McKenna - Robert F. Clifton (e novels to read online .txt) 📗

evening McKenna walked into the ground floor lobby of the Regal Hotel. The night clerk stood behind the registration desk talking to the switchboard operator.

When he saw Kevin walking towards him the desk clerk ended his conversation with the woman and greeted Mckenna. “Good evening sir. Welcome to the Regal Hotel”. The man stopped talking when he saw Kevin display his badge and identification card.

“You have two security guards, a Mike Thompson and a Sheila McCormick. I was told that they would be working this evening. I want to talk to them”, said McKenna.

“They should be in the Security Office. It's on the second floor”, said the clerk.

“I know where it is. Thank you”.

“Kevin walked to the empty elevator. The door to it was wide open and as he approached it he could see the marks left in the rug by the vacuum cleaner used by the night housekeeping crew. He stepped into the elevator cage, pushed the number two button and when the door closed he ascended to the second floor. When the door opened automatically he stepped out on to the second floor hallway and walked to the door with the frosted glass. When he got there he knocked once then turned the doorknob, opened the door and walked into the office of Stanley Holtz. A man and woman, both in a gray colored uniform with a shoulder patch reading SECURITY sat in straight back chairs. They both looked at Kevin when he walked in. “You must be Sergeant McKenna”, said the man.

“And, you must be Mike Thompson, or you better be”, Kevin replied.

“I am and this is Sheila McCormick”, said Thompson.

“Fine. I'm sure that Mr. Holtz has already told you why I want to talk to both of you”, said Kevin.

“It's about the murder that happened out there on the boardwalk, isn't it?”, said the woman.

“That's correct. Now, according to Mr. Holtz both of you were on duty the night, I should say on the early morning of October fourteenth. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that's right”, Thompson answered.

“Excuse me. When I ask a question it's directed to both of you unless I specifically ask you by name. Do you understand?”, asked McKenna.

Both guards nodded their heads.

“Good. Miss McCormick. Is it Miss or Mrs.?”

“It's Miss”.

“Fine. Tell me what you were doing on the early morning of October fourteenth”.

“We divide our time. When one of us is patrolling the hotel the other one is watching the security cameras”, Sheila answered.

“Security cameras. What security cameras?”, asked Kevin.

“There are security cameras located on each floor of the hotel. They're used to monitor the hallways. In particular we scan constantly for intruders, fire, things of that nature”, said Thompson.

“Where are the monitors?”, asked the Sergeant.

“Right through that door”, said the man pointing to an adjoining room.

“Are there cameras positioned in the outside perimeter of the hotel?”, asked Kevin.

“No, just in the hallways. We asked for them to be placed outside and also in the parking lot and garage, but the owners won't spend the money”, said Sheila.

“Even if there were perimeter cameras and it recorded anything occurring on the boardwalk that morning it would have been taped over by now. The bosses insist that we use the VCR tapes until they eventually wear out. As a matter of fact the camera in the second floor has been out for the past three days. It won't be repaired until next week. Budget problems they say” added Thompson.

“I see. Nonetheless, what I want to know is if either of you saw or heard anything unusual that morning”, said Mckenna.

“I sure as hell didn't. As I recall it was so boring that morning I had a hard time staying awake”, said Thompson.

“Unusual? I heard the breeze pick up and the pigeons came out from where they roost at night, but that's not unusual.

I think rats are up there at times searching for pigeon eggs. Unusual? No”, said Sheila.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Four

Speak No Evil

 

On Monday morning, November 11, 2013, Kevin McKenna sat alone in a booth inside the Olympic Diner. As he read the sports page of the Nautilus Beach Press detailing the events of Sundays game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers the scrambled eggs he ordered for breakfast were getting cold. From time to time he reached for the still hot cup of coffee in front of him, raised the cup to his lips and took several sips, all the while reading the article. Satisfied that the Eagles had won the game he turned the page to the local news. A small by-line caught his attention, LOCAL HOTEL OWNER BLASTS CASINOS. When he placed the cup on the table the waitress quickly came and refilled the cup with fresh, hot coffee. McKenna smiled and nodded his approval. Then, he began to read.

“On Saturday evening, November 9. 2013, Mr. Charles Barnett was invited to speak before the local Chamber Of Commerce. Mr. Barnett chose as his topic, Casino Gambling and It’s Potential In Nautilus Beach. Surprisingly, although his brother Steven and several members of the Chamber who are championing a Bill now in the State Legislature in Trenton were in attendance, Charles not only dismissed the need for casinos in Nautilus Beach, but he also condemned casinos in general. Mr. Barnett pointed to the fact that gambling casinos will not address the unemployment problem in Nautilus Beach. He cited as an example the fact that those hired for casinos are the experienced dealers, slot machine mechanics, bartenders, waiters and waitresses. These kind of employees come from other casinos, many from out of State. The unskilled are chosen last. Next, he related how in the beginning Atlantic City and its casinos was regarded as the La Vegas East. Then other cities in other States became competitive and the competition forced the closer of some of the Atlantic City casinos.

Mr. Barnett went on then to address the homeless problem in Nautilus Beach. He blamed the ever growing problem of homeless men, women and children as a product of casino gambling. In his opinion these people, chased the dream of opportunity in the gambling industry only to find out that there was no possibility of them finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The result is that those chased out of Atlantic City now become the burden of the citizens of Nautilus Beach. He then warned that if casinos become a reality in Nautilus Beach social problems will only get worse.

In the audience there appeared two divided factions. Those advocating the casinos and those against the creation of them in Nautilus Beach. To this reporter it appeared that on this night Charles Barnett has the majority support of the merchants if not the voters”.

McKenna neatly folded the newspaper and placed it on the table. He picked up the check, took two one dollar bills out of his wallet and placed them under the plate that still contained cold, uneaten eggs. Leaving the newspaper he walked to the cashier, paid his bill and left the diner.

At headquarters he took a seat at his desk reached for the telephone and dialed the number for C.S.I. He waited for someone to answer and when they did he heard, “Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Officer Landry speaking”.

“Landry. This is Sergeant McKenna. Do you know if anyone has identified the object I put together along with Detective Collins?”

“Could you hold on a minute Sergeant? I'll see if anyone knows”, answered Landry.

After a few minutes a different voice said, “This is Sergeant Gains. I understand you would like information on the plexiglass we took at the crime scene, case number 7539768. Right now, we don't know what it is from. We are about to send it to the F.B.I. Lab in Virginia. When we hear from them we will let you know”.

“O.K. Thank you”, said McKenna. He then hung up the telephone.

John Collins walked up to where McKenna sat staring into space. “Looks like you're in a different world”, said Collins.

Kevin looked up and said, “Just deep in thought, that's all”.

“Thinking about the case?”

“Yes”.

“Well, if you need any help just let me know. I'm free. All my cases are just waiting for the prosecutor to set court dates.”

“Thanks John. Right now I'm looking for a motive and a suspect and I can't come up with either one. As a matter of fact, I can't even identify the murder weapon.”

“First of all relax. Someone, somewhere will I.D. the plexiglass. When it comes to motive who knows why anyone would want to kill a homeless guy? Hell, today he could have been killed just for kicks. You read everyday where young punks are beating up guys living on the street. Some have even been set on fire. To me, the thing to focus on is who. Who killed, what's his name again?”, asked Collins.

“Harvey Mason”.

“Let's concentrate on who killed Harvey Mason. When we nail the killer everything else will fall into place”.

“I thought I'd find something by talking to the two security guards at the Regal Hotel. who were on duty the morning of the murder. However, they said that they didn't hear or see anything. Had the hotel placed security cameras in the outside perimeter of the building we might have caught something on film. Even then, according to the guards the tape recordings of one day is taped over the next day”.

“Speaking of the Hotel Regal, did you hear about Charlie Barnett blasting casinos in a speech at the Chamber of Commerce meeting?”, asked Collins.

“I read about it in the newspaper. From what I've learned, Charlie Barnett is even at loggerheads with his own brother when it comes to casinos in Nautilus Beach”, said Kevin.

replied.

“Maybe he thinks that by owning his own hotel-casino he can't lose”.

“Well, as we know the house wins most of the time”.

***************

At four o'clock that same day Kevin McKenna leaned against the right front fender of his automobile. He had parked in front of the Garwood Elementary School. As he waited for Whitney Nelson to come out he looked up at the sky when he heard the honking of Canadian Geese flying in a V formation. As he watched their flight he heard a voice say, “They're beautiful aren't they?”

Kevin quickly turned his head to the sound of the voice and saw Whitney standing in front of him. “Hi, just imagine, I get to see two beautiful sights almost at the same time”, he said.

“Thank you. Why are you here?”,she asked.

“I wanted to see you”.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“No. Thanksgiving is coming and I figure that you'll be serving at the Mission House. That being the case I'm volunteering my service as a dishwasher again”.

“Any particular reason?”, asked Whitney.

“Why would you ask a question like that?”

“Because I know that you're investigating the murder of a homeless man and the majority of the homeless will be at the Mission on Thanksgiving”.

“Let me put it another way. I know where you will be on Thanksgiving Day. As a result I can't take you someplace for dinner. Since I want to be with you on Thanksgiving if I have to wash dishes to be with you, then I'll wash the dishes. Hell, I'll even mop the floors”.

“Are you sure?”.

“I'm positive”.

“Well, this might be the last Thanksgiving dinner we'll be serving. There is a rumor that there is a political faction in town who not only wants to close the Mission, but to move it out of the city.”.

“Let me guess. I'll bet Charlie Barnett is behind it”.

“Him and others”.

“They're probably using the homeless and the Mission House as an example of social problems in order to kill the casino bill in Trenton”.

“Whoever it is I'm afraid they're close to being successful”, said Whitney sadly.

“I imagine Reverend Simon is upset”, said Kevin.

“Upset is not the word. Try angry. I've never seen Reverend Simon angry at anything, until now”.

“Well, I'm sure he has a lot invested in the Mission”.

“Actually, I'd say that the Mission is his life”.

“And now the Barnett brothers