Chapter 52
Hi faithful followers .Here's chapter 52, i hope you enjoy.
Danny jumped in the second squad car's back seat and squeezed in. "Good evening, Mr. Federchuk. My
name is Detective Williams. I've been looking forward to seeing you again. So, let's get the formalities
out of the way."
"Go to hell!"
"'You have the right to remain silent …"
"Fuck you."
"… if you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court
of law. You have the right to an attorney…'"
"I have attorney."
"No sir, you don't. He is a suspected co-conspirator. Continuing … 'if you can't afford an attorney, one
will be appointed to you at no cost'. Do you understand these rights as I've read them, sir?"
George stared straight ahead, ignoring the detective. Finally, he blinked and turned to face the
detective. "I understand. Do go to hell."
It was a long, silent ride back to Camp May.
Ahead of Danny's car, Chin rode with Dennis Goodweather. After reading his rights to him, Dennis
wouldn't stop talking. Chin used a pocket recorder. His driver had his cell phone running the stopwatch
feature and stopped every forty minutes so Chin could turn the tape over or replace it. By the time they
were approaching Camp May, Officer Kelley had a four-alarm migraine headache.
Due to time wasting constant stops, Chin arrived a half an hour later. After securing the suspects in
separate interview rooms, Danny and Chin sat down in the sergeant's office with a cup of coffee and
discussed interrogation strategy.
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Jenny did another set of vitals as Steve laid in bed, waiting for Catherine to finish her bedtime rituals.
"I'm impressed, Mr. Steve. Your vitals are always good, but right now, they are excellent."
"Yeah, being absolutely safe allows one to totally relax." Steve said as he put his hands behind his head.
"The bull's eye is off my back. I can sleep deeply, without worrying." He grinned as Catherine exited the
bathroom. "I can enjoy things without splitting my attention."
Catherine joined Steve in bed. "Is it my imagination or do you look, I don't know, peaceful." She studied
his face, his eyes. "Relieved?"
"I am relieved. No more being on guard, no more waiting for the unknown." Steve laughed aloud. "I
just feel…light."
"I'll be back with your sleep aid." Jenny turned to leave.
"No need. I am sure I'll sleep easy tonight." He pulled Catherine closer. "I have everything I need right
here." He kissed Catherine repeatedly.
Catherine beamed at his affections.
"Okay. I'll check on you later." The nurse left with a smile.
The couple snuggled, face to face and kissed each other good night. Steve wrapped Catherine in his
arms and sighed. "It's over, Cat. It's finally over. Hopefully, some idiot judge won't grant bail this time."
"Amen!" She kissed Steve's Adam's apple gently. "Sleep well, mustang." She waited for his reply but as
she listened to his breathing, Catherine realized Steve was already fast asleep.
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The interrogations went on long into the night. While Dennis couldn't/wouldn't stop talking, George
said nothing but a few suggestions of physical impossibilities.
Around sunrise, Danny and Chin met to compare notes over another cup of lousy coffee.
"How are you faring, Chin?" Danny asked stifling a yawn.
"This guy is all over the place." Chin yawned despite a valiant effort not to.
"Anything new? I need something to hit Federchuk with." Danny said tiredly.
"The paralegal, Julianne, is dead. George broke her neck and threw her body in a dumpster at the
Borgata."
"What?! Why? She was helping them!"
"I guess George got bored with her sexual favors and either strangled her or snapped her neck. I doubt
it was quick like Steve did Vasily. What Dennis described was pretty gruesome."
"And where the hell was he while George no doubt was raping her, killing her?"
"Unconscious. George hit him with a champagne bottle."
"What?!"
"Dennis ordered champagne from room service. George intercepted it and when Dennis opened the
door…"
"I get the picture."
"When Dennis regained his wits hours later, she was dead."
"Whose still here? Lou, Kono?"
"I'm here, boss." Grover got up from his desk and joined the two in Danny's office. "I sent Miss Kono
for some civilized coffee and some breakfast. Whatcha need?"
"Amend the charges against Federchuk; add additional rape and murder charges. Goodweather's
paralegal is dead. Get some uniforms over to the Borgata and search the hotel trash and if it's been
picked up, find it." An evil smile crossed Danny's face. "Do you remember those cadets that so royally
pissed me off with the information packets?"
"Yes sir." Chin answered.
"Have them search the trash, uniforms can supervise." The sergeant detective finished with a satisfied
smile.
"You got it, boss." Chin left to tend to the arrangements.
"You look beat, boss. Why don't we put these two jokers in lock up and you go home and get some
sleep?" Lou asked, concerned.
"Maybe in a couple of hours. My wife is getting ready for Steve and Catherine to come stay with us. I'll
just be in her way."
"He's not going back to the base?"
"Not yet. That place is just depressing. Besides Dr. Charity told me she would like him to rest in a quiet
atmosphere for two or three weeks, build up his strength before running up and down fifty-five steps
daily." Williams sighed. "My kids like him, my wife likes him and Catherine. If he returns to the base,
knowing him, he'll try to return to duty right away. At my house, he can loaf, watch TV, sun tan, maybe
start planning that wedding."
"Generous of you."
"He's like shower mold, he grows on you. I think Rachel and I will enjoy having them around. I know
Gracie will."
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Junior was bored beyond belief. He was watching the class watch an instructional video on the dangers
of hyperthermia. A young midshipman entered and approached him after his eyes adjusted to the
darkened classroom.
"Ensign Reigns?"
"Actually it's Petty Officer."
"Yes sir, sorry sir." The midshipman recovered quickly. "I have a communique from the Commandant
for you, sir. I'm to wait for a confirmation."
Junior quickly opened and read the communique. "Verbal or written?"
"Either."
"I will be there at 1500."
At three o'clock on the dot, Junior was sitting in Commandant White's outer office. He had his lesson
planner and other instructor materials.
The door to the inner office opened and Commandant White and Lt. Sawyer appeared. White looked
bored as he ushered the younger man out.
"Thank you for considering me for this, sir."
"I'll let you know my decision by the end of business today." White looked over at Junior Reigns. "Petty
Officer." He extended his hand. "C'mon in." The two shook hands as Lt. Sawyer departed with a smug
expression on his face. He barely glanced at the young Petty Officer.
Junior ignored him and followed the Commandant into his office.
"Close the door please, Reigns."
Junior did so and stood at attention.
White sat down at his desk and looked up. "At ease, Reigns. Take a seat." White was a balding, older
man with a straight forward, no nonsense military attitude.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Junior sat down, balancing his notebooks on his lap.
"I spoke with Commander McGarrett this morning. He is going 'home' today. I offered to relocate his
quarters but he'll being recuperating off base, with Detective Williams' family to be exact. He won't be
reporting for duty until the end of the month or later. I need someone to take over his class and
McGarrett recommended you. Want the job?"
"Am I qualified, sir?"
"Book wise, yes. Experience wise, no. Cmdr. McGarrett has offered to guide you through. In fact, he
highly recommended you. I trust his recommendations. It delays your arrival at Coronado, but it's good
experience, it would look good on your record. Want the job?"
"Yes sir!"
"Okay, you got it. McGarrett was sure you'd step up to the challenge. Glad to see his faith in you was
well placed. Run your lesson plans by him and execute. Knowing him, he'll no doubt make an
unannounced appearance or two as he gets better."
"Yes sir!" Junior stood, saluted smartly and departed.
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Catherine loaded Steve's duffle bag into the trunk then pulled her Navy car around to the patient
intake/pick up driveway. She got out and met her fiancée.
Steve, in a wheelchair, was waiting for her. Nurse Jenny and Dr. Charity took the time to escort him
down and to say 'good-bye' to the naval officer.
"You take care. Get plenty of sleep. Follow all the guidelines your medical team set forth for you." Dr.
Charity wagged a cautionary finger at the stubborn sailor. "If you miss your scheduled physical
therapies, I'll find out. I'll tell Miss Catherine."
Steve crossed his heart. "I'll be back day after tomorrow for therapy, I promise."
"And you'll take it easy until then?" The doctor pressed as Catherine joined them.
"I promise." He stood up and stepped away from the wheelchair. He hugged both women. "Thank you
for everything you did for me. Please, come dance at our wedding."
"It will be my, our, pleasure." Dr. Charity smiled.
Catherine took Steve's arm and led him to the car. After making sure he was seat belted in and
comfortable, she closed his door and turned to the medical women. "Thank you for everything. God
bless you both." She hugged them both.
After pulling away from the hospital, Catherine offered a food stop. Steve eagerly took her up on it.
They found a coffee shop.
Steve ordered a large breakfast; steak, eggs, hash browns, toast, orange juice and coffee. Catherine
watched him eat happily. She sipped her coffee and picked at her French Toast, bacon and fruit.
"Would you like a couple of my orange slices?" Catherine offered.
"If you don't."
Catherine placed the orange slices on Steve's toast plate. "Good sailor, can't have you getting scurvy."
"Then why aren't you eating them?"
"They gave me eight slices and I ate six. No scurvy for this swabbie, Commander. I ate all my grapes,
strawberries and my honeydew melon slice."
"Glad you ordered breakfast." Steve said between bites. "I know it isn't your favorite meal of the day.
Would you like some of my steak?"
"Medium rare?"
"Of course."
"Yes, please." She noticed his potatoes were virtually untouched. "Share your hash browns?"
"What's mine is yours, Catty Cat." He gave her a fourth of his steak. "Take as much of the hash browns
as you like. Too crunchy, hurts my mouth." She held out her plate and he pushed the hash browns off
his plate onto hers. "Would you like some more coffee?"
"Yes please."
Steve signaled the waitress. "More coffee for us please. And another order of hash browns, not as well
done, not crisp. Thoroughly cooked, but soft, please."
The waitress watched them swap over the hash browns. "Not to your liking, sir?"
"Love them and usually, I'll take them as they come. I'm recovering from a broken jaw and some dental
surgery and I should have said something when I ordered but I was more concerned about the steak. No
harm done."
The waitress smiled and left. She returned moments later with a fresh pot of coffee. "Newlyweds?"
"Planning our wedding." Catherine beamed. "Does it show?"
"Any advice?" Steve asked spying her wedding ring.
"Elope or leave your reception early." She looked directly at Steve. "Don't get drunk on your wedding
night. It's her night too."
"Sound advice. Noted."