THE
DETECTIVES OF THE 9TH PRECINCT
SERIES
“SAVING
GRACE”
PART
2
“What’s that?” Steve asks.
“Soup and a sandwich, I know you haven’t
eaten and you wont do Grace any good if you end up in the hospital yourself. So
eat it.”
Steve takes it then Neal sits down next
to him as Steve unwraps the sandwich.
“Have you heard anything yet?” Neal
asks.
Steve shakes his head as he takes a bite
out of the sandwich. “No, every so often the nurse will come out and tell me
that soon the doctor will be out to talk to me, but Neal it’s been hours. I
don’t know if she’s….” Steve looks at the floor. “I don’t know.”
Neal puts his hand on the back of
Steve’s head.
“Neal remember when I told you if the
woman I loved have been raped and murdered I would want you to tell me the
truth?”
“Yeah Steve I remember.”
“Now lie to me.” Steve replies as he
looks at Neal.
“Steve she was alive when we got there
and when we found out that she was alive we called for the ambulance immediately.”
Just then the door to the examination
room opens and the doctor finally comes out Steve and Neal get to their feet.
“Which one of you is Mr. Perry?” The
doctor asks.
“I am.” Steve replies as he raises his
hand. “Can I see her?”
“Mr. Perry I think tomorrow would be
better.” The doctor replies.
“Is she going to be alright?” Neal asks.
“According to the nurse you two are
Detectives and Mr. Perry you are her boyfriend?”
They nod their heads.
“I speak to you as detectives first;
Miss Evans was beaten within an inch of her life, literally. She has a very
strong will to live because most people in her condition would have died. She
fought hard for her life, her forearm is broken, and she has numerous bruises, cuts,
possible internal injuries….”
“Was she raped doctor?” Steve asks
slowly.
“No but there were signs of consensual
sex recently.” The doctor replies.
“That was me; she spent the night with
me last night.” Steve replies.
The doctor makes a note in her chart as
he nods his head. “I see and now speaking to you as a boyfriend Mr. Perry. When
you see her tomorrow she will not be the same, young beautiful woman you saw
last night. Her face will be swollen….”
“Doc I don’t care what she looks like I
just want to know that’s she going to be alright!” Steve replies.
“I know you do Mr. Perry but I am just
giving you fair warning, she’s in a great deal of pain, she is in and out of
consciousness….”
“Okay doctor I get this feeling that
there is something you aren’t telling me, what is it?” Steve asks.
“Mr. Perry….” The doctor tries to say.
“Tell me….!!”
“She may have brain damage….” The doctor
replies.
“What?” Neal exclaims.
“Brain….? Doctor are you sure?” Steve
asks.
“No I’m not sure. She was without oxygen
for a significant amount of time but time will tell. Right now she needs to
rest….”
“Can’t I doc just see her for a
minute….?” Steve asks.
“Mr. Perry do you love this woman?” The
doctor asks.
Steve looks over at Neal. “More than
anything….”
“Then you will wait until tomorrow.” The
doctor puts his hand on Steve’s arm. “Please son wait until tomorrow.”
“I….alright. Can you tell her that I was
here and that I love her….” Steve
replies as Neal puts his arm around his shoulders.
“Yes son I can do that for you.” The
doctor replies.
“Come on Steve….” Neal replies as he
turns him towards the exit.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.” Steve says as
he looks back over his shoulder at the doctor.
“Tony stay here and watch the door.”
Neal instructs the uniform officer as they walk off.
THE 9TH
PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM LATER THAT DAY:
“Are you sure you want to do this now?”
Neal asks.
“Yes I’m sure.” Steve replies.
“Okay earlier you said that you were
doing research, where were you doing research?” Neal asks.
Steve takes a deep breath. “At the
newspaper office….”
Neal looks shocked. “You mean where
Wendy works?” Neal asks.
“Yeah….” Steve replies as he nods.
“Why did you go over to the side of the
enemy?” Neal asks.
“Neal she isn’t the enemy.”
“She isn’t? Since when, come on Steve!!”
Neal exclaims.
“I went over there because she was the
only one who could help me….help us. When Gracie and I were out to dinner she
told me a lot about her life and all the different places she had lived. The
entire time I was at the newspaper I was praying to god that I was wrong….put
then everything fell into place.”
“What things?” Neal asks.
“This….” Steve reaches into his bag and
he pulls out a notepad. “I only went back three years. Three years ago Gracie
and her step-father was living in
“According to this there were also
personal articles missing from the body, jewelry, things like that.”
“Yeah that’s right.” Steve replies.
“So you think….” Neal looks at Steve.
Steve bites on a pencil eraser as he
nods. “Yeah I do….”
Neal thinks a deep breath. “I have a
tendency to agree with you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah I do and it was Erik that
convinced me.” Neal replies.
“Erik, our Erik Cox?”
“Yeah, do you remember when Erik said
that he was framed?” Neal asks.
Steve taps the pencil on his forehead.
“Yeah I do why?”
“Because I believe him and I also
believe that Randy Evans was framing him and Randy Evans sounds familiar to you
doesn’t it?”
Steve nods. “Randy Evans is Gracie’s
step-father, why does Erik think….?”
“Because there were a number of
occasions where Grace came out to the docks where Randy worked and of course
all the guys noticed her but Erik really noticed her. Every time she came out
there Erik would ask her out and he even admitted he came on hard to her, but
she always turned him down. Randy saw all of this and he didn’t like it….”
“That fits with what Gracie told me. Her
step-father would scare all the guys off that showed any interest in her. Look
in this folder Neal of the victims and tell me what you see.” Steve replies as
he hands Neal the folder.
Neal opens it up and as he looks thru it
his eyes widen. “They all look the same, long brownish hair….”
“Now look at this picture.” Steve pulls
another picture out of his bag and he hands it to Neal.
“Karen Mallory.” Neal replies.
Steve shakes his head. “No….”
Neal looks up. “No? But this is Karen Mallory;
this is her high school year book picture.”
“No Neal it isn’t that’s Gracie Evans at
16….the same age as Karen Mallory.”
“What? Oh my god!!” Neal exclaims.
“This is Karen Mallory’s high school
year book picture.” Steve replies as he hands Neal the picture.
The shock is evident on Neal’s face as
he holds the pictures side-by-side. “Oh my god Steve they could be twins….the
resemblance is….”
“Deadly….” Steve replies.
“What does all of this mean?” Neal asks.
“I didn’t know either so I took all of
this to our police psychologist.”
“You mean our Doctor Webb?” Neal asks.
“Yeah the one the police department uses
for us and from everything I told him he came to the conclusion that her
step-father is obsessed with Gracie, probably always has been; that is why he
married Gracie’s mother. He wanted Gracie.”
Neal rubs his face. “Oh my god Steve but
he never….”
Steve shakes his head. “Gracie never came
out and said anything to me she didn’t even admit that she knew what was going
on with him, how he felt about her, but she felt that something wasn’t right.
It was alright when her mother was alive but after she passed away his grip on
Gracie became tighter…..and no he never touched Gracie. Doctor Webb thinks that
is why he started to rape and murder these women that look so much like Gracie,
or at least reminded him of Gracie. Her step-father knew that if he touched
Gracie like he wanted to he would lose her, be taken away from him and he
couldn’t have that happen.”
“And Karen Mallory that day when she
came to the dock, looking so much like Grace back when she was 16 that probably
cause him to snap and that is why he attacked her.” Neal replies.
“That is why her attacked was especially
brutal.”
“Beautiful, young Karen Mallory was in
the wrong place at the wrong time….” Neal replies.
“I’m afraid so….”
“Sweet Jesus….so now we come full circle
and Randy beat her senseless….” Neal replies.
Steve nod his head.
“….But why now I mean what set him
off….?”
Steve looks up at Neal. “….It was me I
set him off.”
“Steve are you sure?”
“That night Gracie told me that I was
the only person that she had spent the night with….ever. She told me that her
step-father wouldn’t like it that she didn’t come home and that he would
probably be mad at her but I thought that she was exaggerating, I told her not
to worry because….”
Steve becomes teary eyed. “….Because I
told her….” Steve covers his eyes as he begins to cry.
Neal goes over and he grabs a chair and
he sits down next to him then he puts his arm around his shoulders. “Steve
don’t….”
“….I told her that I would protect her!
I told her that I’m a cop and nothing would happen to her!!!”
“Steve you didn’t know what he would do,
you couldn’t have known. You can’t save everyone….”
“I don’t want to save everyone Neal but
I should be able to save the woman that I love….saving Grace Neal I should have
been able to….save Grace!”
“Steve don’t do this yourself please
buddy it isn’t your fault. Let’s take all of this to the Captain, we’re get a
warrant and then we go and get him….”
Steve wipes his eyes. “He won’t be
anywhere Neal, not at the apartment and not at work, after he hurt Gracie he
skip town you and I both know that….”
“Alright we’re put out A.P.B. and then a
B.O.L.O and we’re get the evidence we need to put this guy away, so come on
let’s pick this stuff up and talk to the Captain.”
Steve nods his head. “Okay.”
THE
After they kicked down
the door to the apartment and made entry they found out what they had known all
along….that Grace’s stepfather was gone.
Neal and Steve put
their guns back in their holsters after they clear the apartment allowing Robert
and his crime scene workers to collect evidence.
“Steve where are you?”
Neal asks.
“In here.” Steve
replies as he sits on the end of Grace’s bed holding a teddy bear.
“This is like a 12
years old bedroom.” Neal observes.
“Yeah weird isn’t it?
It’s like it’s stuck in a time warp….” Steve replies.
“Robert found the book
bag and the necklace in the living room and cigarette butts in the ashtray.”
“That’s good….” Steve
replies as he gets up and he goes over to her dresser putting on his driving
gloves as he goes and he opens the jewelry box that is sitting there.
“Steve what are you
doing?”
“Looking….”
“Steve none of that
stuff is mentioned in the warrant.”
“I know I’m just
looking.” Steve picks up a necklace. “I wonder how much of this stuff is from
his other victims.”
“There is certainly a
lot of stuff there.”
Steve opens a drawer on
the jewelry box and he gasps loudly.
“What is it?”
“Neal she kept it all
of these years.” Steve replies.
“What?” Neal asks
again.
Steve holds it for Neal
to see. “The promise ring I gave her back in high school, she still has it.”
“It’s beautiful Steve,
is that a diamond?”
“Yeah it isn’t much of
one but back then it was all I could afford working part-time.”
“Hey guys you should
see this.” Robert replies as he sticks his head in the room. Steve puts the
ring back in the jewelry box then they follow Robert into Randy’s bedroom.
“We were looking for
the work boots and we found this.” Robert points to a bulletin board that was
nailed to the closet wall behind the clothes. Tacked up on every inch were
pictures of Grace, at many ages and in many different poses.
“Oh my god.” Steve
exclaims.
“Jesus god almighty….”
“Robert make sure you
get plenty of pictures.” Steve replies.
“I already have….”
Robert replies as he holds up his camera.
“He wasn’t at work and
he wasn’t here….” Neal replies.
“What do they say about
hiding in plain sight?” Steve replies.
They both turn and run
out of the apartment.
“Where’s Tony?” Steve
asks as they run up to the officer who is standing guard at Grace’s door.
“I’m his relief, who
are you?” The officer asks.
Neal pulls out his
badge as they try to catch their breaths. “Detective Schon….”
“Detective Perry.”
Steve says as he shows his badge. “Has anybody been in her room?”
“Just her doctor,
nurses and oh yeah a guy delivering flowers.”
“Flowers? When?” Steve
asks.
The officer looks at
his watch. “Five minutes ago.”
Steve grabs the officer
by his shirt. “Don’t let anybody else go in there!!! Nurses and doctors only!”
“Where did he go?” Neal
asks.
“Up the hallway he
turned to the left….”
“Go Steve I’ll catch up
to you!!” Neal replies.
Even before Neal had
finish his sentence Steve turned and he ran back up the hallway and he turned
left and that hallway lead to an outside entrance. Steve hit the door with all
his strength but once he got out to the parking lot he saw no one. A few
minutes later Neal was by his side.
“Anything?” Neal asks.
“No nothing! Damn it!!!
How’s Gracie?” Steve asks.
“She’s alright she’s
sleeping. It was Randy the officer I.D. his picture.”
“Damn it!!!!” Steve
picks up a rock and he throws it. “He was here! He was this close and we missed
him!” Steve exclaims as he holds his hands up against his head. “Shit!! That’s
it I’m going to spend the night in her room.”
It was
“Steve?”
“Yeah honey it’s me.”
Steve kisses her hand.
“Sorry.”
“Oh no Gracie you have
nothing to be sorry for. I should have been there for you….”
“Scared.”
Steve gets up from the
chair and he sits down on the bed next to her.
“Oh honey I know you’re
scared but it’s going to be alright.” Steve kisses her on her forehead.
“Not pretty.”
“Gracie you will always
be beautiful to me. Gracie honey I know who did this to you….”
Steve feels her tense
up as her hand grips Steve’s harder.
“Gracie honey he won’t
hurt you anymore I swear to you.”
“Love you.”
“Oh Gracie I love you
too.” Steve kisses her hand. “Now go back to sleep and I’ll stay right here.”
“Come on Gracie eat
it.” Steve replies as he holds a spoon full of pudding up to Gracie’s lips but
Gracie stubbornly shakes her head. “Ah come on honey it’s your favorite,
chocolate.”
“No! Don’t want!!!”
Gracie replies.
“Oh you’re a stubborn
woman!!!” Steve exclaims. “You have to eat Gracie.”
“No!!”
Just then the nurse
comes into the room. “Well Mr. Perry?”
Steve shakes his head.
“She won’t eat for me maybe you can get her to.”
“Alright and your
partner is out in the hallway.”
“Thanks.” Steve moves
out of his seat so the nurse can take over. “I’ll be back honey.”
Steve goes out to the
hallway. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself, how’s
Grace?” Neal asks.
“She’s doing okay I
hope you have some good news for her.”
“Actually I do. Randy
was captured in
“That’s great!”
A few minutes later the
nurse comes out of the room carrying the empty tray.
“Wow look at that she
ate everything! She wouldn’t do that for me!” Steve replies.
“Mr. Perry can I talk
to you for a minute?” The nurse asks.
Steve glances at Neal.
“Sure.”
“Mr. Perry I think
Grace would prefer that you didn’t feed her anymore.”
“Oh….” Steve replies.
“She is embarrassed….”
The nurse replies.
“But she doesn’t have
to be….”
“Yes Mr. Perry I know
but that is how she feels.” The nurse replies.
Steve nods his head.
“Alright I understand.”
The nurse puts her hand
on his wrist and she smiles at him then she continues on up the hallway. Steve
takes a deep breath.
“When will you be
back?” Steve asks.
“Tomorrow or the next
day and when we get back we’re going to talk to the D.A. and while we’re gone you
might to start getting all the evidence in order and when Grace feels up to it
she’ll have to give her statement.”
“Okay. It’s just
that….”
“What?” Neal asks.
“Nothing.” Steve
replies. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
THE 9TH
PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM TWO DAYS LATER:
“Steve I thought you
would be at the hospital.” Neal replies.
“She doesn’t want me
there anymore.” Steve replies.
“What?”
“She thinks she’s being
a burden to me, she’s embarrassed because of her injuries. She can’t do what
she did before etc….I suppose you got our suspect back here okay?” Steve
replies changing the subject.
“Oh yeah he’s in the
jail as we speak and by now he’s probably had his first meeting with his lawyer
and soon he’ll go before the judge to enter his plea and guess who his lawyer
is.” Neal replies.
“Jake the snake?” Steve
replies.
“You got it.”
“I suppose that Randy
didn’t confess on the way here did he?” Steve asks.
“No he didn’t.” Neal
replies.
“Damn!”
“We don’t really need a
confession, I mean we have all of this evidence and when Grace gives her
statement, she is the only witness.”
“Next week she’s going
to give her statement. The doctor doesn’t think she should travel so they are
going to do it in her hospital room.” Steve replies.
“Well that is nice of
them.”
The Captain comes out
of his office and he comes over to Steve. “I guess you heard that Jake is going
to represent Randy Evans.”
Steve nods.
“And I received this by
messenger from Randy Evans lawyer. He is demanding….”
“Demanding?” Neal
replies.
“Yes demanding that
Steve steps down as one of the detectives on the case because of a conflict of
interest having to do with the victim Grace Evans.” The Captain replies.
“Can I see that?” Neal
asks.
The Captain hands him
the paper. “It does say that they want Steve to step down….”
“It’s okay I’ll do it.”
Steve replies.
“Steve.” Neal says as
he looks shocked at Steve. “But you can’t I mean you and I worked on this case
together.”
“Neal it’s alright, I
was going to ask you anyway if you could take Grace’s statement I don’t think
she would tell me what happened and I was involved with her, it’s the right
thing to do. I’ll help you get organized for court! You’ve never been good at
that.” Steve replies.
“True.” Neal replies.
“I’m going to go by and
see Grace and tell her that we got him.”
GRAND
JURY HEARING DISTRICT COURT 101 A WEEK LATER:
“Detective Schon.”
Neal turns to see Mr.
Mallory following him down the stairs of the courthouse and he waits for him at
the bottom of the stairs. When Mr. Mallory catches up to him he takes Neal’s
hand and he shakes it.
“I just want to thank
you Detective for finding the man who killed my Karen.”
“Mr. Mallory I’m just
sorry that it took as long as it did.” Neal replies.
Mr. Mallory gestures
around. “All of this is new to me what happens now?”
“Well Mr. Mallory the
grand jury handed down a true bill and now Randy Evans will go before a judge
tomorrow and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.” Neal explains.
“But he is guilty….”
“To you and I he might be guilty but now it will be for a jury or a
judge to decide and until then he is still considered innocent.”
Mr. Mallory shakes his
head. “How do you do this everyday, it must be frustrating.”
“It can be frustrating
because things don’t always go the way we would like them to go but it also can
be rewarding when we help someone like you Mr. Mallory.”
“I wanted to also thank
your partner but I read in the paper that he was taken off of the case?” Mr.
Mallory replies.
“Yes he was and I will
pass your thanks along to him. Can I give you a ride somewhere?”
“No my son went to go
and get the car, we had to park a block away. He told me that he wants to be a
police officer I think you and your partner impressed him.”
“He does? Tell you what
I’ll get some information together about the police academy and I’ll send it to
him.” Neal replies.
“Thank you Detective he
will like that.” Mr. Mallory pauses for a minute. “It gets harder from here
doesn’t it?”
“Mr. Mallory a trial
can bring a sense of closure for the family but at the same time it can cause
pain, sorrow….”
“I am used to that
Detective pain and sorrow have been my constant companion lately. It is a
horrible thing for a parent to bury a child.”
Neal looks at the ground thinking then he
looks up as he takes a deep breath. “Mr. Mallory I don’t know what the D.A. has
planned but with a case such as this they will probably show crime scene photos
of your daughter and say things you may not want to hear or see.”
“Detective I decided to
go all the way with this for Karen. I will be at the trial and after the trial
is over and he is sent to prison I will be at each and every one of his parole
hearings so I am ready.”
Neal puts his hand on
Mr. Mallory’s shoulder. “You’ll do alright Mr. Mallory; I think your son is
here.”
They watch as a car
pulls up to the curb and stops.
“Hi Bruce.” Neal
replies as he opens the passenger side door.
“Hi Detective.” Bruce
replies.
“Your father tells me
that you’re thinking of becoming a cop.” Neal replies.
Bruce looks at his
father. “Yeah I want to do what you do, I want to help people and I want to say
thank you Detective. My sister and I sometimes we didn’t get along, you know
the usual brother and sister thing but I love her and I miss her.”
Neal nods. “I
understand Bruce and we’re being seeing a lot of each other in the coming
weeks. Have a safe drive home.”
They wave at him as
Neal shuts the door and as he stands there watching them drive off the Captain
comes up behind him and he puts his hand on his shoulder.
“Good work Neal, the Grand
Jury returned a True Bill of First Degree murder in this case.”
“Thanks Captain I wish
Steve was here to hear that.”
“Why don’t you tell
him?” The Captain asks.
“I will just as soon as
I make a phone call.” Neal replies.
“Who are you going to
call?”
Neal looks over his
shoulder at the Captain. “Joey, I want to tell my son that I love him. See you
later Captain.”
Neal then steps off of
the curb and he crosses the street to where his car is parked.
“Bonnie can I go in and
see her?” Steve asks the nurse.
Bonnie smiles. “Sure
Steve she is doing much better today she’s in the solarium.”
“Thanks Bonnie.” Steve
replies as he heads off towards the solarium.
Grace by now had
progressed to a wheel chair and that is where she sat when Steve came to her. Steve
walked slowly over to her and he carefully put his hand on her shoulder.
“Grace.”
She turned her head and
looked at him with those eyes that always brought a smile to his lips.
“Steve….”
“Now honey I know that
you told me that you didn’t want me to come here anymore but I can’t stay away,
how can I?”
“It is hard for me….to
have you see me….this way.” Grace says slowly.
Steve kneels down in
front of her and he takes her hand. “Grace I don’t care if you’re in this wheel
chair, I love you and nothing will ever change that.” Steve holds her hand
tighter. “I also want to tell you that Randy was charged with first degree
murder and the trial starts next week.”
Grace nods her head. “I
want to testify….”
Steve looks surprised.
“You do?”
“Yes I want to.” Grace
replies.
Steve smiles at her.
“Oh honey that is great. Can I still come and visit you?”
Grace looks down at his
hand that was still holding onto hers. “You don’t care….that I am different
now? I am slow….not as smart as before.”
“Grace don’t say that,
you have come a long way and I already told you I don’t care about this wheel
chair, I still want us to be together.” Steve puts his hand on her cheek as he
smiles at her. “My Gracie girl I love you.”
A tear rolls down her
face and Steve brushes it away with his thumb. “Don’t cry; remember it makes
your nose all stuffy.”
Grace smiles at this as
she nods her head.
“Look at all of these
plants and I bet you know what each one is don’t you, what is this one?” Steve
asks.
Grace reached out to
touch it then she begins to tell Steve all about it.
THE
OCEANVIEW DAILY EDITION LATER THAT DAY:
Neal thought he had
been seeing things when he thought he had seen Steve going into the newspaper building
so he decided to wait, there was only one person in that building that Steve
would have been there to see, Neal pulled over to the curb and he sat there.
Ten minutes later and
it was no mistaking Steve who bounced his way down the stairs and to the
sidewalk, Neal made a highly illegal u-turn in the middle of the street to
catch up to him and when he did he paced him as he walked down the sidewalk so
Neal leaned over and he rolled down the passenger side window and then he
whistled at Steve.
“Hey sweetheart want a
date?” Neal yells at Steve disguising his voice.
Steve does his best to
ignore him as he continues to walk on.
“Oh come on cutie don’t
be stuck-up!” Neal yells at him.
That causes Steve to
stop and turn. “Look it buddy….” Then when he sees its Neal he waves and he
smiles that goofy smile. “Oh hey Neal….”
“Hey yourself….get in
the car.” Neal opens the passenger side door for him.
Steve laughs. “Well you
know I have my car parked….”
“Get….in….the….car.”
Neal repeats.
“Getting in the car.”
Steve replies as he gets into the car.
“What were you doing in
there?” Neal asks.
“In where?” Steve asks.
“Don’t play with me
Steve I saw you go in there!” Neal replies.
“Oh you saw me go in
there?” Steve asks.
“Yes I did so what were
you doing in there?”
“Nothing.” Steve
replies.
“Nothing?”
“Yeah nothing.” Steve
replies.
“Who did you talk to?”
Neal asks.
“Not a soul.”
“Not a soul?” Neal
asks.
“Yeah she wasn’t there.
Oh damn!!” Steve replies.
“Ha I knew it you were
there to see Wendy weren’t you!”
Steve crosses his arms
over his chest. “Maybe.”
“Steve there isn’t
anybody else there that you know!”
“That isn’t true!!! I
know a lot of other people in there!” Steve replies.
“Name one.” Neal
replies.
“There’s the sports
guy….”
“What’s his name?” Neal
asks.
Steve scratches his
head. “That eludes me at the moment.”
“Steve just tell me the
truth you were there to see Wendy right?”
“Yeah okay I was but
she is already headed over to the arraignment.” Steve replies.
“Why were you going to
talk to her? I mean I can’t believe that you would….”
“If she helped me I
promised to give her an exclusive to this case….” Steve says quickly.
“YOU DID WHAT???!!!”
Neal yells.
“Oh don’t yell for god
sakes!” Steve replies.
“Steve you promised
that woman an exclusive? How could you do that?”
“Because Neal she
helped me with researching Randy Evans that’s why. I tried to tell you this
when it happened but a lot was going on then. She might want to even do a
series of articles on how we solved the case; it was a small price to pay
because it helped us solve this case!!”
“Alright but I’m not
sure that I like it.” Neal replies.
“Neal she has
incredible resources I mean she can find out things that we can’t and we’re the
cops!!”
“Alright, okay let’s go
to the Arraignment….”
“Do you forgive me?”
Steve asks.
“I haven’t decided
yet.”
“Ah come on Neal.”
Steve replies as he pushes Neal’s shoulder with his hand.
Neal starts to smile.
“There you go!! So Neal
you forgive me?”
Neal looks at him.
“Alright Steve I forgive you, this time.” Neal replies as he holds up one
finger.
“Thanks buddy, I’ll buy
you lunch after the Arraignment so lets go!” Steve replies.
OCEANVIEW
COURTHOUSE ARRAIGNMENT LATER THAT DAY:
“Mr. Parker how does
your client plead?” The Judge asks.
“Your honor my client
pleads not guilty.”
The words were barely
out of his mouth when there was a commotion from behind them and running up the
aisle, much to the surprise of Steve and Neal and everybody else there in the
courtroom, was Peter Waters and Steve caught him just before he vaulted over
the railing.
“He’s guilty!!! He
killed
“Peter stop it!” Steve
says to him.
“Your honor I want this
man taken out of here!!!” Jake replies.
The Judge raps his
gavel on the podium. “Order! I want order in this court!!!”
“Forget about the
courts and forget about god because Evans I will kill you myself!!!!” Peter
yells at him as Steve and now Neal struggle to hold him back.
“Your honor!!!” Jake replies.
“Young man if you don’t
stop I will charge you with contempt!!!” The Judge yells as he points his gavel
at him.
“Do it!!! That will be
the only way to keep me away from him!!!” Peter yells.
“Bailiff take him
out….”
“Wait Judge we’re do
it! Come on Peter let’s go.” Neal replies.
“I’ll get you Evans!
I’ll get you!!!” Peter continues to yell as Steve and Neal take him outside.
A WEEK
LATER:
“I’ll say that your
friend Wendy can write an interesting story.” Neal replies as he reads the
paper.
“Well old Jake can
write quite an opening statement as well, he blamed everybody for his client’s
problem from us on down, I especially liked the part about how we needed a
scapegoat.”
“Oh yeah that was
original I must say, hey what do you have there?”
“A brochure about a
storage place.” Steve replies.
“Oh finally getting
around to cleaning out that extra room of yours?” Neal asks.
“Yeah I was thinking of
turning it into a room for Grace I mean she’ll have to have a place to live
when she gets out of the hospital and with her wheelchair I don’t think she can
negotiate the stairs.”
“So she’s still going
to move in with you?” Neal asks.
“Oh well yeah I think
so….”
“You think so? You
haven’t asked her again?” Neal replies.
“Well no I mean there’s
been a lot going on. I was just going to clean the room out, fix it up for her
with her things and surprise her….”
“Steve I don’t think
that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Because from what you
told me it sounds like….like she has changed.”
“Well I am sure she has
changed I mean look what happened to her but she’ll get better with my help.
Neal I’m planning on taking a month off so I can take care of her, take her to
her appointments help her to get better….”
“Steve I know you feel
guilty….”
“It’s my fault Neal the
way she is now….”
“No Steve it isn’t your
fault, you didn’t know that her step-father was a sick man, that badge doesn’t
make you some kind of psychic and Steve I am sure Grace wants a boyfriend or a
lover not a nurse maid that’s what nurse’s are for.”
“Neal we even talked
about having kids.” Steve replies.
“I didn’t know that.”
Steve shrugs as he
picks lint off of his pants. “I have to let her go don’t I?”
“I think that maybe up
to her.” Neal replies.
“It’s going to be
alright isn’t it Neal? I mean Randy will be convicted and he’ll be sent away
for a long time, justice will work, won’t it?”
“Sure I mean Randy
Evans did some terrible things I don’t see how a jury wouldn’t convict him.”
ANOTHER
WEEK LATER:
“What is taking the
jury so long?” Neal asks. “It’s been two days.”
“I don’t know I mean
what is so hard to figure out? Grace’s testimony sealed his fate as far as I am
concerned. Oh Neal I was really proud of my girl she did an excellent job.”
Steve replies.
“That she did, I mean I
don’t know her as well as you do but I think I saw some of the old Grace.”
Steve nods as he
smiles. “You did, she got up there and she gave old Jake what-for let me tell
you!!”
Neal laughs. “How is
she doing Steve I mean physically?”
“Oh well you know they’ve
done as much as they can here, I mean the hospital is good but it is a County
hospital and they don’t have the therapy that she really needs….”
“….And….?” Neal
prompts.
“When the trial is over
she’s going to go to
“Oh well when she comes
back maybe you two….”
Steve shakes his head.
“She won’t be coming back Neal.”
“Steve I’m sorry.”
“I did what you
suggested I asked her to live with me again, I told what my plans were and how
we could be together, maybe even get married.”
“She didn’t want to do
that I take it?” Neal asks.
“Like you said she
wanted a boyfriend not a nurse-maid and she couldn’t get over the feeling that
I was only with her because I felt sorry for her, that I was trying to make a
wrong a right. She told me that she doesn’t blame me for anything; none of what
happened to her was my fault. Before we talked about getting married and having
kids and now….after what her step-father did to her she can’t have children.”
“Steve….”
“She didn’t want to be
a burden to me but Neal she wouldn’t be but I….I couldn’t convince her
otherwise. Neal you just don’t know how much I wish I was like you….”
Neal looks surprised.
“Me? Why do you want to be like me?”
“You have a woman that
loves you Neal and Joey, you have everything I want.” Steve replies.
“It will happen Steve
you just haven’t found the right person yet….”
Steve stands up and he
throws a phone book across the room. “I did find the right person Neal and
Randy Evans took it all away….” Steve looks back over his shoulder at Neal. “I
could kill him.”
Neal gets up and he
goes over to Steve and he puts his hand on his shoulder. “I know Steve but we
have to have faith in the Justice system otherwise why are we here?”
“Do you remember the
day I took the oath?” Steve asks.
Neal smiles at the
memory. “Yeah you were so proud Steve and I was so proud too knowing that you
were going to be my partner someday.”
“I had so many grandiose ideas on how I
was going to save the world and I couldn’t save the one thing in this whole
world that meant more to me than anything.” Steve holds up his hand. “I know, I
know that badge doesn’t make me psychic.”
“Steve if the same thing had happened to
Ruby or even Joey I would feel the same way, trust me.”
Steve puts his hand on Neal’s hand. “You
are the only one I trust.”
“When you think about it Steve we only
have each other. No one else understands this madness that we subject ourselves
to on a daily basis.” Neal replies as he sits back down.
“True.” Steve pauses a moment.
“God almighty what is taking the jury so
long?” Neal asks out loud.
Just then the phone rings at Steve’s
desk and he answers it. “Detective Perry, they have? Okay we’re be right
there.” Steve replies as he looks at Neal then he hangs up the phone. “The jury
has reached a verdict.”
Neal takes a deep breath. “Let’s go
partner.”
OCEANVIEW
COUNTY DISTRICT COURT 105 LATER THAT SAME DAY:
“First of all I want to
inform everyone in this courtroom no matter what happens here there will be, I
repeat, there will be no outbursts. Now foreman of the Jury please hand the
form to the Bailiff.” The Judge replies.
The foreman hands the
paper to the Bailiff who in turn hands it to the Judge and after he reads it he
says. “Foreman of the Jury will you please stand.” The Judge asks.
The Foreman stands.
“According to this you
cannot reach a verdict….”
Immediately there are
groans from the people in the courtroom. The Judge raps his gavel on the
podium. “Order! Is that correct?”
“Yes your honor.” The
foreman replies.
“It is ten against two
is that correct?”
“Yes your honor.”
“I see and there is no
doubt in your minds that you cannot reach a verdict in this case?” The Judge
asks.
“I’m afraid so your
honor.”
The Judge takes a deep
breath. “Alright then in the case of the State of
The Prosecutor
immediately gets to his feet. “Your honor I would like to have the Jury
polled.”
“Yes of course Mr.
Alan.” The Judge replies.
The Judge starts with
the Foreman and he asks each one if this was their own decision without being
threaten or coercion and all twelve answered yes.
“Satisfied Mr. Alan?”
The Judge asks.
“Yes thank you.” Mr.
Alan replies.
There was much loud
talking among the people in the courtroom so much so that the Judge had to use
his gavel again. “Order! At this time I would like to dismiss the Jury and the
State of
The Bailiff shows the
Jury out and when the Judge makes sure that they are gone he speaks again. “Now
Mr. Evans I will say to you that at this moment you look very happy but Justice
does not end here, another jury will be picked and the whole process begins
again. Court is in recess.” The Judge replies as he raps his gavel down hard on
the podium.
“Come on Steve let’s
go….Steve?” Neal looks around but Steve is gone and Neal knew where he had
gone.
Out in the back of
every courthouse is something called a sally-port the area where the deputies
take the prisoners out and back to jail and as every good reporter knows if you
want to get a shot of the defendant that is where you need to be and today was
no different. Already there were quite a number of reporters, photographers and
cameramen, along with the general public in attendance waiting for Randy Evans
to show and they didn’t have to wait long.
The deputies wasted no
time in bringing Randy Evans out to the numerous cat calls and cries of
murderer, killer, sicko, and pervert and before they could make it to the car almost
out of nowhere Steve appeared. Even though the two deputies were much bigger
than him at that moment in time that didn’t matter to Steve because he ran at
full force at one of the deputies and raised his foot and kicked him in the
groin causing him to go down and the other deputy was so surprised that he
didn’t know what to do so Steve suckered punched him then he grabbed Randy.
“You son-of-a-bitch I
swear to god if you ever touch Grace again I’ll kill you!!!!” Steve has him by
the collar of his jacket and he shakes him like a rag doll.
“You dirty little punk
bastard!!!” Randy yells
They wrestle back and
forth and they end up on the ground with the photographers and cameramen having
a field day taking pictures and before Steve knew what hit him he was grabbed
from behind by Neal who held him tight in his arms as Steve struggled back and
forth.
“Let me go Neal!!!”
Steve yells. By now the deputy that he had suckered punched had come to and he
had made his way over to Randy holding his jaw.
“Steve stop it!!” Neal
yells. “Steve remember where you are, the press is everywhere!!”
“I don’t give a rat’s
ass whose here!!!” Steve says as he points his finger at Randy. “I swear to god
I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you for what you did to Grace!!!”
Randy then spits at
Steve and that only serves to set him off again as he does his best to get away
from Neal’s tight bear hug. He squirms and he kicks.
“Steve stop it!!! Don’t
make me hurt you!!! Stop it!!!”
But Steve doesn’t stop
it and Neal applies his patented head-lock move which cuts off any hope of any
oxygen to Steve’s head and when that happens it doesn’t take long for Steve to
pass out.
THE 9TH
PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM TWO HOURS LATER:
“Steve are you okay?”
Neal asks.
“Oh my head is killing
me! Did you have to slap that head-lock thing on me?” Steve asks as Neal helps
him to sit up.
“Yeah I did actually,
you were a raving maniac. You really took out those two deputies; I think one
of them will never have children.”
“Ha-ha very funny….ow
that hurts!!!” Steve yells as Neal rubs his neck.
“You big baby, you went
after two deputies, a psycho killer and you’re screaming cause your neck hurts.”
“Yeah go figure! Ow!
Neal watch it why don’t ya!! I’m in trouble aren’t I?” Steve asks.
Neal nods. “Oh yeah I
would say so considering all the press that was there. I bet you make the
“When that Judge said
that it was a mistrial I just lost it Neal!!”
The Captain opens the
door to his office and yells in the direction of the sofa that they were
sitting on.
“Detective Perry can I
see you in my office….now!”
Steve looks over his
shoulder at Neal. “Yes sir.”
“Good luck.”
4201
ROCKY POINTE—THE ROCKY POINTE DUPLEXES # 112 TWO DAYS LATER:
“So Steve how is
suspension treating you?” Neal asks as he laughs.
“Ha-ha very funny!”
“What are you doing
anyway and whose pickup is that in the driveway?” Neal asks.
“You really are full of
questions aren’t you?”
“It’s my job.” Neal
replies as he shrugs.
“I thought since I have
some time off….”
“You mean since you got
suspended….” Neal points out.
“Whatever!! I thought I would clean out this spare room and put all of this stuff into storage and I rented that pick-up truck to haul it all over there. Wanna help?”
“Sure.”
“With your help I’ll
get done quicker and then I can go and see Grace at the hospital.”
“Cool let’s do it.”
Neal replies.
Thirty minutes into it
the phone rings and Steve runs to answer it then when he returns he is holding
Neal’s holster and he is wearing his.
“What’s going on?” Neal
asks as he takes his holster.
“Randy Evans escaped.”
THE 9TH
PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM LATER THAT DAY:
“How did he manage to
escape?” Neal asks.
“There was a fight in
the jail intake and in the confusion he made his way out and then he was in the
wind.” The Captain replies.
“What was he doing in
the jail intake?” Steve asks.
The Captain shrugs.
“Nobody knows. The point is he’s gone.”
“Well we put out a
B.O.L.O and an A.P.B. and every police agency from here to
“Let’s hit the streets
and see if anybody knows anything.” Neal replies.
“Let’s go partner.”
THE 9TH
PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM A FEW DAYS LATER:
“Steve where have you
been?” Neal asks.
“Making sure Gracie was
okay.”
“I mean where you
yesterday?” Neal asks.
“Taking the rest of
stuff to storage.” Steve replies.
“Oh okay.” Neal
replies.
“Anything?”
“Not a thing, no one
has seen him. Any friends that he did have left town long ago and Grace said
that he didn’t have any family left so we are at a dead end.” Neal replies as
he puts his hands behind his head.
“Maybe he did the
county a favor by escaping.”
“What do you mean?”
Neal asks.
“I mean he saved the
county the cost of another trial, by now he could be out of the country hell he
could even be dead, who knows.”
“Yeah man who knows.
How’s Grace handling all of this?” Neal asks.
“She’s a lot stronger
than she looks.”
“I bet she’ll be glad
when all of this is over….” Neal replies.
“Yeah and she won’t
have to wait long.” Steve mumbles.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Steve
replies quickly.
The Captain opens his
door and he comes out into the squad room right over to Steve’s and Neal’s desk.
“Randy Evans has been
found.” The Captain replies as he hands Neal a piece of paper.
COSMO
PIER LATER THAT DAY:
“How long Sam?” Neal
asks.
“A day or so at least,
he was shot twice execution style.” Sam replies. “No exit wounds. Let’s just hope
the bullets are in good shape.”
“All the time we spent
looking for him and he’s been here all the time.” Neal replies.
“Yeah man go figure.”
Steve replies.
“This part of the beach
is very windy and any signs of footprints or how he got here is gone….Steve are
you with me here?”
“Yeah Neal I’m with
you.”
Neal takes a deep
breath. “It’s off season too so all of these little booths that are usually
open are closed.”
“I doubt we’re have any
witnesses.”
“Is that experience
talking or are you hoping out loud?” Neal asks seriously.
“Maybe it’s a little of
both. I’ll meet you back at the car.” Steve replies as he turns to leave.
THE 9TH
PRECINCT CAPTAIN’S OFFICE THE NEXT DAY:
“So you two think that
I killed him?” Steve asks.
“You threatened him in
front of god and all the press in Oceanview Steve and then he turns up dead.”
Neal replies.
“So that makes me a
suspect?” Steve asks.
“As of now Detective
Perry you are the only suspect I’m afraid.” The Captain replies.
“Where were you Steve?”
Neal asks.
“I told you I was
either with Grace or taking stuff to the storage place.” Steve replies.
“I’ve have to check
that out.” Neal replies.
“I know.” Steve
replies.
“Detective I will have
to ask you for your badge and service weapon.” The Captain asks.
Steve stands up as he
removes his gun from its holster and he places it on the Captain’s desk along
with his badge.
“Steve….”
“Neal it’s alright.”
“I’m sorry Steve that
it has come to this.” The Captain replies.
“I’m not because
justice has been served.” Steve replies. “I’ll see you guys around.”
Steve then turns and he
leaves the office closing the door behind him with a finality of a coffin lid
closing.
THE 9TH
PRECINCT SQUAD ROOM THREE DAYS LATER:
“Alright Peter I want
you to tell the Captain exactly what you told me.”
“I told Detective Schon
that I had read the story in the paper about his partner being a suspect in the
death of Randy Evans and that I couldn’t let a innocent man take the blame for
what I did.”
“Mr. Waters what are you
saying?” The Captain asks.
“I want to confess to
the murder of Randy Evans….”
Before the Captain can respond there is a
voice behind them saying, “Wait Detective Schon!”
The Captain and Neal
both turn to see Mr. Mallory and his son walking quickly towards the desk.
“Mr. Mallory and Bruce
what are you two doing here?” Neal asks surprised.
“We read that same
story in the paper and Detective Perry didn’t kill Randy Evans….I did. I killed
Randy Evans.” Bruce replies.
“No I killed Randy
Evans.” Mr. Mallory replies.
Neal leans on the desk
as he looks at the three of them then he looks at the Captain. “So….what do we
do now?”
V7V7V7V7V7V7V7V7V7V7
“Steve is still in
-30-
©LAB and SRP & JRNY FANFICTION 2007 to 2008. All rights reserved. Steve Perry and Neal Schon’s likenesses appear only as characters. Any resemblance to any one living or dead is purely a coincidence. This fictional story is for entertainment purposes only and for the complete enjoyment of the author and the readers. I have no permission from Steve Perry or/and the members of Journey to use their likenesses or names and this story is purely fiction and written solely for the love of things and people back in the day. No real rock stars were injured in the writing of these stories and I put them back when I am finish with them.