Part II-Chapter 2: OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

 

Chapter 2
 

Out of Sight, Out of Mind
(Ó 2009)

“Are you mad daddy?” asked Nadine Rose as her father unbuckled her seat belts from her car seat. David and his family had just arrived home from the family Bar-B-Que.

“No punkin, I’m not mad. Why?” David asked his daughter.

“Because you and Mommy didn’t talk all the way home.” She answered, she then held up her arms to him so that he would carry her into the house.

He picked his little girl up in his arms, “No, no little one, don’t worry, I’m not mad. I just have to go in and make a lot of phone calls now for work. Besides, I can never have a bad feeling of any type with you and your Mommy around.” Nadine Rose then smiled and put her arms around her daddy’s neck. David then gave her a tight hug. He began to savor these moments of carrying his little girl, ever since he was talking with some other officers some two months prior in the break room at the station. One officer who had two teenage daughters told him to enjoy it while he can, because when they get older, they won’t want you to carry them, or hug them, or have them sit on your lap anymore. Because you may embarrass them in front of their friends, or that it’s “just not cool.”

David walked up the steps of his red brick house while holding onto Nadine Rose, he had the keys to his home in his free hand and before he inserted them into the locks on his door he turned and called to his two sons, “David, E.W., bring everything from the car into the house for your mother, and help with putting everything away.”

Both boys had an expression of protest on their faces and E.W. had the audacity to say, “Aw Dad, but we’re tired!”

“David … E.W.” David responded sternly.

“Yes sir.” Was their only answer back to his response, then both boys began to unload the car and Regina instructed them to where everything was to be placed.

David then unlocked the door to his home and stepped in. He placed his keys in a small brass bowl that had the logo of the Chicago White Sox engraved on it, then he knelt down to let go of Nadine Rose. “You know what I need you to do punkin?” he asked her smiling.

“What?”

“I need you to go upstairs and get ready so that Mommy can give you your bath.”

“So early? But the sun is still out?” she asked with a puzzled look.

“I know sweetie, but something came up, and I’m gonna be a little busy.” David said, and then he began to compromise, “You can play in the den around me after you’re done if you want.”

“I can?”

“Sure, this way I get to see you.”

“Okay.”

“Give me smooch.” David said and he puckered his lips to her, she then in turn placed her small hands on both his cheeks and gave him a big kiss on the puckered lips.

She then turned to find her mother, “Mommy! I’m gonna take my bath now!”

Regina was in the kitchen where Nadine Rose found her, she returned to living room just in time to see David go into his den and she followed him in there. “Is everything alright baby?’ she asked him.

“Not really, I wanted to wait until we got back here. Noel told me that the guy we’ve been looking for just may have surfaced again after a year and a half.” He then sat down at his desk, “I got to get all the files I have on him out and start reviewing it all. We both haven’t had anything happen in so long, it all went cold. I got them buried under some other things I’ve been working on.” He opened the drawer, pulled some file folders out, and then reached for a large folder in the back. “Here it is,” he said looking to Regina, “I was beginning to forget about him. Out of sight, out of mind I guess.”

“Yea I remember,” Regina said, “He was out of sight, but he was driving you all out of your minds.”

David froze for a second and started to laugh; he looked at his wife and said, “Thanks, I needed to laugh. Have the boys do everything that you need to be done.” He looked to Nadine Rose, “And when you’re all clean and in your jammies, you can bring your dolls in here, Okay?”

Nadine Rose smiled and nodded her head ‘yes’, she then led her mother by the hand to her bedroom to get ready for her bath, and it would be a nice hot bubble bath, just the way she always likes it.

“Oh yeah, and Kiss?” David called to his wife.

“Yeah baby.”

“I need to know when the news is on the tube. Call me when it’s on please.”

“Sure baby.” She said.

David heard as they made their way up the stairs to the children’s bathroom. He then placed the large file on his desk. The paper satchel type had an elastic band holding it closed. He tugged at the band lightly, opened it, and removed the files on the man that he and his partner, with the strange humor that police officers develop over time, nicknamed the “Spinal Tapper.” Police Officers need this type of sense of humor, in order to help cope with the un-human things they have to be witness to every day.

He looked at the files and began to review, soon his brain was clicking and all information that was stored away in the back of his mind began to flow through his head.

It began with the opening sheet of paper, which was a short note handwritten on official FBI stationary. It was from agent Chris Wren. He sent a short note that stated:

Dave, Noel, 

If there is ever anything I can do to help you with your ‘Batman’, don’t hesitate to contact me. 

Best to you both

Chris.

Attached to the note was a business card with the phone number to contact Chris. He had also handwritten his cellular number and home phone number on the card.

When David turned the note over, there looking at him were the faces of Raul Ortega and William “Billy” Freeman from their mug shots, the first targets of the Spinal Tapper. The connection between them and the other targets was still a mystery, if there were any connection at all. Were they watched by the Spinal Tapper as the other targets were, as David suspected? Last time he spoke with them was some time after the attack on Gregior Divic. They both were as David had told them they would be, spending every waking moment, as well as their time asleep, now side-by-side in their respective beds, staring upwards to the ceiling. Both were still in the infirmary at the state prison in Joliet.

“I suppose I’ll have to pay them a visit.” David whispered to himself.

Then the statement from Stephanie Morris, still the only person to have ever seen the vigilante, even though all she saw was the image of a large standing silhouette David knew that even if she had the knowledge of the vigilante’s whereabouts, she would never inform anyone where that would be. To her he was … her hero. The man that saved her and avenged her. That mindset was held by most of the citizenry of the Chicagoland area, according to talk radio, opinion polls and letters to the editors of the newspapers. David learned that soon she would be going to college to major in drama and acting.

Now he came to Jared Bartholomew, the fallen “Prince of the Midwest.” He and his father both still in courts fighting to keep Jared and himself out of prison, and contending with the numerous lawsuits against them from the parents of the boys that Jared had molested and raped.

However, the divorce proceedings against Mitchell Bartholomew from his estranged wife Laura were still the priority of all the headlines. Mrs. Bartholomew’s attorney, Ms. Gloria Goldstien, was at that moment suing for a divorce settlement that would be worth more than half of Mitchell’s assets. Mitchell himself also found himself, not just because of the scandals involving his son, but of his own pedophilia with young girls, being ousted from the company that he had founded by its board of directors.

“I bet Gloria’s business card says ‘guaranteed half of the bastards money’.” David again whispered to himself.

David then came to the file of Gregior Divic, and he became a little perturbed, because nothing so far has come about with the other discoveries involving Divic. Divic, a man who made his living by selling and distributing not only illegal narcotics, but dealt in white slavery as well. Smuggling then selling young girls and boys into prostitution. Not one name, besides that of Jared and Mitchell Bartholomew, had surfaced since the attack on Divic. Not one name from “The Pink Book”, which David and Noel still secretly had copies locked away.

The main reason behind this David suspected was that Divic was still being held at the federal medical facility in Springfield, Missouri; under the watchful eye of FBI agent Jay Boldini.

“He’ll be governor of Vermont I’ll bet.” David told himself. He then reached for the phone and placed a call to Noel. The phone rang three times, and then David heard as the person on the other end picked up.

“Ah-lo” Answered Mariola Jaworski.

“Hi Mari, it’s me, I hope I’m not disturbing your dinner.”

Oh, ah-lo Da-vit,” she said with her deep Polish accent, “no nut a-tol. I git Noel.” David then heard as Mariola called out to Noel in Polish, telling him that David was on the phone for him. She then spoke back into the phone, “So, Davit, dees strange man, he come back?”

“It appears to be that way dear.” David answered.

“Holt un, here is Noel.”

He heard as Mariola passed the phone to Noel and then him speaking, “Hey Dave.”

“Hey man, how’s it going?” David said, “I’m not interrupting am I?”

“No, not at all, I was expecting you to call soon anyway.”

“Thanks again for today by the way, I just wanted to go over some things with you before I call the Boss.”

“Oh you’re welcome man,” Noel said, “the Boss has already been briefed, and actually he said for me to just brief you. Seems so far it just the same old routine, just three live bodies this time. But, they aren’t going anywhere. When the Boss accessed the situation, he said to let you know afterwards. He’s gotta family too ya know.”

“Well, I guess I owe you both. Have our friends at the news picked this up yet?”

“Are you kidding? Same routine there also.” Noel answered, “This Gem P guy is well connected down on the south side, all those cops and ambulances at his home today, they all first thought it was a gangland hit for most of the day. Then they saw me there, and the suspicions started to grow. That’s one reason the Boss didn’t call you in, if we were both there, then they all would have known something’s up.” Noel cleared his throat, and then continued, “But, they probably know by now somewhat of this Gem P’s condition, so I’m going to be watching the news tonight as well as you.”

“So, what now?” David asked.

“Call the Boss,” answered Noel, “after the news is out tonight we all will be at this Gem P’s house tomorrow morning going over it. It’s locked down tight right now, Xiang said that it was good that only I was seen there … for now anyway.”

“Okay I’ll do that, I got all my files out on the ‘Tapper’, I don’t know why.” David said frustrated, “I’ve seen them a million times and I still have zero for results.”

“To tell ya the truth here buddy,” Noel sighed, “I would bet the house right now that after tomorrow, you and I are gonna have the same thing … zero.”

David was silent for a second, and then he said, “I’m afraid that you would win that bet.” He sighed then added, “Man … who is this guy? What’s his beef?”

“I don’t know, but I would hate to have him pissed off at me.” Noel answered quietly. “I keep remembering what Chris said to us, that he thinks someone close to him was hurt and he’s now in his own way getting even for that. If that’s true, then he’s filled with anger beyond belief.”

“He’s added to the confusion now too. I thought with his pattern that he was going to keep heading northward, now he attacks on the south side?“ After another silent pause, David then said in a normal tone, “Well then, I don’t want to keep you, I’ll call you early and let you know what the Boss plans. I’ll pick you up and the Starbucks is on me.”

“I’m holding you to that.” Noel said.

“Good night bud.”

“G’night.” Noel said then hung up the phone.

David then looked down at his files. He went over them again page by page in the hopes that something, the smallest thing possibly, that he and his partner may have overlooked. Again, after turning the last page, there was no new theory or clue that would befall him. He picked all the papers up, then shuffled and packed them down into a neat stack that to him seemed for the millionth time. He then again looked down at the thick stack of paper.

He then leaned back in his chair then rubbed his eyes and head, “Who is this guy?” He asked whispering to himself, “What happened to him … or to whom … to make him so angry.” He looked down to the files once again, as if the answer were going to finally leap up to him.

David then reached for the phone once again, to call his superior, Captain Michael Xiang, however before his hand touched the receiver, his phone rang. “Damn,” he whispered in frustration, “who’s this now?” He grasped the phone, brought it to his ear and answered in a stern tone, “Hello?”

“David?” the familiar voice asked.

“Boss?” He answered, realizing that it was the voice of Captain Michael Xiang.

“Yes,” the Captain answered, “is everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah it is,” David said, “it’s just the weirdest thing, I was just about to dial you, right this very second.”

 

“Oh I see, just as well, I need to speak with the both of you,” Xiang said, “something has come up about this latest escapade.”

“You need us at the office now?”

“No, no,” Xiang insisted, “I’d rather handle this first over the phone. I’ll brief you first, then I’ll call Noel at home. It’s best this way for right now.”

“Okay then,” David answered curiously, “what’s up?”

“Listen David, we’re all going to have to a little clandestine with this one. It’s a good thing that I decided that Noel come alone today.” Xiang began, “It will keep the news hounds away, but only temporarily I’m afraid.”

“Is this something serious?”

“It may be.” Xiang said, “I’ve been in meetings with the boys in the Narcotics Division today, they need to meet with you, Noel, and myself. They need to know everything that we know about the ‘Spinal Tapper’.”

“The Narcs?” David asked with a confused tone, “What the hell do they need to know?”

There was a brief silence, the Xiang sighed and said, “Apparently, our friend, if this is our friend, may have totally messed up a huge drug transaction that was to go down. The Narco boys knew that something big was coming in, they just did not know when. They now think it was to go down last night, but this Gem P was attacked, and it brought everything to an end.”

“Shit.”

“But there’s a slight twist.” Xiang added.

“And that is?”

"The Narco boys believe that there may have been a huge amount of cash taken from this Gem P’s home.”

“Cash? How much cash?” David asked curiously.

“Possibly, two and a half to three million dollars.” Xiang said, and then he heard total silence on the phone line. After about ten seconds, he spoke and asked, “David? You there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.” David answered, he now sounded astounded. “Two and a half to three million bucks? In cash?”

“Yes.”

“Holy shit.” David exclaimed, “If that’s true, then there a few pissed off people in this city somewhere.”

“Exactly.” Xiang said, “Apparently there were couriers coming in all the way from Columbia, to make this transaction personally. They came with a lot of product to sell …”

“And the buyer was put out of commission, and the cash is all gone.” David finished for him. “That makes it worse knowing that these pissed off people are Columbians who are now in town with a lot of merchandise to dump quick. I understand that those guys don‘t like to be inconvenienced.”

“Precisely.”

“And somebody out there, maybe our friend, has got a lot of unmarked cash.” David said, then added, “which when you do the math, equals to a lot of tension on the south side tonight.”

“Yes … there is.”

“This could be the job of just a copy cat you know?” David suggested.

“Yes, that’s possible.”

“But the only way we can confirm that is to talk to this Gem P asshole,” David said, “and history shows that may not be for a few days yet. We have to see if this is the ‘Tapper’, the only way to do so is to see if he gave his little soliloquy to Gem P.”

“I know, in the meanwhile I want to keep this under wraps as best we can.” Xiang said, “not only are the Columbians here somewhere, but they went through an awful lot of time and trouble to get their merchandise here, and more importantly, to get their money. Someone out there could have done a copy cat attack as you suggest, and that someone has the cash they want.”

“You think it could be someone in the ‘Four S’?” David asked.

“It’s possible, or someone that’s a rival or someone that knew about the cash, or … it could possibly be the ‘Tapper’.”

“But why would the ‘Tapper’ take Gem P’s money,” David said, “but not Jared Bartholomew’s? Jared offered his money to him outright the night he was attacked. I mean a half million in cash is nothing to shrug your shoulders at too you know.”

“You’ve made a good point.” Xiang answered, “If it is the ‘Tapper’, then he’s making things more complicated and confusing.” Then, there was another extended time of silence over the phone line. “David?”

“Yeah, yeah Boss” David sounded like he was brought out of a daydream, “I’ve got the file in front of me now, and you just made a big understatement. I’m more confused than ever now.” David now felt like he was having all his thoughts melding into one large chaotic mass.

“We’ll meet first thing in the morning then.” Xiang told him. “First at the home of this Gem P, then with the Narco boys back at my office. After that, we‘ll go to the U. of C. Hospital to check on the condition of those three.”

“Do you know anything of their condition now?” David asked.

“Gem P himself is now in the ICU stabilizing. The other two are still unconscious, the extent of their brain damage has not been substantiated as of yet.”

“Brain damage? Shit.”

Suddenly the voice of Nadine Rose came from behind David, “You said a bad word daddy.”

David turned to see his daughter standing there behinds him dressed in her Big Bird pajamas and holding five of her dolls close to her in a full embrace. “Oh, I’m sorry punkin.” He cooed to her.

“I’ll let you go now David, it sounds like you have more pressing matters there.” Captain Xiang said somewhat humorously.

David then closed the file on his desk, “Yes sir, I do. I’ll see you first thing in the morning then. Good night sir and again, thank you about today.”

“Hey David, I have a family myself.” Xiang said to him, “Don’t mention it. Besides, these men can’t go anywhere, and everything is locked down tight. I want to keep a lid on all of this as best we can. So, that the calmer things appear for now, the better. I’ll be calling Noel right now.”

“Okay Boss.”

“Okay then, good night.” Xiang said. Then David heard the click as the phone line disconnected. He then replaced the receiver on the phone base and looked at Nadine Rose. He smiled at her and said, “So, what’s it going to be tonight sweetie? ‘Miss Todd’ the school teacher, or Nadine Rose, the ‘most famous singer in the world’?”

“I wanna play teacher.” his daughter answered smiling.

David then stood and took some of the dolls from her arms and led her to the sofa by the window towards the back of his den. There he helped her to arrange the dolls on the sofa in the usual order for her ‘classes.’ In the corner of the room, there was a small easel with a chalkboard. He placed the chalkboard by the coffee table in front of the sofa. The coffee table acted as ‘Miss Todd’s’ desk, and the chalkboard was behind her desk, just like at her school.

“I hafta get the books.” She said and then ran from the den to go upstairs to her bedroom, where she would get some of her children’s books which she used as ‘schoolbooks’. He heard the sound of the thumping of her feet as she ran up the stair to rummage through her bookshelf.

“Don’t run down the stairs sweetie!” David called to her as he returned to his desk, where he reopened the file. He took out the sheet of paper that was from Chris Wren that also had his business card attached. He closed the file and placed the paper on top of it, then again reached for the phone. Instead of calling him at his home, David thought he would call Chris’s office; maybe at least there would be an answering machine where he could leave a message. He picked up the phone and dialed the office number on the business card. David listened as the phone on the other end rang. After the third ring, he listened and what he had hoped for came about.

On the other end, he heard the recorded voice of Chris Wren speaking:

“Hello, you have reached the office of agent Chris Wren, Behavior Sciences, FBI. I’m unavailable right now. At the tone please leave your name and number, plus the date and time you called and I’ll return your call a soon as possible. Thank you very much.”

After the tone David spoke, “Hello Chris, it’s David Todd of the Chicago P.D., it’s late Sunday evening and Noel and I may need your help. Please give me a call at my office tomorrow. I don’t know if we’ll be there, but if you can leave a number where we could reach you, I would appreciate it. Oh, plus, I need you to keep this confidential. Thanks look forward to hear from you.” David then hung up the phone, just in time for Nadine Rose to come bouncing back into the den with her books.

“Will you be the prints-pul daddy?” she asked.

David then spoke to her in an official sounding tone, “Why of course Miss Todd, and if you have any trouble with your students talking in class, be sure you send them right to my office.”

She smiled and looked at him and replied, “Yes Mr. David, but I don’t have any bad boys in my class.”

“What about the bad girls?”

“There are no bad girls, just bad boys.” She said as if it were a matter of fact.

“Oh … I see.” David said, “But just in case you know what to do.” He then stood up, “In fact Miss Todd, maybe I should sit in on your class just to participate in today’s lesson.”

“That would be nice Mr. David.” He and Nadine Rose then stepped over to the sofa ‘classroom’, where David then sat on the arm and began to watch his daughter begin to teach her ‘students’ arithmetic. There Nadine Rose went on for about ten minutes on how one plus one is two and two plus two is four. Then the ‘lesson’ was interrupted by the sound of the telephone ringing. Nadine Rose then pretended to be the voice that came from the intercom speaker at her school, “Mr. David, you have a call in your office.”

David let out a small laugh he then stood up from the arm of the sofa and said, “Would you please excuse me Miss Todd?”

“Yes Mr. David, it was oh so nice to have you here.”

“Why thank you Miss Todd, carry on with your lesson.” He turned to the dolls sitting on the sofa and addressed them, “Good day class.” He then turned and stepped to his desk and picked up the receiver, “Hello.”

“Dave?” He heard the astonished tone of Noel Jaworski speak.

“Yeah Ski.”

“I just got off the phone with the Boss.” Noel said, “Can you believe that shit man? Three million bucks?”

“Yeah, unbelievable, and I do mean that.” David said with skepticism.

“What are you saying?” Noel asked.

“I don’t know,” David replied, “I don’t think it’s our guy. I just don’t.”

“Why?”

“Because of the money. He never took anything thing from the other targets … except their ability to walk.” David said.

“I see what you mean, but don’t you think that three mil in cash would tempt anybody?”

“Yeah, but like I said to the Boss, he had a chance to take a half a million from the Bartholomew kid, and he turned it down.” David reminded him, “I mean Jared was going to hand it right over to him, and he turned him down. He didn’t even go into the house and look for it, or take anything of value at all, and God knows he had plenty of time to do so also. He wasn’t there for that. He was there to punish Jared.”

“Punish?”

“Yeah, I’m going over the file again, I haven’t seen it in over a year, and all my theories are going through my head,” David said. “I’m looking here again at some of my old notes. We believed that he’s watched all his targets, but how he learned of them is still unknown. With the exception of Gregior Divic of course.”

“So, do you think if it’s our guy, that there may be a connection with this Gem P?” Noel asked.

“I don’t know, because I can’t find any connection between the Bartholomew kid and Divic with Billy Freeman and Raul Ortega.”

“I sometimes think that there was no connection there.” Noel said.

“Why?”

“Well, if he watches his targets, puts them under surveillance as you say, he would then have to watch them commit a couple, maybe more of their attacks. If he were a true vigilante, then it would be as Chris said to us before. Someone close to him has been hurt, maybe even raped. I sometimes think that the personality of the ‘Tapper’, well, he just wouldn’t do that. He would have surfaced a lot earlier sometime with one of the last couple of women before Stephanie.”

David fell silent for a moment. “I would have to agree with you, maybe Raul and Billy were an accident, maybe he just happened to stumble upon them, just plain dumb luck.”

Noel then added, “Some people would call that fate. Stephanie Morris is probably one of them.”

“But how did he find out about Jared?” David asked. “What led him to find out about him and what he was doing? Was that just an act of fate too? The Bartholomew’s and Divic were connected, and look at the sh …” David caught himself before he would swear in front of his daughter, “I mean, look at the scandals that came from those two attacks. Nothing came from Ortega and Freeman. You could say that the ‘Tapper” saved us in a way. Because let’s face it, the way those two moved around, we’d probably still would be looking for them.”

“When you think about it,” replied Noel, “the ‘Tapper’, he’s doing the same thing. He’s moving around, in more ways than one.”

“How do you mean?”

“When Freeman and Ortega were attacked, there was a mixed bowl of media coverage. The ‘Mysterious Dark Man’ paralyzes them; the ‘Tapper’ is the talk of the town, until the trial. What Ortega and Freeman did, the number of victims, the victims and their families getting to tell their sides of what they went through on the news and everything. Next thing you know, everyone forgets how they were caught in the first place. In fact, it doesn’t even matter anyone any more … except us of course.”

“Yeah,” David agreed, “and with the Bartholomew boys and Divic, when the scandals broke from the aftermath of what happened to them, the ‘Tapper’ became a distant third, even fourth priority.”

“Yeah, and the divorce that Mitchell is going through right now with Gloria Goldstein burning his ass at every angle, I’m surprised anyone remembers what even happened to Jared.”

David was quiet for a second, then he said, “And if the names in the ‘Pink Book” were to ever come out, Jeez the ‘Tapper’ would be lucky if he even had a story about him on page fifty of the papers.”

“Boldini is still keeping the lid closed on all of that.” Noel said. “Pisses me off too. All those scumbags getting away with their shit. I have to tell you, I hope that’s all just temporary.”

“But that money,” David said calmly, “I just can’t see the ‘Tapper” attacking the leader of the Four S, just to rob him of the money. That’s what makes me think that it’s a copycat. Our guy would have attacked him for a reason.”

Noel then said in a frustrated tone, “He not only covers his physical trail well, he covers the psychological one as well you know. He’s kept us confused ever since he’s first come on the scene.”

“This may sound strange, but if he did this to just rob this Gem P guy, I’m going to be kinda disappointed in him.”

Another silent pause came between them, then Noel began to speak, David could hear the continuing and growing frustration in his voice, “It’s like he comes, does his thing, and then when the story comes out on his target, all attention then gets shifted from him.” The silent pause came again, and then Noel added, “Kinda sounds deliberate … don’t it?”

“Yes … I would have to agree.” David said solemnly, “It makes a stronger case that he is watching and studying all his targets, but …”

“But what?”

David sighed and answered, “I don’t know. I just can’t seem to believe that he would do this, just to steal the money. I just feel that he’s not like that. I think right now it’s a copy cat and that our guy would have just left the money there.”

“Dave, it sounds like your trying to defend the ‘Tapper’s’ honor.” Noel said in a serious tone.

“No, it’s nothing like that.” David assured his friend, “it’s the way it has been since this whole thing began. Right now, I don’t think he did this, and it’s because of the money. Why would he start to become just as bad as the people he attacked? It’s all so …”

“Confusing?”

“Yeah, here we are again, after a brief intermission.” David said somewhat agitated, “I have to confess; I thought he just went away. He did all the damage, he brought forth all the scandals, and there are a lot more scandals that would come if Boldini wasn’t attached to the hip of Gregior Divic.”

Noel then added, “I know one thing too, and that is this; if it isn’t the ‘Tapper’, then that’s a hell of a lot of cold hard cabbage to be taking away from guys like Gem P and the Four S’s. That’s a lot of cash that somebody has, and there are a shitload of people wanting to know who has it and where it is.”

“There’s a shit storm brewing indeed.” David said.

“Plus a major transaction was all fucked up, there are some pissed off Columbians staying in our fair city tonight. I bet there is some tension on the south side right now.”

“Again, I would have to agree, in fact, I said that to Xiang when we were discussing this whole thing. I suppose the Narco boys are there watching out for that.” David said, he then looked over to Nadine Rose, she was still giving her ‘lesson’ to her students, and they all sat on the sofa, still giving her their undivided attention. “Listen, I have to go, I got the little one with me here. Let’s do the routine, you look at your file and notes, I’ll look at mine, and then start fresh in the morning with the Boss.”

“Yeah, we can’t really do anything right now. I’ll see ya in the morning.” Noel said, “Besides, let’s get some sleep. I feel like it’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”

“Yes indeed.” David agreed, “Good Night Ski, see you early.”

“G’Night man.” Noel said, and then he hung up the phone.

David then returned the receiver back to it’s base. He looked down at the file and was just about to open it again when he looked at his daughter. He then stood up and stepped over to her; he bent down slightly and rapped his knuckles on the coffee table three times.

“Come in.” Nadine Rose said.

David the stepped over to the side of the sofa, stood erect with his hands folded behind him and said with a cordial tone, “How is class going so far today Miss Todd?”

“Everything is going fine today Mr. David.” Nadine Rose answered playing along, “we are now going to start learning the alf-bet.”

“Oh I see, would you like any assistance with that?”

“Why yes Mr. David, I would like your sis-tence. That would be nice.” Nadine Rose then picked up her Sesame Street Alphabet book, then she and David spent the next hour teaching the ‘class’ about every letter and what sound each makes. Plus what words begin with each letter. Soon the first sign that ‘class’ was almost over came with a long yawn that came from Nadine Rose.

David then stood and looked at his wristwatch and said in his ‘principals’ voice, “Well Miss Todd it looks as though the school day has come to an end.”

“Yes Mr. David. It’s time to dis-mizz the class.” Nadine Rose said, giving another yawn. She stood up and looked to her ‘students’ and said, “That will be all today children, class diz-missed.”

With that, David then went to the easel, picked it up and replaced it in the spot where he had reserved for it some time ago so that Nadine Rose could play ‘teacher’. Nadine Rose began to gather all the books she had together and David picked up all the dolls from the sofa. He looked at his daughter and said, “Now I’ll be Mr. Bus Driver, and take all the students home to your room.” That got a giggle from her.

They both left the den and made their way upstairs to Nadine Rose’s bedroom where all the dolls and books were returned to their proper spot, just as Regina would want it.

“Mama’s rules, the next generation.” David mumbled to himself. They then went into the master bedroom where Regina was lying on the bed watching what David called a ‘chick flick’ on one of the women’s cable networks. David referred to these television networks as the “All Men Are Pigs Channel”.

Regina held out her arms to Nadine Rose and said, “Come here by Mama Sugar.”

David then said, “Okay.” Then went over to her.

“I meant the little sugar baby.” Regina chuckled. “Big sugar comes later.” Nadine Rose then jumped up onto the bed and her mother embraced her. “You can stay here until you fall asleep okay sweetie?” Nadine Rose rested her head on her mother’s chest and then nodded ‘yes’.

David then sat on the bed next to his wife and daughter and watched the television for a few minutes. He then kissed Nadine Rose on the head and Regina on the lips. “I’m going to check on the boys. Then I have to look over some papers in the den. Call me about five minutes before the news comes on; Okay?”

“Sure baby.” Regina said to him.

David then exited the room and went down the stairs then into the kitchen where the door to the basement was. He went down into the finished room to find his boys playing a video baseball game. He saw that E.W. was playing as the Chicago Cubs. He looked at his son and said, “In some places, that can be deemed as treason. Everything okay down here?”

“Yeah Dad.” Both boys said, their eyes never leaving the television screen. 

“I’ll be in the den. You both can stay up late as long as there is no noise, understand?” He asked them.

“Sure Dad, thanks.” E.W. said.

“Yeah, thanks Dad.” David Jr. followed.

David then left them and went back up the stairs, through the kitchen and then the living room, returning to his den. There he shut the door behind him, went to his desk, sat down and then reopened the file. Hoping once again to find that small, minuscule thing that he and his partner may have overlooked a million times that would help him find the ‘Spinal Tapper’.

There he spent the next hour, turning each page one at a time, staring at it as if he was absorbing it. Scanning each word and every square millimeter of every picture, looking for the lost key as it were that would help him with his now returning and growing obsession. He scrutinized each page twice. He was about to start again for the third time when he heard Regina call to him.

“David, it’s time for the news baby!”

He looked to his watch and saw that it was a quarter of ten in the evening, ten minutes earlier than he had asked for. He looked down once again to the stack of papers in the file and then came to the conclusion that what he was looking for would again not be found, for the rest of this evening anyway. He replaced it in the brown file folder, closed it and then secured it with its elastic cord. He stood and left the file on the top of his desk, for he would be taking it with him first thing in the morning when he would leave.

“Be right up!” He called out his answer to Regina. He left the den and made his way upstairs to the master bedroom. Once he was there, he saw that Nadine Rose was fast asleep in her mothers’ arms.

“Give me a hand with her, will you sugar?” She asked him.

David quietly crept to the side of the bed, gently picked the little girl up, and then carried her to her bedroom. Regina had gotten off the bed to follow. There in Nadine Rose’s bedroom, Regina pulled down the bedding and David oh so gently placed the little girl in her bed, then slid the covers up to her shoulders and kissed her on the head. “Good night punkin.” he whispered in her ear.

Regina then stepped over to the side of the bed, bent over and kissed the little girl on her cheek. “Good night angel.” she whispered. She then went David, who was standing at the entry of the bedroom door. She then closed the door halfway so that there was some light for Nadine Rose in case she woke up. David and Regina then returned to their own bedroom. David looked at his watch and saw that the evening news was due to start in about two minutes. Regina returned to her place on the bed, while David stepped to the side of the bed, picked up the remote, and switched the channel on the television.

He stood there with the remote in his hand with his arms crossed. His feet were apart and he rocked side-to-side waiting for the news program to start.

“You okay baby?” Regina asked him.

“We’ll see in about a minute.” he answered.

There was a few seconds of silence as David waited, then the familiar music that introduced the local Chicago news program began. As soon as the opening music ended, the screen was filled by the face of Sherry Thornton who was the weekend news anchor. 

“Oh …” said Regina, “now I see why you were in such a hurry to get back here. Need to watch the news huh?”

“Kiss … please.” David said as he held up his hand to ask for silence. He continued to watch the screen and rocking from side to side.

“Good evening!” Sherry Thornton began; her facial expression was one of complete seriousness. “We begin our report tonight with a strange happening on the south side of the city on what appears to be a brutal attack on the leader of one of the most notorious street gangs in Chicago. Hello, I’m Sherry Thornton. The attack on Percival Wendell Higgins has got the attention of all those in his neighborhood, but has police and medical officials not only baffled, but also remaining completely silent on the ordeal.”

“Percival Wendell Higgins?” David asked confused, “who the hell is that?”

The screen then changed to the videotaped portion of her report to show the view of the outside of a home. Standing in front of it was Sherry Thornton and she began to report. “The story begins here at the residence of Percival Wendell Higgins, known on the street as ‘Gem P’ because of his signature gold capped teeth that are encrusted with jewels …”

“Percival?” David asked mockingly, “You mean his parents named him ‘Percy’? No wonder he became an asshole.”

“David!” Regina said as she sat up straight to give her attention to the news story.

“Early this morning,” Sherry Thornton continued, “police responded to a call that came from this, the home of Mr. Higgins, who is known to be the leader of the South Side Stone Soldiers, a notorious street gang that are responsible for heavy drug trafficking and violence on the south side of Chicago. Mr. Higgins and two of his known lieutenants were all found brutally attacked.” The screen then changed to show police and ambulances outside the home. “Police and ambulances are seen here taking Mr. Higgins and his cohorts to University of Chicago Hospital. It seemed as though more time was spent on preparing Mr. Higgins for his transport to the hospital. Here you can see that he was wearing what seems to be a neck brace with head support and flat backboard, which is used to stabilize patients who have suffered a possible spinal injury. This seemed to spark rumors that Mr. Higgins may be the latest victim of a vigilante that is thought to be responsible for the attacks on Jared Bartholomew, as well as two serial rapists over two years ago.”

“Well, so much for the discretion.” David said low keyed.

The screen then changed to show the front of the University of Chicago Hospital with Sherry Thornton standing with the Emergency entrance behind her. “The rumors were even made stronger when reports from reliable sources said that Lieutenant Noel Jaworski, one of the two detectives assigned to the case of the Chicago vigilante, was seen entering the hospital and investigating the attack on Mr. Higgins. The medical staff at the hospital also will not release any information on the condition of Mr. Higgins or of the two other men attacked at his home.”

“You gotta love those ‘reliable sources,’ whoever they are.” David quipped.

“Sources inside the hospital also indicate that the condition of Mr. Higgins is very severe, as is the condition of his two cohorts.” The report continued for another two minutes, it mostly reiterated the story of the ‘Spinal Tapper’, of his attacks, of the continuing scandals, and how police are at a stonewall in their investigation. After the videotaped portion of the report, the screen then went back live to the studio camera and a close up of Sherry Thornton. “Police and hospital officials still remained closed mouth over the condition of Percival Higgins, which is still unknown at this time. When official word does come through, you can get all the information here at this station. In other news tonight …”

David turned off the television and looked to Regina sitting up on the bed. She then asked him, “Is it him David? The man you and Noel are looking for. Is it him?”

“I don’t know Kiss. There are things pointing towards it, but there is something different here. We’re all keeping a lid on this for a reason. I’m in for a long day tomorrow.”

“Then you better go shower and come to bed baby.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” David said and went into the bathroom. He took a relaxing hot shower, and then decided to shave now rather than in the morning so that it would be one less thing to do. After he had finished with his shower and shave, he put on clean briefs and his Chicago Bears sweatpants and t-shirt. He came from the bathroom and walked across the room, “I’m gonna tell the boys to be in bed by midnight.” he told Regina.

“I’ll be waiting for you sweetie.” Regina said to him.

He went down into the basement and told his sons what they had to do, then returned to his bedroom. He turned off the lights and shut the door and slipped into the bed next to Regina, however he was sitting up in the dark.

“What’s the matter baby?” Regina asked him.

“I don’t know.” David answered her, “There’s something funny here. There’s something different about this attack. This guy … this guy keeps changing things. Everything always seems to come off him and onto the people, he attacks. When you look at it, he makes it so that he’s not even part of the story anymore. Take Jared Bartholomew for example. The ‘Prince of the Midwest,’ adored by all. When he had his back broken and was paralyzed by this guy, everyone wanted to know why. Then we found out why, and everyone forgot how Jared was paralyzed in the first place, and all his adoring fans abandoned him. And now with his father’s divorce and the lawsuits on the both of them, the vigilante has been totally taken off the radar.”

“But what’s bothering you tonight?” She asked him.

David knew that he could discuss his work with Regina and that she would be discreet and discusses their conversations with nobody “There was something different here. I can’t discuss it, but something happened at this attack that made it different. Some money was taken, a lot of money. It’s just not like our guy to steal money. That’s why I don’t think it’s him, but why am I so suspicious of it. It’s like I told Noel and the Boss, Jared offered him a half million in cash right on the scene that night, and he never took it. Even after he did what he did to Jared, he never went into the house and took anything. The same thing with that dirt bag Divic. He had the chance to take some valuable things, including cash in his safe. But what did he do? He left the key to the safe hanging on the safe handle. He took nothing. I don’t think he took this money.” He then looked to her shaking his head, “I just don’t.”

“You speak as if you know him David.” She said to him.

“After all this time studying him, I think I do a little.” He looked up into the darkness of the room, “He’s become like an acquaintance that I’ve never met.” He looked down to her again, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Regina sat up and put her arms around him, “Yes baby, I understand what you’re saying. I also understand that if you do have a long day ahead of you tomorrow that you’re going to have to get some sleep. Come on baby, come lie down.” She then gently pulled him down with her so that he could rest his head on her chest. She then stroked his head gently as he rested his head on her, “Go to sleep now baby, you’ll get back to this in the morning.”

* * *
 

However, he couldn’t fall asleep, not totally anyway. After resting his head on Regina’s chest for a half an hour, she fell asleep. He then moved himself so that he was lying right next to her, only now with his head resting on his pillows. The thoughts of everything were going all through his mind, he was in a state of half consciousness, and half sleep. He kept opening his eyes to see what time it was and he would become frustrated every time he saw the clock, because he wanted to get the sleep that he was going to need for the next day.

He heard as his sons walked down the hallway and to their bedrooms. David looked at the clock and saw that they had managed to weasel an extra half an hour than the time he had told them to go to bed. It was now half past midnight and he still could not fall into a total sleep.

He closed his eyes again and tried to force himself to think of nothing. Nevertheless, the thoughts kept trickling in. Billy and Raul … the money … Jared … Mitchell … the scandals … the money … Divic … Chris … the money. David then remembered the conversation he had with Noel on the day they were interrogating Gregior Divic. The talk on the train about maybe the ’Spinal Tapper’ was somehow trying to communicate with them. He wondered what it was he was trying to say to them, if he were trying to say anything to them at all. He then thought of if he were trying to say something now, if it is him. Then he thought about … the money.

He thought of Stephanie Morris, and how she lied to them to protect the ‘Tapper’, and then he thought again of … the money.

The money.

David then opened his eyes wide as a thought came to him and it made him sit up suddenly. “The money.” he whispered to himself. “Of course … the money.” He got out of the bed and looked out the bedroom window. “Yeah that has to be it … the money.”

“David?” asked the sleepy voice of Regina in the dark, “David? Baby? What’s wrong?”

He turned to the direction of the bed and said, “The money Babe. The money. It’s the money.”

“Baby, what money?”

“The money that was taken from that Gem P asshole.” David said in the dark, “The money, the vigilante, he did … that son-of-a-bitch … he did take it. That’s what he’s trying to tell us.”

“Trying to tell you?” Regina asked puzzled by what she was hearing, “David what are you saying? That this man you’re looking for is trying to communicate with you?”

“Yeah, yeah I know. It sounds crazy.” David said to her, “But it’s a theory that Noel and I have. Every time he’s attacked someone, something bigger comes along. Something bigger than even him.” He went back to the window, “The money … it has something to do with that money.”

Regina looked at the clock, “Baby, it’s 1:30 in the morning, I have a theory also, that you’re gonna be damn tired all day if you don’t come back to bed and get some sleep.”

David then felt the fatigue come over him, “You know Babe, I’ve been lying there for hours trying to fall asleep. Now that I’ve had this come to me … I think I’m gonna sleep like a baby til morning.”

“Then come back to bed then baby.”

He then went to the bed, slipped under the covers, and drew himself close to Regina. It was just as he said. He closed his eyes, and within a few seconds, he was fast asleep.

* * *

 

He stood in the darkness of his home, looking out of the window down to the street outside that was dimly lit by the streetlamps. He turned to look to the clock on the wall, which informed him that it was 1:30 AM. He then turned to go sit in his large rocker recliner. His eyes now being accustomed to the darkness that he’d been sitting in since he had awoken at 9:45 PM. He had slept for the entire day after his arrival to his home early the previous morning. After he completed his mission, after he neutralized the targets, and had seized the source of their power.

Only the light of the single candle broke the darkness of the room and he began to think of the two men. Those two good men, Jarworski and Todd. His experience taught him that by now, they were suspicious of that the targets that he had attacked early the previous evening were done so by him. That they were … maybe even at this moment seeking him out … thinking of him … wondering.

He knew this from the news report he saw earlier, how the police and hospital were trying to keep what they knew from public knowledge. However, he also knew that soon Todd and Jaworski would begin to dig deeper into what had happened the evening before. That soon they would see that there was more to this than just the attack. 

He had faith in the both of them; he felt that he knew them, that he knew how they thought and what they felt about their work. Experience taught him that. After all … they were the same as he.

He decided now to retire for the rest of the morning. His part of the ordeal was now complete, he would now just stand fast and observe … as he has before. 

Those two good men, he now felt with total confidence that they would find and expose all else in this matter. That they would do the right thing.

That they would do what was for the greater good.