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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-13-2009 12:36

* * *

The music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky floated out from the numberless room at the back of Angela Cuban's music studio. Zeo recognized it as a piece from Opera Eugene Onegin. Trepov must have gotten here before he did, and it was only ten minutes to 12pm.

His headache had been bugging him all morning. It seemed like the pain had gradually gotten worse since the car accident. Zeo tried to shake the headache away to no avail. He pressed down on the handle and the door pivoted open. He couldn't believe what he saw in front of him.

Aug-14-2009 23:50

Eric Marvington sat at the receiving desk at the station. The scuffle just a few hours earlier had shaken the entire department. Officially Joseph was on an "unpaid leave of absence" because officially this wasn't a case at the request of Ambassador Trepov. Barnes had been on the phone most of the morning trying to straighten things out. Adelé had stormed out of the station and vowed to find Kobetz himself. He told Barnes that he was now an enemy of the NKVD and would be dead himself soon.

He was pondering over these thoughts when the phone rang. He fumbled with the receiver before picking it up, "Hello," he said, "Police Department main processing, Officer Marvington speaking. How can I help you?"

"Eric," the voice on the other end came, "this is Uncle Richard. I was just paid a visit by your older brother and I fear he may be in trouble."

Eric straightened his posture and grabbed the nearest piece of paper and pen. "What makes you say that?" he demanded.

"I believe he may have made a phone call from an insecure location. There's a code we've been using to listen to Barne's conversations with Adelé. When we hang up, I want you to dial *568 on your phone, and that will patch you into Barne's conversation. When you've heard enough call me back." came the reply, followed by a click.

Eric hung up the phone and stared at it. It was stupid. He couldn't listen to a Captain's phone calls. It was insubordination, and wrong. He quickly pushed these thoughts out of his head as his curiosity got the better of him. He picked up the receiver and dialed *568. Immediately he could hear everything Barnes was saying.

"Trepov thinks he can blow this sting? He think he can go behind my back and meet with a fugitive rogue cop? Well he's got another thing coming! I'll send someone over there to pick them both up right after their little meeting gets over!" Barnes shouted to the person on the other end.

Aug-15-2009 00:07

"They'll be at the Music Room at the shore and 63rd at noon! Room Zero! I can't wait to see the look on old Zeo's face when they slap the cuffs on him!" Barnes said smugly.

Eric quickly put the receiver down. Joseph was going to meet with Trepov and Barnes was going to have them both arrested. He must have had Joseph's phone bugged, which meant where ever he thought was safe was not.

He quickly dialed Richard's number and got him back on the line. "Indeed, Eric, it's very troubling," Cambridge replied, "and I fear that everything we've worked for will be lost over personal conflict. I need you to stop this. I will call in a crime at that location. You will respond to it, and get them out of there."

Eric thought for a few seconds, "Call in it as a robbery," he decided, "Eunice is working this morning and she'll send the nearest cop. That will be me."

They hung up and Eric stood up and rushed down the stairs to the robbery division. The small department was empty with the exception of Eunice, who was half asleep at the desk. Eric pretended to be moving some files around. Almost on cue the phone rang.

Eunice jumped and picked it up, "Robbery! Eunice speaking! Oh Dear! Ummm..." she grabbed a pen and jotted something down, "Yes we'll send someone right away!" She hung up and scanned the room before setting her eyes on Eric. "Officer Marvington! I have a robbery in progress! I need you to go to this address immediately!" she insisted.

Eric shook his head, "Sorry Eunice, but I'm not in robbery. You know that." he replied coyly.

"Oh... p..please O...o...o...officer M...m...m...marvington! I n...need someone r...right n...now!" she pleaded.

Eric huffed, "Alright," he agreed, "but don't tell the captain about this!" and grabbed the paper out of her hand.

Minutes later he was racing down the street towards the Music Room. He looked at his watch. He still had about forty-five minutes before the rendezvous was supposed to take place.

Aug-15-2009 00:22

That's when he saw him ducking down a long alley. He was obviously trying to stay out of sight, but Eric recognized him in an instant. Eric ran up behind him and drew his gun, "Ambassador Trepov!" he shouted, "Place your hands where I can see them and turn around!"

Trepov did as he was told and faced Marvington. "Mr. Marvington?" he asked, "What is the meaning of this? I was on my way to meet Mr. Zeo and I don't believe you were invited along. Why are you pointing that gun at me?"

Eric was out of breath, "Ambassador Trepov..." he begged, "your life is in danger. Wherever you came from... you have to go back there now, and you can't tell me where you're going. You can't see Joseph... or you'll both be taken into custody... Barnes has Joseph's phone bugged and he's coming for both of you..."

Trepov shook his head. "Mr. Marvington, if you speak the truth then this is most troubling, but what proof do I have that you are not simply trying to set your own trap?" he asked.

Eric stared at him, "None. You have no proof, but if you don't believe me, then I can promise you that Leon Kobetz will never be caught."

Trepov smiled and nodded. "I see," he responded sagely, "well then I will leave Mr. Zeo to you Mr. Marvington. I will return to my... well where I came from." With that he tipped his hat to Eric and headed off in the opposite direction from which he came.

As soon as Trepov was out of sight, Eric started sprinting again. He had to beat Joseph to the Music Room. Joseph had the advantage of time, but Eric had the distance advantage.

Aug-15-2009 00:32

He arrived at the Music Room with his lungs burning. He ran into the back and reached the mysterious room zero. He pressed his ear to the door... nothing. He glanced at his watch, about fifteen minutes to twelve. He smiled as he opened the door and stepped through.

He saw a small coffee table with four chairs and an antique record player in the corner. As he walked over to examine the record player, he felt a tightening around his neck and heard the door slam behind him.

"I am going to ask once and once only! Where is Kobetz?" the voice from behind him thundered. He felt himself starting to lose oxygen and he raised his hands up to his neck... a chain. How could he be so stupid? The first day at the police academy they tell the rookies to check behind a door when entering a room!

He felt himself being slapped and the chain loosen. Suddenly the chain was being wrapped around his wrists, binding them tightly together. He felt himself being hoisted up as the excess chain was pulled over a pipe in the ceiling, leaving him hanging there with his hands held in the air to face his captor for the first time, Bjorno Adelé.

Adelé held in his hands a large length of metal pipe which he swung against Eric's ribs with every statement. "Where is Kobetz!? Or would you prefer I break something else? Robbery in progress? You think you're smart Marvington? We are the smart ones!" he shouted.

Eric began screaming in pain, so Adelé walked over and turned on the small record player. It started playing Tchaikovsky so loud that nothing could be heard over it.

He didn't know, and he was glad for it. Just then he noticed the door handle turning behind Adelé.

Aug-15-2009 10:57

Zeo opened the door only to find Marvington hanging by a chain with streams of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His interrogator was standing with his back to the door. The loud music covered the noise of the door opening, but Marvington's sight line must have given it away that someone else was in the room. The man turned around. Zeo quickly retrieved his revolver just as Adelé was to knock Zeo over with his mental pipe. Zeo fired by instinct. The muscular Russian fell on the floor, with a bullet right between his eyes.

"Wha... Josep!" Marvington coughed between breaths. "He's our... only lead... to Leon Kobet!"

With his brows furrowed, Zeo stepped over the dead body to release Marvington, "and you're welcomed Eric."

"You run... forget 'bout me... Barnes' on his way..." Marvington said between consciousness. As if on cue, the sound of sirens filled the streets outside. Zeo was forced to abandon Marvington. He knew the officer would be safe.

Angela Cuban, the owner of the music shop and an old time friend of Zeo's, showed him the hatch leading to the roof. "Our place is surrounded, but you can leap over to the other buildings from the roof." Angela said quickly. "Good luck!"

Aug-15-2009 11:05

Zeo climbed onto the roof. He could glimpse Barnes' fat belly from where he crouched. A young officer spotted Zeo but wasn't sure who he was yet, and walked over to Barnes, probably to inform him about it. Zeo knew he didn't have much time and scurried to the edge. The young cop was talking to Barnes. There was about a 6 feet gap between the two buildings. It should not be difficult to jump over. Barnes squinted his eyes and looked up. As Zeo walked back to set for the run, he felt that his upper lip was wet. He licked it. Blood. Damn it, his nose was bleeding again.

"Joseph Zeo, you are under arrest for the murder of Bjorno Adele and the assault on Officer Marvington." Barnes' voice boomed from a crackling megaphone. Zeo looked down to see the unconscious Eric being carried out of the building on a stretcher.

Zeo was all set for the jump. He ran.

The parapet on the other building slowly split into two horizons. Zeo leaped, and suddenly everything in front of him went black. He felt his body falling through mid air. He wasn't going to make it. It was all going to be over for him.

*Thump* Zeo landed. Sight slowly restored. He was on another roof, with scratches on his elbow and hand. The sound of police shouting was behind him. Zeo cleared his head and ran, leaping from one roof to another, turning in one direction and suddenly a difference one to keep the people below guessing. After another series of run and chase, only a few police was on his tail. Zeo landed on a roof very close to the waters, and decided to take another leap and dive. *Splash* Head first into the water. The ocean was cold but Zeo knew he was safer now. He swam away. Minutes later he know he had loose them all.

Aug-15-2009 11:07

* * *

"Joseph, you're wet! You said you'd be back soon. Where the heck have you been?" Vulkie worriedly exclaimed. Zeo sat down by the kitchen table and told Vulkie what happened in the music room, and that their only lead to Leon Kobetz was now gone forever. Zeo then shook his head and was waving his hand in front of himself.

"Don't you worry Joseph, we'll get him. One way or another. Sergie will be on trial the day after tomorrow. I am sure Heimlich already have everything planned." Vulkie said, "Let me get you a towel, you're trembling."

Zeo grabbed onto Vulkie's side, looking down vacantly at the table. "No! Vulkie, don't go!" Zeo's tone frightened her.

"What is it?" Vulkie could sense that something was wrong.

"What time is it? Is it dark yet?" Zeo asked.

"What do you mean? It's 4pm in the afternoon." Vulkie kneeled down to see Zeo's paper white face. "What's wrong?"

"I cannot see a damn thing."

Aug-15-2009 11:26

"You.... You.... You can't see anything?" I said trembling myself and sticked three fingers up. "Guess how many fingers I have up" I said and Joseph said 4. "It's true then... The doctor warned me for this.." I said and I got Joseph a pair of sunglasses,a new hat and some new clothes.

"I'll guide you to the car,take my hand" I said and guided Joseph towards the car. Little did I know that he almost tripped over a dog,and I grabbed him more tightly. "Here we are Joseph. Sit nice and tight. We're going to get you to a hospital" I said. "Just let me get you a blanket and we're off" I said and I got a blanket.

As I almost closed the door,I decided to torch the safehouse. Joseph told me he was set up,so the phone must've been bugged the whole time.

"What's that smell?" Joseph said. "Nothing. Some people are making a big huge fire to get rid of their paper" I lied to Joseph and we went off towards the hospital.

******** New York National Hospital *********

"Yes,this is very troubling miss Vulkie. The problem is,the blood clog is troubling Mr Zeo and making him temporarily blind. Another problem can be,is,that he will never recover from the blood clog and will be blind forever..." the doctor said,as Joseph lay in a bed with some ear plugs in.

"Thanks for the info doc. I assume I have to say it to him..." I asked to the doctor. "You don't need to,if you can't...." the doctor said.

"I have not much strength left doc,but I can manage this" I said and went to Joseph.

I grabbed his hand and Joseph immediately shook up and straightened in his bed. "Who's there" he asked,while I unplugged his ears. "It's me Joseph,Vulkie. I just spoke to the doctor and..." I replied

"And what?" Joseph asked.

"It's going to be fine Joseph,it's going to be fine" while silently,my tears rolled down my face and I tapped his hand,making sure to keep him trusted. "It's just going to be fine....."

And so,I left the room for a cup of coffee and phoned Heimlich...

Aug-15-2009 11:36

"Hiya Uncle Richard,it's your daughter. Yes,that's right,Valerie." I said,in coded language. "It's not going good with your son,Jo. We're at a special place now,with care. Spoke to someone,Jo can't see for a while. Person I spoke to says chances are minimum that he recovers from his problem" I said and I started to cry.

"Uncle,I can't take this anymore. It's just too much. I know,we're almost there,but it's just too much. Lying against Jo about his problem,making him feel a bit better and I haven't seen you in ages. Also,the person who we talked about who begins with Bjorn is not with us anymore. Jo took care of it" I said.

"Vulkie,get some rest. Serge is going to be tomorrow in the stand and this will all end soon. New judge is Cooper,he's good. Just.. Just get some rest I'll pass the message to your father Heim" Cambridge said and he hung up.

And so,I started to sit on the floor,held my hands before my face and let my tears roll over my face.

A nurse asked if I was alright and I nodded and got rid of my tears and went back to Joseph. I couldn't go anywhere else,I wasn't save anywhere now for the time. The police on my trail possibly and on Joseph's,I couldn't risk to lose Joseph in this time...

And so I sat in a chair next to Joseph's bed,looking at the brave detective who could recover from anything. But this really troubled my mind more and more.

"Joseph" I whispered. "Yes" he said back. "Should I call Anais to inform her?" I asked.

"No. I don't want her to know this. It's "our" little secret,just between you,me,Cambridge,Heimlich and Kobetz. These are the persons I trust with my "problem" for now. When the time is right,I will tell her what happened." Joseph said. "I need to rest now. Stay with me" Joseph whispered and I got hold of his hand and comforted him.

I kept repeating that one sentence in my head,as if I was insane. "It's going to be alright,it's going to be alright,it's going to be alright,it's....."