Ben went over, and hauled Jenna to her feet as his partner cuffed the woman now with more than just murder burning behind those eyes. She’s a different kind of crazy Parish thought way above our pay grades.
“Or maybe your just sick. Maybe you just like playing butcher. I bet Johnson would have ended that way to.”
Jenna touched the wound in her man’s neck, almost as if his demise had only just sunk in.
“Steven went to see… a guy called Henley, never met him before you ask but Steven wanted to see if he could help, he couldn't. So instead he went to…. Johnson…. And …. I don’t know much more about that… but I had to well….for him...”
With Jenna in cuffs Parish hurried to the front room, to call in the heavies and their paddy wagon, those cops could handle this loon, as it became pretty obvious to her that Mrs Jenna Flynn was more than just a few cents short of a dime. “I’ve had my fill of this slop Ben” Laura said with a sigh “Amen to that doll” he said back. “Laura I tell you, I’ll be sure glad when you don’t have to muck around with this type of crazy.” she just smiled.
“Man works from to sun to sun” Parish said with a hint of flirtatious humour “but a woman’s work is never done.”
“Hey Parish before you hit the streets, how about the drink”
“Ben it’ll be like old times.”
“Oh I hope so doll. I hope so darling!”
Part Two
Chapter Eighteen
Peggy Malone was jerked from the depths of a perfect night sleep, with a jolt that left her breathless and drenched in sweat. She strained her head towards the door, but the apartment her and her husband now owned thanks to a nice severance from the police department was deathly quiet. Even her husbands basset hound was silent which was odd, that poor pooch had just come back from a visit to drop of his assets at the vets, and now the poor thing was a tad sore and whimpering. But no it was quiet, propping herself up on her elbow, she strained to peek through the darkness but the dim glow of light from outside didn’t help as it trickled through the blind and into nothing. She leaned over and touched the chisel sharp shoulders of her husband and seemed to absorb some of his great strength from the contact. Despite who they both were then and now she still had to take a moment to steady herself from the quiet confidence of the man next to her. Her heart eventually ceased it’s mad fluttering as she tried to think back to what had woke her. Then she felt, rather than heard the door swing almost off its hinges! Despite the many changes that had happened, her reflexes were still almost perfect. The limp hand resting on Jacks shoulder suddenly became a bony talon, that gripped hard into the flesh, her long nails almost drawing blood.
“Peggy doll, what’s the idea.” he grumbled playfully “Jack, there’s someone hear— in the apartment I’d have gone to look but, well you know.” He gave her a playful bunt with his head, but his lazy voice just drawled out into the dark empty apartment. “you know, Peg just because you’re married to a newly minted Private Detective and well the Queen is well you know retired. Don’t mean you have to be so damned suspicious. Oh well if there’s anyone here tell ’em to g’way and come back at a human hour, and—” he stopped abruptly as the sudden glare of a flash behind them.
“keep your hands away that god damn pillow, Malone nice and easy do I need to go on, you know the drill.” A tense voice commanded from the shadows behind the source of light “get’em in plain sight come on, on top the sheets.”
Jack Malone did as requested as he blinked into the beam of light. Very slowly the former cop spread his big hands on top the sheets. Then glanced at his wife, his eyes saying only one thing Don’t You Dare! The married couple both knew Peggy even now could have ended this in minutes and both her and jack could be back spooning in next to know time. But she’d made a promise and for him she’d keep it as best she could. “Darling” Jack grinned “is this guy calling on you or me?”
A shadow moved across the dim light of the window. The shades were carefully drawn, then a wall-switch clicked and the room was ablaze with light. Jack pushed himself up and stared at his guests.
Both unwanted visitors held guns, colts from what Jack could see in the poor light but even if they weren’t they were powerful looking pieces by the looks of the muzzles. But other than those guns, both men when pure chalk and cheese. The bigger man of the pairing stood at the foot of the bed and seemed to have dressed on the fly, even his upturned coat collar, couldn’t hide the fact he wore just a vest and no shirt or tie. Close cropped hair bristled from the brim of a crumpled derby hat that shaded his beady eyes— eyes like that of twin bullets in a target. The oafs square jaw and heavy set jaw were tinted a deep purple by a mix of stubble and rather progressing bruise. He carried a crescent scar from the corner of his mouth up to his eye. It was the first time Jack Malone had seen fear in Joseph Christie's eyes. “Get up Jack” growled Christie “your going places.” Malone felt the conclusive angered grip of his wife. He turned his head and looked at the man who’d drawn the window blind. “well, Freddie ‘the face’ Harmsworth! Since when have you and Joe gone into the kidnapping game?”
The man known as Freddie the face, was thin and wiry, almost gaunt and undernourished. Frankly he was all straight lines and angles. “this isn’t a snatch Jackie” he announced “we got a job for you dickie.”Jack laughed, more at the little crime fighting lying next to him. His little crime fighter who he knew wanted to kick tail, but holding back with every fibre of her being. He was amused by her more than the two goons who’d paid them a visit. “you know, I maintain office hours boys.”Joe made an impatient gesture with his gun “pile out Jack” he growled “we’re on a bit of a time frame. But trust me flat foot we’re on the level.”
Jack Malone glanced again at his wife, with a wave of pride. Despite her new life she still had a calmness about her that showed more than courage, it showed experience and a coolness under pressure that most army veterans never even came close to achieving, yes she was rattled but she would not let them see it, no matter what. But for the new Mrs. Malone two big things had changed in her life since she hung up the cape and retired The Queen. A new career and pregnancy, four months give or take a day if the doctors where to be believed. This new adventure into motherhood made her take stock and retrain putting that brain to use in a safer way. Via the courts as within a year she was a fully trained Criminal Lawyer, becoming the real brains of the Malone Household a matriarch her husband and child could depend on. Not to mention her new position had been a lifeline to her husband from time to time. Jack couldn’t help but grin just a little despite the situation.
“Peggy, doll?” he said in a playfully mocked whisper “You’re the legal eagle here, the smart one of the Malone family. What would you advise in a situation like this.”
Peggy Malone know point blank what she wanted to advise Jack to do, knock some teeth out, or better yet let her. But she couldn’t he wouldn’t have let her angels play, so instead she was forced to stay quiet and play the part. The part these goons thought she was fit for, that of scared little housewife. So she sold the part even if it was painful to do so, but she had to admit quietly to herself maybe she was selling the part a little to well, was the quiet life as a housewife really making her happy, was it enough now? Jack even looked a tad concerned for her, she could tell that by the way his eyes darted as he looked her over as subtly as the situation would allow. It wasn’t until she spoke that he knew all was fine. “Jack, honey they seem to be clients of yours!” The private eyes, quick lick of laughter brought a dark scowl over Harmsworth's face. “HEY! This aint’ no time for wisecracks. There’s a ton of hard fresh green presidents in it for ya’” Joe stepped closer to the Peggy, gun still in hand “Ten gran’ Jack that’s more than a flat foot like you, makes in a year on a straight job, and you know it!”
Jack laughed again, this time more to get a rise from his visitors. “straight job, what gives hey? I didn’t think your oafs included those two words in your vocabulary; yo
u really Freddie ‘the face’ Harmsworth, the slickest con-man in town and Joe Christie a veteran peterman! A crook that puts other safe-crackers to shame. But Joe really you be well over 50 by now. Christ Joe you were cracking cribs, when I was still on the nipple.”
Christie leaned over the foot of the bed, breaking his gun and chucking the rounds on the floor, in an attempt to get Jack on board “Jack, you got a rep in this town, and a good one at that. Every crook and honest-Moe who knows you anyway. They know you left the badge and went private because the House had more cops on the take, than a senator had broken promises, either way it all went crooked.” Jacks thoughts went to Ben Morgan, and his drive-by killing last year, it was still a bitter pill to swallow for the Malone family, he was to be godfather to their son or daughter. But that went to hell in a hand basket thanks to whoever pulled the trigger. To this day no clue has been unearthed to solve the case, that among the dirt was what forced Jack out the door.
“part of it did” Malone eventually admitted. Christie just nodded eagerly “fair enough part of it, the biggest part. Well we know your on the level and wouldn’t sit by an’ see them a frame an innocent man all the way to the hangman!”
Jack drew up to his knees, locking his hands around them “Joe Christie you old fraud you couldn’t be innocent of anything.” Harmsworth cut in “you knew a cop named Anthony Rogers?” Jack nodded, he was a cop from India via Britain if his memory served, and according to Peggy a fellow cape and cowl. He couldn’t confirm the latter as he choose to stay out of that world as much as possible, regardless of who his wife is or was. But he did know Rogers from a case the pair had cracked, Jacks last case in fact. The two forming a strong brother like friendship through and after it, they’d kept in touch to after he went back to his Indian beat. “Sure I knew him, knew him well he helped me crack a crooked Grand Jury Investigator working for the mob year or two back.”
Christie's shoulders sagged “listen, word is he was a friend of yours. But before my God I swear I didn’t kill Rogers!” Jack along with his wife stiffened “Well who said you did?”
Harmsworth caught the bed post “honest to god Malone we didn’t do it” Christie cut in “I’ve cracked upon a lot of homes in my day as you know, slugged more than my fair share of guys my rap sheets can give ya’ the names, but I swear on my ma’ I never plugged a guy in my life” the safe-cracker paused “okay I have once or twice but never in the back.”
Christie was about to carry on but decided to change his mind, instead swivelling on his heel over to the radio on a cluttered make-up table near the rooms one large window. With bruised fingers he rotated the small dial. Then stepping back next to his partner, as everyone listened as the cold impersonal British voice of the police announcer from the Police Woman’s Bureau droned out of the instrument.
...Liberty City Station, both train and road. Apartments, Rooming Houses and Small Hotels. Repeating general order 19 from 1st Precinct to all divisions and cars.
Description of wanted men as follows: Joe Christie believed to be fifty, six foot one, two-ten, grey hair close clipped. Bullet head, dark complexion with scar running from right corner of mouth to right temple. Christie is a three-time convict with a cot awaiting him at Eldritch Max Prison. Be warned he is extremely dangerous and has a penchant for dynamite, so be careful. Fredrick Harmsworth his partner and accomplice to the murder. They are probably and most likely holed up together. Harmsworth, five eleven, forty-five, Gaunt and angular, Negro yet sleek and well dressed. Thin and hawk-face with cold eyes. Take no chances in arresting either man, any updates will be sent to your patrol cares via secure channel seven. Repeat again these two men are wanted for murdering Detective Anthony Rogers. All cars will patrol their...”
Freddie switched off the radio.
“COP KILLERS” Jack spar wanting to punch them both out there and then and would of, but for a calming hand of his wife holding him back. Well at least for now anyway. Christie repeated his claim of innocence until Peggy broke the tension. “so why’d you come to see my husband?”
“We’re being framed Jack, with our rap sheets we’d be sunk in Eldritch’s graveyard by end of the week if I had to guess and you know its true to, crooked badges have friends in places like that who do nasty things to clean up messes. So like I said were innocent and need your help.”
Jack laughed with a cruel dry hint “what you jail birds need is a lawyer, not a private dick. You’d better speak to my darling wife.”
Christie just shook his head “NO, Malone a lawyer can’t help us out of this jam, only you!”
“Have you got on alibi? Malone asked, as both men looked at each other glumly, there glances to both Jack and Peggy’s eyes said more than words ever could, until Harmsworth spoke through tightened lip “we do but… we cant use it, Jack”
Christie shot another glance at his partner in crime. The latter gave his head a morbid nod, Christie turned back to the bedded detective. “Jack, we’ll spill everything. But first you got to swear you wont tell the law.”
Peggy shook her head “I wouldn’t let him lie for you. Firstly his reputation would be ruined and secondly if they subpoena him into court. He’ll have to talk to the judge without a bead of hesitation.” Jack just smiled “But if you hire the services of an overly qualified and fantastic lawyer, and tell her all your troubles along the way. I’m pretty darn sure ‘she’ would be able to protect your backsides thanks to what I believe is called Privileged Communications.”
Peggy just scowled at her husband “Jack, I have no plan of helping these...gents.”
“go on Christie—” Jack interrupted knowing he’d be paying for cutting his wife off in some way later. “tell the attorney your tales of woe”
Both men seemed to agree with a single nod as Harmsworth spoke up “Anthony Rogers was snoopin’ digging up a lot of dust, causing a lot of noise.”
“SKIP IT” Jack barked “before I left I heard what he was working on and soon the papers will too, especially if the Feds have anything to do with it, so skip that and hurry your lips.”
“Either way your pal Rogers knew too much, I guess so he got bumped at Quarter Past Twelve.”
“Ask Christie who bumped him.” Jack said looking at his wife. But Harmsworth answered before she could bark back at her husband “I don’t know that. It was framed to look like we plugged your cop friend.”
“How’d you mean- framed” asked Peggy reluctantly finally able to get a word in. Harmsworth shrugged innocently and confused “Phoney evidence— I don’t know, but your husband knows the crap a bent cop can fit a guy up with. Thank God a fence gave me the nod before Joe and me were sunk—we’d have been” he ended with a shudder.
“Basically they whoever they are want us dead.” Christie said finishing his partners sentence.
“so come on spill, where were you really when all this happened.” Peggy Malone pressed. Harmsworth and Christie both sighed, then Christie dropped his and shoulders as if they’d been holding the world up, and had finally given up, and with dropped shoulder he sung like a canary. “In the Central Underground Vault of the Liberty National State and Suburban bank!” For the first time since this intrusion on his matrimonial time, Jack let out a belly laugh. “they were pulling a bank job, a classic yet dumb. So that’s where they were, when Rogers had his back scratched.”
“couldn’t you prove that?” Peggy asked “Robbery after all would be better than getting strung up for murder!”
“Unlikely” Jack added “Freddie and Joe are last chance offenders there both on their last of three strikes, if I remember rightly.”
“got it in one” Joe Christie admitted wearily. “that means no matter the crime it’s life or worse...” Peggy said aloud, kicking herself for not clocking on to the situation sooner.
“… but thats if you can prove us innocent. If not we’ll both be killed as cop killers. The word arrest has been taken of the table. This crap is shoot on site. See why we think its a frame Jack.”
“But how” protested Peggy. “How can we prove your innocent when your guilty of something else.” Freddie bit his lip “that’s why we wanted your husband doll no offence. He’ll know how to handle that bit, you know what they say in the penny pulps, send a cop to catch a cop.”
“how in hell do you think I can pull that off” suggested Jack.
“For ten grand, Jack you’ll find away. Got it frame us innocent. That’s the job pal.” Harmsworth said. Jack Malone whistled softly as he dropped his feet over the edge of the marital bed. “Well that’s a new one. Okay I’m in. It could be fun.” he mused aloud “they are guilty of one crime and want to be framed innocent of one they didn’t commit.” he shook his head “my guy says I shouldn't have any part of it boys. But I have a feeling you pair of bad eggs won’t take a straight old no. So what the hell.” he said getting up to get dressed despite the possible fun he was still just the slightest bit unhappy about it all. Peggy caught her husband arms pulling him back to the bed and her side. “but Jack darling if they didn’t kill Rogers. You wouldn’t want to see them you know——” she stopped embarrassed. He hated to admit it but despite them being crooks, a life was a life and despite how he felt about guys like them, they didn’t deserve to be hung out.
“They robbed a bank” he reminded her “what’s the text book say doll, ‘compounding a felony’. I can’t fiddle that.” Christie interrupted “we had a hunch you’d say that Jack, so how about a new offer. Suppose we give you the loot from the job. Fifty grand on top of your fee- and well, then you can go and make a deal with bank manager. It’s a small independent bank despite the name and I don’t’ think the manager would want any publicity about the job, especially if he can get the dough back.”
“Any damage done” Jack asked aloud his professional head taking over. Freddie shook his head “Not much. We stuck up the watchman and gagged him with tape is all, honest. Like I said we gagged him, then as Christie cracked the vault open, like a slender pair of dames legs.” he glanced at his broken wrist watch. “It’s not quite the witching hour yet. If you put a fire under your ass you can get to the managers crib. Offer to cover the damage or whatever and return the cash, we borrowed. I think he’ll listen to reason. Honestly Jack we’re totally on the level about this. Neither of us want to dangle for something we didnt do.”
The Queen and The Viper Page 16
