Thanks for the positive and welcoming feedback. Here's chapter 2 & 3 of this little WHB story. I do plan to carry it up to when Mike and Steve visit Stell.
Steve looked down at the ten dollar bill in his hand.
"You go get 'em and I'll pay. Okay, Buddy Boy?" Mike asked nicely. Not waiting for a response, he returned to his office and shut the door.
Steve nodded and slowly turned, afraid that the errand boy treatment he felt earlier with Gus's case was continuing. They had returned from the still under-construction BART station with suspect Fisher in tow, escorting him to Processing before returning to their offices where several hours of documentation preparation awaited them. Steve's back was sore and beginning to stiffen, but he dared not mention that to his superior. It was better to keep the report as clean as possible.
About two hours into the report writing, Mike emerged from his office with a sandwich request and crisp Hamilton bill.
With a sigh, Steve left the bullpen and began the trek to the diner across the street for a couple of Ruebens. After exiting the elevator on the ground floor, he was lost in thought and did not hear his name being called.
"Steve….Steve baby" he finally heard. He turned around as Lieutenant Devitt caught up with him.
"Oh, hey Roy…"
"I've been trying to catch up with you," Roy said breathlessly. "How'd it go?"
"You mean the arrest? Well, we got him."
"Is there any doubt?"
Steve shook his head. "You mean about Fisher? Nah, he did it. We had some black and whites search his apartment. They found the hosiery described by the jeweler. And then there was the scuffs on his shoes, worn patches on his knees and better yet, the witnesses at the craps game when he returned with the $400. Oh – and the gun. After the ballistics test, that should cover it."
Roy nodded. "Well, that good progress and perhaps some closure for Stell. Umm….how's Mike doing?"
Roy noticed a slight flinch when Steve heard the question. "Okay, I guess. He's got to feel some relief that he caught the guy. It doesn't bring Gus back, but it's all that he can do I guess."
"Where 'ya headed?" Roy inquired as he watched Steve's reactions. "Over to Sparky's for some takeout?"
"Yeah, a couple of sandwiches for Mike and me. I'd better go before he puts an APB out on his Rueben," Steve said, turning without a smile.
"It can wait – let me walk with you and let's grab a coke or something over there. I want to hear more."
Great, Steve thought. How am I going to explain being late to Mike?
"He'll hardly notice your tardiness. I think he has a lot more on his mind, Steve."
Steve squinted at Roy, wondering how he read his mind. "You know how Mike is about tardiness - although maybe it's just me. Okay, let's take a break."