Chain of Darkness
Chapter Twelve--
**********
If there was a bright side to a boring day, it was that instead of chasing criminals in the frigid weather, 55-Charlie got to sit in their warm cruiser. Unfortunately, that was the only bright side.
Sully, bored out of his mind, had spent the most part of the day deciding which bar he would later frequent. The enticing taste of alcohol was fresh on his mind, tempting his taste buds, causing him to long for his next fix. His partner had repeatedly asked him to stop drinking—but what the hell did Davis know? Geez, he was only a kid. And besides, it wasn't like he was a drunk or anything; he just liked a few beers to end his day. He deserved it.
He glanced at Ty, who was staring monotonously out the window, chewing a piece of gum rhythmically. Davis was a good kid, a little naive sometimes, but a good kid. At the very least, his eagerness to do his job correctly was admirable. Sully had decided long ago that his drive and dedication most likely stemmed from his father's premature death. Sully had been fortunate enough to be partnered up with one of the best cops in the precinct, Tyrone Davis, Sr., who was fatally shot years ago. Young Ty was so much like his father sometimes that it hurt to even look at him, reminding Sully that his best friend was gone forever. But now he had Davis Jr. for a partner and he was a good cop, trying to be fair and follow the rules even in his harsh and unforgiving work environment.
If the last week had been tough on Ty, he hadn't shown it. Still his obnoxiously optimistic self, he always showed up on time, ready to rid the city of crime, seemingly oblivious to the present danger of being a cop from the 55th.
Although he hid it well himself, the truth was that Sully was undeniably feeling apprehensive, concerned not only for himself and Ty, but also for his friends and coworkers. The day before yesterday, news of Gusler's death had shocked him and only helped to instill the constant uneasiness he felt. The nighttime hours, which before he had loved for the deep, black skies and tranquility of the sleeping city, were almost frightening to him. Too much could hide in the darkness.
His eyes roamed the nearly empty streets and settled on the small group of women just down the block.
"Com'on girls, it's below freezing—have a little respect for yourselves," he muttered as he watched a car pull up and open a door. Undignified as it was, the ladies of the night still had to eat and they would do just about anything, even if it meant almost freezing to death on a street corner.
Ty raised his brow, "You gonna pick them up, Sul?"
"Nahh, I'm just going to make them move down a bit, let Bosco handle them." As much as he despised seeing those women degrading themselves, he took no pleasure in dealing with them. Besides, he knew how much Bosco hated to clear the streets, and the mere thought of irking his obstinate, hotheaded comrade made him smirk. Oh, Bosco was going to be ticked.
He pulled the RMP up to the curb and watched as the ladies scattered a bit and a few lit cigarettes, trying to appear as if they were just out there for a smoke. It was an old bit, but Sully had been around the block a few times. He rolled down his window.
"Hey ladies, you want to tell me what you are doing out here?" It was almost a rhetorical question. He knew they realized that he wasn't going to buy one of the oldest tricks in the book, but they always gave it a try anyway.
A tall, obviously-bleached blonde strode up to the cruiser. "Nothing, Officers," she smiled and her large, magenta lips revealed a row of perfectly white but crooked teeth "Just came out for a smoke."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that one. You cant 'smoke' here, though," he replied sarcastically. "Move up the street a ways—to 5th and Montgomery and I wont arrest you."
"Ok, officer. Whatever you say," she purred as she winked and walked away with the group, heels clicking and her purse wagging.
Ty chuckled next to him. "Hey, Sul, I think she liked you."
"Cute, Davis—I'm not in the mood."
************
Faith winced as she pulled off her over-shirt and vest, leaving her torso only covered by her thin tank top and exposing her bare arms to the chilly air. Good grief, they really needed to turn up the heat in the locker rooms. Bosco sat next to her on the cold metal bench, apparently oblivious to the drafty air as he pulled on his civvies.
He'd seemed okay today to Faith, maybe what she thought she saw the other night had been a figment of her imagination. He looked up at her briefly before bending down to tie his shoes. No—there it was again, that weary, haunted look. His facial expressions had remained the same as always, almost boyish; his eyes somewhat wide and the left corner of his mouth turned up slightly in his customary smirk. But his eyes had lost their sparkle.
The back door opened, ushering in another cold draft, then Sully and Ty. Faith pulled on her sweater as she felt goosebumps forming on her arms. Bosco straightened, finished his shoes, and gave them a sour glare.
"Hey, Sullivan - got your little present. The hookers were great fun; we spent an hour rounding them all up. Next time you try that, I'll kick your ass." He wagged his finger at Sully, threateningly.
Sully raised his eyebrows, feigning ignorance. "I don't know what you're talking about, Bosco." He pushed past Bosco and opened his locker, trying to hide a smile.
"Yeah, nice try, but I talked to the hookers. They didn't seem to want to leave my corner because they said some ugly, fat, decrepit old has-been told them they could stay there. I could only assume they meant you."
Faith rolled her eyes. Typical Bosco and Sully banter. They did this almost every day, each one trying to be wittier and have the best line.
"Well, at least I 'have' been, that's more than you can say for yourself." Sully shot back, getting slightly peeved.
"Oh, really? Well—"
"Hey, hey, listen guys," Ty cut in, always the peacekeeper. "Cut it out. Let's just…go home, get some sleep."
Faith smiled at Ty. She liked him; he was a good guy, had a level head on his shoulders. She had been partnered up with him a few times when Bosco and Sully were both off work or out of town. He was quiet in a nice way, only talking when he'd thought out what he was going to say. Not like her partner. Bosco had a mouth the size of Texas with an ego to match. Yes, it was definitely refreshing to work with Davis.
"Whatever. I'm outta here." Bosco gave Sully one last look, then turned to Faith. "You comin'?"
"Yeah." She pulled her winter coat on. "See you tomorrow, guys."
**********
Ty slowly drove his gray Geo Metro by the bar, searching for his partner's car. He spotted it parked unevenly, practically taking up two parking spaces. Sighing heavily, he pulled his car into the nearly empty lot and parked in the alley alongside of the building. This routine had become a habit the last few weeks. Go home, sleep a couple of hours, and then go pick up a drunken Sully. He didn't know why he did it, maybe because Sully was alone and needed to be looked after. Maybe because he felt responsible for his partner. Maybe because Sully was the closest thing he had to a father and he didn't want to lose him too. It didn't really matter why, he just did it.
He trudged through the snow and into the bar. The bar was empty, save a dejected figure sitting alone at the counter, a host of empty shot glasses set haphazardly in front of him. His arms were folded across his chest as he watched the bartender wipe off bottles of liquor and place them in their respective spots on the shelves.
He looked up as Ty walked across the room to stand beside him.
"What are you doing here, Davis?"
Good, Sully wasn't too drunk—he wasn't slurring his words and had actually remembered Ty's name.
"Hey, Sul. Just came by to give you a ride home." Ty noticed Sully's keys on the counter in front of him and quickly grabbed them up and stuffed them into his overcoat pocket.
"I don't need a ride home," he growled and turned his attention to the bartender. "Hey, Scotty, can I get another shot over here?"
The bartender looked at Ty and raised his eyebrow. Ty shook his head.
"Sorry, mate, bar's closed." The bartender returned to shelving bottles.
"Come on, Sully. Let's go home."
"No. Go away."
Ty was getting impatient. He was tired and cold and just wanted to get back home, not make this whole thing a two-hour ordeal. Normally, Sully came right along without a fight, but that was probably because he was usually a lot more drunk.
"Sul…let's go." He prompted again.
"Damn it, Davis!" Sully erupted, losing his temper, "Quit meddling with my life! Just stay out—go away! Leave me alone, I don't need you!"
That was the last straw. Ty clenched his jaw in frustration If that's what he wanted, Sully could drink himself away. Why the hell did he care so much anyway?
"Fine—you know what, Sul?" He paused emphatically. "I've had enough."
Shaking his head exasperatedly, Ty reached into his pocket and tossed Sully's keys back onto the counter. Ty knew Scotty would take the keys and call him a cab later. His angry footsteps echoed around the room as he stormed outside. When he opened the door, the frigid wind assaulted him, causing him to become even more irritated. 'Geez, it must be twenty below out here!' he figured crossly as he traipsed around the side of the building where he'd parked his car.
"Awww, shit!"
The dark alleyway was empty. His car was gone. Great.
Ty stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space and trying to decide what to do. He needed to call it in and file a report, but at the late, or rather early hour, not much would be done about it. He had two options. He could go inside and ask Sully to use his car, or he could walk the four blocks back to his apartment. He glanced back at the bar. He was way too mad to go back in there; he would walk. It wasn't that far anyway.
Fuming, he stuffed his gloved hands into his pockets and set off down the street.
**********
Faith took a sip of her Bloody Mary, relaxing as the smooth, spicy drink trickled down her throat. As they had left work to go home a couple of hours ago, Bosco had asked her to go get a drink with him and some of their friends form the firehouse. At first she had refused, not wanting to stay out late, but she had reluctantly agreed when he'd promised to buy. She hadn't had a drink in weeks and now she was glad he talked her into it.
She sat quietly, her eyes habitually wandering from face to face, watching people. Bosco had long since abandoned her at the counter and was talking, well rather, boasting to Jimmy Doherty as the two of them swapped work-related horror stories. Doc was sitting next to her at the counter, his face turned up to the wall-mounted TV, watching a recap of that night's Knicks game and absentmindedly popping peanuts into his mouth.
She smiled to herself. This seemed so right, so normal, and so different from the last few weeks of stress and abnormal events. For the first time in a while, Faith let herself unwind, soaking up the calm, ordinariness of the moment.
**********
The harsh wind bit forcefully at his cheeks as Ty tread wearily down the sidewalk. His stride was slow and cadenced, resigned. He typically would have been concerned about walking alone at night, especially on this side of town. But tonight he was more concerned with his partner's problems and his missing car.
He was so deep in thought that he wasn't attentive to his surroundings, or the Geo Metro quietly idling in the shadows across the street.
**********
He licked his dry lips as he watched the young officer plod down the dark, deserted street…alone. He could feel his heart beating, pulsing with anticipation. Everything was going exactly according to the plan. This was so perfect.
**********
TBC...;)
Chapter Twelve--
**********
If there was a bright side to a boring day, it was that instead of chasing criminals in the frigid weather, 55-Charlie got to sit in their warm cruiser. Unfortunately, that was the only bright side.
Sully, bored out of his mind, had spent the most part of the day deciding which bar he would later frequent. The enticing taste of alcohol was fresh on his mind, tempting his taste buds, causing him to long for his next fix. His partner had repeatedly asked him to stop drinking—but what the hell did Davis know? Geez, he was only a kid. And besides, it wasn't like he was a drunk or anything; he just liked a few beers to end his day. He deserved it.
He glanced at Ty, who was staring monotonously out the window, chewing a piece of gum rhythmically. Davis was a good kid, a little naive sometimes, but a good kid. At the very least, his eagerness to do his job correctly was admirable. Sully had decided long ago that his drive and dedication most likely stemmed from his father's premature death. Sully had been fortunate enough to be partnered up with one of the best cops in the precinct, Tyrone Davis, Sr., who was fatally shot years ago. Young Ty was so much like his father sometimes that it hurt to even look at him, reminding Sully that his best friend was gone forever. But now he had Davis Jr. for a partner and he was a good cop, trying to be fair and follow the rules even in his harsh and unforgiving work environment.
If the last week had been tough on Ty, he hadn't shown it. Still his obnoxiously optimistic self, he always showed up on time, ready to rid the city of crime, seemingly oblivious to the present danger of being a cop from the 55th.
Although he hid it well himself, the truth was that Sully was undeniably feeling apprehensive, concerned not only for himself and Ty, but also for his friends and coworkers. The day before yesterday, news of Gusler's death had shocked him and only helped to instill the constant uneasiness he felt. The nighttime hours, which before he had loved for the deep, black skies and tranquility of the sleeping city, were almost frightening to him. Too much could hide in the darkness.
His eyes roamed the nearly empty streets and settled on the small group of women just down the block.
"Com'on girls, it's below freezing—have a little respect for yourselves," he muttered as he watched a car pull up and open a door. Undignified as it was, the ladies of the night still had to eat and they would do just about anything, even if it meant almost freezing to death on a street corner.
Ty raised his brow, "You gonna pick them up, Sul?"
"Nahh, I'm just going to make them move down a bit, let Bosco handle them." As much as he despised seeing those women degrading themselves, he took no pleasure in dealing with them. Besides, he knew how much Bosco hated to clear the streets, and the mere thought of irking his obstinate, hotheaded comrade made him smirk. Oh, Bosco was going to be ticked.
He pulled the RMP up to the curb and watched as the ladies scattered a bit and a few lit cigarettes, trying to appear as if they were just out there for a smoke. It was an old bit, but Sully had been around the block a few times. He rolled down his window.
"Hey ladies, you want to tell me what you are doing out here?" It was almost a rhetorical question. He knew they realized that he wasn't going to buy one of the oldest tricks in the book, but they always gave it a try anyway.
A tall, obviously-bleached blonde strode up to the cruiser. "Nothing, Officers," she smiled and her large, magenta lips revealed a row of perfectly white but crooked teeth "Just came out for a smoke."
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that one. You cant 'smoke' here, though," he replied sarcastically. "Move up the street a ways—to 5th and Montgomery and I wont arrest you."
"Ok, officer. Whatever you say," she purred as she winked and walked away with the group, heels clicking and her purse wagging.
Ty chuckled next to him. "Hey, Sul, I think she liked you."
"Cute, Davis—I'm not in the mood."
************
Faith winced as she pulled off her over-shirt and vest, leaving her torso only covered by her thin tank top and exposing her bare arms to the chilly air. Good grief, they really needed to turn up the heat in the locker rooms. Bosco sat next to her on the cold metal bench, apparently oblivious to the drafty air as he pulled on his civvies.
He'd seemed okay today to Faith, maybe what she thought she saw the other night had been a figment of her imagination. He looked up at her briefly before bending down to tie his shoes. No—there it was again, that weary, haunted look. His facial expressions had remained the same as always, almost boyish; his eyes somewhat wide and the left corner of his mouth turned up slightly in his customary smirk. But his eyes had lost their sparkle.
The back door opened, ushering in another cold draft, then Sully and Ty. Faith pulled on her sweater as she felt goosebumps forming on her arms. Bosco straightened, finished his shoes, and gave them a sour glare.
"Hey, Sullivan - got your little present. The hookers were great fun; we spent an hour rounding them all up. Next time you try that, I'll kick your ass." He wagged his finger at Sully, threateningly.
Sully raised his eyebrows, feigning ignorance. "I don't know what you're talking about, Bosco." He pushed past Bosco and opened his locker, trying to hide a smile.
"Yeah, nice try, but I talked to the hookers. They didn't seem to want to leave my corner because they said some ugly, fat, decrepit old has-been told them they could stay there. I could only assume they meant you."
Faith rolled her eyes. Typical Bosco and Sully banter. They did this almost every day, each one trying to be wittier and have the best line.
"Well, at least I 'have' been, that's more than you can say for yourself." Sully shot back, getting slightly peeved.
"Oh, really? Well—"
"Hey, hey, listen guys," Ty cut in, always the peacekeeper. "Cut it out. Let's just…go home, get some sleep."
Faith smiled at Ty. She liked him; he was a good guy, had a level head on his shoulders. She had been partnered up with him a few times when Bosco and Sully were both off work or out of town. He was quiet in a nice way, only talking when he'd thought out what he was going to say. Not like her partner. Bosco had a mouth the size of Texas with an ego to match. Yes, it was definitely refreshing to work with Davis.
"Whatever. I'm outta here." Bosco gave Sully one last look, then turned to Faith. "You comin'?"
"Yeah." She pulled her winter coat on. "See you tomorrow, guys."
**********
Ty slowly drove his gray Geo Metro by the bar, searching for his partner's car. He spotted it parked unevenly, practically taking up two parking spaces. Sighing heavily, he pulled his car into the nearly empty lot and parked in the alley alongside of the building. This routine had become a habit the last few weeks. Go home, sleep a couple of hours, and then go pick up a drunken Sully. He didn't know why he did it, maybe because Sully was alone and needed to be looked after. Maybe because he felt responsible for his partner. Maybe because Sully was the closest thing he had to a father and he didn't want to lose him too. It didn't really matter why, he just did it.
He trudged through the snow and into the bar. The bar was empty, save a dejected figure sitting alone at the counter, a host of empty shot glasses set haphazardly in front of him. His arms were folded across his chest as he watched the bartender wipe off bottles of liquor and place them in their respective spots on the shelves.
He looked up as Ty walked across the room to stand beside him.
"What are you doing here, Davis?"
Good, Sully wasn't too drunk—he wasn't slurring his words and had actually remembered Ty's name.
"Hey, Sul. Just came by to give you a ride home." Ty noticed Sully's keys on the counter in front of him and quickly grabbed them up and stuffed them into his overcoat pocket.
"I don't need a ride home," he growled and turned his attention to the bartender. "Hey, Scotty, can I get another shot over here?"
The bartender looked at Ty and raised his eyebrow. Ty shook his head.
"Sorry, mate, bar's closed." The bartender returned to shelving bottles.
"Come on, Sully. Let's go home."
"No. Go away."
Ty was getting impatient. He was tired and cold and just wanted to get back home, not make this whole thing a two-hour ordeal. Normally, Sully came right along without a fight, but that was probably because he was usually a lot more drunk.
"Sul…let's go." He prompted again.
"Damn it, Davis!" Sully erupted, losing his temper, "Quit meddling with my life! Just stay out—go away! Leave me alone, I don't need you!"
That was the last straw. Ty clenched his jaw in frustration If that's what he wanted, Sully could drink himself away. Why the hell did he care so much anyway?
"Fine—you know what, Sul?" He paused emphatically. "I've had enough."
Shaking his head exasperatedly, Ty reached into his pocket and tossed Sully's keys back onto the counter. Ty knew Scotty would take the keys and call him a cab later. His angry footsteps echoed around the room as he stormed outside. When he opened the door, the frigid wind assaulted him, causing him to become even more irritated. 'Geez, it must be twenty below out here!' he figured crossly as he traipsed around the side of the building where he'd parked his car.
"Awww, shit!"
The dark alleyway was empty. His car was gone. Great.
Ty stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space and trying to decide what to do. He needed to call it in and file a report, but at the late, or rather early hour, not much would be done about it. He had two options. He could go inside and ask Sully to use his car, or he could walk the four blocks back to his apartment. He glanced back at the bar. He was way too mad to go back in there; he would walk. It wasn't that far anyway.
Fuming, he stuffed his gloved hands into his pockets and set off down the street.
**********
Faith took a sip of her Bloody Mary, relaxing as the smooth, spicy drink trickled down her throat. As they had left work to go home a couple of hours ago, Bosco had asked her to go get a drink with him and some of their friends form the firehouse. At first she had refused, not wanting to stay out late, but she had reluctantly agreed when he'd promised to buy. She hadn't had a drink in weeks and now she was glad he talked her into it.
She sat quietly, her eyes habitually wandering from face to face, watching people. Bosco had long since abandoned her at the counter and was talking, well rather, boasting to Jimmy Doherty as the two of them swapped work-related horror stories. Doc was sitting next to her at the counter, his face turned up to the wall-mounted TV, watching a recap of that night's Knicks game and absentmindedly popping peanuts into his mouth.
She smiled to herself. This seemed so right, so normal, and so different from the last few weeks of stress and abnormal events. For the first time in a while, Faith let herself unwind, soaking up the calm, ordinariness of the moment.
**********
The harsh wind bit forcefully at his cheeks as Ty tread wearily down the sidewalk. His stride was slow and cadenced, resigned. He typically would have been concerned about walking alone at night, especially on this side of town. But tonight he was more concerned with his partner's problems and his missing car.
He was so deep in thought that he wasn't attentive to his surroundings, or the Geo Metro quietly idling in the shadows across the street.
**********
He licked his dry lips as he watched the young officer plod down the dark, deserted street…alone. He could feel his heart beating, pulsing with anticipation. Everything was going exactly according to the plan. This was so perfect.
**********
TBC...;)