Chapter Nine
Line….
It has been five days since he sent his last email…She has yet to respond.
One Police Plaza Garage
He hears a women's voice cussing and a sound, as if someone is kicking a tire. He turns the corner to find her. "Hey Alex," he calls to her. "What's the matter?"
"Damn piece of," She bites her lip. "I just got it back and it dies again."
"Would you like me to take a look?"
"Thanks for the offer but the idiot from the garage said that he'd be here in forty-five minutes," she checks her watch. "That was an hour ago."
They turn their heads when they hear a rattling noise; it is an old beat up tow truck. He parks a few spots from her, opening his door he jumps out, smiling, "Detective Alex."
"Not now Lewis I'm not in the mood," she says sharply.
Walking past her speaking softly, "Sorry, Alex."
She pats his back, "It's alright, I'm….I didn't mean to snap at you."
He looks up at her and a faint smile crosses his face, "I saw him yesterday, he…."
Alex holds her hand up, "Lewis not here and not now I don't want to talk about Bobby."
Nodding his head as he pops open the hood, he messes around with the engine for a few minutes, and then opens the driver's side door. He turns the key, nothing. Poking his head out the window, "It might be the starter, I'm not sure."
He exits the vehicle, closes the hood then returns to his truck. Minutes later her car is hooked up and ready to go, Alex opens the passenger door of the tow truck, "Lewis, what's with the seat?" She takes a hold of the arm and it moves freely back and forth on its own.
"Sorry Alex but it keeps coming off the track."
"You expect me to sit on this?"
"Alex," he taps her shoulder, "I'd be happy to give you a ride."
"Thank you Tom, I'd really appreciate that." Closing the door, "On your way Lewis," she waves to him.
"Ok I'll call you in the morning when I've had a chance to look at it."
Nodding her head, "Sure, sure, thanks Lewis."
"This way," he extends his arm. "My car is over here."
As she follows him she pulls out her cell phone, speed dial, "Hello."
"Hey Dad," she says with a lilt in her voice.
"Are we ready?"
"Yes," she pauses. "My car died again, I was hoping that you could do me a big favor and pick up Robby from daycare?"
"I'll be there."
"Thanks Dad."
The Goren Home
Tom pulls the car over to the curb, "Thanks Tom," she says as she opens her door.
"No problem," he replies. He hears her call his name as he exits the vehicle.
"Bobby," he walks onto the sidewalk. "Bobby, what are you doing here?"
"I want to see Robby."
"You're not supposed to be here and I don't want to see you."
"I said I want to see my son, not you," crossing his arms in a defiant pose.
"I'll let you see him tomorrow, now go home."
He takes a few steps forward and looks down on her, "You'll let me see him tomorrow?" She looks up into his eyes, he flashes a quick smile, she pushes him back, he staggers a bit but remains standing.
"You've been drinking, you promised me yesterday that you were going to get some help, have you?"
"I never promised you a Goddamn thing."
"I don't want you here, Bobby."
He grabs her arm, "You don't want this and you don't want that," pulling her closer. "Who the hell do you think you are? Telling me what to do."
"Let go of me," she pushes on his chest. "You're drunk."
"I'm not drunk." He says as he pulls her close once again.
A hand grabs his arm, "Goren, come on man leave her alone."
Bobby pulls his arm out of Brown's hold. "Let go of me, I'm talking to my wife." Bobby steps back and points at them, "What is he doing here?"
"My car died and Tom was nice enough to drive me home."
"Are you sure that's all it is?"
"Oh, Jesus Christ Bobby," she rubs her forehead as she exhales.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
Shaking her head as she looks up at him, "I'm not even going to respond to that."
"You're not going to respond to that, why?" He wags his finger at them, "Because it's true."
"Bobby please stop it, you're thinking crazy."
"Crazy, oh now I'm crazy, that's what you think?"
"No," she shakes her head. "Bobby," she says slightly sobbing. "Please go home I'm not going to ask you again." She turns her back on him.
He grabs her arm, "Let go of me, that hurts!" He releases his hold and steps back lowering his head. "Bobby," he keeps his head down.
"Bobby, look at me," she asks softly.
He slowly raises his head, "My father is going to be here with Robby any minute now, I suggest that you leave." He remains still, "Bobby do you really want to visit with Robby….now?" her voice cracks, "Please go home."
Alex turns slowly and jogs up the walkway, unlocks the front door slamming it behind her. Bobby sits on the curb, pulling a cigarette out of a crumbled pack. His hand shakes slightly as he lights it, tossing the empty pack on the street.
Tom stands over him, "Ah, hey can I give you a lift somewhere?"
He shakes his bowed down head. He stands suddenly, dropping the cigarette then smashing it out with his boot. He begins to walk.
Tom watches him for a minute or so then gets in his car, after Bobby, turns the corner he drives slowly down the street. He watches him as he removes a key from his pocket and opens, which he assumes is his apartment door. Tom parks his car in the lot across the street, looking up he sees a light go on in the apartment over the bar.
Putting the car in gear he is out of the neighborhood heading for home.
He checks his emails, sitting in his 'junk mail' is an unfamiliar name, he clicks it open, instructions for their next meeting.
She meets him downtown, lots of people. "Are you starting to trust me?"
"Talk, tell me. What's been going on?"
A feeling of joviality runs through him, he shakes his head surprised at the feeling. "She's kicked him out of the house."
Nicole stops walking, grabbing his arm. "Say that again."
"She kicked him out."
Nicole begins walking, smiling from ear to ear, "I knew she would, she is not strong, not at all."
"She said that he's been drinking a lot and flying into rages. Wouldn't take him back until he got some help, which from what I saw, he hasn't."
"Saw what did you see?"
"Alex had some trouble with her car and I gave her a ride home, she is very sweet, can easily see what Goren saw in her."
"What are you babbling about?"
"Nothing, sorry, he….he showed up at the house wanting to see his kid, the guy was drunk. Alex told him to go home before her father came by; she said that he was bringing their son home. I guess he's a little intimidated by her ole man and he seemed to realize that in the condition he was in he shouldn't be around his kid."
He has lost his job, his home, wife, child and the respect of his father-in-law, perfect. She smiles to herself, grabbing Tom's arm. "Do you have any idea where he is staying?"
"Sure" he says proudly. "I offered him a ride but he refused, so I followed him. He's…."
"Take me there, now."
Nicole sits in the passenger seat of Tom's car as he drives through Brooklyn. Turning the car into a supermarket parking lot, he points, "Up there over the bar, is where he's living."
The curtain moves slightly, neither Brown nor Nicole notice, but he can see them, smiling he says, "Yes Nicole I see you."
The Next Day
One Police Plaza
Ross opens his door when he sees Brown enter the squad, he calls to him. "Brown, my office, now."
"Yes sir," he turns to close the door.
"No, leave it open," Ross says as he stuffs his hands in his pockets.
Mike is the first one to enter, followed by Megan then Danni. Ross points to Brown, "Sit down." He commands.
Mark arrives moments later, followed by Alex. Terror slowly seeps through him. He looks up as the last person closes the door, Bobby.
Alex and Danni, sit in the remaining chairs, Bobby stands behind his wife. No one speaks for a minute, Tom's only hope is that the floor will open and he will be sucked down.
"You little prick," Alex exclaims, "How in the hell…." Bobby places his hand on her shoulder, she looks up at him. He shakes his head.
Brown is just about to speak when Ross, says, "We've been playing a game with you Detec…." Ross rubs his eyes, "No, you don't deserve that title anymore."
"I don't know where…."
"We haven't assembled here to ask you where she is, because we all know that Nicole is on her way to confronting Goren."
"I….I don't know when."
"I can be a very patient man." Bobby says calmly.
"Goren," Ross says. "Anything you want to say to him."
Shaking his head, "No. Just place him under arrest and get him out of my sight."
An Hour Later
Holding Cell
Tom stands when he hears the sound of the door opening, when he sees who it is he blurts out, "I never made a play for Alex." He says then bows down his head.
"I know that," he moves a chair next to the cell. "Why? Were you planning to," Bobby shakes his head. "Never mind."
Tom resumes his seat as Bobby speaks, "Believe it or not I understand, Nicole can be very persuasive." Bobby bangs on the cell door, "But you knew her background, shit man you're a cop. Were your eyes that closed that you couldn't see who you were dealing with?"
"She promised me that she would get me out of debt, she's given me…."
Bobby holds up his hand, "Yeah she gave you a taste of the money that she does not have. One hundred thousand dollars did you ever wonder where the hell she was going to get that kind of money?"
"Yes and no," he says sheepishly.
Bobby continues, "Did you really believe that she would let you live? Most of them, her cohorts are dead or in jail. And the ones that are still breathing are because we got to them before she did."
Tom nods his head, "I know, I know."
Bobby sits back in the chair, seeming relaxed, "Can I ask you something?"
Tom nods, "Sure."
"Was it because it was me? I mean in a way I can understand that but you dragged my family into this and that I can not forgive."
Tom looks up shaking his head, "No I was desperate and she came to me just when I needed her. It wasn't personal Goren." Tom runs his fingers through his hair, "She really hates you," he holds his hand up. "Sorry I'm sorry."
Bobby smirks, "It's alright, you're not telling me something that I don't already know."
Tom leans forward, "But at the same time she admires you." Bobby nods his head. Tom continues, "No offense but I often wondered why she didn't just….you know."
Bobby stands, "No challenge in that." He slides the chair under the desk. "Good luck Brown."
"Same to you Goren, hey man I'm sorry," he says as he takes a hold of the bars.
Bobby nods, "Yeah, well you should also thank me."
"What, for what?"
Bobby chuckles as he reaches for the doorknob, "For keeping Alex out of here." Releasing his hold of the knob he turns to face Brown. He walks slowly across the room as he stuffs his hands in his pockets. "Those people out there," he gestures with his head. "Think that I had the tough part in all this, it wasn't me at all, it was Alex. Day in and day out she had to deal with you. Her insides were being torn apart but she did her job, something that you should have done." Bobby stands within a foot of the cell door. "Like I said before I understand your desperation, hell I've been through some tough times myself in my life, but the one thing that I have never done," he takes a long cleaning breath. "Is betray another human being. I do sincerely wish you good luck, because where you're going you're going to need it." Bobby turns toward the door, stopping suddenly. He points his finger in Brown's direction. "If I thought for a second that you made a pass at my wife," he looks him up and down. "You wouldn't be standing right now."
Three strides and he is upon the door, opening it slowly. Brown sits down on the cot as Bobby leaves the room.
TBC
A/N: FYI, part six of this series is already in progress. It is titled 'Safe From Evil', co-written with Chlark4, it's her first story.
