New York City:
June 22nd, 11:38pm
"911 what is your emergency?"
"Yes hi this is the 5th time this month I'm calling about my neighbors! They're fighting up a storm and keeping up my dogs!"
"Ma'am do you feel someone is in life threatening danger?"
"I don't know I'm not there! They do this all the time! I want something-"
.
.
"ma'am?"
.
.
Ma'am are you still there?"
"Oh my god….I think something Is wrong…"
"Are they still fighting?"
"No…Its quiet. Their window is broken? Oh god I think I see blood!"
"Ma'am I need you to calm down and tell me the address."
"Oh my god! I think I see someone! Its not them! Send help quick! They have a kid in there!"
Police responded within ten minutes of the call, coming up to the darkened house. Three police cars came through, parking in the lawn, Officer Casey Jones leading a squad up to the house. Quietly and with care, the police exited their vehicles and started to rally up to the house. They crowded up on the porch, and with security, officer Jones pushed the door to see that it was open. One by one, they made their way into the home.
It was a wreck. The furniture flipped and torn, blood splattered on the walls. The police swarmed the place, looking high and low for the cause of the disaster. They made it to the living room where the bodies of what seemed to be a couple laid awkwardly on the floor. Bodies mauled to almost unrecognizable. Casey walked forward keeping his guard up.
"Oh god.." an officer spoke covering his mouth from the dreaded smell of the rotting corpses. Casey fought the urge to do the same.
A loud thump caught the attention of all the officers, each raising their guns up to the direction of the sound. It was coming from the hall closet, closest to the crime scene. Casey took the lead; walking slowly to the closet, gun in hand. He swallowed hard, before swinging the door open and quickly retracted.
"Oh my fucking god." He turned back to his team. "Call a bus!" He yelled before going down on his knees.
"Mikey? Mikey its officer Jones can you hear me?" Michelangelo was tied up with barbed wire. Bound at his ankles and wrists. His mouth shut by duct tape. A gash in his head was a story of the attempt to knock him out. The blood. There was so much blood seeping from the wires on his body and the bruises being painted by the crimson water. The lack of blood changing his normal sea green coloring into a pale after color. He cracked his eyes open, showing the red ring and bright blue iris,
"Mmmm, mmhmm!" He wined behind his holdings. Casey put a hand up, gesturing him to stop not wanting him to lose more blood than he already has.
"Its okay buddy were gonna get you out of this okay? Just stay put." He told him. Mikey shut his eyes hard shaking. Casey's heart dropped. He has had calls multiple times to the Hamatos home for the fights between the husband and wife, Child Protective Services to remove Michelangelo for a few days at a time till his parents came back "clean". But this, this was inhumane. What happened? What was going on?
He took a look around and watched as his team scrambled to make room for the medics and took note of the weird writings on the walls. There were symbols written in blood, candles lit around the room. What the fuck happened here?
And better yet, how was Casey Jones supposed to tell Mikeys brothers?
Los Angeles:
June 23rd, 3:46pm
The local strip club was booming with the loud music and the luxurious women. The men gleaming over the naked bodies that passed by them delivering them drinks. One man in particular sat in the back with a few "clients" Discussing the money exchange for the business he was selling.
"Look here dude, I have 6 girls up for sell as of right now. Foreign, no papers, just looking for the American Dream. So lets talk big and youll be getting a good price." The man sneered with a grin, pushing over a plate of three thin white lines to the forest green turtle. He looked down at them, and smiled.
"I gotta see the merchandise before I decide to buy." He said smoothly, pushing the plate back. The man stared and the terrapin for a while longer before he let out a chuckle.
"Right this way." He said as he stood up and lead the turtle to the back. The man pushed away the robe like material separating the rooms, attempting to make conversation with his client over the booming sound of the music and cheering men. When they made it to the back, the turtle was introduced to a line of women ranging from the ages of 16-23. Different races, and a species alike. A couple that caught his attention were the oldest one, a taller woman with broader shoulders, and a small fox woman who wouldn't make eye contact, obviously scared or uncomfortable which can make anyone's skin crawl.
"where are they from originally?" He asked, inspecting each girl.
"Russia. Best picks when wanting great girls. I ask for 10 grand each." The man said gesturing for a girl to sit up straighter. The turtle looked back at the man.
"Half of these girls are underage. That's a lot bigger cost. 15." He countered. The man laughed, biting his lip, he knew he had to make a bargain.
"Make it 12 and we have a deal." The turtle smiled, reaching his hand out. "Deal." When the man grabbed the turtle's hand, a loud bang could be heard in the back.
"LAPD! Everyone put your hands up!" is what was heard from the other room.
"The hell?" The man didn't have time to think before his arm was twisted behind his back with the turtle holding him with an iron grip.
"David Russel, you are under arrested for human trafficking." The turtle said before hooking handcuffs on him, allowing some time for more police officers to enter.
"You're a cop! I checked you out you were clean!" David screamed, grunting at the sudden twist of the arm.
"Fun thing about being a cop," The turtle started, finishing clicking the handcuffs together. "I can be whoever I want. Now you have the right to shut the fuck up." He said shoving him into the hands of a couple of uniforms. "Finish his Miranda Rights. Don't want him slipping out just so easily." He said as David was taken away. The turtle felt a hand on his shoulder to see a fellow detective smiling at him.
"Man Leo you sure are slick. Thought you were gonna get caught there a couple of times." Leo smiled.
"Then I wouldn't have this job if I would get caught." Yes, Leonardo was living the dream of being one of LAPDs top detectives. That wasn't something he would let be taken away so easily.
Back at the station, Leo was greeted with applause and congratulations from his fellow officers in accomplishments of the Russel case. He sat at his desk and looked at the folder that has been taken up his life for the past 2 months and now has finally come to a close. He felt his phone buzz to see his wife was calling.
"Hello? Hey hun. Yeah just got done I need to do some paper work then I'll be home. Okay. Yes yes. I love you too." When he hung up he couldn't help but to smile. He and his wife Karai have been married for almost two years. Its been an amazing rollercoaster of happiness and struggle. Moving into their new house, his promotion, her work all of it. Just one amazing cluster.
"So you excited?" He heard his friend say from the other desk.
"For?" Leo asked, leaning in his chair.
"For the little Leo that'll be running around soon?" His friend asked, taking a sip from his soda. Oh yeah and that him and Karai were expecting a little one soon, that certainly threw them through a loop. But he was excited non-the less. In 4 months hell be able to call himself a dad. That was all but surreal to him.
The sound of the chief's door opening interrupted the two from talking and caught their attention. The old rat came out with a tired expression on his face.
"Leonardo." He spoke, catching the turtle's attention. He motioned him to follow him to his office. Leo took a breath as he stood up. He heard his friend laugh.
"Guess its not all good news today." He taunted. But Leo kept his hopes up, ignoring his friend and entering the chief's office.
He shut the door behind him and looked at his overseeing officer and huffed out a smile.
"Alright Splinter, whatever Jefferson Might have said it aint true alright?" Trying to make light of an immediately tense air. Splinter looked up at him with no amusement.
"Is everything alright sir?" He asked. Splinter looked away and took a breath.
"You're going to want to sit down son." He said. Leo didn't like the tone. Cautiously, he took a seat across from his superior.
"Splinter what's going on?" He asked. Splinter rubbed his eyes tiredly and looked up at Leo.
"This morning I received a called from NYPD." He started. Leo didn't like the start of that. "Leonardo I don't know how else to place this so I am just going to come out and say it." He took a second to see that Leo was giving him his full attention. "You're parents were murdered last night. They found them in their home. There was no way of saving them. Case is still pretty fresh they don't know who did it or why or how just yet." He took a second to allow Leo to process the information he was just given.
Leo sat there, contemplating what he was just told and if he was honest with himself, he really wasn't that upset about it.
"Well uh, that sucks I guess." Was all Leo could think to say. Splinter was not exactly taken back by what he just heard but instead he sighed.
"I know you were never close with your parents and from some of the stories you have told me I am not surprised why you are not. But it was still vital for you to know." He explained. Leo bit his lip and nodded his head in understanding.
"Well thank you sir, for letting me know. I will be sure to send a card." Leo said as he started to get up.
"That's not all Leo." He said, sending a subtle message for him to sit back down. Reluctantly he obliged. "Your youngest brother, Michelangelo was found in the house. Uh tied up in the closet." Splinter wanted to keep the details as brief as possible. Leo perked up to that.
Mikey.
"Is he okay?" He asked, fearing he may have suffered the same fate as his parents.
"As best as he can be. He has been placed in intensive care at Mercy Hospital." Leo took a breath on relief.
"That's good to hear." He responded. Splinter nodded before gathering up some paper work.
"Yes it is. So you will be going to New York tomorrow." Was all he said before he stood up, catching Leo completely off guard.
"Woah woah woah wait a second. I'm not going to New York." Leo testified. Splinter stared at him.
"Yes you will. For 2 weeks I am sending you out there under the precincts pay so you have time to grief and be with your family." He explained. Leo laughed at the idea.
"Splinter I promise you I really don't have to go. My brother Donatello lives in Philadelphia he's right there he can take care of all the funeral costs and my brother Raphael is still stationed in Iraq so there's no reunion going to happen." He explained. Splinter just stared at him for a moment longer before going over to the water jug in his office and filling up a cup of water.
"I am not sending you there for you to have a reunion, I am sending you to go get your brother." He explained. Leonardo's eyes went wide.
"What?" Splinter opened the file he had received from the NYPD.
"According to the paperwork they found in your mothers things, she has seemed to place you as soul guardianship of a Michelangelo Hamato in an instance that she or your father are not able to do so. I do believe death falls into that category. So 2 weeks will give you enough time to gather his things and get everything prepared for your parents." Leo choked.
"Guardianship? That cant be right! I didn't sign any papers for that! I did not agree to those terms!" He shouted, starting to feel betrayed by his mother for putting him in such a position.
"You don't have to." Splinter said firmly, seeing Leo starting to get heated like a child. "If it is in her will it is what is decided until it is fought in court. But as of right now, you and your brothers are the only family that little boy has and you are the only one on the paper." He stared at Leonardo with a stern look, like a father reprimanding his son for getting a speeding ticket. "I am fully aware of your families situation Leonardo and I understand your hesitation to go back. But Michelangelo did not ask for this and he does not deserve his brother turning his back on him because of his own personal vendetta. Now how old is he 13?" He asked. Leo looked away.
"He's 14." He corrected. Splinter nodded.
"Hell be 18 soon enough then it wont be a bother to you anymore. But he needs a home that is safe and secure and you can provide that."
"Sir I have a kid on the way." Leo shot back.
"Well then this will be good practice for you." Splinter said, handing him the file. "I have alerted NYPD of you coming and I am sure you will try and dig your way into their investigation. So they are prepared and their lead detective will be contacting you shortly." He stopped talking to see the distress on Leo's face. This really wasn't something that he wanted to do. Leonardo was feeling wave after wave of emotion, but right now frustration was mostly what he was feeling. Splinter rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Itll be okay Leonardo. Imagine a blessing in disguise. You will be able to give Michelangelo a life you have always been lacking in growing up. Be a hero like you are everyday on the streets. Your plane leave tomorrow morning so be prepared." It was all he said before he left Leonardo to his thoughts.
He took a breath and shut his eyes. So much for the perfect day.
A;N/ Waaahhh! Another story! Im on break from school so I am just cranking these out right now! But please let me know what you think leave reviews! Till next time!
-F