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The Crusader Ch. 01

By: woodmanone



Ch. 1--The Manhunt

I've enjoyed writing the "westerns" I've been posting lately but feel it's time to branch off into a different type of story. For at least a few postings. 

You may tire of this statement but constructive comments, critiques, and emails are requested and appreciated; as usual. 

If you've read my stories you know there are no descriptive sex scenes in my work.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my work. I hope you enjoy this story.



The Crusader Ch. 01



"Thanks Honey," he said. "That'll take care of Susan, now we need to take care of Rollie.





The Crusader Ch. 01



Embarrassed Rollie apologized for staring. Tully waved off the apology. "You'd have to be dead or dumb not to be interested in something new to you. Don't worry about it Detective."

"Tully took retired from the Corp after 20 years but couldn't stand sitting at home," Steve informed Rollie. "He joined our police force and became the oldest rookie in the department's history; he was 36 at the time.

"If you put in 20 in the Marines does that means you enlisted when you were 16?" Rollie questioned.

"Yeah, I was big for my age and told them I was 18," Tully answered with a grin. "I also had a fake birth certificate and driver's license. Couldn't see the sense in waiting around for two more years. Joining the Marines was what I'd wanted to do since I'd been twelve. I wasn't much of a student, not motivated you see, so as soon as I could get the phony papers I joined up."

"I'm the one telling this story," Steve said with a laugh. "Anyway just to keep his hand in, Tully joined the National Guard shortly after completing his probationary period with the department. His unit was activated about ten months later and he went over to the sand box; that's where he lost his leg."

"My body had an adverse reaction to an exploding IED," Tully offered. "You know an Individual Explosive Device.  Some gomer dropped one off a roof right on top of my squad." The Sergeant stopped for a few seconds staring off into space. "Lost two men and my leg that day." Tully smiled grimly and added, "The gomer lost his life: I put a round into his head when he peeked over the edge of the roof to see how his bomb had worked."

Steve patted Tully on the shoulder just once and Rollie nodded his admiration for the Sergeant. 

"So Tully came back home after a stint in VA hospitals and wanted his job back," Steve continued his story. "The department tried to get him to retire, even offered full disability and a pension, but Tully told them as long as he could walk he wasn't disabled."

Turning to Rollie Steve said, "There's a federal law that says a company has to give a person his job back. The offer of a pension got the department off the hook as far as that went. But there are a few former Marines in positions of power in the department, our commissioner for one, and they saw to it that Tully was reinstated.

Steve and Tully laughed as they remembered the uproar. "Rather than manning a desk in some precinct or administrative duties Tully asked to be put in charge of the shooting range. That's where this broken down old Gunny Sergeant has been ever since."

Rollie stuck out his hand and shook with Tully again. "Thank you for your service Sergeant; both for 20 years in the Marines and for your National Guard duty."

Tully made a noise like he was clearing his throat, embarrassed by the emotions that the young detective brought out. "Numb Nuts here didn't mention that I teach tactical shotgun methods and do some sniper training for SWAT now and then." He smiled and then laughed. "I'm not just a pretty face you know."

"Back to business Gunny. I've been telling Rollie that if he carried a heavier weapon he wouldn't have to worry about Meth heads continuing to come at him after the first couple of rounds," Steve said. "Thought I'd let him try my 1911 on for size."

"Good weapon but it takes a little getting used to," Tully replied. "Let go over to the shooting bays.

Tully provide shooting glasses and special hearing protectors called 'cans'. "These headphones are electronically activated," he explained. "You can hear someone when they talk but the loud report of a weapon firing is shut out."

Rollie fired several rounds from Steve's Colt. "Got a lot of recoil don't it?" 

"Yeah it does," Tully replied. "Some people just have to be old school," he said pointing his thumb at Adams with a smile. "Now me, I carry a .45 also," he said pulling his sidearm. He dropped the magazine, ejected the round from the chamber and handed it to Rollie. "This is a Glock 21C. Most of the recoil and blowback is vented out of these ports on the top of the slide. You can hold on target for your second shot a lot easier."

Rollie hefted the Glock. He looked at Tully and at his nod replaced the magazine and worked the action being careful to keep the weapon pointed down range. Rollie fired six shots at the paper target hanging ten yards away. 

"That's very nice; he said and placed the pistol on the counter in front of him.

"It also carries 13 rounds as compared to 8 in the 1911," Tully told him. "There's a lot to be said for the 1911, but with new times comes new technology."

"Then why does the department issue 9MM instead of .40 cals or .45s?" Rollie asked.

"I guess they're following military guide lines," Tully replied. "The 9 has less recoil so supposedly an officer can get back on target easier. It fires a smaller bullet but at a higher muzzle velocity so it's supposed to be as effective. Not necessarily true but that's what they say."

"That's not the only reason," Steve said. "The force issues you a weapon with 50 rounds a month, right? The 9MM is cheaper as is the ammo than a .40 ca. or a .45, comparatively speaking. So it cost the department less to provide a weapon and ammo that if you carried almost any other weapon." 

"Why a .45 Tully? Rollie asked. "Why not a Magnum? 

"First Magnum's are not police department approved. They will do the same thing as a .45 but they're even harder to hold on target. Talk about recoil." Tully laughed and shook his head. "I saw a young Detective shoot a .44 Magnum, you know like Dirt Harry used." Rollie and Steve nodded that they knew the movie. "The kid thought it would be cool to carry a .44 but didn't know much about that type of weapon. The recoil threw it up and into his face. Had to get three stitches over his eye where the barrel hit him." Tully doubled over laughing. "Funniest thing I ever saw."

Catching his breath he asked, "You ever watch Star Trek? 

"Huh? Well ya, hasn't everybody?" Rollie answered.

"Remember their weapons? Phasers they called them. They had two settings; kill and stun."  Tully pointed at Rollie's 9MM. "Your 9 is a .45 on stun. You might bring em down but they could get up again." He paused and looked Rollie in the eye. "Steve's right kid; with the people you've been running into you need to carry a .45," Tully advised. "Okay, I'm done preaching. Who's buying lunch?"

Rollie bought a Glock 21C after lunch and qualified with it under Tully's tutorage later that afternoon.





The Crusader Ch. 01



Someone sat down in the chair next to his desk. Rollie looked up from the file he was reading and was surprised at his visitor. Jessica Talbert sat there with a big smile on her face.

"Come with me please," she requested. She stood, crooked her finger at Rollie and walked to Captain Mallory's office. Rollie followed her.

Now what? He questioned himself. His thoughts ran in circles. Maybe she's going to tell Pete I should take some time off, maybe she's going to tell him I shouldn't be a cop anymore. No, she would have said something at our last session. Rollie entered the office and Jessica closed the door behind him.

"Hello Doctor Talbert," Pete greeted her.

She nodded in greeting. "Captain Mallory, I'm here to give you my conclusions and opinions concerning Detective Chambers." Jessica turned to look at Rollie for a few seconds. 

"And what have you found Doctor?" Pete asked.

"I think Detective Chambers is a dedicated police officer. He really cares about helping people and in his own words 'making a difference'. Sometimes he can become obsessive in doing his duty but it's only because he does care so deeply."

"What about the Thomas shooting?" Pete asked and looked at Rollie.

"I think he was obsessed with finding the man that attacked and in his mind killed his wife," Jessica replied. "I also think it was a normal reaction, especially from a man whose life was and is being a good officer."

Rollie started to speak but Mallory said, "You just stand there young man." He smiled and added, "This is between us grownups." Turning back to Jessica he asked, "What happened with Thomas? What did Rollie tell you?"

"What Detective Chambers told me is privileged information between a doctor and patient." Mallory started to argue but she held up her hand to stop him. "I can't and won't tell you what was said in our sessions; about the Thomas case or anything else. I will tell you that whatever demons were pressuring Rollie have been laid to rest. If, and I say if, he stepped over the line it's something that won't happen again. At least that's my conclusion."

Jessica turned to look at Rollie again and then back to Mallory. "In the future Detective Chambers will probably work too many hours on any rape or assault cases against women. But that's understandable...and commendable."

She handed a written report to Mallory. "In my professional opinion Rollie should be allowed to continue doing what he does best. Make a difference." For the first time since entering Mallory's office she smiled. "That's my story and I'm stickin to it," she said. "I'll send my bill to the Department." She turned and left the office.

"Well you made quite an impression on Doctor Talbert Rollie," Mallory said. "Quit standing there gawking and get back to work."

Rollie left the office and caught Jessica at the elevator. "Thanks Jessica. Your opinion means a lot to me."

"I still think you have a few issues that we could deal with. If you need to talk give me a call." Jessica smiled again and said, "No charge for follow up visits Rollie." 

"How about we make the first follow up visit over dinner tonight," Rollie suggested. "You know sort of a celebration of my graduation."

Jessica put her hand on Rollie's arm and smiled. "Rollie it's normal for a patient to develop feelings for their doctor. I was able to help you confront your loss and anger when Susan died. Because of the emotional things we've discussed and you've come to feel a romantic attachment to me. But your feelings aren't real; they're just a side effect of our relationship as doctor and patient. It would be unethical for me to have a social interaction with you. I'm sorry but it wouldn't be a good idea."

Rollie listened to Jessica's dissertation quietly. When she finished he gave her a sad little smile. "You're the doctor but you're not as smart as you think. You're right; you did help me through a bunch of garbage that was clogging up my mind. You helped me find a way to live with Susan's death and not lose myself in the process. And I thank you for your help."

He touched her hand on his arm. "But you're wrong about me. I know what I feel and it isn't gratitude.  You may not admit it because you think it's unethical but we made a connection. One that was more than just a doctor/patient relationship. Remember what I've said; you can bet one of these days I'll make that follow up visit and it won't be for counseling." He leaned over and kissed her cheek surprising her. "See ya around Doc."





The Crusader Ch. 02



Ch. 2--The Manhunt

Please read Chapter 1. It will introduce you to the characters and the events in their lives that flow into this Chapter. 

Constructive suggestions and comments are very welcome and very much appreciated. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my work and comment on this story. Please enjoy.





The Crusader Ch. 02



Rollie handed her his handkerchief. "I can't even think of how hard this has been on you. I thought maybe I could help."

"Thank you Detective, Chambers was it?" Sally asked. "You're the first police officer that's showed real concern for me. I mean they took care of me and got the paramedics but their interest seemed to be what information I could give them about my attacker."

She handed Rollie's handkerchief back. "How is your wife Detective? Is she doing okay?"

"No, she died a short time after the attack," Rollie said. His voice was thick with emotion. It wasn't an act; Susan's death and the way it happened still bothered him. He'd learned to accept it but he still felt the loss and sadness with her gone.

Sally noticed Rollie's reaction. "I'm sorry. Please come in. I'll go over it again; like you said maybe something will help."

Sally, Jessica, and Rollie sat in the living room and talked for over an hour. They went over the incident and things that Sally remembered. There wasn't any additional information but it was obvious that Sally felt better after talking to Jessica and Rollie. 

As Rollie and Jessica were leaving, he stopped at the door. Handing Sally his card he said, "The number at the station is on there and so is my personal phone. If you remember anything or need me for something call me please." He smiled and added, "We survivors have to stick together you know."

Sally returned his smile and put her hand on his arm. "Thank you Rollie. I promise I'll call if I need help."

"Well we didn't get anything we didn't already know," Jessica said when they got to the car. Looking at Rollie she said, "But we, I mean you, certainly helped that young woman. You did good Rollie. I think she's going to be okay now."

The next house they visited looked abandoned. The yard was overgrown with grass and weeds, there were a few newspapers on the front porch, and the windows didn't have any curtains on them. As Rollie knocked on the door an older woman walked over from next door.

"You looking for Debby?" She asked

"Yes ma'am. I'm Det. Chambers," he answered showing her his badge and ID card. "This is Dr. Talbert. We hoped to talk with Miss Dawson."

"About her being attacked I guess." At Rollie's nod she said, "Damn shame it was. Debby's a nice girl."

"Do you know where she is?" Jessica asked.

"Back east someplace. She wasn't out the hospital for more than two weeks when a moving van pulled up in front of the house. That's the only time I saw her. She'd been staying with friend. Debby told me she was going back home."

"Did she leave a forwarding address or phone number or anything?"

"Nope. She said there was nothing here she wanted or wanted to remember. Thanked me for being a good neighbor and left."

In the car Jessica said, "We can get the info and track her down."

"No reason to. If she left like that she probably wouldn't want to talk to us anyway," Rollie answered. "We'll go see the last one on the list. She's the one that seemed the strongest from the situation reports taken by the other officers."

"Miss Cooper, Diane Cooper?" Rollie asked the young woman behind the counter. They were in the perfume department of the largest store in the city.

"Yeah, I'm Diane Cooper. Who are you?" 

A big difference between her pictures and her in real life, Rollie thought. Of course one of the pictures showed the results of several punches to the face. This woman isn't sad or scared; she is just plain pissed off.

"I'm Det. Chambers and this is Jessica Talbert a police consultant." He held out his badge and I D to the young woman.

Miss Cooper actually took the badge and I D wallet from him and actually looked at it, comparing the picture to Rollie. "Okay, what do you want?"

"We were hoping you might agree to talk to us about the attack," Jessica said.

"If you have a lunch break coming we could talk then or after you get off if that would be more convenient," Rollie told her.

"You're different," Miss Cooper said. "Not many police would be concerned in what was convenient for me." She nodded in approval. "Let's go to the break room; less interested ears in there."

They followed her to the break room and sat at a table. "Miss Cooper..." Rollie began.

"You can me Diane. I think we'll probably be talking about some pretty personal stuff."

After forty minutes of talking there was one additional piece of the puzzle revealed.

"The asshole put that rag over my face and it knocked me out," Diane said. Rollie nodded and she added, "But I wasn't completely unconscious. After he hit me a few times and when he was ripping my clothes off I heard him say 'Wait until the guys at Benny's hear about this one". 

"Don't know what he meant and I passed out right after that." 

Rollie sat up straighter in his chair. "That's the first we've heard about that. Are you sure he said Benny's?"

"I'm sure. I didn't remember it until you came to my counter. It just sort of popped into my head," Diane said in amazement.

"You've been very helpful Diane," Jessica said. "Thank you." 

Rollie nodded in agreement. He was excited; they had a direction to follow now instead of stumbling all over the city.

"Do me a favor please," Diane requested. "When you catch the bastard give me five minutes alone with him will ya?"

Rollie smiled and then laughed. "I almost wish I could do that Diane. I'd like to see how he looked after you got done with him."

They drove back to the station. As they got out of the car Rollie started laughing. Jessica looked at him in surprise.

"Diane's going to be fine," he answered her unasked question at his laughing. "She's a tough woman. The perp better hope we find him before she does. I don't think he'd like meeting Miss Diane Cooper again."

They checked the squad room and found that the other members of the task force had left for the day. Good, Rollie thought. The boys, hell even the Captain, is on overload. We can all use a night off.

"No need of hanging around," Rollie said to Jessica. "We can go over our news at the meeting tomorrow morning." He hesitated for a few seconds. "I guess I'll go to First Squad and get a burger and a beer. Would you like to join me?"

"First Squad?" Jessica asked. "What's that?"

"It's a cop bar." He saw her confusion and explained. "A cop bar is just that. It's a place that a lot of off duty officers go for food and a drink or two. First Squad is owned by Ted Crowe. He put in 30 years on the force and then pulled the pin." Rollie laughed hard. "Ted was retired for about a year when his wife, Donna, told him to get a job, develop a hobby, or take up golf. Just go do something. She said if he didn't get out from under her feet that she wouldn't be responsible for her actions."

Jessica smiled and then giggled.

"We were all at a dinner one evening shortly afterwards. Donna said she'd married Ted for better or worse but not for lunch every day. Three days later they bought a little neighborhood bar and grill. They renamed it First Squad because Ted had been a member of the first squad when he retired." Rollie and Jessica stopped at the elevator. As he pushed the button he added, "Ted says that he should have retired with 20 and got into the bar business earlier. He says if he has any more fun, it would probably be against the law."

The elevator doors opened and they started for the ground floor. "So would you like to have the best burger and coldest beer in town?" Rollie repeated his invitation.

"Rollie, we've already talked about this," Jessica replied. "I can't date one of my patients."

"Two things Jessica. First this isn't a date. We just finished a very long day and I'm hungry. If you were Sam or Jim or even Frank I'd invite you to join me. Well, maybe not Frank; he drinks like he's got a hollow leg. Anyway people who work together sometimes have dinner and a drink together."

She waited for him to continue. When he didn't she prompted, "You said two things. What's the other one?"

"You're not my doctor anymore. I stopped being your patient when you cleared me for duty." 

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. "If you don't want to go to dinner because you don't like me or my company, well that's one thing. But I think you don't trust yourself. Like I told you before I think we made a connection; not a doctor/patient connection but a man/woman connection." He turned and walked toward the exit. "First Squad is on 7th just north of Olive. Join me if you want, if not I'll see you tomorrow."

He doesn't give up does he? Jessica said to herself as Rollie walked away. I can't see him socially, he's my patient. He's not your patient anymore; a little voice in her head told her. And anyway it couldn't hurt for two colleagues to have dinner together. 

It's like I've got an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other arguing about what I should do, she thought. She made her decision and in her mind's eye she watched as the little devil walked over and kicked the angel in the butt and off her shoulder. Jessica hurried to her car; she didn't want to keep Rollie waiting too long.

Rollie waived at Tina the bar maid at First Squad as he walked to an empty booth along the back wall. 

"The usual Honey?" Tina asked smiling. Rollie nodded and continue to the booth. 

Tina set a beer in front up him just seconds after he sat down. "Burger will be read in ten," she said and patted his arm.

Rollie nodded his thanks and took a drink. Tina was on the short side of 50 but looked fifteen years younger. She had long red hair, freckles across her nose, and lively green eyes. Tina was Irish and had the temper to prove it. Not many of the cops and none of the civilians, including the owner Ted, would mess with her. The few that argued with her did so at the risk of getting throw out on their butts. 

Damn those jeans had to be sprayed on, he thought as he watched Tina go back behind the bar. It doesn't help that she wears those low, low cut tops either. For a few seconds he watched her bending down to refill the beer cooler. Then he laughed at himself. 

"Dream on little man," he said softly to himself. "Tina doesn't date cops. Says she's been there, done that, and bought the damn T shirt. Too bad, I could use a little TLC from an experienced woman."

A shaft of light shown across the bar as the front door was opened and held that way until the person could see into the dark interior.

"Come in or go out, but shut the damn door," Ted yelled.

Rollie looked up as the door closed and got a surprise. Jessica Talbert was walking toward him.

"Don't look so surprised," Jessica said as she sat down. "You pushed all the right buttons to get me here and you know it. If I didn't know better I'd think you've been reading some psych text books."

Tina brought Rollie's burger to the table. She sat the plate down, put her arm across his shoulders and leaned against him.

"Who are you and want do you want to drink?" Tina asked as she rubbed Rollie's shoulder.

"I'll have a shot and a beer," Jessica answered.

"Tina this is Doctor Jessica Talbert," Rollie said. "We work together."

"Oh, you're that shrink that's workin with the task force," Tina responded. "Never see a doctor so good lookin." She smiled and squeezed Rollie's hand. "You keep your hands off my fellar here." Tina laughed and went back to get Jessica's drinks.

"Little old for you isn't she," Jessica asked with a raised eyebrow.

Rollie laughed. "Tina won't date cops, even if I was so inclined. Her husband was a motorcycle patrolman for twenty years. He was killed by a drunk driver about a month before he was due to retire." Rollie stopped to take a bit of his burger. "Tina's sort of adopted all us orphaned cops and takes care of us. That includes chasing off undesirable women."

"She thinks I'm undesirable?" Jessica sputtered. Then she stopped when she saw Rollie laughing at her.

"Here's your drink Honey," Tina said as she sat the whiskey and a beer in front of Jessica. "Y'all want somethin to eat? We don't got truffles or caviar or anything fancy like that but we got the best burgers in town."

"A burger sounds good Tina. And I don't want your fellar here so don't worry." It was Jessica's turn to laugh at Rollie.

Tina laughed and lightly punched Jessica on the shoulder. "Ya, right kid," Tina replied sarcastically. "One deluxe burger comin up," she repeated the order and walked away exaggerating the sway of her hips.

Jessica drank the shot and followed with a big drink of her beer. Seeing the look on Rollie's face she said, "My dad belonged to an athletic club. When I turned 21 I used to go with him on Friday nights for the fish fry and shots and beers."

They finished their burgers and ordered another beer; Jessica passed on another shot. Rollie peeled at the label on his beer bottle and finally decide to brace Jessica with his idea.

"I need you to back me up when I approach Captain Mallory with my idea," he said.

"What idea?" Jessica didn't like the look in Rollie's eyes.

"I want to go undercover and hang out at Benny's, the bar that the perp mentioned when he was doing Diane. Maybe I can get a handle on him if I blend in with the crowd."

"It'd be very dangerous Rollie," Jessica protested.

"I've been undercover before. Besides most of the people in the place will be bar flies and power drunks," Rollie explained. "I'm not trying to be a hero but this is our best lead so far."

"Why can't Call or Jones do it? You're a pretty big guy and you'll stand out in that crowd. And that could be a bad thing."

"Jim or Sam are capable enough but...," Rollie paused and smiled at Jessica, "But we developed that lead. We should get to follow up on it."

"I'll think about it tonight," Jessica promised. 

They finished their beer and stood to leave. "Now that wasn't too hard was it Doc? I mean I didn't pour out my heart to you or anything."

Jessica laughed. "See you in the morning."

Rollie watched her walk away. Tina's right, he thought. I've never seen a doctor that looked that good. He walked by the bar and threw a couple of bills on the bar for Tina.

"Thanks Honey. Where'd your lady go?"

"Jessica had to go home, early day tomorrow. And she's not my lady, we just work together."

"Maybe not yet but she will be," Tina said with conviction. "I saw the way she watched you. I bet you a bottle of Jack Daniels that y'all get together in the next month; five weeks tops."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jessica asked as she and Rollie rode up in the elevator.

He nodded and said, "We've got to do something before that bastard attacks another woman."

The task force, including Captain Mallory, was waiting when Rollie and Jessica came into the squad room. 

"Rollie brought to my attention that there's something we've missed," the Captain said. "What we haven't looked at yet is the connection between the victims." He turned toward Rollie, "It's your case detective, take over. I'm going to get on the phone and make nice with the bean counters."

"You in trouble Captain?" Rollie asked.

"Not yet. Major Taylor got em off my back for now. He's running interference for us." Mallory looked at Rollie and added, "I'm okay but you guys need to find this guy. Taylor's got his butt on the line too."

Rollie returned to the squad room and stepped in front of the evidence board. He quickly went over the interviews that he and Jessica did the previous day.

"Not much additional info but Diane Cooper gave us a lead." Rollie smiled remember how feisty the young woman was. "I'll get into that later." He looked at the other detectives. "We been so intent on interviews, canvassing, and getting the task force set up that we missed something. Guys, and lady," he said nodding at Jessica, 'we should have seen what connection if any there is between the victims. If we find connections it will help lead us to our guy."

"Damn, how did we miss that?" Sam Jones said. "It's the first thing we should have done.

Rollie nodded in agreement. "Okay so let's correct the problem. Everybody take a file, make notes, and then exchange for another file. Keep it up until you've read all five reports. Then we'll compare our notes."

Shortly after lunch the squad gathered in front of the board again. None of them had taken a break, they'd all ate at their desk and worked through lunch.

"What have we got Jessica?" Rollie asked. She'd been correlating and comparing the notes made by the detectives.

"Our victims are between 20 and 24, Caucasian, with light brown or dark blond hair. They have the girl next door could be a cheerleader good looks. And they were all attacked on or near a college campus." Jessica paused to let everyone take in the information.

"Sarah Connors, Sally Bankston, Julie Summers, and Debra Dawson are students at one of three colleges in the area. With the exception of Miss Dawson, who moved back with her folks, we talked to all of the women. Sarah and Julie are full time students. Debby and Sally were going working part time and going to school part time."

"What about the Cooper woman?" Jim Call asked.

"Patience is a virtue Det. Call," Jessica answered with a smile. "Diane Cooper was returning from visiting her twin sister at her sister's dorm on the night she was attacked. Notice she'd been on a college campus too. The rapist is targeting college coeds. For whatever reason, he's got a vendetta against these types of women."

"Why college girls Doc?" Frank Wends asked. "I mean a college campus usually has people walking around at any hour. Why would our guy take a chance like that?"

"I can't answer why he chooses coeds but we know he does," Jessica replied. "One other interesting bit of information, all of the attacks took place within two miles of a bar called Benny's."

"Why is that so interesting Doctor Talbert?" Captain Mallory asked as he rejoined the team.

"Rollie." Jessica said and motioned him to the front of the room.

"We talked to Diane Cooper and she told us something she'd forgotten. She said that just before she passed out, while the guy was tearing off her clothes, he said 'wait until the guys at Benny's hear about this'. From that we think that our man hangs out at this Benny's. It's not far from the three colleges in a rundown part of town."

"Tell them your idea Rollie," Jessica prompted. She hoped Captain Mallory would put a stop to Rollie's dangerous plan.

Rollie looked daggers at her; he hadn't wanted to brace the Captain with his plan until he'd given it some fine tuning.

"I'd like to go undercover and spend a few evenings at Benny's," Rollie said. "Maybe I can get some information or over hear something or if I'm damn lucky find our suspect." He looked at the Captain trying to gauge his reaction. "If nothing else I might at least get a name or something."

"Run it down for me Rollie," Captain Mallory requested. "How do you plan to get close to our guy?"

"Well sir, I thought I could just sit in the bar, scope out the customers and listen," Rollie answered. "I can't use a partner because two new guys in the bar would make the customers jumpy. If I identify the suspect I'll arrest him."

"Let's see," the Captain said. "You'd be going in without backup, you'd identify the rapist, and you'd arrest him. Is that about it Rollie?"

"Yes sir, maybe I'll get lucky."

"Just like you got lucky with Bradley Thomas maybe," Captain Mallory suggested.

Rollie tensed for a second and stood. "Captain it's not like that."

Mallory looked into Rollie's eyes and sighed. "I believe you Rollie but your idea is full of holes. It's too risky. There are a lot of what ifs in it." The Captain thought for several seconds. "I'm not saying no but it won't fly the way you outlined it. My primary objection is you having no back up. Think about it some more, come up with a different plan, and come back to see me." He returned to his office.




The Crusader Ch. 02



"Thanks a lot Jessica," Rollie said as he turned to her. "I wasn't ready to talk to the Captain yet."

"I'm sorry," she replied not hiding her sarcasm. "But you said you wanted my help talking to Captain Mallory. I thought we could discuss your idea better if you actually talked to the Captain." Jessica looked sweet and innocent but had a wicked gleam in her blue eyes. "Damn it Rollie, this idea is just too dangerous without back up."

Rollie looked at Jessica, then into Mallory's office and back at Jessica. "You two have given me an idea," he said. "I've got to run an errand. No stay here Jess," he ordered, "I'll be back in about an hour or so."





The Crusader Ch. 03



Ch 3 My Way

By Woodmanone copyright August/2011

Another story about the adventures and life of Rollie Chambers.

Constructive comments and emails are more than welcome and appreciated.





The Crusader Ch. 03



Three of the apartments were leased out; most of the tenants were what was called "Yuppies" at the time. One of the ground floor "condos" was their home for many years. When they passed away they left their home and business to Rollie. He still lived in the same apartment. 

The condo had two bedrooms and a bath down a hallway on one side of the apartment with the master suite on the other side. They were separated by what would be called a great room in a house. The kitchen, dining area, and living/family room was all one big open space. Fourteen foot ceilings and ten foot windows along one wall let in a lot of light.

Rollie quickly took a shower and returned to the kitchen table. He got a cup of coffee for himself and sat down. "I don't know why I bother taking a shower; in this heat and humidity; ten minutes after I'm dressed I'm all wet again." He took a drink of coffee, added a little sugar and tried it again. Satisfied with his coffee Rollie looked at Tony.

"What do you need Tony?"

"You're not working right? You're not a cop anymore right?" Tony asked. Rollie nodded his head. "I've got a friend of a friend that needs a...well, an investigator. I thought you having been a Detective First Grade maybe you could help."

"Help with what." Rollie was a little suspicious of the friend of a friend scenario.

"You know Bartolo Rossi?" Rollie nodded. "He's my gumba, known him since the second grade. His wife's uncle has a problem. When Bartolo told me about it I thought of you."

"What's the uncle's name?" 

"Frank Rossi," Tony replied.

"Frank Rossi! The Frank Rossi?" Rollie exploded. "Isn't he the brother of the boss of the Rossi crime family?" Rollie didn't wait for Tony's answer. "I don't do favors for those people. Up until a couple of weeks ago I arrested them." 

"No, No, Rollie. It's not like that," Tony protested. "Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. He can't really go to the cops, considering who he is and the note from the kidnappers warned him not to. Also if other people in the rackets, his competitors, found out about this they would consider it a sign of weakness and go after Frank's family. He wants to keep his people out of it as much as possible." Tony added. "Frank said his men are great at busting through doors but he needs someone to find the door first."

Tony waited for further objections and when Rollie didn't make any Tony added, "Come to my restaurant tonight and meet Frank. See what he wants before you decide. If you don't like it walk away. But if you can help it'd be worth a lot of money."

Rollie got the coffee pot and refilled the cups. "Money won't enter into it if I decide to help him, but I can't tonight. Jessica and I have tickets to The Muny." Rollie thought a day's delay might resolve the problem and get him out of the middle.

"I'd consider it a personal favor if you'd at least talk with Frank," Tony said. "Maybe tomorrow night?"

Rollie stared at the table for almost 30 seconds before adding, "Okay Tony I'll meet him, just as a favor to you. Tomorrow night 7:30 at your place."

"I'll call and see if that's good for Frank," Tony said.

"He wants me, he'll be there," Rollie replied in a hard voice. "If not let him find somebody else. And I'm not saying I'll do anything but I will listen to him."

The Muny is an outdoor venue located in Forest Park providing theatrical productions, usually musicals during the spring and summer months. Forest Park was opened in 1876 and at the time was on the western border of St. Louis. Of course the city had grown around and further west of the park and it now resembles Central Park in New York City. The Muni offers a chance for the elite of St. Louis to see and be seen. Conversely it is also a great place for normal people to go on dates and even for families to spend an evening doing something besides watching TV.

Later that night, after the show, Rollie and Jessica were sitting in a little coffee bar reliving their evening at The Muny. They had seen a very good stage production of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." Jessica watched as a woman wearing a fur wrap over a floor length gown and a man in a tuxedo sat at a nearby table. Rollie just smiled and shook his head.

"It has to be 85 degrees and she's wearing a fur stole," Rollie chuckled. "She must have a cold cold heart."

"Rollie, be nice," Jessica protested but laughed with him. She took a sip of her tea.

"Are you really going to work for a mob boss?" Jessica asked with concern.

"I might help him with a problem, but I wouldn't say I'm going to work for him." Rollie explained the situation than Tony had described. "If a young girl is in trouble I'll have to see what I can do." He looked at Jessica. "Can you understand I have to help her if I can? That's just my way."

Jessica smiled. "Rollie Chambers, The Crusader, saving young damsels in distress." She put her hand on his arm. "You always worry about others don't you? It's one of the things I admire about you Rollie." Jessica grabbed Rollie's hand. 

At 7:30 the next evening Rollie entered Rigazzi's. He saw Frank Rossi and another man sitting in the VIP booth near the back wall. The second man's back was to him but as slowly he walked toward them Rollie recognized the second man. It was Vito Rossi; head of the St. Louis crime family. Every major city in the country had a crime syndicate that was the guiding force behind drugs, prostitution, gambling, loan sharking, and a host of other illegal activities. The mob, organized crime, the Mafia, or the Cosa Nostra as they were known; the names all meant the same thing. Vito Rossi and to some extent his brother Frank were the head of that syndicate in St. Louis. They were dangerous and powerful men.

"Detective Rollie Chambers," Vito greeted him. "Please have a seat and get something to eat. Try the beef medallions in wine sauce; Tony made them special for us."

Rollie stood for almost ten seconds before he sat down. "I'm not a detective anymore, I'm just a civilian. And I'm not here to socialize."

"I know. We heard about your...shall we say discontent with the hierarchy of the St. Louis Police Department." Vito's smile would freeze most men in their tracks. It was the smile of a hungry shark. "I'm....."

"Vito Rossi, head of the St. Louis family," Rollie interrupted. "I know who you are Mr. Rossi." He accepted the espresso that the waiter brought and took a small sip. "Let's cut through the bullshit Mr. Rossi. You can't intimidate me, you can't buy me, and you damn sure can't recruit me. Just so we understand each other, I agreed to talk with Frank out of respect and friendship for Tony." Turning to Frank Rossi, Rollie asked, "What's the problem you need my help with?"

Frank turned his head to look at his brother. Rollie said, "I agreed to talk to you Frank, not your brother. Now why do you want my help?"

"I don't think you understand Chambers," Vito said.

"It's you that doesn't understand Vito. You don't come into this." Rollie looked back at Frank. "Frank?"

"Please Vito," Frank said to his brother. Turning back to Rollie he answered, "My oldest daughter, Angela, has been kidnapped," Frank answered with a sigh. He handed Rollie a piece of paper. "This is a copy of the ransom note I got in the mail two days ago."

Rollie picked up the note and read:

We have your daughter. Put $250,000 in small bills in a duffle bag. Call 555-1616 and leave a message when you have the money. We will contact you with further instructions.

Do not contact the police or the FBI or you will never see your little girl again.

"I called the number yesterday and told them I have the money," Frank said dejectedly. 

"Nothing since then?" Rollie asked. Frank shook his head. Rollie continued with his thought. "Sort of funny. I mean who ever this is must know you almost carry that kind of money in a rear pocket. Why would they wait to give you instructions on where to make the drop?" Rollie studied the note for a few seconds. "I need a copy of the original envelope too."

Frank and then Vito shrugged. "You're right; I can get that kind of money from my own backup fund."

Rollie said "Burner phone, a throwaway eh? Bought at Radio Shack and untraceable." Frank nodded. 

"Tell me about Angela," Rollie requested.

"She's 19, a student at Washington U, and is a Daddy's girl," Frank answered. "I guess I've been over indulgent with her, but what the hell.

"Does she live at home while she's going to school?"

"I lease an apartment near the campus for her. Her friend Greta lives there with her."

"She ever been in trouble? You know drugs, alcohol, or anything?"

"No, she's always been a good kid. Oh a few little things, like skipping school a few times; things like that. Nothing serious, like any teenager."

"Does Angela have a boyfriend? Someone special?"

"She dates a little but no one special." Frank sighed. "I talked to Greta and she said Angela usually goes out with a group of kids"

"Excuse me for a minute," Rollie said. He got up, went to the bar, and ordered a large draft beer; it was a stall for time as he thought. Returning to the booth he asked, "You or your men talk to anyone else?"

"No. Vito wanted to send some of the guys to track her down but I was worried that the people who've got Angela would panic. They could hurt her if they got scared."

Rollie drank his beer and looked at the Rossi brothers. The two were obviously brothers. Vito and Frank were Sicilian and had dark hair and eyes. They also had the stocky build typical of men from that island. The difference between the two was the eyes. Frank's were large, showed intelligence and right now were full of pain. Vito's eyes were small and closely set. They had a laser like quality about them and also showed intelligence. But where Frank's showed pain, Vito's eyes had the look of a large predator on the hunt. 

Rollie was sure that if Vito or his men found the kidnappers there would dead bodies turning up in different parts of the city. The problem was that type of action might get Angela killed too. Every time one of the men started to speak Rollie held up his hand to stop them. He was surprised that Vito obeyed his gestures. After two or three minutes, Rollie took a deep breath.

"Okay, I'll look for Angela," Rollie said. "But," he added as Frank started to speak. "But, I've got one condition. It's cut in stone and non-negotiable."

"What condition?" Frank asked.

"Keep your people out of this. I don't want them following me or talking to people I've talked to. I don't want them talking to people I might want to talk to. I don't want them involved at all. If I need something from you, I'll call."

Vito started to speak and Rollie spoke first. "Cut in stone Vito." The crime boss nodded, he didn't like it but he nodded..

"I need a recent picture of Angela and as much information about her life since she started at Washington University as possible"

Frank opened a briefcase sitting next to him, extracted a folder, and pushed it across the table. Rollie opened the folder and saw four or five pictures of a pretty girl with long black hair. The pictures were both facial shots and a couple of full body shots. She must take after her mother, Rollie thought. Angela has the coloring of her father but at 5'10 she's three inches taller than Frank. There were also several typed pages with a description of Angela, her class schedule and a list of her usual friends.

"Pretty sure I was going to take the job weren't you?" Rollie asked with a small hard smile.

"The way to be successful in business or life is to be prepared," Frank replied. "No I wasn't sure you would help. Considering who I am and what you used to do for a living I thought it was a long shot but I didn't want to waste time if you decided to take the job."

"Where did you get the list of friends?"

"Greta was very helpful getting information for me," Frank answered. "Er...Greta sort of works for me. Sort of a companion to Angela you see."

"Sort of works for you?"

"I pay for her schooling and give her a little on the side to keep an eye on Angela." Frank paused and added, "Angela doesn't know about Greta working for me."

Rollie shook his head. "You did say you were prepared didn't you." Frank nodded and looked a little embarrassed.

"Okay, when this is over, when Angela is home, I'll send you my bill. Doesn't matter if you pay the ransom and she comes home or I find her and she comes home. I'll send you a bill for my time and expenses. Agreed?" 

"What do you want for your time?" Vito asked.

"I get $400 a day. Three days minimum." Rollie was winging it; he had no idea what private investigators charged. "But I only charge you when I'm actually working on the case."

"That's a lot of money for a day's work," Vito said.

"You're kidding me right?" Rollie asked frowning. "Your niece has been kidnapped, you're ready to pay out a quarter of a million dollars and you're going to quibble over my fee. Remember you asked for my help, I didn't come to you. That's the deal, take it or leave it"

"Okay, okay. Don't get your panties in a bunch. I was just saying."

"Let me explain something to you Mr. Rossi," Rollie said sarcastically. "I'm not doing this for you or Frank or for the money. I'm going to find your daughter because right now she's alone and afraid and needs help. Her world has collapsed around her. That's it plain and simple." Rollie stood finished his beer and said, "I'll be in touch." He left Rigazzi's and didn't look back.

Vito watched as Rollie walked away. "Asshole," he muttered.

"Maybe so, but right now he's our asshole," Frank replied. "We both know his reputation. If anyone can find Angela, Chambers will."

"And when he does we'll be right behind him," Vito swore. "No one disrespects the family like this. NO ONE."

The next morning Rollie went to the County Sheriff's Office to apply for a concealed carry permit for his pistol. As he was filling out the application, Deputy Sheriff Toby Smith walked by and saw Rollie.

"What the heck are you doing Rollie?" Tobey asked. He and Rollie had worked on several cases together. On the first case Toby had been in the lead pursuit car chasing a car thief. Rollie had blocked off the man's escape route and when the thief came out of the car shooting, Rollie returned fire and put the man down.

"Howdy Toby." Rollie stood and shook hands with the Deputy. "I've resigned from the Department and I'm going to do some investigations and maybe some security work so I need a CCW." 

"I heard you left. Gonna be a PI like the Magnum or Rockford huh? Get all the pretty girls and interesting cases too I bet," Toby teased.

Rollie laughed with his friend. "Probably some insurance investigations and if I'm lucky setting up security for a VIP visiting St. Louis."

"You finish the application?" Toby motioned for Rollie to follow him. "No need for a bunch of that red tape considering. Let's take it in to the boss and see what we can do." 

"What are you gonna be carrying Rollie?" 

"A Glock 21C."

"A .45, wow a real stopper huh," Toby said.

"You remember what happened with that car thief." Toby nodded 

"I hit him eight times before he went down. He was so high on Crystal Meth I don't think he ever felt the first four or five rounds. That's when I changed to the Glock. If I have to shoot someone they'll go down with the first one or two hits." 

The Sheriff signed the application for Rollie. "You've been carrying a gun for years so you don't need a training course. We can get your fingerprints from the Department." He handed Rollie the approved certificate and said, "Just take that to the DMV; they'll put an endorsement on your driver's license and you're all set."

"Thanks Sheriff," turning to the deputy he said, "Toby, I appreciate your help." As he left the Sheriff's department he thought, now I'm legal to carry a gun. He chuckled and said to himself, "Course I would have carried the Glock anyway."

Rollie got back to his condo and picked up the file Frank Rossi had given him. As he read through it again, he also thought about what Frank had told him. Frank made the call to tell them he had the money but he hasn't heard from the kidnappers, Rollie said to himself. He was so involved in thinking about the case that when his cell phone rang, it startled him.

"Chambers," he answered.

"Rollie, I got a call from the kidnappers," Frank said. "They want me to bring the money to them next Monday."

"Did they tell you where?"

"No, they said they'd call me back Monday morning at 8 and tell me where to meet them."

"Call them back. They probably won't answer but leave a message. Tell them you don't feel comfortable walking around with all that money. Tell them you've hired someone to do the meeting for you. Got that?" 

"Yeah, call them back and tell them I've hired a guy to bring the money to them," Frank repeated. "Who?"

"Me, I want to be there. Today's Thursday. I've got four days to find your daughter," Rollie said.

"What if you don't find her?"

"Then I'll be the one taking the money to them," Rollie answered. "Call Greta and tell her I'm coming to talk to her."

"She might have classes today; I'm not sure of her schedule."

"Tell her to skip class but be at the apartment when I get there. She works for you, tell her to be there." Rollie suggested. "I'm leaving now. Should be there in less than an hour." Rollie hung up without saying good bye. 

Walking to his car he punched a number into his cell phone. "Tully," he said when the call was answered. "Can you get away for a couple of hours?"

"Yes sir, Detective First Class Chambers. Oh wait make that Citizen Chambers, I forgot you're one of them now," Tully replied. "What's up?" He asked in a more serious tone.

"I'm working on a kidnapping case and want another set of eyes and ears," Rollie explained. "I'm on my way to you so meet me out in front please."

"Okay see you in twenty."

"You still got that pair of pants with the leg cut out at the knee that you wore undercover with me? Rollie asked. "If you do wear them. See you soon."

Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, retired, Jacob Tully was a Sergeant in the St. Louis Police Department. He was in charge of the Department's shooting range. Tully also taught tactile skills to the officers of the Department. He'd lost his right leg below the knee while on deployment with a National Guard unit in Iraq. His lower leg had been replaced with a state of the art prosthetic leg made of titanium and carbon fiber. Tully always said it was as good as his real leg and didn't itch as much.

Sergeant Tully was waiting on the curb when Rollie pulled up. He quickly jumped into the cab of the truck and Rollie peeled rubber getting away.

"Thanks Sarge," Rollie said.

"No problem. But why the cut off pants leg?"

"We're going to talk to the roomie of the kidnapped girl," Rollie replied. "I want her nervous when I talk to her and people are usually nervous around people with handicaps; like a prosthetic leg. Especially a big ugly former Jarhead who looks ominous. You know frowning, flexing his muscles, looking mean. Think you can handle that Tully?"

"You are a devious young man Rollie Chambers," Tully said with a big grin. "I can do the ominous part but I'm too pretty to look mean."

Many of the older homes around Washington University were stately and large. It had been and to some extent still was an upper crust neighborhood. The houses were usually two story brick buildings with large lots. Many had been renovated into apartments for students of the University.

"Nice digs," Tully said as they stopped in front of a building set back off the street. Angela and Greta's apartment was one side of an older home that had been made into a duplex. It looked like a very nice house, not your normal student's abode.




The Crusader Ch. 03



Rollie knocked on the door and a young, slender, blond woman answered. "Greta Reynolds?" Rollie asked. The girl nodded and he said, "I'm Rollie Chambers. I'm working for Frank Rossi to try and find out what happened to Angela."

"Frank said you'd be coming by," Greta replied.

"Can we come in?"

"Oh I'm sorry. Yes come in"

"Did you have to miss any classes to meet with me?"

"Yeah, a Poli Sci class," 

"Poli Sci?"

"Political Science," Greta explained. Her voice sounded a little angry.

"You upset at having to ditch class to talk with me Miss Reynolds? You know I could call Frank and tell him you'd rather go back to class if you like."

Greta's face got pale. "No, No, it's okay. I can get the lecture notes from one of my friends." She took a deep breath. "How can I help you, Mr. Chambers did you say?" She had recovered her poise and was treating him like one of the hired help.

Rollie smiled to himself and nodded. "Yeah, and this is Tully. He works for me." 

Tully just grunted in greeting and walked around the apartment looking sinister. Greta stared at his leg for a few seconds and turned away.

"You seem nervous Miss Reynolds."

"Wouldn't you be nervous if your roommate was kidnapped from your apartment? I mean it's just her and I living here. I could be next."

"Angela was taken from the apartment? I didn't know that."

"I'm just guessing. I don't know for sure where she was." She looked nervous.

"Why did you say she was taken from here then?"

"I assumed it was here. She was here when I went out to dinner with a friend and she was gone when I got back."

"You didn't find it unusual that Angela was gone when you got home?"

"No, I thought she'd gone out herself. It wasn't until the next afternoon that I began to worry and called Frank."

"You waited until the next afternoon to call her father?"

"Yeah. I thought maybe she'd stayed overnight with a date."

"What time did you leave for dinner and when did you get back?"

"We left about 7:30 and returned after 11PM."

"Who was this guy you went to dinner with?"

"Al Woodster. He's in my second hour Econ class."

"You told Frank that Angela wasn't seeing anyone special."

Greta walked to the small kitchenette and got a bottle of water. "She wasn't dating anyone but that can change overnight you know? After all this is a college campus and people hook up all the time."

While Rollie was talking to Greta, Tully walked around the apartment. He didn't pick up anything but did stop for a second look at a couple of things plus he was gone from sight occasionally. He just kept walking around and frowned at Greta several times. Greta's head turned back and forth between Rollie and Tully, not sure she was comfortable with the big man snooping around.

"Here's my cell number Greta. Would you please call me if you think of anything else?" Rollie handed her a card, motioned to Tully and left the apartment.

Rollie and Tully got back into his truck. Parking in front of the shooting range Rollie made a call.

"Hi Jess. Come to my place for dinner tonight will you?"

"Rollie, we've talked about this. I'm not ready to spend the night at your place," Jessica said with a chuckle.

"No, not that," Rollie protested. "Well maybe that, if you insist but I'm working on a case and I'd like your input. Okay?"

"Okay," Jessica agreed. See you at 7."

"You come too please Tully."

The big man nodded and got out of the truck.





The Crusader Ch. 03



"You haven't found her yet Chambers," Vito said.

"Maybe not but I hope to know where she is by tomorrow and have her home by evening. That is if you keep your thugs away." Rollie stared at the Rossi's for a few seconds. "Frank, stay out of it, let me do my job. I'll find Angela for you."

Tully spoke to the Rossi's for the first time. "Rollie put Miss Reynolds under my protection gentlemen so I'll make it plain for you. Don't come looking for her again. Rollie's too soft hearted. Were it me, your man there would have never left that apartment." He looked at Leo, then Frank, and then at Vito with a hard stare.

"Ah yes, Sergeant Tully of the St. Louis Police Department and formerly of the Marines," Vito sneered. "What did you do in the Marines? Were you some General's orderly?" Vito was being insulting because of his anger at being told what to do.

"I retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant after 20 years of service. For 6 of those years I was considered the best sniper in the Corp; for another two I taught others how to be a sniper. I'm very good with a long rifle gentleman, don't forget it"

First Frank and then Vito nodded. 

"Let's go Tully before someone else slips and falls," Rollie said smiling at his friend.

Frank looked at Vito in surprise as Rollie and Tully left. He didn't understand why Vito let the implied threat by the Sergeant slid by; it wasn't in Vito's nature. 

"I don't get it Vito," Frank said nodding toward Tully's back.

"Did you see the look in Tully's eyes? That man could be part Sicilian; he's got the stones to back up what he says. If we send Leo or someone to look for Greta we'll be short a man or men." Vito gave Frank an evil smile. "There'll be time after this is done to have a talk with Sergeant Tully."

Back at Rollie's apartment Tully, Jessica, Greta and Rollie sat around the kitchen table drinking the fresh coffee that Jessica had made.

"Something is kinky about this whole kidnapping," Rollie said.

"How so?" Tully asked.

"First it was a couple of days before Rossi got a ransom note; and why a note instead of a phone call? Greta said Brad and Angela were going to get 150 thousand but the note demanded 250 thousand. Frank made the call to let them know he had the money and it was still three days before the kidnappers contacted him." Rollie took a big drink of his coffee. "Then instead of wanting the money right away they set up a meeting in four days. This whole situation doesn't feel right."

"What could it mean?" Tully asked.

Before Rollie could answer Jessica said, "Greta got an answer to her text message." Both men turning to her. "Brad said he would text her tomorrow morning and tell her where to meet him." Jessica hesitated. "You notice he said where HE would meet her not him and Angela. I don't think Angela is in charge anymore."

Rollie thought, I don't think Greta will be safe meeting with Brad either. Could be he wants to cover his tracks and eliminate witnesses.

"That was my thought," Rollie said. "I think this started as a way for Angela to scam her father out of money and now Brad's taken over. Angela could well now be an actual kidnap victim."

Rollie walked over to the bar in the corner and poured a small glass of Gentleman Jack whiskey. "Tully want a taste? Jess, you or Greta want a glass of wine or something?" Jessica and Greta shook their heads.

"Thought you'd never ask," Tully replied with a grin. "I was beginning to wonder if you appreciated my talents and counsel." The big man walked over and accepted a bucket glass filled with ice and three fingers of whiskey." He took a big drink and smiled. "Smooth as mother's milk." Then he turned the glass up and finished his drink. He took his glass into the kitchen, washed it out and set it on the drain board to dry.

Tully turned and saw Rollie and Jessica watching him. "Habits I learned in the Corp can be hard to break," he said with a self depreciating smile.

"You'll make someone a fine wife one of these days Tully." Rollie teased. "Back to business," he said in a more serious tone. "I think we should stay together tonight, just in case the Rossi's didn't get the message. Greta you've seen your room, Tully you can take the other guest room, and Jess you can have my room. I'll sleep on the couch. He looked directly at Jessica, smiled, and added, "It's big enough for two you know."

Jessica returned his smile. "See you in the morning guys," she said and walked into Rollie's bedroom.

"Want me to take a turn on watch?" Tully asked.

Rollie shook his head. "If Rossi or his men come to see us they won't get through my door without explosives. It's a solid steel door covered in a wood grain veneer. Besides I'll wake up if I hear a mouse fart. Go to bed Tully, we're gonna have a busy day tomorrow."

He escorted Greta to her room and returned. Rollie took off his shoes, got a cushion for his head and stretched out on the couch. Glad I bought a big comfy couch, he thought as he placed his Glock by his side.





The Crusader Ch. 03



"Don't you know how to use the damn door bell?" Frank asked and then he saw Angela standing behind Tully. "Oh my God, you found her." He stepped around Rollie and Tully and took his daughter into his arms. Angela just stood there not returning the hug.

"Come in Rollie," Frank said and with his arm around his daughter led Rollie and Tully into his living room. Vito was sitting on the sofa. He had an almost surprised look on his face when he saw Angela.

"I didn't think you'd find her Chambers. I underestimated you," Vito admitted reluctantly.

"How much do I owe you Rollie?" Frank asked as he walked to a large desk in the corner of the room. He took a checkbook from the top drawer and looked expectantly at Rollie.

"I'll make you a deal Frank." Rollie held up a small tape recorder. Angela's face went white. He pushed play on the machine; Brad and Angela's discussion in Rollie's apartment flowed through the room. "This tape and the copy will never be heard again, IF..."

"If what?" Frank asked.

"If you let Brad and Greta alone. Don't look for them, don't go after them. Forget you ever heard their names." Rollie could see that Vito was upset. "One other thing, I want you to give Greta enough money for her to finish her schooling and get a start in another city."

"Let them go?" Vito asked. "Are you nuts? Those two showed a lot of disrespect for our family. You can't believe that I'd let them get away with that. The other families would lose respect for us."

"Only if the story gets out," Rollie said. "Only my crew and you three know the real story. We won't talk and I'm pretty sure you won't run around telling everybody Frank's19 year old daughter tried to rip you off."

"But....but," Vito sputtered.

"Quiet Vito," Frank ordered. "What happens if I don't take your deal?"

It was at that point that Rollie realized that Tully was wrong about Vito being the alpha wolf; Frank was the real head of the family. Vito was the aggressive, blustering, front man while Frank made all the important decisions. 

"Your daughter goes to jail for extortion. She planned the fake kidnapping to get money from you to go to Europe. Course then Brad got greedy and messed up the whole thing." Rollie stared at Frank without blinking. "If Angela gets arrested the story will be all over the city before she gets out on bail."

"How do I know you won't talk Rollie?" Frank asked. "I mean it's not like we're friends."

"We have a relationship, sort of like a lawyer and his client," Rollie explained. "Anything that goes on between us is privileged information. I won't talk about my clients business; unless they intend to break the law." Rollie looked Frank in the eye and added, "You have my word on it"

Frank looked at Rollie for about 10 seconds and then nodded his head.

Rollie walked over to the wood burning fireplace and threw the tape recorder into the fire. "Guess our job is done." He motioned for Tully to precede him to the door. 

"Hey," Frank called. "What about your fee?"

"Got a $100?"

Frank nodded and handed Rollie a hundred dollar bill. "That'll buy a new tape recorder. Never can tell when one will come in handy," Rollie said with an evil smile. "See you around Frank."

"I owe you Rollie; I won't forget it"

As Rollie and Tully left they heard Frank say to his daughter. "What the hell were you thinking?"





The Crusader Ch. 04



Chapter 4: Blood Feud 

The further adventures of Rollie Chambers.

Constructive comments, emails and critiques are welcome and requested. 

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my story.

********************

Rollie Chambers was speeding. Weaving through traffic he jumped a yellow light and roared through another intersection. Damn rush hour, he thought. City's getting too crowded. Rollie cut in front of a car on his right, getting a one finger salute and a long horn blast for the maneuver. Turning into the lane leading to the Washington University Hospital emergency room, he did a power slide up to the door. 

A security guard approached Rollie as he left his truck. "You can't park here," the man said in an officious voice.

"Police business," Rollie replied as he rushed past the guard and into the emergency room lobby. "Keys are in it, move it if you have to," he yelled over his shoulder.

He had lied to the security guard so he wouldn't have to take the time to find a parking place; Rollie wasn't with the police anymore. He'd resigned three months earlier due to his disgust with what he called the 'Oh So Politically Correct Brass Hats' running the St. Louis Police Department. 

Rollie knew it was possible that the real police would either be waiting for him or would look for him in the hospital. It didn't matter to him; he had to get to his friend, Ted Crowe.

Ted had retired from the First Patrol Squad as a Patrol Sergeant of the St. Louis Police after 30 years of service. Almost 5 years ago he and his wife Donna had bought and remodeled a neighborhood bar and grill, renaming it First Squad. They served good food and honest drinks to their customers. The clientele was mostly off duty and retired police and/or their families; there was also a good number of cop wannabes and groupies. The place was known as a "cop bar".

Rollie had been on his way out the door that morning when his friend, roommate, and girlfriend called to tell him that Ted had been brought into the emergency room. Rollie's lady was Jessica Talbert, a Doctor of Psychology. She had been making morning rounds at the hospital and learned that Ted was being treated for injuries caused by a severe beating. Jessica said Ted asked a nurse for her and then asked her to call Rollie.

"I'll be there in 20," Rollie told her.

Whatever it is, whoever did this will answer to me," Rollie thought as he walked up to the nurse's station. Two nurses were gossiping about a new doctor in the department. One of them glanced up but ignored him and continued the gab fest with her friend.

"Excuse me. Could you stop talking about the new doctor's cute ass long enough to help me?" Rollie asked sarcastically.

"And who are you?" The older of the women asked.

"Not that it matters but I'm Detective First Class Rollie Chambers of the St. Louis Police Department. I'm looking for a man that was brought into the emergency room this morning." Rollie didn't feel bad about his subterfuge.

"Oh sorry, Detective," the nurse said. "Who were you looking for?"

"Ted Crowe, he was beaten very badly. I'd like to talk to him."

The woman typed for a few seconds on a computer. "Mr. Crowe is in Trauma Room 4. Go to the end of the hall, make a left into the emergency room and check with the nurse at the desk. She will direct you from there."

"Thank you. You can go back to talking about Doctor Sweet Cheeks," Rollie said with scorn as he turned and walked away.

Jessica was waiting at the nurse's counter when Rollie walked in. She took three or four steps toward him and put her arms around him.

"How's Ted?" Rollie asked.

"He's stable; the doctor says he's going to be okay." Jessica tried to swallow the sob that threatened to come out. "Oh Rollie, they almost beat him to death."

"Who?"

"Ted won't say. He wouldn't talk to the patrolman that found him or to me. He asked me to call you." Jessica paused and added, "That's all I know."

"Take me to him please. When we get there, get anyone in the room out and close the door as you leave. Okay?"

Jessica nodded, hugged Rollie again, and took his hand. She led him to Trauma Room 4. There was a nurse adjusting the monitoring device hooked up to Ted. Jessica identified herself and herded the nurse out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Rollie stepped closer to the man on the bed. Ted's left eye was swollen shut, he had a gash that had been stitched closed on his left cheek, and it looked like his nose was broken. The injured areas were beginning to bruise and Rollie knew his friends face would be black and blue in another couple of hours or so. There was also a cast on Ted's right arm. As he stood there, looking down, Ted opened his one good eye.

"Glad you could make it Rollie. You missed the party though."

Rollie took Ted's left hand in his. "Sorry, but next time send the invitation a bit earlier." 

Ted's smile was almost gruesome because his lips were cut and swollen too. "I'll remember that next time."

"Who did this Ted? Do the police have any ideas?"

"I didn't talk to the patrolman. Acted like I was in too much pain to talk." Ted chuckled and winced at the pain it caused. "Wasn't far from the truth either. Have a seat and I'll tell you about it." Rollie pulled the only chair in the room closer to the bed, sat down and waited. 

"About a week ago two big gorillas came into the First Squad right after I opened. They introduced themselves as the Dalton brothers. Said they represented the Carondelet Neighborhood Redevelopment Association and they wanted me to join. Told me that the dues were $1000 a week. I told them to go to hell; that I knew a protection racket when I saw one." Ted paused and asked, "See if I can have some water will you? They wouldn't let me have any before."

Rollie stepped out of the room and talked to Jessica. She had the nurse bring a pitcher of water, a glass, and one of the straws that could be bent to make it easier for the patient to drink. After Ted took a few sips he continued his story.

"I asked them if they knew who most of my customers are and they just laughed. Said I wouldn't tell the cops about them if I knew what was good for me and that I would pay up. Sooner or later they said. I told them to go to Hell and they turned around and left the bar without another word. I was coming out of the First Squad with last night's receipts on my way to the bank. Just like every morning. The Daltons grabbed me and pushed me into the alley." Ted asked for more water and Rollie held the glass so he could drink.

"They told me that they were going to give me a little example of what would happen if I didn't join up. The bigger one, Riley I think I heard the other guy call him, told me that if I reported any of this to the cops they'd throw a Molotov cocktail through the front window of the bar. And if that didn't convince me they would find my waitress Tina and invite her to a party. One of them grabbed my face, looked me in the eye and said my wife would be next. Then they beat the hell out of me. I tried to fight back but these guys are huge; like professional wrestlers or something."

He paused in pain. "They took the receipts from the bar. I told them there was more than the $1000 they originally wanted in the bank bag. The one called Shawn laughed; said I should consider it an initiation fee." Ted grabbed Rollie's hand. "I can't tell the police and take a chance on Donna or Tina getting hurt. That's why I wanted to talk to you. Could you maybe look into these guys and get them off my back?"

Rollie looked at his friend remembering how Ted and Donna had helped him when his wife, Susan, died. She had been beaten and raped. When Susan discovered she had also been infected with the HIV virus, she had committed suicide. 

"Ted, you and Donna were there for me when Susan died. I know I would have made it but your help made it a lot easier." Rollie got a faraway look in his eyes for a few seconds. "I'll take care of it." 

He squeezed Ted's hand. "Give me a description of these guys."

"The one called Riley is bigger and older than the other one. Shawn," Ted said all at once. He tried to snap his figures but winced in pain. "That's the other guy's name, Shawn. Riley told Shawn not to go crazy on me." Guess Shawn doesn't take direction well." Ted gave Rollie a painful smile. 

"Riley Dalton, 35 to 40, Caucasian, 6' 6, about 270 pounds, dark brown hair, brown eyes. He's got scars around his left eyebrow, like he was a boxer or something. Shawn Dalton is his brother, late 20s, Caucasian, 6'4, 230, light brown hair, blue eyes, tattoo on his right forearm; a shamrock with the words Erin go Bragh in a circle around it. "Oh yeah, Shawn has a hell of a punch. Don't think I've ever been hit that hard." Ted paused. "That's all I can remember."

"Thirty years as a police officer taught you something," Rollie said with a laugh. He got serious and asked, "Where's Donna?"

"She's down in the waiting room. I wanted to talk to you before she came in here."

"I'll go get her," Rollie said. He left the room and Jessica joined him. "Donna is in the waiting room. Can you go get her or send someone for her? I've got a couple of phone calls to make."

"I'll get her," Jessica replied. "I can tell her about Ted's injuries and reassure her that he's going to be okay."

Rollie took his cell phone out of his jacket and punch in a number. "Hey Tully. How's the washed up Gunny today?"

Jacob Tully was a Sergeant on the St. Louis Police Department. He was a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant with 20 years of service. After retiring he joined a National Guard unit, just to keep his hand in he said, and shortly was deployed to Iraq. Tully lost his right leg below the knee while serving with his Guard unit. The prosthetic leg he wore didn't hinder him from running the Department's main shooting range. Tully had helped Rollie find and apprehend a rapist; most recently he had assisted Rollie in returning a kidnapped girl to her father.

"Fine, until you interrupted me," Tully replied. "I was showing a pretty young rookie officer the finer points of using the Weaver stance when shooting."

"Male or female rookie?"

"Female you overgrown pervert," Tully said laughing. "What can I do for you?"

Rollie explained about the protection scam and Ted's attack. "You know a couple of patrolmen that would like to make some extra money when they're off duty? And that can keep their mouth shut."

"Guard detail?"

"Yeah. I want an around the clock presence until Ted get's out of the hospital. He won't get out by the next meeting with those idiots. I don't think the Daltons will try to get to him in here but these guys aren't the sharpest tool in the shed."

"What makes you say that?"

"If you want a guy to pay protection money, you don't beat him so bad that he can't work."

"Sounds like amateurs to me." Tully thought for several seconds. "You know Rollie if you've got uniformed officers outside of Ted's door, the Daltons are gonna think he went to the cops. It could cause them to overreact."

"I need Ted and Donna protected and I can't hang around," Rollie said. "I'm gonna be busy finding these idiots."

"Call Williams Security Specialists," Tully suggested. "I'll email the number to your cell. John Williams is a friend from the old days. He retired about from the Department about three years ago and opened Security Specialists. They provide armed guards, body guards, and security details for just about anything." He hesitated and added, "It's gonna cost though Rollie. Those men can't work for nothing."

"I'm not worried about the money. Thanks Tully." Rollie hung up and before he could put his phone away he got a message alert that he had the email from Tully. He called the number.

"Williams Security Specialists" a receptionist answered.

"John Williams please," Rollie requested.

"May I tell him who's calling please?"

"My name is Rollie Chambers. I'm a friend of Jacob Tully's."

"Oh yes, Mr. Chambers. John is talking to Tully right now. I'll put you through."

Don't waste any time do you Tully, Rollie said to himself.

"Hi Rollie. This is John Williams. Tully explained what you want to do. How many men and how do you want them dressed?"

"I want my friend protected around the clock until he gets out of the hospital; two men outside his door at all times. I'll leave up to you as to how many men you'll need each day. Could we have them dressed in business suits like body guards? Oh, and I want them armed."

"No problem. When do you want them to start?"

"Could we start today?"

"I'll have to rearrange the schedule but I can have two men at the hospital by 3:30."

"That'll work. I'll stay on until they get here. Ted's in room 614, have them ask for me at the nurse's station. Thanks John and send the bill to me. Tully's got my address."

"We'll worry about that after. I need to get to work. Call me if you need anything." Having said all that needed to be said, John Williams hung up.

Rollie went back to Ted's room. Donna was sitting with her husband's hand in her's. Jessica stood by the window with an angry look on her face. 

"Hi Donna. The docs say our boy is going to be fine."

"The old fool should have told me about this earlier," Donna said giving a smile to Ted. "He'll probably milk this for a long time to get out of doing any work."

Rollie chuckled and Jessica lost the angry look and smiled.

"When are the Daltons supposed to come back and see you Ted?" Rollie asked.

"They said they'd be back to see me in three days."

"Have the doctors told you how long you're going to be here?"

"Four or five days. 

"I don't think they realize how much damage they did to you. There's no way you can meet them in three days." Rollie thought for a moment. "I've got guards on your door until you get out." Donna looked alarmed and Rollie added, "I don't think they'll try anything but then again they weren't too smart putting Ted in here to begin with."

"Are you going to be able to find them Rollie?" Jessica asked. "And what are you going to do if you do find them?"

"Don't have to find them; they'll find me. I've got three days to find out as much about them as possible. When they come to the First Squad to collect from Ted, I'll be there instead." Rollie hesitated. "What I do will depend on them." He saw the concerned look on Jessica's face. "That's the best I can offer Jess."

Rollie left the room and roamed the halls for about an hour. As he past the nurse's station for the tenth time, two large men dressed in business suits approached him.

"Mr. Chambers. I'm Todd Stevens and this Joey Simpson. Mr. Williams told us to report to you."

Rollie shook hands with both men and explained the job. Todd and Joey nodded and then smiled.

"No worries Mr. Chambers. We'll take care of Mr. Crowe."

Rollie re-entered the hospital room. "Okay, there are armed guards on your door Ted. There'll be two guards all the time until you get released. I'm going to leave now but I'll be back tomorrow to see you. If you need me call my cell."

"Where are you going Rollie?" Jessica asked as she followed him into the hallway,

"I'm going to find out everything I can about the Daltons and put a stop to this protection racket." He put his arm around Jessica, pulled her close, and gave her a quick but emotion filled kiss. "Why were you so mad when I came back into Ted's room?"

She was embarrassed that her emotions were so easy to read and chuckled. "When I do my rounds, I see people hurt and injured all the time." Jessica took a deep breath. "But to see someone I know, a friend, beaten up for money, well it just pissed me off."

Rollie smiled and hugged Jessica tighter. "A champion of the underdog aren't you? That's my girl." He kissed her again. "Jess please don't forget to tell the hospital about the guards. I'll call you later. " 

As he left the hospital Rollie called Tully again. "Thanks for the help Sarge," he said when Tully answered. "Need another favor. Can you run wants and warrants on Riley and Shawn Dalton. See if they're in the system.

"That the two bastards that did Ted?"

"Yeah, that's the guys. See what you can dig up will you? Call me if you find out anything."

I've got three days to find out as much about these scumbags as I can, Rollie thought. On his way to his next meeting Tully called back.

"Nothing on the Daltons locally. I'm checking a national data base now. It'll take an hour or so. Call you back."

"Thanks Tully." Rollie said as he parked his truck in the driveway of a very large home. He got out of his truck and rang the front door bell. The last time he'd been here he had beat on the door with his fist. The door opened and Rollie smiled.

"Hello Leo," he greeted the squat heavy set man that had answered the door. "Beat up any young girls latterly?"

Rollie had met Leo a few months previously. He'd been looking for Frank Rossi's daughter. Rossi was the head of the crime family that controlled the rackets in St. Louis; Leo worked for Frank's brother Vito. Vito was the apparent head of the Rossi syndicate but Rollie knew better. Frank was the power behind the throne. Leo and Rollie had crossed paths when Leo was strong arming a young woman for information about Frank's daughter. Rollie had forcefully put a stop to his efforts and there had been bad blood between them ever since. 

"What'da you want Chambers?" Leo asked with a sneer.

"Frank around? Like to talk to him if possible?" Rollie stepped past Leo into the entryway. "This time I'll wait here until you ask him." 

The last two times Rollie had been to the Rossi home, he'd brushed past Leo like he didn't exist. Leo growled and went toward a closed door. Rollie knew that the door led to the formal sitting room; he'd been there before. Three minutes later Leo opened the door and motioned for Rollie to come in.

Frank Rossi sat in a big easy chair. He didn't get up as Rollie walked into the room but motioned to another chair across from him.

"Have a drink Rollie?" Frank saw Rollie smile and shake his head. "What's so funny?"

"We're going to act like two gentlemen are we?" Rollie asked still smiling.

Frank smiled too. "I suppose not; it's not our style. "What can I do for you?"

"Need some information and I think you're my best bet." 

"What kind of information?" Frank asked.

"Couple of hoods calling themselves Riley and Shawn Dalton are trying to set up a protection racket. They approached a friend of mine and when he turned them down they did a number on him; put him in the hospital. I thought these guys must be new to this type of thing and maybe new to St. Louis. Know them or anything about them?"

"Why come to me? We're not in the protection business."

"Always found that strange," Rollie said. "It's a money maker for families in other cities."

"It's a business that isn't really cost effective and it can lead to trouble," Frank said. "All it takes is one macho hero to report it to the police. If you've got a Mayor or D.A. running for office, they come down on you like the wrath of God to make a name for themselves. And it's not only the protection racket they attack; they go after you all across the board. I don't think the money's worth the eventual trouble."

"Okay I believe that you're not involved but you know more than most what goes on it this city."

Frank could see that Rollie was angry and intense. "I'll check around and see what I can find out. Your number still the same? I'll give you a call if I find out anything."

"Appreciate it Frank." Rollie took a card out of a small leather card case and handed it to Rossi. "This is the number where you can reach me."

Rossi looked down at the card and smiled. The card read:

CHAMBERS AND ASSOCIATES  Investigations & Security   314-555-4141




The Crusader Ch. 04



"Made it official did you?" Frank asked.

"Not really. I only work by referral and won't take just any case."

"Can't be too picky about your cases. That's not conducive to making money Rollie."

"Frank, you should know I don't care about the money. Think about what I charged you for finding your daughter."

Rossi's nodded his head in understanding. His daughter, Angela, had faked her kidnapping to get money from him to go to Europe with her friends. But her boyfriend took over and really did kidnap her. He'd demanded $250,000 for her release. Rollie had found her and brought her home. He had a tape recorder with Angela admitting her part in the scam but Rollie destroyed it to protect Rossi's reputation. The only fee charged was $100 to replace the recorder.

"Well I still owe you for that Rollie. If those boys are local, I'll find out about them."

Rollie nodded his thanks and walked toward the front door. "See ya around Leo," he called out as he left. Leo gave him a dark look as he walked past. I shouldn't rattle his cage like that, Rollie thought. But I just don't like him.

He drove back to his apartment and found Jessica in the kitchen making a sandwich. Dr. Jessica Talbert had been Rollie's therapist when his wife Susan committed suicide. They had been thrown together again when Jessica worked as a profiler for the St. Louis Police on the "Campus Rapist Case"; Rollie was the lead detective on the case. Rollie persisted and she had finally gotten over her ethical concerns about dating a patient. He had pointed out that he was no longer her patient and wore her down. Jessica had moved into Rollie's place after the case of the kidnapped daughter. 

"That looks good," Rollie said as he kissed her hello.

"I make a pretty good sandwich," Jessica replied. "You want one?"

"Oh yeah, a sandwich. That looks good too." Jessica smiled and swatted him on the shoulder.

"I'll grab a shower and be right back," Rollie said. As he came back into the galley style kitchen, Jessica was putting sandwiches, chips, and drinks on the breakfast bar. 

"Thought you'd still be with Ted and Donna," Rollie said.

"No need with those two behemoths you've got outside Ted's door." Jessica hesitated. "I know you were rushed but couldn't you have found guards that didn't look so out of place. Todd and Joey are sweethearts but there's no doubt what they are. I mean they wear suits and all but you can see the bulge of their guns. They look like what they are; armed guards."

"That's exactly the look I was going for," Rollie explained. "I couldn't use uniformed police so I got the next best thing. If the Daltons are stupid enough to beat a prospective client the way they did, they might be stupid enough to visit Ted in the hospital. The guards will warn them away just like cops would."

"You can be a devious man Rollie Chambers, a devious man," Jessica said. Then she got serious. "Are you going to find those two gorillas? And if you meet them at the bar, what are you going to do? How will you explain your involvement?"

"I'll tell them I'm Ted's partner and since he's in the hospital they'll have to deal with me. If I can get them on tape trying to shake me down, I can call in the police."

"If you can't record them what will you do?"

Rollie looked down for a few seconds in thought. "Jess, I'm going to bring their plans to a halt. With the police's help if I can, but I will stop this." She started to protest but he held up his hand to stop her. "I know what you're going to say, you're going to talk about rights and legalities and letting the authorities handle it." He took her hands in his. "Sometimes you have the right to protect yourself and people you care about... I promise to let the police handle it if I can."

Jessica looked into Rollie's eyes and knew he would put an end to the Daltons scheme; one way or another. "I want to be there when they come," she said. Now it was her turn to hold up her hand to silence Rollie. "Maybe I can get a feel or handle on them." She smiled. "Besides it's a free country and I can go where I want to."

"Won't do me any good to ask or tell you to stay away, will it?"

"Nope."

"If trouble starts, if they get aggressive, you have to do as I say and do it with no questions. Agreed?"

"Okay," Jessica said. "Now what was looking so good to you earlier?"

Rollie smiled, took her hand, led her to the big comfortable couch in the living room and showed her what he meant.

********************

Frank Rossi called Rollie. "Can't find out anything about those two guys; they must be from out of town. I'll keep checking and let you know if I find anything."

So three days later, Rollie was working behind the bar at First Squad. During those three days Rollie checked around the neighborhood and found four other shops and restaurants that were paying the Carondelet Redevelopment Association. They were reluctant to talk about it but Rollie knew what was going on. It's not just Ted that's being hurt, Rollie thought.

Jessica sat on a stool at the end of the bar. In spite of Rollie's objection, she had refused to stay away from the bar that particular night. "Ted and Donna are my friends too," she stated leaving no room for debate.

Directly across from Rollie, against the wall Tully took up space in one of the booths. Tully had also refused to be left out of the meeting. "Ain't fair you getting to have all the fun, Rollie. Besides you can't stop me from going to have a drink and relax at my favorite bar." 

Rollie glanced at a blank faced Jessica thinking she ratted me out to Tully. Then he smiled at her.

Rollie had put a sign on the front door: "Closed from 7:00 until 10:00 for private party" the sign read. He'd hoped to keep away any of the cops that normally came to the bar. Rollie wanted the Daltons to feel safe enough to come into the First Squad that evening and talk openly.

"Not much of a party," one of the two men said as they came into the bar.

Rollie looked up. This must be the Daltons, he thought; there's not many men that big in St. Louis. They match the descriptions Ted gave me. Me and Tully aren't small but those two almost make us look like runts. 

"Where's Ted?" The bigger of the two said.

"Who's asking?" Rollie answered. 

"I'm Riley Dalton, this is my brother Shawn. We've got business with Ted. Who are you?"

"Rollie Chambers, I'm Ted's partner. Some bastards put him in the hospital so I've got to work the bar"

Riley didn't like the term Rollie used. "I wasn't aware that Ted had a partner."

"Right after he bought the bar, he needed money for renovations. I gave him money for a 30 percent share of the business." Rollie wiped some glasses like bartenders had done forever. "If you got bar business with Ted, you'll have to deal with me."

"Perhaps we should come back when Ted is back at work," Riley said.

"Nope, I'm in charge now. You'll have to do business with me."

Riley stared at Rollie for several seconds. His eyes darted around the room taking in the other two people in the bar. He ignored Jessica at the end of the bar. Shawn had turned toward Tully and was watching him with almost a sneer on his face.

"Very well Mr. Chambers, we will deal with you." Riley unbuttoned his jacket, showing the butt of a gun in a shoulder holster and rested his hand just below it. "We represent the Carondelet Neighborhood Redevelopment Association. Ted's membership fee, and now yours, is $1000 a week."

"What do I get for $1000 a week?"

"We 'protect' your business by making sure no one robs you or throws bricks through your front window. We also make sure none of your customers are assaulted or robbed as they leave your bar." 

"We also make sure what happened to Ted doesn't happen to you," Shawn spoke for the first time.

"Basically you're shaking us down," Rollie responded. "We pay you 'protection' money or bad things will happen, right?"

"I guess you could put it that way," Riley said. "We prefer to call it insurance." The tone in his voice changed to a demand. "Now give us the first weeks dues," he ordered.

Rollie caught Tully's eye and said, "We don't need or want your services Riley. But I tell you what I'll do." Rollie pulled his Glock .45 from under the bar and pointed it at the Daltons. "I'll give you one chance to drop your weapons on the bar. Believe me you won't like the consequences if you don't." 

Tully also had his pistol pointed at the Daltons. Riley and Shawn were surprised to see that even the woman at the end of the bar had a pistol pointed their way.

Riley tensed and then sort of relaxed. Slowly, using two fingers, he pulled his weapon from his shoulder holster and carefully laid it on the bar. Shawn's face showed an excitement, almost anticipation, and he made no move to disarm. Riley stepped next to his brother.

"Shawn, you don't stand a chance."

"You think this old man can stop me?" Shawn asked with bravado pointing at Tully.

"You're gonna be real embarrassed telling everyone this old man kicked your ass," Tully said as he stood up.

After several seconds, which seemed like minutes, Shawn seemed to deflate. He reluctantly followed his brother's lead and put his pistol on the bar. Rollie secured the weapons and set them under the bar while closely watching the Daltons. Tully frisked the brothers one by one, with his pistol stuck under their chins. He stared them in the eye the whole time. The look in Tully's eyes left no doubt that he would blow their heads off if they resisted.

"Sit down boys and let's talk," Rollie invited and pointed to the booth that Tully had vacated. The Daltons sat and slid around to the back of the booth. Tully stood at one side and Rollie at the other.

"I can't find any information on you two," Rollie said. "From your accent I'd say you're from New York or Boston."

"So what. You got nothing on us," Riley bragged. "It's your word against ours."

"No, it's your own words against you," Rollie replied. He pulled a small digital tape recorder out of his shirt pocket, rewound it and pressed play. Riley Daltons' admission to the protection scheme echoed through the bar. "Add that recording to our testimony and you boys are going away for awhile."

Riley settled back into the booth. "What do you want Chambers? If you were going to just turn us in, you'd have already called the cops."

"Don't have to call them; the police are here." Rollie pointed at Tully. "Let me introduce you to Sergeant Tully of the St. Louis Police Department. He'll be the one making the arrest."

"So what do you want?" Riley asked for the second time.

"You didn't just blow into town and decide to start a criminal empire. I want to know who put you up to your scheme."

"We ain't tellin you nothin," Shawn said. "And when we get out, I'll be comin to see you."

"Shut up Shawn," Riley ordered. 

"Maybe you'll want to see me but you won't have the chance," Rollie said. Turning back to Riley, Rollie asked, "You know who Frank Rossi is Riley? He's not going to very happy with you two for horning in on his business." 

Riley's face lost its color and he took a deep breath. Rollie could see by his reaction that Dalton knew about the Rossi family.

"Tell me what I want to know and I'll talk Frank into letting you two off. Frank and I have a relationship and he'll let you walk as a favor to me." Rollie looked Riley in the eye. "Don't give me what I want and I'll let Rossi deal with you."

"If we're in jail Rossi can't touch us," Shawn said with belligerence in his voice. 

"Shut up Shawn," Riley ordered again.

"You're not as smart as your brother Shawn," Rollie explained with a grin. "Riley knows that Frank Rossi can get to you no matter where you are. He's got connects everywhere; including jail. There's always some con that wants some more luxuries or whose family needs help. It's easy for Frank to make a deal with one or more of them." 

Riley had a belligerent look on his face and a cocky tone in his voice. "We'll be out on bail before the cops get all the paper work done; we've got protection."

"Don't count on it Riley," Rollie said. "No one can protect you from Rossi forever."

Shawn grinned, it wasn't a pretty sight, and said, "Vito will take care of us. He said..."

"Shut up Shawn," Riley repeated. "You talk too damn much."

"What's Vito got to do with this?" Rollie growled.

"I'm done talkin and so is Shawn," Riley vowed. "Call the cops. Arrest us or let us go."

"There is a third option. We could dump you in the Mississippi River." Rollie paused for effect and said, "Tully oblige these gentlemen. Call your friends and have them come and take out this trash." Turning back to the Daltons he added, "You would be well advised to leave Ted and us alone. If we have to have this conversation again, that third option I mentioned will come into play."

After the police arrested the Daltons and took them away, Rollie poured three shots of Gentleman Jack for Tully, Jessica, and himself.

"Did you hear Shawn's slip?" Rollie asked. "Vito Rossi is in this up to his eye brows. But I don't know why."

"You think Frank lied to you about being involved in protection?" Tully asked. "Maybe he and Vito decided to add an income stream to the family business."

"I don't think so. Why would he bother lying to me? There's not much I could do if he was involved except tell my suspicions to the Bunco Squad and they're already after Frank for his other interests. Anyway, I got a sense that he wasn't happy with the Daltons."

"Maybe Vito's tired of being the number two man, the little brother," Jessica suggested. Rollie and Tully both looked at her in surprise.

"What makes you say that?" Tully asked.

"Rollie, you said that everyone thinks Vito is the head of the family. When you worked on finding Frank's daughter you realized that he was really the guy in charge of the family. Maybe Vito wants to be the big cheese in fact, as well as in perception. The added income could be Vito's way of proving that he deserves to be boss."

"Would Vito take that chance? I tell you Frank was really bent out of shape that someone was doing business behind his back," Rollie said. "I don't think Vito being his brother would make much difference to him. He'd see it as a betrayal and a threat." 

"This is getting too heavy for an old Gunnery Sergeant," Tully said to lighten the mood. "If we're off duty, I'll have another drink and head home." He took the offered drink from Rollie and threw down the shot.

Then he said "By the way did you hear what Tina did when you sent someone over to guard her?"

"No. What happened?"

"She told the guy to get the hell away from her. Said a guard would crimp her style with men. When the guard insisted she pulled out that .357 snub nose she carries and said she could take care of the likes of the Daltons."

Rollie and Jessica laughed. "Tina is a force of nature," Jessica said.

"One more thing before I go," Tully said. "You think you ought to keep the security guards with Ted and Donna? 

"As far as Ted goes I don't think we need to keep the security detail," Rollie answered. "With Ted it's his word against the Daltons; there were no witnesses. We're the ones they have to worry about. There are three of us that heard their try at extortion; plus the tape. Makes no sense for them to bother Ted again."

Riley Dalton was right. He and his brother walked out of the downtown jail the next morning almost before Rollie could finish his statement to the Bunco Squad. As Rollie left headquarters he saw Riley and Shawn getting into a limo. Shawn waited until Rollie got closer and pointed his finger with his thumb held up like a pistol. He pretended to shoot three times, all the while grinning at Rollie.

"Bring it Shawn," Rollie said. His voice was cold and hard and his blue eyes bore into the big man like a laser.

Shawn stiffened and started to step away from the car but Riley grabbed his arm. "This ain't the time or place Shawn. Get in the car," the older brother ordered.

"Riley." When Rollie got the older Dalton's attention he said, "If you come after me, you better dig two graves. It's going to be costly." He turned and continued to his truck.

********************

"Yeah, I heard something about them a couple of nights ago," Antonio Rigazzi responded to Rollie's question. Tony was the owner of Rigazzi's, a landmark Italian restaurant in the middle of the Italian neighborhood known as "The Hill". He was also Rollie's good friend. They had met years ago while then Patrolman Rollie Chambers had stopped two men from robbing Tony.

"I heard they beat the hell out of Ted Crowe last week," Tony continued. 

"How'd you hear about that?"

"Sometimes people talk when they come to eat. Sometimes they talk about things here that they wouldn't talk about out on the street." Tony smiled. "Sometimes I listen." Tony stopped while one of his waiters refilled their coffee cups. 

"I also heard that you and Tully braced them at Ted's place and arrested them for extortion." Tony smiled and added, "I even heard that Jessica helped.

"Tully arrested them; I was just doing my civic duty by assisting him." Rollie smiled. He saw Jessica returning from the lady's room. "Let's table this until later."

Rollie and Tony stood as Jessica got back to the table. Tony with a big smile and a flourish pulled out her chair to seat her.

"My, my, such manners. Makes a woman feel special," Jessica said.

"You are special Jessica and I don't understand why you're still with this broken down old police officer," Tony said as he took Jessica's hand. "When are you going to let me take you away from this clown and treat you like the princess you are?" Jessica laughed and patted Tony's hand. His invitation was a standing joke between the three friends.

"As soon as you get your wife to agree, I'll run off with you. But I don't think Adrianna to wants to share."

"No, my angel is very possessive." Tony laughed. "She told me I could run away with you but I had to leave the deed to Rigazzi's and my soul with her. I might give up my soul but never my restaurant."

"So what do you know about the Daltons?" Jessica asked, surprising Rollie and Tony.

"Who?" Tony asked. "I don't know any..."

"Tony...I was born at night but it wasn't last night," Jessica interrupted him. "You hear about most everything that happens on the West side. Besides the place is really busy tonight and you wouldn't normally sit down with us for this long unless you had some information for Rollie. So what do you know?"

Rollie laughed and Tony looked embarrassed. "Guess I'm not the only detective in this group," Rollie said. "I'll tell you later Jess; let's order dinner."

Tony motioned for the waiter and stood to leave.

"We'll start with the toasted ravioli," Rollie ordered. "The lady will have the Veal Scaloppini with mushrooms and zucchini. And I'll have the Mostoccioli all you can eat special."

"Still trying to put me out of business," Tony complained. "When you gonna order a regular entrée?" This too was a standing joke between friends. Rollie usually ordered an all you can eat special and Tony always complained that he lost money every time Rollie ate at Rigazzi's.

"So what did Tony have to say?" Jessica asked on the way home after dinner.

"Not much that we don't already know. We still don't know who brought the Daltons to town. It has to be someone with clout and power." Rollie was quiet for a couple of blocks and said, "But you heard what Shawn let slip. I think Vito is in this up to his neck." 

********************

Riley and Shawn Dalton were sitting at the bar in Lombardi's Restaurant on the border of the Hill. A man with slicked back hair walked over to them.

"Leo says to meet him at the south entrance to Tower Grove Park in an hour," the young hood said. Then he turned and walked out of Lombardi's.




The Crusader Ch. 04



"Why didn't Leo just come here to talk to us?" Shawn asked. 

"Vito doesn't want us to be seen with his man," Riley answered. That might give certain people ideas on who's behind this protection business." Smart man, he thought. He didn't even call us himself. This way he can claim he knew nothing about us. "Let's go, we'll wait at the park."

They had been sitting in their car for about 30 minutes when they saw a big, dark colored Cadillac pull into the park. Riley flashed his lights on and off. The dark car pulled up next to the Daltons and the rear window came down. Vito's top man, Leo, looked over at Riley in the driver's seat.

"Chambers and his friends could cause trouble for us," Leo said. "If they testify you both could do time."

"We could make sure they don't come to court," Shawn said with an evil grin.

"Shut up Shawn," Riley said. Turning back to Leo he asked, "What does Mr. Rossi want us to do?"

"Maybe you could talk to Chambers or his girlfriend and make them see what a mistake it would be to testify." Leo leaned out of his car. "Mr. Rossi doesn't want to get involved."

Riley stared at Leo. "Is Mr. Rossi gonna leave us hanging?"

"No he won't. He said to tell you that if things get bad, he'll see that you're taken care of." Leo lit a cigar and once he got it going he ordered, "Take care of the problem and do it soon. Call me when it's done." The rear window of the Cadillac raised and the car drove off.

"I guess we better go see that Talbert woman," Riley said to Shawn.

"I'm looking forward to slappin that bitch around a bit. Maybe I'll show her what a real man is like while we're there."

"Keep your mind on the problem. If you mess with her sexually it could have the opposite effect that we want. We'll rough her up a little and warn her that she and her friends should dummy up.... Let's go find Jessica Talbert."

The Daltons followed and observed Jessica for several days trying to find a good time to give her the warning against testifying. She never seemed to be alone except for the drive from home to her office and back. It was much too public for the Dalton's liking to attack her during the drive. Jessica's office was in the Washington University Medical Building and when she went to the hospital for rounds she used an underground pedestrian tunnel with security guards at each end. 

During this time Rollie hadn't heard from Frank Rossi. He'd left a few messages in the voice mail of Frank's personal number. Rollie hadn't gone to see Frank in person because he didn't want to take the chance of running into Vito. He wasn't sure how he'd react if he saw the man in person.

Jessica lived with Rollie in a huge two story house across from Tower Grove Park. The house had been turned into four big apartments each with their own outside entrances. Every evening Rollie's truck was in the driveway when Jessica got to the ground floor apartment they shared. The weekends were no better for the Dalton's purposes as Jessica and Rollie were together constantly.

"We should hit them both," Shawn suggested. "Chambers is only one guy and I can handle him." Shawn grinned at his brother. "Course that means you'd have to take care of the woman all by yourself. Think you could handle her?"

"Shut up Shawn. Maybe you could handle Chambers but all you'd do is make him mad. I don't believe he'd be scared off; his pride wouldn't let him. If we threaten the woman he'll probably back off out of concern for her. No, we'll wait until we can get the Talbert woman alone."

On a Tuesday evening when the Daltons followed Jessica home they saw that Rollie's truck wasn't in the driveway. Now's our chance, Riley thought. He drove around the block and entered the alley that ran behind the homes on this block. Riley stopped the car and motioned for Shawn to follow him to the rear door. They got out of the car, making sure not to slam the doors, and walked toward the apartment. 

Riley and Shawn walked around the old carriage house that was now a six car garage. They peeked into the apartment through the window in the rear door. Inside they saw Jessica standing at the breakfast bar going through a pile of mail. 

"Well if it isn't Miss High and Mighty herself," Shawn said as he and Riley came into the kitchen.

Jessica looked up but the look on her face was one of anger instead of fear. "What do you want?" She asked in a cold voice.

"We want to discuss the consequences if you or your friends testify against us," Riley said. His voice was hard and threatening. "It might be a good idea if all of you develop amnesia at our trial."

"And if we don't?"

"There's no need to discuss unpleasantness right now. You're a smart lady. I'm sure you know what will happen if you testify."

"What Riley means is that we'll put you in the ground; Rollie, Tully, and you. All of you," Shawn said. He laughed as he talked. "If it was up to me, I'd do it right now; I won't stand for a bitch pointing a gun at me."

"Shut up Shawn," Riley ordered turning to look at his brother. "Ms. Talbert let's be civilized about this, just do as we ask. It'll be simpler and no one gets hurt. If not..." He shrugged his shoulders and held out his hands to his sides.

"Civilized like you were with Ted Crowe? Civilized like when you threatened his wife? Is that how civilized you want to be?"

"I told you talkin to her wouldn't do any good," Shawn complained. "Bitches only understand one thing; the back of your hand." He took two steps toward Jessica and raised a ham like fist.

Jessica quickly reached inside her purse on a stool beside the counter and pulled out her Glock 9MM. She had obtained the pistol and a Concealed Carry Permit when she worked Rollie's first case as a private investigator with him.

Shawn stopped in surprise. Then he gave her an evil type smile. "You ain't got the balls to shoot me lady." Shawn took another step toward Jessica.

"I wouldn't bet my life on that Dalton," Rollie said as he stepped out of the large kitchen pantry. "But I damn sure will shoot you."

Shawn turned and saw Rollie pointing a Glock at him. He started to reach for the gun in the small of his back and saw Rollie tighten his grip on his gun which was pointed at his head. Shawn slumped bringing his hand back to his side. Seeing Rollie's attention on Shawn, Riley started to reach for his gun in a shoulder holster.

"Give a reason Riley, please just give me a reason," Tully said coming out of the hallway on the opposite side of the kitchen. He too had a big Glock pointed at the Daltons. "I could save the city a lot of money if you don't go to trial. Make me feel good too." 

Riley saw the rage in Tully's eyes as the big policeman continued, "Ted Crowe is a friend of mine. I'd like nothing better than to put you and your dip shit brother down. So give me a reason."

Both Daltons realized that they were in an untenable situation. If they tried to use their pistols, two people, three counting Jessica, would shoot them down like rabid dogs. And according to Tully, enjoy the process. Riley raised his hands to join Shawn who already had his in the air.

"Did you think we haven't seen you shadowing Jessica for the last week?" Rollie asked. "We knew you followed her home every day but always left when my truck was in the drive. So today I parked my truck in the garage and we waited for you to make a move."

"Put your hands on your heads and interlace your fingers," Tully ordered. When the Daltons complied, he added, "Now on your knees, cross your legs behind you, and sit back on them."

Rollie walked over to the kneeling men and being careful not to get in Tully's line of fire, he took the men's weapons. Riley gave up a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson. Shawn had carried a .357 revolver and a .380 semi auto back up gun in an ankle holster. Rather than using handcuffs, Rollie used plastic zip ties to secure the Dalton's hands behind them. Then he sat both of them on the big couch in the living area.

Tully still held his pistol at his side but Rollie holstered his Glock and Jessica put hers back into her purse. She patted the purse with satisfaction as she put the gun away. 

Rollie couldn't help but smile at the flush on her face and the excitement in her eyes. "We'll make a soldier of you yet Jess," he teased.

"No thank you. I'd be perfectly happy never to have to draw down again on anyone else." But she smiled back at Rollie as she spoke.

"I thought you boys would have left town when you got bailed out," Tully said.

"You must have some serious backing to hang around and to try this little stunt," Rollie suggested.

"We do and this won't amount to much," Shawn said. "When it's over, we'll be back to see you Chambers."

"Shut up Shawn," Riley ordered.

"You're not as smart as your brother Shawn," Rollie offered. "He knows that after you were bailed out for one felony, you committed a more serious one. He knows you won't get bail this time and that you're going to do hard time."

"What'da you want Chambers?" Riley asked in an exasperated tone.

Rollie sat on the coffee table in front of the couch. He took a small digital tape recorder from the drawer in the end table and placed it next to him. "You two aren't in this alone; someone is backing you. I want to know who's behind this whole mess and I want to know why"

Shawn stared at Rollie with hatred. Riley slowly shook his head. "I don't hear what's in it for us; I mean if we had any info to tell you. Maybe we'll just take our chances in court with a real good, real expensive lawyer."

"One thing you didn't think of Riley; your actions and crimes come under the RICO laws. That means you'll be facing Federal, State, and City charges. Think your expensive lawyer can beat the Feds? Want to take the chance?"

"If we talk what's the deal? What can you do for us?"

"Me? I can't promise anything; I'm just a civilian. But Sergeant Tully there is a police office. He can put in a good word with the D.A. for you. Hell, if you're nice he might even go to bat with the Federal Prosecutor for you." Rollie leaned back and smiled at the Daltons.

"If they charge you under RICO laws, you might even get protected witness status," Tully said. "Depends on what you've got to tell them. If your backer is someone they want bad enough, you could walk away."

"What the hell are RICO laws?" Shawn asked.

"It stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act," Tully answered. "It gives the good guys broader powers to go after organized crime figures and even gangs." He smiled and said, "Basically it takes the gloves off and turns the prosecutors loose."

"So what can you do for us, Sergeant Tully?" Riley asked sarcastically.

"I can tell the D.A. and the Federal prosecutor that you had a change of heart and wanted to do your civic duty to help us get the big boys behind this protection racket and the attack on Jessica." Tully chuckled at his statement and then sobered. "Seriously Dalton, if you turn State's evidence on who I think is behind this, I think you'll probably be put in the Witness Protection Program."

Shawn opened his mouth to talk and Riley said, "Shut up Shawn." Turning back to Rollie and Tully, he nodded. "We'll give you everything."

Rollie picked up the recorder and turned it on then for the record cited the location, date and time plus who was present. He cut the zip ties holding both men and turned to Tully. "Keep em covered Tully. Go ahead Dalton, start at the beginning. Who came to you with the idea for starting a protection racket here?"

"Vito Rossi."

"Rossi? Frank and Vito approached you?

"No, just Vito. Shawn and me live in New York. We were doing some jobs for one of the families."

"What kind of jobs?"

"Nothing big; collections, numbers running, maybe a little delivery work."

"Deliveries? You mean drugs?"

"Yeah, sometimes drugs but mostly money and info too important to trust to mail. Things that needed to be delivered in person."

"Go on."

"Anyway, we met Vito when we delivered the weeks take from our little numbers game. While we waited for the boss to join us, Vito started to talk to us. After a few minutes the boss came in and listened to Vito and us. Then he stepped out of the room and left us alone. 

Vito told us about his idea for a protection scheme here in St. Louis. Vito said Frank didn't like doing protection so the money wouldn't have to be shared with him. It was just Vito and us; he said it would be a gold mine. Can I have a drink or something?"

Jessica brought the Daltons a beer. Riley drank his quickly while Shawn sipped his.

"Who was the boss in New York?" Rollie asked.

Riley hesitated before answering. "I'm more afraid of him than I am of Rossi."

"It's all the way or nothing Riley." 

"The Feds won't go after this 'boss' just because you mentioned him," Tully said. "I'm no expert but him just being in the same room or building isn't a crime. They might look at him a little harder but they can't do anything without more proof than that."

"So who is this guy?" Rollie asked again.

Riley looked at Tully and then Rollie. He took a deep breath and answered, "It was Gino Valenti. I didn't hear them talking about it but I know Valenti was involved. He smiled when Vito first mentioned the racket."

"Go on." Rollie urged when Riley stopped talking.

"That's about it," Riley responded. "We came to town and started visiting different businesses. Vito said we could build it up. Said Shawn and me would clear at least ten thousand a month." Riley smiled and added, "We got four or five 'clients' that first week. It looked like Vito was right about the money. Things were going good until..." 

"Until what?" Rollie asked when Riley stopped talking.

"Until Shawn went overboard with Ted Crowe." Turning to his brother he said, "I told you to take it easy but you just had to show how tough you are." Shawn leaned further back on the couch, recoiling from the anger that showed in Rollie's eyes. "That's when you guys got involved," Riley finished in a subdued tone.

"What about Jessica? Was it your idea to attack her?"

"Naw, that was all Vito. We were going to skip town but Leo said we should frighten you guys so you wouldn't testify against us." Riley snorted and gave Rollie a sad little smile. "Guess he was wrong about that too."

"Take it easy Rollie," Tully said. He could see his friend was about to explode. You can come after him but don't mess with Jessica or any of his friends, Tully thought. You wouldn't like the results if you did.

Rollie didn't relax until Jessica came over and put her hands on his shoulders. He looked up at her, smiled, and nodded. "Okay, Tully will call the precinct and get the detectives out here to take these guys in. They'll take it from here."

"You said..." Riley began.

"We'll tell the D.A. that you cooperated," Rollie interrupted. 

It was less than a half hour before two detectives from Precinct 16 came to collect the Daltons. One of the detectives, Frank Wends, was a friend of Rollie's. They had worked in the same squad before Rollie resigned from the Department.

"What'da you got Rollie?" Wends asked, as he shook hands.

Rollie explained the situation. "Tell the Captain Jessica will be in to sign a complaint tomorrow morning. Here's the recorder with their confession. I suggest you put it in a dated and witnessed bag to keep the chain of evidence." 

"This ought to put the kibosh to Vito," Wends said with a smile. He put the recorder into an evidence bag, sealed the bag and signed and dated it. The two patrolmen took the Daltons away. "See you at First Squad in a couple of days. Good to see you Rollie, you too Sergeant and it's always a pleasure to see the beautiful Dr Talbert."

Jessica laughed. "Thank you Frank." Wends nodded and left the apartment.

********************

Captain Pete Mallory greeted his friend. He'd been Rollie's mentor, boss and more importantly his friend for years. "Nice to see you too Jessica."

"Hi Pete," Jessica replied and came around his desk to hug him.

"You can bring her back anytime you like Rollie." Pete turned to answer his phone, "Excuse me."

Rollie and Jessica left the office so Pete could talk in private. They heard the Captain yelling into the phone.

"What the hell you mean? You guys couldn't protect them in your own jail." Pete listened for a minute. "You all better get your resumes in order; somebody's gonna be looking for a job after this." He slammed the phone down on its base; almost breaking it in the process. "Well hell," he said with an angry voice.

"What's wrong Captain?" Rollie asked as he stepped back into the office.

"Somebody whacked the Daltons last night in the city jail. Stuck them with a shank so many times they looked like a pin cushion."

"What's a shank?" Jessica asked. 

"It's a homemade knife; usually made by prisoners," Rollie answered. 

"How could someone get knife making materials in prison?"

"They use what they can find. Sometimes they take a metal spoon and file the handle to a point using the iron bars in their cells or the concrete walls. Then they wrap a cloth or tape around the other end for a handle." Turning back to the Captain Rollie asked, "How did it happen? I thought the Daltons were going into protective custody."

"Some idiot put them in the general population instead of their own holding cell. Vito must have been tipped off that they had been arrested. I'll call the D.A. and see what he wants to do," Pete said. Rollie and Jessica listened to Pete's side of the conversation.

"Yeah, I heard John. What do you want to do?" Pete listened for several seconds and replied, "We still got the taped confession you know. Yeah, but..." Peter listened for a long period. "Okay, I understand. It sucks but I understand. Good bye."

Pete looked tired although it was still relatively early morning. "You know John Stamos, the D.A.?" Rollie nodded. "John says that the tape won't stand up in court." He held up his hand before Rollie could voice his protest. "I know Rollie. But John says Vito's attorney can claim the confession was coerced."

"But all three of us can testify that Riley told us on his own."

"It wouldn't fly. The attorney would say that since you and Jessica are in a romantic relationship and that Tully is your friend that you are all conspiring against his client. I know it sucks but that's how it is. John isn't going to indict Vito Rossi; at least now and not for this crime." Pete sighed and walked to the wall safe. He opened the safe, took Rollie's tape recorder out and tossed it to him. "Maybe you can use the recorder another time on another case."

Rollie was very quiet on the way home and Jessica didn't try to coax him out of his mood. She knew this wasn't something he could just 'oh well' and forget about. As they pulled up in front of the apartment they saw Tully's car in the driveway with Tully sitting on the hood.

"And what are you doing here Tully?" Rollie asked shaking himself out of his mood.

"I heard about the Daltons. Heard the D.A. won't file charges."

"So?"

"So what's our play?" Tully looked directly at Rollie. "I know you're going to do something and I want to be part of it." 

"The news about the Daltons is too new and I don't have anything planned; at least not yet. But you're right; I won't let Vito get away with what he's done." Rollie put his hand on Tully's shoulder. "You can't be involved Tully. If it goes sideways you could be kicked off the force. I can't let you chance that."

"Ted's my friend too you know. If you don't let me in I'll just have to do something on my own. As far as the job goes, I can live on my military pension and the disability checks for this." He lifted his pant leg and pointed to his prosthetic leg.

"Ok Tully. When I think of something I'll call you." Tully stared at Rollie for several seconds and Rollie added, "I give you my word Tully, I'll call you."




The Crusader Ch. 04



"He's a good friend," Jessica said as they watched Tully drive away. "Are you going to call him if you plan something?"

"Have to; I gave him my word. And you're right he's a good friend."

********************

A week later Rollie still hadn't thought of a plan and he still hadn't heard from Frank. Both he and Tully had put the word out on the street that they wanted to know where Vito was hiding. Either the informants didn't want to get on Vito's bad side or Vito was very good at hiding; they hadn't heard a thing. 

Saturday evening, Tully dropped by Rollie's apartment. He invited Jessica and Rollie to go to the First Squad with him. It was Ted's first night back at the bar and a cause for celebration. Jessica begged off.

"You boys go have a drink and tell war stories," she said. "I'll stay here and curl up with a good book."

Rollie kissed her. "We'll both drive," he told Tully. "That way you won't have to bring me back here if I want to leave early."

About a mile from his place, Rollie had a change of heart. He called Tully's cell. "Tully, I'm going back and talk Jess into coming with me. You go on; we'll meet you at the bar."

That's funny he thought as he pulled into his driveway. The front door was standing open. Rollie killed the lights on his truck and parked. He got out of his truck, made sure he closed the door gently, and quietly walked to his front door.

Rollie stepped inside and moved to his right. Standing still in the entryway, he listened and heard voices coming from the living room; angry voices. Rollie carefully but quickly went through to the interior of the apartment. He pulled his Glock as he walked.

"Where the hell is that tape?" A man's voice asked.

"We gave the tape to Captain Mallory," Jessica answered.

"Bullshit. My guy in the precinct told me Mallory gave it back to you."

Rollie took a quick look around the door frame and saw Leo standing over Jessica with a pistol in his hand. Jessica was sitting on the floor with a hand print on her cheek.

"I'm gonna ask one more time bitch. Where's that tape?" Leo started to raise his gun toward Jessica.

"If you move I'll put a hole in you that you could put a fist through Leo," Rollie said in a cold voice. "Drop the weapon and step back."

Leo turned his head and saw Rollie pointing a pistol at him. He hesitated for a couple of seconds.

"Hell," he said and started to turn his weapon toward Rollie. Leo felt the impact of the big .45; he'd never been hit so hard in his life. He dropped his gun, took a step backwards, and fell to the floor. Jessica jumped up and ran to Rollie.

"You okay Jess?"

She had her head on Rollie's chest and nodded. "He must have picked the lock on the front door or something. I heard a noise and turned around. That's when he hit me." Jessica shuddered and asked, "What made you come back?"

"I didn't want to go without you. Came back to talk you into going with me. Glad I did."

Rollie sat Jessica down. He called Tully and told him what had happened. Next he called the police and reported the shooting.

It was early morning by the time the police, the ambulance, and the forensic department left Rollie, Jessica, and Tully alone.

"Stay with Jess, will you Tully?"

"Where you going?" Tully asked. "I'll go with you. Hell we'll both go with you."

"No I want Jess here and I want you to stay with her. I think Leo was acting alone but I can't be sure. As to where I'm going; I'm going to see Frank Rossi."

"Why?"

"Because he can find Vito for me." Rollie looked Tully in the eye and added, "I want Vito, Tully."

The big Sergeant slowly nodded his head. "You go on, I'll stay with Jessica."

********************

The sun was showing the first signs of rising when Rollie pulled up in front of Frank Rossi's mansion. He got to the hand carved wooden doors and started beating on them first with his fist and kicking them. 

A tall, swarthy young man opened the door. "What the hell you want at this time of the day?" 

"I want to see Frank Rossi."

"You'll have to come back at a reasonable hour. Mr. Rossi is sleeping."

Rollie started to push past and the lackey made a very bad choice. He decided he would push Rollie back out the door. He reached for the intruder and actually got a hand on Rollie's shoulder. The next thing he knew he felt an excruciating pain in his knee and found himself on the floor with Rollie standing over him. Rollie had kicked him in the knee cap and when the young man bent over off balance, he was pushed to the floor.

"Frank Rossi, get your butt down here," Rollie yelled up the wide staircase in front of him. "Rossi get down here," he repeated.

Wearing a men's silk robe, Frank Rossi came down the stairs. He helped his young doorman to his feet and then to a chair. Rossi came over and stood in front of Rollie.

"We really must do something about your manners when you come to my house Rollie," he said with a small grin.

"Cut the crap Frank. I want to talk to you."

Rossi sighed and asked, "What do you want Rollie?"

"I want to know where Vito is. We've got unfinished business."

"When Vito wants to hide away, he can be very hard to find. What kind of business?"

Rollie explained Vito's involvement in the protection scheme. "Man from New York was working with Vito and they contacted the Daltons."

For the first time Rossi lost the smile and smirk he'd had on his face. "What man from New York?"

"Riley Dalton told me it was Gino Valenti. Name ring a bell Frank?"

Slowly Frank nodded.

"Tonight Vito sent Leo to get the tape I have of the Daltons confession. I wasn't there but my lady was. He slapped her around and threatened her with a gun." Rollie paused. "Leo wouldn't have been there without orders from your brother. I want Vito, Frank."

"Where's Leo now?" Rossi asked looking around. "Wait, what confession? What tape?"

"Leo is on his way to the morgue. He pointed his gun at me and I shot him." Rollie took the little recorder out of his jacket pocket and pushed "Play". For the next few minutes Frank listened to the Daltons roll over on Vito and Gino.

"I don't know why Vito wants this tape; the D.A. says it's inadmissible in court. But he wanted the tape bad enough to send Leo after it. Maybe he didn't want you to hear it. Now are you going to help me or do we go to war?"

"Go to war?"

"That's right Frank. I'm not a cop any more so I don't have to play by the rules. If you don't help me...well maybe I can't destroy you but I can sure make things real interesting."

Rossi was quiet as he looked at Rollie's eyes. Finally after what seemed a long time he said, "I truly don't know where Vito is." He held up his hand. "But I'll find him and let you know. Give me a day or two."

Rollie stared into Rossi's eyes and then nodded. "Quick as you can Frank." Rollie turned and left the house.

Two days later there was a note under the windshield wiper on Rollie's truck when he came out of his apartment that morning. It read: "Eads Bridge maintenance shed, Illinois side". He jumped in his truck and headed downtown to the police weapons range, calling Tully as he drove.

"Tully, I've got a line on Vito. I'll pick you up in twenty."

"I'll be at the Clark Avenue entrance waiting for you."

Rollie's truck hadn't come to a complete stop before Tully jumped in. 

"Glad you called Rollie."

"I gave you my word."

"Where are we headed?"

Showing Tully the note, Rollie drove to the on ramp for Eads Bridge. He drove across the Mississippi to the Illinois side of the river and found a little used roadway leading back under the bridge. At the end of the road was a dilapidated metal shed.

Rollie stopped his truck about 300 yards from the shed and he and Tully got out and carefully walked toward the shed. As they got closer, they pulled their pistols. The shed had no windows on the sides or the back; the only window was in the door on the front of the building. Rollie went around the north side of the shed and Tully crept around the south side. They got to the corners at the front of the shed and stopped.

Rollie listened intently but couldn't hear anything; he looked at Tully who shook his head. He began to wonder if Frank had set him up. Rollie looked carefully around but didn't see anyone. Slowly they walked to the door and then Rollie threw it open pointing his pistol into the shed. Tully was right behind him and covered his back.

Vito was there, just as the note had said. But he wouldn't be standing trial or even facing Rollie's anger. His hands and feet were tied and there was a bullet hole in the center of his forehead. Vito had been dead for at least a day, Rollie guessed.

"Frank seems to be upset with his brother," Tully said as he looked at Vito.

Rollie called the St. Louis Police and explained the situation. He told them he and Tully would wait until the Illinois authorities arrived. Three hours later he dropped Tully off at the range and was on his way to Frank Rossi's place. He rang the bell at Rossi's front door and waited. Rollie was just reaching to ring the bell again when Rossi himself opened the door.

"Hello Rollie, I expected you. I thought I'd save wear and tear on my men and answer the door myself." Rossi motioned for Rollie to enter. "I assume you've found Vito."

"Why Frank?"

"Why what?"

"Don't play games with me. Why did you kill Vito?"

"Vito's dead? I'm shocked and dismayed at that news," Frank said with a straight face. He didn't look surprised or sad. "How can you accuse me of killing my own brother?"

Rollie could see how the conversation was going to go. "Okay Frank, no bullshit. Why did you have Vito whacked? I thought you might slap him down some or exile him; I didn't think you'd kill him."

"You wearing a wire?" Frank asked.

Rollie shook his head. "No, I'm not. You have my word Frank."

"Not admitting anything and strictly hypothetically I'll tell you my reasoning; if I had done it." Frank paused and looked out the open front door at the rolling hills that dotted his estate. 

"It wasn't that Vito went out on his own without getting permission or even talking to me about it. It wasn't that he brought in the Daltons instead of using our own people. I could have forgiven all that. As long as the family got its cut of the business, I would have let him slide." Rossi offered Rollie a cigar and when Rollie declined he lit one for himself.

"The problem was that Vito went outside the family for help," Rossi explained. "He went to Geno Valenti; a competitor. Gino thought I would find out about Vito's business and we two brothers would fight for the leadership of our family. While we were fighting and weak internally, Gino was going to step in and take over some or maybe all of our businesses." Rossi paused with a strange look on his face as he continued to stare at the rolling hills. The look was a mixture of anger and a deep sadness. "Vito joined with an enemy of our family for money and power. That caused a feud that could only be settled with blood."

Frank looked at Rollie with a fire in his eyes. This isn't as easy on him as Frank makes it out to be, Rollie thought.

"That's why Vito had to go Rollie. It wasn't greed that caused his death, it was disloyalty." Frank threw his half smoked cigar out the front door. "Anything else? I need to make plans for my brother's funeral."

"Are you going after Valenti now?" Rollie asked as he walked toward the door. "I'd hate to see my town turned into a battle ground."

"Any actions on my part are for Valenti and the New York authorities to worry about and deal with. Nothing will happen in St. Louis. You have my word."

"I'm sorry it came to this Frank." Rollie shook Frank's hand and headed home to Jessica.

********************

Rigazzi's was busy on Tuesday evening but not crowded. School had started so the restaurant was missing many of its usual family groups. Antonio Rigazzi saw two of his favorite people and regulars at a table against the back wall. He walked over to their table and sat down.

Rollie and Jessica looked up and greeted the owner of Rigazzi's. "Hi Tony, it's nice to see you," Rollie said. "This Chicken Cacciatore is really good."

"You finally ordered something besides one of the all you can eat specials," Tony teased. "But I see you're still drinking a draft beer. You could have at least ordered a good bottle of wine so I could finally make some money off you."

Rollie smiled and Jessica laughed. "Baby steps Tony, baby steps," she said. "It was hard enough to talk him out of the Mostoccioli Special."

"I like Mostoccioli," Rollie protested with a grin.

Tony caught the eye of his head bartender. He pointed to himself with his left hand and held up three fingers with his right. The bartender nodded and brought three glasses and a bottle of wine to the table. The wine was not from a big name winery and had no fancy label. The bottle was unlabeled except for a small piece of tape that had a date written on it in faded ink. It was also a little dusty. The server wiped the bottle with a bar rag, used a corkscrew to open the wine, and poured a small amount in Tony's glass. Tony tasted the wine, nodded, and the three glasses were filled.

"Oh my," Jessica said as she sipped the wine. "This is really good." 

"Beats the hell out of my beer," Rollie agreed.

"My grandmother made this wine," Tony said. "I've been saving it for a special occasion. I think that you two getting through this thing with Vito qualifies." He raised his glass and said, "To Good food, Good friends, and Good times. Salute!"

After a few more minutes talking with his friends, Tony left to greet some of his other guests. 

Jessica finished her wine. Smiling she said, "About all those good times we toasted to. Let's go home."

Smiling broadly Rollie called to the waiter "Check please".

The End - For Now



The Crusader Ch. 05



 Ch. 5 Going Home 

By Woodmanone copyright October/2011

The continuing adventures of Rollie Chambers.
Constructive comments, emails, and critiques are welcome and I appreciate you taking the time to make them.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on my work. Please enjoy the story.





The Crusader Ch. 05



The Diner was on the south east corner of Tower Grove Park and only about five or ten minutes from Rollie's apartment. It was a refurbished old time diner that had been expanded into the building next door. The fixtures were reproductions of the tables, chairs, and counter from an old time eatery from the 1940s.

Pete waved at Rollie to join him at the table against the back wall. The waitress came and took their lunch order as Rollie sat down. 

"How you holding up with Jessica gone?" Pete asked after greeting Rollie.

"It's a little rough right now Pete. She's really tied up in the new job and we haven't got to spend much time together." Rollie took a drink of his iced tea. "We're sort of on hold for a while; at least until she gets settled in." Rollie paused as the waitress brought the order and refilled the ice tea glasses. 

"Not that I'm not glad to see you Pete, but what's going on? You didn't call me to talk about my love life."

Pete grinned. "I guess I trained you as a detective too well. You're right, I've got a favor to ask."

"Anything you need Pete."

"I want you to help Thomas Dixon with his problem."

Rollie stared for a moment, surprised that Pete even knew about his meeting with Dixon. "Why? What's so important that I help Dixon?"

"It's a long story"

"I've got the rest of the day open Pete." 

"Let's finish lunch and take a walk into Tower Grove Park," Pete suggested. "I can tell you the story without worrying about someone overhearing us."

About 30 minutes later Pete and Rollie sat a bench overlooking one of the small lakes in the park.

"I'll ask again Pete, why should I help Dixon?"

He told you about the file that his wife ran off with right?" Rollie nodded. "Well some of the information in there that will hurt a good police officer."

"Who?"

Pete hesitated. "Major Rod Taylor. What I'm going to tell you has to stay between us Rollie, no one else can know about it."

"I give you my word Pete."

"When Taylor was a rookie cop, that was 25 years ago, he took a bribe from a small time hood and let the guy walk on a numbers running bust. After he thought about it, he admitted what he'd done to his training officer. His Sergeant told him not to do it again but to keep quiet about it. Taylor followed the advice; he didn't want to end his career before it even got started." 

Pete had been looking out over the lake and now turned toward Rollie. "Taylor's been a good cop, good for the Department. He's not one of the brass hats you talked about and he's always stood up for the rank and file cops. There is a confidential report, written by Taylor's Sergeant, in that file of Dixon's. The statue of limitations has expired for the bribe but if that report goes public it will ruin Taylor's career. All for a mistake a young cop made 25 years ago."

"How did you hear about that report Pete?"

"Dixon came to me, after you turned him down, and wanted me to send a couple of my detectives after the girl." I explained to him my men would have no jurisdiction outside of St. Louis." Mallory looked up at Rollie. "I told him I would try to get you to change your mind."

Major Taylor went to bat for us during the "Campus Rapist" case, Rollie thought. He told the brass hats and bean counters to leave us alone. Without Taylor's help I don't think we would have caught the perp. He's stood behind and supported others too.

"Okay Pete. I call Dixon and tell him I'll take the job. The guy's an ass but I admire and like Major Taylor more than I dislike Dixon. I've got to talk to Jess Saturday evening; I'll leave Sunday morning."

"Thanks Rollie. Let me know if I can help with anything."

They walked back to the diner, got in their cars and left. When Rollie got home he dug Dixon's card out of the trash and made a call.

"Mr. Dixon, Rollie Chambers. If you still want me, I'll take the job."

"Good, good. I'm glad."

"My rate is $200 a day plus expenses. If I don't do the job you don't pay, but you have to pay the expenses. If that works for you, I'll get started Sunday."

"That's fine Rollie. Let me say how pleased..." Rollie hung up while Dixon was still talking.

"I may be working for you but I don't have to like you," Rollie said to the phone.

Saturday evening Jessica called and they talked for almost two hours. Jessica had already reluctantly agreed with Rollie that until she was established in her new position they would put things on hold for a while. They would still talk every few days but there would be no more trips until things settled down.

"While you're getting a handle on your end, I've got a case to work on. I'll be out of town for a week to ten days; maybe longer," Rollie told her. "Call my cell if you need me or I'll try to call you when I get a chance."

"Out of town? Where are you going?"

"Van Buren. Guess you could say I'm going home."

"It's unusual for a small place like that to need an investigator, isn't it?"

"I'm working for a man here in St. Louis and the trail leads to Van Buren. Shouldn't be much of a problem and at least I'll get to spend some time where I grew up. Actually I'm looking forward to seeing the old place. I don't have any family left there but two of my best friends still live there. It'll be good to see them."

"I won't bother you while you're working Rollie but please call me when you can."

"Talk to you soon Jess. Bye."





The Crusader Ch. 05



Stopping his truck in front of the house, Rollie got out and walked to the back of the truck. He lowered the tailgate and one by one drug the Dillard boys out, letting them fall to the ground. Rollie turned back toward the porch and nodded at James.

"Mr. Dillard."

"Rollie. What you got there?"

"Your boys were trying to make a point." Rollie looked down at the two on the ground. "Don't think they got the job done though."

"What point was that?"

"They told me to stop trying to find Julie. They also ordered me to get out of town."

"Damn young fools," James said. "You never did take orders very good, even when you was a youngin." The older Dillard looked Rollie in the eye. "I never told them to run you out of town. They was suppose to find out why you wanted to find Julie."

"Don't follow orders too well do they? By the way Eddie owes me a $100 for a new driver's side window."

James walked over to Eddie and took his wallet out of his back pocket. He took all the money and handed it to Rollie. Then he walked over and took Jimmy's wallet and repeated his actions.

"Guess you'll have to be satisfied with $85," James said with a little smile. "That's all they had on them." The smile slipped away and James asked, "You come to take Julie back to that no account husband of hers?"

"No sir. I just want to talk to her." 

Dillard gave him a skeptical look. "I suppose those other two Dixon sent down here just wanted to talk to her too. When I came into the general store one of them had her by the throat. That's when I taught him not to man handle a woman. Don't think they'll make that mistake again."

"I heard about them. But I give you my word Mr. Dillard; I only want to talk to her. You can be with her if you like. Just set the time and place."

Dillard motioned for Rollie to follow him. As he passed his two sons on the ground he nudged first Jimmy and then Eddie with his foot. "Y'all quit laying around and go do your chores. Danged kids today are just plain lazy."

Stepping onto the porch he pointed to a chair for Rollie and sat back in his big rocking chair. "Tell me what's goin on Rollie and I'll decide if I'll let you see Julie."

Rollie gave Dillard a hard smile. "Not trying to challenge you Mr. Dillard but I'm going to talk to Julie before I leave; with your help or without it, I'm going to talk to her."

Dillard nodded and said, "What for?"

"As you probably know Julie and her husband, Thomas Dixon, are getting a divorce." Dillard nodded and Rollie continued. "Dixon said Julie took a bunch of important papers, a file folder, when she left. He wants those papers back before he'll agree to the divorce."

"Never had use of divorce laws, me and the missus been married nigh on to 40 years. But I understand this is a no fault state so I don't see how Dixon can stop a divorce."

"You're right Mr. Dillard, but Dixon's got the money and the attorneys to drag it out for years. All he wants are those papers and not to have to pay Julie a million dollars."

"What million dollars. Julie never said nothing about no million dollars."

"Dixon told me that Julie said she wants a million dollars and signed divorce papers for that file." Rollie paused for several seconds thinking. Dillard waited on him. "I think maybe I've been played for a fool Mr. Dillard. I think Dixon lied to me."

"Julie never said nothin about no money," Dillard repeated. 

"Would you let me talk to her?"

Dillard looked at Rollie. After a little while he asked, "You carrying?" Rollie nodded. "Give it to me and I'll get the girl over here." When Rollie hesitated, Dillard added, "I believe you're a man of your word Rollie but it's been over 15 years since I saw you. People change and I got to protect mine."

Rollie reached behind his back, pulled his Glock from its holster and handed it to Dillard. The old man laid the pistol on an end table then he surprised Rollie by taking a cell phone out of the chest pocket of his overalls. He punched a speed dial number and waited for a few seconds.

"Come to the house. Rollie's here and I think you need to talk to him," Dillard said. He closed the phone and returned it to his pocket. "She'll be here in about fifteen minutes. Want a beer while we wait?"

Rollie had just finished his beer and Dillard finished his second one, when Julie walked around the house and stepped onto the porch.

"Hello Rollie," Julie said. "It's been a long time. Wish I could say it was good to see you but well...you know."

Julie Dillard Dixon had grown from the gangly, freckle faced, little red headed girl into a striking woman. She still had freckles across her nose but they were scattered and gave her face a childlike innocence. This is no country bumpkin, Rollie thought as he looked into her cornflower blue eyes. She's an intelligent, resourceful woman with a very sexy body. 

Julie's red hair had deepened in color to a deep auburn and hung down her back to her waist. Lot of hair for it to hang down that far, Rollie noticed. I can understand why Dixon wanted her.

"Hi Julie. You're a hard one to find," Rollie replied. "Apparently your husband didn't tell me the exact truth about you leaving. Why don't you tell me your side?"

"Well...Thomas didn't want a wife he wanted a trophy he could parade in front of his friends and business associates. Every time I tried to help or discuss important things with him, he told me to do what I do best and leave the thinking to the grownups."

"What did he say you did best?"

"Look beautiful." Julie blushed and added, "Those are his words, not mine."

"This is really none of my business, but why did you marry him?"

"Thomas is a good looking, rich man and he can be very charming. I guess you could say he swept me off my feet. Anyway after a little over a year I told Thomas that if we weren't going to be a real married couple I wanted a divorce and wanted to go back home." Julie held up her finger for Rollie to wait and went into the house. She returned with three beers and handed a bottle to her father and Rollie.

Julie took a big drink of her beer. "He told me I couldn't have a divorce because it would make him look bad in front of his friends and business associates." Julie snorted. "See what kind of a marriage we had?" She paused for a few seconds. "I told him it was a no fault state and I didn't need his permission but he said he'd tie me up in court for years."

She looked down for a moment and then looked at her father, "He said he'd make things hard for my family." Rollie looked surprised and Julie added, "Mama got sick two years ago and Daddy had to take out a mortgage on the farm to pay the doctor bills. Thomas said he would get the bank to foreclose and take the farm away." Julie stood and walked to the porch rail. "That's when I took that file and ran home."

"That's when you told him you wanted a million dollars and a divorce for the file," Rollie stated.

"I never asked for any money," Julie replied angrily. "All I wanted was out."

Rollie studied Julie for a little. He could see by her eyes that she was telling the truth. He sighed. "I've been mislead Julie."

Again Julie held up her hand for Rollie to wait and went back into the house. She returned with a laptop, turned it on and set it in front of Rollie. "Thomas wouldn't talk to me so I sent him this email."

Rollie saw that the email said exactly what Julie had told him. It told Dixon that she had the file, "important papers", is what she called it and that if he didn't give her the divorce she'd give the file to a local TV station. The email didn't say anything about money or a settlement, just that she wanted a divorce.

Julie watched Rollie as he read her email. She could see the exact moment that Rollie found out for sure that Dixon had lied to him. Rollie's eyes got cold and hard and opened wide, his lips pressed together in a thin line, and his ears seemed to lay back a little flatter like a big cat about to attack. Julie thought I don't think I'd like to be Thomas when Rollie gets back to St. Louis.

Rollie's next question surprised Julie. "What's in the file Julie? Why is Dixon so anxious that it not become public knowledge?"

"I don't know; I haven't read it. I only know he kept it in a special hidden safe in his home office. He'd take it out once in awhile, read something, laugh, and put it away. Thomas always had a smile on his face when he walked out of his office after looking at the file."

Rollie smiled at Julie. "How'd you get hold of it if he kept it locked away?"

"I'm not the naïve little country girl that Thomas thinks I am," Julie replied returning Rollie's smile. "I was poking around in his office one day when I heard him unlocking the door. Thomas had told me never to go into his office for any reason, so I hid. The window curtains are heavy cloth and run floor to ceiling so I slid in behind them."

Julie grinned and then laughed. "The safe has a digital keypad for the combination and I saw the sequence as Thomas punched it in. I waited until he returned the file, locked the safe, and left the office. It was easy to open the safe; that was the night I left."

Dillard snorted with laughter and Rollie chuckled. Julie went into the house and returned with three more beers.

"You have the file with you?" Rollie asked. 

Julie shook her head. "It's someplace safe. Figured if Thomas or some of his men found me I could bargain my way out of trouble."

"I'll have to have the file Julie." 

"Can't do that Rollie. If I give up the file Thomas will never give me a divorce."

"You've already left Dixon. Why do you have to have a divorce? Just go on with your life."

Julie blushed, smiled and asked, "You remember Jack Barnes?" Rollie nodded. "He and I used to date before I moved to St. Louis. Jack asked me to marry him but I just had to go to the big city." She took a long drink from her bottle. "Since I came home, Jack and I have been seeing each other. I want to correct the mistake I made back then. Jack and I want to get married and raise a family. I can't legally do that unless I get a divorce."

Rollie thought for a little while. "Do you trust me Julie?"

Julie looked into Rollie's eyes and then looked at her father. She turned back to Rollie and nodded.

"Give me the file. I'll take it back to Dixon and get him off your back." He held up his hand to stop her response. "I'll also make sure he signs the divorce petition before he gets anything."

It seemed like a couple of minutes but it was only seconds before Julie nodded. "Meet me out at the north end of Cavander Bay tomorrow morning at 8. I hid the file in that old cave that we used to play in." Julie looked hard at Rollie. "I hope you can get me clear of this Rollie."

"I give you my word Julie. By this time Monday afternoon the divorce petition will be filed and all you'll have to do is wait for it to be final."





The Crusader Ch. 05



"If I knew you were here I would have been home sooner." Rollie stepped to Jessica, pulled her off the barstool and hugged her. He just held her, not speaking for a long time. Finally he stepped back and asked, "What are you doing here Jess? I thought you were all tied up with the new job."

"There is no new job. I quit."

"Why? I thought that was your dream job."

"I thought so too," Jessica said with a sigh. 

She pulled Rollie over to the large comfortable sofa and pushed him down onto it. Once he was situated, Jessica sat on his lap.

"They wanted me as an administrator and fundraiser. I wouldn't have time to teach or even take care of patients. That wasn't what I moved to Chicago for." Jessica leaned toward Rollie and kissed him. "But I was going to quit anyway."

"You were? Why?"

"Even if I could have taught, done research, and seen patients there was one thing the job didn't have that I want and need." Jessica gave Rollie a big grin.

"What?" Rollie asked.

"Someone to rub my tired feet at night. Someone to take me to Rigazzi's a couple of times a month." Jessica's smile faded and she got serious. "Someone to love me and let me love them."

Rollie pulled her to him and kissed her. After a minute or two he pulled back. "What did you tell them when you quit?"

"I told them I was going home."

The End---For Now.



The Crusader Ch. 06



 Ch. 6 The Rock Star

By Woodmanone copyright October/2011

There was more than one star on the stage. Another adventure with Rollie Chambers.

Constructive comments, critiques, and emails are welcome and appreciated.





The Crusader Ch. 06



"You live in California?"

"No. Tuition and housing for my kids would be cheaper if we did. We live in Prescott, Arizona." 

"You said you've been doing this for six years; what did you do before?" Rollie changed his mind and poured two cups of coffee and took one to Jessica.

"I played the violin. Don't look so shocked," Max said at Rollie's reaction. "I was pretty good, but not good enough, you know? Unless you're a virtuoso like Itzhak Perlman, well no one is like Perlman, anyway you can't make a lot of money playing in symphonies, or recording sessions, or in a big band. The pay might be okay for a single guy but not for a man with two kids and a wife."

"So, how did you go from an almost good enough violinist to a rock star?"

"Actually it was luck. I'd gone to see a buddy of mine who owns a couple of clubs; I wanted to see about a gig playing dinner music at his supper club. I met him at his other club; a bar that has live music three nights a week." Max smiled remembering his good fortune. 

"The lead singer and guitarist, Ronnie Swanson, dropped a bottle of beer on the stage. When he picked up the broken pieces he cut his hand so bad he couldn't keep playing. Well Jeff, he's my friend, went bananas. He said he'd have to refund all the cover charges. I'd been listening to the band and knew I could play the rock and roll they'd been doing, so I offered to sit in."

Max laughed, looked at Sid, and said, "I can play almost any stringed instrument. Anyway the rest is history, as they say. The guys and I hit it off and started playing together on a regular basis. A promoter signed us as a lead in band for a big name group at the local auditorium and we were sort of discovered. We started calling ourselves 'The Flaming Savages' and we took off." Shaking his head Max said, "I don't know how much longer I can stand the grind or how much longer we'll be successful but I've got to ride the wave until it breaks up on the shore."

"How did Swanson like you stepping into his spot? Was he upset or angry at you?" Rollie asked, already in his detective mode.

"Funny that. Ronnie had been two weeks away from quitting the band anyway. He'd gotten a job teaching music at a college in Oregon. Ronnie said I solved a problem for him and wished us luck."

"Where's this guy that's gonna tell me how to do my job?" The voice came from the entry way. Then a big man stepped out onto the terrace.

Rollie eyed the new comer. The man was as tall as Max at 6'5, but where Max was rail thin this man was broad and heavy. He looked like a block of granite on two strong looking legs. His long, dark hair hung down, pulled back into a pony tail.

"Jim, come meet our guests," Sid said walking over to meet and make the introductions. "Rollie this is Jim Steele; he's the head of security for Max and the band. Jim, this is Rollie Chambers and his assistant Jessica Talbert. Rollie's going to handle special security while the band is in town."

"We don't need a special security detail," Jim said to Sid, ignoring Rollie's outstretched hand. "I can take care of guarding the guys."

"Like you did in New York?" Rollie asked.

"What?"

"You were so good at guarding Max that he got hit with a balloon full of paint." 

"That was a freak accident. Besides it was only paint."

"The very next night he got shot with paint pellets." Rollie shook his head. "Another freak accident? It could have been a real gun and the balloon could have had something nasty in it."

Jessica walked over to Rollie. "You'd think he'd take better precautions after the first attack," she said softly to Rollie.

"Go take notes or whatever you do," Steele responded. "And keep your mouth shut bit..."

"Steele," Rollie said in a cold hard voice as he stepped between Jessica and the large bodyguard. His blue eyes had gone icy and knife sharp. "You've already stepped over the line. I'd be real careful about my next words, if I were you." 

"Rollie...." Jessica said as she put her hand on his arm.

Steele started to reply, but something in Rollie's laser like, blue eyes made him stop. After several tense seconds, Steele said, "Sorry. Let my mouth get away from me there. No hard feelings? "

Steele extended his hand to shake with Rollie. He tried to bear down on Rollie's hand to show him who was the better man. Rollie smiled at Steele and began to return the pressure on the big man's hand. Very shortly, Steele pulled his hand away with a grimace of pain on his face.

"If you're done playing games, we need to set up a game plan for the next week," Rollie said, smiling as Steele rubbed the circulation back into his hand.

Steele nodded begrudgingly and explained the security plan he'd laid out. Rollie listened and made notations in a journal he carried. 

"That's good as far as it goes," Rollie told Steele, "but we need to fine tune it. We'll get back to you later today with our suggestions."

"Call me instead of Max," Sid offered. "The band has rehearsal tomorrow evening and a benefit at the Fox Theater the next night. Then the regular show at Kiel Auditorium two nights later."

"Where's the rehearsal?"

"The sound equipment is already set up so we'll rehearse at the Fox," Max answered.

"We'll go to the rehearsal with you. Then we'll talk to you Sid and set up our precautions for the benefit and the concert." 

Rollie and Jessica left the suite. As they waited for the valet to bring the truck, Rollie turned to Jessica and with a big grin he asked, "How do like being my assistant Dr. Talbert?" 

Jessica snorted. "Typical male superiority complex; can't believe that a woman is equal to a man."

"I think it was because you are so hot," Rollie said grinning. "Sid couldn't believe that a gal that looks like you would have brains too.

"Never mind that, I thought you and Steele were going to go at it for a minute."

"We would have if he'd finished his sentence." 

"He's a giant, and you would have hit him?"

"Just as hard as I could."

"Why?"

"Nobody talks to you like that."

"You could have been hurt."

"Maybe, but Steele would have been hurting more."

"My protector," Jessica said and fluttered her eye lashes at Rollie. He laughed and put his arm around her.





The Crusader Ch. 06



Jessica and Tully laughed. "Stage entrance is down this hall way," Rollie said and led the way.

They climbed the four steps up onto the stage and looked out at the theater seating. Row upon row of seats extended back from the stage with three different sections; left, middle, and right. In addition, on the mezzanine level, the private boxes extended from stage left around to stage right with the closest boxes almost overhanging the stage. A large barrier fenced off the area directly in front of the stage.

"Those boxes are going to be a problem," Tully said pointing to the boxes closest to the stage on each side.

"Those boxes go for a $1000 a seat for this benefit; don't think our guy can afford to sit in them. There are ushers standing outside of each of the boxes so he can't just slip in," Rollie answered. "The security guys will handle the area in front of the stage; what do they call it...the 'mosh pit'? We'll handle backstage and all entries to the stage area."

Tully walked around inspecting the backstage area. Jessica stood looking from the stage to the long rows of seats. "You would have been right at home Jess," Rollie said leering at her, raising his eye brows.

"What do you mean, right at home?"

"Back in the '40s and '50s, while the Fox was on the downturn, there were a lot of burlesque shows put on here; high class ones but still strippers were on stage." Rollie walked to Jessica and put his arms around her. "You're so beautiful that you would have given them all a run for their money."

Jessica smiled, kissed him, and said, "You're not going to get around letting Max call me your assistant that easy Mister."

"You guys either get a room or let's please get to work," Tully suggested as he returned to the front of the stage. "I talked to my guy on the Bunco Squad. He said there's no indication that 'Bubba' is involved with loan sharks; here or back east."

Rollie nodded. "So much for that idea, but let's keep an eye on good ole Bubba anyway."

The three friends inspected the area and the ways onto the stage. "There are only four places to get on the actual stage," Rollie summed up. The ones on either side on the front can be covered by the security detail guarding the mosh pit. Tully can cover one of the rear ones and I'll guard the other one. We'll be able to spot anyone trying to get at Max."

"What about me?" Jessica asked. "What am I, chopped liver?"

"I want you free to check out the crowd," Rollie explained. "You'll need to watch the seats, especially the boxes closest to the stage." He turned and looked directly at Jessica. "Jess you've got the best chance of spotting someone planning on doing something bad; just by body language and the look on their face."

Sid Colder climbed onto the stage and approached Rollie. "Max just got a call from the blackmailer or whatever he is. The guy said for Max to bring the money in a small satchel to the benefit concert. Max is supposed to bring the satchel to stage center after everyone leaves."

"Someone's getting impatient," Tully offered.

"The guy said no cops or security," Sid continued. "He specifically mentioned you Rollie."

"Where's Max?"

"In the dressing room with the other band members."

"Tell him to stay there; I'll come and talk to him in a few minutes." As Sid left to talk to Max, Rollie motioned Tully and Jessica closer to him. "Here's what we're going to do guys."





The Crusader Ch. 07



Ch. 7 – The Death Watch

By Woodmanone copyright December/2011

The continuing adventures of Rollie Chambers.
Constructive comments, emails, and critiques are more than welcome and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my work. I hope you enjoy the story.





The Crusader Ch. 07



Julie quickly continued, "That's normal procedure with head injuries Rollie. Don't worry; Jessica's doctor is the best in the state with head traumas. I told the charge nurse to call me every couple of hours." She grinned and added, "There is a big, mean, looking man in her room. The nurse told me they tried to get him to leave but he refuses; they told him they would call security to remove him. The big man said they'd better call a lot of them because he was going to stay right there until the young lady regains consciousness. He was quite adamant."

Julie chuckled. "He asked about you and when I told him you'd be okay he said to tell you to get off your butt and let's go get the bastards that did this."

"Tully," Rollie said in a low voice, almost to himself. He smiled and nodded at Julie. "That's Tully. Next to Jessica, he's my closest friend."

"He's very intimidating isn't he?" Julie stated.

"Tully can be a force of nature all on his own. But Jessica sometimes calls him 'Bear', because where she's concerned, he just a big teddy bear." Rollie rubbed his face and asked, "How long have I, we, been here?"

"This is the third day," Julie answered. A young candy stripper stood in the doorway. "Nurse Colwell, there's a call for you at the nurse's station."

"Be right back Rollie," Julie said. She returned in just three minutes. "Jessica's doctor said they are taking her off the drugs and she should wake up within 24 hours. He said the prognosis was excellent for her complete recovery." Julie read the concern in Rollie's face. "It's normal for her to sleep a while after the drugs; that's a lot different than being unconscious. From what the charge nurse said, she'll be okay a lot sooner than you will be."

Rollie had tensed up when Julie started to talk about Jessica. Now he relaxed and let himself go to sleep too.

********************

"Rollie, Rollie Chambers," Rollie heard a loud voice calling from the hallway. It had been 24 hours since Rollie first woke in the hospital. "Where the hell are you?"

"Tully," Rollie said to himself with a smile and then called out, "I'm in here you big ape."

The figure that appeared in the doorway was a poster boy for a former Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant. He was only 6' 3, but his barrel chest and erect posture made him look taller. His hair was salt and pepper and cut so short his scalp showed through. He walked with a very slight limp, due to having a prosthetic right leg from the knee down. Tully had lost the leg during a tour of duty with the National Guard in Afghanistan.

Tully walked over to the bed and shook Rollie's hand. "Glad to see you boy. How're you doing?"

"I'm okay, considering the hole in my side. Damn good thing the perp used a small caliber gun. If it had been a .45, I don't know that I would be here. How's Jess?"

"Dr. Talbert is sleeping peacefully and is in better condition than you," Tully replied. 

"When are you getting out of here?" Tully asked. "We've got work to do."

"The doc won't give me a straight answer, but the head nurse, Julie Colwell told me it would be at least another three or four days."

"Who's raising all this fuss in my ward?" Nurse Colwell asked in a hard voice as she entered Rollie's room. Seeing Tully she said, "You're the man from Jessica's room." Tully nodded. "Well don't think you're going to run rough shod over this ward. I won't allow it." She stared at Tully with a challenge.

"No ma'am, I mean yes ma'am," Tully responded. He wasn't used to anyone talking to him in that way; especially an attractive woman.

Julie's face relaxed. "The fact that you want to protect your friends is admirable, but you have to let us do our jobs."

Rollie had a hard time hiding the grin and laughter at Tully's reaction to Julie. He'd never seen the big man cowed before.

"Nurse Colwell, Julie, this is my friend and partner, Jacob Tully. Tully, this is Julie Colwell; my nurse and the Gunnery Sergeant in charge of this ward."

Julie extended her hand to Tully. He took it and sort of bowed over it. "Pleased to meet you Nurse Colwell."

"It's good to meet the man who caused such a fuss in Ward 6," Julie said. "Just call me Julie. Nurse Colwell is a bit of a mouth full. I'll call you Jacob."

"Tully's what I go by, Julie. And I promise I'll behave," Tully added with a grin.

He continued to hold onto Julie's hand. They stared at each other for what seemed a long time.

"Ahem." Rollie said. "Remember me? I'm the patient here."

Julie smiled and pulled her hand away from Tully. "Can I have my hand back Tully?"

Tully returned her smile, not embarrassed at all. "Only until tonight at dinner."

"Very sure of yourself aren't you?"

"Maybe so but I'm a Marine. We're taught to adjust, adapt, and over come." Tully smiled again and said, "I'll pick you up at 7. Is that okay?"

Julie took a note pad from the drawer in the table next to Rollie's bed. "7 sharp and don't be late," she said and wrote her address and phone number down and handed it to Tully. "Now I've got patients to tend to. Don't stay and tire Rollie out too much; he needs his rest."

"Yes Ma'am.

Tully admired Julie as she walked out of the room. He shook his head and turned to Rollie. "She'd almost be worth getting shot for." Rollie smiled and Tully continued, "I've got info on the big guy you shot. The cops are detaining a man who came into the ER over at Lutheran Hospital early this morning. Seems he couldn't explain the gunshot wound he was being treated for."

"So I did hit him. The way he ran off I thought I missed my shot."

"Do you remember what he looks like? That guy is huge; he's about 6'6 and weighs close to 300 pounds. Your .45 would have knocked down a normal man. He was dropped off at the ER by a person or persons unknown; according to the police report."

"Probably the two others that were with him," Rollie said. "Got a name?"

"Not yet; he wasn't carrying any I D and he refuses to give his name. For right now the cops are holding him on suspicion and for refusing to identify himself. They've got a man on him in the hospital until he can be released and then they'll take him to the precinct house."

"I want to go see Jess first, but maybe it'd be a good idea for you and I to talk to this guy before he gets into the system," Rollie suggested.

"Be right back," Tully said and disappeared out the door. He reappeared shortly pushing a wheel chair. "Your ride is here sir," he said with a grin. 

"Where to?" Rollie asked as he slowly made his way into the chair.

"Just hang on. We'll have to go around a bit so we don't run into Julie." Tully chuckled and said, "She reminds me of my DI when I was a boot."

Tully pushed Rollie onto a freight elevator at the end of the corridor and rode down to the second floor. As they got near a nurse's station, Tully slowed and when the nurses at the desk were busy, he quickly pushed Rollie down to room 234 and entered.

The back of Jessica's bed was raised and she looked like she was taking a nap. There was a bandage around her head, an IV in her left arm and the wires of a monitor snaked under her hospital gown. Rollie could hear her whimpering in her sleep. Rollie rolled the wheelchair over to her bed, climbed out, and sat next to Jessica. He grimaced at the pull in his side but shook his head when Tully stepped over to help.

"I can hug my woman without your help big guy," Rollie said and put his arm gently around Jessica. "Hey Jess, it's me. It's okay, we're okay, don't cry." Rollie's eyes got misty as he held her. 

Jessica stopped whimpering and the monitor readings seemed to settle down with Rollie's words. Tully stepped out of the room to give them some privacy. A few minutes later he came back in.

"Red alert! Battle stations," he said with a grin. "Julie's coming this way and she looks pissed. We better get out of here."

"Nope, I won't leave until I'm ready," Rollie said in a hard voice.

"Are you sure you want to deal with Julie?"

"Is she sure she wants to deal with trying to come between Jess and me?"

"Too late, here she comes," Tully said and went to a corner of the room. "I'm staying out of the way."

"Mr. Chambers, what are you doing out of your room?" Julie asked as she stormed into Jessica's room.

"I'm visiting my woman," Rollie answered with a challenge in his tone.

Julie saw the peaceful look on Jessica's face and on Rollie's. She looks less stressed and her vital signs have steadied, his color is better too, Julie thought. Maybe this is what they both need. 

"Well don't stay too long and tire Jessica and yourself," Julie replied. "Let me know when you get back to your room." She turned and left, smiling to herself.

Forty five minutes later, Rollie let Tully wheel him back to his room. He carefully climbed out of the wheel chair onto his bed. Rollie nodded at Tully, closed his eyes, and went to sleep. 

It's one thing to hear that the person you love will probably be okay after an accident, but it's hard not to worry, Tully thought. Looking at Rollie sleeping, Tully knew that the excitement and adrenaline rush tired Rollie out. Tully quietly left the room to let his friend sleep.

It was 6 AM when the phone rang. Tully was having his first cup of coffee and thinking about breakfast. Who's calling me at this time of the morning? He thought and picked up the phone.

"Is the shooter still at Lutheran?" Rollie asked without saying hello.

"Yeah, he's still there. Probably will be for another few days; your .45 did a job on him. Why?"

"I want to go talk to him."

"Think that's a good idea?"

"Probably not, but I'm going anyway. Will you help me?"

"What'da ya need?"

"I need you to come sneak me out of the hospital. Julie's off today and it may be my only chance. You know she keeps an eye on me ever since I went down to Jess's room."

"See you in an hour."

Tully breezed into Rollie's room an hour later, pushing a wheelchair. He was wearing pale green scrubs and a white lab coat; a stethoscope hung around his neck. Tully shut the door behind him.

"You look like a doctor," Rollie said grinning.

"That's the idea. And you will too once I get you out of here." Tully tossed another set of scrubs to Rollie. "Put these on; you can't walk around in that hospital gown at Lutheran."

Rollie slowly dressed in the scrubs. He had to let Tully put on his sneakers because he had trouble bending over to tie them. Tully handed him a doctor's smock, a large terry cloth robe, and sat him in the wheel chair.

"The robe will hide the scrubs and coat. People will think we're a doctor and his patient; when we get to Lutheran we'll lose the robe. They'll think we're just a couple of doctors visiting the injured man."

"You think of everything Tully. I was just going to try and sneak out."

"Adjust, adapt, and over come," Tully replied.

Tully's truck was parked in front of the hospital and as he wheeled Rollie over to it. A security guard was leaning against the front fender. He waved and walked away.

"He's a retired police officer," Tully explained. 

"What happened to my car?" Rollie asked. "Getting shot and worrying about Jess, this is the first time I've thought about it."

"One of the uniforms on scene knows you, so he had his partner follow him and drove your Corvette back to your house. It's in the garage waiting for you." Tully grinned, "The patrolman said to tell you that he'll drive it for you until you got back on your feet if you like."

"Thank him for me, will you Tully but tell him there are only two people allowed to drive it."

As they walked through the employee's entrance at Lutheran Hospital, Tully said, "I'm Dr. Cambridge and you're Dr. Sterling." For the first time Rollie noticed the names stitched above the left breast pocket of the white coats. 

"Sounds like a law firm," Rollie teased. "We'll have to walk like we're going somewhere important. Hope I can keep up."

"Why? Are you hurting?"

"Not really, but I don't think my side likes me moving around this much," Rollie said. He opened his coat and showed Tully the blood on the scrubs over his wound.

"Damn," Tully said. He saw a storage closet, ducked into it, and returned with a small towel. Tully folded it and put it over the wound; taping it down with surgical tape. "That'll have to do for now. Here carry this," he said handing Rollie one of the metal binders that hospitals use for the details of a patient's case. "We can walk slowly; like we're discussing a patient's chart.

"What room is the guy in?" Rollie asked.

"Sort of ironic," Tully said. "He's in room 234; same number as Jessica. The nurse said he was resting comfortably."

"I don't think he's going to be as comfortable during our visit," Rollie said with an evil smile.

As they got off the elevator on the second floor and walked toward room 234, Rollie stopped. "I know the patrolman standing guard," he said as he turned his back to the guard.

"Don't worry about it; so do I," Tully replied. He walked ahead and talked to the patrolman. 

The police officer looked over Tully's shoulder, smiled at Rollie, and said, "Think I'll go get some coffee. Should be back in about fifteen minutes." He turned, walked past Rollie grinning, and got on the elevator.

Rollie joined Tully at the door. "I gave him some personal instruction on weapons right after he graduated from the Academy," Tully said. "He'd qualified, but just barely and he wanted to do better; the next qualification, he shot 92 out of 100."

Pushing to door open, Tully and Rollie entered and walked over to the man lying on the bed. He was attached to a monitor and had an IV inserted in one arm; he was napping. Tully pushed him, none too gently and he woke up.

"Who're you guys?"

"I'm Dr. Feel Good and this is Dr. Kick Ass," Rollie answered. "And you are?"

"I'm not talking."

"Let me tell you how it's going to be," Rollie said leaning closer. "I'm going to ask you some questions and you're going to tell me what I want to know...or."

"Or what?"

"Dr. Kick Ass will poke, prod, and push on certain parts of your body until you decide to answer. You can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you will answer my questions. It's up to you."

"Hey, you guys ain't doctors." The man stared at Rollie for a few seconds. "I know you; you're the guy that shot me," he exclaimed in a worried voice.

"You shot me first," Rollie said with another evil grin. "Now, what's your name? And before you refuse to answer you should know that this large gentleman is my best friend. He's also my lady's best friend and he's more than a little put out about you shooting me and putting her in the hospital."

"I didn't do nothing to the woman. That was one of the others."

"We'll get to them. Now what is your name?"

The man looked back and forth between Rollie and Tully. As Tully reached toward the guy's stomach area he said. "Wait, I'm Johnny Rogers."

"And who are the other two?"

"Bert and Sammy. Don't know their last names."

"That's hard to believe. You three decide to car jack someone and you don't know their names?"

"It's true. The boss introduced them and said they were gonna help me." That's all I know."

"The boss? What boss?"

Rogers hesitated, but quickly answered as Tully grabbed the IV in his arm. "Tommy Jackson; I work for him."

"The drug dealer?" Tully asked.

"Yeah. It was supposed to look like a carjacking but he said it was payback for something you did to him," Rogers said and pointed at Rollie.

"He told you to shoot me?"

"Naw, we was supposed to work you over and your woman too, but things went sideways."

Rollie and Tully exchanged looks. "When the officer comes back, I suggest you talk to him; for your own protection," Rollie told Rogers. "Jackson's not going to like you talking to us. He might decide that you're more trouble than you worth."

"And you can be sure we'll let him know who told us about his plan," Tully added. Turning to Rollie he said, "Let's go; we need to get you back." Rollie nodded and followed Tully out of the room and down to the car.

"How's the side?" Tully asked as they drove back.

Rollie pulled open the smock; the towel was bloody. "I think I better have someone look at this when I get back in my room."

After a few minutes, Rollie asked, "Your friend John Williams still running Security Specialist?" Tully nodded. "Call him and put a security detail on Jess's room. Jackson might try again."

Tully used his cell phone and made the call. After a few minutes Tully said, "There will be three men, running eight hour shifts, outside Jessica's door shortly after we get back." 

"Tell them to keep a low profile until I can talk to Julie," Rollie suggested. Tully turned back to his phone and gave instructions. 

"When we get back, I'll check on Jess and then go to my room." Rollie shook his head and gave Tully a rueful smile. "I'll need your help in putting on a new bandage. Maybe I can keep Julie from finding out about my little trip. If not, she's going to be very upset with me. By the way, how did your date with Julie go last night?"

"She had to work overtime, so we were supposed to go out tonight instead." Tully grinned. "Course after our little trip today, I don't think I'm gonna be one of her favorite people either."

"I'm sorry Tully if helping me screwed up your chances with Julie."

"If she's the kind of woman I think she is it won't matter; if she's not then I'm not sure I'd want to be with her anyway." Tully grabbed a wheelchair as they entered the hospital. "We'll go to Jessica's room first and then I'll take you back to yours and get you cleaned up."

Tully pushed Rollie into Jessica's room and came to a skidding halt. Julie was sitting in the chair next to Jessica's bed. She looked up and at first she had an inquisitive look on her face that quickly turned to an angry one.

"And just where have you two been dressed like that?" Julie asked pointing to the scrubs that both men wore. She got up, walked over to Rollie, and took the stethoscope from around his neck then glared at Tully.

Tully snapped to attention, stared at a spot on the wall six inches above her head and answered, "Tully, Jacob, Master Gunnery Sergeant, 4864211105 Ma'am."

"What?"

"Name, rank, and serial number Ma'am. That's all I'm required to give according to the Geneva Convention," Tully answered.

Rollie chuckled and Julie had to smile. "At ease Marine," Julie said. Tully went to parade rest, still staring at the same spot above Julie's head. 

She turned back to Rollie and asked, "Now that the Neanderthal has been heard from, why don't you tell me where you guys have been."

"My fault Julie. I wanted to question the guy that shot me. Tully just helped me get there."

"Why did you want to talk to that man?" Seeing the look on Rollie's face she answered her own question. "Never mind, I know why."

"Guy's name is Johnny Rogers; he works for a mid level drug dealer named Tommy Jackson. Tommy planned to beat the hell out of Jess and me, but his guys got excited and started shooting."

"Why would this Jackson want to hurt you?" Julie asked.

Tully walked to the door and looked into the hall way. "Security details on the job," he said.

"Security detail? What security detail?" Julie asked. "This is serious isn't it?" 

"It's gonna get real serious for Jackson," Tully answered. 

Julie saw the look on Tully's face and in his eyes and shivered. I wouldn't want that man on my bad side, she thought. And Rollie is even more driven.

Rollie looked at Jessica lying on the bed. "Tully and I had dealings with Jackson while Jess was in Chicago for a couple of months."

"Dealings?"

He sighed and explained. "A friend of a friend of Major Taylor's, he was my commander when I was still with the St. Louis Police. Anyway, this man's son made some bad choices and got involved in drugs and other things. The friend asked if we could do anything to help his boy. Tully and I checked things out and got the boy into a rehab center."




The Crusader Ch. 07



Tully broke in, "We investigate and watched Jackson; we weren't hampered by legalities so we could do more than the police. Rollie had one of his Confidential Informants, know as CIs, give the intel to the Narcotic Squad and they busted several of Jackson's men."

"They almost got Jackson too, but his lawyer pulled some kind of legal shenanigans and got the charges dropped," Rollie added. "During discovery Jackson's lawyer learned that I," he reversed himself at a nudge from Tully, "I mean we, cost him a lot of money; I guess this is his way of getting even." Rollie rolled his wheelchair next to Jessica's bed and took her hand. He stared at her face for a couple minutes.

Julie heard him say in a very low voice, "He should have let things go. This is going to cost him."

In spite of being across the room, Tully heard his friend. "Damn right," he agreed as he walked to the bed and put his hand on Rollie's shoulder.

"But won't he hear about this Rogers talking and take off?" Julie asked.

"If he runs, he'll just die tired," Tully replied.

Julie watched the interplay between the two men. It would be good to be that close to someone, she thought. Shaking herself she said, "Rollie sit back and let me take care of your wound. Then you can sit with Jessica for a while, but I want you back in your room and resting within the hour. Do you understand?"

Rollie stood so Julie could work on the wound in his side. "When is Jess going to wake up Julie?" You said the doctors stopped the drugs, so when will she wake up?"

"Sometimes the body sort of tries to hide from a trauma," Julie answered. "But her brain activity is good and her vitals are stable. Could and should be anytime, Rollie. We'll just have to be patient." 

Rollie climbed onto the bed next to Jessica, took her in his arms, and began to talk to her in a low voice. Jessica smiled in her sleep as Rollie talked. The trip to Lutheran Hospital had exhausted Rollie and he fell asleep holding onto Jessica.

"At least he's resting," Julie said and motioned Tully to follow her out of the room. "What did you think you were doing, taking him out of the hospital?" Julie asked with a little anger in her voice.

"I was helping my friend," Tully answered. His voice was not apologetic. "Besides, if I hadn't taken him, he would have gone by himself. At least this way I was there to keep an eye on him." Tully looked into Julie's eyes, sighed and said, "Guess our date's not gonna happen now."

Julie shook her head and smiled. "Do you always make dates and then cancel them Marine?" Before Tully could answer she stated, "A man that wouldn't help his friend is a man I wouldn't want. Pick me up at 7."

Tully returned her smile and looked at Rollie lying with Jessica. "What about getting Rollie back to his room?"

"That's the deepest asleep I've seen him and her vitals are excellent when he's with her. They're good for each other; we'll let them be for a while."

Rollie was officially discharged the next afternoon, but when he was released he just camped in Jessica's room. Her vital signs continued to be normal but she hadn't awakened yet. Rollie refused to leave her side even to go get something to eat. The on duty guard from William's Security would bring food and drinks to him. Rollie would use the bathroom in Jessica's room to clean up every morning; the nurses brought him clean scrubs to change into the second day of his vigil.

On his third morning, as Rollie changed into another set of clean scrubs he asked Tully, "I forgot to ask, how did your date with Julie go?"

Tully grinned and stared at Jessica for several seconds. "Well...If we had gotten along any better, we'd still be on the date. Hell, the way it was, I barely got her back to her place so she could go to work the next morning." He shook his head at his swiftly developing relationship with Julie. "We've stayed at her place the last couple of nights." Tully shook his head and smiled. "I'm beginning to understand your connection with Jessica."

Rollie walked to his friend and put his hand Tully's shoulder. "I'm glad you've found someone."

"Might be too soon to think like that, but I hope there will be more evenings like the last few."

Several minutes passed as each man thought, Rollie about Jessica, and Tully about Julie. Finally Tully shook himself.

"I think I'll stop the security detail," Tully said to Rollie. "If you're not going to leave, then between the two of us we can cover Jessica. You can sit with her during the day and I'll watch the hall at night."

"I can't let you do that Tully. You've got Missouri Tactical to run."

"My partners and instructors can handle it for a spell. Besides you can't stop me Rollie." Tully stared at Rollie for a few seconds. "Jessica means as much to me, in my own way, as she does to you. If you're gonna continue this death watch, I'm staying with you."

"DEATH WATCH?"

"Yeah Death Watch. Rollie, you're waiting for her to die." Tully held up his hand to stop Rollie's response. "I know all about your former wife, Susan, dying; I know you didn't get a chance to say good bye and how that's torn you up all these years. And I know you're worried you're going to lose Jessica too." 

Tully took a deep breath and continued, "Sitting here instead of letting the doctors do their job is like a death watch. If you weren't so afraid, we'd be going after the assholes that did this."

"I can't leave her. What if she wakes up and I'm not here? What if something happens to Jess and I'm not here?"

"Julie and the docs can handle any problems better than you. You're just making excuses now Rollie."

Tully put his hand on Rollie's shoulder. "When I was just a grunt, still wet behind the ears, and would start complaining or making excuses, my First Sergeant set me straight. He'd say, 'Solider, shut up and solider." Tully paused and then added, "That's what I'm saying to you, 'Solider, shut up and solider'."

Rollie stood and looked at Tully for almost 10 seconds. He sighed, rubbed his hands over his face, wincing at the pull in his side, and sort of shook himself. 

"Smart man," Rollie said with a very small grin. "Leave the security and let's put an end to this." He leaned over and kissed Jessica tenderly. Then Tully followed him out of the room; Rollie had his head held high, his shoulders back and he walked with a purpose. Rollie was wearing green scrubs and carrying his personal effects in a small satchel, including his back up .45 thanks to Tully; his clothes had been destroyed by the EMTs and the blood. "When are the police going to release my gun, do you know?"

"Why asked me?"

"Because you know everyone and everything Tully. When?"

"Frank says it'll be about a week to ten days; he's pushing it through the investigation. Shouldn't be a problem."

Rollie was quiet for a moment as they walked. "It's them that's on a death watch," Rollie said. "But they don't know it...yet."

"Where to?" Tully asked when they got to his truck.

"Let's go see Calvin."

"You're CI?"

"Yeah, Calvin usually knows everything of any importance that's happening on the street. He'll know or be able to find out about this Bert and Sammy that was with Rogers."

Tully started the truck and they drove toward one of the seedier parts of St. Louis. "Thought you should know, the DA is getting ready to file charges against Jackson and has issued a warrant for his arrest; but he's gone to ground someplace." At Rollie's questioning look Tully added, "I've got a friend in the DA's department; she gave me a heads up.

"Do yo know someone in every department?" 

"Not all, just the important ones. Anyway Rogers has cut a deal to testify against Jackson; he's in a safe house until the trial." Tully glanced at Rollie and added, "I told you so you'd know we don't have much time to find Jackson before the cops do."

"Calvin can get us a lead on Bert and Sammy; when we find them, they'll give us a lead on Jackson."

"You sure they'll talk?"

"If they want to live," Rollie responded. His eyes were icy and his face was like stone.

They pulled up in front of a rundown store front on Chouteau Ave. The area had once been a thriving business district but now was a typical inner city slum with boarded over stores and derelict buildings and people. "This is Calvin's place," Rollie said.

"While you're inside I'll call Frank Wendt and see what I can find out about the Department's investigation," Tully told him.

Rollie entered the building and walked toward the counter in the back. His CI, Calvin, saw him coming and sighed. "I thought we were done when you quit being a cop," he said.

"We're never going to be done Calvin. I know too much about your little fencing operation for you to shine me on." Rollie leaned against the counter. "You've heard about my little adventure, I take it?" Calvin nodded. "I want Bert and Sammy; I've already got Rogers."

"I don't know anything about them." At the look on Rollie's face, Calvin added, "But I'll find out and call you."

"Do it today Calvin," Rollie ordered, turned, and left the building.

While Rollie was inside, Tully called Detective Frank Wendt. "Hey Frank, it's Tully. What's going on with Jackson?"

"No hello, how are you or anything huh?" 

"Sorry if I hurt your little feelings, but Rollie is looking for the guy and I don't have time to be social."

"Okay, I understand," Frank said. "Jackson's gone to ground; we can't find a lead at all."

"Well...Rollie and I can do things the police can't. We'll find him."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Dig a hole for Jackson. When Rollie finds him, that's all Jackson will need. Talk to you later."

"As a police officer, I should warn him not to take the law into his own hands," Frank said. But as his friend tell him I've got the shovel. Let me know if I can help."

Rollie slowly walked back to Tully's truck. It was obvious that his wound was bothering him. "Find out anything from Frank?"

"Nope, he said they're at a dead end."

"Let's head to my place," Rollie requested. "I need something to wear besides these scrubs."

An hour later he had just finished changing into his normal jeans and a polo shirt when the phone rang. "Chambers," he answered. Rollie listened for a couple of minutes and said, "Thanks Calvin. Give me a call if and when you learn something." Turning to Tully he said, "Let's go, there are a couple of other CIs I can talk to."

"Hold on Rollie. You've already got Calvin working on it; you said he was the best there is. You need some rest. You're running on empty my friend. Take a shower, get something more substantial to eat than hospital food, and take a nap. Calvin, or Frank, or one of my people will call if they find out anything. "

Rollie started to object but Tully cut him off. "If you keep on like this, you won't be able to do anything when the time comes."

After a few seconds, Rollie gave Tully a rueful grin. "Like I said, you're a smart man Gunny. Okay, I'll eat, shower and take a nap. But you wake me if anyone calls and don't let me sleep more than two hours." He turned to walk down the hall to his bedroom.

"Leave your cell with me," Tully ordered. Rollie grinned and tossed the phone to Tully.

Close to three hours later, Tully gently shook Rollie's shoulder to wake him up. As Rollie sat up, Tully handed him a cup of coffee.

"Calvin called back; said he hadn't found anything but he'd keep looking," Tully told him.

"And you didn't wake me?"

"What for? He didn't know anything and none of my people have learned anything either. Besides you needed the rest." As Rollie stood, Tully said, "Take another shower, I'll wait for you in the living room."

"Yes Mother."

"It's a good thing I'm not Julie; she'd hold you down and wash behind your ears." Tully left the room.

He refilled Rollie's and his own coffee cup when Rollie entered the living room.

Rollie's cell rang. "Chambers." After a minute he said, "Thanks. Keep on it please." 

"Calvin?" Tully asked.

"Yeah, he's still trying to get a location. But he said Bert and Sammy usually hang out down on the Cherokee Strip. There's a bunch of bars and strip joints there.

The area known as the Cherokee Strip had at one time been a prosperous shopping area. With people moving out to the suburbs it had fallen on hard times. Now less savory business operated there.

"So what now?"

"It's what, 5 o'clock? We'll go back to the hospital to see Jess, you can see Julie while we're there, and then we'll do a little scouting on our own. How would you like to visit a couple of strip joints?"

"Not my first choice of entertainment." Tully grinned and added, "But we're not going for the dancing, now are we?'

********************

For the next week, the schedule was the same. Rollie, and usually Tully, would go to the hospital in the mornings to see Jessica. They would stay until around noon and head out for a scouting trip. Returning to the hospital about 6PM and stay until visiting hours were over at 9.

Jessica was still in a coma, sleeping is what Julie called it, but her vitals and brain activity were good. Rollie spent the time either sitting beside her bed talking or lying next her and holding her. He sometimes drifted off to sleep himself.

Rollie and Tully had visited every strip joint and sleazy bar on the Cherokee Strip. They decided to expand their scouting trips to include the more upscale bars along Euclid Ave. These places were a step above the ones on Cherokee but still not top drawer establishments. 

On the morning of the eight day, Jessica woke up. 

Julie stopped Rollie as he walked past the nurse's station toward Jessica's room. "Rollie, hold on a minute please." He stopped, smiled at her, and waited.

"Jessica woke up. Now wait," she said as Rollie turned to go see Jessica. "She woke up but she has amnesia." Rollie's face turned white and he grabbed onto the counter. 

"Amnesia? Do you mean she won't know me?"

"She doesn't even know who she is. We've explained everything to her; her name, who she is and what she does. I even explained who you are and what you two have together. But right now it's just information we given her."

Rollie stood staring into space for about a minute while Julie waited for him to respond. "Are you saying I shouldn't go see her?"

"No, I'm saying to go easy. She understands who you are but she doesn't know you; so take it slow and don't get too intense."

Rollie nodded and slowly followed Julie into Jessica's room, not knowing quite what to expect.

Jessica was sitting up in her bed. The hair on the right side of her head had been shaven off. There was bleeding in the brain cavity and the doctors had bored a hole in her skull to relieve that pressure. Other than the missing hair, a small bandage, and some minor bruising she looked fine. Her remaining hair had been combed and she wore a little makeup. She looked up as Julie and Rollie walked in, gave Julie a smile and nodded at Rollie.

"Jessica, this is Rollie Chambers; the man I told you about," Julie said.

Jessica smiled and extended her hand to Rollie. "I understand we're friends....well more than friends from what Julie tells me." 

Rollie took her hand. "Yeah Jess, we're more than friends." 

"I'm sorry, I don't remember." Jessica frowned and seemed to withdraw into herself a little.

Julie quickly stepped closer. "Now don't get yourself worked up. I told you it would just take some time."

Jessica took a deep breath. "You called me Jess," she said to Rollie.

"That's what I've always called you. Is that okay?"

"Yes, they tell me my name is Jessica and that's what everybody has been calling me, but from you Jess just seems right. Here sit with me for a while and let's get to know each other again."

Julie watched for a few minutes and then left them alone. Maybe their talking will help her, Julie thought. It can't hurt I guess.

Two hours later Rollie came back to the nurse's station. "They're giving her some therapy and a sponge bath. I'll be back later this afternoon."

"Good. I thought you might freak out," Julie said. "But you handled it fine." She gave Rollie a quick hug. "I think you're good for Jessica."

Rollie visited with Jessica from 6 until 9PM. He spent most of the evening describing how they met when Rollie's wife died, how they worked together, and finally how they became close. Rollie kissed her on the cheek when he left.

"Meet me at Stilettos," Rollie told Tully on the phone. "It's that so called restaurant on Euclid and Page. I hear the boys we're looking for sometimes meet there."

********************

Two more days of Rollie spending six to eight hours a day with Jessica resulted in her regaining part of her memory. She recovered her memory except for the last four years of her life. Jessica still didn't remember Rollie or their life together, but she was very comfortable with his visits.

The scouting didn't have as good of a result. Neither Rollie or Tully, or any of their people, or the police had been able to get a line on Jackson's whereabouts. The two friends were sitting in the hospital cafeteria over coffee discussing where to look next, when Rollie's phone beeped. He answered and talked for a couple of minutes and hung up.

Rollie looked like a big cat that had just spotted his prey. "Calvin gave me a lead on Bert and Sammy," Rollie informed Tully. He finished his coffee and stood. "C'mon, we'll take my truck; the Corvette stands out too much."

"I'll drive," Tully countered. "You're still a little tender. Where are they?"

"The Holiday Inn at Interstate 64 and Kingshighway. Room 120."

"Boots and saddles," Tully said. "Let's roll."

The Holiday Inn was one of the older type motels. Instead of going into the building to enter the rooms, their doors all faced the parking lot. Room 120 was at the end of the first level.

Tully parked in front of the room, walked to the door, and listened. He also peeked through the window. Returning to the truck he said, "I can hear the TV. They didn't close the curtains all the way and I saw both of them in the room. One is lying on the bed and the other one is sitting at a table on the far side of the room. How do you want to do this?"

"I think the motel management would be upset and call the cops if we busted down the door," Rollie answered. "Why don't you go knock on the door, tell them you're the manager, and that you've got a message for them? I'll be on one side of the door and when they open it, we'll push our way in."

Rollie situated himself on one side of the door with his .45 drawn. Tully put his finger over the peephole then knocked and drew his weapon. 

"This is the manager; a guy left a message for you at the front desk."

Rollie and Tully heard one of the men say, "What the hell?" just before the door started to open. Rollie stepped in front Tully and pushed the door completely open; knocking the man back into the room. He pointed his pistol at the two men in the room. Tully followed and closed the door.

"Hello Burt and Sammy. Remember me?" Rollie asked.

"Y..y..you're the guy in the Corvette," one of the men stammered. 

"That's right. Johnny didn't get the job done. I'm here to even the score."

"Wait. No one was supposed to get shot. Johnny went ballistic when you started around the car. We didn't do nothing."

"And you are?" Rollie asked.

"I'm Bert, that's Sammy," the second man said. "He's right; Johnny's the one that did the shooting."

"And you two were just suppose to beat up a woman, is that it?" Rollie pointed his pistol at Bert's head. "Where's Jackson?"

"If we tell you, he'll kill us," Bert replied.

"If you don't, what chance do you think you have of getting out of this room alive?" Rollie asked, cocking the hammer on his weapon.

"Enough of this crap," Tully said in an angry voice. "Let's just cap them and get it over with."




The Crusader Ch. 07



Rollie had always thought that the saying about someone's face going white was just that; a saying. He watched, fascinated, as Burt and Sammy's faces turned the color of bed sheets.

"I don't think the big guy likes you too much. My lady is like a daughter to him and he's really upset that you put her in the hospital," Rollie offered. "I suggest you tell us where Jackson is hiding."

Bert and Sammy looked at each other, not sure what to do. Tully growled and stepped further into the room, bringing his weapon up.

"He's in a warehouse on Laclede's Landing," the one called Sammy quickly said. "It's the old Switzer's Licorice plant. Jackson bought the place years ago and has an apartment on the top floor."

"How many men does he have with him?" Rollie asked.

"He usually runs with three others that he trusts. I don't think he wants too many knowing about the warehouse."

"How do you know about the place then?"

"I was one of his, what'd you call it, oh yeah. I was one of his inner circle until Johnny went hyper on you." Bert shook his head remembering Jackson's words. "He said when I learned to keep my head he'd start trusting me again.""The police would know about that place," Tully argued.

"The building's in his cousin's name so he can't be traced to it. That's where he always goes if things get too hot in town," Bert added.

"Get on the bed face down, both of you," Rollie ordered. To Tully, he said, "Get something to tie up these guys."

Tully holstered his pistol and went into the bathroom. Bert and Sammy climbed onto the bed and laid face down as ordered. Both men were sure it was their time to die.

Using his knife, Tully cut strips from the bath towels and tied the two men. First he tied their hands behind them, then he tied their feet, and turning them over onto their backs he tied their hands to the headboard. "Kinda kinky, but it works for me," Tully said inspecting his work.

Rollie picked up a wash cloth, wrapped it around the barrel of his weapon and walked over to the bed. He stuck his gun in Bert's face. "Open wide Bert, we wouldn't want to hurt those pretty teeth."

"I think Bert's had an accident," Tully said as a wet stain appeared on the front of the man's pants.

Bert closed his eyes and opened his mouth. Rollie took the wash cloth and stuck it into gaping hole; then repeated the operation with Sammy.

"My God, that stinks," Tully complained. "I think old Bert did more than wet himself." Turning back to Rollie he asked, "What now?"

"Call Frank and tell him where these guys are. But let's wait until we get to Laclede's Landing."

"The police can't come into the room without a search warrant or probable cause," Tully protested.

"They can if the door is wide open and two upstanding citizens are being held against their will," Rollie said. "We'll leave the door open so Frank and the boys can breeze right in. While their dealing with these two, I'll deal with Jackson."

"We'll deal with Jackson," Tully corrected. "I want a piece of him too." 

At a stop light Tully used his cell to speed dial Julie while he was driving; Rollie listened to one side of the conversation. "Hi Babe, I'll have to beg off on our date tonight....Yeah I know, it's short notice but Rollie and I found out where Jackson is hiding. We're going to pay him a visit...No you're right; we won't call the cops first....Okay I'll tell him. Love ya, call you later."

He turned to Rollie and passed on Julie's message. "She said that we should call the cops and said to tell you if you let me get hurt she's gonna have your hide." Tully smiled and added, "She also said for you to be careful because Jessica needs you." 

The Switzer's Licorice plant had been the mainstay for the company for many years; it had employed over 200 people at one time. The warehouse and plant were built close to the river and the railroad line. The plants materials and supplies for production were brought in by barge and railcar. The business had been bought out by Hersey in the late 1980s and shortly afterward the plant was closed down. 

Now the warehouse had been abandoned for close to 20 years. The three story brick building looked like a sad old man that had seen better days and gone to seed. It was a mere shell of its former grandeur. 

"By the way, and this is a hell of a time to bring this up, but what do you plan to do with Jackson?" Tully asked as he pulled to the curb two blocks from the warehouse. He looked at Rollie and said, "I'm with you whatever you decide but we need to be sure what our objective is. Your answer will determine what we're gonna do."

"Jackson is going down Tully," Rollie responded. "With your help or without it, Jackson's going down."

Tully could see the anger on Rollie's face and heard the rage in his voice. "Let's do this; maybe I can keep my date with Julie later," Tully said and pulled his truck away from the curb.

Switzer's old warehouse was boarded up and dark; except for one corner on the top floor. Lights shown through open windows and music could be heard coming from the interior. Maybe not abandon after all, Rollie thought as Tully parked his truck in the alleyway behind the building. As they got out of the truck, Tully reached behind the seats, pulled out a fanny pack, and put it on.

Rollie raised an eyebrow in question and Tully said, "It's sort of like Batman's Utility Belt. I carry a few things that might help on a mission like this."

"Okay Batman, I guess that means I'm Robin," Rollie grinned. 

There were two cars parked at the loading dock; a Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes sedan. "Business must be good for Jackson," Tully said in a low voice as they walked toward the large sliding doors fronting the dock. 

"Not for long," Rollie said. Staring at the big doors, he saw a smaller one to the side for people to use. Pointing toward it Rollie offered, "There's bound to be at least one guard behind that door."

Tully held up a finger for Rollie to wait a minute. He gathered some trash paper that had blown onto the dock and piled it at the bottom of the door. He used a cigar lighter to start a fire and then threw some old rags into the flame. Smoke billowed up and crept under the door. Rollie stood to the side so that the door would conceal him as it opened; Tully stood to his side and slightly behind him.

The door opened and pushed the pile of burning paper with it. A man stuck his head around the door to see what was causing the smoke. His eyes opened wide just before Rollie hit him in the forehead with the butt of his pistol; the hood went down without a sound. Tully quickly grabbed the man under his arms, drug him back into the building, and relieved him of his gun. He used two plastic cable ties from his waist pack to fasten the thug's hands and feet. Then Tully pulled a roll of duct tape and taped the man's mouth shut. He put the tape completely around the head.

"Duct tape?" Rollie whispered.

"Never leave home without it," Tully replied.

"With that guy's beard and moustache, it's really going to hurt when the tape is pulled off," Rollie said smiling. 

"I know." Tully said with satisfaction.

"Tully I never knew you were such a sadistic son of a gun."

"You say that like it was a bad thing."

Rollie had to keep himself from laughing out loud. "No, just an observation." He pointed toward a staircase and led the way.

"It'd be too easy if the elevators work," Tully complained as they quietly climbed to the second floor with guns drawn. It was there that they found the second of Jackson's men.

This one was staring up toward the top floor, listening to the music. His face showed his displeasure at what sounded like at least three women laughing. "Why do I have to miss the good times and the party?" He said in an angry voice.

"Cause you're too stupid to have a good time," Rollie said, putting the muzzle of his .45 against the back of the man's head. "No don't," he ordered as the man started to reach for his gun; he stopped and lowered his hands. "Do what I say and you might just be alive when I leave," Rollie said.

Tully frisked the subject and found two pistols. He dropped the clip from the 9MM and ejected the shell in the chamber; the revolver's cylinder was swung open and emptied. Tully threw the clip and shells in one direction across the huge warehouse floor and stowed the guns in a box under the stairs.

"On your knees, cross your ankles, and put your hands behind you," Rollie ordered.

Using the duct tape and cable ties, Tully neutralized this guard. "For a supposed drug king pin, Jackson sure doesn't hire very good people," Tully said in a low voice. He motioned toward the stairs. Slowly and quietly Tully followed Rollie up toward the top level of the building; the level where the party was going on, the level where Jackson waited.

As they got up to floor level, Rollie and Tully lay almost prone with just their heads showing about the steps. In the far side of the very large room a sort of apartment had been built. There was a sleeping area, a galley type kitchen, and a living room. It was in this living room that Jackson and his remaining guard were drinking and laughing with three young women.

Jackson was around Rollie's age. He was thin, tall, and his hair was full and slicked back. His face was sort of pinched in and his eyes were small, dark, and looked like a weasels. Looking at him, no one would understand how he ruled a drug operation in a big city. Rollie knew Jackson ruled because he was ruthless; he didn't hesitate to use any and all means to get his way. The guy with him was a disappointment; he was just an average wanna be hood.

One of the girls was standing on top of a coffee table. She was dancing to the loud music and slowly doing a strip; the other two women were dancing next to the table, also taking off their clothes. Both men were sitting on a sofa in front of the table and their attention was centered on the women; especially the girl on the table. By now she had her blouse unbuttoned and started to unfasten her short mini skirt.

Rollie nodded to the left. Tully crouched and went in that direction while Rollie went to the right. They were able to get very close to the group before one of the girls saw them. She put her hands up to her face and said something. The music was so loud that Rollie couldn't hear it. He reached over and turned off the CD player.

"Party's over Jackson," Rollie said, his voice quivering with anger. He had his weapon pointed at Jackson's head.

"Bruce?" Jackson said to his partner.

"I don't think he's gonna be any help," Tully said.

Jackson had had stood and turned to face Rollie. Now he looked over his shoulder and saw Bruce face down on the floor with Tully's foot on his neck.

"You ladies get dressed and get out of here," Rollie ordered.

"We got no way home," the girl on the table complained as she buttoned up her blouse. "They brought us here."

"Why don't you give them the keys to the Mercedes Jackson?" Tully suggested. Jackson shook his head and started to object.

"Do it," Rollie told him. "You're not going to need it anymore."

Jackson handed the keys to the girl. "Down on your knees," Rollie ordered. To the women he said, "Y'all get gone. You don't want to be here for what's going down."

Tully trussed up Bruce's hands and feet and then did Jackson's hands as he knelt in front of Rollie. Rollie stepped closer to the drug pin and put the barrel of his .45 against Jackson's forehead. Tully looked at his friend's face. Rollie's eyes were wild and had a faraway look in them. His body was tense and almost shaking in anger, but the hand holding the pistol was steady.

"Okay, you got me," Jackson said. "Call the cops, but I'll be out on bail before tomorrow morning. Then I'll come looking for you."

"I'm not going to arrest you Jackson," Rollie answered. "I'll deal with you myself." Rollie not so lightly tapped his weapon on top of Jackson's head. "You came looking for me once before and it didn't work out too well for you."

"Who are you?" Jackson asked with a sneer.

"I'm Rollie Chambers and I'm your worst nightmare."

Jackson's face got pale and his eyes opened wide. He realized that his chances of seeing a jail or courtroom were next to nonexistent. Jackson had heard about this man with a vendetta against him for harming his woman.

"You can't just shoot me," Jackson wailed. "That'd be murder."

"Did you worry about that when you sent your goons after me and my woman?"

Jackson turned his head toward Tully. "You can't let him kill me."

Tully shrugged his shoulders. "Not my decision." 

Rollie put the barrel of his gun back against Jackson's head. "Say good bye Jackson."

I've never seen him this worked up, Tully thought. Even when we tracked down the Campus rapist or went after Vito for threatening his friends, he wasn't this angry. Tully sighed and continued his thought, Jackson's chances of getting out of here alive are slim and none; and slim just left town. He's a dead man and just doesn't know it yet.

"Rollie," Tully said. He had to loudly repeat it to get his friends attention. "Rollie!" 

Rollie turned toward Tully.

"I'm with you, whatever you want to do, I'm with you. This piece of crap doesn't deserve to live." Tully paused for a three or four seconds. "But ask yourself what Jessica will think about you killing him in cold blood. She'll soon get her memory back and this will be the first new memory she has of you. Is that what you want?"

Rollie listened to Tully, his eyes lost some of the wildness but they were still cold and hard. He turned back to Jackson. "He's got to pay for hurting Jess," Rollie said in a quiet deadly voice. He pulled the hammer back on his pistol causing Jackson to beg, "Please don't, please don't.

*********************

Rollie walked into Jessica's hospital room at 9 AM. She was leaning against the raised bed, looking at a magazine. She looked up as he came in and smiled. Rollie crossed to her bed, took her hand and leaned over kissing her cheek. He stepped back and smiled at her.

"They're going to let me out of here in a couple of days," Jessica said. "I'll have some therapy for a while but I can go home."

"That's good news," Rollie answered. He wasn't sure if she would be coming home to him.

"Will you pick me up in the Corvette? With the T-Tops off please."

"Sure, I'll drive the....wait. You remember the Corvette?"

Jessica's smile lit up the room. "Yes Rollie, I remember everything. Our life together and how happy we are; I remember it all. As the memories came back it was almost like falling in love with you all over again."

Rollie didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. He hugged his Jess instead.

After a couple of minutes, she pulled back a little. "Did you kill him Rollie? Did you kill Jackson?" Rollie looked at her, puzzled. "When my memory came back, I asked Julie where you were. She told me about you and Tully hunting for Jackson." She paused and then asked again, "Did you kill him Rollie?"

Rollie looked into Jessica's eyes. "No." He told her what had happened and held up his thumb and forefinger with very little space between them. "I came this close to dropping the hammer on him, but no Jess, I didn't kill him. The police arrested him."

"I'm glad. It would have haunted you forever if you'd executed him. I'm glad," she repeated. Jessica grabbed her man and pulled him closer.

That's how Tully and Julie found them several minutes later.

********************

"Seems Jackson was wrong," Tully said.

"About what?" Rollie asked.

It had been two weeks since Jackson's arrest at the Switzer warehouse. Tully and Julie were at Rollie's and Jessica's for a cook out. It was the first time they'd entertained since Jessica was released from the hospital. Rollie checked the baby back ribs cooking on the grill, grabbed another beer for Tully and himself and sat back down next to his friend.

"Remember Jackson said he'd be out on bail by the next morning after he was arrested."

"Yeah?" Rollie asked, remembering the night at the warehouse and how close he had come to killing Jackson.

"Well he's still in jail. My friend in the DA's office said the court refused bail; they said that Jackson was a flight risk. Can't really blame the court; if it hadn't been for us, the cops would probably still be looking for him." Tully drank some of his beer. "The DA is bringing a cornucopia of charges against our friend Jackson."

"Cornucopia?" Rollie said with a grin. 

"Would you prefer I use plethora?"

"No, I just didn't think you knew those big words." Tully grinned and gave Rollie a one finger salute.

Rollie's attention wasn't totally on the conversation with Tully. Every half minute or so, he would nervously glance over Tully's shoulder toward his garage at the back of the yard. Rollie would cock his head, listen for a few seconds and then continue talking.

Tully knew what was grabbing Rollie's attention. Just as Tully started to remark on Rollie's preoccupation, they heard the roar of the big V8 engine and side pipes come down the street, slow to make the turn into the alleyway, and then stop in Rollie's garage. Rollie's pride and joy, "The Beast", was home safe and sound.

Jessica had asked to take Julie for a ride in the classic Corvette. Rollie couldn't very well refuse the request, but he was concerned that something might happen to his "baby". Tully wasn't sure if the concern for the "baby" was for Jessica or the Corvette.

Julie followed closely by Jessica came toward their men on the patio. Jessica's hair was still short and showed no signs of the ride in open Corvette; Julie's longer hair was windblown and messy. Their faces with flushed with excitement and they were giggling like two high school girls.

Laughing, Julie walked to Tully. "Time to replace your truck."

"You want us to buy a Vette?"

"That's Corvette," Rollie interjected.

Julie waved him off and said, "Not necessarily, but something besides your company truck would be nice to take to dinner and dancing and such."

Tully hugged her to him and replied, "We'll go looking for a new ride tomorrow."

"Now that's my good boy," Julie responded and pulled his face down to kiss him.

Jessica almost skipped over to Rollie and handed him his keys. "Did you miss me?" She asked as she put her arms around him.

"Of course I did," Rollie answered putting the keys in his pocket.

"What did you miss most, me or the Beast?"

Rollie barely hesitated and answered, "You of course Jess."

"Liar," she said with a grin and hugged him tighter.

The End....For Now



The Crusader Ch. 08



 Ch. 8-The Intervention

By Woodmanone copyright January/2012

Another adventure in the life of Rollie Chambers and his friends.

Constructive comments, emails, and critiques are very welcome and appreciated.





The Crusader Ch. 08



Rollie followed the injured man until he stopped at a convenience store. The man went inside and returned with some bandages and was trying to clean and bandage a cut high on his cheek and one over his left eye.

"Let me give you a hand," Rollie said as he walked up to the man. "Looks like that guard got in a couple of good shots.

At first the man was suspicious but Rollie's open manner and smile calmed him. As Rollie bandaged the cuts, he said, "Hell there was two of them." Then he chuckled. "As big as they were it only took one though."

"What were you trying to do?" Tully asked.

"I'm Ted Summers; my daughter, Sally, is living at the church or commune or cult or whatever you call it. I wanted to talk to her and try to get her to come home." He shook his head. "Guess the church doesn't want visitors."

Rollie patted the man on the shoulder and said "Hang in there buddy. Maybe a new day is coming." He and Tully went back to the van and drove to Rollie's apartment.

Those guards are ex Special Forces," Tully said as entered Rollie's.

"Special Forces?"

"Or Marine Recon. They've had training." Tully scratched his head and asked, "Now why would a church hire ex military for guards? I mean any security company could guard the compound. So, why Special Forces?"

"Maybe they're just trying to find God in their own way."

"The only God that type worship is Mars."

"Mars?"

"The Roman God of War."

"It's nice to see how much smarter you've become hanging around me Tully."

"Isn't you that's made me smarter, it's Jessica." 

"What's Jessica?" She asked as she came down the hallway, into the living room, and kissed Rollie hello. 

"Tully says the reason he's gotten smarter is because of you," Rollie answered with a grin.

Jessica walked over to Tully. "Mama's little boy is doing good," she said patting him on the shoulder.

He nodded and smiled at her; she meant almost as much to him as to Rollie. "We saw something interesting today," Tully told her. "A man named Ted Summers tried to get into the church compound to see his daughter, her name is Sally; He didn't have much success."

Rollie explained to Jessica what they had seen and what Summers had told them later. "He even said he was afraid that Jeremiah would send his daughter to another location now that he pushed to get in to see her."

"Makes me glad I didn't try to talk to Roxy about coming home," Jessica said. Laughing at the surprised looks on her man's face, she added, "Oh by the way, did I forget to mention I saw Roxy today?" 

"Where? When? How" Rollie asked in surprise. 

"I've been going to different city centers while you've been at the compound. I found Roxy today at the Creve Coeur city hall." She held up her hand before Rollie or Tully could ask the question. "There she was, handing out pamphlets and asking for money."

"Does she want to come home?" Tully asked.

"I couldn't ask her because there was a young man standing with her." Jessica looked at Rollie and said, "I didn't want to alert them to our interest in her."

"Good thinking Jess," Rollie replied. "The last thing we want is for Jeremiah to send her away; we might never find her then. We'll be there when Roxy shows up tomorrow. Between Tully and I, I think we can deal with a couple of the disciples."

"Won't work," Jessica answered. "They never send the novices to the same place two days in a row. Roxy was able to tell me that without alerting the man with her." 

"What are you planning Jess? What's going on in that devious mind of yours? " Rollie's question was delivered with an "Oh No" laugh and a grin.

"I've got to hear this," Tully said.

"Well...I hope to convince them that I'm a disillusioned, grieving widow with a lot of money and I'm interested in finding a refuge from the world at least until I get over my husband's death." She chuckled. "The young man standing with Roxy was very interested, especially when I mentioned the money, and told me that an elder, Brother Samuel by name, would be happy to meet with me, so I set up an appointment. I'm going to meet him at the coffee shop across from City Hall at 10 in a couple of days." Jessica gave Rollie and Tully an almost evil grin. "I'm going to show an interest in joining the Church of the One World and hope to be invited into their compound; at least for a tour anyway."

"And then what?"

"I can make contact with Roxy; I'll see if she wants to come home and let you two know. If possible you guys can meet us and take both of us home. If not we can get Frank Wends and the police involved." Jessica smiled, proud of her idea. "I told the young man that I'd feel better if there was a woman at the meeting. I didn't mention Roxy but I smiled at her when he agreed to have one of the Sisters at the meeting."

"If they do have Roxy there, we'll be close by and we can talk to her," Rollie said. 

"We'll have an intervention and innocent church members, elders or security be damned; if she wants to leave we'll bring her with us," Tully added with conviction. "No matter who's with her, I'll take Roxy home."

"I set the meeting for two days away on purpose," Jessica continued. Turning to Tully she asked, "Just in case Roxy's not there, can you get Ricky to set up an identity for me that will back my story about being a rich widow? I'm sure Jeremiah or one of his people will check me out before they offer me a place in the church."

"Sure, I'll call him right now," Tully answered and took out his cell phone. Walking out onto the patio, he made the call.

"What did you mean a place in the church Jess?" Rollie asked; but he had a pretty good idea what his lady had planned.

"Well...I thought that I might have to become a Sister of the Church of the One World to get to see Roxy."

"No Jess, no. It could be dangerous," Rollie protested. "I won't let you do it."

"Really?" Jessica said putting her hands on her hips and facing Rollie. "When did you become the one that decides that I can do or not do something that might have a little risk involved?"

She looks like Super Girl, Rollie thought. All she needs is a cape. He took Jessica's hands and pulled her close to him. "When I fell in love with you Jess; that's when I became the one that protects you."

Jessica gave a small nod, leaned into Rollie, and kissed him. "I know Rollie, but I'm a big girl now. I think I can outwit some self proclaimed Messiah. Please, I'm part of Chambers and Associates too and I want to help Vicky and Roxy."

"She makes a lot of sense, if you ask me," Tully said coming back inside from the patio. "Ricky is giving you an identity as we speak, Jessica. He's using this address, setting up false bank accounts, and planting stories about the untimely death of your husband. Oh, by the way, your name is Jessica Tully, widow of Bill Tully, a prominent real estate broker." He grinned at Rollie and Jessica. "I think it has a nice ring to it, don't you?"

Rollie stared at Jessica as he held her and after several seconds, he sighed and nodded his head. "You told Vicky there was no stopping Tully and me; I guess there's no stopping you either." He gave her a quick kiss and asked, "Okay, what's the plan."





The Crusader Ch. 08



Roxy looked at Jeremiah and seeing him nod, led Jessica to the facilities. Motioning Roxy to follow her into the bathroom, Jessica made sure the room was empty, opening each of the four stalls. She turned on two of the faucets at the sinks. This would defeat any microphones bugging the room; there was nothing she could do about video.

"I'm a friend of your mother's Roxy; my name is Jessica Talbert. She thought from what you said in your letters that you want to come home. Is that right?"

"Oh yes," Roxy answered. "I've tried to leave but Father Jeremiah or one of the elders are always around. They make sure none of the novices are left on their own. Sally, who you met, well her father tried to get in to see her and got beat up at the gate. Jeremiah lets no one into the compound, except for people thinking about joining the church; like you."

Roxy paused and smiled. "I just remembered; Tully, that's the name of the man my Aunt Julie is dating."

Jessica smiled. "Tully and my boyfriend Rollie are helping your mother. If you want to leave, we'll get you out." Roxy nodded and Jessica continued, "I'll call Rollie and let him know I talked to you and that you want to leave. Then we can contact the police and get you out of here."

"Can't I go with you when you leave?" Roxy requested.

"I'll see what I can do, but I don't want to bring to much attention to you. I've heard stories of girls, and boys, like you being sent to other areas when people got too nosey."

Jessica and Roxy rejoined Jeremiah. "I like what I see Father Jeremiah. Let me call Mr. Chambers and tell him what I've found. In my meeting with him this afternoon I can make arrangements for the funds I spoke of to be made available."

"That's wonderful news, Mrs. Tully. Our church is poor and any donations will help us spread the word.

Taking out her cell phone, Jessica dialed Rollie. "Mrs. Tully again Mr. Chambers; I should be in your office in an hour." She paused, listened, and said, "Oh yes, the church is just what I'm looking for. The membership isn't too large, about 30 acolytes, so I won't feel lost in the pack as it were. Yes the compound is quite secure; there are only two entrances to the property and they both have very large iron gates. There are also two guards at each gate to ensure privacy. Isn't that thoughtful of Father Jeremiah? Okay, see you in an hour."

Jessica hung up. Jeremiah had listened unashamedly to the one sided conversation and smiled. 

"I'll return tomorrow, if I may, with my things," Jessica told Jeremiah.

"And the donation you spoke of?"

"Don't worry Father Jeremiah; you'll get everything you have coming," Jessica replied with a smile. And she thought, you have no idea what you're going to get.





The Crusader Ch. 08



"Happy birthday Jess," Rollie said, almost laughing at the surprised look on her face. "Like you said, I've got the Corvette and I thought you deserved your own magic chariot."

Jessica squealed like a sixteen year old girl and threw her arms around Rollie, kissing and hugging him.

"We can take this one back to the police impound lot and get you a brand new one if you want," Rollie said when he finally got his breath.

"No, no, I like this one. She and I have a history together. I think I'll call her Roxy."

"Roxy?"

"You have The Beast and I have Roxy. It will remind us of the good thing we did."

"Okay then. Let's go to dinner."

"I'll drive."

"Of course, I expected no less." Rollie watched as Jessica ran into the house to get her purse and a sweater. That look in her eyes and her excitement is worth every penny, Rollie thought. Course with Frank's help, I did get a hell of a deal.

Thirty minutes later they were still driving. "Where are we going for dinner?" Rollie asked.

"I thought that little place with the great BBQ that we like so much," Jessica answered.

"Bandanas? But that's in Columbia, next to the Missouri University campus."

"Is that a problem?"

"Columbia is a two hour drive," Rollie said.

"I repeat, is that a problem?"

Rollie chuckled and shook his head. "No, it's not a problem. You're driving."

"Bet I can make it in less than two hours." Jessica smiled as Rollie shook his head and groaned. 

Jessica smiled and made the Caddy roar going up the ramp onto Interstate 64.

The End For Now



The Crusader Ch. 09



Chapter 9 Brother's Keeper

copyright June/2012

Another part in the saga of Rollie Chambers.

Constructive comments, emails, and critiques are looked forward to and appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read and possibly comment on my work. I hope you enjoy this chapter. 

********************

"Rollie Chambers," he said, answering his cell phone.

"Hi Rollie. This is Julie. Perhaps a strange question, but have you seen Tully today?"

Julie Colwell was 40, she was the RN supervisor at St. Louis University Hospital, and she was Jacob Tully's significant other. Tully was Rollie's best friend, mentor, and part of Rollie's detective agency, Chambers and Associates. 

"Hi Julie. Last time I saw Tully was at dinner with you guys the other night. Why?"

"It's probably nothing, but he and I had a little spat day before yesterday and he left in a hurry back, to his own place after our date. Said he wanted to chill for a night. You and Tully are like brothers and to be honest I thought he might have called and talked to you about our discussion." 

"No, like I said I've haven't talked to him since the dinner."

"Well...Our disagreement was about my 20 year class reunion," Julie said. "It's in two weeks and I was telling Tully about some people from that class and mentioned Ken; he's a guy I went out with for almost three years. I'd told Tully about him before, just in passing. I think Tully thought Ken was the reason I wanted to go to the reunion."

"Sounds like jealousy is rearing its ugly head," Rollie said with a chuckle. 

"It's not funny Rollie," Julie complained. "I asked Tully to go with me but he refused."

"He say why?"

"Tully said he wouldn't know anyone there and didn't want to spend the evening watching me and my old boyfriend get re-acquainted." Julie hesitated and added, "Then I made a big mistake."

"What did you do?"

"I smiled at him and asked if it would bother him to see me talk and dance with Ken. I was just teasing and fishing for a compliment, but he took me seriously. We'd been sitting together on the sofa and he stood up. Said I should give him a call when I got back from the reunion. Then he said, very sarcastically, that maybe Ken and I could get re-acquainted. That's when he left and I haven't heard from him since."

"Okay, Julie, I'll do a recon mission and find our wayward Gunnery Sergeant. Call you when I talk to him." Rollie hung up and stared out of his office window. Julie's right, Rollie thought, Tully should have checked in by now.

Rollie stood, took his Glock 21C out of his desk drawer, and put it into a holster attached to his belt in the small of his back. Maybe I ought to run by Tully's place before I send out the troops, Rollie thought. He had a key to Tully's apartment and let himself in. The place was a shambles.

One of the two big easy chairs usually in front of the fireplace was pushed against the wall and the other one was lying on its side. The big screen TV had been knocked off its stand onto the floor; it had a big crack across the screen. There were three table lamps on the floor. One of the metal ones was bent almost in half and had a blood smear on it; as if it had been used as a weapon. Rollie's practiced eye saw the two bullet holes in the far wall. Guess that answers a lot of questions, he thought. 

Rollie made several calls, trying to track down his friend with no success. Then he made two more calls. The first was to his one of his Confidential Informants. Calvin had been "working" as a CI for Rollie for a number of years while he was a detective and continued after Rollie left the force. He was the largest fence for stolen merchandise in the St. Louis area, but he knew a lot of street people who were on the fringes and the wrong side of legal. Rollie had kept Calvin from going to jail and now the men were friends.

The second call was to Ricky Willard; a "reformed" computer hacker and geek who worked for the St. Louis Police Department. He could find most anything and everything if it was posted on a computer someplace. Ricky would track Tully's credit cards and bank account to see if they showed activity. 

Rollie tried to call Missouri Tactical Academy but got an answering machine. He got into his truck and drove out of St. Louis to the facility. The Academy instructed civilians in proper shooting techniques and held Concealed Carry Permit classes. They also instructed and trained policemen and even military personnel in urban tactical situations. It was run by a group of former military and police personnel. Tully was the majority owner and head instructor.

"Hey Rollie," Ray Jenson said as Rollie entered the office. Ray was also one of the owners.

"Hi Ray. I called earlier and got your voice mail. You all by yourself?"

"Sorry, I've got desk duty today but I had to step out to the shooting bays and explain some safety procedures to a new client. Ever since Mike Thomas left us, I've been doing double duty."

"Yeah, I heard Mike sold his share of the business to you guys. Why'd he leave?"

"He moved to North Carolina to be with his son and his family. They've got three kids now and Mike wanted to be closer to his grandkids." Ray smiled, "Tully's the one that bought Mike's share. Makes me the minority stockholder. What did you need?" Ray asked.

You seen Tully in the last day or so?"

"No, in fact I was just gonna call him with a reminder. He's got a class for some of the rookie Hillsboro police this afternoon."

"Tully won't miss an appointment. Have him give me a call when he shows up," Rollie said. He didn't go into details about Tully's strange actions and the condition of his apartment. No need to get people freaked out, he thought.

"Sure thing. Nice to see you Rollie. Come back sometime and we'll have another shooting contest." Ray grinned. "I want a chance to win my money back."

Nodding, Rollie smiled and waved as he left the office. He didn't want to get Ray and the other instructors at the Academy involved just yet, he thought. Like Tully, almost all of them were former Marines, Seals, or Green Beret. They'd treat this situation like a search and destroy mission. If Tully's in trouble, they might chase whoever is involved underground. 

He headed back to Tully's place again. Maybe I missed something, he thought. The previous time he'd checked the place, he'd just walked in and called out for Tully; this time he stopped just inside the door and let his eyes slowly examine the living room. Then he saw something he'd missed the first time.

Tully had lost his right leg, below the knee, to an IED while serving in Iraq. He wore a state of the art, titanium and carbon fiber, prosthetic leg. The prosthesis was lying under the coffee table in front of the sofa with one of the sofa cushions over it. Rollie walked over, bent down, and picked up the device. Tully might go off on his own to work something out or to get his head straight, but he'd never leave his leg behind, Rollie thought.

On the floor under the coffee table was a brochure for Missouri Tactical Academy. Rollie looked closer at the glossy pamphlet. It was opened to the second page, which had a mark on one section. It looked like someone had used a fingernail or something to underscore and mark one line. That line was one that advertized that the Academy had several fully automatic weapons on site; both for rental with the right permit and for instruction. 

While on the St. Louis Police Department, Rollie had been, if not the best, one of the best detectives in the Precinct 16 squad and the Department for that matter. The intuition that made him a good detective came into play. Why would Tully have an advertisement for his own business in a prominent place on his table? And why would he or someone mark a section? 

After another hour of searching, Rollie went home. In spite of his concern for his friend, he had to smile when he entered his apartment. Jess was cooking, standing at the stove barefoot and wearing one of Rollie's shirts. Nothing sexier than a woman in a man's shirt, he thought; especially when she's as beautiful as Jess.

Dr. Jessica Talbert had been the therapist for Rollie's wife, Susan, after she had been attacked and raped. Jessica and Rollie had talked several times while Susan was in therapy. When Susan committed suicide, Jessica approached Rollie to help him with his grief. They later worked closely together when Jessica was brought in as sort of police profiler on a serial rapist case. Their relationship built quickly after the rapist was caught.

They had discussed marriage and decided they liked things just as they were at least for now. Jessica had been married after a two year live in relationship, but it ended in divorce. She said things changed after the wedding and they sort of lost who they were. After Rollie's wife ended her life, he wasn't sure he wanted to get married again so the hurt for each was still close to the surface. Rollie and Jess were totally committed to each other and neither thought a ceremony or paper work could make their life any better.

"Hi Sailor, looking for a good time? Jessica turned to greet Rollie. The shirt's top three buttons were undone and the resulting view when she turned proved that she was wearing nothing but the shirt. She saw the look on his face and asked, "What's wrong Rollie?"

"Tully's sort of missing," he replied. Rollie explained Julie's call and what he'd found at Tully's place. He laid Tully's prosthesis on the coffee table. Tully wouldn't go on a 'walk about' or bug out without telling me and he certainly wouldn't go without this."

Jessica walked over, hugged Rollie, and said, "You're right Rollie, something has happened to our big brother."

"I don't know what yet, but I'll find him," Rollie promised.

Later Jessica said, "Julie still hasn't heard from Tully and I know you'll find him but is there anything I can do to help?"

"Not that I can think of, but I'll let you know if something comes up. In the mean time, I've got Calvin and some other CIs checking for info on the street; also told him to find out anything about weapons deals. Talked to Frank Wendt down at Precinct 16; he said he'd put out a BOLO on Tully. Said if it's a false alarm, he'd fade the heat; but he agrees with me that something isn't Kosher." Rollie paused. "That pamphlet on Tully's table has me concerned. Jessica nodded and Rollie continued, "I think whatever is going on has something to do with Missouri Tactical."

"In what way?" Jessica asked. By now she'd learned to trust Rollie's instincts.

"Nothing solid, just a feeling. What I do know is that Tully's in trouble." Jessica raised an eyebrow and Rollie continued. "Tully's place has been trashed. Someone was looking for something or there was a fight or maybe both. Tully's leg was left at the apartment; he would never leave it behind. You know how much he hates using crutches. And I still can't shake that pamphlet I found under the table with the markings by the full auto advertisement."

Rollie's cell gave out its annoying ringtone, something Jessica had programmed into it. They'd been to a concert at the Fox Theater and one of the songs, "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, really seemed to strike a note with Jessica. The next day she programmed the song into both of their phones as a ringtone. 

"I can't believe a woman as intelligent and well educated as you would get all mushy and worked up about a song," Rollie protested the first time his cell rang. They were sitting side by side on the large sofa in their apartment.

Jessica moved over, sat in Rollie's lap, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "It reminds me of us," she replied. After that statement, Rollie didn't dare delete the ring tone from his phone.

"Chambers," Rollie answered. "Oh, hi Ray." Jessica listened to Rollie's side of the conversation. "No I haven't heard from Tully either. He missed his class with the Hillsboro Police? Yeah, that's not like him at all. I think something's not right. I was at his apartment after I talked to you." Rollie explained what he'd found at Tully's, including the marked pamphlet.

"I think whatever is going on involves you guys. Y'all keep frosty, but we don't need your crew going on a recon or search and destroy mission just yet. Yeah, okay, I'll call you as soon as I get any more intel."

He hung up and turned to Jessica. "That was Ray; Tully missed an instructional class today."

"I heard," she replied. "You're right, something is wrong." She took Rollie's hand. "You've got to find him, Rollie. He's family."

Nodding his head, Rollie said, "I'll go see Calvin tonight; see if he's heard anything."

********************

Rolling to his side, Tully looked around the room. His hands were tied behind him and his legs were tied together above his knees. Bastards could have brought my leg, he thought. I can't believe I let these assholes take me; must be getting old.

Tully had answered the knock at his door without checking the peephole. Maybe Julie came over to tell me she's not going to that damn reunion, he was thinking. Before he could react, the man at his door stuck a hypodermic needle in Tully's chest and pushed the plunger. Tully grabbed the man and started to beat on him. Three others jumped in and the battle was on.

Got to finish this, Tully thought as he fought the four men. He was giving as good as he got but he could feel the effects of whatever was in that shot affecting him. Tully threw one of his assailants against the wall and grabbed another man's head and was just about to twist the guy's neck so he'd be looking over his shoulder but the others wrestled Tully to the floor. Very little time passed before the drug turned Tully into a zombie. 

Now, lying on what felt like a cold tile floor over concrete, Tully was on his side with his hands tied behind him and trying to decide which one of the four men he would kill first. They've got me trussed up like a hog tied steer, he thought. Smells like we're on the riverfront. Probably one of those old buildings north of Laclede's Landing. The sound of a tugboat's loud fog horn could be heard. Yep on the river, Tully thought. He took a closer look at the four men who jumped him.

The apparent leader was a Hispanic, who the others call Jorge. The other three were a black man, Tyrone, an Asian, Chang, and a white guy, Tommy. They each wore a satin jacket with a large circle embroidered on the back and a smaller one over the left breast in front; in the center of each circle were the script letters SLRC. Strange mix for a gang, Tully thought. He must have grunted or something because Jorge came over to check on him.

"Back with us old man?" Jorge bent and checked the ropes on Tully.

"I'm gonna show you old man when I get loose," Tully replied. 

"Like you did before?" The young man laughed and kicked Tully in the side.

"You drugged me or I wouldn't be here." Tully's eyes were hard and cold. "I'm gonna rip off your arm and beat you to death with it boy."

Jorge saw the look in Tully's eyes and in spite of the "old man" being tied up, stepped back. "Shut this old fool up," he ordered. Tommy came over, stuffed a dirty piece of cloth into Tully's mouth and used a strip of duct tape to keep the gag in place.

The four men gathered in the middle of the room and talked among themselves, ignoring Tully for the time being. Rolling closer to the wall behind him, Tully managed to get into a seated position and leaned back. Tyrone watched their captive until he was sure Tully wasn't trying anything. After a few minutes, Tully let his chin droop down onto his chest as if he was sleeping.

The group's voice rose in an argument. "Pipe down," Tommy said in a stage whisper voice. "The old man will hear us."

"Like what's he gonna do," Chang said. "He's under control and pretty soon he'll give us what we want." Chang looked at Jorge. "Then we can get rid of him. Right?"

"Not until we get the weapons in our hands and get away," Jorge answered and then he smiled. "Then you can have him Chang."

In spite of his appearance, Tully was paying close attention to the discussion. Weapons? He asked himself. Must be something to do with the Academy.

"When are we gonna get the guns?" Tyrone asked.

"My guy says the full autos aren't prepped yet," Jorge answered. "He said they are packed in Cosmoline."

"What's Cosmoline?" 

"It's a sort of a gel, like Vaseline, only thicker. They use it to rust proof guns and it's a bitch to get off. So we'll let the boys at Missouri Tactical clean em up and then we'll take them."

"This guy you talk about, who is he?" It was Tommy asking.

"Name's Brian Davis; he owes me money. It was either help us or go to the hospital; maybe even to the morgue. After the deal with Delgato fell though, I contacted Brian." Jorge smiled and added, "All we have to do now is wait. Soon as the guns are prepped, we'll force this old fool to give us the security codes to get into the building. It'll be just like shopping in a grocery store. Maybe we can call it 'Guns or Us'."

So that's what they wanted me for, Tully thought. Jorge my friend, Tully said silently, you'll play hell getting those codes.

********************

Driving his old beat up truck, Rollie parked in front of Calvin's "pawn shop" on Chouteau Avenue. The area was a run down, inner city slum, with many boarded up stores and houses. Glad I didn't drive the Vette, Rollie thought, observing the less than upstanding residents hanging out on the street.

He saw, what the politically incorrect, would call a wino, leaning against the front of Calvin's place. He was eyeing the old truck; his thoughts of scoring enough for alcohol apparent on his face. Rollie walked over to the man, took a $20 bill out of his pocket and tore it in half. "Tell anybody that gets around my truck that it's not worth dying for," Rollie said and slid back his jacket showing his Glock 21C. 

He handed half of the twenty to the man. "If nobody bothers my truck, I'll give you the other half when I come back." The wino stood up straighter, took the half of the bill and nodded. He walked over and leaned against a light pole near the truck, looking like a mangy guard dog.

"Hey Rollie," Calvin called out a greeting from the back of his shop. He saw the serious look on Rollie's face and swallowed the smart ass remark he'd intended to make.

"Heard anything Calvin?" Rollie didn't return his CI's greeting or the smile; he wasn't in the mood to be social able. 

"No hello, no how are you, nothing," Calvin replied. He saw Rollie's eyes get hard and quickly added, "Yeah, heard a couple of things."

"Sorry Calvin," Rollie said. "I guess I'm running a little hot right now." He walked over and shook Calvin's hand. "So what did you hear?"

"Haven't heard anything about Tully, still got the word out on him. But something else interesting popped up. You know Anonymous Andy?" Rollie nodded his head. "He tolt me a guy came to see him lookin to score some guns. Not a gun, but guns. 

Andy is like me, we don't deal in that shit. Jewels, paintings, silver service, yeah but not guns; too dangerous for my blood." Rollie waited, not too patiently and motioned for Calvin to get to the point.

"Andy said he tolt the guy to check with a cat named John Delgato; he's got that place down the street from Union Station. It's called Mississippi Nights; he owns the place and does his business out of the back room. You know the place I mean?"

"Yeah, used to be a good place to listen to blues," Rollie answered. "But with Union Station going downhill the whole area has gotten a little rough." 

"Delgato was tryin to put a deal together but he needed time to get the goods. The buyer reneged on the deal and booked. Seems he didn't want to wait so long and word is, Delgato was tryin to clear enough to retire on." Calvin reached under the counter and pulled out a bottle of good bourbon. He sat two glasses on the counter and motioned with the bottle to Rollie. Getting a nod, he poured the drinks. Calvin took a sip. "Don't know the buyer, neither does Andy" 




The Crusader Ch. 09



"Delgato Hispanic?" 

"Only his name. From what I hear, his father was some kind of big shot along the Mexican border in Texas; El Paso I think. Anyway he came to St. Louis after some guy and met a woman. They had a thing and Delgato was the result."

"His father still in the picture?"

"Nope. Father's dead. He found the guy he was lookin for. Seems his machismo crap from Texas wasn't such a big deal after all. "

"I bet this Delgato knows the buyer," Rollie offered. "And he might just be a little pissed that the buyer jumped ship on him." Rollie paused in thought and then said, "I think it's time I paid Mr. Delgato a visit." Rollie finished his drink, thanked Calvin and turned to leave. As he got to the door, Calvin called out.

"Rollie, be careful. This Delgato cat is the real deal; he's not like his father. He might not like you askin questions."

"Don't much care if he does. I've got a feeling that Tully got involved some way with that gun deal. Delgato will tell me what he knows or he won't be doing business in St. Louis again; maybe he won't be doing business, period."

Calvin had seen Rollie agitated and involved before but he'd never seen him this intense; or angry. He'd never seen Rollie's eyes so hard and deadly looking. I feel sorry for Delgato if he gives Rollie any crap. He waved at Rollie as he left the shop. 

Rollie's truck was untouched and unharmed. Walking over to the derelict, Rollie handed him the other half of the $20 bill. "Good job man," he said and climbed into his truck. 





The Crusader Ch. 09



"The South Side belongs to the Deutschlanders," Rollie said. "They won't like the competition."

"Yeah, the Krauts are gonna be real put out," Calvin replied. "They'll put up a fight to keep their territory. I think that's what the busted gun deal was about. The SLRC can't outman the Krauts but they might be able to outgun them."

Rollie thought for a minute. "Tell me about the players."

"The leader is Ernesto Ruiz, aka Jorge Mendoza, and he's the real deal Rollie. He grew up in the barrio in East L.A.; got too hot for him so he came east to St. Louis to live with a cousin. Sometime after he got here he hooked up with Tyrone Jackson, Tommy Smith, and Chang; no first name, it's just Chang."

"I think I ran into Tyrone Jackson when I worked for the Department," Rollie offered.

"You probably did. He's been involved in a lot of stuff over his 25 years. Smith is a leg breaker from the North Side. Chang just sort of showed up. Don't know much about him except that he's a bad ass; knows Kung Fu and Karate and all that martial arts stuff." Calvin looked hard at Rollie. "Be careful with that one Rollie; from what I heard, he's a stone killer; likes to watch people die and stuff. If you go after them, take back up. No need to be a hero. Okay?"

"Thanks Calvin but this isn't my first rodeo. I know a little bit myself."

"Time for you to go young man." The nurse had returned and there was a security officer with her.

"Yes ma'am," Rollie answered with a grin at the officer. "Call me if you need anything Calvin. Thanks."

On his way home, Rollie called his friend Detective Frank Wendt. "Hi Frank. Did Ricky come up with anything on Tully?"

"Not a hint of any credit card usage or anything. Where ever Tully is, he's not using any of them."

"Can you run a few names for me Frank?"

"These guys involved with Tully?"

"Don't really know; all I've got is a feeling," Rollie admitted. He gave Frank the names 

"Call you back shortly," Frank said.





The Crusader Ch. 09



Brian turned a sickly shade of white and eyed the only way out of the shooting bays.

"Don't try it," Rollie ordered and stepped in front of the door. "Even if you get past me, Detective Wendt of the St. Louis Police is waiting on the other side." He shook his head and grimly smiled at Brian. "I don't think you can get past me and of course Ray is out there too. Face it boy, you're screwed. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"If you tell us how you fit in and what the plan is, I'll tell Wendt that you cooperated. Hell, I'll even tell the judge you came to me because you regretted your part." Brian hesitated, thinking about how he could get out from under the storm that was coming.

"I'll tell you what I know and you jump in anytime," Rollie suggested. "I know that Jorge and the SLRC had a deal with Delgato and it fell through. They contacted you and made some kind of deal for you to help them get automatic weapons from Missouri Tactical. I'm pretty sure they kidnapped Tully to get his security codes." Rollie gave the boy a piercing look. "That about right Brian?"

Brian looked at the ceiling took a deep breath and sighed. "I didn't know they were gonna kidnap Mr. Tully; I swear I didn't. I was supposed to tell them when the guns were cleaned up and ready to shoot. Then I was gonna tell them what times the Sheriff's Department made their security sweeps. That's it."

"Why? Did they offer you money or what?"

"I owe some money to Jorge. He said he'd write off the debt if I helped him; he also said he break my legs if I didn't."

"When are they coming to get the weapons?"

"Don't know for sure, but I think it'll be tonight. I called Jorge yesterday and told him the guns were ready and stored in the armory." Brian hung his head and in a soft voice said, "I drew them a map of the complex."

That supported Tully's phone call, Rollie thought. He raised his head and looked at the security camera. "You get all that Frank?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way," Frank answered over the speaker in the bay. He entered, walked over to Brian and put handcuffs on him. 

"You can't arrest me," Brian said. "You got no, what'd you call it, jurisdiction. You're a city cop."

"He's not arresting you," Rollie said. "We're just going to put you somewhere for safe keeping until we deal with your buddy Jorge. Frank, would you lock our boy here in the secure file room please."

"What then Rollie?"

"Guess we'll hide our trucks out back and just hang out and see if Tully shows up." Rollie followed Frank as he led Brian out. After securing their prisoner, they went to the security station that showed the view from the cameras on three monitors. "Now we wait," Rollie said. "Got any coffee Ray?"





The Crusader Ch. 09



Tully stood and using the remaining crutch made his way out of the armory vault. Stiles stepped closer to help him but a withering look from the Gunnery Sergeant made him back away. I could have told you, Rollie thought. If the man wants help, he'll ask for it.

Tully put the hand not holding the crutch on Rollie's shoulder. "Thanks for coming for me," Tully said in a low voice and then followed Rollie down the hallway.

Rollie slowly led Tully toward the entrance. "Wouldn't have come at all if it weren't for those two nagging women," he said over his shoulder. "First Julie and then Jessica were on me to find you; over and over, they ragged on me. Finally I had to come just to get them to shut up."

Tully used his hand to turn Rollie toward him. "For whatever reason you came, thanks."

Rollie nodded, wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and replied, "You're welcome."

"Hello Ray," Sam Rawlings said as the men came to the front of the building. "Didn't know you were involved in this too. Hi Tully. How about you guys telling me what happened."

For the next hour, Tully, with input from Rollie, told Rawlings about the SLRC, their plans, and how Tully got pulled into it. Just as they were finishing, young Deputy Stiles interrupted.

"Sheriff, there's a lady out there that demands to be let in." Stiles swallowed hard and added, "She said if I didn't let her in she was gonna shove my badge up my....well she threatened me. Said she was a friend of Tully's and a guy named Rollie." As if to himself he said, "Never heard a woman go all ballistic like that."

Rollie and Tully looked at each other and smiled. "Jess," Rollie said. "Could you let them in? Bet you Julie is with her too. See I told you, they wouldn't let me alone."

Getting a nod from Tully, Rawlings said, "Bring her into the office Stiles. Be careful she don't turn you over her knee."

A few minutes later two women stormed into the office. Jessica was in the lead and Rollie had never seen her look more beautiful. She was dressed in one of his old shirts over a tight pair of jeans. Her auburn hair was pulled into a long ponytail and her normally fair complexion was tinted red, either from anger or frustration and her freckles stood out.. Jessica's deep blue eyes were as sharp as a laser as she looked around. She spotted Rollie and Tully and with Julie close behind her hurried to their side.

Jessica grabbed Rollie and held herself close to him with her face buried in his neck. "I'm glad you called," she said softly.

Not to be outdone, Julie had pounced on Tully and was softly crying as he held her with his free arm and tried to balance himself with the crutch. "I'm sorry," she repeated over and over.

He patted her on the back answering, "It's okay; everything's alright." Tully looked over Julie's shoulder at Rollie and raised his eyebrows. Rollie just shrugged and Tully went back to holding his woman.

Jessica separated herself from Rollie and when Julie stepped back Jessica hugged the grizzled sergeant too. She handed him the prosthesis she'd brought from his home. Tully sat in an office chair, put on his leg, and stood. He moved back and forth and took a few steps and then threw the crutch down.

Jessica waited for Tully to finish then said "Didn't I tell you not to play with strangers Tully? You never know where they've been."

"Yes ma'am," Tully answered with a grin. Turning to Rawlings he asked, "Are we done here Sam?"

"Yeah. Y'all probably have to come back for the inquest but that don't mean nothing."

"Good. I'm hungry; let's eat."

"Where to?" Rollie asked.

"I want Italian. Think Tony will still let us in Rigazzi's?"

"You're a bit ripe Tully," Jessica answered. "Let's go back to our place and order a big pizza. You can take a shower and clean up."

"Okay, I guess. But no anchovies."