The Girl on the Rush Street Bridge
by Gary Inbinder
Chicago, 1910. The mysterious death of detective Max Niemand’s former girlfriend launches Max on a dangerous investigation involving gangsters, corrupt politicians, crooked cops, a missing key witness, and Max’s client, the missing witness’s attractive sister. Max will need all his skill and resources to stay alive and solve the case of The Girl on the Rush Street Bridge.
Chapter 3: Clearing the Decks
The Lake Street EL flashed by, rattling the bay windows in Max’s office. He occupied a swivel chair behind his cluttered desk across from Joe Bartkus, formerly known as “Joey the newsy,” Max’s protégé and number-one operative. Joe had come a long way from the ragged kid Max had picked up from the gutter. In the past few years, he had added inches to his height and several pounds of hard muscle to his medium-sized frame. A neatly trimmed moustache, rugged features, and snappy, tailored suits made Joey appear like a youthful, compact copy of his boss.
“Sorry to hear about Peg,” Joey said.
“Yeah. She had a lot of tough breaks, kid, but so did we. That’s life. You got to keep fighting, persevere and overcome all the bad shit that comes your way.”
“That’s right, boss.”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Max opened a desk drawer, retrieved a bottle of rye and two glasses, and set them on the table. “Let’s drink to her memory. Then we’ll talk business.”
They downed their shots. Then Max asked, “How’s your workload?”
“Not bad, boss. I can manage.”
“Good. I’m handing you that insurance case I’m working.”
The announcement surprised Joey: he was excited by the challenge but, at the same time, he worried about the importance of the job he was being handed on short notice. After a moment’s hesitation he said, “That’s a big client, boss. Are you sure you want me to take it on?”
“What’s the matter, kid? Afraid you can’t handle it?”
“No, boss; that’s not it. I was just wondering. Are you dropping the insurance case to start investigating what happened to Peg?”
“Maybe.”
“You think someone iced her?”
Max lit a cigar and took a couple of meditative puffs before answering. “When I talked to Mueller this morning, it sounded like the cops were thinking suicide. If they don’t turn up more evidence, the coroner will probably go that route. Case closed. Could be Peg was tired of living but, knowing her as I did, she wouldn’t go that way. She couldn’t swim; she was afraid of water. Hell, she almost panicked when I took her for a row in the Lincoln Park lagoon.”
Joey fiddled nervously with his watch fob. He hesitated to say what he was thinking because he wasn’t sure how Max would take it. But knowing his boss, he figured it was best to speak plainly and deal with the consequences. He stopped fidgeting and looked Max straight in the eye: “If she was murdered, do you think the cops would cover it up?”
“I don’t know, kid, but Peg was part of Sharkey and Schmidt’s protected racket. Plenty of guys had a motive to bump her off, especially the suckers who got jackrolled or cleaned out in Sharkey’s rigged poker game. And it isn’t just the cops who are on the take; a judge and an alderman are wetting their beaks.”
Max frowned and shook his head. “I’ve known Mueller and Big Mike for years. They’re no angels, but I don’t think they’re that dirty. Unless, of course, they got pressure from higher up. Then it becomes a choice between sweeping something under the rug to keep the bosses sweet or losing their jobs. What would you do under those circumstances?”
“I don’t know, boss.”
“Yeah. No one really knows until they’ve been in that situation. Peg was on the skids. In this world, someone like her doesn’t count for much. Chicago could bury her in a potter’s field and forget about it.”
“But if Mueller and Mike were part of a cover-up, why would they go to you the way they did? Wouldn’t they expect you’d start your own investigation?”
Max was about to answer when a knock on the partition door followed by clicking heels and swishing skirts interrupted. Rose Mandelbaum entered with coffee and fresh Kaiser rolls from a nearby bakery. Max had hired Rose based on a reference from his pal Manny Rosen, one of Chicago’s best criminal-defense lawyers.
Smart, attractive and easy to get along with, Rose was an asset to the agency. She impressed Max with her ability to run the office and deal with difficult clients. He and Joey were training her to help with investigations. She took well to the instruction, and Max believed she had the makings of a first-rate operative.
Rose cleared a space on Max’s desk and set down the coffee and rolls. “Breakfast is served,” she announced with a smile.
“Pull up a chair and join us, Rosie,” Max said.
“Don’t mind if I do,” she replied.
After a few minutes of breakfast and small talk, Max said: “Rosie, I’m handing the big insurance case to Joe. You’ll work with him. Any questions?”
“Sounds like you’re clearing the decks for action,” she replied. “Got a new case? It must be a big one to hand off the insurance job.”
“Yeah. Something I’m going to handle on my own. I’ll try to keep you and Joe out of it.”
“Must be big. Do you want me to open a new file?”
“No, kid,” Max said with a negative shake of his head. “I’ll keep the file on this one.”
Rosie glanced at Joe with a perplexed frown. Joey gave her a look that implied, Don’t question the boss. She looked back at Max, smiled and said, “Thanks for the breakfast. Guess I’ll get back to work.” She got up from her chair, exited the partition and returned to her typing and filing.
Joey watched her leave, then turned to Max. “Rosie’s a swell girl, ain’t she, boss?”
“Yeah, swell,” Max deadpanned and started shuffling papers on his desk.
“Guess I better get back to work, too,” Joey said, taking the hint.
Max looked up and grinned. “Don’t worry, kid. If you need me, I’ll be around.”
Proceed to Chapter 4
Copyright © 2018 by Gary Inbinder
