Disclaimer: Thought I should write one because I forgot on the first chapter… Just so everyone is clear, I do not own anything associated with Third Watch and never will.
A/N: I was very pleased with the response to the first chapter of this fic! It was very inspiring to hear all the praise, so thanks for all your kind reviews. You might notice I increased the rating on this story, because now that I have a better idea of where it's going, it's going to get pretty scary… it won't be for the faint of heart, that's for sure. This chapter is fairly long, as Faith has a fair amount of detective work to do!
Chapter 2: Crime Scene
By SirenJunkie
My knuckles were turning white I was gripping the steering wheel of the car so tightly. My lights and sirens were blaring as I blew through the intersections, narrowly missing numerous cars. I was two blocks away from Bosco's apartment when an idiot in a Ford pickup pulled out in front of me. Cursing, I reached for the mic and practically screamed at the truck, "Get the HELL out of my way, or I'll give you so many moving violations, you'll be paying them off until you DIE!" I wasn't really sure how much of it he heard, but he got the message and pulled over in a hurry. I pulled out around him, and to my relief found I was finally on Bosco's block.
I drove the car onto the sidewalk in front of his building, narrowly missing a pedestrian. I practically flew from the car, through the front doors and up the stairs. I was gasping for breath by the time I got to his apartment door.
I pounded his door so hard, I could practically hear my bones crack under the pressure. "BOSCO!! BOSCO OPEN UP!" I kept pounding desperately, praying that I was wrong, and he'd open the door momentarily in his NYPD t-shirt and boxer shorts.
The apartment remained silent, and I felt my stomach sink even lower. With a flash of inspiration, I went down to the far end of the hallway, where there was an old hot water radiator covered in dust. I carefully felt under the left corner, where I knew Bosco had a magnetic key box. I'd given him a lot of flack for keeping it there, saying someone might break in his apartment. He'd just laugh and say he'd be waiting with his gun if any one tried. I felt around some more, but the small box was definitely not there. I went back to his door and pounded a few more times, surprised that none of his neighbours had come to check out what all the commotion was about. On a whim, I tried the doorknob, and to my surprise it swung open. I gasped at the horrific scene before my eyes in the dim apartment.
On the floor in the living room lay the small black box where the key was normally kept. On the cream carpet, on the coffee table and couch, there were bloody handprints and smears of blood. My hand went to my gun holster, I drew it and backed up against the wall. "Bosco?" I whispered quietly. Watching for movement from the hallway from his bedroom and bathroom. I carefully stepped past the blood smears on the carpet and glanced into the kitchen. Clear. I stepped carefully into the hallway, glancing into his bathroom. Also clear. Finally I reached his bedroom. The bed was unmade, but other than that everything seemed in order. I re-holstered my gun and reached for my cell phone.
My fingers were shaking as I dialed the house, and then punched the extension for Major Cases. My partner, Detective Laird, picked up the phone on the first ring.
"Yokas? Where the hell are you!?" He demanded, sounding annoyed.
"Laird. I'm at Officer Boscorelli's apartment. We've got a missing person on our hands here. I'm gunna need crime scene here immediately."
Laird's voice lost all annoyance. "You got it. What's the address?"
I told him before snapping the phone shut. What happened here Bosco? I asked silently. How did they catch you unaware? Looking at all the blood on his living room floor, I came close to losing my lunch. As if Bosco hadn't been through enough already. I briefly considered collapsing on the floor and crying until Laird and the others got here. I quickly brushed the thought away. You're an NYPD Detective, and right now his best shot at being found.
In retrieved the pair of gloves I kept in my jacket pocket and slipped them on, and made myself focus on the scene like I would for any other scene I came across. I scanned the room, making my notes aloud. "Door appears to be opened by key. Key and magnetic box on carpet floor. Bloody handprints indicate a struggle and injury to either perp or vic." I silently hoped the blood did not belong to Bosco. I didn't have much to go on, other than the blood, nothing seemed out of place in the apartment.
Unaware of how much time had past, I jumped when I heard a voice behind me.
"Not good." Came the voice of my partner, Laird. He was looking at the blood and shaking his head, his grey-blue eyes troubled. He ran his fingers through his short blonde hair and sighed. "What have you got so far?"
"Not much." I replied. "Just the blood and his spare key laying here on the carpet." I felt a faint breeze ripple my hair and I quickly identified the source, the open window by the fire escape. "I think I just caught a break, though!" I said, and crossed the room to the open window. Laird joined me and looked at me questioningly. "He never has the windows open. He's afraid to sleep with them open."
Laird snorted. "Afraid?"
I shot him a withering look, "His Dad used to sneak in the bedroom window to get at his mother. So yeah, He's afraid." I studied the window ledge, and confirming my suspicions, there was blood there also. "They must have taken him out his way," I pointed at the smear. Laird nodded, and motioned to the crime scene photographer to come and document it. Bosco's living room windows faced an alley, it would have been easy to have a getaway car waiting in the alley beneath the fire escape. I repeated this to Laird and he nodded. He went over to examine the blood more carefully.
I crossed the room towards the couch again, scanning for anything else I might have missed before. As I neared the couch, I noticed a piece of thick black cord sticking out, barely visible under the couch. I pulled the string carefully, and on the end was a silver ornament. It was some kind of necklace with a black leather cord and pendant shaped to look like a silver dagger with a round handle; it also had a streak of dried blood on it. The moment I saw it, I knew I'd seen it somewhere before. I couldn't for the life of me remember where. I let the photographer take a few pictures and then slipped it into an evidence bag. I finished up a final sweep of the apartment. I stood staring despondently at the bloody handprints on the sofa when Laird placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Come on, Faith. There's nothing else we can really do here." He gave my shoulder a squeeze and looked at me sympathetically. I nodded slowly and turned to leave the apartment. A young cop in uniform stopped me.
"I was canvassing the neighbours, detective." He avoided my gaze and continued. "No one has seen or heard anything."
I nodded and sighed. "Thank you…" I glanced at his shield, "Officer Casey." I started off down the hall towards the stairs, thinking about what to do next. I knew I had to call Mrs. Boscorelli. That was the very last thing on the earth I wanted to do right now. I was barely keeping it together myself, I wasn't so sure that I could comfort Rose as well.
My car was still haphazardly parked on the sidewalk, lights flashing. I slid into the passenger seat, and Laird got behind the wheel. "Where to?" He asked me as I handed him the keys.
"The house. We need to figure out who saw him last." Laird nodded and pulled out into the busy evening traffic. It had gotten very dark, I hadn't realized how long I had been in his apartment. Laird was already on his phone, updating Lieutenant Wiley. I pulled out my own phone, and with a heavy heart dialed Rose's number.
My heart nearly broke when Rose frantically answered, "Hello!? Maurice!?"
"No Rose, it's Faith." I tried to keep my voice steady, but my eyes were burning. I was exhausted and so scared for Bosco.
"Faith. Oh my god, What's wrong?" I could hear panic in her voice now.
"Maurice didn't show up to work today," I heard her gasp, and attempted to swallow the lump in my throat before continuing. "His apartment is empty. There's blood." Despite my best efforts a tear escaped and slid down my cheek. "He's missing Rose. He's probably hurt too."
"Oh god…" Rose moaned, and I could tell she was sobbing. I swiped at the tear on my face.
"I'll find him Rose. Or I'll die trying."
By the time we reached the precinct, I had calmed Rose down slightly and told her I'd keep her updated. I closed my phone and glanced at Laird. "We need to tell the Lieu to call in Bosco's regular partner off the street."
"I did that fifteen minutes ago when you were on the phone." He replied, smiling at me.
"That's why I keep you around, Laird." I said, and attempted to smile.
He said nothing more as we pulled into our spot in front of the house. I leapt from the car and went through the doors beneath the bright green glow cast by the light that signified the Watch was on and vigilant.
I saw Sergeant Donlan as I went through the doors, and without hesitating he pointed towards the rear of the house, "She's in Roll-Call, Faith."
"Thanks Sarge."
I went up the stairs to the room in back, to find Bosco's partner, Officer Russell, sitting in one of the chairs. She was young, and very good-natured. She was a good partner for Bosco, very easy going and agreeable, she didn't mind that Bosco was always bossing her around. Her normally sunny disposition was absent, and she looked anxious. "Detective Yokas?" She looked puzzled. "What's wrong? Does this have to do with Bosco?" I quickly outlined the situation to Russell, and she looked truly upset. "This is bad Detective. I know him well; the only person who knows him better is you. You know what it means to him to miss work."
"I know Russell. I need to know when was the last time you saw him." I pulled out my memo book, and got my pen.
"Well, we worked a shift on Saturday night together, and we got off at our regular time. He asked me if I wanted to get a drink at Haggerty's with him. I had a date, so I told him I'd take a rain check. I'm pretty sure he went there anyways," She frowned, as if trying to remember something. "Nothing remarkable happened during our shift either. So I saw him last as we both left the house and he was walking towards his car. That's all I remember."
"Thanks Officer Russell. I guess my next stop is Haggerty's then." I folded my memo book shut, and turned to go find Laird to drive me to the bar. The wheels in my brain were turning a mile a minute. That meant that he had likely been gone since Saturday night. It was Monday night now. I cursed under my breath, and hoped for the millionth time that he was okay.
"Detective?"
"Yes?" I turned around to face her.
"If you hear anything, let me know?"
"Will do. And again for your help." I passed by my office, signaling Laird.
"And so that was the last I saw of him Faith. He passed me the keys to hold on to, and said he would take a cab home." Marty finished drying the glass and placed it on top of the stack.
"So the 'Stang is still parked in the side lot?" I queried as he picked up another glass to dry. He nodded. "How much did he have to drink?"
"He had quite a few, he was unsteady on his feet by the time he left. He drinks a lot more now than he used to. Almost always alone too. Never takes home anyone any more either. Heart-breaker that one." He grinned slightly, then sighed. "I'll call you if he comes by to pick up his keys."
"Thanks Marty." I shook the bar tender's hand and headed back out to Laird waiting for me in our car. I repeated the details to Laird as we drove back in the dark.
Later that night, I sat at my kitchen table, staring off into space. Wiley had sent me home an hour ago, saying that he'd update me when more details came through. He'd had to physically guide me by the shoulders to get me to leave the house.
Where are you Bos? I need a lead here. I picked up a few of the pictures I had slipped away with from the file at the house. I paused on the photo of the necklace, again feeling that nagging sense that I had seen it before. I placed the photo down on the table, and wandered into the kitchen to turn on the kettle. I rummaged around in the cupboard until I found my box of herbal teas and picked out some chamomile. I would need it to be able to get any sleep tonight at all. I stared vacantly at the kettle, waiting for it to boil. I was so terrified for him, I knew I needed to find him soon. I owe this man my life, and there was no way I was going to let his mother lose another son. I shook my head. I wasn't going to lose him again either. It had been too close in that hospital waiting room, and secretly I knew I needed him. I needed to be able to protect him. All those months ago I had been trying to protect him when he couldn't shoot, but had just ended up with him angry with me. It was time to make up for it once and for all. I promised myself if I found him, things were going to be different between us.
I was drawn back to the present when Emily appeared from the hallway, in her pajamas with her hair disheveled. "Hi Mom. Couldn't sleep?"
I smiled. "Not really, no. Want some tea?"
"Sure." She replied, and plunked down at the table. I busily prepared the tea, and was pouring the water when Emily gasped, almost startling me enough to spill the boiling water.
"What is it, Em?"
"Where did you get this picture, Mom?" Her voiced shook as she held up the picture of the necklace.
"It's from a crime scene…Why?"
Her eyes widened, and she carefully replied, "Because Dante had the exact same one."
In the dark room, Bosco winced as the light suddenly shone into his eyes. He struggled slightly to find he was still tightly bound to the chair. He shook slightly as the boy hissed between pointed teeth, "Okay, Officer Scar-face. Let's see if you taste as lively as you act."
Bosco struggled to contain a scream as he felt the cold steel blade bite into the tender flesh of his wrists, and allowed himself to moan slightly as the warm trickle of blood ran down his hands, dripped off his fingertips and into the waiting glass.
To be continued…
