C Weaver - Silent River

Robert held up his palm. “I get the picture. Word went out that someone wanted the Stevens family to disappear, and it happened. Why? What part did they play in this wheel?” Robert’s mind whirled, he was staring up at the board, and the card was right in front of his vision. “Bingo!

“What?”

“One of those boys got Kelly pregnant!” It was like a hen hatching her first egg. “That’s it!

Jake was silent, then a slow grin spread across his lips, “By Jove, I think you’ve got it.” He began to write on his pad. “We know the boys had been to James’ house, and the boys admitted they knew her. How well did they know her? In the biblical sense?”

Robert stared at the board. “We have our work cut out for us. Connecting them is no easy task when it comes to messing with the mob.”

Jake had opened the door when Robert called him back. “Shut the door.” His expression was serious. So serious that Jake sat down. “What?”

Robert rubbed his hand over his face. He felt the drops of sweat that had begun to bead on his forehead, but he pressed on. “Jake, I don’t want you officially to have any connection to this case. Whatever is done, especially outside this room, I want you to be out of it.”

“You can’t take me off this case. I’m in it for the long haul,” Jake shot back, his voice raised.

Robert’s voice remained firm. “I know you think you can handle it all and so can Lorene; it’s part of the job. How would you feel if you had the choice and you made the wrong one, and it cost you your family?”

“Robert, I know what you’re saying. I’ve thought about it.” He paused and rested his arms on the back of the chair. “I agree this is serious business, anything that has the mob connected to it is serious. I’ll concede to work in the background. I’ll do whatever you need. I know, as your partner in this case, I’d want the same if the situation were reversed. I’m not going to let you do this on your own. I have your back, and if something happens to you, I want there to be proof and a paper trail that will lead to a conviction.”

“Thanks, partner.” Robert stood, they grasped each other’s hands, sealing their commitment.

“Not to change the subject or anything.” Jake was smiling, “but have you and Babs done anything since you asked her to go to the Policeman’s Ball?

“What is this? You want the details of my love life?” Robert smoothed his palms over the creases in his pants and hooked his finger in the knot of his tie and pulled. It was just a little too tight.

Jake held up, “I got grilled by Lorene last night. Look, I don’t care if the two of you are having hot, sweaty sex but give me some tidbit to throw to Lorene so she will get off my back.”

“Sure, use Lorene as an excuse to butt into my life. No, we are not having hot, sweaty, sex. Barbara is a very nice girl, and even though she’s very good looking, I respect her too much.” Jake was grinning from ear to ear. “What? Why are you grinning?” Robert demanded.

“Oh, nothing. You should take her to the Oyster Bar.” Jake knew it was Robert’s favorite place, a quaint little restaurant downtown. Plates from all over the world hung on wood-paneled walls made to look like a ship’s galley.

“Yes, I’ll take her to the Oyster Bar; I know she’d like it.” He wasn’t looking at Jake, who couldn’t stop smiling.

“You like her a lot,” Jake continued to tease.

“What do you want? Don’t you have work to do somewhere?” It was a weak order.

“Hey, buddy; I’m just curious.”

“Sorry, I’m not talking. Let’s say Barbara is fun, and I like talking to her.”

Jake ran his hand around his waistband, making sure his shirt was still tucked in. It wasn’t as easy as it used to be. Lorene was an excellent cook, and her lasagna was like going to heaven. He was already two notches out on his belt from his single days. He slung his suit jacket over his shoulder as he went to the door. “I’ll tell Lorene that it’s okay to plan a dinner for the four of us.”

“Hey!” Robert was standing, but Jake was out the door and whistling as he walked through the squad room on his way home.

In the noisy squad room, Robert saw the April 15 duty roster posted for the following day. In bold letters, it read,

Stan Grimes had signed the orders.

Robert gritted his teeth, “Of all the stupid—” It was useless to complain. He’d asked for divers just a couple of days before, and the chief said he would think about it. Now, Robert would have to go out on his own and see what happened. If this spot was in fact where the car had driven off into the river, he’d eat his favorite hat.

He arrived at Cascade Locks early in the morning. The sun was coming up over the cliffs, lighting the bluff on the Washington side of the river. The dew sparkled; the air was cold and crisp. On the water, a thin mist hovered, and gawkers lined the shores, mostly old people fishing with nothing else to do. It was spring, and he thought they’d all be out on the river fishing. He guessed wrong. Not fishing season

He hadn’t worn his favorite fedora hat. Instead, he wore a warm stocking cap, long underwear under his uniform, and a Pendleton jacket. He walked to the middle of the enormous gates that held and released the water as needed for boats to traverse the waterway. Four divers climbed down the rungs that were set in the side of the locks and then into the cold water. The water level inside the locks was as low as could be, because the level of the water below the dam fluctuated from eight feet to thirty-five feet. There were 38,000 square feet inside the locks to cover. It was going to be a long search.

The wind blew cold against his face as Robert walked across to the control room of the locks. The room was full of people who were talking mostly in low tones. It was like being in church, Robert thought.

He nursed the cup of coffee well over his self-imposed limit and listened to the regular reports relayed on the two-way radio.

A loud voice came through clear enough for everyone in the room to hear.

“Stan, we have an emergency situation here. Something seemed to be caught in the gate and caused a tremendous rush of water flowing out of the lower gate. Gabe is down there and pinned to the gate by force. We’ve got two more divers going down to get him. Over.”

“Do whatever’s necessary to save his life. I’ll be right down.” Stan headed out the door and down to the gate area in a run. Robert was right behind him.

Robert, Stan, and the rescue squad lined the side of the lock. There was no visibility in the water once the divers submerged. All those looking over the railing could see were the taut lines disappearing into the water. Robert watched the hands of the men holding the line jerk and immediately they motioned for the winch to start.

The wheels turned and grabbed the rope. They strained under the weight and water current. Robert could hear the creak as the rope wound around the metal. After what seemed like forever, the heads of four men surfaced. Yelling and clapping erupted from the bystanders. A safety basket was lowered. Two of the divers helped a third into it, while the fourth steadied the basket. Everyone went silent as the basket made its way up the side of the concrete lock. Once it was lifted over the side to safety, the noise resumed until hands grabbed the sides and pulled it over the rail to safety. He was alive but just barely.

“Couldn’t… see anything… too muddy. Current… too… strong.” He closed his eyes, and the gurney bumped along the walkway to the ambulance. Robert watched the flashing lights and sirens disappear out of sight. The next man climbed over the rail with the help of the men below and above him. He’d tried to rescue Gabe. He too needed oxygen and was now able to talk. Reporters pressed against the police officers, who were trying to hold them back. Everyone wanted to be the first to report what had happened. Behind the group, Robert noticed a flash. His eyes went to the glass window. Anne Sullivan stood there with a photographer.