Chapter Four

Hot On The Trail

Wilmington Gun Club

Always the gentlemen Bobby holds the door for his partner, Alex nods as she enters the building, first. Behind the counter is a tall well-built young man. He looks up as the bell on the door jingles. A face full of teeth greets them, "Afternoon, may I help you?"

Two gold shields appear, his eyes widen. "I'm Detective Eames this is Detective Goren. You are?"

He swallows, "Kenny, ah Kenneth Elwell."

"Relax Kenny," Bobby says. "We need to ask you some questions?" Bobby holds up the sketch of Jonathan, "Have you ever seen this man? He may have been acquainted with two of your members, Jacob Allen and Timothy Gavin."

The young man gazes at the sketch intently; he takes it from Bobby's grasp. He looks up, "It looks like Jonathan Fletcher," Bobby notices that the young man suddenly seems nervous.

"What? You remember something?"

He nods, "He was here yesterday he….he found Gavin's wallet, come to think of it," he points between Goren and Eames. "He was standing right there, when I received the phone call from Tim."

"It bothered you for some reason?"

"Yeah." He nods his head. "It's been bothering me because the same thing happened a few days ago to Jacob he was a member here and he….he killed himself, his wife too."

Goren and Eames exchange a glance and a nod, Alex asks. "Jonathan works here?"

"Yes he does, part time."

"Any chance that he is working today?"

The young man hands the sketch back to Bobby, "No sir not on Wednesdays, I think the guy has like three or four part time jobs. He works here and at a few retail stores."

Alex moves closer to the counter, "Do you have an address on him?"

"Yes," after a couple of clicks on the computer the young man rattles off an address. "140 Warren Street, Brooklyn."

Bobby writes down the address, "Thank you, Ah," he points. "Your ID cards do they have photos on them?"

"Yes they do."

"Your employees also?" The young man nods. "Can you print us a copy?"

"Sure," a few clicks on the mouse and a copy of Jonathan Fletchers' ID card appears. He hands the paper to Bobby. "Ah….can I ask what he did?"

Before they turn to leave Alex says, "You can ask."

He nods, "Ok I get it."

"Jonathan Fletcher has another low life quality, pick pocket." Bobby nods his head as he once again opens the door for his partner.

140 Warren Street

"Mister Fletcher it's the police," Alex says as she knocks and then presses the doorbell. No answer. "Can't anything ever be easy? Like the jerk being home."

Bobby laughs aloud, "Of course not." He leans against the porch railing, "Let's use Fletcher's ID card and put together a photo line up for Misses Gavin. If she picks out Fletcher then we'll known if we're on the right track."

Major Case Squad

Alex is once again keying information into the computer while Bobby is on a coffee run. She enters the description of Jonathan Fletcher and after a few seconds a hundred names appear on the screen, she starts to click on the names randomly, mug shots appear. "What a shame," Alex says.

"What's that?" Bobby asks as returns to her side with a cup of coffee. He sets the cup down.

She clicks a few times then grabs for the cup, "Some of these guys are really cute," she clicks on a few more descriptions and photos appear on the screen. "Not only are all the good looking ones married or gay they are also in prison."

He laughs, "Come on it can't be that bad?"

She gives him a look as if to say you've got to kidding me. He smiles and raises his eyebrows, "Yeah I know what you mean," he sits forward and takes a long look at the pictures of three men on the screen, he points. "How about this guy?"

"No he's got a scar, remember no scars."

"No….not for the line up, look," he points to the screen. "He's on parole."

She smacks him on the arm and smiles, "You're funny." He starts to laugh and she has to join him. "God how pathetic is my life," she rubs her forehead.

"Your life is not pathetic," he says softly. She gently pats his arm. Alex sits back in the chair taking a long sip of coffee. "This one," she clicks on his description and a photo appears.

Bobby takes a sip of coffee, "No he's too short even for you."

"Yeah I guess you're right." She laughs as she clicks on another photo. "Here we go this one he has a degree in engineering."

"No," Bobby points. "Look at all the tattoos….think what they'll look like when he's about sixty." A scowl appears on her face as she imagines that sight. Except for their laughter, the room is quiet. Then they hear the voice, "Detectives." They wipe their eyes, Alex whispers, "The party's over." They look up.

"Captain," Alex says. "We're putting together a photo line up for Evelyn Gavin, we have confirmation from a…………" Alex searches her memory for the name.

Bobby says, "Kenneth Elwell." She nods at him.

"From the gun club that a man named Jonathan Fletcher, who matches the description Evelyn gave us works there."

"Good idea; after you put the line up together call Carver and have him meet you there."

They nod as Ross walks through the squad room to his office. Alex clicks on another description and another mug shot appears. "How about this one?" No answer from him, she looks up at her partner who is not looking at the screen but at her, he nods. "Yeah he's a match."

She smiles sweetly, the ringing of a phone causes them to turn away. "Well….that's five." She hits the print copy button on the screen.

"Hey, did you ever find that book or the news article with that photo?" she asks as they walk toward the printer.

He shakes his head, "No, I've checked through my books and it's not in there." He crosses his arms as he leans up against a table, "Maybe it wasn't in a book, damn. I can't remember."

"That picture seems to have made a lasting impression on your mind." He remains silent, she taps his arm.

"Yeah…yeah the man in the photo….he….he looked like my father," he claps his hands them rubs them. "Well, should we visit Evelyn Gavin?"

Alex places the photos in a pile and hands them to her partner.

Brooklyn General Hospital

Bobby knocks gently on the door as he slowly opens it. Evelyn sits up and smiles at him. "Afternoon Misses Gavin, how are you today?"

"I'm a little sore but I'm improving, Detective and it's Evelyn."

"Mis…Evelyn this is Mister Carver from the D.A.'s office." Carver holds out his hand, "I'm very sorry for all of this Ma'am."

"I appreciate that, thank you."

Bobby opens his case, "Evelyn we have set up a photo line up and we would like you to look at these photos and see if any of the men look like Jonathan."

She turns her face away then exhales, "Of course anything I can do to get that piece of shit off the street."

Evelyn picks up each photo and gazes at the faces on the six men. They can see her shutter as she holds up the photo of Jonathan Fletcher. "This one, it's this one."

Bobby moves forward and takes the photo from her hand, "Fletcher his name is Jonathan Fletcher, he does indeed work at the gun club."

"He stole Tim's wallet, didn't he?"

Alex smiles at her perceptiveness, she answers, "Yes we believe he did." They turn their heads when the door opens and Linda walks into the room.

Evelyn holds out her hand, "They found him Linda," she takes a hold of her mother's hand. "They found that slimy mother fucker." Linda is surprised at her mother's use of language but in her eyes and the rest of the people in the room if the shoe fits.

They wish her well and the trio walk slowly down the hall, "Mister Carver," Bobby says. "The victim ID'd this guy, we need an arrest warrant."

Carver nods as he removes his cell phone from his jacket pocket, "I'll call Judge Grimes."

Once inside their vehicle Alex pauses before she places the key in the ignition. Bobby notices her hesitation, "Hey are you alright?"

Alex turns to her partner and smiles, "Yeah I was just thinking about Evelyn," she starts up the vehicle, "She is one brave woman."

Bobby nods his heads, "She sure is."

140 Warren Street

Alex parks the vehicle about 100 feet from Fletcher's door. Two uniformed officers greet them. They have in their hands a warrant for the arrest of Jonathan Fletcher. The taller of the officers hands the paper to Alex.

Once again, Alex knocks then pushes the buzzer. This time the door opens and the photo on his ID card does not do him justice. Alex unconsciously does a double take. He smiles at her, and then she looks into his eyes. She turns away, shivers. Cold. Bobby lightly touches her arm, she regains her composure, "Jonathan Fletcher, I'm Detective Eames this is Detective Goren we have a warrant for your arrest."

Jonathan tries with no avail to look her in the eyes; Alex moves her head continuously to avoid his gaze. Bobby moves forward grabs him by the shoulder, turning him around. "Aren't you going to ask why you are being arrested?" Jonathan remains silent. "Murder," he puts the handcuffs on. Bobby lightly pushes him into the waiting grasp of the two officers.

Bobby takes a step forward, Alex remains. He turns to her, "Alex what's the matter?" She shakes her head as if she was in another place and time. She takes a step forward, passing her partner, "Nothing," she continues to walk. "Nothing Bobby everything is fine, come on let's go."

He follows her and as she opens the driver's side door she says, "Let's bury the mother fucker."

TBC