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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-29-2009 18:25

As I was being treated by the doctor,it was only a fleshwound. "Thank you doctor" I said and as I was about to leave,I saw Eric,Joseph and Heimlich walking in. "Eric!" I said and I rushed towards him,hugging and kissing him. Joseph and Heimlich looked a bit ashamed. Joseph gave me a "Get a room"-look and Heimlich a " This is still a hospital"-look.

"It was just a fleshwound guys. I will survive" I said and I smiled.

"Sure you will. You will always get over things,just like that one time with "Elle Driver" " Joseph said(see Mysterious Appearance for reference).

"Alright Joseph,we need to get you to a doctor" Heimlich said and I was curious why. He had nothing to see first,but then I wondered.... "Joseph... Is your "head" alright at the moment?" I asked.

"No" Joseph replied. "No,when I saw Heimlich and Leon fighting,I saw double of them. So I fired maybe first time good,but I tried to still shoot at them when my gun was empty... I..." Joseph said.

"No worries" Marvington said. "I'll get you a doctor".

And so it seemed,that Joseph's "headproblem" wasn't serious. He just suffered from a bit of stress and needed to rest very long ^^.

And so,the gang departed out of the hospital,out in the open,while Heimlich began to speak...

Aug-29-2009 20:13

"I don't know how I can thank you all enough for what you've done." Heimlich

"Don't mention it!" Vulkie responded, "A little excitement is good for the heart!"

Heimlich smiled and glanced at his friends, Eric and he had mended fences, he had made a new friend in Joseph, and Vulkie had shown herself to be a true friend in a time when he felt that he had none.

"So are you going to defend Sergei? He's been arrested you know." Joseph asked sadly.

Heimlich shook his head. "I don't think he'd want me defending him at this point." he answered, "I'm afraid that he'd feel he was troubling us further at this point. I will offer, but I won't force him to accept my help."

Eric shook his head. "If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have been able to save the president." he lamented, "It's not right that he should be arrested."

"Excuse me sir?" a voice behind them said. The detectives turned around to find a tall bald man standing there clutching a letter. "My name is James Farley and I've been sent by the President to deliver this letter to the detectives who helped to prevent the assassination attempt. I've been searching everywhere for you!"

Heimlich stepped forward and took the letter. "James Farley..." he pondered, "the Postmaster General of the United States?!"

Farley smiled, "One in the same sir. The President has asked me to convey his thanks and present you with this letter. Now I'm afraid I must be on my way." With that he tipped his hat and walked off.

Heimlich examined the letter, which bore the seal of the President on the envelope. He quickly tore into the envelope and pulled out a letter. As he examined the letter his eyes grew wide.

"We... we've been invited to the White House in a month's time!" Heimlich exclaimed.

*****

Aug-29-2009 20:38

One month passed and so did the trials of Leon Kobetz, Sergei Kobetz, & Natasha Kozerskaia. As predicted Sergei refused to allow Heimlich to defend him, instead choosing to defend himself. A week before their White House meeting the headlines began to pour in. "Soviet Secretary Sentenced to Life in Prison", "Murdered Ambassador to be Honored by White House", "Kobetz Brothers Receive Twin Death Sentences"

As they stepped down the long corridor of the White House, flanked by agents, the detectives couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the history that surrounded them. None of them ever believed in all of their years that they would be brought here. Finally they came to a large wooden door. The agent motioned for them to stay put, walked over to the door, knocked, and entered alone.

Heimlich glanced at his friends, all in their best attire. He could see the excitement in their faces, but knew that the same thought was on all of their minds. Sergei should be here with them.

The agent stepped out of the room and beckoned for them to enter. The four took a deep breath and stepped through the open doorway. The sheer magnitude of the moment hit them. They were standing in the oval office and President Roosevelt was sitting at his desk with a smile on his face.

"Welcome friends!" Roosevelt said and beckoned for them to come closer, "I must extend my heartfelt thanks to you for your extraordinary efforts to save my life. You are all a credit to your profession. Were it not for your actions that day, it's very likely that you would be speaking with President Garner right now."

Each detective stepped forward and shook the President's hand. As he shook Vulkie's the president smiled and quipped, "Young lady, I believe we've met before. Based on that meeting I think this is a moment that neither of us had ever imagined would be possible."

Vulkie let out a nervous laugh. "Well I can't say that I'm sorry that I did what I did." she responded.

Aug-29-2009 21:00

"Nor am I, my dear." Roosevelt responded, "Now if there is anything that I can do for you, please let me know. The lot of you are heroes!"

The four glanced nervously at each other, none daring to disclose the foremost thought on their minds. Finally Eric spoke up, "Mr. President sir... Sergei Kobetz was wrongly accused of murder. He was forced into acting in that assassination attempt and his actions that day likely saved hundreds including yourself. He told us where to find his brother, and by shooting Vulkie he prevented his brother from detonating the explosive device under the platform."

Roosevelt nodded his head, "Yes, I'm aware of the story that Mr. Kobetz told at his trial." he responded.

Heimlich took over, "Mr. President sir, Sergei has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. Richard Cambridge was a friend of his, and he only shot him under the utmost of threats. I humbly beseech you to grant him clemency rather than ending his life."

Roosevelt shook his head, "I'm sorry Mr. VonVictor, but granting him clemency for this crime would be most impossible." he replied

Vulkie gasped, "Oh please Mr. President!" she pleaded, "I know him to be a good and honorable man! I know he doesn't deserve to die!"

Roosevelt shook his head again, "I'm sorry my dear, but it would be quite impossible at this point." he responded as he reached into his desk drawer and handed Vulkie a document, "For you see, I signed this earlier today."

Vulkie read the document aloud, "Now therefore be it know that I Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, in consideration of the circumstances and extraordinary actions do hereby grant unto Sergei Kobetz a full and unconditional pardon!"

The detectives were speechless. Roosevelt broke the silence with a chuckle, "There! You see?" he responded, "It would be impossible to grant him clemency for a crime he is no longer going to be punished for!"

Aug-29-2009 21:17

Joseph spoke up, "Mr. President... I don't know what to say... except thank you."

Roosevelt smiled. "Think nothing of it!" he replied, "From where I'm sitting, it looks like he did as much as the four of you that day and I see no reason why he should be punished for it. When he gets here, we can begin the proper steps for an application for political asylum."

Vulkie gasped, "When he gets here? Then you mean?"

Roosevelt nodded. "Yes, he was picked up from the prison earlier this morning and should be on his way here now." Just then there was a knock at the door and an agent stepped in.

"Excuse me Mr. President sir, Sergei Kobetz has arrived." he announced.

Roosevelt nodded, "Thank you Baughman. You can bring him in." he replied. Seconds later Sergei Kobetz stepped through the door. His hands were held together in front of him, a sheepish was look on his face, and his whole body shook.

Vulkie immediately turned around, ran towards him, and threw her arms around him, "Oh Sergei!" she cried, "It's going to be alright! Everything is going to be alright!"

*****

That night the five friends gathered at Heimlich's apartment. A roaring fire played in the background as they examined their copies of that day's headline, "Local Heroes Honored at White House".

Joseph poured a bottle of champagne into glasses which he gave out to each member. As they raised them together Eric said proudly, "To Richard Cambridge!"

Joseph nodded, "And to Aleksandr Trepov. Without whom we would have never had this moment."

The others repeated their sentiments and drank down. Vulkie looked at her friends, "So what's next for everyone?" she asked.

Joseph spoke up, "I'm staying on the force. No way they're going to get rid of me now that I'm a hero. By the way, I love you all dearly, but do not attempt to contact me for two weeks, it will be a fruitless endeavor."

Aug-29-2009 21:27

Eric laughed. "I think we all need a break Joseph. I officially turned in my resignation to Hogan earlier today. Heimie and I are starting a new agency, and Sergei is going to be joining us. He needs a job after all!"

Sergei nodded. "Thank you my friends. I think this would not happen if I don't know you. I want to be great detective like you someday!" he said with tears of happiness coming down his face.

Heimlich smiled and put his arm around Sergei. "We're happy to know you Sergei. I'm sure you'll make a great detective." he said happily.

Vulkie walked over and picked up a stack of papers from the coffee table. "This book was written by Heimlich VonVictor & describes true events that occurred during his time as a detective. Heimlich! You wrote a memoir? You have to read us some of it!" she insisted. The others agreed and clambered for Heimlich to read.

He walked over, took the stack of papers from Vulkie and thumbed through them. His life flashed by him in the blink of an eye. Without a second thought he took the stack of papers and threw them into the fireplace.

"Heimlich! Why?" Eric cried out.

Heimlich chuckled, "Because Eric, the story isn't over yet. It wouldn't be right to write my life story when it hasn't even played out yet. I feel that there is much more to do before I commit my life to the pages of a book."

The friends nodded knowingly as they raised their glasses once again, "To life!" They unanimously shouted.

Aug-29-2009 21:31

(really enjoyed writing this story with Heimlich and Joseph. I do hope we can make such stories as these many times ^^. If you want to comment about it,please do. You can also mail us for information or if you want to participate in one with us. Usually,Joseph and I write together with our big friend Anais Nin and from now on,also Heimlich VonVictor ^^.)

Aug-29-2009 21:38

((Yes, it was an amazing journey Heimlich. Thank you for the ride!! If anyone would like to participate, simply dive into one of our stories, preferably in the beginning, or PM us at anytime so that we can help 'settle you into the story' if it's already running full gear. There will be sequels, definitely, maybe after Heimlich Eric and Sergei settle in their new agency, when Zeo return from his 'you cannot find him' fishing trip, and when Vulkie and Eric have enough romantic dates together. Remember, in RP, time jumps!! :-D ))