Murder In New York
Chapter 16
August 11
15th Precinct
1400 HoursEd Green sat on the steps rocking Serena Southerlyn in his arms. She wouldn’t stop crying. "Hush now, Serena. Baby, if you don’t hush, we’re going to have to take you to the hospital."
That finally got her attention. She pushed away from him and frantically rubbed her hands across her eyes. "I’m-just-fine." She hiccupped between each word.
Ed snorted. "No, you’re not." He looked around and shook his head. "God, what a mess. Look, Serena, stay here. I need to check out what’s going on."
She grabbed his arm. "Don’t leave me." As he stood, she stood with him. "I should go too. I need to…"
"You need to stay right here, Miss…" He started but the tremor in her lip did him in. "Fine. McCoy will kick my ass, but come on." Before they made it across the street, a police car squealed to a stop and the man in question came bursting out of the back seat.
"Serena! What the hell happened here?" McCoy rushed up and took her in his arms. Green started to walk away, but McCoy nailed him with a stare. "I asked a question, detective!"
The two men might have glared at each forever but AJ Chegwidden came out of the building across the street. Seeing the two men, he walked over and asked quietly, "Miss Southerlyn, are you better now?"
Once again Serena pulled away from a man who was trying to protect and comfort her. She met AJ’s steady gaze and nodded. "For now. Did you find anything, Admiral?"
"Just the body, and…" He paused and then looked at both men trying to judge the dynamics between the three. He hadn’t thought there was any personal connection between the detective and the ADA but then he hadn’t thought there were any personal feelings between McCoy and Southerlyn either. But now the two men were acting like rutting rams. He was reminded of the time in Australia when Brumby and Rabb had gone at each other. Of course, he really didn’t see McCoy and Green duking it out.
"What did you find, Admiral?" Serena waited.
AJ finally held up the plasticine evidence bag, holding a photograph of Serena. "This needs to go to the FBI lab. We found it next to the body."
All three gasped but again it was Serena who asked. "Why? Why was he trying to kill me?"
"When was this picture taken? Do you know?"
It was Green who answered. "It had to be yesterday, late in the afternoon. Maybe right after you arrived on the scene. There’s that dry cleaners on 121st Street where the van was. See, the pin on your jacket is in the same place." He almost reached out and touched it but fisted his hand and brought it back to his side.
"Why, damnit?" McCoy scanned the scene, sighed and then asked in a calmer voice. "How bad?"
For a moment they watched as Victor Galindez gently pulled Mary Perkins away from the body of the policemen they had tried to save. Mary stood looking lost, looking for someone. Finally, as if knowing he was needed, Rabb came out of the precinct, saw her and went to her side. They all turned and stared at the aftermath of the lone gunman’s rampage.
"Gentlemen." AJ, Green and McCoy turned at the sound of Cassie’s voice. She nodded but stepped up to Serena. "We need to get you to a safe house. Perhaps, have a doctor at Havenhurst look at you."
"From what I can tell, Agent Ryan, Havenhurst isn’t particularly safe," McCoy snapped.
"It is now. There’s a detail of Army Rangers from Fort Hamilton there now. Look, McCoy, we don’t know what’s going down, but it has to have something to do with Webb. Webb’s on his way back to Havenhurst. Havenhurst is the best bet. Besides," her grin was tired but it was there, "That way you can stay on top of things."
Serena heaved a sigh then looked up at Jack. "You need to be at the office. Ed, would you drive me to Havenhurst?"
Green’s heart pounded a little harder. «Oh man. When the hell did this happen?» "Sure. Hey, Lennie!"
"What?" His partner yelled from across the street.
"Come on! We’re driving Ser…Miss Southerlyn to the hospital."
Briscoe came running up, "You did get hurt?"
"No. Well I guess they should check out this bump on my head." She gingerly reached up and touched the back of her head.
"I want a car in front and back!" McCoy insisted.
When they arrived at the hospital, a corporal in BDU’s checked their ID’s and then let them into the courtyard. Serena cursed quietly as she finally saw the dirt and blood on her suit. "Damn, what am I going to change into?"
Briscoe sighed and held out his hand. "Give me the key to your apartment. Trust me on this, I’ve been married enough times, I can pick you out comfortable clothes. Anything you want special?"
After she had carefully written out a list and directions to her apartment and handed him the keys she reached out and took his hand. "Thanks…uhm…Lennie."
Briscoe watched as his partner guided Serena up the short flight of steps into the hospital. He rolled down his window and said to the uniform cop in the car that had preceded them into the courtyard. "Stay here. I’ll be damned if I’m trusting a bunch of goddamn SOLDIERS to watch them. Now if it had been Marines…" The two cops nodded and Lennie backed the car out and into the street.
Green waited outside the small exam room and paced. Down the hall he could see MacKenzie talking on her cell phone. «Maybe she has some answers.»
"No, I understand, sir. I know I need to be here with him. I just don’t understand this set back. Yes, sir, I will…oh…Detective Green is right here. Miss Southerlyn must be in another exam room. Yes, sir. I will. Sir, you need to rest too." She closed the phone and smiled wearily at Green. "He was just telling me about what they found. I thought they were trying to kill Clay."
"Yeah, everybody did until Chegwidden found that photo. What the hell is going on?" Mac who had her back to the door, facing Green, started to give him a lame explanation about something that was completely confusing her. She was saved by the soft voice behind her.
"Well, Detective Green, Sarah, shall we go to my office and discuss it?"
"I’m not leaving him, Doctor." Mac kept her tone cool and professional. She couldn’t help but somehow blame Greenwald for this setback, even though she knew it was unfair and extremely unkind.
"I want to be here when your people are done with Miss Southerlyn," Green agreed.
"Very well, then step over here. We need to be out of the way." They stepped into a small bay area overlooking the street below where cop cars and Army Humvees rested nose to nose. Cops and Rangers were talking amongst themselves but keeping an eye on the activity around them. Both ends of the street were blocked off and the few people going to and from the other buildings were subjected to identification checks. Mac thought they all looked rather resigned.
She turned to face the two men. "Talk to us, Doctor. What made him act that way?"
Greenwald held his eyes to hers. "Well, there are several speculations I can make. Until we find where he was being held – hopefully, Palmer left the place set up in case he could get Webb back there – it is all so much guess work on my part."
"Why was Miss Southerlyn targeted?" Green ground out.
Greenwald rubbed his hands over his face and Mac could see how tired he was too. «Tough shit! We’re all tired.»
"Well, first off, do we know who called out to him to turn around?"
Mac thought hard and Green just shrugged. "Why? Is it important?"
"Well, consider this. If he hadn’t turned around, Miss Southerlyn would be dead – or would she have?"
"What?" two voices demanded in unison.
Greenwald sighed. Colonel MacKenzie already blamed him for even having a room downstairs, but this was his field of expertise and he couldn’t shield her from it. "Did you two ever see the Manchurian Candidate?" At their nods he continued. "In it a man is conditioned to kill the President of the United States."
"Yeah, we know. You think that’s what Palmer was trying to do to Webb?" Green glanced down the hallway trying to see if there was any activity around the room where the doctors were checking Serena.
"Almost impossible. As you saw, Webb worked out for himself that Rabb wasn’t evil. Perhaps we made a mistake in not keeping Mrs. Webb here for the early therapy." He said this in a whisper, as if he were berating himself for making a mistake. "A man with Webb’s devotion to duty, it would have taken months of intense torture and manipulation." He began to pace. "I just wish I knew how far in the process Palmer was. You see there is torture involving showing the subject that he can’t trust anyone that he thought he could trust. Then there is a period of time where there is no torture but pleasure of some kind associated with the person or persons who would eventually become his handler.
"Oh, God." Mac put her hands to her face.
"Colonel? What did you discover in the tunnel?" Mac just shook her head and tried to turn away. Greenwald took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. "You must tell me! What did he say to you in the tunnel?" Mac looked at Green, the blush on her face was beet red. Fortunately the door down the hall opened.
Green looked from the Marine Colonel to the doctor and then just shrugged. "So much for interagency cooperation."
He started to walk off, but Mac touched his arm. "No. Wait. You might need to hear this." She waited until Serena joined them, looking haggard and confused. But, the ADA realized something important was about to be said so she stood there, allowing Green to rest his arm around her shoulder. Mac took a deep breath and stuttered out how Webb had managed to escape from Palmer.
: :
Mary Perkins Apartment
Spring Street – Soho
1700 HoursRabb handed the sack of take out they had picked up and looked back at Galindez. "Thanks for driving us, Gunny. You…uhm…want to come up for some food?"
"No thanks, Commander. I need to get back to the hotel. Francesca will be worried after seeing that on the news."
"Uh.huh. Well just make sure you change before you see her." Rabb helped Mary out of the back seat and took the small suitcase that Galindez had schlepped all over town after picking up clothes for both Rabb and Chegwidden.
Mary leaned into the window. "Commander Rabb told me you drove up here with nothing to change into."
"Yes, ma’am."
"You know your way around Manhattan, Gunny?"
"Uhm…no ma’am. Not really. I can read a map and I know how to get back to the hotel."
"Look. Go down two more blocks; turn right, then look halfway down the block. There’s a men’s store down there. You can get decent clothes at a pretty good price. You need any money?" She blushed at her outspokenness, but all she was concerned about right now was solving the problem, getting him out of here, going upstairs, eating and then going to bed, with or without the very handsome man standing next to her. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…"
"Don’t worry about it, ma’am. I appreciate it. You know of any cleaners nearby. Maybe the guy at the clothing store will let me just walk out in the clothes I buy."
"There’s a cleaners at the end of that block. Give them the name of your hotel and, here." She reached into her purse and pulled out a business card. "Tell them I said to deliver it to the hotel tomorrow. It’s out of their normal delivery range, but they owe me a favor."
"Thanks, Agent Perkins. Sir."
When he drove away, Mary reached up and took the food from Rabb. "I’m starved." She led him upstairs to her small efficiency apartment. "It’s tiny, but you wouldn’t believe what I pay a month." She sighed.
"Hey I live in D.C. Northeast of Union Station, the neighborhood sucks, I had my car stolen and I had to do all the work on it myself. I can believe." He looked around and dropped his case on the floor. "You did nice in here. The bed behind that screen?"
"No, that’s my workout space." She led him back and showed him the treadmill and stationary bike there. "I know it’s not the host-ly thing to do but I’ve got dibs on the shower." She grinned wickedly, "Set out dinner and if you can find the bed, you get a prize."
"What kind of…" he started, but she was already opening a door and closing it behind her.
Carefully she pulled off her soiled clothes and tenderly peeled back the bandage over her wound. She sighed deeply. "Thank the goddess." The stitches held and very little blood had oozed out. She reached into the paper sack the nurse gave her and pulled out the ointment and clear plastic bandage they said she should use when showering. She grimaced at the twinge when she lifted her arm and decided it called for another pain pill. She just hoped she could keep everyone from babying her. She really wanted to be a part of this team, and not just to prove her mettle, either. Stepping into the shower, she let the water wash away the dirt and the kinks in her muscles. She rather wished that Rabb would take the initiative and joined her, but she suspected it was too soon for the lawyer. He looked rather straight-laced to her. «Might be rather nice actually.» She stepped out and dried off, leaving the bandage in place. Tomorrow she would replace it with gauze and tape. Perhaps she could get Rabb to apply it for her. She blushed at the thought of his hands on her. Pulling her long chenille robe on she stepped out in the main room and stopped. "I see you found it."
Harmon Rabb reclined on the Murphy bed that he had pulled down from the wall. Spread before him on newspapers was their dinner. "Come eat. It’s my turn in the bathroom."
She gulped and approached him, wondering just how they were going to make it through the night without pouncing on each other. She supposed he could crawl over her and sleep on the very small love seat that served as her sofa. «Well, while he’s crawlin’ over, I’ll just make sure he doesn’t finish the trip.»
"That’s a very evil grin if ever I saw one." He loomed over her and then swooped down for a quick kiss that left them both a little breathless. "I’ll be right back."
«Hmmmm. Maybe not so straight-laced after all.» She grinned as she arranged herself at the head of the bed. "Damn I’m hungry."
When Harm returned to the room dressed in slacks and a tee shirt. He found her sitting cross-legged in the center of the bed wearing cotton sleep boxers and a thin tee. "Damn, you’re beautiful," he breathed, his voice hitching.
A rosy blush suffused her entire body and her nipples hardened in a most embarrassing fashion. "No, I’m not." She held out a piece of chicken, but he pushed it away as he crawled onto the bed to capture her lips in his.
"Yes, you are, and if we weren’t both so damn tired, I would show you what you do to me," he whispered, nuzzling her neck.
She groaned and tried to hold him to her, but he pulled back and picked up a piece of broccoli out of the carton. "Oh. I forgot."
"S’kay. I’ll manage." He grinned at her. He stood back up and unzipped his pants. Placing them over a chair he settled himself at the head of the bed. "Hand me the Ma Po Bean Curd." Mary shuddered but handed him the container. "Hey." He gently admonished her. "Have you ever tried it?"
"No." She eyed the fingers reaching out a piece of the tofu. Leaning forward she took the piece in her mouth but instead of pulling back, leaned in further and captured his thumb too.
"Christ, Mary!" he groaned. "I thought you were tired."
"I am, but I can still torture you, can’t I?" At the word torture though, they both turned somber and returned to eating their food. After a moment she whispered, "I can’t image what they did to him."
"Me either. I just hope he doesn’t end up hurting Mac more."
"You two are good friends?" Mary tried to keep the jealousy at bay.
Harm studied her and shrugged. "We’re partners and best friends. No body busts my chops harder than Mac, but she…" he took a deep breath. "There could have been more between us – once. But there never was. I was too pig-headed and…" He met Mary’s gaze. "I’m not real good at relationships, Mary. My job comes first."
"Good. So does mine. I’ve got a lot to offer the FBI, if I can just figure out a way to make them see it."
"You will. Now tell me, what did you learn on your little stunt. Oh, and by the way, if you ever pull something like that again without authorization, I’ll wail your ass for you."
"Oh yeah, you and what Army, sweetheart?"
"That’s Navy, Missy, and I know a couple of SEALs who will help; one in particular. You could have been killed."
"And what about you, Mister?" Both of them cracked up and couldn’t stop laughing. Finally Mary caught her breath. "How many times has the SEAL – I assume you mean Chegwidden – had to blister your ass – verbally of course."
Rabb blushed at that visual but managed, "More times than I care to remember." He stood up and took the empty packages from her. "Now scoot over and go to sleep and don’t try to have your way with me until morning at least."
"Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you, Commander Rabb?"
He settled in next to her. "Yeah. Seriously, Mary. Go to sleep. I won’t start anything. Hell, don’t tell anyone because if you did they would kick me out of the Fighter Pilots Union, but I’m exhausted."
They fell asleep facing each other, hands clasped across the small space between them.
: :
Holiday Inn – Midtown
1800 HoursVictor Galindez stared at the house phone. He knew he should get some sleep but he was too keyed up. «Oh hell, she’s probably out shopping or sightseeing with her mother.» He started to pick up the phone, then turned around only to see her standing there just behind him. "Damn. How do you do that?"
"Do what, Victor?" Francesca studied the Marine before her, a frown on her face. "You did not like the clothes that I bought you?" Her frown matched the sadness in her eyes.
Galindez looked down at the jeans, tee shirt and light-weight jacket he had bought at the store Perkins sent him too. The bag with the rest of the clothes he had bought lay by his side. "God no. I liked them a lot. They fit perfectly but…" At her raised eyebrow he sighed. "Look, you want to have dinner. You can call up to your mother and invite her too."
Francesca shook her head. "No. I just returned from taking her out to the airport. She is going home." She hung her head. "I should have also gone, but…"
He stepped closer and reaching out his hand, gently forced her chin up until their eyes met. "Fran, the clothes you bought me got dirty today. I thought you might have seen it on the television. The dry cleaners will deliver them tomorrow afternoon. I really did like them, and I really would like to take you to dinner."
"What happened?"
"Dinner?"
"Oh, fine."
"You know any nice places that I can get into wearing jeans?"
"Si!" Her sober mood forgotten, she tugged him to the front of the lobby.
"Hey, wait a minute." He walked over to the front desk and held up the bag from Morry’s Men Shoppe. "Would you mind getting this up to my room, or even just keeping it here until we get back?"
The girl behind the desk simpered, "Oh, no problem at all, sir."
She licked her lips suggestively and Victor just sighed. "Thank you." Turning just in time to see Francesca glower at the woman, he took her arm. "Dinner?"
"Si, il mio inamorato." She let him lead her out into the early evening. "It is still very bright out, Victor. We can walk, unless you are too tired."
"No actually, I think it will help."
They walked hand in hand and she waited for a while before asking, "What happened today? I did not see any of the news. It took almost four hours to go to the airport and return and the taxi driver played music. Very pretty music, but there was no news that I remember."
He told her everything that had happened since he left her nearly eight hours ago. She listened intently, even stopping outside the restaurant refusing to go in until he was finished. "So we’ve got Webb, Palmer is dead, but there are still so many unanswered questions." He looked up and read "Ciro."
"Si, it is my favorite Italian Restaurant here."
"Francesca!" The maître d’ kissed first one cheek and then the other in a familiar greeting. "What are you doing in New York?"
"Tony, Victor Galindez." She introduced the two men. She saw the look on Victor’s face and playfully slapped his arm. "Silly. Not that Tony." She shook her head. "Men."
Tony laughed and took Galindez’s hand. "Don’t worry, I didn’t like the bastard, either."
"Well you never said anything," Francesca snapped.
"Darling, like it would have mattered. You are as stubborn as your old man. How is he anyway? You haven’t brought him in for dinner in a long time."
"Papa is very busy. And you must not say anything about him, or Victor must do something terrible to you. Papa was …"her forehead wrinkled in consternation. "How do you say it, Victor?"
"I was under Admiral Chegwidden’s command for awhile."
"Do tell. You don’t look like an lawyer to me."
"Marine, sir. Currently serving in Afghanistan. I’m on leave." Galindez had no idea why he was explaining all this to the young man who was making sure they had a very private booth near the back of the restaurant.
"Damn." Tony called over the waiter and whispered something. "Enjoy your meal, Francesca, Victor."
The menu wasn’t the most expensive he had seen, but he felt good about her choice. He wanted to somewhat pay her back for the clothes. "I just wanted you to know that the guy at the dry cleaners said he could get the … dirt out." He didn’t want to tell her that the blood from a dying cop had soaked through his pant knees or that there were splotches of blood all over his shirt. Mary Perkins’ clothes were just as bad.
The waiter came to take their drink order and even though he knew he shouldn’t, he ordered a scotch. He didn’t often drink anything but beer. Tonight however, he needed something a bit stronger. Francesca ordered wine. "Get a bottle. I’ll have a glass with dinner."
She cocked an eyebrow, but ordered something in Italian. Then she said something else and the waiter nodded. "Immediatamente, signorita."
"What did you order?"
"Oh, just some bread and olive oil. When was the last time you ate?"
He tried to think, and as if it were trying to help, his stomach offered up a rather loud growl. He blushed, she giggled but then said, "Eat some bread before you drink the scotch; I have plans for you later."
He gulped but whispered back, "Roger that."
: :
15th Precinct
1800 hoursAJ paced back and forth in the bullpen upstairs at the 15th, too keyed up to even consider the fact that he hadn’t slept in nearly thirty-six hours. He had done more on less sleep. Cassie had refused to leave until every ‘I’ was dotted and every ‘T’ was crossed. «Well at least she didn’t suggest that I go back without her. Like I would have.»
"That does it." She sighed as she hung up the phone at one of the empty desks. Van Buren followed a cop she had interviewed out of the office and came to stand next to them. Cassie held up her hand and started counting off. "They are running a check on the shooter. Still no word from any of the contacts the other agents are working on to find Karpov. Oh, I did get a call from the FBI lab. The packets of white powder found on Webb the night of the murder contained less narcotics than most emergency rooms will give you for a minor problem."
Van Buren spoke up. "I just heard from the ME. Kusman and that guy from the flophouse, Skolov, were shot with the same gun – the gun that was found next to Palmer this afternoon. Just got the match. But that’s not the most interesting thing she told me." Cassie and AJ waited. "A very preliminary exam of Palmer’s body shows someone had damn near broken his back for him. There were signs of healing trauma from a heavy object on his back and head."
"Webb must have really beat him when he escaped." AJ said.
"That would explain why it took so long for Palmer to reenter the picture. He was recovering," Cassie offered.
"Where, damn it?" AJ snarled.
"Well, lover, that’s what we might find out tonight."
"Excuse me!" AJ barely kept his roar to a strangled growl.
Van Buren looked from one to the other and shrugged. "I have to get home to my kids. We’ll meet here tomorrow at…say 10:00?"
"Fine!" AJ snapped. There were only two other people in the bull pen, both of them detectives manning the phones as they worked the case that had rendered their precinct almost useless and in the process garnered them trucks from every news station in town. "Let’s get this over with." When they reached the street he turned to her. "You are bound and determined to do this?" He took her arm and started down the steps.
"AJ. I have no choice."
Stopping on the first landing, he looked down at the clothes, casual Dockers Ô and a simple black cotton shirt, Galindez had brought back for him. "Do we have time to change?"
"No. Frankly, I don’t give a fuck what Don Vitorio thinks about my attire. He owes me big time and he’ll pay up. I have never asked before. He’s expecting us out in Brooklyn within the hour."
"You’ve got this set up? When?"
"While you were changing. You coming or not, Chegwidden?"
He crowded her into the corner and growled softly. "We aren’t staying for desert. I want to be in your bed by 2400 hours, Agent Ryan."
An agent he had never seen before picked them up in a Lincoln Town Car and drove them out to Brooklyn. AJ was going to demand an explanation, but Cassie’s phone rang and he didn’t get a chance. She spent the entire ride filling in Jacobs on the latest developments. When she ended with a resigned sigh and, "Very good, sir. We’ll see you tomorrow at the 15th Precinct…Because, sir, that’s closer to where everything went down. Good night."
AJ was frankly surprised when, after they had been frisked, the bodyguards left them both with their guns. Cassie explained. "He doesn’t fear me, AJ, and he’s probably already checked you out and knows the Judge Advocate General for the Navy isn’t going to assassinate him. He just wants to make sure that we aren’t wearing wires."
"Jesus. What does he owe you?"
"The life of my daughter, Admiral Chegwidden." A smooth voice informed him.
"Don Vitorio." Cassie carefully greeted the man who controlled most of the illegal activities in Brooklyn and Manhattan – or had until the influx during the late seventies of the Columbians and later other criminals from other countries made inroads into his territories.
"Cassie!" A high girlish voice called from the top of the staircase to their left. "Oh, my God. I heard you were coming!" A woman, barely into her twenties rushed down the stairs and enveloped Ryan in a tight hug. Cassie returned the hug, but met AJ’s startled glance.
"Hello, Rosa. Stand back and let me look at you. My goodness, who would have thought a tough little tomboy like you would have grown into such a beautiful woman."
Rosa Vitorio blushed. "Thank you. You’ve come for dinner." She looked at her father and then Cassie. "You’ve never come for dinner before."
Cassie sighed. "I know, Rosa. I need to talk to your father. Uhm…next month call me. Maybe we can work something out."
Rosa Vitorio sighed. She understood. At first she had been hurt that the woman who had saved her life and held her throughout a long scary night in a warehouse in the middle of a burned out section of Bedford-Stuyvesant over fifteen years ago would never agree to visit her once the brand new agent had returned the then-seven-year-olf to her father’s house. She had to be content to exchange a few phone calls and meet once a year on the anniversary of her kidnapping. "Okay." Her face was sad but then her eyes lit up as she finally saw Ryan’s companion. "Are you FBI too?"
"No Rosa. Go on upstairs now."
Rosa looked like she was going to argue with her father but instead stood up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. She gave Cassie a look. "Next month, not November. November is a given, but next month. I want to talk to you about something."
Cassie glanced quickly at the Mafia don before nodding her head. "Here." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. "This is my cell phone number. Call me."
"Okay." A smile finally reappeared on the young woman’s face. "You got it." Rosa looked at AJ, "Nice meeting you…oh wait, we didn’t meet, did we?" Rosa sighed but ran upstairs.
Vitorio glared at Cassie but gestured for them to precede him into the dining room. "Now, what is it that you want after all these years?" he demanded sourly.
"Something that will cost you nothing, and perhaps will net you some satisfaction," Cassie said. She smiled up at AJ has he held her chair for her.
"And what does the Judge Advocate General of the Navy want? Aren’t you afraid that your position will be sullied?"
AJ sat next to Cassie and picked up the water sitting there. He knew he had to be careful. If Cassie thought the Mafia don could be useful, then AJ couldn’t afford to insult the man, but he wasn’t going to cow-tow either. "I wasn’t aware that having dinner with you would hurt my career."
Vitorio snorted, "Not that your career is going anywhere."
AJ met the man’s glance and said nothing. Cassie however hissed, "This is the way…"
Vitorio’s fist hit the table. "You insult me. You refuse to pay me any respect for fifteen years and…"
"I hold you in little respect, Don Vitorio. I saved your daughter’s life the same way I would have saved the life of Cardo Martucchi’s daughter if she had been the one kidnapped by you, instead of the other way around. I haven’t insulted you by pretending otherwise. Your daughter’s continual involvement in my life is gratifying, and I pray to God that she doesn’t come to further harm by being your daughter. However, that is in the past and I come to you, because you do OWE me and I will use every single source at my disposal to find Sergei Karpov and bring him to justice."
"Sergei Karpov? The FBI has suddenly an interest in Karpov? For ten years the man has been a thorn in my side and…" Vitorio grew silent. "Eat. Then we will talk of Sergei Karpov."
Chapter 17
August 12
FBI Apartment
0230 HoursAJ had to threaten to tie her up and throw her into the back of the Town Car after they finally left Brooklyn. "Call it in, Cassie. Get the teams together, but we are going home. I’m exhausted; you’re exhausted, and we are going to be no good to anyone if we don’t sleep. Damn it all!"
It amazed him when she meekly agreed. "Yes, AJ." Almost immediately, she was on the phone. From the brevity of her calls, he suspected that she had woken each and every person with whom she talked.
He didn’t pay that much attention, though, because this time he used his own cell phone to contact Havenhurst. He found Greenwald still up and received a run down of Webb’s condition. "Well, I suppose that’s something. At least he didn’t start screaming while she was there. Is Mrs. Webb going to stay at the hospital? I see. Well, Anspach can handle that."
When he hung up, he found Cassie considering him. "Poor Mrs. Webb. This must be killing her." She snuggled into his embrace. "Not to mention Mac. Does Greenwald know what happened?"
They arrived at the apartment building and AJ didn’t say anything until they were in the elevator. "Greenwald said he wasn’t surprised. He also said it gave him a little insight into what Palmer might have been grooming him to do, but it’s all speculation until we find out where Palmer kept him." AJ groaned and put his hands on the small of his back, stretching to work some of the tired kinks out. "Jesus, Cassie. You realize that Webb’s career might very well be over."
"I know." She took his hand and led him down to the apartment. After they were inside she whispered, "Come on. Let’s take a shower and hit that wonderful bed over there."
"Oh, darlin’, that’s about all this old sailor is going to be able to do tonight. I’ll be asleep before I pull the covers up."
She yawned and nodded. "Good. Cause that’s all this old FBI agent is up for right about now." She groaned as she heard her cell phone. "Damn it. Now what?"
"Turn it off," AJ ordered in his most commanding voice, only to have the effect ruined by his own yawn.
"Aye-aye… FUCK!"
"Cass?"
"Go, AJ." All the tiredness in her voice was gone. "Please, I’ll join you in a minute."
From her tone he knew who was on the phone. The time difference was just about right too. «Leave it to that bitch to assume she’s up.» He waited as Cassie opened her phone. "Ryan!" Her voice was all business. She listened for a moment then cut in. "Excuse me, Lady Adair. I believe I asked Sir John to advise you not to call me…No. I don’t want to discuss this further. It’s GODDAMN 3:00 AM in the morning. But then, you never cared about anything or anyone but yourself. Good night." She didn’t wait for an answer and hung up the phone. "Goddamn, motherfucking, son-of-a-goddamn bitch! How dare she? She was trying to make excuses! She was trying to blame Marcella! I’ll make a goddamn international…"
She started to throw her phone across the room but AJ grabbed it in one hand and her in the other. "Enough, Cassie. Stop letting her control you like this." He kissed her softly then took her hand and led her into the shower. Turning on the water, he pulled his clothes off. Taking his lead, she did the same. They stepped into the shower together and began to gently soap each other almost unconsciously touching each other where each knew the other loved to be touched. Taking a shuddering breath, he turned her around and began to caress her.
"AJ?"
"Hush, baby, I just want to touch you," he whispered before he leaned over and began to nibble on her ear lobe. "You feel so good, Cassie. I will never get tired of touching you, loving you." His hands trailed lower and smoothed along her nipples; his passage facilitated by the thick lather he was still working into her skin. The water cleared away the soap, but she could still feel the heat of his touch as if he had branded her.
"AJ," her whimper made him hard. When his hands reached her slit she fell forward and turned. "No. Not without you." She reached up and locked her hands around this neck. "Fuck me, AJ." She lifted her foot, but it was his hands under her ass, lifting her up that enabled his cock to find her. "Please AJ," she whispered just before he plunged up into her.
He took a step, bracing her against the wall. "God, Cassie, what you do to this old man. I haven’t been this hard for any woman in my life." He shuddered as her hot womb milked his cock, held him tight. Her wet kisses on his face soothed and maddened at the same time. Capturing her lips in his, he began to pound into her. With her legs locked around his waist and her arms around his neck, he reached between them to caress and touch her. Even with their mouths suctioned together, she began to moan and sigh. Holding her tight couldn’t keep her from thrashing in his arms. The feel of her soft skin against his rough chest hair was too much for both of them.
She broke away and screamed, "YES!" He, quieter in his release, watched in awe as she rode the tremors still shaking her, driving him deeper with each shudder. Finally, she unlocked her legs and started to sink to the floor of the tub, but he held her still. Washing her off under the shower, he picked her up and stepped out of the tub. Sitting her on top of the vanity, he found a thick towel and carefully dried her, then himself off. She nuzzled at his neck as he did.
"Woman, stop it."
"Make me." She giggled, and he was glad that, for a moment, the vile darkness that surrounded them had vanished for a moment. Picking her up again he carried her to the bed and plopped her down in the center. "Damn, Admiral, sir. That was better than a glass of warm milk." She yawned again.
She snuggled into his embrace, resting her head on his chest. He kissed her still damp hair, ignoring the tickling sensation to his chest.
"AJ?"
"Yes, darlin’?"
"I’m through with her. I don’t know why she’s this way. She’s never explained it. But I’m not losing you. Promise me you won’t let her drive you away."
"Not gonna happen, Agent Ryan. Now go to sleep."
"Yes, sir."
AJ Chegwidden had long ago made his peace with his God. He seldom asked for anything for himself, however that night just before he fell asleep he prayed, «Please God. I haven’t asked for much – well, maybe more than I usually do with this whole Webb fiasco, but please keep that piranha in England. I swear, I may end up killing her if she shows up here.»
August 12
Havenhurst Hospital
0645 HoursMac woke with a start. For a brief moment she had no idea where she was. In fact, for a moment she thought she was back at Clay’s townhouse, asleep in the chair in the room off his kitchen where she had spent that night over eighteen months ago. She had kept watch after he had been shot by that gangbanger in the middle of Baltimore while trying to help them track down the real murderer of Shirelee Cloud and freeing Victor Galindez. It was dark that morning, dark now too.
Her internal clock told her it was long past dawn and it took her a moment to remember that there were no windows in the room where Clay had stayed when he was first brought here. Greenwald had insisted upon it and Anspach backed him up. "Until we know what set him off, Colonel, we have no choice."
It surprised her when Greenwald suggested that Porter Webb go in and try to talk with her son. Webb had not shrieked when he saw her. But then, he hadn’t done much but stare at her, just like he stared at anyone who had tried to talk to him, including Sarah.
She stood up and went into the bathroom, not caring if Greenwald had lied when he said he was not going to bother turning on the security cameras. "I think I understand the progression now. But anything can happen." He showed her the security buttons throughout the room. "There are…orderlies next door, Sarah, but I swear the cameras are dead." The indicator lights were certainly off.
She washed her face and rinsed her mouth. She thought of showering, but all her clean clothes were in her room down the hall. «Later.» Steeling herself, she opened the door and peered into the room.
He had switched on the light over his bed. But he was just lying there staring into space.
"Clay?"
"You slept in a chair again didn’t you, Sarah?"
"You remember that? You remember our first night together?"
"Yeah." His voice was bitter. "You had to play nursemaid that night too."
"I didn’t mind then, and I don’t mind now."
"Go away, Sarah. There’s nothing for you here anymore."
He might as well have hit her, but she took a deep breath and stepped up to the bed and looked down at him. The orderlies had raised the bed rails last night. Now she lowered the one keeping her from him and crawled in next to him, crowding him against the other rail. "There’s everything I want right here," she whispered. "You listen to me, Clayton Webb. I waited eighteen goddamn months for you to propose and I’m not going anywhere."
"Why? You want my fortune?"
"It’s no use, Clay. You can say whatever hateful things you want, but I’m not leaving you."
"Damn you, Sarah." He rose up; pushing her back until he could place his hands on either side of her face and glared down at her. She could see the pain and anguish in his eyes. "Don’t you understand?"
She reached up and caressed the stubble on his cheek. "No. I hope I never understand completely, Clay. It might kill me if I do. But I won’t leave you. Never, damn you. Never." She let his tears mingle with hers until he finally collapsed into her arms.
"Oh God, Sarah, it hurts so much. I can’t stand it."
"You don’t have to stand it alone. I’m here. Your mother is here. All your friends are here to help you. How many people have you helped in your life, Clay? It’s our turn now. Let us help you."
"I know what he wanted."
"Good. Then we can fight it."
"I’m not so sure."
"Yes you are. You fought it yesterday, didn’t you?"
He gasped and pushed back up. "How did you know that?"
She sat up and quickly kissed him on the lips. "Because Greenwald told me."
A spasm of bitterness flickered across his face but before he could say anything her fingers on his lips stopped him. Inching out of bed she held out her hand. "Come on. Go shower. I’ll be back in a bit. We have to go down and see Greenwald. He wants to talk to you, and Anspach wants to bring your mother by. They have word about some things that have happened in DC." She gave him a mock glare. "Get crackin’, Webb. We’ve got things to accomplish today."
He smiled until she left the room. Then he slowly peeled off the pajamas that had somehow appeared on him. Trudging into the bathroom he looked up in time to see the light of the security camera flicker on. He saluted it with his middle finger and stepped into the shower. «I wonder how long I can stay in here before they come and get me. Why don’t they just kill me? I can never be let loose. I have to make Sarah understand. Palmer turned me. I was supposed to have let that woman die. What was her name? Why did they want her dead? I can’t help him kill anyone else.» He just stood under the shower and turned on the water as hot as possible. Of course, it was regulated so it never rose above a soothing temperature. Finally giving up on finding relief in scalded skin, he stepped out in the bathroom. His eyes went to his reflection, and without thinking he raised his fist to smash it to pieces. But, before flesh met glass, he realized that it was probably shatter proof.
She found him sitting in the chair where she had spent the night. He had dressed and run the electric shaver over his face. It pleased her to see that even in this state, his innate since of worth forced him to remain as clean as the situation allowed. "Ready for some breakfast?"
"Sure."
She bit her upper lip and turned to the door. "You can bring it in," she told the orderly. "Clay?"
His answer was barely a sigh, "Yes."
"Is it okay if your mother has breakfast with us?" She watched the emotions flicker across his face. She wasn’t even sure he realized how apparent his emotions were.
Or maybe he did, because he closed his eyes then met hers. "Okay. If she can stand it, so can I."
Porter stepped into the room. She wanted to howl, scream to the gods, flail Clark Palmer’s dead body, but all she did was look upon her son. "Hello, darling."
"Mother." He was a rigid mask of control. Only the two women who loved him unconditionally saw right through the façade.
Porter sat down and then Mac joined her. "Just coffee, please, Sarah. I’m not very hungry."
"You should eat, Mother. It’s going to be a long painful day." Clay resolutely picked up his toast and bit into it."
"Just coffee." Porter studied her son and then took a deep breath. "I had a long talk with Doctor Greenwald, Clayton. I also talked with some friends back in Washington. I won’t stay. I know what that man did to you." Webb jerked back in his seat. "No darling, don’t give me that look. I DO know. Not everything, but I suspect that my nightmares are as bad or worse than the reality. I just had to come in and see you and tell you how much I love you and I’m going to pray for you every waking moment until you are…" She took a deep breath, "Until you are 100 percent. Because I know you and I know this young woman next to me. Neither of you will be satisfied until you are 100 percent back on your feet whether or not those fools in Langley believe it or not." Porter stood and picked up her purse. "One last thing. I brought this for you. Keep it and remember." She opened her purse and brought out a small plaque. Placing it on the table she quickly turned and ran from the room. Sarah stood and followed her.
"Porter?" She called, and the older woman stopped but didn’t turn around immediately. Mac walked up to her and touched her shoulder. She could feel the tremors. "Oh, Porter." Porter finally turned around and the two embraced each other, sobbing softly.
"Go Sarah. Go and watch over him. Take very good care of him for me. Bring him home to me." Quickly, Porter turned and walked down the hall.
Sarah took a deep breath and turned to reenter the room. She stopped in the doorway and just stared. He wasn’t there. "Clay?"
"In here. Be out in a minute." He sounded tired but almost like his old self. Greenwald had told her to expect the emotional seesawing. She wasn’t sure if she could handle it or not. "Hi." He smiled at her from the doorway of the bathroom. "Let’s go see Stan." As he passed by the table, he picked up the plaque that his mother left.
"What is it?" Mac asked but didn’t try to reach out for it.
"Just a riding trophy I won when I was seven. It was the last competition my dad saw me compete in. Afterwards, in the car, he told me how proud of me he was and that, trophy or no trophy, he would always be proud of me. Come on, Sarah. I still have a lot to prove to him before they retire me."
Stan Greenwald studied the man before him and then the notes on a similar case he had found. "I see no reason to hide anything from you, Webb. I hope that you will be honest with me." Webb just nodded. "I need you to try and walk through the rest of the story. You still remember what happened in the alley with that cop?"
"Yes."
"Let’s work back from there, shall we?"
: :
August 12
15th Precinct
0900 HoursThe core members of the task force slowly reassembled at the precinct early in the morning. SAC Kelly already had others checking out the places that Vitorio had given Cassie. AJ and Cassie arrived at 0900. Lennie Briscoe was next and, after tasting the coffee AJ made, sighed contentedly. "Now that’s a cup of coffee." Anita Van Buren dug up another carafe, and Cassie made coffee that the rest of the team could stomach.
They were all rather surprised to see Ed Green escort Serena Southerlyn up the stairs at 0930 hours. She looked 100 percent better than she had the evening before when Green had practically carried her to the car to bring her to the hospital. She seemed shyly embarrassed by their attention, but after one brief smile at Green, she turned all business. "McCoy and Branch think you’re going to need an ADA to answer questions, make deals, that kind of thing. I volunteered." She blushed but met Van Buren’s knowing look.
"You okay?" the police lieutenant asked.
"I will be. Talk about your trial by fire. Trekking through the sewers of New York, finding those bodies…" she shuddered but continued, "…almost being killed."
Green cleared his throat. "I, for one, am rather concerned about that." He ignored her glare. "If she’s a target…"
Cassie, who had spoken with Greenwald before they left the apartment, spoke up. "Actually, we are going under the assumption that Southerlyn was a target of opportunity."
"Excuse me?"
"Well it’s an early hypothesis, but one that, if I didn’t buy into it, then Serena would be back at the hospital under guard."
Serena nodded. "Yes. I spoke with Doctor Greenwald this morning." Green grunted in surprise. "You were in the shower," she said without thinking, then blushed a bright scarlet. Briscoe nearly spewed his coffee. Green just sighed and fought the keep his twitching lips from turning into a full-fledged goofy grin.
AJ harrumphed. "You care to share what the good doctor told you?"
Serena nodded, grateful to be able to get past the minor faux pas. She wasn’t ashamed at what she and Green had finally given in to last night, but she didn’t want to discuss it with his partner or anyone else just yet. "Greenwald was up most of the night checking some other cases, similar, though from what he said they were abbreviated versions of…" she waved her hand unable to come up with the right words. "They found some case histories I guess you would call them from files they had come by from a former KGB double agent." She blushed. "Actually, he wasn’t very forthcoming with that part of it. But he seemed to think – or hope – that what Clark Palmer was grooming Webb to do was an assist in an assassination instead of trying to turn him into an actual assassin."
"Huh?" Briscoe looked thoroughly confused.
Before Serena could continue, they heard footsteps and voices coming up from downstairs. "Mary, trust me, you have to tell Cassie. She’ll back you up but she’s not going to be happy if we go off half-cocked."
"Harm, if it turns out to be nothing…" the two reached the top of the stairs. "Oh. Everyone’s here."
"Not everyone." Cassie practically purred, "But tell me, what might turn out to be nothing?"
Mary gulped and held up a sack. "Bagels," she said brightly. No one moved or said anything. "Oh, fine." Rabb took the bag from her and went over to the coffee maker. He eyed the two different glass carafes, one almost full, the other, almost empty. Sighing, he emptied the one and then made another pot. Returning to the group he handed Mary a cup. "Thanks." She sipped from the coffee before beginning. "I think I can make some headway in the Russian community. I have a few contacts, and they can steer me to others. I would like to try and track down Karpov."
Cassie glanced at AJ who nodded. "I think Rabb will watch her six, but make sure they don’t go to the same places that Vitorio gave you last night. You’ve already sent agents to check them."
"Okay, that’s taken care of." Cassie said, hiding her grin at Rabb and Perkins’ looks of surprise over her easy acquiescence. "Next." She shot a glance at the two cops. "How much attention was paid to Officer Carter’s apartment and locker?"
Briscoe and Green exchanged embarrassed looks. Briscoe shrugged and said, "Uhm…we left that to the boys here."
"You are kidding me."
"No." Briscoe obviously embarrassed, got up and went to get another cup of coffee. "Anyone else?" When no answered, he returned and volunteered. "We can go and do it." He looked to his partner, who nodded.
"Thanks, Sergeant," they heard from the staircase.
When Galindez appeared at the top of the stairs, Rabb called out, "Sleep late?" Realizing what he had said, he gulped and studiously avoided looking at his CO.
Galindez glared at him and met AJ’s gaze dead on. "Morning, sir."
"Gunny."
"Uhm…I stopped and had breakfast with Francesca, sir."
"Did you? And Marcella?"
"Didn’t you hear, sir? Francesca rode out with Mrs. Paretti to the airport yesterday. We had dinner last night and I filled her in on what I could." He compelled to add, "I left Miss Paretti at 0100 hours this morning – right after dinner. She said she was going to spend today shopping, sir. I came down to see if I could help."
AJ and Cassie exchanged glances. It was Cassie who said, "Thanks, Gunny. Do you have any experience in investigative work?"
"Three years with the Taos, New Mexico, police department."
"Great, we’ve got us a real live version of McCloud," Briscoe snorted.
Gunny continued, "I’ve spent the last eight months tracking Al-Qaeda members across Afghanistan, ma’am."
"Well then," she looked at Van Buren. "Tell you what, Briscoe, you mind if Galindez goes with Green to Carter’s apartment?"
"Why? What do you have planned for me?"
"I understand you can work with Inspector Khoury of IAD?"
Briscoe jerked his head around to Van Buren. "L.T.?"
Van Buren sighed but nodded. "The chief called this morning. Khoury will be here at 11:00 today. I need someone here I can trust to work with him. Between you and Southerlyn I think we can get through most of them today." She waited. Briscoe wasn’t happy and flopped back in his chair, crossing his arms. The frustration clearly etched on his wrinkled features. She glanced at the clock. "Anything else? I’ve got too much to do today, God willing something major doesn’t go down."
"Hey L.T., after Galindez and I check Carter’s pad, what say we go find Joey Mitchell?"
"Who?" Galindez asked.
"Ada’s boyfriend."
Gunny looked uncomfortable. "Uhm…sir, I’m not carrying. Don’t have the license to do so. I wouldn’t be able to back you up completely."
Everyone looked away and finally Van Buren sighed. "I don’t want to know about it. I can fix it if I need to."
"You got it, L.T." Green understood. "Let’s go, Galindez."
"Lennie, you and Miss Southerlyn can set up shop in Lieutenant Crenshaw’s old office. You might as well check his office before you start. I doubt if you’ll find anything. IAD will handle the investigation of Crenshaw’s apartment. Khoury will clear you checking the office." She turned her attention to AJ. "Colonel MacKenzie will need to make a statement."
"Understood. You want to send a policeman there, or should I have her check in with you?"
"I’ll send someone down there. How’s Mr. Webb doing?"
AJ shrugged, "Greenwald says he’ll know more today. They are rerunning the blood tests. Checking the levels, but he thinks it’s all psychological now."
"That’s what he told me," Serena agreed.
"Let’s go people." Cassie shooed them out of the bullpen. "Check in with me if you find anything, check in at 2:00 this afternoon regardless. Plan on knocking off at 5:00 and meet back here for a rehash. Understood?"
The room emptied until just AJ and Cassie remained. "Well, Agent Ryan?"
" I can’t stay here all day waiting for reports to filter in."
"Well?"
"You know, there’s something that I want to check out."
"Let me guess." AJ took her arm and led her downstairs and out into the already sweltering August morning. "Shall we drive there or walk?"
"Okay, smarty pants, where are we going?"
"The Goodwill Store where Webb first bought his shoes."
She slapped at him. "Damn, are we on the same wave-length, or are you reading my mind?"
He laughed and held open the car door for her. "Get in, darlin’."
It didn’t take them long to arrive at the Goodwill store. Cassie pointed out a parking place, and together they stepped out of the car. "You want to go in and meet Mrs. O’Toole?"
"Nah, later." AJ scanned the entire street. There were few people on the street. The heat seemed to rise up in waves to meet them, intensifying the stench from garbage cans out front of a few of the stores. Far down the street, in the next block, he could see kids playing in a fire hydrant that they had opened. The water spewed into the street. "Let’s go down there."
"Okay. Lead the way." She had never seen him work and wondered how he would handle a bunch of young black kids who had little to loose and no reason to respect any authority, even the JAG’s.
AJ just stood and watched for a moment until one kid stopped and boldly walked up to him. Obviously the oldest kid there, he might have been all of eleven. "Hey man? You want somethin’?"
AJ shook his head. "How long will the water last?"
The kid shrugged. It was obvious that as cooling as the water was, the boredom of August might just be alleviated for a bit. "Another 10, maybe15 minutes? Why?"
"Curious. What will you do then?"
"Why, you lookin’ for someone to play with?" He said it with more maturity than his young age should have allowed.
AJ studied the boy for a long time. "No. That a problem around here?"
"Sheeeeet man, you thinks you the first man what comes down here lookin’ for a little action?"
AJ snorted. "Son, the only action I’m looking for is a little information."
"Fuck, you The Man?"
"No. She is, though." He jerked his head toward Cassie.
"Getthefuckoutahere."
"Knock off the profanity, son. It doesn’t impress me." AJ said quietly. He noticed that the other boys had stopped playing and were walking to stand behind their friend. "Looks like your friends would be there to help you if someone came down and messed with you."
"Yeah, these here are my gang. Least ways till the JonzBoys will take us."
AJ sighed, but there was little to be done for it. "It’s good to have a…gang to watch your back."
"Damn straight! We watch out for each other."
"I understand. That’s why I’m here."
"Why, you wants us to knock off the gang?"
"Nah. I’m here cause one of my boys was hurt and it’s up to me to find the man who did it. Nobody messes with my family."
"Oh, yeah? I din’ hear nothing goin’ on down here, ‘specially with no white boys. Who was it; your kid or somethin’?"
"No. It happened about four weeks ago. Near here."
"Hey, Tommy, you think it was that…"
"Shut up, Raymond." Tommy turned on the smaller boy who had spoke up.
Just then they heard the tinkling bell of the ice cream truck from down the street. AJ stepped out into the street, unconcerned about the water still gushing from the fire hydrant soaking his shoes. When the truck stopped, he turned to the boys, "What will it be?" They stood there for a minute then pandemonium broke out as the group – perhaps fifteen boys in all started clamoring for Eskimos Pies, Bomb Pops and other favorites. Tommy hung back glaring from AJ to Raymond. AJ waited until Raymond moved to the head of the line before walking up to Tommy. "Walk over here." He motioned to a spot further away from the happy shouts and teasing. "What do you want?"
"Man you think you can buy me with a fucking ice cream?"
"Yeah, son, I think I can. Tell the lady what you want and she’ll get it for you and we’ll talk. It’s important, and I need your help. I think you can give it me."
"Why don’ you just ask Raymond, he’s the…"
"Because, Tommy, you’re the leader and leaders show each other respect."
Tommy’s eyes grew round. "That’s right. Hey baby, I don’t want any ice cream, how bout a beer?"
Cassie snorted. "How bout a Pepsi?"
Tommy sighed. "Fine."
Cassie shook her head and walked up to pay the driver and get a can of soda for Tommy. When she turned, she had three cans and walked over. "Here you go."
"So this is fine, but if I can help you, what’s in it for me?"
AJ glared, but then said, "Fifty bucks, but only if you stand the boys here to lunch down the street." He looked down to where he could see the golden arches high about the lower buildings. "You’ll be the big man, and your boys will love you."
"Oh, man, that’s really bogus."
"Take it or leave it. What do you know?"
Tommy thought about it but then sighed. "It was back in July. We seen this guy come out of the alley over there. He pointed down the street. He looked like shit man. Funny thing though, he din’ have no shoes on, and there was blood on his tee shirt. His pants looked like he’d pissed in em or somethin’, but he din’ look like no wino or junkie man. You know. He was shaved, and his hair was clean like he’d just got out of the shower.
AJ pulled out his wallet and counted five ten-dollar bills, then pulled out another one. "Here. Get yourself a Big Mac." Tommy just stared at it for a minute then looked up at AJ like he didn’t really believe that he was paying up without an argument. "Cool man." He turned and shouted, "Hey you guys, you want fries from Mickey D’s?"
"And hamburgers, Tommy." Cassie gently admonished.
"Yeah, sure." The kids ran off just as the water began to turn to a trickle.
"Let’s hope there’s not fire nearby." Cassie sighed. "You think they were jerking our chain?"
"Awfully detailed if he was. That bit about Webb not needing a shave."
"That might have been what Mrs. O’Toole meant when she said he didn’t look like a junkie to her. What was that about his pants though?"
"Bravado, darlin’. Just a kid trying to look older than he is. Probably second nature. I would have thought Mrs. O’Toole would have mentioned that for sure."
They entered the alley and both of them wrinkled their noses. AJ stood with his hands on his hips. "That’s a dead end down there?" He pointed to the back of the alley that only went about half the block. "There’s probably another building that expanded on the next block."
"He could have slept here."
"No. Tommy was sure about him not needing a shave." AJ walked through the debris kicking boxes and studying the area. "Look." His excitement showed in his voice.
"Oh, man. You aren’t that good, AJ Chegwidden. Are you?" she breathed as she came to stand next to him and survey the trash-filled stairway leading below street level.
AJ pulled collapsing cardboard boxes and assorted other trash from the stairwell. He tried the door at the bottom and sighed. "Damn." Biting his lower lip, he considered trying to break in but then looked up at Cassie. She was already on her cell phone.