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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.

Aug-8-2009 16:36

"I really could use a drink" Joseph said. "Well then,Lieutenant,let's go out for a drink. My treat" I said and so we went to The Tricky Master bar. I ordered a Bloody Mary and Joseph ordered a whiskey. The shady figure,sitting in the back,nodded to us. He came to us,shaking Joseph's hand and sat with us,wanting to know what happened in the daily life of us.

"Well,we can't really tell. Secret job Shady. You should know all about that" I said and Shady nodded.

"Yea,that's right. I know everthing ya guys need to know,don't I" he said and sipped his own drink,a beer.

"Well Shady,it was nice,but we've got to go." Joseph replied,being a bit annoyed of Shady and we shook his hand and departed to my safehouse,to only find a note from Heimlich.

"Sorry guys for leaving you. Kobetz needs to be hided. This safehouse ain't "safe" anymore. Left you directions towards new safehouse. Meet us there.

Heimlich,Sergei and Eric"

So,we locked the place up tight and went back to the car. "Joseph.... What happened here,between us... I.... I'm sorry for getting you in such trouble. You know how I act,just to reach the goal first." I said and Joseph blinked his eyes. "You're not crying,are ye?" I said and gave Joseph a small punch. "Now I'm crying,of pain" Joseph replied and I laughed and Joseph laughed.

"So,let's go to the new safehouse!" As I said when I started the car and so we drove towards the new safehouse.

Aug-8-2009 17:28

(Srry guys. I made a small mistake,which Heimlich pointed out for me. As I said in my second part,Heimlich phoned us. This is not possible,because Eric couldn't contact Heimlich in any way. So let's assume Eric called Joseph xD. Again,srry)

Aug-8-2009 17:48

(also,last part,forget Eric's name on the letter with directions + the letter with directions. heimlich wants to be not found xD. Just noticed that also)

Aug-8-2009 19:28

((correction to Vulkie's last line above:

...Joseph replied and I laughed and Joseph laughed.

"So, as I've told you. Heimlich is not here in your safe house anymore, and he didn't leave a note or anything. Let's return to the police station. That's the place he will call to find us when he has settled Kobetz. According to Eric's call earlier, he's on his way to the station too. Let's go." ))

Zeo returned to the police station with Vulkie, and found Marvington sitting his the office holding onto a bad cut on his forehead.

"Where the hell have you two been? I thought you're supposed to stay in the station and wait for Heimlich's call." Eric said, breathing heavily.

"That's a nasty cut you got there!" Vulkie said, "Let me help you!"

"Don't change the subject!" He was definitely in a bad mood.

"Hey buddy, I know you've been through a lot, but so have we. Look!" Zeo threw Marvington the arrest warrant on Vulkie. The injured cop read the warrant over and over, then he looked at the 'new' Vulkie.

"Blonde." Vulkie smiled. "You like it?" She finished patching up Marvington and was happy with her work.

"You could try red next time, then you'll understand how I feel. Being called a carrot all my life!" Marvington smiled for the first time since he was in the station. He looked around the station office. "I guess the most dangerous place IS the safest place for her. No one could guess that she's hiding in the police station."

"I think she'd be alright for now. Back to what you found out. You said that Bjarkhov told you Leon, Sergei's brother killed the Romanskis?" Zeo asked. Marvington nodded." So Heimlich is hiding one of Russia's most notorious assassin, but he didn't know about it..."

Aug-8-2009 19:57

"But there's no way to inform Heimlich about this. We can only wait for his call..." Vulkie said.

"Where the hell is the guy anyway? What's taking him so long?" Zeo lit another cigarette and offered Marvington one.

"There is also one thing that has always bothered me." Marvington said, "Heimlich told me he got a call from someone and that's how he got involved in the case. He never told me how the guy on the phone convinced him to take the case, but he did say that he had never met that person. Who is he?"

"Could it be Leon?" Vulkie asked.

"It would be silly, getting one of the best detective to defend your own brother, when you did the killing yourself..." Zeo exhaled.

Just then, Barnes poked his head into Zeo's office. "What is this? The Ritz? Zeo you better get back to work. Look at that disgusting pile on your desk!"

Zeo was furious. That lazy-bastard-unable-to-solve-a-case was part of the reason why Zeo's desk was piling up. "I am discussing a case here with Eric here. Urm, I got him to work on some stuffs for me."

"Have you applied for a temporary transfer? Have you submitted the application to Hogan?" Barnes grilled. Formalities and paperwork, that's all the bastard was good at. Zeo thought.

"Captain Hogan had already approved it." Marvington intervened. "There isn't much work in the missing persons department anyway. People don't go missing in this city long. Their bodies usually get washed up by the shores, so like myself they get transferred to homicide."

"Very funny!" Barnes barked, then he mellowed down and looked at Vulkie "Hey skirts, you wanna come to my office? I have some work for you."

"I thought she only works when Molly's off," Zeo protested, "Sir." He added sarcastically.

"Well she ain't right now. She just conveniently took the afternoon off." Barnes said and waved Vulkie over.

Zeo whispered to Vulkie as she walked passed him, "You be careful, and try to find out whatever you can."

Aug-8-2009 21:08

Vulkie departed and Eric glanced over at Joseph. "Well this is quite the predicament we've gotten ourselves into," he mused to himself, "We have no idea where Heimlich is, and with Sergei there is no safe place."

Joseph nodded in agreement, "Yes," he replied, "but, I don't think that he's in any immediate danger. The NKVD seems pretty intent on catching him, and from what you said on the phone it sounds like he may have renounced his life as an assassin."

Eric shook his head, "I'm not so sure. It's not the type of thing you just walk away from." he sighed. At that moment there was a knock on the door and a stout woman stepped in. She was Eunice, a secretary from the robbery division.

"E-e-excuse me Lieutenant Zeo," she stuttered, "I hope I'm not interrupting, but I have a message for Officer M-m-marvington."

A look of confusion came across Eric's face, "Why do you have a message for me?" he asked, "Should that go through missing persons or homicide?"

She looked around the room nervously, "W-w-well you s-s-see," she stuttered again before spitting out the rest of her sentence, "the message is from your father and I think he was a bit confused and I couldn't find you no matter where I looked and I knew you'd want to talk with him but I wrote down everything he said Officer Marvington I swear I did!" she finished and looked as if she was about to cry.

Eric's face lost all expression and he grabbed the secretary by the shoulders, "Where is this message!?" he demanded.

"D-down at the main desk of m-m-missing persons! Captain Hogan said he w-wanted to look at it! C-can I g-go now?" she whimpered.

"Yes!" Eric said, "Go! Thank you!"

Zeo stared at Eric, "Now you know she was scared," he said sternly, "so why on earth would you do that to her?"

Eric gave a look of absolute seriousness to Zeo, "My father is dead," he uttered with dread, "and Captain Hogan is well aware of that fact. It was the first case that Heimlich and I solved together."

Aug-8-2009 21:22

"Stay here," Eric urged, "I'll go try to get my message back from Hogan." He stood up and walked out of the office. He already had to deal with him once today when he got back, and Hogan had been livid about his disappearing for a week without notice. Of course he did understand and had always liked Eric, but he had to follow protocol.

He walked down the steps to the missing persons division. He saw the frosted glass door marked Capt. Hogan, walked up, took a deep breath, and knocked. "Come in!" came the deep voice from the inside.

He opened the door and stepped through to find Hogan standing there holding a piece of paper. "Ah Marvington!" he said as he smiled and beckoned for him to take a seat, "Have a seat. I was just reading this odd message from someone claiming to be your father! Your father died in that soap factory fire didn't he?"

Eric sat down and smiled, "He did yes Captain Hogan," he started as he tried to come up with a lie, "but that message is from the priest at my church." Dammit Eric! He thought to himself, that was one of the stupidest lies you've ever told! "Ummm! Yes! He er... had asked me to take care of a matter for him and was going to leave me a message letting me know how things turned out!"

Hogan glared at him, "Excuse me?" he retorted, "This is from your priest? It doesn't read like it's from your priest! It reads like someone is messing with my phones and I don't like it Marvington!"

Oh God Eric, think think! Eric began to sweat as his mind raced, "Um... well you know what?" he started not quite knowing where he was going, "Why don't you read it to me Captain? That way I can let you know exactly what it means? And I can assure you that no one is messing with your phone?" he managed to stutter out. Yeah that sounded confident. Now he knew how Eunice felt.

Aug-8-2009 21:38

Hogan peered over his reading glasses at him, "Marvington, I really don't have time to waste on this! I was about three seconds from throwing it in the garbage when you walked in! Now you had better start playing straight with me or so help me I'll suspend you for insubordination!"

Well can't switch stories now, he thought. "Sir, I am waiting for a call from my priest. A parishioner of his confessed to being involved in the disappearance of a local resident. He owed me a favor due to helping him out a few years ago. He's trying to convince the parishioner to come forward, but I couldn't publicize that I had been speaking with him, because it's a violation of the confessional seal! Do you understand why I had to keep this quiet?" he pleaded.

Hogan shook his head, "Eric," he said tenderly, "why didn't you come to me from the beginning? You know I would have kept your confidence on this! I don't think this message has anything at all to do with you, but here you go." As Hogan handed him the message, he put it at his side and tried not to look. He didn't want Hogan to see any reaction he may have.

"Thank you sir." Eric said and saluted his captain before turning and leaving the room. He raced up to an empty staircase and looked at the document. He turned completely pale as he read it:

"Eric- arrived safe and sound with your brother Steven at the vacation home. Will be returning on Tuesday. Please let Uncle Richard know how everything is, as he will be joining us tonight."

Tuesday... it was the day of the trial! Heimlich had sent the message! He had made it alright, but Uncle Richard? He didn't have an Uncle Richard. Then it clicked. Cambridge!

His heart raced faster as he tore off towards Joseph's office.

Aug-8-2009 21:55

Barnes wanted that I typed a report for him. As I typed,I saw him enjoying a cup of coffee and reading a newspaper,while he told me what I needed to write. "Yes,sincerely,Captain. Graham Barnes." and so the letter ended.

"Well done Miss Juliano,very well done. May I call you Valerie?" Barnes asked. "Of course Captain Barnes,you may." I replied. "Please,call me Graham." Captain Barnes said.

"Alright Graham. I have a small question. Could you tell me who that person was,who met you? That person with the army visor hat. He seemed very important" I asked Graham Barnes.

"Well,I can't really tell you that. It's strictly confidential. But since you are new here,I can grant you that. His name is Bjorno Adelé and he's a Russian secret police officer. He's the boss of the..." Graham said.

"NKVD?" I replied. "How do you know that" Graham Barnes asked. I knew I shouldn't have done that. "Well,detective Zeo told me he had a case that involved the NKVD" I replied.

"That damn Zeo. Always troubling me. Would be pleased if I could get rid of him. You know,he's been a pain to me since I got promoted to Captain. You still haven't asked how it came so,huh?" Barnes said.

"No,sorry. I've been really busy lately. I will ask him sometime. You can be assured of that" I replied and asked if Captain Barnes wanted another coffee. "Please,take one yourself while you're at the coffee machine." he said and so,I took a cup of coffee while I saw Eric rushing towards Joseph.

"Psst,Vulkie,come over here." Joseph said and I tippled towards his desk. "Seems we got a message from Heimlich. Richard Cambridge will be meeting Heimlich at his safehouse. All is fine with them. Well,come on,off to Barnes you go" Joseph said and I grunted. I've chosen to do this,I shall fullfill my job,I thought,as I knocked on the door. "Enter" Barnes said. "Here's your coffee Graham. Can I be of any assistance further?" I asked.

"No,you can go. Chat with some other people" Barnes said and so I went o

Aug-8-2009 22:05

"(off)"

As I went towards Joseph's desk,I saw Barnes coming out of his office,shouting at Joseph : "I want that report,now,on my desk!"

"Yes Captain. I'll give it to Valerie." Joseph replied. "Here you go Valerie" and Joseph handed me the report and took a cigarette out. "Damn Barnes,hope he chokes one day in his own vomit"

As I brought the letter to Barnes's desk,I saw a letter lying on his desk. It was from Bjorno. I quickly made some notes on an empty paper and rushed towards Joseph,giving him my notes. "I found a letter from the NKVD chief on Barnes's desk" I replied. "Here are some notes and keywords" I added,handing over my notes. "Joseph,can I ask something of you?" I asked.

"What is it Vulkie?" he replied. "How come you and Barnes are such "big pals". Barnes mentioned something about getting promoted..."

Joseph sighed and took his coat and went out,for a walk. Something was not right with Joseph. This troubled him. He needed to talk with someone. Maybe,that someone could be..... And then it flashed into my mind.

As Joseph was back,I yelled : "Mr. Zeo,telephone for you",as Barnes looked out of his office towards me.

"Lieutenant Joseph Zeo,homicide. How can I help you?"

"Joseph. My god,Joseph,is that you. It's so good to hear your voice." a woman said.

"Well,if it ain't Anais Nin. How are you holding up dear. Is everything alright?" Joseph said,while nodding at me.

"I've missed you so much. How are things going there?" Anais asked.

"Everything's going fine,thank you Anais. I really needed to talk to you. It's been a long while." Joseph replied.

"By the way Joseph,you can tell me if something bothers you. You know that,don't you?" Anais said,while Joseph looked towards my way. I gave Joseph my "I ain't got nothing to with it,mind your own business"-look.

And so,Joseph chatted with Anais,while I went back to Barnes's office.

Just as Joseph was about to hang up,I saw Eric walking towards him,asking him something...