Change of Address

by Rick Polad

  “Doesn’t sound like he’ll talk to you anyway, Spence.”

  “Maybe not, but I’d like to try.”

  “Well, the only time he leaves is to go over to a bar after the races. But he goes with Ronny and a bunch of the stablehands and trainers.”

  “It’s worth a try. What’s the bar?”

  “It’s called Mean Spirits. It’s over on 34th Street, a few blocks east of Cicero. Just a block from the apartment building Ronny lives in.”

  “Nice name. Maybe I’ll pay a visit.”

  “Be careful, Spence.”

  “Sure. Thanks. Talk to you later.”

  I had barely hung up when Stosh called. He asked if I could be there at eleven and told me to wear my best jeans.

  I had an extra half hour and drove over to 34th Street. Mean Spirits didn’t look like the dive I had expected, but I didn’t like the idea of walking in on Ronny and friends after they were filled with alcohol. I parked at the curb and looked around the neighborhood. On either side of the bar were stores of various sorts, some with second-floor apartments. Next to the bar to the east was a short alley that led to the alley behind the bar. Three storefronts past the alley was a parking lot with a sign that said “free parking” for patrons of the bar. I headed for the station.

  Chapter 23

  I had been wondering what was keeping Stosh. I’ve always found it hard to wait for other people. I had guessed that Stosh had to talk to the other two people who knew of the mayor’s link to Ronny and I was right. He had said the meeting would include the chief. He also requested that I refrain from any smart-ass comments. I agreed. I worked on accepting the fact that I would be grilled and then told to butt out and go home. I supposed I would have to agree to that too, but it wouldn’t be quite so easy.

  I parked next to Rosie’s Ford in the police vehicle lot and walked around to the front door of the station. The air conditioning was whirring and there were far fewer surly looking government employees. For some the air conditioning didn’t matter.

  As I walked in, Stosh was coming down the stairs from the second floor offices. He turned around and waited for me and then led me up. I followed him into an empty interrogation room where he briefed me on the meeting.

  “As soon as Chief Ranek gets here, we’ll start. He and Captain Daniels have already decided how they are gonna handle this, so you’ve got no say in the matter.”

  He gave me a questioning look. I shrugged back. I assumed Stosh’s look was asking if that was okay. My shrug was answering “What the hell can I do?” He continued.

  “I don’t know what that decision is, but whatever, they will probably want to hear all this from your mouth. Just report the facts and only speak if you are spoken to.”

  “Gee, I’ll do my best, Mrs. Roamer.”

  “Who’s Mrs. Roamer?”

  “My third grade teacher.”

  Stosh nodded several times and then asked, “Is that your last smart-ass comment? Cuz if there are more in there dying to get out, let’s have ’em now.”

  I smiled. He didn’t. “No, that’s it, sorry. Just felt like a little kid. I can be serious if I need to and I certainly realize how serious this is. I’m just not too happy about bringing the bone to you guys and then fading into the sunset.”

  “At the moment your happiness is not my main concern. But, if it helps any, you did some nice work.”

  “Thanks, Stosh. I’ll behave.”

  One of the detectives poked his head into the room. “Captain’s looking for you, Lieutenant.”

  Stosh wagged his finger. I followed.

  Captain Daniels’ office was in the far corner of a room cluttered with a maze of old wooden desks, some occupied by Chicago’s finest. I shook hands with Chief Ranek who offered his sympathies about Dad and Mom and introduced me to Captain Daniels who echoed the Chief. He stood a head taller than I and was dressed in a neatly pressed tan suit. As we shook hands, I glanced down at his yellow tie and what appeared to be the top of Fred Flintstone’s head peeking out above the vee of his coat.

  Noticing my slightly quizzical look, he laughed and unbuttoned his coat, exposing the rest of Fred dressed in standard orange leopard-skin. “Birthday present from my kids yesterday. Promised them I’d wear it. I thought it was tied low enough so Fred wasn’t visible.”

  I glanced at Stosh and got a warning look back.

  “Looks fine to me, although I was kind of partial to Wilma.”

  Everyone laughed. It was the last laugh of the meeting.

  The chief pointed to a chair and we all sat, Captain Daniels behind his desk. The chief spoke first.

  “Spencer, Lieutenant Powolski repeated your findings to Captain Daniels and he to me. We’d like to hear the story from you directly so we can be sure we’re all on the same page.”

  I told them everything I knew that had to do with the mayor’s involvement. They all asked questions just to make sure they understood what I was saying. The chief stood up and sat on the edge of the desk.

  “Spencer, how sure are you of your source?”

  “I’d say very sure,” returning his serious look.

  He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “We’re talking about the mayor here, and a mayor everyone likes. Well almost everyone. We’re raising these questions based on the word of a... a...”

  “Hooker.” I was always a very helpful fellow.

  “Yes, hearsay evidence of a hooker. You’re positive?”

  “Yes. I’m positive. She had nothing to lose or gain by telling me, and she didn’t and doesn’t know that the mayor is the brother. Maybe if she did, she would be playing a different angle, but I don’t think so. Even if she knew, I’d still trust her.”

  Silence from the crowd. A detective walked up and sat on the desk outside the office, obviously waiting to see Stosh or the captain. Stosh waved him away. After a deep breath, the chief continued.

  “Okay. Captain Daniels and I decided how we would handle this if your information held up. This may be something which is entirely the personal business of the mayor and therefore none of ours. We are not here to question morals, one way or the other. But because of the murder investigation, we have to look into it. And that has to be done carefully.”

  I could sense an impending request to butt.

  “Captain, would you like to continue?”

  Captain Daniels folded his hands on top of his desk and looked at me. I glanced quickly at the chief and Stosh and saw I was the center of attention. Captain Daniels started to fill me in on the plan.

  “Spencer, I will tell you what we have decided our first choice of action is and you can respond. We all feel that this should be handled as unofficially and carefully as possible. We aren’t here to judge anything if it is none of our business and we don’t want the mayor to think we are making this a police issue. But it is obviously something that needs looking into.” He glanced at Stosh and continued. “What we suggest is that you meet with the mayor and explain what you have found. He and your father had a good relationship and I think he would likewise respect you. We will set up the meeting and simply tell the mayor there is an urgent matter you need to speak with him about. You will then brief us concerning the results, if it is pertinent to our investigation.” He paused. No one spoke.

  “Are you willing, Spencer?”

  I took a deep breath and let it out. This wasn’t what I was expecting. “Certainly. But are you sure you want me to go alone? No one from your department?”

  “We’re sure,” answered Chief Ranek. “Stosh says you have a good head on your shoulders and will handle this tactfully. We think that if this is private it should stay private, and this is the best way to do that. I’ll let the mayor know that’s the case. Also, we realize that you didn’t have to come to us with this information. There is no question of not trusting you.”

  I squirmed in my chair. “Well, thank you gentlemen. When do you want to set up the meeting?”

  “We’re going to tr
y for this evening,” said the chief. “Mrs. Grey will be out at a fund-raiser for one of her kids’ groups so, if the mayor is willing, you can meet at his house and have some privacy. Are you available?”

  “Sure.” I wanted to be at the bar to see if I could talk to Bobby but that wasn’t till after midnight.

  “Good. I’ll make a call right now.”

  Stosh offered to buy Cokes and he and I and the captain walked around the corner to the break room.

  Ten minutes later the chief joined us and told me it was set up for 7:30. I asked if the mayor had asked what it was about. He hadn’t. I got the address and said I would be in touch. Stosh said to call him in the morning and walked me to the front door.

  “See kid, you shouldn’t be so cynical.”

  “No I shouldn’t. Thanks for the support, Stosh.”

  “No need Spence. All three of us agreed. Your being through the academy helped, and your coming to us first helped even more. You’re as close to a cop as you can get without pinning on the badge. Just do me one favor.”

  “And that is?”

  “This is the mayor, for chrissake. Wear something nice.”

  Laughing, I replied, “I’ll see what I can do.”

  I climbed in the car and headed for the Blue Note. I needed to talk to Johnny.

  Chapter 24

  At 7:20, I pulled up in front of Mayor Grey’s two-story brownstone. I sat in the car for five minutes trying to calm down. My nerves were shot. After rehearsing what I was going to say all afternoon, I still wasn’t sure how to begin. At 7:25, I and my best slacks and polo shirt got out and walked up to the wrought iron gate. I was sure there must be surveillance on the mayor’s house but I couldn’t spot anyone. Maybe one of the houses across the street. There was an intercom system built into the fence and I pressed the buzzer. Ten seconds later I got an answer.

  “Yes?”

  “Good evening sir. I’m Spencer Manning. I was told you would be expecting me.”

  “Yes, Mr. Manning, please come in.”

  He buzzed the gate. I opened it and made my way up the walk as it closed behind me. I was surprised that he would let me in without asking for ID but then decided that whoever was watching the house would have my picture. If they thought anything was wrong the gate would not have opened.

  As I walked up the flagstone steps, one half of the double oak doors opened and Jeffrey Grey invited me in. He was dressed much nicer than I.

  We shook hands, I told him to call me Spence, and he led me down a thickly carpeted hallway. As we walked, I glanced into rooms on either side. The first was a library, dark shelves from floor to ceiling and uncomfortable-looking chairs scattered about the room. The second was a toy room but not like any toy room I ever saw. The room was immaculate. A toy horse, blocks, cars and trucks, dolls, and other toys were arranged as if they were being showcased rather than played with. Their children were very well trained. I guessed the third room was a den. I caught a glance of a large, maple desk, a globe, more books, and chairs that did look comfortable. A couple of paintings that looked like they’d be more at home in the Art Institute hung on the far wall.

  The hallway opened into a large, bright room that I would call a media center. More hallways led out of either side. The hallway on the left side was flanked by a wall of stereo equipment on the left and a bar on the right. The north wall was almost all glass and looked out on a garden and a high brick wall. The Mayor motioned me to the sofa. He sat opposite me. Classical music was just barely audible.

  “Would you like a drink, Spence?”

  “No thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a long evening ahead of me.”

  “Okay. Let me know if you change your mind. And please call me Jeffrey. Your father did. I was so sorry to hear about the accident. He was very valuable to me.”

  “Thank you. He was pretty valuable to me, too.” I was perched on the edge of the sofa. Somehow I didn’t think I should get too comfortable.

  He sat forward in his chair and put his hands on his knees. Strong hands, well-manicured nails. He was a good-looking man. “So, Chief Ranek told me you had something to talk to me about that he wanted kept private. What can I do for you?”

  I had been thinking about this moment for hours and rehearsing different approaches. I still had no clue how to start. Basic facts seemed the best idea.

  “I am a private investigator and have been working on a case that seems to involve you.” I assumed he already knew the first part. But the second was probably a surprise. I assumed he thought I was there to ask a favor. But he showed no sign of surprise.

  “Tell me about the case.”

  Very cool. Of course he didn’t know what I knew. I was trying to keep myself from shaking.

  “I am working on a case involving Elizabeth Williams.”

  Still no surprise. But there was something that changed in his face. A little sadder maybe.

  “Yes, the poor girl. I heard about her death. But isn’t that police business?”

  “Yes sir, it is. I’m not working on the murder.” The word death didn’t seem quite serious enough for what had happened.

  He sat back, folded his hands on his stomach, and didn’t make it easy on me by asking what I was working on. This interview was going to be even tougher than I thought.

  “I was hired to find the father of Elizabeth’s daughter, Marty.”

  That got a very small reaction. Raised eyebrows. “And you think that has something to do with me?”

  “Well, yes. Indirectly.”

  “And that means?”

  “That means your name was not mentioned, but it was not hard to make the connection.”

  “Would you like to explain?” The friendly manner was gone.

  What was the easy way to do this? I decided there wasn’t any. “The father is one of two people. One of the possibilities appears to be you.”

  He got up and walked to the bar and poured himself a straight whiskey. With his back to me, he carefully said, “Chief Ranek told me you would be talking to me in absolute confidence and that I could trust you to keep your information to yourself. I had no idea what you wanted. Now that I know, I would like to know where you got your information.”

  “Yes sir, I can understand that. But, at the moment, I can’t tell you. You just have to trust me that the information is reliable.”

  He turned to face me. “I do? You are telling me something that could ruin my career and my marriage and you can’t tell me where you got your information?”

  I took a deep breath. I tried not to think about who I was talking to. “I am not out to ruin your career or your marriage.”

  He took a sip of the whiskey. “Then what are you out for?”

  “I am trying to find Marty’s father, for Marty. She’s a wonderful little kid.”

  “And you are trying to tie the father to the murder?”

  “Not at all. The two don’t have to be connected. As a matter of fact, I don’t think they are.”

  We stared at each other for a good minute. Then he returned to the chair and sat.

  “Do Chief Ranek and Captain Daniels know what you came here for?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “And they are interested in my answer?”

  “Not necessarily. If there is a tie to the murder, then yes. But if it is a personal problem it is not their concern. I think that’s why they sent me.”

  He swirled the whiskey in the glass and stared out the window. His eyes returned to me. “I appreciate the way this is being handled. Others would not have been as discreet. What do you want from me?”

  “Would you mind answering some questions?”

  “No, if I can. But I feel like a bad host, drinking by myself. Sure I can’t get you a drink?”

  Thinking that would somehow make things a little easier, I answered, “Sure, whiskey on the rocks would be fine.” He got up, poured, handed me a short glass, and walked to the window.

  “I love looking out here when the sun
is setting,” he said. “There are so many shades of green and they change from moment to moment as the angle of the sun changes. Inside this garden wall I can pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

  I was surprised. I would never have thought that a mayor would want to get away from the world. I thought the reason for taking the job was love of the limelight.

  He returned to the chair and sat with an air of resignation. “Ask your questions, Spence.”

  I looked at him and our eyes met. I sensed sadness and felt sorry for him but I didn’t know why. I sipped the whiskey. It was very smooth and I assumed very expensive.

  “The obvious question is: Are you Marty’s father?”

  He shook his head and said “no” without hesitation.

  “Did you know Elizabeth Williams?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  I wasn’t going to get any extra information. First rule of question answering—don’t give away anything that isn’t asked that the questioner might not have in the first place. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to get anything that would help.

  “How did you know her?”

  “She worked on my campaign. She was one of the most valuable volunteers I had.”

  “Was that all there was to it?”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning did it go beyond a working relationship?”

  He emptied his glass. “Spencer, I do not mean to be evasive, but if I tell you I am not the father, then shouldn’t that be the end of it?”

  Seemed logical to me. “Yes sir, I guess it should.”

  “Good. Then, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”

  “Don’t mind at all. Thank you for your time.”

  “Certainly. And, again, I am sorry about your parents.”

  He showed me to the door and closed it softly behind me. Expensive doors always close quietly. I opened the wrought iron gate and it closed behind me with a clang. I looked around again for surveillance and saw none.

  Pulling way from the curb I wondered where that had gotten me. Nowhere. Which is about what I had expected. The only progress would have been if the Mayor had answered “yes”. Now I was still left with two possibilities. Just because he said he wasn’t the father didn’t mean he wasn’t. And he had evaded my last question instead of answering it. I was leaning toward believing him about not being the father, but you never know. I was also wondering if I should have mentioned that the other possibility was his half-brother. No. I needed to do some more digging and withholding information worked both ways. I needed something concrete to link him to Elizabeth. The word of Maxine wasn’t going to get me too far.