Return of the Black Widow Ch. 01

"Well..." I said, thinking about it as I talked, "... I fully expect that someone, or several someones, will try to fill the vacuum left by Westboro. And it's a big vacuum, with room for several people to get pieces of that action. So I'm watching to see who is doing what, and trying to beat them down silly before they even get started."

I continued: "And we also have Superior Bloodlines to work on. Several of the Westboro threads have led to some of them, but there's a lot more to do. And we're going to need to do it fairly quickly, because racial strife in this Nation is getting worse... and not by spontaneous chance. Forces on both sides are deliberately ginning up racial hatred, and it's part of a much, much bigger plan to destroy the very fabric of this Nation... as well as destroy the Constitution of the United States..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As the sun set, Cindy and I joined the Muscone FBI Team at their favorite watering hole, the City Tavern. We were also joined by the SBI Inspector General, Inspector Britt Maxwell and SBI Deputy Inspector General, Lieutenant Frank Soltis. We were sitting outside on the 2d floor deck, overlooking the vista of a parking lot and then other buildings.

"Pretty much a waste of our immensely valuable time." Cindy said of our inquiries about Reece Patrick. "He had a 2.5 grade point average. No disciplinary issues with the School. Part of the Alphas Fraternity, and they don't have any particular problems, at least not like the SAEs. Don went to the Fraternity House, almost nobody there, and the two guys that were there didn't even know he was dead nor that he'd been out of the City."

Cindy continued: "I went to talk to employees of his parents' businesses. Reece was not a part of either business. The employees at his father's place of business clammed up and just gave standard boilerplate about the company and Mr. Patrick being good to work for, yadda yadda yadda. The mother's business was more interesting. There were three employees, all women; they place women in temporary positions in offices. I think I want to talk to the City Police about that place; the word 'escort' came to my mind as I talked to these women."

"That would explain why their taxes show a barely-surviving business," said FBI Special Agent Lindy Linares, "but they have an office in the Wright Building, a high-rent place."

"That could also be explained by Richard Patrick being the developer of the Wright Building." I said. "And he's giving his wife a break on rent... like a $1-per-year break."

"Speaking of Delise Patrick, she has an interesting history, as well." said Frank Soltis. "We came across her when I was in the Midtown P.D. Her name came up in a minor role with State Senator Richard Langdon. She would send 'secretaries' and 'stenographers' to the Senator... in the evenings. We started digging to see if she was actually sending him escorts, but never found anything. And then she came up to the City about a year and a half ago."

"Hmmm," I said, "she came up here as her son was going into college. Now he and some buddies are allegedly running a male stripper business. I wonder if Mother was helping book Son's appointments..."

"That's hardly worth a stake-burning." teased Jack Muscone. "Maybe firing up a cigarette lighter in front of you." Sandra Speer laughed at that; she'd had a few beers already. Martin Nash was sitting next to her, and he peered at her pretty hard.

"Not drinking any beer tonight, Cindy?" Britt Maxwell asked.

"Nope." Cindy said. "I'm the designated driver."

"We can get a couple of hotel rooms." I said. "The best perk of being Commander is that I get to authorize spending the County's money on Police business."

"Naah." Cindy said. "Your wife wants you back home. And we already have one murder case; I don't want any perps getting active because the Iron Crowbar is away."

"Nor his 'Kato'." said Sandra. "Yeah, we heard about that. Show us the green... as in green crowbar, sister." The green crowbar was in the car; Cindy promised to show it off when we left.

"So how are things going with the SBI?" I asked Britt and Frank.

"Quiet." said Britt. "Much too quiet, if you ask me. With the Governor's race going on, I think Director Lewis has told his people to stay on the down-low and not stir up trouble."

Frank Soltis said "They've also been keeping their heads down since you put Westboro down, Don. I don't know if they're scared you'll find a connection between them and Westboro, or if they just realize you're too good to be fucked with, but even Ferrell and Ikea are behaving themselves, and sticking to assignments well away from the 1st District."

"Hmmm..." I said, followed by pouring some more beer into several empty glasses, including mine.

"Uh oh." said Jack Muscone. "Whenever he says 'Hmmm' like that, it usually means he's onto something."

"Four hundred years ago," I replied with a grin, "they'd have burned you at the stake, Jack!" That got everyone laughing, and we stopped talking shop after that.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"How's your back doing?" Cindy asked.

"Within parameters of operational limits." I replied. "Alcohol helps. A lot."

"I can feel how you've set the lumbar support in the driver's seat here." Cindy replied. She was driving my Police SUV, as I was legally and actually impaired after consuming a good bit of beer.

"Yes." I said. "So, did Laura really ask you to bring me home tonight?"

"She didn't really ask out loud." Cindy replied. "But when she asks as many questions as she does, I don't need a crowbar to know she wants you at home as much as possible."

"So am I affected?" I asked. "Beyond the beer, that is?"

"You were... more than a bit direct with the Sheriff." Cindy said. "Of course, you were flirting with Della Harlow, and Bonnie Karpathian is drooling over you, so things are pretty normal there. And of course, you have Callie Carrington talking about you with puppy love in her eyes." I chuckled, then grew silent as I went into a reverie.

We were in Nextdoor County when Cindy said "Penny for 'em."

"I was just thinking about this copycat murder." I said.

"Think it's a one-off?" Cindy asked.

"Unfortunately... no." I said. "I think chances are better than even that we're going to have another Black Widow killing."

To be continued.