In The Wrong Place
Chapter 15
Getting back down to the car proved to be a slow and tortuous process. Steve was already exhausted and that last painful episode had drained him of whatever reserves he had but they eventually made it. Mike had kept a firm grip on Steve's elbow as they walked and Steve had kept a hand pressed firmly on his back the whole way too...He couldn't explain why and thankfully Mike hadn't asked for an explanation but it seemed to stop it throbbing as much... As Mike went to guide him around to the back of the car Steve stopped and started to protest...
"Wait...wait Mike! We're going to have to rethink how to get me into the car."
Mike looked at Steve confused...
"Why? We managed to get you in and out this way twice today without any trouble.."
"My backs too sore Mike...I think I'm going to have to try the front again...I think I'd be better getting my bad side in first this time..."
Mike thought about what Steve had said...Getting him into the back seat had meant that he had lifted him by his lower back...Steve was right! His back was too sore to do that this time. But then he remembered the last time he'd tried to get in the front and frowned...
"Ok...I see your point...But the last time we tried to get you in the front wasn't exactly successful ,remember?"
"Yeah, I know...but I... I think I got it this time..."
"You do huh?"
"Yeah...I think so"
With that Mike opened the passenger door and stood back to let Steve in...Steve once more held the car door with his right hand but this time he kept his left hand firmly on his side...Mike watched anxiously as Steve attempted to get in the car and noticed how he hesitated slightly...
"You need a hand?" Mike asked feeling worried about whether Steve would manage it or not...
"No...it's ok..Just stand behind me incase I fall back...Will ya?"
Mike reckoned earlier's incident was still fresh in the young man's mind so he dutifully stood where he was asked to..Steve bent over slightly and lifting his leg he dropped into the seat fairly successfully then pulled in his good leg. Noting Steve's face , the movement didn't seem to cause him too much pain so relieved that it had gone well, Mike closed the passenger door and went around to the driver's side and got in...
"Well I'm impressed buddy boy... " Mike said grinning at Steve but noting how exhausted he looked he added. "Tired huh?"
"Yeah..." Steve said, resting his head back on the head rest and suddenly looking forward to finally being able to put his head down for a long sleep when they got back to Mike's...
"Well, don't worry...We'll be home soon..." and with that Mike drove off in the direction of home...
Just when they were a block away, the radio sprang to life...
"Headquarters to all inspectors in the vicinity... Inspectors 24 have just called to say that the wife of the suspect Frank Graves is on the move and appears to be heading for the Mission District...All inspectors in the vicinity are requested to assist..."
"Mike! That's two blocks away...Let's respond..."
Mike looked at Steve in disbelief...
"Are you crazy? You're in no fit state to respond to anything! No Sir! Let the others handle it...I'm just going to get you home"
"Mike!" Steve pleaded..."I'll stay in the car...I promise...But this is Graves Mike...He's the only one who knows what really happened to Mel...We owe it to Corky to respond...Please Mike !"
Mike glanced at Steve as he drove...and he thought about what he had said...His head told him to get Steve home but his heart wanted to catch Graves...Seeing Steve's pleading face... Mike made his decision...
"You promise to stay in the car?"
Yes...I promise Mike...I'm in no fit state to chase anyone...Am I?"
"Ok...hold on!..."and with that Mike made a dramatic u-turn and picking up the radio he spoke into the receiver...
"Inspectors 81 to Headquarters,...We are near Inspectors 24 and will assist in the Graves pursuit...Repeat Inspectors 81 responding ..." Then turning to glance at Steve again he muttered "I must be crazy! Jeannies going to kill me for bringing you on a call-out."
Steve grinned as he put the flashing red light up on the roof and Mike sped towards the Mission District...
The radio came to life again...
"Grave's wife is nearing the Mission District..."
"She's going to him alright...And he's probably with that brother of his...Member of that same gang that Graves used to hang out with ..."
"Yeah...The Grim Reapers. They're a bad bunch..."Steve replied...
"The Grim Reapers...yeah...and here we are chasing him right back into it!"
Another voice came over the radio...
"81 This is 24. The lady is stopping at a building on Lexington and eighteenth."
Mike picked up the receiver and responded...
"Ok 24.. Keep her out of there...It could be a powder keg!...And get some back up units there to screen off the area"
"10...4"
Pulling up at the building Mike jumped out of the car and closed the door behind him. Then bending down he looked back in the window at Steve...
"You stay in the car...If he comes out the front...You do not engage.. You hear me buddy boy?"
"Ok Mike...I hear ya!"
Mike then headed over to where Haseejian was standing preventing Helen Graves from exiting her car and after speaking to her briefly, Steve watched as Mike ran and entered the building.
Steve felt useless for not being able to back up his partner...The whole Grim Reapers gang could be in there...Steve could feel himself panic...Where were the back up units?...He had to do something but he had promised Mike he'd stay in the car and he knew he wasn't going to be much use on his feet at the minute anyway...Then Steve had an idea...Very carefully and gingerly Steve moved across the seats until he was behind the wheel...Reaching into the back, being careful not to jostle his side...Steve reached into his hold all bag that was still on the back seat and retrieved his gun...Checking that it was loaded he put it on the passenger seat beside him and sticking his head out the window he addressed Norm Haseejian...
"Hey Norm...What's out the back of this building?"
"Small road that leads to the beach! Why?"
"Thanks! Keep an eye on the front Norm" Steve shouted as he started the car and drove off past the other detective...
"STEVE ! Mike told you to stay put!" Haseejian shouted after Steve as he watched helplessly as the young detective drove off and turned the corner in the distance..."Mike is not going to like this!"
Driving around the back of the building the road that led to the beach was a little bumpy so Steve held his side while he drove with one hand... As he arrived at the back Steve couldn't believe his luck when he saw Frank Graves coming down the stairs at the back...As Graves jumped down ,the fence at the back collapsed and sent Graves tumbling down a sandy embankment. He rolled and landed on the sand... Steve quickly drove out onto the sand, again a movement that jostled his injured side more than he would have liked. Knowing full well that he was in no condition to chase Graves on foot... Steve drove on a little more and then grabbing his gun off the seat he pointed it out his window as Graves got to his feet and started to run...
"POLICE!...Freeze or I'll shoot!..GRAVES ! STOP!"
As he went to run, Steve shot a warning shot past Graves which was enough to stop the suspect who turned and put his hands up in surrender...
"OK!...OK!...DON'T SHOOT !"
"DOWN ON YOUR KNEES GRAVES ! HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD !"
Steve kept the gun trained on him as he saw Mike coming down the embankment...Reaching Graves Mike handcuffed him and read him his rights and then two uniformed officers arrived and hauled Graves off to the squad car...
"Get him down to the station for questioning!" Mike instructed and then turned and headed for Steve... Mike looked mad as hell and Steve knew he was in for an earful...Glaring at Steve Mike approached the driver's window...
"What in the blazes did you think you were doing?" Mike roared..."Didn't I tell you to stay in the car and not to engage the suspect!"
"I did stay in the car Mike!... And you said not to engage him if he came out the front! You didn't say anything about if he came out the back! I don't know what you're yelling about...We got him didn't we? And I kept my promise...I didn't leave the car!" Steve shouted back defensively ...
" Oh, that's cute! Real cute! You know I ought to hand you your head for a stunt like that! You know maybe you should have stuck with law school and become a lawyer with a defense like that?"
"Aw, Come on Mike... " Steve said and then decided in that mood there was no point in arguing with Mike until he'd calmed down...
Seeing Steve dejected made Mike feel bad...Maybe he was over reacting...After all they had got their man and even Mike had to admit that it was a pretty slick move on the kid's part...And technically he had kept his promise and no harm was done...
"Ok...ok...Shift back over...!" Mike said opening the driver's door...
Steve again very gingerly slid across the seats until he was back on the passenger side and Mike got in and starting up the car he drove slowly back off the sand and back around to the front of the building... As they arrived back to Haseejian they were just in time to see Graves being bundled into the back of the squad car. Mike spoke to Haseejian out of the car window...
"Norm, Escort Mrs Graves down to the station and let her see her husband..Put Graves in the Interrogation room and keep an eye on him.. I'm just going to drop Steve off at my house and I'll be back to the office to question him...In the meantime do not let Corky Shaffer or Landers anywhere near him...Ok?"
"Sure Mike, I'll handle it..."
Mike then drove off in the direction of his house on De Haro Street...Steve opened his mouth to protest about being left out of Grave's interrogation but remembering that Mike was still mad at him, he decided against it and instead glanced at Mike to show his displeasure and then turned his head to look out his window...
Seeing Steve's hurtful glance and the fact that Steve was now looking out his window and purposely not engaging with him...Mike felt bad about losing his temper...
"Now don't look at me like that, buddy boy...You've had more than your share of excitement for one day. You need to get some rest in order for you to heal...As soon as I've spoken to Graves I'll call you and let you know what he said... Ok?"
When Steve didn't respond and didn't look at him ... Mike tried again...
"Giving me the silent treatment huh? ...Ok...Ok!...I'm sorry for chewing you out back there...You did alright buddy boy...and technically you did stay in the car..."
Steve looked back at Mike and half smiled...
"I was only trying to watch your back Mike..."
"I know you were... Sorry...I just got mad because you were risking damaging that side of yours again..."
Steve nodded..."You promise to keep me updated on Graves?"
"Sure buddy boy...you have my word. You promise to get some rest?"
"Ok..." Steve said smiling as they pulled up outside Mike's house..
Steve looked up at all the steps up to Mike's house and groaned...
"Why are there so many steps in San Francisco?..."
Mike laughed..."Come on buddy boy...Let's get you out of the car first, then we'll worry about the steps!"
Mike got out of the car and came around to Steve's door and opened it...
Reaching in he put his arm around Steve's back careful not to touch his wound and helped him to get out...
"Your neighbours are going to start talking you know Mike..." Steve said laughing and trying to make light of the embarrassing fact that Mike had to practically lift him out of the car...
"Let them!" Mike said laughing too. "God knows, they have little enough to gossip about around here..."
Finally back on his own two feet Steve walked slowly over to the steps and looking up them, suddenly felt exhausted at the prospect of having to climb them...
Seeing Steve's hesitation and trepidation at climbing the steps, Mike called out...
"Stay there buddy boy...I'll get your bag and then I'll give you a hand...One step at a time, buddy boy...one step at a time..."