a/n: thanks for the kind reviews and support!
Mike Stone walked through the hospital corridor in anticipation of discussing Professor Ruth Goldman's murder with his partner. If Steve indeed knew the professor, it would not be a pleasant conversation. With the death of a dear friend followed the next day with a shooting, Mike knew that Steve nerves were likely frayed.
He also wondered how he and his hospital roommate, Mark Sanger, were getting along and whether or not Chief Ironside had paid a visit to the pair recently. Perhaps he'd welcome a more familiar face.
The door to their room was closed, but Mike could hear voices.
"Fool!" Ironside hissed to Mark. "That young man is a fool and a disgrace to the force. He may be the target of these gunman and yet he leaves."
Mike stood outside the door, perplexed at the Chief's assertions.
"It's not that he may be the target. He admitted that he probably is," Mark informed Ironside.
Ed had planted himself on Steve's empty bed and took it all in. "He's reckless. He was going to leave the scene of the shooting to find Stone. I had to threaten him with handcuffs."
Mike swallowed as the pit of his gut began to ache. Where was Steve? It's not like him to be in so much trouble. He lightly tapped on the door and then let himself in.
Mike felt the glare of the three men as he peered over to the bed opposite Mark. "Where is he?" he directed his question to the injured man.
"Hell, if I know, Stone. He saw on the news that a professor he knew was murdered. Then he took my shirt, said he was going to visit this chick and took off." Mark replied in an aggravated tone.
Stunned, Mike pressed for more information. "There had to be more than that. What did he say, exactly?"
Mark took a deep breath and calmed himself. "He told me there had to be a connection between the Professor's murder and Joe's. He said that it probably had to be the trip to Mississippi they all made in '64. He mentioned that there was a cop who got sent away as a result of what happened to Joe down there."
"So he has an idea who did this," Mike said as he processed the news.
"Man, then he got up and left. Said he needed to see the Professor's daughter." Mark concluded.
"Keller should have stayed here," Ed began.
"I know that," Stone cut him off sharply.
"That partner of yours has taken leave of his senses, Mike" Ironside began as he took control of the conversation. "Does he usually go off half cocked?"
Mike went quiet for a moment. "No, not at all." Sure, he can be impetuous. "He's a fine young man and a damn good cop. I've had no problems with him. For him to do this must mean that he's very worried."
"He has a reputation, you know, Mike." Ironside baited the senior homicide detective.
"What are you talking about?"
"Women. If there's a skirt involved, suddenly his brain shuts down. Perhaps this daughter of Professor Goldman is some sweet young thing whom he felt compelled to protect."
"No, it's not that simple," Mike defended. Although in the back of Mike's mind, he wondered what on earth would possess his partner to leave without the protection he apparently needed. "It can't be."
"Well, I suggest you go find your prodigal son before the gunman do," Ironside warned. "Ed, you go with Stone. When you catch up with Romeo, get him to talk and tell you about the cop who got sent away for beating Joplin. I'll wait for Lessing. He was going to meet us here with any news on the Joplin case."
"Yes, sir," came Ed's response. Mike said nothing. He was in no position to argue.
SOSF SOSF SOSF SOSF
Of all the asinine things for him to do, Mike thought to himself as they left the hospital parking lot. A murder investigation and I have to go track him down at some girl's home. And with Chief Ironside's right hand man, no less. Mike stole a quick glance to Ed Brown who stared straight ahead in the passenger seat.
And then to leave the hospital 'against medical advice'. He'll have to answer for that one and not just to me. Rudy will be all over his ass. It's just not done.
Mike and Ed had called Detective Hartman to get information on Professor Goldman's next of kin before they left the hospital. There was indeed a daughter who lived in Berkeley. Mike was able to obtain her address, but little information on her. The daughter's name was Sarah Goldman, which indicated to Mike that she was unmarried. Although with women today, you can never tell, Mike grumbled to himself. And the way Steve is sometimes, I don't think it would register one way or the other.
Steve was a bright detective and almost always spot on in his analyses on cases. The exceptions had indeed been when women were involved. The case involving Drea McCormick was top of mind. She had attended the Police Academy with Steve. When leaked information resulted in the murder of a mob informant, Steve was the absolute last one to figure out or accept her guilt. Was it loyalty to a friend or did he truly have a blind side when it came to women?
Mike shook his head in response to his own thoughts and proceeded across the Bay Bridge. Maybe it's a good thing Ed is here with me. If he weren't, I think I'd wring Steve's neck the moment I saw him. Mike anger was now at a boil.
After several miles, they pulled off the highway and made their way to Sarah Goldman's home, according to the directions given by the police dispatch.
"Garden Meadows", Ed repeated. "Sounds like a condo and apartment complex. She's in 3D at the building number 3946."
"And that's his Porsche," Mike announced as he saw the brown sports car in front of the building.
"Porsche? I believe I'm going to have to transfer to Homicide soon. The pay is apparently much better than with the Chief," Ed quipped.
"He's had it for as long as I've known him," Mike tried not to respond defensively.
SOSF SOSF SOSF SOSF
The apartment building had an elevator, for which Mike was grateful. He was fit and trim, but there were days when age had caught up with him. Having a renegade partner added to his stress level and on this day, he felt older because of it.
Ed knocked on the door, not knowing what to expect. He knew that the daughter had just lost her mother the day before, so he was certain that the mood would be solemn.
A middle-aged man in a black suit answered the door. He had thick glasses and had a black ribbon pinned to his jacket.
"Are you friends of Sarah and Ruth?" the man asked.
Mike answered respectfully, "No, I'm sorry to interrupt, but we're looking for my police partner, Inspector Steve Keller. We believe he's here with Sarah." He quickly flashed his badge.
"Sure, Steve is here. Come on in." The man, Sal Fleischman, turned to lead the pair to the main living area of the apartment. Mike and Ed both noted the yamaka he was wearing and then saw the hallway mirror draped in black.
"Shiva," Ed whispered.
"What?" Mike asked in a hushed voice.
"They are in mourning and are probably 'sitting shiva'. It's a Jewish custom."
A half dozen people were sitting in the main living room, all speaking in low tones and dressed in black.
"These men are looking for Steve. Is he in the back room with Sarah still?" Fleischman asked.
No one spoke, but there were a few nods.
"Go on back. I think they are talking in the back room."
Mike and Ed nodded, and walked quietly down the hallway. Ed glanced passed the bathroom and noticed another mirror covered in black. When they reached the end of the hallway, Mike tapped on the closed door.
"Come in," said an unfamiliar male voice.
Mike slowly opened the door and stuck his head in. For reasons he didn't want to acknowledge, the senior detective wanted to ensure that everything looked 'okay' before Ed entered the room.
Steve sat on a modest stool with his hand squeezing the hand of a young woman. Sitting on a small rutan chair, Mike noticed that Sarah was a plain and somewhat overweight girl with straight hair pinned back and no make up. He looked farther down and saw braces on her legs.
An older man and woman were also present in the room, which appeared to be a bedroom that had been converted to an office. The strangers acknowledged Mike and Ed with a nod.
The young woman let out a muffled cry. Steve ignored all others and wrapped his arm around Sarah. "It's okay, Sarah," Steve said in a low, soothing voice.
"I want mama!" the woman replied with stilted speech. "She gone for good."
Steve glanced over to the door and saw his partner and Ed. He could not read the look on Mike's face, but figured he was in deep trouble with his mentor. No matter, Steve thought as he looked back at Sarah. If you have to do something, you do it.
a/n - the last line: "If you have to do something, you do it," was said by the Chief to Ed in "To Kill a Cop". I just recently saw this on Hulu and thought it would be a good ending to this chapter.