PLEASE NOTE: Chapter Eight is rated R for offensive language!
After waiting for sometime and much deliberation, Faith decided to leave the House. It was already after eleven thirty and Bosco still had not returned. Normally his delay would have worried her but she knew he was stalling, making sure she'd be gone before his return.
She realized that 5-5 David and 5-5 George had only one joint call during the entire day, resulting in her partner managing to avoid her for practically the whole shift. She wasn't scheduled to work the next two days and knew her apology couldn't wait for a third. She decided to go to Bosco's apartment in the morning and do so then, hoping he'd at least listen to her.
She exited the locker room through the back door and walked the few short blocks to the subway, hating herself for letting her anger get the best of her.
Although Bosco usually took a cab home from work the few times his car was out of commission, he decided to walk the several blocks to his apartment. It was a comfortable sixty-three degrees with a slight breeze. A brisk walk in the late night air could be just what he needed to clear his head. Running would have been even more ideal but awkward with his gym bag.
His squad was the last to arrive at the Station, a feat not appreciated by the RMP's next occupants; however, he wanted to avoid Faith for the time being. He was convinced she didn't really mean the hurtful things she said but he just couldn't get into it with her tonight.
He realized some of the accusations she blurted out in her anger were true at times but surely she and Fred had to know he would never recklessly jeopardize her life, or any one else's for that matter, for the sole purpose of an arrest. His partner's welfare was prevalent to him. Without question more so than his own.
As he neared Finnegan's, he considered stopping at the Irish Pub for a quick drink. One innocent mug of beer could be just what he needed to lift his mood, but it would more than likely lead to the compulsion of several guilty ones, which in turn, would result in him hating himself in the morning. The last thing he needed was to inebriate himself into oblivion but nonetheless, the thought was, for the moment, somewhat pleasing.
He thought back to Sullivan's battle with the bottle. The memory of the mess the senior officer got himself into because of his addiction was enough to keep him sober for life. Even so, at times such as this, alcohol was often the answer to what ailed him, a much-needed sedative.
He reached for the door handle but thought better of it when he remembered his stay at the cabin in the woods that cold, snowy winter weekend with a withdrawing and delusional Sully. The whole experience was a nightmare, one he would never want to repeat at his own expense. He continued on his way as a few zealous bar patrons passed by him and entered the establishment.
His request for a double shift tonight had been denied. He wasn't sure why but assumed Swersky had something to do with it, no doubt the Lieutenant was convinced he needed the time off. He only asked for the over-time to keep up his surveillance of the local convenience stores and markets, hoping for a glimpse of Leonard. Patrolling the sector by cruiser would obviously have been more convenient than on foot.
Now that the killer's identity was known, he couldn't just sit in the apartment and wait for his capture. He had to do his part searching for the mope, if not officially, then on his own. It took months for the break in the case and he hoped it wouldn't take as long for an arrest.
Bosco crossed the street, removing his keys from the bag. It was a long day and he actually found himself looking forward to a couple of days off from his routine schedule. The appealing notion, no matter how minimal, of some rest and relaxation made him feel guilty though since the elusive killer was still on the lose.
Since the Jolly's robbery, his main goal was to be a part in the murderer's collar. The impending arrest and conviction of the much sought after killer was his primary focus. Even though he would never admit it to anyone, the entire situation was finally taking a toll on him. He was physically exhausted and mentally drained. He realized a potentially burned-out cop would be totally useless on duty and an asset to no one, however, until Leonard was in custody, his perseverance was what kept him going.
The City's entire police force was on the lookout for the skel, something he would have been all too enthusiastic to participate in tonight as well, regardless of whether he was in uniform or not, however, without transportation his options were currently limited.
He looked over his shoulder countless times as he walked at a quickened pace. He felt as though he was being watched on more than one occasion during his trek home. Even though Leonard knew where he lived, he wasn't about to change anything regarding his way of life just because of the threats aimed at him by the violent psychopath.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a metal trashcan being kicked around by some teens. He could never understand how some adults didn't know or care where there kids were or what they were up to. He wondered how many of them would wind up with a criminal record, if they didn't have one already.
If someone were following him, the guy was good at being discreet. If Leonard was foolish enough to attempt something, he felt confident that he was ready for him. Perhaps he wasn't up to par, but his instincts had never failed him before.
Bosco climbed the few concrete steps that led to the landing and main entrance of the old brick apartment building. Preoccupied by the numerous recent unsettling occurrences, he never noticed the figure in the shadows creep directly behind him as he entered the first set of oak and glass doors. He was about to check his mail when he felt someone rush towards him.
The unseen assailant caught him off guard as he was pushed from behind into the second set of doors. The force of his body crashing into them caused a few of the glass panels to shatter. Before he could react and defend himself, the assailant pushed his head into the wooden doorjamb hard enough that he felt the on-set of a significant bruise. So much for being prepared, he couldn't help but think. The strength of the individual was unbelievable. He realized his weapon was in the gym bag and he had to try to get to it unnoticed.
He felt the cold metal of a gun muzzle against his right temple as the hand that grabbed the nape of his neck tightened its grip. The more he struggled, the tighter the hold on his neck became.
"Put your hands up, against the door…now!" The angry male voice demanded as he shouted at his captive. "Don't try anything stupid or I'll blow your fuckin' head off!"
The man's face was only inches from his head and Bosco didn't doubt the seriousness of his warning. Dropping the bag, he slowly did as he was ordered. "I don't have any cash on me." The officer stated, remaining as calm as possible.
Not believing him, the assailant checked all of Bosco's pockets himself never moving the gun from his captive's head. "Where's your ATM card?" The crazed individual bellowed.
"I don't have …" Bosco began as the man pushed the gun harder against his already sore head.
The jag-off hesitated for an instant as if he wasn't sure what to do next. Bosco contemplated his options but everything that came to mind didn't seem to be worth the risk. He felt completely foolish for not noticing his attacker before the ambush, however, with everything else on his mind, being the victim of a random robbery would have been last on his list. He was overly confident and feared the mistake would be costly.
"Slowly unlock the door without moving your body…move it!" The man shouted
Bosco had no choice but to obey since the gun was still pressed against his head. He unlocked the door and was forced into the dimly lit hallway where he was pushed against the wall face first.
"Keep your hands up and don't move." He was again ordered, still unable to get a good look at the mysterious assailant who hovered behind him.
Leonard picked up the gym bag and spilled the contents onto the old tile floor. "Don't fucking move or I'll blow your damn head off pig!" He swore as he tore through the contents until he found a wallet and a small caliber handgun. He examined the wallet and put it into his jacket pocket, the gun into his waistband.
Bosco realized the skel knew he was a cop and stole a quick glance at the perp as he relished in his findings. The act was enough to confirm his worse fear. The mope was none other than Vincent Leonard himself. The person he wanted more than anything to apprehend now had a gun on him instead.
Bosco assumed the criminal's life style had taken a toll on him. Leonard appeared much older and more haggard than at their first encounter. The scar on the killer's face was undoubtedly a result of one of his vicious deeds.
Even though Leonard currently had the upper hand, Bosco was sure he could outsmart the punk. All he needed was the opportunity.
"All right…let's go. You're gonna get me a ride out of the City!" Leonard stated matter-of-factly, as his bloodshot eyes glared at the unarmed off-duty police officer.
The casual demand threw Bosco off guard. "What…?" He stated in disbelief. The man who angrily threatened to blow his head off seconds ago now conveyed the demeanor of someone in a casual conversation. He had to be high on something or a complete loon Bosco deduced. He tried to talk the crazed man out of doing something foolish. "Look…how about you give yourself up before things get worse than they already are…it's not too late to…"
"Shut-up Boscorelli!" Leonard screamed, pulling the revolver from his waistband and waving the loaded weapon as he ranted.
He was becoming even more agitated. Not a good thing, Bosco thought, especially for an armed loon.
"You heard me. I'm leaving the City and I need a car to do it in. You're gonna help me get one!" Leonard snapped, once again exhibiting his short fuse. In one of his rare coherent moments, the fact that the authorities were focusing their search on a lone individual was not lost on him. Having the cop with him would buy him some extra time to make a clean get away.
"I don't…" Before he could finish, Bosco was warned his attacker meant business when the murderer once again thrust the handgun into the back of his head. He didn't know how much longer his luck would hold out before the weapon would finally discharge.
"Move it!" Leonard seethed. "If you try anything stupid I'll shoot the first person we come across!" The fugitive warned as beads of sweat covered his forehead. He didn't feel well and the pig wasn't making this easy. "My gun will be aimed at you at all times so think about that before you pull something." Leonard warned as he pushed Bosco out into the dark night.
"No matter what I say, remind me not to volunteer for any more doubles!" Sully announced as he and Davis walked back to 5-5 Charlie with their hot cups of coffee. It was barely one am and they still had another six hours to go on the graveyard shift. "A sixteen hour workday stinks like a load of crap!" He moaned. "The longer we're out here, the worse the stench."
"That's what you say every time Sul." His amused partner stated. "Except for the false alarm at that jewelry store we've only had a traffic stop, one DUI, and one disturbance call. It's been an uneventful shift. Even boring if you ask me." Ty added.
"Yeah well…you know I happen to prefer boring to action packed any day. In fact, the more boring the better! Especially at this time of night." The veteran officer responded with a smirk as he seated himself comfortably in the driver's seat.
Davis wasn't ready to let up. "Where's your sense of adventure?" He chided. "Personally, I wouldn't mind some action to pass the time."
The crackling of the radio interrupted their conversation before Sullivan could offer a witty retort to his partner's statement.
"All available units respond to an armed robbery call at The Lodge Bar and Grill, 1422 Harrington. Shots fired at the scene... two young suspects, one light-skinned...medium build, the other,dark-skinned...approximately six feet tall, seen fleeing on foot and heading west onto .…"
"See, this is what hoping for action gets you!" Sully complained as he poured his coffee out the door and tossed the cup to the car floor while Davis answered the call and put the squad in pursuit mode. "Are you happy now? Shots fired and all!" He continued in his familiar gruff voice as he carefully pulled onto the nearly empty street.
"Oh come on Sul. You'll feel great when we catch the perps. I'll even let you have the collars." The young officer joked, his handsome face portraying the eagerness of someone dedicated to his job. "Listen...I'll even do the report." He added, finally getting a smile from his way too serious partner.
His cell phone rang as the well-groomed man stepped off the elevator. The late hour call convinced him that the problem would soon be resolved. He'd been expecting it and anticipated good news. "Yes." He answered, saying nothing more. It had been agreed a long time ago that names would never be used unless meeting face-to-face.
"Sir…I just received reliable information on his possible location. How would you like me to proceed?" The caller asked, knowing beforehand what the answer would be.
"Proceed as always." The sooner the matter was attended to, he thought, the better. "Good work." He praised his accomplice for his impeccable service and told him to call after the deed was completed. He canceled the call knowing the deadline would be met before his short, although very important journey.
5-5 Edward and George were the first at the robbery scene and gave chase while Charlie's occupants searched the immediate area.
After a thorough yet unsuccessful canvass of the alley, Davis and Sullivan returned to the bar and gathered information from all the witnesses who were willing to offer any. Most of them weren't sober enough to even notice that a crime had occurred until the gunshots were fired. The bartender was the most helpful and agreed to look at mug shots as soon as he could close the establishment.
The pursuing officers returned to the crime seen a short time later, unfortunately, also without the benefit of an arrest. "We lost them...they took off down the subway at 137th. Any luck?" One of Edward's officers asked the interviewing duo.
"No. We did get a good description from Mr. Johnson here though." Sully stated, motioning to the Grill's employee, and silently thankful there were no injuries to report.
"All right Sul. We've been dismissed by dispatch. We'll get back out there and keep a look-out for the two." The assisting officer added as he followed his partner outside.
"See you back at the House." Sully said before turning his attention once again to the barkeep and thanking him for his cooperation. He spoke to the lead detective before leaving the bar and grill and joined Ty outside.
No sooner had he and Davis seated themselves in Charlie and informed Central they were back on street patrol, the RMP's radio came to life with another call. A reported disturbance at 1844, 148th Street. Sully looked at his partner, wondering why the address sounded so familiar.
Bosco and his antagonist roamed the streets for what seemed like hours, when in fact the expedition had lasted a little more than thirty minutes. The killer nudged the hidden gun against his side on more than one occasion. Carlos Nieto and two off-duty paramedics, Bosco didn't know their names, were leaving a bar across the street. As luck would have it, Leonard must have noticed Bosco's apparent hesitancy at continuing down the walk and reminded him to go on with a hard jab into his ribcage. Bosco thought for a brief instant that he could draw Nieto's attention but reconsidered when he realized the consequences.
Another time, as they waited to cross at an intersection, a police cruiser came to a stop at the light. Leonard made it a point to lower his head, the cap's brim shielding him perfectly, as they waited to continue on.
Bosco and the squad's occupants acknowledged each other with a subtle nod, but the urge to vocalize his predicament quickly diminished when Leonard, now standing behind him, casually reminded him that he would shoot both officers' dead in their cruiser before they knew what hit them.
Even though the temptation to solicit help was overwhelming, Bosco knew he had to figure a way out of the mess on his own. The risk to others was too great to chance.
Leonard kept his gun close to his captive at all times. The arrogant fool actually thought he might be able to pull something over on him a couple of times, but he quickly let him know who held all the cards. He wondered if he should have killed the cop when he first laid eyes on him tonight.
He was beginning to realize the pig was more trouble than he was worth. Now he not only had to find a way out of the City, but also a way to dispose of his prey. His brief uncertainty at the apartment building had caused him more problems than necessary. He needed to find a secluded spot to finish the do-gooder off. He knew his luck wouldn't hold out much longer if he didn't act fast. The realization that he would be better off without his hostage was quite satisfying.
Faith slowly awakened from a deep sleep. The knock on the door wasn't a dream after all. It was almost two thirty and she knew the disturbance wouldn't be good news. She quietly got out of bed and grabbed her robe, closing the bedroom door behind her. Fred was sound asleep and she didn't want to disturb him. At least not yet.
She opened the door as far as the security chain would allow and was surprised to see Sullivan and Davis standing there. Her feelings of unease had quickly turned to panic. "What happened?" She questioned, afraid to hear their response. Her first thought was directed at Charlie who was at a friend's sleepover.
"We're sorry to disturb you at this hour Faith but we had to talk to you." Sully voiced, hesitating for a moment as he and Davis entered the apartment.
"What is it Sully?" She asked, her anxiety turning into pure dread.
"We just left Bosco's apartment. There was a disturbance call reported from his building." The officer stated, his concern evident. "There's a lab crew there now. Bosco's gym bag and a few of his items were found discarded at the building's entrance. The front door was damaged and he isn't home. There's an APB out on him and his car. We were hoping that maybe you would have heard from him."
"No…I haven't." She picked up her phone and dialed her partner's number, willing him to answer. "Maybe he had a family emergency or something." She reasoned, trying to reassure herself as well as her co-workers.
Before Davis could respond, the phone he concealed in his jacket pocket began to ring. "Faith, this cell was among the items recovered." The young officer said as he held the vibrating device in a clear plastic bag.
Faith knew it was Bosco's and that it was potential evidence. She also realized that he had been an unwilling participant to whatever transpired in his building. She wished she hadn't left the Station when she did.
"Did you see him at the House before you left?" Sully added.
"I waited for awhile but he never showed." She stated, angry with herself for not waiting longer. "Oh my God Sully…why are the crime scene guys there?" Faith asked, afraid to hear his answer.
Davis looked at his partner, perhaps as a gesture of support. He knew Sully hated being the bearer of bad news.
"Right now, it looks like a robbery attempt gone bad, Faith." He took a moment before he went on. "There were small trace amounts of blood on the door and wall at the entrance." Sullivan could tell her concern was growing by the unsettling news, but he also knew he couldn't hold anything back. She had every right to know what he knew regarding the status of the investigation. "It might not be as bad as it looks Faith." He said, trying to sound encouraging, even though he didn't believe it.
"Wait for me while I change." She quickly left the room never giving the two officers a chance to reply.
After almost an hour of searching, Leonard's quest for a mode of transportation had proven futile. The few opportunities that arouse were too risky to chance. He had to find a more reclusive location to accomplish his task. He noticed they were close to Riverside and the perfect idea dawned on him. The pier area was a virtual goldmine of parked cars. The crews of various shipping carriers were often gone for days at a time. It was the ideal place to get some wheels. He'd be long gone before anyone realized their vehicle was missing.
He once heard that car thieves never even bothered to steal anything from the piers because no one ever left anything of value to take. Because of that, surveillance was at a minimum. He'd find out soon enough if the rumors were true. Even though he'd never hot-wired a car before, he was sure he could figure it out.
The pier was also secluded and a perfect location to get rid of his hostage. He watched Boscorelli with renewed animosity. Little did the pig know he had a very short time left to live.
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