You'll never guess what I found when I was researching this story When I saw the picture I recognized the place immediately.

Going to the Chapel

Chapter Four

Fisk looked up from his desk to see Karen framed in the doorway. "Yes," slipped out as his eyes went back to the paperwork on his desk.

"Boss, when is the soonest I can get two weeks off in a row."

Fisk looked up again to see Karen's face was pale and deep, dark circles sat under her eyes.

"What's the matter? Pre wedding jitters?"

She sighed and pulled the door shut before she continued. "Frank and I were thinking maybe it would be better if we just eloped. You know, head to Vegas and get married by a Klingon."

"If that's what you want, Karen, I can let you know by end of shift the time you have left this year. But Karen, all I've heard for the past three weeks has been your wedding. I have to say I'm curious why the sudden change."

"Nothing, really, just that…"

Fisk thought this would be a good time to see if his guess was right. "Don't tell me that there's a pre-mature baby in your future?"

"No! well yes, but that's not it. I just… we just…" Karen stumbled to the end of her non-explanation.

Fisk got up and walked to the front of his desk. "Karen, don't short change yourself, have your wedding and whatever the problem is that is chasing you to Vegas might not be as big a problem as it looks right now." Karen's tired eyes met his and a small smile played on her lips. "Get to work; I'll let you know about you're time off as soon as I have it figured out."

Karen left Fisk's office and silently went to her desk. Last night had been a nightmare… it had started so good and ended so bad. Now Frank was living out of a suitcase in her studio apartment and her wedding plans were in a shambles. When they left for work this morning Frank said he was going to have a condo bought and paid for before the day was out.

"Karen," Jim Dunbar's voice cut through her black fog, "are you okay?"

How could that man tell when she was upset? Did she give some kind of 'I've been screwed over' vibe she didn't know about? "No, I'm not okay. I'm tired and bloated and I just want to get married and get it over with."

"Why don't you and Frankie fly to Vegas?" Russo said as he came out of the locker room. "Quick, painless and Elvis can do the job."

"Maybe Karen wants to have her family and friends around," Tom added his two cents.

"Stop it, all of you; stop tlking like I'm not here. I am telling you right now it's none of your business." Karen fled to the stairway and was out of the squad room before any one realized she was leaving.

"Was it something I said?" Tom was clearly bewildered.

"I don't think it was," Jim said as he reached for his phone, "but I am damn well going to find out what is going on here. Some one look up the number of Mathany, Mathany and Brooks, there is a certain lawyer I need to kick the shit out of."

"Only if you let me help," Marty said as he got out the yellow pages to hunt down the number.


Henry Mathany pulled the papers together and patted his young hot shot on the shoulder. "You won't regret this; DUMBO is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in all five boroughs. 57 Front Street is a great building and this apartment is in move in condition."

"I was going to wait for Karen to see the place first," Frank said as he signed the sales agreement, "but I'm stealing this at $875,000.00. Even if Karen hates it, it will be a great investment."

"Property such as this usually goes for $1,000,000 or more. Pity the owner over extended himself so thoroughly, but that's what makes repossession possible. I'll get these notarized and you have the keys tomorrow. Besides, it isn't every young man who can come up with $775,000 with only a phone call." Mathany said as he double checked the papers...

"It isn't every young man who has sued Harvard and its largest fraternity and won." Frank smiled smugly. The purchase shaved his settlement down by about twenty five per cent, but it was an opportunity too good to pass up. He levered himself up as the senior partner opened his office door to leave. A wall of tall, dangerous looking men with badges hanging from their coats stopped him.

"You seem to have visitors, Frank. Should I wait to get these papers notarized?"

"No, Mr. Mathany, these fellows are just from the bride's side of the family." Frank leaned on his desk as he smiled at his boss, "meet Detectives Russo, Selway, Dunbar… and Hank."

"My pleasure, gentlemen," the man said as he slid past the big blue wall. "I'll see you all at the nuptials."

The exit of Henry Mathany did little to break the tension in the small office. "I only have one chair for visitors here. You'll have to fight for it."

"No, I think we need to go someplace a little less crowded," Jim said as he shifted his weight from one leg to another. Frank could almost feel the man's fingers itching to wrap around his throat.

"I think that can be arranged. Let me get my coat." Frank slipped his pea coat on and slid his arms into his elbow length crutches while the male component of the 8th Precinct homicide squad filed out into the foyer of Mathany, Mathany and Brooks. He wished he could get hold of his Uncle Greg right now, because it looked like he might need the Last Rites very, very soon.


The quartet made their way to the Eighth Avenue entrance of the office building and headed across West 30th to the Molly Wee Pub. Somehow Frank ended up wedged against the wall across from Jim Dunbar and beside Marty Russo. He swung his gaze to Tom Selway, hoping the even tempered detective would at least offer him the slight moral support of a smile. There was no smile to be seen.

"Francis," Russo started, "I never had a little sister, but I do have a daughter. You know if anyone made her as upset as Karen was today, I might be moved to…"

"Was she crying?" Frank reached for his cell phone and was about to call his fiancée when Tom put his hand on the phone and shook his head. Frank knew better than to continue.

"What we want to know is why she is so upset?" Tom said as he snapped his gum.

"We didn't say she was crying," Dunbar put in. "Why do you assume she was crying? You must know what happening that might make her feel like crying."

I am so screwed, Frank thought before he continued. "Last night we were supposed to have dinner with my parents."

"Brian and Eunice Daniels," Selway added unnecessarily.

"Yeah, them, and we missed the meal for reasons beyond our control, yeah, and when I got home my mother saw fit to make her displeasure known to me. So I packed my bags and went back to Karen's place. It was late and she wanted to know what happened, so I told her. Now I don't know what's going on with Karen but I do know I will not be inviting my mother to the wedding."

"You suggest eloping," Dunbar asked.

"No, I want to show her off. I want the world to see that I love Karen Betancourt and I want to marry her in front of our friends and family with the exception of my mother."

"Good answer," Russo smiled. Suddenly the vibes around the table felt more lively than lethal. "Sweetheart, we need menus here… three regular and one bumpy."

"That's Braille, Marty, Braille. The only thing bumpy round here will be your head when I finish with you." Jim shot back at Russo.

"You have to catch me first. Hey, Frank, what were you doing when we came to invite you to lunch."

Frank's jaw dropped, "this is how you invite people to lunch. Never take me to dinner." He let out a long breath. "I was buying a condo in DUMBO. It's a real nice building on Front Street and I can get immediate occupancy. Anything is better that Karen's studio on King's Highway."

"Christie and I live in DUMBO; we have for the last three years." Jim said before he ran his fingers over his menu. "Prices in our building were never cheap but lately they have went through the roof." He leaned back and took his glasses off and smiled. "If Christie hadn't inherited money from her Grandfather we'd still be on Coney Island Avenue near Ditmas."

Frank looked up from his menu to study Karen's partner. "I got this through a repossession sale and I know Karen is going to hit the roof when she finds out how much money I spent, but it's a great condo and a great investment. I told her I would be moving fast if I found something and she'll love 57 Front Street, Brooklyn."

It got very quiet and Frank looked up to see all three men with odd smiles on their faces. What had he done now?

"What floor are you on?" Jim asked with a smirk on his face.

"Fourth floor, why?" Frank looked from face to face that surrounded him here.

Russo piped in, "because Jimmy here lives on the third floor."

Dunbar leaned forward and grinned, "Hello neighbor."

"Karen is going to kill me."

tbc