Seeing Red : More Red Daley Stories

By Daniel Rowe

Red Daley, the two-fisted ex-cop turned newsman, is back on the street to right wrongs, expose corruption and make criminals sorry they ever broke the law. If you like hard-boiled detective action, you'll love Red Daley,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257517015

Book preview

Stories

Along Came A Spider

The night air was pregnant with the rain that was soon to fall. The light from the windows of St. Victor’s Conference Center and the nearly full moon painted the trees and grounds with ethereal patterns of shadow. The girl was most certainly dead.

She was young and would get no older. Her party dress was in tatters, held to her only by the blood that covered her and the ground. She lay beneath a pine tree. A silk cord was draped around her throat. One shoe was gone.

I pulled out my cell phone and called the cops. I asked for rescue although I knew that was in vain. I dialed again for my friend, Detective Lieutenant Ben Scott. He answered on the second ring.

Ben, I’m sorry to wake you, I said. This is Red Daley.

I know who it is, Ben said. What do you want at this hour?

Just wanted to give you a heads up, I said. The spider got another victim. I told him where I was and that patrol was on the way.

I’ll be there in a few minutes, Ben said. Thanks, Red.

See you when you get here, I said. I heard the sirens as I pocketed the phone.

The Mayors’ Gala is the high spot on the city’s social calendar. The leading lights of the community gather in their finery to tell each other how smart and rich they are. Someone from the editorial staff always is shoved into a formal suit and assigned to cover the do. That year, I was the victim.

The party was so exciting I walked in the gardens of the conference center. I passed on the speeches and let the photographer identify the people he snapped. That’s how I came to find the cadaver who was someone’s daughter a short time ago.

The city had seen too many murders of late. A predator was prowling and all the victims were found with the draped silk cord. The cops received a note after each predation signed only ‘The Spider.’

The first unit pulled up the drive, roof lights flashing. Two uniforms jumped out with guns in hand. They were pointed at me. I raised my hands.

Take it easy, officers, I said. I’m one of the good guys.

Just keep those hands where I can see them, the first cop said. I’ll decide who the good guys are.

Is that Officer Michaels? I said. I think we’ve met before.

Mister Daley? Michaels said. It’s okay, Roger. I know this guy. He’s a newspaperman. Used to be a cop before that.

I found the body, Michaels, I said. She’s under that tree. Looks like another spider case.

How’d you come to find her, Mister Daley? Michaels asked.

Just taking a walk, I said. I have a penchant for moonlight and shadows. You may want to turn those flashers off.

Why do you say that? Michaels said.

Because that building is loaded with big shots, I said. Everybody from the mayor down. You don’t want gawkers here.

Good thought, Michaels said, killing the lights. Stay here while we check the scene and call the detectives.

No problem, I said. I already called Lieutenant Scott. He’s on his way. I’ll be here when you need a statement.

The scene filled up with the coroner, evidence techs, curious cops and, finally, Ben Scott. Michaels passed the word. The lights stayed off. Ben took my initial statement himself.

We had just finished when a black Cadillac pulled up. The Honorable Mayor Albert Castle emerged from the back seat. The prosecutor, Bart Spivey, followed him out.

What’s going on here, Lieutenant Scott? Castle said.

Another dead young girl, mister mayor, Ben said.

Not another of those serial crimes, I hope, Castle said.

It looks like it may be, Ben said. We’ve only started the investigation.

Since we’re here, we should probably inspect the scene, Castle said. Come along, Bart.

That’s a very bad idea, I said.

What do you mean, sir? Castle said. Lieutenant, why is the press here? Why is it only Red Daley?

He discovered the body, mister mayor, Ben said. He’s a witness. He’s not here as press.

Why isn’t he a suspect? Spivey said. Has he been cautioned as to his rights?

No, sir, Ben said. Red Daley’s worked with the police department well for a long time. He’s not a suspect.

Thank you for your opinion, Lieutenant, Spivey said. It sounds based in personality rather than fact. Spivey doesn’t like me.

Gentlemen, the mayor shouldn’t be associated with crime scenes because he could be asked for comment before the facts are in, I said. The prosecutor shouldn’t because, as any good lawyer knows, he could become a witness to fact and be called by the defense after an arrest is made.

You make a valid point, Mister Daley, Castle said. In fact, you make two. Come along, Bart.

Albert, I think I should take charge here, Spivey said.

If anything, you should send an assistant, Castle said. Come with me and I’ll explain why.

Castle and Spivey got into the Cadillac and drove off. Castle is a smart politician. He’ll be governor, someday. Spivey is his nephew.

I told Ben I’d check in with him in the morning. I got out of the way to let the cops do their work. The rain arrived but couldn’t wash away the horror. The spider’s web still stretched across the city.

The next morning I walked into my office to file my column. Rose, my secretary, was at her desk with her usual smile. I whipped out my copy and sent it to edit. Rose walked in with the mail and phone messages.

There’s nothing special in the mail, Mister Daley, Rose said. Lieutenant Scott asked that you call him at his office.

Thank you, Rose, I said. Please, just call me Red.

Whatever you like, Mister Red, Rose said. Oh, there is one more envelope. It came by messenger, marked personal, so I didn’t open it. I’ll be right back.

Rose brought in a letter-sized manila envelope. The address was in block letters. There was no return address. I felt something move inside.

Rose, you may want to step away, I said. Everybody who sends me things doesn’t love me.

Should I call somebody, Mister Red? Rose said. Security or someone?

No need to panic, yet, I said. Just step over by the door.

I pulled on a pair of gloves from my desk drawer. I held the envelope by an edge and slit it open with a paper knife. I shook it lightly. Several brown hermit spiders and a note fell out.

The spiders were dazed and I slammed a book onto them before they recovered. I smashed the envelope several times, too. The brown hermit is a nasty character. Its bite is necrotic.

I picked up the note by its edges. It read: Beware the spider’s bite. The way to avoid the bite is to leave the spider alone. Rose reached for the envelope. I stopped her.

Get Lieutenant Scott on the phone, I said. Tell him he’ll need an evidence kit. Did you see the messenger?

No, Mister Red, Rose said. It was left at the front desk.

After you call Scott, see if you can find out who accepted the envelope, I said. Warn the desk that any future packages are to be treated with caution. Rose nodded and left.

Ben Scott arrived quickly. The envelope and its contents were photographed, bagged and sent to the crime lab. Ben took Rose’s prints for elimination.

The girl who’d received the envelope at the front desk remembered nothing about the messenger. Too many packages come through each day. Ben took her prints and she went back to her magazine.

We went back to my office. Ben accepted a cup of coffee and sat across the desk from me.

Looks like you’ve attracted this psycho’s attention, Ben said. Do you want protection?

You’re kidding, right? I said. "I know