Chapter Five

Jackie leads the way up the flight of stairs to the master bedroom. As Alex scans her surroundings, she has to admire the décor of the rooms. She has been in many expensive homes but this one has a warm touch to it, Jackie.

As they reach the top of the stairs Bobby's unusual ring tone sounds. "Bobby, when are you going to change that ring tone?" Alex asks.

"When I figure out how to do it," he removes his cell phone from his breast pocket. "You had to get us a new cell phone plan that included these phones," he hits the talk button, "Goren," holding his finger in the air. "Yes, yes Sir."

Alex taps his arm, whispering, "Ross, is it Ross?"

"No," he sighs, "Of course it's Ross who else would I say Sir too."

"My aren't we in a mood?"

"Sorry," he leans in and kisses her cheek careful that no one is watching. "Sorry, it's this place I think. I'm gonna go down stairs and talk to him. Yes Captain, I'm still here." He says as he descends the stairs leaving Jackie and Alex to venture further down the hall. Jackie takes a quick look around, no Charlie.

"Jackie, I must say that this house is gorgeous."

Jackie nods as she takes a quick glance at the surroundings, "Thank you, I decorated it myself." She says proudly.

"Why am I not surprised." The old friends share a chuckle.

The size of the master bedroom is double the size of her room. Alex remains in the doorway shortly, with her hands on her hips soaking up the scenery. They begin quietly removing items of clothing from the closet. They continue their task when they hear the door close. "Bobby, so what did Ross want?" No answer is heard. Alex turns to the doorway, "So," she looks up.

Charlie is directly beside Jackie when Alex calls to him, "Charlie, you do not need to be here and I suggest that you leave."

Charlie ignores her, "Jackie please talk to me, please forgive me. Don't do this."

Alex dumps the pile of clothes she has in her hands on the bed. "Charlie I made a suggestion to you to leave, I will not ask again."

Charlie turns suddenly pointing his finger at her, "This," he spreads his arms. "All this, you're behind this aren't you, you bitch."

"I've asked you more than once to leave," Alex responds.

"Leave," he scoffs. "You can't tell me what to do. This is my house. I suggest you leave; ah,….what was your name? Jackie is staying here with me."

"It's Detective Eames, Chuck," Alex says sarcastically.

Charlie returns a sneer; Jackie rubs her forehead, "Charlie, no more. No more apologies no more second chances, I'm leaving you."

He walks toward the open closet. "You want to leave, you're unhappy." Grabbing a hand full of clothes, he turns to the women. He is unaware that Alex has her hand on her piece. Tossing the clothes to the floor, "I noticed that you always enjoyed your closet full of clothes and driving around in the Mercedes," he resumes his original position of standing next to his wife.

"Charlie please," she says beseeching.

"Oh, and let's not forget the jewelry I bought you."

"The jewelry you bought me? No, you bought that jewelry to show me off to your friends, you sick bastard."

He pulls his arm back to strike her and a hand grabs his wrist, "I wouldn't do that if I were you," a male voice says.

Not use to being told what to do and forgetting for a moment exactly who this man is, he says, "Look buddy this is my house and I can…" Bobby pulls him closer, "You can what, huh?"

Charlie tries to pull his arm out of Bobby's hold but he cannot, Bobby pulls him closer then tosses him back. Charlie stumbles to the floor, "Alright," he slowly gets up, "Go on Jackie, go. I'll see you in court."

"In court...for what Charlie? I don't want anything from you; all I want is for you to leave us alone."

"I won't have a problem ridding myself of you but not my daughter."

Jackie's eyes widen, "No Charlie, you can't take Rachel away from me."

"I can and I will, remember you have nothing Jackie. I'm the only one who can give her the things that she needs."

"Money, is that all you think kids need?"

Charlie turns to the tall detective. "What?"

"I said," Bobby stares him straight in the eyes. "Money, is that all you think kids need?"

"What would you know about my daughter?"

"A hell of a lot more then you do, but you don't care. You've never cared about her, have you? Hmm," Bobby places his hands behind his back and begins to pace around the room forcing Charlie to follow him with his eyes. "Fill her life with material things, to prove to the world that you can give her everything she needs but you can't give her the one thing that she wants," Bobby wags his finger in Charlie's face. "The one thing that she wants from you," Charlie remains silent; Alex and Jackie have since linked arms. Bobby scoffs, "You have no clue as to what that is, do you?"

"I….I don't have to listen to this." Charlie steps back. His eyes widen, "It's him, isn't it. I get it," he lightly pokes his temple. "Sometimes I am a little slow but I get it, he's the guy." He points in Bobby's direction. "He's the one you've been fucking, isn't it? You know what big man you can have her...but just you wait, all of you. Wait till you see how miserable I make your lives."

Jackie exhales loudly as she turns her back on him.

Bobby tilts his head in Alex's direction and has to smile, Alex returns the smile, "Detective Eames I believe I just heard a threat from Mister Spangler."

"Yes you did," Alex says as she removes a set of cuffs from her belt, "Put your hands behind your back," Alex takes a few steps forward. "Charles Spangler you are under arrest for threatening the life of a, make that two police officers."

Charlie backs up against the wall, "Get away from me! Get away from me bitch!"

A few short strides and Bobby has a tight hold of Charlie's left arm, "Turn around and face the wall," Alex commands. Charlie does not comply quickly enough, Bobby must show him how. Alex hands him the cuffs, as Bobby slaps the cuffs on he leans down whispering in Charlie's' ear. "The next time Detective Eames tells you to do something, little man, I suggest you do it." He spins Charlie around quickly, "Jackie, Alex you finish up here I'll escort Mister Spangler to the car.

Bobby begins to recite his rights as they descend the stairs. Out through the front door and onto the sidewalk. Bobby opens the rear passenger door; as Charlie bends down to enter the vehicle Bobby abruptly pulls him up. "You're shaking, are you scared?"

Charlie stiffens up, "Fuck you."

"You know I'm not sure but there may be a citation I can give you for cursing at an officer."

"Go ahead if it makes you feel important, you civil servant piece of shit."

"Civil servant piece of shit," Bobby repeats as he rubs his chin. "You know I've been called a great number of things in my life but that's a new one." Charlie bends down to enter the vehicle; Bobby once again pulls him back. "I just realized something Charlie, you seem awfully cocky all of a sudden, are you trying to provoke me into something?" Bobby stares him down, "Get in the car."

Back upstairs the women continue with their task, Jackie picks up her jewelry box, "I….no one has ever….Charlie is not use to being treated that way, I must admit that I enjoyed that." She places the box in a carton, "Will he go to jail?"

Alex folds up a pair of jeans, "Only for a few hours and then he will be arraigned."

"Pardon my ignorance, but is it a serious offense?"

"Yes and no, I mean he wasn't pointing a gun at us, it was just talk, big talk from a little man," she nods her head, "Good one Bobby."

"Alex I need to ask you a question, I know Bobby is a great guy and all but he didn't even seem to blink when Charlie called you the B word. I would have thought that he would want to smack the crap out of him."

"He couldn't, he couldn't let Charlie know that there was more to our relationship than just two police officers doing their job. You see someone cussing at your partner is not as bad as cussing at your wife, besides he knows I can take care of myself especially against a coward like Charlie. Now inside, well that's a different story. I'm sure he did something to him at the car, not physical. He's not a physical kind of guy, he doesn't have to be. Anyway, not too many people have tried to mess with him. Don't get me wrong he could beat the crap out of you if he wanted to….but he doesn't do things that way. Words, he's all about words."

One Police Plaza

"I allow you two to go on a routine assignment to help an old friend and you come back with a perp."

"He's an abusive, low-life piece of slime," Alex says as she sits down in the chair closest to the Captain's desk. "He said and I quote, just you wait, all of you wait till you see how miserable I make your lives."

Ross shakes his head, "Not exactly…."

Bobby interjects, "He needed to be taken down a peg of two."

"I agree, let's keep him here for as long as we can. But make sure he gets to contact his attorney."

Major Case Holding Cell

"Charlie you will have to remain here overnight, your arraignment is scheduled….."

"Are you kidding me, get me out of here George!"

"Scream all you want," Attorney George Olsen says. "You don't get it do you? You made a threat to not one...but two police officers."

"Is Jackie here?"

"What? Why would Jackie be here?"

"She's being manipulated by those two."

"No she's not," he says under his breath. George bangs on the cell door, "Charlie sit down and listen to me. You are in serious trouble and …."

"Call my mother; she'll get me out of here."

"Even I could get in touch with her, she's in Europe remember? This is not one of those so-called 'High School' pranks that you pull."

"I have to find a way to get her back," he stands erect, "And I will."

George just shakes his head, "He never listens to anyone." He sighs loudly, "I'll see you tomorrow morning at the arraignment Charlie."

After a conversation with the ADA and no objection from Bobby and Alex the case has been moved to Night Court, where Charlie will plead guilty and George will plead for leniency.

"Your honor," George begins. "Mister Spangler was in an emotional state when he made this idle threat to Detectives Goren and Eames. There were no weapons and the Detectives," he holds up the police report. Bobby and Alex cannot miss the opportunity to witness the preceding and they do not hide that fact from Charlie, when he turns nonchalantly to view the gallery, looking for Jackie he spots them. Alex wants to wave but controls herself, she does smile though. He sneers and turns abruptly which causes the chair to slide loudly across the floor. For a brief moment, the participants in the courtroom turn their attention to the sound. George frowns, and then continues to speak, "In their own words your Honor they were not in a life and death struggle against Mister Spangler."

"I agree Mister Olsen however," he leans forward. "Mister Spangler," the judge directs his attention to Charlie. George nudges him to face the judge, "When a police officer is trying to do their duty and a civilian interferes and becomes hostile as you did in this case they were well within their right to arrest you," he pauses, "1,000.00 dollar fine." He slams down the gavel, "Next."

Outside the Courthouse

Charlie with George close to his side exit the building, as always Charlie seems to be in a world of his own. Sixty four year old George Olsen has known Hannah Spangler, Janssen, Gibbs...husband number four's last name escapes his memory, for over thirty years. He glances at Charlie momentarily shaking his head. He's over fifty years old and still acts like a child.

"I wonder where she's staying."

Charlie's voice startles George, "Huh? What?"

TBC

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