BEAUTIFUL DAYS CHAPTER FIVE
I remember that morning like yesterday. I was up early. Making breakfast. Doing the normal good husband type thing, ya know? I know i haven't
been the model husband since i got the detective promotion six years before. I had been pulling my Harry Whodini impressions more often. Not
being around. Always at the office. Never home. That morning I was there for a change. I heard her come downstairs and place herself at our
kitchen table. My back was towards her. I had just placed the scrambled eggs on her plate just how she likes them. I head for the table, I greeted her
with breakfast, she greeted me with paperwork, along with these words...
"Jake, I want a divorce!"
BEAUTIFUL DAYS]
CHAPTER FIVE
STUPID CUPID BLUES
Where the hell could they be...?
I found myself wandering the streets. Each spot I come to, is a blank. No sign of either of them. I come to the corner across from The Rockabee. We
used to eat breakfast there, Marie and I. My ex wife. Well she's there now...but the guy she's with obviously ain't me. He's a younger guy, not that
I'm and old man or anything, but, certainly younger than her or I. He walks up and open's the taxi door for her. Then engages in a conversation with the
driver. As this takes place, she looks up and she notices...me. Our eyes dead locked. For ten seconds, I had her undivded attention again for the first
time in a long time. Ten seconds later...it was gone again. Ink ain't even dry on the divorce yet and she's out doin it up. Then she was gone. And at
that moment, it wasn't so much I had just realized, but more so...accepted the fact...she was gone.
A random office building. Downtown.
In this huge office, there's a desk. Behind the desk a figure is seated. In a huge leather chair facing the big window overlooking the city. Back facing the man
sitting in the chair on the other side of the desk. Clouds of smoke pours from the other side of the huge leather seat from the man's cigar. The man sitting
behind him...none other than our old buddy, Patch...
"So what happened out there?" ,asked the faceless man.
"I got shot, that's what.", Patch responded.
"I can see that, poor kid.", the faceless man says with a bit
of sarcasim.
"Where is your squad?", the man asked.
"Dead as Dillinger!", Patch answered.
"Figured as much. Those guys never did seem to me
to be the sharpest knives in the set.
Speaking of sharp knives...
Nice work on the good doctor.
At least you set out half of what
I sent you to do.
Now where's the girl?",
the man asked.
"She got away!", Patch replied.
"Is that a fact?", the man said
calmly.
"And why's that?", he asked.
"Well maybe it might have something to do with the fact,
THAT I GOT FUCKIN' SHOT.
AND NO ONE SEEMS TO GIVE A SHIT!",
Patch yelled in anger.
"I see!", the faceless man said, calmy once
again.
He slowly turns to Patch in the chair. Face still unseen. He speaks to him...
"I know you're not playin with a full deck, Patch.
knew it from day one. Believe it or not, shit,
that's what I like about you,
but, I must say,
DON'T YOU EVER,
IN YOUR LIFE,
YELL AT ME LIKE YOU LOST
YOUR FUCKIN MIND AGAIN!
I DON'T GIVE A SHIT IF
YOU GET SHOT
OR NOT!
I GIVE YOU A JOB
TO DO...
YOU DO IT!
Now get out there,Patch,
and find that bitch.
And don't come back
until she's dead.",
the man said.
"Me being shot, kind of makes it hard.", said Patch.
The man turns slowly back around with his back to Patch once again. He says in a slow voice...
"Leave that to me!"
It's about 9 A.M. now. Still no sign of the Sarge or Sophie. I decide to make a pit stop by my house to check my messages. Nothing but bill collectors,
until...the final one...
"Detective Reed, call me
555-8743.
It's Sophie's voice. I quickly call the number back, after the fifth ring, she answers,
"Detective Reed?, she asked.
"Where the hell are you?", I asked.
"I'm in the alley way behind Sewell's.
Meet me there.", she said.
"Wait a minute...what the hell's goin
on god dam...
click!
She hung up. I grab my shit and head for Sewell's. I show up, but since I'm no stranger to having women play me for the fuckin' herb, I show up on the roof
of Sewell's. So I can see everything. Just to make sure there's no funny business. No ambush type shit. I see her. She's alone. And no one near by. I
pull out my cell, and I call. She races to the pay phone she called me from...
Detective Reed?,. she asked.
Yea. , I said.
Where are you?", she asked.
Look up. I said.
I killed him!,she said.
What?
I killed him., she repeated.
He tried to kill me...he was one
of them., she said.
Sophie, I'm comin' down!", I said.
I make my way down to her. She's ballin her eyes out by this point...I walk to her and she runs to me...
I killed him. I had to, Detective Reed. He
was one of them and he tried to kill me., she
said franticly.
Calm down, Sophie. Where the hell is he?, I asked.
I took him to the fernis down in basment of his
complex. I burned him., she said.
After you killed him?, I asked.
Yes!, she replied.
She grabbed me and began to cry like a new born baby. I held her like she was such. I tried to comfort her. Then i said...
Come with me, I'll take you somewhere safe. Somewhere you can
get some rest.
I put her in the car. I drive her to Marsha Jude's. A mental health facility. She quickly went ape shit...I had to restrian her...
"NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME HERE!
NO, I CAN'T BE HERE!!!
I finally get around to the front of the building and I call for the aids to help me. The rush out to assist me in getting her inside. One of them quickly said...
Holy shit, that's Sophie Figgis!
"You know her?, I asked.
Yea, she's been here before!, He replied.
I fuckin' knew it...NUTCASE. Then an older nurse approaches me. Very concerned about the girl. She said..
You can't leave her here.
Why the hell not. She's nuts and
apparently my responsibility.,
I said.
She's not safe here, said the nurse.
What the hell you talkin about? I asked.
She never says anything. Just gives me a look. I knew that this was the only safe place I could leave her.
Tell you what. What's your name?
Olivia. , the nurse responded.
Well since you are so concerned about her,
I'm gonna leave you in charge of keeping an eye on
her in here.
I will be back for her.
Your hear?, I said.
She cannot be here. , Olivia said.
Well guess what, she's gonna be here dammit.
And you're gonna watch her like
I fuckin said., I said before i walked away.
I looked at her kicking and screaming. Her once beautiful eyes...now crazed. She's fighting. She really doesn't want to be here. My heart is broken.
Almost like i wanted to cry. I pull one of the aids to the side and ask him...
Listen, do you have access to files on patients?
Well I do, but not for your to look through. Can't play
that game here. I'd get fired., said the aid.
Wow! , I said
So what's the policy on marijuana smoking on the job?
That's also against the rules to right?, I asked.
What?, the aid played dumbly.
Well seeing as to how...what's your name...?, I asked.
Henry., he replied.
Well, Henry! Last I checked, they never legalized
marijuana. And seeing how you smell like a fresh field
of it, and you're on the clock at a mental hospital,
well, being fired is the least of your worries, I would
be thinking about the jail time as well. So if
you want to avoid both...please, pretty
please, with cherries on top...
GET ME THOSE FUCKIN' FILES!
Didn't take much more convincing than that. I head down to the records room with the shaken aid. He got my those files. I take off. As I leave...
I look at Sopie one last time. She is being tended to by Olivia. I felt better knowing she was in her care for some reason. I make my way out. It is then
that i realize...it's 1:15. I'm late for lunch with the D.A.
I arrive at Bailey's. He's there. And as usual, not upset. Calm.
I knew you'd be late., he said.
I took the liberty of ordering for you. I know what you like.,
said the DA.
Thanks. , I replied.
You seemed a bit flushed, Jake!
What's wrong?
Rough night., I said.
Ahhh we all have those at times, Jake., said the DA.
The waitress brings out our appetizers and drinks. For some reason I lose my appetite. The DA is mumbling on about something. I phase him out a bit.
I can't hear him anymore. I feel a big disturbing not in my gut. All i could think about, was Sophie.
The office building downtown. The faceless man picks up the phone and hits the redail. The person on the reciving end is Patch...
Marsha Jude's!, said the man when Patch answered.
She'll never know what hit her! Said Patch.
END CHAPTER FIVE
