MAGNIFICAT: MISSING SCENES

"Mr. Orlesky?"

"Yes, Jenna? And, please, call me Ben."

"All right then. Ben." Jenna smiled. "You had a call from a Mr. Goren. He'd like you to call back as soon as you can."

"Goren? Bobby Goren?" Ben took the slip of paper from Jenna.

"I think his first name was Robert. That's his cell phone number."

"Thanks, Jenna." Ben looked at the paper as he moved to his desk. Post it notes with the words "Urgent", "Call ASAP", and "Immediate Attention" covered his computer screen. Ben ignored them all and called Bobby Goren.

That evening Ben Orlesky sat in the quietest corner of one of the better bars near One Police Plaza. He sipped the good but overpriced bourbon and hoped that Bobby Goren would show up. Ben told the waitress, as Bobby told him to do, to put his drink on Bobby's tab. The waitress smiled at Bobby's name and gently urged Ben to order a better brand of bourbon. "Bobby would like you to have a good drink on his dime," she said.

"He comes here a lot?" Ben asked.

"Not every day. Sometimes not every week," the waitress said. "Usually with a blonde woman. Sometimes with a black guy who looks like a lawyer. She might be a lawyer. She's smart enough and dresses well enough, but I think she's another cop, maybe his partner."

"How do you know he's a cop?"

"One of the other waitresses told me when I started here. Told me not to worry if I saw him carrying a gun. Of course, I've never seen his gun. He's too careful about hiding it." The waitress looked up at the front of the bar. "I think that's him now."

Ben craned his neck to look towards the entrance. A large shadow briefly blocked the bar's front door. As the shadow moved into the bar, Ben recognized Bobby Goren. He was thicker and greyer than Ben remembered. Dark circles surrounded his eyes, and he looked worn and tired. Bobby stopped briefly to speak with the waitress, who nodded towards Ben, who stood as Bobby grew closer. He saw that Bobby's eyes were still the alert, sensitive ones that Ben remembered.

"Bobby," Ben said warmly. "It's good to see you again."

"The same, Ben. The same." Ben also remembered Bobby's soft, hypnotic, gentle voice.

The two men hugged awkwardly. The waitress appeared and placed a drink on the table.

"Thank you," Bobby said. "You need anything, Ben?"

"No. I'm good."

The waitress smiled. "I'll be back to check on you later."

"You can still charm the girls," Ben said as the waitress walked away.

Bobby smiled wryly. "I suspect the fact I'm a good tipper has something to do with it." He sipped his Scotch. "You look good, Ben. How's Dottie and the kids? A boy and a girl, right?"

Ben nodded. "Andrew and Sarah. They're great. Dottie and I are very happy. I'm a very lucky man. And you?"

Bobby turned his glass in his hands. "Uh…There isn't anyone."

"That girl. Irene, wasn't it? Didn't work out?" Ben asked sadly.

"Uh…I found a way to mess it up. How's everyone else in your family?"

"The only one who matters—Rachel—is great. She's a nurse and engaged to a doctor. A really nice guy. Give me your address so I can invite you to the wedding. She'd love to have you there. She always said you saved our lives. And she's right."

Bobby shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "A lot of people saved you."

"I guess they got all of us away from our families in time," Ben said.

"Maybe."

"You said you needed to talk to me about a case?" Ben sensed that Bobby didn't want to dwell on the past, which was fine with Ben. Like Bobby, dark shadows filled Ben's past. Bobby was responsible for some of the brightest of the few bright moments of that past.

"Yes." Bobby unzipped his black leather binder and removed several papers. "You've heard about the Doreen Whitlock case?"

Ben nodded. "Who hasn't?"

"My partner—Alex Eames—and I caught it."

Ben winced.

"Yea, it's bad," Bobby admitted. "Everything's there. I know a lot of the press has made her out to be a monster, but she's a victim too. Her husband Paul is to blame too."

Ben frowned. "Bobby, you sure? You've got your reasons for disliking bad fathers."

"It's not just me," Bobby said calmly. "My partner, my captain, agree with me."

Ben looked at the papers. "This about the oldest son? The one that survived?"

Bobby nodded. "Adam. He's a good, sweet kid."

Ben glanced over several of the papers. "What do you want me to do?"

"His mother is going to plead guilty to the deaths of his brothers," Bobby said. "But, like I said. His father is also responsible for those deaths, even if he can't be brought into court. It'd be terrible for Adam to go back to his father."

"Is there someone else in the family who wants custody?"

"Doreen's mother."

Ben frowned and tapped his finger against his glass. "You know this will be difficult. Judges are very reluctant to take children away from parental custody. Even when the parents are clearly very bad. When it's a parent who at least is a good provider. And when the grandparent is the parent of a family member who committed murder."

"I know," Bobby said. "My hope is that Paul Whitlock won't want Adam. He's started divorce proceedings. He hasn't been to see Adam in the hospital since he took Doreen out of the hospital against doctor's orders."

"Why did he do that?"

"To control her. Whitlock has tried to control every aspect of his wife and children's lives. You can read it there. Ben," Bobby leaned forward. "I know how hard it is to take custody away from a parent. I wouldn't have come to you if I didn't think you had a chance. More importantly, I think Adam can be helped, can be saved. But if he stays with his father, he'll be destroyed. We can save a child here."

"You know I can't resist saving a child, Bobby," Ben said. He opened his briefcase and placed the papers inside it. "I'll certainly look into Adam's case. When can I meet the grandmother?"

"Doreen's sentencing hearing is the day after tomorrow. Her mother will be there." Bobby shrugged. "Like I said, Whitlock may not fight. He may not want Adam. He may see Adam as damaged, but he'd never admit that he caused any of that damage."

"All right," Ben said. "I can meet the grandmother in the courtroom. I'll have read the papers by then."

"Thank you, Ben. Thank you."

"Thanks for the drink, Bobby. It's been great to see you. I'd like you to come sometime and have dinner with Dottie and me and the kids."

"I'd like that," Bobby said. "I'd like that very much."

"I want my children to meet the man who saved their father," Ben said. "I'll see you at the hearing?"

"I'll be there. Thanks again." Bobby watched Ben leave the bar.

The waitress appeared. "Can I get you another?"

"No," Bobby said. "Another wouldn't be enough, and the number that would be enough would be too much. Thank you."

He paid and left a healthy tip. He walked out of the bar, which was just starting its evening rush. He walked toward the corner and wondered if he should chance the subway, grab a cab, or walk back to One Police Plaza. He regretted not driving in that morning. He was tired, but he sensed he'd get very little sleep this night even if he took a warm bath and drank some warm milk. He turned towards One Police Plaza. He'd get some work done, and if he really needed some sleep he'd get it in the crib.

END CHAPTER ONE