Windfall

The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event.

March 26, 1989

("Downtown Train" - Rod Stewart)

The interview had been a bust. He could see in the manager's eyes as they talked. Still, Johnny Parker forced a smile as he walked up the stairs to his apartment. The last thing he wanted was either of them feeling sorry for him, especially today. He turned to see Trevor, the building super who was screwing in a hallway lightbulb give him a friendly smile as he passed by.

Johnny's efforts not to wallow in self-pity were helped somewhat by the young, slender, short-haired girl who planted her lips on his the moment he walked into his apartment.

"Hey there, birthday boy." Rachel Wallace said smiling as she pulled back, her arms still around his neck. "How'd the interview go?"

Johnny paused a moment, looking down before looking back up at her. "Uhhh... well I don't really know. Could go either way."

Rachel smile faded as she flashed him a look of slight suspicion, her arms dropping from his neck. Dammit, Johnny, you should know by now you can't B.S. this girl! He thought.

Fortunately, his dread of an awkward conversation passed as he saw an elderly woman walk from her room towards the door where they were.

"Oh, good. You're finally home.' She said, leaning up to place a kiss on Johnny's cheek. "Happy birthday, dear."

Johnny smiled warmly. "Thanks, Gran.'

Alma Parker, whom Johnny had called "Gran" for as long as he could remember, had been the only family Johnny had ever since his parents' death a few years earlier. At seventy-six, she appeared frail to some, though Johnny knew her mind was as sharp as ever. Though it sometimes made it difficult for him and Rachel to have some privacy when Rachel came over, Johnny simply couldn't stand the thought of her being placed in a home somewhere.

"Well, take off your coat and I'll start dinner" Gran said, walking back to the kitchen before turning back to Johnny with a smile. "Then we'll see if we can't find you some cake."

Johnny gave Rachel a pained look once he was sure Gran was out of earshot. "I asked you not to let her buy a cake." He whispered.

Rachel folded her arms. "What did you expect me to do? It would've broken her heart. Besides, it's just one cake."

Johnny sighed. "You know I'm trying to save money until I get a second job and I don't know how long it'll be until I do."

"I thought you said Rosie was giving you more shifts at the store."

Johnny nodded. "She is, but she can only give so much. Besides, you know I want us to get married but I'll never be able to afford that if things don't get better and the way things are going--"

Johnny stopped as Rachel put her hands on both his cheeks. "Hey." She said, calmly but firmly. "Everybody goes through a rough patch. Things are gonna get better though. You've gotta believe that."

Johnny sighed and lowered his head for a moment before looking back up at her. "You're right."

Rachel smiled slightly. "Of course I am."

Johnny chuckled and walked over to Gran in the kitchen. While he asked her if she needed any help, Rachel rushed into Johnny's room and emerged with a large, boxy, Polaroid camera.

"Wait, I want to get a picture before start stuffing yourself with cake." Rachel said, laughing.

Johnny rolled his eyes, but gave a genuine smile as he put an arm around Gran and looked into the camera.

She's right, things are gonna get better. Johnny thought as the flash went off. They have to.

Johnny watched Gran as she headed over to the kitchen to start dinner, with Rachel following close behind. He looked at the two of them intently and sighed, feeling a hopeful smile come across his face...

Johnny's body floated down the river. Face down, his right eye was open but his left was almost swelled shut. That, along with the swollen lip, and numerous bruises all over his body revealed the brutal beating he'd received. Every few moments one of the stacks of money around him would brush up against him as they floated along with him...

Lifting the case box, the detective stacked it up with the others. They'd been working this one far longer than most cases. Everyone knew why, of course. The truth was any leads had dried up months ago. The chief didn't want the papers thinking they were putting Philly's most talked about homicide aside without some serious time put into it, even if it was a dead end, so he'd had them drag it out until the point most people stopped caring. Now they'd reached that pont.

Sorry, kid, the detective thought, looking up at the case box. We tried, but it looks like this one's gonna remain a mystery...

Detectives Lilly Rush and Scotty Valens looked around as they walked into Schaeffer Center for Assisted Living. The humble setting inside suggested a home for the elderly who didn't have much money, but still making a noble attempt to offer dignity and comfort.

Scotty shook his head. "Can you imagine spending your last few years in a place like this, havin' to rely on someone else to feed you? Not something I'm looking forward to."

Lilly gave him a sly smile. 'I think you got a ways off before you need to worry about that."

Scotty chuckled before turning back to a serious look. "So this doc really thinks he's got a lead on the "million-dollar murder"? I've heard that one before."

"Well this is where the victim's grandmother stays now." Lilly said. "He said he was her primary physician."

The two spotted a young Asian doctor walking towards them, who introduced himself as Dr. Martin Cheng, the man they spoke to on the phone. "Thank you for coming."

Dr. Cheng nodded. "As I mentioned, Alma Parker stays here. She's not doing so well these days. Her kidneys are failing. She's not mobile anymore." He sighed. "She's dying."

"There's nothing you can do?" Scotty asked.

Dr. Cheng shook his head sadly. "Just try to make her comfortable. She's ninety-four years old. At this point I'd give her a few weeks at most."

The two detectives nodded solemnly.

"Anyway, her memory fades in and out these days as well. She finds herself in earlier times, asking for a husband who's been dead for thirty years, a son and daughter-in-law who've been dead for twenty-five, and a grandson who's been dead for eighteen. But something she said earlier caught my attention." He shrugged. "Honestly, I've never really been interested in the case but I just couldn't seem to shake what I heard her say." He leaned in closer. "You can see her but I'll have to ask you to keep it brief."

The two detectives walked in to Alma's room. As fragile as she looked in the oversized hospital bed, they could see a flicker of warmth in her eyes, a trace of the person she'd been in her life.

"Oh, Doctor, have you found Johnny yet?" She asked Dr. Cheng. "It's not like him to be away this long."

"Um, no, Mrs. Parker, we haven't found him yet." Dr. Cheng gestured at the two police officers. "These are the police. I asked them to come and talk to you." He gave the two an apprehensive look. "Maybe if you tell them what you told me, they can help."

Alma shifted uncomfortably in her bed. "I... I don't know. I don't want to get Johnny in trouble."

Lilly sat down at Alma's bedside. "Johnny's not in trouble. We just want to help."

Alma nodded. "Well he thinks I don't know about that money he took, but I do. I heard him talking about it. I'm sure he thought he was helping, but he needs to find that Mr. Monaghan and give it back before anyone else gets hurt.

"Mr. Monaghan?" Scotty asked.

Alma placed a frail hand on Lilly's, a pleading look in her eyes. "Please promise me you'll find Johnny."

Lilly looked up at her partner, then down at Alma, and nodded solemnly. "I promise."

ROLL INTRO