Chapter Five
He closes the phone; a smug expression crosses his face. "Is everything alright?" Alex asks as she steers the car into the left lane to pass a slow moving Volvo.
"Yeah, he just got his grades for his GED exams, all A's." He catches a surprised look on her face, "I never said he was dumb, just arrogant."
"No that's not what I was thinking, he called you just for that. He wants you to be proud of him."
"I know." He bows his head.
"Are you?"
"Yes I am," he places the cell phone in his breast pocket. "You see that's what he does. One minute he's calling about how well he did and the next he does something stupid like he did the other night."
"Well he is only seventeen, Bobby. I mean didn't you do stupid things at seventeen."
"Yeah, but I was never reckless." The traffic stalls, he points forward, "Why aren't we moving?" He can feel her eyes burning a hole in his temple, "What?" She continues to stare, "Alright I was a bit reckless." He turns his body to face to her, pointing his finger, "It's your turn, tell me something about you."
With a WHO ME look on her face, she slowly turns her head, she replies, "Like what?"
"Your Dad and what happened when you went into vice."
"He knew it was only a job."
"Look me in the eye and tell me that."
"We haven't moved in five minutes," she flicks on the police scanner. "I wonder what the problem is?" They hear that a three-car accident is causing the traffic stand still. Alex places the SUV from D on the gearshift to P.
"Put the bubble on and drive on the shoulder," Bobby says lightly. She gives him a cross look. "What? You made an illegal u-turn before." He sits back in the seat crossing his arms, "You actually think I forgot what we were talking about."
"We had a huge argument." She states firmly. "He had it in his head that the only reason I joined was to defy him, I mean how ridiculous."
"Come on you didn't feel as if you were breaking out and away from under his…."
"No!"
Holding up his hands in defeat, "Alright I'm sorry."
She hits the steering wheel with her palm, "Damn, it was always, hey, aren't you John's little girl. Little girl, I had to deal with those assholes also. You know," she swallows hard. "Some men still look at us as inferior."
"I know that feeling."
"It's not the same."
"I didn't say it was." He opens his window and a light breeze filters through.
Neither ready to reveal more of their past sit in silence for a moment, Alex speaks first, "How about more of the story?"
"Sure," He turns his head slowly to face her, "Where did I leave off."
The Fisher Home
September 1995
He takes a walk and consciously or not he ends up on the street where the Fishers live. He hesitates as he stands on the porch of 924 Foster Avenue; he takes a long cleansing breath then pushes the doorbell. He hears footsteps approaching, the door opens slowly, "Detective?" she frowns, "What?" she stutters, "Hell….Hello."
"Hi, I should have called first I'm sorry," he immediately notices her red eyes. "May I….may I come in?"
She opens the door further; "Sure," she glares at him as he passes her. What is he up to? "Please have a seat, may I get you anything?"
"No, no thank you," Bobby sits in the only chair in the living room, he scans the area, she watches him intently. Snuggle up to the poor widow, she shakes her head….no I don't think so. She sits down at the end of the couch. She hears him clear his throat. "I….I just want to let you know that I am sorry for what happened to Tony in court the other day."
"You don't have to apologize; you were only doing your job." She catches his eye, "Tony has not opened up to many people since that day the doctor came out of the operating room to tell us that Mark," she rubs her forehead, "Was gone. They were together, they were together that day, went for a walk and some drunken son of bitch decided that he didn't want to drive on the street anymore he thought he'd use the sidewalk," She pats her eyes with the crumpled tissue in her hand. "He ran down four people that day, my husband was the only….Tony saw it and…." She pulls out the last tissue in the box, "I've gone through a whole box since I got home." Apologizing she turns her head away as she wipes her nose, "I saw the way he looked at you, he talked to you didn't he?"
"A bit yes, he's very confused and angry."
"He's not had much of a man's influence in his life for the past few years."
I know that feeling.
"Thank you for taking the time to talk to him. He doesn't talk to me. I….I've been sitting here thinking over my life with my son. I was remembering the day he was born."
April 20, 1984
St. Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn
"It's a boy!" She hears her husband Mark exclaims, "Cheryl it's a boy and he looks just like you."
"As I look right now? Or normally?"
He pats her sweaty forehead with a towel, kissing her on the cheek, "You look beautiful."
She chuckles, "Mark, you must be sleep deprived or delirious."
"Here you are Missus Fisher, have you picked a name yet?" Nurse Perkins asks.
"Yes," she smiles as the nurse places her 7 pound 6 ounce baby boy next to her. "Anthony, after Mark's father," A tear streams down her cheek, "Anthony Mark Fisher."
September 1995
She turns her head away as the tears once again are filling her eyes. "He….he doesn't want me to visit," she says through sobs. "I went there the other day and the cop or guard, whatever….told me that he wouldn't come up. I asked why and he just shunned me. I can't think of anything that I could have done for him to push me away.
"He's pushing you away because he loves you and he doesn't understand why he does the things he does. He wants you to go on with your life."
"You speak as if you have had some experience with this situation."
"No not really but I can understand his anger and," he turns his head. "Anyway," he slaps his thighs as he stands. "I just wanted to come by and see how you were doing." He buttons his jacket. "If you need anything, anything at all, please pick up the phone and give me a call. You still have my card?"
"Yes I do and thank you Detective," she holds out her hand.
He shakes her had ever so lightly, "Its Bobby," she smiles as she opens the door.
"Good night Bobby and thank you."
The Present
He says humbly, "You know that first time I showed up. I think, she thought I was going to hit on her."
"I would have thought that if I was her." Alex sits back in the car seat, "A gentlemen, oh you are a rare breed Goren." Alex chuckles, "She's not your type anyway."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
Spofford Juvenile Center
The guard opens the door, being forewarned, Tony is not surprised at his visitor, however he asks, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm not really sure," Bobby says as he scans the boy from head to toe looking for but not seeing any bruises, "Maybe to see how you're doing."
"Do you visit all the people you arrest?"
"No," Bobby chuckles as he loosens his tie, "Do you always have to be a smart ass."
Tony pulls out the chair and it makes a loud scratching sound as it slides across the floor. "My counselor at school use to call me that."
Bobby sits down in the chair across from him, "My Dad use to call me that all the time, I had….have this problem of saying things that I shouldn't." He intertwines his fingers, placing his hands on the table, "So how are you?"
"It's not so bad in here," Tony lowers his voice as he leans forward; "You know there are kids here younger than I am."
Bobby nods his head, "I know."
Surprised somewhat at his answer Tony sits back, "I should have known that those lawyers were just lying to me. At least you were honest with me."
"They didn't lie to you Tony, the judge has the right to dismiss any deal that he feels is not," Bobby notices Tony's frown. "Hell the Judge was wrong but you do have to pay for what you did."
"I know, I can accept that," he pauses. "So….how's my Mom?"
"What makes you think I know how your Mom is?"
Tony smirks, "Because you do."
Bobby has to smile at the perceptive young man, "She misses you and she's scared for you. She told me that you refuse to let her visit, why?"
"Have you ever been in place like this?"
Bobby shakes his head, "No."
"Ever been arrested?"
Once again, he shakes his head, "No."
Tony places his hands behind his head, "Oh Mister goody two…." He smiles, "No I doubt that."
"I never got caught….So."
Tony smiles as he pushes the chair away from the table, he stands, "How would like your Mom to visit you in a place like this?" Tony paces around the small room.
Bobby laughs aloud, "Oh man that would be an interesting visit for sure."
Tony stops pacing, "Why do you say that?"
"Nothing," he waves his hand, "Nothing."
"That's not fair!" Tony exclaims. "I answer all your questions."
"You're right," Bobby nods his head. "Let's just say that my Mom is a very unusual," he hesitates. "My Mom is men….she is," he sits up straight hoping it will give him the confidence to tell this family secret. "She is schizophrenic, has been since I was seven. One minute she would be talking about her flower garden the next she would be hiding in her bedroom because she thought people were coming to hurt her." He looks at the boy; his mouth partially open he stutters his words, "I….I'm sorry."
Bobby slaps the table with his hand, "Don't be, I have learned to live with it, took a lot of learning but I did it."
"Thanks," Tony says as he stuffs his hands deep in his pockets.
"Thanks? Thanks for what?"
"Telling me that, not many people know, do they?"
"No, not many at all."
The door opens, "Time's up," says the short stocky guard. Bobby stands.
"You're coming back right?" Tony says his eyes wide with anticipation.
"Yes and I'll bring your Mom."
"No….I."
"Be honest with her and be fair, she deserves it. You think that she can just forget about you, it's not going to happen, man. She loves you and will always be there for you."
Tony turns his head away remaining quiet, he listens for footsteps walking away from him, there is no sound. "Leave her alone." Tony says barely above a whisper.
Bobby walks forward, "What?"
Tony turns abruptly and he has to look up, not aware how close the tall man is, "I said leave her alone."
"I have no intentions of..."
"Why? She's not good looking enough for you."
Bobby places his hand on the boys' shoulders, smiling. "Your Mom is very attractive but it would be in very bad taste to make a move on her besides she's too smart for that." Bobby steps back, "I'm not her type anyway, am I?"
"No you're not but she….she…."
"She dates a lot?"
Bowing his head, "No, not at all, because of me."
"Stop it!" Bobby exclaims, startling the preteen. "Stop playing the poor misunderstood kid, its lame."
Tony puffs out his chest ready to retaliate, he stops. The door opens for the second time; both turn their attention toward the sound, "Come on guys." Tony walks slowly across the room, not wanting to go with the guard, "Hey," he calls out.
Bobby replies, "Yeah."
"Bye ah," he takes a step forward, "What do I call you?"
Bobby extends his hand and Tony accepts, "Bobby, everyone else does."
Tony smiles, "See you soon?"
"Yeah I'll be back."
The Present
Alex's cell phone rings, she checks the caller ID, "It's Deakins," she smiles, "Eames."
Bobby laughs, "He's worried about us."
"Detective, where are you now?"
"We are stuck in traffic, Sir."
"Alright I'll meet up with you tomorrow, drive….take your time."
"Yes Sir, see you in the morning."
TBC