| Part Twenty Previously: Authors Notes: Three weeks later Content Warning: ******** As Johnny walked into the day room for the first time in three weeks he was surprised when he found Detective Pete Barnes sitting at the table talking to the Captain. " Hello Mr. Gage, How are you feeling?" Barnes asked taking a sip of coffee " Oh I'm fine." Johnny lied." Tell me have you got any news on Nicci." Johnny asked his words filled with hope " Actually that's the reason I stopped by, is to let you know that the department has decided to give up any search for Ms. Rogers." Barnes announced " What, you cant' do that." Johnny said in protest Seeing the anger build on Johnny's face Barnes shifted unconfortable in his chair." It's been three weeks and we haven't turned up anything but dead ends. Now I don't like it anymore then you do, but the department doesn't want to waste the tax payers money, And they can't justify wasting time searching for something and coming up empty. I hope you understand." " Yeah I understand. what you're saying is that you're not going to waste your time. And how dare you refer to her as a something, don't you think she's a person with feelings?" Johnny barked in anger " Of course I know she's a person and I also know that she's a well know hooker." " And what your saying is that because of that, she doesn't deserve the same treatment that she would if she weren't." " Now that's not fair Mr. Gage., we did all we could besides do you actually think she's alive?" " Yes I do and I'm not going to give up on that." Johnny said with conviction storming out of the room Watching Johnny leave the room in a anger, Barnes looked over to his long time friend." Hank you have to know me better then that." Barnes said defending himself " I thought I did Pete, but I'm having a very hard time with this. It seems your department has forgot one thing, it's called compassion and you can't measure that in dollar signs." Stanley declared " They just don't realize how much that man loves that little girl, and lets not forget she's carrying his unborn child and that's absolutely tearing him apart. Oh he tries to hold faith but he knows that with each day that goes by the chance of finding her alive grows a little thinner." Stanley said with fustration *****Three Days Later******** Watching Johnny walk into the day room. Stanley studied his friend's face. His eye's were rimmed with dark circles and his face was pale and drawn." Hey Pal how's it going." Stanley asked with worry" You alright?" " Well it's going. and I'm fine." Johnny lied retreating back to the locker room " Roy is he going to be alright? it looks like he hasn't slept in days." Stanley asked his face dotted with concern " I'm not sure Cap." Roy said leaving the room Entering the locker room Roy found Johnny sitting inside his locker resting his arms on his knees. As Roy stood there he could hear the soft sobs escaping his partner. " Hey Johnny." he said softly making Johnny raise his head " Hey Pally." Johnny said cutting Roy a ghost of a smile while his tears continued to stream down the sides of his face. " What's up?" " How are you doing? really." Roy asked his voice heavy with concern " Oh I'm okay, it's just so hard you know, I miss her so much Roy. To think I'll never hold her again or see her smile or get the chance to know our baby........" Johnny stopped." Yesturday I went to the store and out of pure habit I bought a Hershey bar. God she loved them." Johnny sobbed with a slight chuckle. " It sounds to me like your giving up Junior." Roy said " What else can I do Roy, I want to believe that she's........" Johnny stopped " Junior did you know that Chris and Jenny still believe in Santa Claus. I and Jo have tried to tell them the truth. But they still believe in him anyways. Jenny says that you don't have to see something to know that it's not there. You have to have faith that Nicci is alive and well. If you stop believing in that then she'll be gone forever. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Roy soothed " Yeah I do, and you're right. Thanks Partner." Johnny said As Johnny sat there alone, He knew in his heart that Roy was right he couldn't give up. Even though he was haunted by the memory of her as she layed lifeless in front of him. he had to go on. And as long as there was no proof telling him differant he had to assume that she was alive. ********One Week later********* " Station 51, Structure fire 556 Woodland time out 11:27 " "Station 51 KMG365." Stanley responded .............. " I don't know about you but I'm starved." Roy announced bringing the squad to a stop " Me too." Johnny agreed following Roy into the day room " Gage, here we found this on the table when we got back from the run." Stanley said handing Johnny the small white envelope. When Johnny opened it he was startled when his ring fell out onto the table." It's Nicci." He said as he bagan to read the letter. " My dear Johnny, I'm writing you this letter to let you know that I love you and I never meant to cause you or Roy any pain. For that I am deeply sorry. There's something you need to know Johnny, I was going to tell you that night but I never got the chance. I'm pregnant, So far I'm able to keep it a secret but it's only a matter of time before he learns the truth, And I'm scared to death of what he'll do when he finds out. Johnny there is nothing I want more then to be with you but I can't. I know that you were protecting me cause you love me and now I'm doing the same for you. I can't let you hurt anymore. I hope that in time you will understand the reasons why. You see in my heart I know my life is truely over. You need to get on with your life without me. I dont' deserve you Johnny and you dont' deserve to die for me. You are a good person with a future, I'm not going to let you throw it all away. Just always remember that I love you, I'll think of you with fond memories and no matter what you'll always have a special place in my heart. With all my love Nicci A burst of happiness fell on Johnny as he finished reading the letter. Even though the words was like a knife, he also found new hope. For Nicci was alive. He knew in his heart that it was only a matter of time before he had her back. and that no matter what Knuckles did it wasn't enough to distroy what they have. With those thoughts Johnny walked to the phone to call the police. After Johnny hung up the phone he walked back to the table. " What'd they say?" Chet asked " Nothing much, I didn't get to talk to anyone but a secretary. She said that she would pass on the infromation." " Yeah but do you think she will?" Roy asked " I don't know she was rather short with me on the phone. And the police have all but given up on her. I do know that I'm not going to sit back and wait for them, I'll find her myself." Johnny said with purpose. " Just remember Pal, we're behind you all the way. We will do everything in our power to help you find her. Won't we?" Stanley said " You bet we will." Roy said with the other nodding their heads " Thanks guys."Johnny smiled in appreciation ...............One week later....... For a solid week the guys went out in search of Nicci the only contact between their personal vehicles were walkie talkies that were perchased just for the occasion. Each one searching aimlessly down the strip hoping to bring Nicci home to safety. Even though each night brought them a new disappointment they wasn't about to give up. They knew that Nicci would be found. ........The next morning........ " Squad 51 unknown type injury 111 East Main." Time out 12:23." " Squad 51 KMG 365." Stanley announced Mid way to the address the dispatcher came over the speaker." Squad 51 cancel." " Hey Roy, since we're so close to the strip what do you say........" Johnny started " I'm already on it." Roy announced. Slowly driving down the strip both Roy and Johnny gazed out the window each holding onto faith that she would turn up. Suddenly Johnny unexpectedly saw one of Nicci's friends crounched down next to a building. " Hey Roy stop, I see someone that may be able to help." He announced As soon as Roy brought the squad to a hault, Johnny jumped out to the passengers seat and headed straight for the girl followed by Roy." Tricks?" He asked crounching down next to her. When she picked up her head he let out a gasp seeing she had a black eye and a bleeding lip. " I'll go get the equipment and call it in." Roy said " Tricks what happened?" Johnny asked reaching for her " Oh nothing just a bad party, Mr. Gage." She said pushing his hand away " Well let us have a look." Roy said " What brings you by here anyway? You don't belong here." Tricks said " I was wondering if you saw Nicci anywhere." Johnny asked in pleading " No I havent'." She replied standing up using Roy's shoulder for a crutch. Looking at the girl in front of him. Johnny could see her paled body tremble as she got up." Can I ask you something?" he asked helping her to steady herself" When was the last time you ate?" Johnny wanted to know " I don't know, yesturday I guess." She said shaking off the dizzyness " Here sit down I'll contact Rampart." Roy said setting up the biophone. " No I'll be fine, I'm just tired, I was just resting that's all." Tricks lied Knowing that she had the right to turn down treatment. Roy changed his mind about Rampart. " Well can we at least give you a ride somewhere." Johnny asked wanting to help. " Maybe, I guess that would be okay." Tricks said ............ Roy pulled up to the address that Tricks requested " Is this it ?" Roy questioned seeing what appeared to be an abandoned shack. " Yeah," Tricks said getting out of the squad. " What did you exspect a mansion?" She asked looking at their puzzled faces Johnny got out then pulling out a twenty form his front pocket he handed it to her. " What's this?" She asked in surprise "I want you to get something to eat." Johnny said " Why? what do you want me to do for you." Tricks asked " Nothing I don't want anything." Johnny said. " Just do me a favor, if you see Nicci let me know. I miss her and not having her is killing me." He pleaded Without a responce, Tricks turned to go into what she called home. Then stopping she turned and ran to Johnny climbing back into the squad. " Mr. Gage." She said " Yeah." Johnny said " You know I use to think there was no way any of us would ever get rich on the strip. I was wrong, Nicci got rich when she found you. I will do what I can to help you find her." Tricks promised ............. Rolling to a stop in the bay Johnny and Roy were greeted by the Captain." Gage, DeSoto, Lieutenant Crocket is here to see both of you." Captain announced Strolling in the day room they were greeted by the Lieutenant." Mr. Gage, Mr. DeSoto." Crockett greeted extending his hand to them " Hi." They both returned sitting down at the table " I guess you two are wondering why I stopped by. I was going over some cases that were some how over looked, if you will." He started. " One of the cases that sticks in my mind is one that involves a string of robberies that had to do with senior citizens getting their social security checks ripped off about six months ago. And the prime suspect is a local gang banger Clinton Perry he goes by the street name of Knuckles. He's the same guy that is responcible for the attack on you two." Crockett stopped fumbleing through his brief case. " Oh yes here they are." He stated taking out two pieces of paper." I have here both of your statements you gave to the detectives and you both mention the name Nicole Rogers and Knuckles. According to the police logs Nicole has been arrested eight times, six time for prostitution and twice for possesion of heroin. Now I personally believe that if we find Nicole or Nicci, she may know something about the other case. Tell me do you know the where abouts of Ms. Rogers?" He concluded "No we don't but we're not giving up. We know she's with Knuckles we just don't know where. We did come across one of her friends and she said she would help us find Nicci." Johnny said with his hopes rising " Good, because off the record it wouldn't break my heart if I was the one that cought that son of a bitch. Now what we should do is focus on locating Ms. Rogers because I have a feeling where she is, Knuckles is not far behind." Crockett concluded." Well thanks for your time and we will stay in contact. If you see or hear anything let me know. Here is my card with my home phone as well as the office. call me if you hear or find out anything no matter what it is. call me." TBC |