Disclaimer: I don't own EE or any of it's characters.
An Accident of Trust Written by: Felicity Poole
Revelations and Fears
Crumb stood silently in the sterile hallway of the hospital. His eyes were fixed on the closed door, the information plate beside it reading Hobson, Gary room 347. Hesitantly he reached down and gripped the handle slowly letting the door open cringing at the loud creaking sound it made despite his efforts to keep his entrance peaceful. He shut the door behind him and found comfort in letting his fingers fumble with the hat that now was bending and twisting in his grasp.
"Who is it?" Marissa questioned looking somewhat in the older mans direction.
"It's Crumb" Chuck answered back a confused expression present on his face.
Marissa stood passing slowly by Fishman on her way to greet the man "Detective Crumb I'm surprised to see you here. Is there something wrong?" she asked kindly.
"I just wanted to see how Hobson was fairing. You might find it hard to believe but I was. am worried about him"
Marissa smiled and took his hand gently. "I'm glad you did, I'm sure Gary would appreciate the gesture."
"Yeah" He snorted "I'm sure I'm the first person he'd want to see"
"Don't sell yourself short Crumb, besides He does come to you when he needs help."
"Only because I'm the only nut crazy enough to believe a word he says"
Marissa tried unsuccessfully to hide her smile as she turned to lead the detective further into the room.
Crumb gained enough nerve to take his first glance at the figure in the bed and he inhaled deeply.
"Believe it or not he looks a lot better today" Chuck announced watching the older man closely.
"I agree"
"What do you mean you agree?" Chuck inquired
"I was there yesterday; I was in the other car"
"Oh, I'm sorry Zeke we didn't know. Are you alright"
"I'm fine Miss Clark just a couple of bumps and bruises. So, how is he has the Doc seen any change."
"No. Gar hasn't so much as twitched" Chuck answered solemnly. Catching sight of Marissa's deepening frown he quickly added to his comment. "But hey it's only the first day right"
A loud ruckus outside in the hallway shattered the peaceful silence of the establishment. Two people had quickly thrown open the door one taking the time to close it, but the other having only one thing on her mind. "Oh Gary!" she whispered as tears stung her eyes. Leaning down she kissed the fevered brow letting her fingertips gently touched the man's cheek.
"Lois" Bernie whispered softly as he stepped behind her placing his hands firmly upon her shoulders. "I tried to prepare myself, but Bernie look at him how could I have possibly prepared myself for this?" she cried. Hugging the woman to his chest Bernie held her tight. "It'll be all right sweetheart you'll see, Gar's a though kid he'll pull through." Even though the words came out in a strong convincing tone, Bernie didn't know if he even believed himself.
"Mrs. Hobson?" Marissa murmured.
Lois lifted her head and quickly wiped at her eyes trying as best she could to compose herself. "Oh Marissa" She whispered hugging the woman. "We came as fast as that Junker of Bernie's could drive."
"Hey, that 'Junker' happens to be a '69 classic"
"Dear 'classic' is just a gentle way of saying very old"
Frowning Bernie passed the women and walked slowly to the other side of the room. "Hey Fishman you keepin' out of trouble"
"You know me" Chuck smiled
"I know that's why I asked" He snorted reaching out to shake the younger mans hand
"Typical women, never know a great car when they see one"
"You're tellin' me. Lois has been tryin' to get me to sell it for years" Casting a glance at the silent man standing to the side Bernie smirked "Detective Crumb isn't it?"
Zeke nodded "I'm surprised you remember me."
"Hey how could I forget, you threatened to lock me up in the pokey"
Crumb smiled and shook the mans hand "You were responsible for blowing up a video store in case you've forgotten"
"Well yeah but I also saved the hostages" he grinned"How long have you two been up here?"
Chuck looked at the clock and sighed "Marissa and I have been here sense about 10:30 last night. It's been a long day"
Bernie nodded and looked at the detective beside him
"I just got here a few minutes ago"
"Thanks"
"What for?"
"For stayin' with Gar. The Doc talked to us a minute before letting us in, said it would be a good thing for him to see familiar faces when he wakes up."
"What did you expect he's my best friend, besides he'd do the same for me."
"Yeah I know he would." Looking up at the small TV hanging down from the ceiling he tossed a thumb in its direction. "You got cable in here?"
"Yep, 54 channels believe me I know" Chuck smiled
"That's good Gary hates to miss the big games. Cubs are playing tonight."
"Hope they play better than they did last night" Crumb grumbled.
"You kiddin? There hasn't been a Cubs game for almost two weeks"
"Must have been an old score sheet" Crumb commented confused.
"Yeah must have" Fishman replied.
Crumb watched as the TV flashed on and a News reporter came into focus. "Firemen battle a downtown warehouse fire today, causing damages of up to 2.5 million dollars so far for the Oswald & Jorgensen Corporation. No injuries have been reported." Scrunching his eyebrows together in confusion his face paling, Crumb stood silent
"Is something wrong Detective?" Marissa asked softly her features showing her inquiry.
Zeke looked around the room at the faces whose eyes know set transfixed on him. "N.Nothings wrong...I just remembered somethin' important I had to do at the station"
"Then I guess we shouldn't keep you huh?" Bernie smiled "Thanks for droppin' by I know Gary'd appreciate it"
"No problem at all" Crumb mumbled "I'll.I'll see ya later" Bernie shook the man's hand and Chuck nodded his goodbye.
Crumb stopped at the two women beside him before he continued out. "Bye Miss Clark, Mrs. Hobson I'll uhhh.I'll be bye to check up on you guys later"
"Goodbye Detective. Thank you for stopping by"
"Sure.sure thing"
The door drifted closed and the room's inhabitance sighed
"Something's wrong" Marissa whispered "I could feel it.I could hear it in his voice"
Chuck still watched the back of the door questioningly "I didn't have to hear it, the man was as white as a sheet."
"All I know is I don't look like that when I forget something"
Louis grinned at the end of her husbands comment "Of coarse there was the time you forgot our anniversary and went fishin' with your friends"
Cringing Bernie looked at his wife "I stand corrected" It looked as if a light went on his head and Bernie let his thoughts run for few moments before scanning the room "Hey Chuck, who's been takin' care of the paper?"
"No one"
"What do you mean no one!?"
"I mean exactly what I said no one, It didn't come."Nothin?" Bernie interrupted. "What about the cat?"
"Nothing, nodda, zilch. No cat, no paper it's just.gone"
Lois frowned deeply as she looked over at her son lying silently upon the bed. Tears once again filled her eyes and she raised a hand to her mouth to keep the sob that wanted to escape her throat to remain unuttered. She felt a firm set of hands grip both her shoulders and she looked quietly into the soft worried depths of her husbands eyes. "Louis?" he whispered. "What's wrong sweetheart."
"The paper has never just not come Bernie. Gary's been sick before and it still came he said so himself. What if.oh Bernie!" she cried latching on to her husband tightly. "What if the paper knows.knows that Gary's not going to get better? What if. "Don't say that, not ever" he interrupted placing one finger on her lips to silence her. Watching the tears slip down his wife's cheeks he choked, replaying her words again and again in his head. She wasn't right was she? No! She couldn't be he wouldn't accept that. Closing his eyes he said a silent prayer and as he did he gripped tighter to the woman in his arms. No one in the room noticed as the crowds cheered with excitement on TV, waving their posters and tossing their popcorn as the Cubs ran out onto the field, all that was known was a family's fear. None wanted to know the feeling of losing a son, or a friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crumb walked slowly down the side walk holding his jacket closer as a chilled breeze swept past. When had it become so cold? Obviously the earlier weather predictions had been wrong. He took little to no notice of his surroundings as he walked mechanically towards his apartment building his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, all of which were flashing and colliding around in his head.
He slowly twisted the knob to his door, taking his time to enter the room. He shook his head and almost laugh at how screwy the situation was considering his imagination had probably just run away with him.
A loud 'Meow' followed by a soft purr filled the quiet stillness around him. Looking down he could see the small Tabby trotting up to him almost as if he was welcoming him back home.
"Hey fur ball. Ya didn't miss me that much did you?" he smiled taking the time to bend over and pick up the stray. He gently stoked the cats head as he made his way over to the coach. Placing the animal down on the rise, Zeke proceeded to stretch over and pick up the wad of papers where he had discarded them earlier that day.
A small cry came from the feline as he sat down curling his tail around his feet and watched intently as the man scrambled through the mixed sheets.
Zeke gave a grunt of satisfaction as the front page came into view and slowly he let his eyes glance over the headlines, then fall like stone onto the date at the top September 7th. His face paled slightly, but it wasn't till he glanced over at the calendar tacked up on his wall for confirmation did the look on his features turn haunted. "My God" He breathed his hand shaking as he felt for a place to sit down. He swept his fingers through his hair, slowly breathing as the evidence before him sank in. A flash of yellow fur jumped down beside him and an almost satisfied sigh escaped from the Tabby which in Crumbs opinion could have been smiling if he didn't know better. "What is going on?" he murmured looking back across the headline 'Warehouse Burned' Almost as if dawn it's self had risen across his face, he rose to his feet and moved hurriedly over to the desk that sat in the corner of his room. He took a seat none to gracefully and pulled a tattered file across the desktop, hesitating a moment his fingers twitched a few times before lifting the flap allowing his eyes to scan the contents inside. Brushing several things aside he picked up the item that he sought.a 3x5 piece of photo paper. Leaning back in his chair he placed one hand upon his mouth and chin as the other held tightly to the desired object. "Hobson" he whispered looking at the man standing on the street corner his eyes transfixed on his news paper. It was the next thing that Crumb saw that almost knocked the man from his seat. Looking over at the Tabby across the room he studied it for a moment before looking back to the small animal at Gary's feet "You" he said standing to his feet. The feline let out a pitiful cry before it trotted off in another direction. "Hobson knew, he knew along what was going to happen.the crazy nut knew!" he shouted across the room letting an ironic laugh erupt as he ran to the trash can in his kitchen, pulling out the tattered remains of the old paper he had tossed out the day before. Reading the date September 6th and scanning across the headline he couldn't believe what his eyes were showing him
'Man injured in car accident'. Local bar owner Gary Hobson was injured in an accident that doctors say have left the 34 year old in a comma.' Taking little to no time he gathered the stray sheets and folded them tucking them securely under his arm, stopping only to retrieve his hat as he rushed out the door in a blur of motion.
Hailing a cab, he stepped inside pulling out the papers and unfolding them into his lap.
"He mister were to" the cabby inquired.
Crumb never looked up but simply waved his hand with a mumble of his directions, his full attention on getting down to his precinct with his news. Several blocks had passed in silence only the turning pages had indicated that there had been anyone at all in the back seat of the yellow cab, but the silence was soon coming to an end as Crumb read quietly a small story that was printed at the bottom of the third page.
'Infant killed in Fall' 'Yesterday approximately 5:30pm 2 year old Allison Jacobs fell to her death from her balcony on the fourth floor of the Willow Falls apartment complex. Police say that the child had exited out onto the open terrace, only after her mother had turned away to answer an incoming phone call.'
"He Mister ya going to get out?" the cabby asked shortly.
"What?"
"This is where you wanted to go right?"
Crumb looked out the side window and watched as Paul Armstrong exited out of the building stopping only as recognition hit when he locked gazes with Zeke for a moment, curiosity was reflected in his dark depths once the older detective's facial expression was read and Paul could see something was wrong. Looking over at the clock on the dash board Crumb swallowed hard before answering "No.No I don't think so"
"What do ya mean ya don't think so? Either you does or you don'ts"
"Well, I don't. I've changed my mind. Take me to the Willow Falls apartments"
"Ahhhh for cryin' out loud mister!"
"That's Detective Crumb to you, and I suggest you keep any remarks to yourself unless you want me to report all those out of date tags on your window to my friend in traffic enforcement!"
As if a cloud of complete understanding had fallen on the impatient man there was silence, the taxi was put into drive, and the car began to move forward.
Crumb took one more glance back at Armstrong before turning forward taking the paper in hand and tucking it in his jacket. "4:55" he murmured looking out the window at the passing buildings. 'I gotta be crazy' he groaned inwardly 'I'm gonna regret this, I know I am'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A loud knock at the door echoed through out the small apartment. A thin woman slowly walked towards the door, her fingers turning off the phone in her hand. She unlocked and opened the door by the stunned expression on her face the man before her could tell she wasn't expecting him.
"Can I help you?" she asked softly.
"Yes you can ma'am.um.well, the thing is that.I.my name is Detective Crumb"
"Detective!" she breathed.
"Now don't worry ma'am its nothing like that, it's just I was walkin' outside and I.I um.." Crumb scratched his head in frustration. How in the world did Hobson do this! Looking at the strange look on the woman's face He cringed knowing fully well if he didn't say something soon the door was about to slam in his face. That's when he saw her, the little girl across the room, her small hands touching the railing of the balcony.
"Allison don't!" He shouted pushing past the startled woman. A scream passed through the mother's lips as the man rushed towards her baby, but it wasn't the stranger that had brought on the frantic out cry it was the sight of her daughter balancing on the railing. As was feared with one false step the little girl slipped. Crumb dove, his hands stretching to catch the falling child. With a grunt he felt her securely within his grasp and in one swift movement he pulled her up and into his arms. The tearful mother took the girl immediately and held her to her chest. Several neighbors who had heard the terrified woman came rushing in with a thousand questions. Through a river of tears she sobbed to some of her friends, and it was at that time when he saw all eyes on her that he slowly backed out of the room, taking a moment to breathe deeply before making his escape.
After stepping onto the side walk out side he pulled the paper from his jacket looking quickly for the story, but.... it no longer was there to be read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ to be continued.
An Accident of Trust Written by: Felicity Poole
Revelations and Fears
Crumb stood silently in the sterile hallway of the hospital. His eyes were fixed on the closed door, the information plate beside it reading Hobson, Gary room 347. Hesitantly he reached down and gripped the handle slowly letting the door open cringing at the loud creaking sound it made despite his efforts to keep his entrance peaceful. He shut the door behind him and found comfort in letting his fingers fumble with the hat that now was bending and twisting in his grasp.
"Who is it?" Marissa questioned looking somewhat in the older mans direction.
"It's Crumb" Chuck answered back a confused expression present on his face.
Marissa stood passing slowly by Fishman on her way to greet the man "Detective Crumb I'm surprised to see you here. Is there something wrong?" she asked kindly.
"I just wanted to see how Hobson was fairing. You might find it hard to believe but I was. am worried about him"
Marissa smiled and took his hand gently. "I'm glad you did, I'm sure Gary would appreciate the gesture."
"Yeah" He snorted "I'm sure I'm the first person he'd want to see"
"Don't sell yourself short Crumb, besides He does come to you when he needs help."
"Only because I'm the only nut crazy enough to believe a word he says"
Marissa tried unsuccessfully to hide her smile as she turned to lead the detective further into the room.
Crumb gained enough nerve to take his first glance at the figure in the bed and he inhaled deeply.
"Believe it or not he looks a lot better today" Chuck announced watching the older man closely.
"I agree"
"What do you mean you agree?" Chuck inquired
"I was there yesterday; I was in the other car"
"Oh, I'm sorry Zeke we didn't know. Are you alright"
"I'm fine Miss Clark just a couple of bumps and bruises. So, how is he has the Doc seen any change."
"No. Gar hasn't so much as twitched" Chuck answered solemnly. Catching sight of Marissa's deepening frown he quickly added to his comment. "But hey it's only the first day right"
A loud ruckus outside in the hallway shattered the peaceful silence of the establishment. Two people had quickly thrown open the door one taking the time to close it, but the other having only one thing on her mind. "Oh Gary!" she whispered as tears stung her eyes. Leaning down she kissed the fevered brow letting her fingertips gently touched the man's cheek.
"Lois" Bernie whispered softly as he stepped behind her placing his hands firmly upon her shoulders. "I tried to prepare myself, but Bernie look at him how could I have possibly prepared myself for this?" she cried. Hugging the woman to his chest Bernie held her tight. "It'll be all right sweetheart you'll see, Gar's a though kid he'll pull through." Even though the words came out in a strong convincing tone, Bernie didn't know if he even believed himself.
"Mrs. Hobson?" Marissa murmured.
Lois lifted her head and quickly wiped at her eyes trying as best she could to compose herself. "Oh Marissa" She whispered hugging the woman. "We came as fast as that Junker of Bernie's could drive."
"Hey, that 'Junker' happens to be a '69 classic"
"Dear 'classic' is just a gentle way of saying very old"
Frowning Bernie passed the women and walked slowly to the other side of the room. "Hey Fishman you keepin' out of trouble"
"You know me" Chuck smiled
"I know that's why I asked" He snorted reaching out to shake the younger mans hand
"Typical women, never know a great car when they see one"
"You're tellin' me. Lois has been tryin' to get me to sell it for years" Casting a glance at the silent man standing to the side Bernie smirked "Detective Crumb isn't it?"
Zeke nodded "I'm surprised you remember me."
"Hey how could I forget, you threatened to lock me up in the pokey"
Crumb smiled and shook the mans hand "You were responsible for blowing up a video store in case you've forgotten"
"Well yeah but I also saved the hostages" he grinned"How long have you two been up here?"
Chuck looked at the clock and sighed "Marissa and I have been here sense about 10:30 last night. It's been a long day"
Bernie nodded and looked at the detective beside him
"I just got here a few minutes ago"
"Thanks"
"What for?"
"For stayin' with Gar. The Doc talked to us a minute before letting us in, said it would be a good thing for him to see familiar faces when he wakes up."
"What did you expect he's my best friend, besides he'd do the same for me."
"Yeah I know he would." Looking up at the small TV hanging down from the ceiling he tossed a thumb in its direction. "You got cable in here?"
"Yep, 54 channels believe me I know" Chuck smiled
"That's good Gary hates to miss the big games. Cubs are playing tonight."
"Hope they play better than they did last night" Crumb grumbled.
"You kiddin? There hasn't been a Cubs game for almost two weeks"
"Must have been an old score sheet" Crumb commented confused.
"Yeah must have" Fishman replied.
Crumb watched as the TV flashed on and a News reporter came into focus. "Firemen battle a downtown warehouse fire today, causing damages of up to 2.5 million dollars so far for the Oswald & Jorgensen Corporation. No injuries have been reported." Scrunching his eyebrows together in confusion his face paling, Crumb stood silent
"Is something wrong Detective?" Marissa asked softly her features showing her inquiry.
Zeke looked around the room at the faces whose eyes know set transfixed on him. "N.Nothings wrong...I just remembered somethin' important I had to do at the station"
"Then I guess we shouldn't keep you huh?" Bernie smiled "Thanks for droppin' by I know Gary'd appreciate it"
"No problem at all" Crumb mumbled "I'll.I'll see ya later" Bernie shook the man's hand and Chuck nodded his goodbye.
Crumb stopped at the two women beside him before he continued out. "Bye Miss Clark, Mrs. Hobson I'll uhhh.I'll be bye to check up on you guys later"
"Goodbye Detective. Thank you for stopping by"
"Sure.sure thing"
The door drifted closed and the room's inhabitance sighed
"Something's wrong" Marissa whispered "I could feel it.I could hear it in his voice"
Chuck still watched the back of the door questioningly "I didn't have to hear it, the man was as white as a sheet."
"All I know is I don't look like that when I forget something"
Louis grinned at the end of her husbands comment "Of coarse there was the time you forgot our anniversary and went fishin' with your friends"
Cringing Bernie looked at his wife "I stand corrected" It looked as if a light went on his head and Bernie let his thoughts run for few moments before scanning the room "Hey Chuck, who's been takin' care of the paper?"
"No one"
"What do you mean no one!?"
"I mean exactly what I said no one, It didn't come."Nothin?" Bernie interrupted. "What about the cat?"
"Nothing, nodda, zilch. No cat, no paper it's just.gone"
Lois frowned deeply as she looked over at her son lying silently upon the bed. Tears once again filled her eyes and she raised a hand to her mouth to keep the sob that wanted to escape her throat to remain unuttered. She felt a firm set of hands grip both her shoulders and she looked quietly into the soft worried depths of her husbands eyes. "Louis?" he whispered. "What's wrong sweetheart."
"The paper has never just not come Bernie. Gary's been sick before and it still came he said so himself. What if.oh Bernie!" she cried latching on to her husband tightly. "What if the paper knows.knows that Gary's not going to get better? What if. "Don't say that, not ever" he interrupted placing one finger on her lips to silence her. Watching the tears slip down his wife's cheeks he choked, replaying her words again and again in his head. She wasn't right was she? No! She couldn't be he wouldn't accept that. Closing his eyes he said a silent prayer and as he did he gripped tighter to the woman in his arms. No one in the room noticed as the crowds cheered with excitement on TV, waving their posters and tossing their popcorn as the Cubs ran out onto the field, all that was known was a family's fear. None wanted to know the feeling of losing a son, or a friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crumb walked slowly down the side walk holding his jacket closer as a chilled breeze swept past. When had it become so cold? Obviously the earlier weather predictions had been wrong. He took little to no notice of his surroundings as he walked mechanically towards his apartment building his mind a whirlwind of thoughts, all of which were flashing and colliding around in his head.
He slowly twisted the knob to his door, taking his time to enter the room. He shook his head and almost laugh at how screwy the situation was considering his imagination had probably just run away with him.
A loud 'Meow' followed by a soft purr filled the quiet stillness around him. Looking down he could see the small Tabby trotting up to him almost as if he was welcoming him back home.
"Hey fur ball. Ya didn't miss me that much did you?" he smiled taking the time to bend over and pick up the stray. He gently stoked the cats head as he made his way over to the coach. Placing the animal down on the rise, Zeke proceeded to stretch over and pick up the wad of papers where he had discarded them earlier that day.
A small cry came from the feline as he sat down curling his tail around his feet and watched intently as the man scrambled through the mixed sheets.
Zeke gave a grunt of satisfaction as the front page came into view and slowly he let his eyes glance over the headlines, then fall like stone onto the date at the top September 7th. His face paled slightly, but it wasn't till he glanced over at the calendar tacked up on his wall for confirmation did the look on his features turn haunted. "My God" He breathed his hand shaking as he felt for a place to sit down. He swept his fingers through his hair, slowly breathing as the evidence before him sank in. A flash of yellow fur jumped down beside him and an almost satisfied sigh escaped from the Tabby which in Crumbs opinion could have been smiling if he didn't know better. "What is going on?" he murmured looking back across the headline 'Warehouse Burned' Almost as if dawn it's self had risen across his face, he rose to his feet and moved hurriedly over to the desk that sat in the corner of his room. He took a seat none to gracefully and pulled a tattered file across the desktop, hesitating a moment his fingers twitched a few times before lifting the flap allowing his eyes to scan the contents inside. Brushing several things aside he picked up the item that he sought.a 3x5 piece of photo paper. Leaning back in his chair he placed one hand upon his mouth and chin as the other held tightly to the desired object. "Hobson" he whispered looking at the man standing on the street corner his eyes transfixed on his news paper. It was the next thing that Crumb saw that almost knocked the man from his seat. Looking over at the Tabby across the room he studied it for a moment before looking back to the small animal at Gary's feet "You" he said standing to his feet. The feline let out a pitiful cry before it trotted off in another direction. "Hobson knew, he knew along what was going to happen.the crazy nut knew!" he shouted across the room letting an ironic laugh erupt as he ran to the trash can in his kitchen, pulling out the tattered remains of the old paper he had tossed out the day before. Reading the date September 6th and scanning across the headline he couldn't believe what his eyes were showing him
'Man injured in car accident'. Local bar owner Gary Hobson was injured in an accident that doctors say have left the 34 year old in a comma.' Taking little to no time he gathered the stray sheets and folded them tucking them securely under his arm, stopping only to retrieve his hat as he rushed out the door in a blur of motion.
Hailing a cab, he stepped inside pulling out the papers and unfolding them into his lap.
"He mister were to" the cabby inquired.
Crumb never looked up but simply waved his hand with a mumble of his directions, his full attention on getting down to his precinct with his news. Several blocks had passed in silence only the turning pages had indicated that there had been anyone at all in the back seat of the yellow cab, but the silence was soon coming to an end as Crumb read quietly a small story that was printed at the bottom of the third page.
'Infant killed in Fall' 'Yesterday approximately 5:30pm 2 year old Allison Jacobs fell to her death from her balcony on the fourth floor of the Willow Falls apartment complex. Police say that the child had exited out onto the open terrace, only after her mother had turned away to answer an incoming phone call.'
"He Mister ya going to get out?" the cabby asked shortly.
"What?"
"This is where you wanted to go right?"
Crumb looked out the side window and watched as Paul Armstrong exited out of the building stopping only as recognition hit when he locked gazes with Zeke for a moment, curiosity was reflected in his dark depths once the older detective's facial expression was read and Paul could see something was wrong. Looking over at the clock on the dash board Crumb swallowed hard before answering "No.No I don't think so"
"What do ya mean ya don't think so? Either you does or you don'ts"
"Well, I don't. I've changed my mind. Take me to the Willow Falls apartments"
"Ahhhh for cryin' out loud mister!"
"That's Detective Crumb to you, and I suggest you keep any remarks to yourself unless you want me to report all those out of date tags on your window to my friend in traffic enforcement!"
As if a cloud of complete understanding had fallen on the impatient man there was silence, the taxi was put into drive, and the car began to move forward.
Crumb took one more glance back at Armstrong before turning forward taking the paper in hand and tucking it in his jacket. "4:55" he murmured looking out the window at the passing buildings. 'I gotta be crazy' he groaned inwardly 'I'm gonna regret this, I know I am'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A loud knock at the door echoed through out the small apartment. A thin woman slowly walked towards the door, her fingers turning off the phone in her hand. She unlocked and opened the door by the stunned expression on her face the man before her could tell she wasn't expecting him.
"Can I help you?" she asked softly.
"Yes you can ma'am.um.well, the thing is that.I.my name is Detective Crumb"
"Detective!" she breathed.
"Now don't worry ma'am its nothing like that, it's just I was walkin' outside and I.I um.." Crumb scratched his head in frustration. How in the world did Hobson do this! Looking at the strange look on the woman's face He cringed knowing fully well if he didn't say something soon the door was about to slam in his face. That's when he saw her, the little girl across the room, her small hands touching the railing of the balcony.
"Allison don't!" He shouted pushing past the startled woman. A scream passed through the mother's lips as the man rushed towards her baby, but it wasn't the stranger that had brought on the frantic out cry it was the sight of her daughter balancing on the railing. As was feared with one false step the little girl slipped. Crumb dove, his hands stretching to catch the falling child. With a grunt he felt her securely within his grasp and in one swift movement he pulled her up and into his arms. The tearful mother took the girl immediately and held her to her chest. Several neighbors who had heard the terrified woman came rushing in with a thousand questions. Through a river of tears she sobbed to some of her friends, and it was at that time when he saw all eyes on her that he slowly backed out of the room, taking a moment to breathe deeply before making his escape.
After stepping onto the side walk out side he pulled the paper from his jacket looking quickly for the story, but.... it no longer was there to be read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ to be continued.