Chapter Seven
Steve slept in the next morning not having to go into the precinct until later that morning. He got up about eight and took a shower. When he emerged from the bathroom he could smell bacon and coffee and his appetite started to get the better of him. He dressed quickly and made his way to the kitchen and to his surprise he found his Captain was sitting at the table enjoying a cup of coffee with his father. Steve was pretty sure that his Captain wasn't here because he just happened to be in the neighborhood. He was also sure that whatever brought Newman here wasn't going to be good news for him.
"Steve! Have a seat and I'll get your breakfast for you." Mark moved quickly, but not quick enough for Steve to miss the expression on his face.
Steve sat down and looking his Captain in the face he came directly to the point. "I know you didn't come here for breakfast. So you want to tell me what you are doing here so early in the morning?" Steve didn't mean for it to come out so harsh, but his growing feeling of dread was overcoming his good manners.
"Steven Michael." The use of his full name, and the stern tone in which it was delivered, startled both Steve and Captain Newman. "Watch your manners. Captain Newman has come here this morning because of something that he needed to tell you. He was kind enough to come here personally to discuss this with you instead of waiting until you reached the station. Now calm down and listen. And please don't over react."
This last part caught Steve off balance a bit. "Don't over react to what?"
Captain Newman looked at Steve, and with as much calmness as he could manage, he proceeded to tell Steve the purpose of his visit. "Steve, there was an article in the LA Times this morning. It's an article about how an officer has been unable to catch a petty thief because he has a severe phobia of heights. It was one of the most hateful articles written about the police department in a long time. It was completely over exaggerated and very biased. It barely mentioned the suspect other than to make it sound that he was some petty thief who seemed to be outsmarting one of LA's finest. It didn't mention your name in specific, but it did indicate our precinct."
Newman stopped at this point and watched his detective for a moment in hopes of seeing how Steve might be taking this latest twist. "I know that you don't need this pressure right now. However, I don't want you to react to this kind of malicious journalism either. Nothing is going to change. We are all going to work on this and find a solution. I still think, as does the Chief, that this can still be used to our advantage. But we need time to think and make a plan so that he doesn't get away again."
Newman leaned into Steve looking the detective straight in the eye. "You know that I don't have to tell you that there will probably be more of this before it's over." Using a tone that brooked no argument, he insisted. "I need your word that you won't go off half cocked and get yourself into any trouble."
Steve just sat there and stared at his Captain with out saying a word. "I mean it Steve. You promise me now or I put you on paid Medical leave as of this moment. Your choice." Newman gave Steve a look that gave him no room for doubt that he was serious.
"OK. I promise. I won't let it get to me. But please, I don't want to be taken off the case. I want to get him. He just made it personal and I want to bring him in." Steve spoke quietly but determinedly and Newman couldn't help but feel for his detective.
"I won't take you off but you will follow orders or you will be put on another kind of leave. You understand what I'm telling you, don't you?" Newman waited for a response.
"I know Sir. I will do as you say just let me stay on the case." Steve was almost pleading at this point.
Mark had watched all of this from across the room and he couldn't help but feel sorry for his son. Steve had so much to contend with and now the personal attacks were going to just add to his misery. He knew that he would have to keep a tight reign on Steve because his son had a very explosive temper when pushed to far. It wasn't something that happened often but when it did it was not something that anyone wanted to be around.
Steve wasn't sure what to expect when he entered the station, but he definitely didn't expect the support that his fellow officers were offering. He was a little over whelmed by all of the kind words and comments that were directed towards him. He knew that any one of them would be ready to help solve this dilemma that he was finding himself in.
The day in general went by rather smooth and not very exciting. Newman decided that as long as he wasn't chasing someone or involved in any kind of physical activity he could go with his partner for interviews and following up leads. The Captain felt that it would help distract the Lieutenant from some of the bad publicity that was looming around him. He cleared it with Steve's dad to be sure that it would not physically hinder his recovery. Mark had been opposed at first, knowing his son's propensity to get into trouble, but finally agreed that it might be good to give Steve some breathing room. Steve had to promise that if he and Cheryl found themselves in any kind of dilemma he would back off and let her take the lead while he called in for back up. This seemed to raise the hair on his neck in defiance. But he knew that if he wanted to get out of the station he had better agree to the terms.
He and Cheryl answered a couple of weird calls during the early part of the day. The first one came about an hour after he arrived.
An older woman called the station a bit hysterical claiming that there was a dead body in her basement. Once they got there and checked out the basement, it turned out that it was only a rug rolled up in the corner that one of her relatives had placed down there for storage. The woman was very embarrassed and confessed that she had been watching the Murder Channel a lot lately.
The next one was a man who claimed his brother had been abducted and killed. He swore he had proof. Unfortunately, it turned out that his brother had been missing for nearly thirty years and the proof was an old note that he had never thrown away even after his brother had been found dead. Apparently the man was suffering from the beginning stages of Alzheimer's and sometimes he traveled back to the past. His family were very apologetic and promised that this time they would try to get their father some help.
Later that day Steve made his way to the hospital in hopes of grabbing some lunch. His father decided to join him and see if maybe they could come up with some kind of plan to catch their rooftop escapee.
Mark watched with astonishment as Steve put away two helpings of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Maggie had made sure that he had been given plenty. She knew how hardy his appetite was and she was grateful for the fact that he seemed to appreciate the work she and her staff put into the meals at the hospital. She slipped some of her special cookies onto his tray so that he could have dessert, if he ate all of his vegetables of course.
Mark smiled as he remembered the first time he had found Steve with Maggie. He was about four or five years old. He had come up missing and after a frantic search of the hospital his father had found him sitting in Maggie's lap eating cookies and drinking milk. Mark was cross with his son but very grateful to find him in the care of the young hospital cook.
She had pleaded with Mark not to scold him. "He was hungry and he knew where to go and look for something good to eat. He used his best manners when he asked for a snack. You should be proud of him for being so resourceful and polite."
Mark had sighed not able to stay cross with his little blue eyed boy for very long. He had picked Steve up and hugged him and then told him next time that he felt the need for a snack to please tell him or is mother first before he went off on his own. Steve had been coming down to the kitchen every since in search of Maggie and her special snacks. She kept them on hand just for him. He had won a place in her heart and she loved to dote on him, just like she did when he was little.
When Steve finally finished his lunch and looked up he noticed his father starring and smiling at him. "What?" he asked.
"Oh nothing. I was just thinking back to when you use to come down here when you were a little boy. It seems that the only thing that has changed is you're bigger and so is your appetite." Mark chuckled at the look that came across Steve's face.
"Have you given any thought to my problem. Or are you too busy reminiscing about my childhood." Steve smiled back at his father.
"Well to tell you the truth I have thought about it some. I was wondering if you could get me the case file on his robberies for me so I could see if there was a pattern to how he chooses his target. I know he plans his escapes according to the nearest rooftops closest to his target. But maybe we can figure out his next move. If we can then we might have a better chance of surprising him." Mark looked thoughtful as he discussed his theory with his son.
"I have gone over each and every one of those robberies with a fine tooth comb. I just don't see any set pattern. The one thing that I am sure of is that where ever he hits he makes sure he can get away by skirting across a rooftop." Steve looked dejected as he offered this last piece of information.
"I still want to see the file. You know as well as anyone what a fresh perspective can do for a dead-end case." Mark smiled at his son in hopes of encouraging him a little and possibly raise his spirits some.
"I'll bring it home with me tonight. You want me to go by and pick up something for supper on my way home?" Steve started to clean up around his tray.
"No. I am cooking a new recipe that I found on the Internet last night that sounds simply wonderful. Jesse and Amanda are coming over and joining us for dinner. I just know you are going to love it." Mark loved to cook and try out new recipes much to his son's dismay. Often Steve found some of his father's new dishes a little to hard to swallow.
Steve picked up his tray and headed towards the kitchen instead of the door that led out to the parking lot. "Where are you going son? Your truck is out that way." Mark looked at his son puzzled.
Without even looking back at his father, Steve continued on to the kitchen and answered. "I know Dad but I need to talk to Maggie and see if she can fix me up with a doggie bag. I think I might need it tonight." With that Steve disappeared behind the kitchen doors that read 'Staff Only' while his Dad watched him with a perplexed look on his face. He would never understand his son's taste in food.
Once Steve got back to the precinct he settled in and started in on the files that were stacking up on his desk. He had managed to go through about a third of them when suddenly he felt that he was being attacked. Flash bulbs were going off and several people were asking him questions at the same time. He was so startled he couldn't answer any of the questions and the flashing bulbs were blinding him. Just then a loud voice boomed from somewhere behind him.
"What in the hell is going on. Who let you people in here? No he will not answer any of your questions. Now get out of here before I have you thrown out." Newman reached down and grabbed a very startled Steve from under his arm and pulled him into his office shutting the door behind him. He then put in a call to the desk Sergeant telling him to get rid of the reporters now. When he finally turned his attention to Steve he was startled at how pale the detective was. He quickly walked over to him and settled him into one of the chairs and poured him a glass of water. Steve accepted the glass gratefully with shaking hands and quickly downed the liquid before he looked up at his Captain and asked him.
"How do you think they found out it was me."
Newman just shook his head and looked at Steve saying. "I don't know but believe me it didn't come from this department. But I intend to find out who is feeding them this crap and personally see to it that they eat each and every article myself."
Steve closed his eyes and bowed his head. This was just the beginning and he knew it. This whole thing was turning into a nightmare. Unfortunately it was going to get worse before it got better.
Steve slept in the next morning not having to go into the precinct until later that morning. He got up about eight and took a shower. When he emerged from the bathroom he could smell bacon and coffee and his appetite started to get the better of him. He dressed quickly and made his way to the kitchen and to his surprise he found his Captain was sitting at the table enjoying a cup of coffee with his father. Steve was pretty sure that his Captain wasn't here because he just happened to be in the neighborhood. He was also sure that whatever brought Newman here wasn't going to be good news for him.
"Steve! Have a seat and I'll get your breakfast for you." Mark moved quickly, but not quick enough for Steve to miss the expression on his face.
Steve sat down and looking his Captain in the face he came directly to the point. "I know you didn't come here for breakfast. So you want to tell me what you are doing here so early in the morning?" Steve didn't mean for it to come out so harsh, but his growing feeling of dread was overcoming his good manners.
"Steven Michael." The use of his full name, and the stern tone in which it was delivered, startled both Steve and Captain Newman. "Watch your manners. Captain Newman has come here this morning because of something that he needed to tell you. He was kind enough to come here personally to discuss this with you instead of waiting until you reached the station. Now calm down and listen. And please don't over react."
This last part caught Steve off balance a bit. "Don't over react to what?"
Captain Newman looked at Steve, and with as much calmness as he could manage, he proceeded to tell Steve the purpose of his visit. "Steve, there was an article in the LA Times this morning. It's an article about how an officer has been unable to catch a petty thief because he has a severe phobia of heights. It was one of the most hateful articles written about the police department in a long time. It was completely over exaggerated and very biased. It barely mentioned the suspect other than to make it sound that he was some petty thief who seemed to be outsmarting one of LA's finest. It didn't mention your name in specific, but it did indicate our precinct."
Newman stopped at this point and watched his detective for a moment in hopes of seeing how Steve might be taking this latest twist. "I know that you don't need this pressure right now. However, I don't want you to react to this kind of malicious journalism either. Nothing is going to change. We are all going to work on this and find a solution. I still think, as does the Chief, that this can still be used to our advantage. But we need time to think and make a plan so that he doesn't get away again."
Newman leaned into Steve looking the detective straight in the eye. "You know that I don't have to tell you that there will probably be more of this before it's over." Using a tone that brooked no argument, he insisted. "I need your word that you won't go off half cocked and get yourself into any trouble."
Steve just sat there and stared at his Captain with out saying a word. "I mean it Steve. You promise me now or I put you on paid Medical leave as of this moment. Your choice." Newman gave Steve a look that gave him no room for doubt that he was serious.
"OK. I promise. I won't let it get to me. But please, I don't want to be taken off the case. I want to get him. He just made it personal and I want to bring him in." Steve spoke quietly but determinedly and Newman couldn't help but feel for his detective.
"I won't take you off but you will follow orders or you will be put on another kind of leave. You understand what I'm telling you, don't you?" Newman waited for a response.
"I know Sir. I will do as you say just let me stay on the case." Steve was almost pleading at this point.
Mark had watched all of this from across the room and he couldn't help but feel sorry for his son. Steve had so much to contend with and now the personal attacks were going to just add to his misery. He knew that he would have to keep a tight reign on Steve because his son had a very explosive temper when pushed to far. It wasn't something that happened often but when it did it was not something that anyone wanted to be around.
Steve wasn't sure what to expect when he entered the station, but he definitely didn't expect the support that his fellow officers were offering. He was a little over whelmed by all of the kind words and comments that were directed towards him. He knew that any one of them would be ready to help solve this dilemma that he was finding himself in.
The day in general went by rather smooth and not very exciting. Newman decided that as long as he wasn't chasing someone or involved in any kind of physical activity he could go with his partner for interviews and following up leads. The Captain felt that it would help distract the Lieutenant from some of the bad publicity that was looming around him. He cleared it with Steve's dad to be sure that it would not physically hinder his recovery. Mark had been opposed at first, knowing his son's propensity to get into trouble, but finally agreed that it might be good to give Steve some breathing room. Steve had to promise that if he and Cheryl found themselves in any kind of dilemma he would back off and let her take the lead while he called in for back up. This seemed to raise the hair on his neck in defiance. But he knew that if he wanted to get out of the station he had better agree to the terms.
He and Cheryl answered a couple of weird calls during the early part of the day. The first one came about an hour after he arrived.
An older woman called the station a bit hysterical claiming that there was a dead body in her basement. Once they got there and checked out the basement, it turned out that it was only a rug rolled up in the corner that one of her relatives had placed down there for storage. The woman was very embarrassed and confessed that she had been watching the Murder Channel a lot lately.
The next one was a man who claimed his brother had been abducted and killed. He swore he had proof. Unfortunately, it turned out that his brother had been missing for nearly thirty years and the proof was an old note that he had never thrown away even after his brother had been found dead. Apparently the man was suffering from the beginning stages of Alzheimer's and sometimes he traveled back to the past. His family were very apologetic and promised that this time they would try to get their father some help.
Later that day Steve made his way to the hospital in hopes of grabbing some lunch. His father decided to join him and see if maybe they could come up with some kind of plan to catch their rooftop escapee.
Mark watched with astonishment as Steve put away two helpings of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Maggie had made sure that he had been given plenty. She knew how hardy his appetite was and she was grateful for the fact that he seemed to appreciate the work she and her staff put into the meals at the hospital. She slipped some of her special cookies onto his tray so that he could have dessert, if he ate all of his vegetables of course.
Mark smiled as he remembered the first time he had found Steve with Maggie. He was about four or five years old. He had come up missing and after a frantic search of the hospital his father had found him sitting in Maggie's lap eating cookies and drinking milk. Mark was cross with his son but very grateful to find him in the care of the young hospital cook.
She had pleaded with Mark not to scold him. "He was hungry and he knew where to go and look for something good to eat. He used his best manners when he asked for a snack. You should be proud of him for being so resourceful and polite."
Mark had sighed not able to stay cross with his little blue eyed boy for very long. He had picked Steve up and hugged him and then told him next time that he felt the need for a snack to please tell him or is mother first before he went off on his own. Steve had been coming down to the kitchen every since in search of Maggie and her special snacks. She kept them on hand just for him. He had won a place in her heart and she loved to dote on him, just like she did when he was little.
When Steve finally finished his lunch and looked up he noticed his father starring and smiling at him. "What?" he asked.
"Oh nothing. I was just thinking back to when you use to come down here when you were a little boy. It seems that the only thing that has changed is you're bigger and so is your appetite." Mark chuckled at the look that came across Steve's face.
"Have you given any thought to my problem. Or are you too busy reminiscing about my childhood." Steve smiled back at his father.
"Well to tell you the truth I have thought about it some. I was wondering if you could get me the case file on his robberies for me so I could see if there was a pattern to how he chooses his target. I know he plans his escapes according to the nearest rooftops closest to his target. But maybe we can figure out his next move. If we can then we might have a better chance of surprising him." Mark looked thoughtful as he discussed his theory with his son.
"I have gone over each and every one of those robberies with a fine tooth comb. I just don't see any set pattern. The one thing that I am sure of is that where ever he hits he makes sure he can get away by skirting across a rooftop." Steve looked dejected as he offered this last piece of information.
"I still want to see the file. You know as well as anyone what a fresh perspective can do for a dead-end case." Mark smiled at his son in hopes of encouraging him a little and possibly raise his spirits some.
"I'll bring it home with me tonight. You want me to go by and pick up something for supper on my way home?" Steve started to clean up around his tray.
"No. I am cooking a new recipe that I found on the Internet last night that sounds simply wonderful. Jesse and Amanda are coming over and joining us for dinner. I just know you are going to love it." Mark loved to cook and try out new recipes much to his son's dismay. Often Steve found some of his father's new dishes a little to hard to swallow.
Steve picked up his tray and headed towards the kitchen instead of the door that led out to the parking lot. "Where are you going son? Your truck is out that way." Mark looked at his son puzzled.
Without even looking back at his father, Steve continued on to the kitchen and answered. "I know Dad but I need to talk to Maggie and see if she can fix me up with a doggie bag. I think I might need it tonight." With that Steve disappeared behind the kitchen doors that read 'Staff Only' while his Dad watched him with a perplexed look on his face. He would never understand his son's taste in food.
Once Steve got back to the precinct he settled in and started in on the files that were stacking up on his desk. He had managed to go through about a third of them when suddenly he felt that he was being attacked. Flash bulbs were going off and several people were asking him questions at the same time. He was so startled he couldn't answer any of the questions and the flashing bulbs were blinding him. Just then a loud voice boomed from somewhere behind him.
"What in the hell is going on. Who let you people in here? No he will not answer any of your questions. Now get out of here before I have you thrown out." Newman reached down and grabbed a very startled Steve from under his arm and pulled him into his office shutting the door behind him. He then put in a call to the desk Sergeant telling him to get rid of the reporters now. When he finally turned his attention to Steve he was startled at how pale the detective was. He quickly walked over to him and settled him into one of the chairs and poured him a glass of water. Steve accepted the glass gratefully with shaking hands and quickly downed the liquid before he looked up at his Captain and asked him.
"How do you think they found out it was me."
Newman just shook his head and looked at Steve saying. "I don't know but believe me it didn't come from this department. But I intend to find out who is feeding them this crap and personally see to it that they eat each and every article myself."
Steve closed his eyes and bowed his head. This was just the beginning and he knew it. This whole thing was turning into a nightmare. Unfortunately it was going to get worse before it got better.