Baseline Road by Orlando Davidson

Author:Orlando Davidson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Artemesia Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-09-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It was not quite one in the afternoon when I got to Carol’s bungalow the next day. Annie opened the door and waved me in.

“How’d you sleep, Jimmy?” Carol called out from the kitchen.

“Like a baby. Didn’t wake up until almost noon, a record for me.” I’d left Lisa’s apartment at dawn, both of us knowing I’d be back.

Carol came out into the living room, barely room for the three of us, with sandwiches—their lunch and my breakfast. Carol was full of energy for someone who’d put away so much booze last night. I was impressed as she briefed me on her work.

“So, I called the Orange County DA’s office this morning, identified myself as a Claremont police detective, and asked for information about the Brotherhood of Eternal Love Task Force. First, they put me on hold for fifteen minutes, then some pompous SOB came on the line and told me, in so many words, to buzz off and mind my own business. Do they teach that in law school?”

That got a smile out of Annie. “Not at Stanford,” she said, then turned to me. “I called in sick today, said I had the flu, was throwing up like crazy. It’s almost true, after those gin and tonics last night. Do you think I have to stay away from the office? There’s so much work to do. With Jason all messed up, I pretty much run the place.”

Carol shook her head. “Annie, Jack Green threatened you last week. My friend on the Laguna force said he’s a psycho, maybe the worst of the bunch. So, yeah, you need to stay very sick this week while we figure things out. The clinic can survive until then. You’ve told me your staff is great. Let them carry the ball for a change.”

“I wonder, does anybody at your office know about Carol, about your relationship with her?” I asked.

Annie bristled at the question. “I keep my personal life to myself. Why does that matter?”

I looked at Carol, who saw where I was headed. “It matters, Annie, because I’m a cop,” she said softly, “and we’re dealing with criminals. When they find out about me and you, and they will, it will be that much more dangerous for you.”

I had an idea. “I’ve got a DA friend who represents San Bernardino on the Brotherhood Task Force. I want him to take your deposition, get everything on the record. Will you agree to that, Annie? It’s for your protection.”

“That’s going to implicate Jason, right?” Annie frowned. “You know he never lets his, uh, difficulties interfere with the clinic’s work.” She was still hesitant, and so naïve.

“Maybe so, but you might get in big trouble,” I said. “You’ve been loyal to a fault. It’s time to protect yourself, get ahead of the Task Force, ahead of the arrests.”

It took a while, with me being reasonable and Carol cajoling, but at last Annie agreed, and I got on the line with my friend.

My friend did one better.

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