Private Rogue

Chapter 14

“Who are you again?”

Steve Shaw, the ruddy-faced local police chief, was either in need of a neurological examination or he was trying to make a point. I’d already told him who we were and why we were there, before he’d invited us into his corner office in the Highland Falls Police Department, a tiny red-brick station he shared with the local ambulance service. Shaw was most definitely trying to be a big fish in a little pond, the walls of his office lined with medals, certificates, and photos of him with local dignitaries. When I looked a little closer, I saw some of the medals had been won at high-school swim meets. Every photo featured him oozing self-satisfied pomposity, which was exactly the expression he wore now as I once again introduced myself and Jessica to him. I glanced at her as I did and she flashed me a smile.

“And why should I tell you anything, Mr. Morgan?”

“Our client filed the missing persons report with you, correct?” I asked.

“Indeed. And when he filed it, he didn’t ask whether we would assist an overpriced glory hunter with free information.”

“Is Greg Chandler still overseeing this department?” Jessie asked. “He and I used to throw back beers every now and then when I was with the Bureau.”

Shaw grinned arrogantly. “Chandler moved up to the Capitol. I’m on the shortlist for his job, but I don’t like to throw back too many beers.”

“We just want some background on Ms. Singer,” I said. “Anything you can tell us about friends, local contacts, people she might have gone to in time of need.”

Shaw was impassive.

“We’ll reciprocate. Bring you in on anything we find. We’ll give you additional investigative resources. Private is one of the world’s leading detective agencies.”

“So you say, Mr. Morgan,” Shaw replied. “And while I appreciate your generous offer, we do everything by the book here, and the book says: Don’t share information with third parties. So I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

I shook my head and shrugged. It was time to admit defeat. Some people were obstinate for the sake of it. Others thought they were doing the right thing. I suspected Shaw was the former.

“Thanks for your time, Chief,” I said, getting to my feet and leading Jessie out.

We stepped into a small open-plan office at the front of the building. A couple of uniform cops were at their desks, and the chief’s assistant was on the phone. She waved at us and signaled the exit.

“Talk about making us feel welcome,” Jessie remarked.

“Places like this are good for keeping our feet on the ground,” I replied as we headed for the door.

As we crossed the threshold I reached into my pocket to answer my ringing phone. The display showed Mo-bot’s smiling face.

“Go ahead,” I said.

“No ‘hello’?” she replied. “No ‘how are you’?”

“How are you?” I asked as we stepped into the New York winter. A storm was coming in from the north, and the first flurries had started.

“We don’t have time to waste on pleasantries,” Mo-bot shot back, and I laughed. “I’ve found a nearby unit contact. Former instructor with the Third called Ted Eisner. He lives about an hour from Garrison. Might be nothing, but he’s the only former member of that unit within a hundred miles.”

“Thanks,” I replied. “We’ll check it out.”

“Anytime,” Mo-bot said. “And I’m fine. Thanks for asking, Jack.”

I hung up and crossed the parking lot. “That was Mo. She found an instructor from the Third Special Forces Group who lives upstate. It’s tenuous, but it’s the best we’ve got right now.

“A lead is a lead,” Jessie replied as she unlocked the car. “A good detective chases them all down, right?”

“Right,” I agreed.