by Rick Polad
As I walked toward the door I heard the announcer on WGN mention they had breaking news. I knew what it was.
“Mr. Manning, I’m very busy this morning. You really need to make an appointment. I don’t know if you’re aware, but there has been a lot going on at the park. We had a bomb scare.”
I stopped him. “I’m not aware of any bomb scare.”
“Don’t you listen to the news? It’s been…”
“Turn on your radio, Mr. Block. WGN.”
He turned to the credenza behind his desk and turned on the radio. A newswoman was talking about what she called the amazing story coming out of Riverview. As she talked about three dead people and kidnapped children, I watched Block’s face. He looked confused and worried. She then switched to the drug raid this morning and the kids who were freed, and Block opened a drawer and reached down. I reached inside my jacket and grabbed the butt of my gun, but he came out with a Kleenex and blew his nose.
When he started to talk, he said he was shocked. He had no idea. I found it hard to believe that. Nobody could be that dumb.
I asked him about sizeable checks going to Walters. He had no idea. I asked him about kids being drugged at the park and forced to work in a factory. He had no idea. He had no idea about anything.
“Mr. Block, are you trying to tell me you ran that amusement park and had no idea that all these things were going on?”
“Well, it does sound a little implausible, but it’s true. I know I’m not a good manager.” He shook his head. ”I didn’t know about those things.”
I had met enough good actors to start a Broadway show.
The door to his office opened and Tanner stuck his head in.
“Got her, Spencer.”
I nodded.
“Who’s that?” Block asked.
“Chicago Police.”
“Police? What’s going on?”
“Come with me, Mr. Block.”
He followed me out of his office, through the reception area, and into the hall where Pitcher was putting handcuffs on Miss Randel. Block stood outside the office looking shocked.
“What’s going on here?”
“Mr. Block,” I said, “there’s going to be an audit of your books. I think you’ll find that someone has been funneling large checks to personal accounts. That’s either you or Miss Randel. What’s your guess?”
He looked at her with dismay and said, “Miss Randel?”
“Shut up you old fool.”
I stopped Pitcher as she moved away with Randel. “Pitcher, do me a favor. When you get her booked, let me know what her first name is.”
“Go to hell,” said Randel.
Pitcher smiled.
I left Block to his confusion.
Walters needed someone on the inside of the office to funnel the money and keep an eye on things, so he had arranged for Morgan to be replaced by Randel. And when it started to fall apart, he had to get rid of people who knew too much. Gertrude Morgan was just an innocent pawn.
Chapter 49
I slept in until a little after nine Saturday morning. I had been out until two a.m. with Rosie at the Blue Note, celebrating. We had a wonderful evening of dancing and conversation, some of it serious and some of it not. Drinks were on Johnny.
I could have slept longer, but I wanted to stop by Riverview and spend some time with Harvey. A sunny morning was forecast to turn to rain in the afternoon.
Before I left, I called the inn and gave Barbara an update. She was relieved and overjoyed.
“I’m going to drive up there tomorrow to bring you back home.”
There was silence on the other end.
“Barbara?”
“Yes, I’m here. I was just thinking maybe I don’t want to come back… at least not yet.”
“Can’t blame you for that.”
“I was thinking, Spencer.” Again silence. “I wish there was some way Sadie could come up here for a bit. She really needs a break.”
“She does,” I agreed.
“But there’s her mother, and she doesn’t have any money and…”
“I think it’s a good idea, Barbara. She was a huge help. Let me see what I can do.”
We chatted for a few more minutes and I told her I’d get back to her.
***
I pulled into the Riverview parking lot, paid, walked through the gate, and strolled leisurely down the Midway without having to worry about who would see me. The shack under the Bobs was padlocked and taped off. I paused in front and spent a moment remembering Steele.
Happy faces and screams from people on the coasters were exactly what an amusement park is about. None of the visitors knew what had happened at this wonderland for kids.
Harvey saw me coming and waggled his fingers at me. He was all alone in front of Wonderland.
“Morning, P.I. I must say, when you put on a show, you put on a show. I didn’t know there were so many vehicles with red lights.”
I smiled. “Morning, Harvey.”
“Read about it in the paper. Amazing. Glad the kids are okay.”
“Well, not quite okay, but they will be with time.”
He nodded, jingling the bells on his hat.
“I want to thank you for all your help with this, Harvey.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You were a big help, providing some of the pieces to the puzzle.”
“Well, glad to help. If I ever want to get arrested I’ll call you.”
I glanced at the wall behind him covered with all the Alice characters, so strange and wonderful. What a shame that an amusement park had been turned into a place of terror for some by Walters and his cronies. My gaze settled on the Cheshire cat with its ominous grin, and I realized that for all the grinning that cat did, it never laughed.
***
After arranging with Carol to handle the office for a week, I picked up Sadie at eight Sunday morning. I had told Sadie she was getting an all-expense-paid vacation in Door County. It was a nice change to see tears of joy. She told me all the reasons she couldn’t go, the main one being her mother, and I told her I had already taken care of that. All she had to do was find someone to stay with her mother. She said she couldn’t afford that. I told her I had taken care of that too. She then said she had already used her vacation time to be with her mother. I sat her down and explained.
It hadn’t been hard to convince Block that Sadie needed a week off with pay. I explained to Sadie that all she had to do when she found someone to be with mom was to give me their contact information—the bills would be taken care of. She asked who was paying them. I just told her not to worry about it. Block didn’t know it yet, but he was. She finally gave in.
A light drizzle was falling until we passed Milwaukee when the sky started to clear. As the sun came out, she reached into her purse and pulled out Barbara’s ring.
“I brought the good luck charm,” she said with a big grin.
***
I had invited Rosie, but she had a court date on Tuesday. So I had the cottage all to myself until she drove up and joined me on Wednesday. I was very much looking forward to watching the moon rise out of Moonlight Bay.
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