Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Role Playing Stage

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-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....."

Aug-15-2009 12:02

The first thing he thought of was Joseph. Had he been able to escape from the clutches of the police? Eric surveyed his surroundings. He was no doubt in a hospital. His ribs felt as if they were on fire. He tried to stand, but couldn't muster the energy.

The only thing he could hear was a voice from beyond the curtain next to him, "It's just going to be fine" a woman's voice said. It sounded comforting. Soft and kind, but sad. He felt the room begin to spin and he drifted back into unconsciousness.

****

"Officer Marvington, it appears that you have a fractured rib." Dr. Steiner smiled and said, "It could have been much worse. The swelling should go down in a few days. In the meantime, no heavy lifting, and take it easy!"

"What time is it?" Eric demanded, "How long have I been here?"

The doctor glanced at his watch, "It is about 6 am. You've been here since about 12:30 pm yesterday. I think you should stay here for at least another 24 hours for observation."

Eric shook his head, "But when can I go?" he asked.

The doctor shifted uncomfortably, "Well," he responded, "technically I can't hold you here so you can go whenever you want."

Eric nodded, "Get me the release forms."

****

Aug-15-2009 12:14

A large cloth binding around his chest, dressed in full uniform, a leave waiver in his hand, and not quite 24 hours after he left, Eric Marvington reentered his station house.

As he walked in Molly greeted him, "Eric! I didn't think you'd be back so soon! You know the department gives you three paid days off right?"

Eric handed her the waiver, "I know," he responded, "and I'm waiving them. I have to go back to work. I need to be useful. I can't just sit there doing nothing."

"Marvington!" came the bellow from behind Barnes' office door, "Get in here now!"

Eric walked over and pulled the door open. He immediately saw Eunice standing there looking as if she would cry. Barnes stood clutching his the edge of his desk, a look of pure rage on his face. His eyes were wide, his knuckles were white, his face was so red it was practically purple, and a large vein was popping out in his forehead about two times a second.

"Do you have any idea how idiotic it was of you to go into a robbery in progress call without backup?!" he bellowed, "You could have been killed! If my squad hadn't arrived when we did, it's likely that you would have been! Of all the stupid things I have ever seen an officer do, this has to be the dumbest!"

Eunice turned towards him, "Oh Officer Marvington I'm so sorry I know you said not to tell the captain but you didn't say which captain so I didn't know whether you meant your captain or my captain or captain barnes or the division captain or the captain of the ferry so I figured I shouldn't tell my captain and I shouldn't tell your captain so I told Captain Barnes!" Eunice delivered in an amazing five seconds flat.

"Eunice!" Barnes roared, "The only thing dumber than Marvington going out there by himself was you sending him! Get your stuff and get the hell out! You're fired!"

Aug-15-2009 12:28

Eunice whimpered, "Y...y...you d...don't h...have the p...power to d...do that!"

Barnes nodded sarcastically, "Oh I don't? I called Captain Steele last night. Woke him out of a sound sleep! He agreed that you acted stupidly and said I would be justified if I fired you. So I repeat... Get out!" he screamed as he pointed towards the door. Eunice broke down in tears and ran out the door.

"As for you," Barnes said with a hint of contempt, "I also called Captain Hogan last night. Woke him up out of a sound sleep. He told me that you had your reasons for doing whatever you did. As much as I insisted that you lose your shield over this, Hogan seems to think that you deserve to stay on the force. He said he will deal with you himself. I am warning you right now though, one more incident and I will go above Hogan and I will take you both down."

Eric nodded, "Yes sir," he managed through gritted teeth, "thank you sir."

As he turned to leave Barnes called after him, "By the way Eric, there seem to be some strange coincidences. VonVictor collapses your agency, VonVictor defends Kobetz, Zeo gets VonVictor out of jail, Vulkie springs Kobetz, Zeo flees with Vulkie, and you're working with Zeo on the Kobetz case? You're not the only one who can piece it all together Eric. I'd watch my back. I'd watch my back if I were you."

Eric felt his blood boil. He turned around and remarked snidely, "Music Room, 63rd and shore at noon. Room Zero. You're not the only one who can tap phones, Graham. I'd watch my back if I were you."

Aug-15-2009 13:18

Days Pass
****

5:30 am. Eric stood in the street waiting for the dropoff. He couldn't screw this up or everything they worked for would be for nothing. He heard a rustling from some garbage cans down the street. He quickly ran towards them. As he approached, a squirrel jumped out of one and made his heart jump in his chest. Damn it Sergei! Where was he?

"Oh where am I?" came a call from an alley down the way. Eric sprang down the street and up the alley. He found Kobetz walking around pretending to be unfamiliar with his surroundings. "Where have I been for the past three weeks?" he wondered aloud

Eric stifled a laugh as he placed cuffs on Sergei, "Don't push it Kobetz." he chided him, "Sergei Kobetz you're under arrest for the murders of Ana and Nikolai Romanski."

He led Kobetz back to the station house in cuffs wondering if this was going to work. As luck would have it, Barnes was on duty this morning. Apparently Hogan and Steele had gone to the chief and informed him that Barnes had waited until 2 am to inform them of the Music Room incident when it had happened at noon. Barnes had gotten his own reprimand sesssion and had been placed on early mornings.

They walked up the steps and Eric pushed open the door. "Morning Betsy!" he beamed at the secretary, "Guess who I found wandering the streets? Just a few hours before his trial!"

Barnes came charging out of his office. "You have to be joking me!" he shouted, "Where the hell have you been boy?"

Kobetz shook his head, "Have no memory. Last thing remember was being taken from police."

Eric nodded, "When I found him he was very confused," he said, "he didn't know where he was and didn't put up a fight when I put cuffs on him. Why don't we put him in holding until his trial, it's at 9 am, so it won't be that long."

Barnes shook his head, "No way!" he shouted, "Judge Haliwell said Kobetz was going to be housed at Rikers Island until his trial and that's where he's going!"

Aug-15-2009 13:32

"You wouldn't be trying to place that defendant in harm's way would you Captain Barnes?" came a familiar voice. They whirled around to find Heimlich and Cambridge standing in the doorway of Zeo's office. "I hope you don't mind Graham, but my colleague and I were going over the final evidence list before our trial today in Lieutenant Zeo's office and couldn't help but overhear."

"Harm's way?!" Barnes exclaimed nervously, "Of course not! Why would you say that?"

"Well Graham," Cambridge recounted, "if you recall correctly, that judge was taking bribes, and evidence showed that he ordered an assassination on Mr. Kobetz at Rikers. The case was also declared a mistrial, so I don't see why you would try to enforce orders concerning it."

Barnes began to sweat, "Of course! How stupid of me!" he remarked as if realizing for the first time, "You must forgive me, it's these early morning shifts. Of course he can go into a holding cell!"

Eric smiled and began leading Kobetz down the hallway to the holding cells. When they were out of hearing range of the others, he whispered to Kobetz, "Well Sergei, it looks like we're in the clear. Now we just need to get you to trial and see what we can do with this new judge."

Kobetz smiled for the first time in a while at him, "Eric you are good friend. Heimlich, Vullkie, and Joseph too. Richard Cambridge is good man. Have good heart."

Aug-15-2009 14:03

Heim looked down at the handcuff on his wrist, the other end of the handcuff on Kobetz's wrist as they sat in the back seat of the police cruiser. Cambridge sat on the other side of Kobetz, Barnes sat in the passenger seat, and Marvington drove.

Heim couldn't help but feel that Vulkie and Joseph should be there, but he knew Barnes' presence made that impossible. He felt the car come to a stop and realized that they were outside of the courthouse.

Barnes turned to the back seat, "Stay here," he ordered, "I'm going to see that the scene is safe first." He stepped out of the car.

Heimlich turned toward Cambridge, "So how did you manage to get this case delayed so long?" he asked.

Cambridge smiled, "I told Judge Copper, a former golf buddy, that I was backed up with a sting operating and I would need a continuance." he stated proudly, "I didn't mention the fact that the sting was for this case, or that our only lead was dead. He told me to pick a day, so I picked today. I figured it would give Eric enough time to heal up from his injuries so he could help us."

Heim nodded, "Good thinking," he agreed, "do you still plan to try your best to convict Sergei?"

Cambridge nodded, "I'm sorry Heimlich," he said, "it's my duty to prosecute and bring out the truth. Hopefully the truth will come out."

Kobetz put his free hand on Richard's arm, "Richard Cambridge, I understand. You are good man."

Their conversation was interrupted by Barnes opening the back door, "Let's go! It's clear!" he ordered. The three of them walked from the car and into the courthouse in relative silence, with Eric waiting behind to escort them to the prison that Sergei was to be held at for the duration of the trial if he did not make bail.

They entered the doors, hurried past the front desk, through the long marble hallway, and finally came to the large wooden doors of Courtroom #4. They pushed through and the entire room grew silent.

Aug-15-2009 14:23

Barnes uncuffed Heimlich and Kobetz and they made their way to the defense table. Cambridge took his place on the side of the prosecution.

The room hung in an uncomfortable silence for what felt like hours when the bailiff called out, "All rise! New York Superior Court is now in session. The honorable Judge Jacob Cooper presiding." Judge Cooper walked in not looking at any of them and took his place.

"You may be seated." he responded.

The bailiff again called out, "Docket Number 39585 The People of New York vs. Sergei Kobetz. Charges are two counts of murder in the first degree."

Cooper stared at Kobetz, "How does the defendant plead?"

Heimlich stood up, "Not guilty your honor" he responded.

Cooper began flipping through the files. "Before I ask about bail, there seems to have been quite a few changes since the last time this was brought to trial. I would like to reestablish probable cause in this case. Namely, every witness is unavailable? Prosecutor Cambridge do you care to explain this?"

Cambridge stood and picked up a stack of papers, "Yes your honor. Vladmir Bjarkhov was unfortunately killed by a car bomb, Olivia Thorne was run over in the street shortly after the last trial, Svetlana Bjarkhov has disappeared completely and all we have is her deposition, and Lieutenant Joseph Zeo is currently on a leave of absence and we cannot locate him."

Cooper stared at Cambridge, "This case has met with some misfortune has it not? And I understand the defendant was kidnapped?" he asked.

"Yes," Cambridge responded, "and despite police interrogation, he has no memory of the incident. He was recovered earlier this morning."

"Mr. VonVictor," Cooper stated, "I have examined the files from last time and have decided to include your NKVD button and smashed glass. What do you make of them?"

Aug-15-2009 14:39

Heimlich stood once again, "Your honor," he said, "it appears someone smashed the defendant's window to get inside on the night of the murder and left behind a button. This would indicate that this person was a member of the NKVD. I believe that a frame-up has taken place."

Cooper nodded and turned to Cambridge, "Mr. Cambridge, what do you make of this evidence?" he asked.

Cambridge shook his head, "Ridiculous! How do we know the defendant didn't plant these things in his own apartment to create reasonable doubt?" he demanded.

"The knife seems to be our big constant here," Cooper read from the papers," what do we make of the knife Mr. Cambridge?"

Cambridge smiled smugly, "It's our smoking gun Your Honor! It proves that Mr. Kobetz committed this murder!" he casually replied.

"Mr. VonVictor," Cooper asked, "what is your opinion of the knife?"

Heim shook his head, "It could have been planted. Furthermore, if Mr. Kobetz wanted to get away with this, why would he take the knife home with him? Why would he walk home with it? Why would he fall asleep with it in his hand? It doesn't make sense!"

Cooper nodded, "Well it looks like we have quite the case ahead of us. I have one last question for each of you before we move on to bail. First, Mr. VonVictor, do you honestly believe your client is innocent?" he said with all seriousness.

Heim stared at the judge, "Yes Your Honor, with all my heart I do."

"Mr. Cambridge," Cooper asked, "do you honestly believe the defendant is guilty?"

Cambridge stood and opened his mouth, "Your Honor..." and couldn't speak. He began to think of the evidence. The connection to the NKVD. The witnesses being killed. The sting he had been in on. Sergei calling him a good man. Joseph. The case was flimsy at best...

The words came out as if they were not his own, "Your honor... at this time the prosecution does not believe it can meet its burden of proof. We move to dismiss all charges against Sergei Kobetz without prejudice