Chapter Six
Steve normally was not one to panic but this time he was sweating bricks, for at the end of the incline was a cliff with a four thousand foot vertical drop. He did all he knew to stop but found even the emergency brake was not holding as he had hoped.
He was headed straight for the cliff and just knew he was going to go over. Finally he recalled something he had been told long ago as he saw a growth of small trees off the side of the road that had been planted since he had last been there. He managed to steer in that direction and as he felt the side of his car sideswipe the first couple trees his speed slackened greatly until he was at a standstill. After turning off the key he managed to get out of the car pocketing his keys. He knew he was going to have to walk to call for someone to take his car in. He retrieved the blanket from the trunk of his car and tied it to one of the smaller trunked trees for use as a marker. He set off for the direction of the highway hoping to find a roadside phone booth.
As Steve walked he was once again unaware he was being watched. About a mile and half from where he had to leave his car he found a service station with a phone booth. He felt lucky the phone book was still intact and found the number for Palmer's Auto World and dialled it. His call was answered on the first ring as Ted Palmer had his calls forwarded to his house number.
"Ted this is Steve Keller. I know it is really late but could you or one of your guys bring a truck and come pick my car up? I lost my brakes out at Route 22. It is going to need some cosmetic work on it as well. I only managed to stop by going into a growth of trees."
"I will be on my way in ten minutes, just happen to have a truck here at the house with me. Are you with the car now?"
"No I walked to find a phone I am about a mile and a half from where I left my car. It is a service station called Lovell's."
"I know the one you mean stay there and I will pick you up there. Be there as soon as I can. Steve, don't worry about how late it is. After all you did for me and my family I am happy to do it. See you soon."
"Thanks, Ted see you soon."
After they hung up, Steve thought about making another call and was just dialling when he was grabbed from behind. Despite the fact he struggled, the three that were there were too strong for him. He found himself being held tight by two while one worked him over. Even though he knew he was outnumbered and at a weight disadvantage he still did his best to fight back. He felt fists hard as sledgehammers pounding his ribs and abdomen, after a hit to the jaw that literally snapped his head back he started to lose his sense of where he even was.
They finally let him drop to the ground and got into a dark car and took off. Just as their car was rounding the curve heading back into San Francisco Ted Palmer was coming toward them. When he pulled up at the station he didn't see Steve at first but got out having seen the phone booth and then he heard a soft pain filled groan. Hurrying toward the sound he found Steve crumpled with his arm holding his abdomen.
"Steve, what happened?! Who did this?"
It took a few minutes before Steve could catch his breath as he tried to breathe through the pain. Ted leaned him against the phone booth and kneeled by him keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of the ones that had done this.
"Three guys; don't know who they were. They grabbed me after I hung up with you." Steve gasped out the answer.
"I am taking you to the hospital; you need to be checked out." Ted Palmer was worried.
"No my car, have to get it. I will be okay." Steve tried to convince the older man.
Ted Palmer had known Steve long enough to know how much his Porsche meant to him. He also knew him well enough to know that he would be stubborn about being checked until the car was safely away from there, if he even went then.
"All right, your car first but I don't think not getting checked is the best idea." Ted Palmer gave in grudgingly.
He helped Steve to his feet and got him to the truck. Steve got in on his own but Ted stayed right there to be sure. Once they were under way Steve directed Ted to where his car was left. Despite Ted's protests Steve insisted on helping with getting his car onto the tow truck. It took sheer will power for Steve to manage helping with the car as he was hurting more than he ever dared admit.
He made sure Steve's car was secure and that Steve was back in the truck then they headed back into San Francisco. Along the way Steve gave him a description of how the car had done and all that Steve had done before the brakes stopped working. His brow was furrowed in thought as he heard the details and knew Steve would want answers as soon as possible. His first thought though was to get Steve to a hospital. As he thought, Steve balked strongly at the idea of going to a hospital.
"I will be fine, just a hot shower and a few hours sleep will help. If I am not okay tomorrow I will go get checked out you have my word."
"Steve, if there is something seriously wrong with you and you don't get checked out your partner will have my head."
"He won't know, Ted. I would never tell him you knew."
"You might not but I sure would. I don't want you being seriously hurt on my conscience. I am driving you home if you will not go to hospital just yet. I will let you know about your car as soon as I can take a look at it, that might be sometime midday though."
"That's fine, thanks for coming especially at this time of night. I appreciate it more than you know. I knew it wouldn't be safe trying to drive it back home without brakes."
When they pulled up at Steve's apartment Ted made sure that Steve got inside before he left. He still was not feeling right about Steve not getting checked and meant to follow through on what he had told Steve, if Steve did not get checked the next day.
The next morning came too soon for Steve's liking after the night he had after leaving Jeannie. He dreaded facing Mike as soon as he saw his reflection in the mirror over his bathroom sink. While getting dressed there was a knock at his door, all of sudden he felt tense and drew his .38 as he walked to the door. He cracked the door slightly to see who it was but kept his .38 ready. When he saw it was Mike he holstered his .38 and pushed the door open for Mike as he turned to go get his jacket. He pulled his sunglasses from the pocket of his jacket and put them on hoping Mike wouldn't notice anything. They left after Steve locked the door. Mike could not help but notice the way Steve moved gingerly as he got in the car. He put his hand over Steve's to stop him turning the key.
"Alright, buddy boy what do you have to tell me now?"
"Nothing, Mike. I don't know what you are talking about. Oh, you mean about my car, it's at Palmer's just having a general maintenance check. I thought it was past due so..."
"No, I mean the way you were moving when you got in as well as the way you shoved your sunglasses on inside your apartment. While we are at it when did your car get taken in? You picked Jeannie up in it last night and brought her home in it."
"We are going to be late to work if we don't get going, Mike."
"Then you better start talking hadn't you?"
"I'm fine, Mike."
Mike reached out and removed Steve's sunglasses before Steve even knew what was going on. Steve realizing too late tried to grab them back and Mike saw the damage done by someone's fists. His eyes blazed a dangerous fire, Steve ducked his head slightly. He felt Mike's hand under his chin raising it gently.
"Who did this, Steve?!"
"I don't know, Mike, I swear I have no idea who they were."
"Start talking."
Steve sighed from defeat and finally told Mike everything from the encounter with Meg Sawyer again to the brakes going out on his car and the attack at the service station. By the time Steve finished recounting everything Mike was cold as ice, livid and could not even talk for a minute.
"That's all I know, Mike. I am just thankful I had already taken Jeannie home. "
"Steve, before I suggested. Now I hate to put it this way but I feel like ordering you to get a restraining order against Meg Sawyer. I also think Jeannie should get one as well just to be on the safe side."
"I know Mike and I promise I am listening this time."
"You should have called me, Steve. You need to get checked out and I won't have any arguments about this."
Steve started the car as he knew arguing with Mike this time would be a losing battle even more than the other times he had tried to argue. Steve drove them to Bryant Street hoping Mike would forget about him being checked out. When they arrived they were met by Captain Rudy Olsen and to say he looked impatient was an understatement.
"Well, he doesn't look thrilled, Mike. I wonder what is going on now," Steve uttered lowly as they walked toward the entrance.
"With Rudy your guess is as good as mine," Mike answered quickly before they got too close. "Good morning, Rudy is there something wrong?"
"Did you not get my message Mike?! WE have a meeting with the chief this morning and here you are just getting here."
"Now wait a minute Rudy, Steve and I are here on time and about your message it said the meeting was to be at eleven."
"Yes, it was but they changed it on me. I just got the call the chief is on his way here now. Sorry, Mike I just forgot myself for a moment and lashed out."
"Well, I will get my file for the meeting and be right up to your office then. Come on, buddy boy."
Mike and Steve hurried up to homicide where Mike retrieved the file that would be needed at the meeting. While Mike was gone to the meeting Steve cleared up all the reports that needed done among other tasks. Two and a half hours later he was just about to head out to answer a call when he met Mike returning.
"Where are you hurrying off to?"
"We got a call just now in North Beach. A shop owner found a body in the alley behind their shop."
Once they arrived they found the coroner already on the scene. They waited for him to finish before they spoke to him. Once he was done he approached them and spoke quietly before Steve could see who the victim was.