Thanks a million times to all of my readers and your reviews, they really make me write faster. I should have the next chapter posted in a day or two, so don't freak out yet! Enjoy!
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Part 5:
*
"It's her birthday tomorrow, Uncle Bosco."
His hands run through his hair shakily. One more thing to make this even worse.
"I know, buddy. So, listen, we'll just have to wait, you know, until we find her and give her the presents. Then we can throw her a welcome back party and birthday party."
"I just want her here now."
"I know, I know, so do I."
"Will you find her, Uncle Bosco?"
"You better believe it. I'm not stoppin' till I do."
"You promise?"
"Cross my heart."
"Thanks."
"How's your sister?"
"She misses mom. I think she stopped being mad at her."
"How's your dad?"
"He wants to talk to you."
Bosco sighs. Shit, this is all I need right now.
"Bosco? What the hell did you do this time?"
"Don't you even start with me, Fred. Don't give me any shit because I got half a mind to come over there right now and bust your ass, you good-for-nothing piece of shit!"
"You bring these kids their mother back, you understand me? It's your fault she's gone, now fix it!"
"Kiss my ass, Fred."
"No, I'll leave that to Faith."
"You son-of-a--"
He's cut off as the line goes dead. His frustration builds as he picks up the phone and hurls it into the wall, leans against the counter, and takes a few deep breaths to calm himself.
*
"Man, poor Gusler, " Davis remarks as he ties his shoes on the bench.
"Yeah, damn shame, " replies Sullivan, leaning against the wall in wait for his partner.
Bosco remains silent, his own thoughts moving collectively around between his partner's disappearance and the death of Gusler, all the while unable to shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong on their patrol last week and they were both paying for it with their own lives.
"Boscorelli."
He looks up from his trance at Lt. Swersky, who motions him to follow.
"Follow me to my office, we got some things to talk about."
He stands up, unsure of the very ground he walks on anymore, and manages a look at his friends, who offer him silent support, as he walks into what he can only imagine is yet another stage of hell.
*
The anxiety rises in him gradually, like a snake slowly coiling around his stomach. The presence of Sgt. Christopher and Detective Lambert does little to abate his unease, it only adds to it.
"You guys throwing me a birthday party?"
"Sit down Boscorelli, " Swersky gestures to the empty chair as he sits across from Bosco.
"Oh man, are you in --"
"Christopher, shut up. Lambert, go ahead."
Lambert steps forward, his head slightly bowed as though he's about to say something he doesn't really want to.
"Boscorelli, I'm sorry to do this, but the fact is --"
"Will ya just spit it out already?"
Lambert looks to Swersky, nodding him on.
"Boscorelli, we found your fingerprints on the knife."
"Are you shittin' me? I was tryin' to help him, of course I might've gotten my prints on it."
"We're not done. There was a witness claiming to have seen you attack Gusler."
"What?! Who?!"
Swersky looks to Christopher whose face is beaming with a smug pride.
"Sgt. Christopher. And we're taking his word over yours, Boscorelli. Now, as this investigation continues, we may find proof of your innocence, but --"
Bosco runs a hand back and forth over his eyes. "This is bullshit!"
Swersky grumbles and continues.
"But, as it stands, you're suspended. I'll need your badge and gun."
Bosco shoot up, anger swelling through his veins.
"Lieu, what the hell --"
"Stand down, Boscorelli. I'm sorry to do this, but none of this looks good for you."
The fire still burns but he looks down, clenches his fists, controls the rising heat as he pulls out his badge and gun.
Without another word, he leaves, stoically accepting his current fate.
*
"Shit, man, I can't believe this is happening."
"You?! How the fuck do ya think I feel?"
Bosco leans forward over his glass of soda, not wanting to meet the eyes of his 'family' just yet.
"You sure you don't want something stronger?" Kim asks from across the table.
He shakes his head and keeps his eyes level with the night sky, staring it down as though he's ready to make this world pay for throwing one too many obstacles in front of him. Faith, he thinks, was the stinging blow.
"Whadya gonna do now, Bosco?"
He gulps down the last of his soda, throws a few bills on the table, gets up from his straddle over the chair, and turns to leave with one last brief remark.
"I'm gonna get her back."
*
TBC...
---------------------
Part 5:
*
"It's her birthday tomorrow, Uncle Bosco."
His hands run through his hair shakily. One more thing to make this even worse.
"I know, buddy. So, listen, we'll just have to wait, you know, until we find her and give her the presents. Then we can throw her a welcome back party and birthday party."
"I just want her here now."
"I know, I know, so do I."
"Will you find her, Uncle Bosco?"
"You better believe it. I'm not stoppin' till I do."
"You promise?"
"Cross my heart."
"Thanks."
"How's your sister?"
"She misses mom. I think she stopped being mad at her."
"How's your dad?"
"He wants to talk to you."
Bosco sighs. Shit, this is all I need right now.
"Bosco? What the hell did you do this time?"
"Don't you even start with me, Fred. Don't give me any shit because I got half a mind to come over there right now and bust your ass, you good-for-nothing piece of shit!"
"You bring these kids their mother back, you understand me? It's your fault she's gone, now fix it!"
"Kiss my ass, Fred."
"No, I'll leave that to Faith."
"You son-of-a--"
He's cut off as the line goes dead. His frustration builds as he picks up the phone and hurls it into the wall, leans against the counter, and takes a few deep breaths to calm himself.
*
"Man, poor Gusler, " Davis remarks as he ties his shoes on the bench.
"Yeah, damn shame, " replies Sullivan, leaning against the wall in wait for his partner.
Bosco remains silent, his own thoughts moving collectively around between his partner's disappearance and the death of Gusler, all the while unable to shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong on their patrol last week and they were both paying for it with their own lives.
"Boscorelli."
He looks up from his trance at Lt. Swersky, who motions him to follow.
"Follow me to my office, we got some things to talk about."
He stands up, unsure of the very ground he walks on anymore, and manages a look at his friends, who offer him silent support, as he walks into what he can only imagine is yet another stage of hell.
*
The anxiety rises in him gradually, like a snake slowly coiling around his stomach. The presence of Sgt. Christopher and Detective Lambert does little to abate his unease, it only adds to it.
"You guys throwing me a birthday party?"
"Sit down Boscorelli, " Swersky gestures to the empty chair as he sits across from Bosco.
"Oh man, are you in --"
"Christopher, shut up. Lambert, go ahead."
Lambert steps forward, his head slightly bowed as though he's about to say something he doesn't really want to.
"Boscorelli, I'm sorry to do this, but the fact is --"
"Will ya just spit it out already?"
Lambert looks to Swersky, nodding him on.
"Boscorelli, we found your fingerprints on the knife."
"Are you shittin' me? I was tryin' to help him, of course I might've gotten my prints on it."
"We're not done. There was a witness claiming to have seen you attack Gusler."
"What?! Who?!"
Swersky looks to Christopher whose face is beaming with a smug pride.
"Sgt. Christopher. And we're taking his word over yours, Boscorelli. Now, as this investigation continues, we may find proof of your innocence, but --"
Bosco runs a hand back and forth over his eyes. "This is bullshit!"
Swersky grumbles and continues.
"But, as it stands, you're suspended. I'll need your badge and gun."
Bosco shoot up, anger swelling through his veins.
"Lieu, what the hell --"
"Stand down, Boscorelli. I'm sorry to do this, but none of this looks good for you."
The fire still burns but he looks down, clenches his fists, controls the rising heat as he pulls out his badge and gun.
Without another word, he leaves, stoically accepting his current fate.
*
"Shit, man, I can't believe this is happening."
"You?! How the fuck do ya think I feel?"
Bosco leans forward over his glass of soda, not wanting to meet the eyes of his 'family' just yet.
"You sure you don't want something stronger?" Kim asks from across the table.
He shakes his head and keeps his eyes level with the night sky, staring it down as though he's ready to make this world pay for throwing one too many obstacles in front of him. Faith, he thinks, was the stinging blow.
"Whadya gonna do now, Bosco?"
He gulps down the last of his soda, throws a few bills on the table, gets up from his straddle over the chair, and turns to leave with one last brief remark.
"I'm gonna get her back."
*
TBC...