Arrival Overdue

Chapter 17
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"Got it. Thanks," Trooper Kavanaugh said in to the phone before hanging up. He turned to his partner. "Franklin. Let's roll. We've got a lead," he told him. Both men grabbed their gear and headed out as Kavanaugh's phone rang.

"Kavanaugh," he answered.

"This is Lieutenant Morley at Albany P.D. I just wanted to let you know what was going down in case you haven't heard," the man on the other end said.

"Yeah. We've got the information on the deal going down between Mason and Martino. We're on our way to follow-it up now. You got units rolling there too?" Kavanaugh asked, not wanting to get anyone caught in cross-fire if the situation arose.

"What? No. You'll have to fill me in on that if you want backup. I'm talking about the situation at the Tate residence," Morley said.

Kavanaugh stopped short, causing Franklin to almost walk into him. "What situation at the Tate residence," he said, looking at his partner and the two rushed out to their car.

"Well, we got a call from NYPD that Martino was on his way up here to take care of that officer. We sent a unit over there and haven't heard from him. We're sending more units and... What? Hang on a minute," the Lieutenant said into the phone.

Kavanaugh and Franklin were in their unit headed to the location the informant had told them about. The Lieutenant came back to the phone, "We just got a 9-1-1 call from the neighbor that there's an intruder in the house and that one of our officer's is down in her driveway. We've got EMS on the way and our units should be there in seconds. I'm heading there now."

"We're heading over there too," Kavanaugh said into the phone. He ended the call and told his partner, "Head over to Dr. Tate's house. Something's going down. There's an officer down already."

Franklin sped up the vehicle and they headed over to Dr. Tate's house.
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Bosco heard the shots at the same time he saw a beam of light hit Paulie and he returned fire. He saw his shot go just to the left of the intruder, but was surprised when he saw the man in front of him fall to the ground.

"You're reflexes are getting a little slow, aren't they, Boscorelli?" came the familiar voice from behind him as Bosco hurried over to the fallen man to assure that he was not able to get his weapon and fire on anyone else.

"Yeah, well, I'm injured. What's your excuse? It took you two hours to get here. What's up with that?!" Bosco teased the Lieutenant as he turned the man over and kicked his weapon away. He knelt down to feel for a pulse and found one. He looked at his wound. He'd live.

"Yeah, well, we hit traffic," Faith said, coming up behind Bosco with her handcuffs out to cuff the man. Lieutenant Swersky called over his shoulder to have EMS come in as the Albany units arrived on the scene. "You alright?" she asked him after she'd cuffed Paulie who was regaining consciousness.

"Yeah, never better," he said, sitting down on a chair in the kitchen. His leg was killing him, but he wasn't about to let on to that. "Thanks," he said to his friends as the Albany officers converged on the scene.

"Yeah, well you better go tell Jennifer that. She's next door," Faith reminded him.

"Oh yeah," he said, standing up and limping over to the door. He stopped at the door. "You're a little out of your jurisdiction, Lieu. The paperwork! Glad I'm out on sick leave and don't have to worry about it," said Bosco over his shoulder.

"Yeah, well your gonna have to write up a statement anyway," the Lieutenant reminded him.

"Uh huh," Bosco said, turning to walk outside. He saw the EMS crew working on the officer in the driveway and stopped.

"He gonna be okay?" Bosco asked the medics as they sat the man up and he groaned.

"Yeah. Luckily, he only took a blow to the head. He'll have a headache for awhile, but he'll recover," one of the medics told him.

"Thanks, man," Bosco said, shaking the officer's hand for trying to assist him. He stood up and turned to see Jennifer standing in the light from the police cars. He could see the tears on her face and limped over to her.

As he reached her, she started to cry harder and he just embraced her in his arms. "It's okay. It's all over," he said softly, as he rubbed her back and felt her tremble.

"I thought...," she said, not able to finish the sentence.

"No way. Not now that I found you," he said, pulling her back away from him so he could see her face. He leaned into her and kissed her as Faith and the Lieutenant came out of the house, following the stretcher bearing Paulie.

"What's going on around here?" the Lieutenant said to Faith.

"Looks like Bosco's got a new girlfriend," Faith said, smiling as she walked back to their patrol car. She had to call Fred to tell him that she'd be a little late tonight and why.
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"Oh, get a room already!" Kavanaugh said as he and Franklin came up behind Jennifer and Bosco. The two parted and laughed as Bosco turned to shake hands.

"Everyone alright?" Franklin asked, looking at Bosco and the scene over his shoulder.

"It is now," Bosco said as he put an arm around Jennifer's shoulder and felt how cold she was. "C'mon. Let's get you inside," he said. "You want to come in?" he asked the Troopers.

"Actually, we're on our way to break up a meeting between Mason and Martino. We got a call about this while we were on our way and stopped by here first," Kavanaugh said, looking at his watch.

"Really," Bosco said with interest as Faith and the Lieutenant came over. Kavanaugh relayed his information to them and asked if Faith and the Lieutenant would like to come along.

"Absolutely," the Lieutenant responded.

"Hang on. Let me get a jacket," Bosco said, turning to go in the house.

"You're on sick leave, Boscorelli," the Lieutenant reminded him.

"Lieu, I can't not see this through to the end. I promise, I'll just watch. I couldn't keep up with you guys anyway," he reasoned, bending over to knock on his cast with his knuckles.

The Lieutenant pointed his finger at Bosco as he'd done so many times in the past to make his point and said, "From the car, Bosco. I mean it."

"I promise, Boss," Bosco said, turning to look at Jennifer who was none too pleased about Bosco going along.

"I have to see this through, Jen," he said, unaware that he'd shortened her name again. She had to admit that she melted when he said it.

"From the car, Maurice. I mean it," she said, repeating the Lieutenant's words. Bosco kissed her and ran into the house to get his jacket. He came back out a moment later and stopped at Jennifer.

"Look. I don't know what the story is with this Mason and Martino guy. But, they know where I was and they came to your house. I don't want you here until I know these guys are in custody and are no longer a threat. Can you go to your sister's house until I call you?" he asked her.

"Yeah. I don't really want to go back in there yet anyway," she said, looking back at the house nervously.

"Okay. Here's your purse," he said, handing them to her along with her jacket that he'd grabbed. "I'll call you as soon as everything's done," he said. "I talked to one of the Albany guys and they'll take you there," he said, kissing her again and heading to 55-David.

"Be careful," she called after him and he turned and winked at her.

"Always," he said, getting in the car and closing the door.

Jennifer watched them pull away and thought to herself, "Jennifer Tate. What are you getting yourself in to?"
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TBC...