Silver Lining - A Carpelli Adventure: Sequel To The Bestselling Thriller Fatal Mistake

by Cliff Roberts

  “I didn’t have much, maybe a couple of hundred. The guy took it. He shot me and then held the gun to my head and took it from me.”

  “Where was your gun?”

  “I had it in my waist band. When I turned around he was holding his gun on me. He told me to walk over to him and I started like I was going to, but I didn’t. I kept looking for Tommy but he never came. The guy said he took care of him and that I was next, if I didn’t walk straight over to him. I ran though, as soon as a car down the block squealed its tires. He shot me, as I tried to get inside one of the buildings. After he did this, he said he’d be back for more and to tell you, he knows who you are and what you’re doing. He won’t stop ‘til he gets a cut.” Lionel lied but he had to say something regarding the man’s motive and the reason he was still alive to deliver the message.

  “Lionel, you’re a lying sack of shit.” Washington announced as he walked across the room briskly to where Lionel was lying on a day bed. Washington didn’t hesitate a second. He walked right up and grabbed Lionel’s wound and squeezed. Blood squirted out between his fingers as he did so.

  Lionel screamed in pain and began thrashing about the bed. Washington let go and looked at Kelly, who then started talking again.

  “Lionel, was the guy who shot you, white or black?”

  “Oh my leg, my leg. He was ah… shit, he was white,” Lionel answered.

  “Lionel, was he big or small?”

  “He was kind of big. No too big but not little either. He looked in pretty good shape, like he workout.”

  “What kind of hair did he have?” Kelly then asked.

  “It was kind of short and it was light brown in color.” Lionel managed between groans. “He looked like he’d been in a fight with someone holding a bag of nickels.”

  Kelly and Washington exchanged glances and Kelly asked, “What was he wearing?”

  “Wearing?” Lionel asked, Washington reached out and held his hand over Lionel’s leg wound. “I’m thinking, I’m thinking. I wasn’t looking at his clothes I was looking at the gun.” Washington’s hand dropped to just above the wound and Lionel began to wiggle. Kelly jerked his head upward and Washington moved his hand away. Lionel relaxed and Kelly pressed him to think about the guys clothes.

  “Lionel, this real important, lots of things are depending on the answer. Think about what the guy looked like from a distance. It was warm last night, almost seventy degrees. Did the guy wear a jacket? Was he wearing sweat pants, blue jeans, what?”

  “He wasn’t wearing no blue jeans. He had on,” Lionel looked at Kelly’s pants, casual slacks, “pants like yours, a tan color, I think and a tan colored golf shirt. He looked out of place for the neighborhood. His gun was a big automatic and he handled it as though he had been used to handling guns,” Lionel added.

  “See Lionel, it wasn’t that bad.” Kelly remarked and turned to Jamal, “Make sure the doc takes care of Lionel here. I want him fixed as good as new. You call me, if there is any trouble lining up the extra guardians.”

  “You got it boss,” Jamal replied.

  Kelly and Washington, alias Smith and Jones, left Jamal’s, they didn’t say a word until to each other until they had driven a couple of blocks. Then it was Washington who spoke up first.

  “It was the asshole with Holston and Dr. Harris. How’d he know it was us who took that little prick out and it’s us framing him for the crime?”

  “He doesn’t know any of that,” Kelly offered.

  “Then why is he hitting us?”

  “I think, Holston or the D m oc told him all about the money we’re making with the street corner dealers and he’s out to get some quick cash, now that his meal ticket is gone.” Kelly shared. Then added, “Or our ME is using him to fuck with us.”

  “Yeah, what was that crap at the morgue? Why’d we act out that little charade?”

  “It was the Doc’s call. She said it would be the best way to set that guy for a much bigger fall.”

  “Like what?” Washington asked.

  “I don’t know. But I am going to find out.” Kelly confidently stated.

  “Yeah, it has to be something else. It doesn’t make sense to hit just one dealer in the middle of the night. It makes a whole lot more sense to wait until morning and hit Jamal or William, when they have the big money. Even if they had a really good night, Lionel and Tommy, might have had ten grand all together. Jamal and William, each supervise ten corner dealers. Each dealer brings in ten grand for a total of a hundred grand. Hitting Jamal or William makes a lot more sense,” Washington shared his thoughts.

  “Unless you don’t know about that shit or someone gave you bad information. If all you know, is there are corner dealers with cash, that’s all you’re going to go after.” Kelly explained why he thought the gun man only robbed Lionel. “Tonight, we’re going to have to hang out in the hood and be available to step in, if this guy should show up again.”

  “Hey, what did you find out about the scheduling issue with Doctor Harris?” Washington asked.

  “She wasn’t lying to us. The stiff got assigned to a different ME because she’s had a lot of extra cases as it is and the Sheriff ordered that the incoming bodies for autopsy be split between the doctors. But the guy assigned the case can recues himself. He’s got to sign a form saying he’s too busy to handle the case and get another ME to take it over.” Kelly explained.

  “So Doctor Harris could still do what we need done. Is there some way to begin working with this new doctor?” Washington asked.

  “I looked at his personnel file and if there is, it’s not real obvious. It’ll take too long to develop, so we can’t use him on this case.”

  “Alright then where do we find the guy?” Washington asked.

  “He loves to play golf and if we hurry, we can catch up with him, at about the third tee out at the Cherokee Country Club. I say we stop by and request he recues himself from our autopsy a.s.a.p. That way we can get the results faster and catch the bad guy that much sooner.” Kelly smirked as he said this. If only the everyday world knew about them, knew about what they controlled and what they did while being paid by the taxpayers to line their own pockets. They had a five year plan and a ten year plan. If it all worked as expected, they would be retired in another six years with more than twenty million apiece and a sheriff’s department pension to boot.

  They found Doctor Stiversen on the second fairway. He seemed to be a pretty good golfer, he could really drive the ball off the tee. Kelly checked the little map you get on the back of the score card and saw, hole number two, was a par five. Four hundred and twenty-six yards long, with a dog leg to the left, sand traps guarding both sides of the approach.

  As Kelly and Washington watched, Doctor Stiversen and his foursome work their way up the fairway to the green with solid precision iron work. Kelly couldn’t help but wonder, if maybe he shouldn’t take up golf. That way, by the time he was ready to retire, he’d have something to do beside go to Vegas and gamble.

  Doctor Stiversen was on the green in three and one putted for a birdie or one under par. Yeah, Doctor Stiversen was one heck of a golfer. As he was writing down his score, Kelly and Washington approached.

  “Doctor Stiversen, could we have a brief moment of your time?” Kelly asked, as he and Washington flashed their ID’s and Badges. Stiversen was playing with a trio of Real Estate developers, he badly wanted to impress. So when the two detectives walked up, Stiversen saw this as an opportunity to impress his new friends and he hammed it up.

  “Yes, Detectives, what can I do for you.”

  “It might be best, if we talked a bit in private,” Kelly suggested and nodded his head off to the side of the tee by the ball washer.

  “Detectives, what is it? I’m not scheduled to work until six tonight.”

  “That’s just it Doc,” Kelly started to say when Stiversen cut him off.

  “That’s Doctor Stiversen,” the Doctor snorted.

  “Yeah, whatever Doc,” Kelly
replied as Washington stepped up to the back of Stiversen’s golf cart and took out his driver. “We need you to go in early and file a recusal form, so that we can get an autopsy done that has been waiting a couple of days already. We can’t make an arrest without the findings.”

  “It’s Doctor Stiversen, Detective and I’m sure I can get you the preliminary findings by this evening.” Stiversen stated in a condescending tone.

  “Hey, what’s this club made from?” Washington asked.

  Stiversen turned to see Washington playing with his club and he became decidedly agitated. “Detective, please. That club is especially balanced to my weight, height and golf style. Please put it back.” Stiversen practically whimpered at the sight of Washington tapping the cub on the tire of the cart.

  “So what’s it made of? Was it expensive?” Washington asked. The trio of development hotshots sat on the benches on the other side of the tee and talked quietly among themselves while watching Stiversen as he talked to the Detectives.

  “It has a titanium shaft and a composite head with an extended sweet spot. Yes, it is very expensive and worth every penny. Players like VJ Singh and Tiger Woods use those same clubs.”

  “Damn, you must be pretty good. What would happen if they were to be slammed into the tire on this cart?” Washington asked stone faced, with his back to the developers. He then suddenly reared back and started to come forward with his swing. He managed to stop just before he slammed the club face into the wheel on the cart. Much to the relief of Stiversen.

  “That would destroy the club. It would be weeks, if not months, before I could replace it. So please don’t play around with it.” Stiversen requested nervously, his face pale white.

  “I’m not playing around with it. I’m serious. So are you going to cooperate with us or do I start practicing my swing for real?” Washington stated.

  “This is highly ill regular, but in light of your urgent need, I’ll make the request as soon as this round is over. Who shall I say is going to do the autopsy?” Stiversen asked.

  “Doctor Anne Harris.” Kelly stated, as he patted the doctor on the back. Then loudly he bellowed. “Thank you, Doctor, as usual you’re insight is exactly what we needed. Enjoy your game, gentlemen.” As Kelly and Washington started to walk away. Washington tossed the driver to Stiversen as he passed, while commenting just loud enough for Stiversen to hear.

  “Doc, not a word to anyone about our conversation or I’ll be back to practice my driving skills on the back of your head.” Washington smiled for the developers and he and Kelly headed to the office for morning roll call.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  I woke up at seven and immediately called Doctor Anne. She sounded awake and she assured me, she was and that I hadn’t waken her. When I said I hoped I hadn’t woke her husband, she said he had already left for work.

  I explained that we had a nine thirty with the Feds in exam one and I would be there with her to help try and keep the Fed boys from running roughshod over her in their zeal to make a high profile bust. Though I doubt anyone could run roughshod over her unless she allowed it.

  My next call was to the diner to say good morning to Betty. She was slammed and the manager Jan, decided to keep me company on the phone while I waited. She was quick to insinuate that we must have spent the night together because Betty’s eyes were all puffy. I assured her that Betty had gone home alone around eleven and that I went home alone as well, Jan just gave me a “Right.”

  I arrived about a half hour ahead of the Feds and brought along a small wireless recorder for the meeting, so the Doc had a recording of the Feds promises, when they failed to live up to them or chose not to move fast enough on her case. When I first walked in the door to the Autopsy Theater, Doctor Anne’s face went pale.

  “Oh my god! What happened to you?” She exclaimed.

  “One of my new acquaintances in town decided the best way to cement our relationship was to try and beat the crap out of me.” I stated bluntly.

  “John, it doesn’t look like they tried but rather they succeeded.” She shared her assessment of my face.

  “I can assure you, if they had succeeded, I’d have arrived here this morning in a different fashion than walking and talking.”

  “Well, come on over here in the light and I’ll see if I can’t help that nose of yours.”

  “I’m okay. It gives me character.” I retorted not looking forward to the pain it would cause to straighten it back up.

  “Get over here, you cry baby and be a man about it.” She ordered. I reluctantly stepped over and sat down. Anne busied herself with washing her hands and then with drying them. She then spent a minute studying the nose itself and then, without saying anything at all, she grabbed my face by the nose and twisted it sharply. There was a loud pop inside my head. I was seeing stars with tears running down my face, but other than a groan, I didn’t cry out. Though one look at my face and she could tell, I was in a good deal of pain.

  “There now, all better. Here hold this tissue under your nose until the bleeding stops. You wouldn’t care to share what happened, would you?” She asked politely.

  “There isn’t much to tell, Doc. I was using the restroom in a restaurant downtown, when this guy comes in and bashes me in the face. He had mistaken me for some guy his wife was fooling around with. I explained I wasn’t that guy and even showed him my ID, only to have him try to hit me again. I defended myself and he got the worst of it. I knocked him out after he hit me a second time.”

  I wasn’t sure she had listened to me because she was looking at my hand. It was also very badly bruised across the face of the main knuckles and swollen to twice the size of the other hand In the middle of the bruise was a strange anomaly. It looked like the outline of six or seven teeth in a much darker bruise.

  “Come on. Let’s get that documented in case someone tries to sue you over that fight or whatever. You know I can tell from the size of these teeth that the person who has or had them was at least six feet tall somewhere in the mid two hundred pound range and probably early thirties.” The Doc explained.

  “All that from the outline of a bruise?” I muttered, as she took several digital pictures of my hand and then she took two x-rays.

  “Yes and more, when the picture is clearer,” she informed me. “Oh by the way, you do have a couple of broken bones in the hand. I should splint it, so come on over here to the counter and I’ll see what I have to immobilize it with.”

  I followed her as instructed and in short order, she had put my hand in a soft cast. She had just finished treating me when the Feds walked in. I got up and checked the hallway for anyone, but saw no one. I then closed and locked the door which was the signal for the Doc to start the recorder in her desk drawer. I tried to handle introductions but it wasn’t easy.

  “Doctor, this is Special Agent James Merriman and…” I stopped and waited for the other agent to introduce himself but for a moment he didn’t say anything. Finally, Agent Merriman cleared his throat and introduced Special Agent Walter Greene. He’s in charge of special investigations for the mid-south district.”

  “So this is a special investigation then?” Doctor Anne asked.

  “In a way.” Agent Greene stated and didn’t explain further. I looked at Agent Merriman and then back at Greene who was busy thumbing through some papers he brought with him.

  “So what the hell does that mean?” I finally asked.

  “It means the two gentlemen, you say are threatening you and your son, are already under investigation and so far we’ve gotten bumpkiss for the effort.” Agent Greene elaborated.

  “So what? You’re going to give them a free pass?” Doctor Anne asked curtly.

  “No Mam, but it does mean that, these two suspects are extremely crafty and know the law very well. They don’t speak loosely or take to people looking into their business very well. In the last week, they have rooted out and killed two informants, a Roderick Collins and Edward Holston.”

  I st
ood up quickly and slammed my hands down on the table. “Collins and Holston were working for you? Who the hell do you people think you are? I didn’t sign up to work with you. Yet you put me in danger for the sake of your case?” I was livid. Doctor Anne reached out and touched my hand, I practically melted.

  “Mr. Carpelli, we had no idea Holston was involving you until after he had done so.” Agent Greene shared. “Our surveillance team saw you go in and come out. Holston got over zealous when he couldn’t get the evidence needed to sink the two dirty cops. You were the second person he had sent to ‘The Wild Rose’. The first was Roderick Collins. Collins was sent to tell Michael Nolan, a prominent lawyer and the man in control of the Diablo’s motorcycle club, all about these bad detectives. We believe, Nolan had Collins killed for his trouble. Which in turn, has caused problems with clubs main employer, “The Dixie Mob.”

  The Diablo’s work as skip tracers and enforcers, for the Dixie Mob. The leader of the local chapter of the Dixie Mob was Jason Carmel. According to these papers, Doctor, Carmel died of electrocution by taser and not due to a drunk driving accident. City negotiator, Ronald Stapleton, had been stabbed with an ice pick in the back of the neck and would have died from that, if they hadn’t dumped him in the river before he was dead, thus allowing for a creditable finding of drowning. Then there is Roderick Collins, he’s been dead four or five days now and you say the official ruling is murder based on the stippling of the area around the entrance wound.”

  “Is that a definitive finding?” Agent Merriman asked interrupting Agent Greene.

  “Yes, it is.” Doctor Anne replied.

  “That brings us to your claim that, Kelly and Washington have been here and ordered you to alter your official findings for the Collins and Holston.” Agent Greene stated,

  “Yes, they have.” Doctor Anne stated.

  “I witnessed the second time they ordered her order up fake tests.” I interrupted which drew a glare from Agent Greene.

  “I understand that you have somehow arranged for the pair to comeback and reiterate their demands, by using the system to work in your favor. How did you know do that?” Agent Greene asked.