FOLLOW THE LEADER - Chapter 83

 Chapter 83

Downstairs in the hospital’s cafeteria, Chief Howell and Detective Colin Kelly nibbled on sweet rolls and drank coffee. Happy Donuts in Noe Valley would have been preferable, but they were now on the other end of 24^th, and the coffee was decent.

“What’s the real story, Detective? After you found the bodies inside the house.”

Colin took a sip of coffee, deciding how to spin his own narrative without getting his little brother in trouble.

“I had just missed him when I got there. I was pretty certain there was nowhere he could go to hide except Glen Canyon Park. Sure, he could have broken into a neighbor’s house and hidden there, but that would be risky. Burglar alarms. Shouts. Other kinds of noise. On the other hand, the Park would be dark and silent except for the birds and critters.”

“So this came to you out of the blue?”

Colin hesitated.

“Well, not exactly. Francis thought of it first.”

“Ah.”

“He reminded me that we used to play in the Park when we were kids.”

“Is that all he did?”

“What do you mean?”

“In the past he’s taken unnecessary risks, to put it mildly. Tried to be a hero.”

“He’s learned his lesson, Chief.”

“That’s good to hear. Where is he, by the way?”

“He was bitten by a dog, so I had to take him in for a rabies shot.”

“Jesus.”

“Yeah. How unlucky can you be, right?”

“Where was he bitten?”

“Uh. In the back of the neck,” said Colin.

“What? How the hell did that happen?”

“You’ll have to ask him.”

Howell shook his head and tried to picture it.

“He must have been laying down… Layin’ on his stomach, maybe….”  

Colin sighed.

“It didn’t happen that way, Chief.”

Howell shot him a stern look. “Maybe you ought to fill me in on what really happened before you write up your report. I’m talking about the truth, Detective.”

Colin took the next ten minutes doing just that.

Howell sat back in his chair and shook his head.

“Unbelievable.”

“I know,” said Colin.

“Are you willing to swear that Francis was not carrying any kind of weapon when he jumped Jason Powers?”

“I am,” he lied.  The truth was he had paid no attention to what Francis had on his utility belt. Francis had nothing in his hands, which he could attest to.

Howell shook his head again.

“I don’t suppose his P.O. has to hear about this. But he was taking an incredible risk. Powers could have used him as a hostage. Hell, he might have forced you and him to drive away from the park to God knows where, then shot both of you in the head. You’re damn lucky he didn’t!”

“Yes sir.”

“On the other hand, we got our man. And thanks to you guys for bringing him in alive.”

“You’re welcome, Chief. Uh..”

“What?”

“Francis was wondering if you could keep his name out of the press. The P.I. thing.”

Howell laughed shortly.

“He’s nuts.” This case could bring him a ton of clients.”

“Still…”

“Everything must be included in our official report. But that doesn’t mean we have to fill in the news hounds with every goddamned detail. No promises, but I’ll give it some thought.”

“Thanks.”

Change the subject!

“What’s up with Miss Sheena? ‘Queen of the Jungle?’”

“She’s up on the third floor. Private room. With a guard. Superficial cuts and bruises.” 

“Do the Rollins know we got their daughter’s killer?” Colin asked.

“They only know we have a suspect. And don’t tell them otherwise. Copy?”

“Copy that.”

“This isn’t gonna be like the Manson trial,” said Howell.

“What do you mean?”

“Manson’s so-called family refused to testify against him at first.  Emily Schmidt aka/ Sheena feels no such allegiance to Jason Powers.  She said Powers deserted her and made off with his pretty girlfriend, Cocoa. She’d probably kill him if she could.”

“A woman scorned,” said Colin.

Chief Howell nodded.

“As for Powers, faced with being trapped for life inside a cell with a wheelchair and a stinky colostomy bag, he might beg us for a lethal injection.”

Colin chuckled at the prospect of Powers begging for mercy.