A/N : Thank you dear reviewers for taking the time to write a review. They are much appreciated and I will do my best to keep this going. Hope the pace isn't too slow!.
Chapter 8
Sheldon had a feeling of deja-vu as he walked through the hospital doors the next morning. It was still early and the night-shift was handing over to the morning shift. The nurse he had seen yesterday was shrugging on a coat and speaking to a young red-head who was nodding eagerly. As he approached, Irene Lewis turned around. Her face showed no surprise as she smiled.
"Good Morning Dr Hawkes. I could mention visiting hours but I know that would be a waste of my breath. So, as I said to your other colleague, ten minutes no more!" and with that she waved her hand over her shoulder and was gone.
Sheldon was speechless. He had about to begin a well-rehearsed speech on how he didn't wish to intrude but again the formidable Nurse Irene Lewis seemed to have read his mind. "My other colleague?" he queried.
The young red-head smiled at him. "This way Dr Hawkes. Detective Taylor is doing very well all things considered. His vitals are good though his oxygen count could be better and his blood pressure is a little low. We've had him sedated through the night to monitor the bleeding as I believe Dr McIntosh explained to you last night. That now seems to be under control and shouldn't require surgery providing Detective Taylor gets sufficient rest and doesn't put too much strain on his abdominal muscles. We will cast his hand tomorrow or perhaps the day after once the swelling has reduced. Our main concerns at present are the bruising to the stomach and kidney, and of course the concussion but he seems quite lucid. Dr McIntosh will be by in half-an-hour if you have any further questions."
She smiled at him once more and left him at the door to Mac's room. Sheldon turned to look at Jo who was sitting by Mac's bedside, her hand covering his. "I think perhaps they've decided the best way to handle us is the direct approach." she grinned. At the sound of her voice Mac's eyes fluttered open.
Sheldon approached. He could see the fatigue etched into Mac's face. His eyes seemed unfocussed but he didn't appear to be in any pain. Sheldon glanced at the readouts on the monitors and the IV's hung up and nodded as if in approval.
"I guess they need to be with you double-checking everything." Jo hissed.
"Sorry! Guess old habits die hard." he said. "Hey Mac, how are you feeling?"
"Mm fine." he whispered fighting to open his eyes.
"Oh seriously Mac!" sighed Jo, rolling her eyes at Sheldon who just shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
A small smile briefly graced his face. "You get the guys who did it yet?" asked Mac, proving that he hadn't lost his dry sense of humour.
"Actually yes! Don's bringing one of them in now." Jo grinned at Sheldon. "Told yer!"
Sheldon raised his eyebrows in surprise but before he could say anything Mac asked softly "Who?"
" A Mickey Brewster..." Jo hesitated as Mac's eyes closed unsure whether he was still with them. "Mac...?"
"Don put him in Rikers for assault."
Jo was stunned. Despite his condition Mac was still able to dredge up facts like that. "Do you spend your evenings off memorising the NYPD database?"
Mac smiled again. "No spent an evening listening to Don moaning about his busted nose." Jo and Sheldon chuckled.
"Why?" he asked his eyes fluttering closed once more. Sheldon could see he was fighting a losing battle. He needed sleep..
"We don't know that yet but ..." she hesitated and looked at Sheldon as though unsure whether to push. Sheldon nodded "Mac can you take a look at this? Sheldon and Danny broke the all records to get a reconstruction of your burglar. Do you know him?"
Mac inhaled sharply as though gathering the last of his strength. Lifting his head he looked at the image on the tablet PC that Jo held for him to see. He blinked several times and then frowned. "Sammy?" he said. Jo sat up straighter eager to hear more. Finally they were about to get some answers.
"Oh God! … Sammy! … What was he doing? ... Sheldon the photo …?" Mac asked.
"We found them but they're just pictures of a warehouse, like he was casing the place for a job. You know … like the alarms, the cameras and a security guard and some pictures of Mickey Brewster and an unknown man. Mac, you said Sammy. Sammy who?"
Sheldon could see that Mac was fading fast "No. … No. Not a job, Sammy wouldn't ..." Sheldon could see the frown lines deepening. He glanced at Jo.
"Mac. It's okay. Just relax. We've got this." Jo spoke softly regretting having pushed.
"Sammy … Samuel Wilson ... Josh died … the fire … " Mac's voice petered out and he collapsed back onto the pillow as he could no longer fight the drugs and the sleep his body was craving.
Sheldon checked the monitors once more but seemed satisfied. "Come on Jo. He needs to rest."
x
x
"Well, well. What goes around comes around!" Detective Donald Flack Jr was enjoying himself immensely. He grinned at Logan Tanner who was leaning nonchalantly against the wall. Their suspect Michael Peter Brewster AKA Mickey or Big Mick was sitting sullenly in a chair in an interview room, his hands cuffed behind his back. The take-down had been easier than Don had anticipated. Mickey had clearly been getting ready to run but had stopped at an all-night drug store to get treatment for his busted nose when Logan had spotted him. Of course, he tried to run. They all tried to run but Logan had called Flack so that Mickey ran directly into Flack's path. He had no choice other than to grind to a halt with Flack's service weapon two feet from his belly. As the other officers encircled him he'd stuck his hands up. He was now being scrutinised through one-way glass by Lindsay and Danny when Jo arrived.
"Oh Good Heavens! I said 8 o'clock. How long have you two been here?" Danny and Lindsay just smiled and shook their heads. "He saying anything?" she asked as she examined the huge man sitting in the chair on the other side of the glass.
"You know you don't even have to say anything. I got everything I need to put you straight back into Rikers where you belong." Don opened a file and pretended to consult his notes. "I got your blood and fingerprints right outside Señor Chows where you attacked Detective Taylor."
"He attacked me and I'm going to sue." grunted Mickey sneering at Don.
Don pulled a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me face and Tanner shook his head in amusement. "So Detective Taylor walked straight up to you unprovoked and smacked you in the nose?" Don could barely keep a straight face.
"Yeah that's right." Mickey snarled, or at least as best he could with a broken nose.
"With his fist?" asked Don.
"Yeah that's right." Mickey repeated. Don paced around and grinned at his three friends watching him from behind the glass.
Jo couldn't believe her ears. "Oh please! He can't be this stupid. He must know that we can prove that his blood and mucus on Mac's sleeve means Mac elbowed him from behind." Danny and Lindsay exchanged glances.
"And let me guess you defended yourself with these?" Don held up an evidence bag containing knuckle dusters.
"Yeah that's right." Mickey began but suddenly changed his mind "Er no, I've never seen them before ... I want my lawyer."
Don paused for a moment and pulled a "I'm thinking" face. "OK" he said and made for the door where Tanner's partner Gerry stood outside grim-faced.
For a second Mickey looked confused. "Whadda you mean okay?"
"I'm going to get you a lawyer because you my friend, are in dire need. I have Detective Taylor's blood on knuckle dusters found in your possession, Detective Taylor's blood on your boots where youkicked in him in the head." Don ducked his head down to indicate his suspect's stockinged feet as he circled the table.
"I have your blood on the sleeve of Detective Taylor's jacket and my scientific friends here will show that in fact he elbowed you in the face breaking your nose while you and youraccomplice tried to beat him to death." Don's finger jabbed repeatedly in the air with every emphasised word. He grinned as he brought his head close to Mickeys. "Bet that really hurts." he chuckled indicating the large white bandage taped across Mickey's nose.
Mickey looked even more displeased but continued to scowl as Don straightened up and continued his circuit of the room flashing yet another wide grin at the two-way mirror.
"Now I could push for the attempted murder of Detective Taylor but I've already got you for assaulting a police officer ….again!"
Mickey started to look uncomfortable and shifted uneasily in his chair.
"So why don't you go easy on yourself and tell me what this is all about? Who's your friend who attacked Detective Taylor and who is this with you in this photograph?" Don placed a copy of the photograph that had been recovered from the SD card on the table in front of Mickey. Mickey frowned at Don licking his lips nervously. He glanced at the door as though thinking of making a run for it but Gerry merely glared at him.
"I dunno." he mumbled looking down.
"How can you not know the name of the person you go around beating up police officers with? Huh? Look Mickey, I know you were at Detective Taylor's apartment two nights ago, that you killed Samuel Wilson and that you torched the place..."
Mickey's head snapped up. "What? … Who? … That's not … I didn't ..." He stopped clearly panicked. "I want my lawyer."
Don turned around slowly to face the two way glass, a look of confusion on his face. Jo rapped three times on the glass and made to leave the room. As Don headed out the door, Mickey suddenly spoke up.
"I confess!" he shouted "I attacked Detective Taylor just like you said. I did it."
"And your accomplice?" asked Don, his hand still on the handle. Mickey stared at him for a second almost as though he was afraid.
"There was no one else. I did it on my own. I was angry and I did it. There was no one else. I don't know nothing about no apartment or no fire. Two nights ago? ... I ... I was at a bar with friends. I got witnesses. Ask the barman!"
