Chapter 27

Richard Gorman was in the process of trying to figure out how to put Delaney Morrison’s information in the hand of the authorities without revealing his – and Elaine’s – hands in things when Delaney’s cell phone went off. Delaney had a treasure trove, including a few of Hobart’s ‘dead’ projects: operations that had already run their course and ended, one way or another – usually badly for those involved. Richard and Delaney had just gone through the files, sanitizing the current projects that Elaine was aware of and had offered assistance to the victims of, when her phone started chirping.

“Hello?” Delaney answered, frowning at the fact that the caller ID said FBI.

“Delaney Morrison?”

“Yes?”

“This is Agent Knight from the FBI. We’re wondering if you could come down to our offices and visit us regarding an investigation we’re conducting.”

“My work tends to require confidentiality,” Delaney replied cautiously, “May I ask who it is that you are investigating?”

“Principally, Hobart Simpson the Third,” the agent replied.

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Where are you? It might be wise for us to send a car. There is evidence that he has ordered an attempt on your life.”

Delaney eyed Richard archly as she told the agent, “You know what? I was just coming to visit you about him. How safe do you think it is for me to come in under my own power?”

“I wouldn’t delay,” Agent Knight replied. “Every minute, the chances that you are at least under surveillance increase. We only have one side of the conversation, so the contractor has not been identified, but indications are that he’s a pro.”

“Hmmm,” Delaney mused, covering the spike of fear she felt. “I’ll want to hear this conversation, but I have reason to believe that you may be telling the truth. If you’re bargaining in good faith, I believe that I will be able to provide you with quite a bit of assistance. Twenty minutes? Downtown, at your offices? I’ll need help getting out.”

“That’s fine, Ma’am. I’m sure we can treat you properly,” Agent Knight replied.

“It would be nice if you had a couple of husky boys with you to assist with my files. See you then!” Delaney chirped, hanging up. She turned to Richard. “That bastard put out a contract on me! Wait until I get done singing!”

“If you would, we would prefer that Elaine, her daughter, the Bakers and the Whites get minimalist treatment in this,” Richard requested.

“I’ll just tell them that Hobart put me on all of them, but I found nothing. I won’t mention any interference I might have run into,” Delaney smiled.

“I’m sure that my principal will be generous in her gratitude. In fact, should you tire of working independently, we might be able to work something out once this blows over.”

“I’ll bear that in mind,” Delaney said, rising. “I’m off. I’m sure that I can trust you to hold these other things for me?” She waved at the stack of items they had filtered out of the case files.

“Indeed. I’ll hold them in escrow, so to speak.” He hit his intercom. “Stella? Please have Jack come in and assist Delaney with her files.”

Jack came in from the anteroom where he’d been cooling his heels while the deal went down. “How did it go?”

“Wonderfully!” Delaney bubbled. “Just as Richard and I were finishing the cleanup, the FBI called. I’m on my way to give them a little present.” She waved at the boxes.

“Jack, would you drive her?” Richard asked. “Hobart has put a contract out on her.”

“No problem!” Jack replied, nodding. “Let’s go, then.” He grabbed a box and Delaney took one and they left the office. Richard watched them go, sighing. Jack was playing up; Richard wondered what he would think if he discovered Delaney’s true nature. Meanwhile, he was unable to penetrate the Federal web to tell Elaine what was going down, which frustrated him, but was necessary for security reasons. An idea occurred to him, though... ~#####~ Twenty minutes later, Delaney and Jack were in the parking garage at the federal building. Delaney leaned over and gave Jack a peck. “Thanks, Baby. I owe you.”

“What happens if I come to collect?”

Delaney reached out and caressed Jack’s cheek, looking sad. “You’re sweet, Baby. I’d make the offer, but you would have to be broad-minded about it. VERY broad-minded. Besides, your wife wouldn’t approve.”

“The alimony vampire?” Jack retorted, grinning crookedly. “I’m divorced.”

“Oh?” Delaney eyed him. “I guess I’ll have to update my file. Shocking how easy it is to get behind.”

“One stakeout too many,” Jack replied. “You know how it is.”

Delaney nodded. “I’ve seen it.” She looked directly into his eyes. “If you come to collect, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Duly noted,” Jack replied, nodding. “Go on now. The FBI jocks are hopping from foot to foot out there.” Two agents stood outside the car.

Delaney squeezed Jack’s hand and got out. “Boys, would you carry those boxes for me? They’re full of Christmas toys for you to play with.” The two agents collected the boxes and Jack drove away.

Meanwhile, Dave Brown, Jack’s partner of the moment, approached Otis White where he was lounging just off the school grounds, getting in a quick hit on a joint to get him through the afternoon. “Can you get this to Tyrone?” he asked, handing Otis a slip of paper. Otis opened it and read it – all it said was “Call this number” and a phone number.

“Things are getting hot at the Simpson place. We can’t get to Cindy’s mother without revealing ourselves, which we don’t think is a good idea. We need a way to relay information.” Dave related. “Even this is a risk, if it’s handled sloppily.”

Otis eyed him suspiciously. “How do I know who YOU are?”

“Your dad has seen me,” Dave replied. “I pointed out Delaney Morrison to him.”

Otis nodded. “Good enough.”

“You need to stop that shit,” Dave muttered, pointing at the joint. “Or be a lot less public about it. It’s the kind of thing that could have unwanted consequences.”

Otis eyed the roach in his fingers. “Maybe you’re right.” Otis smoked pot more to show off how bad he was than for the pot itself. It was an artifact of ‘the bad old days’ before Bev. Besides, being buzzed interfered with his thinking, and he seemed to need to be sharper every day. He stubbed it out. “Thanks.”

“You want to change your rep, and that kind of thing gets in the way,” Dave noted. “It’s bad enough that for some people ALL of us have that rep.”

“Yeah, no shit. I just stopped. Thanks for the wake-up. Bad habits you don’t even think about can hang around to fuck you.”

“Exactly.” Dave grinned, moving off. He was pleased that Otis didn’t just blow his advice off, but he didn’t expect Otis to actually stop smoking pot. He would have been quite surprised to know that Otis actually PLANNED to.

~#####~ Otis slipped the note to Tyrone ten minutes later. Tyrone said, “Where did you get this?”

“One of those private eye guys,” Otis related. “He said the Feds have Cindy’s place locked up tight and they can’t get to Cindy’s mom directly with news, so–” he waved his fingers at Tyrone and Cindy, who were together.

Tyrone nodded. “Thanks, Man.”

He dug in his backpack for one of Richard Gorman’s clean phones and made the call. “It’s Tyrone,” he said simply in answer to the cautious “Hello?” from the far end.