NINE
Detective
Wolters received the forensic report back. There were no fingerprints on the
bassinet or anywhere. In fact, the tests showed the blanket and sweater had
recently been laundered. Wolters assumed it was the kidnapper attempting to
erase any evidence. Needless to say he did a good job. Other than the baby’s
pink blanket, no evidence was found in the park and no one saw anything or
anyone suspicious.
Even though
the picture of Rita Grace was distributed to all the local stations in the
county and surrounding areas, no one saw her nor did anyone come forward with
any information. He questioned the babysitter, Bellicini and Thornton and
interviewed those who worked for Thornton, as well as the fellow coworkers of Bellicini.
No one could shed any light on who would have done such a thing. Each of them
told Detective Wolters that as far as they knew neither Thornton nor Bellicini even
had any enemies. He had their cell phones and home phone checked to see what
calls were placed. They called one another, the babysitter, each of their respective
jobs and a few friends. Nothing out of the ordinary. The father didn’t call,
nor did they call him. They were like a perfect family, but apparently, there
were skeletons in someone’s closet.
He was
still trying to locate Pavel Ivanovich. He was waiting to get the DMV records.
If he lived locally, the Department of Motor Vehicles would have him on file.
His
telephone rang at his desk. He was hoping it was the DMV.
“Wolters.”
“Brandon?”
It was his
wife, Monica.
“Hi, honey.
What’s up?”
“I just received
a strange telephone call. I was instructed to tell you about it.”
“What do
you mean? Who called?”
“I don’t
know who it was,” she said. “When I answered, they told me to not speak, to
just listen. They said to tell you that you are putting your nose in business that
you don’t belong in and it would be best for you to get his man out of jail.”
He was
quiet.
“Brandon? What is going on?
Is this part of some investigation you’re involved in?”
“One I
thought was over. We arrested a member of the local crime family. I handed in
my report and the district attorney has the case.”
“Well, it’s
not over. They’re calling the house, Brandon.
You need to do something.”
“Monica,
please don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
“I’m
worried.”
“Okay, maybe
you should go to your mother’s house for a while.”
“Are you
sure? Are we in danger?”
“No, I’m
sure everything is fine, but I just want to err on the side of caution.”
“I see. You
wouldn’t tell me if you did think so, would you? In any case, I think going to
mother’s is a good idea, at least for a little while. Brandon?”
“Yes?”
“Please be
careful. I want you home safe. I love you.”
“I love you
too, and I will be careful. Call me when you get there.”
After
hanging up, he grabbed the Mancini file and walked into his Sergeant’s office,
completely forgetting about the DMV reports he was waiting for.
“Got a
minute?” he asked.
“Sure.
What’s up?”
Sergeant
Roger Palazzio was going through paperwork, but set it aside when Brandon came in.
“It’s the
Mancini case.”
“I thought
that was over.”
“I did too.”
He repeated
the conversation he just had with his wife. He felt that it was the Mancini
boss getting revenge.
“Apparently,
he doesn’t want his son in jail.”
“Maybe. Are
you sure this is about the Mancini case?”
“Pretty
sure. I told my wife to go to her mother’s for a while.”
“Good idea.
I’m also going to mandate protection for you.”
“Come on. I
don’t need protection. I just want this asshole to leave my family alone.”
“So do I,
but not at your expense. You’re off the case, Wolters.”
“What? You
can’t do that, I’m the arresting officer. I’ll need to testify anyway.”
“I can do that. Let’s get the ADA in here.”
* * * * *
“Okay,
you’re saying you think that the telephone call made to your house is connected
to the Mancini case?”
Assistant
District Attorney Sami Benson paced back and forth in the Sergeant’s office.
Detective Wolters repeated, once again, the telephone call that made his wife
nervous.
“Yes, I do.
Although they didn’t say the name, they meant Phillip Mancini. I know it.”
“You’re
basing this on what…one telephone call?”
“Yes, and
my gut instinct. My stomach’s in turmoil over this.”
“I can’t go
to the judge with what may or may not have been something you ate, Detective,”
she said, as she stopped pacing to look at him.
Detective
Wolters ignored her wise remark, and said, “They said they want their man out
of jail. He’s the most recent man I’ve arrested who, to this day, remains in
jail awaiting trial. Besides, it’s the most high profile case I’ve worked on
lately. Who would call my wife and demand that their son—a man suspected of
murder—be let out of jail? Who else could it be if not the Mancini boy?”
“Sami, I
have to agree with Brandon
here,” Sergeant Palazzio interjected.
“I’m not
saying I disagree, but what do you expect me to do? I can’t go to the judge
with this. Mancini’s been in custody, away from the general population and has
no contact with anyone. How could he be threatening you and your family?”
“It’s the
Mancini family. They have ways. The old man is ruling that family and he’ll do
what it takes to get what he wants. It wouldn’t be the first time. All I’m
suggesting here is that you talk to the guy. Maybe get him to leave my family
alone.”
“I will
interview him, that goes without saying. As far as doing anything about
it…well, there isn’t any proof the Mancini family is behind that phone call.”
“I’ve taken
Wolters off the case for his safety.”
“Sergeant,
I’m asking you not to. I can handle this.”
“It may be
a good idea to keep him on this case,” Benson told Palazzio.
“How is it
a good idea?”
She turned
and looked at Wolters.
“Well, if it
is indeed the Mancini family who is doing this, they’re targeting you because you
are the arresting officer. You will be the one testifying, the one who targeted Phillip Mancini and the one who was actually
able to get enough proof to arrest him. They know all this.” She turned her
attention to the sergeant, and continued, “Whether or not you take him off the
case is irrelevant. He will be
testifying.”
“So, what
do you suggest?” Palazzio asked.
“Let’s use
you as bait,” she turned back to Wolters. “Are you game?”
“Depends on
what you mean by bait.”
“Your wife
is leaving town, right?”
“Yes, today
I hope. She’s going to her mother’s in Ojai.”
Ojai was a
small community, tucked into the hills and off the beaten path of any major
city. It was a very artsy town, and most who lived there knew one another. Brandon felt it would be a
safe place for Monica to be.
“Good, make
sure she does. You’ll do nothing about the telephone call. You go on as you
always do. Once they don’t get a response from you, they’ll try again. We’ll
have a shadow team following you. You won’t be alone. Let’s see what they do
next.”
“What? Wait
like a sitting duck? You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Palazzio.
“He will be
well-protected. If you want to do something about this, then we need to act, or
not act, as the case may be.”
“I’ll do
it.”
“I’ll want
to have your home telephone tapped as well as the one at your desk,” Benson
told him.
“We can
easily tap the one at his desk since it’s his individual line,” Sergeant
Palazzio said. “Should we get a warrant?”
The ADA started pacing again.
“It’s not
really necessary as anyone calling in has no expectation of privacy.” She
stopped in her tracks and continued, “Just to be sure though, I think I’ll go
ahead and get one. That way, it we do get a caller taped, there’ll be no issues
to contend with.”
“That’s all
just great, but what good will it really
do?” Wolters asked.
“We
need the wiretap to get an insight into who it is that actually called and if
they are, in fact, tied to the Mancini family. Plus should we make an arrest we
may be able to use it to get a confession during an interrogation. We cannot
fight someone unknown and assume it has anything to do with this case.”
“What about his house phone?” asked Palazzio.
“Since his
wife was called at home like I said, it would be a good idea. I’ll get that set
up as well,” Benson said.
“So, what
happens when we know for sure? Because I am
sure,” Wolters said.
“Then we
handle them,” Benson stated firmly.
“I guess
then, you’re still on this case, Wolters…for now,” Sergeant Palazzio told him.
“Then let’s
get started,” Benson crossed to the Sergeant’s desk and snatched up the
telephone.
While she
arranged the tapping of the telephones, Wolters took his Sergeant aside.
“Sarge, I
have a feeling here,” he said, pointing a finger at his stomach, “that this is
just starting. We thought it was over when we arrested Mancini, but that was
only the beginning of our problems.”
“If you’re
right about your hunch that this has to do with the Mancinis, then you may be
correct in worrying. This is only going to get uglier.”
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