Early Retirement (An Arturo Nash Novel)

Ch. 8

Nash and Blanco arrived at the central administration building for the school district. They got out of the Buick and walked up to the front door. The receptionist at the front desk was too busy playing solitaire to notice them.

"Excuse me, we need to see Mr. Pierce right away on an urgent police matter," Nash said

"You're in luck he's in his office. Go down the hall and make a right. It's the first office on the left," she said resuming her recreation

Nash and Blanco followed the receptionist's directions and arrived at a glass door with the words Jim Pierce School Board President etched on the door. They walked in and were greeted by the secretary.

"Let me see if he's busy," she said opening his office door and peeking her head in. "Go on in gentlemen."

As Nash and Blanco walked in, Jim Pierce rose and stuck out his hand.

"I'm Detective Arturo Nash and this is Steve Blanco," Nash said

"Jim Pierce. Good afternoon officers. What brings you by today?" he asked very cordially

"I'm sure heard about Bridget Galdenbaum and Margie Watson," Nash said

"Yes and it's a real tragedy. By the way how is that investigation going?" Pierce asked leaning forward.

"Actually that's what we're here to talk about," Nash said

"Oh" Pierce said intrigued

"Bridget Galdenbaum's husband told us that she was doing research on school legend. He also said that you sent a letter warning her to stop or face removal and license revocation. Is it true?" Nash asked

Pierce repositioned himself, took a drink of the soda on his desk and looked back at the officers.

"I'm afraid that's confidential information Detective Nash." Pierce said

"Come now all we're asking is for a yes or a no," Blanco said

"Fine. Yes. Yes I did send Bridget Galdenbaum a warning. She was playing around with sensitive information and needed to know the consequences."

"What exactly was she researching?" Nash asked

"That's where I'm going to have to draw the line. The nature of Galdenbaum's research was extremely confidential and I can't talk about it," Pierce said

"Just so you'll know the guy responsible for her death is after whatever it is she's been researching and he probably knows more than we do. So why don't you help us out by filling us in?" Blanco said

"I seriously doubt he found out anything of substance. As for you guys, I'm sorry but unless you have an explicit court order, I can't tell you anything." Pierce said.

Nash rose and slammed his hand down on his fist.

"Listen Mr. Pierce. Bridget Galdenbaum's fourteen year-old son and nine year-old daughter were shot in the head and left lying in a pool of their own blood because this man is so determined to get whatever it is Bridget Galdenbaum had been researching. Two innocent kids are dead. Oh and her husband is lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life. So tell us what the hell Bridget Galdenbaum was researching, now!" Nash said

Pierce put his head in his hands and sighed. He lifted his head, straightened up and looked at his guests. He was just about to talk when his secretary ran into the room in a frenzy.

"Mr. Pierce, the building's being evacuated. There's a fire in the file room!" she said

Pierce wasted no time grabbing his phone, wallet and keys out of his desk and heading for the door. Nash and Blanco followed close behind.

"Let's go see what's happening," Nash said to Blanco.

They passed through the doorway and Pierce turned the opposite direction of Nash and Blanco.

"Mr. Pierce you're going with us," Nash said grabbing him by his jacket collar.

Nash, Blanco, and Pierce pushed against the flow of traffic as they headed toward the stairwell.

"What floor is the file room on" Nash asked

"It's in the sub-basement downstairs," Pierce answered

The three men continued to move against the flow as they quickly made their way down the hall. They reached the stairwell and aside from a few stragglers were able to get down the stairs with ease. As soon as they opened the door, the acrid smell of smoke and something they couldn't identify filled their nostrils.

"Good grief," Pierce said looking in the direction of the blaze

Nash and Blanco looked over and saw bright orange flames stabbing through the wall as well as smoke coming from under the door. There were also a few spots on the floor outside of the room that were smoldering. Firefighters suited up and got their extinguishers ready.

Nash and Blanco made their way over to the fire chief, flashed their badges, and asked if there was anything they could do.

"Keep whoever's not a fireman from coming over here," he said walking away

Blanco walked back over to where Pierce was standing

"What's in that room?" he said

"Just archived files for the legal department. Basically it's a room full of paper," he said.

Blanco rejoined his partner and covered his face to block the smoke.

"Pierce said all they keep in there is paper, so my guess is somebody set that fire," Blanco said through his jacket

Nash nodded and watched as the firemen opened the door, sprayed back the flames and looked around for anybody who might have been in the room.

About five minutes later Nash heard one of the firemen yell out from the room.

"We've got two over here." Then moments later "They're both dead"

A short while after the two firefighters drug the charred corpses out one after another.

Nash retrieved Pierce and pulled him over to where the remains were.

"You ready to talk to us now," he said holding the man's head down toward the bodies.

"Yeah, I think so," Pierce said