My apologies, I was planning on finishing posting this story yesterday but my chickens are trying to kill me again and gave me a bout of chicken poop induced asthma. Posting the right chapter gets to be a bit unnerving when your hands are shaking from using an albuterol inhaler. I hope I wasn't giving anybody a stress headache from stopping at such a pivotal chapter, but I thought it would be a good stopping point before moving on to the next mess our boys have to clean up. Poor Mike's nerves are about frayed at this point. I can't imagine having to go through this while having Lenny's prying eyes on you.
"So what do you want to do about Andre now?"
Lenny's question was quiet and non-judgmental as they returned to the Galaxy, the sun momentarily blinding them on its journey toward the ocean.
Sliding the key back into the ignition, Mike shrugged, before clearing his throat.
"Whether or not we press charges will depend on the outcome of this situation here. If Steve gets hurt, or worse, he'll be an accessory. He'll have a hard time finding a job and paying for his bills before he ever gets old enough to be on his own."
"Seems like another vicious cycle in the making."
"Exactly. And here Doug thought he could stop that by introducing his kids to local cops…first things first though, we've gotta find my partner."
Sighing in deep worry, Mike reached for the radio, attempting to find the right words for his broadcast.
"Attention all units in the vicinity of Stockton and Lombard, this is Lieutenant Stone with Homicide. Murder suspects Al Mulligan and Susan Hamlin are confirmed diseased. Requesting lab crews and coroner to 411 E Lombard Avenue. Please be on the lookout for kidnap victim Inspector Steve Keller and follow the description on the APB. Beware that inspector Keller is possibly under the influence of mind-altering drugs, and is currently considered armed and dangerous. Approach with extreme caution and do not engage until I am on site, I repeat, do not engage."
As the choir of unis responded to his warning, Mike looked through the windshield of the tan sedan, his mind racing as he tried to figure out where Steve could have fled to.
"Go toward the water."
As if to read his mind, Lenny's voice pulled him out of his deep brooding and Mike frowned, before looking over at the Psychiatrist.
"Why the water?"
"Because…if I was thoroughly confused and running from my own insanity, I would go for something that is different. Look down these city blocks, other than East Lombard, everything else leads to more city blocks, more people and more…confusion."
Nodding in understanding, Mike turned the corner and motioned for Lenny to grab the red emergency light off the floor, before attaching it to the roof.
"Sounds plausible enough to me.", the Lieutenant noted, as they crawled down Lombard, checking each nook and cranny for his missing partner, "Maybe your soft science isn't just snake oil and empty promises after all."