Free In the Shadow of Love by Annie Bruce Page B

Captain’s voice was gentle but firm.  “Let me bring Detective Morris up to speed.”
     “That would be nice,” Morris couldn’t hide his sarcasm.  He felt the Lieutenant’s glare and saw anger flicker across the Captain’s face.
    “I know you must have many questions, Detective Morris, but let me give you the overall picture and we’ll address your questions later.”  The Captain paused suggesting that Morris had a say in the matter but he knew better.  They both did.
    “Owen, er, Mr. Cassidy owns Titanium Enterprises, one of the largest industrial products companies in the world.  Materials are bought and sold from every country imaginable, except where there’s a specific ban by the federal government.  At least, Mr. Cassidy thought so.”
    Morris looked over to find the older man studying him up.
    “We have an undercover operative in the organization,” the Captain continued, “but we’ve been unsuccessful in finding out who’s running the illegal operation.  That’s when Mr. Cassidy here decided to take matters into his own hands,” casting a stern look at the older man, “and without consulting me.”
    “I didn’t think I had a choice, Charles.  Somebody’s using the company I built from scratch to not only commit a crime but bleed me dry.  I won’t sit by and let that happen.”
    “Calm down, Owen.  Nobody’s asking you to let the criminals get away with anything, but you can’t compromise my undercover officer either.  Now you came to me for help and I told you then that we did it by my rules or we didn’t do it at all.”
    Morris watched the exchange between the two men.  He’d never heard the Captain called by his first name before nor seen him as caring yet firm.
    “What about Maggie.”  Morris interjected to bring the situation back into focus.
    “What about her?”  Cassidy’s voice broke.
    “Do you realize how much danger you’ve put her in!”
    Cassidy looked down.
    “That’s where you come in, detective.”  Morris looked away from Cassidy and locked eyes with the Captain.
    “Just what is it that you’re asking me to do, sir?”
    “Well, two things, detective.”  He leaned forward.  “First I want you to protect Ms. Faraday.”  He paused and leaned back, twirling a pencil in his left hand.
    “And, the second?”
    “I’m asking you to solve Mr. Cassidy’s murder.”
    The day got stranger by the minute.
    “But, sir, he’s obviously alive.”
    “Yes, but there are only five of us who know that.”
    Morris raised an eyebrow.  “Who’s the fifth?”
    “Max, my driver.”
    Some of the pieces were beginning to fit.
    “Does he drive a black sedan with plates YZW 861?”
    “Yes, that’s the car, detective.  Mr. Cassidy instructed Max to keep an eye on Ms. Faraday,” the Captain admonished as he sternly regarded his friend, “–another thing Mr. Cassidy did without seeking my advice.”
    “I was worried about Maggie.”  The old man’s voice broke as he attempted to defend himself.  “I got her into this mess after all.
    Morris took out his notebook and flipped to his notes from the interview with Maggie and Mrs. Rivers.
    “Is he about six foot one, dark brown hair, wears a dark blue overcoat and black gloves?
    “Why, yes, how–?”
    “Maggie and her neighbors reported him as a suspicious character in the neighborhood.”
    “I see.”  Cassidy paused for a moment.  “I was just trying to make sure Maggie was okay.”
    “It’s best to leave police work to the police, sir.”
    “I see that now.”
    “And with Detective Morris on the case, Owen, it should be easy to do.”
    “Excuse me, Captain, but –”
    “You will help Maggie, won’t you?”  The older man sounded desperate as his eyes pleaded with him.
    Morris snapped his head back and forth finally resting his gaze on Cassidy noting the look of fear in the other man’s eyes.  They both had one thing in common.  They both wanted to protect Maggie.
    Turning towards