Bad Company

by Jen Schoenbein

  “Jermaine,” I said. “Do you know why we’re here?”

  “Of course I do,” he replied, looking at me like I was an idiot. “Will my arrest make the paper?”

  I looked over at Officer Mathews, who nodded.

  “Arrests are public record,” she replied. “They’re all listed.”

  “But the arson story,” he said. “Will it make it? Was it big enough?”

  I finally understood what he was saying.

  “You started the fires just to make the paper?” Mathews replied incredulously.

  “I don’t think that’s quite what he’s saying,” I answered. “Jermaine, why don’t you fill us in.”

  He nodded at me, “It all started last year.” He teared up a little. “My little girl, just three years old, was accepted at the new preschool that had opened up in Near North Side. It was a big deal, the new school, geared to people with learning disabilities and all. My little girl, you see, was a little developmentally behind.”

  He looked up at us and pointed,” She wasn’t dumb, mind you. She was born premature. My wife had trouble carrying her.” He swiped at his eye with his thumb. “She’s gone now.”

  “Your daughter?” I asked.

  He nodded, “Yes, both actually. My wife left after she disappeared. She couldn’t take the pain.”

  “Disappeared?” I asked.

  “She was kidnapped, my baby girl was kidnapped from that school,” his eyes flashed in anger. “They opened too fast, trying to make a timeline, and didn’t have good security in place!”

  He rose from his chair, “The cops never found her. They tried, but they never did.” He began to pace around the room. “The story was kept out of the paper because of him.”

  “Because of who?” Mathews asked.

  “Mayor Koch, of course,” he turned on us, pointing. “He kept it out of the paper because it was his baby, the first big community project that he had supported. Didn’t want the bad publicity. He’s trying to make a name for himself to get re-elected.”

  Mathews and I glanced at each other.

  “What about Sully? How does he play into this?” I asked.

  “Sully?” Jermaine replied. “I don’t know who that is. But it’s the Mayor’s fault she’s gone. He backed it, he signed off on it when it wasn’t ready. They hadn’t even finished installing the security system! No buzzers on the door, no badge access like they have today.”

  “Mayor Koch has hired friends to do work for the city. Friends that are paying him well. He’s also taking money for passing on business licenses,” he continued.

  “Do you have proof on that?” Mathews asked.

  “Well, no, but I know he did,” Jermaine said sharply. He was getting agitated.

  “It’s his fault my wife left, too,” he turned and collapsed back in his chair. “She couldn’t take the stress. Couldn’t take me when I lost it.”

  “So you attacked the mayor?” I prodded him.

  “Yes, and I paid for it, too,” he replied. “He was the one that took everything from me and I was the one that went to jail. It’s his turn to pay.”

  “Why did you start the fires, though,” Mathews asked. “You could have hurt someone.”

  “I didn’t want to hurt anyone,” he mumbled, hands on his face, rocking a bit.

  “I think he was trying to get in the paper, expose the Mayor for what he did with the preschool.” I told Mathews. “But the Tribune wasn’t publishing on it and the local papers were being threatened to keep quiet.”

  “I didn’t know about the threats. I didn’t know why they weren’t publishing. Figured he was paying them off,” he replied, coming back into the conversation. He looked at us, eyes wide, a little crazy. “There’s some kind of conspiracy going on here with the Tribune!”

  Mathews looked at me again, judging the room. “We’ll get to the bottom of it, don’t worry Mr. Lewis.”

  “You can arrest me. Shit, I don’t care what happens to me, but my story has to make the paper!” he exclaimed.

  “We need to get you downtown and you can give your official statement,” Mathews moved to take Jermaine in.”

  “You need to promise me my story will make the paper,” Jermaine continued, voice raising.

  “Mr. Lewis,” Mathews said. “Arrests are public record. Your story will be in the paper in regards to the fires. But I can’t guarantee how much of the connection with the Mayor will make it.”

  Jermaine started to get violent, waving his arms around. I stepped back to let Mathews and her partner restrain him. I wanted to give him some kind of reassurance. I was pretty sure I had enough of a story to get published, but I didn’t want to lie to him.

  “Jermaine,” I said, putting a hand on him. They had handcuffs on him and were heading him to the front door. “I’m working on it, okay? I’ve been looking into it.”

  Jermaine gave me a hard measuring look. Finally, he nodded and allowed himself to be led outside and into the cop car. Not like he had a lot of choice, but I was glad he went willingly.

  I got into the Jeep, hands on the steering wheel. I had found the arsonist, but I didn’t feel much better. The fires would stop now, but the Mayor was still guilty of signing off prematurely on the school and other corners had possibly been cut in other projects. Jermaine’s daughter wasn’t avenged. I prayed that we’d be able to implicate the Mayor.

  Chapter 21

  I followed the police officers to the station. Mathews said she’d let me sit in on the investigation since I was the one that had given her the tip. It was my “unofficial” case.

  At the station, Jermaine gave the details of other fires, a few that didn’t make it to the paper at all. Those were ones outside of Paul’s territory. Plus the dumpster fire in Edgewater was his work as well, when he was just learning about accelerants.

  Jermaine showed remorse over shutting down so many good projects aimed at helping the people and was glad to hear some of them had plans to reopen. I really think losing his daughter and his wife broke him somehow.

  Mathews had called in Harris, who arrived sometime during the questioning. I got the absolute dirtiest of looks from him, which I found profoundly satisfying. He directed his questions to the accused, however, ignoring me as much as possible.

  After Jermaine signed off on his official statement, I made my way out of the office. Harris had taken over the case and Mathews hung back with me.

  “I don’t know if we’ve got enough for a warrant for the Mayor,” she said. “The judge won’t want to cause the publicity stir unless we’re sure.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “I know, but I need hard evidence,” Mathews replied, shrugging. “You know how it is.”

  I nodded.

  “The business permits are public property, though,” Mathews grinned. “We’re pulling them now. If they have the Mayor’s name on them and show that the security measures weren’t checked off, then we’ll have enough.”

  I grinned back, “Perfect.” I liked that lady.

  Walking out of the station I pulled my phone out.

  “Hello,” answered Paul.

  “Have I got a story for you,” I started, a little swagger in my step as I made my way to the Jeep.

  I laid the entire story out there for Paul, as much as I knew of it anyway. He listened intently, only interrupting me for a few questions here and there. I could hear him scratching down notes.

  “So, you want me to publish a story against the Mayor?” Paul asked breathlessly. I could hear the panic forming in his voice.

  “What do you think should happen?” I asked him.

  “Well, yeah, I get that” Paul struggled to speak. “But it should be me?”

  “It’s the story of a lifetime,” I returned, smiling. “The Tribune can’t ignore that. Just imagine the publicity you’ll get.”

  Paul waited a beat. “But what if they come back? They’ve threatened me before.”

  “When you’re ready to publish the story,
you can call this number,” I rattled off Officer Mathews number. She had given me permission to pass it along to Paul. “You’ll have a tail for a few days just to make sure no one comes calling.”

  Paul eventually acquiesced, and I was smiling as I climbed back into the Jeep. I felt a little better, like this case, official or not, was finally getting wrapped up.

  Just then, I saw a blonde head in the parking lot, hands on hips. Crap.

  “Hi, Jen,” I waved, getting back out of the Jeep.

  “You didn’t call me,” She accused. “You called Mathews? Why?”

  Oh crap, I thought.

  “Jen,” I sighed. “I’m really sorry. I just figured you’d insist we bring Rodriguez in on it. And I just wasn’t ready to work with him.”

  Jen wavered a bit, “Well, Rodriguez is the detective on duty.”

  “See,” I said, eyebrow raised.

  “Yeah,” she squirmed a bit. “I guess, but you could have still told me about it.”

  “I was planning on it,” I promised. “I just had a few loose ends to tie up first. I’ll make it up to you.”

  “Okay,” she smiled suggestively.

  “What do you want?” I asked, hesitantly.

  “You can buy me a drink,” she smiled triumphantly, swinging into my Jeep. “I just got off shift. To Hungry’s!” She raised a fist in the air.

  “You know we can practically walk there,” I shook my head at her.

  “Yeah, but you’re here. You can drive,” she smiled.

  I climbed back into the Jeep. She had won and I was off the hook. Works for me, I thought.

  Hungry’s wasn’t quite busy yet, so we had a few minutes to catch up over a drink. However, it didn’t take long for a few of the other boys in blue to join.

  I was a little disappointed, but not terribly surprised when I saw Rodriguez saunter in. I was still nursing my tequila with lime when he approached. I could feel my muscles tensing.

  “Heard about the big bust,” he said leaning in. “Why didn’t you call?”

  I swivelled to look at him directly. No way was he going to stand at my back.

  “Now why would I do that?” I asked.

  “You probably didn’t know it was Harris’s case,” he said.

  I shot a short glance to Jen, slightly lifting the edge of my mouth in a private grin.

  “But I don’t know why you didn’t call Jen and me,” he finished, looking slightly hurt. “It would have been a good arrest. And you know us. How do you know Mathews?”

  “I ran into Mathews at the fire in Roscoe Village. We’re practically old friends,” I exaggerated. I gave him an eyebrow. No way would I have called him. Thankfully Jen wasn’t overly worried about self-promoting. She liked what she did and wasn’t trying to make rank.

  I finished my drink and gave Jen a hug.

  “Gotta go. Still have some planning to do tonight,” I stepped around Rodriguez.

  “Thanks for the drink,” Jen smiled doing a little happy dance in her seat. She was obviously pleased with herself.

  I laughed and shook my head at her.

  Rodriguez looked back and forth confused and put out that he wasn’t in on the conversation.

  I settled for a nod at Rodriguez and headed back out the door.

  I went home for the night and spent the rest of the evening getting my surveillance equipment ready for lunch the next day with the Dr. McSleazy.

  The morning was much warmer than usual, and I took the time for a long run. It felt great being able to go out without my gator and winter gear. I had enough time for a few weight exercises when I got back before showering and heading out for the morning.

  I had on another long blouse with black leggings this time. I really hated slacks. Thankfully the legging craze gave me another solution to wear other than slacks. Leggings I can run in. I slipped my feet in some really comfortable black flats. Heels were out of the question when I was working. Too many times things went South fast. It wasn’t worth the risk.

  I had time to stop by Sam and Suzy’s house on the way out of town for a quick update. I wanted to thank Sam for his help finding Jermaine Lewis.

  The ever-present van was in place, but new faces today. I took a minute to explain who I was. They had me wait until Wyatt came to the door to clear me. He let me in, giving me a nod.

  “Morning,” I nodded back.

  “Morning,” he replied. “They’re in the kitchen.”

  I walked in to see Brian sitting at the computer again. I was pretty sure it was Brian. I gave him a nod as I walked through.

  I rounded the corner to find Suzy frying some eggs and bacon, while munching on a piece of toast. She was wearing her yoga pants, probably just finishing her own work out. The sounds of Elton John’s Crocodile Rock mixed well with the frying food.

  Sam sat at the table, still in his robe, nursing his coffee. His hair stuck up in all directions.

  “Good morning, you two!” I waved, smiling at them.

  Suzy waved back, smiling and moving her hips to the music. Sam simply grunted.

  “He’s not a morning person,” she explained, giving Sam a sweet smile. “He stays up late working on his computer.”

  Suzy walked over to give me a hug.

  “Coffee?” she asked, pointing to the coffee pot and mug stand.

  “Always,” I replied, grabbing a cup and filling it. “Thanks.” It tasted like heaven, more specifically, like Lavazza Armonico from the slight hazelnut note. I was glad I hadn’t added cream. It was perfect this way. I sighed.

  “What’s up?” Suzy asked.

  “Just wanted to update you two,” I said. “I’m on my way for lunch with Dr. Millwood and trying to implicate Dessi.”

  “Do you have backup?” Wyatt asked from the doorway.

  I turned to look at him, not realizing he was still in the room.

  “Not really, it’s just lunch,” I shrugged, explaining. “I’ve had lunch with him before.”

  “But you’re wearing a wire,” he frowned. “You’d have to be if you were trying to get anything solid.”

  “That’s right,” I replied, fighting to not adjust my top. It’s a bad habit to check it when you’re nervous. No way could he have seen it. I had it well hidden.

  “You don’t have someone on standby at least?” he continued his questioning, arms folded.

  “Um, no,” I hedged. “I don’t have a partner. But I really don’t expect any trouble.”

  Wyatt shook his head and pulled a card from his pocket. He walked over to me to hand it over.

  “Take this,” he said. “Call them before you go in, let them know where you’re going and when you think you’ll be done.”

  I took the card, looking down at it. It said Sentinel Security, Wyatt’s business.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “If you get into trouble, just hit redial. I have a few guys in different burgs, depending on where you’re headed, it’s likely someone could get there pretty fast. If they don’t hear from you, they’ll come looking or send the police.”

  “I appreciate it,” I replied sincerely. “I’m headed to Skokie.”

  Wyatt nodded, “Yeah, I’ve got guys there today. Shouldn’t be a problem.”

  I considered Wyatt, “But why are you offering to help?”

  I wasn’t stupid or stubborn enough to turn down the help, but wanted to make sure he didn’t get the impression I owed him work on a job in the future. Not that I minded helping out too, but owing someone was a different thing. If I was balls deep in a job, I wanted to give it first priority.

  Wyatt raised a chin towards the Mennons. “It’s part of their case. Which means I am invested. I always take my work personally.”

  I nodded, satisfied and grateful for the extra help. I slid the card in my back pocket.

  “I wanted to thank you for your help yesterday,” I told Sam. “We were able to arrest Jermaine Lewis as the arsonist in the neighborhood fires. He admitted to everything. Signed statement and a
ll.”

  Sam perked up,” That’s great! I helped get a bad guy off the streets!” He looked to Suzy, who came over to kiss him.

  “Nice work, honey!” she said. “You too, Mal. I’ll bet it feels good to find and stop the cause of the fires.”

  “It does,” I nodded. “But it’s not quite wrapped up. There’s something else behind it, with the Mayor. Jermaine was targeting his community work to draw the focus to him and some shady business deals. The fires were Jermaine’s way to force awareness, nearsighted as it was.”

  “With the arrest and publicity, I’m hoping that the police will be looking deeper into the Mayor,” I finished filling them in. “In the meantime, I’ll continue to as well.”

  Sam nodded, thinking. “That’s the reason for the assault charges.”

  I nodded.

  “There was nothing about why he attacked Mayor Koch.”

  “No,” I agreed. “The Tribune isn’t publishing anything negative about the Mayor. And the neighborhood papers have been pressured not to, either. I haven’t found out if the Tribune got the same pressure, but they’re big enough I would be surprised to think they’d be bent by the Mayor. You’d think they’d love the opportunity to expose a rotten public official.”

  “Especially in Chicago,” Suzy added.

  “Exactly,” I agreed. “So, I’m not sure why the Tribune is withholding articles.”

  “Probably a political motive,” Sam said.

  “Maybe, “I agreed. “But one this large must have something big behind it.”

  Sam nodded thoughtfully, drinking his coffee.

  I finished my coffee and thanked them for it, heading out. I promised to let them know how things went at lunch.

  Wyatt nodded to me, letting me out the front door.

  “I already called the guys, they’ll be expecting your call.”

  I nodded a thanks in return and waved at the new guys in the van on my way out.

  Chapter 22

  I made a quick call to Sentinel Security when I pulled in the parking lot. Jim, who I had met on the previous case, answered. He had obviously been expecting my call and sounded glad to hear from me. I let him know I’d be about an hour at the most and that I’d call back when I got out. Jim assured me they had people in the area, ready to head my way if needed.