The Relic: A Savvy Macavoy Story Read online

  Strick sat down behind his desk and opened his laptop. “Crap. I can’t keep using the van. I need a new car and I need it now,” He clicked on the search engine and list of car dealerships in the area.

  24

  Savvy walked down the corridor to Mr. Gutenberg’s room. She knocked lightly on the open door. “Mr. Gutenberg?”

  “Ah, yes, Ms. Macavoy,” his voice faced the curtain that was blocking his view.

  Savvy walked into his room, pushing the curtain back. She smiled at Mr. Gutenberg. “I see you’re improving.”

  “I guess I have a hard head. I heard you found me,” he gulped. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  Savvy sat down in the chair next to his bed. “I’m glad I was there. Are you up for some questions?”

  He pressed the button on the remote that raised his head slightly. “Anything.”

  “The police will probably question you tomorrow or whatever, but I wondered if you knew what was missing?”

  “Missing?” he asked. “Don’t you want to know who did this?”

  “Yes, if you know,” she said, taking a folder out of her bag.

  “I do,” he sighed. “Ms. Simone. Uh, Avery Simone. She’s supposed to be a collector. She has her own shop.”

  Savvy wrote down some notes and then opened the folder on her lap. She took out a photograph and showed it to him. “Is this her?”

  “Yes,” he nodded slowly. “I’m an old man but even if I weren’t, she is quite a powerful and strong woman. She didn’t need to do all that she did to me and I think she enjoyed it.”

  “I am terribly sorry,” Savvy sighed. “I noticed there was a space on your desk. The last time I saw your desk, it was filled with different piles. Your own filing system.”

  “She took the files for the new exhibits,” he sighed. “They weren’t scheduled until next summer. We were going to add to our World War II exhibit and showcase the leaders around the world, even the evil ones,” He lightly touched his head. “There were files from every donator that has offered a piece for display, including Mr. Stein’s.”

  “Was this exhibit going to include Adolph Hitler’s skull?”

  “No, not the skull. Mr. Stein also has some books and other artifacts. His donations were not related to Adolph Hitler. They were more from his collection on Prime Minister Winston Churchill.”

  “Oh, I see,” she closed the folder. “So, who else’s files were in here?”

  “You think they’re in danger?”

  “I don’t know, but I should at least talk to them.”

  “I have the list on my phone,” he sighed. “I can send it to you.”

  Savvy nodded as he reached over to the nightstand and picked up his smartphone. “You should have my contact information,” she smiled.

  “I do,” he nodded. He scrolled through his memos and texted the list to Savvy.

  “Did you and Simone have a conversation before she attacked you?” Savvy’s phone, that was in her bag, chimed, confirming receipt of Mr. Gutenberg’s text.

  “She said she was interested in purchasing from a few of the donators to the exhibit. I didn’t know that it was common knowledge about our exhibit. We were still working out the details and didn’t release that information to the public.”

  “We?”

  “There is a board at the museum and we decide what will be in the exhibit. In some cases, we contract a local builder who creates some of our museum pieces and other items are donated or on consignment. We also have someone on our board who handles creating the signages and information boards for our exhibit.”

  “So, only the board members knew?”

  “Yes and of course, the general manager of museum relations. Ms. Lydia Jerome.”

  “She’s not on the board?”

  “No, she runs the museum. There are only a few of us on the board. Myself, Mr. Ronald Smythe, Ms. Margolis, Mr. Philip Roswell, Mr. RJ Macavoy,” he stopped. “Oh, any relation?”

  “My brother,” she wrote down the names. “Anyone else?”

  “Mr. Leif Gardner and Ms. Jenna Sipowitz, oh and of course, Mr. Stein.”

  “All right,” she stood up. “Thank you. I hope you get better. Mr. Stein was concerned about you.”

  “Is he all right?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Oscar visited me. He said that Alder was injured and may not make it.”

  “Mr. Stein is fine, but when did Oscar say that?”

  “He was here an hour ago. He wanted to know if I knew who hurt me and then he mentioned Alder was injured.”

  “Thank you,” she patted his hand. “Did you tell him who hurt you?”

  “I said I didn’t remember much,” he explained. “I never trusted that man.”

  “Was he alone?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “All right. Thank you and get some rest. If you think of anything else, let me know.”

  “Those files are important, but I also have them backed up on the museum’s server, just in case.”

  “I understand, thank you, Mr. Gutenberg,” She left the room, pulling her cell phone out of her pocket as she headed toward the elevator. She dialed and when she got to the lobby, she scanned it quickly as she put the phone to her ear. “Strick, it’s me. Did you go to Riker’s yet?”

  “No, why?”

  “I think you should hold off. Strick, uh, where are Leonard and Adler?”

  “They went to Adler’s home.”

  “Get there now and call the police. Oscar paid Gutenberg a visit and said Adler was injured and going to die. I’m on my way but you’re closer.”

  “Hold on. They just walked in the Agency. Savvy, what’s going on?” Strick motioned to Adler and Leonard as he stood in the kitchen.

  “Keep them safe. I’ll be home as fast as I can. I don’t know what Oscar is planning, but it’s not good. He already thinks he got away with it and he didn’t do anything yet.”

  “Is he connected to Avery Simone?” Strick asked.

  “I think so, why?”

  “She’s sitting in our office, waiting to speak with you.”

  “I’m on my way and be careful. Gutenberg confirmed that she is the one who attacked him.”

  “I’ll be fine,” he hung up.

  25

  Savvy parked her car on the side of the road, when she noticed the yellow tape that surrounded her Agency and the black and white police cars, parked along the street and on the sidewalk. She ran toward the yellow tape, searching the crowd of officers for anyone she knew that would tell her what was going on. She stopped in her tracks when Tim pushed his way through the crowd of officers. “Tim?” her eyes pleaded. “What the heck happened?”

  Tim put his hand on her shoulder. “Sunshine, take a breath for a minute.”

  Savvy’s eyes met his. “Tim, don’t placate me. Just tell me what the fowl happened.”

  “There was a shooting.”

  “Again? What happened? Where’s Strick? Where’s Leonard?” she gulped heavily.

  “Strick, Leonard and Mr. Stein are all right.”

  She let out her breath slowly. “What happened? Can I see them?”

  “They’re giving their statements now,” he explained.

  “Who got shot?”

  Tim lifted the yellow tape, “Come over here,” he led her to the building, against the window still covered in the shade that prevented her from seeing inside her Agency. She stared at the gurney being wheeled out of her building, the body bag which clearly had someone in the bag laying on top of it.

  “Will you please tell me what’s going on? Who the heck is that?” she pointed to the gurney being loaded into the van labeled NYPD Medical Examiner.

  “It was a woman,” he glanced at his black notebook in his hand. “An Avery Simone.”

  “She’s the one who attacked Gutenberg. Strick and I talked on the phone, he said she was here waiting to speak with me. What the heck happened? Who shot her?”

  “Strick,” he explaine
d. “It was self-defense. He’s giving his official statement and so are Leonard and Mr. Stein. Your Agency is a crime scene again and it may take a few days to get it back to you.”

  “Whatever, I can work from upstairs or my kitchen, right? I don’t need to leave my home, do I?”

  “You’re all going to need to stay somewhere else, at least for tonight,” he sighed. “Harry and I would be glad to put you all up. Just say the word.”

  “I have things to get, personal things, including Strick, Leonard and Adler.”

  “It’ll be a few more minutes. I’ll be right back. Please stay here and don’t go inside,” he instructed.

  Savvy leaned her back against the glass of the window. She dropped her bag at her feet and unraveled her braids. She rebraided her hair, while she scanned the crowd that seemed to be growing with onlookers outside the yellow tape. She noticed him and quickly moved her eyes, so he wouldn’t make eye contact. Oscar was in the crowd. She scanned the crowd again, looking for Friend, but she didn’t see him. Somehow, they both had something to do with this. What happened where Strick had to shoot someone, someone who was not the enemy in a war? She couldn’t focus on her case, she was now more concerned for Strick. He had to kill someone. He may be a veteran, but he was not violent in any way. He was a medic and company clerk, not even a foot soldier. He never even killed an enemy while he was in Afghanistan. Now, he was here, living his life with her. She loved him and always cherished the day they met, when she gave him the gift of food, home and a job and he gave her acceptance and trust and eventually love. Strick, be all right.

  “I know that look,” he smiled as he stood in front of her.

  She wrapped her arms around Strick, hugging him tightly. “Are you all right? You’re cut, and you have a black eye.”

  “I’ll be all right. You should see the other guy,” he snickered.

  “I saw the body bag,” she sighed. “Leonard and Adler?”

  “They’ll be out soon. Tim said we can’t stay here tonight and he’ll escort us to our apartment to get a few things for an overnight stay.”

  “Is that what you want?” She kissed his cheek.

  “I’m tired and I could use a drink. I could also use your arms wrapped around me,” he smiled.

  “They’re right here,” she smiled. “You want to go to a motel?”

  “Nah, that’s all right. I want to sleep in your arms after a lot of whiskey.”

  “That, we can do,” she smiled, linking her arm with his.

  Three hours later, at Harry and Tim’s apartment, that was above Harry’s bar, The Capone Pub, Savvy and Strick were sitting in the living room, on the sofa. Leonard and Adler were sitting on the love seat and Tim and Harry were mixing drinks for the group.

  Savvy wrapped her arms around Strick, pulling him close to her. “You don’t need to talk about it if you don’t want to,” her eyes diverted to Tim and then back to Strick.

  “I’m off duty and this is a family turf. I’m not a cop tonight,” Tim helped Harry hand out the whiskey sour drinks he just mixed up. “Whatever you do and don’t want to talk about is confidential here. I promise.”

  “I didn’t think otherwise,” Strick said.

  “No, but I’m sure Sunshine did,” Tim sat down in one of the recliners and Harry sat in the one next to his.

  Harry and Tim’s apartment had a large open floor plan for the living room and kitchen and a long hall that led to six bedrooms, each with their own private baths. Harry always wanted to make sure he had room for any of his family, especially since the boys, most of the boys, lived far away. The living room’s walls were covered in paintings done by Cloud Dancer, the eldest child. Cloud Dancer died as a leader in a modern-day hippie commune.

  “I’m sorry, Tim. I trust you, I do. I’m just worried. This case is turning upside down and now Strick had to shoot someone? He can’t even say the words and tell me what happened.”

  “I’m sorry,” Strick said. “I’ve had to defend myself before, but never kill someone. Never. Not even in battle. I’m sorry it got out of hand.”

  “He was trying to protect me,” Adler said. “It’s my fault. She was in the office, just sitting in the chair by your desk when Leonard and I came back from my place, or what’s left of it.”

  “What do you mean?” Savvy asked.

  All eyes were on Leonard and Adler as Adler continued. “Leonard helped me put my collections from the storefront in the car. We made a few trips back and forth to the new storefront.”

  “Storefront?” Savvy asked.

  “You said he could have it, right, Savvy?” Leonard asked.

  “Oh, right, sorry, I didn’t realize he made a decision. So, what happened?”

  “On the last trip we made, I had packed my suitcases and we were going back to see if there was anything important I left behind. I was going to bring the furniture later when I could hire movers. The flames were so high, and the firefighters were already there trying to put the fire out and making sure it didn’t go beyond the building. There is a firewall, but that doesn’t always help if the sparks fly,” Adler sighed. “Everything is gone.”

  “Was it Oscar?”

  “I don’t know,” Adler said.

  “The fire chief said they would have an arson investigation and contact the police. I gave him my information and when they know something, they’ll call me. So, we went to tell you and Strick, and we saw the woman sitting in the Agency,” Leonard said.

  “But what happened?”

  “We walked straight toward the kitchen and Strick was on the phone with you. He hung up and as soon as he called my name,” Adler sighed. “I felt her get out of her chair, it was so fast. She rushed toward us, pushing us to the ground. She said I was supposed to be dead. I didn’t even know who she was right away.”

  “So, she attacked you?”

  Strick leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and stared at the ground. “I tried to grab her, but she definitely had martial arts training. She was fast on her feet and quick with her punches and kicks. I didn’t want to wrestle with a woman, but I did. We fought, and I did my best to make sure Leonard and Adler were safe.”

  “I called the police as they were fighting. She had pushed Strick and he slid over his desk, landing on the floor,” Leonard explained.

  “I reached in my bag that was on the floor by my desk, after I landed pretty hard and grabbed my weapon. I stood up and aimed it at her. I gave her the chance to surrender. I tried to talk to her, get her to calm down, but she was incensed. I’ve never seen anyone so angry before. She had murder in her eyes. She whispered something, sounded like Oscar or Friend, or maybe both and a deal they had. I didn’t catch it, so, hopefully, the security tapes picked it up. She charged at me and I shot her. I knew if I didn’t kill her, she’d kill me and then them,” he sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry for saving their lives. Sounds like she was intent on killing you all. I wonder why she was sitting there, waiting for me and then…”

  “She saw me and somehow expected me to be dead. Something is going on with Oscar and maybe Friend.”

  “And, Savvy, you knew to call me and warn me, why?” Strick asked.

  “For one, I love you and two, Mr. Gutenberg ID’d Simone as his attacker and told me what was missing from his office,” She focused on Harry. “Will Rain be coming here tonight?”

  “He may. He’s not supposed to move out until his place is done. You know about his antique store?”

  “Not much about it, just that he was working on it. I had some questions about antiques and since he has that knowledge, I was hoping he’d help.”

  “Just don’t talk about Friend with him,” Harry said. “He’s a little angry with your brother right now.”

  “Aren’t we all?” Savvy looked at Leonard and then at Harry. “I’ll be nice,” she leaned back and drank down her whiskey. “I’ll have another, but this time, no sour, just straight up.”

  “You got it,” Ti
m smiled, standing up.

  Savvy put her arm around Strick. “You OK, honey?”

  “I’ll be all right. If you don’t mind, I need some air,” he stood up. “I’ll be back.”

  “Just stay away from the crime scene,” Tim said.

  “I wasn’t planning on going there,” he sighed, walking out the door.

  “He’s probably headed to the docks,” Savvy explained.

  “This time of night?” Tim asked.

  “No one would dare mess with him in this mood,” Savvy said. “I’ve seen it before, just not this bad.”

  “I’m sorry about this,” Adler sighed, sipping from his glass.

  “Not your fault, but we must deal with your son and my brother, soon, very soon.”

  “He took my collectible, didn’t he?” Adler asked.

  “Probably, but he’s not the only one involved. I don’t know if he has it or not, but I think I can figure out how to get it back and send him to prison, where he belongs.”

  “Prison?” Adler asked.

  “You won’t be safe until he’s put away,” Savvy hugged her corduroy covered leg.

  26

  Savvy heard the front door open and then shut. She put her book on the night stand and walked out into the living room. “Strick?”

  “Oh, sorry,” he sighed. “Time got away from me. I went for a walk on the docks,” He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost two? Oh, I am sorry. I made you worry, didn’t I?”

  “A little,” she hugged him. “Are you feeling any better?”

  “How d’you know?”

  “I know you, my love,” she smiled.

  “I do feel a little better. Thought a lot about everything going on in our lives,” he sighed. “I don’t think I’m going to see Ryan.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, don’t want to bring more of his crap into our lives. The law can deal with him. We’ll take care of our family and we won’t let him ruin anything for us, anymore.”

  She kissed his mouth softly. “Go take a shower and lay down. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “I am sorry,” he kissed her mouth softly.

  “I know,” she smiled. “I love you, Strick.”