Chapter XVIII
hief Perry arrived just as one ambulance was pulling out and heading toward the hospital, and another was working over someone in the back. There were a couple of tarps on the ground under which were corpses. A total of five were involved in the accident.
The Little London Narrow was a grand old bridge dating back to 1921. It was a replica of the famous London Bridge and was identical to it except it was much smaller with one major flaw. It was extremely narrow. There were so many accidents on it that lights had been installed to prevent vehicles from meeting on the bridge. Still, vehicles would sometimes meet on the bridge and scrape both sides getting through.
It had been the cause of some major contention since vehicles became larger than the model T's that originally ran over it. Built in the day of the team and wagon, the sentimental townsfolk wanted it left and an identical bridge for the other direction built, some wanted it completely replaced with a modern bridge. One cause of the sentimental value is it was one of the first bridges in CA to be built using concrete.
One man hired to destroy the bridge was killed when he was placing the dynamite, and that, by a protector of the bridge. So, the bridge had a history. It was said that Randolph Hearst, a very wealthy man who owned the newspaper had the bridge built for his own use, but the State of California built Highway One and claimed it as state property.
And now, at least two more lives had been lost, with the bridge itself probably being a big reason of the accident. "What have you got Lieutenant?" Perry asked with authority.
"Two dead, two severely, and one sitting in the rear of my cruiser. You might be interested as to the identity of the man." She handed the Chief for her report and said, "two up."
The Chief pulled the two reports of the Police log accident form book and read the name "Bannister, James. Occupation: Proprietor, Regal Real Estate, San Diego, CA."
"So," he thought to himself. "The mayor had put legs to his plan before confiding in me. This means my own life is in danger if I step awry of the Mayors line."
The Bannister Bros. were known all over the underworld for their operations, but no police officer anywhere had ever been able to take them down. They were genuine thugs. Mafia, heartless, emotionless, killers. Known for their get in, get the job done, and get out speed, their price was terrific, and they always got their mark and they always got paid.
But it wasn't the Mayor who had hired them. The Mayor didn't even know they were in town, but he was about to. Perry would hurl the accusation at him as soon as he parked himself in his chair behind his big old desk at the Stillwell Administration Building. Perry had come real close to having all he would take from the Mayor, and now, he was going to tell the Mayor what he thought!
At nine o'clock that morning, Mayor Ludlow parked beside the cruiser of the Chief of Police, and thought to himself "that's odd," and strolled into the foyer of the large beautiful building.
"Good morning Mayor. Your coffee is on your desk along with your itinerary for the day. And you have a visitor."
"Yeah, yeah. I know" and he walked into his office. Perry was sitting opposite his desk stone faced and angry.
"What are you so happy about Perry?"
The Chief looked him squarely in the eye and said "Mayor, I don't want to work for you any longer. I'm resigning my position as of noon today. You'd better get yourself a new patsy."
"What's this all about Perry?" The Mayor had gotten up and closed the door. Just as he sat back down, Perry told him.
"When did you invite the Bannister brothers into town?"
The Mayor went white. All he could muster was "They're here?"
"Yes" said Perry. "I've spoken to both of them. They weren't in the plan you lined out this morning at three o'clock." His voice level and menacing, he added "are you trying to get rid of me your own way Ludlow?"
The color had not returned to the Mayors face, and he sat there in stony silence. He had no idea who had called them, but he knew they were in town to do a job. And he seemed to be feeling a noose around his neck. Their method of operation was the garrote. Someone jokingly referred to them as the Hanging Crew. The reason was after they killed their mark, usually with the garrote, they would hang a piece of chain with a chrome hook on to the garrote. A simple hook and chain was their trademark.
Oblivious to the question or the presence of the Chief, Mayor Ludlow walked out of the office, got in his car and left. He said absolutely nothing to anyone. The Mayor correctly figured out that someone with enough money to contract the Bannister brothers had evil intentions, and the Mayor knew there was only three people in town with that kind of excess money.
And neither of these three people liked him. He studied about that as he sat in his favorite chair at his mansion on the hill and swilled Vodka. Someone was about to die, and, he thought slowly and carefully, "I think it's me . . ."
Victor showed up at the Police Station within an hour of the unlocking the front doors for business. He was sitting in the Chiefs chair when Perry showed up. It was plain to see the Chief had been up most of the night, and his short answers confirmed his lack of patience with his underlings this morning.
Instead of sitting down to speak with Victor, Chief Perry stepped into another office, sat down at the computer and began to type. Victor stayed where he was with no idea as to what was going on. He was expecting some visitors of his own this morning and he was commandeering the Chiefs office for the meet. One was the state comptroller, and another was the Deputy Attorney General of the State of California.
The last was the Sheriff of Ventura County, Lloyd Blasingame. When he walked in, there were seven deputies that filed in behind him, and they lined the wall directly across from the Chiefs office in the squad room. It was quite a sight. All the police officers of the local precinct with the exception of one went on about their normal duties.
Her name was announced and asked to come into the Chief's office. When Officer Williams arrived in the office with her cover under her arm military style, she was offered a chair and the door was shut. She had only been in there about three minutes when Chief Perry exited the office in which had typed out a document. He noticed the line of Sheriffs deputies and a scowl crossed his face.
He turned his attention toward his office and was just about to open the door when he glanced in. He decided he would wait, and turned toward the Dispatchers desk. The Corporal who sat there was very fidgety, and couldn't seem to gather his wits around him. He stuttered and stammered, and generally proved his total incompetence.
He accepted the document from the Chief, and the Chief exited the building. He looked at the document and saw it was a signed resignation. He was confused and looked after the Chief as he walked toward the door. The Chief went home also, and found a bottle, and within a half hour was totally bombed.
There were some HUGE changes coming to the Stillwell Creek Township Police Department.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Williams phone rang that evening at ten o'clock. A lady's voice informed him of a special need for him and his services. She used short sentences. The voice said "I know you, but you don't know me. Please come to this address and don't be late. Be here at eleven. Come alone. And the phone went dead.
An extremely unusual request, but there was something familiar with it. William sat kicking it around in his mind as to whether or not to go. He looked up the address and was taken aback. It was the Strickland Castle on the top of Strickland Mountain. Yep. He was going!
Sharon was on a two day assignment with Melinda in Santa Cruz and wasn't expected back in town until day after tomorrow. With a sigh, he reached down, slipped on his shoes, grabbed his shoulder holster and strapped it in place, grabbed his coat and stepped out into the chill of the late evening air pungent with the smell of salt water.
The drive to the Castle was less than twenty minutes and as he pulled up to the gate, it immediately began a slow graceful arc opening wide to allow entry. He drove in and followed the cobblestone drive as it meandered through trees and various beautiful man made scenes of opulent beauty, then turned to go around the right side of the huge place. He pulled around and was hailed by a valet in the middle of the drive. You can exit your vehicle here Mr. Travis. Leave the keys in the ignition and go with Morgandy.
The valet pointed toward the door and a very pretty young lady stood there waiting for him. "My name is Morgandy Mr. Travis. Will you follow me?"
She started off at a fair pace and William had to step briskly to keep up. He was wowed by the beauty of the place. "Hearst Castle has nothing on this place" he thought to himself. This place was gorgeous, and one in his position could only dream of such a magnificent place
A couple of turns and what seemed like a half mile later, he was led into a huge sitting room, with a library covering one whole wall. There was a comforting fire in the huge fireplace, and he sensed he had been here before.
Please sit here Mr. Travis. May I take your overcoat? Coffee or tea?
William handed the overcoat to Morgandy, and said "Coffee please. Black."
At that he sat down. Morgandy was pouring his coffee when the voice spoke to him again. Hello again Mr. Travis. I trust all is well with Mrs. Travis?
"Yes. Thank you for asking. What can I do for you Mrs. Strickland?
"So, you recognize me do you? Please, be so kind as to tell me how you know me."
The elderly ladies voice was kind but firm. It was easy to see she was used to being in charge of the conversation.
"I remember playing with Axel Waterbury, your grandson in the Maddox Creek under the Little London Narrow. I sure hated to hear about him being lost at sea."
"Thank you William. I always knew you had a good heart. Your parents doing good in Montana?"
"Yes ma'am. They're fine" he answered.
"I wonder how long she is going to go on with this nicety tirade" he thought. Then he asked a question as he spoke with his authoritive FBI agent voice, "Is there something I can do for you Mrs. Strickland?"
"Straight to the jugular, I like that in a man" she said. Then, it was all business. Important business. "Yes, there is. I've been following you from the moment you hired on with Roy Planter. I've watched your success, I've seen your strengths as well as weaknesses. You've done very well by yourself. She paused looking into his eyes intently."
"I sense your impatience my dear. I do hope you will relax a little. You're going to be here for several more hours. Now, as I was saying, I watched you go through the Crawley Caper nightmare, and have a pretty good idea of what you went through after you were cleared. My son, Lane Wardlow, has kept me abreast of you.
The surprise was genuine. And it took William off guard. He knew Anna Waterbury was estranged from her mother, but never made the connection that she was the daughter of Doris Strickland. Also, he had never connected Lane with Anna. He doubted if Sharon even knew it. Doris was speaking again. "And, you also know another son of mine, Victor Bension.
The surprises kept coming. "What was next? he thought. "Yes, and both are some of the finest I know."
"Thank you. Lane said I would like you."
"I have copies of the original Death Vengeance computer program. But, I'm not the only one. We know there is one more copy besides mine and the six copies created by Russell Adams." She paused to let that sink in.
"Wow!" William thought. "This lady knows what is going on. She must keep her finger on the pulse of the whole city!"
"We think there is going to be one more murder to finish out the plan of Gilroy Hastings. I know you understand more deeply than anyone what that means. That is why we're placing you under guard, for your own safety as well as the mark. But others will have to be moved, one being my grandson by marriage, Mason Ludlow. He joined the family in his union to Layan Wardlow, daughter of Lane and Brenda Sue."
"Layan was Lanes only child. Lanes wife disappeared one night within a year after Mason and Layan wed. Within two years, Layan disappeared. Lane suspected Mason right off the bat, but I would not hear of it. Lane thinks Mason was the reason for both deaths. Now, I hear, there are seven newly found corpses in the morgue."
"I'm personally having DNA studies done on them. Not only do I suspect Mason, I'm positive he was at the core of the murders of these two fine young ladies. We also know he was the main leader of the Crawley Caper fiasco just under the Kingpin, and quite a long list of other corrupt scandals in the city. The wheels of justice turn slow, but they are sure."
After another pause, she quietly said "the Kingpin must die. But not by your hand."
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