The Case of the Malevolent Mugging, 7/?
Title: The Case of the Malevolent Mugging, chapter seven
Fandom: Perry Mason
Rating: T/PG-13
Word Count: 3,424
Main Characters: Lieutenant Anderson, Lieutenant Tragg, Amory Fallon, Jefferson Pike
Supporting Characters: Officer Jimmy Anderson, Sergeant Brice, Edith Fallon
Summary: Andy is found at last. And Amory does indeed have an idea of where the hidden information is.
Fanfiction.net Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8342827/7/
Chapter Seven
Andy and Mr. Pike only stared at the attacked chair for a moment before Mr. Pike whirled away. “In here!” he exclaimed, diving into an adjoining room. Grabbing a gun off the rack, he thrust it at Andy. “Take this!” He snatched another for himself.
Andy flipped off the lights as he accepted the weapon. “Thank you.” Pressing himself against the wall, he inched his way back into the main room. All was silent outside; the shooters were probably trying to figure out where to aim now that they could not see.
Still keeping himself against the wall, Andy made his way to the nearest window and eased around just enough to see out while remaining concealed.
Jefferson had crept up behind him. “What’s out there?” he hissed.
“It’s hard to tell,” Andy frowned. “The light from the moon is reflecting on what might be the barrel of a rifle behind that tree. And there’s another around the corner of that building across the way.” He nodded in its general direction. “But I can’t see any people.”
“What’re they tryin’ to do, anyway?!” Jefferson was angry now.
“I’m afraid that depends on whether or not they know I actually am a police officer,” Andy admitted. “They mistook me for someone else and refused to believe the truth. If they still think I’m this other man, then they probably want to recapture me. If they’re aware that I’m an officer of the law, they want to kill me.”
Jefferson peered around Andy’s shoulder, uneasy. “So for now we just wait ’em out and see what they try next?”
“I would say so,” Andy nodded. “I don’t want to fire and give our position away unless I have to. And I don’t want to rouse up the staff and the guests.”
The creaking on the stairs let them know that the former had already happened. Both whirled to face a disgruntled and half-asleep figure.
“See here, what’s going on?” the newcomer growled. “It’s too late for anyone to be out hunting.”
“Oh, no one’s hunting, Mr. Jameson,” Jefferson answered.
“And please don’t turn on the light!” Andy rushed to add. “Please! It’s very important that you don’t.”
“Why?” Mr. Jameson retorted. “And coming to think of it, who are you? Your voice isn’t familiar.”
“He’s a policeman, Mr. Jameson!” Jefferson interjected. “I found him while I was coming back and I gave him a ride here. Remember how I knew something was wrong with that dad-blamed bunker? Well, he was being held prisoner there!”
“How do you even know he told you the truth?” Mr. Jameson growled, irritable from interrupted sleep.
“Please be quiet, Mr. Jameson,” Andy begged. “I’ll explain everything later, in detail. They’ve already shot out one of the windows. That must have been what woke you up. If they hear us talking, they might shoot some more.”
“Bah!” Jameson stormed back up the stairs. “If you want to play cowboys and Indians, keep it down.”
Andy bit back a retort. This was not the time to begin an argument.
Apparently his fears were realized. Another window shattered, closer to his position, as a bullet smashed through it.
Jameson froze on the stairs. “What was that?!”
“Dad-blame it! We’re under attack!” Jefferson cried. “That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you!”
Andy stuck his rifle out the broken window and aimed for the tree as he returned fire. A bit of bark was clipped and the barrel of the opposing gun vanished.
A window across the room blew out next. Jameson yelped and dropped to the stairs, cowering as this bullet drilled into one of the spokes of the banister.
“They’re over there, too!” Jefferson fumed. Taking his own gun, he made his way to that window and fired through the hole. Their unknown assailant yelped.
Jameson looked up in alarm. “Did you shoot him?!”
“Sounds like it,” Jefferson said. “Don’t see any body, though. It probably wasn’t too bad. Serves him right!”
“What if some of the guests come out of the cabins and get shot?” Jameson exclaimed.
That was certainly one of Andy’s concerns. “I’m afraid at this point, all we can do is pray that they don’t,” he said.
When gunfire soared in through three windows in rapid succession, they were officially outnumbered. Andy and Jefferson ducked, then returned fire as quickly as possible. Jameson stayed dumbly on the stairs, overwhelmed by all that was happening.
“Confound it, Mr. Jameson, why don’t you help?!” Jefferson demanded. “We need every able body we can get!”
“I’ve never been in a gunfight before,” Jameson protested. “I don’t know what to do!”
“Well, I haven’t been in one either, but it’s not hard to catch on,” Jefferson retorted. “Just point and shoot!”
“But for Heaven’s sake, be careful!” Andy added.
He gripped the rifle as he waited for their enemies to make the next move. He regretted dragging these people into his problem. Maybe at the hill he should have simply taken whatever came, instead of running off with Mr. Pike.
But no, he could not have done that. He was too deeply involved in this disaster. And the strange letter he still carried in his pocket was evidence that needed to be turned over to the police department and read by Amory Fallon.
Jameson had now retrieved a gun from a cabinet and was positioning himself by the third window from which bullets had entered. “We run a nice, respectable lodge here, Mr. Police Officer,” he growled. “I don’t much appreciate you bringing all of this trouble down on us!”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jameson,” Andy said in all sincerity. “I wasn’t trying to bring any of it to you. I had hoped they wouldn’t track us here, at least not until the backup forces arrived.”
“Backup?! There’s going to be more of you?!”
“Yes, and you should be grateful for that, at least,” Andy shot back. “. . . Although they don’t know a shootout has started,” he added quietly, mostly to himself. But they knew it was a possibility that Andy would be tracked here. Would they come prepared?
The next several minutes were a blur of flying bullets on both sides. It did not take long for the rest of the staff to wake up and come downstairs in stunned and alarmed bewilderment. And, Mr. Jameson’s wife noted, the lights were on in every guest cabin. She could see them from the attic window.
“At least no one’s been foolish enough to try to come outside,” Andy remarked as he reloaded the rifle.
“Oh, they wouldn’t do that,” Jefferson said. “Not with all the ruckus going on.”
Andy sighed. “Some people would.”
“If they wanted you alive, seems they would’ve hollered out their terms by now,” Jefferson remarked.
“I agree,” Andy frowned. He had become convinced that they were trying to kill him almost as soon as this gunfight had started.
Another bullet soared through his window. He returned fire in its general direction.
Suddenly the grounds outside were illuminated by a bright beam. The men at the windows gasped, shielding their eyes. The shooting ceased; a motor outside grew louder and louder.
“Attention-this is the police! Drop your weapons and surrender.”
Andy dared to look outside. “A police helicopter,” he said in relief.
Now the men who had been firing were very visible. Their hands emerged from behind trees and other objects as they released the guns and reached for the sky. Police officers came down from a rope ladder, guns in hand.
Andy stood, still holding the rifle. “Hello!” he called through the now completely shattered window. “This is Lieutenant Anderson. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
One of the officers turned to face him. “Lieutenant Anderson?” He grinned broadly. “Lieutenant Tragg will be ecstatic to hear you’re safe!”
Andy smiled, pushing back his hat. “Where is Lieutenant Tragg? I tried to call him earlier, before the telephone line was cut. There wasn’t any answer.”
“He was tied up at the moment,” the officer replied. “He’ll tell you all about it himself. He’s coming in on a second helicopter that took off a few minutes ago.”
“Oh really?” Andy leaned back, amused and touched. So the message had gotten through. And even though other police were already handling the matter, Tragg had not intended to stay behind. He had come looking for Andy in all determination.
“Your cousin’s on it too,” the officer said. “And Sergeant Brice. And you’ve got a lot of other very worried friends back in the city.”
“Yes,” Andy nodded. “I know.”
“Meanwhile,” the officer continued, “maybe you’d like to come out here and join us in questioning these troublemakers, Lieutenant.”
Andy smiled. “I most certainly would.”
Mr. Jameson regarded the exchange with bushy narrowed eyes, still clutching his rifle. “So is it all over now?” he demanded. “We can go check on the guests and go back to bed?”
“It’s over,” Andy said, turning away from the window, “but I’m afraid you’ll need to give a statement about what happened.”
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake!” Jameson thumped his gun on the floor. “It’s always something. Can’t it all wait?”
“Well, personally, I’d rather get it all over with now,” Jefferson drawled. “I’d sleep easier knowing I didn’t have to worry about getting up to make a statement.”
Jameson sighed. “You’re probably right.” He gripped the gun as he walked to the door. “I’m going to check on the guests first. They must be scared out of their heads.”
Andy glanced back. “Uh, Mr. Jameson, you might be asked to leave your gun here. There’s no danger now; all of the gunmen have been arrested.”
“Tarnation!” But Jameson laid the gun down. “I’ve had enough of gunmen, and police, and all of this nonsense!”
Andy could not help feeling guilty. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sure the department will pay for all of these damages. And if that doesn’t work out . . .” He cringed. “I’ll pay for all of it myself.”
“On your salary?” Jameson shook his head. “Oh, I wouldn’t expect that of you. I expect them to pay!” He gestured out the window in the general direction of the gunmen.
“That sounds fair to me,” Jefferson nodded.
“We’ll see,” Andy said, relaxing nevertheless at the proposition. He really didn’t have the money to spare.
He stepped outside and to where the sullen men were being handcuffed. He frowned. None of them looked familiar.
One of them caught his eye and glowered. “Hey, Cop.”
Andy walked over to him. “So you believe I’m a police officer now?”
“Why do you think we were shooting?” The sniper shrugged. “You should’ve seen the boss when your picture was dug up. He was fit to chomp through metal.”
“I can imagine,” Andy said.
“There’s other officers on their way to the bunker now, Sir,” a police corporal informed him.
Andy glanced to him. “Good,” he nodded.
The sniper laughed. “Maybe, but all they’ll find is an empty place.”
“What?!” Andy whirled back. “They couldn’t clear it out that fast!”
“Watch them. The boss has had to vacate places before. He’s not going to get caught. Not this time.”
“Wonderful.” Andy frowned, considering this information. He could, unfortunately, believe it was true.
The sound of another helicopter brought everyone’s attention to the sky. It soon landed near the first, its occupants leaping out almost before it came to a complete halt.
“Andy?!” That was Tragg, insisting on being out first.
Andy headed towards him. “I’m alright, Lieutenant,” he called.
Another figure ran out ahead of Tragg, reaching Andy first. “Andy! Oh, for crying out loud.” Jimmy pulled him into a hug. “It’s really you this time, isn’t it?”
Baffled, Andy slowly returned his cousin’s embrace. “. . . Yes, it’s really me. This time?!” He pulled back, staring at Jimmy in bewilderment. “What are you talking about?”
Tragg caught up now, resting his hand on Andy’s shoulder. “Well, let’s just say it’s a long story. I never believed in doubles, until I first met you. Now we’ve got a fellow in a hospital bed who we thought was you but who isn’t.”
Andy cringed. “Let me guess. A man named Amory Fallon?”
“Uh huh.” Tragg blinked. “How did you know?”
Andy nodded towards the gunmen. “The people who took me . . . well, they thought I was him. And I have some kind of a letter supposedly written to him by his business partner before his death.”
“Oh really?” Tragg stared in amazement. “What does it say?”
“I’ll show it to you, back in the city,” Andy said.
He looked to Sergeant Brice, who had gotten out with the others but had waited patiently for them to finish talking. “Sergeant.” Andy nodded to him. “I’m glad to see you weren’t hurt at the park.”
“Oh no, Lieutenant,” Brice said. “I’m fine. By the time I got off the radio and came looking for you, there was no one around.” He looked down. “I’m sorry.”
“Brice, it wasn’t your fault,” Andy said in amazement. “You had to take that call.”
“Yes, Lieutenant,” Brice nodded. “I know. But I went along to help you, and then I wasn’t any use at all.”
“I wasn’t any use myself,” Andy frowned. “I was unconscious before I knew what had hit me.” He winced. “I guess everyone has been worried about me.”
“Worried?” Tragg shook his head. “Oh no. We were sure you were alright. We just thought we’d tear the place apart looking for you for the fun of it.” Now he was the one drawing Andy into a hug. “Oh Andy. . . . We didn’t know if you were alive or dead!”
“I’m sorry,” Andy said with regret as he returned it. “I didn’t want to worry anyone. I tried to get away as soon as I could.”
“I know you would.” Tragg pulled back. “Well, let’s question these vermin and get it over with. But first I’ll put a call through to Los Angeles. Lucy is staying with Erna Norden at the moment. They’re waiting for the news.”
“They both wanted to come along,” Jimmy put in.
“They would,” Andy smiled fondly. “But I’m glad they weren’t allowed to; it could’ve been dangerous.”
“That’s why we insisted on them staying behind,” Tragg said.
“Lieutenant?”
Both Lieutenants looked up at the voice. The pilot was leaning out of the helicopter.
“What is it?” Tragg asked. “Did the officers reach the bunker yet?”
“That’s the problem, Sir,” the pilot frowned. “They just checked in over the radio. The bunker’s empty; no one’s there.”
“What?!” Tragg stared, agape. “It isn’t humanly possible for them to clear out so fast!”
Andy drew a long, frustrated sigh. “Unfortunately, that’s what these men told me was happening.”
And the men all looked highly smug. Tragg glowered at the lot of them. “Well, whatever. We’ll deal with the setback. Sergeant, did they find anything there? Anything at all?”
“Nothing, Sir,” was the reply.
Tragg muttered under his breath. Louder he said, “Alright then. Call the police station. Have them put a call through to Mrs. Erna Norden and let her and Lucy know that Andy is safe and we’re coming in.”
“Yes, Sir!” the Sergeant said, perking up at this order.
Andy looked to Tragg, suddenly realizing something. “Where’s Lieutenant Drumm?” he asked.
“He went with the group checking the bunker,” Tragg said. “He’ll meet us in the city.”
“Good,” Andy nodded. But then he frowned, watching as Sergeant Brice escaped them to question the gunmen. “Lieutenant, Brice doesn’t blame himself for . . .”
Tragg sighed. “Well, maybe somewhat. I suppose you would too, if your positions had been reversed.”
“Yes.” Andy pushed back his hat. “I’ll have to talk more with him later.”
Jimmy was glancing down at Andy’s torn clothes. “What happened to your pants?” he exclaimed.
“. . . Oh.” Andy glanced down too. “I had a run-in with a barbed-wire fence.”
Tragg frowned. “How much of a run-in?” He could clearly see the blood, and through the tear, the bandage.
“Nothing serious,” Andy assured him.
“It’d better not be,” Tragg grunted. “But after we get back to Los Angeles, you should have it checked out by a doctor. Then you can meet your long-lost twin.”
“I’ve been wondering about that,” Andy said.
“He’s a case,” Tragg said, shaking his head. “A bonafide case.”
****
To their relief, Andy’s injuries were, indeed, nothing serious. And while the others were en route to reunite with their friend, Tragg led Andy down the hospital corridor to Amory Fallon’s room.
“He’s awake,” Tragg said. “I looked in on him while the doctor was examining you. He’s just as interested in this meeting as you are.”
“I’m sure he is,” Andy said.
Tragg knocked, then pushed the door open. Amory looked over, about to speak when he caught a glimpse of Andy. His eyes glittered in astonishment.
“It’s like looking in a mirror,” he gasped.
Andy entered the room. “That’s exactly what I was just thinking,” he declared. “No wonder Lieutenant Tragg was stunned when he met me for the first time.” He held out his hand. “Andrew Anderson.”
“Amory Fallon.” Amory took Andy’s hand, giving it a firm shake. “And this is my wife Edith. After all this, it’s good to finally meet you.”
“And how,” Andy said.
He next extended his hand to Edith, who was standing by, reeling at the resemblance. “Hello,” he greeted. “I’m sorry I’ve inadvertently caused you and your husband so much trouble.”
Edith took his hand, looking a bit numb. “You couldn’t help it, Lieutenant.” She kept staring. “No wonder everyone thought Amory was you. This is so strange.”
“It is out of the ordinary,” Amory remarked.
Andy sat down next to the bed. “It looks like we both have enemies at large.”
Amory nodded, his expression darkening. “I wish I could shed some light on who yours are. I have no idea.”
“I’m not sure who yours are, either,” Andy admitted, “but I do know what they want, more or less.” He reached into his inner coat pocket and removed the letter. “They’re hoping you know if there’s a code in here that reveals where your business partner hid some incriminating evidence against them.”
“Excuse me?!” Amory snatched the paper as Andy offered it. As he began to read, his grip on the edges tightened.
Edith tensed. “What is it, Amory?” she asked.
Amory slumped back in the pillows. “It’s from Ned,” he said. “It must be; it’s in his handwriting. But . . .” He shook his head. “I don’t know how to feel about it.”
“. . . I was told he wrote it right before he was murdered,” Andy said carefully. “And that the murderer took it off his body.”
“Frank had it?!” Edith rocked back, looking as though she had just taken a blow too.
“My wife’s brother,” Amory said by way of explanation. “He was the murderer.”
Andy’s stomach twisted. He could relate all too well, after the agony of wondering if Jimmy could have murdered Ralph Pearce. But at least Jimmy had been exonerated. Andy no longer had to live with the pain that must be following Edith.
“I’m sorry,” he said in all sincerity. “And yes, I was told the name ‘Frank’. Apparently someone else took it off of him when he left the apartment building. I don’t know if he even read it.”
“Oh, he read it,” Amory grunted. “If he took it, it was because he knew it was incriminating for him.”
“Mr. Fallon . . .” Tragg stepped forward. “Did he write a code into the letter, as Andy’s abductors believed?”
Amory set the paper down, slowly nodding in response. “Yes,” he said. “This paragraph here.” He pointed. “It quips about not asking me to be the gallant knight and also mentions checkmating the criminals.
“Ned was passionate about chess. It’s strange to think about, really. At least it is for me. I don’t tend to think of womanizing gamblers as being chess fans.”
“Oh yes,” Tragg mused. “I remember. He had quite an expensive chess set in his apartment.”
“Not only that, but he had a giant statue of a white knight chess piece,” Amory said. “And that is where he hid this information. I’m sure of it!”
Note: If anyone has access to the uncut version of The Impatient Partner, the chess set and the giant knight statue really do exist!
Fandom: Perry Mason
Rating: T/PG-13
Word Count: 3,424
Main Characters: Lieutenant Anderson, Lieutenant Tragg, Amory Fallon, Jefferson Pike
Supporting Characters: Officer Jimmy Anderson, Sergeant Brice, Edith Fallon
Summary: Andy is found at last. And Amory does indeed have an idea of where the hidden information is.
Fanfiction.net Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8342827/7/
Chapter Seven
Andy and Mr. Pike only stared at the attacked chair for a moment before Mr. Pike whirled away. “In here!” he exclaimed, diving into an adjoining room. Grabbing a gun off the rack, he thrust it at Andy. “Take this!” He snatched another for himself.
Andy flipped off the lights as he accepted the weapon. “Thank you.” Pressing himself against the wall, he inched his way back into the main room. All was silent outside; the shooters were probably trying to figure out where to aim now that they could not see.
Still keeping himself against the wall, Andy made his way to the nearest window and eased around just enough to see out while remaining concealed.
Jefferson had crept up behind him. “What’s out there?” he hissed.
“It’s hard to tell,” Andy frowned. “The light from the moon is reflecting on what might be the barrel of a rifle behind that tree. And there’s another around the corner of that building across the way.” He nodded in its general direction. “But I can’t see any people.”
“What’re they tryin’ to do, anyway?!” Jefferson was angry now.
“I’m afraid that depends on whether or not they know I actually am a police officer,” Andy admitted. “They mistook me for someone else and refused to believe the truth. If they still think I’m this other man, then they probably want to recapture me. If they’re aware that I’m an officer of the law, they want to kill me.”
Jefferson peered around Andy’s shoulder, uneasy. “So for now we just wait ’em out and see what they try next?”
“I would say so,” Andy nodded. “I don’t want to fire and give our position away unless I have to. And I don’t want to rouse up the staff and the guests.”
The creaking on the stairs let them know that the former had already happened. Both whirled to face a disgruntled and half-asleep figure.
“See here, what’s going on?” the newcomer growled. “It’s too late for anyone to be out hunting.”
“Oh, no one’s hunting, Mr. Jameson,” Jefferson answered.
“And please don’t turn on the light!” Andy rushed to add. “Please! It’s very important that you don’t.”
“Why?” Mr. Jameson retorted. “And coming to think of it, who are you? Your voice isn’t familiar.”
“He’s a policeman, Mr. Jameson!” Jefferson interjected. “I found him while I was coming back and I gave him a ride here. Remember how I knew something was wrong with that dad-blamed bunker? Well, he was being held prisoner there!”
“How do you even know he told you the truth?” Mr. Jameson growled, irritable from interrupted sleep.
“Please be quiet, Mr. Jameson,” Andy begged. “I’ll explain everything later, in detail. They’ve already shot out one of the windows. That must have been what woke you up. If they hear us talking, they might shoot some more.”
“Bah!” Jameson stormed back up the stairs. “If you want to play cowboys and Indians, keep it down.”
Andy bit back a retort. This was not the time to begin an argument.
Apparently his fears were realized. Another window shattered, closer to his position, as a bullet smashed through it.
Jameson froze on the stairs. “What was that?!”
“Dad-blame it! We’re under attack!” Jefferson cried. “That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you!”
Andy stuck his rifle out the broken window and aimed for the tree as he returned fire. A bit of bark was clipped and the barrel of the opposing gun vanished.
A window across the room blew out next. Jameson yelped and dropped to the stairs, cowering as this bullet drilled into one of the spokes of the banister.
“They’re over there, too!” Jefferson fumed. Taking his own gun, he made his way to that window and fired through the hole. Their unknown assailant yelped.
Jameson looked up in alarm. “Did you shoot him?!”
“Sounds like it,” Jefferson said. “Don’t see any body, though. It probably wasn’t too bad. Serves him right!”
“What if some of the guests come out of the cabins and get shot?” Jameson exclaimed.
That was certainly one of Andy’s concerns. “I’m afraid at this point, all we can do is pray that they don’t,” he said.
When gunfire soared in through three windows in rapid succession, they were officially outnumbered. Andy and Jefferson ducked, then returned fire as quickly as possible. Jameson stayed dumbly on the stairs, overwhelmed by all that was happening.
“Confound it, Mr. Jameson, why don’t you help?!” Jefferson demanded. “We need every able body we can get!”
“I’ve never been in a gunfight before,” Jameson protested. “I don’t know what to do!”
“Well, I haven’t been in one either, but it’s not hard to catch on,” Jefferson retorted. “Just point and shoot!”
“But for Heaven’s sake, be careful!” Andy added.
He gripped the rifle as he waited for their enemies to make the next move. He regretted dragging these people into his problem. Maybe at the hill he should have simply taken whatever came, instead of running off with Mr. Pike.
But no, he could not have done that. He was too deeply involved in this disaster. And the strange letter he still carried in his pocket was evidence that needed to be turned over to the police department and read by Amory Fallon.
Jameson had now retrieved a gun from a cabinet and was positioning himself by the third window from which bullets had entered. “We run a nice, respectable lodge here, Mr. Police Officer,” he growled. “I don’t much appreciate you bringing all of this trouble down on us!”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jameson,” Andy said in all sincerity. “I wasn’t trying to bring any of it to you. I had hoped they wouldn’t track us here, at least not until the backup forces arrived.”
“Backup?! There’s going to be more of you?!”
“Yes, and you should be grateful for that, at least,” Andy shot back. “. . . Although they don’t know a shootout has started,” he added quietly, mostly to himself. But they knew it was a possibility that Andy would be tracked here. Would they come prepared?
The next several minutes were a blur of flying bullets on both sides. It did not take long for the rest of the staff to wake up and come downstairs in stunned and alarmed bewilderment. And, Mr. Jameson’s wife noted, the lights were on in every guest cabin. She could see them from the attic window.
“At least no one’s been foolish enough to try to come outside,” Andy remarked as he reloaded the rifle.
“Oh, they wouldn’t do that,” Jefferson said. “Not with all the ruckus going on.”
Andy sighed. “Some people would.”
“If they wanted you alive, seems they would’ve hollered out their terms by now,” Jefferson remarked.
“I agree,” Andy frowned. He had become convinced that they were trying to kill him almost as soon as this gunfight had started.
Another bullet soared through his window. He returned fire in its general direction.
Suddenly the grounds outside were illuminated by a bright beam. The men at the windows gasped, shielding their eyes. The shooting ceased; a motor outside grew louder and louder.
“Attention-this is the police! Drop your weapons and surrender.”
Andy dared to look outside. “A police helicopter,” he said in relief.
Now the men who had been firing were very visible. Their hands emerged from behind trees and other objects as they released the guns and reached for the sky. Police officers came down from a rope ladder, guns in hand.
Andy stood, still holding the rifle. “Hello!” he called through the now completely shattered window. “This is Lieutenant Anderson. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
One of the officers turned to face him. “Lieutenant Anderson?” He grinned broadly. “Lieutenant Tragg will be ecstatic to hear you’re safe!”
Andy smiled, pushing back his hat. “Where is Lieutenant Tragg? I tried to call him earlier, before the telephone line was cut. There wasn’t any answer.”
“He was tied up at the moment,” the officer replied. “He’ll tell you all about it himself. He’s coming in on a second helicopter that took off a few minutes ago.”
“Oh really?” Andy leaned back, amused and touched. So the message had gotten through. And even though other police were already handling the matter, Tragg had not intended to stay behind. He had come looking for Andy in all determination.
“Your cousin’s on it too,” the officer said. “And Sergeant Brice. And you’ve got a lot of other very worried friends back in the city.”
“Yes,” Andy nodded. “I know.”
“Meanwhile,” the officer continued, “maybe you’d like to come out here and join us in questioning these troublemakers, Lieutenant.”
Andy smiled. “I most certainly would.”
Mr. Jameson regarded the exchange with bushy narrowed eyes, still clutching his rifle. “So is it all over now?” he demanded. “We can go check on the guests and go back to bed?”
“It’s over,” Andy said, turning away from the window, “but I’m afraid you’ll need to give a statement about what happened.”
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake!” Jameson thumped his gun on the floor. “It’s always something. Can’t it all wait?”
“Well, personally, I’d rather get it all over with now,” Jefferson drawled. “I’d sleep easier knowing I didn’t have to worry about getting up to make a statement.”
Jameson sighed. “You’re probably right.” He gripped the gun as he walked to the door. “I’m going to check on the guests first. They must be scared out of their heads.”
Andy glanced back. “Uh, Mr. Jameson, you might be asked to leave your gun here. There’s no danger now; all of the gunmen have been arrested.”
“Tarnation!” But Jameson laid the gun down. “I’ve had enough of gunmen, and police, and all of this nonsense!”
Andy could not help feeling guilty. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sure the department will pay for all of these damages. And if that doesn’t work out . . .” He cringed. “I’ll pay for all of it myself.”
“On your salary?” Jameson shook his head. “Oh, I wouldn’t expect that of you. I expect them to pay!” He gestured out the window in the general direction of the gunmen.
“That sounds fair to me,” Jefferson nodded.
“We’ll see,” Andy said, relaxing nevertheless at the proposition. He really didn’t have the money to spare.
He stepped outside and to where the sullen men were being handcuffed. He frowned. None of them looked familiar.
One of them caught his eye and glowered. “Hey, Cop.”
Andy walked over to him. “So you believe I’m a police officer now?”
“Why do you think we were shooting?” The sniper shrugged. “You should’ve seen the boss when your picture was dug up. He was fit to chomp through metal.”
“I can imagine,” Andy said.
“There’s other officers on their way to the bunker now, Sir,” a police corporal informed him.
Andy glanced to him. “Good,” he nodded.
The sniper laughed. “Maybe, but all they’ll find is an empty place.”
“What?!” Andy whirled back. “They couldn’t clear it out that fast!”
“Watch them. The boss has had to vacate places before. He’s not going to get caught. Not this time.”
“Wonderful.” Andy frowned, considering this information. He could, unfortunately, believe it was true.
The sound of another helicopter brought everyone’s attention to the sky. It soon landed near the first, its occupants leaping out almost before it came to a complete halt.
“Andy?!” That was Tragg, insisting on being out first.
Andy headed towards him. “I’m alright, Lieutenant,” he called.
Another figure ran out ahead of Tragg, reaching Andy first. “Andy! Oh, for crying out loud.” Jimmy pulled him into a hug. “It’s really you this time, isn’t it?”
Baffled, Andy slowly returned his cousin’s embrace. “. . . Yes, it’s really me. This time?!” He pulled back, staring at Jimmy in bewilderment. “What are you talking about?”
Tragg caught up now, resting his hand on Andy’s shoulder. “Well, let’s just say it’s a long story. I never believed in doubles, until I first met you. Now we’ve got a fellow in a hospital bed who we thought was you but who isn’t.”
Andy cringed. “Let me guess. A man named Amory Fallon?”
“Uh huh.” Tragg blinked. “How did you know?”
Andy nodded towards the gunmen. “The people who took me . . . well, they thought I was him. And I have some kind of a letter supposedly written to him by his business partner before his death.”
“Oh really?” Tragg stared in amazement. “What does it say?”
“I’ll show it to you, back in the city,” Andy said.
He looked to Sergeant Brice, who had gotten out with the others but had waited patiently for them to finish talking. “Sergeant.” Andy nodded to him. “I’m glad to see you weren’t hurt at the park.”
“Oh no, Lieutenant,” Brice said. “I’m fine. By the time I got off the radio and came looking for you, there was no one around.” He looked down. “I’m sorry.”
“Brice, it wasn’t your fault,” Andy said in amazement. “You had to take that call.”
“Yes, Lieutenant,” Brice nodded. “I know. But I went along to help you, and then I wasn’t any use at all.”
“I wasn’t any use myself,” Andy frowned. “I was unconscious before I knew what had hit me.” He winced. “I guess everyone has been worried about me.”
“Worried?” Tragg shook his head. “Oh no. We were sure you were alright. We just thought we’d tear the place apart looking for you for the fun of it.” Now he was the one drawing Andy into a hug. “Oh Andy. . . . We didn’t know if you were alive or dead!”
“I’m sorry,” Andy said with regret as he returned it. “I didn’t want to worry anyone. I tried to get away as soon as I could.”
“I know you would.” Tragg pulled back. “Well, let’s question these vermin and get it over with. But first I’ll put a call through to Los Angeles. Lucy is staying with Erna Norden at the moment. They’re waiting for the news.”
“They both wanted to come along,” Jimmy put in.
“They would,” Andy smiled fondly. “But I’m glad they weren’t allowed to; it could’ve been dangerous.”
“That’s why we insisted on them staying behind,” Tragg said.
“Lieutenant?”
Both Lieutenants looked up at the voice. The pilot was leaning out of the helicopter.
“What is it?” Tragg asked. “Did the officers reach the bunker yet?”
“That’s the problem, Sir,” the pilot frowned. “They just checked in over the radio. The bunker’s empty; no one’s there.”
“What?!” Tragg stared, agape. “It isn’t humanly possible for them to clear out so fast!”
Andy drew a long, frustrated sigh. “Unfortunately, that’s what these men told me was happening.”
And the men all looked highly smug. Tragg glowered at the lot of them. “Well, whatever. We’ll deal with the setback. Sergeant, did they find anything there? Anything at all?”
“Nothing, Sir,” was the reply.
Tragg muttered under his breath. Louder he said, “Alright then. Call the police station. Have them put a call through to Mrs. Erna Norden and let her and Lucy know that Andy is safe and we’re coming in.”
“Yes, Sir!” the Sergeant said, perking up at this order.
Andy looked to Tragg, suddenly realizing something. “Where’s Lieutenant Drumm?” he asked.
“He went with the group checking the bunker,” Tragg said. “He’ll meet us in the city.”
“Good,” Andy nodded. But then he frowned, watching as Sergeant Brice escaped them to question the gunmen. “Lieutenant, Brice doesn’t blame himself for . . .”
Tragg sighed. “Well, maybe somewhat. I suppose you would too, if your positions had been reversed.”
“Yes.” Andy pushed back his hat. “I’ll have to talk more with him later.”
Jimmy was glancing down at Andy’s torn clothes. “What happened to your pants?” he exclaimed.
“. . . Oh.” Andy glanced down too. “I had a run-in with a barbed-wire fence.”
Tragg frowned. “How much of a run-in?” He could clearly see the blood, and through the tear, the bandage.
“Nothing serious,” Andy assured him.
“It’d better not be,” Tragg grunted. “But after we get back to Los Angeles, you should have it checked out by a doctor. Then you can meet your long-lost twin.”
“I’ve been wondering about that,” Andy said.
“He’s a case,” Tragg said, shaking his head. “A bonafide case.”
****
To their relief, Andy’s injuries were, indeed, nothing serious. And while the others were en route to reunite with their friend, Tragg led Andy down the hospital corridor to Amory Fallon’s room.
“He’s awake,” Tragg said. “I looked in on him while the doctor was examining you. He’s just as interested in this meeting as you are.”
“I’m sure he is,” Andy said.
Tragg knocked, then pushed the door open. Amory looked over, about to speak when he caught a glimpse of Andy. His eyes glittered in astonishment.
“It’s like looking in a mirror,” he gasped.
Andy entered the room. “That’s exactly what I was just thinking,” he declared. “No wonder Lieutenant Tragg was stunned when he met me for the first time.” He held out his hand. “Andrew Anderson.”
“Amory Fallon.” Amory took Andy’s hand, giving it a firm shake. “And this is my wife Edith. After all this, it’s good to finally meet you.”
“And how,” Andy said.
He next extended his hand to Edith, who was standing by, reeling at the resemblance. “Hello,” he greeted. “I’m sorry I’ve inadvertently caused you and your husband so much trouble.”
Edith took his hand, looking a bit numb. “You couldn’t help it, Lieutenant.” She kept staring. “No wonder everyone thought Amory was you. This is so strange.”
“It is out of the ordinary,” Amory remarked.
Andy sat down next to the bed. “It looks like we both have enemies at large.”
Amory nodded, his expression darkening. “I wish I could shed some light on who yours are. I have no idea.”
“I’m not sure who yours are, either,” Andy admitted, “but I do know what they want, more or less.” He reached into his inner coat pocket and removed the letter. “They’re hoping you know if there’s a code in here that reveals where your business partner hid some incriminating evidence against them.”
“Excuse me?!” Amory snatched the paper as Andy offered it. As he began to read, his grip on the edges tightened.
Edith tensed. “What is it, Amory?” she asked.
Amory slumped back in the pillows. “It’s from Ned,” he said. “It must be; it’s in his handwriting. But . . .” He shook his head. “I don’t know how to feel about it.”
“. . . I was told he wrote it right before he was murdered,” Andy said carefully. “And that the murderer took it off his body.”
“Frank had it?!” Edith rocked back, looking as though she had just taken a blow too.
“My wife’s brother,” Amory said by way of explanation. “He was the murderer.”
Andy’s stomach twisted. He could relate all too well, after the agony of wondering if Jimmy could have murdered Ralph Pearce. But at least Jimmy had been exonerated. Andy no longer had to live with the pain that must be following Edith.
“I’m sorry,” he said in all sincerity. “And yes, I was told the name ‘Frank’. Apparently someone else took it off of him when he left the apartment building. I don’t know if he even read it.”
“Oh, he read it,” Amory grunted. “If he took it, it was because he knew it was incriminating for him.”
“Mr. Fallon . . .” Tragg stepped forward. “Did he write a code into the letter, as Andy’s abductors believed?”
Amory set the paper down, slowly nodding in response. “Yes,” he said. “This paragraph here.” He pointed. “It quips about not asking me to be the gallant knight and also mentions checkmating the criminals.
“Ned was passionate about chess. It’s strange to think about, really. At least it is for me. I don’t tend to think of womanizing gamblers as being chess fans.”
“Oh yes,” Tragg mused. “I remember. He had quite an expensive chess set in his apartment.”
“Not only that, but he had a giant statue of a white knight chess piece,” Amory said. “And that is where he hid this information. I’m sure of it!”
Note: If anyone has access to the uncut version of The Impatient Partner, the chess set and the giant knight statue really do exist!