Mistaken Identity

COAST TO COAST SERIES

Part 3

"You missed it, Nash!" Harvey said as soon as Bridge came through the barge's doors.

Nash could tell by the look on Harvey's face that it was good. Then something else got his attention. He could hear Bettina yelling at somebody, threatening them.

"I need to…." Nash said as he headed off towards the commotion.

"That's what I wanted to tell you about." Harvey said, grinning from ear to ear. "Sonny kicked Bettina's ass!"

Nash looked at Harvey for just a split second before he burst into laughter.

Harvey explained. "He accused Sonny, who he thought was you, of trying to disguise yourself. He said you were wearing a blonde wig and using spray tan."

Nash was still chuckling. "That had to go over well. And why would I be trying to disguise myself?"

"Something about a report, an audit, or something. He wasn't making sense…as usual. But," Harvey was still enjoying the memory. "Sonny punched Rick in the face when he tried to snatch the 'wig.'"

Nash had to stop walking. He doubled over with laughter. It took him a moment to compose himself. And he nearly lost it again when he came upon the scene. Sonny had Bettina bent down over the interrogation table, his head pressed against the surface.

"Hey, Rick!" Nash said, looking at the man leaning on the table, ignoring his brother for the moment.

"Nash! Nash! This guy…!"

That made Sonny mad, he pressed down harder on Rick's neck.

Rick was struggling to breathe. But he still managed to protest. "He was…he was pretending to be…!" He was very confused now.

Sonny interrupted. "Who is this guy?"

"Rick Bettina." Nash answered. "And, he's kinda my boss. Well, he works with the department who oversees the SIU."

"Oh." Sonny said. But he still didn't move.

"You can let him up." Nash said.

Sonny shook his head. "First of all, RICK, my name is Sonny, James Sonny Crockett. Secondly Nash, Rick here has a confession to make."

"What do you…?" Nash started.

"During all his ranting and raving…he let a thing or two slip…didn't you Rick?" Sonny asked.

"I'm not…I didn't…." Rick protested. "Wait, how do you two have different last names? Twins don't…."

Sonny tightened his grip. "Don't change the subject."

"Hey!" Rick said, trying to look at Sonny. "You can't…I'll see…."

"Go ahead! Tell your mama what I did, Rick." Sonny said, keeping the pressure on. Now he knew who this guy was. He remembered Nash talking about him. "I really don't give a damn! And, it's C-R-O-C-K-E-T-T, as in Davey! I just hate it when people get my name wrong."

The statement made Bettina angry, and the reaction of the onlookers make him even angrier. He struggled.

"But I imagine that the news of you leaking word of an investigation into the SIU will be much more damaging than me calling you a mama's boy, Bettina, much…much more damaging." Sonny stated.

Nash looked at Bettina. "What investigation?"

Sonny looked at his brother, then let Rick up.

Bettina straightened his tie, and started to deny everything. He then changed his mind. "The chief of police…."

Nash shook his head. "He does not like me, Bettina. You know that! What did you tell your mother that she told him?"

"It was just…." Bettina hesitated.

"Just what?" Nash asked, he didn't like the direction that this was going.

"I could…." Sonny said, taking a step towards Bettina.

Bettina instinctively took a step back.

Nash chuckled and shook his head. "That won't be necessary." Then he looked at Ronnie. "You might be out of a job soon."

Ronnie scoffed. He wasn't worried. He was 5 inches taller than Sonny and outweighed him by close to 100 lbs. His job was secure.

"What investigation, Rick?" Nash asked.

"It was the time that the betting book got away from us and we couldn't find it. And we still haven't found it…." Bettina trailed off.

Nash cleared his throat. "If I'm not mistaken, Bettina, YOU were in charge while I was on vacation. And, YOU handed the book over, voluntarily." He paused. "And, did you not come to me, pleading, begging for help?"

"Well, um, she may not have heard that part." Rick admitted. "I wasn't exactly begging."

Nash glared at Rick. Then he looked at Sonny. "You want one last shot at him?"

Sonny nodded and grinned at his brother. He then spoke to Bettina. "You're just the poster boy for nepotism, aren't you? That's the only way to explain how someone so inept, incompetent, and just plain stupid holds such a high-level position in law enforcement."

Everybody who had spent any time, at all, with Rick Bettina had wanted to say exactly what Sonny had. Inwardly, they were cheering. Outwardly they were a little stunned and just stared, at least for a second or two. Even still, they were wondering if Rick would take Sonny's words and actions out on Nash.

Rick was embarrassed, yet again. And they were all laughing at him again, Nash included.

"You don't know…." Rick started, addressing Sonny.

"I don't know what, Bettina?" Sonny stated. "I don't have to know you to know your…type. I've encountered people like you my entire law-enforcement career. Those people who allow what little power they have to go to their heads." He paused. "You started this, Rick Bettina! Don't forget that! I and every person on this barge is a witness to that. You want a fight, you've got one! But, I've got to warn you, I don't back down. And, I am a damned sore loser!"

That described Nash, also. And Rick just didn't want to go down that road. He had to re-evaluate some things.

Nash glared at Bettina. "Apologize!"

"What?" Rick was not used to apologizing, for anything.

"You were wrong! You attacked my brother." Nash explained. "You need to apologize to him!"

"He punched me." Rick stated, his eye was getting purple. "He held me down on the table…." Rick stopped. He could see that his words were having no effect. He sighed. He was wrong. He just needed to own up to it.

"If you really, truly want to say that you're sorry," Sonny told Rick. "you will tell your mama the truth! That's how you can apologize to me. Let Nash do his job!"

Rick was caught, and he knew it. He nodded sheepishly his consent.

"Oh, and Rick, the hair is real. And so is the tan. We have a whole lot of sun in Florida, and I am an avid fisherman."

THE END

END NOTES: This idea came to me the other day. And it sounded so freaking funny, in my head. Bettina is such a buffoon. It worked out so well. I hope it provided a little comic relief for you guys. Thanks for reading, liking, and reviewing. JL