It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week Larry in his unsubtle way asked Wentworth directly if he sent thugs to kill and Andrew and him. Needless to say, Wentworth went off-hook and demanded Larry and Andrew leave his office. He even threatened to call, as he said, “The real police.” I see Larry is pretty red in the face, so let’s get back there, we don’t want to miss anything.

“What did you just say?”

“Get out of my office.”

“No after that.”

“I don’t remember.”

“Well. Let my friend here refresh your memory.”

“Larry, I wouldn’t do that.”

“Thank you, Andrew, but I know what I’m doing.”

“Have you met Mr.Glock, Wentworth.”

“I-I don’t know what’s going on. Be careful with that thing.”

“So, let me remind you of what you said since you seem to have forgotten your last insult. You said, “Or else I’ll call the real police.”

“I-I don’t remember.”

“Or choose to forget. Now there are some other things that you need to remember. First, Andrew and I are the real police, and we think you are up to your eyebrows in murder.”

“Y-you are threatening me?”

“What does it look like. You want to take a bite out of Mr. Glock? I can certainly arrange it.”

“F-for God’s sake. W-what do you want?”

“The truth, Wentworth. We want the truth and don’t give me that line about not being able to handle the truth.”

“Truth about what?”

“Let’s start with the conversation Cortez had with Rafferty before he was killed.”

“Cortez will have my ass if I say anything.”

“And guess who will if you don’t. By the way, I’m closer to you right now than Cortez.”

“You won’t dare shoot me. You’ll go to jail.”

“What are you talking about? I walked into your office. You charged at me. I had no choice. Right Andrew?”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but if so, yes, that’s what happened.”

“So you want to sit down and tell us what you know, or do I start with your left kneecap.”

“My God, you are insane.”

“No, just pissed off. I have been running around chasing shadows for long enough. We have two Boston citizens dead and a whole lot of lying sons bitches laughing up their sleeve. Now we are tired of it all and want to get back home. You going to talk or not.”

“Okay, okay. Let me sit here at my desk. You guys take a chair. Can I get a drink out of my desk drawer? “

“Slow and easy, Sanford.”

“Look out Larry he’s got a gun.”

“Aw shit, Wentworth. Why’d you go and do that? Drop it.”

“Go to hell, Detective.”

*The compression of the sound of a shot rings in their ears

It is Wednesday Story Day again and last week Jerry Foster (The room service guy) told Larry and Andrew about the fact that Cortez threatened Rafferty before he was killed. He also let fly that Wentworth is the son-in-law of Cortez. When asked why Janice Rafferty gave him a big tip he described seeing someone come out of her room shortly before he arrived with her breakfast. Oh, he also told our pair that Charles had nothing to do with Mrs. Rafferty. So, I see Larry and Andrew walking into the executive area and I’m guessing they are headed to Wentworth’s office.

“What are you going to ask Wentworth?”

“Why he lied about Jerry’s phone.”

“I think it’s pretty obvious.”

“Okay, Sherlock tell me the obvious answer.”

“He wanted us to go to Jerry’s apartment so he could have those guys with the assault rifles take us all out.”

“I guess I should restate my question to Wentworth.”

“Yes, you. Should.”

“Okay, how’s this? ‘Why did you set us up to be killed?’”

“I’m sure he’ll give you a straight answer to that one.”

“What would you ask, then?”

“I would start slowly with something like, ‘Tell us again about Jerry’s phone.’”

“Don’t you think he’ll lawyer up immediately?”

“I don’t think so. If you explain that you are interested in getting to the truth maybe he’ll finger someone else.”

“Yeah, I see that. It is worth a try. We are here at the executive office. Let’s go in.”

“Yes, gentlemen can I help you?”

“We are here to see Wentworth.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“This badge says I don’t need an appointment. Is he here?”

“L-let me check. Mr. Wentworth. There are two policemen here to see you. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. He says to go right in.”

“Well, gentlemen. So nice to see you.”

“I’ll bet seeing us is a bit of a surprise huh?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Detective.”

“Yeah sure—”

“Uh, Larry. Truth?”

“Okay, Andrew. You know Wentworth we are trying to find out who killed Alexis Rafferty.”

“What has that to do with me?”

“Nice, subtle lead-in, Larry.”

“Thanks, Andrew. Oh, I see. You are being facetious. Anyway Wentworth.”

“That’ll be Sanford.”

“Yeah, right, Sanford. You know Andrew and I are trying to get to the truth, and we think you can help us.”

“Help how?”

“For example. You pretty much said Jerry had dismantled his phone.”

“No. I said Jerry wasn’t answering his phone and then when we went to the break room it was in pieces.”

“You said it was Jerry’s phone.”

“That’s right.”

But it wasn’t.”

“News to me, Detective.”

“Okay let’s quit running around the bush. Did you send a group of hired guns to kill us?”

“Excuse me but this little game is over. Get out of my office before I call the real police.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we all thought there was going to be a significant shoot-out. We were quite surprised that whoever was intent on shooting Larry, Andrew, and Jerry decided that since the police were on the way, they should take a powder (True Detective magazine vernacular) Let’s get back to Jerry’s apartment to see what happens next.

“What the hell happened to the door?”
“Who are you?”
“That’s my landlord, Larry.”
“Thanks, Jerry. Sir, we are going to ask you to step outside. This is a crime scene.”
“Yeah, and who the hell are you?”
“This ID has my name and the word detective on it.”
“I see it. It says, ‘Boston.’ What right do you have here?”
“Every right. Now, you going to step outside, or do I need to call the police.”
“From all the noise, it looks like the cops are headed this way. Okay, I’ll wait in the hall, but I think you are trespassing.”
“Look, little man. Jerry here invited us in. So, go away.”
“Geez, Larry. Give the guy a break.”
“I didn’t pull my gun, now did I?”
“Thank heavens. That’s all we need you threatening civilians.”
“So, Jerry. Any idea who those guys were?”
“I have a sneaking suspicion. The problem is if I tell you anything, I’m going to end up like Rafferty.”
“You know anything about his death?”
“W-well. I think I know who did it.”
“Come on, man. Spill the beans. Talk to me.”
“Uh, Larry. There is enough time for that. I think we had better think of what to say to the police who I can tell by the sound of silence, just pulled up outside.”
“Large termites.”
“What?”
“Just kidding. Sure would explain that splintered door.”
“We need to do better than that.”
“Okay. First off, Jerry. You are safe with us. We won’t let you get killed. Second, let’s just tell the truth.”
“The truth?”
“Yeah. Like those guys on the highway, someone has it in for you and me.”
“How did they know we were here?”
“Don’t know. Followed us, we guess.”
“Do we have any idea why?”
“Nope, but we sure would like it if the police would put a stop to it.”
“I hate to say it, Larry, but it sounds good to me.”
“We want to keep Jerry here out of it. We were here as a follow up to our questions.”
“Don’t mention Wentworth.”
“Oh, hell no. We can take care of him ourselves.”
“Wentworth?”
“Yeah, Jerry. We need to keep mum about Wentworth telling you to keep your mouth shut. You got the story now?”
“Yes, sir. I got it.”
“Okay, then I think we are ready.”
“I hear some noise in the hall.”
“They are in there, officers. Three guys, and I think they are trespassing.”
“Stupid landlord.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again and a brand-new year. Larry, Andrew, Gloria, Micky Lee, The Producer, and I wish you all the best for 2020.

The last time we were together, Larry and Andrew went to the server Jerry Foster’s apartment to question him about the story he told regarding Mrs. Rafferty being with Charles Jenkins his co-worker. If you recall, Charles denied he was with Mrs. Rafferty and then wanted to have his lawyer present.

Well, long story short we all thought poor Jerry would be laying in a pool of blood and were quite surprised when he answered the door. He didn’t seem surprised to see our two at the door and asked if they brought coffee. Let’s get back to Jerry’s place and maybe, (just maybe) we’ll find out what’s going on.

“No, we don’t have coffee. We need to talk to you again.”

“Sure man. Come on in. Take a seat anywhere.”

“Thank you, Jerry.”

“What’s this about?”

“To put it as delicately as possible. Charles says you are full of shit about that story that he spent time with Mrs. Rafferty.”

“I thought he would say that.”

“You are not surprised?”

“Would you be? The guy is with the wife of a guy who is killed. What would you say to the cops? Huh.”

“So, you still maintain he was with her.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Okay, Jerry. It’s time to come clean.”

“What do you mean.?”

“Charles says he was sick that night. He left the party early and has witnesses.”

“Yeah so?”

“Who took Mrs. Rafferty home?”

“Why ask me?”

“If Charles didn’t someone must-have.”

“I think this conversation is over.”

“Why would you even try to finger Charles?”

“Okay, it wasn’t him. I fingered him because I was told to keep my mouth shut.”

“Who told you that?”

“Wentworth.”

“Wentworth? Why would he tell you to keep your mouth shut and maybe, more importantly, why didn’t you?”

“Look. I just work here. I can’t hope to know what goes on.”

“Why did you disable your phone?”

“Huh? I didn’t. It’s right here.”

“Wentworth told us your phone had the battery taken out.”

“Look here. How in the hell could I take a battery out of a smartphone? You guys have been given bad information.”

“Why didn’t you answer Wentworth’s call?”

“Look at my recent calls. There have been none since yesterday.”

“Hey, Larry.”

“What Andrew.”

“I smell a trap.”

“Looks like Wentworth wanted us to come here for sure.”

“I think we ought to either leave quickly or get down on the floor.”

“I hear the elevator. I think the floor option is best. Get down, everyone.”