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Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Jul-25-2009 17:35

"This book was written by Heimlich VonVictor & describes true events that occured during his time as a detective." As he finished these final words on his manuscript he dropped his pen onto the desk. He had just referred to himself as a detective in the past tense for the first time in his life.

He didn't want to believe that it was over, but when one takes pen to paper and scribes one's life story as a matter of record, there was a sense of finality to it.

He picked up the stack of papers before him, each page a piece of a life he would never get to live again. He looked up at the framed newspaper article celebrating his 100th case solved as a detective. It had already started to yellow and fade.

He walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of gin and a glass. Even if it was a bittersweet occasion, it called for a celebration, and that meant a good Tom Collins.

He looked up at the plaque on the wall that his agency presented him upon his retirement.

"Retirement! Psh! That's rich!" he grumbled out loud to no one in particular. He remembered the exact conversation.

Eric had called him into his office and said it very clearly, "Heim, you're a liability. Some of the stunts you've been pulling lately have got the other detectives mighty scared."

He had tried to brush it off, "I'm a liability!? Do you realize how much money I pull in for this agency each year? You should be down on your hands and knees thanking me for being able to make bank!"

Eric sighed at him, "Heim, I can't keep you on. The Baltimore incident was the last straw. We'll let you retire, and we'll let it look like it was your decision to do so. We'll keep it out of the papers."

What choice did he have? He had put on a grin, went to the dinner, accepted his plaque, and faded into obscurity.

He was reliving this oh so favorite of memories when the phone rang. Startled, he dropped his drink on the floor and the glass shattered.

Replies

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Jul-27-2009 18:41

"Hello?" Heimlich cautiously answered the phone.

"Mr. VonVictor," the voice on the other end replied, "you did well today. I'm glad to see you understand we mean business. Remember Sergei Kobetz will walk away from this and you will catch the killer."

Before he could respond, the line went dead. He smiled to himself as he thought back to what he had done that day

***

After arguing with an officer over whether his bar card was valid, he had been allowed to meet with his client. He arrived at the cell to find a short heavyset man with piercing blue eyes and a long black beard.

"Who are you?" the man spoke with a much heavier accent than his mysterious friend.

"My name is Heimlich VonVictor. I'll be representing you in your case." he replied.

Sergei stared at him for a minute before bursting out laughing, "Heimlich VonVictor! Haha! I ask for attorney and he give me Heimlich VonVictor! Maybe I say I need to confess sins he bring me pope!"

Heim slammed his hand against the bars, "This is not a joke Sergei!" he bellowed, "What exactly are you charged with?"

Sergei shook his head, "Murder, they say I kill Russian refugees, but not guilty!" Heim felt a vein in his head begin to pulse. Murder? This was going to be an interesting case.

"Alright..." Heim stated cautiously, "Sergei, do you have an alibi for the time for the murder?"

Sergei nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! Have alibi! I was with Nikolai and Ana Romanski!"

Heimlich smiled, "Perfect!" he said happily, "How can I reach them?"

Sergei looked down at the floor, "Em... no.... they dead."

Heimlich's smile disapperared and he place his hand over his face. He was afraid to ask, but he did anyway, "They're the reason you're in here aren't they?"

Sergei smiled, "Yes you see now! But innocent! So go now?" he asked.

"No Sergei," he responded, "No go now. What happened that night?"

Sergei thought back, "Is very hazy. Was having drinks with friends. Then lights go out.

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Jul-27-2009 18:42

Next thing I know wake up in my apartment with bloody knife in hand. Police kick down door and say under arrest!”

Heim rubbed his temples, “That’s quite a story,” he sighed, “but I think I’d like to search your apartment for any clues.”

Sergei nodded, “Is good!” he exclaimed, “Officer take keys when lock me up!”

Heim bid farewell to Sergei and headed down the hall to the evidence room. Suspect blacks out, wakes up with murder weapon in hand, and seconds later is arrested. The timeline wasn’t adding up and Heimlich knew it. He arrived at the desk and brought his hand down on the bell. To his surprise a familiar face stepped out of the back.

“Eric?” Heimlich gasped, “You’re a cop now!? Well in any event I need the keys to Sergei Kobetz’s apartment”

Eric sneered at Heimlich, “You? What are you doing back here? You’re not allowed to check evidence out; you’re no longer a detective.”

Heim smiled, “True, but I am an attorney, and I’ve applied for reinstatement.” He bluffed hoping that Vulkie had been able to do that favor for him.

“Reinstatement!” Eric shouted, “Ridiculous! You applied six months ago? You managed to get the signatures of five current detectives and a deputy supervisor vouching as to your skills and qualifications?”

Heim nodded, “Indeed, I found myself missing the old profession too much.”

Eric scowled, “Well we’ll just see about that!” and with that he picked up the phone and punched in some numbers. “Hello chief… yeah you’re not going to believe who I have here… Heimlich VonVictor... yeah... claims he’s being reinstated… what?... signed it ten minutes ago?... have him come over and pick it up? ARGH!” he screamed as he slammed the phone down. He tossed the keys at Heimlich and barked, “Get out! I don’t ever want to see you again. You ruined me! I want you to know that. You are a malicious and evil person!”
****

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Jul-27-2009 18:42

Heim felt the keys in his pocket as he hung up the phone. He pulled out his license and looked at it almost as if it had never left him.

Then snapping back to reality he looked up to Joseph and Vulkie, “I’m about to go investigate Sergei Kobetz’s apartment. If you can come along it would be nice to have more eyes on the place. We’re looking for anything that suggests a frame-up.”


Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Jul-27-2009 21:12

"I'll have to pass that for now. A pile of cases is waiting for me back at the station, but let's keep in touch. Besides Vulkie's impostor theory, it's possible that someone may have bribed the witnesses. I'll re-examine the witness statements while I'm at it." Zeo replied.

They parted company and Zeo returned to his car. It was almost sunset, but Zeo was in the quieter part of town and avoided the heavy traffic. The drive was a treat; the cool breeze on his face really cleared his head as the heat from during the day was subsiding.

He remembered what Vulkie said about the mob, and thought that if someone wanted to do Kobetz in, they could've easily tossed his body into the ocean; why take the trouble to frame the guy? If Kobetz was innocent, then there was only one logical explanation: the real killer needed someone to take the fall for the crime he had committed, and he would be pretty pissed if someone had re-opened the case.

*Wham!*
Zeo's blue Buick spin out of control at the intersection and was tossed across to the opposite lane. An on-coming truck was speeding towards his face. Zeo stepped on the gas pedal but the car did not respond. The car door was also stuck. Blood was pumping hard through his arteries. Zeo jumped out from the window just as the truck mowed over his car.

"Are you alright?" Worried by-standers looked at Zeo, who was lying on the pavement catching his breath. He noticed that the few cars on the road had all stopped to see what had happened, all cars except the one which hit him in the first place, and the truck that crushed his car.

"I saw that Black Lincoln, it just ran a red at the intersection as if he was targeting you car." An enthusiastic chubby man said, "But I didn't catch the license plate though; hell, I don't think it even had one!"

The police and ambulance arrived quickly. Zeo refused to go to the hospital although he felt like vomiting. "Officer Chapman, take me back to the station. I've got work to do"

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Jul-27-2009 21:45

* * *
"What do you mean the witness statements had been transferred? I haven't yet release them!" Zeo bellowed. Back at the station, Zeo tried to call both Vulkie and Heimlich to warn them, but of course they were not at home. He then looked for his case files on Kobetz, only to find them to be gone.

"The prosecutor's people came in earlier today. They said it was urgent and had Captain Barnes sigh them off." the assistant replied nervously. It was no use going to Barnes. He had always hated Zeo and would do anything to get on his nerves.

Someone seemed to want to hurry the prosecution, get Kobetz convicted quickly and close the case. Zeo then noticed a box sitting on his desk. "Who put it here?" Zeo asked, the assistant only shrugged. Zeo dismissed her and opened the box carefully. A gold Rolex, and a typed note:

"Sure beats fire, car crash and a F/A. All you need to do is... nothing."

So, it all ends with this, bribery. All he needed to do was to stay out of it. Why risk his life and in the end receive a false accusation for someone he himself had put behind bars, right? Zeo felt dizzy from the crash. He then noticed a drop of fresh blood on his desk.

*Drip*
Another drop.

Gingerly Zeo touched his face. The blood came from his nose. 'Ah, it's just a nose bleed.' Zeo thought. He sat down on his chair and everything fell black.

Vulkie3
Vulkie3
Haynes

Jul-28-2009 05:01

"No Heimlich,I'm going to pay Joseph a visit on the police station." I said,having Heimlich phoned. "Hopefully,he came up with something. I'll see you soon. You just take good care of yourself." I said and hung up.

As I was walking towards the police station,I noticed a small crowd around the Captain Barnes-fella. Joseph told me a lot about this fella. He was as crooked as the shady character,who would do anything for a bit of money.

As I entered the building,I came by the assistant. "Hello Miss Vulkie. How are you today?" "Just doing fine. Say,is Mr. Zeo in the building?" I asked.

"Why yes Miss Vulkie. It's strange though,he went upstairs and I haven't seen him for a cup of coffee or something." My heart beated heavily. Something was wrong. Joseph always got a cup of coffee,before looking in a case or doing something else. "Come with me!" I yelled and already ran upstairs,to Zeo's desk.

"Sssst,he's sleeping" the assistent said. "No,he isn't. Look at the blood." I replied and my heart beated more and more,it was feeling like it almost exploded from adrenaline. "Get an ambulance,now!" I asked and the assistant rushed off.

I quickly grabbed all the files on Joseph's desk,for Heimlich and me to examine and also the box with a nice Rolex in it. Also,the note I took with me.

The ambulance arrived within 5 minutes and stated that Joseph had blood loss,probably from an accident. As I read the note,carefully to get no prints on it,it said : "Sure beats fire,car crash and F/A. All you need to do is... nothing".

The fire part,I knew that part. That was obvious. But car crash? I didn't know anything about that. Someone was forcing Joseph to quit. This was bribery. And Joseph is no crooked cop. He always takes the case,no matter what. Just like me. And then the thoughts of my brother who died (see mysterious appearance for reference) and my Cousin (see Chicago Blues) came floating by....

(Cont)

Vulkie3
Vulkie3
Haynes

Jul-28-2009 05:11

As the ambulance people lifted Joseph in the ambulance,all the news people came by and took photographs. I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't stop them,because that would betray my position in this case and let the Russian Mob hunt me. I shivered by the the thought and phoned Heimlich VonVictor about what happened.

"Yes Vulkie,very unfortunate. This Zeo-fella,he's been in a car crash it seems and a molotov cocktail was also thrown to him this day? Seems someone wants to get rid of him. And now you say,he received a golden Rolex as a bribery attempt? This is getting stranger and stranger by the minute. Have you got the reports from the witnesses?" Heimlich answered,while putting his cigarette out and blowing some smoke away. You could hear that through the phone.

"Let me see,I got some stuff here. No,that's not it. Neither is this. Strange... I don't have them. Seems someone else must've taken them. Let me ask the assistant." I replied,while Heimlich stayed on the phone.

"Seems the prosecutor's people took them. Also,I don't seem to have Kobetz's case file. It's also disappeared." I said. I heard Heimlich hitting his fist on the table,angered with this.

"We've got nothing on this guy and this Zeo-fella is being bribed to quit this case and do something else,or his life will be ended. How can one man life with such possible strength" Heimlich said.

"Well,no time to explain,but the short version is,a good friend of his died who he really cared for. But we later got the bastard who did this." I replied,still seeing the body of Lisette for my eyes (see Golden for reference).

"Well,you know what. You come with those files to me,I will look through them and you can go to the hospital and check on that Zeo-person." Heimlich said.

"Alright Heimlich" I said and hung up. Tears rolled down my eyes. I knew Joseph was a tough guy,but I didn't want to lose him. Not another person.....

As I dropped the files+box at Heimlich's,I rushed to the hospital

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Jul-28-2009 11:31

"Patient is suffering from a concussion." The doctor said while scribbling on Zeo's medical record.

"Will he wake up soon?" Vulkie asked, worried.

"He may wake in the next hour, or ten years later. Even when he does, the blood clog in his brain might still be troubling..."

"Blood clog?"

The doctor took Vulkie into a medical lab and turned on a light box. "What you're looking at, here, is the inside of Lieutenant Zeo's head. The medical application of x-ray technology is relatively new, but look here. This patch should not exist in a normal brain. Fortunately the lieutenant does have a pretty thick skull. Let us hope that this will turn out to be a minor injury only. The brain is very tricky; we're just not sure with our limited experience right now."

After the troubling talk with the doctor, Vulkie returned to Joseph's room, expecting to see the unconscious man laying in bed. However, she was surprised to find herself to be in an empty room.

* * *

Zeo steadied himself with the phone on the wall. Just a few minutes ago he woke and found himself to be in the hospital. Besides a bit of dizziness, Zeo felt perfectly fine. He was desperate to find out if Vulkie and Heimlich were safe. Zeo left the room and finally found a public phone way down at the opposite wing. Suddenly he saw two telephones, but it merged back into one soon after. Zeo told himself that it was nothing.

He dialed for Vulkie's place, no answer. Where could she be at this time in the evening? He wondered. He decided to call Heimlich. Maybe the two were together. He would love to know what they discovered at Kobetz's place; with the bribery he just received, Zeo was more than certain that this was a frame-up.


Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Jul-29-2009 22:57

"Hello?" VonVictor's cautious tone of voice came through from the receiver.
"Heimlich? It's Joseph."
"Oh, it's you!" Heimlich sounded relieve. "I heard from Vulkie that you were in a comma?"
"No I'm fine. Where is she?"
"She was in the hospital. You didn't see her?"
"I'm sure she's around then. How was your search at the Kobetz's?" Zeo asked.
"Beside cockroaches, there was a peculiar button under Kobetz's worn couch." VonVictor replied. "It has a NKVD symbol etched on it."
"The Russian secret police?"
"I believe the country's called the Soviet Union now."
"What does people like them has anything to do with people like Kobetz?" Zeo was astounded. Could the rumor be true then? Was Sergei just a scapegoat?

"Joseph, I must ask you a question. Vulkie couldn't find Kobetz case file in your office. Do you still have it?"
"No, the prosecutor took everything away earlier today, but I have a good memory. What do you want to know."
"What was Kobetz's motive?"
"According to the witness statements from the neighboring couple, Nikolai and Ana Romanski... um, forgot Kobetz's birthday twice in a row..." Zeo said sheepishly.
"And you convicted the guy based on that!?" Heimlich bellowed.
"Hey! I had over twenty cases on my desk, and I've seen sillier motives." Zeo protested. In truth, he knew he may have walked into a setup blindly this time. "Somebody called the station and tipped us off, saying they saw Kobetz rushing out of the Romanski household with a bloody knife."
"Let me guess, the person who tipped you off was the same neighbor..." Heimlich said. He didn't wait for the obvious answer. "The prosecutor have pushed the case up. The arraignment is scheduled first thing tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow morning!!? But you've got nothing but a suspicious button in Kobetz's flat." Zeo added.
"You don't need to tell me that," Heimlich said, "But I do have a few tricks up my sleeves. I'm just not sure if this will fly."
"Don't worry, I'll get you a new witness statement tonight!"

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Aug-1-2009 18:32

Heim slammed his fist down on the table, "Your honor! You cannot be serious."

Judge Haliwell adjusted his glasses. He was a stout man of about 60 and was nothing if serious. He cleared his throat, "Mr. VonVictor, I'm quite serious. Mr. Cambridge has raised a valid objection. You gave no notice that Ms. Thorne would testify before today's arraignment. You used to work with this very prosecutor's office, and you should know that this falls into the scope of unfair surprise."

Heim felt his head begin to pound, "You honor," he pleaded, "Lieutenant Zeo went to great pains to reopen this case and bring us this witness who will give eyewitness testimony contradicting that of Mr. Vladmir Bjarkhov."

Haliwell hardened his gaze at Heimlich, "Counsel's motion to exclude Ms. Thorne's testimony is sustained. I have before me a second motion to exclude a button allegedly found in Mr. Kobetz's apartment?"

At this Cambridge stood up. He was a few years younger than Heim and had always resented him for leaving the prosecutor's office. He cleared his throat, "Yes your honor. This evidence was logged in yesterday as being collected by Lieutenant Zeo, however I have a sworn statement here from Officer Eric Marvington that Mr. VonVictor was given the keys to Mr. Kobetz's apartment yesterday before the police searched it again. Mr. VonVictor is licensed to collect evidence as a private investigator, but if he entered the defendant's apartment while acting as his attorney, then he should have had another detective with him!"

The crowd erupted into murmurs and Halliwell slammed his gavel down, "Order! Order! Counsel is this true? Did you enter the defendant's apartment by yourself?"

Heim stared at the judge defiantly, "Yes it's true," he said very matter-of-factly, "I did enter my client's apartment with his permission. I searched the apartment for anything of relevance and alerted police."

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