Arrival Overdue

Chapter 14
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Yeah, Manny. You wanted to see me?" Faith asked as she pulled into the alley.

"Yo! Officer Yokas! Where's your partner?" Manny asked looking into the car as he approached.

"He's off for a while. He got hurt," Faith told him.

"I heard something like that, but I figured if your partner was with you then I heard wrong, but since he's not around..." Manny said, trailing off as he looked up and down the alley nervously.

"What'd you hear, Manny?" Faith said, losing patience.

"I heard some things about someone wanting Bosco out of the picture, if you know what I mean," he said.

"Yeah. Just about every perp he put away and some he hasn't. I need more information," she told him.

"I don't know how good the info is, but I hear that the guy that got him hurt is still looking to finish the job. I don't have any more information, but I hear there's gonna be a meet between Mason and Martino here in the City in the near future," Manny reported.

"How's this Mason supposed to be lookin' to finish the job," Faith asked, getting a very uneasy feeling.

"I don't know. I just heard that Martino offered him any help he needed," Manny said, standing up and backing away from the car. "I already said too much, Officer Yokas."

"Yeah, thanks, Manny. I'll keep it between you and me if I get asked. Let me know if you hear any more," Faith told him.

"Sure thing," Manny replied, starting to walk down the alleyway.

"I mean it Manny. This could be for real and I need to know anything you find out. Bosco's always been decent to you, don't forget that," she reminded him.

"I hear you, Officer. I'll be in touch," Manny said, turning and leaving.

Faith headed her car back to the station to talk to the Lieutenant about what she'd just found out.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

The phone rang at the information desk of the hospital and the volunteer answered the phone.

"This is Trooper Kavanaugh from the New York State Troopers. I need to find out if a Maurice Boscorelli is still a patient at your hospital," said the Trooper.

"Let me check for you. Uh, no. I don't show him as an admission at this hospital. Have you tried the other hospitals in the area?" asked the woman after looking up Bosco's name on the computer.

"No. He was a patient. He must have been discharged. Thank you, Ma'am," replied Kavanaugh, hanging up.

He dialed the number for the 55th Precinct and waited for the phone to be answered.

"55th Precinct. How can I help you?" came the reply.

"This is New York State Trooper Kavanaugh. I need to reach an Officer Faith Yokas or a Lieutenant Swersky as soon as possible," he said into the phone.

"Hold on, please. I believe they're both in the station," said the Desk Sergeant as he transferred the call.

"This is Lieutenant Swersky. Officer Yokas is here with me. What can we do for you?" asked the Lieutenant with a hint of worry after hearing Faith's story from Manny. He put the call on the speaker phone so that Faith could hear and talk also.

"Sir, I was just wondering if either of you have talked to Officer Boscorelli since his release from the hospital?" asked Kavanagh.

"No. He didn't come back to the City yet. I believe he's staying up in Albany for a couple of more days. Is there a problem?" the Lieutenant asked.

"Well, Sir. We received information from Albany Police about a man found in the park who has since died from wounds he sustained in what we believe may have been an ordered hit," Kavanaugh relayed.

"Go on," the Lieutenant said.

"The guy's name was Danny Ortiz and he's known to work for Mason. He regained consciousness at the hospital just before he died. He knew that he was dying and made a dying declaration about being involved with Mason's recent escape, resulting in the death of your Detective Hogan and the injuries to Officer Boscorelli. He also stated that he knew who had shot him and that they were not done with Boscorelli yet," the Trooper advised them.

"Yeah, well I just got some information from one of our informants down here that Bosco's in danger too. He told me that Mason is going to meet with Sonny Martino here in the City in the near future and that Martino offered to help Mason take care of Bosco," Faith relayed to Kavanaugh.

"Boscorelli is still in Albany. He's staying with Jennifer Tate. We were just about to give him a call and let him know to keep an eye out. Can you advise Albany so they can keep an eye out also?" the Lieutenant asked.

"Absolutely. My partner's on the phone with Albany PD now and I'll have him advise them right now. So, Boscorelli's staying with Dr. Tate, huh?" Kavanaugh said.

"Yeah. You know her well?" Faith asked.

"Yeah. She's great. She deserves some happiness. She's been through a lot," Kavanaugh said without elaborating.

"Okay, we'll get hold of Bosco and you keep in touch. My guy's gonna let me know if he hears anything more," Faith told him.

"Okay. I'm gonna go talk to Albany now. I'll have them do patrols in the area too," Kavanaugh said.

They all hung up and the Lieutenant looked at Faith. "What do you think?"

"Well, if I had any doubts, after hearing this information from Kavanaugh, I don't any more," Faith said with concern.

"Call him," the Lieutenant said, nodding his agreement.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Bosco had breakfast with Jordan before she left for school and had spent the rest of the morning with Jennifer, just talking and laughing. They had gone out into the yard for a little while and enjoyed the sunshine.

Now he sat in the bright kitchen with the sun shining in through the large windows. They had eaten lunch and Bosco was reading the newspaper as he glanced out at Jennifer hanging some clothes out on the line. She said she loved the smell of fresh air on the clothes. The phone rang and he stood up and took a few steps to grab it, not sure if he should answer her phone or not, as Jennifer came in the door.

"You're not supposed to be walking on that," she admonished him and he rolled his eyes as she poked him in the ribs on her way by with the clothes.

"Dr. Tate's residence," he answered.

"What, you're the butler now?" Faith asked sarcastically.

"Very funny. What's up?" he asked, mouthing to Jennifer that it was Faith.

"Tell her I said 'hi'," Jennifer whispered to him.

"Jen says 'hi," he relayed and Jennifer, who had her back to him, paused at hearing her name shortened. Jeff used to call her Jen. She half-listened as Bosco talked to Faith and then hung up.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked her. She turned to him and he saw the sadness in her eyes.

"Yeah. I'm fine. What did Faith want?" she asked, noticing the frown on his face.

"Um. She had some news. I need to talk to you about it, but I need to know what's wrong first," he said, limping over toward her even though he wasn't supposed to.

"It's nothing. It's silly, really," she said, blushing. She looked up at him as he moved alongside her and leaned against the counter. She knew he wasn't going to let it drop. "Another similarity," she thought to herself.

"Jeff used to call me 'Jen,'" she said finally.

"I'm sorry. It just sort of came out. If it bothers you, I won't do it anymore," he said, bending his neck to look into her downturned face.

She shook her head. "I told you it was silly," she said, looking up at him and he kissed her.

"It's not silly. It's totally understandable," he assured her quietly.

"You can call me Jen," she said just as quietly. She tried to change the subject, "So, what did Faith have to say?"

"C'mon in and sit down," he said, taking her hand and limping out to the living room as she protested him walking. "I'm fine. It really doesn't hurt," he assured her.

"Fine, you're the one that has to walk on it for the rest of your life. If it doesn't heal right, you have no one to blame but yourself," she chastised him.

"Yes, Mother," he said as they reached the couch and sat down. Bosco turned toward her and she didn't like the serious look on his face.

"What is it?" she asked finally.

"I need to leave," he said quickly and looked at her.

"What? Why?" Jennifer asked him, a hurt expression on her face. "Is Faith okay? One of your other friends?"

"No. Everyone's fine. But, Faith called to tell me that they have good information that the man that I was bringing down to the City when I got hurt is sending someone after me," he said, watching the worried look come over her face.

"What? Why would he do that? He got away. Shouldn't he just cut his losses and leave?" she said, standing up and beginning to pace.

He stood up to follow her as she paced and tried to understand what he was telling her. Finally, he said, "Okay. You were right. It hurts to walk on it. Please come sit down."

She came over and sat down. "But, he doesn't know you're still here. He thinks you went back home, right? That's why Faith got the information down there. So, you're safe here," she reasoned.

He paused, thinking for just a moment and then said, "He probably thinks I went back home, but I can't be sure. And I can't - no, I won't - put you and Jordan in danger. I care too much about you both. I know it's only been a short while, but I have more and more feelings for you every day, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to one or both of you," he said, taking her hands in his own.

"But," she started, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. She jumped and Bosco tensed, wondering if it was Mason or one of his men, then reasoning that they wouldn't knock.

"Stay here," he instructed her as he limped toward the door and looked out. It was two uniformed police officers, their marked patrol car in the driveway. "It's okay. It's the police," he said, opening the door just enough to talk to them. "Yeah, what can I do for you," he said, taking his wallet out of his pocket and showing the officers his identification.

"Officer Boscorelli. You're who we're looking for. We got a call from the
New York State Police - Trooper Kavanaugh - and from your Lieutenant at the 55th Precinct. Just wanted to stop by and let you know that we're aware of the situation and we'll be constantly patrolling the area," one of the officers said.

"Thanks," Bosco said, shaking the officers' hands. He opened the door as Jennifer came up behind him.

"But, I'll be leaving. I'll stay in a hotel tonight and then head home in the morning," he told them.

"No. He'll be staying here tonight," Jennifer said, catching Bosco's stare. "I'll send Jordan to my sister's for awhile."

"Jen, I mean, Jennifer, no. I can't put you in any danger. I'll leave and then when we catch this guy, I'll come back," he said. "Thanks guys, I'll let you know where I'll be staying, just in case and I'll let you know when I'm leaving town. Thanks again for keeping an eye out."

"No problem. Trooper Kavanaugh said to tell you he'll be giving you a call later," said one of the officers as they were leaving.

"You're not staying in some hotel by yourself. You can't get around well enough yet. You'll stay here and that's the end of it," she said as she looked at the clock and realized it was time to get Jordan off the bus. "I have to get Jordan off the bus. Look, just sit down and get off that leg," she said with frustration.

He watched her determination and knew that she wasn't going to back down. He didn't like it, but he'd stay here and they'd send Jordan to Jennifer's sister.
"Damn, Boscorelli. How'd you find this one?" he asked himself as he smiled watching her walk to the end of the driveway as the bus approached. He was at the door looking around to make sure that there was no one lurking.

As Jennifer called her sister and packed a bag for the reluctant child, Bosco spent some time with Jordan and promised that he would come back just as soon as his 'business' back home was taken are of. After a short time, Jennifer came downstairs with Jordan's things. "Here," she said, tossing a cane to Bosco.

He caught it and gave her a look that said, "Where did this come from?"

"I used it when I broke my foot a long time ago. If you're going to be walking around, at least use that," she said, getting Jordan's coat and ushering her out to the car as Bosco followed behind. They pulled out of the garage and headed to Jennifer's sister's house, not knowing that coming into the development from the other direction was Mason's right-hand man, Paulie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC...