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Rules and Broken Trust Chapter 15
5 Days later:
"Dave," Agent Keith Hampton greeted Swersky as he came into his office, "we just finished another canvas, I think we may have found something." Swersky sat up straight, the toll the last 8 days had taken on him showing in the dark circles under his eyes and the deepened lines on his face. "Dam itt Keith this had better not be like the last 'we may have found' things I've been brought!" The frustration in his voice echoing Hamptons feelings.
"No Dave I think we actually have something here," Hampton dropped into the chair in front of Dave's desk, tossing a folder to him as he did so. "A woman called in today, says she is a waitress at a Steakhouse Bar in Jersey. The night Boscorelli disappeared two men came in to eat. She says both fit the descriptions on the TV and in the mug shots." Swersky sat up straight, at attention upon hearing this news, "And?" "One of the men had stitches under his eye, says he was real nice at first to her, the other guy acted like a jerk most of the time. UNTIL, she said the 'nice' guy; Boscorelli from her description; suddenly started acting like he was 'shitfaced'. Her exact wording." Hampton raised his eyebrow, smirking in sureness he was on the right trail here, " Says he got really rude and then almost passed out in his plate. The other guy made some comment about how he'd tried to warn her about him, then left a huge tip to 'apologize' for his behavior and almost had to carry him out."
"Drugged?" Swersky paled "Looks like it," Hampton nodded, "she said it came on suddenly and she knew he'd only had a few beers. Not enough to make someone pass out like that. The other guy; Vetresco; told her he couldn't handle his liquor, that he was always doing this. She didn't see what vehicle they left in, her boss took care of the table and she went to wait on other customers. She remembered it because Boscorelli and she were flirting with each other and his sudden change in behavoir struck her as odd. She's been out of town for the last week on vacation so she only saw this last night on the news. Came in this morning." "No," Swersky frowned, "I've never heard of Bosco getting drunk and doing this. He doesn't really drink that much to my knowledge. And Davis said that the last few times they'd gone out he didn't drink at all, been on medication for his injuries. I can't see him getting drunk in a resturant. Course you never know do you?" "No, but I've talked to everyone from his Mother to his last partner; Monroe; and no one thinks he's a big drinker. Hot headed as hell but not much on the party thing." He hesitated, then asked, "Is his partner; Faith Yokas; back in town yet? Would she maybe have talked to him before they disappeared?" "No she isn't," Dave looked up from the statement the young woman had given, "I'm not sure they would have talked. Since she got injured they haven't been on very good terms as far as I know. I did contact her to let her know, but she hasn't returned my call. That was 5 days ago. I figure if she wanted to know or had any information that could help she would have gotten back to me by now." "Okay then, " Hampton stood up, "we now know that he took him over the state line, so we can go from there. Officially that is, until now we've kind of been 'coasting' on that one. Avoiding talking to the 'higher ups', and just doing my thing..unoffically." He grinned tiredly at Dave, "Now though I can call in a larger task force, get on it better. Broaden our search grid." "You know," Dave grumbled angrily, "if this had been a child......" "Yeah I know Dave," Hampton empathized with him, "we'd have already been all over it. Talk to you later." Exiting the office he headed down the hall to take care of calling in the search teams.
Swersky sat there a moment, looking off to the file cabinet he'd had Bosco working on. Staring at the much smaller stack of papers setting on top the cabinet than had been there before Bosco spent a week in here working on them. "Please god let him be alive," Dave passed his hand over his eyes, breaking his view of the cabinet, "just let him be alive." Slamming his chair back against the wall with a bang, he stood up quickly. Heading out the door he yelled at the Sargent at the desk, "Morgan! I'm going out for awhile, DON'T CALL ME!" pausing a moment at the doors, "Unless its about Boscorelli!" Without acknowledging Morgans question about where, Dave pushed through the doors and left the precient house, unsure himself as to his destination. Only knowing that he had to get out before he broke something, or hurt someone. Dave was feeling responsible for what had happened to Bosco. He'd been told by several other officers that something wasn't right with Vetresco, and while no one had a clue he would do something like this, the signs were there that a serious problem was developing. Bosco's own oblivious reaction to his partners 'zealous' ways had somewhat clouded everyone's judgement about Vinny, and Vinny's own 'assurances' to Dave only clouded it more. Only Sullivan had remained suspicious, as even Davis whom had been in more than one altercation with him had given him the benefit of the doubt.
Driving along the city streets, not really paying attention to where he was heading, Dave couldn't shake the image of Denver Starkes face from his mind. The sight of that man, looking so much like a slightly older brother of Bosco's haunted him. And reading what they believed to have happened to Starke scared the hell out of him. Dave knew in his heart that if Bosco was still alive he was living in a nightmare. And suddenly the thought of what that nightmare might consist of caused Dave to pull over to the curb. Putting the car in park he put his head down on the steering wheel, "Oh sweet Jesus, just give him strength, just let him get through this in one piece." Dave sat a long time, his knowledge of Bosco's temper and mouth not giving him much comfort at his being able to survive this unscathed. The only thing that did give him some small hope was that Bosco was a hell of alot smarter than he let on, and Dave knew it. Hopefully his 'brains' would override his mouth and temper, and help him survive until they could find him. Dave decided he needed to go home. He'd had enough today, and needed to be with his wife and family. Then he asked for understanding from God and from Bosco that he couldn't deal anymore with this today. Starting his car he headed for his house, hoping his wife would be home, he really needed to be with her right now.
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Same Day:
"Faith," Fred walking from the bedroom into the livingroom of the apartment saw her standing by the window, "just make the call already. You know you will feel better if you do. I don't like the idea of you getting involved with another one of Bosco's problems. But I can't stand to see you mope like this. Here," he handed her the phone, "Call Swersky, now." "Fred," she turned to him, "I told you no yesterday. Bosco's a big boy, he can take care of himself. I can't get involved. I can't deal with anymore of his drama." "Well this isn't exactly the same as last time," Fred laid his hand on her shoulder looking down into her worried eyes, "and I can see you're lying. You know he needs all the help he can get. Maybe you can think of something that the rest can't. I'm not saying go out hunting him down, but at least you'll feel better, and we'll both sleep better if you know whats going on." Smiling gratefully at him, Faith took the phone he offered, "Okay, I'll call Swersky, but, I'm not ready to go in yet." "God I hope not," he laughed softly, "I think you need a bit more time, but if you want to go in for a few hours, look over things....." "I love you Fred Yokas," Faith ran her hand over his cheek, then turned to dial the phone. "Yeah I know," he grinned as he patted her behind and left the room, leaving her in privacy. Fred wasn't happy, but if it made things easier on them all for her to know what was going on with that knucklehead ass of an ex partner, then he would go along with it for now. 'How he gets himself into the shit he does...." was beyond Fred's comprehension. Shaking his head at the mystery of Bosco he went to check on Charlie and his homework project.
"Yeah hi Morgan, this is Faith Yokas, is Lt. Swersky in?" Nervously she paced before the window, not sure if she were more nervous about talking to Swersky or what he would say about Bosco. "Sorry Faith, he's not in, just missed him. Hey glad to hear you're back! You are back aren't you?" he asked as he wrote a message for Swersky about her call. "Well," she smiled, "back in town, but not coming back to work. Not yet anyway, but soon I hope. Could you just tell him I called? Oh and Morgan? Has there been any news?" She knew she didn't have to elaborate, Morgan would know what she was asking. "No," he sighed, "I'm sorry Faith, there hasn't been. The only new thing is we know he was taken across state lines now. But to what state, that's still up in the air. Sorry wish I had more for you." "Thanks Morgan," Faith hung up before she started crying. Hearing it outloud from someone she knew and trusted for the first time in 'person' made it suddenly real. Bosco had been kidnapped by his 'partner' and she knew 8 days was more than too long. What she didn't know was the reason behind it. Not talking to anyone else, other than the inital phone call made when no one was sure why, she was still in the dark there. Sitting on the side of her bed, Faith her head in her hands felt Fred sit down beside her. As he put his arms around her she leaned into him, "I'm sorry honey," he softly said as he brushed her hair back from her face. "Oh dam itt Fred, I swore I'd never get involved or care about anything that happened to him again!" She broke down, "That guy took him across the state line. No one has a clue to where. He's probably dead by now, and..." "And you feel guilty because you weren't there to help him," Fred rubbed her back, "Faith its okay, if this guy was gonna do what he did, do you really think anyone could have stopped him? Besides if Bosco didn't see it coming and he was working side by side with him..." "Thats just it Fred," she sobbed, "he never sees it coming until its too late." Having no answer to that comment Fred simply sat with her looking out the window, holding her.
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Same Day:
"Hey watch it, look at this!" Bosco laughed as he sat in the window at the back of the livingroom. The large picture window was the only one in the entire cabin not 'barred' as it was directly over the dropoff on the side of the mountain, "Its gonna try it again!" He was watching some animal, Vinny didn't know what or care, and he was again high as he did it. When he was like this everything was funny, and extremely interesting to him, and he seemed to forget his situation, and his place. Vinny watching him, as he moved around near the stereo placing things back in order after Bosco's last 'search' amoung the CD's for a song he wanted to hear, shook his head. Bosco hadn't been 'sober' or 'straight' since the night he'd introduced him to Estacy. At least not during the evening and night hours. He spent most of his days in a hangover stupor, sleeping it off and the evenings and nights high, drunk and in a party mood. But he was more than willing to do what Vinny wanted him to do if he was high enough, so Vinny didn't complain. Mostly what Vinny wanted him to do was not act like a scared rabbit, and with the drugs and alcohol he was able to do that. Vinny had introduced him to a wide variety of ways to get high during the last five evenings and nights, and each had produced different effects. His, or rather Vinny's favorite way was X. The mood induced by this drug made him the most cooperative when Vinny wanted to 'get close'. The others he'd resisted him too much. So for the last two nights X had been all Vinny had offered, or rather 'forcefully' encouraged him to take, though 'force' was now an unnecessary word.
The first night, when he'd passed out finally. Vinny had thought that this was it. Bosco was going to 'give in' easily. This was not to be:
"Bosco, love wake up," Vinny rubbed his back as he moved him back onto the bed, "come on now, open those blue eyes for me."
Bosco, groaning moved deeper into the blankets, clasping the pillow now under his face, remained asleep. Vinny reached out, without thinking turned off the light. Sliding into the bed moving close to lie alongside him. Touching his face gently, "Wake up Maurice, come on now, I know you're in there." Swatting at the hand on his face, Bosco knocked Vinny's wrist away from him, unaware that Vinny was even there. Vinny at first grinned, touching him again, but when Bosco hit his arm harder, loudly mumbling, "Leave me the fuck alone, I'm sleeping, asshole." Vinny stopped grinning. Not comprehending that Bosco in his drugged and sleeping state might think he was someone else Vinny grabbed his hand, bending it back and moved over him as he rolled to his back his eyes opening at the pain in his hand.
"Wha.." Bosco waking some startled at the dark and the intense pressure on his wrist now reached up with his other hand and pushed at the body over him in an attempt to move it off of him. Grabbing that wrist also, Vinny yanked on him, Bosco immediately fearful cried out again, his mind groggy in his nightmare state, his words slurred, "Nooo Dad...please don't I won't do it again! Please...don't hit me...I didn't mean it! I won't backtalk Ma again..." Vinny stopped, releasing him backed off him quickly confused now at what Bosco could be talking about. Sitting near him he listened as Bosco now begged for the light to be turned on in the pitch black room. It was obvious now to Vinny he wasn't aware of his surroundings, what Vinny had believed when he came from the bathroom was mistaken. Hearing him ask his father, "Please Dad, don't leave me here, I'm scared. Turn it onnnn.." Vinny rolled across his side of the bed, quickly snapping the lamp on. Seeing Bosco's flushed face and seeing that his eyes were closed, he leaned over feeling his forehead. He was burning up. Frowning at first Vinny suddenly cursed, "Damn, how could I be so stupid!" Jumping up from the bed he ran into the bathroom, returning quickly with a glass of water. Holding Bosco's head, he tried to get him to drink. As the water touched his lips, he tried to turn his head away, but Vinny persisted and once he'd tasted the cool liquid he was soon gulping it down. "I'm so sorry love," Vinny moaned, "I'm so sorry, I forgot about making you drink enough on X. All that playing and dancing around, you're dehydrated, drink." Drink he did, two glasses later Vinny allowed him to lie back and go back to sleep. Sitting next to him, watching over him now Vinny thought about what he'd heard and seen from him. His own relationship with his father while not perfect had been for the most part loving and decent. A pharmacist in Chicago of means and some small power, with family connections going way back, he'd grown up priviledged. At least more so than most. Vinny scowled as he thought about what kind of relationship a man would have to have with a son to cause nightmares and fear so long after childhood. He grew more determined as he sat there to see to it that Bosco didn't have to worry about his safety while he was here with him. Standing he went to the bathroom, scooping up his clothes as he did so. Dressing again, he got a cloth out, wetting it he carried it back to the bedroom. Using it to wipe Bosco's forehead and face as he slept. Soon seeing he was cooler, he draped the light blanket over him. Heading back to the bathroom, Vinny grabbed a blanket from the bathroom closet, snatching up a couple of pillows from the bed, he left the room.
Stretching out on the couch, Vinny lay looking at the glowing coals, unsure now as to what to do to make him trust him. There were two things he was sure of; one, that they were not going back anytime soon, and two, losing him was something he wasn't willing to allow happen. As for the rest, he could be patient. After his previous loss, that was one thing he could be.
Waking up alone that next morning, the other side of the bed obviously not slept in, Bosco rolled over sitting up slightly, quickly looking around the room. Not seeing Vinny around he dropped his head back as he also saw he was still dressed. 'Oh my god, did I actually pass out?' Thoughts of what could have happened racing through his mind goaded him out of the bed. Taking no chances of discovery he quickly went into the bathroom. Soon he was washing his hands in the dark blue sink staring at the face in the mirror again. 'Idiot! How could you just take that shit without a fight?' Splashing water on his face he had no actual memory of the occurances that took place once he'd ended up in Vinny's arms. That memory alone had him grasping the sides of the sink hard, 'Moron! Okay thats it, I don't care what he tries to give me, ENOUGH! Unless he shoves it down your throat just say NO!' Frowning hard in anger at the face staring back at him, Bosco shook his head, 'Yeah so Mikey was right, that shit makes you damn happy. But it also made me want to trust his ass, and that is not acceptable Maurice!' As the memory of his music on X experience as well as the 'birds' came back to him, he was rolling his head and making faces of disbelief, "Oh my god! I can't believe I actually did that!" Slamming his palms on the sink's faucets turning them off, "Catching birds on TVand dancing in front of the asshole Moe! DAM ITT! Boy when God was handing out tolerance levels for this kind of shit I must have been in the wrong line!"
"You okay in there?" Vinny was knocking on the bathroom door, calling out to him. Bosco jumped, wiping his hands and face he called back, "Yeah, I'm fine!" "Okay," Vinny replied, "I heard you talking, you need anything?" "No, no I'm fine," Bosco rolled his eyes at himself in the mirror, touching his cheek checking the stitches, they would soon need to come out, even thought they had been torn again. The new bruises were already beginning to turn shades of yellow and green. His lips swelling beginning to lessen. "Well, alright," Vinny turned and left the room again, "take your time. Coffee's on." Softly mocking him, "Take your time, coffee's on! You freak. Eat Bosco. Sit Bosco. Drink this Bosco. Here Bosco take these drugs, make things easier for you! I only want to fuck you Bosco! Fuck you over, fuck you up, fuck you for real!" Angrily throwing the towel at the mirror, and his reflection, he sighed heavily, "Fucked myself the day I didn't dump his ass as a partner like Sully wanted me too. Wonder how loud ole Sul is laughing now huh Maurice? Can't you just hear him now?......'Told him didn't I Ty? Told Bosco to get away from him, something not right about that guy!'......Yeah you told me Sully, you told me alright." Turning away from the mirror and going to the door, "And as usual Moe did exactly the opposite of what everyone said. Welcome to Moe's fucking himself over marathon, the adventure continues!"
Every night had been the same since. And everymorning. Each day had consisted of Vinny trying to win him over, and making him pay with a knocking around if he stepped over the line to far. And the line always moved just when he learned where it was. And today was no exception.
"Get out the window Maurice," Vinny had taken to calling him by his first name now, Bosco hated the way he said it, but kept his mouth shut about it, "enough with the damn animals." When Bosco only looked at him but didn't move, Vinny reached out, snatching his shirt, "NOW!" He yanked him from the seat, "Here help me pick this shit up. You know I'm tired of you making a mess of this and leaving it." "Fine," Bosco began picking up the CD's putting them back on the shelf carelessly, "you know you're messing with my high Vinny." He giggled, when he was like this not much got through to him. Suddenly he found himself against the stereo Vinny pinning him. "You high is not what I'm gonna mess with." Vinny ran his hand along his hip, "Go take a shower. I've got something special for you tonight. You're gonna love it." Swatting him on his ass he pushed him away, and into the direction of the bedroom, "Move it." Spinning back to him, "Oh yeah? Is it gonna feel as good as this stuff? Cause if it is, maybe I want it now?" Laughing he advanced on Vinny, hand held out. The first couple of days, when Vinny 'forced' the drugs on him, he'd resisted, but after that, he'd stopped. Finding it easier to cope if he didn't have to 'feel' anything besides the intense highs the drugs induced, he started taking it without arguement, and quickly decided to actually 'go along' with him to avoid having them shoved down his throat. That Vinny had not done more than 'cuddle' with him, had given him a 'false' sense of security. Vinny's comments about waiting until he was ready, made him careless now. "Oh love," Vinny grinning shoved him away, "don't worry, this stuff will drive you out of your mind it's so good. Hell you'll be begging for it." Backing up smirking, "I thought that's what I just did!" Bosco turned and stumbled his way to the bathroom. "Oh you were," Vinny quietly replied, turning back to finish the straightening, "only you're gonna be begging for more than drugs tonight." Humming as he heard the shower start, "Yes you will, love, oh yes, and I'm gonna give you everything you beg for."
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Same night:
"Sul," Ty leaned over and tapped him on his arm, "Sully!" When Sully looked up he sat back in the seat, "Ready?" "Huh? Oh yeah, sure," Sully pulled the shift into drive, pulling out into traffic. Having just finished up an accident scene, he wasn't looking forward to returning to the station to do the paperwork on it. "You staying late again?" he asked Ty. "Yeah, you?" Ty returned watching a woman arguing with her child at the corner as they sat at the redlight. "Yep," Sully watched the light, glancing over at the same scene his partner was viewing. His eyes wandering away he spotted a slender dark- headed man laughing with a group of friends as they exited a lounge. Sitting up straighter Sully caught his breath a moment, then shaking his head clear as Ty commented, "Sul, light?" "Oh okay," moving the RMP forward Sully glanced over again, 'damn for a moment'. It seemed like in the last 8 days every skinny dark headed man under 6 feet had him thinking.....but it always turned out to be a stranger. Ty watched him, finally remarking, "You see him everywhere too huh?" Nodding silently Sully let his eyes roam over the faces walking along 5th Avenue as they drove slowly watching for anything out of the ordinary. Hearing a deep sigh from Ty he turned his head, "You ready for dinner?" "Sul, we're going to find him," he found Ty studying him hard. "Yea," Sully turned left at the next intersection, "but in what condition Ty? I've been going over and over in my head what Swersky's contact sent him. Vetresco is one sick pup. If only I'd made more noise, you know?" "Don't," Ty shook his head hard turning away, "don't do this Sul. If anyone had reason to not trust him it was me. Hell even Swersky was taken in. We all were. What I want to know is how in the hell did Chicago not put that shit in his file? Who did he and his father know to get him on the NYPD? That's who's fault this is, not ours, not Bosco's. Somebody's head should roll over this shit. And I mean besides Vinny's." "You're right Ty," Sully nodded firmly, then asked quietly, "you think he's still...." Cut off before he could finish his comment, Ty loudly stopped him, "YES! God yes Sully, he has to be!" "I hope so," Sully added as he pulled up to the diner. "He is," Ty firmly slapped his leg with his hand, "I know it. I can feel it Sul." Facing Ty, Sully gave a small smirk, "From your mouth to God's ear partner, from your mouth..." Before calling in to dispatch that they were taking their meal period.
TBC.....
Rules and Broken Trust Chapter 15
5 Days later:
"Dave," Agent Keith Hampton greeted Swersky as he came into his office, "we just finished another canvas, I think we may have found something." Swersky sat up straight, the toll the last 8 days had taken on him showing in the dark circles under his eyes and the deepened lines on his face. "Dam itt Keith this had better not be like the last 'we may have found' things I've been brought!" The frustration in his voice echoing Hamptons feelings.
"No Dave I think we actually have something here," Hampton dropped into the chair in front of Dave's desk, tossing a folder to him as he did so. "A woman called in today, says she is a waitress at a Steakhouse Bar in Jersey. The night Boscorelli disappeared two men came in to eat. She says both fit the descriptions on the TV and in the mug shots." Swersky sat up straight, at attention upon hearing this news, "And?" "One of the men had stitches under his eye, says he was real nice at first to her, the other guy acted like a jerk most of the time. UNTIL, she said the 'nice' guy; Boscorelli from her description; suddenly started acting like he was 'shitfaced'. Her exact wording." Hampton raised his eyebrow, smirking in sureness he was on the right trail here, " Says he got really rude and then almost passed out in his plate. The other guy made some comment about how he'd tried to warn her about him, then left a huge tip to 'apologize' for his behavior and almost had to carry him out."
"Drugged?" Swersky paled "Looks like it," Hampton nodded, "she said it came on suddenly and she knew he'd only had a few beers. Not enough to make someone pass out like that. The other guy; Vetresco; told her he couldn't handle his liquor, that he was always doing this. She didn't see what vehicle they left in, her boss took care of the table and she went to wait on other customers. She remembered it because Boscorelli and she were flirting with each other and his sudden change in behavoir struck her as odd. She's been out of town for the last week on vacation so she only saw this last night on the news. Came in this morning." "No," Swersky frowned, "I've never heard of Bosco getting drunk and doing this. He doesn't really drink that much to my knowledge. And Davis said that the last few times they'd gone out he didn't drink at all, been on medication for his injuries. I can't see him getting drunk in a resturant. Course you never know do you?" "No, but I've talked to everyone from his Mother to his last partner; Monroe; and no one thinks he's a big drinker. Hot headed as hell but not much on the party thing." He hesitated, then asked, "Is his partner; Faith Yokas; back in town yet? Would she maybe have talked to him before they disappeared?" "No she isn't," Dave looked up from the statement the young woman had given, "I'm not sure they would have talked. Since she got injured they haven't been on very good terms as far as I know. I did contact her to let her know, but she hasn't returned my call. That was 5 days ago. I figure if she wanted to know or had any information that could help she would have gotten back to me by now." "Okay then, " Hampton stood up, "we now know that he took him over the state line, so we can go from there. Officially that is, until now we've kind of been 'coasting' on that one. Avoiding talking to the 'higher ups', and just doing my thing..unoffically." He grinned tiredly at Dave, "Now though I can call in a larger task force, get on it better. Broaden our search grid." "You know," Dave grumbled angrily, "if this had been a child......" "Yeah I know Dave," Hampton empathized with him, "we'd have already been all over it. Talk to you later." Exiting the office he headed down the hall to take care of calling in the search teams.
Swersky sat there a moment, looking off to the file cabinet he'd had Bosco working on. Staring at the much smaller stack of papers setting on top the cabinet than had been there before Bosco spent a week in here working on them. "Please god let him be alive," Dave passed his hand over his eyes, breaking his view of the cabinet, "just let him be alive." Slamming his chair back against the wall with a bang, he stood up quickly. Heading out the door he yelled at the Sargent at the desk, "Morgan! I'm going out for awhile, DON'T CALL ME!" pausing a moment at the doors, "Unless its about Boscorelli!" Without acknowledging Morgans question about where, Dave pushed through the doors and left the precient house, unsure himself as to his destination. Only knowing that he had to get out before he broke something, or hurt someone. Dave was feeling responsible for what had happened to Bosco. He'd been told by several other officers that something wasn't right with Vetresco, and while no one had a clue he would do something like this, the signs were there that a serious problem was developing. Bosco's own oblivious reaction to his partners 'zealous' ways had somewhat clouded everyone's judgement about Vinny, and Vinny's own 'assurances' to Dave only clouded it more. Only Sullivan had remained suspicious, as even Davis whom had been in more than one altercation with him had given him the benefit of the doubt.
Driving along the city streets, not really paying attention to where he was heading, Dave couldn't shake the image of Denver Starkes face from his mind. The sight of that man, looking so much like a slightly older brother of Bosco's haunted him. And reading what they believed to have happened to Starke scared the hell out of him. Dave knew in his heart that if Bosco was still alive he was living in a nightmare. And suddenly the thought of what that nightmare might consist of caused Dave to pull over to the curb. Putting the car in park he put his head down on the steering wheel, "Oh sweet Jesus, just give him strength, just let him get through this in one piece." Dave sat a long time, his knowledge of Bosco's temper and mouth not giving him much comfort at his being able to survive this unscathed. The only thing that did give him some small hope was that Bosco was a hell of alot smarter than he let on, and Dave knew it. Hopefully his 'brains' would override his mouth and temper, and help him survive until they could find him. Dave decided he needed to go home. He'd had enough today, and needed to be with his wife and family. Then he asked for understanding from God and from Bosco that he couldn't deal anymore with this today. Starting his car he headed for his house, hoping his wife would be home, he really needed to be with her right now.
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Same Day:
"Faith," Fred walking from the bedroom into the livingroom of the apartment saw her standing by the window, "just make the call already. You know you will feel better if you do. I don't like the idea of you getting involved with another one of Bosco's problems. But I can't stand to see you mope like this. Here," he handed her the phone, "Call Swersky, now." "Fred," she turned to him, "I told you no yesterday. Bosco's a big boy, he can take care of himself. I can't get involved. I can't deal with anymore of his drama." "Well this isn't exactly the same as last time," Fred laid his hand on her shoulder looking down into her worried eyes, "and I can see you're lying. You know he needs all the help he can get. Maybe you can think of something that the rest can't. I'm not saying go out hunting him down, but at least you'll feel better, and we'll both sleep better if you know whats going on." Smiling gratefully at him, Faith took the phone he offered, "Okay, I'll call Swersky, but, I'm not ready to go in yet." "God I hope not," he laughed softly, "I think you need a bit more time, but if you want to go in for a few hours, look over things....." "I love you Fred Yokas," Faith ran her hand over his cheek, then turned to dial the phone. "Yeah I know," he grinned as he patted her behind and left the room, leaving her in privacy. Fred wasn't happy, but if it made things easier on them all for her to know what was going on with that knucklehead ass of an ex partner, then he would go along with it for now. 'How he gets himself into the shit he does...." was beyond Fred's comprehension. Shaking his head at the mystery of Bosco he went to check on Charlie and his homework project.
"Yeah hi Morgan, this is Faith Yokas, is Lt. Swersky in?" Nervously she paced before the window, not sure if she were more nervous about talking to Swersky or what he would say about Bosco. "Sorry Faith, he's not in, just missed him. Hey glad to hear you're back! You are back aren't you?" he asked as he wrote a message for Swersky about her call. "Well," she smiled, "back in town, but not coming back to work. Not yet anyway, but soon I hope. Could you just tell him I called? Oh and Morgan? Has there been any news?" She knew she didn't have to elaborate, Morgan would know what she was asking. "No," he sighed, "I'm sorry Faith, there hasn't been. The only new thing is we know he was taken across state lines now. But to what state, that's still up in the air. Sorry wish I had more for you." "Thanks Morgan," Faith hung up before she started crying. Hearing it outloud from someone she knew and trusted for the first time in 'person' made it suddenly real. Bosco had been kidnapped by his 'partner' and she knew 8 days was more than too long. What she didn't know was the reason behind it. Not talking to anyone else, other than the inital phone call made when no one was sure why, she was still in the dark there. Sitting on the side of her bed, Faith her head in her hands felt Fred sit down beside her. As he put his arms around her she leaned into him, "I'm sorry honey," he softly said as he brushed her hair back from her face. "Oh dam itt Fred, I swore I'd never get involved or care about anything that happened to him again!" She broke down, "That guy took him across the state line. No one has a clue to where. He's probably dead by now, and..." "And you feel guilty because you weren't there to help him," Fred rubbed her back, "Faith its okay, if this guy was gonna do what he did, do you really think anyone could have stopped him? Besides if Bosco didn't see it coming and he was working side by side with him..." "Thats just it Fred," she sobbed, "he never sees it coming until its too late." Having no answer to that comment Fred simply sat with her looking out the window, holding her.
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Same Day:
"Hey watch it, look at this!" Bosco laughed as he sat in the window at the back of the livingroom. The large picture window was the only one in the entire cabin not 'barred' as it was directly over the dropoff on the side of the mountain, "Its gonna try it again!" He was watching some animal, Vinny didn't know what or care, and he was again high as he did it. When he was like this everything was funny, and extremely interesting to him, and he seemed to forget his situation, and his place. Vinny watching him, as he moved around near the stereo placing things back in order after Bosco's last 'search' amoung the CD's for a song he wanted to hear, shook his head. Bosco hadn't been 'sober' or 'straight' since the night he'd introduced him to Estacy. At least not during the evening and night hours. He spent most of his days in a hangover stupor, sleeping it off and the evenings and nights high, drunk and in a party mood. But he was more than willing to do what Vinny wanted him to do if he was high enough, so Vinny didn't complain. Mostly what Vinny wanted him to do was not act like a scared rabbit, and with the drugs and alcohol he was able to do that. Vinny had introduced him to a wide variety of ways to get high during the last five evenings and nights, and each had produced different effects. His, or rather Vinny's favorite way was X. The mood induced by this drug made him the most cooperative when Vinny wanted to 'get close'. The others he'd resisted him too much. So for the last two nights X had been all Vinny had offered, or rather 'forcefully' encouraged him to take, though 'force' was now an unnecessary word.
The first night, when he'd passed out finally. Vinny had thought that this was it. Bosco was going to 'give in' easily. This was not to be:
"Bosco, love wake up," Vinny rubbed his back as he moved him back onto the bed, "come on now, open those blue eyes for me."
Bosco, groaning moved deeper into the blankets, clasping the pillow now under his face, remained asleep. Vinny reached out, without thinking turned off the light. Sliding into the bed moving close to lie alongside him. Touching his face gently, "Wake up Maurice, come on now, I know you're in there." Swatting at the hand on his face, Bosco knocked Vinny's wrist away from him, unaware that Vinny was even there. Vinny at first grinned, touching him again, but when Bosco hit his arm harder, loudly mumbling, "Leave me the fuck alone, I'm sleeping, asshole." Vinny stopped grinning. Not comprehending that Bosco in his drugged and sleeping state might think he was someone else Vinny grabbed his hand, bending it back and moved over him as he rolled to his back his eyes opening at the pain in his hand.
"Wha.." Bosco waking some startled at the dark and the intense pressure on his wrist now reached up with his other hand and pushed at the body over him in an attempt to move it off of him. Grabbing that wrist also, Vinny yanked on him, Bosco immediately fearful cried out again, his mind groggy in his nightmare state, his words slurred, "Nooo Dad...please don't I won't do it again! Please...don't hit me...I didn't mean it! I won't backtalk Ma again..." Vinny stopped, releasing him backed off him quickly confused now at what Bosco could be talking about. Sitting near him he listened as Bosco now begged for the light to be turned on in the pitch black room. It was obvious now to Vinny he wasn't aware of his surroundings, what Vinny had believed when he came from the bathroom was mistaken. Hearing him ask his father, "Please Dad, don't leave me here, I'm scared. Turn it onnnn.." Vinny rolled across his side of the bed, quickly snapping the lamp on. Seeing Bosco's flushed face and seeing that his eyes were closed, he leaned over feeling his forehead. He was burning up. Frowning at first Vinny suddenly cursed, "Damn, how could I be so stupid!" Jumping up from the bed he ran into the bathroom, returning quickly with a glass of water. Holding Bosco's head, he tried to get him to drink. As the water touched his lips, he tried to turn his head away, but Vinny persisted and once he'd tasted the cool liquid he was soon gulping it down. "I'm so sorry love," Vinny moaned, "I'm so sorry, I forgot about making you drink enough on X. All that playing and dancing around, you're dehydrated, drink." Drink he did, two glasses later Vinny allowed him to lie back and go back to sleep. Sitting next to him, watching over him now Vinny thought about what he'd heard and seen from him. His own relationship with his father while not perfect had been for the most part loving and decent. A pharmacist in Chicago of means and some small power, with family connections going way back, he'd grown up priviledged. At least more so than most. Vinny scowled as he thought about what kind of relationship a man would have to have with a son to cause nightmares and fear so long after childhood. He grew more determined as he sat there to see to it that Bosco didn't have to worry about his safety while he was here with him. Standing he went to the bathroom, scooping up his clothes as he did so. Dressing again, he got a cloth out, wetting it he carried it back to the bedroom. Using it to wipe Bosco's forehead and face as he slept. Soon seeing he was cooler, he draped the light blanket over him. Heading back to the bathroom, Vinny grabbed a blanket from the bathroom closet, snatching up a couple of pillows from the bed, he left the room.
Stretching out on the couch, Vinny lay looking at the glowing coals, unsure now as to what to do to make him trust him. There were two things he was sure of; one, that they were not going back anytime soon, and two, losing him was something he wasn't willing to allow happen. As for the rest, he could be patient. After his previous loss, that was one thing he could be.
Waking up alone that next morning, the other side of the bed obviously not slept in, Bosco rolled over sitting up slightly, quickly looking around the room. Not seeing Vinny around he dropped his head back as he also saw he was still dressed. 'Oh my god, did I actually pass out?' Thoughts of what could have happened racing through his mind goaded him out of the bed. Taking no chances of discovery he quickly went into the bathroom. Soon he was washing his hands in the dark blue sink staring at the face in the mirror again. 'Idiot! How could you just take that shit without a fight?' Splashing water on his face he had no actual memory of the occurances that took place once he'd ended up in Vinny's arms. That memory alone had him grasping the sides of the sink hard, 'Moron! Okay thats it, I don't care what he tries to give me, ENOUGH! Unless he shoves it down your throat just say NO!' Frowning hard in anger at the face staring back at him, Bosco shook his head, 'Yeah so Mikey was right, that shit makes you damn happy. But it also made me want to trust his ass, and that is not acceptable Maurice!' As the memory of his music on X experience as well as the 'birds' came back to him, he was rolling his head and making faces of disbelief, "Oh my god! I can't believe I actually did that!" Slamming his palms on the sink's faucets turning them off, "Catching birds on TVand dancing in front of the asshole Moe! DAM ITT! Boy when God was handing out tolerance levels for this kind of shit I must have been in the wrong line!"
"You okay in there?" Vinny was knocking on the bathroom door, calling out to him. Bosco jumped, wiping his hands and face he called back, "Yeah, I'm fine!" "Okay," Vinny replied, "I heard you talking, you need anything?" "No, no I'm fine," Bosco rolled his eyes at himself in the mirror, touching his cheek checking the stitches, they would soon need to come out, even thought they had been torn again. The new bruises were already beginning to turn shades of yellow and green. His lips swelling beginning to lessen. "Well, alright," Vinny turned and left the room again, "take your time. Coffee's on." Softly mocking him, "Take your time, coffee's on! You freak. Eat Bosco. Sit Bosco. Drink this Bosco. Here Bosco take these drugs, make things easier for you! I only want to fuck you Bosco! Fuck you over, fuck you up, fuck you for real!" Angrily throwing the towel at the mirror, and his reflection, he sighed heavily, "Fucked myself the day I didn't dump his ass as a partner like Sully wanted me too. Wonder how loud ole Sul is laughing now huh Maurice? Can't you just hear him now?......'Told him didn't I Ty? Told Bosco to get away from him, something not right about that guy!'......Yeah you told me Sully, you told me alright." Turning away from the mirror and going to the door, "And as usual Moe did exactly the opposite of what everyone said. Welcome to Moe's fucking himself over marathon, the adventure continues!"
Every night had been the same since. And everymorning. Each day had consisted of Vinny trying to win him over, and making him pay with a knocking around if he stepped over the line to far. And the line always moved just when he learned where it was. And today was no exception.
"Get out the window Maurice," Vinny had taken to calling him by his first name now, Bosco hated the way he said it, but kept his mouth shut about it, "enough with the damn animals." When Bosco only looked at him but didn't move, Vinny reached out, snatching his shirt, "NOW!" He yanked him from the seat, "Here help me pick this shit up. You know I'm tired of you making a mess of this and leaving it." "Fine," Bosco began picking up the CD's putting them back on the shelf carelessly, "you know you're messing with my high Vinny." He giggled, when he was like this not much got through to him. Suddenly he found himself against the stereo Vinny pinning him. "You high is not what I'm gonna mess with." Vinny ran his hand along his hip, "Go take a shower. I've got something special for you tonight. You're gonna love it." Swatting him on his ass he pushed him away, and into the direction of the bedroom, "Move it." Spinning back to him, "Oh yeah? Is it gonna feel as good as this stuff? Cause if it is, maybe I want it now?" Laughing he advanced on Vinny, hand held out. The first couple of days, when Vinny 'forced' the drugs on him, he'd resisted, but after that, he'd stopped. Finding it easier to cope if he didn't have to 'feel' anything besides the intense highs the drugs induced, he started taking it without arguement, and quickly decided to actually 'go along' with him to avoid having them shoved down his throat. That Vinny had not done more than 'cuddle' with him, had given him a 'false' sense of security. Vinny's comments about waiting until he was ready, made him careless now. "Oh love," Vinny grinning shoved him away, "don't worry, this stuff will drive you out of your mind it's so good. Hell you'll be begging for it." Backing up smirking, "I thought that's what I just did!" Bosco turned and stumbled his way to the bathroom. "Oh you were," Vinny quietly replied, turning back to finish the straightening, "only you're gonna be begging for more than drugs tonight." Humming as he heard the shower start, "Yes you will, love, oh yes, and I'm gonna give you everything you beg for."
_______________________________________________________________________
Same night:
"Sul," Ty leaned over and tapped him on his arm, "Sully!" When Sully looked up he sat back in the seat, "Ready?" "Huh? Oh yeah, sure," Sully pulled the shift into drive, pulling out into traffic. Having just finished up an accident scene, he wasn't looking forward to returning to the station to do the paperwork on it. "You staying late again?" he asked Ty. "Yeah, you?" Ty returned watching a woman arguing with her child at the corner as they sat at the redlight. "Yep," Sully watched the light, glancing over at the same scene his partner was viewing. His eyes wandering away he spotted a slender dark- headed man laughing with a group of friends as they exited a lounge. Sitting up straighter Sully caught his breath a moment, then shaking his head clear as Ty commented, "Sul, light?" "Oh okay," moving the RMP forward Sully glanced over again, 'damn for a moment'. It seemed like in the last 8 days every skinny dark headed man under 6 feet had him thinking.....but it always turned out to be a stranger. Ty watched him, finally remarking, "You see him everywhere too huh?" Nodding silently Sully let his eyes roam over the faces walking along 5th Avenue as they drove slowly watching for anything out of the ordinary. Hearing a deep sigh from Ty he turned his head, "You ready for dinner?" "Sul, we're going to find him," he found Ty studying him hard. "Yea," Sully turned left at the next intersection, "but in what condition Ty? I've been going over and over in my head what Swersky's contact sent him. Vetresco is one sick pup. If only I'd made more noise, you know?" "Don't," Ty shook his head hard turning away, "don't do this Sul. If anyone had reason to not trust him it was me. Hell even Swersky was taken in. We all were. What I want to know is how in the hell did Chicago not put that shit in his file? Who did he and his father know to get him on the NYPD? That's who's fault this is, not ours, not Bosco's. Somebody's head should roll over this shit. And I mean besides Vinny's." "You're right Ty," Sully nodded firmly, then asked quietly, "you think he's still...." Cut off before he could finish his comment, Ty loudly stopped him, "YES! God yes Sully, he has to be!" "I hope so," Sully added as he pulled up to the diner. "He is," Ty firmly slapped his leg with his hand, "I know it. I can feel it Sul." Facing Ty, Sully gave a small smirk, "From your mouth to God's ear partner, from your mouth..." Before calling in to dispatch that they were taking their meal period.
TBC.....