Chapter 50
Hey guys, here's another chapter. Enjoy and review, smiles.
...
Rachel hung up and sighed. She knew her husband liked to appear unphased by things and she knew
when he was carrying guilt. She had a good feeling if Daniel would talk to Steve, the 'matter' would be
settled. From what she observed of the naval officer, she doubted the thought even occurred to the
man. It bothered her that Daniel put so much on his own shoulders. That habit made him an
exceptional policeman, a loving husband and dotting father. She hoped Danny could ease his mind.
She turned her mind to fixing up a guest room. It would be easier to have Steve and Catherine take
Grace's room and move the little girl into Charley's room. After all, Grace's bed was a fold out day bed
and would be big enough for the couple. Charley's room had his toddlers' bed and a spare twin sized
bed. Satisfied with the accommodations, she smiled to herself. Steve in her daughter's frilly, lacey, pink
bedroom made her giggle out loud. She went to get a start on changes and tell the children.
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Once back in Steve's room, poker was decided on for the evening's pastime. Pizza was decided on for
dinner so Chin went down to the gift shop and bought a set of chips and a new deck of cards. He waited
in the hospital lobby for the dinner delivery. He ran into Dr. Charity, who was heading to her office.
"Calling it a day, Dr. Charity?"
"Off to dictation, on my way to get something in the cafeteria. What are you doing down here?" The
petite physician asked the policeman.
"Awaiting dinner. Do you like pizza? Catherine ordered plenty for us and the nurses. After we chow
down, poker." Chin held up the deck of cards with a grin. "How about joining us?"
Candance considered; she had just caught up on her dictations. She had promised her assistant she
would stay current on her chart notes. But pizza sounded good and she deserved some recreation time.
"What's the buy in?"
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Dennis was bored. Nothing good on pay-per-view, nothing to read and George wasn't exactly a
engaging conversationist. "I'm going to go buy a newspaper."
"Bring me a bottle of vodka and cigarettes."
"Anything else?"
"Find out when son-of-a-bitch sailor leaving hospital."
"I wish that I could, believe me."
"Then leave, talk to no one."
Dennis left. He passed through the hotel's deserted lobby. Once outside, he breathed deeply and
relaxed a bit. He looked over at the hospital and noticed a uniformed policeman standing near the
lobby entrance talking with a doctor. He fought the impulse to run across the street and rat out the big
Russian. Knowing his recent luck, George would see and shoot him down before he made it to the other
side. He seriously wanted out of the situation; skimming money was one thing but murder was
something else entirely. Technically, he was already an accessory to Julianne's murder. He stopped
walking and looked at the rising moon. "I'm so sorry, Julie." He whispered to the night sky. The lawyer
resumed his journey. He approached the liquor store and noticed the telephone booth in the front of
the rather shaby establishment.
He felt around in his pockets and found he had no coins. He went in and bought a bottle of cheap
vodka, a couple of packs of cigarettes, a bag of chips and a newspaper. "Evening."
"Good evening, sir. Do you have a loved one in the hospital?" The older woman asked as she rang up
his purchase.
"A friend." Dennis answered the cashier who was no doubt the owner's wife. He made his decision.
"Would you please give me a couple of dollars in change for the pay phone?"
"Surely. Want dimes and quarters?"
"Yes, please."
She passed him his change, including several coins with his receipt. "You have a blessed evening."
"Thank you, you too." Dennis went directly to the phone booth, put his bag on the little shelf and fed
the pay phone.
"Operator."
"State Police, please. And can you please connect me?"
"Yes sir, a moment please." The operator made the connection.
"Good evening, New Jersey State Police Department. How may I direct your call?"
"I have information on a murder at the Traveler's Oasis Hotel."
"Please hold and I'll connect you."
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"Hello Dr. Charity!" Steve jumped out of his wheelchair to greet the diminutive doctor. "Please, join us
for dinner."
"I would be glad to, Steve. Now get back in your wheelchair."
"Only if you join us and stay for poker." Steve bargained.
Dr. Charity turned Steve around and gently pushed him towards the wheelchair. "Only if you get back in
your wheelchair."
"Deal." Steve grinned as he got back in the wheelchair. "Hey Cat, what kind of pizzas did you order
anyways? Our favorite, I hope."
"Of course. I assure you, something for everyone. No one goes hungry here at our table."
Once pizza was distributed and everyone had a drink, Steve asked for quiet. "I like to toast my doctor.
Thank you for all you have done for me. You are the best. Thank you for saving my life. To Dr. Charity!"
"To Dr. Charity!" Everyone repeated, loudly. "Cheers!"
Dr. Charity knew she was blushing and she didn't really care. She liked this bunch. Steve and Catherine
were quickly becoming some of her favorite people. "Dr. Lionel said she finished your teeth. They are
gorgeous!"
Catherine was dishing out pizza nearby and Steve reached out and pulled her into his lap. She squealed
happily as Danny caught the plate she dropped in the nick of time. "Good catch ,Danno!" He bellowed,
ignoring Danny's flabbergasted look as he kissed his bride-to-be wildly.
Dr. Charity enjoyed the craziness and when things calmed down, she approached Steve and Catherine.
"I heard you two are really getting married, as soon as possible. Congratulations!"
"As soon as I get out of here, I hate this place. Not the people, just the place. I'm making this beautiful
lady my wife. Once and for all. Before something else delays us."
"Delays? You don't strike me as someone who tolerates delays."
Steve smiled. "No, I don't. But orders are orders."
"Good thing I understand."
Steve looked at Catherine with a questioning look.
"I'm Naval personnel too. If I were a civilian, I probably would have left him at the altar."
"Cat!"
"Once was enough. All dressed up, people gathered, the cake, everything. But TWICE." She put her
arm across her eyes dramatically. "The humiliation, the embarrassment! Being left at the altar twice,
by the same man." She peaked out from under her arm with a wink.
"Cat."
"The rogue, the cad, the very idea!" Dr. Charity played along.
"I know, I know." Catherine lowered her arm and looked at the doctor with big eyes. "You think I
should believe him this time."
"Well, you know how sailors are."
"Dr. Charity!" Steve said, scandalized.
Catherine lost her composure. She laughed heartily as Dr. Charity cracked up as well.
Steve, realizing he had been had, squeezed Catherine. "You little brat."
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"Ante up, everyone." Lou directed as he passed the deck to Chin after he cut the cards.
Everyone tossed their chips in as Chin dealt the cards and called the game. "Five card draw, wilds are
2's, jacks and the man with the axe. Need a pair to open."
.
Many downcast faces surrounded the table. A reshuffle resulted in the same result. Finally, the third
time was the charm.
"
"I open." Steve, Catherine, Candance and Danny announced as they threw in more chips
"Someone should break your fingers Chin, you know that." Lou threw in his cards.
"I'm not doing so good either. Perhaps you noticed." Chin threw in his cards as well.
After the last cards was exchanged, only Steve and Danny remained.
"Raise you 5." Danny said quietly.
Steve tossed the chip in. "And I raise you 10." Another chip in the pile.
Danny matched the bet. "You do know that I hate your guts."
Steve looked unphased. "And you know that I don't care." He peeked over his cards and studied the
detective. "Raise you another 10."
"Fine. Call."
They both showed their cards. A tie. The two men stared at each other, ungiving.
"You know, that pot would buy the staff a nice little gas grille for the rooftop café." Chin pointed out.
"Yes, it would." Catherine agreed.
"They'd use it more than they think. Burgers, grilled fish, grilled cheese. They would be able to have
little get togethers." Lou suggested.
"Birthday parties?"
Dr. Charity nodded. "Bridal showers for friends."
"I donate my half for a grill."
"Me, too."
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"Homicide."
"I have information on the sailor's murder at the Traveler's Oasis hotel near Camp May."
"Let me transfer to that office." The line clicked twice and then a pleasant female voice answered.
"Homicide. Officer Kalakaua."
"Hi." Dennis almost lost his nerve. His mouth suddenly went dry; he quickly worked his jaw trying to
moisten his tongue. "I, ah, I have information on the murder at the Traveler's Oasis Hotel."
Kono was instantly alert and attentive but she kept her voice monotoned, bored. "Yes sir. What's your
information?"
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"Full House." Dr. Charity put her cards down. "Right?"
"Danny boy, I think we've been hussled."
"I suspect you're right, Steve."
"By a master, no less." Catherine added with a smile.
A gentle knock at the door. Chin grinned. "It must be 10pm." He got up. "Coming Nurse Jenny."
He let her in. "Good evening. Medicine time. Right?"
"Yes sirree, and vitals." She spied the cards with a big pile of chips in front of Dr. Candance Charity.
"I see the Poker Playing Physician strikes again."
"You knew she was a ringer and kept that to yourself? I thought I was a special patient!"
Jenny smiled with a blush. "I had no idea there was a card game going on in here."
Danny's cell phone rang. "Steve, I think we've been had." He pulled out his phone and answered it.
"Williams."
"Boss, it's Kono. I think Dennis Goodweather just called in a tip."
"What?!"
"I'm pretty sure it was Goodweather. Whoever it was, he said George Federchuk is staying at the Value
Rooms Suites across from the hotel!" Kono took a breath. "I checked with the manager, and there IS
a Dennis Goodweather registered there."
"Hang on." Danny turned to Lou. "Lou, call Billy Donovan. Tell him to get his team together and get
here – fast. Federchuk is across the street!"
Steve was on instant alert. "Everyone, AWAY from the windows."
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Dennis walked back to the hotel. He opened the door and found George exactly where he left him. He
closed and locked the door.
"What took so long?!" George growled.
"A lot of customers in the bodega." Dennis tossed the pint of vodka to the Russian. He handed him an
ash tray with a pack of cigarettes.
"It's been opened!"
"I bummed one. You don't mind, do you?"
George ignored him and lit up. "Sit and shut up. I'm watching TV."
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"Billy and his team are on the way." Lou reported as he pulled the drapes shut. "I seriously doubt he
can see in. That hotel is only a two story and we're on the fourth floor. If he had that advantage, he
would have taken it."
"We made sure you were assigned a room above any surrounding building." Danny said.
Steve smiled at the detective. "Aw Danno, you DO care." He put his hand on the shorter man's
shoulder. "Thank you." He said seriously.
"Gracie would never forgive me if something happened to you, ya giant goof.'' He smiled at Steve.
"You're welcome, Popeye." He dialed his cell phone. "Coleman, lock down this hospital, except the
Emergency Room. Our suspect is across the street. No one in or out, should be easy this time of night.
Put two guys in the emergency room. Get the A shift over here. They've only been off an hour so get
them back here, use the rear entrance. Keep the lobby and any line-of-sight areas to the Value hotel
across the street clear. Right. If you need me, call me." He hung up and looked around the room. "No
reason not to go on as business as usual, for now. Lou's right: if he could have, he would have already.
Lou, you stay here. With the S.W.A.T. guys in route, you know how they think."
"On it, boss."
"Chin, lose the uniform shirt. You and I are going across the street to quietly vacate the rooms around
Goodweather's. He is technically a hostage now. Advise Donovan of that fact, Lou. Give him a
description, if he decides to take up arms against us, well… but until then, he's a hostage."
"Got it."
Chin was shirtless; he looked at the lead detective questioningly. "Sir?"
"We have scrub shirts in the storeroom." Jenny offered.
"Great idea! Thank you." Danny smiled at the nurse who nodded and left on her errand. He turned to
Steve. "I think we have the element of surprise here. I'd bet a month's pay he's been holed up, waiting
for you to leave. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he's in bed for the night. He has got to know trying to
get in here would be suicide. So, you stay here with Miss Catherine and Lou. Stay ready and mobile."
Steve didn't like it but he bowed to Danny's lead. "You got it, Danny. But may I have a gun? Just in
case. I can defend the floor."
Danny considered then handed the Naval Operator his back up gun. "You got ten shots. If it comes to
that, use them wisely, my friend. Chin, let's go."
Chin finished pulling his scrub shirt down. "On your six, boss."
The two crossed the street casually. They went to the clerk's window. "Good evening, New Jersey State
Police, Detective Sergeant Daniel Williams." Danny flashed his badge. "Is the manager around?"
The clerk looked over the badge. "Well, Sergeant, I'm it. Owner, operator, clerk, custodian. What can I
do you for?"
"Dennis Goodweather, what room is he in?"
The clerk looked at records. "236. He in trouble?"
"Are the rooms around him taken?"
"Only a man in 201, probably drunk and sleeping it off. Room's by the elevator. His wife is dying across
the street. Spends the day with her and then climbs into a whiskey bottle every night. I seriously doubt
he's able to stand by now. Why?" the owner showed him a room schematic.
Danny studied the layout the owner showed him. "Anyone directly below him?"
"No, I had a pipe rupture and water flooded that room day before yesterday. Not habitable."
"Excellent." Danny whispered under his breath. His cell phone rang. "Williams."
"Billy Donovan will be here in forty minutes, Boss."
"Okay, thanks Lou. Chin and I will be here in the lobby in case Federchuk wanders down here. Notify
me when Donovan arrives."
"10-4."