Blondie. Her name was Suzy according to her name tag. She got me up around 6:30 a.m. routinely checked my vital signs, gave me a sponge bath, and half dozen pills of assorted sizes and colors. When she had completed her tasks she left me but promised to return with breakfast shortly. True to her word, she returned about forty-five minutes later with a breakfast consisting of juice, poached eggs, toast and coffee. It went down well, so well I asked if she could bring me another helping. She commented that it was good to see my appetite was back and accommodated my request. Fully fed, the nurse was kind enough to turn on the television.
We settled on channel thirteen, an old movie was playing from the late forties, not the best entertainment one could hope for, but it sure as hell beat the likes of Rosie, Jerry, Sally, Montel and Judge Judy. In truth the television was only background static designed to divert my attention. It didn’t work, my mind was fully absorbed concentrating on the other night, Miles and what the hell had happened. I was deep into my own private thoughts when I heard a loud knock at the door.
“Can you use some company?”
Startled, I looked up to see the Sarge standing in the doorway with a fruit basket in hand, “Sure thing, Sarge. Come on in, glad to see a friendly face.”
He walked into the room slowly. Oddly taking small mincing steps, like he was walking on egg shells. Although we’d been working together for close to ten years, I can’t really say I knew him all that well. Hell, I didn’t know anything about him. Not even sure of his first name let alone his last.
“How you holding up, Mooney?”
“Not bad. My head is a little sore.”
“How’s your arm? I heard you caught one.”
“Yeah, I got lucky. Bullet went through, it’s a little sore, but I’ll live. I really appreciate you coming.”
“Don’t mention it. I’d also like to offer my condolences about Miles. I know you two were pretty close. He was a good boy: I’m going to miss him.”
“We’re all going to miss him, thanks.”
“Mooney as bad as I feel about Miles, that’s not why I’m here.” He seemed to be choking up but somehow found a way to hold his emotions in check. Then he paced nervously to the other side of the room and placed the basket on the chair. He took a moment to collect himself and then turned to face me.
“I got some more bad news for you.”
I could see from the expression on his weathered face that something grave was on his mind.
“Lay it out Sarge,” I replied.
“It’s about Miles death.”
“What about it?”
He looked back coolly, but with no malice. “They’re going to try and pin his murder on you.”
“What are you talking about? I loved Miles like a brother. He was my best friend.”
“I know, I know. I’m here off the record to give you a heads up. I don’t buy their bullshit that you killed Miles but they’ve got some evidence and Slick Tony caught the case. You know damn well he’s not going to do you any favors. Then there’s the Commissioner. I don’t have to tell you he hates your guts.”
Still in shock, I responded, “Fuck Tony and the commissioner, what evidence?”
“You know it’s my ass if this ever gets out.”
“I appreciate that, Sarge, but I need to know what they’ve got.”
“Okay then. Miles was killed with your gun; the slug they took out of you came from Mile’s gun. I don’t have to tell you how damning that is. Between you and me, could it have been a case of friendly fire? Be straight with me Mooney.”
“No fucking way. Miles was on the ground when I got to the alley. He was hurt, but alive when I found him. How the hell do they explain this knot on my head and the fact they found me unconscious.”
“They figure you got knocked off balance and hit your head when you got shot.”
“On what, the ground?”
“There was a dumpster in the alleyway. Your blood was on the corner of it. Mooney, it would be a hell of a lot easier for you if this was a case friendly fire.”
“That’s the second time you mentioned friendly fire. For the second and last time, it wasn’t. Just so we’re straight, there’s no way I’m going down that road, so we’ll end that topic of discussion here. What else have they got?”
“They’ve got you on a lot of circumstantial stuff, mostly procedure.”
“I called it in.”
“Yeah, and you gave them a wrong address. You didn’t wait for back up, hell you didn’t even wait for confirmation from the dispatcher. You know better than that. You and I both know you screwed up.”
The sarge’s last words hit me pretty hard, he was right. “What’s my motive supposed to have been?”
“You don’t want to hear it.”
“Yeah, I do. Spit it out.”
“Tony’s laying out the theory that you may be the serial killer and Miles got onto you.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Yeah, everybody thinks it pretty lame. Hell, even the brass doesn’t buy it and you know how dumb those bastards can be. They think it’s more likely that you and Miles were dirty. You can expect a call from Internal Affairs.”
“When?”
“Later today. The chief and an assistant DA will be with him.”
“You seem to know an awful lot, Sarge.” He looked away not answering. I had to press him, had to try and find out who was feeding him all the information.
“Where’s the chief stand in all this?”
“He asked me to come by and see you. He can’t help you, his hands are tied. He figures this is going to get ugly.”
“Uniforms on the door, they ain’t there to keep people out, are they?”
“No, they’re guarding you. Off the record you’re under house arrest. They’re here to make sure you stay put.”
“Thanks for the heads up. You better get out of here before someone sees you. The guy on the door, is he cool?”
“He’s okay. He’ll keep his mouth shut. No one knows I’m here, keep it that way. One more thing Mooney.”
“What? More good news?”
“They found drugs in your system.”
“What drugs?”
“I don’t know, the drugs popped up in the blood work they did on you.”
“That
