I forgot to mention that I don't own the Gunsmith Cats and all that other
legal stuff. So don't sue me from anything! The items such as places and
characters to not belong to me and I don't claim them. I do however claim
my characters.
Episode Two
Unraveling Plans
Rally yawned as she headed down the stairs. She went to stretch her arms but suddenly remembered her wound through a slight pain shooting up her arm. She put her arms back down and finished walking down the stairs. Oddly, May was already up and stirring in the kitchen. Rally walked down the dark hallway then entered into the lit kitchen. "May, what are you doing up?"
May turned around from the counter holding a cup of coffee. She shrugged her shoulders then looked to the ground. "Couldn't sleep." She set the cup down on the counter and walked over to the cabinet.
Rally picked up May's cup of coffee and took a drink. "Hmmm...that's good."
May spun around. "HEY! That's mine!"
"Sorry, little girls don't drink coffee!" Rally took another slip.
"Rally!" May jumped up and down trying to get her cup back from Rally. "Give it back! Now! I mean it! Rally! I'm not a kid anymore!"
Rally laughed as she played keep away from May.
"GIVE ME MY COFFEE! NOW!" May screamed.
Rally put the cup down. "Geeze, the caffeine's made you a little edgy!"
May snatched her cup back and took a drink. "I need it." She then took a seat at the kitchen table.
Rally walked over to the refrigerator. "So where's Becky?" She opened it and stooped over to look inside.
"She went home last night. Around one, I think." May leaned over to her side to look at Rally and the refrigerator. "What, you thinking about cooking something?"
"Not on your life!" Rally stood up and shut the door. "Besides, there's no food in there anyway. Not unless you want C-4 for breakfast." She placed her hand on her stomach. "Man, I'm hungry."
"There's rice on the stove."
Rally gave May a sour face. "You know, I'm really sick of Chinese food."
"Well, I'm sick and tired of eating pizza all the time!"
Rally turned back to the refrigerator and opened it up. "At least there's extra pizza from lunch yesterday." She grabbed the box and tossed it onto the table. To lazy to actually use the microwave, Rally opened the box and started eating the cold pizza.
"How's your arm?"
"Just a flesh wound. Nothing serious."
May shook her head. "Nothing serious? Rally, you could have died last night. That doesn't sound like nothing serious to me."
"What is with you people? I'm fine! I'm alive, aren't I?" Rally barked.
May looked down and stared into her coffee cup. "But maybe next time you won't be," May solemnly said.
Rally shook her head in disgust. "You people worry to much."
The telephone started ringing.
"What time is it?" Rally asked.
"It's only seven."
"I don't wanna get it." Rally slouched in her chair.
"Right, we'll just let the machine answer it."
Five rings went by then the machine picked up. "Rally...Rally...are you there...Rally...It's Harry...Are you okay...Rally...Pick up, Rally...I just want to know if you're okay...Rally...it's me...Harry...pick up..."
Rally groaned. "Why in the world is he calling me at seven in the stinking morning!" She screamed.
"He's just worried about you, that's all. It's good to know that a man cares about you, Rally."
"Oh, shut up!"
Rally and May spent most of the morning watching television and lounging around the living room in pajamas. They currently were watching the hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leaves.
"Rally?"
"Yeah?"
"This game is boring."
"Yeah, I know."
"Change the channel."
"I don't wanna get up."
"Uh..."
Rally sat up. "Actually, I should call Becky."
May sat up also. "What for?"
"I need information about what happened last night." Rally got up off the couch and went into the kitchen. She dialed Becky's number and waited.
"Hello."
"Becky. I need a favor."
"What is it this time, Rally?"
"I need the police details on the explosion last night."
"I suppose I could do that. But, are you gonna pay me this time?"
"Why you little...!" Rally clenched the phone cord. "Is that all you ever think about is money?"
"When it's my job I do! You owe me for information on the last three cases. I don't see why I should help you now."
"Cause if you don't, I'll send May to live with you!" Rally hissed.
"Hey!" May yelled from the living room.
"Fine, Rally. I'll be over in an hour or two."
"That's what I thought." Rally hung up the phone. She first went to the refrigerator to get a Pepsi. After that, she went back into the living room. She jumped onto the couch next to May.
"What'd Becky have to say?"
"Nothing much...the little weasel!" Rally spat.
The phone rang again. Five times then the answering machine picked up the message. "Rally...Rally Vincent...Are you home...Rally...answer me...please...pick up the phone...Rally...I miss you, Rally...please..."
"Awe, isn't that cute!" May exclaimed.
Rally screamed. "HE'S BEEN CALLING EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR SINCE SEVEN! HE'S CALLED 5 TIMES ALREADY! HOW IS THAT CUTE!"
"Rally...please...I really think you and I had something...please...I'm worried about you...Is your arm okay...Rally...Rally...Rally..."
"THAT'S IT!" Rally reached down to the coffee table where her beloved CZ-75 rested, and she snatched it up in her hand. She then pointed it at the answering machine and fired.
The answering machine blew into pieces and fell to the ground. It sounded goofy and distorted. "Rrrraaaallllllllyyyy...pppllleeeaaasssee...aannsswweerr...ttth..." Suddenly, the sound stopped, and the machine died.
"Ah," Rally breathed, completely relieved.
"Rally!" May hissed. "What'd you go and do that for! That was a perfectly good answering machine!"
"Yeah, well, I was sick of him calling!" Rally spat. "Plus," Rally smirked. "It was a really good shot too."
"You really need some anger management! Geeze!"
Just as she promised, Becky stopped by within an hour and a half with her computer and printed out papers. The three of them gathered around the coffee table in the living room and looked at Becky's computer.
"So what'd ya find, Becky?" May asked.
"Hey, May, get me a soda," Rally said while staring at the computer screen. "What's that mean?"
"It means..." Becky started.
"Hey! Do I look like your slave, Rally?"
"Just go, May!"
May moaned and headed off into the kitchen.
Becky adjusted her glasses. "Those are just serial numbers."
"Oh," Rally flopped back onto the couch. "So tell me the gist of what you found, Becky."
"Fine. But you gotta promise to pay me this time!"
"Fine! Geeze!"
"Well, the explosion took place at Mario's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant on February 14, 1995 at 7:58 PM. The owner of the restaurant is Mario Vanzetti Sr. along with his wife, Maria Vanzetti. Their son, Mario Vanzetti Jr. was shot and killed by a gang of five men. The only one caught was Michael De Luca."
"Who were the witnesses?" Rally asked.
"Let's see here," Becky uttered while typing. "Uh, Anna Vanzetti, the wife of Mario Vanzetti Jr., Matthew Vanzetti, their son. Mario Vanzetti Sr. and his wife Maria, the parents of Mario Vanzetti Jr. Then there's Ashley Talbot, Jacob Sanders, Lucas Johnson, Susan Johnson, Alex Johnson, you, and Harry."
"What about the wounded list?"
May walked back into the living room, and handed sodas to Rally and Becky. She then opened up her own Pepsi and focused on the computer screen.
"Uh, just a sec...here..." Becky used her computer mouse and opened a folder of the desktop. "Um, the wounded were Matthew Vanzetti with a broken arm, Susan Johnson with glass shards, Rally Vincent with a shot wound, and Anna Vanzetti with a shot wound. The only homicide was Mario Vanzetti Jr."
"Well, it appeared that the only person those guys were after were that Mario Vanzetti Jr. guy." Rally thought for a moment.
"What do you think it all means, Rally?" May asked.
"I don't know. It doesn't make sense." Rally shook her head and thought hard. "The guy just worked at a pizza place. Why would anyone want to kill him?"
"Are there any connections, Becky? What do the Police have to say?"
"Well, I cracked into the Police data bank. I found a little side note in their files that they're drawing some kind of connection to ethnicity. Apparently, both the Vanzetti family and Michael De Luca are 1st or 2nd generation Italian immigrants."
"So what's that supposed to mean?" Rally asked.
Becky sighed. "What major crime organization is run by Italians?"
"The Olive Garden?" May asked.
Rally cast a strange look at May. "What is wrong with you?"
"Try the Mafia, May," Becky said.
"Forget about it!" May said in her Italian, accent impression.
Rally shook her head then turned to Becky. "What about Michael De Luca's record. Can you bring up the file?"
"Bingo! That was my next point. He has been arrested before and has been affiliated with the Mafia. Never for anything this big though. We have strong arm robbery, DUI, and selling alcohol to minors, but nothing else."
"Maybe he's never been caught for anything else," May said.
The telephone starting ringing again.
Rally screamed. "NOT AGAIN!"
"What's wrong?" Becky asked.
"Rally's boyfriend keeps calling," May giggled as she headed toward the kitchen.
"Oooo, Rally's boyfriend?"
"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"
May started to reach for the phone.
"DON'T YOU DARE!"
May picked it up anyway. "Hello."
Rally groaned.
"Rally. It's for you."
Rally shot a dirty look at May. "It's the Chicago Police Department." May extended her arm to give Rally the phone. "They need to talk to you." The expression on Rally's face lightened up. She walked over to May and took the phone. "Hello?" "Hello, Ma'am this is John Watts with the Chicago Police Department. We request that you come down to the station for questioning." "Sure. I'll be right over in a few minutes." "Thank you." "What'd they want, Rally?" May asked.
Rally hung up the phone. "They want me for questioning about the case. I'm gonna hop in the shower quick."
"Can I come to the station too?"
"NO!"
May folded her arms. "No fair!"
"Why do you wanna come anyway? It's not like they're gonna ask you anything." Rally gulped the rest of her Pepsi.
"Well, I was thinking..."
"What?" Rally sternly questioned.
"If you see Devin Park again, you could ask him out..."
"NO MORE DATES, MAY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!" Rally hollered. "I'M GETTING REAL SICK OF THIS!"
"But, Rally!"
Rally moaned then ran upstairs.
"Geeze!"
Becky laughed. "May, give her a break. Rally likes to do things her own way. And besides, she's got plenty of time. She's only nineteen."
"Yeah, but it's just so much fun to see Rally with somebody."
Becky shrugged then smiled. "Yeah, I know. It's so much fun to hassle her about all this stuff."
Rally, dressed in her black skirt and gold jacket, walked into the Chicago Police Station. She waltzed right in, knowing exactly where she was going, and headed up to the third floor. She rode the elevator up, got up off her stop, and headed to the right. She headed down the long, white hallway towards the office of Roy Coleman, a good friend of hers that she commonly did business with.
"Rally!"
Rally spun around to find the voice that called her. "Agent Park," She muttered once she saw it was Devin.
He walked right up to her dressed in fine clothes again. He dressed more like a rich lawyer rather than a police officer. Today he wore shiny black shoes, grey suit pants, a white shirt, with a matching grey vest to the pants, and a black tie again. He smiled confidently. "Just call me Devin."
"Uh, hi...Devin..." Rally uttered.
"So what are you doing here?"
"I was called down for questioning."
"Oh, I see. Say, would you like a tour."
"No thanks. I've seen the whole building pretty much. I know Roy Coleman, as I said. As a matter of fact, is he in today?"
"No, it's his day off."
"Darn." She sighed deeply. "Hmmm...I needed a favor."
"Maybe I can help?" He took a step toward Rally. Then half smiling half smirking, he rested his hand against the wall to support himself.
"I don't think you can." Rally turned her face away from Devin. "I don't think you've got that kind of power around here."
Devin looked sour. He stood up straight. "Now just wait a minute. I've got plenty of power around here. Why don't you just try me?"
"Well, I was wondering if I could see Michael De Luca in his cell. But I suppose you don't have that kind of authority to give, now do you?"
"Excuse me?" Devin said smirking and holding up a ring of keys. He fished through the keys and found a shiny gold colored one. "I believe this is what you're looking for." Devin turned back towards the way he came from and started walking. "Follow me. It's down here."
"Okay." Rally smiled. "Men are so arrogant! It gets them every time!" Rally thought to herself as she smirked.
Devin walked a long ways down the white hall. Rally took a whiff of the air; it smelled like industrial cleaner. Most of the lights were off in the hallway only leaving natural light shining through the blinders on the windows.
"So what do you do for a living?" Devin asked.
"I own a store," Rally plainly said, not feeling too talkative at the moment.
"How old are you?
"Twenty-one."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Nothing."
Devin looked over at her and smirked. "You do play hard to get, don't you?"
"Excuse me?"
"I asked Roy about you. He says you're as tough as nails and ornery to boot. Nothing I can't handle though." Devin smirked again.
Rally shot a dirty look at him. "Am I supposed to be flattered or something?"
Devin walked into an all-white, steel room. "Well, anyway, here's the lock up."
"What his cell number?"
"Eight."
Rally walked down the white hallway. She stopped at cell 8 and stepped up on her toes. She looked in through the window. "Oh, my God!"
"What?" Devin asked.
"Open the cell! There's something wrong with him!"
Devin ran over to the cell door and quickly unlocked it. He slid open the steel door and ran in right behind Rally.
"Hurry, get him up! Now!"
Devin stood there. "There's no use. He's dead."
The two looked down and gazed. The man, Michael De Luca, took his bedsheet wrapped it around his neck and flushed the other end down the toilet.
"Suicide?" Rally questioned in shock.
"Apparently. It's just like hanging yourself. There's no way we'll be able to get that sheet out of that toilet now."
Rally took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She turned away from the body feeling too overwhelmed at the moment.
"I'll radio for back up." He pulled out his radio and stepped out of the cell.
Rally opened her eyes and looked back at the lifeless body on the ground. "Why would he do that?" She wondered to herself. "He hadn't even been sentenced yet. Rally sighed from the burden of a troubled mind.
"Suicide?" May asked.
"Yeah, that's what Devin said." Rally sat on the couch and clenched onto a pillow. She sighed and buried her face into the pillow.
"I wonder what would drive him to do that?" Becky said.
"I don't know." Rally looked up. "A lot of things don't make sense here. Whoever is in charge of their operation is way too flamboyant about doing business also. First an explosion then a homicide."
"But I thought it was a suicide," May said.
"No, I think there's more that what meets the eye. Something just doesn't seem right. Maybe, it's just me, but something is going on, and we have to get to the bottom of it. Becky, I'll need more information."
"You're taking up the case?" Becky asked.
"You bet."
"But your arm hasn't even healed yet!" May exclaimed.
"So what?"
"So what! You could get hurt or something!"
Rally smirked. "I'll manage."
Becky turned off her computer. "It's getting late. You guys want to get some dinner?"
"Nah, I'm tired," Rally said. "Besides, there's leftover Taco Bell in the fridge."
"Maybe I shouldn't let you pay me. You need to buy some groceries!" Becky exclaimed.
"Fine, it's a deal!" Rally smiled.
"Rally!"
The three sat silent for a few moments. It was extremely quiet in the house. The only sound that they heard was a car driving by.
"Know it, Ral?"
Rally pondered for a moment. "Uh...1995 Dodge Caravan."
Becky shook her head. "That's just sick, Rally. I think you need some professional help."
They sat for a few more minutes waiting for the next car to come by.
"How about that one?"
"Hmmm...1974 Ford Pinto..." Rally uttered. She thought for a moment and then her eyes bulged. "1974 FORD PINTO! HARRY! HIDE ME!" Rally jumped over the back of the couch. "May, get the lights!"
May ran over to the light switch and flipped them just as Harry parked the car on the street. Becky flipped down her laptop computer and ducked in-between the couch and the coffee table.
Knock...Knock...Knock. "Rally? It's me, Harry. Harry Briscoe. Are you there? Open up! I just want to know if you're okay! Rally!"
May giggled on the floor.
"May!" Rally barked under her breath. "Shut up!"
"Rally! Please come to the door! Rally!"
Episode Two
Unraveling Plans
Rally yawned as she headed down the stairs. She went to stretch her arms but suddenly remembered her wound through a slight pain shooting up her arm. She put her arms back down and finished walking down the stairs. Oddly, May was already up and stirring in the kitchen. Rally walked down the dark hallway then entered into the lit kitchen. "May, what are you doing up?"
May turned around from the counter holding a cup of coffee. She shrugged her shoulders then looked to the ground. "Couldn't sleep." She set the cup down on the counter and walked over to the cabinet.
Rally picked up May's cup of coffee and took a drink. "Hmmm...that's good."
May spun around. "HEY! That's mine!"
"Sorry, little girls don't drink coffee!" Rally took another slip.
"Rally!" May jumped up and down trying to get her cup back from Rally. "Give it back! Now! I mean it! Rally! I'm not a kid anymore!"
Rally laughed as she played keep away from May.
"GIVE ME MY COFFEE! NOW!" May screamed.
Rally put the cup down. "Geeze, the caffeine's made you a little edgy!"
May snatched her cup back and took a drink. "I need it." She then took a seat at the kitchen table.
Rally walked over to the refrigerator. "So where's Becky?" She opened it and stooped over to look inside.
"She went home last night. Around one, I think." May leaned over to her side to look at Rally and the refrigerator. "What, you thinking about cooking something?"
"Not on your life!" Rally stood up and shut the door. "Besides, there's no food in there anyway. Not unless you want C-4 for breakfast." She placed her hand on her stomach. "Man, I'm hungry."
"There's rice on the stove."
Rally gave May a sour face. "You know, I'm really sick of Chinese food."
"Well, I'm sick and tired of eating pizza all the time!"
Rally turned back to the refrigerator and opened it up. "At least there's extra pizza from lunch yesterday." She grabbed the box and tossed it onto the table. To lazy to actually use the microwave, Rally opened the box and started eating the cold pizza.
"How's your arm?"
"Just a flesh wound. Nothing serious."
May shook her head. "Nothing serious? Rally, you could have died last night. That doesn't sound like nothing serious to me."
"What is with you people? I'm fine! I'm alive, aren't I?" Rally barked.
May looked down and stared into her coffee cup. "But maybe next time you won't be," May solemnly said.
Rally shook her head in disgust. "You people worry to much."
The telephone started ringing.
"What time is it?" Rally asked.
"It's only seven."
"I don't wanna get it." Rally slouched in her chair.
"Right, we'll just let the machine answer it."
Five rings went by then the machine picked up. "Rally...Rally...are you there...Rally...It's Harry...Are you okay...Rally...Pick up, Rally...I just want to know if you're okay...Rally...it's me...Harry...pick up..."
Rally groaned. "Why in the world is he calling me at seven in the stinking morning!" She screamed.
"He's just worried about you, that's all. It's good to know that a man cares about you, Rally."
"Oh, shut up!"
Rally and May spent most of the morning watching television and lounging around the living room in pajamas. They currently were watching the hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leaves.
"Rally?"
"Yeah?"
"This game is boring."
"Yeah, I know."
"Change the channel."
"I don't wanna get up."
"Uh..."
Rally sat up. "Actually, I should call Becky."
May sat up also. "What for?"
"I need information about what happened last night." Rally got up off the couch and went into the kitchen. She dialed Becky's number and waited.
"Hello."
"Becky. I need a favor."
"What is it this time, Rally?"
"I need the police details on the explosion last night."
"I suppose I could do that. But, are you gonna pay me this time?"
"Why you little...!" Rally clenched the phone cord. "Is that all you ever think about is money?"
"When it's my job I do! You owe me for information on the last three cases. I don't see why I should help you now."
"Cause if you don't, I'll send May to live with you!" Rally hissed.
"Hey!" May yelled from the living room.
"Fine, Rally. I'll be over in an hour or two."
"That's what I thought." Rally hung up the phone. She first went to the refrigerator to get a Pepsi. After that, she went back into the living room. She jumped onto the couch next to May.
"What'd Becky have to say?"
"Nothing much...the little weasel!" Rally spat.
The phone rang again. Five times then the answering machine picked up the message. "Rally...Rally Vincent...Are you home...Rally...answer me...please...pick up the phone...Rally...I miss you, Rally...please..."
"Awe, isn't that cute!" May exclaimed.
Rally screamed. "HE'S BEEN CALLING EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR SINCE SEVEN! HE'S CALLED 5 TIMES ALREADY! HOW IS THAT CUTE!"
"Rally...please...I really think you and I had something...please...I'm worried about you...Is your arm okay...Rally...Rally...Rally..."
"THAT'S IT!" Rally reached down to the coffee table where her beloved CZ-75 rested, and she snatched it up in her hand. She then pointed it at the answering machine and fired.
The answering machine blew into pieces and fell to the ground. It sounded goofy and distorted. "Rrrraaaallllllllyyyy...pppllleeeaaasssee...aannsswweerr...ttth..." Suddenly, the sound stopped, and the machine died.
"Ah," Rally breathed, completely relieved.
"Rally!" May hissed. "What'd you go and do that for! That was a perfectly good answering machine!"
"Yeah, well, I was sick of him calling!" Rally spat. "Plus," Rally smirked. "It was a really good shot too."
"You really need some anger management! Geeze!"
Just as she promised, Becky stopped by within an hour and a half with her computer and printed out papers. The three of them gathered around the coffee table in the living room and looked at Becky's computer.
"So what'd ya find, Becky?" May asked.
"Hey, May, get me a soda," Rally said while staring at the computer screen. "What's that mean?"
"It means..." Becky started.
"Hey! Do I look like your slave, Rally?"
"Just go, May!"
May moaned and headed off into the kitchen.
Becky adjusted her glasses. "Those are just serial numbers."
"Oh," Rally flopped back onto the couch. "So tell me the gist of what you found, Becky."
"Fine. But you gotta promise to pay me this time!"
"Fine! Geeze!"
"Well, the explosion took place at Mario's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant on February 14, 1995 at 7:58 PM. The owner of the restaurant is Mario Vanzetti Sr. along with his wife, Maria Vanzetti. Their son, Mario Vanzetti Jr. was shot and killed by a gang of five men. The only one caught was Michael De Luca."
"Who were the witnesses?" Rally asked.
"Let's see here," Becky uttered while typing. "Uh, Anna Vanzetti, the wife of Mario Vanzetti Jr., Matthew Vanzetti, their son. Mario Vanzetti Sr. and his wife Maria, the parents of Mario Vanzetti Jr. Then there's Ashley Talbot, Jacob Sanders, Lucas Johnson, Susan Johnson, Alex Johnson, you, and Harry."
"What about the wounded list?"
May walked back into the living room, and handed sodas to Rally and Becky. She then opened up her own Pepsi and focused on the computer screen.
"Uh, just a sec...here..." Becky used her computer mouse and opened a folder of the desktop. "Um, the wounded were Matthew Vanzetti with a broken arm, Susan Johnson with glass shards, Rally Vincent with a shot wound, and Anna Vanzetti with a shot wound. The only homicide was Mario Vanzetti Jr."
"Well, it appeared that the only person those guys were after were that Mario Vanzetti Jr. guy." Rally thought for a moment.
"What do you think it all means, Rally?" May asked.
"I don't know. It doesn't make sense." Rally shook her head and thought hard. "The guy just worked at a pizza place. Why would anyone want to kill him?"
"Are there any connections, Becky? What do the Police have to say?"
"Well, I cracked into the Police data bank. I found a little side note in their files that they're drawing some kind of connection to ethnicity. Apparently, both the Vanzetti family and Michael De Luca are 1st or 2nd generation Italian immigrants."
"So what's that supposed to mean?" Rally asked.
Becky sighed. "What major crime organization is run by Italians?"
"The Olive Garden?" May asked.
Rally cast a strange look at May. "What is wrong with you?"
"Try the Mafia, May," Becky said.
"Forget about it!" May said in her Italian, accent impression.
Rally shook her head then turned to Becky. "What about Michael De Luca's record. Can you bring up the file?"
"Bingo! That was my next point. He has been arrested before and has been affiliated with the Mafia. Never for anything this big though. We have strong arm robbery, DUI, and selling alcohol to minors, but nothing else."
"Maybe he's never been caught for anything else," May said.
The telephone starting ringing again.
Rally screamed. "NOT AGAIN!"
"What's wrong?" Becky asked.
"Rally's boyfriend keeps calling," May giggled as she headed toward the kitchen.
"Oooo, Rally's boyfriend?"
"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"
May started to reach for the phone.
"DON'T YOU DARE!"
May picked it up anyway. "Hello."
Rally groaned.
"Rally. It's for you."
Rally shot a dirty look at May. "It's the Chicago Police Department." May extended her arm to give Rally the phone. "They need to talk to you." The expression on Rally's face lightened up. She walked over to May and took the phone. "Hello?" "Hello, Ma'am this is John Watts with the Chicago Police Department. We request that you come down to the station for questioning." "Sure. I'll be right over in a few minutes." "Thank you." "What'd they want, Rally?" May asked.
Rally hung up the phone. "They want me for questioning about the case. I'm gonna hop in the shower quick."
"Can I come to the station too?"
"NO!"
May folded her arms. "No fair!"
"Why do you wanna come anyway? It's not like they're gonna ask you anything." Rally gulped the rest of her Pepsi.
"Well, I was thinking..."
"What?" Rally sternly questioned.
"If you see Devin Park again, you could ask him out..."
"NO MORE DATES, MAY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!" Rally hollered. "I'M GETTING REAL SICK OF THIS!"
"But, Rally!"
Rally moaned then ran upstairs.
"Geeze!"
Becky laughed. "May, give her a break. Rally likes to do things her own way. And besides, she's got plenty of time. She's only nineteen."
"Yeah, but it's just so much fun to see Rally with somebody."
Becky shrugged then smiled. "Yeah, I know. It's so much fun to hassle her about all this stuff."
Rally, dressed in her black skirt and gold jacket, walked into the Chicago Police Station. She waltzed right in, knowing exactly where she was going, and headed up to the third floor. She rode the elevator up, got up off her stop, and headed to the right. She headed down the long, white hallway towards the office of Roy Coleman, a good friend of hers that she commonly did business with.
"Rally!"
Rally spun around to find the voice that called her. "Agent Park," She muttered once she saw it was Devin.
He walked right up to her dressed in fine clothes again. He dressed more like a rich lawyer rather than a police officer. Today he wore shiny black shoes, grey suit pants, a white shirt, with a matching grey vest to the pants, and a black tie again. He smiled confidently. "Just call me Devin."
"Uh, hi...Devin..." Rally uttered.
"So what are you doing here?"
"I was called down for questioning."
"Oh, I see. Say, would you like a tour."
"No thanks. I've seen the whole building pretty much. I know Roy Coleman, as I said. As a matter of fact, is he in today?"
"No, it's his day off."
"Darn." She sighed deeply. "Hmmm...I needed a favor."
"Maybe I can help?" He took a step toward Rally. Then half smiling half smirking, he rested his hand against the wall to support himself.
"I don't think you can." Rally turned her face away from Devin. "I don't think you've got that kind of power around here."
Devin looked sour. He stood up straight. "Now just wait a minute. I've got plenty of power around here. Why don't you just try me?"
"Well, I was wondering if I could see Michael De Luca in his cell. But I suppose you don't have that kind of authority to give, now do you?"
"Excuse me?" Devin said smirking and holding up a ring of keys. He fished through the keys and found a shiny gold colored one. "I believe this is what you're looking for." Devin turned back towards the way he came from and started walking. "Follow me. It's down here."
"Okay." Rally smiled. "Men are so arrogant! It gets them every time!" Rally thought to herself as she smirked.
Devin walked a long ways down the white hall. Rally took a whiff of the air; it smelled like industrial cleaner. Most of the lights were off in the hallway only leaving natural light shining through the blinders on the windows.
"So what do you do for a living?" Devin asked.
"I own a store," Rally plainly said, not feeling too talkative at the moment.
"How old are you?
"Twenty-one."
"What do you do for fun?"
"Nothing."
Devin looked over at her and smirked. "You do play hard to get, don't you?"
"Excuse me?"
"I asked Roy about you. He says you're as tough as nails and ornery to boot. Nothing I can't handle though." Devin smirked again.
Rally shot a dirty look at him. "Am I supposed to be flattered or something?"
Devin walked into an all-white, steel room. "Well, anyway, here's the lock up."
"What his cell number?"
"Eight."
Rally walked down the white hallway. She stopped at cell 8 and stepped up on her toes. She looked in through the window. "Oh, my God!"
"What?" Devin asked.
"Open the cell! There's something wrong with him!"
Devin ran over to the cell door and quickly unlocked it. He slid open the steel door and ran in right behind Rally.
"Hurry, get him up! Now!"
Devin stood there. "There's no use. He's dead."
The two looked down and gazed. The man, Michael De Luca, took his bedsheet wrapped it around his neck and flushed the other end down the toilet.
"Suicide?" Rally questioned in shock.
"Apparently. It's just like hanging yourself. There's no way we'll be able to get that sheet out of that toilet now."
Rally took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She turned away from the body feeling too overwhelmed at the moment.
"I'll radio for back up." He pulled out his radio and stepped out of the cell.
Rally opened her eyes and looked back at the lifeless body on the ground. "Why would he do that?" She wondered to herself. "He hadn't even been sentenced yet. Rally sighed from the burden of a troubled mind.
"Suicide?" May asked.
"Yeah, that's what Devin said." Rally sat on the couch and clenched onto a pillow. She sighed and buried her face into the pillow.
"I wonder what would drive him to do that?" Becky said.
"I don't know." Rally looked up. "A lot of things don't make sense here. Whoever is in charge of their operation is way too flamboyant about doing business also. First an explosion then a homicide."
"But I thought it was a suicide," May said.
"No, I think there's more that what meets the eye. Something just doesn't seem right. Maybe, it's just me, but something is going on, and we have to get to the bottom of it. Becky, I'll need more information."
"You're taking up the case?" Becky asked.
"You bet."
"But your arm hasn't even healed yet!" May exclaimed.
"So what?"
"So what! You could get hurt or something!"
Rally smirked. "I'll manage."
Becky turned off her computer. "It's getting late. You guys want to get some dinner?"
"Nah, I'm tired," Rally said. "Besides, there's leftover Taco Bell in the fridge."
"Maybe I shouldn't let you pay me. You need to buy some groceries!" Becky exclaimed.
"Fine, it's a deal!" Rally smiled.
"Rally!"
The three sat silent for a few moments. It was extremely quiet in the house. The only sound that they heard was a car driving by.
"Know it, Ral?"
Rally pondered for a moment. "Uh...1995 Dodge Caravan."
Becky shook her head. "That's just sick, Rally. I think you need some professional help."
They sat for a few more minutes waiting for the next car to come by.
"How about that one?"
"Hmmm...1974 Ford Pinto..." Rally uttered. She thought for a moment and then her eyes bulged. "1974 FORD PINTO! HARRY! HIDE ME!" Rally jumped over the back of the couch. "May, get the lights!"
May ran over to the light switch and flipped them just as Harry parked the car on the street. Becky flipped down her laptop computer and ducked in-between the couch and the coffee table.
Knock...Knock...Knock. "Rally? It's me, Harry. Harry Briscoe. Are you there? Open up! I just want to know if you're okay! Rally!"
May giggled on the floor.
"May!" Rally barked under her breath. "Shut up!"
"Rally! Please come to the door! Rally!"