Benny slept on a pew at Saint Michael's, with the King James for a pillow, Benny vowed that the drinking stops tonight. Never again would he pass out in some doorway. For the first time since the funeral, Beth's face lingered in his imagination. In his mind, she wept for him, asking him to come home, his sweet, beautiful Beth. Her death pushed him into the bottle; tonight, he would climb out. In another life he towed a line that men followed, if he could, he would tow that line again.
Looking at the church from the cross streets, Pete studied the towering mahogany doors. He knew Benny would be sleeping inside. Father Thomas never turned anyone away, especially Sgt. Benjamin Adams of the 104th. Pete decided this was the best place for the weary veteran. Pete fired up his F100, his next stop the art school, the place of origin. If more trouble started tonight, that seemed the most likely place. Pete wasn't ready to let his uncle eliminate the eyewitness. He would try to reason with Ed, that would be plan "A," plan "B," would break his father's heart. Once there, he parked on a side street with nothing but the darkness of night and time.
____________Ed and T.J. up to no good__________________
T.J. puffed a ring of smoke; it billowed and rippled. He puffed a second ring inside of it as he watched out the window. Ed's hat rested low across his face; he played out all the ways this might go down. All of them ended with the girl dead. "No way around it," he muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Just keep watch. Maybe another hour, if nothing happens we'll move on," but something did happen. T.J. popped an elbow in Ed's side. Ed pushed his hat back to see the girl step out of the squad car. "Well, I'll be," big Ed whispered.
The squad car rolled to a stop, as commands rolled from Jamie's tongue, "Wait here," He said, "while I escort Fern to her apartment. This won't take long, so, stay put."
Fern looked back at the two of them, her gentle smile warmed their hearts, and Marion and Edith returned her smile. "Thank you, for helping me," Fern said, as she closed the car door. Finally, her eyes rested on Jamie's. They held the look just a little too long, at the same time, they gave each other a weak smile. Edith gave her husband a slight squeeze of the hand. She realized they had a front-row seat to something special.
Fern unlocked the outer street door it led to a stairwell and her tiny apartment. At the top of the stairs stood a single door. Jamie shook his head, thought of his father, and smiled at the emerald green door. His smile deepened as the light revealed soft, charming colors. Eagerly he stepped inside. Pale buttery-yellow filled the room. The arrangement of three area rugs formed subtle changes in space according to its purpose; kitchen, living room, with a pop-up Murphy bed its cabinet doors painted like a bay window, complete with a bench that rested against it. This visual gave personality to the sitting. The mural framed a golden sunset that melted into a sea of color. The sandy shore of the painting revealed one set of footprints that lead toward the bay window. An actual studio apartment fit for an artist. Gentle strokes filled each canvas. Jamie broke his gaze, and began checking the room. He then made his way to the two doors on the other side.
The closet and bath, secured, he crossed to the only window.
First thing Fern attended to was her art-set first, with ease it converted into a traveling case. She tossed several outfits in her suitcase while Jamie's eyes searched the area. Next, to the alley, he spotted an old Ford truck, at first glance, it looked occupied.
"Hurry it along. We need to get back to the car."
"I'm almost ready."
Jamie assessed the street again and studied the black ford. He decided it had been empty. She grabbed the art case, and he grabbed the suitcase.
"Holy-crap, did you pack bricks?"
"No, of course not," Fern said, wrinkling her nose.
… and such a cute nose, he thought.
________________________________
T.J. and Ed started to slip out the alley door, on the other side of it stood Pete. Both men stifled their surprise as two revolvers filled the gap in between.
"Hell son we could have shot ya."
"Well, you didn't, and me and you need to talk."
"Now is not a good time. Do us both a favor and disappear."
"We'll talk now, and without him."
"We'll T.J. you heard the man, go watch the window." Ed stepped into the alley leaving the door a jarred, so T.J. could hear.
Pete was certain T. J. would be ease dropping, but let it go.
"Look, boy, you did me a good turn tonight, but the two of us can't be joined at the hip."
"I don't want that. I never have. Back at the park, I got caught up in the moment. I didn't think, but now I've taken a hard look at things. I won't let you hurt Fern."
"We aren't going to hurt the girl." Only half his face drew up into a smile.
"Don't play word games with me. I know what you plan to do."
Ed stepped further into the alley walking to the ford and leaned against it, forcing his nephew to turn his back to the door of the barbershop. Ed noticed the alleyway door now stood open just a bit more than before. "Look it's too late for remorse. You picked your side. Now deal with it."
Pete turned to face his uncle. "I intended to."
The smirk on Ed's face morphed into a snarl. "Do ya now." Ed's eyes traveled up and past Pete. Pete turned in that direction.
Light's out, said the lead pipe in T.J.'s hand. The two worked their way around the corner of the building to get a better view of the squad car. Opportunity demanded action they may not get a better chance than this. "Why not end it now two shots and gone, not a bad plan."
"Not a great one either, but I'm game if you are, one cop, one girl. A busy night even for us," T.J.'s thin lips pasted into a smile.
Fern locked the outer street door of her apartment. The two silently walked in step with each other. Jamie fished out his trunk key. She waited for him to pop the trunk. A wave of fear had her step just a little closer to Jamie.
"Uncle Edward! Drop it!" shattered the silence, with no one insight a shot rang out from the side street, a rapid response replied as a second shot retorted.
"Get my parent's and lock yourselves upstairs," Jamie ordered, pulling his revolver, then pacing off the distance. He kept his eyes straight ahead. Big Ed Matthews busted the corner, arm dangling, blood pouring from his shoulder, next to him stood T.J. smoke still rested on the barrel that swung toward Jamie.
T.J. spewed threats and trash, from his mouth. Jamie released one shot, then focused his revolver on Ed, who allowed his weapon to fall to the sidewalk, as he melted to a seated position. Jamie stepped closer and kicked the .38 out of reach.
"Who fired the other shot?"
Ed motioned his head toward the alley, "My nephew Pete, I don't think he made it, T.J. hit him dead center."
Jamie leaned his head around the corner to see a young office fanned out on the sidewalk.
A deep painfilled grunt escaped his throat as he saw the uniform. Jamie needed to check on the officer down, but he needed to secure Ed first. He returned his attention on Ed to find the old crook had pulled a derringer .45/.410 from an ankle holster, the snake slayer a 2 shot mini cannon, is both accurate and deadly.
Ed cocked an eyebrow, extended his arm, both men jerked their heads to the sound of a shotgun racking around. That sound trumps all others, Marion stood five feet from the two men with the shotgun he got from his son's squad car. "Well, lad cuff the b*****d, so, we can check on your man."
Bedroom lights popped on up and down the block. The three-way standoff only took seconds. The body count should have been five, but this night death was careless and only claimed the two, well three if you count Tony.
Jamie holstered his sidearm and rushed to the uniformed officer. Immediately, Jamie recognized the rookie, he checked for vitals, then keyed his mic, "I have an officer down, give me an ambulance three times. Running hot for one, 10-66 (M.E.) on two. Notify the Watch-Commander, start him my way."
Pete's uniform shined under the streetlight. Blood fanned around Pete's head like a crimson halo. The red blood off-set by the snow which faded to pink slush. Pete's lifeless body shook his own mortality. A painful reminder of the weight of the badge and its dangers.
Marion walked up to his son and lightly touched his shoulder. "Oh, that's the young man who came to the house earlier tonight... I'm sorry."
"So am I." Jamie looked up to see Fern frozen in place, and he began walking her way.
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