Enjoy! M.
Rules and Broken Trust
Chapter 29
"We're not leaving him here," Ty staring at Swersky challenged what they'd just been told, "no way Lieu! I don't believe a word he said, crap I was there!" Stalking up Sully stabbed the air towards the hallway, "That was NOT Bosco! I don't know what that bastard did to make him say that but..." throwing his hands up, "this is madness. We're not leaving and that's that! Besides! Al says he's still sick remember? You heard him coughing? We can't just go!"
Spreading her hands out on the table as she sat tiredly, Faith spoke, "No, we're not leaving," glancing over at Swersky, "not without Bosco. I agree with Sully and Ty, he's not acting like himself." Giving them no further explanation she pushed the chair back. Rising Faith turned to Hampton, "Get ready for some fireworks, because he's not going to like it. But he's coming back with us, one way or another, I don't care if we have to knock him out and tie him up."
About to reply, Hampton was startled to hear another opinion interjected. "He'll go," Vinny stood just outside the hallway, hesitantly allowing his words to sink in as the eyes of the room turned to him. "He'll go if I go. He's...Maurice doesn't want to be here. He's, he's just..." trailing off unable to get the words out.
"He's just what?" Sully stepped forward, "Huh Vetresco? Scared of what you'll do if he tries to leave?"
For the first time his voice quiet, Sully tried to keep his anger in check as Vinny met his eyes, "Or scared everyone will find out how you drugged and kidnapped him. That would be just like Bosco wouldn't it." His words statements not questions, "Hide instead of letting anyone see he's human just like the rest of us." Giving a sad shake of his head, "I don't know who I want to hit more, you for causing this, or him for not listening in the first damn place! Rather fall on his sword than face reality."
Stopping himself in time echoing Bosco's thoughts from earlier, as Ty said his name, Sully nearly gave away what had happened with Cruz and Faith. Bosco nearly falling on his sword to protect Faith rather than think things out and telling the truth. While that had seemed to have worked out for the best of everyone involved, he had no hope this one would be so easily dealt with. A tired hissing dismissal from him, he turned to walk into the living room, "So, please do tell us what makes you believe he'll leave now? We can't wait to hear what you have to say."
Chewing on her lip, Faith had remained silent as Sully had his say. Now she caught Vinny's eye, "How are we suppose to make him leave without drugging him? Please do tell us. Because I'm with Sully. I know my partner, he'd never be here if he wasn't forced. And I can't for the life of me believe he'd stay now unless he was brainwashed or thought he was protecting someone else."
Swallowing hard, Vinny saw Ty lean towards him, the intense look on his face demanding to hear what he had to say. All eyes on him, as he walked forward to sit heavily in one of the dining chairs, "He does think he's protecting someone. He thinks he's protecting me. Because I did make...I made him come here." Sully stunned, turned to stare again speechless as Vinny continued. His eyes darting to Sully he nodded as he lowered his head, "Just like you said." Haunted eyes rising, taking in Ty for a second, "I jumped Ty, just like he said I did. Then afterward, I told Bosco he was going to meet us at the bar, but, instead I took him someplace I knew no one would guess we'd be, and I told him Ty was meeting us there." Pausing, the ensuing silence heavy in the room, Vinny tried to continue, "He doesn't want, want you knowing, knowing..."
Sully sat hard on the back edge of the couch not interrupting as Hampton stepping forward indeed did. "Vetresco, maybe you should think about a lawyer first. You do realize you are under arrest? Your rights were read to you, twice."
Vinny glancing at him gave a quick nod, "I know. I'm waving my rights." Heart pounding he had to do this before he couldn't do this. Everything in him torn between telling so Maurice would go where help could be gotten. Or keeping quiet to protect Maurice from them knowing what he'd done and to protect himself. Another kind of madness now gripping him, Vinny would confess all. It was as if the monster in him had suddenly turned martyr. And this martyr would die if necessary for the one he loved. Nobleman to Monster a line once crossed over, now crossed back. A line thin to begin with, either direction easily taken when enough pressure is applied.
Hampton motioned to Brown, who walking to a pile of equipment pulled a recorder from a bag. Setting it in front of Vinny, she turned it on, quickly reading him his rights again, and having him state he was waving them, as well as making this confession without coercion. Satisfied she then stated, "Okay, now how about you start over, with your name first."
"Um," Vinny stumbled as the room seemed to close in on him, then taking a deep breath he began his confession, "My names Vincent, Vinny, Vetresco. Two years ago, when I worked as a Police Officer in Chicago, Illinois, I killed my partner, Denver Starke. Here, or near here, at a lake through the trees out there." Pointing to the lakes general direction, "We had a fight, and he fell into the lake. He drowned. I um, lied and told everyone I didn't know what happened to him." Rubbing his hand over his mouth the memories threatening to consume him again, he forced himself to continue, "There was a trial going on, but the charges were dropped when Denver didn't show up. Everyone thought he'd left town. I left Chicago and moved to New York, some strings were pulled and I got a job on the NYPD."
"A few months later, um Maurice's partner was out on an injury, and Lt. Swersky partnered us up. And 2 or 3 months ago, I guess, I'm not sure of how much time's passed, I um, I attacked Ty Davis in the locker room at the 5-5 Station House." Vinny never even noticed the 'lack' of shock or reaction to his confession over Denver. Set on his mission to get this over with, he was oblivious to the shared looks over his head between the Agents and Officers, eyes never lifting from staring at the surface of the table. Continuing, he began to talk faster , when suddenly Hampton stopped him. He'd just admitted to taking Bosco out of the restaurant drugged.
"Ok, stop please," Keith looked over at Dave, "we need to clear this room." Eyes locking, Dave nodded, "Yea, we do." Ignoring their collective protests, Faith the only one not arguing Dave dismissed his officers as Keith did his Agents, including Brown, taking over the recording and interview himself. Ordering them all outside the cabin for privacy's sake, "The shed is heated, if anyone needs something to drink or eat, get it now please." When the room had cleared, Keith nodded to Vinny, "Okay, you took him out to the car." Vinny nodded, "Yes, he was unconscious," head lowered.
Hampton stood going to the sink for a glass of water, returned to set it down in front of Vinny, "Then what did you do?"
For the next hour and a half, Vinny confessed to the things he'd done, as Hampton and Swersky only when necessary interrupted for a clarification on a point. When it was over, Keith read him his rights again, "Now, I'm going to ask you some questions, just to make things clear in my mind. Lt. Swersky is free to do the same at anytime. Do you agree?" A slow nod and they started. Another hour passed as both men pressed him for more information on who did what and when.
Finally it was done.
XXXXXXXXXX
A white faced Dave Swersky stepped outside the cabin onto the side porch. Sully standing just inside in the doorway of the shed spotting him, opened the door wider after telling the others inside he'd come out of the cabin. Meeting him as he stood staring off across the back of the cabin, "Well? What did he say? We were right weren't we." Seeing Dave's mixed emotions Sully paused as Faith stepped up to ask, "Lieu? You okay? What, what did he..." then she realized she didn't know what to ask, or if she should ask. Not for the first time, afraid to ask anything, not sure she wanted to know. Ty at her side remained silent, having been at the mercy of Vinny's violence he had some idea of what Bosco had faced.
Dave glancing their way, "Um, all I can tell you is he did kidnap him. By his own confession he admits to drugging and bringing him out here. Beyond that..." stepping down onto the snow covered ground, he tugged his hat down further onto his head, shoved his hands into his pockets, "it becomes a privacy issue for the victim. I'm sorry, I know you're concerned, but my hands are tied." Walking away from them he added softly, "I need some air, I'm going for a walk. Sullivan come with me. Davis you too. Faith, you're welcome to come, or try to talk to Bosco again, just don't let on..." A bitter laugh erupting from his chest, "not that you can talk to him anyway. He's not going to know, until we are ready to leave." Not waiting for a response he increased his stride. Already waving off Sully's protests as he followed behind, "Not now John! Ok! Just not NOW!" The catch in his voice not lost on any of them as they did as told, Faith not looking back as she went into the cabin.
XXXXXXXX
"NO!! NO, YOU...GOD DAMN YOU VINNY!" Bosco fought Sully and Ty as they held him down on the bed. Screaming out his anger and fear as Lawson sought to administer the sedative, "WHY? I TRUSTED YOU!!!" Twisting under their grips, he was sweat soaked by the time Lawson was able to give the injection. Finished Lawson moved backwards, "Let him go now, just back off guys." As they did so, Bosco lashed out as he lay on his back, trying to hit whomever had held him, "I TOLD YOU ALL TO FUCKING LEAVE!!!" Rage pouring off of him, he reared up from the mattress, throwing himself off of the bed as they backed quickly away, "SONS OF BITCHES!!" His voice guttural in his fury, "Get out, I don't need you to SAVE ME!! God Damn it!" Tears of frustration at his helplessness, again at the mercy of others, he fell to his knees, palms covering his forehead, a scream of pure anguish ripping from him. In seconds he began to rip at the bandages on his face.
"No," Lawson moved in front of Ty, stopping him from interceding, "leave him, he'll be out in a minute or so, longer if you try to stop him. The adrenaline counteracts the sedative." Glancing over at Ty, "This isn't the movies, you don't give this stuff and bam they're out. It takes a couple of minutes. Especially if the person is pissed off like Boscorelli is."
"How long that stuff lasts?" Sully turning away to stare at the door as Bosco's pain became too much for him to take. Knowing they'd just added to it giving him a sick feeling in his gut, "will he wake up in the Jeep?" The idea of dealing with raging bull again, confined in a moving vehicle not appealing to him in the least. "He can be a real ass, not to mention a real handful when he's mad. I don't think you want to be on the receiving end of one of Bosco's 'kick your ass' moments."
"Not sure, but don't worry," Lawson watching as the drug began to take hold. Bosco shaking his head as if to clear it as its effects began to limit his ability to stay up on his knees. His yells down to muttering as he sat on his heels and finally on his rear.
"I'm going to be ready as soon as he does start to come out. If he's not cooperative, he'll just go under again." Hoping that once he was in a moving vehicle, Boscorelli would accept his fate of returning with them.
Another minute more had Lawson moving forward, "Okay, I got ya buddy," catching Bosco as he tilted to the side, "Somebody wanna give me a hand here?"
He and Ty lifting Bosco, who while not completely out yet was unable to resist their efforts, onto the bed. Lawson stepped back, moving to the clothing set out already he moved aside the jacket Vinny had said was Bosco's to grab a sweatshirt. "Alright, now, lets get him ready to travel."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
A week later:
"Hey," Faith kept her voice low as she entered the hospital room, "I thought I'd be here sooner, you know when they took your bandages off. I got tied up with Charlie's teacher. Sorry." Placing a small wrapped box on the tray next to the bed, she hesitantly stood waiting for some response from Bosco.
Slowly turning to her, he nodded, a small fleeting smirk of acknowledgment on his face, "Doesn't matter," his own voice low, "Ma was here. One mother hovering over me was enough." Glancing over at the box, he squinted up at her. His eyes still sensitive to light he was blinking rapidly, "what's that?"
Ignoring his sarcastic remark, she replied with a bright smile, "Its from Charlie and Em. They figured since you might have lost yours, well, go on open it and you'll see what it is." Picking up the box she handed it to him.
Holding the box in his hands, Bosco stared at it a moment, quietly before carefully lifting the lid, reaching inside he pulled out a pair of sunglasses. Holding them up he gave her a puzzled look, "what...sunglasses?"
"Yes," Faith rolled her eyes mentally, keeping her smile in place, "sunglasses. The Doctor said you had to wear them if you went outside, and since no one can find yours, well the kids wanted to help. I know they're just cheap ones. Not like yours, but it was what they could afford. And they wouldn't let anyone else help..." Hoping he'd not reject them, as he'd done most offerings of help over the last few days Faith stood fidgeting with the edge of the tray table.
"I'm sure they'll be fine," Bosco offered quietly, "That was nice of them. Be sure to tell them I said thanks." Awkward silence filling the room again.
"Yea, sure, of course. Well," she sighed, "anyway, I guess everything's okay with your eyes? What did the Doctor say exactly?"
"Why?" suddenly he was giving her a hard look, "Why do you care Faith? Last time I heard, you wanted me out of your life. Fred threatening to kill me if I went near..." Hurt tinged anger filling his eyes, she saw a spark of tears before he shut down again, looking away from her.
"Things change Bosco," neither moving closer nor retreating she held her ground, "I was wrong. Fred was...we both were wrong. I made the decision to be in that Hotel room. I could have said no. And no one made me pull that trigger on Cruz." Her voice catching, "I'd be in jail if you hadn't done what you did. Sully and Ty told me, well they told me more than you did about what you did with that." Swallowing as he refused to look at her, knowing he was hurting, "I would have thought you would have figured that out by now. Bosco, I wouldn't have gone to the cabin with the others if I didn't care." His refusal to look at her frustrating, she moved into his line of sight, "I talked to Swersky, told him that when you come back we should be in 5-5 David again. Together, partners again. If that's okay with you."
"No," Bosco replied forcefully, avoiding her eyes, "it's not. It's not okay Faith." Gripping the sheets tight in his fists, "Cause I'm not coming back."
"Bosco," Faith's shocked outburst bringing his eyes up to hers, "you can't be serious! I know what happened will take a while to get over, but with counseling..."
"NO!" He shouted at her, grimacing a little as his still sensitive ears rang, "YOU DON'T KNOW! OKAY!! YOU. DON'T. KNOW!" Slamming his fist down on the bed, his voice lower but deepened with anger, "God, why does everyone keep saying that! You all act like you were on some mission to save me. For what? HUH? Tell me Faith, for what? So you could blind me? So, YOU could be the ones to drug and force me against MY will to do what YOU WANTED ME TO DO?" Leaning forward now as she retreated slightly, "We were leaving. You understand that yet? How many times do I have to say it? WE. WERE. LEAVING. ON. OUR. OWN. You got it YET?"
"Do you have any idea what they did to him?" Eyes bright with unshed tears he glared at her, "Do you? Jesus god Faith, they brutalized him in that prison! He almost died in there! Then," a wild laugh escaping him, "oh man, then his wonderful partner, the person he was suppose to trust most in this fucked up world is the one who did it to him! Guy seduces him, tells him he loves him, goes to all the trouble of helping him save his cabin, for what? To turn on him as soon as everything gets 'real'? How ironic is that? And faking his death? Oh my god, what kind of sick freak does something like that to someone he claims to love?" A shuddering breath later, "Now what? He's right back where he started. Sitting in a prison cell because he 'confessed' to that FBI shit and Swersky! Vinny's not right in the head Faith! But that doesn't make him deserve to go back there!" Jabbing his hand towards the outside to make his point, "Justice. No thanks Faith, I've had my fill." Turning away, he muttered, "You can go now, thank Em and Charlie for me for the glasses."
Wiping her cheek with the edge of her palm, "I'm not leaving Bosco. And I know he was in a bad place. But that doesn't make what he did to you right, nor does it excuse it."
"Faith," his low tone dangerous, "I'm warning you, don't." He'd not allowed any examination, beyond a general one, that didn't have to do with his eyes, ears or the mild case of pneumonia he'd had. All discussion started by the doctors or by the psychologist concerning his possible abuse at Vinny's hands thwarted as soon as the subject was broached. He'd also refused to change his story about choosing to go to the cabin. Something no one could understand, least of all Faith. Insisting that the pressures of the last year had finally gotten to him, despite Vinny's confession, and Ty's eyewitness accounting of the locker room incident. Even when Swersky had told him of the Waitress coming forward, he'd stuck to his guns. And had pushed everyone away.
Except Faith. Who had refused to leave him alone.
The trip down the mountain, as soon as they'd reached an open enough area had ended for Bosco. Airlifted along with Faith to Mercy, he'd been receiving treatment while the rest were still setting up a camp for the night. Three days later, Vinny was in custody of the FBI and sitting in a cell awaiting arraignment. Something Bosco had been bitterly against as soon as he was able to hear enough to be told what had gone on. No amount of pleading and threats though had changed the minds of Hampton or Swersky. Now he'd shut down and no one except Faith and Rose were able to get in to see him.
Faith had only tried to talk to him once before today, and that had gone equally bad. She'd left it alone giving him time to think about things. Now she feared he'd shut her out completely too.
"Bos," she stepped closer again, "you're right, its not my place. I'm just worried about you. That you might be making decisions too fast. You know?" Patting his leg, "Please take some time to think about this, before you decide. Please?"
Mouth tight, he nodded but refused to look her way again or answer. She tried again, voice gentle, "Can I say something without getting my head snapped off, please?"
"Not if its got to do with me going back too work or seeing a shrink," giving her a glare now, "no."
"No, its not that. Not exactly," watching his eyebrow rise she plunged ahead before he could argue, "I was reading about something, well, I'd heard about it before, just wanted to make sure I knew what I was talking about before I talked to you." Now his brows were lowering into a scowl, and giving him a hesitant smile, she rapidly told him what she thought.
"There's a syndrome, called Stockholm Syndrome. It's where a person, who's forced against their will into a situation, and kept in some type of isolation, maybe with abuse, maybe not. And they develop a kind of attachment, an understanding of the person who has them. They can start to see things from the other persons view, and sympathize with them..."
"FAITH!" Bosco's shout startling her, before he lowered his voice, "I know what the hell it is! I'm a cop remember? We've handled bank robbery victims who did that! Every cop is taught not to fall for the sob story of a perp because of that same thing. And how many of them do just that? Crap Faith, you've even done that, I've done it. Sully, well hell he does it on a daily basis!" Shaking his head in disbelief at her, while his eyes showed fear, "That is NOT what this is!"
"Are you sure," she asked angrily, "are you sure this isn't because you feel sorry for him? Hell after hearing everything that happened to him, I feel sorry for him Bos. But it still doesn't excuse what he did to you! How can you defend that? He drugged you, beat you, kidnapped you, and forced himself..." she stopped suddenly aware of a line being reached and perhaps crossed too soon. The look of guilty blush of knowledge on her face even though she'd had no definite proof, clear to him.
"You don't know what you're talking about Faith," his anger growing, eyes flashing fear and fury, "nothing happened."
"Bosco," she plunged yet on, "if something did you need help with this. You know that. How many victims have we dealt with..."
"Nothing happened!" His voice anxious now, "Nothing, you hear me? Nothing..." suddenly it was as if something inside him snapped, or that's how she saw it later.
"Nothing happened, Faith," his voice rising, not quite a yell, he cut loose on her, "Nothing I didn't want to happen!"
"Bosco," her shock evident, "I don't believe that! How can you say that, you were..."
"Who cares if you believe it!" his harsh tone scaring her, "You all keep asking me, keep picking at it. But you can't take the truth, none of you can! Cause that would mean you were wrong to begin with! Listen closely Faith, spread the word! I wanted it. Okay? I asked for it! I begged on my damn hands and knees crawling across that living room floor for it! In the bedroom Faith, and the shower, hell in the got damn kitchen! Is that what you need to hear to convince you? I wasn't forced Faith...hell I couldn't get enough!" Tapping himself in the side of his head, "You understand now? Got it now? It getting in there why I don't want him in prison? I love him Faith!"
Blood draining from her face, she gulped out, "Bosco, I can't believe that. He drugged you, he made you."
A dismissing laugh from him, "Think what you want, you're always right. Right? Hell at first even I thought he'd made me. You want to know why? Hell sure you do, you always want the why." Staring straight into her eyes, "Because he loved me. ME. Didn't care about all the bullshit. Didn't ask for anything from me. Accepted who I was for just me. No lectures about how I should do or be better." His voice softer now, "Vinny just loved me. Didn't ask anything in return except my time." Completely calm now, as Faith stood tears streaming down her face, wondering again how the hell he could be so lost.
"Maybe I didn't want to go," releasing the sheets from his grip, he now spread his fingers out looking down as he smoothed the cloth under them, "but that was a long time from here. A lifetime ago. He knew I wasn't going to be able to keep it going when we got back. Hell we'd both regained our sanity I guess by then. But I loved him, and I still do, Faith. I can't help it." a hard laugh, "Believe me I've had a lot of long talks with myself on that one!" She stood still, afraid to move, or say anything. Shocked to her feet, she saw he was sincere in his words, her mind unable to connect this man's words with anything she knew about Bosco from the past. Trying to keep up, she glanced away a moment to gather herself as he paused, wiping her face with her hand she took a deep breath as he began to speak again.
"We were leaving when the blizzard hit. And then he got sick, and I got sick. We were just waiting. You know? Until we could travel, and then he's fussing...joking you know? About my constant pacing, so he goes to put on a CD, and we kind of get in this debate about which one and suddenly I'm hit with this bright light, and thunder." Bypassing the fear he felt waking blind and deaf, knowing she'd witnessed it, "Now he's sitting in a cell, and where am I? Same place, hell they've as much told me until I talk to the shrink I'm going nowhere." Glancing at her, "Suicide watch." A small smirk on his face, "Hell Faith, if I was gonna kill myself I'd have done it already. I had access to more drugs than..." huffing, "All I want to do is go home. And make them let him out."
Nearly speechless, she could only stutter, "But Bosco, you're not gay, how..." White faced Faith hearing all he said, her mind whirling with all the words could not get past that he claimed to have chosen to let this happen to him, "you didn't just leave with him, did you?"
A slow shaking of his head Bosco gave a sad smile, "No, no Faith I'm not gay. Never was, never will be. This isn't about that. And don't ask me to explain what it is about, because I can't give you any better an explanation than I just did." Dropping the sunglasses into the box he placed it on the table next to the bed, his voice soft now, "But I'll swear in court that yes, I did go with him by my own choice if I have to. Because I don't run out on my partners Faith. And if it has to come down to everyone knowing what happened, then so be it. I won't be like that sick bastard Starke, I won't send a man to jail because of my pride, he needs help, not prison. He was my partner, and my friend. You remember what that is?"
"Yes," Faith wiped her face, "I do Bos. But are you willing to give up the rest of your life, your career? Having everyone think you're..." She hesitated using the 'gay' word again, "because he needs help? You may have been ready to go to jail for me, even though you didn't deserve that, but this is different."
"No," Bosco stared hard at her, "no its not Faith. No, its not." Leaning towards her, "You shot Cruz first. Because you thought I was in danger, because you thought I was making a move to do it. I got you shot, remember? Because I made mistakes, I got you SHOT FAITH! You almost died because I broke the rules and broke your trust by trusting Cruz. By lying for her to cover our asses. I would have gone to jail to correct that, to protect you, because I messed it all up. How can you not understand covering, helping and protecting your partner? Sully's done it for Ty, and trust me Ty's done it for Sully. Hell I was there. We did it all the time, Faith! Vinny was my partner, and doesn't matter if it was for 12 years or 12 minutes, he was My Partner! He made a mistake and now he needs my help, and that's all that counts."
He couldn't explain to her what had happened to him, how he'd changed. He knew she'd not understand.
"Well," she couldn't think of a single argument that would remove that stubborn look on his face, but maybe she could get him to take the help offered, "if that's the case, then you need to get out of here. And they are only going to let that happen when you do talk to the psychologist. If you don't want to talk to theirs, call the one you had to go to before. Its not like they can tell anyone what you say, right? Just give the all clear for you to leave here."
His quick look at her showing interest for the first time, "I need a phone. Guess they didn't want me calling Vinny or something."
"Sure," she nodded trying to hide the 'gotcha' expression in her eyes, "you can use mine. Need the number?"
Taking the phone, he nodded, "Yea, and Faith?" She was reaching for the phone book, "Yea?"
"Don't look so smug," a small smirk on his face as he snatched it from her to look up his Doctors. number.
"Never," giving him a smile, her stomach still clenched as she tried to put aside the things he'd revealed to her and find her partner among what was left.
XXXXXXXX
Moving slowly into the small room, Vinny took a seat near the end of the square table. A guard walking with him began to attach the chains he wore to the locks on the floor beneath the chair. "You haven't given anyone a hard time Vetresco, don't start today, aright?"
A nervous nod at him, Vinny swallowed hard, unable to answer him. Patting him on the shoulder, the man stood back, giving a quick glance to his left, "Good, I'll go get him. Stay cool man." Another nod and he was left alone.
Cool air blowing in from the vents on the ceiling smelled clean as if it had been fresh brought in from the outside. A distinct change from the air he'd been breathing in the cell he'd been confined to for the last two days. Eyes roaming nervously around the small room, spotting the two way mirror flanking the left wall, he was startled when the door opened.
"Vinny," Keith Hampton smiled as he walked in alone, "you ready for this?"
"Not really," Vinny's low voice shaking, "I still can't believe you, you know? I mean I saw him fall. How could he be alive?" Twisting his hands before him, he pulled them off the table to hide them in his lap, "All this time," glancing up, a lost look on his face, "two years. I thought I'd killed him, he let me think that I'd killed him."
Compassion on his face, Hampton nodded, "I know, that's a long time to carry something like this around. But it is true. He's alive, and I wish there was something I could charge him with. But unfortunately no one claimed on his insurance policies, and not enough time passed for his family to declare him dead. Leaving while a trial was going on, Chicago may have some claims on him there, but its not Federal. Any of the claims he made about your father, and the judge, well, that's just his word now. Your Father having passed on we have nothing. I could have someone look into the Judge, but at this point, that might be a bad idea for you."
"Thanks," Vinny sighed, "I'd rather not, if you don't mind. My Dad being gone, I'd just rather his name be left intact. That whole thing damaged it enough." Staring down at the surface of the table before him, he heard Hampton about to make another comment when the door opening caught both their attentions.
A guard entered moving to stand behind Vinny, followed by a man, then Agent Mason behind him moved in to stand by the door.
Eyes wide, Vinny only registered a barely heard, "Hey Vin, how you doing?" before a loud roaring sound took over his mind. The room seemed to be spinning out from under him as everything began to sparkle around him.
"God," he moaned before Hampton, seeing the blood rush from his face, reached him, "Oh God, its true."
"Head down Vinny," Hampton pushed his head down between his knees as Vinny covered his face with his cuffed hands, "Take it easy, just take slow deep breaths." Motioning for Mason to seat Starke he pulled up another chair to sit beside Vinny, "Okay now? You're okay."
A sobbing laughing cry coming from him, Vinny raised his head to stare across the table, "You're alive. You're really alive..." Hampton his hand on Vinny's back glanced over to see Starke nodding, a nervous smile on his face. A smile that disappeared quickly when Vinny's obvious relief changed to incredible fury.
"YOU MUTHER FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!" Standing, he lunged across the table after him only to be caught up short by the chain locked into the floor. Denver startled at the violence coming from him rapidly pushed away from the table to stand out of reach as both the guard and Mason went to restrain Vinny.
"No," Hampton waved them off, "don't he's okay." Turning to Vinny, "Don't do this. Don't let him do this to you Vincent. Sit down." Carefully placing his hand back on Vinny's shoulder, "Sit."
Ragged breaths torn from him, Vinny glared in near hatred at Denver, any relief he'd felt at hearing that he'd been alive all this time, gone now. All the fear, pain and emotional as well as mental devastation wrought over the past two years combining to overwhelm him as it coalesced into hatred.
Returning to his chair with a hard drop, Vinny could only shake in anger as he watched the guard relax and back off. Denver carefully taking his seat, eyes riveted on Vinny now, "Vin, let me explain."
"Don't," his strained voice showing his feelings clearly, "nothing you have to say can ever change what you did. I've already heard the condensed version, and its sick enough. I wish you were dead Denver. God help me I wish you were dead. The things you did to me with your lies, things that happened to me because of your cowardice, things I did because..." It all came ramming into him then, everything he'd gone through, everything he'd done since.
Turning to Hampton, "I'm going to be sick, I want to go back to my cell, now."
"Okay," Keith stood up quickly, looking to the guard, "get Starke out of here." Motioning to Mason as the guard removed Starke from the room, "get those keys over here, now."
A half hour later, Hampton walked off, away from Vinny's cell. Shoulders tight, he heard sobbing as he left. Glancing over at Mason as he joined up with him, "I really wish sometimes I'd gone into the shoe business with my dad, you know?" Mason nodded as he opened the door to allow Hampton to exit, "Yea Boss, I do."
TBC...