IX. Paved with Good Intentions

October 1963 Kansas City, Kansas

Floyd rubbed his bruised jaw as he paced on the patio turning his head as he heard a car pull up seeing Yvonne's little brother get out

"Floyd what the hell are you doing here?" Eric panicked as he saw Floyd on their front porch again.

"Have you heard anything?"

"Floyd you need to get out of here before my Dad gets home. Because if he catches you around here again he'll do more than bruise your jaw this time." Eric pleaded looking at the bruise on Floyd's face trying to ignore the desperate look in his eyes.

"I know your father blames me but…please Eric I need to know."

Eric sighed "look all the police have told us is that she's a missing person, they say she probably ran off with some guy..."

"What!? She would never do that!" Floyd yelled.

"Don't you think we know that? The police don't care, they say there's nothing they can do unless….a…body turns up." Eric whispered out.

"Did anyone hear or see anything?" Floyd asked ignoring Eric's implication that she was dead.

"Uhm yeah someone said something about a seeing a truck and some white kids but…"

"What kind of truck?"

Eric looked at him confused "a blue one I think."

"That son of a bitch!" Floyd yelled as he jumped off the porch and ran towards his car.

"Floyd wait! What's going on?" Eric yelled after him watching as his car peeled out of their gravel driveway and sped down the road kicking up dirt and rocks.

x-x-x-xx-x-x-x

BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG

"I'm coming!" Frances yelled as she rushed to the front door, throwing it open to see one of her step-brother's old friends "What do you want?"

Floyd glared at Ronnie's step-sister as he shoved his way inside "Where is he?"

"Not here! Now get out of my parents' house before I call the police!"

"Ronald you spineless piece of shit! Get the hell down here!"

"I said he's not here. Dad!" Frances yelled as moved away from the door as her father came rushing down the stairs.

"Who do you think you are, running up in my house?"

"Where's Ronald?"

"Not here, now you need to get the hell out my house before I make you!" Jeff yelled.

Hearing a shuffle at the top of the stairs Floyd saw Ronnie standing next to his mother, looking nervous.

"You bastard! What did you do? What did you do to her!? Where is she? Where is she!?" Floyd lunged towards the stairs only to be blocked and dragged out the house by Ronald's step-father. He felt a punch to the gut before his face was slammed onto the roof of his car with his arm twisted behind his back.

"I want you to get in your car and get the hell off my property. I don't care what you think he did to some nappy headed porch monkey. You come near here again and there will be hell to pay. Remember I got friends in this town you race trader. Now get the hell out of here."

Floyd grunted again as he felt a blow to his ribs, clutching his side in pain as he watched Ronald's step-father walk back into the house and slam the door shut. As he stared at the house he saw movement in one of the upstairs windows, when he looked harder he saw Ronald peeking out his window smiling at him before he disappeared from view.

In that moment something inside of him broke and he felt his breath leave his lungs and his body run cold. He clenched his fist, Ronald did something to Yvonne and he was going to find out what and why, even if it was the last thing he ever did. He looked back at Ronald's house one last time, he couldn't run home to his parents and hide forever.

"* You may run home for a long time, run home for a long time, you may run home for a long time, lemme tell you, God Almighty gonna cut you down. Go tell that long tongued liar, go tell that midnight rider, Tell the gambler, rambler, backbiter Tell 'em God Almighty gonna cut 'em down."


(Present) Kansas City, Kansas 8:10PM

Knock, Knock, Knock

Joss sat her file down on the mattress as she moved towards her hotel door, looking out the peep hole to see John standing in the hallway.

She smiled as she opened the door "Wow you actually know how to knock, I'm shocked"

John smiled, "of course Detective it's the polite thing to do."

"Says they man who's constantly breaking and entering into my home at night" Joss rebuffed as she stepped to the side and let him in.

"Not just at night Detective." John smirked as he walked into her room.

Joss narrowed her eyes "When the hell were you in my house during the day?"

John gave her an innocent look as he pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket "I have something for you."

She sighed and snatched the paper from his hand walking back towards her bed shifting her files around and siting down.

"So how was your and Fusco's trip to Greenwood. Gather any useful information from the local's" John asked as he sat down next to her on the bed.

"Not really. The cop we spoke to suggested when try city hall and sift through their public records to find any residents that lived there in 1963." Joss replied as she opened the piece of paper, her eyes scanning the two names and addresses that were printed on it.

"Who are Frances Atwater and Julie Blake?" Joss asked confused.

"Turns out Middleton had a step-father growing up, Frances Atwater is his former step-sister. And according to an electronic year book database, Julia Blake use to be Middleton's junior high school sweetheart. They both still live in town. Atwater runs a bar at the edge of town and Blake owns a ranch a few miles outside of town.

Joss smiled "and just how did you come by this information John?"

"A little birdy told me." John smirked and scratched the bride of his nose before he stood up.

"I'll see you in the morning" John threw out as he moved to the door.

Joss quirked her eyebrows in confusion as she stood up and followed him to the door "Why?"

"We'll I figure we split up to cover more ground before Floyd gets here, if he's not here already."

Joss didn't miss the tenseness in his voice as he mentioned Floyd, so she changed the subject.

"Okay but why are we meeting up?"

Because I want to make sure you don't run into Floyd by yourself John thought to himself before speaking aloud, "Finch suggested that it would be beneficial if we divided ourselves that way, plus Shaw already volunteered to take Fusco to the bar, so that leaves us together at the ranch."

Joss smiled "Finch doesn't want you two running around unsupervised so far away from home, does he?"

"I don't know what you mean," John blinked and gave a small tight smile.

Joss chuckled and opened the door watching as he stepped into the hallway "Anything else?"

"No…."John smirked before wiggling his eyebrows, "…unless you're looking to cuddle with me again for the night."

Joss felt her eye twitch as he brought up Texas. "Goodnight John" she huffed out shutting the door in his face. Joss felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment as she remembered waking up clinging to his side with her face buried in his neck and her hand under his shirt.

"I should've just let him sleep on the damn floor." Joss mumbled as she massaged her temples.


Greenwood, Kansas 12:34PM

Fusco watched as another heavy muscled man with a shaved head walk into the bar. His eyes scanned the parking lot looking over the cars and bikes adorned with swastikas and confederate flags. Topped off with the plethora of offensive bumper stickers that read; 'America not Amexico seal the boarders now', 'Don't Re-nig in 2012 vote Republican', 'There's a Feminist in my truck', 'The Bro and his Ho got to go impeach Obama now'.

"Uh what kind of bar did glasses say this was again?" Fusco asked feeling very uncomfortable just sitting in the parking lot.

"It's run by Middleton's former step-sister, Frances Atwater."

"And he wants US, to go in THERE?" Fusco questioned dramatically.

Shaw smirked "What's the matter Lionel scared?"

"The last time I dealt with skinheads I ended up tied to a chair with a gag ball in my mouth…plus I'm a little more concerned about you. You're not exactly of the Aryan descent."

"I'll be fine Fusco, most of these clowns are all bark," Shaw replied as she got out of the car.

"And if they bite?" Fusco asked adjusting his arm sling.

"Then I'll put them down." Shaw cracked her neck "…figuratively speaking of course."

"Yeah right." Fusco muttered as they walked into the bar.


"Okay everybody the trail were going to be taking is an hour long round trip. Make sure you have all of your necessities with you before we head out. If you need any help mounting your horse just flag myself or my wife down and we'll help."

Joss cursed herself, she should have known something was out of whack when he told her to change from her suit to jeans and a t-shirt this morning. She turned her glare to look at John standing next to her in a blue, black and white flannel shirt and a pair of jeans, as he held the reins to a giant brown and white spotted horse. The same annoying horse that had developed a hankering for her hair and face.

John snickered slightly as he watched the horse tried to lick Joss in the face again.

"Make him stop." Joss glared at him.

"It's not my fault John likes the way you taste Joss." John replied with a laughed as he patted the horse's snout.

"You're just loving the fact that the horse's name is John aren't you?" Joss asked as she moved to grab the saddle, sticking her foot into the stirrup and pulling herself up.

"Maybe" John muttered as he held the horse still with one hand as his other gripped her hip to make sure she didn't fall as she swung her leg over. Once she was mounted on the horse he tightened his hold on the reigns and saddle, placing his foot into the stirrup and heaving himself onto the horse, his chest brushing up against her back as he settled behind her.

John felt her tense posture "Don't be so tense Joss you're safe with me. I won't let you fall."

"Easy for you to say John but I'm not use to having something so big between my legs."

John puckered his lips trying to control himself but his inner childishness won out "That's what she said."

Joss elbowed him in the chest "You're so immature"

"I know you are but what am I"

Joss took a deep sigh "I...wish I was with Fusco right now."


As they entered the bar Fusco felt the eyes of the patrons on them, silent mutters as they approached the bartender at the counter.

Fusco pulled his badge out "NYPD can I speak with the manager?"

"She's not here and we don't serve your kind." the man sneered as he glared at Shaw.

Shaw smiled "and what kind is that?"

"Fucking sand monkey terrorists, don't you have to go blow yourself up somewhere?"

Fusco looked at the clearly drunk man sitting at the bar that decided to speak up on the bartender's behalf. "Hey we don't want any trouble. We're just…"

Shaw raised her hand to silence Fusco "What did you just call me?"

"You heard me you terrorist bitch." The man stood up "though I see your missing your bed sheet today which is a good thing cause you look pretty damn good."

Fusco felt like he was in a movie as he watched in slow motion as the drunk man stuck his hand out and touched Shaw's cheek.

"Oh shit…"


Joss watched as the group began to follow the two guides down the trail, she glanced over her shoulder at John wondering what he was waiting for, until she saw Julie break from the front and double back towards them to bring to bring up the rear.

"You're the cops from New York right? Detective Carter and Fusco. I believe I spoke with you Detective Fusco this morning." Julie nodded at John, as their horse began to walk side by side "Thank you for letting me keep up on my business while we talk."

Joss smiled ignoring the fact that John was impersonating her partner "Yes Ma'am we had some questions about two people you grew up with, a Floyd Saint-Vincent and Ronald Middleton."

"Wow, I haven't heard those names in very long time." Julie expressed surprised.

"Yes, recently Mr. Vincent was released from prison in New York and we suspect that he is responsible for the murders of James Bradford and Lucas Cavanagh, two of Middleton's childhood friends."

Julie let out a sad sigh "I can't say I'm surprised."

"Why's that?" Joss asked.

"When we were younger Floyd was dating a black girl and she disappeared, it caused a lot of tension in the town. The official story was that she ran away but there were other rumors that a group of white kids had something to do with it."

"So you're saying that Vincent knew Ronald was responsible for her disappearance back in 1963."

Julie rubbed her chin "I'm not sure after I broke up with Ronald. I never really hung around with them again."

"May I ask why you broke up with him?" Joss asked.

"Probably the same reason Floyd stopped being his friend" Julie replied.

"Ronald and Floyd were friends?" John asked confused, wondering why a man in a relationship with a black woman would be friends with a racist.

"They were when they were younger, before Ronald started to change."

"Change?" Joss followed up.

"Yeah his Dad divorced his Mom and remarried some oriental lady, at first he was just mad at his Dad for leaving but then his Mom remarried this man named Jeff and that's when things took a turn for the worst. He started lashing out at minorities and by the time we got to high school he was just unbearable to be around. I stopped dating him the summer before we entered high school. I still saw them both from time to time in the hallways, even tired to go out with Floyd but he turned me down. Whenever they weren't ignoring each other they were always getting into fights with each other.

"Do you know what caused Ronald's behavior and why he started fighting with Floyd?"

Julie shrugged "If I had to guess I'd say his Mom, after his dad left, she was real bitter always had something to say about asian women and when she married Jeff, who I'm pretty sure was a member of the clan, all that hate was amplified. I honesty felt sorry for him having to grow up in that environment, I don't care what anyone says no one's born to hate or discriminate it's a learned trait. Ronald really was a great person but his family twisted him and I think he just took his anger out of the people closest to him. But like I said I really didn't pay too much attention to them after I broke up with Ronald,after high school, other than that, I really can't tell you much else."

Joss nodded "We understand. Thank you for speaking with us."

"Well that explains a lot." Joss retorted as she watched Julie move back to the front of the tour group.

John nodded "His father left him and his mother and step-father filled his head and heart with hate. He ex-girlfriend tried to date his ex-best friend. Sounds like a textbook case of transference. He compared Floyd to his father and probably thought Yvonne was the catalyst to Floyd not wanting to be around him anymore."

"Even more of a reason to find Floyd and stop him before he does anything more damage" Joss threw out.

"Joss Floyd's a determined man and Ronald's circumstances aside, he still took Yvonne's life and hide her body. No amount of reasoning is going to stop him, he's out for blood and…confronting him could be dangerous."

"Is that how you felt?" Joss asked softly, waiting in silence watching as his hands tighten on the reigns. She bit the inside of her cheek wondering if she'd overstepped her bounds.

"…somewhat, I felt the lost, the loneliness, the anger, and…..the guilt. That if I had made better decisions I could have saved her, I could have prevented her from dying….but I really don't think I can compare myself with Floyd..."

"Why?" Joss asked looking over her shoulder into his eyes, noting his distant look.

"…what I had with Jessica was normal...easy. No one told me that loving her or being with her was against the law or could get us killed, no one stared at us in public sneering in hate…I didn't have to fight for a right to love her…and I certainly didn't need the backing of the United States Supreme Court for the right to marry her in any state... all that struggling..." John trailed off. "Although it doesn't take away the pain, I know where Jessica is. I can go visit her grave when i feel the need. Floyd's waited half a century in a six by eight foot cell, waiting for then day he could find her body and lay her to rest properly and I hate that we have to interfere with his plans."

Joss closed her eyes, she knew that if they interfered there'd be a chance that they wouldn't be able locate Yvonne's body and an even bigger chance that Middleton could walk away from a murder charge. But even if they couldn't get him on murder all the circumstantial evidence piled against him would at least force him to resign his post as Commissioner. After the FBI crippled HR, the mayor couldn't afford the PR scandal of leaving Middleton in charge.

As she took in the beautiful scenery of the open fields, the sense of serenity was tampered down by the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach, she couldn't shake the feeling that more blood was going to spill before the end of the case.

"Joss? Joss?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah just thinking about how to find Floyd…" Joss chuckled "…maybe Fusco and Shaw had better luck?"


Fusco ducked as a beer bottle almost clipped him in the head. As he saw Shaw knee another of the bar patrons in the nuts before she broke a stool over his back.

"Look out!" Fusco warned as a man picked up a pool cue and tried to hit her. He watched her bust out some kind of fancy Kung Fu hand shit, before yanking the stick out the guys hand and cracking it across his the corner of his eye he caught a guy reaching for his gun before he could draw his weapon Fusco watched as pool ball hurled through the air and smashed into the guys face sending him to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Shaw looked around the bar counting the groaning men laying on the floor and eyeing the other scared patrons that had shuffled into the corner away from the brawl. She wiped the blood from her nose as she turned back around to eye the bartender cracking her knuckles. "So where can we find your employer address ?"

"112 Pine Drive," the bartender rattled off his hands held in the air.

"Thanks a bunch…" she replied before looking at Lionel "Fusco let's roll

"Remind me to never piss you off…"Fusco shook his head in shock as he stepped over an unconscious body and followed her out the bar.


Interstate I-70, 8:45PM

Floyd rubbed his eyes as he turned up the car radio to drown out the thumping coming from the truck of the car he just stole. As he turned around the bend his eyes caught site of the white and green wooden town sign, his eyes ghosting over the gold lettering 'Welcome to the town of Greenwood.'

"Home sweet home, Ronald" Floyd whispered under his breath as he continued to drive down the road into the town.


*God's Gonna Cut You Down by Odetta-Recorded 1956

Next time - an interview with an evil step sister, Joss gets an involuntary one on one with Floyd, and John starts a gunfight that might rival the OK Corral shootout. Back in New York Finch and Bear save a "dancer" because the numbers never stop and I cant leave Finch out of the action, besides he needs to practice his deadly "poke them in the eye technique."