Blood Ties

Jarrod could only nod mutely, as he tried hard to remember what happened before he passed out.

"I was reporting this in when there was another anonymous call saying that the murderer of Paul Garret could be found here. Of course, this was a little bit too neat to bite, and so I didn't. Which means until I get some answers from you, I'm not going to say I found anything or anyone here. Remember when we're younger, and I told you about my bump-of-trouble? This is one of those times when it's screaming to me that something is not right. Well, Jarrod?"

"I don't know much to tell you anything substantial Andy. I was at Garret's place last night. You do know that he hired me? Well, last night I was there to amend his will. The rough draft was supposed to be formalized today and passed to Garret's head lawyer, Mr. Fryer. Well, I came in this morning and found my office like the wreck that you see now. Before I'd go further, someone knocked me unconscious, and now, here I'm talking to you. I didn't see who it was cause he was wearing a mask."

"And no one else saw or heard anything?"

Jarrod shrugged and added, "Shouldn't you be the one finding that out?"

"Oh yeah... And you're all alone in your apartment the whole night? Can anyone collaborate on that?"

"Yeah, I was alone, as you should know well. You're the one who forced me out my moping after my huge first breakup. I thought it would work when you introduced me to your 3-times-removed cousin. It turned out that we're way too incompatible. I like music and she likes musicians. Besides, your cousin was the one who finally dumped me. Yeah, I was alone the whole of last night. Strike Two!... I saw the newspaper article this morning about Garret's death, and rushed to the office."

"Well, first off, your hometown girlfriend is just a plain idiot. Secondly, cousin Ginny is mighty fine girl, from a good Christian family, and I was hoping that she would take fancy to a lawyer..."

"A rich lawyer, yes. But a country-church-mouse poor lawyer, no..."

"Hahaha! Have you ever thought that your standards a tad high?" spoken with a wink. "What do you think that was taken? Obviously this whole place has been searched rather thoroughly. These people wanted me to find something. Me meaning the police. They took the pains to make sure that police found you here, and of course, made sure that I found the letter opener with blood stains on it, with probably your fingerprints as well, in this office right on your desk. Even an idiot can see that this is setup."

"Are you so sure that I didn't do the deed? I mean..."

"Look Jarrod, you ain't too smart with women. Even with two strikes, you're not out because you've unlimited hits. Anyway, I know you're too smart to be caught even if you did do the deed. You're always smarter than I am. I know for damn sure that you're not going to leave anything lying here easy to find for the police, anything that might implicate you. I know you remember? So anything that can help me help you?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure. I don't have that many cases, and it looks like I'm not going to anytime soon. Otherwise I would be living the same size apartment as you, and like you, have my own car. Instead I'm still taking the subway and walking to work everyday. It could have something to do with Mr. Garret."

"Well, the funeral is today. It looks like old man Garret isn't going to be much of a help."

"Wow, that is fast. I mean the body isn't that cold yet, and he's already being buried."

"Well, it is, considering that Colin Garret is now the emperor of a vast empire. And considering that he has friends in high places like he does. Yeah, you're right. The funeral proceeding is a little fast. One might say, hastily done to close the case as soon as possible. It might bear looking into. But lets get back to you and your office."

"Let me search around a bit..."

There was a whole lot to go through. Probably what would help Jarrod at this point was a fire, to wipe out everything and give him a clean slate. He knew that he had to do the cleanup himself because he could not afford to hire a cleanup crew. If not a fire, a tornado would do the job equally well. Even an open window during a hurricane would not hurt.

Obviously the intruders were not too interested in his other cases. Almost all of his files were either torn or crumpled. Not surprisingly, Jarrod found that his briefcase containing Garret's will was missing. He did not even think about the 1000 dollars hidden in one of his law books on the way to his desk. The desk had a locked drawer where he kept Garret's personal information file. He knew before he actually saw it that the file folder was gone as well. He was hoping that it was still there, but he had expected the worse. He silently cursed himself for not buying a safe sooner. He was only 200 dollars short of the 1200 that he needed.

Jarrod's expectations now turned to proving his innocence, when all of the evidence pointed to him. He remembered using that letter opener as a ruler, so that was a given that the only fingerprints on it were his. He surmised that it would not be difficult to put some of Paul Garret's blood on it.

"Andy, Paul Garret's file is gone, including the draft that I made last night. All my previous files on him are gone as well. If I do a more thorough search, I'm sure that everything remotely connected to Garret is gone as well. It will take a little bit of time, but that's the main thing..."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me at all. So what am I going to do with you?"

"I don't know... Sigh! Like they say, I'm truly ass invaded aren't I?"

He only nodded. There was a long pause.

"Let me go, Andy."

There was a quick surprised look on Andy's face, followed by a questioning crease of the brow. He knew that he did not expect Jarrod to ask him to do that. Then again, he knew he surprised himself as well. This was, by all accounts, a setup, for Jarrod to take the fall for Paul Garret's murder. And it was up to Jarrod to clear himself of all the wrongdoings. The main reason was that the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Justice were good friends of Paul Garret, golfing buddies. All the cards were stacked up against Jarrod. There was not a helluva lot that Andy could do against his boss.

"Andy, let me go. At least give me some time to clear my name. I know that this is asking a lot, a helluva lot. But it's my entire life on the line here. Your Captain and the Chief Justice would surely believe the evidence instead of me. But you've said yourself, that this is a setup..."

"And what do you plan to do? I hope that you've a plan..."

"I do... Where are you going next? Back to the station?" Jarrod lied easily. A lawyer who could not lie was not a good lawyer. He had absolutely no idea where to go, or who to turn to.

"OK, buddy. You've 24 hours. Then I expect you to turn yourself in. Don't make me go chasing after you. I'm assigned to this case, although it won't be hard to change that. I think I'll go look at the crime scene. Maybe I can find something to help you. Remember, don't make me go chasing after you."

"You've my word on it. And you know that my word is always good. Thanks. I'll never be able to repay you for this."

"Well, you could always ask Ginny to go out again. To get my mother and aunt off my back. I'm really tired of Ginny this and Ginny that."

"I'll keep Ginny in mind once all of this has been cleared up. I'll give you a call later to tell you where I'm and where I'm going. No need for you to look for me. See you later. And thanks again..."

"See you later. Good luck and be careful."

Jarrod was stumped as to how to proceed. True that his life had been dull with the same old routine day in, day out. But this was not the kind of excitement that he was looking for. Thank goodness it was Andy who found him, and not some cop or detective out to make a name or had a sense of perverted justice. This case might not be high profile, but it goes up high enough to make it important.

Like Andy said, everything was so neat and tidy in implicating Jarrod with the murder. The planted murder weapon, the call to the police, everything. Was he that an easy victim? He had always wondered why Mr. Garret picked him, when there were a plethora of higher priced and more experienced lawyers to choose from. He was relatively unknown and inexperienced. Jarrod regretted that he never got the courage to ask Paul Garret why he was chosen.

He was not getting anywhere daydreaming. There might be one person who could give him a clue as to where and how to proceed in resolving his dilemma. But first thing that he did was to get some food in stomach. Jarrod headed for his regular haunt, where the coffee was free flowing and the hash browns dripped with grease. By the third cup of coffee, Jarrod was awake enough to make the phone call.

"Hello, Mike. It's me, Jarrod... Yeah, I'm all right. Right as rain, as they might say... That was quick. I figured it would be at least tomorrow morning before the radio announced it. I hope you don't believe I did it?... Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mike... Yeah. Yeah. Mom should be worried, but I'm doing something about it. Anyway, that's why I called. I need a favor, Mike... Do you remember Charlie 'Twinkle Little' Star?... I need to know where he is... Pier 31? Got it. Thanks Mike. And tell mom not to worry. I've things under control... I don't know how, but I'm going to clear my name. And tell Mom that I love her. Thanks again, Mike. Bye."

Click!

That turned out to be easy. Jarrod was not brave enough to directly call his mother. But he knew he could count on Mike, a family friend who fancied his mother. He did not even know his real father. So he had always considered Mike to be the surrogate father. Mike was the one who brought Jarrod to all those Yankee games.

Jarrod had plenty of coins, and a few dollar bills. His stash of cash was still wedged up against the law book. It surprised him to see that. He had a hard time figuring out what kind of person who would not take a thousand dollars. The assailant or assailants must have seen it, cause some of the bills' corners were sticking out. Jarrod knew that he should be thinking about getting a good lawyer for his trial, instead of being at this diner gulping down coffee by the pots and having a huge breakfast.

He next dialed for Andy, hopefully that he would have some news or information for him to work on. He got through almost immediately to Andy's personal car phone, a luxury that he had only seen once before in Garret's limousine. Jarrod dared not use the normal police channels.

"Hey Andy, it's me Jarrod."

"Jarrod got some news that you might want to know about. Commissioner Jones has just put out a warrant of arrest for you. And I got assigned immediately to the case. So my presence here at Garret's place is justified."

"Yeah, Mike told me that he heard it over the radio. That's to be expected, I guess. Anything new?"

"Glad you caught me while I was at the car getting something. Anyway, the murder seems like any other murder. Lots of blood on the chair and floor. Can't find the murder weapon though. From the blood trails, he did not die immediately, but tried to crawl to his desk to call for help. All the gold items have been accounted for, and the safe has not been broken into. Even the gold inlaid, leather-bound copy of Sherlock Holmes is still on the table beside his chair. So this rules out robbery. The guys are still dusting the entire place down for prints. No prizes for guessing that a lot will be yours when they get through."

"Anything else?"

"Well, I'm still looking, but I doubt it. It's a pretty straightforward case. Your prints and presence here last night would be enough for the DA. Commissioner Jones wants this case wrapped up by tomorrow. Everything is still neat and tidy."

"I was afraid of that. What about the two bodyguards?"

"What bodyguards? Garret had no bodyguards as far as we can tell."

"Well, there were two other men in that manor the same time I was there. I did not see any servants. The two big guys, who look like Mob enforcers, were the ones who brought me to the manor. They can testify that Garret was still alive when they drove me home."

"Hmmm... I'll look into that. All the servants, except Paul's butler and the butler's pregnant daughter, had the entire day and night off. All had alibis. I'll look for the two guys you mentioned."

"I didn't see any butler or a pregnant woman when I was there."

"The butler is probably about sixty years old. The thirty year old daughter is about six months pregnant. They said Paul let them go home after serving some tea. The diner where these two had dinner later on back up the alibis."

"Oh yeah. I had tea and cakes in the study. Guessed someone must have served them."

"That's what I figured. How are you doing on your end?"

"Nothing much right now. Going to see an old friend later this evening. He's a lot of connections, so he might be able to tell me something. I'll be down at Pier 31. That's where he has a yacht... I hope that you can find those two guys who can collaborate my story. Otherwise I'm screwed."

"Pretty much, buddy. How far have you gone in your search?... Oh yeah! There was a scrap of paper with a few words on it. 'Garlic Toner, Idle Boots.' The old man was clenching it when he died. It's in the evidence bag given to me by one of my officers. Know what it means?"

"Garlic Toner? Idle Boots? No, not a clue. Probably something that he was going to buy later on. The manor has a funky smell. I assume it's because of all those stuff that rich, reclusive old men buys."

"Hang on buddy... Well, I'll be damned. There is actually something called Garlic Toner. It smells like garlic. I'm holding a bottle of it right now. One of my officers just found it in the old man's bedroom. Who would have thought the old man was such vain. 'Idle' is probably a European brand of boots. Well, it seems like this is a shopping list. Anyway, make haste buddy. Time is running out. There is only so much that I can do to cover for you."

"I will. Thanks Andy."

Click!

Time was running out. There was nothing else to do but wait and have lots more coffee and hash brown.

* * * * *

"DAMN YOU, COLIN!" The feminine voice was loud, almost a shout, but still measured and in control.

"Evelyn, would you please lower down your voice?"

"WHY?"

"Goddamnit, girl. The guests outside are going to hear you. I'm not going to let you embarrass me in front of them. Now pipe down or I'll do it for you."

"Okay, have it your way. But I'd better get some straight answers from you or else..."

"Of course I always get my way. Or else what? Remember you're the one who signed up for this. It was your idea in the first place. Fuck me if you're going to bail out now..."

"But damn, you said that no one was supposed to get hurt. No one was supposed to get killed. Remember? Everything was going as planned, and now this."

"I know what I said. I'm not senile. But you know that you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Uncle's death was unfortunate, but that can't be helped now. We've just have to deal with whatever that comes up."

"Colin dear, you're going to break the single egg that makes the whole omelet. And did your uncle had help on his way to the big party in the sky?" She sneered.

"Evelyn, Dear. Someday you going to have to start trusting me. I've said earlier that I didn't kill my uncle. I'm saying that again. He was doing exactly what we had wanted. I'd be a fool to jeopardized his intent. We both know that. In fact, I'd be the one who would have tried to kept him alive, not kill him."

"And what about that lawyer guy? What if he finds something and ruins the rest of the plan? He might actually get lucky you know."

"Do you really believe that? And you've no faith whatsoever in my influence with the Chief of Police? And you want to bail out on me now, after all that we have been through? Is that what you want?"

"Goddamnit Colin. You know that's not what I'm talking about."

"Look, it's just a small modification to the original plan. I've made concessions for that. Besides, it gives us more control. Don't worry, it's all part of the plan. I know where he is, and where he's going. Don't worry..."

"A modification that you've failed to tell me about."

"I wouldn't have made it if you haven't failed, my dear."

"I wouldn't have failed if your information had been correct."

"We can go back and forth on this blame-game the whole night, love. Now be a good dear, and get ready for our guests."

"Damn you, Colin. We'll finish this later."

Evelyn Breck, with a great twirl of her dress, strode back into her suite. She sat down and looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She mussed over her chin-length tresses of jet-black hair. Her full lips smiled back at her as she put on the blood-red lipstick. The indigo evening dress accentuated her curves, especially her full breasts. The long slit along the side would show that she had shapely legs that would not quit.

She knew she was beautiful, and this knowledge had served her well. It was easy to insinuate herself into Colin's inner circle. Men were seldom intimidated by beauty, only by brains. She showed the world that she had none, although her law degree would prove otherwise. The sacred place between her legs had made her more money than being a lawyer could ever accomplish.

Colin was only one the many "business" partners that she had. Initially, she provided him with the perfect social cover of a bimbo with no brains. It was not long before he started listening without dismissing outright her ideas and schemes, usually during the lull period after sex. But it took her a bit more time to overcome the difficulty that Colin had in accepting his own mental limitations. But after a few successes on some of the more harebrained schemes that she had, he was fully convinced. They were partners, and she knew that he loathed giving up a very lucrative partnership, one where he could go on living the high rollers' life.

This scheme with his uncle was the penultimate one. After this, she would gain to be free of Colin, to collect what was owed. That meant half of the empire. She smiled showing her white even teeth when she herself would be listed amongst the august company of Queen Elizabeth and Mrs. Sam Walton as one of the richest women on earth.

* * * * *

Colin clenched his jaw as he left the main suite. Evelyn was getting above herself, not that he did not expect her to. This current snag was just a temporary setback; nothing to get all huffed up about. He got angry when she questioned his ability to solve the problem. It was like questioning his manhood.

He smiled when he saw who was getting out of his limousine. His gloomy day had just brighten up considerably. It became easier to forget about Evelyn and her temper tantrums.

"Good evening Miss Keese. I must apologize that I myself could not have the opportunity to pick you up. I hope that you'll forgive me."

"Good evening, Mr. Garret. Your man has exquisite manners. I feel like a princess riding in a royal carriage."

"I must add, you look absolutely ravishing tonight. I'm willing to bet everything I've to say that there are none on board who is be able to match your beauty."

"Flattery will get you points. Hahaha! Everything you say? You may end up a pauper Mr. Garret. My hair is an absolute mess..." Sandra ran her fingers through the tumble of curly golden locks. Her hair was intricately woven around a light pearl-white crown. Her spaghetti-strap dress was stunning, although made out of cotton. The front vee barely covered her modesty. The back of the dress went down so low that she was afraid that her matching red bikini panties would show.