Chapter 51
It was late afternoon when they arrived at the brownstone on Cleveland Avenue in the picturesque neighborhood that was worthy of a postcard.
“Vic was right. The neighborhood looks mighty swell,” Finn said as if he were auditioning for an episode of Leave It to Beaver. The street was lined with trees and historic homes. “How much do you think these places go for? I’m betting eight hundred thousand or more.”
“Probably,” Capes said, looking at the address in his notepad. “I think this is the place.” He pointed at the speckled brick home with large windows.
They walked up the short flight of stairs to the front door, and Finn rang the bell. “Yeah, I could get used to living in a place like this,” he said. “It’s got charm, you know?”
“Not me. After living in Texas, I can’t imagine being back in a brick city. It’s too congested. I need space to roam.”
“Who is it?” a woman’s voice called from an upstairs open window. “Whatever you’re selling, I’m not interested.”
Finn left the porch and stood on the steps looking up at the woman. “Sorry to bother you, miss. Is this your home?”
“I live here,” the woman said. “Why?”
“Well, it’s a stunning home.”
“Look, if you want to buy it or something, call the owners. I’m renting.”
“Actually, if you don’t mind, we’d like to ask you a few questions.”
She looked perplexed. “About the house?”
“No, no,” Finn said with a smile. “It’s about an acquaintance of yours. Officer Jack Dunham.”
The woman became silent and appeared hesitant.
“Did you hear me, miss?”
“Are you cops? Because you look like cops.”
“I’m Officer Finn Doyle with Metra, and this is my associate, Mr. Capes.”
“He a cop, too?”
“No, more like a community liaison. We just have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind.”
“What do you want to know about Jack?”
“Oh, so you do know Officer Dunham?”
“Yeah, I know him, but I don’t see how I can help.”
“Like I said, it’s just a few questions. No pressure,” Finn said. “How about you come down and chat with us? We’ll stay right here on the stoop.”
“Um, all right,” she said, “I’ll be down.”
“We appreciate it.”
She left the window and opened the door a few seconds later, stopping in the frame as if uncertain.
She was wearing fitted jeans and a slouchy pink sweater, which was sliding carelessly off one shoulder.
Her silence toward Finn was deliberate. Finn’s jaw tightened, and he cleared his throat with impatience. “What’s your name?”
She tilted her head, and unmoved asked, “So, what do you want to know?”
“Let’s start with your name,” Finn said, flashing his badge. “And then we’ll work down a list of questions.”
“Heaven.”
“Say again?”
“My name is Heaven Willoughby.”
“Quite the name you’ve got there. Very uplifting,” Finn remarked.
“Most people think it’s biblical, but my parents were hippies and just liked the way it sounded. How’d you get my address, anyway?”
“That’s confidential, Ms. Willoughby, but what I can tell you is that we’re here to help.”
“Just tell me, is Jack in some kind of trouble?”
“I’ll let my colleague fill you in…Mr. Capes?”
“Officer Dunham was recently involved in a shooting while on duty. We’d like to know how he’s doing.”
“And you came here?” she asked. “Are you surveilling him?”
“Like we said, that’s confidential.”
“Um, okay, but why am I talking to you guys and not the CPD?” She looked at Finn suspiciously. “Didn’t you say you worked with Metra?”
“It’s kind of a joint effort with the community and departments,” Capes said. “Think of it as a special task force.”
“Maybe I should call Jack.”
“How well do you know Officer Dunham?” Finn asked.
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, are you involved with him?”
“That’s personal, and I don’t see how that pertains to a shooting.”
“We’re just trying to get a sense of how he’s doing. Consider this a welfare check. No matter what you tell us, it won’t negatively impact Officer Dunham in any way. It’s just to help us be sure he’s getting the support he needs.”
“All we’re trying to do is look after Jack, Ms. Willoughby,” Capes said. “You understand, don’t you? It’s important to make sure he’s good.” He tapped his temple. “You know, mentally, post-shooting.”
“What shooting?”
“You weren’t aware?” Finn asked. “Officer Dunham was recently involved in a shooting while on duty.”
“This is the first I’ve heard about it.”
“Does the name Hollis Montrose mean anything to you?”
“Wait…isn’t that the man who’s been all over the news? He’s in the hospital, right?”
“Well, no. Not anymore.”
“So, let me get this straight,” Capes said. “You had no idea that Jack was involved in a shooting?”
“No, he didn’t tell me anything about it. I mean, he was a little upset when the press conference came on, but he never said he was involved.”
“I see.”
“And you’re here because the department’s worried about Jack’s mental health?” Heaven asked. “No offense, but I didn’t think that was a huge concern for cops. Isn’t that what booze and strip clubs are for? I lived with this all my life; my dad was a cop.”
“Consider our coming here the first step in police departments’ taking mental health more seriously.”
“Okay,” she said. “That’s great, I guess. It really is, and I’m all for accountability. But I really don’t know about all this, and I don’t see how I could help.”
“Can you tell us about Jack’s demeanor lately? You said he was upset at the press conference regarding the Hollis Montrose shooting.”
“Well, uh, now that you mentioned it. He has been acting a little differently lately.”
“Different? How so?”
“I don’t know. He’s been edgy more than usual, I guess.”
“Has there been any violence?”
Heaven stammered, “No…that’s not—I mean, that’s not Jack. He’s a good man.”
“You still haven’t told us how it is you know Officer Dunham.”
“He’s a friend.”
“A friend?”
“Yes, a good friend.”
Capes could always tell when someone was lying, and Heaven wasn’t very good at it.
He thought that maybe they were pushing her too hard, but he worried they wouldn’t get another chance to talk to her.
“So, he hasn’t talked to you at all about anything going on at work?
” he asked. “Maybe how he’s been feeling lately? ”
“Feelings. Are we even talking about the same man? Look, this whole thing is making me uncomfortable.”
“We’re just working through a backlog,” Finn said. “Checking off boxes, that’s all.”
“I think we can conclude this,” Capes said. “Just so we’re clear, in your opinion Jack’s fine?”
“That’s right,” she said. “Maybe he was dealing with some stress, but he’s a cop, and that goes with the job, right?”
“Ms. Willoughby, you’ve been very helpful,” Capes said.
“And if you need anything, just give me a call.” He handed Heaven his business card, but not the one with Beau Lee Cooper Law Firm emblazoned on it.
Rather, it was a card with very little identifying information—Mr. Brent Capers with Private Investigator below his name was printed on one side, and his phone number was on the other.
He reserved the cards for situations in which less was more and didn’t want to drag the firm into a potential legal conundrum.
The men turned to leave while Heaven toyed with the card. “They say Hollis Montrose was shot in the back,” she said. “Is that right?”
Capes faced her. “Yes. Ten times.”
“That’s horrible,” she said. “Is he going to be okay?”
“He’s pretty far from okay. In fact, he’ll never be able to walk again.”
She sighed. “There was something Jack said…”
“Yes?”
“Does the name Teddy Briscoe mean anything to either of you?”
Capes and Finn glanced at each other, but the name didn’t ring any bells. “Can’t say it does,” Finn acknowledged. “Is that one of the officers he works with?” he asked.
“It’s just that when he was watching the press conference, he remarked how ridiculous all of this was. He said something about that his mentor Teddy Briscoe would have already had this case all buttoned up,” Heaven said.
“Did he say this Teddy Briscoe works with him at CPD,” asked Finn.
“I don’t know,” Heaven answered.
Then her cellphone rang. “You all should talk to Jack. I gotta go.”
As she shut the door, they headed toward the end of the block, where the Crown Vic was parked.
“She’s definitely sleeping with him,” Finn said. “And she’s covering for him, too.”
“She was acting funny, that’s for sure. What do you make of the whole Teddy Briscoe thing?”
“No clue,” Finn said. “But one thing for sure, we need to find out who Teddy Briscoe is.”