Chapter 4 [10:30 PM]
Joe drove tersely down Driscoll St. while heading for the bar in question. He really didn't understand why or really how the bar fight in question had happened. He just knew that a terse call from the Precinct had shattered a really well-deserved slumber on his part….
…and like that bear disturbed in mid-hibernation, this Papa Bear was ticked…
Why are they calling me on this one? What the Hell? He turned abruptly into the lot. He clearly saw the familiar crimson, navy and white flashing strobes illuminating the entire blacktop and cars on them in intermittent hues. Someone's really going to get a piece of my mind! He parked and stormed out of his station wagon before marching across the lot toward the door where two patrolmen watched things. "Evening, Guys. What's going on in there?"
The officer on the left offered him a blank look. "Hey, West. Apparently some guy assaulted this biker chick. Your buddy, Ramon, played white knight or something."
"He might want to stick to playing with his toys next time. Kid's no hero," the other cop insinuated.
Cisco, what the Hell? Couldn't he call Barr or Eddie? "I'll see for myself. Thanks." He shook off the crass views of the other officer before pushing into the bar.
Around him, officers and fellow detectives were taking statements from the other customers and staff. Taped off at the bar's far corner, he observed the bloody shard remnants of a broken beer bottle.
Ouch! Someone's feeling that. Joe flashed his badge to a couple of patrolmen. "Where's the perp?"
"Three guys who assaulted the woman are already headed downtown, Joe. Your buddy found a really great one," a lieutenant retorted with a slight shake of his head. "They're over there. Sorry. He requested you come." He motioned toward the booth about three feet to his left.
"Yeah. I appreciate it, Sam," Joe expressed. "Did Cisco do anything?"
"According to witnesses, he stepped between the girl and those three brutes. He was about to get his ass kicked too. The owner had already called us and intervened himself," Sam reported. "A waitress, Fiona Ramirez, told us that she handed Mr. Ramon a towel to help the woman in question. He's clear, Joe. She, on the other hand…."
"Let me see for myself," Joe insisted. "Thanks." He walked over to where Cisco sat absently sipping on a mug of coffee with one hand. In the other, the latter man held the now crimson stained towel to blot the person's head who was slumped next to him. She's still here and not at a hospital? Why the Hell not? "Cisco, you okay?"
Cisco stared into space still dealing with the whole experience and his concern over Lisa's health. He didn't hear Joe. He only knew his indignation over the police not calling an ambulance to deal with her situation.
"Cisco! Hey!" Joe shook Cisco's shoulder urgently stirring him from his reverie.
"What? I….Oh. Hey, Joe. Sorry I had to get you up. I can't believe this!" Cisco apologized feeling sheepish. He blinked incredulously. "They haul those asshats off to the precinct. Yet they let Lisa sit here and bleed?"
"Lisa?" Joe finally recognized her. "Lisa Snart? What's she doing here?"
"Hell if I know. And no, I didn't come here with her. I was sitting in the booth over there eating my chili and drinking my beer. I heard her yell to be left alone. Then I just knew I had to help her. By the time, I got over there, one of those guys had broken a bottle over her head. I stepped between them preparing to help her. Fortunately the bartender stopped the fight," Cisco recounted.
"Fortunately for you. You were about to get your ass kicked," Joe noted seriously.
"Yeah well. I wasn't about to let her get raped either, Joe. Sorry if I tried to do the right thing," Cisco countered.
"Tell me about it." Joe shook his head. He knew that she should be on her way to the precinct lock up for her previous record. Still he knew she wasn't her brother either. "Let's get her back to STAR Labs. Then we'll figure out where to go next. We can call Barr, Patty and Eddie on the way."
"Great." Cisco sulked over ruining his friends' time out together. Still, despite his concerns over her activities and such, Lisa was still Lisa. As such, he'd see her taken care of in the best manner possible. He sighed while taking her shoulders and Joe took her feet. He helped carry her out of the bar.
Seemed the evening was just getting started…..