Ray Vecchio groaned as he slammed the gunman from the pizza shop against his desk. "Alright, who are you?" The man remained quiet. "Come on, I don't got all day. You work for Colby and Jack it's no secret."
"Hey, cool it Vecchio!" Lt. Welsh walked over and pulled the man away from Ray.
"Sir, this guy works for Colby and Jack." Ray actually had no proof whatsoever.
"Vecchio, I want to believe you, but you'll have to show me some proof."
"Ray forgot to mention how he held up a pizza shop." Hazel took a step forward.
"Well book 'em then." Welsh turned back to his office and everyone that paused to watch returned to their work.
"I'll find some proof. I'll grill this bastard if it takes me all day." Vecchio shouted back to his Lieutenant. Ray wouldn't normally go off that easily but this was serious. It involved the woman he loved and her friend. Two women shouldn't be treated like this. He turned towards Hazel and a spaced out Cassie. "I'll solve this case, Benny and I will solve this case." He reassured the girls. Hazel nodded and smiled at him while Cassie continued to stare forward with her arms crossed. "And we'll get revenge for Stanley too." He attempted to get Cassie's attention and it worked. Ray was truly at his breaking point. Even if Kowalski wasn't his best friend they had learned to put up with each other and grow closer. As long as he didn't have to call him Ray.
xXxXx
"Alright, Lucas Creete..." Ray slammed the door once he and Fraser entered the room to grill the man Ray arrested. "I got two innocent girls out there afraid for their lives. Cop girls so ya don't want to mess with them." Ray shot Fraser a quick 'I got this' look and leaned on the table in front of the man. "All I need to know is if you've heard of two guys named Colby and Jack?"
"Yeah, I was walking to pick up a newspaper when these Colby and Jack dudes come out and ask me to go in there and rob the pizza shop. They said they were part of a new gameshow on TV. I asked them why they wanted me to do it and they told me it was to distract two girls inside. I thought it was just a game, honestly! I never done anything like this before I swear."
"I understand." Fraser interrupted to Ray's disappointment. He wasn't at all surprised that Colby and Jack had resorted to fooling innocent pedestrians. "By any chance did you get their license plate number?" Fraser asked.
"Yeah, I wrote it down. I used to work for an attorney. I write down everything since then." He had been staring at Ray since Fraser spoke but finally turned his head to him. "Um, are you a Mountie?"
"Yes, I first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of my..."
"Not now, Benny." Ray groaned and dropped his face into one hand.
"Understood."
The man pulled the paper out of his pocket and slid it across the table to Ray. The two emerged from the room and Ray headed straight to Frannie's desk. "Frannie, trace this license plate. Fraser, call the Inspector."
xXxXx
Meanwhile, Cassie sat in the hospital praying for Ray and Fraser. She knew what Colby and Jack were capable of. They were not afraid of the police.
"Cassandra Muniz?" The doctor walked in.
"Yes?" She sprang up. Her legs we're so tight that she was feeling numb.
"Mr. Kowalski is awake and asking for you."
"Oh, OK... thank you ." She walked down the hallway quickly. But when she got to the door she was too nervous to open it. She looked over her shoulder at the doctor who smiled at her and nodded for her to go in.
"Hello, Mr. Kowalski." She peered her head into his room with a smile.
His face lit up at seeing her and limply waved for her to come in. "Cassie, are you OK?" He tried to sit up but she rushed in and forced him back down.
"You're asking me if I'm OK? You're the one in the hospital!" She joked and they exchanged a few smiles before she sat down on the edge of his bed and began stroking his hair.
"How long have you been sittin' out there?"
"All but a few minutes to get something to eat." She sighed.
"What're Fraser and Vecchio doin'?"
"They left with Hazel and Meg to find Colby and Jack. I probably should have gone with 'em. I'm a cop what's wrong with me?"
"Yer also a victim. Don't forget that. I should be the one goin' with 'em." Ray tried to sit up again and took a deep breath before collapsing again. Cassie gently laid him back down.
"Hey, you're a victim too after all!" She looked over her shoulder at the clock and back to him. "I want to stay but...I have to go with Fraser and Ray."
Ray looked into her eyes, wanting to tell her no and make her stay somehow but he knew that nothing could change her mind. "Stay safe...please."
She kissed him on the forehead and moved down to his mouth before moving off the bed.
"Hey, it's not hard to find Vecchio," Ray grinned weakly, "Just look for the skid marks on the road, they'll lead ya right to 'em." Cassie laughed, blew him a kiss and slid out the door.
xXxXx
