"Yes, sir, I understand. Yes, sir. Believe me they will live to regret their decisions," Crockett said standing straight and stiffed back over the phone to the Chief of Detectives. He could only imagine the original conversation he was getting reamed out about second hand.
Earlier
"Sir, Chief Houts from the Fire Department is on the line and he says it's urgent," the Police Chief's secretary informed him.
"Richard, what can I do for you?" Marvin Engelmann* asked picking up the headset to speak with his longtime friend. Rarely did an emergency call come in from his counterpart at the Fire Department.
"You can tell me what type of bone-headed detective unit you're running. Do you know the trouble and chaos they've tossed into my department like a live hand grenade?" Houts angry voice demanded.
"Whoa, why don't you start from the beginning and catch me up?" Engelmann hit the buzzer on his desk summoning Denise, his secretary, handing her a hand scratched note.
Denise read the note, saw the seriousness in her boss's eyes, and headed out the door. Making the steps across the hallway to the conference room where the assistant chiefs were meeting, she knocked on the door, entered, and walked directly to the head detective. "Sir, you've been summoned," the pretty secretary handed him the note. Get the Chief of Detectives in here NOW! The detective raised an eyebrow at her. "All I know is the fire department is involved."
Detective Robert Gretchner entered his boss's office, and saw Engelmann wave him to the desk. "Richard, I have Bob in here now, and I'm going to put you on speaker phone. Will you explain to him what we've been discussing?"
Houts somewhat more calm described the robbery of the paramedic team. He was known to be calm in emergency situations. However, when it came to protecting the men under his command he held nothing back. The police hadn't made a simple mistake, but a colossal blunder, and he went in with a pair of two-and-a-half lines fully charged. "While your detective was interviewing Desoto and Gage at the station, two more of your men showed up to arrest Gage for murdering Desoto. Had it stopped there, some of the damage might have been contained. They'd also notified the department of Desoto's demise and Chaplain Services were dispatched to the grieving widow. Desoto is very much alive. We've tried to reach Mrs. Desoto, but there is no answer on the phone or the residence. I want to know how such a sizeable screw-up happened in identifying the victim."
Engelmann scrubbed a hand over his eyes. "What do you need from us to correct the issues in your department?"
"Identify the true victim and catch the murderer. Plus a formal apology to this department and especially to Gage and Desoto," Houts ordered. "We have ensured that the appropriate divisions have been informed Desoto and Gage are both alive and on the injured list."
"We will make this a top priority," Engelmann promised. He raised an eyebrow at Gretchner who nodded his head. This would have his full attention.
"If Desoto's wife has been informed of his death, that will only escalate the issue," Houts said.
Engelmann closed his eyes taking a deep breath understanding the concern. If the wife of one of his officers had been mistakenly informed of her husband's death, he'd feel the same way. "Understood. I'll get back to you with an update." He hung up the phone then pointing at his subordinate. "Fix this."
"Yes, sir," Gretchner responded.
"And send someone physically to the morgue to correct the name on the deceased," Engelmann said.
"I'll take care of it, and get back to you soon," Gretchner stood taking his leave.
Current time
"Yes, sir, Mrs. Desoto is with her husband now. I will make an apology to all the involved parties." He turned from the nurses' station phone to see the news media arriving. "Sir, has the media gotten wind of the story? A camera crew just entered the emergency room. Yes, sir, I will handle them." Crockett let out a deep breath. Yep, he'd be tearing two detectives a new way to sit down. He scanned the updates received from his boss.
"You can't bring that camera in here," Dixie McCall said standing in the hallway, hands on her hips.
"We want to interview your staff about the murder of Paramedic Roy Desoto," Paula Hughes said trying to use the little charisma that had been established when she rode with Desoto and Gage a few weeks prior.
Before Dixie could explode, Crockett intervened. "I believe you have some faulty information."
Paula jumped on the opportunity presenting itself. "Detective Crockett, what can you tell us about the murder?"
"For starters, Fireman/Paramedic Roy Desoto is very much alive." He waited for that to sink into the shocked news reporter. The camera man never flinched as he kept the police officer centered in the view finder. "As this is an ongoing investigation not all the facts are available at the moment. However, Firemen John Gage and Roy Desoto were mugged this morning. Both are alive and cooperating with the investigation. They are not available for comment nor will they be for quite some time." He stopped speaking but moving slowly forward to force the pair towards the exit.
"They're both alive?" Paula sounded somewhere between relieved and confused. George had a huge grin on his face.
"Yes. This morning's robbery goes along with a string of similar incidents happening over the past few months. The police are working with the LA City and LA County Fire Departments coordinating the efforts to stop further instances," he'd pushed them back several steps when the perfect opportunity presented itself. His face remained neutral, "Since Gage and Desoto are unavailable; perhaps you might consider speaking with another pair of paramedics who were robbed at gun point earlier in the month."
"Who would that be?" Paula leapt at the break.
"Firemen Craig Brice and Bob Bellingham were victims previously. I'm sure if you explained to them what you're looking for, the County Fire Department might allow the interview. You'd receive accurate and precise information from the pair," Crockett indicated out the door where a County squad sat with a paramedic counting something in the black drug box. The redirection worked like a charm as the feisty reporter followed by George made their exit. Yep, Mr. Perfect Paramedic, Craig Brice, would only do the interview if it was allowed in the rule book. Then, he'd give a textbook, technically accurate accounting that would bore the viewers to sleep. Hopefully, Gage would appreciate the effort and amusement directed at his nemesis. Crockett only hoped something more newsworthy came up tomorrow for Hughes to sink her teeth into, and in LA it usually did.
An hour and half later, Doctor Early entered the doctor's lounge, where everyone had left Roy and Joanne alone to reconnect.
"How's Johnny?"
"He'll be fine. Nothing's broken only severe bruising. We're keeping him overnight for observation," Early said watching the couple in front of him cling to each other.
"Can I see him?" Roy asked, Joanne squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes. "Can we see him?"
"Sure, he's still in two. They'll be moving him to a room shortly. Afterwards, I want you to go home and rest," Early ordered.
"I'll make sure he does," Joanne said determinedly. Roy gave a small smile shrugging his shoulders. Nothing sounded better than being with his family.
"Quite sure you'll be in good hands," Early grinned.
Mr. and Mrs. Desoto entered treatment room two, the lights dimmed. Johnny lay back on the bed, a blanket draped over him, and his left arm over his eyes. He moved his arm looking at his visitors.
"Joanne, what are you doing here?"
"Had to check on my two favorite men. Understand you had some excitement today," she said placing a hand on his arm.
"Yeah, you could say that," his head bopped up and down. He took in her red, puffy eyes and tilted his head at his partner. Roy shook his head telling him they'd talk later.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Early's being overly protective keeping me. I'm fine," Johnny answered. "How are you?"
"Better now that I've seen both of you," she said with a slight smile. Taking a breath, she lowered her head before looking him in the eyes. "What the police said you did. I never believed them."
"I'd never do anything to harm either of you," Johnny started, but Joanne put a finger on his lips to quiet him. Her eyes expressed her belief in him. Johnny gave her one of his grins.
"Knock. Knock," Crockett said as he entered the room. "Glad you're all here, I have some information." He walked over to the exam table standing near the end where he could see all three parties involved, understanding how royally his men screwed up today. He'd finished an in person debriefing with his boss minutes prior to this update. "First I want to offer an apology on behalf of the department for the misinformation and actions today. Especially to you, Mrs. Desoto. And you too, John."
"Thank you," Joanne said holding the hands of her husband and his best friend, anger apparent on her face. John nodded his head in a non-committal way.
"The other suspect has been taken into custody. A few things you might find noteworthy. The first suspect, who died earlier today, was Rory de Sota from Pasadena age thirty-one, his wife Joayn de Sota. Second suspect is Jonathon Gager, twenty-seven, from LA. The reason they wanted your shirts were because of the similarities in the names. They met in prison as petty thieves. Once out became partners about five years ago in a company which removes old fire-suppression equipment in office buildings when they did real work. Both of your badges were recovered and will be returned to you when possible," Crockett explained, showing them mugshots of both men for verification they were the attackers.
"How?" Joanne asked.
"Excuse me?"
"How was the man identified?" She thought she'd explode if they looked at his wallet and found his driver's license.
Crockett understood. "He wasn't carry any identification on him. Had a set of house keys and that's all. A police officer was sent to the morgue to ensure," he stopped and took a deep breath ready for their reactions. "To ensure Roy's name was removed from any paperwork."
Roy shook his head. "Incredible." Johnny closed his eyes running a hand over his face. Joanne waited for her answer.
"The officer who went to correct the mistake, recognized the deceased. He'd arrested him several times on minor charges, but one stood out to him. About two years ago, a drunk Rory de Sota made a series of threats which affected the officer. Some calls you don't forget," Crockett stopped. Gage and Desoto looked at each other and he could see in their eyes that they understood. "Fingerprints** were taken and, de Sota's prints on file were pulled for a confirmed match. We weren't going by facial recognition only after…."
"I can see why they thought it was Roy and I. Someone with three gunshots in his chest wouldn't be able to speak properly. Rory de Sota could sound like Roy Desoto plus wearing the nametag. Huh…interesting," Johnny said looking thoughtful. Joanne gritted her teeth.
"What do you find so interesting?" Roy asked still seething, unwilling to accept the explanation yet.
"They were almost mirror images of us," Johnny looked thoughtful.
"You mean doppelgangers. After what my wife was put through," Roy said with a sharpness in his tone.
"Not cool. No one is allowed to upset Joanne," Gage deadpanned the detective; his fierce protectiveness of the Desoto family showing.
"I do apologize for that. When I found out they'd already made the notification, I had them bring Joanne here. Thought it would be the best thing all around," Crockett said. He knew once Gage was feeling better there would be a serious conversation over the matter. The glassiness of the fireman's eyes indicated he'd been medicated.
"Thank you. It was exactly the right thing to do," Joanne squeezed Roy's hand.
"Yes, thank you," Roy said nodding his head. He gave a Crockett a look that said he wasn't finished with the police officer yet. While his wife was around he'd play it cool, but there was still a lot of explaining to be done. The detective acknowledged his look with a nod of his head. He'd been surprised if the family man responded any other way.
"How was he apprehended?" Joanne asked glad that the man wasn't out there causing anarchy anymore.
"When notification was made to de Sota's wife, his partner was there. Seems a lover's triangle had formed," Crockett said. Joanne stiffened at his words, and Roy moved his hand to rub soothing circles on her back. "Although the full story isn't known yet, that might be the reason for the shooting."
"That's something else that would never happen. I love Joanne like a sister, but I'd never interfere with their marriage," Johnny said definitively.
"Never been a concern, junior," Roy said with a corner of his mouth slightly upturned.
"There are details we still need to cover, but it's been a long day and I think you all need some rest. We'll finish your statements later. Roy and Joanne, a car will take you home when you're ready. John, I hope you're out of here fast. I know how bad a stay can be," Crockett said as he excused himself from the room. He had a lot of work to do and would personally ensure the LA City Fire Station 38 records contained the correct victim's name on their paperwork.
"I'm glad it's over," Roy said putting an arm around his wife. She reached up and kissed him.
"Me too. Wish I could go home. Roy gets shot in the head, and he goes home. I get a little bruise and I have to stay," Johnny pouted. Roy rolled his eyes at the statement, don't forget about the shock partner!
"How about I make you brownies tomorrow?" Joanne asked the man feeling sorry for himself.
"Brownies! Yeah, that'd be great," the pouting turned into a full grin. Joanne laughed pleased to see her suggestion worked. Her anger boiling underneath, she wanted a lot of questions answered, but didn't think this the place or time to have that discussion with the policeman. Both of her favorite men were injured and needed rest. And she wanted to get her husband home and start recovering from this day.
After moment of silence, Johnny scrunched up his nose, and with a soured look let out a deep sigh akin to a groan.
"Whatcha thinking?" Roy asked his left eyebrow raised.
"Rumor mill. The department's grapevine runs faster than a woman's beauty parlor," he lowered his head. "You and I missing a shift will make matters worse."
"Don't worry about it. People will figure it out, and if they don't. We can always say I killed you instead," Roy grinned. He needed the release of humour.
"Oh man, don't even joke about something like that!" Johnny gave him a glare. Roy's shoulders were shaking as he tried to hold in a laugh. "You're not concerned are ya?"
"Nope. By the time we're back at work, Chet will have the story morphed into something different. He's the one we need to be concerned about. The practical jokes after this will be classic. I expect handcuffs in every possible variation will appear at the station," Roy quit trying to restrain his laughter.
"Ugghhh...yep, this will fuel him for a month or more." A smirk formed then he too began laughing as much as his bruised ribcage would allow.
Dixie and two orderlies came into the room with a stretcher, "Johnny's room is ready."
"That's our cue, we're going home. I'll see you in the morning, partner," Roy patted Johnny on the shoulder. He and Joanne walked to the open door stopping in the archway. "Dix, take good care of him."
"We will, I promise," she smiled back at him.
"Don't forget to bring the brownies!"
"Night junior."
"Night pally."
The End
*Engelmann is a created character.
** Before computers fingerprints were stored on cards and cataloged. To sort through such prints without a name could take a significant period of time.
