Hee.
Thanks so much for the reviews! And don't worry
Jenna, it's okay.
Glad you liked those chapters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miami Dade Crime Lab, 11am
Tripp: *looking down at folder*
Tom: *walks over* You paged me?
Tripp: *hands over folder* You got a case.
Tom: ...Excuse me?
Tripp: You'll be accompanying Boa Vista and Speedle to a scene.
Tom: *lifts brow* Speedle.
Tripp: Don't worry, this one doesn't hate you. Josh Speedle. He's a little 'out there' for my tastes but he's fairly easy to get along with and that's something you need.
Tom: I don't work homicides.
Tripp: You work Robbery/Homicide. This scene was both. Head over to Coral Gables, the address is in the folder.
Tom: B-
Tripp: *walks away*
Tom: *frowns*
Ash's Jewels, Coral Gables
Tom: *closes car door*
Natalia: *walks over* You the detective?
Tom: So they tell me.
Natalia: Great, there are about 17 witnesses in the jewelry store that you need to talk to while Josh and I collect the evidence.
Tom: Wait, hold on. What am I supposed to ask them?
Natalia: ...What they saw.
Tom: *scratches head* Is the dead body still in there?
Natalia: Yeah we're just waiting on the M.E.
Tom: And you want me to...go in there.
Natalia: That's your job.
Tom: Right. I can do this.
Inside jewelry store
Tom: *pulls out pen and paper*
Natalia: *walks over to glass case*
Tom: *chews pen* ...
Girl: *crosses arms*
Tom: So uh...what happened?
Girl: Some dude came in here guns blazing and took out the manager, stole a bunch of jewelry and left.
Tom: Uh huh...did you know the manager?
Girl: ...Yes. She was the manager. You know, my boss? I'm pretty sure I've met her before.
Tom: *scribbling on paper* ...And what was the manager's name again?
Near glass case
Natalia: Poor guy.
Josh: *lifts head*
Natalia: He doesn't have a clue what he's doing.
Josh: Who is he?
Natalia: *laughs* You haven't heard of Tom Carter? He's probably the biggest screw-up cop to hit Miami. He got busted for drug use a while ago and instead of firing him, they slapped him on the wrist and sent him to treatment. If you ask me, he should be sharpening pencils for a living.
Josh: *nods*
Natalia: I'll go see if I can get the security footage from this morning. *walks away*
Josh: *kneels, opens kit*
Tom: *walks over* Hey.
Josh: Hi. *picks up swab*
Tom: One of the witnesses said the guy with the gun broke one of the cases with his bare hand so you might have some blood.
Josh: Thanks, I'll be on the lookout.
Tom: *points* That the manager?
Josh: Mhm. 3 gunshot wounds to the chest.
Tom: What are you doing?
Josh: Collecting fibers.
Tom: I thought you aren't supposed to touch the body.
Josh: I'm not touching the body, I'm touching the fibers. You see this?
Tom: Yeah, the clothes are wrinkled in the front chest area.
Josh: *points* And this.
Tom: Her neck is scratched...there's a necklace on the floor. Someone grabbed her before shooting her?
Josh: Looks like it.
Tom: Witnesses say the guy just started shooting.
Josh: At this point, that's not what the evidence says.
Tom: *laughs* Wait a second, I
have heard of you. You're the fag, right?
Josh: *lifts head*
Tom: That is
so not natural. Try not to go all 'Brokeback' on me. *walks away*
Josh: *stares blankly*
Natalia: *walks over* What was that about?
Josh: *stands, writes on folder* Nothing relevant to the case.
APL Manhttan Miami, lobby
Scott: *walks in*
Tina: *looks over* Sir! *runs over* Was there a meeting scheduled for today?
Scott: No, I just came by to check on things and see how you're doing.
Tina: We're doing great.
Donna: *steps off elevator*
Tina: Donna!
Donna: *gasp* MISTER FINCH! *runs over, hugs Scott*
Scott: *laughs, wraps arms around Donna* Hey. How are you?
Donna: Totally bummed out. Why'd you leave?
Scott: I was asked to lend a hand in New York.
Donna: Permenantly?
Scott: *nods* I guess.
Donna: *hugs tighter* It's not fair.
Scott: *looks at Tina*
Tina: She's been like that all week.
Scott: Donna, it's alright. I still live in Miami and I'll be stopping in here at least twice a week.
Donna: *lifts head* Really?
Scott: *smiles* Really.
Donna: Good. Oh, right. There I go still with the hugging. *lets go* Sorry.
Mark: *steps off elevator* YOU.
Tina: *looks over*
Mark: You're
firing me?
Tina: *sigh* You don't do your job, Mark.
Mark: Well maybe if your deadlines weren't so damned impossible to reach, I wouldn't have a problem doing my job! And what the hell is HE doing back!
Scott: Mark, calm down.
Mark: No. No, I'm not going to calm down. This job was all I had! I worked my ASS off to get where I am!
Tina: Well you got too comfortable with slacking off and you've received many warnings to change your behaviour, especially with the female employees. I didn't see any other alternative.
Mark: Yeah? How's this for an alternative? *pulls out gun*
Donna: *screams*
Tina: *lifts hands* Whoa, chill out. There's no need for this.
Mark: My life is over because of you.
Tina: There are other jobs.
Mark: Not for a guy that has 'fired' on his resumé. *pulls slide back*
Tina: So you're going to kill me? What the hell will that solve?
Mark: Doesn't matter. I'm just going to kill myself with it after.
Tina: *stares at Mark*
Mark: *lifts gun*
Scott: *steps in front of Tina* Why don't you and I have a talk. Just us.
Mark: Why.
Scott: Because they became my responsibility the second I stepped into this lobby so if you want to shoot someone, start with me.
Mark: *stares at Scott*
Scott: But I would much prefer it someone didn't have to call my wife and little girl and tell them I'm not coming home. I'm also sure Donna and Tina's families would appreciate that as well.
Mark: *looks at Donna*
Donna: *crying*
Scott: Tina, did you put the paperwork through?
Tina: No.
Scott: *looks at Mark* We can still fix this. I can have you placed elsewhere within the company for exactly what you were making or even a little more.
Mark: No you can't. I pulled a gun on everyone, I'm either going to prison or I'm dying.
Scott: Everyone has bad days, Mark. And you haven't hurt anyone.
Mark: *shakes head* You'll call the cops as soon as I drop it. You're not gonna let someone who held a gun to 3 people just walk out of here with a better job.
Scott: You're a good guy, Mark. *steps forward*
Mark: *cocks gun*
Scott: *stops*
Mark: This is my party and I say what happens. And you...you have irritated the
hell out of me since I met you. You think you're so perfect and invincible. Well guess what, you're not. *pulls trigger*
BAM
Scott: *blinks, holds chest*
Donna: *screams*
Mark: *puts gun to head*
Tina: *covers Donna's eyes*
BAM
Mark: *falls over, dead*
Tina: *runs over to Scott* Scott.
Scott: *grabs onto Tina, falls over*
Tina: *kneels* Scott, you'll be okay. *presses on Scott's chest* Donna, call 9-1-1.
Donna: *staring at Scott*
Tina: DONNA!
Donna: *nods, runs over to reception desk*
Tina: *looks down* Scott, look at me.
Scott: *winces*
Tina: Everything's going to be fine.
Scott: *groans* Call my wife.
Tina: *nods* I'll call her. I guess uh...I guess you were wrong about Mark.
Scott: Ugh.
Tina: Well it was good to see you, either way.
Scott: Yeah and to think *winces* ugh, to think I was going to stay home this afternoon.
Tom: *walks in, holds radio up* Yeah, I'm at the APL building. Rescue's about 2 minutes out. *looks over* Okay wha'd I get called all the way from a crime scene to?
Tina: Uh...attempted murder-suicide?
Tom: Great. People are just droppin' like flies in this damn city. *walks over* Youch...Scott.
Scott: *looks at Tom*
Tom: *stares at Scott*
Tina: ...You two know each other?
Tom: *takes off overcoat, kneels* Here, use this.
Tina: *presses overcoat down*
Tom: How do you feel, there buddy?
Scott: I am...not your buddy.
Tom: Perfect. *smiles* He's not going delirious.
Scott: *frowns*
Tom: Funny how I'm always around just in time to save your ass.
Scott: Oh I think that'll be for the doctors to do. UGH!
Tom: Well do you want pressure or not?
Scott: *coughs*
Tom: *looks at Tina*
Tina: *looks down at floor*
Hospital, emergency room, 5 hours later
Lori: *leaning on desk* I've been here forever, don't you know
anything about his condition?
Woman: There are hundreds of other patients and hundreds of other people wondering the exact same thing so why don't you have a seat and I'll get to you when I call you.
Lori: *leans elbow onto desk, rubs forehead* I just want to know if he's alive.
Woman: What's the patient's name?
Lori: Scott Finch.
Woman: Okay. When I know, you'll know.
Lori: Do all you reception people go to some class about how to railroad everyone and never give straight answers? Jesus Christ, you're worse than the DMV.
Doctor: *walks over* Lori Finch.
Lori: *stands straight, turns around* That's me.
Doctor: Your husband's in recovery, the bullet hit his upper right chest area and missed all of the vital organs. We retrieved the bullet and repaired most of the damage but of course we will be keeping him here until we're sure everything's kosher.
Lori: *nods*
Doctor: That man must have an angel on his shoulder.
Lori: Can I see him?
Doctor: He's upstairs, room 202.
Lori: Thank you.
Doctor: *walks away*
Lori: *runs over to chairs*
Tom: You going to take the mini-you?
Lori: I don't want her to see him like that. Would you mind watching her for a little while?
Tom: Haven't I done enough for you people lately?
Lori: *sigh* ...It's only for a few minutes. I just need to see him.
Tom: Then at least pay me.
Lori: Whatever you want. *runs away*
Tom: *looks down at Steph*
Steph: *chewing on blanket*
Tom: Yuck.
Upstairs, room 202
Lori: *runs in* Hey.
Scott: *looks over*
Lori: How do you feel?
Scott: ...Like I just got shot.
Lori: *smirks* Tina told me you basically took a bullet for her.
Scott: Yeah, it was pretty stupid. That's why negotiation is its own profession.
Lori: You need to stop stealing careers from people.
Scott: Is Stephanie here?
Lori: She's downstairs with Tom.
Scott: *frowns*
Lori: She's fine.
Scott: ...Lori, I'm so sorry. I...I should have just stayed out of it. I could have gotten killed.
Lori: *nods* Yeah. Yeah, you could have.
Scott: ...Mark was right.
Lori: What do you mean?
Scott: The last words he said to me were that I wasn't invincible. I have got to stop putting everyone's safety ahead of mine. I don't want Stephanie to grow up without a father because he was...*sigh* this is the third time. It's enough.
Lori: Thinkin' about throwin' in your cape, huh.
Scott: *scoffs* In so many words.
Lori: *grabs Scott's hand* Get some rest, okay?
Scott: You're leaving?
Lori: I need to go relieve the babysitter of his duties before he gives up altogether and then I'll be visiting more than one Finch in the hospital. Then again...I think if anything happened to Steph,
Tom would be the one getting himself a room.
Scott: *smiles*
Lori: I'll be back. *stands*
TBC.................................
