Early Retirement (An Arturo Nash Novel)

Ch. 7

Blanco was still standing outside when Nash's green Buick pulled up. Nash shut the door and walked up to Blanco.

"Are you sure that this guy isn't making this story up," Nash said

"He's got a cut on his arm as long as the Grand Canyon. I think he's telling the truth," Blanco said.

Nash nodded and motioned for his partner to lead the way into the house. Blanco opened the front door and walked in with Nash on his heels.

"This is my partner Det. Arturo Nash," Blanco said to Monroe and Reever

"Do you want me to tell you what happened," Reever said cringing as Monroe wrapped his arm.

"No sir. I just want a description of the man," Nash said .

"He was a tall fellow. Brown hair and a goatee. Oh and he wore glasses," Reever said.

"He also had tan briefcase," Monroe said.

"Wait a minute," Nash said. "You saw him too."

"Yes of course. I answered the door," Monroe said rising to her feet

"I don't want either of you to leave this house for any reason unless it's a dire emergency," Nash said

"Why? Are we in some kind of trouble?" Monroe asked

"Not trouble but maybe danger. You see Ms. Monroe every person who's seen this man has ended up dead with the exception of you, Mr. Reever, and another man who's in the ICU right now," Nash said

"Okay, I understand," Monroe said sitting back down.

"You don't have to be afraid, Ms. Monroe. Just keep your doors locked," Nash said.

"Let him come back for me," Reever said. "He won't run away this time."

"Steve did you get all of Mr. Reever's story?" Nash asked.

"Yep." Blanco said.

"Alright well then I think we have everything we need," Nash said opening the front door . "Be safe and take care of yourself Mr. Reever."

Blanco and Nash walked outside, shut the door and made their way toward their respective vehicles.

"So what's next," Blanco said.

"Well it seems to me the school system keeps finding its way into this case," Nash said.

"Yeah you've got a point there," Blanco said.

"Two teachers and now a former school board president. There's a pattern here. And remember what Darren Galdenbaum said about his wife doing research and being warned by the board." Nash said leaning against his car.

"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Blanco asked.

"We're going to have a little chat with the school board president," Nash said opening his car door.

"That's fine but can we drop off the patrol car at the precinct?" Blanco asked.

"Yeah, I'll meet you there." Nash said.

.............................................................

Billy Cadswell sat at his desk, cup of coffee on one side and a stack of papers on the other. A huge box of files sat one side of the floor. He was in the middle of pulling files that the head of maintenance had asked for. Cadswell leaned over the box and flipped through the papers until he found the one he was looking for. He sat the document on his desk and put a red check on the list of needed files next to the name of that document now residing on his desk . He was just about to dig into the files again when his phone rang.

"I don't know any Dr. Ellery Mcroy," Cadswell said. "What? Just send him in." Cadswell said putting the phone back down. "Interruptions."

A moment later Dr. Ellery McRoy walked into the room tan briefcase in hand. He sat in the chair facing Cadswell's desk.

"I don't have a lot of time to talk, so how can I help you?" Cadswell said

"I was wondering if you had any documents from Harold Reever's tenure as school board president." McRoy said

"Right now I'm swamped with other work. If you come back next week, I should be able to help you," Cadswell said

The ringing of the phone stopped any chance McRoy had to respond. Cadswell picked up the receiver.

When he put it back he looked up at his guest and said; "If you'll excuse me I have a meeting with the head of maintenance."

McRoy popped the locks on his briefcase and withdrew a revolver from inside.

"We're going to that file room right now. The head of maintenance will have to wait," he said pointing the gun at Cadswell

"Alright whatever you say," Cadswell said swallowing hard and standing up.

Both men were standing, McRoy with his weapon trained on Cadswell, when the head of maintenance walked in.

"I was just leaving," he said backing toward the door

"Stop where you are," McRoy said. "Now come and join Mr. Cadswell. We were just heading to the file room."

McRoy ushered the two men out the door. Cadswell led the way to the file room, the head of maintenance behind him and McRoy, gun hidden under his jacket, pulling up the rear. The men arrived at their destination and Cadswell unlocked the door.

The file room was three times the size of a normal office. Rows of filing cabinets filled the room. A stack of portable file boxes stood against the far wall. A layer of dust coated everything in the room including the air.

"Now find me the files I was looking for," McRoy said to Cadswell

Cadswell went down one row of cabinets and up another. He ran his finger down the labels on each cabinet until he found the one he was looking for. He extracted the file folders and shut the drawer.

"Here you go," he said handing McRoy the folders.

"Thank you. Now both of you get against the wall over there," McRoy said.

"Please don't hurt me," the head of maintenance said.

"Sit down and shut up," McRoy said

The two men backed up against the wall and slid down to the floor. McRoy cocked the gun and aimed then he suddenly lowered it.

"The gunshots would be too loud. Half of the floor would hear them. I'd need a quieter way to get rid of you," he said putting the gun in his pocket.

Without missing a beat, McRoy pulled a cylindrical bottle from his coat pocket, unscrewed the cap, turned the bottle upside-down, and began emptying the contents on the floor. After most of the liquid had been poured from the bottle, he dropped it on the floor. He pulled a book of matches out of the same pocket, struck them against a file cabinet and dropped them on the floor. The floor erupted in a ball of fire. Flames spread across the floor toward the men. McRoy grabbed his folder, opened the door and left.

The two men ran across the room, trying to get to the door before it closed but they didn't make it. Flames had now engulfed most of the floor. Several file cabinets burst into flames. Thick smoke began filling the room and seeping out from under the door. The only sounds that could be heard were the screams of the men trapped inside the room.