Thanks for the reviews. As always they are greatly appreciated. Please continue to let me know how you feel about this fic. As always...Rated R.
M. & Angy
Rules and Broken Trust
Chapter 18
One month, 3 weeks after the kidnapping.
The 55 Station House:
"Faith, I can't believe we still can't find that cabin!" Sully pulling on his jacket as he and Ty readied for the streets were talking to her about the situation with the search for Bosco.
"What about that last call in?" Ty asked as he tied his boot, looking over at her as she opened her locker. "Dead end," Faith answered Ty's question first, "the man said that the guy who told him about hitting a dog was coming from the city. We know that they were in Brooklyn at the Steakhouse. Looks like all we're getting is dead ends now." Pulling her vest on she glanced over at Sully, "I've run into so many dead ends on that cabin's owners deed book its not even funny. I've never heard of something like this before. It's like the damn thing was built, sold, torn down, rebuilt and resold several times. And there are so many owners listed, and none of the locations its SUPPOSE to be in even exist! I'm beginning to think that this Vetrestco character did this on purpose or something. It's like hiding in plain sight. His father had a shit load of money and connections. I guess if you want to you can make it impossible to find even a cabin. The last person I spoke to was in Canada. She said that it should be easy to find, until she started looking into it for us. Called back today and said it looks like most of the paperwork was faked. Somebody spent allot of time and money hiding this place. And it didn't start recently, so I'm thinking that his father is the one who hid it. Hell Vetrestco might not even know its so screwed up. But even is he does, its a hell of a good job." "Damn," Sully's quiet reply speaking for them all on the subject of the cabin and Vinny. Ty then broached another subject with her, "Faith, you know that guy Starke? They never did find him did they? I mean Lieu says that his body was never found right?" This conversation had been done before but this time Ty had an idea, "What if and I know its crazy, but what if he's not dead? What if he just couldn't deal with the public trial after what happened? I mean that would be bad enough for a private citizen, but this was all over the news in Chicago, and he was a cop. A decorated cop on the mayors crime team. We saw the newspaper clippings right? They made a damn circus of it because of who Vinny's dad was. What if this Denver Starke just bolted? I've been thinking about it, I'm not sure I wouldn't you know? Just leave? Be kind of hard to face the people at work everyday." Sully was watching him as he talked, then exchanged glances with Faith, "He has a point. What IF this guy isn't dead?" Moving to stand near Ty and her, "Hell what if he is still alive? Damn Faith he went to that cabin to fish and hunt! Isn't that what his Captain said? HE'D sure as hell know where it is!" Ty stood up grabbing his coat but stood holding it watching Faith to see her reaction. Shaking her head slowly, "I don't know guys, kind of a long shot. I mean the Feds looked everywhere for him. Didn't they?" She stopped and locked eyes with Sully, "It wasn't a federal case was it? And since they never really had proof of a murder...it never became one." "Or his father made it go away," Sully clapped his hand on Ty's back, "And if that's the case, maybe Starke is still out there somewhere. Can't hurt to put out some kind of search." "I'm thinking," Ty nodded enthusiastically, "we can contact some papers around the country, see if they'll run a missing persons type of ad or something. Maybe if he sees it, he'll be inclined to come forward to help Bosco?" "Damn Ty," Faith smiled, "you might have a real good idea there. Lets go talk to Swersky about it." "Hey, and don't forget Hampton," Ty headed out behind them, "I know he had to go back to his offices, but I think he should be in on this." "We'll let Lieu call him," Sully remarked, "they were partners at one time. When he was right out of the academy. I think Lieu was his training officer." "Really?" Faith glanced over at him impressed, "Lieu training future FBI agents? Hump! I thought they had to know each other from way back, but it never occurred to me they might have been partners in the PD."
The Cabin:
'How long did I stay in that room? How long did I sit in that bed? Wondering if I'd ever see daylight again? Or my Mother? Anyone? All I could think of was doing whatever it took to get out and into the light again. Anything. That's what I told him. I'll do anything you say. Anything you want. Anything. And I meant every damn word. Only anything didn't matter to him anymore. I'd fucked up badly this time. Yea, like that's a first right? I don't even remember how long it was. Minutes after he left turned into hours. Those hours turned into days. I could have been in there a week, two weeks, a month, I don't know. After the first day, I didn't care. I just wanted out. Oh he brought me food. Clothes, more blankets when the furnace went out for a night. That was after the storm from hell hit. Turned into a blizzard evidently, not that I could see of course. But I could feel that damn cold bastard. Son of a bitch it got cold in that room. He would come in and bring a lantern, refused to let me have so much as a lamp by myself. Would stand in the doorway of the bathroom and make me shave and take a shower every freaking 'morning?' again I don't know, could have been night. When I finished, dried and dressed again he took the light away. And again I would be alone in the dark. But let me tell you something about Alone In The Dark. In my world? There is no such thing. Every demon from my life was there in that room with me. From my son of a bi...my father, to every perp I ever had to take down hard or who took me down hard. Every kid from Jr. High and High School I had a run in with to the men I had to shoot at in Bosnia. But with all those the worst was myself. That demon I couldn't talk into leaving me the fuck alone. That demon was vicious. Relentless. That demon knew every fear, longing, dirty little secret. And he never shut his mouth.
From the candy I stole at Rutgers drug store when I was 10, to the drugs I sold when I was in high school with Mikey. Yeah bet that surprises the hell out of you huh? Bet you never thought I was a supplier of the same shit I put people in jail for now did you? I never got caught. Just Mikey. But in one respect I got smarter. When he got arrested the first time, I panicked. Decided I needed to 'earn a living' a different way. Dumped my stash in the Hudson and stopped smoking the shit too. What? Like I was gonna sell it and not use it? I was 15, Male and from the house of horrors where my parents beat the shit out of each other until I made him stop. He beat us until I was too big for him to come after without fighting back. And you think I wasn't looking for an escape? But like I said, I got smarter. So when I was 17 and Mikey got busted, Moe got out. Hated cops too. Ran from them every chance I got, and just for the fun of it too. Course Mom and Dad had NO idea about their perfect good child. No one but Mikey did really, cause he was the 'front' man for our little operation. When he got picked up, they went apeshit on him. My little brother who could have ratted my dumb and dumber ass out; was my stash he got caught with; kept his mouth shut and took his medicine. I offered to give it up to them, but he wouldn't let me. Said it would kill Mom to find out Moe was just like bad ass Mikey. So we kept our mouths shut and I tried to make it up to him. Ironic how Mikey never threw that back in my face. Especially when I arrested him personally. Or is it?
After I graduated High School; barely; I joined the Army, became a Ranger. Real Bad ass then. Left that shitty life we were living behind. Left Mike behind too though. By the time I came back he was lost. I tried over the years to help him but he doesn't want help. So he's sitting in jail because I arrested him. Now how freaking ironic is that? Mikey in a jail cell I put him in, and me in this prison; that I put me in. And Mikey can't get drugs; well okay he probably can but I like to think he's smartened up some. And Moe can't get enough of them. And even sicker, now Moe is somebody's bitch just like Mikey probably is. See I told you that demon is vicious. It never occurred to me really what my baby brother might be going through in that hellhole until I was in that room in the dark, with all that time to think. Like I said, Vicious.
The Army, now that was a great place to be. I freaking loved that shit. All that training. Loved the weapons, the thrill. Became a real thrill junkie. Hell I guess I still am. The fear you get when you have to draw down on someone who's shooting back. Damn that gives you the same rush of adrenaline as chasing a perp who might have a weapon stashed on him. FUCK YEA! I love that shit! Always have. The part I don't love is having to answer for what I do out there. That part still sucks. Sure I have a conscience, don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about the victim part. I've really loved helping people. The ones that deserve it anyway. Like kids and women who can't stop shit from happening to them. But the rest? The Stupid people? Screw them. I think they all need ... Stupid people. Like me.' Laughs quietly, 'See I told you that demon was vicious. That kept happening. Over and over. I'd get on a tear about something, finally get out of the 'fear' part and suddenly I'm seeing myself like I never saw me before. Can't say I really liked me much either.
Faith. Funny word that. It's my partners...ex-partner's name and yet she has so little of it. Me too. I went to church regular, that's not the faith I'm talking about. I believe in God and that he punishes, and rewards some people. I'm talking about faith in other people. Not much there I can see. Faith had some in me at one time, but I pretty much killed that before I ever got her shot. She's probably still out of work, home where Fred and the kids can see she's safe. I hope so anyway. She deserves to be happy even when she can't see it. She has a great family. Sure they have problems...oh geesh and have I heard all about them. Even when I begged her to have mercy and stop talking about them. Now I wish I could hear one more Fred pissed her off, or Fred rocked her world story from her. One more Charlie hit a home run. Or Charlie wants to go to a Yankees game and Emily wants to go to a play instead, or Emily wants to date some loser Faith wants to shoot with her gun story. As much as I bitch and give her a hard time I really do most of the time love those stories. Well, not the waffle marks on her ass stories...man I hate those! I DO want to hear about my partner having sex like I want to hear about my MOM doing it! Although for the most part her stories also made me think there could be hope for me someday to have a family of my own. My own wife and kids I could come to work and brag and bitch about to her and Sully and the rest. You know when she told me about that abortion I swear part of me died. I can't imagine how Fred took it. How he felt. He was the father after all. Damn did I feel betrayed. At first I'll admit I was upset she lied to me. She made me feel sorry for her. Grieve for her unborn child. And THEN she accuses me of actually doing the same thing! I still can't believe after all our years of friendship she'd think I'd dump some woman off at a clinic somewhere. Does she really even know me? Was our friendship always so one sided? I know Stick dumped me off on her cause no one else would have me after training. I'm aware of how the other cops thought I was a jackass and idiot. Hell Sully made sure of that after I made his life hell as a rookie in his car. Anyway. If she only knew I got wasted that night. When things started setting in and I realized what she and probably everyone really think of me I balled like a little baby myself. I ended up at Mass praying for forgiveness. I found myself Praying for the damage in that family. Praying for myself for my own selfishness at feeling bad for me when she was the one going through it. What did I do to cause Faith to not confide in me? Guess she stopped trusting me. Hell maybe she never did. Who knows, maybe I am the guy who'd dump a woman off at a clinic. She sure as hell thought so.
The demon finally let me alone after...I mean why the hell not right? I have no one else. I don't deserve anyone else. Even my own mother hates me for locking my baby brother up, she won't say it but I can tell. She changed how she looked at me. No wonder no one has come for me. I wouldn't come for me. So who cares what I did or do right?'
"You ready for bed yet?" Vinny walked up behind him, putting his arms around him hugging tightly. "In a little while," Bosco leaned back against him, placing his hands on Vinny's forearms. "I'm gonna sit here a bit longer if you don't mind?" He'd been looking out the large picture window in the living room watching the moon rise. Vinny nuzzled his neck, "Okay, but not too long. Tomorrow we're going fishing remember? Getting up early." Releasing him he turned and walked across the room and into the hallway leading to the bedroom.
Sighing deeply, 'What? Who you looking at like that? Why are you so surprised? Like I was gonna stay in that room forever? I was in there long enough thank you. Like I said, that demon is vicious.' Watching the moon rise up higher into the trees he leaned his head against the side wall of the seat in the window, pulling his knees up wrapping his arms around them. 'Now, I guess you're wondering how I got out of there huh? Well, keep wondering Mr. Moon. That is none of your business. All you need to know is that one day, when he came in with that lantern. One really bad day when the demons had left me screaming and reality checked out one last time? I showed him just what I meant by Anything. So now we play the Bosco loves Vinny game. Because as long as he believes it, I'm as free as I can be here. So you go judge someone else, cause I'm not listening. Besides, the snow has melted some, and I'm getting to go outside tomorrow for the first time since we got here in the Mountainside Mental Ward, so whatever! You just keep right on moving on. Oh and yeah my injuries healed just fine, couple more scars won't matter anyway. And his nose wasn't broken after all; not that I didn't try. But he was right about one thing, those damn blood stains won't come out. No matter how much bleach I scrub them with we can still see them. Hey, like everything else...just cover it up with a rug and it all goes away. Sort of like my life now. Cover it up with pretend and enough dope and booze...hell'd even look good. Hum, my buzz seems to be wearing off.' Reaching into his pocket he took out a small vial. Opening it he knocked a small bit into his hand, 'who needs a fucking straw?' lifting it to his nose he sniffed it hard into his nostril. 'Damn, man that shit is...wow.' Closing the vial again he stuffed it into his jeans. Wiping his nose off Bosco stood up, heading to the bedroom. Turning off the living room lights he looked back at the moon still visible in the upper most part of the window. 'Life's a funny bitch ain't it? Got to laugh at the shit you're willing to do when you realize you're not ready to die after all.' Turning and walking into the hallway to go to the bedroom, pulling the hallway door closed behind him. Reaching the bedroom door he went through. Walking across the floor, he stopped next to the bed.
"Finally decided to call it a night?" Vinny looked up from the book he was reading. Bosco didn't answer him, he just took off his shirt tossing it on the floor. Sitting he stripped his jeans off, standing he tossed them after the shirt. Sitting back down on the bed he pulled on the pajama bottoms lying on the edge of the bed. Picking up the tee-shirt lying next to it, he slipped into it. Standing he turned around and drew back the blankets on the bed watching Vinny watch him. Vinny set the book down on the side table. Reaching up turning his light off he rolled over on his side facing Bosco. Bosco climbing into the bed rolled over to his table lamp lowering the lamp's light. Feeling Vinny reach out for him, he rolled over to face him as Vinny slid his hand up his back... "You're cold, I told you that window is too cold at night." "That's okay," Bosco replied smirking at him as he moved in close, "I know how to get warm."
As Vinny mumbles something to him low, he looks over Vinny's shoulder at the window. Spotting the moon now above the trees high in the night sky, thinking, 'Yeah, real damn funny, I just can't stop laughing.'
California:
A man is sitting in his living room watching TV before going to work at the factory where he welds pipefittings for a living now. He picks up the newspaper, Los Angeles Times. Glancing over the headlines, he opens the front section, casually reading a few lines here and there to see if anything interests him enough to make him read the entire article. Another page turned, then another. Finally settling in to read an article on Gas Price hikes. As he flips the paper downward to catch the light better, he stops. Stunned at the face on the article under the OPEC article. Reading the caption seeing the other two faces next to the first one, he reads the small paragraph under them. There is a phone number with a name attached, or to call the FBI with another number and name associated with them.
His heart racing, he begins to sweat. He feels his throat constrict. The old memories coming to the surface he stands quickly. Pacing the floor he pushes his hand hard through his hair, swiping the sweat from his brow as he does so. Every once in a while he stops and looks out the window, staring at the freeway only yards from his small apartment. Then he looks down at the face in the picture. "Vinny," his voice hoarse with emotion, "oh my god what the hell did you do?"
He is still pacing several minutes later when his phone rings. Hesitating before picking it up, he sets the paper down on the couch, "Hello?" Listens for a moment before answering the caller, "Yeah I saw it. NO I don't know what I'm gonna do. No I just now saw it. Look I can't talk now, I've got to think about this." The caller continues to talk, he responds, "I know what I did okay? You don't have to lecture me on it. Yes I saw that cops face, yeah I guess he does some." The caller speaks again, more forcefully this time, he again responds this time more upset, "Okay yeah so he does ALRIGHT? No. I know it says he was kidnapped. Look he's probably with him on his own. Vinny wouldn't do that." Again the caller speaks, this time softly. He hesitates before responding this time. When he does his voice is emotional, "How would you know? You weren't there, you didn't see the circus it turned into. I don't care what it says! I know he wouldn't do this! Look I have to go to work, I'll see you tonight, we can talk more then." He hangs up before the caller can speak again.
Looking at the picture of the three men, he grabs his lunchbox and gear and leaves the apartment. Leaving the newspaper with the pictures of Vincent Vetrestco, Maurice Boscorelli, and Denver Starke sitting on the couch.
TBC...