While Rome Was Sleeping

by M. S. Forsythe

  “Uh huh,” Davey responded, “Sometimes.”

  Overhearing the conversation, Sister Ruth left the office briefly; she wanted to monitor a little more closely the questioning going on between Davey and the two newcomers whom she didn’t trust. She watched as Davey led them into the supply room. Davey was pointing to two rows of shelves on opposite walls “This is where we keep the supplies for the Center,” he announced proudly. It wasn’t everyday that he was able to show new volunteers around.

  Ruth started to speak to Byron regarding the two strangers with Davey, but was interrupted by Ben’s return and Andrew a few seconds behind him.

  In the supply room Leo quickly surveyed the shelves. He had an idea. “This looks out of place to me,” he said pulling a carton from slightly above Davey’s head. “Maybe it should be over here, what do you think, Jake?” Leo was looking for any possible spot where something could be stashed.

  Jake quickly took up the looking game. “Naw, try the other shelf.” He said as he perused the shelf behind Davey. “That stuff looks like it should be over here.”

  Davey was becoming confused; he pushed back his dark curly hair and tried to smile. He stammered, “Gee fellas, thanks, I didn’t see all those things out of place.”

  While Sister Ruth, Byron and Andrew were listening to Ben’s report on the budget meeting at the Diocese, Ruth fidgeted in her chair. She was extremely concerned about the Center’s funding for the next year; and still, there was this additional feeling of unrest. She knew Byron wanted to talk about the events of yesterday even though Ben now seemed to be avoiding the subject. Perhaps he was tired; there would be time tomorrow. Ben thanked them for understanding as they got up to leave.

  Sister Ruth cleared her throat as if to say something, then shook her head, “It’s nothing,” she caught Andrew’s eye as she rolled her eyes and looked toward the supply room. . Seeing Jake and Leo exiting the supply room with Davey set off an alarm.

  He understood the look Sister Ruth had sent his way. He asked, “Ben, who are those two guys with Davey? They don’t look like the kind of people you usually have helping down here. I saw them when I was here earlier today.”

  “No, Andrew, I have no new volunteers. I have been in and out so much that I haven’t really noticed; Sister Ruth did mention a couple of men that seemed odd to her.”

  “What do you make of them, Ben? Could they have had something to do with what happened here last night?” Andrew questioned.

  “As you know, Andrew, we didn’t get a good look at Mr. Kelshaw’s attackers, everything happened so fast and we needed to help him; I could see that he was badly hurt. After last night, I too, wonder about these newcomers, but would they be so bold as to come here in the daylight?”

  “In answer to your question, I guess it would depend on what they were after and how bad they wanted it, and yes, you need to be suspicious.” Andrew stood up, “In fact I think you and I should have a word with those two now. I don’t like the idea of them hanging so close to Davey,”

  “Agreed” said Ben. “Let us speak to them!”

  Andrew and Ben confronted Leo and Jake coming back from the storage area with Davey. “Hold on there,” Andrew spoke authoritatively, “I saw you two in here earlier. What brings you to the Center anyway?”

  “Nothin’ in particular,” Leo answered nervously. “We were just lookin’ for a place to go and found this place. We thought we might like to volunteer...”

  “To do what?” Andrew cut him off sharply.

  Ben intervened, “This is a place of hospitality for seamen coming off merchant ships. This is probably not what you are looking for. Perhaps it would be better for you to find another place to spend your time,” he said kindly.

  “Absolutely,” insisted Andrew firmly. He was watching Jake from the corner of his eye. He could see the anger rising on Jake’s face, but continued, “You had better leave now and don’t come back here. You are not merchant seamen and you sure don’t look like volunteers to me. Besides you’ve been asking a lot of questions that have nothing to do with being volunteers.”

  Jake hung back, glaring at Andrew with a dark, menacing countenance. Andrew turned toward him and pointedly said to Leo, “Take your friend here with you,” nodding toward Jake.

  Andrew was thinking, “Okay buddy, you want to get tough, now is the time!”

  Leo grabbed Jake’s arm in a casual manner and spoke carelessly, “C’mon Jake let’s get outta’ here. Who wants to volunteer here anyhow?”

  Jake jerked away from Leo and moved toward the door, then stopped in front of Andrew glowering at him. Andrew stood his ground looking Jake squarely in the eyes. “You have a problem?” Andrew asked sternly.

  “No!” Leo answered for Jake as he pushed him toward the door.

  They were both angry. Outside Jake told Leo, “I think we oughta go back and take him out now!” referring to Andrew.

  “All in good time, Jake; first we have to call our friend Detective Maxwell and give him the news that we know who the guy is that was at the hospital with the priest. I think that’s a pretty good day’s work.” Leo smiled, pleased with himself.

  “We didn’t find Kelshaw’s stuff that he’s so hot about,” Jake put in.

  “No big deal,” Leo replied. “We’ll get it.”

  Jake was still steamed, but the thought of possibly getting some more of their money eased the tension.

  Back inside the Center Davey was nervously talking to Andrew and Father Ben. “They asked all kinds of questions about you, Mr. Kincaid.”

  “What did they ask, Davey?” Andrew was uneasy.

  “What your name was and where you worked and even where you live... stuff like that,” Davey answered and added, “but I didn’t know where you live.”

  “Did you answer the rest of their questions, Davey?” Father Ben asked him.

  “Yes, I did. Did I do wrong, Father?” Davey sounded worried.

  “No, No. It will be fine, Davey, but if they come back, get me, Sister Ruth or Byron. Now finish your work and then I’ll take you home.”

  “I don’t like this,” Andrew remarked. “I’m concerned about your safety and the safety of everyone here at the Center. I’m sure it has crossed your mind that they could be the ones involved in Kelshaw’s murder.”

  “Do you think they were in here looking for the packet?” Ben asked.

  “If they are the ones who attacked Kelshaw, I think it is very likely,” Andrew replied.

  “Then we must be on our guard at all times,” Ben responded. “I should let the others know to be alert also.”

  “But make sure you don’t mention the packet to anyone. It might be a good idea to have two or more volunteers here at all times. Just be careful,” Andrew admonished.

  “And you also, Andrew,” Ben went on, “You must be watchful also. They obviously know quite a bit about you, your name, where you work and so forth.”

  “Well, Ben,” Andrew reassured, “anyone who picks up a Seattle Times can find that out. Don’t worry. I have to get to the studio now and then meet Mrs. Thayer. I’ll let you know how that goes. Oh, yes, Ben, it might be advisable to alert the cop that has this beat, as to what’s going on here. Have him keep a little closer watch on the Center.”

  “Yes, Andrew, I will do that. And may God bless you and your meeting with Mrs. Thayer.” Ben passed a verbal benediction over Andrew as he left.

  ✽✽✽

  4:00 PM

  “Now that we’re booted outta’ there, what next?” Jake inquired as he and Leo left the Seamen’s Center.

  “We gotta’ call Maxwell and tell him.” Leo replied. “He should be interested that we found out who the guy is that was with that priest at the hospital.”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s right.” Jake agreed. “Maybe he’ll forget about the damned package.”

  Once again they found a pay phone and Leo placed the call. “Hello, Detective Maxwell,” exuded Leo confidently, “we found out a bunch of stuff for ya’.�
��

  Monte had taken the call at his desk. Peterson was away and he was alone. “Cut the bullshit and just tell me,” growled Monte.

  “First the real important news, we found out who the guy is that you wanted to know about; you know the one with the priest at the hospital.” Leo grinned at Jake.

  “Well?” Monte urged, trying to hold his temper; he found talking with Leo irksome.

  “Well, this guy’s name is Andrew Kincaid. He is a big deal newspaper guy and has some kind of radio show too. He works for the Seattle Times.”

  “What?” Monte’s manner had changed. He was fully alert now. “Who did you say that guy is?”

  Leo repeated the information. All was quiet at Monte’s end for a few minutes. Leo was nodding at Jake and whispered, “We really got him interested now!”

  Leo heard Maxwell muttering something inaudible. “What else do you have for me?” he asked impatiently.

  “Well,” replied Leo, “it kinda’ all turns to crap now. The priest and the Kincaid guy didn’t like us lookin’ around—you know for that package thing and they told us not to come back. The priest and Kincaid are real good pals.”

  How did they know you were looking for something?” Monte had a terrible thought. “You didn’t tell anybody that you were looking for something did you?”

  “Nooo, Detective Maxwell, of course not, we were really careful.”

  “Then what gave them the idea that you were looking for something?” Monte asked sarcastically.

  “I don’t know,” Leo mumbled. He was growing increasingly uncomfortable. He wanted to mention the money again but thought better of it; “Are we done, Detective Maxwell?” Leo asked in his nicest voice.

  “No, you moron!” Monte exploded, “You still have to get whatever Kelshaw had on him and deliver it to me! That is part of the deal, remember? You’ll have to search the Center after it closes.”

  “You mean break in? Leo had already come to that conclusion. “We’ll do that, and we’ll have a real good look around, but I gotta’ tell ya’, Detective Maxwell, we had a pretty good look today. Also, we really need to get paid the rest of our money; you know, breakin’ into a place raises the ante—I mean we can’t keep takin’ risks for nothin’, if ya’ know what I mean,” Leo babbled on.

  Maxwell knew with or without them finding the merchandise, Jake and Leo’s usefulness was nearly at an end.

  “Report back to me as soon as you have searched the Center and you will get paid,” assured Monte.

  “Thanks Detective Maxwell, you’ll hear from us later.” Leo gave thumbs up to Jake as he hung up the phone.

  ✽✽✽

  Monte dreaded it, but he knew it was time to call Ramsey. Going downstairs to a pay phone, he dialed Ramsey’s private number.

  A smooth voice answered. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you, Detective,” Lyle said. “I expect all went well?”

  Monte wiped his brow. “Well, not exactly.”

  “Why not?” Ramsey snapped.

  “Well as a matter of fact there were some rough spots.” Monte filled Ramsey in on the Kelshaw fiasco including Jake and Leo’s encounter with Andrew Kincaid.

  As he listened, Lyle’s face reddened visibly. “What about the merchandise,” he paused in exasperation, “do you at least have the merchandise for me?”

  Monte mopped his brow again and responded in a reassuring voice. “No, not yet Mr. Ramsey, but I’m working on it”.

  Ramsey’s icy voice became low and filled with malice. “What do you mean you’re working on it? Did they get…. anything?”

  Not waiting for an answer Ramsey went on, “My instructions, and I made them very clear to you, were that I wanted everything that Kelshaw had on him. So far all you have given me are excuses and you have delivered nothing Detective, nothing; it appears you have totally failed your guarantee.

  “I warned you what would happen if you failed me and I, unlike you, always keep my promises.”

  Monte was worried; he didn’t dare let Ramsey know how worried. He needed to buy some time. “My guys are going to search the Center later tonight, Mr. Ramsey. You can be sure the merchandise will turn up.” He wished he felt as confident as he sounded.

  “Once more,” Ramsey spoke calmly with forced patience, “it is essential that I get whatever Kelshaw had on him, Detective Maxwell. Everything!” his voice rising, “get on it! And call me as soon as you have it!” Ramsey shouted and slammed the phone down so hard it hurt Monte’s ear.

  ✽✽✽

  After Monte’s phone call, Ramsey sat thinking. “What a fool I was to engage Maxwell for this job. I should have gotten someone else; this has gotten out of hand. Maxwell and his two incompetents!” he fumed.

  “Kelshaw’s personal items have to be around somewhere,” he told himself. He knew that Kelshaw was traveling light, not even a duffel bag; that whatever he carried had to be on his person. If Kelshaw had it with him when he got to the hospital, or if it dropped in the ambulance, it should wind up in the police Property Room. “I wonder if Monte has looked there. I’ll make sure.” Lyle picked up the phone. “Detective Maxwell... ”

  Having just returned to his desk, Monte stiffened in his chair as he answered the phone and heard the humorless and demanding voice again.

  “Go to another phone and call me back immediately on my private number.” Lyle emphasized “Now!”

  “Now what?” Monte groaned... He got up from his desk and headed downstairs again. He was thankful that Ed Peterson was away from his desk. Ed was getting suspicious of Monte leaving his desk after certain phone calls. “Ramsey and this job are getting to be a royal pain. He always wants something more!” Monte’s heavy side did not like the physical exertion of doing five flights of stairs, but he had been up and down on the elevator to the lobby pay phones so many times he was sure someone would notice.

  “I need some information,” Ramsey told him when he came on the line.

  “What kind of information?” asked Monte, in a worried voice.

  “Detective, have you visited the Property Room in your establishment to see what personal effects might be there that were on Kelshaw?”

  Sweating, Monte took out his handkerchief. For a moment Monte’s brown eyes held a surprised look and then with some relief he responded, “Well, no, but I’ll go and find out right now and call you back. You think it might be there?” Monte realized that was not the right question for a detective to ask Ramsey. The phone was silent on the other end then Monte added nervously, “I’ll go look right now and... ah, is that all you want?”

  “Yes,” Lyle sighed impatiently, “for now. Call with the information when you get it.”

  “Absolutely! Okay!” Monte eager to get off the phone and go back upstairs, agreed readily.

  He sat thinking for a few minutes, pushing his oily hair back and rolling his chair away from his desk, “All I have to do is take a walk to Property; that’s probably where it is, just waiting for me to pick it up.” A trip to the Property Room was as easy as it gets. He smiled to himself.

  An hour later Monte placed a call to Lyle Ramsey. “I checked our guy, Mr. Ramsey, there’s nothing with Property other than his clothes and a watch.”

  “Are you sure? No wallet? No papers? Nothing at all?”

  “Nothing, nada,” Monte replied disappointedly.

  “You are running out of time and places to look, Detective,” Ramsey warned. “I’ll be calling you again. Count on it!”

  Ramsey was definitely frustrated. He frowned as he replaced the telephone. “If it turned out that the merchandise wasn’t left at the Center and it wasn’t in Police Property then where else could it be? Who else could have it? Kincaid?” he exclaimed, “That sonofabitch, but why would he have it? No, he argued, there would be no reason for him to have it, although he might know something.”

  Ramsey paced back and forth thinking out loud and becoming more agitated. The client would be waiting for confirmation that the deal they had struck had been
consummated. It was only a matter of time before questions would be forthcoming; questions that had to be answered.

  Ramsey also knew Andrew Kincaid’s reputation. He suspected that if Kincaid was involved somehow, it would mean trouble.

  While Lyle Ramsey didn’t know what the merchandise was that Kelshaw carried, he knew that it was connected to Global Construction International contracts and the amount offered by the client indicated a value important enough that it included not only theft but murder.

  The client had been quite specific regarding the death of George Kelshaw. And Ramsey had set it up carefully. Who would notice some transient getting stabbed downtown near the waterfront; an unknown guy that no one would know or care about. But now, possibly, there were those who might question in the persons of Andrew Kincaid and perhaps the priest from the Center, Father Lee. It would depend on how much Kelshaw was able to tell the priest.

  “This has turned into a mess!” he said viciously. “It needs to be cleaned up and it will be,” he vowed. “The merchandise had better be at the Center. It could be locked up in a desk or file cabinet,” he told himself. It was possible that Kelshaw had given it to Father Lee, and he could have stashed it somewhere. If that’s the case Monte’s two boys should find it tonight if they do the job right, and they had better!

  5:30 PM

  Things were reasonably quiet at the Center after Jake and Leo had been summarily expelled by Ben and Andrew. Byron had walked Sister Ruth to her car and had returned to keep an eye on Ben as well as Davey. He found Ben in the office the radio was on.

  “I thought Andrew said this was a taped interview,” queried Byron settling in a chair opposite Fr. Ben’s desk. “How long do you plan to hang around here? I heard you ask Andrew to call you later, but I hope you made it clear he should call you at home,” he enjoined.

  “Ben, you are in need of rest, and so is Davey,” he nodded toward the main room where Davey sat with his eyes closed patiently waiting with his coat lying across his lap.