Chapter Twenty #2
“How would that be tying into yer jewelry store burglary?” I asked.
They explained the investigative work Kershaw had done on Eli Goldfarb and how they now believed he’d hired the three men to kill his father-in-law.
I had to admit, all three detectives had done a stellar job, but questions remained.
“Why do ya think they chased Wes onto the roof, Cassidy? It can’t be because they worked out who he was after Father Gilmartin’s assault? ”
They exchanged a smile but before they could answer, our server came out with our meals.
I groaned a wee bit as I looked at the food and if I had to guess by the way Wes’ eyes were gleaming, he was just as hungry as I was.
We decided to put it aside for the moment as we tucked into the food.
I couldn’t remember enjoying a plate of ribs with mashed potatoes and gravy more.
When we were all as full as a bull, I repeated my earlier question.
Cassidy pushed his plate aside and leaned forward.
“When we spoke to Detective Kershaw, he reminded us that the sketch Marigold Bishop did, was widely distributed to all precincts. Even though Kershaw works in the Hollywood division, he remembered seeing the sketch himself.” He pinned us both with a hard stare.
“And, though I hate to say it, it’s his theory that there might have been a cop on the mob’s payroll who spotted Wes’ sketch and showed it to them. ”
Wes grabbed my arm. “When the big guy who looks like me came into Raj and Rami’s store, they showed them a picture of me, Patsy. It was right before he got back into the car with the other two.”
“When the three men started chasing ya?”
“Yes!”
Cassidy turned to Mike with a big grin. “Things are starting to fall into place. We also worked out why everyone thought you were someone else.” When they told us about the black and white sketches and nobody clocking Wes’ different eye colors, another piece clicked into place.
“Go ahead, tell them about the call we got today too, partner,” said Cassidy.
Mike faced us. “Remember when we asked where your vehicle was parked after you told us that someone had stolen your license?”
Wes nodded. “Yes.”
Mike grinned. “After our meeting with Kershaw, I got a call from the LAPD’s forensic lab.
They’ve been processing fingerprints from your car for days but today, they finally matched a partial fingerprint found on the inside of the glove compartment to one of the two thugs who assaulted Father Gilmartin. ”
I sat back and looked at Wes in shock. A slow smile spread across his face as I reached for his thigh under the table. He took my hand, squeezing hard. We stared at each other for a few seconds before finally turning back to Cassidy and Mike.
“All of this is great news, guys, but how do we find them now we know who they are?” I asked.
“We’ve got a meeting with a friend who works in the organized crime unit, Patsy. I have every faith that those three will be in custody very soon.”
“But how?” Wes asked. “Won’t they be protected by their big mob bosses?”
I grinned as Cassidy and Mike both smiled. “That’s not how it works, Mr. Chaudry. If the mob bosses find out the FBI has a vested interest in solving a murder one of their low-level guys committed, especially a murder for hire not ordered by them, they’ll take care of their own guys.”
“What do you mean take care of them?” Wes asked. When they didn’t answer immediately, he looked at me. “What? Did I say something funny?”
I shook my head. “Not funny, Wes. It’s just that low-level mob guys aren’t supposed to go around murderin’ civilians, especially if it’s for money they don’t plan on sharin’ with their bosses.
Or if it interrupts a good thing like an extortion racket.
Anythin’ that causes the FBI or the LAPD to go pokin’ around in their business is goin’ to get someone inside their own organization killed. ”
His eyes widened as he slapped a hand over his mouth. “Oh, my God! You mean they get rubbed out?”
We all burst out laughing. Wes stared at us for a few seconds before grinning and beginning to laugh too. “Okay, so I don’t know all the cop lingo.”
“Rubbed out?” I repeated, unable to believe how utterly charmed I was by the man. We were still wiping away tears of mirth when the server walked over with our check. She was looking like she wanted us the hell out of the restaurant as fast as our wee feet would carry us.
Cassidy grabbed the check as I reached for the wallet. “This lunch is on the department, Patsy.” He pulled out several bills and put them in the check folder as I capitulated with a big thanks for the great meal.
I glanced at Wes. “Ready to go?”
We headed out to their car and back to the camp while I thanked them for everything they’d done to work out what was going on with the men who wanted Wes dead.
There was way too much of that going around and frankly, I couldn’t wait for it all to end so we could start our lives together…
because that was a certainty, by now. We would be together.