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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

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?"

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

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

Vulkie3
Vulkie3
Haynes

Aug-15-2009 14:57

Have you ever thought losing your best friend? It's like a family member,until you realise,that you can't go out with that person anymore. No more anniversaries to attend of that person. That person will never phone you again. He will never send you a card for when you are sick,to say how his life is going on.

That's how I felt with Joseph. His condition was slowly gaining better,but I still played with the thought of that he could never see again. That he wouldn't see the beautiful ladies anymore and how the world changes.

Yes,that's terrible isn't it. That what I think,at least. That is my thought. But I didn't gave the hope up for Joseph. He would get better,he must get better and he got better.

Slowly,Joseph grabbed my hand and looked towards me and said : "Your hair is brown again. I can see again... I...". After that,Joseph passed out. "Nurse,call the doctor. I have good information!" I yelled and the doctor came.

"What happened Miss Vulkie? Did he see again?" the doctor asked. "Yes doctor. He could see my hair again. It's brown,instead of yellow. I did that while he was sleeping" I replied.

"Good. Let's examine him for that blood clog and see if it's really gone" the doctor said and Joseph got another X-Ray.

"As you can see here Miss Vulkie,the spot has disappeared where it first was. He is better now" the doctor said.

I thanked the doctor and went back to Joseph,who already got his clothes on and hugged me. "Thanks for all your support. When this is over,we really need a vacation huh?" Joseph said and I laughed.

Yes,I could laugh again. All the trouble was over. Everything was alright,alright,alright....

Eric Marvington
Eric Marvington
Thespian

Aug-16-2009 16:13

Eric hung up the courthouse phone. He smiled to himself. Everything had worked itself out in the end. He looked up to see Cambridge, Heimlich, and Kobetz leave the courtroom together. He ran up to them and threw his arms around them.

"Is it really over? Have we really won?" Eric asked excitedly.

Heimlich laughed, "Yes Eric," he replied, "it appears so. Judge Cooper dismissed the charges against Sergei. As a result he rescinded the warrant against Vulkie for aiding and abetting. Barnes is arguing with him right now over it, because it means he can't go after Joseph."

Eric started chuckling, "Serves him right! Let's get out of here. Ol' sour grapes can walk home!" he laughed.

They laughed together as they walked out of the courthouse and towards the car. Kobetz turned to Eric, "So where to now?" he asked.

"We're going to Heimlich's!" Eric announced to the group including a surprised Heimlich, "We're going to celebrate you no longer being a fugitive!"

"Out of the question!" Cambridge barked, "We need to get him to the Soviet embassy immediately. Let's not forget the real killer is still out there!"

Heimlich paused as they reached the car, "The real killer is still out there?" he asked, "I thought the real killer was Bjorno Adelé, and he's on a slab downtown! What do you mean?"

Cambridge beckoned Heimlich to get into the car, "I'm sorry Heimlich," he responded, "but there are things that I kept from you during this case."

Heimlich waited until all four of them were in the car before demanding, "What things Richard? How could you?"

Eric started the car and they began to pull away. "I'm sorry," Cambridge started, "but it appears a mole inside the police department has been passing information to the NKVD."

Heimlich grabbed Cambridge's wrist, "What? Who?" he shouted.

Cambridge winced in pain, "I have come to the conclusion," he started, "that it must be..."

His sentence was interrupted by a scream from outside.

Eric Marvington
Eric Marvington
Thespian

Aug-16-2009 16:29

They all turned to the left in time to see a black Lincoln barreling towards them. A second later it had collided with the car and continued to push them. The men screamed as the car was pinned against the barbershop a mere 500 feet from the courthouse.

Eric sat up and felt his forehead, his head wound had opened again. The black Lincoln backed up and a man got out holding a pistol. He was short, heavyset, with piercing blue eyes, and Eric knew who he must be.

The man pulled open the driver's side door and smacked Eric with his pistol. Eric fell forward, his face on the steering wheel unable to move. The man walked around, opened the back door and pointed the handgun at the three men, "Get out!" he demanded in a heavy Russian accent.

"Leon!" Sergei exclaimed, "So you are behind this!"

Leon fired at Cambridge's foot causing him to cry out in pain. "Get out now! Or I keep shooting higher!" The three men did as they were told and Leon herded them into the back seat of the Lincoln and slammed the door shut.

Eric tried to summon every ounce of strength he had. He felt his arms pulling himself up only to collapse back on the steering wheel.

"Stop right there!" a voice yelled. Eric glance into his mirror and confirmed that it was Barnes racing down the street with a pistol in hand, "Leon Kobetz you're under arrest! Don't move!" he shouted.

Leon laughed and fired one shot bringing the chubby captain to the ground. He then climbed into the passenger seat and the car sped off. Eric reached for the handle of his own door. He felt himself pull, threw his weight against it, and promptly fell on the ground.

***

"What were you thinking leaving without me?" Barnes shouted.

Eric awoke to see the captain being loaded onto a stretcher. Two men in uniform had him propped against the wrecked police car and were tending to him.

Eric Marvington
Eric Marvington
Thespian

Aug-16-2009 16:39

"Doesn't look like anything is broken," one said, "although you re-opened a wound. You probably just stressed your body too much from pain. I'd say a few days bed rest should do it." He assured him.

Eric shook his head, "No," he insisted, "give me a morphine injection now. I need to find my friends."

The paramedic shook his head, "Your body has been through too much," he said, "and morphine would only be a temporary fix."

Eric stared him down, "That's what I'm looking for. Now give it to me or you will be responsible for the deaths of a district attorney, a Soviet National, and a Detective!"

The paramedic sighed, "It's your life," he replied as he pulled out the syringe, "just don't come crying to me when you're addicted and useless."

Eric shook as he received the injection. A few minutes later he stood up and walked over to Barnes who they were just loading into the ambulance, "Did you get the plate off of the car?" he asked.

"The plate?!" Barnes shouted, "That's your biggest concern? I'll have your shield for this Marvington! You are the worst cop I have ever dealt with! And you will address me as Captain Barnes!"

Eric shook with rage and ripped his badge off. He threw it on Barnes' chest, "You want my shield? Take it! If it means I have to work under you then it means nothing!" he shouted. He turned as if to leave, before turning around, "Oh and one more thing," he snapped. He leaned in close to Barnes and spit right in his face, "Lieutenant Zeo and I are twice the cops you'll ever be Graham."

He stumbled off. He had to find Leon, and Joseph had the only possible link to Leon on a small paper card in his pocket.

vulkie2
vulkie2

Aug-16-2009 17:35

(reserve account,since my other one is in shangri-la at the moment.)

As Joseph and I went to the local liquor store to get a nice bottle of champagne for all the 6 of us,we saw an ambulance rushing towards city hall. "Hmm,probably nothing" I said to Joseph and we got in the car and started to drive towards Heimlich's house.

As we stopped for a traffic light,we saw a young boy with newspapers,screaming : "EXTRA,EXTRA. LOCAL POLICE CAPTAIN SHOT DOWN AT COURT".

Joseph and I began to sweat and Joseph got out of the car quickly,bought a newspaper and the traffic light went green when he got in.

"Listen to this. Local police captain Graham Barnes was shot down while trying to apprehend a suspect. The captain saw a fugitive wanted by the police,tried to apprehend that person and got shot down in few seconds.
An other policeman was seen to fled the scene. It was believed to be an Mr. Marvington,as Captain Barnes said.

Mr. Marvington spat in the face of Barnes,because Marvington was insulted by a comment made by Barnes. Marvington is now wanted for questioning and may be hiding. If you see something,please call..." Joseph said.

"Sh*t* I said and I hit the brakes near Heimlich's house. "Almost there and we get this kind of trouble again. Why,o why,does this always happen!" I yelled. "Beats me. Main problem is,we need to check if Heimlich and Kobetz and Cambridge were at home. Probably not" I said and Joseph rang the doorbell.

No reply. Another ring. No reply.

"They're not home. Let's wait until Marvington arrives here. I know he will." Joseph said and so we sat in the car,waiting for Marvington...

We waited and waited and waited...

And there,on the corner,Marvington strumbled towards the front door.

"Marvington,over here!" I yelled and Marvington came at us. "Yees,you look like sh*t" Joseph said.

"Anyway, Leon Kobetz got..."

"Heimlich,Cambridge and his brother,Sergei. We know." I said...

"Heimlich,Cambridge an

vulkie2
vulkie2

Aug-16-2009 18:16

(srry about that beneath repeting part. Sleuth can sometimes be strange xD)

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Aug-19-2009 09:58

"What do you mean there's a mole inside our headquarter?" Zeo demanded.

"That's what Richard said right before they were… captured." Marvington replied. Someone had been passing information to the NKVD. No wonder why they seemed to know their every move.

'What did they want from Heimlich, Richard and Sergei?' Zeo wondered in his head. 'And why didn't Leon take Eric as well? Could Eric be the mole? Impossible!' Zeo shook at his own silliness for such thought. 'Eric wouldn't have told us that if he is…'

"It must be Barnes." Zeo concluded as a matter of fact.

Vulkie shook her head to their surprise. "No. The pig is selfish, greedy and he's an opportunist, but not a criminal. He may have accepted bribes from Adele to frame a guy so that he can put the case away, but working for them from the inside? That's too sophisticated for that simple brain of his. Beside, didn't you just say that he was shot?"

"By a professional killer, ha! and survived!" Marvington mocked. "Isn't that enough proof that they're putting on a show?"

"Whoever the mole is, we are keeping to ourselves from now on." Zeo said, "We keep way from the station; who knows which other phones are tabbed?"

The three drove to a quiet roadside café where their colleagues seldom visit. Vulkie grabbed a bite and Zeo borrowed their telephone to call Trepov. The Russian ambassador picked up the phone quickly and Zeo updated him about what was going on. The phone went quiet for a short while; Zeo could hear Trepov's brain churning away. "Come." Trepov finally said, and gave him an address and a code.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Aug-19-2009 10:01

The three drove for one and a half hour and finally came to a non- descript villa in the middle of nowhere. "The place is big enough to host a grand ball!" Vulkie commented while she pulled up the car on the side of the building. Marvington seemed to be in pain again from his injuries, but didn't say a word.

They reached the front door and Zeo knocked 3 times, paused, then once, paused, then twice. A small windowpane on the door slid open, but all they saw was a large mouth with graying stubbles and a gap between the two front teeth.

"It snowz in zhe winter and snowz in zhe fall." The mouth said with a heavy Russian accent.

"It snows in the summer so it doesn't matter at all." Zeo replied, according to the code Trepov gave him over the phone.

The window closed and the door cracked open. The owner of the large mouth loomed over all three detectives. The Russian bodyguard said nothing else and led them down the hall. They saw no one else along the way, but Zeo's nose told him otherwise. He could tell there were at least half a dozen men nearby who honestly needed a shower, but he guessed that it was not the custom to bathe everyday for people used to residing in extremely cold regions.

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