Chapter 15: Rogue Corky

“No, no, I believe my mother will wholeheartedly agree with you. If anything could spark Putnam’s interest in art, it’s this fascinating piece,” Phineas reassured Phoebe Foster, who displayed a rather strange painting on top of the table.

“Outstanding! I know Pam’s been trying to encourage your brother’s interest in new hobbies, and I thought maybe he could have a hidden talent,” Mrs. Foster recalled, beaming with pride. “Putnam clearly has a creative mind.”

“Agreed. My brother thinks up new ways to do stuff that often confuses me.”

“Abstract art can open a closed mind to new possibilities,” Phoebe proclaimed, acting as if she dropped a bundle of knowledge with that statement.

“While my brain is more analytical, I can see your point. Deciphering what this painting shows is almost like solving a mystery. Perhaps that’s what my brother needs to set up on the right track in life,” Phinn suggested, laying it on rather thick. “As you said, he conjures ideas that shock us all.”

The mother of two quirky artists went on to repeat the location of the home at the edge of the neighborhood sale, where she found such a thought-provoking treasure. Mrs. Foster noted that they seemed delighted to find a new owner for the piece.

“No, I can’t say that I know them,” Phinn admitted about the homeowners. “Thanks again for such a kind gesture. I’ll tell Mom when she calls next that you dropped off a surprise for Putty.”

“Oh! I have a fantastic idea if Putnam is interested. Zoe or Zaina could give him an art tour of the museum or gallery. The girls do get excited with the opportunity to impart their love onto others.”

“I know they do, as Jake recently informed me about Zoe, ma’am. However, you’d need to check with my mom about the length of Putty’s ban at the museum. I’m not sure if he’s allowed in the art gallery, either,” Phinn said, pondering the fact.

“You’re a riot, Phineas!” Mrs. Foster giggled, thinking he’d told a joke, not a fact.

“Thanks again, and I’m sure Jake is sorry that he needed to rush inside to use the bathroom. Perhaps you can stop by later in the week…Maybe with one of your daughters. I knew he’s been talking about Zoe recently,” Phinn said, confusing Johanna and causing Corky to bite his lip to keep from laughing.

“Sounds like a plan! And I’ll check back to see what Pam and Putnam think of that masterpiece,” Mrs. Foster replied, turning to leave.

“I’m sure Putt will be stunned, and we’ll make him into the next Picasso, even if it kills him,” Phinn called after his kooky neighbor.

“Picasso’s style is technically Cubism, not abstract,” Johanna corrected. “Although I guess Surrealism is also true.”

“Like I fucking care,” the antisocial sleuth shot back, having used up all his patience with his mother’s friend. “Either way, this is some fucked up art.”

Johanna and Corky joined him in studying the painting. Unsure about its content, the influencer asked what the brainy detective thought it showed.

“I can’t tell if the two people are fucking or killing each other. My first impression is a strangulation.”

“Wait, there are people in this?” Corky questioned, leaning forward to peer at the painting in confusion. “I thought those were plants.”

“I thought space creatures,” Johanna admitted. “So, your brother’s into art?”

“What do you think?” the older sibling scoffed, causing Corky to choke back a laugh. “But what’s going to be fun is convincing Dad that art is his new hobby. Our dad can be a bit absentminded about the details of our lives, so I figure I can stretch this prank out for one to two years.”

“No wonder your brother turned out the way he did,” the brunette remarked, shaking her head in disgust.

“Trust me. Watching Mom struggle not to laugh while covering for Pug’s meltdowns when Dad springs art-related birthday and Christmas presents will be well worth it. She’s a master of crafting white lies, so it’s a good test to see if she’s still got it.”

“Gawd, you’re the worst. When’s Jake returning?” the influencer inquired, peering over at his house. “I have a new person that I want to interview. I got a tip that Enid–”

“You got a tip? How? Why?” Phineas questioned. “This isn’t your case, nor should you be publicizing anything about it. I swear, if I have to sift through hours of style and wellness videos to–”

“But I got a tip about another blackmailed Miss Paddle contestant from that era. We need to interview her,” Johanna insisted.

“No can do. Libby grounded me for the day.”

The snarky influencer laughed uproariously at the grounding, leading Phinn to walk over to help a customer. As a woman paid for a rather ugly lamp the Magnums had for sale, Johanna’s laughter died down as Corky filled her in about the trap and attack from the previous night.

“Ohmigawd! Is Jake alright?”

“Bandit’s the one you should be asking about,” Phinn remarked, shooting her a dirty look while he bent down. Her laughter had awakened the sleepy bulldog, who now wanted attention.

Sensing a blowup, Corky moved away to check on browsing shoppers.

“Seriously, what is wrong with you? Every single person who gets a creepy masked man in their yard, which nobody does in real life, would call the police. But, oh no, Detective Boy decides to lay a trap, only to find himself the trapped one as his friend gets attacked,” Johanna remarked, sarcastically.

“So says the girl who believes that she’s so perfect that the whole world needs to hear her every opinion,” Phinn shot back.

Clenching her hands out in front of her, Johanna held in a scream before marching off to wait for Jake by one of the tables. Pleased with himself for getting the upper hand for the moment, Phinn went to refill Bandit’s water bowl.

“Your kind isn’t welcome around here!” Corky shouted. “You heard me. Get out of here!”

The sudden shout from the usually polite twelve-year-old caused Phinn to turn off the outdoor water spigot. Then, as he heard other browsers gasp in shock and horror, the teen detective walked around his house to see what caused the commotion.

Nine shoppers stood around five of the tables. Two middle-aged women appeared scandalized while they said, “I guess they teach the hate while they’re young,” and “Where are his parents?” Another older woman, who Phinn recognized as living over on Rush Avenue, glared at a young woman who commented to her friend, “I told you this neighborhood had racists.”

After hearing that comment, Phinn scanned the others to see who Corky was addressing. Johanna provided the clue as she rushed over to apologize to a middle-aged Asian man.

What the fuck? Did Greene rub off on the kid? Dammit, Jake, get our here and deal with this. He’s your little sidekick! Phinn screamed internally.

“Mommy, what did he mean by your kind?” a little girl asked before her mother dragged her away.

“I am so sorry, sir. I’m sure he didn’t mean it that way,” Johanna apologized.

“Hell, no! You’re asking for trouble, buddy!” Corky warned, causing two of the shoppers to scurry away. The others watched the spectacle unfold as Mrs. Nook looked on in curiosity from across the street.

Three things happened simultaneously. First, Mrs. Nook turned and yelled for her son to get outside. Second, Johanna’s apology ended with a shocked gasp as she stared into the man’s face. Third, Bandit growled.

The growl caused the man to turn his face in the bulldog’s direction, which raised Phinn’s eyebrows at what he saw. Immediately, he placed the water dish on the pavement while the man shifted to walk away from the rummage sale.

“His eyes!” Johanna exclaimed.

Phinn didn’t quite understand, but Corky did. The incoming seventh-grader immediately acted. Taking a few steps, he used a chair as a launching point to leap onto a table before landing on the man’s back. Throwing his arms around the man’s neck, Corky started shouting about a citizen’s arrest.

“His eyes!” Johanna repeated, looking at Phinn. “Deep like the strange man at the library.”

“Citizen’s arrest!”

“Please, help me! Get this crazy kid off me!” the man begged onlookers, while swinging around in a circle wildly. “Help me!”

“He’s choking him!” one woman screamed.

“The brat’s trying to strangle him,” her friend countered.

“I caught one of the bastards!” Corky yelled, causing more outrage.

While Johanna never told Phineas about the strange elderly man from the Dillingday Library who followed her around before she and Jake got trapped in the storeroom, the teen sleuth’s brain sparked with realization as the man slammed an elbow into Corky’s face. The sharp blow knocked the kid onto the cement driveway.

Freed, the man started to speedwalk away from the tables, while off in the distance, Lance exited his home’s side door. Subconsciously noting Mrs. Nook pointing and explaining the situation to her son, Phinn halted the man’s progress with a single word.

“Angelo!”

The man whom Phinn suspected of being Angelo “Monster” Manfredi spun around to face the teen detective. Although twenty feet separated the two, Phinn recognized the signs of a relatively solid mask. Not quite up to his usual standards, Angelo could be forgiven for using a less impressive mask after only recently escaping from prison.

Despite feeling longer, the three-to-four second staredown ended when Manfredi turned to leave. However, Phinn’s brief distraction bought enough time for Jake to exit through his front door and move to block the escaped prisoner. Looking past the stocky detective who already foiled him personally once in a scuffle, Manfredi noticed Lance Nook crossing the street.

With limited interest in fighting two young men and an increasing number of neighbors heading over, the thief showed off his knowledge of both properties. Spinning around, Angelo shoved Corky out of the way while racing into Jake’s backyard.

Guessing his move before it happened, Phinn rushed to cut him off, but found a lamp thrown into his face. Knocked off balance for a moment, the teen didn’t recover in time. Bandit took up the chase, but found himself barking at the yard’s back gate after Manfredi leaped over it.

Jake reached the gate in time to shove it open, but only to watch as the convicted thief fled in an unassuming car that had been parked at the alley’s entrance. Slapping his hand against his thigh, Jake ordered Bandit to stop the chase.

“He’s right. Manfredi got away,” Phinn informed the bulldog, who looked back in confusion at Jake.

“What the fuck was Monster doing at our rummage sale?” Jake questioned, causing Phineas to shrug. “Are you sure that was him?”

“The guy stopped when I called his name, and he moved like Manfredi,” Phinn noted. “At least, you can rule out a supervillain surgery that increased his height and mass.”

“Whoa! I never said that,” Jake denied, as Corky came up behind them.

“Uh, Mrs. Annable just arrived,” the assistant revealed.

“You thought it,” Phinn told Jake before groaning. “Great. Now we have to deal with Edgewater’s finest.”

---

“Thank, gawd. It’s the chief,” Phinn announced, jumping off his porch.

For once in his life, the police-despising teen felt relieved to see several members of the EPD’s high command arrive. Part of that feeling came from Deputy Chief Reyhall’s absence, and another part from escaping his mother’s nosy friends.

A whole assortment of neighborhood mothers, grandmothers, and busybodies had descended onto the Farris home after word quickly spread about an escaped prisoner showing up at the rummage sale. Unfortunately for Phineas, most of the women had already been around for the annual sale, and they had plenty of comments about his long history of worrying his mother.

The worst of the worst came from Midge Jowers, Pamela’s childhood best friend. Despite living on the city’s south side, Mrs. Jowers appeared in lightning time, claiming that she rushed out the door. Phinn doubted she drove a hundred miles per hour and assumed she’d already been close by at either the hair salon or the rummage sale.

As for Pamela Farris, Phinn had handed his phone off to Johanna well before the expected call came. Telling the meddling influencer to deal with his mom, Phineas used the police as an excuse. Still, the other women, particularly Midge, passed along his mom’s outraged and concerned comments.

“What’s next, Phineas? Will fake ghosts return to ruin Waterfest? Or maybe the new Miss Paddle will be kidnapped? I can see that your presence is wrecking this event,” Chief Norberg noted, while crossing the street.

“Wreck? Chief, I bet this incident will ensure the greatest Monroe Park Sale ever. Look at all the gawkers already flocking here,” Phinn responded, gesturing to the large crowds milling around.

It wasn’t lost on the junior sleuth that his partner opted to stay away from the chief’s potential interrogation. Instead, Jake lived up to his public reputation as the star detective while entertaining the attractive women, young and middle-aged, who mobbed around him to hear about what had happened. Phinn had already overheard bits and pieces about their two previous cases/encounters with Angelo Manfredi.

Phinn decided to let Jake’s absence slide for now, but he’d find a way to needle his friend’s lack of courage around the police chief. It wouldn’t be anything severe, since Jake calmed down Mrs. King after she freaked out. His charm convinced the distraught mother that her son hadn’t been in any danger and that Corky had been the hero of the moment.

“Alright, what happened?” Chief Norberg asked, despite getting updates from the first officers on the scene.

While Phineas recounted the events, the police chief wondered if he’d made the correct calls over the years regarding Busybody, Incorporated. Yes, they often unearthed crimes that the police department hadn’t been aware of, and their unusual methods provided results, but usually with high drama. Deeply unpopular across most of the EPD, the trio often provoked strong resentment, some of which was directed at Norberg. A few others blamed former Chief Tarkham for suddenly softening during his final year before retirement.

“So you’re certain of his identity?”

“The mask isn’t up to his usual quality. But can you blame him? He probably doesn’t have quick access to his regular supply after spending a few years in jail. Not to mention, his base of operations wasn’t around here.”

“The feds never discerned his primary location,” Chief Norberg recalled.

“Really? Our sources narrowed it down to the Northwest, maybe even to a small city called Evermist,” Phinn revealed, loving the brief look of surprise. He’d need to thank Pearl from the Sassy Girls for that nugget.

“It's troubling that Manfredi might have returned here twice,” the police chief remarked before asking why.

“We have no clue. Well, check that, Jake thinks it’s for revenge, but I highly doubt that. He lets the Monster nickname cloud his judgment. Angelo’s a pure thief, simple as that,” Phinn evaluated.

“So he’s snooping around her to steal an item from one of you?”

“We’re not even high school seniors yet. What would we have worth stealing?” Phinn chuckled. He did have one valuable item hidden, but the thief shouldn’t know about that. “I’d figure Manfredi would be halfway across the country by now.”

“That’s what the US Marshal Service also believed. They dismissed a Manfredi connection with your break-in,” Chief Norberg relayed. “However, if that was him, he did steal several items. Maybe not gems or diamonds, but information.”

“Yeah, those two stolen journals do point to an interest in our past cases. Yet, I double-checked and found that only the Zuuntronic theft was mentioned in one of the journals. I eventually stopped with the journals, but the Etzler diamond heist can be found in the last one, which he didn’t steal.”

“What about one of your other past cases? Could there be an item that interests Manfredi enough to risk staying around this area?” the chief inquired.

"Anything is possible. We've certainly come across a wide range of art, sculptures, jewelry, and more. I suppose it could be something Angelo heard about in Mug Jug. We've sent plenty of people there," Phinn said, shrugging. "I couldn't give you a list. Dusty's the one who kept track of that crap. I found some notes, but I could call–"

“We’ll see,” the older man said, cutting Phineas off. “This is strange and worrisome.”

An uncomfortable pause ensued for Phinn. Figuring it wouldn’t hurt, he asked another question of the police chief.

“Say, did Manfredi escape by himself, or did he have accomplices? What about any other recent prison breaks in the area?”

“Why do you ask?” Norberg queried, immediately growing suspicious.

“No reason. That’s what often happens, and they could be what’s keeping him in Edgewater,” Phinn said, covering for his question about the Masked Creep.

“Are you telling me the truth, Phineas? Or does that question have anything to do with Jake’s bruises?” Chief Norberg challenged.

“Nah, not at all. Would you believe that Jake walked into a door last night while sleeping over at my house? Yeah, I figure you wouldn’t,” Phinn admitted, leaning in close. “Between you and me, I’m a bit worried about Jake. He’s got this new summer fling…and boy, she’s a doozy. Crazy with a fetish for getting physical in bed. I mean, it’s all consensual, and she’s well over eighteen. So it’s nothing for the police to get involved in, but as his friend…”

“I swear, Farris, you’d be scary dangerous as a politician if you didn’t hate people,” Chief Norberg replied, shaking his head.

“You don’t believe me? It’s true. Jake’s going through a crazy chick phase,” Phinn insisted, motioning in the direction of his partner, who looked over in alarm.

“Whatever. You two need to be careful,” the police chief warned. “Now, I need to deal with the Marshal’s Service, but in the meantime, I’m going to station—”

“Oh, no! You are not putting one of your flat foots outside my house,” Phinn interrupted. “What’s the point of drawing Manfredi back in?”

“That’s the point, Phineas. It’s a deterrence. You have been hurt in the past.”

“Aw, come on, Chief! Angelo clearly wants something. Why else would he visit a fricking rummage sale at our homes? The marshals won’t catch him. The guy’s a master of disguise. This is your best shot,” Phinn argued. Once he realized that approach hadn’t worked, he quickly shifted his tactics. “Look, don’t put a car too close. Definitely not outside on Madison or around the corner on 34th. How about you put a lone car over on 35th, leading up to the park? That way, your people are close enough to respond to a call, but can also observe the park. You know, that way is the best to sneak onto our properties.”

“Phinn, I can’t risk leaving you–”

“I won’t be at risk. Jake will be with me, and we’ll get several of his teammates to spend the night. Would having Luke Ridley and Andre Savard with us, among others, placate you?” Phinn asked.

Pinching his brow, the tired law enforcement official nodded slightly.

“I can’t guarantee what the marshals will do, but I’ll put an unmarked car on 35th. However, a second car will be parked somewhere close, as well.”

“Throw them down the road on Marshall. What? A second car in the school parking lot could be an extra janitor,” Phinn suggested about his old elementary school.

“Fine. That’s only a promise for one night, and mostly because I doubt Manfredi will return tonight. However, you'd better have a packed house to keep him from trying anything,” Chief Norberg ordered with a finger wag before huddling with several cops.

Once the coast was clear, Jake moved over to meet Phinn.

“Ah, finished signing autographs?”

“What happened? Why did the chief look at me that way?” Jake questioned.

“Don’t fret. I talked the chief out of leaving a squad car in front of our houses tonight,” Phinn reassured.

“A squad car? Why? Are we in danger? Does the chief know anything?”

“Well, Norberg didn’t quite believe my reason for your bruises. I mean, I did tell him the truth…in a certain manner.”

“You told the chief about the Masked Creep?”

“Of course not. I told him that you have a summer fling that has a fetish for beating you during sex. I think he almost bought it.”

“Why would you lie about something like that?”

“Was it truly a lie? Technically, Zoe is a summer fling, and you did say she got physical, right?”

“It was a one-night stand! But, yeah,” Jake admitted. “Wait, what did her mom want?”

“I’ll get to that in a second. First, you need to find Luke and Andre. One of the chief’s requirements is that we have a large group stay over tonight. Second, I gotta call Dusty,” Phinn revealed.

---

“Any luck?" Jake asked when his partner returned from a long call. “Wait, Johanna said she had a thing to do for her blog or whatever. She promised to be back bright and early tomorrow with a to-do list.”

Phinn groaned loudly before replying to Jake’s inquiry.

“Dusty’s going to start looking through our old records. Might take days. It’s a lot of work, and I guess some big newspaper story is happening over there,” Phinn relayed. “We couldn’t think of anything off the tops of our heads about a loose case thread that might interest Manfredi.”

“Crap,” Jake mumbled. “I hate to say it, but we might need to pull out the case folders we have.”

“Oh, we’re definitely doing that shortly. I just heard a very stern lecture about keeping better records and being lazy bums,” Phinn recounted.

“Yep, that sounds like our recordkeeper,” Jake chuckled.

“It sure does. Also, Dusty’s going to ask around. See if Manfredi has any particular interest in specific items. We’re thinking more like an item for himself rather than a straight theft for money.”

“I guess that’s possible,” Jake responded.

“Did you get a hold of Luke and Andre?”

“Ugh! They can’t come over tonight. Apparently, they met some visiting coeds and have been showing them the sights. They have a super important double date lined up,” Jake revealed, sounding jealous. “Man, I knew something was up. They’ve been too quiet.”

“Fuck. We’ll need to find replacements,” Phinn noted.

“Already on it. Wally and Kody might be able to stay, and I stress might. It depends on what their parents hear about Monster’s appearance. You'd better call Ethan and Galen. Danny’s back in town, so I’m going to try him,” Jake passed along.

“Youngberry?” Phinn inquired, referring to the junior-year quarterback. “Shit, Piper’s more intimidating than most of these guys.”

“Hey, we could have a repeat of last night. Invite Piper, Allie, and a few others,” Jake suggested.

“By a few others, you mean Abby and her friends. Yet, you forget that those same friends are Libby’s friends, and she’ll come with them. Do you really want that?” Phinn challenged. Then, he added that Chief Norberg might not accept Jake holding a harem night as a replacement for his officers.

“Shit, you’re right.”

“Let’s figure some people out. I bought time with Johanna talking to my mom, but she’ll be calling again soon. I need a list and a story about what happened,” Phinn said. “It’s likely that she’ll insist on Lance staying over.”

"Hey, that's cool. Lance knows what we do," Jake replied, dismissing his best friend's prior concerns about Lance growing more serious with age. Looking up, noticed the mail carrier leaving. "Be right back."

While Jake went to check for any mail, Phinn ran through any people his mom might saddle him with as a babysitter. Katie Pettit wouldn’t return to town until Friday, and she might not get in until late. And while several of Pamela’s friends have sons in college or older, Phinn knew those same women didn’t care for danger and the teen detectives’ activities. Fortunately, the Jowers kids were too young to get sent over. That possibility led him to the people Jake’s parents could suggest.

“Hey, did your mom or dad call yet about the police?” Phinn asked, sensing Jake's approach. “Um, tell her I’m sorry about that broken lamp. I couldn’t catch it.”

“Um, what? I don’t know,” his partner replied, sounding distracted. “Uh, Phinn, I found this in the mailbox.”

Phineas looked over to find Jake holding up a large manila envelope. Immediately, they made eye contact and nodded together. Opening the envelope, Jake pulled out another 8x10 photograph. Phinn didn’t need to ask, as he saw the black marker writing on the back.

Standing up, the bespectacled sleuth joined his partner to study another picture from the 1970s. This one featured a man on a bed with his hands gripping a woman’s hips. A smiling brunette rode him cowgirl-style, her head slightly raised toward the ceiling and the unseen camera.

“$1000 or hubby gets the pictures.”