M. Forsythe - While Rome Was Sleeping

“What’s this?” Jim queried, “another letter?” As he read more questions formed in his mind. Laying the letter back on the desk and he looked at Ben again and said firmly, “I will ask the question one more time, Father. What is the connection between Kelshaw and Kincaid? Who did George Kelshaw work for? C’mon, Father Ben, I’ve been reading a letter that suggests three people, you, Kincaid and Charlene Thayer could be in some kind of danger if something should happen to George Kelshaw. Well, Kelshaw is dead.” Jim stopped in obvious exasperation.

Father Ben sighed, “Perhaps it is time; Mr. Kelshaw worked for the CIA.”

“So that’s it—and Kincaid?”

“Jim, I really cannot tell you what the connection is to Andrew. As you know he was with me at the hospital when Mr. Kelshaw died. He had asked me to give a letter to Mrs. Thayer, but I asked Andrew to do it for me.”

“Why was that, Father?”

“I was not comfortable with the task and I thought Andrew could handle it much better than I,” he hesitated, and Jim could see Ben was uncomfortable attempting to explain so he let it go.

He was standing preparing to leave, “Father, I’m going back to my office now, here’s my card; that phone number comes right to my desk. If you remember anything else or if anything happens that even looks suspicious, I want you to call me right away. I don’t mind telling you that I’m a little bothered by the implied danger in your letter. Still, I can’t do anything about it unless there is some overt threat. Do you understand?”

“Oh, yes, you undoubtedly know that Kincaid identified the two guys who broke in here and there is an order to pick them up. We’ll all feel better when they’re in custody and we may get answers to Kelshaw’s murder as well. And by the way, if Detective Maxwell should by some chance show up here again, refer him to me.”

Ben nodded, “Of course I will do that, Jim, and I do understand what you are saying about a threat, but I think we will be fine. I will call if anything unusual occurs. Thank you for all your help.” He rose to walk Jim out as Sister Ruth was answering the Center phone.

“Excuse me for interrupting, Father, but Andrew is on the line and needs to speak with you. I forgot to tell you that he wanted you to call him when you got in.”

“Goodbye, Jim, and thank you again,” he said as he picked up the phone. “Good morning, Andrew. Yes, of course, I will be available. 12:30 at the Washington Athletic Club. Very well, I will see you there.”

Walking slowly toward the door and pausing to search his pockets for some imaginary item, Jim, listened intently to Father Ben’s brief conversation with Andrew. “Well, I know where Kincaid is right now,” thought Savalza. He noted the time at 10:30 as he headed back to his office. At his desk he went through his calls quickly and then dialed Andrew. He was puzzled about Maxwell’s visit to the Center and decided he would ask him about it later.

Andrew answered his desk phone at the Times to hear, “Kincaid, this is Jim Savalza.”

Andrew gauged the official tone in Savalza’s voice, determining that this was an official call. Trying to lighten the mood Andrew queried easily, “Hi, did you get the guys that trashed the Center?”

“Not yet, but I just came from there and talking with Father Lee. I want to see you; now! You remember that breathing room you asked for? Well it has just run out.”

Andrew sucked in his breath, wondering what Ben had told Jim. He said in a matter of fact tone, “I can’t come right now.”

“Right now, Andy, or I’ll send someone to escort you.” Jim was adamant and Andrew knew he meant it.

“Okay,” Andrew replied grimly. What had Ben revealed? He was certain that Ben would not have discussed the packet—that is if he could help it.

He grabbed his car keys and headed for the Public Safety Building. When he arrived on the fifth floor Jim spotted him and waved him to an empty room and pointed to a chair.

“Okay, what’s going on?” Andrew sensed the serious nature of Jim’s demeanor and felt slightly cornered. He decided to play the scene in a casual manner. He cracked, “Shouldn’t there be a bright light shining in my face while being interrogated?”

Jim gave him a penetrating look, “I had a long, interesting talk with Mrs. Thayer and then Father Ben, this morning.

“Wow, you have been busy!” Andrew quipped in mock admiration.

“Are you through being a smart-ass? Because if you’re not, I can lock you up until you are? Comprende’?”

Andrew could see that his casual routine was definitely not working to his advantage. Jim was getting angry and he was sure the detective would do exactly what he promised. He dared not risk getting locked up so close to the meeting with Neil Klein.

“Okay, all right, what do you want to know?”

“Good! I want to know about George Kelshaw. I’m all ears; besides being CIA what else can you tell me?” Jim could see he had taken Andy by surprise.

“What else did Ben tell you?” he asked cautiously.

“Never mind what Father Ben told me… I want to hear your story.”

The phrase from Kelshaw’s letter, ‘don’t give the packet to the police, FBI or anyone other than Klein,’ flashed through Andrew’s mind. He decided to gamble.

“Did Ben tell you about the letter?”

“You mean letters plural don’t you?”

Andrew wished that he had talked to Ben first. Jim had said he had talked to Charlene this morning so Andrew would throw the dice again. “So you know about the letter to Mrs. Thayer?”

“Yes.”

“And about the letter to Ben?”

“Yes,” Jim stood up and said impatiently, “Look, Andrew, I have had it! The ‘cat and mouse’ games are over. This is a homicide investigation and I take that seriously, so don’t make me charge you with obstructing. As it turns out, it’s not just some transient guy that got iced, but a CIA somebody; and from what I saw in Father Ben’s letter from Kelshaw, he thought there could be some potential danger to you, Father Ben and Mrs. Thayer if somebody got to him. Well, someone did so now that makes the threat real. What is the threat, and why and who is threatening you, Andy?”

Taking a pack of gum from his pocket he offered Andrew a stick and then unwrapped one and stuck it in his mouth waiting for an answer. He continued chewing slowly and looking first at his notes and then at Andrew shaking his head, “You know I can’t protect you or Ben or Charlene Thayer if I don’t know what’s going on or what kind of threat we’re talking about. For crying out loud, talk to me, Andy! Who else knows Kelshaw was CIA?”

Andrew was serious now as he answered, “Jim, I honestly don’t know, but somebody else knew and, like you, I suspect that’s why he’s dead. Beyond that I don’t know what’s going on either, Jim, so I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”

Standing up he looked Jim squarely in the eyes and argued, “But I do know I have to get out of here, now. I have an appointment to meet a guy at the WAC and it is important that I be on time.”

“You know, Andy, since Kelshaw was CIA, the Feds are probably going to be all over this in a matter of hours. If you know anything it would be better for you to tell me ahead of time.”

“We’re not as far apart on this thing as you think, Jim. And about the threat, as I said, I don’t know who or why; don’t worry about us, we’ll keep our eyes open.”

“Does that go for Charlene Thayer, too, or does she know any of this?”

Andy paused drawing a deep breath and then said, “No, but I guess we’d better tell her.”

Jim threw up his hands letting the pen he was holding drop to the table, “Okay, it’s over for today… go on, get out of here and if you think of anything you would like to share, call me. You have my number.”