Chapter 19
Okay guys if haven't seen the update on my profile I am benching Love During War for a little while. Once I have a better idea what AEW and WWE are doing the next few weeks I can hopefully get that story back on track. So right now I think will do work on this story and also get my Squad Reborn story updated.
"So who called you?" Riley asks as Bliss sits down. "DA Rose. She called me and informed me what was going on. As usual the DA is to driven to get a conviction. Also his long standing issues with you are no secret. Rose also tells me she could be your alibi," Bliss informs him. "She could be. We were together for a while," Riley says thinking. "Now is there any reason that Mike thinks you did it? Anything he will lock onto to make his case?" Bliss asks. "Yes. I got a tip that Dash and Wilder are the ones that killed my sister. I did tell the other members of Intelligence," Riley says. "Look I ask all my clients this..." "I didn't do it. If I killed anyone I'd make it a lot harder to find the damn bodies," Riley says.
Bliss is about to ask another question when the door opens. "This is a private attorney, client conversation," Bliss snaps. Shawn walks in followed by a uniformed cop. "Get those off of him," Shawn orders pointing at the handcuffs Riley has on. "He's my boss don't worry," Riley says. The handcuffs are unlocked. "Ms. Bliss thank you for coming but its no necessary. Riley you are free to go," Shawn says. "You got the DA to drop charges?" Bliss asks. "The DA doesn't have enough to file charges and I manged to call in some IOU's to have Riley let go for now," Shawn explains. Bliss opens her briefcase and pulls out a card. "Detective Morgan call my office in the morning. We can work billing out. I have known Mizian a long time he doesn't let cases go easy," Bliss says.
"So am I suspended or do I get my gun and shield back?" Riley asks once he and Shawn are alone. "Manged to get you out by the commissioner wants you benched," Shawn says. "Shawn those guys were the trigger men but they weren't the ones running anything! The guy behind my sister being killed and killing Mia are still out there! And who ever this is clearly is targeting me don't bench me," Riley pleads. "Not my call kid. Let me and the others get you officially cleared than I can go to Hunter and together that should be enough to get you back in the game. Look Riley it won't be long. Everyone can testify you were arrested in the same clothes you left the seventy second in. You have an ADA willing to account for large chunk of your time," Shawn assures him.
"That isn't good enough. What if this person makes another move?" Riley says making a list of targets in his head. "Riley its clear you are the ultimate target. Keeping you safe needs to be the priority. Look give it a day. You know the DA isn't going to let this go. Look when I walked in he was ordering them to get you in a cell as soon as Bliss was done," Shawn tells him. "Of course he would," Riley says. "Let's get out of here," Shawn says.
Mike's Office The Next Morning
"I want to know what the hell you were thinking last night? We had Morgan dead to rights and you have give him an alibi," Mike rants at Mandy. "Mike as an officer of the court I had to be honest. I was with Riley Morgan. I could account for his whereabouts when the murder took place," Mandy says not flinching. "Mandy you know Morgan is a menace. He needs to go down one way or another," Mike yells. "So we frame him? Let the actual killer get off scott free?" Mandy asks. "Its Morgan don't under estimate his ability to kill in cold blood and play it cool," Mike says. "Look Mike what do you want for me to commit purgey? To break the law to put my career and yours at risk?" Mandy snaps. "Easy calm down," Mike says stunned at her reaction. Mandy could be tough but she always stayed in line when it came to talking to him.
"Don't tell me to calm down Mike! I have had several near brushes with death the last few weeks. I have a major case with a cop killer that has now stalled since Liv Morgan was primary witness and could testify to some of Orton's actions. Things that would make the case a slam dunk. We have a lot of winnable real cases. We don't need to waste time or taint a murder case because of your issues with Riley Morgan," Mandy says. Getting that out was what she needed. But she quickly sees she pushed him to far. She needs to backup a bit. He's still her boss. "Mike when there is something to actually charge Morgan with I'll be right there to help you. But here my hands were tied. You know how good Bliss is. She would have jumped all over me being with Morgan," Mandy says.
Mike seems calmer now. "Why were you with him?" He does ask. "I was trying to see if there any update on his sister dying. I felt back for the kid she seemed to be trying to actually turn her life around," Mandy claims. Before Mike can respond a phone starts to ring and Mike turns white as a ghost. "You okay?" Mandy asks. "Yes that phone is a private line only Mayrse and my parents have and they are only to use it in case of an emergency. I need to take is and I could use some privacy," Mike says. "Sure," Mandy says getting up and leaving just glade to be away from him.
"How many times do I have to tell you I call pick up the fucking phone!" The voice yells as soon as Mike accepts the call. "I know but I was in a meeting I had to get that person out of my office," Mike says. "So I hear Riley is free," the voice says still clearly angry. "For now just let me work. I got Morgan right where I want him," Mike claims. The guy on the other end of the line starts to laugh. Its the kind of laugh only used to mock people who just said something stupid. "You do not have Riley Morgan right where you want him. If you honestly think that it just shows how stupid you are. The case for him killing those guys was just solid enough you could make. Hell you have convicted men on far less," The voice taunts.
"Hey your guys failed to kill him," Mike reminded him. "And you are the one that wanted to know what he has on you. Thus why you came up with the stupid plan to frame him. So it would be easier to search for his files. Let's make something clear You have a lot more to lose than I do." "There was nothing I could do. Amanda Rose is a great ADA, fantastic in the courtroom, but she suddenly got a streak of righteousness. She was with Morgan when they arrested him," Mike explains. "The little blonde with the rack. Same one Morgan was with when he ran into that Walter guy?" "Same one," Mike says. "Isn't that interesting. Maybe during her attempts to put Riley away Rose developed a thing for a bad boy," The voice speculates.
Seventy Second Intelligence Bullpen
Johnny looked at the board at the top was Liv and Riley. Over it was what they knew so far the links to Riley. The murders of Dawson and Wilder. The murder of Mia in the park. Bobby enters. "Got the report back from the medical examiner. They killings at the auto shop took place between eight and nine PM. Rose says she ran into at eight thirty. There is no way he made to from the shop back to his house to meet up with Rose in that time frame," Bobby says. "At least something has gone right," Johnny says. Mickie is at her desk. "Yet another reason I hated Riley changed they type of guns he used," She mentions.
"What?" Johnny asks. "It was before your time. Back when he first started Riley used his dad's old gun. Dean convinced to change when it jammed. Hell Dean used the exact same weapon," Bobby explains. Johnny looks back at the board specifically the photo of Mia. "The knife that killed Yim was a copy of another knife that Ambrose gave to Riley," He says out loud. "That is what Riley says," Mickie says. Johnny looks at Shawn's door, it was open so he goes right into. "What's up?" Shawn asks looking up from paper work. "I have a theory about what is going on with Riley. How well do you know Renee Young Ambrose?" Johnny asks. "I know her very well. What does a widow of a fellow officer have to do with Riley?"
Johnny explains about the knife and the gun. He also tells Shawn about the recent run in between Renee and Riley that his wife Candice witnessed. "She would know things about her husband and his partner. Including stuff like gifts. She is clearly still holding a grudge. She's got money and she's a reporter so she knows how to find things out," Johnny points out. Shawn drums his fingers on the desk. "Great theory do you have proof? Or anything beyond speculation?" Shawn asks. "That is why I am asking you who well you know her," Johnny says taking a seat. Shawn picks up the phone on his desk. "Neese I need you to do some checking on Renee Young... Yes the journalist... Also check Renee Young Ambrose and Renee Ambrose. See if she has posted anything online," Shawn orders.
Hours Later
The entire team minus Riley was in the bull pen for a briefing. "I don't like the idea of targeting Renee," Mickie says. "Tony show what you found," Shawn says. Tony stood up holding a tablet. "Okay I found on a semi private website. Long story short its a video service that specializes in embarrassing off air footage of people in the media," Tony says before hitting play. The title of the video is Reporter Hates This One Cop. It was clearly during a break on a news broadcast. Renee is at the desk getting her make up touched up. "Dean's old partner was a bastard. He is every thing wrong with the NYPD. When he dies they won't to be able to let me on air I'll be smiling to much," She ranted.
"Damn," Keith says. Back on the video Renee goes on. "You know the really scary part?" "What?" The make up artist asks. "A while back I spotted him out holding some street meeting with some young Asian girl wanna be gang banger in the park. I was so tempted to get in my car wait for him to leave and than run him over," Renee says coldly. The video stops. "How old is this?" Bobby asks. "Does that matter? I mean that is video of her wanting to kill a cop," Dana points out. "I don't like it. But if that is a week after Dean's funeral any first year student will claim she was in the anger stage of grief," Bobby fires back.
Tony messes with the tablet as he speaks. "Well the video was posted four months ago based on on these pictures on her Instagram the video can't be more than a year old. Just look at her hair style. I also did some more checking. Her IP addressed was used to write a post on a website called brutal confessions and this was a few weeks ago. And I quote. "I feel awful about myself. Today I head a group of cops were nearly burned to death by that cop killer. But I heard one of them was a certain cop I have known for years. I am fine with the other getting out but why couldn't god punish him by that bastard detective burning to death."" Tony reads. The entire until can't believe that. "That can not be Renee I know she how much she loved Dean but to go this far," Mickie says stunned.
"Losing a spouse can change people. We need to look into this," Johnny insisted. "Johnny is right. Look Mickie you are her were close. You are coming with me. We aren't arresting her but let see if she is willing to come in and answer some questions," Shawn says as Mickie nods. Once they are gone Dana dares to ask. "Should we call Riley?" "No! He's got enough to deal with right. And he's still suspended," Bobby says taking charge. "I have a feeling the Sargent will want to handle telling Riley about this," Johnny adds.
Shawn's Home
Riley had just gotten back from the funeral home. Mark the owner of the place was an old family friend and had done all he could to make it easy. "Hello Riley," a woman says as he rounds the corner. It had been a long time since he had seen her. Not since he looked at the window in middle of the night as she walked out of the house. "Hello Beth," he says coldly. "Is that really how you greet your mother?" She asks blocking his the steps to the garage apartment. "What mother? Because Beth you gave up that that role a long time ago," Riley rants. "Riley your sister just died this is a time for family," Beth claims. "Listen to me. I have no family! My father died and now my little sister is gone. You don't have the right to show up here and try to play mother. You don't have the right to mourn Liv because you left. I was the one that taught her to ride a bike, I was the one that took her to doctor when she got sick. I was the one that prayed every night she would get clean. I was the one that got his heart broke when she got in trouble," Riley says moving around her finally.
"So that is it? You have just condemned me will never give me a chance to make up for my mistakes. I want to try and help," Beth says in tears. "What do you want Beth? What do you think will happen? You and I will talk, cry, and hug. Than everything is okay? You had over two decades to reach out," Riley says before going into the apartment and slamming the door. Beth pulls out a card with her number on hit and slips it under the door.
That night
Mandy had headed to the gym after work. The world felt like it was closing in. The stuff with Morgan, Mike being obsessed with taking Morgan down. The Orton case was still pending. And just this feeling of a dark cloud moving over the city. The hour in the gym gave her a much needed distraction. Forcing her to focus on just the work out. She waited on the curb for a cab. What she doesn't notice is someone is watching her. "She's not very observant," the person thinks.
