face. She suspected that just being in the middle of something like this bizarre set of circumstances brought him back to life. It would her.
“Dad. You can’t be too obvious and let the wrong people, you know, the officers that are stickler for regulations, see you poking around. But you have friends here. Friends that don’t like Brown either. They might know something more than what you’ve seen tonight. You’ve always told me you can’t have too much evidence in any case. If Frank Brown is that dirty and hooked up in this whole thing, then we’re going to need as much information as we can muster.”
He bowed, the crooked smile on his face causing her to laugh. The man was still surprising her after thirty-some years.
“I’ll do what I can, princess. Or is that queen?”
“Dad.”
“Okay. Okay. But you sound like you’re in control here and that works for me, as a dad and an ex-cop. I’ll work that angle. I’ve already seen four or five blues and detectives who will talk to me.”
“Great. Same as Aaron. Let’s give it an hour or so then get back together here.”
Big Harv ambled off toward one of the bright floodlights looking like he belonged more than most.
“The man is still good at what he does,” said Bella, watching him walk away.
Ellen cocked her head. Was that a trace of respect in her voice or something more? Even an FT like herself could hear that. Bella and Big Harv? She shook it off. She must have heard something that wasn’t really there.
“He is,” said Ellen.
“What do you need me to do, Chica?”
“We need someone to question the help. You’re a detective. Even though they’ve been questioned to ad nauseam, they won’t be upset when they get it again. The murders happened about two hours ago so they won’t be releasing anyone for at least another hour. That gives you some time. We need to know what the staff saw and heard.”
“The big picture, Bella. You’re good at that. Let’s put this thing together,” added Brice.
“Consider it done. And, I like the way you think, Harper. We’ll make a cop out of you yet.”
“Thanks, I think,” said Ellen smiling. That was her Bella. And she loved it.
“What are you two going to do?” asked Bella.
She glanced at Brice, feeling her stomach tighten at what was about to come out of her mouth. But she knew it was the right thing to do.
Exhaling, she grabbed Brice’s hand, feeling the strength in his fingers. She fed from that strength and it fortified her thoughts.
“We’re going to find the mayor. He is supposed to still be here. I have some questions for him. Starting with why this note was on his letterhead.”