- Text Size +

CHAPTER 51 - A SHORT SHARP SHOCK BRINGS REALISATION

 

MICHAEL’S HOUSE - THIRTY MINUTES LATER

 

XIN

 

“Mr Novotny, what are you still doing here?!” I demand as my colleagues and I approach the house.

 

“I want to make sure you don’t cause too much damage.” He replies, my earlier fear is now replaced by anger!

 

“Keys.” I demand, starting to get really fucking miffed with this tool. “We have much more important things to be doing than running around on a fool’s false errand!”

 

“False errand?!” He protests. “He tried to…”

 

“Keys!” I repeat, and he hands them over. “Where did you say this happened?”

 

“The lounge, but…”

 

“Take him to the car!” I order, and wait for him to be escorted back.

 

I unholster my weapon, and as quietly as I can I open the door. “This is the police! I am armed! If you are in the building step into the hallway now!”

 

Silence.

 

“I repeat I am armed! Come out now!” I step further down the hallway and the next thing I see out of the corner of my eye is something being thrown at my head, I can’t avoid it and the last thing I hear is the sound of gunfire.

 

BABYLON - HALF AN HOUR LATER

 

SADE

 

Marlon runs past me almost sending me flying. “Sorry babe, gotta go!”

 

“Marlon! You asshole! What the hell…”

 

“Xin is down! Chyna yells. “Tink is by the van!”

 

“Fuck! I’ll go, you good with calls?!”

 

“Yep!”

 

57TH PRECINCT - AN HOUR LATER

 

HOLDING CELL

 

ADAM

 

I pace around the stinking cell and look at my bandaged arm. It was only a flesh wound. I stop pacing when the door opens and I am greeted by a cold eyed stare. “You are a very lucky man for two reasons.”

 

“What are they?” I quiver.

 

“You’re both alive. Whatever you threw stunned him enough to pull his shot. Normally, he doesn’t miss!”

 

I sag against the wall in relief. “So now what happens?”

 

“You come with me and explain how you almost killed one of Pittsburgh’s finest.”

 

INTERVIEW ROOM 1 - FIVE MINUTES LATER

 

“Well explain then!” The officer commands coldly.

 

“I didn’t mean to do that! I thought it was Novotny play acting after he hit me over the head in the lounge when I…” I rub the back of my head and wince.

 

“You’re saying that he attacked you now is it? An unprovoked one?”

 

“Well not unprovoked.” I admit. “We were very drunk, well I was very drunk, he was on his way but not as bad as me. We met in Woody’s and had gone back to his place. I had experienced a bad day and needed some relief. He was fine with it until we got back to his place then he wouldn’t go through with it.”

 

“Go through with what?”

 

“The fucking we agreed on. He said no, he didn’t want to…”

 

“So you were going to rape him?”

 

“What?! Is that what he said?! No of course not! We were still going to have sex, just he wanted to use a condom.” He frowns. “We both have chlamydia and I wanted to do it bareback but he said no. Yes, I rushed at him, but only to take the phone. I wasn’t going to do anything else. I just wanted to stop him from calling you.”

 

INTERVIEW ROOM 2 - NEXT DOOR

 

MICHAEL

 

I listen to his version of events, but the only thing I am really hearing is the sound of the shot. It was so loud and then everything was so quiet!

 

“Well? Is it?” The officer demands.

 

“Is he going to be okay? Xin, I mean. I never heard…”

 

“If he was dead, do you think that his partner…” He points at the officer leaning against the wall in the room next door. “...would be so calm? So is it true what he is saying?”

 

“That’s good. And…” I swallow and start to shake. “...it’s true. What he’s saying is true. What’s happening to me?” I can’t stop trembling and my teeth start to chatter.

 

“Get a medic!” He yells, and then helps me into the seat. “Look at me, Novotny, this is normal okay? You’re going into emotional shock. Try and breathe normally, alright?”

 

“He could’ve killed him.” I mutter.

 

“But he didn’t. Now breathe in and out with me, let’s get that heart rate down.”

 

ALLEGHANY GENERAL HOSPITAL

 

OFFICER XIN’S ROOM

 

TINKLEBELL

 

I am going to tear him into iddy-biddy-tinky-winky-stinky pieces! Typical of him, causes a problem and then runs away to leave everyone else to clean up his fucking shit! I look up as the door opens and it’s Sade. “More ice chips.” She hands them to me and I help Xin slowly sit up. “Ooh that is going to be one big knot on your noggin.”

 

“Tell me about it.” He grumbles, and then sighs as I get behind him to hold the cup so he can help himself. Trying to do it for him got a swipe, I am sure his nails aren’t supposed to be that length!

 

“Carl is on his way.” She tells us and starts to gather her things. “He’s just...”

 

“He didn’t have to come to see me, I’m fine, apart from this massive fucking headache.”

 

“Yes I did have to come to see you.” The man of the moment says as he enters, and he too winces. “Fuck, what hit you?”

 

“A glass ball. Managed to crack off a shot though.”

 

“So I heard, Cool Hand Luke. Clipped him as well. He’s fine, but they’ve both admitted their parts in this mess.”

 

“Both? What do you mean both?” He mumbles around a mouthful of chips, I am at least allowed to mop up the dribble.

 

“Seems they got liquored up and went back to his place. There was a disagreement about protection, as in to wear or not to wear, and when he called the police the guy tried to take the phone off him so Novotny hit him…”

 

“And he decided on payback?”

 

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it. Novotny confirmed, well he will confirm it in the statement when he’s discharged.”

 

“He’s discharged? Where is he?” I ask standing up and hoping against hope that the Payback God is smiling on me.

 

“Sit down, you’re nobody’s bitch but mine.” Xin grumps so I sit. “What’s up with him?”

 

“Seems that corroborating a story got to him and he’s being treated for emotional shock.”

 

“So now what?” I ask, helping myself to ice chips and getting a sharp jab in my stomach. “Ouch! Xin, what the hey?! Do you want my help or not?!”

 

“Didn’t I say you’re my bitch?!”

 

“Have that spat at home!” Carl orders with a smile. “When are you out?”

 

“48 hours, as per...I shouldn’t have should I?” I am not sure who he's talking to, so say nothing.

 

“Not really, no, but can understand why the protocols weren’t followed. Shame you found out the hard way he was telling the truth.”

 

MICHAEL’S ROOM - FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER

 

MICHAEL

 

I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling. The gunshot sounds fainter now, but its implications are loud and clear.

 

“Are you able to make a statement?” A familiar voice asks and I look at the officer from the precinct.

 

“I thought I did.”

 

“No, you corroborated his story, you didn't make a statement, we still need to do that. Can that be now or when you are discharged?”

 

“When I am discharged. I need to do something before that.”

 

“Fine, you have until tomorrow afternoon.” He clips out and leaves.

 

INTEGRITY FINANCIAL SERVICES - NEXT DAY

 

TED’S OFFICE

 

MARILYN

 

We can’t quite believe it, but it is there in black and white, a full and frank admission from Michael that it was fraud. That it was him and Bob who for years maligned Jerry’s name, and his acceptance of full culpability for his death.

 

“Are you still going to sue him?” Ted is still a bit stunned.

 

“No, this is enough. But do you think I can go after…”

 

“Bob? Yes I think you can.”

 

“Then I will. He stood there at his funeral saying how sorry he was, how he couldn't understand why Jerry could do this. He even called him selfish!”

 

“What?!” Ted snarls.

 

“He didn’t say it to me, I heard about that later.”

 

“Jesus what a nest of snakes that place was!” Blakes exclaims.

 

“And it’s time that the former King Cobra got his head cut off!” I declare, and then look to the sky and to me the sun seems to be shining that little bit brighter.

 

 

 

Chapter End Notes:

If reviewing, please be constructive and kind. THanks

You must login (register) to review.