Crash and Burn
Chapter 3 – A Pyrrhic Victory
The uneasiness between them continued for the next few days as the Goldsmith kidnapping story continued to be of major interest to the general public. The precinct was flooded with calls from various television networks who wanted Ryo to appear with Henry Goldsmith so the millionaire could publicly thank the man who had supposedly saved his family; a sure-fire ratings winner they knew. As well as the phone calls came the letters; hundreds of them ranging from those wanting to say 'well done' to those of a more intimate nature, written no doubt after seeing Ryo's handsome face on every television show and newspaper. Ryo was deeply embarrassed by the whole thing but felt obliged to read these missives, knowing people had taken the trouble to write to him although he usually did it when Dee was out the office to prevent it looking like he was rubbing the other man's nose in it. Dee was now managing without his crutches although he had grudgingly decided to keep using the brace in the hope that the extra support would speed up the healing process.
On the third day as Dee left the office to use the photocopier on the other side of the building, Ryo reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a handful of the latest letters he had received that morning. The first one was from an elderly lady who thanked Ryo for 'making New York city a safer place to be'; the second was highly suggestive and ended with a telephone number which the lady writer begged Ryo to ring if he wanted some 'good and tender loving', causing the recipient to blush profusely. The third letter was in a plain brown envelope and, unusually, was not hand written like the others. Frowning slightly, Ryo began to read.
Dear Detective,
Thanks for fucking up our plans. Now we won't get paid. I read your comments that we obviously 'weren't particularly skilled' and now I feel the need to show you you're wrong; kidnapping is easy as I'm sure you'll find out.
Watch your back Detective. You may live to regret those words.
The letter wasn't signed off, not that Ryo expected it to be and he was still frowning over it when Dee returned, having forgot his pass for the copier. "Reading more from your adoring fans?" Dee snapped as he eyed the letter in Ryo's hands.
"What?" Ryo replied, haven't not seen Dee come back in. "Oh Dee, what d'you make of this?"
Dee paused for a moment, unsure he wanted to read some sappy letter from another lovesick fan, but the expression on Ryo's face told him there was more to it than mere sycophantic rambling. Taking the typewritten piece of paper from Ryo's hands he read over it several times, his own expression darkening at the words.
"D'you think it's a joke?" Ryo asked hopefully, watching Dee carefully for his reaction.
"Possibly," the other man replied, "But I don't think you should be taking any chances, just in case." As he finished the sentence, Commissioner Rose entered, immediately noting his detectives' serious expressions. "Is there a problem?" he asked automatically coming to stand near Ryo as he studied the handsome blond appreciatively.
"Read this, see what you think," Dee said, thrusting the letter at Rose, forcing the older man to stop staring at Ryo.
"Hmmmm…" Rose said as his eyes danced across the page. "When did this arrive?"
"This morning with the rest of the post," Ryo replied looking straight at Dee for support.
"Envelope?"
"Here," Ryo said, wrapping his handkerchief around it and handing it to Rose.
Rose nodded, surveying the plain inoffensive looking paper. "Get it tested for prints and DNA on the glue strip. It was stuck down wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"Okay, but in the meantime Ryo, I don't want you going anywhere on your own. Consider taking a panic button home too."
"Yes Sir," Ryo replied, aware that the Commissioner obviously thought the threat was real enough. After the older man had gone, Dee came around the desk and perched in front of Ryo, taking the blond's face in his strong masculine hands. "It's probably nothing," he said soothingly, as he studied Ryo's anxious expression, "Besides, like you said, they weren't particularly professional."
"I didn't even say that!" Ryo cried suddenly, his patience for the media madness surrounding the case finally shattering. "Everything they said was bullshit!"
Dee smiled slightly, thinking how rarely Ryo got so mad that he swore. "It doesn't matter baby," he said, stroking a lock of hair away from Ryo's eyes. "There's no way I'd let anyone get you." Ryo managed a thin smile, grateful to have Dee's support at such a time.
He remained in the office for the rest of the day, working on other things but with the threat of retribution never quite out of his mind. Dee knew exactly where Ryo's head was at every time he looked at him or called his name and didn't get an answer. Eventually Dee suggested they should call it a day and go home and for once, Ryo readily agreed. They'd both received threats against them before; usually a shouted promise of vengeance as the perpetrator was hauled off to jail but nothing they had ever really taken seriously. However the fearsome reputation of the De Luca family itself was enough to make Ryo proceed with caution and be extra vigilant as they left the precinct and headed for their car. The weather, despite the fact that the day had started relatively mildly, had suddenly turned with a bracing, icy wind blowing around the parking lot as if winter had decided it wasn't quite done yet.
They reached the apartment complex and headed into the building as darkness was starting to fall, Ryo looking more than a little relieved to be home at last. As the two men stood alone in the elevator Ryo said suddenly, "What should we tell Bicky?"
Dee pondered this for a moment. "We need to be straight with him. Someone's a bit pissed off that you spoiled their plans and has threatened to try something."
"I don't want to scare him," Ryo said worriedly as they neared their floor.
"I know, but he needs to be careful too."
Ryo's eyes widened as if he hadn't considered this and seeing his reaction, Dee pulled the other man into a comforting embrace. "Don't worry baby," he murmured into the ear next to his lips. "We'll get the other suspect and then we can relax again." He felt Ryo nod against his shoulder and he released him so they could look at each other. "I love you Dee," Ryo said as the doors opened and they stepped out onto their landing. "You too," Dee replied; glad to see Ryo smiling at last. "Let's go and get dinner on. Bicky's probably been moaning to himself for the last couple of hours."
Ryo laughed as he put the keys into the door and let them in. His smile faded almost instantaneously however as he realised the apartment was in darkness, meaning that Bicky wasn't there. He glanced back at Dee who'd seen it too. "Check the answer phone," Dee urged, "Maybe he's left a message to say he'd be late home."
Switching on lights and throwing his briefcase on the couch as he passed, Ryo hurried to the phone, relieved to see the red light flashing to say there was a new message. His relief quickly dissipated when the voice of his aunt floated out from the speaker, informing him his cousin was getting married and would he be able to attend? Dark eyes reflecting his nervousness, Ryo turned back to face Dee, his mind conjuring up a range of terrible reasons why Bicky wasn't there. Dee could see it and was quick to react. "You know Bicky, he's probably gone to Cal's and forgot to ring, the insensitive little bastard."
Ryo ignored the insult to his adopted charge, knowing Dee's slip was because he was worried too. "Wait!" he said suddenly, "I turned my cell phone off earlier because some television station had got my number and kept ringing me." Rushing to his briefcase he retrieved the device and turned it back on. They'd only waited a couple of seconds in torturous silence when it began to ring indicating Ryo had a new message. He put the handset to his ear, his face flooding with relief as he listened.
"Was it Bicky?" Dee asked, as Ryo ended the call.
"No but it was a message from Mr Sampson, the basketball coach asking could I pick him up at eight from Tom's Diner. They must have decided to get something to eat after practice." Ryo looked at his watch and made to leave, knowing it was a good twenty minutes to the location, before Dee stopped him.
"I'll go," the ebony haired man said. "You're safer here and besides, you could have the dinner ready for when we get back. I'll stop and get a bottle of wine and we can have an early night."
Ryo smiled and nodded in defeat, knowing Dee was right and liking the idea of spending the evening wrapped tightly in his loving embrace. He followed his lover to the door where Dee turned, unable to leave without stealing one final kiss. Ryo responded so fervently that Dee almost shut the door again, wanting to take his lover there and then as the desire rose within him. He knew however that Ryo wouldn't reciprocate, not while Bicky was out there and this threat was hanging over his head so reluctantly Dee broke the embrace, his voice slightly breathy as he spoke. "I better go. I'll be back soon but lock the door and don't answer it until I get back."
"Okay," Ryo agreed as he reached back behind Dee's head and pulled a scarf off the coat rack. "Here," he said, looping the grey material around Dee's neck. "Put this on, it's cold out."
Dee smiled at Ryo's constant thoughtfulness for those he cared about. "Okay. See you soon love."
Hearing Dee's footsteps fading away, Ryo locked the door and headed back to where his briefcase lay on the couch, his hand reaching reluctantly for the panic button Commissioner Rose had advised him to take from work. He studied the device that fitted in the palm of his hand, only too aware of how many of these he'd handed out expecting the recipients to feel reassured once they had them, but realising now he was the one in need, that they did very little to quell the fear and anxiety inside. Knowing he needed to take his mind off the letter, he went into the kitchen to start preparing the evening meal, the radio filling the void of silence as he chopped vegetables and diced the meat. Twenty minutes later, the telephone rang and Ryo wiped his hands as he went to answer it. He expected it to be Dee and so was surprised when Bicky's voice travelled down the line into his ear.
"Ryo!" the boy said, surprised that someone was in to answer the phone. "I thought you were supposed to be picking me up?"
"Dee's on his way, we got your message."
"What message?" Bicky asked, "You left me a message saying you'd pick me up outside the gym at eight."
Ryo frowned. "We got a message from Mr Sampson saying you needed picking up at eight from Tom's Diner." He heard Bicky laugh at the other end of the phone. "Uh Ryo, there's just two things wrong with that. One, it's Mr Simpson not Sampson and two, Tom's Diner closed down a week ago."
Ryo froze, his instinct telling him something was wrong. "Bicky, listen to me. Go inside the gym and don't come out until I get there. If anyone tells you to go with them then don't listen."
"But…"
"Just do it!" Ryo shouted as he grabbed his coat off the rack. "I'll explain when I get there." Slamming the phone down, he'd almost left the apartment when a thought occurred to him and he doubled back and retrieved his gun out of the safe.
He drove to the gym in a style more reminiscent of Dee than himself, weaving in between cars which sounded their horns at his recklessness and shooting through traffic lights that had almost changed back to red. He pulled up at the gym, ignoring the signs that forbade drivers from parking there and ran towards the main doors, relieved to find the place reasonably well occupied despite the late hour. Inside the well-lit foyer he found Bicky sat on his kit bag, scowling at the lady behind the desk who kept shooting him disapproving glances.
"Are you here for him?" she asked Ryo as he headed towards the boy, relief etched on his handsome yet somewhat strained features.
"Yes maam," Ryo replied, offering her a grateful smile. "I'd told him to wait inside. I'm a police officer."
"Figures," the woman snorted as she returned to filing her nails. She looked up just in time to see Bicky sticking his tongue out at her as Ryo ushered him out the building and towards his car.
"So what's the big deal?" Bicky asked as he climbed into the passenger seat, Ryo flooring the gas pedal before he'd even got his seatbelt on. "Whoah man, slow down!"
"I don't know exactly," Ryo replied as he took a corner dangerously fast. "But I didn't leave you that message."
"Ditto," Bicky retorted, gripping the armrest for support. "So who did?"
Ryo sighed heavily, knowing he had little choice but to tell Bicky what had transpired today as a result of all the media publicity surrounding the Goldsmith case. The boy's eyes widened at the realisation that somebody had tried to trick them by leaving false messages. "So where are we going now?" he asked, glad to see Ryo's gun peeking out from under the man's overcoat.
"To Tom's Diner," the blond man replied, "Someone wanted me to go there and I don't know why." Inside Ryo was praying that he would find Dee there, wandering around smoking a cigarette and grumbling about Bicky and his practical jokes but wishes couldn't quite push aside his anxiety that something was very, very wrong.
Leaving the main flow of traffic, Ryo turned off onto the street where the diner had, until a week ago, been the main hangout for the kids that frequented the basketball courts where Bicky practised with his team. Naturally the building was in darkness but the large plate glass window was lit up by the headlights of a car parked at a diagonal with one wheel resting on the kerb as if someone had just abandoned it there. The rear licence plate glowed as Ryo's car pulled up behind it confirming for definite the blond's mounting suspicion that it was Dee's old sedan, parked oddly with the driver's door hanging open. Bicky had seen it too and his large blue eyes reflected his fear as he turned to look at Ryo, who took his gun out of the holster and flicked off the safety catch.
"Stay here," he instructed the boy, his voice almost robotic as he tried to suppress the terror at what he might find. "And lock the door behind me."
For once Bicky did exactly as he was told as Ryo climbed out of the car, his movements cautious as he headed towards the abandoned vehicle. The former street kid could only watch fearfully as his guardian moved around his lover's car, his face a grim mask as he battled against his emotions to remain detached and professional.
Before Ryo had got close to the car, he could tell there was no one in it; a fact that he wasn't sure whether he should feel glad about or not. The interior of the car was its usual messy self, with empty cigarette packets and fast food cartons strewn around, making it hard to see if the car had been broken into. Despite the mess, Ryo's eyes were instantly drawn to the ashtray where a cigarette was slowly burning out, as if the person who had lit it had left it, expecting to return or they had not expected to leave in the first place. Only when he bent into the car to take a proper look did he notice two things, both of which threatened to still his heart, which up until that moment had been hammering in his chest.
The note tucked under the windscreen wiper on the other side of the glass.
And the blood, staining the steering wheel only millimetres from his face.
"Oh God," Ryo muttered, stifling a sob as he recoiled from sight inside the car and moved around to the bonnet, reholstering his gun and removing his leather gloves from his pocket, which he put on with shaking hands. Tentatively, he removed the note and unfolded it, his eyes struggling to focus on the typewritten page before him.
Dear Detective,
Were you arrogant enough to think we'd kidnap you? Tsk, tsk, all that television exposure must have gone to your head! No, we thought you'd suffer much more if we took one of your loved ones instead. We'll be in touch to let you know exactly what we want in exchange for your handsome partner. Until then… well I guess it's up to us what we do with him! Naturally we expect you to comply unless you want to be hunting for a corpse.
I guess we're more skilled than you thought, huh Detective?
Closing the note, Ryo stumbled back and reached in his pocket for his cell phone, speed dialling the number of the station. He made the request for the investigation team on autopilot, giving his location and the reason for the request in a voice he barely recognised as his own before he headed back to his car where Bicky was watching him curiously.
"Where's Dee?" Bicky asked as soon as Ryo sat down in the driver's seat, his fear stopping him from calling Dee by any of his usual derogatory monikers.
"He's gone," Ryo said blankly, his eyes never straying from vehicle up ahead. "Someone's taken him."
"Holy shit," Bicky replied, pushing his unruly hair back off his face before he unfastened his seatbelt, "Well we better go look for him!"
"No," Ryo said firmly, coming out of his stupor to grab the boy's hand as it went to the door handle. "We have to stay here. Backup is on its way."
Reluctantly, Bicky nodded knowing Ryo was right and it was foolish to put themselves in danger but the frustration at not being able to do anything was almost overwhelming. Despite the way he acted towards Dee, Bicky thought a lot about the other man and as he sat in stunned silence with Ryo next to him, he refused to contemplate that Dee might not be alive anymore…
TBC…