Bosco stood leaning against the RMP waiting for Sasha to come out of the diner. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other wondering for the millionth time why it took women so long to go to the bathroom. He was looking at his watch when his cell phone rang.
"Em? What'd ya need?" Bosco said into the phone after checking the caller id. It had to be Emily. Who else would call him from the Yokas home?
"Bosco, shut up and listen carefully."
"Faith? Is somethin' wrong? Is it one of the kids?" Bosco asked frantically, pushing away from the RMP and reaching for the door handle.
"Listen to me. Be on the fire escape outside my bedroom window at one tomorrow afternoon," Faith whispered.
"What's goin' on, Faith?" Bosco said noticing Sasha walking toward him. He turned his back to her and walked down the block away from the RMP.
"Shh, Bosco, I don't have much time. Just be outside my window. Don't knock on it and make sure you stay outta sight. I'll open the window when it's safe."
"Safe? Do you need us to come now?" Bosco whispered as panic was followed closely by anger.
"Just be here tomorrow and don't be late. I've gotta go. Park around back and don't tell anyone," Faith said then quickly hung up.
Bosco stood on the sidewalk staring dazed at his phone. What was that all about? Faith hadn't spoken to him since the day he left her hospital room and now a phone call that made no sense. He contemplated calling her back, but decided that if he had to wait until it was "safe" to open the window then he could put her in danger. Not while I'm breathin', he thought. If Fred so much as....
"You ready to go?" Sasha asked interrupting his thoughts.
"Everythin' okay last time you went up to talk to Yokas? She say anything about how things're goin'?" Bosco asked in what he hoped was a casual tone ignoring her question as they walked back toward the car.
"She's on crutches now if that's what you mean. She seemed all right to me. She didn't talk much, but she never does. Was that her on the phone?" Sasha asked reaching for the door handle.
"No, no, of course not. Why would she be callin' me? Can we go now?" Bosco said scowling before getting behind the wheel and pulling away from the curb.
Bosco pulled up behind Faith's building parking as close as possible to the fire escape. If he found so much as a scratch on her, he was goin' in the window and Fred was comin' out one that didn't have a fire escape under it. Bosco took a deep breath in an effort to control his anger and exited the car.
He had to jump to reach the bottom of the fire escape stairs, but as soon as he had them they came down easily. He climbed quickly to Faith's floor. The window was open and there was a duffle bag lying right outside.
"Faith?" Bosco whispered tentatively peering inside.
"It's about time. Can't you get anywhere on time, Bosco? Here take these," Faith replied thrusting her crutches through the window at him.
"What's goin' on? Did Fred...."
"Sshhh, Bosco! Just help me!" Faith whispered furiously moving from a chair to the window ledge then swinging her legs out.
"Wait a minute. What're ya doin'? You can't walk down the fire escape with crutches. Why don't you let me come in there and we'll go out the front door?"
"Because they can't know. You're gonna get me outta here and you're not gonna argue," Faith stated matter-of-factly.
"What's wrong? Why are ya sneakin' out the window? Did Fred do somethin' to you," Bosco said through clenched teeth grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to look him in the eye.
"They're drivin' me crazy, Bos. I can't take them hoverin' around me another minute. I can't breathe."
"You still can't get down this way with crutches," Bosco replied releasing her and stepping back.
"You're gonna carry me."
"What?"
"If I can carry Fred, you can carry me. Now pick up my bag and my crutches, put me over your shoulder and let's go before somebody decides to check on me," Faith said holding out the bag to Bosco and scooting to the edge of the windowsill.
"Now I see why you didn't call Sullivan or Monroe. I'm not doin' it. No way. This is nuts."
"You will do it, Bosco. Let's go!" Faith said standing using the window frame for support. The words -you owe me- hanging unspoken in the air between them.
Bosco heard the anger in her voice. He looked into her eyes and saw the desperation she was trying to use the anger to hide. With a sigh, he took the bag and slung it around his neck. He picked up the crutches then bent and grabbed Faith around her knees. He stood taking a minute to regain his balance then started carefully down the narrow stair.
"Be careful, Bos."
"This is crazy, Faith. You know that don't ya?" Bosco panted as he stepped off the final riser. He settled Faith in the passenger seat of his car, then put her bag and crutches in the trunk.
"Let's go," Faith said fastening her seatbelt once Bosco was behind the wheel.
"Can I ask where we're goin'?" Bosco asked starting the car.
"Just take me a few blocks away and I'll get a cab."
"No way. I'll take ya where ever you're goin'. That way when I get arrested for kidnappin' at least I'll know where they can find ya," Bosco said pulling out of the alley and onto the busy street.