CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO - Dispatching Vengeance

EDDIE - Our investigation took a dark turn as a mechanic was shot in an attempt to thwart a possible tampering of the cab company's vehicles. Me-n-Mike were tending to him when we were also wounded and rendered powerless by paralyzing darts to the neck. Hardly the first time for us, but there are some things you just never get used to. Anyways, Mike fell unconscious, but I remained alert, I just couldn't move. I was still clutching my neck wound when the poison took full effect and my arm went limp along with the rest of my body. Tim was still conscious, too, having only been shot in the shoulder with a conventional bullet. But he was rendered powerless, too, as the bad guys shackled his ankles and wrists. With Mike unconscious, me paralyzed, and Tim chained up, the bad guys went about demolishing all the cabs in the garage awaiting servicing. Tim started to struggle against his bonds.

"What're you doing?"

"Maybe I can break these chains somehow. We can't just let 'em get away with this."

"You're right - we can't - - and we won't. These thugs'll be delivered to justice faster than you can do an oil change."

As he continued struggling, it was aggravating his shoulder wound. His face was frozen in a continuous grimace and he screamed periodically.

"It's no use, Tim. You look like a pretty strong guy, but those chains are at least 10 times as strong. We just have to roll with this for now."

"What are they going to do to us?", he asked, his face beet red, sweaty, and panicky.

"I really don't know - I'd hate to think of it."

And Tim really raised a good point when he said, "at least your boss is right here with you - mine took off for the day."

"He did?"

"Yeah, just a few minutes before all this went down."

"He drove off?"

"Well, yeah, there's no other way to get around in these parts."

None of this made sense to me - me-n-Mike were standing right outside when we heard the commotion and raced back in. We would've heard a car start, but we heard nothing, and saw no vehicles leave the site. I had to get a couple of other things outta the way before I raised my suspicion.

"You have a parking area in the back, right?"

"Yeah"

"Can anyone exit through there?"

"No, it's all blocked off - everybody's gotta enter and exit through the front."

"That's exactly where we were standing - outside."

"I don't getcha."

"We were out front the whole time and saw and heard nothing - no cars going in or out. Tim, your boss didn't take off - I think he's here and..."

Suddenly I felt something slam the back of my legs. I couldn't move them, but I still had sensation in them. Turns out it was a metal pipe. I've been tortured before, but not like this.

"What the hell are you two shitheads goin' on about? I see you can't be trusted to be left alone for even a minute. You need to be baby-sitted, I guess. Guys, get back to that later, we gotta do something about these hambones."

We were each slung over the shoulder of a henchman and Mike was dragged by his legs. I thought I might've heard him moaning. I think he was waking up from the drug.

"Wha - what's goin' on here? God why is my neck so sore?"

"Shut up"

"Hey, tie Mr. Shit-Wrench to the lube rack - hang him by his arms. Wounded limbs must always be stretched to the limit."

EDDIE - As the goons do as they are bade, I could hear Tim begging "no - no - NO!" as I started to feel the effect of the blow-dart wearing off. I checked with Mike, who was regaining consciousness. We had to form a plan of action in a hurry if we were to beat these guys, they'd already hung Tim up by his arms and were coming after us.

MIKE - I came to and wondered what happened to us. Eddie filled me in. I moved my hand a little and discovered the drug had worn off. I had a plan - don't I always - that me-n-Eddie would play possum until I thought it was good to pummel these thugs.

EDDIE - We were both slung over the shoulder of each thug - they were looking straight ahead as they carried us to what they thought would be our tragic fate, but we had other ideas. I slowly reached into my tool-belt and took out what was surely a holy diversionary tactic - a smoke bomb.

MIKE - The thugs were startled at the explosion and lost their grip of us. We immediately sprang into action.

EDDIE - Me-n-Mike were really wailing on these guys - I sent my thug across the room with a right slam to the gut and an upper-left-cut to the jaw. I had seconds to throw the switch that lowered Tim back to the ground and undo his bonds - once free, he joined right in with us. Mike called out to me, "hey Eddie, it's about time to end this masquerade ball."

"Right with ya, Boss-Man", and we ripped the ski-masks off these goons. Tim took a sock to the jaw and fell backward, but kicked his way back up - he slammed his opponent in the chest and sent him flying and we whipped his mask off, too, and that was the most alarming unmasking ever. Tim was shocked, but we weren't - it was Ralph, of course, the ringleader of these heinous hijinks.

"You were behind this whole thing - you shot me?"

"Sure did - you were gettin' too close - shame, though - you're a good guy - I was hopin' to get ya on my team, but ya got in the way".

And now for the moment we're all waiting for - the why'd ya do it!

"All right, you, spill it - what's the deal with screwin' with the cab company?"

"I wanna talk to my lawyer."

"Holy habeus corpus"

I send him reeling with a right hook, "that's what I think of your lawyering up, pal. Now I mean business. At least one of your guys is missing, taken at gun point, some of your cabs are messed up, ya shot your own mechanic - don't worry, kid, the ambulance'll be here soon - but you're gonna need one, too, dirtbag, unless you give the whole thing up. What - - were - - you - - up to?"

Finally the dispatcher couldn't take it anymore. He was ready to fess up. We all had him on what he was doin', but we had to know why, too. I stood over him, arms folded, legs spread, Eddie stood right at my side, fist in hand, always ready to use it. Tim stood clutching and rubbing his bleeding, wounded arm.

"Hey, kid, why don't ya relax and get more comfortable. I mean, ya just got shot for Pete's sake."

"Naw, I'm good just like this. I want this crumb to see what he did to me. After all the hard work and loyalty I give him, what do I get - a bullet."

"Kid makes a good point, dirt bag. Ya still haven't told me jack about what's up with destroying a cab company."

"All right - all right - I'll admit it. I wanted this place to go down - - after my son went down."

"Beg pardon?"

"My son - he was run over by a cab - this was a few months ago - he was just getting out of high school, and was gonna work part time while going to college. I found out it was a driver with this company. I went to his trial - I saw the judge slap 10 years of probation on him and revoke his drivers license. But that's not all I wanted. I wanted this one dead for killing my son. Oh, he apologized and all that, but that wasn't enough. He was only sorry he got caught. I couldn't do anything to him, I wasn't allowed to know where he lived, or anything. So I struck back the only way I knew how - I joined the company and set some kid up for a fatal robbery. I dispatched him out to some area and he was robbed at gunpoint and shot. I thought that'd be enough, but it wasn't - I really wanted vengeance on this dump for what they all did to me. They kill my son and then laugh right in my face. Well, I got news for them, there's still a couple of their guys missing and I ain't telling a thing."

Eddie started to get pumped up. You could see the fury in his eyes. "Aw, let me at him, Boss-Man - let's both tear him apart."

Grinning, I said, "sure, kiddo, knock yourself out - or him."

The dispatcher saw Eddie lunge at him with one arm raised and the other hand grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, causing the guy to panic.

"OKAY OKAY OKAY. Enough of this, I've had enough."

"Where are the other guys bein' held?"

"About 3 miles from here - in a garage at 5th and Corcoran. I got some friends of mine out there holdin' 'em."

"Okay", I say, "this is how it's gonna be. THe cops come and get you guys, the docs take care of Tim over here - I go out there and find the hostages safe and unharmed, I'll tell the authorities you cooperated and maybe they'll go easy on you - I'm not promising anything, but that's what I'll tell 'em provided Tim's arm is okay - same with the hostages. They just better be in good condition. Eddie, can ya stick around and wait for the boys while I got out to this garage?"

"Sure thing, Boss-Man, you can count on it."

"Oh, and meet me out there when all this is cleaned up, huh? I'll be takin' one of the cabs here."

"Can do."

I grabbed a key off the wall - indiscriminately - and head off for this garage this guy was yakkin' about. The cab I took had kind of a bumpy ride, but I didn't think anything of it, til one of the tires flew off and sent me spinning. I didn't have time to dial Eddie on the cell phone. Dialing 7 digits could mean life or death. I had to stay focused. I used the cab's radio instead, screaming Eddie's name into the microphone, hoping he'd hear me, and then......


THEN WHAT? MIKE SENT SPINNING UNCONTROLLABLY INTO GOD KNOWS WHAT SORT OF FATE! WHAT'S EDDIE TO DO IF AND WHEN HE HEARS MIKE'S CALL FOR HELP? SHOULD HE TAKE OFF AND LEAVE THE BAD GUYS AND THE BLEEDING, BULLET-BATTERED BOY-GOODWRENCH? SHOULD HE SACRIFICE HIS PARTNER, HIS MENTOR, THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE TO MAKE SURE THE COPS AND THE DOCS GET THE RIGHT GUYS? READ ON, MY FRIENDS - JUST - - READ - - ON!

CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE - The Case of the Cute Cabbie-Capture Caper

AT THE END OF THE RIDE, THE CABBIE PULLS UP TO THE CURB AND ANNOUNCES TO THE PASSENGER, "Okay, pal, the total is $17.50." HE JOTS THE AMOUNT DOWN ON A LOG HE KEEPS FOR HIS OWN RECORD, THEN HE FEELS A COLD STEEL OBJECT AT THE BACK OF HIS NECK AND INSTINCTIVELY REACHES BACK TO BRUSH IT AWAY THEN HE HEARS THE THING THAT NIGHT CABBIES DREAD THE MOST:

"This is a loaded 38 caliber pistol. Now, do everything I tell you and you'll survive to see the end of your shift. You can go home in one piece."

THE CAB DRIVER GASPS, RAISES HIS HANDS AND SHUDDERS SLIGHTLY.

"Put your hands in the air where I can see them. Do not try any acts of heroism. This is a robbery and this is gonna happen. Keep your hands right where I can see them and tell me where you keep your cash."

"It's in the compartment between the seats."

"Good. You're doing very well. This will be over in about 18 seconds."

THE PASSENGER KEEPS THE GUN AT THE BOY'S NECK WITH ONE HAND AND REACHES FOR THE CASH WITH THE OTHER, THE CABBIE KEEPS HIS HANDS IN THE AIR, BUT AS HE SEES THE PASSENGER'S HAND REACH ACROSS, HE SUDDENLY JOLTS AND GRABS THE BAD GUY'S WRIST AND STARTS WRESTLING WITH HIM.

"I forgot to warn ya, pal, I was the star on my wrestling team in school."

HE CLIMBS IN THE BACK SEAT, PULLS THE BAD GUY'S HAND BEHIND HIS BACK AND HOLDS IT THERE. HE TRIES TO BREAK LOOSE, AND OPENS THE BACK DOOR TO TRY TO GET OUT, BUT THE CABBIE'S RIGHT ON TOP OF HIM. THEY SCUFFLE FOR A BIT, WRESTLING FOR THE GUN, BUT THE BAD GUY HAS SOME WRESTLING SKILLS OF HIS OWN AS HE KICKS THE CABBIE OFF HIS BACK, GRABS HIS GUN AND TAKES AIM. THE CABBIE'S EYES WIDEN IN HORROR AS HE REALIZES HE'S TRAPPED.

"Don't you worry. There are no bullets in this gun."

"Huh?"

HE SHOOTS THE CABBIE IN THE ARM, INSTANTLY KNOCKING HIM OUT. HIS ASSAILANT TIES THE UNCONSCIOUS CABBIE'S HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK AND GRINS, "not bullets, just a mild tranquilizer." HE MAKES A CALL ON HIS CELL PHONE, "Hello, boys, it looks like we can make the rent this month. I just snagged a new roommate for us."

ANOTHER CAR DRIVES UP TO PICK UP THE NEW PRISONER. "I thought you'd never get here. Help me with this one, would ya - all of these rippling muscles weigh a ton".

AND YET ANOTHER VEHICLE - THIS ONE FROM THE SAME CAB COMPANY. THE OTHER CABBIE SCOFFS, "What the hell's this guy doin', whackin' on the job..."

BUT THEN HE SEES THE KIDNAPPERS ABOUT TO LOAD THE CABBIE INTO THE TRUNK.

"Holy MOLEY! Hey, #6 to base - #6 to base - emergency - have I got a HOLY CRAP for you!"

"Come in #6, what's up?"

"Jimmy in #8's bein' kidnapped - these guys are poppin' the trunk open-n-everything!"

"WHAT?!? SHIT!! And he's a new guy, too! Hey, uh, see if you can spot a license plate number."

"Roger, chief"

THE WOULD-BE RESCUER PEERS AT THE NUMBERS ON THE LICENSE PLATE AS BEST AS HE CAN, WHILE KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE. HE READS THEM TO THE DISPATCHER.

"I'll call the cops, too."

"Naw, never mind - I'll take that from here. Ya still got fares to pick up tonight."

"But what about . . ."

"I know yer worried about 'im, but ya gotta stay safe and ya gotta keep doin' yer job! We got a plate number - we'll call the cops in - hey, gimme a locale."

"At 6th and 3rd - due east."

"10-4"

AS IS TYPICAL OF ALL YOUNG BOYS IN THIS SERIES, ONE CAN ONLY GUESS WHAT THIS GUY'S GOING TO DO NEXT. THAT'S RIGHT - HE TRIES TO STOP IT HIMSELF.

"Hey, you - hold up! What the heck ya think yer doin'!"

THE CABBIE'S ASSAILANT AND CAPTOR TURNS AROUND, DART GUN IN HAND, AIMED AT THE WOULD-BE RESCUER, WHO INSTANTLY REACHES FOR THE SKY/

"You get back - if ya don't wanna join your friend here. Be a smart kid and get lost. Don't be a hero."

WITH THAT, THE ASSAILANT OPENS FIRE AROUND THE BOY, FIRING OVER HIS HEAD, AND TO HIS LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES AS THE KID RUNS FOR COVER. HE ESCAPES UNHARMED. THE KIDNAPPER'S CAR DRIVES AWAY, AND THE KID LOOKS BACK AT IT, BREATHING HEAVILY, GRIMACING, SHAKEN AT WHAT HE'S JUST SEEN. HIS RADIO COMES BACK ON, IT'S THE DISPATCHER.

"Number 6 come in - NUMBER 6!"

"6 Here!"

"We got some help comin' in here pretty soon - head back over this way - they might want ya to tell 'em what you saw."

"Roger 10-4"

"10-4"

MIKE - Me-n-Eddie get a call from a cab company - a robbery and a kidnapping. Some kid cabbie saw the whole thing and called it in - pretty open and shut case, I'd guess. We head off to the cab company to see what's what. Dispatch lets us in and we introduce ourselves.

"Oh, hey, there - glad to meet ya guys - I heard a lot about ya."

"Good to meet ya, too - so, what about the kid who called this in - he here yet?"

"No, but he's on the way - I told him to pop on back over here."

"What do you know so far?"

"Well, nothin' more than what I told ya already - kid sees this goin' down, calls it in - I told him to not try to be a hero or nothin' - just hope he didn't try anything - I didn't want him to end up gettin' snatched up, too."

"Is this the first time this has happened here?", Eddie asked.

"Yeah - and I'm surprised it did, too. Been opened 25 years now, nothin' like this ever went down before. Feel kinda bad, though."

"Yeah, I can see."

"I mean, I'm the one who told him to pick this guy up. I kinda feel like this is my doin', ya know?"

I assured him, "No, it's not your fault. You didn't know he was gonna pick up someone who'd do this to him, right?"

EDDIE - Funny thing - as soon as Mike asked him that, he paused, like he was trying to figure out what to say next - like an actor forgettin' his lines, or something.

"Uh, oh, sure, right - yeah, you're right, Detective - I'm worried about nothin', I guess."

Me-n-Mike look at each other. I motion to the dispatcher, Mike has a confused look on his face.

Then the kid cabbie walks in. Me-n-Mike introduce ourselves to him and he tells us the whole story, even sayin' that the guys took some shots at him.

"Holy moses, the slugs missed me by that much, one of them hit one of my windows. Here..."

MIKE - The kid takes a couple of shell casings outta his pocket.

"Pretty cool, huh?"

"Wait a minute - why'd they shoot at you? I told ya to keep yer distance. Did you try goin' after them?"

"Sorry, Chief, I couldn't help myself - I just wanted to..."

"Sure, ya just wanted to...yeah, I know - all you kids are all alike - yer all tryin' to be some kinda Boy Wonder or somethin'...even you!"

EDDIE - I know we're dealin' with a taxi company here, but I still couldn't resist sayin, "yer talkin' to me?"

"If the CAPE fits, yeah. I don't know what it is with all-a you kids - it's like you ain't nothin' unless you're out there savin' lives - ya all wanna be cops, firemen and everything."

MIKE - I was pretty concerned with the way this guy was talkin' - I had to speak up.

"My partner, Detective Robinson, is a fine young man devoting his life to the fight against crime. You should be proud of this other young fella here - he saw a buddy in trouble and tried to help him."

"Hey, I know what yer sayin' - but I can't run a cab company if all these kids are out there playin' hero - they got people to drive around out there."

"I see. Hey, kid, what's your name?"

"Freddie - Freddie Foster."

We shake hands, "good to know ya, Freddie - you never mind what yer boss man tells ya, you did good."

"Holy cow - really?"

"Why, sure - now we got somethin' to go on."

"Sure as shootin' - you called us in for help, but we wouldn't know where to start without you as a witness. When we catch these guys, and we catch 'em all, you'll even be brought into testify at their trial, identify them in a line-up, that kinda thing."

"Holy willikers - hey, how long you been doin' this?"

"Little while now, I guess - it feels like 5 minutes - when me-n-the Boss-Man hooked up, time kinda stood still - guess you could say I just got really into it."

"Hey #6, don't quit yer day job - while ya still got it, that is."

"Right - I should get back on the beat - I mean, the road (heh). Good to meet you guys."

"Hey, uh, we'll walk out with ya - wait up."

"You did good by callin' us in. Don't ya worry, we'll get your kid back and we'll nail these guys."

I salute the guy and Eddie doffs his cap and we're off with Freddie.

"Listen, kid, if there's anything else you might find out along the way, why don't ya drop us a dime. Here's our card."

"Batz & Robinson - boy, I sure will. I'll keep my eyes and ears open."

"'Preciate that."

EDDIE - Freddie drives off - I have a sinking, uneasy feeling about this whole thing. Me-n-Mike face each other, I'm standing with my legs spread eagle, wringing my fist in my hand and the sleeves of my shirt show off my bi-ceps. The car door is open, Mike stands with one leg hoisted up, resting on the outboard, one hand on his hip, pushing his trenchcoat back, his other arm resting on his upraised thigh. We both make pointing gestures when we talk.

"Mike, I got this funny feeling something's not right here."

"You, too, huh?"

"The way the Dispatcher paused when you assured him this incident wasn't his fault -the way he went off on Freddie about trying to help the other cabbie - like he has something against young guys fighting crime."

"Devil's Advocate - he's worried about the business, he's worried about his drivers making it safe at the end of their shift - he is in charge of them, ya know."

"But he had the same attitude toward me - I'm not one of his drivers. Why would he be worried about me?"

"Oh, he's worried about you all right."

"Because he's up to something and is afraid we'll find out what it is - but why would he call us in on this to begin with?"

"A ruse. You do remember that mobster's moll murderously mowing us down."

"I always will - that memory will always leave me cold."

"As I lay wounded, I heard you ask if she was gonna shoot you, too, and she did. At that point, she was really out to get me, and she shot you 'cuz you were on my side - you woulda been a witness."

"So he wants me out of the way. I don't get it, why didn't he just track me down and kill me right off the bat?"

"Come on, now, Eddie - you've been in the biz for a while now - it's all a game. He's toying with us - he wants us to come into the picture, make like he needs our help, throw us off the scent, and then BANG!"

"Well, then let's go in there and put him away once and for all."

MIKE - Eddie was about to get runnin' back in the office to confront our suspect, but I put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. I took a long breath and exhaled slowly.

"I'm afraid we can't do that."

EDDIE - As he stopped me from running back to the office to pounce on this guy, he had this look of sadness and frustration on his face, but he was trying to stay stoic. I looked into his eyes, too, and I took his meaning. I looked down for a second, then looked back up at him and nodded in reluctance. I hated the sound of these words which lazily left my lips, but they were right.

"We don't have - - any evidence."

Mike smiled at me and patted my shoulder in an act of assurance and consolation.

"Not yet, my boy, but we will. Right now, we gotta stay one step ahead of this guy - eyes and ears open, nose clean, no stone unturned. He is trying to kill you and has probably perpetrated some putrid plot to do so. But I'll be right there - just as you were there for me when we both took it from that murderous moll."

MIKE - As I said that, it gave me pause - I flashed back to that night. I looked into his eyes and my eyes softened as did my voice:

"That was the night I knew I was in love with you."

Eddie's eyes softened, too, and a small smile snaked across his face.

I then put out the gruff exterior for a second, but that gave way to what was really in my heart.

"I mean, SURE, we got it on and I thought you were hot, as I still do, and all, but..."

I took his hand in mine.

"I had a pretty good life, then you saved it, and made it - - wonderful. I love you."

I put my other arm around him, and he did likewise with me, and we shared a beautiful kiss.

"And I love you, Mike."

A SUDDEN SLIGHT SOUND OF A SHOT AND SCREAM ARE HEARD

"Holy buzz-kill - what the heck was that."

"Only one way to find out - LET'S GO!"

"RIGHT AS RAIN, BOSS-MAN!"

MIKE - We charged upon the scene after hearing what sounded like someone getting shot - we saw no one in the dispatcher's office and headed out to the garage in the main area. A mechanic was shot and wounded, and the back door was wide open. I knelt down to the crying kid and checked his wound.

"Where'd you get hit, kid?"

"In the shoulder. I saw someone who didn't belong here, looked suspicious so I said to him, 'hey, what're you doing here', and he shot me. The bullet knocked me down."

Eddie saw the back door open and asked, "did your assailant run out through the back?"

"Yeah - there's just these doors here."

"Describe him."

"Assumin' it was a guy, he had on a ski mask and a black tee-shirt, pants and gloves."

Eddie slammed his fist into his hand out of frustration, "gloves - sure, I shoulda known - DARN IT ALL - now there's no fingerprints."

"Well, sure, but there's a puddle toward the back - footprints - there's a bullet in the kid's shoulder - ballistics...hey, uh, what's your name?"

"Tim"

"Good to meet ya - I'm Mike and this is Eddie - we're detectives - "

"Hi - good to meet ya too"

Eddie went on, "thanks - what do you do here?"

"I'm a mechanic"

"Oh, okay - anyways, we were checking out a kidnapping of one of your cabbies, questioned the Dispatcher and left, then we heard the shot. Was your assailant trying to steal something?"

"No - he was messin' with one of the cabs here I'm workin' on and I caught him in the act, and he caught me in the shoulder, I guess."

"Don't you worry - we'll get you help for that straightaway - Mike, what's the matter?"

MIKE - I was in deep thought - here it was another young guy hit just right after the first one. They shared basic size, shape and coloring - I clued Eddie in on my suspicions

"They must be connected."

"True - but how, and why?"

"That's kinda what I was asking him when he shot me - why? I'm just a fixer-upper around this place."

"You did try to stop him."

"He was askin' for it - I've been here about 2 years now and I really love the joint - I always look out for this place - check peoples' parking and all of that."

Then he got this look of horror on his face, which puzzled me - 'cuz his shooter took off, and all.

"What's wrong, kid? Your wound gettin' worse?"

His eyes widened and he kept saying no, no, no

"Come on, nothin' to be scared of now - you're among friends here and - - AAHH!"

"MIKE!"

"OW! Holy karate chop!"

EDDIE - Me-n-Mike were hit with something in the back of the neck - and it wasn't a mosquito bite either.

MIKE - We took it in the back of the neck and fell over forward
- and that's the last thing I remember before..........


BEFORE?

BEFORE WHAT?

WHAT UGLY UNHOLY MESS HAVE OUR HEROES FOUND THEMSELVES IN? AS MIKE WOULD SAY, 'ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT' - IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.