"Boscorelli, Davis, you're riding together today." Chief Swersky informed the cops at roll call. He proceeded to tell the room full of officers the important news of the day. When he finished the room emptied and Bosco and Davis were the last ones out. As they headed for their RMP Davis sighed with relief that he had finally been freed from chauffeur duty and asked,
"Where's Faith today?"
"She took the day off, its Charlie's birthday."
"Cool, it gets me out of my personal little hell that is chauffeur duty, so I'm all for it!" Davis replied.
"Good, cause I'm driving." Bosco informed his new partner, trying to establish his authority.
"Fine by me, I'd better be the one to get out and run anyway." Davis mocked.
"Are you suggesting you're faster than me Davis?" Bosco said on the defensive.
"Suggesting no, flat out telling you, yes!" Davis continued to taunt. Bosco looked at him and then at the empty sidewalk and the pair took off running. Davis arrived at the end of the block mere moments before Bosco, much to the shorter cop's chagrin.
"I only lost 'cause I wanted to drive." Bosco tried to save face as they walked back to the squad car.
"Sure thing Bos." Davis replied. As they hopped into the car and set off for the day Bosco asked
"So how's that hot fire-chick of yours anyway?"
"Err… never mind." Davis replied.
"Trouble in paradise eh? I hear you man, women like that can be a handful."
"Umm, yeah Bos, sure. Sounds like you understand my problem exactly." Davis responded to Bosco's latest verbal faux-pas.
"Look man" Bosco said, not picking up on the sarcasm, "I know all about this kind of stuff. Remember Nicole?"
"I have a feeling you're going to remind me" Davis said, his mood lightening.
'This pairing will be cool' Bosco thought. 'I can teach him a few things. Kind of like a Bosco-in-training! And there's no Faith to hold me back.'
'At least he makes me laugh, this will be fun. And no Sully to tell us to wait for back-up. ' Davis thought. They drove on, chatting amicably, unaware of the fate of Kim and Alex.
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"Oh Faith, you're almost making this too easy. I thought I would have to get you away from that insane partner of yours, but you went and took the day off, what a good girl." The kidnapper laughed to himself. "That cocky bastard won't be able to save you from this one Faith, that hot-shot isn't as great as he thinks he is." He saw Faith walk outside her apartment towards the little grocery store on the corner of her block. He quickly walked up behind her and pressed his gun to her back. "Hello Faith" he whispered to her. She took a sharp breath in.
"Don't turn around, just keep walking. If you do as I ask, you won't get hurt." He hissed in her ear. A frightened Faith continued to walk as the kidnapped linked his arm with hers so she couldn't get away. They walked to a car; he opened the door and ordered her to get in and give him her gun and cell phone. She stood defiant until he shoved the gun right under her chin and forced her in.
"I can tell you're going to be the tough one." He told her as he got into the car, locked the doors and tossed her phone and gun into the back seat. Faith sat like a stone as they sped toward their destination. Evidently tired of the silence, the kidnapper tried to start a conversation,
"So Faith, I'll bet you wish your hero partner was here to save you huh?"
"How do you know my name?" she asked her voice shaky.
"I know a lot more than your name sweetheart. I hope Charlie is having a happy birthday." He taunted as Faith tried to fight back tears at the thought of her little boy.
"What do you want?" she continued to probe for information.
"Just the pleasure of your company." He replied a cruel smile crept over his lips as he stopped the car in front of a modest apartment building.
"Well you can forget it" Faith yelled as she took a swing at her captor. She missed and he retaliated by smacking his pistol into the side of her head. She slumped over as a trickle of blood oozed down her face. Grumbling, the kidnapper yanked the parking break and got out of the car. He walked to Faith's side, opened her door and picked her up, careful to roll her head onto his shoulder so that the blood didn't show. On his way up the stairs, he was approached by a neighbour.
"Is your friend ok?" she asked, concerned.
"Oh yeah, she's fine." He replied and continued when he noticed the confused look on her face, "she's just had a little too much to drink."
"Isn't it a little early to be drinking?" the neighbour pressed.
"Yeah, it is, but she has a bit of a problem" he covered, pretending to confide a big secret to the woman in hopes she would go away. His plan worked as she wished them well and continued down the stairs. When he reached the apartment, the kidnapper bound Faith's hands and feet in the same efficient way he had with Kim and Alex and opened the door to the relatively hidden back room. As he tossed her in beside the paramedics he said
"Good afternoon ladies. I hope you're enjoying your stay here. It's not quite the Ritz, but I like it. I brought a friend." Alex was directing profanity in his direction as he closed the door when Kim grabbed her attention.
"Alex! It's Faith and she's unconscious."
"Faith, can you hear me?" Alex tried to rouse her and finally Faith's eyelids fluttered open.
"Where am I?" she asked groggily. "Where did you guys come from?"
"We've all been kidnapped" Kim informed her gently.
"It's starting to look like someone has it in for the 55th precinct." Alex chipped in.
"What? Why?" Faith questioned, still feeling like her head was filled with cement.
"We haven't figured that part out yet, but check out the clippings on the walls. They are all about rescues we've performed. This is envy taken to a warped new level." Alex replied.
"You guys were on duty right? Is anyone looking for us?" Faith asked with hope in her voice.
"He took our radios, so someone will eventually come for us, but we'll have to wait it out." Kim told her.
"Besides, I have a feeling that's exactly what he wants." Alex added grimly.
*********************************
On the other side of the door, the kidnapper smiled at Alex's comment.
"She's right! Now I just have to sit back and wait for those idiots from the 5-5 to dash to the rescue. Then we'll see who the hero is."
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Thanks for the reviews everyone! I really appreciate them. I am glad you're all enjoying the story.