Chapter65 Exposing a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"

Normally he would have informed Sheriff Faulkner of the results of their investigation by phone or e-mail; but, he was a bit intrigued himself by the findings, and wanted to discuss them with the sheriff face to face. When Corporal Nyce arrived at the station, Deputy Grotto informed him that the sheriff was out at the Lazinski residence; then, took it upon himself to accompany the corporal out there. When they arrive at the house, Sheriff Faulkner's glad to see the corporal; but, he's less than pleased that the deputy showed up. "Corporal Nyce, I take it you have some news for us. Would you mind waiting inside for me; and, excuse us for a moment…I need to have a little chat with my deputy here; if you don't mind." The corporal glances at the deputy; then, turns back to the sheriff, nods and walks away. As soon as the sheriff sees the corporal enter the back door, he turns back to Deputy Grotto; with a disgusted expression on his face. "Charles, what are you doing out here?" "I thought you guys could use some help out here; so, I came to see what I can do…I guess." "You guess?" The sheriff adjusts his Stetson, and then, returns to looking at the deputy; who has a vacant, far off expression on his face. The sheriff smiles and lets out a short laugh before asking, "Charles; do you even know why we're out here?" "No; not really." "Then; what makes you think you'd be able to help us out here? What do you think you could possibly do for us when you don't even know what it is we're doing?" The deputy stands there looking at the sheriff with the same vacant look he's had since arriving there. Sheriff Faulkner looks down to the ground; then, back at the deputy and tells him, "Charles, I want you to get the hell out of here; now." Stunned by the sheriff's impulsive order, "What? Why? What did I do, Lloyd?" "Did you ever hear that old saying, ‘a wolf in sheep's clothing', Charles?" "Huh?" "Let's stop the charade." "What charade? I'm not following you, Lloyd; what are you saying?" The sheriff places his hands on his hips and leans in towards the deputy; whispering in his ear, "I'm on to you, Grotto." Sheriff Faulkner pulls back, turns around and walks away. "Go away, Deputy." "I don't get it, Lloyd. What's wrong with you?" Sheriff Faulkner stops, looks down at the ground and shakes his head; then, walks back to the deputy. "You want to know what's wrong? I looked into your background, Deputy. Care to guess what I discovered?" The deputy smirks. "No, that's alright, Lloyd; you go on and tell me." "Fine then; I reckon I will. I understand you did a small stint with the Secret Service right before coming back to town and joining the department? And. interestingly enough, while you were with them; you were assigned to protect none other than our favorite Rhode Island politician…Senator Jack Steinman. I bet the two of you had a lot to talk about; being how you're both Rhode Island boys and all." The sheriff pauses briefly to adjust his Stetson again. "What are you doing here, Charles? You spying for ol' Jack; keeping him informed on what's going on in our little town? What's he getting nervous? Does he want you to get more involved so you can find out what we're doing; and report back to him? What is it, Charles?" The deputy shakes his head and laughs, "You don't get it, Lloyd. Do you honestly believe that the likes of you and Hopkins are able to go up against a man like Senator Steinman? You guys are through." "So, we've been told." The deputy arrogantly laughs as he asks, "What made you even think you'd have a chance at defeating him? The Steinman legacy's considered irreproachable around this area; and, in Washington….Not to mention the fact that they're probably some of the most powerful sons of bitches you and Hopkins will ever come across." "As far as the Steinman legacy goes, Charles; it started even years before ol' Jackie was born. We're dealing with some of that very legacy right here already; and, I'm willing to bet they're more powerful than your beloved senator." "Let me guess; you must be referring to Chelsea and Charles? Well, before you go touting them as the most powerful Steinman's; allow me to let you in on a little secret, Lloyd." "What's this; you're going to give me some inside information into the Steinman clan? That's mighty kind of you there, Chuck." The deputy laughs, "Well, don't go getting too grateful on me now, Lloyd; because it won't do you any good….And; you won't be able to prove it." "Prove what?" "That I told you what I'm about to tell you." "And; just what would that be, Charles?" "Charles and Chelsea…technically…weren't Steinman's." "What?" A puzzled expression overcomes the sheriff's face. "That's right, Lloyd; they weren't Steinman's.…Care to hear more?" "By all means." "Philip and Helene were expecting twins; unfortunately, as fate would have it, they died during birth. Helene was unaware of this, because she was under anesthesia at the time…it was a cesarean birth due to previous complications she had with other failed pregnancies. Phillip knew this would've devastated his wife. Luckily for him, there was another woman in the hospital at that very moment giving birth to twins." The sheriff jumps in, "Let me guess; he used his wealth to persuade that woman to sell him her children to replace the two he lost." "Actually," the deputy…as if holding a deep, reverent admiration for the former governor…reveals to the sheriff, "that wasn't necessary…to pay for them that is. All that a man as powerful and influential as Phillip Montgomery Steinman had to do was tell the hospital staff to switch the two sets of twins…and, their records…and, voila'; Helene was a mother." "That low-down, yellow-bellied polecat! Now, that there's nerve." "No; that's power, Sheriff. That's the power that runs in that family. That's the power that Senator Steinman holds." "Is that how he got Tommy, too?" "Who's Tommy?" "Tommy Steinman; his four-year-old son, who killed Chelsea." "Lloyd, I don't know where you're getting your information from; but, there never was a Tommy Steinman. And, no one killed Chelsea; she committed suicide." "Why?" "I don't know; I guess she was as crazy as her brother, Charles." "What do you mean crazy as her brother? I thought Charles died from pneumonia when he was three?" "Wrong again, Lloyd; Charles didn't die from pneumonia." "So; what happened?" "Well; let's just say that things didn't work out with those kids the way Phillip thought it would. You see, unbeknownst to him at the time, the woman who gave birth to Charles and Chelsea was suffering from some kind of mental illness. As a matter of fact, he found out afterwards that there was a history of mental illness throughout most of her family. When it looked like Charles would be inflicted with the same ailment that his mother suffered from…which was caused by a degeneration of certain types of brain cells…Phillip had to take action before it became public knowledge; and, tarnished the good Steinman name." "And, he did this how?" "By doing what people did at that time when they found out their loved ones suffered from an incurable, mental illness. He had Charles committed to the state asylum… quietly of course…so, no one would know. Then, he created that pneumonia story up so people would be none the wiser. He even took out an obituary in the paper to seal the deal." "That son of a bitch! He had a three-year-old baby…which he stole at birth by the way…committed into an asylum just because he was worried about his reputation?" "Pretty much." "Bastard!" "Maybe; but, a powerful bastard…just like Senator Jack Steinman. Face it, Lloyd; you and Mike are screwed. My suggestion to you is just drop this investigation and walk away from it while you still can." Sheriff Faulkner takes off his Stetson and runs his hand through his hair. He puts his hat back on and looks at the deputy; shaking his head while smiling. "Boy oh boy, Charles, you must be pretty darn tight with ol' Jack; being how you know so much about his families little secrets. A regular confidant, huh?" The deputy smiles and nods. "So, tell me something, Charles; were you the one who brought Ms. Delilah's body out here in the trunk of your car and bury her?" The smile now leaves deputy face. "What are you talking about, Lloyd? Delilah was killed in that car crash last week." "No; that was her twin sister…Delores…in the car that night. The Steinman's had her brought out here to take Ms. Delilah's place after her murder." The deputy haughtily laughs. "You've got to be kidding, Lloyd …do you have any proof to back these wild accusations up?" "We've got her body." "Oh right; Corporal Nyce is here with the autopsy report, isn't he?" The deputy gestures for the sheriff to move in closer as he speaks in a low voice, "Let me fill you in on another little secret, Lloyd. How much are you willing to bet that the report's going to confirm that the body's Delilah?" "It probably will; but, here's the thing, Charles…that wasn't the body I was referring to." "What?" "You see, Charles; we found Ms. Delilah's body…the real Ms. Delilah that is…and, sent it off to have an autopsy done on it ourselves." The deputy starts to become pale as his once smug expression turns into one of confusion and worry. "That can't be, Lloyd; we never found her body." "That's right; we never did find her body that day. And by the way, Charles, how do you know we were looking for Ms. Delilah's body that day anyway? I never did tell you that." "Whatever…just cut the crap….you're so full of bullshit, Lloyd. What are you talking about; you found her body? You didn't find her body…did you?" The sheriff smiles. "Well, now I reckon you caught me in what can be considered a kind of lie." "See; I knew it!" "We didn't find Ms. Delilah's body…Chelsea brought the body to us." The deputy wobbles back as his knees begin to buckle. "What?" "Chelsea…you know; one of the non-Steinman children…brought us Ms. Delilah's body. Delivered it right there down in the cellar…talk about service; huh, Charles? Anyway; as soon as we get that autopsy report back, I'm sure it's going to confirm that that body's Ms. Delilah, too. Boy, will we be in a Texas Okra Pickle then; ain't that right, Charlie Boy? I'll tell you what though; I'd sure love to see ol' Jack's face when he hears that one. I'm guessing it might be sort of like the way yours is right now." The deputy quickly swaggers to his car, jumps in and speeds off. After hearing the screeching tires, the others come out of the house. "What was that all about, Lloyd?" Deputy Hopkins asks. "Oh, let's just say that ol' weasel's gonna be looking to find himself a new chicken coop to dine in." "What's that, Sheriff?" "Never you mind there, Corporal. What yawl say we head on in, grab us some lunch, and talk about what we've found out?" While Corporal Nyce, Professor Rhyies and Cindy head back in; Sheriff Faulkner and Deputy Hopkins watch Deputy Grotto's patrol car drive away in the distance. "Aren't you curious as to what happened, Mike?" "Nope." "So, you don't want to know why he took off; and probably won't be back?" "Nope." "Alrighty then, I'll bite; why not?" "Because, I never did like that asshole." "Fair enough. Well let's go in, grab a bite and see what the good Corporal has to tell us." "Works for me."