| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 25, 2025 | Chapters: |
...44 45 -46- 47... 
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Interrogations
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets
Veil of Secrets - Chap 46
by Begin Again
The bold letters on the door announced,
"The Honorable Judge Alex Garland."
He had stepped in to replace John Doyle — the corrupt judge disbarred and imprisoned — promising to raise the standard of justice in the community. To the public, Garland was the very picture of integrity, yet behind his spotless facade lay hidden secrets — like the unlisted phone stashed away in a locked desk drawer.
Glancing through the glass into the corridor, Garland unlocked the drawer, retrieved the phone, and answered, "Yeah?"
The caller's voice trembled: "We've got action in the morgue — and it's not good."
Though his voice remained even, Garland's pulse quickened as he snapped, "And how exactly does this affect me?"
"DeLuca found the coroner — dead," the voice said, pausing. "The package was still on the table."
"Damn!" Garland exclaimed, pushing his chair aside as he began to pace. "Are the contents in the evidence room?"
"Not so far. And I don't know the connection, but Jack Lexington was there too," the voice replied with a cough. "Everyone's hush-hush, but they have two men in custody."
"The men—are they part of Lexington's crew?" Garland attempted to add two and two together, but it didn't work.
"It doesn't look that way. Supposedly, all DeLuca found was the wrapping."
"So, someone's cleaned house." Garland's breathing escalated. "Who else knew about the package arriving today?"
"Just you and me." The voice coughed again. "And obviously someone else."
Garland took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a gravelly murmur. "Keep your mouth shut. Until we know who this new player is we trust no one. One misstep and this can blow up in our faces. Get me info on who those thugs work for —" He paused. "Stay on top of this." Then, he disconnected the call.
*****
Detective DeLuca fixed his gaze on the two men across the interrogation table. They had uttered only one word — "lawyer." He sighed, pushed his chair back, and stormed out of the room.
Leaning casually against the wall, Jack Lexington handed him a cup of coffee. "Here, I think you could use this."
"Thanks," the detective muttered as he accepted the cup. "I'd hate to be in a poker game with either of those idiots. I can't tell if they are breathing unless they mutter lawyer. Has their lawyer made an entrance yet?"
Precisely at that moment, the door at the end of the hall swung open with a thud. A woman straight out of a fashion magazine sauntered in and dropped her business card on the desk. "Rosalie Jarvis. I believe you're holding two of my clients. I demand to see them immediately." Her voice was smooth as honey, but the flare in her eye said she was all business.
Danni's gaze checked the woman's appearance as she picked up the card. She read it before speaking. "Nice threads for a working girl. Armani?"
Rosalie's dark eyes studied Danni before she answered, "Valentino. But I'm not here to discuss fashion. I want to see my clients — now."
Danni chuckled and then walked down the hall to DeLuca and Jack. She handed DeLuca the business card. "The broad you're drooling over is their lawyer."
Jack looked over Danni's shoulder at Rosalie and whistled under his breath. "She's no nickel and dime lawyer. Someone with a few bucks is backing these thugs. Too rich for my blood, especially for low lifes like those two."
Danni raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"
"Not personally. But she's done some work for a few people who shall remain anonymous. Whoever these guys are working for has some clout."
"Who are you talking about? The New York Guys? They didn't send any big shot to save their other men." DeLuca couldn't tear his eyes off Ms Jarvis. "This dame is the whole package."
Glancing through the glass into the corridor, Garland unlocked the drawer, retrieved the phone, and answered, "Yeah?"
The caller's voice trembled: "We've got action in the morgue — and it's not good."
Though his voice remained even, Garland's pulse quickened as he snapped, "And how exactly does this affect me?"
"DeLuca found the coroner — dead," the voice said, pausing. "The package was still on the table."
"Damn!" Garland exclaimed, pushing his chair aside as he began to pace. "Are the contents in the evidence room?"
"Not so far. And I don't know the connection, but Jack Lexington was there too," the voice replied with a cough. "Everyone's hush-hush, but they have two men in custody."
"The men—are they part of Lexington's crew?" Garland attempted to add two and two together, but it didn't work.
"It doesn't look that way. Supposedly, all DeLuca found was the wrapping."
"So, someone's cleaned house." Garland's breathing escalated. "Who else knew about the package arriving today?"
"Just you and me." The voice coughed again. "And obviously someone else."
Garland took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a gravelly murmur. "Keep your mouth shut. Until we know who this new player is we trust no one. One misstep and this can blow up in our faces. Get me info on who those thugs work for —" He paused. "Stay on top of this." Then, he disconnected the call.
*****
Detective DeLuca fixed his gaze on the two men across the interrogation table. They had uttered only one word — "lawyer." He sighed, pushed his chair back, and stormed out of the room.
Leaning casually against the wall, Jack Lexington handed him a cup of coffee. "Here, I think you could use this."
"Thanks," the detective muttered as he accepted the cup. "I'd hate to be in a poker game with either of those idiots. I can't tell if they are breathing unless they mutter lawyer. Has their lawyer made an entrance yet?"
Precisely at that moment, the door at the end of the hall swung open with a thud. A woman straight out of a fashion magazine sauntered in and dropped her business card on the desk. "Rosalie Jarvis. I believe you're holding two of my clients. I demand to see them immediately." Her voice was smooth as honey, but the flare in her eye said she was all business.
Danni's gaze checked the woman's appearance as she picked up the card. She read it before speaking. "Nice threads for a working girl. Armani?"
Rosalie's dark eyes studied Danni before she answered, "Valentino. But I'm not here to discuss fashion. I want to see my clients — now."
Danni chuckled and then walked down the hall to DeLuca and Jack. She handed DeLuca the business card. "The broad you're drooling over is their lawyer."
Jack looked over Danni's shoulder at Rosalie and whistled under his breath. "She's no nickel and dime lawyer. Someone with a few bucks is backing these thugs. Too rich for my blood, especially for low lifes like those two."
Danni raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"
"Not personally. But she's done some work for a few people who shall remain anonymous. Whoever these guys are working for has some clout."
"Who are you talking about? The New York Guys? They didn't send any big shot to save their other men." DeLuca couldn't tear his eyes off Ms Jarvis. "This dame is the whole package."
"Put your eyeballs back in their sockets, DeLuca. She's working for the other side, remember."
"Hey, there's no law against looking."
Jack smirked. "She's a shark, DeLuca. She'd eat you for breakfast and then ask for seconds."
Danni shook her head. "Okay, boys. We've got a case to solve, and the lady's waiting." She glanced down the hallway before asking her next question. "Any idea who's been dealing drugs? What names are on your radar?"
DeLuca shrugged. "Other than some penny ante dealers, Bayside doesn't have anything going on with drugs."
"Well, your corner street dealer doesn't usually pick up his drugs from a cadaver in the morgue. I can't tell you how long it's been going on right under your noses, but I can say being able to ship bodies out of your morgue with drugs takes a lot of pull. Someone with the cash to pay her."
Rosalie's heels clicked against the floor as she approached. "Gentlemen —" She glared coldly at Danni without addressing her before continuing. "My clients?"
Sensing the subtle temperature change, Danni smirked. "Right this way, Ms. Jarvis." She struggled not to laugh as Eleanor glided into the interrogation room before Ms. Jarvis did.
Invisible to anyone, Eleanor positioned herself directly behind Rosalie after she was seated. The no-nonsense lawyer tossed her briefcase on the table and snapped, "I'm assuming you've kept your mouth shut. I'm sure you realize that loose lips would cost you more than I think you are willing to pay." She glared at the two men. "You had a job — pop the coroner and get out. What happened?"
"Carlos did exactly what Zhang said. Then Leo saw the bricks in the other guy's gut."
"We thought the boss would like the gift. So, we started grabbing the dope. Then this guy comes in, followed by the cop. We had nowhere to go but the office."
"You're not going to believe this, but it's the God's truth. This woman appeared out of nowhere."
Rosalie slammed her hand against the table. "Were you guys sampling the product? How could a woman appear out of thin air?"
"He's telling you the truth. She started throwing things at us."
"Throwing things? You, morons, had guns. Why didn't you shoot her?"
"We did, but she wouldn't die."
"She was throwing livers, guts, everything. And then we started taking fire from the other direction, too. We didn't have a chance."
Rosalie stood and tossed her file into her briefcase. "If you think I'm going back to Mr. Wei with that story, you're nuts. You can rot in jail, not that you'll live long."
Eleanor materialized behind Rosalie, smiling and waving at the two men.
Carlos jumped backward, tipping his chair over. "That's her. That's the woman." Both men pointed to the spot behind Rosalie. They each wore looks of horror.
Rosalie spun around, but no one was there. She rushed toward the door and screamed at Danni. "Come here. I'll have them throwing the book at you for coming in when I'm interrogating my clients."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Danni smiled.
"Really? So, my clients won't pin you as the woman in the morgue or from moments ago in that room?"
"No," came Danni's curt reply. "I wasn't there."
Rosalie grabbed Danni's arm and shoved her toward the interrogation room. "We'll see about that!"
Danni jerked her arm away from the lawyer, glaring at her. "I know the way. And unless you want an assault charge, don't touch me again."
As Rosalie and Danni moved into the interrogation room, Rosalie's tone shifted from businesslike to accusatory. "Is this the woman you saw seconds ago?"
The two men exchanged uneasy glances before both shook their heads in unison. "That's not her."
Rosalie stammered, losing her polished cool, "You're sure she's not the woman?"
Both men nodded. She picked up her briefcase and marched past Danni, muttering, "They're yours."
As Rosalie Jarvis cleared the outer door, Eleanor appeared and doubled over with laughter. "Did something go wrong with her visit?"
Danni laughed. "What did you do in there?"
"You mean other than wave goodbye to your inmates?" she asked. She waited for Deluca and Jack to join them. "I've got the information you were looking for."
Deluca's look of surprise washed across his face. "How'd you squeeze it out of them?" he asked. "I couldn't get them to open their mouth."
Eleanor shrugged and grinned. "I didn't do anything but listen. Their lawyer asked a question, and they answered. From what they said, Zhang ordered the hit on the coroner, but the drugs were someone else's ballgame."
"You're trying to tell me that the coroner was running a drug business out of the morgue? The guy's not been here long, but he didn't impress me as having too much savvy unless he was talking to dead guys."
"If your coroner is only the middle guy, then you've got big problems in the department. Someone from higher up is calling the shots." Jack scratched his head. "No wonder everyone wanted Donatelli out of the way."
"You're thinking Matthew might have got wind of something and was following up on it?" Danni shook her head. "Why wouldn't he have told me unless he didn't have anyone in mind?"
"It's a possibility, is all I'm saying. Zhang sent Rossi to finish him off, but if he's not involved in drugs, then we've got more than one mole in this place."
After listening to the others, Eleanor said, "If you want those two to stay alive, you'd better find somewhere besides the Bayside jail. The lawyer already told them their lives weren't worth anything."
"But we don't know who we can trust in this department or anywhere else." Deluca shoved his hands into his pockets. "Danni, tell me what Donatelli would do?"
Danni rolled her eyes. "You really want me to answer that?"
"Yeah, I do." Deluca stared at her. "All this is out of my league, so give me some direction."
Danni nodded. "You've got to understand that Donatelli did things a little differently. He didn't break the law, but let's say he bent it."
Eleanor moved closer to DeLuca and whispered in his ear. "What Danni's trying to tell you is that Matthew didn't always share everything with the people in the department. If he felt it was best to keep something quiet or color outside the lines, that's what he did."
DeLuca shook his head, rubbing his chin. "I don't know —"
Jack finally spoke up. "Either you leave the two guys locked up here, and even with guards, you're going to have dead bodies on your hands by morning. Otherwise, we stash them somewhere. And I've got just the place."
*****
DeLuca quickly inserted a key in the lock and swung open the cell door. He motioned to the two detainees with a curt, barely audible command, "Let's go."
The men shuffled out silently, their eyes avoiding contact. Down the dim corridor, a lone guard appeared, eyeing the unusual activity.
Before he could raise any questions, Danni stepped forward and, in a hushed tone, explained to the guard, "We're moving them for security reasons — you know how Donatelli works?"
The guard hesitated, shifted his gaze from Danni to DeLuca and the two inmates, and nodded. "I'm glad to see Detective Donatelli is back working again." Danni nodded and didn't deny or clarify what the guard had said.
Just then, Jack's black SUV rolled up. DeLuca and Danni briskly ushered the two men toward the vehicle. They climbed into the back without protest or further comment, leaving the jail — and any questions — behind. The SUV peeled away into the night, its dark silhouette promising a swift, secretive escape.
DeLuca shrugged. "Other than some penny ante dealers, Bayside doesn't have anything going on with drugs."
"Well, your corner street dealer doesn't usually pick up his drugs from a cadaver in the morgue. I can't tell you how long it's been going on right under your noses, but I can say being able to ship bodies out of your morgue with drugs takes a lot of pull. Someone with the cash to pay her."
Rosalie's heels clicked against the floor as she approached. "Gentlemen —" She glared coldly at Danni without addressing her before continuing. "My clients?"
Sensing the subtle temperature change, Danni smirked. "Right this way, Ms. Jarvis." She struggled not to laugh as Eleanor glided into the interrogation room before Ms. Jarvis did.
Invisible to anyone, Eleanor positioned herself directly behind Rosalie after she was seated. The no-nonsense lawyer tossed her briefcase on the table and snapped, "I'm assuming you've kept your mouth shut. I'm sure you realize that loose lips would cost you more than I think you are willing to pay." She glared at the two men. "You had a job — pop the coroner and get out. What happened?"
"Carlos did exactly what Zhang said. Then Leo saw the bricks in the other guy's gut."
"We thought the boss would like the gift. So, we started grabbing the dope. Then this guy comes in, followed by the cop. We had nowhere to go but the office."
"You're not going to believe this, but it's the God's truth. This woman appeared out of nowhere."
Rosalie slammed her hand against the table. "Were you guys sampling the product? How could a woman appear out of thin air?"
"He's telling you the truth. She started throwing things at us."
"Throwing things? You, morons, had guns. Why didn't you shoot her?"
"We did, but she wouldn't die."
"She was throwing livers, guts, everything. And then we started taking fire from the other direction, too. We didn't have a chance."
Rosalie stood and tossed her file into her briefcase. "If you think I'm going back to Mr. Wei with that story, you're nuts. You can rot in jail, not that you'll live long."
Eleanor materialized behind Rosalie, smiling and waving at the two men.
Carlos jumped backward, tipping his chair over. "That's her. That's the woman." Both men pointed to the spot behind Rosalie. They each wore looks of horror.
Rosalie spun around, but no one was there. She rushed toward the door and screamed at Danni. "Come here. I'll have them throwing the book at you for coming in when I'm interrogating my clients."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Danni smiled.
"Really? So, my clients won't pin you as the woman in the morgue or from moments ago in that room?"
"No," came Danni's curt reply. "I wasn't there."
Rosalie grabbed Danni's arm and shoved her toward the interrogation room. "We'll see about that!"
Danni jerked her arm away from the lawyer, glaring at her. "I know the way. And unless you want an assault charge, don't touch me again."
As Rosalie and Danni moved into the interrogation room, Rosalie's tone shifted from businesslike to accusatory. "Is this the woman you saw seconds ago?"
The two men exchanged uneasy glances before both shook their heads in unison. "That's not her."
Rosalie stammered, losing her polished cool, "You're sure she's not the woman?"
Both men nodded. She picked up her briefcase and marched past Danni, muttering, "They're yours."
As Rosalie Jarvis cleared the outer door, Eleanor appeared and doubled over with laughter. "Did something go wrong with her visit?"
Danni laughed. "What did you do in there?"
"You mean other than wave goodbye to your inmates?" she asked. She waited for Deluca and Jack to join them. "I've got the information you were looking for."
Deluca's look of surprise washed across his face. "How'd you squeeze it out of them?" he asked. "I couldn't get them to open their mouth."
Eleanor shrugged and grinned. "I didn't do anything but listen. Their lawyer asked a question, and they answered. From what they said, Zhang ordered the hit on the coroner, but the drugs were someone else's ballgame."
"You're trying to tell me that the coroner was running a drug business out of the morgue? The guy's not been here long, but he didn't impress me as having too much savvy unless he was talking to dead guys."
"If your coroner is only the middle guy, then you've got big problems in the department. Someone from higher up is calling the shots." Jack scratched his head. "No wonder everyone wanted Donatelli out of the way."
"You're thinking Matthew might have got wind of something and was following up on it?" Danni shook her head. "Why wouldn't he have told me unless he didn't have anyone in mind?"
"It's a possibility, is all I'm saying. Zhang sent Rossi to finish him off, but if he's not involved in drugs, then we've got more than one mole in this place."
After listening to the others, Eleanor said, "If you want those two to stay alive, you'd better find somewhere besides the Bayside jail. The lawyer already told them their lives weren't worth anything."
"But we don't know who we can trust in this department or anywhere else." Deluca shoved his hands into his pockets. "Danni, tell me what Donatelli would do?"
Danni rolled her eyes. "You really want me to answer that?"
"Yeah, I do." Deluca stared at her. "All this is out of my league, so give me some direction."
Danni nodded. "You've got to understand that Donatelli did things a little differently. He didn't break the law, but let's say he bent it."
Eleanor moved closer to DeLuca and whispered in his ear. "What Danni's trying to tell you is that Matthew didn't always share everything with the people in the department. If he felt it was best to keep something quiet or color outside the lines, that's what he did."
DeLuca shook his head, rubbing his chin. "I don't know —"
Jack finally spoke up. "Either you leave the two guys locked up here, and even with guards, you're going to have dead bodies on your hands by morning. Otherwise, we stash them somewhere. And I've got just the place."
*****
DeLuca quickly inserted a key in the lock and swung open the cell door. He motioned to the two detainees with a curt, barely audible command, "Let's go."
The men shuffled out silently, their eyes avoiding contact. Down the dim corridor, a lone guard appeared, eyeing the unusual activity.
Before he could raise any questions, Danni stepped forward and, in a hushed tone, explained to the guard, "We're moving them for security reasons — you know how Donatelli works?"
The guard hesitated, shifted his gaze from Danni to DeLuca and the two inmates, and nodded. "I'm glad to see Detective Donatelli is back working again." Danni nodded and didn't deny or clarify what the guard had said.
Just then, Jack's black SUV rolled up. DeLuca and Danni briskly ushered the two men toward the vehicle. They climbed into the back without protest or further comment, leaving the jail — and any questions — behind. The SUV peeled away into the night, its dark silhouette promising a swift, secretive escape.
Spirits from the past -
Eleanor Bennett - ghost detective
Danni - jr. ghost detective working with Matthew Donatelli
Cornelius Webb - Miriam's nemesis and murderer
Miriam Cascio - Rebecca's grandmother and protector of the Vineyard
Antonio Maggio - Rebecca's grandfather and Miriam's first love
Current Characters -Bayside's Community --
Jenna Bennett - Event planner, Eleanor's daughter, Maggie's mother, Donatelli's love
Matthew Donatelli - Bayside's lead detective and Maggie's father
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie) and interested in Rebecca
Joseph DeLuca - Bayside detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge, nemesis to all, and deceased
Vince Rossi - mobster and Doyle's cellmate and now witness protection
Criminals -
Zhang Wei - once involved in human trafficking with Doyle, seeks revenge for his career losses after Doyle's downfall from the Judge's bench.
Frank DiVito - retired gangster and childhood friend of Garth
Sam - Frankie's right-hand man and friend
Jack Lexington - Chicago kingpin
Danny Veraci -a dear friend from the past and casino owner
Judge Alex Garland ÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂàthe man trying to step into John DoyleÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs corrupt shoes
Althea Webb Cascio - mother to Travis and half-sister to Rebecca
Travis - missing boy
Amelia - girl in the caves
Maria - a woman escaping the tunnels
Lenore - an old woman with a wolf dog and magic
Rebecca Cascio Stillwell - recently inherited the Vineyard after discovering her adoption
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