Ghost of the Past Read online

  “None of this makes sense,” says Elliot. He is driving them to the station, but he also feels that a change is coming, that he is on the cusp of something new, like the world is shifting and he is seeing things in a new way. Is Joyce helping him to change?

  Am I changing? Do I want to change? Should I share my story with her? Is there any point? People know of my story, but I have never really shared it with them. I’ve answered their questions, but that is different. Sterile and devoid of emotion. Do I even have the capacity for emotion anymore? Do I have the capacity for anything anymore?

  They arrive at the station and both go inside. There is nothing spectacular in the movement inside. Nothing to suggest that today is any different from any other day, or that there is going to be a shift in what the day brings—specifically in what the day brings for Elliot, other than the way people are looking at him. There is a look of pity on the faces of the other cops. Elliot looks them in the eye, but they soon look away, and scurry off to do some work.

  “The Chief is after me,” says Elliot and he thinks about turning round and leaving the building. He does not want to be stopped when he is so close.

  “ELLIOT!” comes the shout from the back the room. Elliot knows that it is too late. Even he is not stupid enough to make a run for it and try and solve the case without the formal jurisdiction that a police badge brings.

  “I cannot wait to hear what he has to say to you Elliot. Perhaps it's something nice. Maybe he likes the way you went rogue and tried to solve this case. If this is the end of the case, then I've enjoyed working with you. I hope we can work another case together. I hope that you still have a job. You are a good cop.” Elliot slowly walks to the back of the room. He can see Chief Monaghan waiting for him, door open, one hand holding onto the edge of the door, ready to slam it when Elliot gets there.

  Elliot walks past the door and into the Chief’s office. He can hear the door slam behind him. It makes him jump slightly. He turns round to see the look on the Chief’s face. He tries to think of an apt description, a metaphor for the rage on the face of the Chief. In the end, he can only think about the word furious. The Chief stands there and is furious.

  “Sit down Lankford,” says the Chief.

  “I’m fine,” says Elliot.

  “I said SIT DOWN!” Elliot puts his butt firmly in a chair and Joyce sits in the one next to him. The Chief strides around the desk and sits in his chair, gripping the arms and looking out of the window. After an eternity, he brings his gaze to Elliot.

  “Did I, or did I not, ask you to drop this case?” asks the Chief.

  “Sir, I was—”

  “Elliot, did I ask you to drop the case?” asks the Chief again.

  “You did,” says Elliot.

  “And did you drop it?” asks the Chief.

  “No, I did not,” answers Elliot.

  “What the hell is wrong with you Elliot? What the fucking fuck is wrong with you? Why can you not get it through your thick skull, that when I order you to do something, that you should do it? I have been running this precinct for fourteen years. Have I made a mistake during that time?”

  “No, sir,” says Elliot.

  “So what makes you think that my decision was wrong this time?” asks the Chief.

  “Sir, it was shut down too quickly. You know that. Someone wants this hushed up,” says Elliot.

  “I know Elliot. That much is obvious, but there is no evidence. It does not matter if someone wants this to go away. If there is no evidence then the case needs to be shut down. You understand that, right? You can see why that would be the correct decision. We all know that there is someone guilty out there. We all hate it, but if there is no evidence, then what can we do? We cannot put someone away if there is no evidence. You are a cop, Elliot, you know this. Please tell me that you understand this.”

  “Sir, are you okay with this being covered up?” asks Elliot.

  “Of course not Lankford, but that is life. Sometimes things are fucked up and there is nothing that you can do about it.”

  “Sir, we have new evidence,” says Elliot.

  “What is the evidence?” asks the Chief.

  “Fingerprints. Fingerprints from David Arquez, who is working as a bodyguard for David Clarkson, the politician.”

  “I presume that these were found in the presidential suite of the hotel. Do they place him there at the time of the murder?” asks the Chief.

  “No sir, but we do have an eyewitness that confirms they were there on the night of the murder,” says Elliot.

  “Does that put them in the presidential suite at the time of the murder, Elliot?”

  “No sir, but they rented a room under the same name as the one used to rent the presidential suite,” says Elliot.

  “Anything else?” asks the Chief.

  “Everything else was wiped,” says Elliot.

  “So you have minimal evidence, and mostly everything has been wiped clean. You have fingerprints which prove nothing. You have the name on a room, which proves nothing. You have a witness is unreliable as they come, and probably cannot be used in court. What else do you have?” asks the Chief.

  “Sir, just let me bring them in for a few hours. Let me talk to them. I know that I can get the politician to crack. If I can get them both in here and talking, I can break them, I can—” Elliot stops. Joyce is tapping his leg. He looks to her. The Chief looks at the empty chair that Elliot is staring at.

  “How does he know that the witness is unreliable? We never told him that. He has been talking to someone,” says Joyce.

  “Sir, how do you know that our witness is unreliable? Who have you been talking to?” asks Elliot.

  “Let me tell you a story, Lankford. This morning I received a phone call. It does not matter from who, but they alerted me to the fact that you were bothering a certain politician, and that you snuck your way into an event so you could talk with him—no, threaten him. Sit down Lankford and let me finish. They also told me about your visits to the hotel, which the hotel manager is not very happy about. Apparently you got a young girl fired. I was also told about the man you spoke with. Oscar, I believe his name is, with a long history of mental illness. Now I was told in no uncertain terms that if this politician was bothered again, it would not be great for this department, the officers within it, and especially not great for me. The case is cold and people are getting very unhappy, Lankford.”

  “So we just let the politician and his bodyguard go free, let them prey on this city, and probably do the same again? Is that it Chief? Am I supposed to be happy with that? Just let it go?” asks Elliot.

  “No,” says the Chief. “We bring them in.”

  “What?” asks Elliot.

  “First of all,” says the Chief. “No one threatens me, this department, or any officer within it. Secondly, if we are getting threatening phone calls, then we are on to something. Go out there, bring the two of them in, in any way you deem necessary, and make sure you get something before you let them go again. My job is on the line too, Elliot.”

  “Chief, I—”

  “Elliot, get out there and bring them in. Don’t start with the emotional bullshit. Get out my office now.” Elliot stands up and leaves the office as quickly as he can. It is the first time in a long time that he has not thought about slamming the Chief’s door as he leaves.

  Joyce follows behind with a smile on her face. “Now that is a great Chief,” she says.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The Mystery Deepens

  Elliot flies out of the office and almost runs for the door, Joyce in hot pursuit. He is tapping furiously on his phone as he walks.

  “Asking the Google machine?” asks Joyce.

  “I need to find out where he is,” says Elliot. “We’ll start at his office.” He pushes open the door and runs to his car. The journey to David Clarkson’s office takes less than ten minutes. Elliot climbs the steps and runs into the office like a bull fol
lowing a red rag. The woman at the desk looks up at him and then back down at her work. He is unimportant.

  “Where is he?” asks Elliot.

  “Can I help you sir?” asks the woman behind the desk.

  “I need to see Mr. Clarkson,” says Elliot.

  “Do you have an appointment sir?” asks the woman.

  “I don’t, but I think that he will see me,” says Elliot.

  “I'm afraid that he will not,” says the woman.

  “Are you his secretary?” asks Elliot.

  “I am,” says the woman.

  “Is he in?” asks Elliot as he walks towards a door.

  “Sir, I will have to call security. He is not in his office today,” says the woman.

  “Where is he?” asks Elliot, flashing his police badge.

  “Do you have a warrant? Are you arresting Mr. Clarkson?” asks the woman.

  “Just tell me where he is,” says Elliot. He moves towards the desk threateningly. The woman remains calm and looks him straight in the eye. This is not the first time that she has been threatened.

  “Where is he!” shouts Elliot as he slams his hand down on the reception desk.

  “Sir, I will need the number of your superior. I presume that you are Detective Lankford. I have been instructed to call Chief Monaghan if you ever show up here. I am sorry to do this, but you have behaved in a very threatening manner.” She lifts up the phone, but her hand slams down before she can get the phone to her ear. Her hand sticks to the receiver. She is unable to move it. Elliot looks to see Joyce standing beside her, holding her hand down. Elliot smiles.

  “What are you doing to me?” asks the woman.

  “I’m not doing anything,” says Elliot. “Just tell me where he is.”

  “I cannot do that,” says the woman. She gasps as her hand is forced downwards.

  “He is having coffee at the place on the corner. Pasquale’s. Please let me go.” Elliot nods to Joyce and she lets go. The woman rubs the back of her hand and looks around her. There is nothing to be seen. Elliot walks out with Joyce by her side. He can see the woman dialing quickly.

  “How did you do that?” asks Elliot.

  “I have no idea,” says Joyce, “but it felt good.” They both walk to the coffee shop on the corner. David is sitting out on the patio, espresso in hand. He looks up at Elliot and frowns. The bodyguard and two other men are sitting with him.

  “You assaulted my receptionist,” says David.

  “I didn't touch her,” says Elliot. “You need to come with me. You too,” Elliot says, looking over at Arquez.

  “We are not going anywhere,” says David.

  “I can question you here. I can question you very loudly. My voice carries very well,” says Elliot.

  “You are going to be out of a job, Detective Lankford. You know that, right? I talked with your Police Chief this morning, made a complaint. You have been harassing me. I will not put up with it.”

  “It was my Chief that suggested I bring the two of you in. I don’t think that he has a problem with me harassing you,” says Elliot.

  “Okay, Detective,” says David. “We will play your game, but I hope that you enjoy your life after today. You are going to be out of work and I will soon be in a position to make your life a living hell.”

  “Is that a threat?” asks Elliot.

  “Can we get this over with?” asks David. He stands up and the bodyguard stands up with him. They both follow Elliot to the car. He can feel the bodyguard staring at him the whole time. He is glad that they both come without any fight.

  When they get to the police station, Elliot leads each to a separate interrogation room. He asks them both if they would like a coffee. They both decline. When he has them both shut in a room, he goes to the Chief.

  “Would you like to watch?” asks Elliot.

  “No,” says the Chief. “I want to be in there with you. Let’s nail the son of a bitch.” Elliot smiles and the two of them—three of them, including Joyce—walk towards the interrogation, like warriors about to go into battle. They talk to David first. He looks up at the Chief and shakes his head as they both enter the interrogation room. The Chief stares him straight in the eye and does not flinch until David looks away, staring down at the floor.

  The Chief sits down and starts to record. He makes David aware of his right to a lawyer, and that he is not under arrest. They just want to speak to him. David is happy to not have a lawyer. He has nothing to hide, he tells them.

  “Where were you on the night of March 15th?” asks Elliot.

  “I do not remember,” says David. “You would have to ask my secretary. I already told you that, but you threatened her, did you not?”

  “We have witnesses placing you at the hotel,” says Elliot.

  “I have heard about your witness,” says David. “He sounds cuckoo.”

  ‘This is not a game,” says Elliot. “A woman was murdered. Do you have an alibi for that night? Is there a chance that you remember where you were? I think that if you really think about it, it might come back to you,” says Elliot.

  “I'm drawing a blank,” says David.

  “Did it feel good to strangle her?” asks Elliot. “Was there a reason? Or did you do it for fun?”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about,” says David.

  “You were at the hotel,” says Elliot.

  “Was I?” asks David. “On the third floor, like the old man said? Even if I was, what would that prove? If you had any real evidence, you would have arrested me by now. So can I go? Or are we going to go round in circles for hours?”

  “What does your team actually tell you?” asks the Chief.

  “What do you mean?” asks David.

  “Why was the girl fired?” asks Monaghan.

  “What girl? The girl on the desk, the one who let Detective Lankford into the office? Is that not grounds for dismissal? Did he have a warrant?”

  “He did,” said Monaghan. “I sanctioned it.” Elliot looks surprised, but hides it quickly. David looks more surprised and has a harder time hiding his look.

  “Even if he did have a warrant, I am told that his search came up fruitless,” says David.

  “It did,” says Monaghan. “You are well informed.” David sits back with a smug look on his face. “But,” says Monaghan, “if Detective Lankford had a warrant, then why was she fired?”

  “Doesn't matter to me,” says David.

  “It should,” says Monaghan. “Why was Oscar fired? Do you see a pattern emerging here? How much does your security team really tell you? Did you see everyone who came to the presidential suite? Can you be sure that no one visited? Brought room service? I mean, there hadn't been a terrible accident in there yet, so there was no reason to hide anything. People are sloppy. They wouldn't tell you. Plausible deniability.”

  “You have nothing,” says David.

  “Don’t we? We have two witnesses who saw you at the hotel, and we haven't even begun to dig into this yet. Don’t worry. We know that it wasn't you—you don't have the balls. We know it was your bodyguard. You must know what he is capable of. Something happened and he took care of it, but that leaves you as an accessory. You were there. You could have done something. Did you stand there and watch it happen? Is that how it went down?” David was beginning to look nervous.

  “Okay, I was there. We set up in the hotel, but Arquez got a call, and told me that there was a security risk, that we should move rooms. I went out for a while and met with a guy about a business deal—not completely above board, but not illegal if you know what I mean. Us politicians have to sell our soul to the devil to get anything done. I can give you his number. Call him and he will set everything straight. I was with him during the time she was killed, I guarantee it.”

  “And the bodyguard?” asks Elliot.

  “You will have to ask him. I left the hotel and he was still there. I should have known that something fishy was go
ing on. I returned and he would not let me go back into the room. All my stuff had been moved down to the third floor.”

  “Stay here,” says Elliot. “If what you said was true, then you are free to go.” Elliot and Monaghan leave the roof, the Chief going to make the call, while Elliot starts on Arquez. He opens the door to find Arquez as cool as a cucumber.

  “Your boss has thrown you under the bus,” says Elliot.

  “Is that right?” says Arquez.

  “Yeah,” says Elliot. “Sorry, but it is always the ones in power that come out looking rosy. Anything you want to say before we lock you up?”

  “No, I’ll wait,” says Arquez.

  The Chief opens the door and comes in. He is holding a small tape player. He presses play and lets Arquez listen to the previous conversation. “I called the guy and it checks out. He was with David for most of the night, even tried to tell me some anecdotes from their time together,” says Monaghan.

  “We have you bang to rights,” says Elliot. “You are going to enjoy prison. Anything you would like to say?”

  “One phone call and I’ll answer any questions,” says Arquez.

  “One call,” says Monaghan, “and make it quick.” He stands, but Arquez motions for him to sit down.

  “Your cell is fine. You can even listen if you want. Wouldn't want to put you out,” says Arquez. Elliot pulls out his phone and hands it to Arquez. He dials a number and it is answered almost immediately.

  “Do the thing. Pick me up in a half-hour,” says Arquez. He hangs up and gives the phone back to Elliot.

  “Do the thing? What does that mean?” asks Elliot. “You are not being picked up by anyone.”

  “The businessman,” says Arquez. “The one David met with? I really don’t think that they would do business together. He is really not good with names. You should send him a picture of David, just to make sure that they really met. Go call him, and if any phone calls come in, then…” Arquez trails off and stares to the side.