The Next Day
"OW!" Arnold was abruptly woken up by Spinelli, who clenched one of his buttocks.
"Rise and shine, old head! Time to get up and change your daughter's diaper!"
"I told you, stop doing that!" Arnold sat up. She then pinched his nose. "How 'bout now?"
"No." Arnold replied, blankly.
"Here?"
"That's my shoulder."
"Here?"
"That's my hair."
"This is definitely it!"
"Your hand is near my dick and I'm not going to your parents' house with you rubbing your hand all over my underwear." Arnold raised an eyebrow and lowered his other eyelid. "Then it's settled. I take care of your little hard problem, you take care of my wet problem." She smirked as her hand climbed up his chest and toward his nose.
"Ah, but seriously though, you gotta go change Andy right now." She giggled and kissed his nose. She then smirked while walking away. Arnold would only smirk as he got up.
"OW! HEY!" Spinelli looked back to see Arnold had slapped her ass. "Seemed right since you find it funny." Arnold shrugged while smirking. "You dick!"
"How about letting me take care of that?" Arnold briefly rubbed his hand on her ass. "C'mon, quit it!" She started to blush.
Arnold turned her head to face him. "Love can bring us a bunch of different surprises, can't it?" Arnold smirked while he held her chin. Spinelli nodded with a loving look. She had a very goofy smile on her face while blushing.
Later
"We're still on to visit your parents?" Arnold asked as he put on his zip-up jacket. "Yup!"
"Just gotta visit Dave first, he's my only hope of getting any answers." Arnold soon approached his beloved. She zipped up her jacket. "Come here." Arnold hugged her and smiled.
"Aw, you snuggly bear." She hugged him back. "C'mon. Let's go get Andy so she can really get to know your grandparents."
"Make sure you don't forget her favorite binky." She smirked. "Oh, that was you last time. You don't even know what her favorite toy is!"
"I bet you I do, and I know I do for a fact!" She chuckled while walking out.
"I already told you I don't like it when you do that!" Travis told Vic, who kept slapping his butt with a folder.
While they were going upstairs, things were certainly busy in the engine room.
The old Ladder truck was being driven onto a flatbed truck, while a new truck was parked on the curb.
"She'll be back within two weeks hopefully." The driver said as he shut the truck door. "We can't appreciate you guys for this. Thanks." Stella shook hands with the man.
He soon started strapping the truck wheels down to the flatbed.
The truck would soon be driven into the station.
"Can't say it's ugly but it does look pretty good." Warren said as he looked at the replacement truck. "An American Lafrance?" Dean noticed.
"How'd you know?" Patrick Dixon asked. "I've worked long enough as a firefighter and I'm pretty sure I can tell what truck is what."
"Alright people, listen up. Some of you may recognize this truck, this is the old truck station 16 had previously, but it was renewed and is serving as a backup until the real truck gets repaired. Every aspect of this truck is new, including the paint scheme." Stella told everyone as they all looked at it.
The number 55 was on both sides of the cab, including on the ladder.
"It should do for now, and hopefully the original will be back soon." Stella finished as she soon looked at the new replacement.
"Makes us look like we don't have good drivers at this station and we constantly make trucks break down as of late." Tommy said in a blank tone.
"Eh…" Kyle shrugged.
"What brings you here?" The secretary asked as Arnold and Spinelli came in. Andy was in her mother's arms.
"I'm here to see officer Dave Tanner. I believe he has an answer I've been looking for about my father who was killed in the line of duty."
"Alright, give me a sec…" The secretary got up and went to get Tanner from his office.
Arnold sighed as Spinelli rubbed his arm.
"Arnold! What brings you by?" Tanner shook his hand. "Dave, we have to talk urgently. You were the closest to my dad when he died in the line of duty."
Tanner sighed. "Shall we go outside or-"
"Outside." He nodded.
Later Outside
All four of them were seated on a bench outside.
"Look, Tanner, you're the only one I even trust… Tell me, what happened that day? Do you remember any physical aspects of the shooter? Is there anything you can tell me?" Arnold asked.
Tanner thought for a minute. "I think we had a possible ID of the shooter, but the suspect escaped before we could make the arrest. It was a blonde-haired person… Couldn't tell whether male or female since there's not much to say about the chest appearance. I do know the suspect had long blonde hair… One thing I did hear once started on the run after shooting Miles was 'Crimminy'? Or-"
"Criminy! That's it!"
"What is, Arnold?" Spinelli asked as she held Andy in her arms. "I know that word from anywhere! Criminy! I think I finally found out who was behind the killing of my Dad! Only question…" Arnold started thinking for a moment.
"Tanner, how did all of it happen?"
"Well…" Tanner tried to remember as much as he could.
"It was Wednesday, and we had gotten a call of an armed robbery at a bank. I was your dad's partner."
Brief Flashback
Police cars showed up at the bank, officers with their handguns out instead of the tasers. SWAT vans arriving on the scene along with negotiators.
Officers had vests on as they made their move inside the bank.
The suspect soon start shooting the place up once officers and SWAT members were entering the place.
The suspect soon saw Miles, and immediately aimed the rifle at him.
Miles got a few shots off before getting injured himself. He shot several bullets around the thigh area and the shoulder of the suspect.
The suspect ran off in a different direction while it said the words Arnold never wanted to hear again. Officers were requesting immediate medical attention.
Present Day
"My Dad was killed with a firearm… And with my daughter in the crosshairs of danger, I can only imagine my Mom would be next! Tanner, I know who's done all this now! After years of no answer, I finally figured out this puzzle!" Arnold looked at Tanner.
"Give us the name, and we'll soon make the arrest!"
"Helga Pataki! I wouldn't be surprised if she's not found at a house or anything…"
"Another Pataki? Good God already, that family name has a criminal history. Anyhow, this time a Pataki won't be running from the law!"
"Tanner, I sincerely appreciate your time in answering this unsolved mystery. Kind of surprises me how easy it was to solve it." Arnold shook his hand. "'Cause all it took was the right knowledge, and the right person to solve it." Spinelli smirked while looking at Arnold. He only blushed.
"If we get any updates, we'll let you know about it." Tanner told Arnold. "Thanks." He nodded with a smile.
Arnold and Spinelli soon got up and headed for his truck.
"I honestly don't know whether they'll find her in time." Arnold gave a concerned look. "I hope the same thing. This is our daughter for cryin' out loud! We can't let anything or anyone harm her!" Arnold then got a text message.
He pulled out his phone. "It's Gerald. He wants me to go check on the old military vehicle he's been planning to sell. He's currently working a 24-hour shift so he won't have time to check it himself."
Spinelli sighed. "Just make it quick! My parents aren't waiting all day!"
"How long do you think she'll wait for a ring?" Flo asked as she flipped through a magazine. "Oh, that's really a tough question. She's never dated or even less married in her entire life. But with this guy Arnold, it's bound to happen." Bob replied as he flipped the tv channels.
"I know right?" Flo replied, excitedly. "Our little girl, finally marrying the love of her life! And to such an amazing man! He's so caring and compassionate, he listens to her and understands her, he's always there for her, and he's so sweet and charming. I mean, what's not to love about him?" Flo smiled.
Later
"C'mon, we ain't got all day!" Spinelli complained. "I'll be right back, just give me a minute." Arnold kissed her cheek.
Arnold soon walked over to check on the old military vehicle but noticed something off.
"Why's the door left like this?" Arnold pulled the handle, opening the door and revealing a bunch of cigarette boxes with purple sponges and wristwatches.
"What the hell?" He looked inside the car, the backseat had several toolboxes with chemicals.
"D- Did Olga leave something out from the truth, or was it all a lie?!" Arnold looked at the inside of the vehicle, horrified.
Spinelli was looking out the car window, mainly bored. She then looked over as she heard Arnold shutting the truck door.
"What's with you? You look like you just saw a ghost inside that car." Spinelli noticed his face. Arnold gulped. "I- it's nothing, don't worry." Arnold rubbed her hand and kissed her cheek, twice.
Spinelli was rather curious about what was going on with him.
"Let's just go." Arnold put the gear shifter in Drive.
At The Spinelli Residence
"Mom! Dad! So glad to see you again!" Spinelli hugged her parents. "Oh, Pookie! We're extremely happy to see you again! We missed you!" Flo kissed her daughter's forehead. "Welcome back, pumpkin! We've missed you!" Bob told his daughter.
"Mom, Dad, aren't we forgetting anyone?" She smirked at Arnold. "Oh, of course not! Arnold! How's it been?"
Arnold handed Andy to Spinelli and hugged Flo. "Mwah!" Flo had kissed Arnold's cheek, making him blush.
"How's the little one doing today? Good? Of course you are! You're with the best mommy and daddy!" Bob toyed with Andy.
"Come in! We'd love to hear what you guys have been up to! Oh, Arnold, we certainly want to hear what happened last night at that strip mall!" Flo smiled. "I'd say it's good riddance! Flo here, wouldn't stop going to the beauty salon when it first opened!" Bob joked.
"Hey! It was a good business! And it always left my hair looking beautiful as always."
They all walked toward the living room and took a seat on the couches.
Only two chapters today, unfortunately, but we're getting to the interesting parts real soon! And I promise BIG things soon enough! Thanks for reading and I can't wait for you to read the next chapter!