On and on, lol and on...

Enjoy, M

V/Return to Home Series

Chapter 55

Moe was sitting on a stool in a bar only a block from the apartment, where he'd been for several hours now watching the big screen TV, some football game was on but if you had asked him which one it was, he couldn't have told you to save his life. Brooding over how his life was going had become a favorite pastime of his and he was indulging in it as he kicked back another swig of his soda.

Thanksgiving had come and gone and now so had Christmas and he'd still not had the guts to talk to Jamie about what had happened, CJ and he were not really getting along, and now, now he was suspended, without pay, and he would have to pay for the RMP's damage on top of all his other problems! 'Good one dumbass,', he thought with a mental kick to his own head, 'all you have to do next is lose another prisoner and you won't have to worry about 'paying' CJ off to keep quiet, you won't have any savings left!'

Every damn night he had nightmares and always the same one, that damn boat explosion, then it changed; turning to Doctors trying to cut something off, then him trapped inside himself unable to get anyone to listen to him, moving rapidly...usually to the beatings that he'd received from the bastards who'd held them; then last to standing in front of Jamie while she told him what a loser he was. That's usually when he woke up, most of the time on the couch but sometimes in a cab, and then the one time when CJ had woken him when he'd passed out just inside the apartments open door...that had been the worst. He'd thought for sure CJ would kick him out over that one, and since the thought of having to be alone in an apartment at night was more than he could stand now he'd tried to straighten out some. He'd also tried to stop drinking so much after that and even now he was drinking a Mountain Dew not a beer, CJ yelling at him about it had helped wake him up some to the fact that he had enough problems without becoming his Dad.

But Mountain Dew and coffee didn't help you sleep, so now he was awake most of the time, the thing today with the car and Swersky were proof positive of his serious lack of sleep. He stayed out all night because he knew he freaked CJ out with his wandering, and with the 'light' thing, and hell, he didn't even remember going into CJ's room the night he'd walked in his sleep, but when CJ'd asked him about it in the morning, he'd passed it off as a bad dream worried it would be yet another reason for CJ to ask him to leave.

Dr. Jedson had contacted him, asking him to come in for an evaluation, but he'd put it off so far, 'Probably commit me again after the 'Maurice' thing, and I've had all the hospital, I can stand thank you,' he thought, then, 'Great; hospital, nurses...Jamie,' now he was thinking about Jamie, and wondering what she was doing now. That was another reason he'd not been to see Dr. Jedson, if the Doc did commit him, he couldn't stand to have her see him again like that, or 'like this'. Looking at himself in the mirror behind the bar he reached up and self-consciously touched his hair, most of the bleached pink had been cut out and now it was almost back to normal, one more haircut and the only thing that would remind him of it would be his memories. It had already been too cool outside to get a buzzcut and since his mom had thought that he should keep some of the length, he'd not cut it all off, plus, he smirked into the mirror, it had also been kind of funny to see Swersky's face everytime he saw the 'blonde' ends, said it made him look 'like a damn California beach rat, Boscorelli!'

Sighing heavily, he signaled the bartender for the check, and after paying the bill he jumped down and headed out.

As he stepped outside onto the sidewalk, he shivered as he put on his coat, looking up seeing large flakes falling, 'great just what I need, snow!', watching it as he pulled his cap and gloves on; the flakes flashing like diamonds in the street lights while against the neon of the bar light they glowed green and red...green and red, it had been one lonely Christmas this year.

Faith had invited them; he and CJ over for Christmas dinner; but Moe had begged off, saying that he was spending the day with his Mom and Mikey, and while he had spent part of the day with them, he told them he'd been invited to Faiths and left early. Spending the rest of the day wandering around, not wanting to go home, he'd decided to go to work instead, and had let one of the other guys who had kids go home early.

Being around people who were 'celebrating' the holiday was just more than he could stand.

Now, New Years Eve was coming up fast and he was not looking forward to that, either. Especially since rumor was that Jimmy was dating someone now, and he couldn't help but wonder if...but, had been afraid to ask who it was, as his public humiliation due to his own stupidity had spread like wildfire around the houses, though no one had been stupid enough to torment him about it he still didn't want to chance more humiliation by finding out that it was Jamie that Jimmy was seeing.

There were several invitations to parties in his box, but he'd not acknowledged them, if he went and saw them together, well, it wouldn't be good for anyone so he was planning on 'disappearing' for the night, maybe working a double shift out on the streets where he could avoid hearing about anything he, well, didn't want to hear about.

Now, walking down the street to the apartment, he glanced at his watch to see it was four o'clock in the morning, 'great another night gone', maybe he could catch a few before..'oh yeah, don't need to set the alarm today do I, not for three more days!'

Approaching his street, Moe heard sirens, and turning towards the sound saw a patrol car speeding up the street towards him, only to go past him then turn the block near his place. His hands stuffed into his coat pocket he walked a little faster, curious as to where it was going. Snow was coming down harder now and the wind had picked up sharply, then as he turned the corner on his street, a gust blew past whipping the snow that was collecting on the cars off onto the sidewalk. Moe was carefully watching where he stepped now, trying not to slip on the newly formed ice patches when he heard another patrol car coming, then turning to see it race past him, he looked ahead to see it was stopping at his apartment building; he picked up speed now, less cautious about his footing as he saw them jump out and race inside the building.

Arriving just as the third car came up, he worriedly asked one of the officers what was going on.

"You live here?" he was asked by the officer who was giving him the 'once over' look.

"Yeah, apartment 401." Moe answered as he glanced towards the entrance, he wanted to get inside out of the cold and to see if CJ was ok, "Names Boscorelli, I work out of the 55, what's going on?"

The officer looked at him strangely, then asked, "You a cop, what's your badge number and who's your supervisor?", then as Moe nodded again and gave his badge number and Swersky's name, he asked Moe, "You have a roommate?"

"Yeah, why," looking back at him sharply, "What the hells going on, is it my apartment you guys are here for? What happened," Moe was starting to panic, and started to head to the door.

Stepping in front of him the officer asked, "Your roommate home is he, what's his name," but not answering Moe's questions.

"I'm not sure, but he probably is, his name is CJ Caster, WHY!? WHAT HAPPENED!?" Moe was getting pissed and again started past him, only to be stopped this time by a hand on his arm.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this Boscorelli, but your roommate was killed tonight," he sympathetically responded, "He was shot in the back and thrown from his bedroom balcony," tossing his head back towards the alley on the side of the building, then as Moe stood stunned into silence, in shock, he asked, "Where were you tonight?"

"No,no,no, your wrong! CJ's not...." Moe exclaimed then took off past him jerking his arm away and headed around the side of the building where another officer had just headed too. Arriving alongside the other officers, Moe saw a body which lay beneath the window of CJ's bedroom; lying face down in the pool of light from the street lamp. His face was turned away toward the building, and he had been shot in the back of the head, his skull open from the fall, a mess of blood, bone and horror that made Moe stagger as finding it hard to catch a breath both from the cold air and from trying to hold his composure Moe looked up and saw the broken window and the curtain billowing out over the balcony railing. Grabbing tight to his emotions as he looked away for a moment, Moe glanced back down where he saw through his shock and the blood; blonde hair; then as he walked slowly up to the man on the ground, stopping as he reached him, bending over he put his hands on his knees and lowered his head feeling faint, "NO,NO,NO!! DAMN IT!! OH GOD, DAMN IT CJ!" then he found himself squatting down next to him, looking in vain for some small sign of life, "CJ?" he asked quietly, yet knowing no answer would come back to his question. He found himself sitting hard on the cold ground, snow blowing around them, as the other officers looked on, Moe looked back up at the window, shaking his head, he was crying, "I'm sorry man, I'm so sorry."

"Officer Boscorelli, you can't stay there, I'm sorry but we have to get in here," Moe looked up and saw a paramedic standing over him.

Nodding, he wiped at his face and started to stand up, but then Moe stopped, something wasn't right. "What..." he started as he noticed something strange.

"Sir you really have to move now." the paramedic said again, attempting to help him up.

"Wait." Moe told him brushing him off as he stared at the body, then he saw it, reaching across the body he grabbed it's shoulder and turned it over.

"HEY, you can't DO THAT!" one of the other officers yelled at him, moving to stop him, "STOP!"

But Moe had seen all he needed to, then he was heading up to the apartment at a dead run, where showing his badge and pushing past the cops at the apartment door he entered going straight to CJ's room. Entering it he looked around, then picked up CJ's watch off the table next to the bed, grinning he held it up to the detective there, "I was right, it ain't him!"

"What? What are you talking about, and who the hell are you, and why are you touching ANYTHING IN HERE," she asked angrily at him contaminating the scene.

"It ain't him, see, this is his watch, the guy down there is wearing a different one, and I saw enough of the face lady, it ain't him," Moe was giddy now, "I live here, he's my roommate, so I'm telling you it ain't him, its not CJ!"

"You're sure," she asked doubtfully, "his face was pretty messed up, and he fits the description in that picture," she was pointing to one of CJ and his parents sitting on the dresser.

"More sure than I've ever been about anything in my life lady," Moe laughed then he grabbed her and kissed her on the cheek and took off from the room.

Running downstairs, he was soon outside, and as he went back to the body he found the forensics people were there taking pictures and when the Sergeant saw him pointed out by the first set of officers he started yelling at Moe, "What the hell did you think you were doing, moving a body! I ought to have your damn badge Officer!"

"Sarge, you can have it, if you want it, but that man isn't CJ Caster! I don't know yet who he is but he sure as hell isn't CJ!" Moe was holding out CJ's watch to him, "this is CJ's, his Mom and Dad gave it to him recently, and that ain't," pointing to the watch on the wrist of the dead man, turning, to the forensics guy, Moe urged, "Hey, did you check this guys ID yet?"

"No, I'm not finished with the pictures yet," he replied with a shrug, "you know how it ..HEY."

"Sorry guy," Moe said as he stepped in and searched the dead man, "sure hope this doesn't mess you up too much!"

"Boscorelli what the hell are YOU DOING!!" the Sergeant yelled, "I'm gonna suspend you for this!"

"Have to stand in line for that, Sarge, already got three days from my Lieu!" Moe laughed, pulling the id from the wallet, he looked at it, "SON OF A BITC...Oh SHIT!" he yelled not laughing now, the name he didn't recognize but the address he did.

"Sarge I need your radio, NOW," Moe reached out and grabbed it out of the stunned Sergeant's hand.

"Central, this is Boscorelli, badge number 3379, this is an all points," he urgently called in.

"Go ahead," she replied.

"I have a Service Member who is ten-thirteen, whereabouts unknown, Badge # 13578. Name CJ Caster, he may be the hostage of a white male, six-four, twofortyplus pounds, has brown hair, green eyes, known name is Vance Lawrence, warrants for arrest of Lawrence in Louisiana and New York. Considered armed and dangerous, Officer Caster is six-three, two hundred twenty pounds, blonde hair, gray eyes, has scars on right arm, and right side. This is considered a kidnapping, clothing of both suspect and victim are unknown at this time. Over."

"Ten-Four Officer, will advise units to be on the look out..." she repeated the information he'd given her, then Moe handed back the radio and took off with the Sergeant yelling at him to 'Get the hell back here and explain this shit!"

XXXX

Same time:

When the all points when out, CJ and Vance and the other guy were already at Vances new 'home', "You cost me a good man tonight Caster," Vance was fuming, "but you're going to know what that's like, by the time I'm finished with you!"

CJ handcuffed to a chair sat looking at him, before sarcastically remarking, "You know Vance it seem like we just keep doing this, but, so far, I don't really see you moving forward, you know? You might need some therapy to help you get past this 'block' you seem to have!"

Backhanding him across the mouth, Vance yelled, "Yeah, well lets see how much of a block you think I have now, BRO," then nodding to another man standing beside a door, he watched CJ's reaction as he 'revealed' what he'd done, "take a good hard look at how far I've come, Caster!"

Frowning at him wondering what the hell he'd done now, CJ looked over at the door as the man opened it and went in, only to come back out just a moment later towing someone behind him, CJ's mouth opened in shock, then, "NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS! VANCE! DON'T, YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

"I can," Vance leaned down to him, viciously adding, "and I did," smiling meanly at him, then looking at the door he seemed to be crowing as he saw Jamie standing there, her hands tied behind her back with her mouth gagged as the man held her by the upper arm; she looked dazed, until she saw CJ cuffed to the chair, then she started crying and struggling against him as she yelled out from behind the gag. Vance thoroughly enjoying himself now started laughing as he flipped his hand at the man holding her watching him 'obey' as he pushed her back into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Moe will kill you if you hurt her Vance, and you know I will kill you if I get even half a chance, I already promised you that you bastard," CJ snarled at him.

"You won't get that 'half a chance' Ceege, and I'm hoping that Maurice will get my messages and come looking for the two of you...by the way is he still five? Or has he graduated to six yet?" Vance started laughing again, "You know I really do miss my little playmate!"

"You are a sick Bastard, Vance," CJ said feeling sick to his stomach.

"Yeah, Bro you keep saying that," Vance smiled, then went to the room that Jamie had been shoved into, opening the door, looking back he added, "Bout time I showed you just how much," as he stepped across the threshold,

CJ left behind screamed at him; as Vance just laughed and closed the door behind him; "LEAVE HER ALONE VANCE, DON'T YOU TOUCH HER, I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU HURT HER..." struggling against the handcuffs on his wrists and ankles to no avail as he heard her screaming and Vance laughing.

TBC...