Fogerty Memorandum
Part 2:
"Up Around The Bend"
Joe's father had been shot and now he had been pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital. Now, Joe's sister had just been reported missing and Sharon was going to bring Joe the bad news, much to Brenda's annoyance as she had begun to develop feelings for Joe, besides Sharon. How will Joe handle the news? Find out!
(Flashback to part one)
Joe had just finished filling out the report, when Sharon came in and shut the door. She had a very stricken look on her face.
"What's the matter, Sharon?" Joe was thrown off by the look on her face.
"Joe, I think you should sit down." Sharon's voice sounded as if it was going to break.
(Now)
"What do you mean I need to sit down? I have to get to the hospital and fast!" Joe had a confused look on his face.
"Joe, please." Sharon put her hand on his shoulder.
"Sharon, what on God's earth is going on? Why can't I go and see my father?!" Joe slightly raised his voice.
"Joe, the hospital called and...I'm so sorry that I have to be the one to break this to you, but...your father...passed away." Sharon tried her best to hold back tears.
"What? No!" Joe was in complete shock.
"He was pronounced dead on arrival of cardiac arrest after succumbing to his gunshot wounds. I'm so very sorry, Joe." Sharon's heart was broken for her former boss.
"Oh...my...God!" Joe burst into tears and collapsed to the ground.
Sharon knelt down, hugged him, and rubbed the back of his head in comfort. Brenda looked through the window of the door and pouted at seeing Sharon having Joe in her arms. By the look on her face, it was clear that Brenda wanted to hold Joe in her arms and comfort him. To her, it wasn't fair that Sharon managed to somewhat snag him.
Inside Brenda's mind
"How dare Sharon snag him from me?! Then, again, she knew him longer, but, still I like him a lot and I wanted to comfort him! No fair!"
*I get a strange look on his face*
"Brenda, what's the matter with you?! You don't know this guy from Adam and you're falling for him?! You're crazy! This man just lost his daddy and you shouldn't get too push, even if he is irresistible!"
*I roll my eyes*
"There you go, again! Control yourself, Brenda Leigh! Self-discipline!"
Outside of Brenda's mind
Brenda was still staring into the glass of the door, when Sharon glanced up at her and stood up, leaving a crying Joe on the ground. Joe grabbed her ankle and cried into it, as Sharon made her way to the door. However, Sharon managed to get Joe to let go of her ankle and opened the door.
"Yes, Brenda?" Sharon asked.
"I was just wondering if Chief Fogerty would like to tell us of anyone who he thinks would want his daddy killed." Brenda was clearly lying through her teeth, despite her efforts to control herself.
"Brenda Leigh Johnson, you're not fooling anybody. I know exactly why you want to go in there." Sharon closed the door.
"You-You do, Cap'n?" Brenda looked as if a stun gun had hit her.
"Yes, you want to go in there and comfort him." Sharon said, in a lighthearted manner and opened the door, "Go ahead in. He won't bite. Plus, I need to get a roll of brown paper towels, because, as you can see, he has gotten my shirt wet with his tears and his face might be tear soaked.".
"Yeah...ummm...OK." Brenda went to walk in, but, quickly turned to Sharon, "By the way, remember you mentioned Jennifer Fogerty?"
"Yes, what about her?" Sharon asked.
"She has been reported missing." Brenda told her.
"Dammit!" Sharon shook her head, before going off to get the roll of brown paper towels.
"Chief Fogerty?" Brenda knocked on the open door.
"Y-Yes?" Joe looked up and brushed the tears away from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry about your daddy." Brenda knelt down beside him and put a comforting hand on his back.
"It-It's O-OK, Ch-Chief J-Johnson." Joe couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"You can call me, Brenda, if you'd like." Brenda rubbed his back in a circular motion.
Joe was crying so uncontrollably that he still couldn't get a word in edgewise and began to cry harder.
"Oh, darlin', take it easy. You're going to start hyperventilating, if you're not careful." Brenda held Joe close to her and put his face in her chest.
D.D.A. Andrea Hobbs was walking down the hall when she stopped in her tracks, after seeing Joe and knowing that she too had feelings for him, she stood out in the hall with an annoyed look on her face, after seeing Brenda put his face into her chest. Soon enough, Sharon returned with the roll of brown paper towels and walked past Andrea. She stopped and also got an annoyed look upon seeing Andrea there and when she saw Brenda doing what she was doing. Sharon cleared her throat in order to get Joe's attention and to let Brenda and Andrea know that she was there.
"Joe, here's the roll of brown paper towels in order to dry your eyes." Sharon came into the room.
"Oh, thank you, S-Sharon." Joe sat down on a chair, grabbed a piece of the brown paper towels, and dried his eyes with it, before blowing his nose, which resulted in a honking sound similar to the "Three Stooges" whenever one of them would get hit on their nose or blew their nose.
"Brenda, I believe you have something to do." Sharon said in a sassy tone, before turning to Andrea, "And D.D.A. Hobbs, I believe you're here for something."
"Yeah, I uh am here to say hello to Chief Fogerty and to give him my condolences, of course, before we can get down to business." Andrea nodded.
"Well, I need to tell Chief Fogerty that-" Brenda was interrupted.
"Wha-What do you need to tell me?" Joe started to calm down.
"Your sister, Jennifer, has been reported missing by a neighbor. I'm so sorry to inform you of that as well, Joe." Brenda had a solemn look on her face and rubbed Joe's shoulder.
Sharon and Andrea weren't liking that a bit, since they too had feelings for Joe. To them, this was competition, but, they knew that they had to control themselves, since Joe was going through a hard time.
"My sister was reported missing?" Joe managed to calm himself down.
"Yes, Chief Fogerty, I'm so sorry to inform you of that, besides the passing of your daddy." Brenda rubbed Joe's shoulder.
"Joe, as hard as it is going to be, we need to ask you a few questions, just to see what you know." Sharon gently informed him.
"Sure, anything. I'm willing to do anything in order to solve my dad's murder and find my sister." Joe nodded.
"OK, we'll give you time to control yourself, then we'll get down to business on what you know." Andrea patted him on the shoulder, while glaring at Brenda.
"We'll?" Sharon got a weird look on her face.
Outside of the room
Fritz, Pope, and Flynn got a glimpse of the three women surrounding Joe and rolled their eyes, letting out annoyed sounds at the same time.
"So, begins the competition." Pope muttered to himself.
"Competition for that guy?" Fritz raised an eyebrow.
"Do you know who that guy is, Fritz?" Pope turned to the younger man.
"No. Who is he? Besides, a "chick magnet"?" Fritz said with a lot of sarcasm.
"He is former Chief Joe Fogerty, Brenda's and my predecessor." Pope told him.
"That big hulk was our chief?" Fritz looked completely blown away with surprise.
"Yes, he was our chief. He ran this place with an iron fist." Pope nodded, while watching the three women take turns talking to Joe.
"To this day, even after his retirement, he STILL holds an authority-like hold on this place. I mean after all, his family was in the public service for a long long long long time." Flynn chimed in.
"Wow! That's...uh...that's very impressive. I'll have to introduce myself to him, once Chief Johnson, Captain Raydor, and D.D.A. Hobbs give Chief Fogerty room to breathe." Fritz was impressed by what he was hearing.
"Like that'll ever happen." Pope gave Fritz the "don't count on it" look and folded his arms.
"Whaddya mean?" Fritz gave him an odd look.
"Well, Brenda looks like she is hitting the hots for Fogerty, while Andrea and Sharon have had feelings for Fogerty for a long time." Flynn raised his eyebrows.
"Well, I'll tell you both right now, if Fogerty was going to choose one of them, it'd be Sharon, because, he reciprocates her affections." Pope said with confidence.
Flynn looked a little annoyed after Pope said that, but, quickly covered it up with a stoic expression. Finally, Sharon came out of the room, escorting Joe to the interrogation room in order to get what he knew about the murder of his father and the abduction his sister. While passing by, Pope and Flynn froze up and saluted him, earning a salute back from him. Fritz got another strange look on his face, as he was confused to why Pope and Flynn froze up when Joe passed by.
Inside of the interrogation room
Joe sat down and looked around the room, remembering the days he took people into that very room and interrogated them. This brought back good memories, because, he'd scare the answers out of the suspects, sometimes. He started to remember a specific time back in 1972.
(Flashback to September 11, 1972)
It was late at night. Joe had just found one of the main suspects for the murder of 17 year old Joanna Margolis and her unborn child. He pushed him into the interrogation room. The suspect was 18 year old Xavier Lombardo. Very suspicious looking fella.
"OK, Lombardo, you know why I brought you here and especially, like this." Joe pulled up a chair and sat in front of the young man.
"Yeah and I'll just start off by saying that you're wasting your time." Xavier snarked.
"I figured you'd say that, because, you've been saying that a lot, but, what doesn't really make sense is that your story, excuse me, alibi isn't checking out." Joe fired back.
"Whaddya mean? I told you everything, officer." Xavier put his feet up on the table.
"Yeah, but, you left out one key point and that was the fact that you had killed Miss Margolis." Joe pushed Xavier's feet off of the table.
"I DID NOT...kill her." Xavier pounded his fist.
"Oh, spare the theatrics and spare the excuses, you were the ONLY one who was with her last and the last one to see her alive, so, that obviously means you are the one who sodomized, raped, and killed her and you know you did it!" Joe raised his voice.
"For the 100th and millionth time, I did not kill that bitch. Sure, I hated her for dumping me and even wished her dead, but, that don't mean I did it." Xavier wasn't going to let up.
"LOOK, KIDDO, WE CAN DO THIS ALL NIGHT IF YOU'D LIKE, BECAUSE, NOBODY IS LEAVING UNTIL I GET THE TRUTH! YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO STANDS OUT AND WHOSE ALIBI DIDN'T CHECK OUT! SO, BEFORE, YOU TRY TO MAKE UP ANY MORE STORIES, LET ME JUST TELL YOU THE FACTS AS THEY ARE: SHE WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND, YOU TWO HAD SEX, YOU CHEATED ON HER AND WANTED THAT TO BE "HUSH, HUSH", SHE ENDS UP PREGNANT, YOU'RE BANGING ANOTHER GIRL BY THE NAME OF PHYLLIS BENTON, YOU FIND OUT ABOUT JOANNA'S PREGNANCY WITH YOUR CHILD, YOU WANT OUT, HOWEVER, YOU CAN'T FIND A LOGICAL WAY OUT, SO, WHAT DO YOU DO? BREAK UP WITH HER? NO, OF COURSE NOT. YOU DON'T WANT YOUR ADULTEROUS BEHAVIOR TO BE REVEALED TO HER." Joe, who had been yelling this whole time, took a few minutes to take a few breaths.
"Look, I get that I am not a saint and I committed infidelity, but, I did not kill Joanna out of malice. She started getting all crazy and-" Xavier was interrupted.
"And so, the story changes! A minute ago, you said that you had nothing to do with her murder and now, you're saying that you killed her out of self-defense! You just have to make her look like the bad one, don't you?! How original!" Joe paused, again, "For God's sake, she was pregnant and defenseless! She didn't attack you! You lured her to the Biltmore Millennium Hotel under the circumstance that you were going to surprise her and ask her an important question. Well, the question was never asked, because, you had no intentions on asking her anything! Your ONLY move at that point was to terrorize, dehumanize, and execute her! Yeah, you made your move, right after she said that she wanted to be married to you. You pushed her onto the bed, ripped her clothes off, and proceeded to sodomize and rape her, thus dehumanizing her. She probably asked, "Why? Why are you doing this?!", as she was fighting for you to get off of her. Then, you grabbed your butcher knife and proceeded to stab her multiple times, before, you started punching her belly, trying to destroy the unborn child. Afterward, you stopped, believing she was dead, but, she wasn't, so, what did you do? You did what any killer does; you dragged her to the bathroom, filled the tub with water, and HELD HER HEAD UNDER THE WATER UNTIL SHE WENT LIMP!".
"I DID NOT!" Xavier looked like he was about to cry.
"YOU KILLED THAT POOR GIRL AND THAT POOR UNBORN INNOCENT CHILD! YOU TOOK INNOCENT LIVES FOR YOUR OWN SELFISH NEEDS!" Joe gave him a death glare and looked as if steam was about to come out of his ears, "However, as a final humiliation, you performed an act of necrophilia, then you posed her in a suggestive way on the bed, before, taking all of your clothes off, changing into new ones, and going over to the Benton girl's house, getting into bed with her, and acting as if nothing had happened, even though, she may have seen blood in your hair and scratches all over you. You most likely gave her the story of a feral cat jumping onto you or your pathetic self-defense excuse. Now, what excuse will you tell now?".
"I was in a life or death situation and I had to choose my life or hers. I didn't want to, but, my instincts kicked in." Xavier tried this last excuse.
"Yeah, I agree there was a life or death situation, but, you caused it and took innocent lives and I'm not going to be stupid and agree with you, because, I know exactly what happened and I know that poor girl and that poor unborn child will never have a chance at life, because, of your selfishness. I'm on the side of justice and history will NOT be kind to you!" Joe gave him a second death stare, "You are a sick prick! You're no different than the Manson family, Rodney Alcala, Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck combined, John Wayne Gacy, and the coward who killed Elizabeth Short!".
"Oh, you mean that whore who goes by the name, "The Black Dahlia"? If you ask me, she was a whore who got what she deserved." Xavier laughed.
"Listen to yourself, you have no respect for women, actually, you just have no respect! I loathe people who don't have any inch of respect within them. That poor girl, Elizabeth Short DIDN'T deserve what happened to her and you know what? They STILL haven't found her killer to this day and they never will! Elizabeth Short and Joanna and that baby should be alive right now and so should all victims of murder, but, sadly, they're not, because, of scumbags like yourself!" Joe's anger was really starting to show.
"Like I give two shits!" Xavier laughed, again, "That bitch can rot in hell and so can that demon child!".
Joe, extremely enraged, jumped across the table and started strangling Xavier. Luckily, rookie Officer Andy Flynn, his partner, Jim Blair, and Sergeant Sharon Raydor came in and broke up the struggle between Fogerty and Lombardo.
"Hey! Hey! Fogerty! Fogerty, come on, snap out of it! Fogerty! Fogerty, let 'em go!" Jim managed to pull Joe off of Xavier.
"Joe, Joe, take it easy!" Sharon helped Jim pin Joe to the wall.
"Get that son of a bitch outta here and arrest him for the murders of Joanna Margolis and her unborn child!" Joe was red in the face.
"OK, Fogerty." Flynn nodded, turned to Xavier, and pulled him out of the interrogation room, "Come on, dirt bag!".
"I'm innocent, brother!" Xavier protested, as he walked out, only to briefly turn to Joe, "I'LL GET YOU, FOGERTY! MARK MY WORDS, I'LL GET YOU AND WHEN I DO, I'M GONNA KILL YOU!".
"Threatening an officer?! Now, that'll be another crime added to your record!" Flynn pulled the young man out of the room.
"What the hell?!" Jim looked at Joe.
Joe wasn't paying any attention.
"Hey! I'm right here, Fogerty!" Jim slapped Joe across the face.
Joe looked at him in disbelief.
"What the hell is the matter with you?! What the hell got into you right this minute?! What gives, Joe?!" Jim couldn't believe that Joe was nearly killing Xavier.
"That kid is a sick bastard! I hope they throw the book at him!" Joe still had the death glare in his eyes.
(outside of the flashback)
Sharon called Joe's name out about 20 times for what seemed like an eternity. Joe snapped out of the flashback he was having and looked at Sharon, sporting a lost look.
"Joe, are you alright?" Sharon asked.
Joe continued to have that lost look in his eye, still remembering the night he brought Xavier Lombardo in for the final time and later had him arrested for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Joanna Margolis and their unborn child. The Margolis murder still bothered him to this day, along with the Black Dahlia murder.
"Cap'n Raydor, is Chief Fogerty alright?" Brenda walked in.
"I don't think so." Sharon shook her head.
"Huh?" Joe finally snapped out of it.
"Chief Fogerty, you alright? Looked like, we lost you there for a moment." Brenda put her hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm good. I believe I have an idea who killed or had my father killed and had my sister abducted. There's somebody who's in prison and wants to settle an old score with me for putting him behind bars, years ago." Joe started.
"Oh, and who might that be?" Brenda asked.
"Xavier Lombardo." Joe said with a lot of disdain and disgust in his voice.
After hearing that name come out of Joe's mouth, Sharon tensed up and felt her heart begin to race.
"Cap'n Raydor?" Brenda turned to Sharon.
"I remember that case like it was yesterday, even though it happened on September 11, 1972." Sharon also started remembering the case from start to finish.
"From the tones of your voices, it sounds like the crime was brutal and deeply scarring." Brenda took notice of this.
"I was there, too." Andrea shut the door with her foot.
"Any hoo, how long was Lombardo sentenced?" Brenda ignored Andrea.
"He was sentenced to death and was put in San Quentin." Joe scratched his head, "I think he got executed. I certainly hope!".
"No, he didn't. He's still rotting in his prison cell." Sharon shook her head.
"So, Chief Fogerty, no disrespect or anything, but, Lombardo is in prison, so, it would be impossible for him to-" Brenda was quickly interrupted.
"He could've had someone on the outside do it. He goes that way a lot. I know, because, he tried to have me killed multiple times." Joe reminded the three women.
"Did you just interrupt me, Chief Fogerty?" Brenda firmly asked.
"I'm not the first or last, Miss Brenda Leigh Johnson." Joe sounded like a typical father or older brother.
Brenda winced at the mention of her full name and immediately backed off. Sharon and Andrea both smiled, clearly showing that they were glad that their former chief put their current chief in her place.
Outside of the interrogation room
Fritz and Pope were taken aback at what had just happened, while Flynn remained unsurprised. The surprised duo knew that nobody, not even Sharon or Andrea, ever did that to Brenda, especially, mention her full name and make her to back off almost immediately.
"I still cannot believe that just happened." Fritz tried his absolute best to not laugh.
"Nobody's ever done that to Brenda. Not even D.D.A. Hobbs or Captain Raydor." Pope chuckled, "Nobody's ever made Chief Johnson back down that fast."
"Why are you two so surprised?! Nobody's ever questioned Fogerty like that! Nobody's ever dared or even supposed to." Flynn gave them a look of confusion.
"That is true, Andy, nobody has ever questioned Joe Fogerty like that, but, I've never seen Brenda back down like she did, as if he was a commanding officer putting an insubordinate cadet or private in their place." Pope nodded, "Oh ho, I remember the time Fogerty got on me for coming to work late and nearly screwing up a case."
"Fogerty got on anyone who screwed up, came late, or was disorganized. Well, just about anything." Flynn got a look of admiration on his face, "That's what I respected about him!"
"In other words, if I showed up late or was a bit disorganized and if Fogerty was still our Chief, well, in Brenda's position or yours Pope, he'd get on me?" Fritz asked, curiosity filling his voice.
"Let me just say..." Flynn paused and put his hand on Fritz's shoulder, "God help you, if he found out!"
"Wow! I don't get why people like and idolize him, since, he was such a hard ass!" Fritz got a weird look on his face.
"Look, he may have been a hard ass police officer and chief, but, at the end of the day, his heart was in the right place and he was just trying to help you put your best foot forward and keep going. So, underneath that hot-headed personality of his, you knew he was looking out for you and wanted you to succeed." Flynn explained.
Meanwhile, back inside the interrogation room
"Chief Fogerty, I'm sorry I came off like that. No disrespect was meant." Brenda said with remorse.
"Ah, don't worry bout it, Brenda. I'm sorry I snapped at you, it's just...well, you know, losing a loved one you are close to...well, it's hard and...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that, then again, snapping is in my nature and it runs through my veins." Joe was in between feeling a little bad and shrugging it off at the same time.
"No hard feelins, Chief Fogerty?" Brenda extended her hand.
"Nope." Joe shook her hand.
"Anyways, how many times has Lombardo had someone make murder attempts on you?" Sharon quickly changed the subject
"About 15 times. I know it's him, because, after he was arrested that night in 1972, he said, 'Mark my words, Joe Fogerty, I'll find you and when I do, I'm gonna kill you!' to me and so far, he means it." Joe took a deep breath, "You know? I would love to go to San Quentin and have a little talk with him."
"You sure, Chief?!" Brenda gave him an odd look.
"Joe, could you run that by me again, because, I think I heard you say the most crazy thing in the world!" Sharon was caught off guard and taken aback, even putting her hand on her chest.
"Yeah, Fogerty, no disrespect, but, did you just lose an inch of your mind? Again, no disrespect or anything." Andrea was in total shock.
"No, I'm serious, Sharon, Chief Johnson, and D.D.A. Hobbs. I'm dead serious. I want to go see the very criminal I nearly killed in 1972. It'd be good to pay a visit to an old foe." Joe looked all three women dead in the eye.
"Chief Fogerty, I don't think-" Brenda was cut off, again.
"Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, with all due respect, it is a good idea and I want to handle my father's murder and my sister's kidnapping my way. The Fogerty way. I mean Lombardo had my father killed and had someone abduct my sister just to get to me and possibly lure me into a trap. He's been planning it for a long long time and now, he's finally done it. So, instead of letting your team stall on this investigation, I'll take it over." Joe's voice sounded deeper in a non-human fashion.
"Chief Fogerty, my team used to be your team and I don't want to sound rude, but, we don't do or allow vigilante justice. I'm sure you didn't either." Brenda gave him a look and folded her arms.
"Who said anything about vigilante justice?" Joe looked perplexed, "Are you accusing me of wanting to commit murder, Brenda Leigh Johnson?!"
"No, not at all, Chief Fogerty. I am not accusing you of anything. I-I just insinuated that you were going to become a vigilante, because, of the look in your eyes. I'm sorry if I offended you." Brenda backed off, yet again.
"Good, because, it's very offensive and insulting to accuse someone of something when clearly you don't know what they are planning. Also, I accept your apology and if you do not mind, I'd rather be going up around the bend to San Quentin." Joe made a move for the door, but, stopped and turned around, "I may need someone to accompany me, because, it could get very lonely."
"I'll go." Brenda, Andrea, and Sharon all said in unison.
"I nominate Sharon." Joe motioned for Sharon to follow him, as he walked out the door.
"OK." Sharon followed Joe.
Brenda and Andrea got sad, yet, annoyed looks on their faces, clearly showing that they were annoyed that Joe picked Sharon and bummed that they didn't get to accompany him.
Inside of Brenda's mind
"Ah man! I wanted to go with Chief Fogerty! Darn!"
*I raise an eyebrow*
"Then again, maybe it's a good idea that someone is going with him, because, I have a feeling that he may become a shadowy vigilante and exact revenge! Still, did Cap'n Raydor have to go?!"
*I look over at D.D.A. Hobbs and my blood began to boil*
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about the dead weight standing to my left. It's bad enough that I have to compete with Sharon, but, with Hobbs, too? That's unfair!"
*I then realize that I am not acting like my rational self*
"OK, Brenda Leigh, control yourself. Maybe Chief Fogerty is just going to have a word with Xavier Lombardo. Yes, he'll just chat with him. Then again, why did he pick Sharon of all people?! I mean thank God he didn't pick Hobbs, but, why Sharon? Why not me?!"
*I roll my eyes*
"OK, Brenda Leigh, like you said before, control yourself. Chief Fogerty is going through a hard time and it isn't the time to be competin' for him, although, he is good looking and irresistible."
*I nod*
"Yeah, he is good looking. Very handsome and he was our chief! Ooh la la!"
*I shake my head*
"OK, behave yourself! Don't make any sudden moves! Remember, Brenda Leigh, self-discipline!"
Outside of Brenda's mind
Brenda was still standing there, fantasizing about Joe and thinking about how good looking he was, while Andrea was shooting her a death glare, somehow, knowing what Brenda was thinking about. However, it didn't take long until Andrea walked out of the interrogation room and stopped in the hallway to watch Joe and Sharon walk out the front door together, hand in hand. This made Andrea's blood boil.
Inside Andrea's mind
"Not fair! How dare Captain Raydor put her hand Chief Fogerty's hand and how dare Chief Johnson make goo goo eyes at him and argue with him?! He knew way better than she did!"
*I realize that I am not behaving like myself*
"OK, Hobbs, you're not acting like your usual self! Come on, grow up and control your hormones! You're not in high school anymore! Then again, you've always liked Fogerty and that's where your rivalry with Sharon came in."
*I put my hand on the wall*
"How can I not have feelings for Fogerty?! He was and always will be the best police chief we ever had! He tops Brenda Leigh Johnson and Will Pope combined!"
*I get a disgusted feeling*
"Blah! Why did I think that?! Oh yeah, because, they had an affair back in Washington."
*I shudder*
"Gross!"
Outside of Andrea's mind
"Hobbs." Provenza called out.
"Huh?" Andrea snapped out of her trance, completely dazed.
"You need something?" Provenza asked, trying hard not to notice her strange behavior.
"Uh...no...I was just...going back to my office." Andrea walked back to her office, real fast.
"That was strange. Then again, it's Hobbs." Provenza shrugged and walked off.
Inside of the interrogation room
"Brenda. Hey, Brenda!" Fritz came in and waved his hand in front of her.
"Ah! Yes, Fritz?" Brenda was startled and looked as if she was caught doing something that she wasn't too proud of.
"You alright?" Fritz asked.
"Yeah, I'm good." Brenda was clearly lying.
"I saw that you met the former chief." Fritz pointed out.
"Yeah, so?" Brenda looked at him.
"Looks like a nice guy who tends to be a hard ass." Fritz shrugged.
"Fritz, shame on you for calling Chief Fogerty a hard ass. He is a nice and charming guy." Brenda lightly slapped Fritz on the shoulder.
"I just said he looks like a nice guy." Fritz chuckled.
"Well, he is and to be honest, I kind of like that little tough mean streak he has." Brenda had a smile forming on her face.
"Yeah." Fritz had a weird look on his face and shrugged.
Outside of the department
As they were walking to his car, Joe and Sharon were reminiscing about old times and more about their lives since he retired and she became captain, but, it wouldn't be long until they started talking about the possibility that Xavier Lombardo was somehow involved with his father's murder and sister's abduction.
"So, Joe, the Lombardo case still haunts you?" Sharon asked.
"Yes, because, he has kept trying to have me executed and because, I still cannot get over the way he murdered Joanna Margolis and her unborn child. I mean talk about over kill. I mean her murder reminded me of the murder of Elizabeth Short also known as the Black Dahlia. Luckily, Phyllis Benton came to me, so, that I could arrest Lombardo." Joe nodded.
"I wonder whatever happened to the Benton girl after Lombardo was put behind bars." Sharon looked off to the side for a brief moment.
"I don't know, because, you never heard from nor saw her again, after the trial. I hope she's alright. Hey, speaking of people we never saw nor heard from, whatever happened to Blair, after I retired?" Joe scratched his head.
"He left the LAPD and went to San Diego. Where have you been staying after retirement?" Sharon put her hand on a pole.
"I've been up around the bend a lot. Stayed in Modesto, Barstow, Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, Indio, Fontana, Anaheim, Murrieta, Visalia, Redondo Beach, and Folsom. Also, Fresno, Susanville, Bodega Bay, Santa Monica, Buena Park, Montebello, and Santa Fe Springs, before, coming back to Los Angeles. You can say that I traveled." Joe chuckled.
"Yes, you've been everywhere and I think you just mentioned a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival." Sharon nodded.
"What? Up around the bend? Oh, yeah, I almost forgot that "Up Around The Bend" was a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival." Joe laughed, "Well, how are you and Jack Raydor doing?"
"Not so great. I am in the process of either an annulment or divorce. How about you and Melinda?" Sharon rolled her eyes.
"Eh, I'm finally divorcing her, despite, being in the hellish marriage for about 37 years." Joe's demeanor changed.
"You're finally divorcing her?! Why didn't you divorce her then? Also, if I may ask what has happened that you are finally pulling the plug? What happened?" Sharon was flabbergasted.
"Well, what was the last straw was when she started physically abusing me, after I considered an annulment due to the fact that I caught her in bed with another man. I told her that I couldn't deal with that and our constant fighting. However, she tried to talk me into not divorcing her and made promises that she would never be unfaithful to me. I thought about it and gave her a chance, but, she ruined it by coming home late one night with a hickey on her neck. Instantly, I knew what had happened and I left to a motel that night. The next day, I came back with annulment papers and in a flash of fury, she slapped me across the face, thus starting the abuse cycle." Joe paused to take a deep breath, as it was hard to relive those memories.
"Oh my God, Joe! Why didn't you say anything or consider a divorce, since, she didn't take the annulment suggestion so well?" Sharon put her hand on his arm.
"Do you honestly think a divorce would've been a great idea back then? I don't. I mean it would've gone public and it would've turned ugly. Plus, you know how the media and the press and the papers are, they'd eat it up and it'd be the town gossip. Also, people would take sides and nobody would've believed that I was a victim of domestic violence. Everyone thinks women are the only victims and they wouldn't believe for a minute that men were." Joe gave her a look, "I didn't want to go through what dad went through, before, his marriage to mom. I mean the press ate it up when he and his first wife were in a bitter divorce. I didn't want to go through that and he didn't want me to go through it, either. Hell, the times that the police were called after a domestic incident left me bruised and bleeding, I didn't want to press charges and make a big deal and surprisingly, the officers and everyone else respected that."
"Wow, Joe, I-I'm so sorry you went through all of that hell." Sharon hugged him.
"Went? I'm still going through it, because, Melinda ain't giving me a divorce that easily. She is the clingy type, like a Coyote that won't let go of its prey. I mean once she sinks her teeth and claws into something, she won't let go without a fight and that's what she's doing. She won't grant me the divorce without a fight. We separated right after our honeymoon!" Joe was clearly frustrated by everything, "Now, I have a funeral, a rescue mission, and a meeting with the possible mastermind on my plate, besides the divorce and my ex-wife being a scorned bitch about it! What more can be thrown at me?!"
"Don't worry, Joe, it'll all get better. Believe me, it will." Sharon's heart was broken for Joe, after hearing all of that, as she could tell that he was frustrated and overwhelmed.
"Well, let's go have a talk with the possible mastermind behind this." Joe got into his car and drove off.
Sharon got into her car and followed Joe. Once they arrived to San Quentin prison, they introduced themselves to the guards, and let in almost immediately. The warden by the name of Robert Danzinger, a dark-haired gentleman, about 45, came out and led them to where Xavier Lombardo's cell was. It wasn't long until they saw Lombardo for the first time in decades and it didn't take either of them long to recognize their foe.
"Warden, why'd you bring them here?! Especially, Fogerty!" Xavier pointed at Joe.
"They have some questions they'd like for you to answer, Lombardo. So, if I were you, I'd get going to that room over there." Robert motioned for the guards.
The guards came, handcuffed, and chained Lombardo up, before, taking him to a room. Once inside of the room, Lombardo sat down in one chair and waited around for either Sharon or Joe to come inside.
"Well, which one of you will go in?" Robert asked.
"I will, because, I have some things to straighten out with him." Joe cracked his knuckles and headed straight inside, but, was stopped by Robert, "What?!"
"If I were you, Joe, I'd be careful. He is dangerous." Robert warned.
"So am I." Joe had a death glare in his eyes.
"If he gets frisky, yell out for help." Robert patted him on the back.
"Trust me, if anyone will be screaming, it'll be him." Joe went inside.
Robert shut the door and went over to the window to watch the interrogation take place. Sharon followed him and stood by his side.
Inside of the prison interrogation room
Joe and Xavier stared each other down for a really long time. They both remembered each other real well and what had happened the last time they saw each other.
"Hello, Joe Fogerty. I'm seeing your face again, after many years." Xavier said with disdain in his voice.
"Lombardo!" Joe growled.
Uh oh! How will this meeting go? Will Joe lose his cool this time?!
To Be Continued...