| Waiter, There's a Love Bug In My Soup! By: Tina Celestial Princess |
| The next morning Harvey walks in yawning, his jacket dragging on the floor behind him...he reaches his desk, tiredly pulls his chair out and flops down into it as Nash and Joe watch him place his head on his desk, and as he instantly falls asleep, they hear the hearty sounds of Harvey snoring... "Uh Nashman, what’d ya think that’s all about..." They each look toward a sleeping Harvey...Nash scratches his head curiously... "I don’t know, let’s go find out..." As they walk toward him, his phone begins to ring...Nash looks at Harvey, shakes his head and chuckles as he answers it... "Captain Bridges, SIU...(he pauses)...uh huh...(he pauses)...where...(he pauses)...ok, we’ll be right there...(he pauses)...yeah, thanks..." As Nash hangs up Harvey’s phone, Joe’s phone begins to ring...he looks at Nash... "Looks like we’re gonna have a full day today..." Nash smiles & chuckles as Joe answers it... "Lieutenant Dominguez...(he pauses)...yeah, what is it...(he pauses and grabs a pen and begins writing on the closest thing he could find)...uh huh...yeah, I got it...thanks.." Nash glances at Joe as he listens to Harvey snore... "Ok, I’ll tell ya mine if you tell me yours..." Joe smiles and holding a spare folder, walks over to Nash... "Ok, you first..." Nash takes a look at the folder in Joe’s hand and then glances at him... "New way of filing messages?" "I couldn’t find my notepad so this had to do...now what’d ya got..." (Nash smiles) "That was Ricky Beal...there was a car bombing, outside of the Bitterroot..." "Isn’t that the restaurant in the Mission?" "The very one..." "Huh...who got fried?" "Ricky says that the victim’s name was Tyrone Little...he was a one time member of Curtis’ gang...he was taking care of things while Curtis was away..." "Huh, looks like Curtis is tired of just having a piece of the pie, he wants the whole thing...prostitution AND the drug distribution..." (Nash rubs his chin) "Can’t blame a guy for tryin’, huh..." (Joe grins) "Nope...ok, my turn...we got a line on Chickie Pandolfo..." (Nash smiles in excitement) "Really? Tell me Joe, where would that be?" (Joe smiles) "Well I’ll tell you...he’s stayin’ at the Mark Hopkins..." Nash smiles as Harvey snores more loudly...he glances at him, and shaking his head, he chuckles... "Well now...I got a funny feeling that Chickie isn’t the one payin’ his hotel bill..." Joe looks at Nash with suspense on his face... "You don’t say...I wonder who IS? (He rubs his chin as if he were Sherlock Holmes) hmm...let’s see...Curtis is out of prison, 2 murders, Chickie’s print found at the scene and Chickie roomin’ at a high class establishment...(he glances at Nash) I’ll go with your feeling and say that Curtis is bank rollin’ Chickie..." Nash shakes his head and grins... "You’re doing it again?" "What?" "You know, that speculation thing...you’re doing it right now..." Joe shakes his head at Nash and sticks his tongue out at him... "Are you going to stop that and wake Harvey up, or am I going (he points) back there again..." (Nash puts his hands up in the ‘stop’ motion) "No no...(he puts them down and looks at Harvey) you don’t have to be so sensitive...(he nudges Harvey on the arm)...Harvey...(he looks at Joe and shrugs his shoulders...he nudges harder) HARVEY..." (Joe replies) "Maybe you should stick a mirror under his mouth..." Harvey lets out an ear piercing snore that makes the men jump...Nash shakes his head at Joe... "I don’t think we need a mirror...(he takes Harvey’s coffee cup and swiftly taps it on his desk...Harvey jumps out of his slumber and, trying to focus his eyes, he gives them a rub and glances at Nash through a squint as he wipes the encrusted line of saliva from the corner of his mouth...Nash grins)...good afternoon...do you not have enough work, too much, rough night, you tryin’ to tell me somethin’, what..." (Harvey tries to snap himself out of his groggy state) "I’m sorry Nash, yeah it was a rough night last night...(Joe brings him a cup of coffee to awaken him)...thanks Joe (he takes a sip and his eyes open wide)...some retro station was showing 6 hours of my Dead...had to watch (he takes another mouthful of coffee and swallows)" (Nash smiles and jokes) "You’re kidding...why?" Harvey looks at Nash confused..."Because they’re The Dead" The men laugh..."Ok...now while you were (he chuckles) sleeping, Joe and I got some leads on Praun and Chickie Pandolfo..." (Harvey smiles) "Geez, how long was I asleep?" (The men chuckle as Nash continues) "I want you to go with Joe and pick up Chickie at the Mark Hopkins and bring him here...then go and have a little chat with Curtis at the Argent and see what falls out of his mouth...(he glances at his watch) I’ve got a meeting with Grace at 1, so I’ve gotta get outta here...(the men start to walk to the door with Nash) keep me in the loop and call me if there’s any problems..." (Joe nods) "You got it...(he smiles) congratulations Nashman...I really happy for ya..." (Nash smiles as he opens the SIU door) "Thanks Joe..." (Harvey smiles) "Yeah man, congratulations...and thanks..." (Nash smiles) "No thanks necessary... Joe looks at Harvey..."Ok Rip Van Winkle, let’s go pluck us a Chickie..." Nash walks into City Hall and heads to the Office of Child Services...as he opens the door, he gets that feeling again...he stops and looks around the bustling corridors of City Hall...as he cautiously watches everyone quickly get to where they have to go, he glances toward the opposite end of the hall...it’s there that he catches the glimpse of a figure standing by one of the windows...he begins to get that spine chilling jolt and as he begins to make a move, a group of high school students on a tour of City Hall pass in front of him...Nash tries to peer and peek through the group, but as they disperse, the figure is gone. At the Mark Hopkins, Joe and Harvey walk into the hotel and glance around the lobby...they approach the Concierge... "Excuse me...(Joe shows his badge) I’m Lieutenant Dominguez, this is Inspector Leek, SFPD...we’d like to know if Chickie Pandolfo is in his room..." (The concierge checks the computer) "Ahh yes...(he looks at Joe) he just ordered room service about 15 minutes ago..." (Harvey responds) "We need a room number..." "Of course...he’s in room 514...the elevators are just through (he points out the direction) these pillars and around the corner..." As Joe and Harvey rush to the elevator and wait for the doors to open, a young man comes toward them from the food service area...Harvey looks at Joe and they smile at each other... (Harvey asks) "Are you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?" (Joe replies) "Yeah, I wonder what he’s got good on that cart..." They enter the elevator with the young man...the doors close and moments later, they open on the 5th floor and Joe steps out, followed by Harvey who is dressed in a white food service uniform, pushing the cart. As they walk down to room 514, Joe peeks under each serving plate... "Ooo, croissants...(Joe takes one and begins eating it)...mmm, these are sooooooo good..." (Harvey whispers) "Joe, what the hell are you doin’?" "I haven’t eaten and I’m starvin’...(he looks at Harvey) c’mon, he’s not gonna eat all this stuff...look at this...(he begins lifting lids) pancakes with blueberries...croissants...eggs benedict...juices...he’s obviously got someone in there with him...(he takes a pancake and begins devouring it)..." Harvey looks at him and shakes his head...they arrive at the room and prepare themselves...Joe motions for Harvey to knock on the door... (He knocks and announces) "ROOM SERVICE..." As they take out their guns, Joe stands on the opposite side of the door, not to be noticed and Harvey stands by the cart, gun held down by his side and behind him. The door to room 514 opens and Harvey looks at the man dressed in nothing but a bathrobe... "Hi, c’mon in..." Harvey walks in behind the man as Joe walks in behind Harvey and keeps out of sight behind a wall...a woman calls from the bedroom... "Chickie, who is it honey?" "It’s room service baby...(he looks at Harvey) just put the cart over by the window..." Harvey wheels the cart to the window and turns around... "Chickie, how bout a ride downtown..." Chickie looks at Harvey strangely... "What?" (Harvey takes out his badge) "Downtown, Chickie...SFPD..." Chickie runs toward the door and Joe steps out from behind the wall, holding his gun out... "Where ya goin’ Chickie? Joe looks at him and shakes his head as the woman opens the bedroom door, wearing her birthday suit...the woman screams and tries to cover herself up with her arms... "OH MY GOD...Chickie, who the hell are these guys!" (Harvey replies) "We’re SFPD...now would you please go get dressed and meet us out here...(he then glances at Chickie)...and Chickie, why don’t you go put your pants on too..(he chuckles) there ain’t gonna be anything goin’ on in here today..." As they wait for Chickie and the naked woman to dress, Joe walks over to the cart... "Good, then I guess they won’t be needing this stuff either...(he begins gobbling up the breakfast trays as Harvey stands and watches him, shaking his head in wonder)... Back at the SIU, Harvey and Joe walk in with Chickie and his companion... (Joe calls) "Ronnie, could you please put Chickie and..." (The woman interrupts) "Francesca...(she smiles and winks at him) but you can call me Frankie...(she eyes him up and down and seductively quips) I’ll be your Cher if you’ll be my Sonny (she blows him a small kiss and winks)..." Ronnie and Harvey turn their heads and laugh softly as Chickie takes offense to her provocative forwardness and begins to push her a bit...Harvey grabs his arms to stop him... "What the hell are ya doin’ Frankie? You’re suppose to be with me, remember?" (She snickers) "HAA...I’m not with ANYBODY, so you can just screw off...(she sarcastically grins) cause I think the only screwin’ back at that hotel room was gonna be me, left with a lite pocket and YOU, beatin’ it outta there while I was in the shower..." (Joe shakes his head and rubs his face) "Eh, I don’t wanna hear anymore...Ronnie, get them outta here...and put them in separate holding cells..." As the men are getting ready to interrogate their suspects, Nash happily walks in...(Joe jumps and looks up at Nash) "Oh, hey Nashman...(he smiles) so, how’s the family?" (Nash smiles) "Just great, Joe...(he looks around, stands up tall and looks at Joe)...bubba, today is GREAT day!" (Joe stands and smiles at him) "Well that’s great Nashman...I’m really happy for ya..." "Thanks Joe..." (Joe takes a piece of paper off of his desk and hands it to Nash) "Here" (Nash takes the paper and looks at it) "What’s this?" "You wanted me to run a plate number...well, that’s what I got back on it..." (Nash reads it) "The car is registered to a Courtney Alazar in Potrero Hill...I’ll be back later, Joe..." "Wait, I’ll go with ya..." "Did you and Harvey chat with Curtis yet?" "Well, no..." "Well, I need for you 2 to have that little pow-wow...when I get back, we’ve got A LOT of work ahead of us...don’t sink the barge or let it loose..." As Nash walks toward the doors, Joe suspiciously looks at him and shouts... "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN! (He watches him walk out)...NASH!" Nash steers his way through the half moon-shaped driveway of Courtney Alazar and parks at the front door...he walks up the brick stairs and rings the doorbell. The door opens and a middle-aged woman stands in front of Nash... (The woman politely smiles) "Hello...may I help you?" (Nash returns the smile) "Hi...Courtney Alazar?" "Yes" (He shows her his badge) "I’m Captain Bridges, SFPD...I’d like to speak with you?" "Why?" "Uh, do you own a 1998 emerald green Chevy Lumina?" (Courtney lowers her head and then looks at Nash) "Please, come in..." As Nash walks in and looks around the house, he begins to get a very strange feeling...Courtney leads him into the living room and kindly offers him a chair... "So captain (she seats herself), you wanted to ask me about my car?" "Uh yes...(he looks at her as his spontaneous plan B kicks in) we received a call that your car was stolen and I’m just here to follow up on it..." (Courtney looks at Nash confused) "Stolen? My car? (She shakes her head) I’m sorry, but there must be some mistake...my car wasn’t stolen..." "Well, I don’t see it outside and there were reports of it being seen around Fisherman’s Wharf and points along the bay..." (She thinks for a minute) "Oh, wait a minute...(she looks at Nash) I let a friend of mine borrow my car...she’s new in town and needed a way to get around while she looks for a job and a place to live..." (Nash becomes suspicious) "New in town? Do you know where she’s staying?" (Courtney smiles) "Why yes, she’s been staying with me...I’m not THAT cruel and insensitive, contrary to popular belief..." (Nash smiles) "Umm, do you know when she’ll be back?" "It’s hard to say...some nights she gets in around 8, other nights she’s out until 2..." (Nash stands up, looks at Courtney and smiles) "Thank you for your help...(he walks toward the door as Courtney follows...he stops and looks at her)...by the way, what’s her name?" (Courtney looks at him suspiciously and hesitates) "Uh...Vanessa" (Nash thinks as he nods and smiles) "Thanks..." He walks out to the Cuda and heads back to the SIU... Harvey and Joe enter the Argent Hotel and walk over to the concierge...Harvey keeps a watchful eye on the lobby as Joe quips... "Uh, (he shows his badge) Lieutenant Dominguez and Inspector Leek, SFPD...we need to know if Curtis Praun is in..." The concierge checks the computer and replies... "I’m sorry gentlemen, but Mr. Praun is out for the evening AND he has a ‘do not disturb’ on his room and phone for when he returns..." Joe looks at Harvey and exhales in disbelief...Joe looks back at the concierge... "Look, I want you to call (he hands the concierge his card) me when he gets back...there’ll be a little something in it for ya..." (The concierge gladly takes the card and smiles) "You’ll be hearing from me" "Thanks" Harvey and Joe glance at each other and smile as they walk out of the hotel and head back to the SIU... To help Nicolas feel a little more comfortable, Nick decides to take him to the playground. Nick pushes Nicolas on a swing...as his laughter grows stronger with each push, Nick feels even more comfortable, and warmly laughs himself. While the two continue to have fun, a tall, dark haired woman stops to watch them... (She smiles) "He looks like he’s having fun...(she looks at Nicolas giggling as Nick gently pushes him on the swing) is he your grandson?" (Nick smiles) "Yes, he is...well actually, he’s my son’s little boy..." (The woman smiles) "Wow, that’s great! (She looks at Nicolas) he’s beautiful...how old is he?" "Oh, thank you...he’s uh, 4..." Nick begins to get that feeling in his stomach...it’s the same feeling that Nash is always talking about when Joe does something...he stares at the woman curiously... "Do I know you?" (The woman becomes surprised) "Uh, I don’t think so...(she chuckles) I get that all the time, someone always thinks that they know me from here or there..." (the woman seats herself on one of the swings and begins slowly pushing herself)... (Feeling somewhat strange, Nick glances at the woman as he stops the swing and takes Nicolas by the hand) "Do you have children?" (The woman hesitates as she looks at Nicolas) "I used to...I uh, I had to give him up...(she looks at Nick) it’s a long story..." (Nick glances at the woman sympathetically) "Oh, I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to pry or anything..." "Oh no, please...it’s ok...I know I did the right thing...(she smiles as a tear rolls down her cheek and she quickly wipes it away) he’s with his daddy now...(she drags her feet to stop the swing from moving and gets off...she glances at her watch) well, my flight leaves at 6 (she smiles), so I’d better get a move on...(she looks at Nick) it was great talking to you...(she looks down at Nicolas, smiles and places her hand gently on his head) bye bye..." As the woman walks off, Nick looks on suspiciously...he looks at Nicolas and smiles and then gazes back in the woman’s direction, only to see that she has quickly disappeared... Nash walks into the SIU and makes his way toward Joe’s desk, where he and Harvey are discussing the case...Nash whips off his sunglasses and places them in his jacket pocket... "Ok kiddies, did we play nice and make some new friends today?" (The men chuckle as they glance at Nash...Harvey quips) "Boss, we’ve got Chickie and Frankie in holding..." "Uh, who’s Frankie?" (Joe grins and adds) "Frankie is short for Francesca...she was there when we paid our visit..." (Nash smiles and rubs his chin) "Uh huh, so Chickie was entertaining when you 2 busted his party..." (Harvey chuckles) "Yup...and if we’d have went in 5 minutes later...well, let’s just say that it would’ve looked like a scene out of Porky’s..." (Nash laughs) "Ok, let’s have a chat with Frankie first...she might be part of Praun’s little outfit, and she may know more than she thinks..." Nash, Harvey and Joe are seated in interrogation when Ronnie brings down Frankie from holding... "Hiya Frankie...I’m Captain Bridges, and I believe you already met Inspector Leek and Lieutenant Dominguez...(he looks at her) have a seat..." Frankie seats herself and stares seductively at Nash, running her tongue over her lips, hoping to get a response to her advances...Nash exhales as he glares at her...Joe catches the advances and he walks behind Nash and nonchalantly glances at her...she casually looks at Nash and Joe and smiles... "Oh, I understand...(she points) you two are...a couple (she smiles), am I right..." Nash quickly turns his head to see Joe standing behind him...he slowly turns back to face Frankie, shaking his head... "Uh Frankie, I need for you to get real informative, real fast...now I need to know how YOU know Chickie..." (Frankie laughs and snaps her fingers) "Ha Ha, I knew it! No man has ever resisted my lip juicing before...(she bangs her hands on the table excitedly) this is a good thing, I thought I was losin’ it! (She looks at Nash) too bad, though...you and I could’ve had a REAL nice time..." (Nash rests his face in his hand) "Ok, good...now that THAT’S settled, do ya think you can answer my question..." (Frankie puts a stick of gum in her mouth and begins chomping on it) "Sure...I know Chickie from the street..." (Harvey quips) "How’s that?" "He used to make the daily pick-ups from Tyrone...that is, until Tyrone was barbequed..." (Joe curiously asks) "What happened after that?" "Well, Chickie’s runnin’ the girls now, and he answers to only one man..." (Joe questions) "And who would that be?" (Frankie looks at the men) "Ya know, you guys are asking me a lot of questions, but I don’t hear anybody offering ME anything, if ya know what I mean..." (Nash smiles) "Frankie, you haven’t been charged with anything...we’re just talkin’ right now, but if ya want, I can be VERY obliging and lay on the charges...(he shrugs his shoulders) so what’d ya wanna do here, sister..." (Frankie thinks for a moment and grins as she taps her fingers on the table) "Ok, I hear ya...he answers to some guy named Curtis...I heard him on the phone, right before (she points) you 2 came in...he was pretty upset...he said that he was being short-changed and that he wanted the money that was owed him...said that he didn’t need him anymore and that he was gonna run the show, the way he wanted..." (Joe nods his head) "So now Chickie and Curtis are on the outs...lucky for Chickie he’s here, and not out there..." (Harvey asks) "To the best of your recollection, did Curtis kill Joshua Putnam and Tyrone Little?" (Frankie begins playing with her hands as she sadly glances at the men) "You’ve already got your man..." The men look at each other, eyes wide...Nash takes out his card, writes a number on it, stands up, walks over to her and hands it to her... "Here, I have a friend over at the Gray Center...I’m gonna have an officer drive you over there...you tell Jenny that I sent you...she’ll know what to do..." (Frankie stands up and looks at Nash) "Thanks..." (Nash smiles) "Your welcome, and thank you..." He calls for Norell and tells him to take Frankie over to the Gray Center. Nash smiles at Harvey and Joe... "We might just close this case tonight...have Ronnie get Chickie and bring him down here..." As the men quietly discuss the events of the case, Ronnie approaches with Chickie, hands cuffed behind his back...Nash looks up... "Ronnie, uncuff him...(Ronnie takes the cuffs off of him and sits him in a chair as he keeps a watchful eye from behind)...Chickie, Chickie, Chickie...(Nash smiles) you’re one plucked feather away from being sent straight to prison...so why don’t you help yourself and tell us why..." (Chickie looks at them, shrugs his shoulders and smiles) "Well, obviously that little tramp dropped dime on me, so I’ll tell ya...it’s real easy, I wanted a piece of the pie...I was tired of just makin’ a few bucks here and there, I wanted more...so I was offered a real sweet opportunity, doin’ mainly collections...(he chuckles) you should’ve seen those envelopes...each of them bulging with thousands of dollars, and here I am, bringing home a couple hundred bucks each night...(he becomes agitated) it didn’t even come CLOSE to what I was bringing in...so, about a month ago, I was approached by this guy who wanted me to do a job for him...nothin’ fancy, just to take out a troublemaker...he offered me $50,000...(he glances at the men and becomes upset) I got an exwife who doesn’t let up for a friggin’ minute, and a kid with Cerebral Palsy...the insurance doesn’t even begin to cover all of the expenses, and this was a quick way of makin’ some needed cash...(he looks down at the table)..." (Nash looks at Chickie, exhales and clears his throat) "Joshua Putnam..." (Chickie looks up at the men and hesitates) "Yeah...like I said...quick..." (Nash looks at Chickie with aggravation on his face) "Joshua Putnam paid for his crime...his wife, who has been there for him, visited him EVERY DAY and who had been planning for him to come home, now has to plan his funeral...and all you can say, is that it was quick! (He chuckles angrily) You are a piece of work...(he takes a deep breath, exhales and regains his composure) what about Tyrone Little...was that ANOTHER one of your quick jobs?" (Chickie looks at Nash with sorrow in his voice) "Look, I didn’t want to...I did it for my kid...(he begins to plead) have you ever looked at your child and know deep down that that little boy or girl can do anything? That they can be doctors or lawyers or (he sadly laughs) even the president of the united states...(he looks down at the table and softly quips) that’s what I wanted for my little girl (he looks up with tears in his eyes), but someone said no, that’s not gonna happen...(he sobs)" (Nash and the men hurt for him, but know what is right) "Who was it, Chickie? Tell us and maybe we can help you..." "A guy by the name of Curtis Praun...that’s who came to me and gave me the money to do the jobs..." Nash thinks about what Chickie said and begins to think about Cassidy...Harvey and Joe begin thinking about their own children as they glance down at Nash and he, in turn, looks at Chickie... "My sister works in the D.A’s office...I’ll talk to her..." (Chickie nods his head and smiles gently) "Thank you..." (Nash motions to Ronnie) "Take Mr. Pandolfo back to holding..." The men just sit and shake their heads as they each ponder their own lives as Ronnie guides Chickie back to his cell... (Harvey responds) "Geez...that really made me think about things, ya know..." (Joe adds) "Yeah, I know...I’m gonna go call Inger..." Nash watches his men disappear to their desks as he stands up and turns to look out at the bay...he takes a deep breath, heads upstairs to his own desk and makes a call that he thought he’d never make...he hears a voice on the other end... "Hello?" "Umm hi, Grace...this is Nash Bridges...we’ve met a few times this week about my son?" Grace smiles..."Oh yes, I remember you...how are you? How’s everything going with Nicolas?" Nash grins..."I’m fine...and Nicolas is doing good, so far...he’s with my dad right now...(he clears his throat) listen, the reason I’m calling is to..." Grace interrupts..."I’ve been hoping that you would call..." "Really? Well, I was going to call you, (he laughs) and here I am..." Grace smiles..."I’m glad you’re here...(there’s a knock on her door)...listen, I’d love to talk to you, but I have an adoption hearing now..." "Oh hey, I don’t wanna keep you from doing your job..." "Look, how ‘bout we meet on Friday, maybe have lunch?" Nash smiles..."Sounds great, I’d love to...I’ll talk to you then..." "Sounds like a plan...I have to go...ciao" Nash chuckles..."Ciao" Nash hangs up the phone and sits at his desk, smiling and chuckling to himself...he then decides to call Nick... "Hello?" "Hey Nick, it’s me...how’s everything going?" "It’s going just fine...I had taken Nicolas to the playground today, so he’s napping right now...(he pauses)" "Nick, you still there?" "Yeah...uh, there was a strange woman there..." Nash becomes curious..."What woman? Who was she?" "She was passing by and just started talking to me...she seemed nice, but the whole time I was talking to her, I felt like I knew her..." (Nash has worry wash over him) "Nick, what did she say? Are you alright?" "I’m fine, don’t worry...she said that she gave her child to her husband, or at least I think it was her husband, she said the baby was with its daddy...anyway, she said that she was catching a six o’clock flight and that she had to go..." (Nash places his elbow on the desk and puts his thumb under his chin and index finger on his lips as he ponders what this woman wanted) "Really...did she say anything else?" (Nick shrugs his shoulders) "No..." Nash detects a strangeness in his voice..." hey, are you ok?" "Yeah, I’m fine..." "Ok look, I’ll be home soon...if you should hear from or see that woman again, you call me, ok?" "Sure...is everything alright?" Nash thinks back to his chat with Courtney Alazar and rubs his chin..."Yeah Nick, everything’s fine, don’t worry about anything...I’ll see ya later" and he hangs up... As Joe is hanging up his phone, after talking with Inger, it begins ringing... "SIU, Lieutenant Dominguez...(he pauses as his eyes grow wide with happiness)...really...(he pauses)...ok, that’s great...we’ll be right there...(he pauses)...don’t worry, this is worth A LOT...(he pauses)...yeah, thanks..." Joe yells over to Harvey..."that was the concierge at the Argent...Curtis JUST got in...(he notices Nash coming toward them)...hey Nash, Curtis just got back to the Argent..." (He motions with his thumb, as if hitchhiking) "Excellent...go get him and bring his ass back here...and if he resists your attempts, shoot him in the knees and DRAG him in..." Harvey and Joe chuckle as they make their way, with Norell and Ronnie, to the door and head over to the Argent Hotel. They arrive at the hotel, enter and walk over to the concierge, who automatically hands Joe a pass key... (He whispers) "Room 630...it’s at the end of the hall, off the elevator to your right..." Joe takes the key and hands the concierge a card... "I want you to come to that address tomorrow...(he smiles) you’ll be taken care of..." The concierge smiles and Joe, Harvey and the officers, catch the elevator up to the 6th floor...as the doors open, they carefully walk out and begin to cautiously head toward room 630...they stand outside, and with an ear to the door, listen for movement or a voice... (Joe whispers) "Ok, let’s do this, carefully...on my signal..." He carefully places the key card into the electronic unlock and the small activator light turns green...as he cautiously turns the handle, he hears a loud click...he quickly turns toward the men... "GUN!" Everyone scatters to safety as the door is shattered by a large hole, made by a rifle...as Harvey weaves and bobs his head past the hole in the door, he sees Curtis jump out with the rifle still locked in his hands... "INCOMING!!" The men stay out of sight as the next shot is fired, this time it barely misses Ronnie...Harvey looks over at him... "RONNIE, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" "YEAH...THIS SON OF A BITCH IS MINE..." Ronnie opens the splintered door and charges in, followed by Harvey, Joe and Norell...they look around the room, only to see a secondary door, leading out to the hall around the corner, opened...the men rush out the door, only to see Curtis getting on an elevator...they run down the hall and just miss him as the doors close...Joe looks at the team... "Ok...Ronnie, you and Harvey take the stairs...Norell, you and I will take the elevator..." Harvey, looking at Joe as if asking with his eyes why he had to go down the stairs, rushes down with Ronnie as the elevator doors open and Joe and Norell get on and head down to the ground floor...as the elevator gives a slight jolt upon landing, patrons of the hotel scatter and scream as Curtis appears, dropping the empty rifle and grasping a Smith and Wesson...as the doors to the elevator open, shots ring out, sending innocent bystanders falling to the ground...Joe and Norell rush out and collapse behind large pillars...Harvey and Ronnie quickly throw the stairwell door open and Joe shouts... "GET DOWN, HE’S GOT A GUN!" Harvey and Ronnie rush behind the concierge desk, carefully peering up to check out the floor...Curtis lets a few more shots go as Harvey and Ronnie put their heads back down, like a turtle in its shell... Harvey looks at Ronnie... "What the hell is he shootin’ at...we didn’t do anything to him...yet..." Ronnie shrugs his shoulders and crawls to the end of the desk and carefully peers around it, where he sees Joe, hiding behind one of the pots...Joe sees him and whispers... "Do you see him?" Ronnie glances around the lobby...as his view passes by a seating area, he catches Curtis’ head peering around the arm...he motions to Joe to look over at the couch...Joe looks around and as he does, he sees Curtis jump, firing at random to get away...as the men jump up and dash after him, Curtis is met outside by Nash and the other officers, guns readied on their target...Curtis quickly halts and as he tries to rush back into the hotel, he is once again stopped by Joe and the gang... (Harvey announces) "Give it up, Curtis...(Curtis glares at him as Harvey lays down the stare)...it’s over, now put the gun down..." Curtis looks at the officers surrounding him and knows that Harvey is right, it’s over, and he carefully puts the gun on the chair next to him and raises his hands...Nash and this team rush in as Harvey handcuffs him... "You must be homesick, huh...(he roughly jostles him)...well you’re gonna get to see all your old buddies...(he angrily whispers in his ear)...I didn’t forget what you did to my friend a few years ago..." Nash walks over to Harvey as Curtis is turned around by Ronnie...Nash stands face to face with him... "Hello Curtis...(he grins) I’ll bet you thought that we weren’t gonna getcha...that you were just gonna walk away from all of this, while Chickie Pandolfo took the fall..." (Curtis glares at Nash, and in a low, deep voice quips) "I didn’t kill anybody...I’m innocent...you’re lettin’ the wrong guy walk..." (Nash smiles) "I don’t think so...you’re under arrest for the murders of Joshua Putnam and Tyrone Little...(he glances over at Norell) get him outta here..." (Nash walks over to Harvey) "You alright?" "Yeah...(he looks at Nash) what are you doin’ here, anyway? We had this..." (Nash shrugs his shoulders) "I thought you guys could use some help...(he smiles)" (Harvey smiles) "Uh huh..." (Joe approaches and looks at Nash) "What the hell are you doin’ here? Shouldn’t you be on your way home...now get the hell outta here, Harvey and I got this covered...(he looks at him) I’d hate to have to kick your ass..." (Nash smiles) "Well that’s great...(he looks at the men) well, it looks like you guys have this under control, so I’m gonna head home..." (Joe looks at him strangely) "Oh, you finally realized that...(Nash looks at him and Joe shakes his head) uh, I don’t wanna hear another word, just go home..." (Nash nods) "Ok, I’m outta here...call me if there’s any problems..." Nash arrives at home.... Nick is coming out of his bedroom..."Nash, is that you?" Nash peers around the corner..."Yeah...(they meet in the living room, where Nick is holding Nicolas’ hand) someone wanted to see you..." Nash smiles and looks down at him..."Hey there...(he holds out his arms and Nicolas walks over to him and Nash picks him up with a grunt) Oooo, you’re not as light as I thought (Nash chuckles as Nicolas smiles...they walk into the kitchen)...so what’s for dinner?" As Nick is about to tell Nash what he’s preparing, there’s a quiet reply..."scetti" Nash looks at Nick and smiles and then looks at Nicolas..."What are we having?" Nicolas smiles and replies louder..."SCETTI" Nash laughs..."Scetti! You mean spaghetti..." Nicolas shouts happily..."YEAH!" Nick laughs as he tends to the pot on the stove...Nash puts Nicolas down and lets him help set the dining room table...Nash places some spaghetti in his plate and cuts it into small pieces so that Nicolas can eat it easier...Nash then plates some for Nick and himself and they sit down to eat dinner, as a family. As they are cleaning up the dishes, and Nicolas is playing with his toys, the phone rings and Nick answers... "Hello...(he pauses)...uh huh (he pauses), you’re kidding (he pauses), alright I’ll tell him" and he hangs up... Nash calls over to him..."Who was that?" "That was Harvey..." "What did he want?" "He said that you need to get down to the SIU, right away..." Nash begins to get that funny feeling in his stomach and curiously asks) "Why?" "All he said was that something happened...(Nick turns around and looks at him curiously)... "Uh, did you, by any chance, tell Joe about what I told you NOT to tell him about?" (Nash thinks for a minute) "No...(he then wonders aloud) oh my god...you don’t think that Joe..." (Nick interrupts) "You’d better get down..." As he is about to finish his sentence, he hears breaking news on the tv..."Judas H. Priest..." Nash rushes into the room and instantaneously puts his hand over his mouth as he watches the news...Nick sees the image of the barge, sailing free in the bay, and starts laughing...Nash looks at him and shakes his head... "That ain’t funny...(he takes out his cell phone and calls Joe)...uh, hi...WHAT in THE HELL did you do?" "What’d are ya talkin’ about?" "I’m talkin’ about WHY I’m gonna be reporting to work tomorrow, IN SEATTLE! I told you Joe, DO NOT TOUCH THAT BOX!" "C’mon Nashman, since when did you ever know me to listen to you..." Nash hears the officers yelling for Nash to help them and laughs hysterically as he watches the barge drift aimlessly in the bay...he lets Nick listen to the shouts of helpless officers and puts the phone between them...Nick laughs but tries to calm down... "Son, you really need to do something..." (Nash continues to laugh) "Yeah I know...(he looks at the tv again and then at Nick), but I’m not...(he looks at Nick) this IS funny!" and he flops onto the sofa as Nicolas jumps on his lap...and as Nash laughs, Nicolas throws his arms around his neck and, in an instant, says... "I love you, daddy" At that moment, Nash’s tears of laughter turned to tears of joy...he glances at Nick and then Nicolas...he spots a picture of Cassidy on the table in front of him and smiles...this is his family. The End |