"You never told me we were going to do so much walking," Provenza grumbled as the two men reached the door of the coffee shop. "If I wanted to do all this walking, I could have done it by the beach back at home! At least it would have been warmer. I don't consider 55 degrees exactly balmy."
"You said you enjoyed playing tourist," Andy frowned at him as the two men walked into the coffee shop. "You certainly bought enough souvenirs today. It seems like you like being a tourist. Plus, it's the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island! Who doesn't like seeing that? You got a boat ride too out of all this. Not a bad gig, my friend," he told him.
"I still don't understand what you see in this place," Provenza gestured around him.
"The coffee shop?" Andy asked, somewhat surprised at him. "This is the first time I have brought you here since you arrived."
"No, you idiot!" Provenza exclaimed. "I'm not talking about the coffee shop, but New York, in general. I'm surprised you are happy here."
"This is what I need. Can we just order something? I'm starving after our day of sightseeing," he told Provenza. It was now Monday evening. Even with all their arguing, the two men were enjoying their time together. They hadn't done a lot on Sunday'; Provenza was tired from his travels, and Andy spent a lot of the day just showing him around the neighborhood. They'd gone to Wall Street, which was Provenza's request. Of all the things they could do, Provenza wanted to walk around Lower Manhattan to see Wall Street. They'd done that as well as some sightseeing. They'd walked along Broadway too, with Andy joking about making Provenza see a show. He had no intention of going to anything, but he wasn't going to tell Provenza that either. The two avoided any popular restaurants in favor of anything else. They walked until they were hungry, thirsty, or tired, stopping frequently to get something to drink or eat. It had been a good day, and they'd ended up back at Andy's place where they found a "Die Hard" movie marathon on television and settled in for the night. The day had been full of banter between the men, and to an outsider, one might have thought the men hated each other, but really, they were very happy to spend time together. They'd fallen asleep on Andy's couch with their movie marathon continuing, and at some point during the night, both men had found their way to bed, Andy to his room, and Provenza had opted to just sleep on the couch instead of messing with the air mattress for a second night. Now that it was Monday, the men were tired from their day of playing tourist again. Andy had moved his work schedule slightly to work the upcoming Saturday so that he could enjoy the day off with Provenza. He had to go into work for a normal day Tuesday, but Provenza was going to join him for lunch on campus. Now, they were both hungry. They'd had lunch at the café at Ellis Island, but even that hadn't been exactly filling. Andy had ordered a salad, with Provenza opting for his standard burger and fries. With that meal now hours behind them, they were hungry, but neither had the energy to sit in a crowded restaurant. Andy suggested the coffee shop where they could get some basics, at least soup and a sandwich, and he won Provenza over when he mentioned the coffee shop sold cheesecake.
It took the men 10 minutes to order, and once they did that, with coffee in hand, they found their way to a small booth toward the front. The coffee shop had a mixture of table options, both inside and outside, booths, tables, and even two couches. They waited for their food and sat in a comfortable silence. Andy looked up when the door opened, and a huge grin spread across his face as he recognized the customer coming through the door.
"Emily, hi," Andy raised his hand and waved to her as she moved through the doorway quickly. She turned her head quickly toward his voice, and Provenza glanced at Andy as he gestured across the room. He eyed Andy, and both turned to Emily.
"Oh, Lieutenant, hi," she smiled as she walked to their table. Andy noted that it looked like she was coming from work. Her hair was up in a messy bun, she had on an off-the-shoulder lightweight sweater, leggings, and flats with it.
"Hey, how's it going," he nodded to her, holding his coffee cup. "I haven't seen you around for awhile."
"Busy," she let out a quick breath. "I just came from work."
"Ahh, a new show starting soon?" Andy asked, and as he did, he glanced to Provenza who was now eyeing him with curiosity. "Oh, Provenza, this is Emily, Emily Radyor. We're kinda neighbors. Emily, this is my best friend, Louie Provenza, who is visiting from LA."
"Raydor," Provenza's eyes widened. "Sorry, but that name almost makes me choke on my coffee."
"Oh, as in Captain Sharon Radyor?" Emily grinned. "Yes, we're related; she's my mom, and I've heard of you, Lieutenant Provenza. Nice to put a name to a face."
Provenza did start coughing, even though he wasn't drinking anything. His cheeks turned red, and he shook his head. "You mean to tell me you're Raydor's daughter?" He looked to Andy who just offered a simple shrug.
"Crazy, I know," Andy nodded. "Emily lives down the street.. Our buildings are here in the same neighborhood. We met now a few weeks ago."
"Right," Emily nodded, continuing the conversation. "Mom and I saw you here, actually," Emily smiled. "Small world."
"Raydor isn't here now, is she?" Provenza panicked, and he turned to the door, expecting her to walk through it.
"Oh, no," she shook her head, "but, you did just miss her. She flew home this weekend. She was just here for a few days last week. She tries to come as often as she can, but work sometimes has other plans."
"I knew it!" Provenza exclaimed. The two jumped, as his excitement came as a surprise. Andy eyed him, waiting for an answer. "I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I could have sworn I saw her at the airport, like I passed her walking to my gate. I told myself it wasn't here because one-she's not human, and two-Raydor would never wear anything other than her power suits."
"Saturday morning?" Emily grinned and looked at Provenza. "Mom flew home early Saturday morning, so she would have arrived in LA mid-morning or so. She had a direct flight, and if I remember correctly, she had on jeans and a poncho."
"Poncho?" Provenza looked confused at her. "A rain poncho?"
"No," Emily started to laugh, "a sweater type one. I remember only because I was hoping she'd leave it her. I love it, but she likes to travel in it."
"Raydor, we can't escape her," Provenza groaned and looked at Andy. "You never mentioned running into the Raydor Spawn here."
"I tried! There was this whole thing in February, but you had that crazy case. That one kept you busy for almost two weeks, and then, we just got into other topics. It just didn't come up again, but anyway, here we are. Emily," he turned to her, "it's nice to see you again."
"You too," she smiled at both. "I need to grab some dinner," she reached for her small bag, one that was a backpack style. "I'm starving, and like the two of you, I love coming here." She fumbled in her bag for a few moments, frowning as she pulled it off her shoulder. She put it on the table and started to dig through it. "My wallet has to be here somewhere." The guys watched as she dug through her bag, and they also watched as the panic set in on her face.
"Something wrong, Emily?" Andy asked, but both men assumed she'd misplaced her wallet.
"My wallet! It's not here. I don't know where it is. It should be here. Oh, I hope it wasn't stolen," she started speaking in a frantic tone, and when she exhausted the search of her bag, she looked to the men in a panic.
"Okay," Andy said quietly and put his hand on the corner of her bag to get her to look toward him. "Don't panic, but I know that's hard right now. Think back. It could be at work. It could be at home, and then worst case it could be gone, either lost or stolen. Do you have a lot in it?"
"No," she started to think and paused for a moment. "I just carry my id and some cash for most days. Mom taught me that, to leave my credit cards at home when I'm just going back and forth to work. I didn't have anything like that with me."
"Good," Andy told her. Provenza just watched. "Best thing to do is backtrack. Maybe you should try your apartment. It might still be there. If not, then work. If it's only your id and cash, yeah, that stinks, but it could be much worse."
"Right," she nodded as she listened. "I'm going to go and find it. Sorry to bother you both. I'll get going."
"We can help," Andy offered.
"Thanks, but I'm fine. Nice to meet you, Lieutenant," she grabbed her bag and looked around quickly. "Sorry again." She ran out of the place before the men could say anything. The guys didn't know what to say, and finally Provenza looked at Andy.
"Raydor's kid lives here just down the street from you?" he questioned.
"You won't believe the story I have for you," Andy shook his head and sighed. "Let' just say that it involves too many people thinking I wanted to date her and an irate call from Raydor, which I need to yell at you about that. I'll tell you later."
Provenza thought a moment, his eyes giving him away as he did. He pointed at Andy, "Your phone number! That's why she needed it!"
"Yeah, you dummy! Thanks a lot," he sighed. "I got an earful from her, but to clarify things, no, I'm not dating her-never have and never will. Emily's a good kid, and we've become friends. I don't see her much, just here and there, mostly here," he gestured to the place, "but, yeah, crazy she's Raydor's kid."
Their food was brought to the table, and the two settled into silence as they started to eat. Andy finally sighed and looked to Provenza, "Look, I think we should check on Emily. It concerns me about her wallet."
"I knew you were going to say that," Provenza put down his spoon and eyed him. "Don't you have her phone number or something?"
"Oh, yeah, I do," Andy sighed. "I didn't have it for the longest time, but I finally got it last time I ran into her." He pulled his phone out of his pocket while Provenza continued to eat. He messed with it for a minute and then looked to Provenza. "Done. I sent her a text." He resumed eating and continued to glance at him phone. She replied a few seconds later, and he frowned. "She didn't find it." He looked to Provenza, "I think we should help her."
"Oh, you can't be serious?" Provenza groaned.
"Of course, I'm serious!" Andy exclaimed. "You're a cop! This is what we do. We help people. I don't know if she'll find it or not, but we can help. Look, I'd want someone to help Nicole if this happened to her. I guess I could at least buy her dinner. She came in here for food, and she ran out. Maybe I'll do that, and we can take it to her. I don't know her apartment number, but if we text her on the way, I'm sure we can drop off some dinner."
Provenza started to argue, but he rolled his eyes and nodded. Andy stood, "I'll order her something. What do you think she'd like?"
"How should I know? Raydor's kid, I'm surprised she's human and eats food. Get her something simple, like chicken soup or something. Maybe you should get her a salad. What does she do? Is she some exercise instructor? You mentioned a show-what was that about? Actress?"
Andy's eyes widened, "No, she's a ballet dancer, a professional dancer. Didn't I tell you that?"
"Raydor's kid is a professional ballet dancer?" Provenza's eyes grew wide.
"Yeah, she's amazing. Ang and I went to see her. By the way, we need to confirm dinner with her tomorrow. She's been busy at work, but before we worry about that, let me order something for Emily," Andy said as he started to move from the table.
"Well, definitely get her a salad and something that won't be fattening. A professional ballerina," Provenza rolled his eyes and grumbled. 20 minutes later, the two left the restaurant, fed and armed now with food for Emily. Andy sent her another quick text as they walked toward her building, and she first replied telling them she hadn't found her wallet, but they didn't need to worry about her, but then, after Andy told her they had food for her, she gave them her apartment number. When they arrived at her building, she buzzed them inside.
"Third floor," Provenza grumbled and sighed as they started climbing the stairs. It was an older building, clean, but without an elevator. Provenza kept grumbling, but he followed Andy upstairs. When they arrived at Emily's door, they knocked softly.
Emily flung open the door, and it caused the guys to jump in surprise. "I'm so sorry! I am just worried sick about my wallet. I called work, and they are looking for it right now."
"I'm sorry you've misplaced it. I know it doesn't fix everything, but here's some dinner. We didn't know what you would like, but it's soup and salad. What can we do to help?" Andy asked.
Emily's eyes scanned both men, and she settled them on the food. She shook her head, "You brought me dinner? I guess it didn't register when you said you wanted to drop off something from the coffee shop. I have been thinking about my wallet and thought you were bringing me maybe something from my bag, something I'd dropped. I can't believe you brought me dinner."
"Believe it," Provenza rolled his eyes. "We look after our own, even if they are named Raydor."
Emily chuckled at that, and she nodded, "Lieutenant, I don't think you are as mean as you've tried to make yourself to be. That goes for both of you," she smiled at the men and accepted the food. "Thank you. This is very kind."
"We won't intrude," Andy put his hand on the door frame as they stood there talking to Emily. "Look, let me know if you need anything, if you can't find your wallet. He reached for his, "Let me give you some cash at least for now."
"Oh, it's not necessary, Lieutenant," she shook her head and waved her arm at him. "Really, it's fine."
"If you don't let him give you a $20, he'll slip it under your door or something," Provenza nodded at her. "Flynn doesn't give up."
Andy nodded and gave her a small smile. By this point, he had his wallet in hand and had pulled out a $20 bill. He handed it to her, "If you need anything, and I mean, anything, let me know. I'd want someone to do that for my own daughter."
Emily sighed and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she accepted the money. "Thank you, but I'll pay you back when I get my wallet back. I hope this is all cleared up quickly. I'm waiting for work to call me, and if they can't find it, I might go back there and search myself. If that doesn't produce it, I guess I'll consider it gone. I had just gone to the ATM yesterday," she rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious when I say if you need something," he gave her a small smile. He moved his hand to push off the door frame, and as he did, he looked at the frame and raised an eyebrow at Emily. "How long has this security chain been broken?"
She sighed and raised a hand, "It broke the day after Mom left. She even offered to replace it when she was here, because it was starting to pull out from the wall, but I told her I'd deal with it later. Mom even told me to get the Super to do it, but I just haven't done anything yet. I can fix it, but I've been busy."
"Well, I know your building has a buzzer system, but you need something stronger," Andy told her. He gave Provenza a glance with a nod. Provenza nodded back; both men had the same idea.
"Oh, just let me break this down for you, Raydor Spawn," Provenza raised his arm in gesture. "He, well, we are both thinking like dads right now. I walked all the way up here, which should tell you a lot," he smirked at Andy. "Flynn won't relax until that has a better lock, or I should say, at least a working chain lock. Does your door lock even work properly?"
"Yes and no," she shrugged. "It is loose and sticks. I am just too busy to deal with it. I know it's not the responsible thing."
"What Flynn is already thinking is that we're going to replace that for you. Now," he looked to Andy who was nodding, "as cops, it's our duty to make sure people are safe." Andy's jaw dropped open, as he'd just told Provenza that at the coffee shop, but Provenza ignored it. "Flynn and I will go find a hardware store, and we'll be back with a new lock or chain or whatever we find. I'm guessing that asking for it to be replaced might take weeks, just as it does in the LAPD, so while you have a couple of cops here, offering to help, just accept the help."
"Emily, does your building have any policy about replacing things like that?" Andy asked.
"No," she shook her head. "It's an old building, and as long as it's an improvement like a lock, no one cares. You really don't have to do this. I can put a request in with the Super. I can even fix it myself, just after I find my wallet."
"Provenza is right," Andy grimaced, "but I will deny ever admitting that," he smirked at Provenza. He turned back to Emily, "We'll go get some new locks and come back. You can eat and deal with work while we are gone. Sound okay?"
Emily hesitated a minute, but then she nodded, "Thank you. I have heard your names from Mom, and I know that you've both worked for the LAPD for years. This is kind, even when I know you can't stand my mom. Thanks, really," she gave them a small smile.
"Well, Flynn had to go and point out we'd do it for our own kids," Provenza waved his hand. "Flynn, let's go. You have some locks to buy."
"Oh, I'll pay you back," she called to the men as they started to turn.
"Nonsense," Provenza shook his head at her. "That's what Flynn is here to do. This idiot has been paying my way around the city, and I have no doubt he's more than capable of buying your locks."
"I wouldn't have said it that way, exactly," Andy said through gritted teeth and turned back to Emily, "but, Provenza is right. I'll buy your lock. I will sleep better knowing you are secure. We'll be back soon. Eat before your food gets cold." Emily nodded and watched the men start down the stairs. When they got back out on the street, Provenza turned to Andy.
"Not one word of this back to anyone in LA. I can't have my good name associated with helping anyone named Raydor," he frowned.
Andy chuckled and patted him on the back, "Whatever old man," he shook his head and spoke again, "I guess we have time for that story, the dating misunderstanding from Raydor herself."