RAWR! Ok, yes, I realize I have not updated this in quite a while. For that I appologize. Blame my acting teacher. the past few weeks were hell weeks and show week. But we're finally done! and so now (many many gaelic words later) I present to you chapter 4! ENJOY! BTW! This is the last chapter I will be posting questions for. So who ever has the most points after this chapter I will be writing their own character into the story... somewhere.... SO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS DAMN IT! I can't believe none of you are actually looking this stuff up online, you don't have to answer them completely on your own. Half human is still winning....
February Eighteenth, 1947
Mitch is out of the game. He couldn't take it anymore. Got his first threat
Call yesterday and completely lost it. He didn't tell me who it was from, but
I think I can guess. We're still working out arrangements with Barry and his crew,
We really need another ally in the Bronx. I don't know how he has risen to such
power in the part of town. He's not the toughest looking guy around, that's for
Damn sure. But he's got dirt on almost everybody in the group. It's like poison.
I had to break it off with Doris. Katrina finally caught us. But I got a call from Doris
today. Said she needed to be paid for her services. I didn't even know she charged
anything. But she sounded worried, like she was going to get hurt. Katrina made
me hang up the phone as soon as she called. Max is unavailable this week.
Skipper closed the book again, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked at the clock, nine-thirty in the morning. Skipper hadn't gotten any sleep that night. He had been up worrying about Marlene, confused about this case; but the thing that kept hitting his mind like fire was the words that the singer had told him, be careful of who you protect. Skipper walked quietly over to his dresser and grabbed the notepad off the top. He scribbled the name Barry along with the list of the other suspects in the case. Skipper looked at Marlene; she was still asleep, snoring slightly. Skipper smiled at her and quietly walked out into the living room.
He picked up the phone and quietly dialed a number and sat down on the couch. The other end of the line rang one, twice, thr-
"Hello?" Kowalski said on the other end, sounding tired and slightly winded.
"Kowalski it's me."
"Skipper why are you-" there was a pause on the end of the line, "SHIT! Are you calling from the office? I'm sorry skipper I must have-"
"At ease solider," Skipper laughed, calming Kowalski's incessant rambling, "I'm calling everyone. You have the day off, I have paper work I have to take care of."
"Are you sure there's nothing I can do?"
"I'm sure. How's our suspect doing?" Skipper said leaning back on the couch. Kowalski paused.
"Oh she's fine," Kowalski said quickly, "She's actually sleeping right now. . ."
"Kowalski? Is she alright?"
"Skipper, I swear she's fine!" He said quickly.
"You didn't lose her did you?"
"No sir, she's right here-"
"In your bedroom?" Skipper said with a smirk on his face.
". . . how do you know I'm in my bedroom? Maybe I'm in the living room."
"You don't have a phone in your living room Kowalski," Skipper said seriously. Kowalski did not answer.
"What time do you want me to come over, sir?" Kowalski said finally, defeated. Skipper shook his head.
"Just make sure you don't have anything. But as I said, day off solider."
"Yes sir," Kowalski said with a defeated tone.
"Take the girl with you; make sure she gets checked out too."
"Do you need me to call the others, Skipper?"
"No, I'll call them, but Kowalski…"
"Yes sir?"
"I'll have to talk to you later about relationships with suspects when she comes in for interrogating. Do I make myself clear?"
"Transparently, sir."
"Good then, I will speak to you tomorrow about it."
"Talk to you then sir." With that Skipper hung up the phone and felt two arms wrap around him. He tilted his head back to see Marlene standing behind him.
"Well you're up late," She said with a smile.
"I don't have to go to work."
"You don't have to or you don't want to?"
"I still have some paper work, but it can wait." He said with a smile, she bent down and kissed him. She walked around the couch and sat down nest to Skipper.
"Skip, while I have you here there's something I need to talk to you about." Skipper's mind went into immediate panic mode.
"Is there something wrong do I need to-" Marlene laughed and grabbed his hand.
"Calm down solider, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking-" Skipper put his head in his hands.
"Oh god," Marlene hit him on the arm.
"Would you just listen?" Skipper looked up and smiled.
"Ok, fine. What did you need to talk to me about?"
"I was just thinking that maybe," She scooted closer to him, "we could not sleep together till our wedding night." She smiled at him. Skipper tried to smile but his brain was screaming NO! There was a pause from Skipper.
"Uh- sure, I guess. I mean is that what you really want?" Marlene smiled.
"Well think about how romantic it will be when that night comes," She said kissing him again, "Think about it. I'll go make some breakfast," She got up and went to the kitchen leaving Skipper on the couch, stunned. He shook his head to wake himself from the blow and picked up the phone and quickly returned to his work. Private picked up on the other line.
"Hello?" Private said in his typical cheery voice.
"Uh, Private, you have the day off today."
"Skippah? Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I just have some paper work to take care of at the office."
"Is there something wrong, sir?"
"What? No, nothing's wrong, why would you think something was wrong?"
"Because I know you, now are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Skipper looked over his shoulder at Marlene who was making breakfast and then turned his attention back to the phone.
"I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Is it about Marlene?"
"Has anyone ever told you that you ask too many questions solider?" Skipper said getting frustrated.
". . . I'm coming into the office today, and I'm bringing Rico and Kowalski. There's obviously something going on with you."
"No, Private-" Skipper heard a click, "Private?" the dial tone rang in his ears, "Damn it." He hung up the phone.
Marlene and Skipper grabbed their coats as they began walking out of the apartment.
"Do you need a ride to the factory?" Skipper asked her.
"No, I can just call a cab . . . are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Skipper said in the calmest voice he could manage, "I'll see you tonight," He said kissing her forehead. She smiled at him.
"Alright," She walked past him to the stairs, "Just think about what I told you." Skipper internally groaned.
"I will." She checked her watch and ran down the stairs.
"I'll see you tonight!" She called cheerily. Skipper grabbed his hat and followed her down the stairs. He whistled for a cab and hopped into the back. He watched the city streets go by absentmindedly as he thought about what had just happened in the apartment. He wanted Marlene to be happy, sure. But it was the other part of his brain that was mentally kicking himself for telling her he would agree. He outwardly groaned in annoyance. The cab driver looked at him in the rearview mirror.
"Somethin' wrong?" He said Skipper looked at him through the mirror.
"Nothing you need to know about," Skipper said, wary of the random driver.
"That's what my girlfriend keeps telling me. Nothin' I need to worry about. I remember this one time…" Skipper put his head back and settled in for a long cab ride.
Skipper rubbed his temple with his hand. As the office building came into view a wave of relief crashed over him. He looked at his rambling driver, who had not shut up for the entire ride.
"I also heard about this one gal out in the Bronx, my girlfriend told me about she-"
"YOU CAN STOP HERE!" Skipper screamed.
"Alright, no need to be snippy." Skipper threw the money at the cabbie, jumped out of the car and slammed the door shut faster than the driver could even blink. The yellow abomination drove off down the street, leaving skipper alone in front of the building, pinching the bridge of his nose relieved that the cab ride from hell was finally over. He turned around and saw the light was already on in the office. He sighed and marched up the stairs where he knew his team was waiting with plenty of questions, he just hoped he had the right answers.
"She suggested what?" Private asked surprised. Skipper slowly raised his head from his desk where he was trying to avoid questions, he sighed.
"Marlene suggested that she and I not sleep together until the wedding night." Rico shook his head in pity.
"You'll never make it Skipper," Kowalski said matter of factly, "You're a guy and we all need um- company if we are not to go insane," Skipper turned his head to face the scientist.
"Don't try to cover up your own mistakes with science, Kowalski. Remember you're still in the dog house for partaking in less than pleasant, 'company'," Kowalski looked toward the hallway where Doris was sitting outside, then down at his feet.
"I think Kowalski may be right on this one, Skippah," Private said sitting down next to his leader, "Marlene will understand if you say no, she loves you. And we certainly won't think any less of you if you back down from this one challenge," Skipper looked at Private seriously.
"I'm not a quitter Private; I know how to stand up to a challenge," With that Skipper stood up and walked to the door.
"You mean you're actually going to go through with this?" Kowalski said with amazement leaning on his desk.
"Got no choice boys. Better to go through with something and die trying rather than not go through with it at all." Skipper opened the door and let Doris in, "You can come in now."
Doris walked through the door and smiled at Kowalski before sitting down in a chair opposite Skipper's. She was still dressed in the red number they had found her in the night before; Skipper hadn't sent anyone to pick up her things since then. Kowalski set up the tape recorder.
"Can you please state your full name for the record?" Skipper stated as the boys sat down again for the second interrogation of the case.
"Doris Amelia Joyce."
"Can you tell us anything about your relationship with Vincent Mad Rat Riatonni?" Doris paused.
"I never wanted to have a relationship with him," She started out, "My boss he- he knew Vince had a weakness when it came to women and, as I said earlier he wanted Katrina for himself."
"Why did you go through with this relationship if you didn't want to?"
"He threatened my life," she said looking down, "He's got dirt on almost everyone in town."
"Can you be a little more specific than that?"
"He threatened my life!" She reinstated, "What more do you need to know than that?"
"Why would he want Katrina for himself?" She sighed.
"He said he got tired of all the girls, wanted a new one."
"What is your boss's name?" She hesitated.
"He'll kill me if I tell you." Kowalski bolted upright in his chair.
"As long as you are under my-our protection, no one is going to hurt you. We swear." Doris looked at the recorder, out the window, and down at her lap. Not uttering a word for quite some time. She sighed in defeat.
"His name is Barry Linden. He lives in the floor above me. I guess it was good that you made me not go home." The name clicked in Skipper's head as he remembered what Mad Rat had written
"Can you describe this man for us?" Skipper asked as Rico opened up a notepad. Despite his violent nature, Rico's skill with a paintbrush, pencil, pen, or any artistic utensil for that matter, was quite apparent.
"He has red hair. A fairly round face. These big- and I mean big- eyes- blue. His nose is a bit crooked, but round like his face. . . his mouth is thin but his cheeks are full and. . ." Rico laughed a bit, "What are you laughing at?" Doris said. Rico turned his drawing to Skipper, who nearly laughed too. Skipper plucked the drawing out of Rico's hand and turned it around to Doris. On the page was exactly what she had described in drawing form. However, the man on the page looked more like one of those adorable children from a candy advertisement billboard rather than an intimidating mob boss.
"Is this your boss?" Skipper said trying to contain his laughter, Doris's eyes whet wide.
"YES! That's him!" She said frantically pointing at the drawing. Skipper shook his head and set the drawing down; she was really afraid of this man.
"Anything else you can tell us about him that might attribute to this case?" Doris thought for a second.
"Yes, back in February. . . Barry was trying to work out an alliance with Mad Rat. . . I don't think it worked out though. Something about Mad Rat cheating in a bet." Skipper thought for a second, and then looked back up at Doris.
"Thank you, Doris, I think that's all the questions we have." Kowalski hit the stop button on the recorder and began to wrap it up. Doris did not stand up, her face had gone pale and her eyes drained of color. Kowalski paused.
"Are you alright?" He said walking around the table to kneel by her. Her eyes were fixed on the table in front of her. Void of emotion. She shook her head.
"I should have never told you anything. . ." She said with fear in her voice, "He's going to kill me now. . ." Skipper looked at Doris and then back at Kowalski.
"Take her home," he said to his second in command, "make sure no one gets to her. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir," Kowalski helped Doris to her feet. She was shaking, "Come on Doris, I'll make sure you're safe," he whispered to her calmingly.
"Kowalski," Skipper said as they were nearing the door. Kowalski paused and turned around.
"Skipper?"
"I still have some things to discuss with the boys so I'll have Private call you about our discussion."
"Yes, sir." Kowalski closed the door behind them. Rico watched out the window to make sure they got into a cab safely. Private sat down again in front of Skipper.
"What did you need to tell us?" Rico sat down as well.
"Tomorrow we're going to confront this Barry guy. I'm not sure if we can convict him for Mad Rat's murder but," Skipper looked to the door, "I think we can convict him on assault and battery." Rico shook his head and mumbled.
"Rico's right, Skippah, this could be risky. We've only dealt with one other mob boss before, and he's dead now." Rico nodded and grunted in agreement.
"Boys, we survived one of the greatest wars in history, I think we can handle a little mob boss," Skipper laughed to himself and showed Rico's picture again, "I don't think this guy will be a problem." Private shook his head. He hated the 'we survived war' guilt trip that Skipper pulled.
"I'm in," He said with a smile. Rico paused and then nodded, "What time should we be here tomorrow?"
"I think the best approach would be around noon, it's safer when the sun's out."
"So ten hundred hours then?" Skipper nodded and looked at the clock, two pm.
"You should get home boys, you were supposed to have the day off today. Rico, I'm sure Carlotta has gotten wind of the case by now. She'll be worried." Rico nodded and gathered his things to leave, "And Private, make sure you stake out those new people moving into your apartment. They're Russian or Hungarian or something. . . I don't trust them." Private nodded.
"But that one girl, uh… Cupid I think her name is she can't be-"
"I. Don't. Trust. Them. And you shouldn't either." Private sighed in defeat.
"Fine, what are you going to do?"
"I have paper work I need to fill out for the case. I don't need you boys here." Private nodded and collected his things before following Rico out the door.
"See you tomorrow then Skippah," Skipper nodded as the door shut behind them.
Hours late Skipper had the last document in front of him. A blank warrant for the arrest of one Barry Linden, along with a photo ID from the archives. Skipper rubbed his eyes, the lamp light finally doing a toll on them. There was a knock at the door. Skipper looked at his watch, who on earth could that be at this hour? He thought.
"It's open," He said warily, knowing exactly where the gun under his desk was taped. Katrina came walking through the door in a grey coat and hat.
"Oh thank goodness you're here." Katrina said, she carried a bundle wrapped in brown paper under her arm, "I found something in the apartment that I think you should look at," she put the package down on the desk. Skipper looked at the package then looked at her.
"This couldn't wait till tomorrow?" He asked. She shook her head.
"I didn't think it could." Skipper sighed and moved the warrant away, pulling the package closer to him. He undid the white string and opened the brown paper. Inside was a shirt, a very small shirt. It had what looked like black paint all over it and was torn at on the front.
"What is this?" Skipper asked Katrina. Katrina looked at him.
"Evidence," She said excitedly.
"Evidence against who?" Katrina stared at him.
"And you call yourself a detective," Skipper glared at her.
"Would you just tell me what the hell this is?" Skipper said losing his patience.
"It means that Vince was marked," Skipper didn't say anything, still confused, "by another gang!"
"Which gang?" Skipper said finally interested in where this was going.
"Well that's just it… there's three signs here." She said pointing to the shirt carefully opening it.
"Three?"
"Yes, the black paint… that's the Gypsy Jokers,"
"Gypsy Jokers?" Katrina nodded.
"From Queens, my husband never sat well when they were in his territory," She paused and pointed to the torn parts of the shirt, "Pagan Sharks," Skipper looked at the shirt.
"How can you tell?" Katrina held out her hand.
"Do you have a large piece of paper?" Skipper opened a drawer and handed her two sheets. She slid them inside the shirt revealing the pattern of a star carved into the shirt. Skipper sat back in his chair.
"Where do these people hail from?" He asked crossing his arms.
"Lower Westside Manhattan. They usually don't bother coming into Brooklyn. But on occasion they do."
"And the third sign?" Katrina sat back.
"Look at the size of the shirt." Skipper looked again. It was small, far too small to fit any man half of Mad Rat's size, let alone the mobster himself.
"Only a child could fit into that," Skipper said indicating the shirt.
"The Red Cats." Katrina said simply, "They're actually around our home. We've had an alliance though, so I wouldn't understand why they would-"
"What do they do?"
"Excuse me?"
"What do they do that keeps them in an alliance?" Katrina looked at him, shocked, "I know what I'm talking about, Mrs. Riatonni; I assure you. Now what do they do?" She paused.
"They sell us. . . things."
"Things as in… drugs?" Skipper asked fairly straightforwardly. Katrina paused and then nodded.
"Drugs, men, anything we need." Skipper nodded.
"Do you mind if I keep this? For evidence?" Katrina nodded.
"Of course," Her eyes fell on a picture frame on Skipper's desk. She picked it up and looked at it calmly, "is this your wife?" She asked with a smile.
"Fiancé," He said picking the frame out of her hand and setting it back on the desk.
"Oh well then, I wish you all the best," Katrina began to gather her things and stood up, "But she must have done something to make you so upset." With that she turned on her heel and began to walk out.
"Excuse me?"
"I know people better than you think I do Mr. Blake. I can tell, from your posture and the look in your eyes, your fiancé must have said something to you that's making you stay here and fill out unneeded warrants," Skipper sat there in silent shock, "If you ever need me, feel free to call," Katrina gave him a smile and shut the door behind her. Skipper looked down at the shirt and saw a small white index card out of the corner of his eye. He picked it up and stared at it.
Katrina Riatonni
212-968-7666
At the bottom of the card was a kiss mark of red lipstick. Skipper put it in his drawer faster than the speed of light as soon he finished reading it. He put his head in his hands and then looked over at his picture of Marlene. He sighed.
"This is going to be harder than I thought, Marlene," he said looking at the picture.
TADA!!!!!! Did you enjoy that? I did. PS... there is a kid in my class named Barry and no one likes him.... so that's his last name. That and I couldn't resist using Barry as a character. . . because poison dart frogs are amazing. So there. NOW ONTO THE QUESTIONS:
(worth 2 points): Skipper faces the similar problem as what TV doctor did in the third season of this TV show. (one point for the doctor's name, one point for the show... hint hint it's on ABC now after being dumped by... Fox i think it was)
(worth 1 point): Who was the cab driver. (he's a character on the show)
(Worth 4 points): Name the famous Irish Pirate Queen who's husband was killed by the Joyce clan in Ireland?
(worth 1 point): What pirate also answered the question 'do I make myself clear' by saying 'transparently'?
(worth 1 point): Where on earth is non-human Cupid from? (the character..... you know which one I'm talking about)
(worth 1 point): the Sharks.... what musical is this? (if you don't get this right.... you just fail at life!!!!)
because this is the last chapter with questions, i decided to add a bunch. PM ME YOUR ANSWERS! but on another note plz Review this.... YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!
