It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we had a rather odd conversation between Alice and Harriet. Alice made a recommendation to Harriet to fire the lawyer. It looks like she and Harriet have something to hide. I see the private detective is going to the sheriff’s office. This could be a juicy convert station, and I think we ought to go and catch what they are saying.
“It is very nice of you to see me.”
“You’re the private eye hired by Jason McDonnell, why wouldn’t I see you? We are on the same team. By the way, I never got your name.”
“The name’s Frank. Frank Plano.”
“Nice meeting you Frank. You want some coffee?”
“No thanks Sheriff. I would like some information though.”
“Sure enough. Have a seat.”
“Thanks. You don’t mind if I take a few notes do you?”
“Go right ahead. I do that myself so that I can remember the conversations. I use a recorder as well. How about you?”
“I don’t think a recorder is necessary. So let me come right out and ask why you have an interest in investigating a case that is outside your jurisdiction?”
“Yea, that’s a good question, Frank. You don’t mind if I call you Frank do you?”
“Not at all. May I call you Seth?”
“Sure that’s my name.”
“So to the question Seth. How come?”
“Here’s the deal. This kid comes to town like he owns the place. He gets cozy with a couple of the women in town, and all the time he has a couple of murdered parents. He is somewhere and comes home. Hours later he calls 9-11 with some lame excuse about not knowing they were dead. He gets a bundle of insurance money. His sister goes missing and who knows where her share of the insurance went. When I did a background check on him, I found all this out. I called the local law enforcement guys in Kenosha, and they were doing squat. To me, that wasn’t right, so I decided to gather the evidence and force those lazy sons a bitches to press the case. What else do you need to know?”
“So you gathered some evidence.”
“Well, not enough I can tell you.”
“So you decided to go for a confession?”
“Yeah, that was pretty stupid. But, hey, no venture no gain you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. So what is your next step?”
“There’s this pharmacist who seems to want to talk about a lot of things. He tells me the sister was a druggie.”
“And he supplied the drugs?”
“Yeah looks that way.”
“Not a very reliable witness I would say.”
“Why not?”
“Looks like he would say anything to stay out of trouble.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“What would you do to stay out of trouble, Seth?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m wondering if there is another reason you are pursuing this case.”
“You accusing me of something?”
“Oh, maybe it isn’t just you. Maybe there are more of you involved.”
“Okay, that’s it. You pick your ass up off my chair and get out of my office.”
“A little close to the bone. Sheriff?”
“I would watch myself while you’re in town, Mr. Plano. A lot of folks around here don’t cotton to strangers. Now get.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again and last week we left the lawyer McDonnell and the private detective where the detective made the claim he could clear Lucas from the murder of his parents. Needless to say, McDonnell was taken back as most of us were as well. Unfortunately, we need to leave McDonnell and the detective alone for a minute because I’m seeing Alice almost running up Harriet’s front porch steps. It looks like she wants to talk to Harriet about something important. Let’s get over there. Oh, Dan. We’ll get back to the lawyer and detective after this little side trip.

“Harriet are you out of your mind?”
“Come in Alice. What has you fired up today?”
“You hired that lawyer for Lucas?”
“Yes, of course, I did. I told you and Seth about that a while ago. What’s the problem?”
“He hired some private eye who has been snooping around in Kenosha.”
“Here sit down. Would you like some tea?”
“No, I don’t want any tea. I want to hear again why you hired that lawyer.’
“I think he will clear Lucas’ name is why.”
“Why are you so all-fired interested in what happens to Lucas. He is a dumb assed kid.”
“Yeah and one you wanted to strip bare and have your way with him.”
“Oh please. Let’s not get carried away. I was just playing with him. I love to see little boys get excited over little old me.”
“You are a sick unit, Alice. That kid could no more handle you than he could a bucking bull.”
“Speak for yourself, Harriet. Now let’s get back to you funding Lucas’ defense.”
“I feel sorry for him is all.”
“You know, that detective is going to turn up some dirt on you and I don’t you?”
“Oh, so what. A couple of lesbian hags. Who will care.”
“I’m not talking about our sex life. I’m talking about that night in Kenosha.”
“What night?”
“The night you and I went to the Severides.”
“Nobody knows about that, Alice except you and I.”
“And if you tell anyone, Harriet?”
“I won’t say a word. I can’t be sure about you though.”
“Sure you can. I love you. We don’t know if we were seen that’s all I’m saying. It appears everyone in Kenosha has some information on what went on that night. I would fire that lawyer.”
“What kind of message would that send. It would raise all kinds of suspicions.”
“At least he would be off the case.”
“Have some tea, Alice. Let me think for a minute.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again. Last week we got an earful from the private eye who explained that for some reason Sheriff Gibson tampered with some evidence to keep Alice from being arrested for cocaine possession. The question was,”Why would he help his ex-wife get out of trouble. The PI said he had the answer so let’s get back to the conversation and find out the reason.

“How’s the coffee?”
“Swell boss. I believe you asked why Gibson would help his wife with a drug charge, right?”
“Yes, it just doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does if the ex-wife had something on the sheriff and threatened to blab unless he helped her.”
“Is that what happened?”
“As I was digging into the Weston woman’s past I came across a reference to Trish Severide.”
“What do you mean a reference?”
“As I mentioned Trish did some in a rehab facility.”
“Yes.”
“It just so happened that the Weston woman worked in that facility as an administrator.”
“Odd coincidence wouldn’t you say?”
“Yeah, I think it is a little more than odd. I snooped around the facility but didn’t turn up a reason. I do know that when Trish was discharged Weston quit her job.”
“You think she was there to keep an eye on Trish?”
“Sounds that way to me. At this point, I also think maybe the sheriff was the one who told her to get a job there.”
“Why do you think that?”
“He was the one she used as a reference.”
“Now how do you find out information like that?”
“Let’s say if anything is written, scanned, and stored online I can look at it.”
“So you are making a connection between Alice Weston and the sheriff that caused the sheriff to squash a drug charge.”
“That is what I’m saying.”
“You have not proofed.”
“Wait until I talk to a few of the employees of the facility. I’m sure someone there has some information that will verify my theory.”
“I’m not sure it is going to be worth spending more money.”
“I think I can find out where Trish went and who killed the Saverides.”
“You just saying that to get the work?”
“No, I’m saying it because I think I can deliver.”
“Tell me you think my client did it.”
“I can clear your client. I’m almost sure of it.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week it looked like Jason McDonnell was definitely taking measures to get more information on the circumstances around the murder of Lucas’ parents and the whereabouts of Trish, his sister. Oh oh, I see Sheriff Gibson approaching Lucas’ bed. We better hot-foot it over there to see what he wants.

“Hey, kid . How you doin’?”
“S-sheriff Gibson. What are you doing here?”
“Aw, I just stopped in to see how you were. Any law against that?”
“I thought my lawyer made it clear you and I should not talk if he isn’t here.”
“Oh, I know, kid. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m not going to ask you anything. I sincerely want to know how you feel.”
“I’m fine, sheriff.”
“That’s good, son. Any idea when you are going home?”
“That’s a question, sheriff.”
“I suppose it is. Okay, let me say I hope you’ll be going home soon.”
“Thanks, sheriff. Any reason for wanting me home?”
“So, the question thing is not a one-way street. You just asked me one.”
“Sorry. I am confused as to why you have any concern about me.”
“Since you don’t pose that as a question I suppose I can give you some information. I would like you to go home so I can serve you with a warrant for your arrest.”
“Arrest. What for?”
“Uh. A question.”
“You want to arrest me when I go home. Let me guess. You think I killed my parents.”
“That’s a statement which I will confirm.”
“No more talk, sheriff.”
“Now son. I’m not sure you know how the system works. Let me explain something to you. If you go ahead and tell me you killed your parents, I will try everything under my power to get you the lightest sentence possible. On top of that, we will let the fact that your sister is nowhere to be found to remain an unsolved case. How would you like that?”
“Since you asked a question let me respond with another question. What is your problem?”
“I can see you don’t get the subtle nature of my offer. Let me just say I think I have enough evidence to put you away for a long time. If we can’t make a deal, then you will be looking at thirty years or maybe even the death penalty. I would think it over if I were you.”
“Thanks, sheriff. I don’t know why you are doing this, but I am certainly going to follow my lawyer’s advice and say no more.”
“Your choice kid. Don’t ever say I didn’t make an attempt to help you. Once they strap you on that gurney and start the slow drip to hell, I hope you remember this conversation.”
“I would appreciate it if you would leave, sheriff.”
“With pleasure kid. With pleasure. See you in the lockup.”