Major Crimes Mysteries

The Family McCoy

Chapter 22

Andy and Provenza were standing in Sharon's hospital room. Sharon was still in a coma from her heart attack.

"Flynn, I don't care what you say." Provenza told Andy. "This is how it has to go with FID."

"I don't see them buying it, Provenza. I have to take care of that kid." Andy told him. "We have got to come up with a better story."

"Flynn, who do you think knows more about FID, you or me?" Provenza countered.

"Well, according to Sharon, me." Andy retorted in a stubborn tone. "You are just in FID for misogynistic reasons. I push the envelope in police procedures right up to that little line. We can't let Comancho or Hobbs get their hands on Rusty."

"You don't think I know that Flynn?" Provenza answered getting a slightly angry tone. "After all, I was his father figure long before you were his stepfather.

Andy rolled his eyes and let out a huff.

"Listen, all I'm saying is that we have to make sure that you and the kid have the story straight and that it is a good story that is irrefutable. I am not having that kid go to jail for killing a scumbag. He has too many good things, with the exception of Gus, going on in his life. Hopefully, Gus will get the message soon and Rusty can find someone truly committed to him, not someone who chases whoever's pants will give him the greatest return. That is all I am saying, Provenza." Andy told him sounding exasperated.

Sharon couldn't believe what she was hearing her husband and second in command say. She was watching them, floating above them, listening to them discuss how to have Rusty get away with murder. She started to scream no to them. She was telling them they could get in trouble. Who was this man she married? Who did she trust with her command? Sharon started to cry hysterically.

The door to her hospital room opened. Rusty and Ricky walked in. Both had serious looks on their faces. Andy put his arm around Ricky.

Sharon moved to the corner of the room and huddled there in fear. She was terrified of what was going to happen next. She trusted all these people. They were her family. How was this happening?

Andy was the first to speak. "Listen, Rusty, round one went well, but you are speaking with Comacho next. Sharon says he is as big of a pit bull as she was. We have got to make sure our stories are straight on this, and you don't flinch."

"Andy, I've got this." Rusty told him. "I'll be ok."

"Kid, I promised your mom that I would never let anything bad happen to you. If it takes crossing t's and dotting I's more than once, that is what we will do. After all, Julio figured out that there was something fishy in yours and Provenza's story. You don't think Comancho will?

Rusty knew this was done in love for his mother and for the close relationship that both he and Andy were developing. He found himself softening. Next to his mother and Provenza, whom he still called Lieutenant, he never had so many people take interest in his life and want the best for him. He breathed out. "OK, Andy. Tell me what to say."

"Do not deviate from this, kid. Provenza caught you with the gun in the galley of the yacht and you started arguing. You didn't know Stroh was hiding in the pantry at the time. Provenza took your gun and sent you back upstairs. He was escorting you off the yacht. As you were walking up the stairs, Stroh popped out to take both you out. Provenza still had your gun in his hands. He turned and fired. That's it. That is what you say to Comancho. Various versions of that, but that is the core of what you remember. Got it?" Andy told him. "Tell me you got it and repeat it back to me."

Rusty stated he understood. He repeated back to Andy what Andy had told him. Provenza put his arm around Rusty. "This will all be over soon, and Stroh will finally be out of your life." Provenza told him. Rusty simply shook his head yes.

Sharon continued to cry in the corner begging Rusty to trust the process. Rusty stood indifferent to Sharon's begging unable to hear her.

Sharon started to beat on Rusty. "Please hear me, Rusty. Please. I am begging you. Please trust the process."

"Babe, wake up. Wake up, please!" Sharon heard the yelling in her sleep and felt Andy shaking her. She couldn't wake herself up this time. She kept begging and crying to Rusty who was oblivious to her presence.

"Sharon, wake up!" Andy could see Sharon crying in her sleep. Shaking her, he continued, "Babe, please wake up. I am begging you to wake up."

Sharon was finally able to wake herself up.

"How could you Andy? Everything I hold dear. Everything that makes the world right. How could you?" Sharon yelled at him before getting out of bed and running into the bathroom slamming the door.

Andy, still sitting up in bed, sat dumbfounded over what had just happened.

He climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom door. He tried to go in to comfort her, but the door was locked. "Sharon, I have no clue what I have done. Babe, please talk to me. This isn't like you." He said to her through a still locked door.

Sharon got ready to head into the office still not talking to Andy. She needed to process this nightmare. This was unlike one she had before, and she didn't know what to do with it.

They drove in silence to the office. She didn't take his hand like she normally did and sat looking out the window of the car remembering more vividly any of the nightmares she had before. When they got to the parking lot, Sharon got out of the car and walked to the office without waiting for Andy.

When they both walked separately into the office and there was a clear issue between them each of the detectives looked at one another. Flynn immediately looked at Provenza with a look of concern on his face.

Mike yelled out to Sharon "Commander, I think I found Rebecca McCoy's son!"