M. Forsythe - While Rome Was Sleeping

“Yeah, you’d think so,” Jim agreed. “Not much help, Carl, but thanks” he murmured. As he signed the log book he noticed Monte Maxwell’s name a couple of lines above his.

Carl was saying “You know, Jim, Monte Maxwell was here the other day asking about Kelshaw’s belongings. He seemed upset that was all there was.”

“Is that so?” Jim commented casually and thinking, “Now that is odd. “Well, thanks again, Carl.”

“Anytime, good to see you Savalza,” Carl told him.

Savalza shook his head at the clutter on his desk but his mind was on the Kelshaw murder and the events since Tuesday. Things were happening fast; suddenly there were a number of threads to tie together, but there was one very odd thread; and it didn’t make any sense. It was Maxwell—Monte at the Seamen’s Center questioning Father Ben, Monte at the WAC, and now Monte in the Property Room looking at Kelshaw’s personal effects; why?

It had to be coincidence didn’t it? Jim stood up “I think I’ll just ask him.”

Monte wasn’t at his desk and Jim leaned in on Ed Peterson. “Where’s Monte?” he asked Ed.

Ed shrugged, “Hi, Savalza. Oh, he’s probably still down getting something to eat. We just got back from the Rainier Tower. You know I’m worried about that guy; he’s out of control. His temper is going to get him into hot water one of these days.”

“Oh,” Jim said. “What happened?”

“Well, Monte and I went over there to look into the window washers’ accident.”

“Oh, yeah? What about it?” Jim asked.

“Monte got a bug about investigating it and I guess he went to the Captain to inquire. Hell, he might as well, he sure has been antsy lately,” Ed gossiped. “Anyway he got pissed at the guy from Labor and Industries because he didn’t agree with Monte’s interpretation of the accident; when I tried to calm him down he got mad as hell and started yelling at me. Like I said, he’s out of control.”

“Yeah, well, Ed,” Savalza sighed starting to leave, “I’d like to shoot the breeze for awhile, but I’ve got to clean up my desk. I’m hoping to pick up a couple of suspects on suspicion of burglary. In fact I think one is a con who works for a window washing comp…” Jim didn’t finish. He spun around and looked squarely at Ed Peterson, “Ed, do you have the names of the guys that fell?”

“Yeah, they’re right here. Here it is—according to identification from Atlas Window Cleaners they were Leo Tanner and Jake Schultz. Why did you want to know? Say, was one of these guys your felon?” Ed asked curiously. “If so, well, it’s too bad, but it saves paperwork though, huh?”

Jim stood in stunned silence for a moment, not answering Ed’s question and then said casually, “Thanks, Ed. Don’t bother having Monte call me. In fact I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention I was asking; I’ll catch up with him later. It’s not a big deal.”

“Okay, whatever you say,” Ed shrugged as Jim moved to go back to his office. He sat at his desk drawing another line on the chart to Monte’s name shaking his head. “I need to check this out and then I need to call Andrew.”

After he had eaten, Monte decided he would check with the Property Room before returning to his desk and Ed Peterson. He was still angry with Peterson for defending Phillips and wasn’t in a hurry to be back at his desk next to him. Besides, he had other things to think about now.

“Hi, Cramer,” Monte greeted Cramer in Property. “I’m wrapping up the investigation of the accident at the Rainier Tower this morning. You know the window washers that fell? Have the victims personal effects come over?”

“Just got their stuff in and inventoried,” Carl answered. “Anything in particular that you’re looking for?”

“Don’t think so,” Monte replied. “I just want to tie up any loose ends on the case and write my report.”

“There’s the stuff,” Carl told him. “Just sign in – you can have it. I heard it was an accident, poor buggers,” Carl said, sympathetically.

“Yeah,” Monte agreed absentmindedly. His thoughts were elsewhere as he pushed aside the clothing. He spotted an envelope and a money belt. “Whose property is this anyway? Which stuff belongs to which guy?”

Carl looked at him in surprise. “I thought everything was identified. Let me get the inventory sheet.”

As Carl left to get the sheet, Monte emptied the envelope and pocketed the money inside, obviously taken from the money belt. He carefully laid the envelope aside while he examined the listed contents of wallets—noting nothing over $15 or $20 in either billfold.

Where was the rest of the dough? He had either Jake’s or Leo’s money belt in front of him but there had to be more. As he pushed the clothing aside his attention was drawn to a standard black belt a little wider and thicker than most. As he picked it up, and examined it, he noticed something that looked like a cut on the inside of the belt. Looking closer he discovered the corner of a $1000 dollar bill.

There was no time to waste; Carl would be back any second. He whipped off his own belt, coiled it and placed it with the other articles; then he quickly threaded the other belt through the loops of his pants. It was very tight. He sucked in his belly and was barely able to fasten it just as Carl returned.

“Here is the inventory, both sheets, Monte.” Carl looked at Monte who had drawn himself up to his full height and was standing ramrod straight. “Are you okay, Monte?”

“Yeah, I just need to get some air,” he choked. “I’ll see you later. Thanks.” Monte hurried out. Carl shook his head… “I don’t understand,” he muttered.

At KGM, Andrew was just finishing his broadcast, and looking up he saw Holly Lacey holding up five fingers and pointing to the phone to take line five. He nodded and said into the microphone, “Thanks for listening, thanks for your calls and thanks for being the greatest audience in the Great Northwest. Come back tomorrow with your questions and comments. This is Andrew Kincaid with KGM.”

Turning off the mike, he grabbed the phone and punched the line button, “Kincaid,” he answered.

“This is Jim…”

Andrew quickly interrupted, “You got the guys?”

“Andy, you know that accident by the Rainier Tower you were so curious about?”

“Yeah.”

“Better brace yourself when I tell you who the victims were,” Jim sounded grim.

Andrew let his breath go out slowly, “Go on.”

“Jake Schultz and Leo Tanner?” Jim’s voice was without emotion.

Andrew felt as though he had been punched in the stomach. “No kidding!

“Are you sure?”

“I’m looking at the report on my desk as we speak.”

“Well,” Andrew said flatly, “That seems to be the end of that, doesn’t it? Does anybody know what happened?”

“Well, it’s the end for Schultz and Tanner certainly, but we still have a lot of other questions. We’ll have to see where we go from here… as to what happened, I’ve been told one or two of the cables gave out. Labor and Industries will investigate no doubt. They’re usually all over any company that has a fatal accident.”

“If the cable really broke,” Andrew said thoughtfully, “God help the company. Who is doing the investigating on your end?”

“Monte Maxwell, “Jim told him. “You know Monte, right?”

“Yeah, I know him,” Andy spoke unenthusiastically, “Why him?”

“I wondered that myself, but the Captain assigned him, probably wanted him to get off his dead end and earn his paycheck.” Jim was suddenly thinking about connections and the chart he had started earlier, and the envelope that Monte had picked up at the WAC. According to the desk clerk and manager, Monte had gotten the envelope on Monday. Now Monte is volunteering to investigate this accident.