The Fairfax Incident

by Terrence McCauley

  “I’m not looking at her accent, sir.” I quit looking at her, focusing on Mr. Van Dorn. “What do we do now? She’s seen us talking, so she might think we’re working together. If she’s mixed up in this, that could be dangerous for you, sir.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Charlie. Besides, if she’s working with the men who’ve been hunting you, she already knows that.” He nudged me with his elbow. “See how tricky this kind of thing can be? Come, I’ll introduce you to her as the man who brought Jack home to us. Let the conversation flow from there. If you get a chance to prod her a little about Fairfax, all the better. If not, don’t push it.”

  I shook off the feeling her look had given me. I felt lit, even though the only thing I’d had to drink since I got there was the water I palmed into my mouth from the bathroom faucet. “I don’t think she’ll be that easy to crack, sir, especially not in a place like this.”

  Mr. Van Dorn drained his glass and put it on the silver tray of a passing waiter. “All the more reason we might get lucky and catch her off guard. She’s probably not expecting to be asked awkward questions. There’s only one way to find out.”

  “What do I say to her? I’m not big on small talk, especially at parties like this.”

  “Just be you, Charlie. Blunt and to the point, but subtle when it comes to Fairfax.”

  “Got it,” I said. “Subtlety is my middle name.”

  Mr. Van Dorn moved toward the countess. “I thought it was Francis.”

  “You know everything, don’t you, sir?”

  Mr. Van Dorn kept walking.

  ***

  Mr. Van Dorn had no trouble parting the crowd of men surrounding the countess. I was surprised she recognized him, and even offered her cheek to him.

  “Forgive me for interrupting,” Mr. Van Dorn said, “but there’s someone here I’d like all of you to meet. A personal hero of mine and also a friend. Something of a local celebrity, though he’s too modest to admit it. A man to whom I owe a great debt because he brought my son, Jack, back to me and avenged my daughter’s death. Mr. Charles Doherty of the New York City Police Department.”

  I felt myself blush at the polite applause the small crowd gave me. I blushed even more when Countess Alexandra offered me her gloved hand. She smelled of lilacs and sweet champagne. “What an honor this is. I’ve heard much about you, Mr. Doherty.” The accent was light, just like the voice Miss Swenson had described hearing on the phone. “I’m honored to finally make your acquaintance. It’s so rare to meet a genuine hero these days.”

  Mr. Van Dorn had told me to act normal, so I did. “No reason to be honored, ma’am. Though I’ve got to admit I’ve never been around royalty before.”

  The moneyed crowd laughed that condescending laugh people give when a kitten plays with a ball of string or a dog does a trick.

  But Mr. Van Dorn didn’t laugh, and neither did the countess. “My title is just a word on a piece of parchment burned during the war,” she said. “May I call you Charles?”

  “I’d prefer it if you called me Charlie like everyone else, ma’am.”

  “As long as you agree to call me Alex. Ma’am makes me feel even older than I already do.” She gestured to the two men standing to her left. They hadn’t laughed, either. “Allow me to introduce you to my associates. Dr. Ottmar Rudat and Herr Gerhard Tessmer, fellow refugees from our troubled homeland.”

  Both Germans bowed at the waist before shaking my hand. Dr. Rudat was a pinch-faced man of about seventy with thinning white hair and, God help me, a pair of pince-nez glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He looked as comfortable in a tuxedo as a mechanic in overalls.

  I pegged Tessmer to be about fifty, taller than the rest of us by a head or two, and thin as a rail. He looked at me a little harder than he should have, almost like he had seen me before. Or maybe he was afraid I might recognize him.

  I played a hunch and gave his arm a good tug as we shook hands. He did a good job of trying not to wince. A sore right shoulder.

  Acquired from getting slugged by a guy with a bundle of books in the dark the previous night? That would explain the look he was giving me. Maybe. I made a mental note to keep an eye on him.

  The countess went on, “I know Germanic names can be confusing to the American tongue, so just call them Otto and Gerry. Everyone does.”

  I realized Mr. Van Dorn had skillfully distracted the rest of the group with some banter of his own, giving me a chance to talk to the three Germans alone. I decided to start with Otto. “What kind of doctor are you?”

  “Psychiatry,” he said. “The study of the mind. Of humanity itself, if I may be so bold.”

  “Sounds like you’ve come to the right place,” I said. “Plenty of people in this town need a doctor like you. If you ever decide to hang your shingle, you’ll have a line of patients around the block in no time flat.”

  The countess laughed at the confused look on Otto’s face, and translated what I’d said into German. I knew enough of the language to get the gist of what she said: The monkey thinks you should open a practice here.

  I didn’t let on that I’d understood what she said. Like my old man used to tell me, “Sometimes a little ignorance can go a long way.”

  The doctor remained grim. “Perhaps I will. One never knows.”

  I looked at Tessmer, who hadn’t taken his beady eyes off me since I’d joined the group. “What about you? What line are you in?”

  “Industrialist.”

  I waited for more but that was it, so I pushed a little. “That covers a lot of ground. What kind of industry?”

  “Many kinds.”

  The countess rushed in to fill the gap in the conversation. “You must forgive my friends, Charlie. The nuances of the English language are still difficult for them, so they don’t speak much.”

  “I don’t blame them,” I said. “I’ve been speaking it my whole life and still don’t know all the words.” I stayed with Tessmer. “I couldn’t help but notice you winced when I shook your hand. Hope my grip wasn’t too strong.”

  A burst of pride. “Not at all.” Then, “I merely injured it in a sparring session this week. Sometimes I forget I’m not as young as I used to be.”

  An idea popped into my head and I went with it. “You’re a boxer? Ever go to the New York Athletic Club? I hear a lot of people go there to box, among other things.”

  Tessmer’s eyes narrowed just enough to show me that the name meant something to him. “So I hear. But I am afraid the expense would be too great, as boxing is merely a hobby for me.”

  “Pretty dangerous hobby.”

  A light laugh from Alex quickly changed the mood. “Boxing pales in comparison to the dangers you must have faced as a policeman. Why, I believe you are the first hero we have met since we arrived in New York. So many men like to boast of what they’ve done, but not you. You’re very modest, aren’t you, Charlie?”

  I ignored her attempt at flattery and stayed focused. “How long have you been in New York?”

  “About a year,” she allowed. “Maybe less. Time flies quickly in big cities like New York.”

  “A year’s a long time. Guess you’ve made a lot of friends in your time here.”

  “No, not that many. I’m afraid some people still hold resentments over the unpleasantness that took place between our two countries.”

  “I don’t know about that.” I looked back at the crowd of men Mr. Van Dorn had pulled away. “You seemed pretty popular when I came over here just now.”

  An eyebrow flicked up. “That’s just mere curiosity on their part. The newest flower in the garden always attracts the most bees. They’re boys, mostly, not like you.”

  So we were on to flattery again. I guessed her style had gotten her pretty far with most of the men in her life, so I played along. “Thanks for making me feel ancient.”

  “O
h, I didn’t mean it that way.” She touched my arm for the briefest of moments and, despite my wariness, I felt a warm feeling spread through my body. “I meant in terms of wisdom, not years. And in accomplishments, too. Everyone tells us that you’re the man who tracked down Jack Van Dorn. The tough cop who went in and got ’im.” She actually giggled. “Went in there and got ’im. What a quaint turn of phrase for such a heroic act.”

  “Don’t believe everything you hear or read. It was a hell of a lot more complicated than that.”

  “I have no doubt of that.” Her eyes softened. “Though, I must confess that I find it odd how everyone is happy to talk about how you rescued Jack, but they hardly ever mention a word about poor Jessica’s murder. Most Americans I’ve met are like that. They prefer to focus on the positive as opposed to the negative. Dwell on the light instead of the dark. America is a nation of dreamers in a harsh world.”

  I could tell she had hoped I’d take it as a compliment, but judging by her tone I knew it wasn’t. I decided it was time to quit fencing and do some digging. “I wouldn’t say that. Not everyone in America sees the best in everything. Cops and firemen and doctors see bad things every day. Hell, some people even make quite a pretty penny out of misfortune. Take insurance companies, for instance.”

  Otto and Tessmer either hadn’t heard me or hadn’t understood what I’d said.

  But Alex had heard me just fine. The way she looked at me changed just a little, though I’d be damned if I could explain how. She became less playful and much more focused. “Of course. A successful society needs people who are willing to deal with the unpleasant aspects of living. Those who are willing act, to do that which is necessary, that which others cannot do or refuse to do.”

  I decided it was a good time to introduce her native language into the conversation. “Wer rastet, der rostet.” It meant, “He who rests grows rusty.”

  The three of them visibly tensed. Suddenly, the monkey comment wasn’t so funny.

  Otto recovered quicker than the others. “You speak German, then?”

  Alex added, “Your accent is excellent, Charlie. Where did you learn it? In school?”

  “Not exactly.” I grinned. “I picked it up in France. My Uncle Sam paid for a few summers abroad back when I was a kid.”

  Dr. Otto flinched and looked away.

  Tessmer glared at me even harder, if that was possible.

  But Alexandra kept playing the part of the charming aristocrat. “The war. Of course. How silly of me. Please forgive me.”

  Tessmer surprised me by asking, “May I ask where in France you served, or are such things still secret?”

  “They put me in a charming little spot by the Marne called Belleau Wood. Would’ve had a great time if it wasn’t for the explosions and gunfire.”

  Tessmer’s eyes flashed. “Teufel Hunden,” he swore. Hell hound. The name the Germans gave us after we’d won that hellish battle. “I was there, too.”

  “I thought you looked familiar.” I winked. “Maybe that’s why.”

  Tessmer didn’t look like he appreciated my humor. “I highly doubt it.”

  The countess broke the ice forming between me and Tessmer. “Teufel Hunden? So, you were a Marine?”

  “Still am.” I smiled. “No such thing as an ex-Marine. I’m Corps to the core, and always will be.”

  “And what do you do for employment now, Charlie? I mean, now that you’re no longer with the police.”

  It had taken a while, but the countess had finally made her first mistake. Mr. Van Dorn hadn’t said I wasn’t a cop anymore. And the papers hadn’t run any stories about my retirement, either.

  She knew more about me than I’d thought.

  I kept it simple. “I’m retired.”

  Tessmer looked me up and down. “You seem too young to be retired. I would imagine a man of your skill and ability could easily find work if he so chose.”

  I shrugged. “People ask me to look into things for them from time to time. Helps me keep my hand in. Don’t want to get rusty.”

  Dr. Otto piped up. “What kinds of things do you look into?”

  “The kind I can’t talk about, unless they’re clients.”

  The countess sipped her champagne. “Once a hero, always a hero, Charlie. Such noble qualities must come naturally to a man, or to a people. They can never be learned or acquired. But it’s as much of a curse as it is a blessing. So many people requiring your help, it doesn’t leave much time for life’s other noble pursuits like marriage or a family. It’s nearly impossible for a man and woman to remain together under such circumstances. And when there are children involved, well, the children suffer most of all, don’t they? They always do when a marriage dissolves.”

  That smile again before she quickly added, “But, of course, I don’t need to tell you that. I’m sure you must have seen the tragic effects of divorce many times in your career.”

  But I knew she wasn’t talking about divorce in general. She was talking about my divorce from Theresa. She was talking about our daughters.

  These bastards already knew all about me.

  Her smile changed as she suddenly noticed someone across the room. “How boorish of me to go on and on about such depressing topics. When you were a policeman, did you have the chance to work with Chief Carmichael? I see him over there right now, talking to Mayor O’Brian and some other people.”

  I figured she was trying to make a graceful exit, and was interested in how she was going to do it. “I’ve known Andy most of my life. Before, during, and after we were in the department together. I was the best man at his wedding.”

  She didn’t seem to hear that as I watched her eyes move over him. “I’ve spoken with him several times, enough to think of him as a friend. He’s quite a man. Brave, strong, handsome.”

  “Crooked as a dog’s hind leg, too.”

  She didn’t seem to hear that, either.

  “You say you were friends,” Otto added, “yet I understand he was instrumental in your dismissal from the police, was he not? I find that interesting.”

  “Not really. It’s just politics.”

  Alex perked up and waved at someone across the room. “Oh, Mrs. Astor is here and I just have to say hello. Otto and Gerry, you should meet her, too. She’s been asking all about you.” The charm reappeared. “Charlie, it’s been wonderful chatting, but Mrs. Astor and I have been trying to meet for ages. It’s been lovely to meet you, and I’d love to continue our discussion soon. Enjoy the rest of the evening.”

  She glided away, with Dr. Otto following in her wake.

  Only Tessmer stayed behind and extended his hand. “Yes, it was quite interesting to meet you, Herr Doherty. I hope we have a chance to meet again soon.”

  I shook his hand. This time, he didn’t wince.

  I had no intention of letting him go without a parting shot. “Good luck in your industry interests. If you need any help with insurance, give me a call. I know a few people at Fairfax Liability who’d love to have your business.”

  Tessmer slowly let go of my hand and brought his finger up beneath his chin, as if he was thinking of something. He wasn’t nearly as subtle as the countess had been. “I may take you up on that. I’ve been looking at some properties in upstate New York that have piqued my interest.”

  Sweat popped up across my back. I didn’t like where this was headed. “That so? Whereabouts?”

  “A small town on your Hudson River. Begins with a P, but it’s one of those savage words that are so difficult to pronounce.”

  I felt my face redden again, only this time I wasn’t blushing. “Poughkeepsie.”

  “That’s the place. I understand it is an old Indian name. Why Americans insist on using the customs of conquered people, I will never understand.”

  “Guess that’s why we call frankfurters ‘hot dogs’ now.”


  Tessmer smiled and raised his finger in the air. “For now, Herr Doherty.” He brought that finger to his brow and offered a slight salute. “Until we meet again.”

  I wanted to grab the son of a bitch by the throat, but knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything. The krauts had made their point as subtly as I’d tried to make mine. We all knew who each other were and what we were up to.

  Only, they knew more than I did.

  So that’s why I stood there like a dope, watching Tessmer join Countess Alex and Otto as they chatted up Carmichael. The chief saw me looking at them and moved so his back was facing me.

  No, hitting Tessmer wouldn’t have accomplished anything, but getting to a phone would.

  I darted out of the room, moving as politely as I could without barreling anyone over. Mr. Van Dorn tried to catch my eye, but I didn’t have time to talk. I dodged and twisted and excused my way through the crowd until I hit the outer lobby, and bolted for the pay phones near the washrooms.

  I damn near pulled the phone off the wall as I had the operator connect me to my ex-wife’s number in Poughkeepsie. I fed in enough coins to cover the charge and waited while the phone rang. After the fifth ring, I checked my watch. Almost nine o’clock. Someone should’ve been there. Where the hell was everyone? It didn’t take long for my mind to consider Tessmer might already have them. If he did—

  Theresa answered on the seventh ring. I barely let her speak before I said, “It’s me. Don’t hang up, goddamn it, because this is important.”

  “Hang up? Why would I hang up? I’ve been trying to get you on the phone for weeks, you no good, lousy bastard,” she said. “All the money you’re raking in and you leave your wife and children destitute?”

  It was the same argument we’d been having since she took the kids and moved back up to live with her parents in Poughkeepsie. She had left me when Carmichael had put me out to pasture and the graft money dried up. She wouldn’t let the girls speak to me while the whole Grand Central Massacre business was in the papers, either.