Page 30 of Slaughtered Firefly
Theodore Matthias ‘Midas’ Macer was no common criminal, and anyway the Feds had approached him and never worked. It was one of the reasons I hadn’t been fired, because I was one person who he ‘liked.’ It made me sick.
“See that’s what I like about you, you roll with the punches, you sure I can’t persuade you to invest in my organization?” He raised his hands in offering and winked.
“Are you trying to bribe a federal officer?” I countered.
“Only if it works.” He shrugged and leaned back, getting more relaxed.
“Mia Williams.” I started watching him carefully.
“Never heard the name.” He replied almost instantly; it was too quick, a canned answer.
“How’s business Midas?” I moved on, hoping to circle back to the start.
“Business is booming, never a better time to be alive.” He replied, tension seeped out of his shoulders.
“You control what was it? Something like eighty-five percent of all assets in the Chicago area and were making frequent flights to New York before the arrest?” I mused. By recounting his actions or accomplishments and playing to his ego, it was sometimes an easier distraction, and he’d slip in his greed. “Tell me how, did you do it so fast?” I questioned.
It was ambiguous; we had done a deep dive into Midas and couldn’t find any reason for him to have amassed such power so quickly. He was not born into the mafia world, but for the last twenty-five years he was one of its four kings. A king that would soon topple.
“Hard and honest work.” He retorted in a more serious manner, and I laughed.
“Well, I’m impressed, I’ve followed your career for the past five years and I must confess it’s an accomplishment that you aren’t even fifty yet.”
“You flatter me detective, but I can’t let you know all my secrets can I? That would defeat the purpose of our little game.” We stared at each other for a while, both trying to figure out just how to get under the other’s skin.
“Mia Williams was found at the house of an associate of yours, under the influence of multiple restricted substances and covered in blood. Do you have anything to say about that?” I questioned.
“Was she hot?” He deadpanned.
“Shivering and high,” I retorted, as I grabbed the tape recorder, smashed the button off.
It was pointless to continue this line of questioning, and I had shit to do.
“See ya Detective, bring a snack next time,” Midas called as the door closed behind me.
18
DOWNTOWN
Present day—July 10th
“What did Midas say?” Captain Marshal asked as I strolled into her office. I tossed the tape recorder to her, and she hit play; her face twisted into one of disgust after it played through. “Has the hospital determined if she was aware of her actions?” Marshal’s voice sounded weary, and she set her glasses down, rubbing her eyes.
“Psych hasn’t been to see her yet, the lawyers got us jumping through hoops about this evaluation, and every time someone comes to talk with Ms. Williams the bastard is always close by,” I confirmed as I watch Captain Marshal walk over to her liquor cabinet and pour us two glasses. Fucking Addams was always in the way, many cases complicated because of his twisted moral compass. “Thanks,” I muttered, taking the glass from her hand. We sat in silence, absorbed in our own thoughts, and as I took a sip of the crisp amber liquid, feeling it burn on its way down, an idea struck me. “Maybe going after Midas and Ms. Williams is the wrong move. We need to figure out the connections between them, but with Midas playing games and Ms. Williams lawyered up we need to switch focus. What do we know about the associates besides the blood money they took from Midas?” I took another sip of the bourbon in hopes it would will my mind to see the missing link.
“I see what you mean Dustin but we have already been over everyone in that neighborhood they are all clean, nothing out of the ordinary.” Marshal sighed, looking at the open file on her desk.
“Okay what about Addams?” I urged sitting upright.
“Not this again Jones, we’ve been over this a thousand times, you cannot accuse a defense attorney of wrong doing unless you have solid proof,” Marshal started shaking her head no.
“Listen to me Cap, I know I am right I just haven’t figured the connection yet, but doesn’t Midas and Ms. Williams have Addams representing them? There must be something we aren’t seeing. If we could just get a tap on his phone it might be the proof we need,” I eagerly asserted.
“That’s a big if, and no judge in this district would sign off on it, but doesn’t his ex-wife have a grudge against him and some priors that might need further clarification get Simmons on it. You and I are going downtown to call in a favor,” she said as she grabbed her gun and stuffed it in her purse.
“Yes ma’am,” I half saluted as I held the door open for her, and we were off.
“Captain Marshal.What do I owe for the house call?” The man greeted as we entered his office.
