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

by Cliff Roberts

  “I altered the work schedule to require Doctor Stiversen to file a recusal form, in order to get the body of Holston reassigned, to the slot I have open, later this week. Smith and Jones will have to see him in person and request he file the form, ” Doctor Anne explained.

  “Okay, do either of you know a James Grafton?” Neither of us knew him so we shook our heads in a negative fashion, so Agent Greene continued. James Grafton is the City Editor of the Sentinel Newspaper. He came to us several months ago with a story covering almost twenty years of harassment and manipulation. Seems they could have busted young James at a police action way back when and have been doing all they can to manipulate him ever since. They are always threatening to expose him. He finally decided he’d had enough when they threatened his children, over not running a story that might have hinted that Kelly and Washington were corrupt.

  James has collected over twelve hours of tapes on Kelly and Washington and not once in the tapes do they threaten him. They all they allude to, is that if he knows what is best for him and his family. The DA claims that’s not enough to get any local judge to indict them. So we just keep recording in the hope that something soon reach the standard of proof.”

  “Why do you expect we’ll get any better results with you, Doctor?” Agent Greene asked.

  “I don’t know what results you’ve actually gotten from this James Grafton, but I’m not some shrinking violet.” Doctor Anne began, while I nodded in agreement. “I am tired of this shit. I never know when those assholes will show up and demand, I set myself up to fired or prosecuted. They threaten my son every time and I know each one of these cases is a murder, based on the evidence. Which is why I kept the actual records. They think they’re safe because they quickly take the body and cremate it. But with those records, the State ME can declare the records suspect and reopen every one of those cases. They can force me to testify, they were indeed murders and that they coerced me into falsifying the records.” Doctor Anne shared how the states ME’s office worked.

  “I’m not sure you understand the gravity of the charges against these men and their MO up to this point. They are extremely violent and unpredictable. If you do this, you’ll be putting your life on the line.” Agent Greene stated.

  “Who are you? Obviously not a seasoned pro of an FBI agent. I’m already in danger, you idiot! It’s getting more dangerous with each murder, I help them cover up. My son’s days are numbered with these two assholes controlling his life and mine. So what’s it going to be, are you going to help me and my son by setting up lots of wires to catch these assholes threatening me or what?” Doctor Anne demanded to know right now.

  “Yes, Doctor. We want these guys as much or more than you want to be rid of them. We’ll have our techs in to wire the room up, later today. Plus we’ll put a wireless microphone on you that is basically undetectable. It will need to be attached to something you wear every day and it doesn’t see the washing machine.”

  “I have a watch I wear every day and I have to wear my ID packet.” Doctor Anne offered.

  “That’ll be fine. Ok, I think we’re done here.” Agent Merriman spoke for what seemed like the first time after the introductions.

  “Not quite,” I stated.

  “What?” Merriman inquired.

  “The Doctor wants blanket immunity for all crimes she has been coerced into taking part in and any future crimes while conducting this investigation. Plus, what the hell does she do, if Kelly and Washington show up before your techs get in here to wire the place?”

  “I see. Now you want us to give a free pass to someone who is neck deep in a cover up so big, Watergate may seem like a drop in bucket of water.” Agent Merriman grumbled.

  “Without the free pass, the doctor isn’t helping you and I’ll offer my services to the opposition. You’ll end up pushing paper in some satellite office for having blown the case.” I bluffed but it sounded really good. “In addition, the Doctor will need witness protection as well.”

  “But I don’t want witness protection,” Doctor Anne complained. I gave her a look hoping she’d understand that this was a negotiation not the final actual implementation.

  Agents Greene and Merriman exchanged glances are after a moment, they agreed to the blanket immunity and the witness protection. But Merriman tried to add a caveat to it. “If this deal goes south, then the immunity and the witness protection goes south with it.”

  “That’s a deal killer, Merriman. If she doesn’t get complete immunity and witness protection for making the effort, than there is no deal to start with. The only people who can blow this are you and your fellow FBI agents. I’ve seen it happen and I won’t let this woman become a statistic because of your failing. Complete immunity from everything and witness protection, starting right now or no deal.”

  “We can arrest her right now. She’s admitted to the faking of at least two death certificates. That’s twenty to twenty-five years on each count.”

  “I don’t think you’ll try anything that stupid.” I stated confidently.

  “What are you getting at?” Greene asked.

  “We’ve recorded this conversation, gentlemen, because I know how you operate. I’ve seen too many deals with the FBI fall through, because you don’t deal honestly with your witnesses.”

  “And if I said, I don’t believe you?” Agent Merriman inquired.

  Doctor Anne got up without me telling her to and she walked over to the desk. She grabbed the recorder from her top drawer. She then held it up where they could see it and played the tape. When it was done, she pressed record again and placed it back in the drawer.

  “Fine blanket immunity and witness protection, but we get the tape,” Agent Merriman demanded.

  “As soon as we have it in writing, you get the tapes,” I insisted.

  “I’ll call for the techs to get out here a.s.a.p., okay?” Agent Merriman, caved in. “Where can we find you two later today?”

  “We’ll be around. You can get us on my cell phone.”

  “I know I don’t have to say this but I will anyway. Be careful. Don’t push these guy’s too hard or too fast. Play it cool and let them do all the talking. Don’t give them an excuse to kill you.” Agent Greene counseled.

  “Just then Agent Merriman’s cell phone rang and he answered it, in hushed tones. Upon hanging up he turned to Doctor Anne and asked is there another way out of here?”

  “Don’t tell me, you have someone outside and they spotted Kelly and Washington coming our way?” Doctor Anne sarcastically snapped at the two FBI men.

  “I’m afraid that’s exactly what is happening. So how do we leave without passing them in the hallway?” Agent Merriman asked a second time.

  “Okay, but you’ll have to go quickly, out the door turn right, at first hallway, turn left, go down the hall to the third hallway, then turn left again. Follow that hallway to the doors that lead outside. You’ll see that you’re on the back side of the building and you’ll have to walk around to the parking lot.” Doctor Anne explained. The two FBI men looked outside into the hall. No one was there yet. Without another word they left, following Doctor Anne’s instructions.

  I was flabbergasted by her telling them how to get out of here, I confronted her. “Why wouldn’t you tell me how to avoid them yesterday?”

  “Because you were in the back room and they were already here. You would have had to go past them. Besides I like you and I don’t like them.” Doctor Anne stated, as if I should have known that. “Now go and hide in the back room again. They’ll be here in a moment.”

  Just like the day before, I hid in the backroom, the old autopsy theater. The gurney was in the same place as yesterday and the old cold chamber was still there as well. God, I hope these assholes don’t check in here again today. No sooner than I had slipped into the backroom and the door stopped moving, than in strolled Kelly and Washington.

  “Good Morning, Doctor.” Kelly chirped as he and Washington stepped into the Autopsy Theater. Ke
lly’s eyes went straight to the doors I was hiding behind. I quickly found my way back inside the cold storage chamber.

  “Look, I told you yesterday, I’m stuck until the other doctor releases the body to me. Coming here and harassing me, isn’t going to make it happen any faster.” Doctor Anne snapped at them.

  “Doctor, we bring good news.” Kelly[‘ face was lit up with a smile. “Doctor Stiversen has agreed to recues himself from the autopsy and turn it over to you,” Kelly shared.

  “Isn’t that special. I still need the paperwork, before I can actually do anything. Did he say when he’d be in to actually fill out the form and sign it?” she asked condescendingly.

  “I don’t think she believes us.” Washington stated, as he slowly circled about the room. I got out of the cold chamber and crept back up by the door. “I think, she thinks, she has some sort of say in what goes down in regards to us. Maybe, I should show her that she needs to treat us, more respectfully.”

  “Not right this moment, my friend. Go check out the backroom, we need to conduct a little business.”

  Washington was across the room from the doors so I only had a second or two before he would be here in the room with me. I hastily slipped back into the cold chamber again and once more fought back all of the demons of claustrophobia. I lay there silent, holding the door held tightly closed with my left hand, while I held my gun in my right hand in case Washington or anyone tried to yank the door open.

  Washington did less today than he had yesterday. He peaked into the room which looked exactly as it had yesterday, turned around without even turning on the light or looking behind the gurney. As he turned back towards Doctor Anne he asked.

  “Don’t you get lonely around here, having no one but the dead to talk to, Doc?”

  “I find them better company than most of the living.” Doctor Anne sarcastically responded.

  “Yeah, a lot of the people we meet would be better off dead, as well.” Washington replied straight faced.

  “Doc, we need the preliminary form right away.” Kelly stated, bring their reason for being here, back in focus.

  “It’s like I just told you, Detective. Until I get the signed form, there’s nothing I can do for you.” Doctor Anne stated loudly. Then while she continued talking, she wrote down a message, explaining the FBI were just here and that the guy, me, was in the back room again. “I can’t look at the body without committing a serious breach in procedure and ethic’s, until I have both the recusal form and the reassign form, I am stuck.” Doctor Anne was doing all she could to stall them.

  “Doc, I heard what you said,” Kelly stated after reading the note she wrote. “But you’re not listening to me. I have to have it now. Right now. So, get the damn form out your drawer, fill it out and worry about what the body is saying, some other time. Am I making myself clear?” Kelly asked as Washington hovered nearby, trying to be as intimidating as possible.

  “I can make the instructions clearer, if you’d like, Doc,” Washington offered, as he flexed his hands and leered at Doctor Anne.

  “I understand perfectly well what you’re asking of me, but what you do not comprehend, is that I don’t have access to information I need to put on the form. Things like case numbers, cue number, year to date numbers.” Doctor Anne began speaking in a condescending tone which Kelly picked up right away and nodded to Washington.

  In a flash, Washington was on her. He had her by the scruff of the neck and he slammed her head down onto the desk top. I pulled my gun and prepared to interject myself, if he did it again or anything else for that matter. I kept track of where Kelly was, while watching Washington for any further violent outbursts.

  “Doc, this is all so unnecessary. Just fill out the damn form and fake the numbers. While you’re at it, fake the whole damn thing. Once you have the body we’ll come back and get a real form to take the fake one’s place in the file, but I’ve got to have it now. Get the form out and I’ll tell you exactly what to say,” Kelly informed her, as Washington released her and stepped away a few feet.

  Doctor Anne slowly pulled the drawer on the bottom right open, reached in and pulled out a form. She placed it on the desk and picked up her pen.

  “What was the subjects name again?” Doctor Anne asked.

  “You’re slipping, Doc,” Kelly remarked.

  “That’s what banging your head can do to you,” She retorted.

  “Then you should be more careful,” Kelly suggested.

  “Fuck you and the horse you road in on,” Doctor Anne snarled.

  “Now, now Doc, you don’t want to see what we’re like when we get our feelings hurt now do you?” Washington snarled.

  “What’s the fucking name?” Doctor Anne barked.

  “Edward Holston,” Kelly barked back.

  “When was he killed?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “What did you want the preliminary findings to be?”

  “He was murdered by someone standing to his right within two feet, with a hand gun, a nine mil. The victim suffered a chest wound and bled out at the scene. You suspect an artery was severed by the bullet. Now, put your official stamp on it and we can get on with our jobs of framing the innocent, so the rich and powerful, can continue to be rich and powerful.” Kelly instructed. Doctor Anne reached into her center top desk drawer to retrieve her stamp. When she did so Washington stepped up behind her and peered over her shoulder.

  “What the fuck is that?” Washington snarled and grabbed for the recorder which was exposed as the Doc had reached for her stamp.

  “Get away from my autopsy supplies.” She snarled as she slammed home the drawer as hard as she could. Washington then shoved her and her chair over on to the floor, to gain access to her desk.

  “Washington, forget about it.” Kelly called out to Washington, just as he grabbed the drawer and yanked it open.

  “She’s got a damn recorder in the drawer.” Washington informed Kelly, who just stood there shaking his head.

  “Dude, forget about it. She has to record her autopsies by law.” Washington pulling it out of the drawer anyway and was about to smash it when Kelly snapped at him. “Wash stop fucking around and put it back. She is required by law to record the autopsy. If you break it our autopsy may be delayed while she gets approval for a new one and then for the price of a new one, so set it down and let’s go.”

  “I’m telling you, she’s recording us.” Washington snapped.

  “Are any of the buttons pushed down or in?” Kelly asked.

  “No,” Washington answered in a mere whisper, as he studied the buttons on the machine.

  “Are either of the two little wheels, inside the little window, spinning?” Kelly then asked and it was clear who the brains of the outfit was and who provided the muscle for the heavy lifting.

  “Ah… no.” Washington answered sheepishly.

  “Then sit it down and help the doctor up. Be sure to apologize.” Kelly admonished his partner, who grabbed the Doctor by the arm and yanked her to her feet.

  “Sorry, Doc.” Washington mumbled

  “Thanks Doc, as usual the pleasure is all ours and I’ll be back to switch forms in a few days.” Kelly uttered over his shoulder as he and Washington left. As soon as the door had closed, Doctor Anne went over and locked it. I raced out of the back room.

  “Are you okay?” I asked her.

  “I’m fine. But just when were you going to come to my rescue? After they had killed me?” She wasn’t happy.

  “It’s a fine line between rescue and putting you in more jeopardy. If I had come in, the whole case against them would have went out the window and I probably would had to kill them, to keep you and me alive. But I was coming, just as soon as Washington did anymore in regards to you. By the way, where is my tape recorder?” I inquired.

  “It’s in the second drawer down with the micro phone setting on the desk top right in front of them. Kelly may have seen it but mistakenly believed the microphone was for my Autopsy Re
ports.” Doctor Anne shared.

  “So we did record everything they said?” I queried.

  “Yes, we did. We got every last word.”

  “We’ve got some really good stuff there, Doc. I think it’s enough to hang them but the feds will want some more to go with it. You know establish a pattern and clear intent to do wrong. You did great by the way.” I offered her a compliment, as I switched out the tape for a new one, I had in my pocket.

  “Well, I do this every day. Have you any word on my son yet?” She asked.

  “I stopped by one of his dealers last night. He claimed he hasn’t seen him in months. Claimed he was living over on Gertrude St. I’m going by there, this afternoon. You want to come along?” I figured it’s her son, maybe she’d want to see him.

  “I’ve so much work to here, John. I just can’t walk away right now.” Doctor Anne claimed.

  “Okay. I’ll go by and check on him then report back. In the meantime, if Kelly and Washington come back, try not to piss them off.”

  “I can’t promise you that. My bullshit meter only goes so high and they’ve already exceeded today’s maximum level.” Doctor Anne quipped.

  “Try to think of it in terms of Friday afternoon. If you end up beaten up or dead because you let them get to you, we won’t be able to spend Friday afternoon together.” I flirted with her, since I’d just realized I hadn’t done so today. I honestly wasn’t expecting her to keep our supposed date for Friday. After all, she’s a married woman and a doctor. I’m just some low life loser, who used to be a cop, a bad cop and now I do private investigations of criminals, mostly for criminals. I was hardly a prize.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  While driving to check on Daniel, I called the diner again and was told again, Betty was still swamped. I asked Jan if she had given her my message from earlier and she said she had. When I asked if Betty had said anything, Jan got quite and said she wasn’t there to pass notes like in grade school. Then she quickly stated, if I wanted to talk to Betty, I had stop in the morning or go her place.