This story is about breast cancer. I know for some it might be difficult if not impossible to read. I understand. I’m not one who likes to give or get spoilers but there are times when they are appropriate. Should you need to know any details before you make the decision to read this please contact me.

Chapter Thirty

Saturday, March 4, 2006

Dan spent the morning helping Hallie tidy up the house. Neither of them had been home long enough in the past few weeks to make much of a mess. They had always shared in the household chores. Dan took care of the cars, snow removal and outside home repair. Hallie did the laundry, for which Dan was eternally grateful. No matter how hard he tried, he always managed to get his white shirts mixed in with his dark jeans. Drab white shirts just didn’t have the effect that crisp white ones did. Even if Hallie hadn’t liked doing laundry, it was worth the effort just to see Dan looking so good.

They usually shared the cleaning chores. One week Dan would take care of the dusting and the next week Hallie would do it. Hallie would never admit to anyone that she hated dusting more than Trixie did.

Today things were different. Dan insisted on doing any cleaning that would involve the use of chemicals. He tried to convince her that he should just do all of the work and that she should just rest.

“Daniel Timothy Mangan, I am not an invalid!!! Women have been having babies since the beginning of time. I think several of them have been known to do a little cleaning now and then,” Hallie exclaimed.

After some discussion, and kisses to boot, they came up with the compromise. For now Dan would take care of cleaning the bathroom and kitchen while Hallie would dust and take care of the floors. Hallie was secretly relieved that she didn’t have to clean the toilets for at least seven months. That was her least favorite job.

While Dan was finishing up in the bathroom, Hallie set about making lunch. Dan had to meet Honey at two o’clock and would probably miss dinner all together. So she decided to make a bigger meal.

While they ate, they discussed what would happen after tonight should they catch McDaniels red-handed.

“Well, I’ve got my letter of resignation written. I wrote it last week before Captain Molinson approached Trixie. Even though I’m relieved that Molinson was not just sitting back and ignoring the problem, I still think it’s time to move on,” Dan explained.

Hallie looked directly at him, “You know you have my full support in whatever you decide to do. I know you haven’t really been happy with your job since you returned from Iraq. I thought maybe it was because of the problems we had been having.” Sadness washed over her face as she thought of all of the strain and struggle the two of them had gone through.

Dan got up, walked over to Hallie, and tightly embraced her. “Thank you. I’ve been so worried about what I will do and now with the baby coming, I wondered about just sticking it out if only for the insurance.”

“I’ve already looked into getting insurance through my job,” Hallie explained. “You know I’ve always carried it for me even though you had it as well. It’s part of the benefits and I figured I’d better take it in case something did happen. It won’t cost that much to add you and any kids we have on it. And the coverage is as good as what you were getting through the city.”

Dan breathed a sigh of relief. “Now I just have to find a new job. Part of me thinks I should wait to hand in my resignation until I have another job, but if I’m not working then I’ll have more time to look for one.”

Hallie thought for a minute. She started to say something and then stopped herself. Something had been bothering her for several weeks and she had been waiting for just the right time to broach the subject.

“Hallie, I can tell you’ve got something to say. Just spit it out,” Dan encouraged.

Hallie still struggled with her thoughts for a few minutes. Then she finally asked, “Well, I’ve been wondering why you never applied for the job with the Frayne-Wheeler Detective Agency. You seem like the perfect person for the job.”

Hallie’s eyes met Dan’s for a brief moment before he turned away from her and started to clean up the dishes and load the dishwasher. Quietly he replied, “I don’t know. I think at first I was hoping things would get better at the station. I felt like a failure. I finally had the job I thought I always wanted and then I really started to hate it.” Hallie started to protest but Dan stopped her. “Let me finish. It’s the only way I can get it all out and explain what I mean.

“Once I decided that I wanted to find a new job, Trixie and Honey had already begun looking for applicants. I know this sounds childish but part of me thought that if they wanted to hire me they would have just asked me. I didn’t want them to give me a job just because they felt sorry for me.”

Hallie couldn’t let Dan go on thinking that and tried to interrupt.

Dan held up his hand. “I know what you’re going to say. Don’t bother. After thinking it over, and it didn’t take long, I knew that Trixie and Honey wouldn’t do something like that out of pity.”

Dan paused for a second and Hallie came up and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so glad you figured that out. I’ve been biting my tongue for weeks. When their two applicants turned out to be a bust I was silently cheering. So, now what are you going to do about this?”

Dan had finished loading the dishwasher. When he turned to look at Hallie he had a twinkle in his eye. “Why do you think I hired them to help me with this investigation?” he said. Hallie laughed. “I really did need some help, and even if I didn’t have an ulterior motive, they were the logical ones to hire. I just figured that if they saw how well we worked together the light bulb might finally turn on.”

Hallie laughed. “I was kind of surprised and disappointed they hadn’t approached you sooner. Then I realized they didn’t know how really unhappy you were with your job and I figured they had a few things on their minds other than work.”

“Just a few things,” said Dan. He looked at his watch. “I’d better run. I want to set up surveillance on McDaniels before his shift starts. It’s going to be hard enough keeping track of what he’s doing. At least I’ll have Honey to help out.”

Shortly before Honey was supposed to meet Dan, she called him and asked him to meet her at her office. Brian couldn’t join them tonight in their surveillance as planned. Stella had started running a fever and he didn’t feel comfortable leaving her with a sitter. Honey and Dan would need to change their plans. Honey also had some information she wanted to share with Dan regarding the case. The night before they had agreed not discuss the case, but today she needed to bring him up-to-date on what Trixie had stumbled on.

When Dan came into the office he was whistling, and a smile could almost be seen on his face. Honey looked up from her computer when he walked in. Quickly, she closed the document she had been working on. She didn’t want him to see the new partnership contract she had been working on.

“So what did you guys find out?” he asked.

Honey went about explaining who Slim Novarski was and how the Bob-Whites had encountered him over twenty years ago.

“Wasn’t that the dude that caused you guys so much trouble when you went to the Ozarks?” Dan asked. He was full of nervous energy and couldn’t stay in one place for long so he moved around the room.

“No, that was Slim Sanderson. Both of them had quite a bit of growing up to do,” Honey said. She went on to bring Dan up to date on the activities of Mr. Novarski. When she finished relaying their findings, she handed hard copies of the information to Dan.

"So if you think Slim might be in the area, do you also think he might have a grudge against the Bob-Whites?” Dan asked.

“I don’t think so,” Honey said. “I’m not sure if he ever heard where we lived. I think it’s just a coincidence. If Trixie’s theory is true, he came here because McDaniels was here.”

Dan paced back and forth. He thought for a few minutes and then commented, “Well, past experience with Trixie’s intuition has shown that it’s usually right. We can’t totally ignore this.”

Honey reached for some documents that were in the printer. “Here’s a copy of his arrest record and photo. He’s gained a few pounds over the past few years and has acquired that scar on his cheek. He looks rather menacing if you ask me.”

Dan glanced down at the photo and other papers. He stuffed them inside his jacket and then said, “Well, I’ll have to keep an eye out for him.” The two friends then revised their plan for the evening.

“Does Molinson know what’s happening tonight?” Honey asked. She was getting anxious for things to begin, so she started pacing too.

Dan didn’t respond right away. He appeared to be weighing his words as he said, “I debated about telling him what was going on. I’ve given him some general updates but I thought it would be better if I waited. The fewer things that are said, the less likely someone will overhear. Of course if things go down like I think they will, he’ll be the first person I call.”

Honey glanced at her watch; it was almost three o’clock. In a few minutes she would leave and head over to police headquarters. She’d keep an eye out for McDaniels and try to keep on his tail. Dan had been able to find out which area McDaniels would be assigned for the evening. That would make it easier for Honey to keep tabs on him.

Dan would leave the office and start as if to head back to his home. While he had been able to borrow Regan’s truck so it wasn’t quite so obvious, he still wanted to be careful. He would double back and park the truck on a side street near the Cameo. So far, all of the burglaries had been in the downtown area. He and Honey were both banking that the next burglary would be in the same area.

Earlier Trixie, Honey, and Dan had brainstormed possible businesses that might be the next target. There was Dick’s Pharmacy and The King’s Pawn, a local pawnshop. Both of them would have merchandise that would be of interest to a burglar. The two businesses were across the street from each other. That was where Dan was going to be stationed.

The next few hours were long and drawn out for both Honey and Dan. Even though spring would officially begin in less than three weeks, it still was rather cool. Fortunately, both of them had worn several layers of clothing to keep them warm.

Honey didn’t want to sit with the car running for fear someone would notice the exhaust. She had been following McDaniels for several hours and her blood pressure was boiling. It didn’t take an expert in investigation to see that when he pulled over an attractive female, he did not write her a ticket; if it was anybody else, he was an arrogant, egotistical jerk.

At about eight-thirty she noticed that McDaniels was gradually making his way toward downtown and out of the precinct he had been assigned for the evening. She called Dan with the change in her location and said she’d keep a tail on McDaniels.

While Honey had been trailing McDaniels, Dan had been carefully checking out all of the entrances to both the pharmacy and the pawnshop. He noticed the pharmacy had several surveillance systems as well as bolted doors. The pawnshop on the other hand had good locks on the front of the building but the back doors had flimsy ones. Dan was going to take a chance and concentrate his efforts on the pawnshop. He found a place to park the truck that would not easily be seen but where he could keep an eye on the back door of the pawnshop.

Right after Honey had called with the news that McDaniels was heading toward town, Dan noticed someone slinking down the alley. He phoned Honey and told her to park her car and meet up with him. They decided that in order to catch McDaniels, they couldn’t tip their hand to his partner in crime. Honey would tail the burglar with the truck, while Dan waited for McDaniels to do his work.

It didn’t take long before the figure was approaching the backdoor of the pawnshop. Dan noticed a van parked along the street; the engine was running and no one was in it. It looked to be rather old but he suspected it might have a souped-up engine. Silently, he pointed it out to Honey.

By now the figure was at the back door and was checking for any surveillance equipment. When he found none, he jimmied the lock. He entered the building and after a few minutes returned, his arms laden down with electronics and guns. He returned to the store two more times before finally getting in the vehicle and driving away.

“Be careful,” Dan said as he got out of the truck. “Phone headquarters and insist on talking to Officer Williams. I can trust him. He hates McDaniels’ actions and attitude as much as I do. Let him know where you are and have him come and arrest this guy. Keep on him. When Williams arrives on the scene, call Molinson and tell him to get over here.”

Honey turned the key to the truck as she assured him, “I won’t let him get away. I’m so glad Trixie insisted on the blue-tooth technology when we upgraded our cell phones. I can talk hands free while I’m driving. Be careful.”

Honey waited until the van was a half a block away before she started to follow him. There were few cars on the roads at nine o’clock at night. It appeared the driver of the van was confident enough that no one would realize what he had done and so he drove at a normal speed. She didn’t have a hard time keeping up with him and within five minutes the van was being pulled over by Officer Williams. Once Officer Williams arrived on the scene, she placed a call to Captain Molinson at his home telling him to meet Dan at The King’s Pawn.

In the meantime, Dan watched the back of the pawnshop. Within three minutes after Honey had taken off, Officer McDaniels pulled up. Dan pulled out his cell phone and began taking pictures. McDaniels removed his gloves before grabbing the doorknob, twisting his hand so that any fingerprints would be smeared. Quietly, Dan followed behind him. Once McDaniels entered the pawnshop he started to destroy shelves and items that his accomplice had left.

As soon as Dan knew he had enough evidence to convict McDaniels, he pulled out his service revolver and called out, “Stop what you’re doing and put your hands in the air.”

McDaniels slowly turned around and leered at Dan, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Uncle Lloyd doesn’t like to hear that his favorite nephew has gotten in trouble.”

It was everything Dan could do to not haul off and punch McDaniels in the face. “I don’t really care about what your precious uncle thinks, McDaniels. I’ve got enough evidence to put you away for quite a few years. Now put your hands in the air.” Dan waved his gun in front of McDaniels.

McDaniels finally put his hands in the air. Dan pulled out pair of handcuffs and slapped them on McDaniels’ wrists. Proving that he didn’t have the brains to keep his mouth shut, McDaniels continued to taunt Dan, “I’m giving in now but don’t think this is over. I have friends in high places. Molinson is too afraid of Uncle Lloyd to do anything. In less than an hour I’ll be on the streets again and you won’t be able to find a job in a police department in all of New York or New England.”

Both Dan and McDaniels were startled when they heard, “You think that’s so? It gives me great pleasure to arrest you. I’m not afraid of your uncle.” Captain Molinson had come in through the back door. He had brought a squad car with him to transport the suspect. “Detective Mangan, do you mind if I read him his rights?”

Without releasing his grip on the suspect, Dan turned to Captain Molinson and said, “The pleasure is all yours.”

Captain Molinson approached McDaniels. It was all he could do not to inflict pain on the man, but both he and Dan did not want to do anything that would allow McDaniels to get off on a technicality. Molinson began, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…”

It was Slim Novarski that had been McDaniels’ accomplice. As soon Williams had read him his rights, Slim had started to demand that he be appointed a lawyer and that he had rights. It was obvious this wasn’t the first time he had been arrested and chances were it wouldn’t be the last. It was also obvious that Slim knew how to work the system because he immediately began asking for immunity in exchange for information about his accomplice. The arresting officer strung him along, making no promises until Dan and Captain Molinson came in with a handcuffed McDaniels. When Slim realized what had happened, he slumped in defeat and refused to say anything else until he was appointed a lawyer.

McDaniels’ mouth hadn’t stopped flapping since he was arrested. He threatened everyone that he came in contact with. While he was being photographed and fingerprinted, he was rude and belligerent. It never occurred to him that he would not get out of this mess. He counted on his Uncle Lloyd to bail him out, just like his parents had been doing for most of his life. “You all will be without jobs by tomorrow morning,” he threatened.

Both Dan and Captain Molinson had had their fill of McDaniels’ mouth and attitude. They also knew that the thing that would bother him the most would be if neither of them responded to his threats. They silently went about their business booking him and making sure all of the paperwork had the i’s dotted and the t’s crossed. When it was all completed, Dan sneered, “Mr. McDaniels, you can make one phone call. I would suggest you think hard before you make it.”

Dan lead McDaniels, still handcuffed, over to a phone.

“Oh, I don’t have to even think about it,” McDaniels replied. He then proceeded to dial a number. “Uncle Lloyd,” he whined into the phone. “I need you to come down to the police station… There seems to be a slight misunderstanding… I know you said that you were done bailing me out…” McDaniels’ voice took on a note of urgency. “But you can’t leave me here overnight…It’s just a huge misunderstanding… No, Uncle Lloyd, I swear I didn’t do anything wrong… You’ve got to come down here.” He held the phone to his ear for several minutes and then slowly placed the phone in the cradle. Dan noticed for once McDaniels’ cockiness drained from him.

“Is someone coming down?” Captain Molinson asked.

As quickly as the cockiness drained from him, it returned. Further proving he wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box, he said with false bravado, “Yes, Uncle Lloyd should be down here shortly and when he arrives, you guys are going to be in such big trouble.”

Dan had to turn his back and pretended to be checking his paperwork as he chuckled at McDaniels’ antics. He sounded more like a grade school bully than an adult.

They waited for about forty-five minutes for the mayor to show up. The entire time, McDaniels kept up a running dialogue switching from threatening Dan and Captain Molinson to demanding another phone call.

While they were not obligated to allow another phone call, Captain Molinson could have granted McDaniels one. He just decided that he wouldn’t.

Finally, Captain Molinson called Officer Williams in. “Take Mr. McDaniels here to a cell. It’s obvious no one is going to be coming tonight to bail him out,” he said.

McDaniels started to protest and began to resist Officer Williams. “You can’t do this to me. I have rights. My uncle will not put up with this.”

Without even acknowledging McDaniels’ words, Officer Williams tightened his grip on him and shoved him toward the door.

“You can’t do this to me!!” McDaniels’ continued to protest. “Let go of me. You’ve got nothing on me.”

Officer Williams never let up on his grip as he guided McDaniels to a cell. As they got farther away, one could hear McDaniels’ voice lose its cockiness and become whiny. Dan stood up, and went over to shut the door. As he looked out, he saw Honey sitting in a chair waiting. He asked her to join them before shutting the door.

For the next hour Dan and Honey filled Captain Molinson in on what had happened. They made sure that all of the evidence they had obtained was properly catalogued and secured. They were not sure if there was anyone in the department who might have felt some sort of loyalty towards McDaniels and they didn’t want anything to happen to it.

Shortly before midnight, Molinson finally called the mayor to explain what had happened. It turned out that the mayor was tired of his nephew trying to take advantage of the situation. While he had been willing to ignore minor things regarding his nephew up until now, the mayor realized that if he wanted to avoid calls for his resignation, he couldn’t sweep this issue under the carpet. He told Molinson that he would not be coming down that night and wasn’t sure when he’d be in on Sunday either.

Once the phone call had ended, the three quickly wrapped up a few loose ends and then headed to their homes for a peaceful night’s sleep. They would meet at the station at ten o’clock the next morning to review the case one last time.

 

 

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