But he still remembered that bedspread, and
Joe's gifts, and everything in between.
Mike pulled himself to his feet and
stumbled into the bathroom. He turned on the faucet and let the
water run as he looked at himself in the
mirror. The refection that stared back at him was like that of a
stranger.
Suddenly the phone rang.It made Mike nearly
jump out of his skin. The ringing made the pain in his
head more intense.
He quickly splashed water on his face to
make him more alert. Then stagered over to his bed to grab
the phone on the nighttable.
"Logan." He barked as he noticed the time
on his clock 9 am.
"I was wondering if you were going to come
to work today pal." Lenny retorted.
" I guess I over slept."
" I guess so. Mike we got a hit on the guy
we have been looking for in the O'Connor Case. Charlie
Keller. You should see his rap sheet. Longer
than my arm. When you get here we can go pay him a
little visit."
"Okay, I'll see you in a bit Lenny."
Replacing the phone in it's craddle, Mike
sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands.
Lennie was halfway through his paper work
when he spotted Logan stumbling into the office at 11
a.m..
"Jesus, Logan, you look like hell," Lennie remarked. "Hot night?"
"Late night," Logan corrected. "I didnt leave
the precinct till 2 a.m. So uh... What else did you find on
this Charlie guy?"
Briscoe handed him Charlie Keller's file.
"Here you go, pal. Our dear friend Charlie spent time in Attica
for armed robbery , assault and kidnapping.
He was also charged with several other crimes, charges
were dropped."
Lennie could have talked about the Kennedy
Assasination and Logan still wouldn't have noticed. It was
evident from his glazed eyes that his mind
was elsewhere. "Hey, Earth to Det. Logan, please deposit
your brain over here!"
Logan snapped back,"Sorry man. I guess I'm more tired than I thought."
Lennie gave Mike a long thoughtful look.
He knew what was bothering Logan. But if he isn't ready to
admit it to himself, Briscoe doesn't want
to be the one to point it out to him. "Yeah, those sleepless
nights will kill you. Why don't you take
a couple more Zs and I'll see you much later in the afternoon."
Mike was about to protest when Briscoe said,
"No man, go. You are no use to me dozing off and
spacing out. That can get one of us killed
too, you know. Get some rest and I'll meet up with you at 2.
alright?"
Mike nodded. Lennie was right, he was more
or a liability right now than an asset. "Sorry about this
man", he said as he stood up and leave.
"Guess, I'll see you at 2."
As tired as he was, sleep was the last thing
in his mind. His old friend Tommy might be able to help
him. Tom knew Fr. Joe they way Mike knew
Fr.Joe. And right now, he badly needed to talk to
someone who knows. Besides, St. Augustine's
was only a couple of blocks off, he's sure Fr. Tom
McGovern wouldn't mind a visit from an old
neighborhood chum.
Mike stood in front of St Augustine's
and stared. The old building hadn't changed much. Mike never
wanted much to do with religion after his
encounter with Father Joe. The man he had idolized as a child
changed his views on so many things and
religion was only the tip of the ice berg.
Mike slowly walked up the stairs and entered
the church. Inside he could hear the faint sound of
Hymns being played on an organ somewhere
inside.
Mike looked around and noticed several Nuns
in their atire talking among themselves. He walked
toward a door near the back and to the side
of the church,that lead to a hallway. It was down this
hallway where Fr. Tom's office was located.
Outside Mike paused for a few before knocking.
He was unsure of what he wanted to talk to Tom
about. He was also unsure if he should even
be here digging up the hated past.
He stood staring at the door. The
nameplate that used to bear the name MSG. JOE KROLISNKY now
has his old friend's name engraved in its
place.
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea," Mike
thought to himself as he changed his mind about opening old
wounds. But it seems Fate had other things
in mind. The rectory door opened and through it, Fr. Tom
McGovern came out of his office.
"Goodafternoon, can I help you?," He didn't
recognize Mike immediately. Logan stood and stared at
Tom, speechless. It's been almost 25 years
since he spoke to him. How do you really want to start the
conversation?
"Mike. Mike Logan is that you." Breaking
a smile on his face he nodded his head.
"Yes Tom,or should I say Father Tom."
"Forget the formality Mike. It's Tom to
you. I almost didn't recognize ya. What's it been 20 years or
so?"
"Just about Tom."
"How have you been? What have you been up
to?"
"I've been okay. I'm a detective now."
"Followed in the old man's foot steps eh."
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Silence
over took the next few while each of the old friends
pondered over what to say next. Finally
Tom broke that silence.
"Ok Mike, What up? What brings you here
after all these years?"
Difficult as it was for Tom McGovern to hear
Mike talk about things he himself did not want to
remember, he remained calm and intent in
listening to every word his friend spoke. He remembered
vividly the motel room Logan was describing,
the green duvet, even the patches of peeling paint on the
ceiling he used to stare at when.... He
cannot imagine how he would feel if he had to set foot in that
room today. Looking at tortured face of
the man forced to relive the horrors of their childhood, he
prayed he never would have to.
Mike and Tom stared at the image of the crucified Christ, silently remembering.
"I was afraid." Mike spoke.
Tom came out of his reverie and gave Logan a questioning look.
With his head bowed down Logan continued,
"Back there, when Lennie and I found the girl, I was
shaking. I opened the door and I was sure
I was going to see Fr. Joe on the bed waiting for me. I
swear I could hear him through the door
calling me, telling me its going to be our little secret."
Tom understood. "Everyday, I would go into
my office half expecting to see him sitting there with one
or two altar boys. I hear his voice echo
around the church asking me to help him tidy the basement."
The world beckoned. Mike's pager began to
beep. They need him back in the precinct. "I have to go,
Tom. I'm sorry to ask you to dig up old
wounds. You were the only I know who knew the bastard like I
did."
The priest smiled. He walked with Logan to
the church steps. "It happened and it's part of us now. But
he's gone, Mikey. Don't let him keep hurting
you. Take back whatever it was he stole from you."
"Like your church, huh?" Mike smiled and looked at Fr.McGovern.
Tom shook his head "Like my faith."
Mike entered the squad room about 15 minutes
after he was buzzed. Like usual the phones were
ringing and there was always somone at a
desk taking a statement.
Lenny looked up from somepaper work he was
looking at.
"Hey Mike, glad you got here so quickly.
We have got some real trouble on our hands. The O'Connor
kid escaped the foster home they placed
her in. She pulled a fast one on the Den Mother."
"Oh that's just great. Do we have any leads as to where she went."
"No, but that's not all. Profaci and I went
to see Charlie Keller. He cleared out of his room at the
rooming house where he was staying. We have
no idea where he is either. CSU is still there working
the place. I placed an APB out on both of
them. I have suspicions that they hooked up together again."
"So now what does the LT. want us to do now."
"Find Elmo again and have another little talk with him."
"Lets get going then and I think I know exactly
where to find him. Make sure you bring a spare pair of
latex gloves. We'll need them where we are
going."
The rec center at Marcus Garvey Park has
long been condemned. All that remains of the landmark
were its graffiti-ridden walls and cemented
stairs.
"I used to play basketball here with my friends
back in those days," Briscoe reminisces as he carefully
make his way through the rubble found inside
the building.
"Oh yeah? I bet basketball isn't the recreation of choice of these fine residents." Logan retorted.
As they reached the innermost part of the
center, the stench grew even fouler. The walls were reaking
of urine and vomit. Used syringes were cluttered
all over the floor, mixed among fecal matter and other
refuse. Huddled in the dark corners of the
room, were the people Logan referred to as residents.
"Anyone here seen Elmo?," Briscoe called
out. "First one to answer gets to walk,or crawl, out of here.
Everyone else gets a trip to the local zoo!"
From the corner of his eye,Briscoe noticed
a figure scurrying and starting to run. "Logan!", he yelled
pointing towards the fleeing figure.
It didnt take much for Logan to catch up
and overpower Whiteside. Weakened by crack, Elmo's legs
gave way and sent him sprawling on the floor.
"Nice to see you again, Elmo." Mike said as he picked him up by the collar.
"What now detective?I already told you everything
I know about that chick!",Whiteside protested. "I
dont know nuthin new!"
"Mikey here has a pretty bad memory.", Lennie
replied, "Why don't you come with us and help him
remember, ok?"
As I told him before, I've seen her a couple
of times around the park. Always with the same guy,
Charlie or Chuck, I think. Seems like a
nice guy, they never bothered nobody. She always acted
retarded.", Whiteside said.
"What makes you make she's acting?" Lennie asked.
"I saw her once make a phone call, talking
straight and everything. She was angry at whoever she was
talking to. Hell, she kept yelling. Then
she saw me and all of a sudden, she put the phone down and
walked toward me. Detective, that look on
her has scared the beejezus out of me and I took off. I've
not seen her since." Whitesaid replied.
"Where can I find this Charlie?" Lennie asked.
"Dunno. Nobody I know has seen him in two weeks." Whiteside answered. "Can I go now?"
"Yeh, sure, go but don't disappear on us,
Elmo. Lennie answered. "Remember, we'll tell your parole
officer about your midnight runs."
On the street, Mike shoved his hands
deep in the pockets of his disreputable leather coat. "So what's
your take on this, Len?"
Lennie shook his head, digging in his pocket
for the keys to the unmarked Crown Victoria. "Beats the
hell out of me, Mike." Unlocking the door,
he grinned at his partner across the top of the car. "And I
think the only way we're gonna find out
is to find the O'Connor kid."
"Yeah," Mike said glumly. "Or Charlie, whoever
the hell he is."
Mike and Lenny had just pulled away
from the 2-7, when they received a call over the two-way from
the dispatcher for them to report to the
Lowry Hotel. A body had been discovered.
Pulling up outside the Hotel, Mike suddenly
had a strange thought pop into his head.
"You know Lenny I have this funny feeling,
the body inside is going to be this Charlie character we
have been looking for."
"You know Mike, I was thinking the same
thing."
Mike and Lenny walked through the cruddy
Hotel to reach room No. 6.
When they arrived they stood at the doorway
and stared inside the room at the body lying in the middle
of the floor. One bullet hole to the head.
"You know Lenny. This is not our day."
"I'm beginning to think you're right."
The man had literally been caught
with his pants down. His right wrist was wrapped in bandages.
Nearby was a hip flask containing a small
amount of dark amber fluid which smelled like rum.
Logan said, "Got to give him credit for dying happy."
"Very funny," growled Briscoe.
It was clear the frustration painted on her
face that Lt. Van Buren was far from being happy with the
way things are turning out in the O'Connor
case. There were meager leads and the one that actually
panned out turned up another dead body.
"Are you telling me that we are back to square
one in this case, gentlemen?" Van Buren asked Briscoe
and Logan as they entered her office.
"Well we know the name of the victim shot
in the head.", Lennie offered."Charlie Collins, age 30 no
priors, last known address was an apartment
in Prince Street. Guy sounded loaded. He worked as an
investment broker."
"If he's so loaded what's his body doing
in a roach motel? From the way the room looked I say he's
been camping there for quite sometime.",
Logan said then added, "Forensics blood analysis also
determined that the DNA lifted from O'Connor's
dress matches Collin's perfectly."
Van Buren nodded and thought about the new information.
"Have you talked to girl's parents yet?,"
Anita asked. The two detectives looked at each other
sheepishly.
"Uh..we were just about to," Briscoe muttered.
"Go then. Somebody has got to know this girl's
history. Find out how and why she dissapeared maybe
that will give us a clue where she's at."
Van Buren opened the door for her two detectives. "We got to
find her soon. Right now she is holding
all the cards."
Mike and Lenny pulled up outside the apartment
building in Central Brooklyn where the parents of the
O'Connor kid lived. Before getting out of
the car they both decided to refreshed themselves with what
they had.
"Okay Lenny, we have this Christine O'Connor,
who was reported missing five years ago by her
parents .
She supposedly *acts* retarted. This is
according to our old friend Elmo and she has been seen hanging
around with a guy named Charlie Keller,
who has a sheet longer than my arm.
Now we have a new body, some Charlie Collins
guy, who was an investment broker and his blood was
on the O'Connor kids dress.You know Lenny
this is all very confusing." Mike looked over at his partner
with a perplexed look on his face.
"I know what you mean Mike. I'm as confused
as you are.
Hopefully the parents can help fill us in
on her history.
I know this is not a part of the job I like.
*Oh by the way we found your daughter and
then we up and lost her, sorry.* I'm sure they will not be
too pleased with us."
"We'll we had better get this over before the LT. jumps down our throats again."
The two Detectives stood outside the O'Connor's
apartment and rung the bell. When the door opened
up, Mike and Lenny got a huge look of surprise
on their faces from the person there that greeted them
at the door.
At first sight Mike and Lenny thought the
person that had answered the door was none other than
Christine O'Connor. They rushed inside and
tried to place her under arrest.
Martha O'Connor just stepped out from the
kitchen. She raced over to her daughter and attacked Mike
in hopes he would let her baby go.
"What are you doing to my baby? Lenny grabbed her hands to pervent further mistreatment of Mike.
"Lady lighten up. This girl is wanted in connection to the murder of Charlie Collins."
"Are you out of your f**king mind? Charlotte would never hurt anyone."
"Charlotte, you mean Christine don't you?" Lenny retorted.
"This is my daughter Charlotte, Christine's
twin sister. Oh my god, do you know where my Christine is,
my baby?"
Both Lenny and Mike looked at each other
and then at the girl. If there were two people that could look
more alike, it was Christine and her twin
sister Charlotte.
"No Ma'am we have no idea where your daughter
is, in fact we did have her in our custody, but human
services came and picked her up. Unfortunately
she escaped from their custody before we could
contact you." Mike responded.
Martha's legs went out from beneath her as
she fainted. Lenny jumped in and caught her before she hit
the floor.
"How was she when you saw her last, Detective?"
Charlotte asked as she offered everyone seated a
cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Her mother was still dazed. The news about
her sister gave her mother quite a shock. Both her parents
never gave up looking for Christine. But
5 years is a long time they were beginning to the accept that
Christine is probably dead and that they
would have to start looking for a body.
Lenny hated to be the one to break the news.
But looking at Mike, who was busy acting distracted to
avoid the responsibility, he knew he was
the lucky guy.
"She didn't look too good, Ms. O'Connor.",
Briscoe answered gently. "Human services was taking care
of her before she decided to leave."
Mike steeled himself against feeling too
much for Charlotte and her mother. Charlotte wasn't making it
any easier for him to do that. Her pained
expression from hearing how her sister was behaving was
plastered on her face. "We have reason to
believe that Christine may have been involved in a homicide.
We'd like to ask you and your mother a few
questions about her. Any information you have is a big help
for us in finding her."
"There was a murder?," Martha came out of her stupor and asked. "Is she hurt?"
"Uh, Ma'm, as of now, we can't give any details
about the investigation but I can assure you that your
daughter was ok when we found her.", Lenny
answered.
Lenny then turned to Charlotte and asked,"To
your knowledge, does your sister have any kind of
disability?"
"No, Detective, why do you ask?",
Charlotte replied.
"Because some people who have seen her thought that she was retarded.". Lennie answered.
"Christine retarded? Why that's absurd, Detective.",
Charlotte said, "She's a brilliant pianist. Just before
she disappeared, she'd been accepted into
Julliard's Summer Program.
"The last time we saw Christine was the day
she went to register at Julliard's for the program."
Charlotte chuched a picture taken of the
two of them a few week before her disappearance. She
handed it to Lenny.
"This is my sister and I. We were 17 years
old. She had such a bright future ahead of her."
Lenny looked at the picture and felt he
should be honest to them both.
"She was a beautiful girl, But the past 5
years haven't been kind to her appearance, at least while we
had her in our custody. She was filthy and
dressed in tattered clothes."
"Oh God, my poor baby. I have to find her. Please you have to find her for me." Martha implored.
"We will do what we can Mrs.O'Connor. We
have to talk to her as well. May I ask where Mr.
O'Connor is?"
Martha dropped her head and the tears formed
in her eyes.
"My father pased away a year ago. All of
this with Christine took it's tole on him." Charlotte said, noting
her Mother's hurt.
"We are sorry for your loss Ma'am." Lenny added.
The two Detectives decided it was time to
leave these people at least for the time being. They excused
themselves and left the apartment.
Outside in the car Mike looked over to his partner.
" You know Lenny the more we dig into this the more questions that pop into my head."
" I know waht you mean Mike. I have this
feeling the O'Connor's haven't told us everything about
Christine."
"I was thinking the same thing." Giving a
last glance at the building, Mike could see Charlotte peeking
out from behind the curtain, looking out
at them.
"You know Lenny I think maybe we should go
to the office and pull the case file on Christine when she
went missing. Maybe something will jump
out at us."
"Sounds good to me. We can find out who the
Detectives were that investigated it and talk to them."
"It's a dead file," Detective Sela
Marks told them, pushing the thick manila folder across her desk for
Logan and Briscoe's inspection. "It was
like the kid just vanished into thin air. No witnesses, no sign of
a struggle. We pegged it as another runaway."
"Lennie," Mike said, lifting the original officer's report. "Look at this."
"What?" Lennie asked, taking the report and
glancing over it. He looked up and caught Mike's gaze,
which gleamed with the excitement of the
chase.
Sela glanced between the two men, a small
smile quirking at her lips. "You two want to fill me in or are
you just going to sit there doing the male
bonding thing?"
"One of the people the uniforms interviewed
that day was Charlie Collins," Mike explained, replacing
the report in the file. "He's the dead body
we found this morning."