Chapter 72

word count 1143

It was pandemonium in the parking lot. Officers arrived, racing from all directions, filling the area with a blur of flashing medal badges and crisp, blue uniforms. Gil leaned against the car, his fist clenched against his forehead, his breath coming in exasperated gasps. Simone stood by, hand to her mouth, fighting back bile which threatened to explode from her stomach in volcanic blasts. Gil turned and slammed his fist on the car hood, accompanied by an array of expletives loud enough for the whole city to hear.

He stood, rigid and fuming, trying to calm himself. "How in the fuck could this happen?" The words came out in a whispered, seething rush. Simone stood by in a tentative fashion until finally she threw caution to the wind and walked over to hug him.

"It'll be okay. At least the sonofabitch is dead now, and he can't hurt anyone."

"He killed himself during my watch before he could have justice issued against him. All those children, they deserved to have him pay for what he did to them. He should have rotted in prison."

"Don't be so high and mighty. You know full well it bothers your ego just as much as the fact that justice didn't have its day. You're hurting because you feel like you failed more than anything."

"What?"

"Come on, Gil! We cops are an ego-driven bunch. We don't like the criminals to outsmart us. Sure, we want to see justice served, but our egos are a huge part of the equation."

"Yeah, well. There will be hell to pay when the Commish finds out I let him kill himself before I could bring him in."

"This might surprise you, but I was in the squad car, too. I share responsibility for this. Or are you so full of yourself, I don't even count...Hey, wait a minute. You aren't some kind of misogynist, are you? Women are just as good as cops as men are! Don't discount me because of my gender!"

"Now who is making this all about themselves?" Gil could feel his pulse taking off in a crazy foot race, but it wasn't anger making it happen. Simone was the most sexy creature he had ever seen.

"What the hell happened here?" Hank Bower walked up having finally arrived. "My Gawd! Whose body is on that gurney?"

"Lichtenstein. Sonofabitch strangled himself in the back seat. By the time I noticed, it was too late." Gil looked away.

"By the time WE noticed. I'm Officer Beverly Simone." The lady offered her hand to a bewildered Hank, who studied her with one eyebrow arched. He shot a glance to Gil.

"Well, we'd better go inside and make our report to the Commissioner," Gil said.

***

When Trudy stumbled down the stairs, she didn't notice John wasn't there. Why should she? They had been leading separate lives for months now. Everyday when she woke up, the morning hung over her in a dark cloud, smothering and pushing down on her with its weight and mass. She'd needed to change to the later shift at work. Being an early bird just didn't work anymore. She needed time for a few drinks to get herself lifted up and out of the pain.

On this particular morning, she felt lonely. Gil hadn't been around lately, and she was sick of it. Her phone was filled with messages about how busy he was, when he'd see her later. And when “later” came, another message arrived postponing their rendezvous again. She was sick of it.

Gulping a shot of whiskey, she glanced at her watch. There was still time to go to the station and confront him before she needed to be at work.

She arrived at the precinct house in a blur, parking out front and steeling herself before taking on the steeply rising steps that ran from the sidewalk to the doors. She'd taken to wearing flats lately making the task easier. Stilettos had been getting her in trouble when she felt tipsy which was all the time these days.

When she pushed through the doors, the frenzied pace that awaited on the other side made her head spin. It was a typical day at the station, but more than her foggy brain could comprehend. She paused to take it in and make sense of it. It was then her eyes rested on Gil...and the pretty uniformed female.

Trudy saw red. She watched in horror as the lady put a hand on Gil's shoulder and leaned close to murmur in his ear. She detected his bright smile at the attention. Trudy stormed across the floor, ready for battle.

***

John entered Buzz's room, his heart pounding. That man noticed him enter and looked him up and down with eyes trained to detect guilt at a glance. There'd be no fooling Buzz Miller.

"Detective Miller, let me start by saying I'm sorry. I should have stopped the boys from taking off..."

Buzz broke in. "John, call me Buzz, and I don't blame you. I've just had a long talk with Adam, and I know the boys were way too skillful at getting out of the house. I don't think you or I could have guessed what they were up to." He studied the other man. The guy was Trudy's husband. Did he know about Trudy and him?

He continued. "Adam and I, we've been having some problems. Don't blame yourself because they ran away. I'm certain it was Adam's idea. You can blame me, if you want. I'm the reason my son wants to run away." Tears welled and Buzz fought to hold them back.

John spotted the sadness and realized Buzz was genuine. They were just two guys trying to do right by their sons with more in common than not...including Trudy. Huh, he thought. Maybe I should tell him he can have Trudy. She's lost to me. But what about that other guy, that Gil. They'll have to figure that out on their own. He decided to take a chance.

"Detective...I mean Buzz. Elliot and I are having troubles, too. Lots of problems in our household--my wife, Trudy, and I are not getting along. I feel divorce is imminent. Elliot senses that and acts out his instability."

Buzz looked up. Divorce? They were getting divorced? Like it mattered now. He was heartsick over Jeannie, feeling like she got snatched from him just when he had seen the light and was making amends. To pursue Trudy would be a step backwards...to insult Jeannie and all the progress they made.

John's cell vibrated in his pocket. He wished Buzz well and excused himself. He slipped around the corner to hide from the nurse's station and answered. It was Trudy, making her one call. She'd been arrested for assault on a police officer!