Stormy Knight
A sequel to Autumn Knight
Chapter 1
Goren arrived home and showered and but didn't shave; he never shaved on weekends. He looked in his closet to decide what to wear; he wanted to look nice but not seem over eager. He grabbed a pair of dark slacks, dark t-shirt, dark stripped button up shirt and dark jacket. Women always said he looked nice in dark colors, but he hadn't picked a tie, since he wanted to appear casual. He sprayed on some cologne, took one last look in the mirror then walked out of his apartment. He drove to Queens and found Antonio's. There was a line outside. "Oh geez," he thought to himself. "Maybe I should have called for reservations." He parked his car and went to stand in line. He felt out of place; everyone else was coupled off and he was standing all alone. What would Autumn think of him showing up like this? He put his hands in his pocket, lowered his head in defeat and began to walk away.
"Hey Bobby!" Valdez called out.
Bobby turned around to see his old friend Ray Valdez from the 2-9.
"Where you going?" asked Ray.
"Well the line is long and I don't have a reservation so..."
"Ah come on in, I know the owner. He always has a place for the guys in blue. Hey have you heard that chick Autumn sing? You know she is a cop too? Man she is a chica bonita. But don't tell my wife I said that," he laughed.
"You're a dog Valdez," snarked Bobby as he walked in with Ray.
"Yes I am a pit bull," he laughed. "Hey Carmine, I need a table for my friend here Bobby, something close to the stage area. He is a Major Case Detective, a very important man," smiled Ray as he patted Goren on the back.
Then Bobby saw her, everything around him seemed to disappear, no sound, no people; all he saw was her on the stage. She was dressed in a red off the shoulder evening dress, with a slit up the side to her mid thigh, her hair was curled and pulled back, flowing down her back; she wore a little more makeup than she did at work but not too much; she was a vision and he was locked in a trance.
"You coming Bobby or you going to stand there with your mouth hanging open all night?" laughed Ray. "She doesn't look bad for a rat." He elbowed Bobby in the ribs.
But Bobby didn't hear a word he said; he was still caught in her spell. She sounded as beautiful as she looked. The waiter came and asked him if he was ready to order but he didn't hear. The waiter walked away. But Bobby was awakened from his trance with a slap to the back.
"Strange finding you here!" said Logan, as he sat at the table with Bobby. "They have a full house tonight, but Valdez said you were here alone so figured I would sit with you. Damn that girl can clean up good," he said as he looked up at Autumn on the stage.
"What are you doing here Logan?" asked Bobby.
"Same as you Goren. Knight has been telling me how good the food is here and I have to listen to her sing in the car all the time, so figured I would come and hear her with the band," answered Logan.
"Thought you didn't like Italian food?" asked Bobby.
"I never said that, I love pizza," said Logan. "Where's the waiter? I need a drink."
Bobby rolled his eyes. This night wasn't going as planned. A date with Logan wasn't what he had in mind.
Logan and Bobby ordered their food. After the meal, Autumn went around to the tables to talk to the patrons.
"Well look who's here," she said as she sat down at their table. "I see you both decided to try the veal parmesan, so was I right, is it the best?"
"Uh, yes it's very good and Uh you were very good too," said a tongue tied Logan nervously.
"Oh geez," thought Bobby when he heard how Logan reacted.
"Yes it's good but you should try Sal's, theirs is very good too," said Goren.
"I will have to remember that. Maybe we can have a taste test one day," smiled Autumn.
"You ready to go Hun?" said John, as he walked up to Autumn and put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek.
Autumn stood up. Logan and Goren stood up and looked up at John. Who was about 6'8, and about 280 lbs.
"Just a minute John," she said. Autumn made no attempt to introduce John to Goren and Logan.
"Hi, I am John Thomas, Autumn's boyfriend," said John as he reached to shake Goren and Logan's hands and pushed Autumn aside.
Autumn wasn't smiling, "John this is Detectives Goren and Logan they work in Major Case with me."
"I work in IAB with Autumn. That's were we met. When she is finished with you Major Case guys she "will be" coming back to us," John said as he put his arms around her shoulder. "Well dear it's getting late, time to go. You have talked enough to "these" people."
"Well thanks guys for coming. See you Monday," smiled Autumn.
John grabbed her arm and pulled her through the crowd.
Goren and Logan looked at each other.
"Is it me, or is something wrong with that picture?" asked Logan.
"It's not you," replied Goren.
"Maybe I should go talk to that guy," said Logan.
"And say what, Logan?" asked Goren.
"I don't know but she seemed uneasy around him, and he seemed a little pushy," replied Logan.
"Yeah a little too possessive. She seemed a little embarrassed by him. But we can't just go up to him and accuse him of abuse. Have you noticed anything, any bruises or marks?" said Goren.
"No but he is a cop; if he is hitting on her, he would know not to hit her in the face," said Logan.
"But she is a cop too. The day I worked with her she seemed strong willed and her own person. I can't see her putting up with a man that would abuse her," said Goren.
"Yeah but did you see the size of that guy? She is only what, 5'2" 105-110 lbs? He could snap her like a twig if he wanted to. Maybe she is too afraid to leave since he is a cop. I say let's just check him out," said Logan.
"Ok, we will run him through the computer and see if he has anything in his jacket," said Goren.
"Well you ready to go?" said Logan.
"What now?" asked Goren.
"What better time? Late Friday night, squad room probably almost empty, why wait?" said Logan. "Unless you have something better to do?" smiled Logan.
Goren looked at Logan, he had nothing better to do his; original plan was shot to hell. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Ok, let's go," said Goren.
When they arrived at One PP it was almost deserted. Only a few detectives were there working on cases. Goren grabbed his laptop out of his desk drawer and set it up and logged into the NYPD intranet. He pulled up John Thomas.
"John Thomas 42, he was in the Marines infantry division before joining NYPD. He started out on patrol in the Bronx then vice. He had a few write-ups for unnecessary force against a few pimps, no charges filed. A hooker claimed he said would let her off if she slept with him, she said this after he arrested her. He was suspended after beating up a john who had sex with a 12 year old prostitute. But was cleared by IAB, by Detective Autumn Knight," said Goren. "Then two years later he joined IAB."
"Interesting, but nothing I wouldn't have done. Perps always claim we rough them up. Hooker could have been lying. And I would beat a man who was sleeping with a 12 year old," said Logan.
"But seems after meeting Autumn and she cleared him, he might have developed an unnatural infatuation with her," said Goren.
"Maybe someone just needs to talk with her," said Logan.
"Yeah, maybe you should, you're her partner," said Goren.
"Me! I have only worked with her for two weeks, and I have to work with her for at least another two to three months till Wheeler comes back. If we are wrong and I talk to her do you know how miserable those months will be?" said Logan. "No, I think you should talk to her, you're the psych person around here."
"How am I going to get a chance to talk to her alone?" said Goren.
"You're a smart guy Goren. You will come up with something," smiled Logan.
Logan and Goren went home. Goren tried to think of a way to get Autumn alone to talk to her. The next morning he called her.
"Knight, this is Goren. Eames is out of town for the weekend. The Captain called there is a dead body in an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn. I need a partner on this, since we worked together before I was wondering..." asked Goren
"Sure Goren, just give me the address. I will be right there," said Autumn.
Goren hung up his phone and thought, "Maybe I better put on my bullet proof vest for this."