CH 1
It was cold, bone-chilling cold. She had a coat that had a hood and it was a good one, too. She even had winter boots, blue jeans, several t-shirts, and mittens to keep her hands warm.
The wind was blowing the falling snow straight into her face and yet still she was cold. Cold and tired. Tired in a way that offered her peace if she just stopped and rested for a minute, but she wouldn't. She was running low on food and knew that she had to hit the dumpsters at just the right time or the stuff they threw out would freeze and become useless to her. She had stuffed the precooked meats she had found down the front of her coat and she had produce in her bag that was in her mitten-covered hand.
She had forgotten her sunglasses to help her keep her eyes open in this wind and now she was paying for it. Her other hand was up in front of her face in an effort to see where she was going. Thankfully there was hardly anyone out in this weather. A few taxis went by and how she wished she could afford to use one about now. Technically she could, but she was thinking long term. As much as her life sucked, giving up wasn't an option. And she did have a little cash on her, but it was only for emergencies and this wasn't an emergency.
She had so far to go to get home, such as it was, but she had calculated that she could afford to stay there for years with the money she had. Getting a job was out, no one was going to take a chance and hire her. Not now. She could also feel the need to get home, her blood was boiling and she was shaking from far more than just the cold. She couldn't remember winters in New York City ever being this cold when she was growing up. But everything had changed.
She didn't see the uneven edge of the sidewalk and stumbled over it falling to the ground, losing her grip on her bag which spread her produce out onto the snow. The fall had her crying which hurt her face to go with the hurt of her hands, her knees, and her pride. She scrambled to recover her precious groceries, to get them back in the bag and get home. However this was one more straw on her already aching back and she wasn't just crying anymore, she was sobbing as her tears froze.
It didn't used to be this way.
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"Hi Mom!" Kate came bounding into the kitchen. She was happy and it showed. "I'm going over to a friend's house for lunch. Sophia and Maddie are going to meet me there," Kate told Johanna and hugged her from behind. "You are showing up for dinner? We made plans two days ago." Johanna wanted to make sure she hadn't forgotten. "I'll be there Mom. It's just lunch, maybe a movie or two. A card game or something. It's my last chance to see them for a while." Kate let go of her mother.
"We might be home late, are you all packed?" Johanna didn't want her scrambling at the last second. "Everything except what I'm wearing and what I'm wearing tomorrow. My tickets and even my passport are on my suitcase, it'll be a snap." Kate had it all planned out. It was an early flight and with her parents driving her to the airport, all she had to do was check her bag and run for the concourse to get on her plane.
"Have fun honey, your father and I will be waiting. We'll get a table together the second you show up if they have one or we'll just wait or find another restaurant," Johanna said as she turned to hug her and felt her daughter hug her in return. "Love you Mom." Kate strode to the front door. "Bye Dad, see you tonight." Kate waved, closed the door and ran for the Metro station.
Jim rose from watching the TV and went into the kitchen to join his wife. "Katie does remember she's to show up for our family dinner tonight, doesn't she? She's going all the way across the country tomorrow," Jim said. "She remembers, she's just going to go see her friends that she's not going to see again for months," Johanna confirmed.
"You have the address and how to get there right?" Johanna inquired, not happy that he had maneuvered his way into going with her. She thought it would be safer and quicker if she went alone. "I have it all printed out including how to get from there to the restaurant. If we're quick we just might get there long before Katie does. Maybe have a drink or two at the bar before she does," Jim remarked thinking he could use one. "I might be ready for a drink by then, calm my nerves. I'm still not happy..." She didn't get to finish when he took her in his arms and looked her in the eye. "I love you and I'm not letting you do this alone. I meant my vows, we're partners. Just because you left the same law firm we were both in to start your own business doesn't change that," he reminded her yet again. It earned him a heartfelt kiss. "I'm such a lucky lady. I'm still thankful that you finally found the courage to ask me out on that date. I wasn't sure you were ever going to do that." She stepped back into the past.
"You were intimidating even then honey." Jim smiled at her while holding her tight. Johanna gave him a hurt look. "I was...well, maybe just a little," she admitted while smiling at him. "If by just a little you mean this big?" He let go of her and stretched his arms out as far as he could while grinning at her. It earned him a slap to his arm. "I was never... Maybe I'll just make lunch for myself and let you starve!" Then Johanna relented and gave him a quick poke to his stomach instead. "I'll order in," Jim countered as he took his wife back into his arms. She silently cursed that literally anything could be delivered in New York City. Johanna rested her head on his shoulder and soaked him up. GOD but she loved him. "Better finish our lunch, we have an appointment. How you talked him into turning over all his paperwork I'll never know. Let's hope it's just what we need." He kissed her head and let go of her to go back to his TV so his wife could finish making lunch.
"What is this again?" Jim asked as he stuffed his face with another one. "Hawaiian quesadillas. I used some of the leftover Christmas ham that you bought," Johanna told him. She wouldn't be trying to find so many recipes that used ham if her husband had actually listened to her. Now it was like Thanksgiving all over again. First it was turkey recipes for all the turkey, now it was ham. "And I'm not sorry. That ham was delicious," Jim defended his purchase. Johanna remained silent since she was forced to agree. It had been the best tasting ham that she could remember ever having.
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Kate jogged down the steps and used her card to get past the turnstiles and onto her platform where a few others were waiting. She started walking to the far end to get away from the entrance. She had learned a trick or two while riding the Metro. She was about halfway down when she heard what she was hoping not to encounter. It was a group of kids, all boys. And by boys, she meant boys, not men. Stupid, asshole boys. The type that thought too much of themselves and far too little of everyone else.
She didn't have to turn her head to know that they were harassing everyone they came in contact with. It sounded like someone had had their stuff thrown out onto the tracks, followed by laughing and not a single "Sorry about that" was heard. They were definitely not sorry, but yet they were very, very sorry. Kate reached into her coat pocket and held what was in there tightly, ready to pull it out and put it to use. She was thankful when a train showed up and a couple of people got off with only a handful of people still on-board. She stepped inside along with one other person and grabbed a pole and stood for her ride to her friend's place. She liked standing, she felt less confined than when she sat. Sitting took away what little control she might have had, so she stood.
Kate watched everything and watched the train stop a few times and was glad she was getting off in a couple of stops. However, her head turned at the noise in the train. Or rather the noise and movement in the next car that looked to be heading her way. One stop later and those same loser kids were now in her car and she could see the mess they had left behind in the previous car. The closest person was first, as the black lady lost her bag to them and had it dumped out on the floor. They didn't take anything, just left her and the mess behind while moving on to the next person that now had their attention.
Her stop was coming up fast and they had finally noticed her, which to her was bad news. "Ooo look what we have here. She's mine." He slapped his buddy next to him. "Maybe when I'm done you can have sloppy seconds," he leered, viewing her as a consolation prize.
Kate had her hand in her pocket and was holding what was there tightly and had already removed the safety. The train was slowing down and when the doors opened she made a jump for it knowing the boys were following. However, just outside the door she stopped and turned, raised her hand and let the first boy have it right in the eyes, getting him to cry out in pain as he raised his hands to ward off the rest of the pepper spray. She held it open and moved her aim to the face of the next boy in line and had him screaming almost instantly. She moved her aim for the next boy, but he had his hands up to try and block it. It wasn't enough and he got a little of it. Kate dropped her dispenser since it was now empty and began to run.
She had reached the steps at the far end when she heard one of them yell, "GET HER!" It sounded like the boy she had sprayed first, the one that wanted her before handing her off to his friends. Kate was flying up the stairs taking them two or three at a time, happy to have really long legs. She flew around the corner and slammed straight into a pair of Metro officers, New York City Transit Police Department. "Whoa, Miss, you alright?" One of them had hold of her while the other just watched her and his partner. "LET GO OF ME!" She just wanted to get away and make it to her friend's apartment. Then she realized that they were wearing police uniforms and gave up fighting, but her "I'm scared" lookremained on her face."There are boys, they're after me. Please!" she begged.
His partner separated himself and rounded the corner with his hand on his weapon and sure enough he saw two kids running flat out up the stairs with three stragglers behind them trying to catch up. "I pepper sprayed them but it didn't stop them," Kate informed them both.
"She's not kidding Bill, I've got five teenagers in gang colors. Call for backup!" And he placed his hand on his weapon and held up his other hand. His partner let go of Kate and pulled out his radio. Then he said something that Kate didn't follow, followed by putting it away and joining his partner. She figured they've got it handled and she took off running for all she was worth. "MISS WAIT!" He needed her to ID these teenagers and file a complaint but right now he needed to back up his partner so he let her go.
She was still flying when she reached street level and took off down the sidewalk brushing up against people who yelled at her. The people who were walking her way simply got out of the way. She finally reached the right building and pushed the button that would buzz the apartment where she wanted to go. Over and over she pressed the button. "Come on. Come on!" She wasn't convinced that the Transit police would stop them. "Yes?" A voice she recognized finally said something. "It's me, Kate, let me in, PLEASE!" she pleaded and yanked the door open the second it buzzed loudly.
Kate didn't bother with the elevator and went up all five flights of stairs taking two steps at a time. She raced down the hall and pounded on the door till it opened then she stepped inside and closed and locked it behind her. "Kate?" Sophie was confused. Kate put her back up against the door. "I hate boys," she told her heatedly. Sophie cocked her head and looked at her. "That's not what you said about that boy you met at Stanford last semester," Sophie pointed out. "He's a jerk too!" She had no intention of ever talking to Rogan O'Leary ever again, she was done with boys. "Well, the others are here, want a beer?" Sophie offered. "Definitely." She helped herself and chugged it without swallowing, just opened her throat and the bottle was empty in moments. Kate replaced it with a second and joined the others in the living room/dining room.
"We ordered pizza, hope that's okay," Sophie said as Kate greeted Maddie and Kelly. Sophie looked at Kate funny and started thinking up the questions she wanted to ask. Kate had been breathing heavy and was even sweating. She had seen Kate down several beers like that first one. She could out drink any of them, still something was different.
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"We should probably get going if we want to get there early and look the place over before our meeting," Jim suggested as he walked back into the living room where Johanna still was. "What is that!?" She was shocked and starting to get just a little angry. "It's a gun, what does it look like?" he countered and slapped the revolver closed after checking that all six rounds were in fact loaded. He shoved it in his coat pocket and pulled out the two spare cylinders he had for it, also already loaded. "Put that thing away before you hurt yourself!" She hated guns. "I know how to use it and I'm taking it with us," he said flatly then put his two spare cylinders back in his pocket. "Since when!?" She had never known him to use one and he rarely mentioned them except as part of a case. "Just when did you learn how to use that thing?" She wanted it left behind. Then it hit her. "Those lunch dates that you canceled!" She was sure she had it. "JIM! Please tell me you don't know how to use that damn thing."
"This case is different Jo and you know it. Maybe you trust this Montgomery guy, but I don't," Jim told her yet again. "He's a captain of a police precinct, not some gang banger looking to make a name for himself. Plus he likely knows how to use that thing a lot better than you do. Just leave it behind. I don't want you shooting yourself by accident." Johanna didn't want to lose him, she loved him. Loved him with every fiber of her body. He meant the world to her. He simply shook his head and put on his coat. Then he picked up Johanna's and held it out for her. "Just don't do something stupid please," she entreated. "I love you and they do something to you over my dead body," he said fiercely and wrapped his arms around her after she shrugged into her coat.
Johanna just knew this was a bad idea, but she did want to get there early. She held his hands in place and felt just how much she loved him as she leaned back into him.
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He didn't park anywhere near close to where they wanted to go. "Got your camera and mini tape recorder?" Jim inquired and watched as she showed him each item. The tape would last for only 30 minutes but they both hoped that would be long enough. The camera was equally small and fit in her upper coat pocket easily. All Jo had to do was push the tiny plunger in her hand. She turned on the recorder and stuffed it down into her bra with just the microphone tip sticking out. "Ready?" she asked him and watched him check his gun yet again, still disgusted that he had the damn thing.
They walked hand in hand down the street till they reached the area in question and walked past it and down another two blocks looking everything over. Every building, car, and window they could see. Then they stopped and looked around again and turned around and went back. Before they even got there they saw him waiting for them. Jim kept his hand in his coat pocket and Johanna started pushing the plunger in her left hand.
"Roy," Johanna greeted him. "Johanna," Roy responded. "Did you bring what we talked about?" She got right to the point. "You understand this is all I have. If something happens to me it's the only thing that is going to protect my family," he told her once more. "If it's who I think it is, just having it makes you dangerous to him. I want to know why Roy, tell me why." Johanna wanted to understand.
"The police department was different back then. We weren't corrupt yet it seemed like everyone around us was. They had already started and then I came along. I was fresh out of the Academy and had grand plans. Dreams of how a cop was supposed to be. I bought in, so help me I bought in. We'd take the mob bosses or their enforcers and sell them to the highest bidder. The competition would buy them, break them, and learn all they could before killing them. Just what the pieces of scum deserved." Roy liked that part of the plan. "But it didn't work out that way all the time, did it?" Johanna countered. He hung his head, "No."
"It never occurred to any of us that one of them was going to rat out to the FBI everything he knew. Bring down every mob boss and enforcer we knew anything about. Raglan panicked and pulled a gun, the undercover FBI agent, Bob Armen, pulled his then everything happened so fast. McCallister fired the first shot and the next thing I really knew, Armen was on the ground, dead with one of my bullets in him."
"In the end we pinned his murder on Pulgotti. However, Bracken caught on and started blackmailing us. Showed just how corrupt the police were in that day. The assistant DA was willing to blackmail the cops while letting them continue picking up mob bosses and enforcers. The three of us were in so deep that we couldn't get out. Bracken had connections, still does," Roy told them.
"Here take this and pray he never finds out that you have it, or you're as good as dead along with..." A hole suddenly appeared in the papers Roy was handing over; he stopped talking and looked down to see red bleeding through his coat. "RUN!" he whispered as Johanna reached for the papers. "Run!" Roy whispered again and slowly pulled out his weapon. She grabbed the papers and she and Jim started running. They didn't hear or see the next two rounds that ended Roy Montgomery who had an ace in the hole. As he fell he hoped it would help Johanna and her husband even if it didn't help him.
Johanna was running flat out right up until she took a round and fell to the ground bleeding. Jim pulled out his weapon and looked around. But was it was dark and he didn't see anything until he saw a flash just as he felt severe pain. He raised his weapon and emptied it in the direction of the flash. Three more flashes and his world went black as he collapsed onto his wife, not knowing if she was alive or dead. What he didn't see was an unmarked car that came flying up the road skidding to a stop; didn't see two men, a white Irish man and the other a Latino male, bail out of the car each armed with an M16 assault rifle and open up on the man hiding behind a car.
Neither of them saw the white guy check to make sure the shooter was dead while the Latino man checked on them. "He's gone. Them?" Kevin Ryan asked. Javier Esposito shook his head and searched both of them. "Go check on the Captain." Javi had a sinking idea that they were too late for everyone.