VGH Again

Jimmy woke up in the ICU for the second time in six weeks. His eyes searched the ceiling tiles recognizing where he was. "Are you serious?"

He woke Windy, asleep in the same chair she occupied just weeks before. "You know, I really don't like this front row seat to your demise."

"Win."

"Don't Win me, Jimmy." Windy pulled her chair closer to his bed so they could speak without disturbing the other patients in the ward. "Why did you get back in that car with Cherise? Why not run inside with Brad and Dana?"

"Win." Jimmy's hand reached out for Windy.

Windy's hand met Jimmy's.

"Why didn't you just come to the apartment? You were so close."

Jimmy had his reasons. "I went into that place to get Dani out ~ alive. We did that but Jacobs was right behind the car." He thought for a moment before asking. "Hey, is everyone safe?"

"Yes, Jimmy they are all safe."

"They are not to come here!" Jimmy spoke as sternly as he would dare to Windy. "I have to get out of here." He tried to sit up. "I'm a sitting duck. I can still be arrested!"

"Lay down, you dumb ass." Windy pressed against his shoulder. "You aren't going anywhere!"

"But...."

"As far as anyone knows, you are Jack Legend." Windy softened her voice. "Officer Santos will not arrest you and he has Officer Kilterage here as protection."

"Kilterage? Five-foot-nothing?"

"I heard that." Kilterage spoke in a hushed whisper. "And I am five foot four!"

"In heels!" Jimmy chortled.

"Really, Jimmy?" Windy covered his mouth. "I believe what the jackass was trying to say was, thank you Officer Kilterage. Right?"

Windy lifted her hand from Jimmy's mouth. "Thank you, Officer Kilterage."

"You're welcome, Butthead." Kilterage took a jab back at the man in bed. "Miss South, when you have a minute."

"Yeah yeah. Jimmy, get some sleep." Windy kissed him and went to talk with Kilterage.

The two walked away from the ICU door before the officer starting. "Fill me in on this death wish your man has with the Fortune family."

"Believe me Officer, we would have been long gone if Jimmy and Jordan were able to travel." Windy rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "But that bastard, Jacobs took Jordan's mother."

Windy filled Kilterage in from what she heard and Dana's firsthand experience with Jacobs. "Jacobs worked her over and was about to sexually assault her when Cherise ~  Mrs. Fortune rushed into the room."

"Jacobs truly is a bastard." Kilterage added. "I thought his career as a cop was over. We didn't hear anything from him until last night."

"He has more connections than a politician."

"This city needs a good cleaning." Kilterage paced. "I know that and I'm just a new cop. The stench of corruption is all around me."

"Time to shake the cage."

"What do you mean, Miss South?"

"I mean, the city needs to wake up and face the darkest path it has ever had to own."

"How do you propose to, as you say, shake the cage?" Kilterage seemed intrigued.

"People like Fortune can not operate without complicity from some major players." Windy turned from the officer. "We know Judge Ballanno is just one piece of this puzzle."

"Frank Jacobs." Kilterage added.

Windy snapped her fingers, turned, and pointed to Kilterage. "Who was Jacobs' partner?"

"Benny?" The officer frowned. "He's as new to the force as I am."

"It's a start." Windy smiled.

"How do you do it, Miss South?"

"Do what?" Windy questioned the question.

"Want to do the hard things?" Kilterage looked impressed with the taller, more athletic, and more determined woman. "The Fortunes of the world are not your problem to solve."

"Aren't they?" Windy challenged Kilterage's view. "People like the Fortunes stole my people from their home. Sold us to other Fortune-like people. Tried to rip their souls from their tired, beaten bodies."

"I get it." Kilterage smiled. "I've got an idea." She pulled her cellphone out and called the precinct. "Henry? Yeah, bring Benny with you at the eight o'clock shift change. Yeah, it's a change of plans."

"You have some power there, Officer." Windy nodded.

"Being Officer Santos' partner has its benefits." Smiled as she nodded.

Benny, the Rookie

Officer Henry Derrin arrived with the rookie Benjamin Pampiro.

"Why am I at the hospital? I've been on desk duty since Jerricho Beach." Benny looked to Henry for an answer.

"I am in the dark as much as you, Benny." Henry, a ten year veteran of the force. "There is a suspect in ICU. That's all I know."

"But why two of us when Kilterage handled it alone last night?" Benny seemed uneasy as they approached Kilterage.

"Hey guys." Kilterage greeted the officers. "Henry, the suspect is in the corner bed to your right. There's a chair in there. Get all you can out of him about last night."

"Benny, there's someone you need to meet. Follow me." Kilterage led the way to the empty ICU seating area.

"Benny Pampiro?"

"Do I know you?" Benny stepped back as Windy stood.

"Officer Pampiro you were partners with Frank Jacobs."

"We haven't been partners since I was shot by Carrick."

Windy scoffed at the rookie cop. "Mr. Carrick didn't shoot anyone. Joey Fortune's muscle, Roco, shot you."

"That's what you say." Benny returned fire.

"So you are still working with the Fortune family."

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Benny denied.

"A partner of Frank Jacobs not on the take? Bull shit!" Windy stood her ground. "He wouldn't work with a clean shirt."

"That's bull shit. I am a good cop!" Benny raised his chin. "And who the hell are you?"

"Benny, I am not going to play games with you." Windy became more convincing. "You took a call from Frank before you came to the hospital."

"How do you know that?"

"Officer Kilterage?"

"Benny, the phones have been monitored ever since Frank left the precinct." Kilterage admitted.

"Okay! Yes, Frank contacted me." Benny went on. "But I didn't know anything about last night. I didn't even know I was coming to the hospital."

"It was the only way we could talk without anyone listening in." Kilterage folded her arms in front of her.

"He will find out. And he will come here looking for answers." Benny checked behind him as if he expected someone.

"Why do you think he will come here?" Windy approached the officer.

"Because he was calling from just outside the precinct." Benny admitted. "He likely followed Henry and I here."

Frank Jacobs strolled down the hallway with confidence. "Well well well. What is it? Rookie day at the hospital for babysitting my suspect?"

"You are out of your jurisdiction, Officer Jacobs." Kilterage stood as tall as she could.

"I don't give a shit about jurisdiction." Frank felt tough on this morning. "In fact I will be taking this woman with me for aiding and abetting."

"You are dream..." Windy stopped when Frank drew his side arm.

"Not so smart now, eh?" Frank let his old school show. "Fucking women dreaming about power men have had for thousands of years."

"Put the gun away and see who has the power, asshole!" Windy found her spirit.

"I am a fifty-year-old, out of shape cop, big deal." Frank laughed the offer off.

Henry exited the ICU and into the fray. "What the hell is going on here? Frank?" He quickly drew his sidearm surprising Frank.

"Fucking goodie good shiny-badge is here too?" Frank poked at Henry.

"A clean cop? Yeah, I am." Henry walked closer. "Drawing your weapon in a hospital must mean you are feeling the pressure."

"You are good for nothing." Frank spewed.

"Frank?" Benny tried to warn his friend.

"Not now, Benny."

"Frank."

"What?"

"Officer Santos, Sir." Benny spoke with respect but everyone knew the Sir was for Frank.

Frank turned to Santos. "Why the fuck are you here?"

"I could ask you the same question, Frank." Santos walked right up to Frank. "Why is your side arm drawn? In my jurisdiction, Officer Jacobs?"

"I am here to take my suspect, Sir."

"Your suspect?" Santos questioned. "The incident happened in my jurisdiction. How is the suspect Richmond PD?"

"I was first on the scene."

"You caused the scene." Santos motioned for Frank to lower his weapon.

"Not a chance, Santos."

"Lower your weapon Officer Jacobs." Santos strongly suggested.

Jimmy walked out of the ICU. "You know, I have been in this hospital waaaay too many times!" He laughed. "I passed this place a million times in the past twenty years and never gave it a second thought."

"Your point, moron?" Jacobs looked at Jimmy. "Skinny Meat Loaf?"

"The one you are after."

"I'm after an Asian woman."

"You will not be getting anywhere near her again." Jimmy held his hospital gown closed. "Could someone find my clothes?"

Kilterage left to find the nurse.

"Fuck Frank, you need glasses." Jimmy walked closer giving the cop a better look. "Huh?" Jimmy laughed.

"Fucking Carrick!"

"How's your chin, asshole?" Jimmy showed his left fist.

"You?!"

"So, lower your gun, call Fortune and tell him he has me."

"Jimmy! You're crazy!" Windy called her friend out.

"In exchange for what?"

"Leaving my family alone."

"Not a chance."

"Then you go and tell Tsar Fortune to get ready for a revolution." Jimmy distracted Frank by walking even closer to the man roughly the same age as him.

"You don't know shit about Fortune's grip on Van City." Frank called Jimmy on his true knowledge of the family.

"You're right! I don't know a whole lot right now but I am sure there are loose lips willing to talk."

Santos drew his weapon and nuzzled it just under the Richmond cop's ear. "Frank?"

Frank lowered and holstered his weapon. "Fine."

"Oh and Frank? Don't disappear." Santos added.

"And why is that?"

"I am seeking manslaughter charges against you."

"You have nothing!" Frank seared a look at Santos.

"Oh really? I have an eyewitness." Santos added. "Someone in the car."

"Who?" Frank continued his stare.

"Me." Jimmy shrugged.

"You weren't in the Lamborghini!"

"I held onto Cherise as she died, mother..."

"Jimmy?" Windy hated that word.

"It was her birthday and you killed her." Jimmy stepped closer. "I should have followed up that left cross.

"I barely felt it." Frank laughed Jimmy off.

"Whatever." Jimmy shrugged. "You go, tell the Fortunes that I'm not leaving."

Frank poked Jimmy in his chest. "You understand you've just declared war on the Fortunes?"

"Just like the good old days, eh?" Jimmy offered.

"Only you'll be dead this time." Frank nodded before turning and walking away from the group.

"I'll be in touch." Santos spoke with confidence to Frank.

"Good luck with that." Frank chortled as he walked into the elevator.

"I would really like my pants." Jimmy looked at Windy.

"What do I look like?" Windy frowned. "A hat check girl!"