partners11

Partners

Casey Novak sipped her coffee as she flipped through reports that had come in over the weekend on her cases. A smile settled on her lips as she learned that Rico was safely tucked away out at Rikers Island. She picked up the phone and dialed the SVU office.

"Cragen."

"Capt, this is Casey Novak. I see we found Mr. Rico behind bars. Do we have a case?"

"Anita told me Joey identified Ronnie's body from photos Saturday afternoon, so we have a victim, and Joey will testify against Rico, so I'd say yes, file the charges. But what we really want is the politico who hired him. Munch and Fin talked to him Saturday afternoon; maybe he'll be ready to talk when the charges are formally pressed."

"With just a junkie's ID, it's not a strong case, but if we play it right we might scare him enough with the accessory to Logan's murder to get him to roll. I'll file the charges and call his attorney."

She hung up the phone and focused on getting the paperwork together. Before it was finished, her phone rang.

"ADA Novak."

"Ms. Novak, this is Neil Howard. I'm the attorney for Mr. Alejandro Rico. I understand there are some new charges being brought against my client?"

"I was just finishing up the paperwork, Mr. Howard. You should have it in a few hours."

"Exactly what charges are you filing?"

"Accessory to Murder for the killing of Det. Michael Logan and Murder Two in the death of the prostitute known as Ronnie."

"Before you file those charges, perhaps we should meet. My client may have something to offer with the appropriate incentives."

"All right Mr. Howard. I'll notify the police and we'll meet you at Rikers in an hour."

"Thank you, Ms. Novak."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AT the 27th Precinct, Ed settled in for another day, his cup of chai tea perched on the corner of his desk. He started in on the list the hotel had provided of all the guests who had booked rooms in the Republican Committee room block. None of the names looked familiar; most likely all the actual politicos had their assistants make the actual reservations. How to narrow this down?

A voice dragged him back to the precinct. "So, how was your 'date' with Briscoe yesterday?" Fontana's voice dripped with sarcasm.

Ed looked up at him, trying to keep his face neutral. Part of him wanted to tell Fontana the truth, just to piss him off. But he couldn't afford that risk. So instead, he took another tack. "Oh, give me a BREAK already! Why the hell are you so hung up about this?"

The irritation in his partner's voice was quite obvious. Joe wondered if he might be mistaken. But no, there was no doubt in his mind that Briscoe was gay. Green was lucky to be rid of him. Except he kept hanging around with the guy. It made no sense to Joe � unless they were partners on more than the job too. Could that be it? That idea chilled Joe's blood. He decided to avoid it for the moment, throwing a scowl in Ed's direction as he headed off for a cup of coffee.

Anita watched from her office with a frown. She'd thought they'd worked out their problems, but it looked like it was just the tip of the iceberg. She knew she'd need to keep an eye on them for a while longer �

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rico was led into the interrogation room at Rikers, which was already getting crowded. Howard was there, as well as ADA Novak, Capt. Cragen, Detectives Munch and Tutuola. Rico knew he had them right where he wanted them. They wanted the big fish; they'd do anything to get the guy who killed a cop. Like letting him off for Ronnie's death.

He sat in the offered chair and looked smugly up at his lawyer. Howard spoke.

"Ms. Novak, my client had nothing to do with the murder of Detective Logan. But he can lead you to those who did, in exchange for consideration on the other matter at hand. I'm sure the police are much more concerned about the murder of one of their own than the death of a homeless prostitute junkie."

Casey gave him her best stern stare. "Mr. Howard, I assure you that the District Attorney's office takes every murder seriously, cop or junkie or anything in between. We have witnesses who will testify to your client's involvement in the events that lead to the deaths of both 'Ronnie' and Det. Logan. Your client is clearly an accessory to Logan's murder. If you don't hand over the names of the others involved, we'll prosecute him for the crime. Now if he helps us, we'll consider lowering the charges. But don't think this is going to go away."

Rico scowled. "Why the hell not? I didn't have anything to do with that cop gettin' offed! You can't convict me of somethin' I didn't do!"

Munch leaned forward, getting in Rico's face. "Oh yeah? Let me tell you somethin', Rico. Juries don't like cop killers any more than we do. And you're no paragon of virtue. Joey was a mixed up kid, abused by his father, and Logan was the kind, caring cop who was trying to help him get straight. Who do you think they're gonna believe?"

Novak pulled him back. "Mr. Rico, someone is going to pay for Det. Logan's murder. The only question is will it be you, or will it be the guy who actually pulled the trigger?"

Howard pulled Rico aside. After a few moments, he looked back at Novak. "What are you offering, Ms. Novak?"

The cops all shared a quiet look; they knew they had it now. Casey consulted her notes, then met Howard's eyes. "If your client gives us the name, and it pans out, we will not prosecute him in Logan's death."

Rico's eyes flashed. "What about Ronnie? I didn't kill him either!"

Howard groaned inwardly. Rico should have kept his mouth shut. Casey gave him a cold stare. "Mr. Rico, you arranged the party, you supplied the drugs that killed him. That's not going to go away."

Howard intervened before Rico could open his mouth again. "It's not like he force-fed the drugs to the boy. Charge him on the drugs and prostitution; not murder."

Rico was about to protest, but Howard's glare cut him off. Casey shook her head. "No deal. There's a dead boy he has to pay for."

"Like hell I do!" Rico's explosion got him a steely glare from his attorney, who pulled him aside. After a few moments of hushed but intense conversation, Howard practically threw him down into the chair and turned to Novak. "How about manslaughter instead of murder? There was no intent here; it was an accidental death."

Novak looked to Cragen, who nodded. "OK, deal. Assuming he gives up his 'clients.' And allocutes to the manslaughter."

Rico couldn't believe he was still going to jail; he was giving them a cop killer, for christ's sake! He scowled at Howard; some lawyer he was!

Howard saw what was coming. "Rico, I'd advise you to cooperate. You're not going to get a better deal."

Looking around the room, Rico realized he'd rolled the dice and come up craps. He wasn't walking away from this one. "OK, ok, I give. Dude's name is Alan Freeman. He's chief lackey and unofficial bodyguard for some Councilman."

Cragen sat back with a sigh. This was it; the man who had actually pulled the trigger. He looked over at Novak, who had a Mona Lisa smile on her face.

"Thank you, Mr. Rico. Do you know the Councilman's name?"

Rico shook his head. "Nah. They just said to call him 'Sir' that night."

"So he was there that night?"

Rico nodded. "Yup. He was doin' Ronnie when the kid had a heart attack."

"Would you recognize him?"

"Yeah, probably."

Casey smiled and stood up. "Thank you, Mr. Rico. Gentlemen, I think we're done here."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anita came over to Ed and Joe's desks. Her smile said it all. "Rico just gave it up. The man we're looking for is Alan Freeman, works for one of the Councilmen."

Ed grinned, reaching for the printout. "That name was on the list. Lemme call his contact info and see who he works for."

Anita perched on the edge of the desk as Ed dialed the number. "Councilman Crossley's office."
She had to suppress a gasp of surprise at that bit of information.

Ed recovered quickly. "Uh, yeah, do you have an Alan Freeman working there?"

"Yes, Mr. Freeman is the Councilman's personal assistant. They're both out of the office right now. Can I leave him a message?"

"Uh, listen, this is his cousin Ed. I'm in town unexpectedly, and just for today. I really wanted to surprise him. Do you know when he'll be back?"

"Well, the Councilman is playing golf this morning with several other Councilmen out on Long Island. The Rosedale Country Club. You might catch them there."

Ed scribbled down the info. "Thank you so much! Please, don't let him know, I really want to surprise him. We haven't seen each other in years."

The girl at the other end of the line was either a temp who didn't know any better, or a seasoned pro who was lying through her teeth. "Of course I won't spoil the surprise! Good luck!"

"Thanks, sweetheart!"

Ed hung up the phone triumphantly. Anita was still shaking her head in surprise. "So it's Crossley. Don't that just take the cake. Mike would have loved this �" Much to her surprise, Anita found herself blinking back tears.

Fontana looked confused. Ed just smirked. "Crossley's the one Logan decked, wasn't he?"

Anita nodded. "And now he's going down for Mike's murder."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later they converged on the Rosedale Country Club on Long Island. Several golf carts were appropriated and they headed out after the Councilman's party. They caught up to them on the 16th hole.

They weren't sure if the secretary had tipped off Freeman that somebody was looking for him, so they approached cautiously, watching to see if he would bolt. VanBuren and Cragen both immediately recognized Crossley. He was speaking in hushed tones with another man whose very stature screamed 'lackey.' That had to be Freeman.

They watched as one of the players teed off, then Van Buren and Cragen approached Crossley, while Green and Fontana herded Freeman aside.

"Alan Freeman, I'm Det. Green, this is my partner Det. Fontana. We need to have a few words with you."

For a moment Ed thought Freeman was going to bolt, then a mask of calm settled over his face. "Yes, Detectives?"

Fontana jumped in. "Mr. Freeman, what exactly is your job for Councilman Crossley?"

"I'm his personal assistant. Why?"

Ed's turn. "You booked a room at the Hyatt Stanhope for last Monday night. I assume it was for the Councilman for after the dinner that night?"

Freeman was starting to look nervous. "Yes, I did. The Councilman wanted to entertain some guests after the main event was over."

Joe smirked. "Guests. Tell me, Mr. Freeman, did you also book the 'entertainment?'"

"I don't know what you're talking about �" Freeman tried to play dumb.

Ed just shook his head. "Don't even try it, Freeman. Rico sang like a canary. I think you'd better come with us back to the precinct."

"But � the Councilman �"

Ed grabbed his elbow. "The Councilman has his own problems to worry about. Come on."

Over by the tee, Councilman Crossley spoke in hushed tones with the brass present. "Lt. Van Buren, how nice to see you again."

Anita carefully kept her face neutral. "Councilman. I was hoping if we met again it would be under better circumstances. Unfortunately, that is not the case. This is Capt. Donald Cragen, of the Special Victims' Unit."

Crossley frowned as he realized the Lieutenant's men had pulled Freeman aside and were having a very intense discussion with him. He looked to Cragen, as the senior officer present. "Captain? What is this about?"

"A certain party held in your suite at the Hyatt Stanhope last Monday after the big Republican dinner hosted there. I believe you should recognize this young man?" Cragen handed him a photo of 'Ronnie.'

Crossley tried to hide his recognition, but it didn't work. "No, I can't say I do �"

Cragen scowled. "Well, perhaps you might recognize him better from behind � we have two witnesses who put him in your suite after hours. He died of a heart attack after taking too much of your crack and while you were � getting quite familiar with him."

The other councilmen in the foursome huddled off to one side, but Cragen made sure they heard his words. Their shocked expressions confirmed it. Even if the lawyers somehow got Crossley off, his career would be ruined. Just like Mike's had been all those years ago. It seemed somehow just.

Anita saw Green and Fontana leading Freeman toward one of the golf carts. With a satisfied smile, she turned to Crossley. "It looks like your Mr. Freeman has some explaining to do to my detectives. Perhaps you and your attorney should join us back at the precinct?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alan Freeman was not a happy camper. His gun had been confiscated when they put him in the car. And now he sat alone in an interrogation room, waiting. He knew they were making him wait to put him off balance. Unfortunately, it was working. If they had Rico, they knew about the dead boy. But that didn't mean they knew about the dead cop. He might still get out of this alive �

Finally the door opened and the two cops came in. The older guy, Fontana, was holding his piece.

"Nice gun, Mr. Freeman. Tell me, why does a 'personal assistant' need a carry permit?"

Freeman scowled. "My duties include protecting the councilman."

Fontana nodded. "Ah, I see. I also see you just reported your gun stolen last week, Mr. Freeman. This one brand new?"

Why were they focusing on the gun? Shit, they DID know about the cop! Freeman realized an answer was expected. "Yeah, so what?"

The black cop leaned in. "What happened to your old one, Mr. Freeman?"

"Like you said, I reported it stolen."

Fontana obviously didn't believe him. "Yeah." He consulted a folder. "From your locker at the gym?"

"Yeah, that's right," Freeman said, just a bit too quickly.

Fontana shook his head. "Funny, the police report says it was stolen from your office. Now which is it?"

Freeman was obviously flustered, getting his lies confused. "I � I think I'm not saying anything more without my lawyer."

Green smirked. "And which lawyer would that be, Mr. Freeman? Because if you're counting on the Councilman's lawyer to cover your butt, you might want to reconsider. He's going to be busy defending the Councilman in this same case. You got someone else to call?"

Freeman's eyes were wide with panic now. They knew. Good thing he'd called his own attorney � For now, his mouth was shut.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In another interview room, Councilman Crossley sat alone, refusing to say anything without his attorney present. How the hell had the police found out about his little party? Freeman should have taken care of it. And why the hell was Van Buren involved in this? The look in the Lieutenant's eyes worried him; she was on the warpath, and he didn't know way. Did she still hold him responsible for the actions of that psychopath detective Logan? Cragen he understood; the head of the sex crimes unit would be involved if they found the kid's body. But they shouldn't have been able to put it together. What the hell was going on here?

Finally the door opened and VanBuren and Cragen entered with his attorney. Van Buren's smile was predatory. Crossley didn't like this one bit. They all sat down at the table, and his attorney spoke.

"All right, Lieutenant, now what is this all about?"

Van Buren forced herself to remain calm. "Councilman Crossley, you attended the Republican Central Committee dinner last Monday at the Hyatt Stanhope?"

"Yes, of course."

"And you reserved a room at the hotel for that evening?"

"Yes, I had intended to entertain some of my major donors that evening. But my guests were unable to attend at the last minute, so I simply went home after the formal festivities were over."

Cragen raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying you didn't stay for the little 'party' Alan Freeman threw in your suite?" // He's already trying to distance himself! //

"I don't know anything about what happened after I left, Captain."

"And what time was that?"

"Oh, I don't know. Around 10 or so."

Van Buren smiled. "And what would you say if I told you we had a witness who places you there closer to midnight, and in the room during the party. In fact, an active participant?"

Crossley frowned, putting on his best 'spin' face. "I'd say they were lying, Lieutenant."

Cragen leaned forward. "Councilman, you don't seem to be aware of exactly what has happened here. We know about Ronnie, the dead prostitute. We have his body. I suppose you told Mr. Freeman, your gun-carrying 'aide' to 'clean up' the mess. It almost worked. When Ronnie's body was found, it was written off as a junkie O.D."

Anita picked up the story. "But then the other prostitute, Joey, came forward to tell us what really happened. How Ronnie died of a crack-induced heart attack while you were 'doing' him. How do you think your conservative constituents are going to take that news, Councilman?"

// Damn that Freeman! He should have taken that kid out! Why the hell had he had to file that lost weapon report if he hadn't used the gun on the witnesses? // Something was definitely not right here. But so far, they had nothing tangible. He looked Van Buren in the eyes

"They'll take it as the deranged ravings of a junkie prostitute, Lieutenant. Which is all it is. I was not there."

Cragen shook his head. "Not so easy, Councilman. It seems your Mr. Freeman isn't so good at cleaning up. He let the kid get away, and in the process shot somebody else. See, Joey had a guardian angel, a cop who was helping him try to get clean. So when he got into trouble, he called his friend the cop. Freeman lost the kid but killed a cop while cleaning up your mess, Councilman. And I'm sure Mr. Freeman is not going to take the fall alone if you ordered him to 'clean up' the witnesses."

Crossley conferred with his attorney in hushed tones for a moment, before turning back to them. The attorney spoke.

"Captain, Lieutenant, if you're trying to scare my client into an admission, you're way off the mark. You have at most the word of a junkie prostitute. That's not enough to scare a man like Alan Freeman into making unfounded accusations."

There was a tap at the door. Van Buren turned and opened it, taking the note handed to her. She read it and smiled. "Captain, let's let Mr. Crossley and his attorney discuss this. We'll be back shortly."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lennie sat in one of the interview rooms with Joey. Apparently there had been a break in the case; Ed had called him and asked him to bring the boy down for a lineup. Lennie had tried to ask who the suspect was, but Ed cut him off before he could get the question in.

Joey was very nervous at the thought of facing the men from that night. "Lennie, do I have to do this?"

Lennie put a comforting hand on the boy's back. "Easy, Joey. Remember, they can't see you. You've got nothing to be afraid of. It'll be ok; everything's gonna be ok now. They can't hurt you anymore."

The door opened and Ed stuck his head in. "OK, guys, we're ready for you." He led them to the viewing booth for the line-up. Lennie was pleased to see EADA Jack McCoy there. Young Ms. Novak had been doing a good job as the SVU sex crimes expert, but Lennie was glad that now that they were going after the big fish they were sending their own shark. Another suited figure hovered in the room; the suspect's lawyer. Lennie hoped Joey's ID would be solid; if he was uncertain, the defense would tear him to shreds on the stand, IF it got that far. He was seriously hoping it wouldn't.

Lt. Van Buren came over to them, her best 'mother/protector' mode in place. "Joey? I want you to take a good look at these men. If you recognize any of them, tell us. You ready?"

Joey looked to Lennie, then nodded nervously. Anita signaled for the suspects to be led in. Six tall, tough-looking men dressed in business shirts were led in. Joey's eyes got very wide as soon as they landed on number three. "That's him, number three. He's the one that shot Mike!"

Van Buren's smile reassured Lennie that Joey had indeed fingered their suspect. The defense lawyer did not look happy. Anita turned to Joey. "You're sure? Take your time, Joey."

Joey shook his head. "I'm sure, ma'am. That's him."

Anita gave a satisfied nod and spoke into the intercom. "Thank you, genetlemen. You're excused." She turned toward McCoy and the defense attorney. "I just got a call from Detectives Munch and Tutuola, who were searching Mr. Freeman's apartment. They found Det. Logan's badge there. And there was another .38 revolver there. I'm guessing it's Logan's. He probably planned to use it on Rico and Joey before disposing of it. Unfortunately for him, we got to both of them first."

McCoy nodded, turning to the defense attorney, who realized his client was in it up to his eyeballs.

"What are you offering, McCoy?"

Jack shook his head. "Your client killed a cop, Aaronson. No mercy. He's lucky New York repealed the death penalty."

Aaronson hesitated. "What if we give you the Councilman? He ordered my client to set up that party, and to 'clean up' afterward."

McCoy pretended to think a minute. "Freeman still pulled the trigger. I won't go any lower than Murder II."

Aaronsen shrugged. "I'll talk to him."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later, Anita Van Buren re-entered the interview room where Crossley and his attorney waited, impatiently. The attorney was on his feet as soon as he heard the door opening.

"Lieutenant, I insist you either charge my client with something or allow us to leave. Capt. Cragen's ill-advised comments on the golf course are going to require my client's attention to minimize the damage."

Anita smiled. "You're not going anywhere, Councilman. You are under arrest as an Accessory to the murder of the prostitute known as 'Ronnie' and Accessory to the murder of Det. Michael Logan, NYPD. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you �"

Crossley sat in stunned silence as Van Buren recited the Miranda warning. Finally, as Green and Fontana entered the room to escort him away he found his voice.

"Logan? That psychopath was still on the force? Andrew, this is a set-up! The police have waited 10 years to get even with me for filing charges against Logan!"

Ed scowled at him. "Set-up my foot. Quiet down, Councilman. We're taking you down to booking, then they need you in a line-up. That hooker Joey never knew your name, but we're betting he can pick your face out. And so can Rico, the pimp. That's two witnesses. And Freeman was stupid enough to keep Logan's gun. He told all, Councilman. No more weekday golf outings for you �"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lennie and Joey were led back to the viewing room for another line-up. Six more men entered, again all in business attire. Joey wasn't quite so assertive this time, but then he hadn't had this man's image burned into him memory. But Lennie had; there was a familiar face among the suspects; the Councilman whose anti-gay rhetoric had cost Mike his career as a Homicide Detective. Crossley. He deliberately forced himself to look away, not wanting to influence Joey's choice. But he didn't have to worry after all. After taking a careful look, Joey nodded. "That's him. Number 5. He was the big shot. Made us call him 'Sir.' He was � you know, doin' Ronnie when he died. He told the other guy to take care of it."

Lennie smiled and put his arm around the young man. "You sure?"

Joey nodded. "Oh, yeah. That's him."

Anita laid her hand on Joey's arm. "Thank you, Joey. That's all. Lennie, why don't you take Joey for a soda or something?"

As Lennie led the boy out of the viewing room, McCoy turned to the defense attorney. "Both witnesses fingered both of them. We have Logan's badge from Freeman's apartment, and ballistics should prove that the gun he was carrying was Logan's department issue piece. Freeman will say that the councilman ordered him to 'clean up' the mess, meaning the witnesses. Last chance to spare him the notoriety of a trial. Man 1 for the boy, and Murder II for ordering Logan's death."

The Councilman's defense attorney sighed. "I'll recommend that we take it." He turned and left the room.

Anita couldn't hold back the grin of satisfaction at seeing Crossley go down. McCoy turned to her, with a sad smile of his own. "Hell of a way for Logan to get his revenge."

Anita sighed. "True. But it still feels good. Mike would have enjoyed the irony of this situation."

Jack smiled and nodded. "I think you're right, Anita. He would have."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lennie and Joey sat drinking sodas and chatting with Ed in an interrogation room waiting for the 'all-clear.' Ed's phone rang, and he got up, stepping aside to answer it. After a moment he hung up and turned to them. "Just caught another case, man. Fontana's busting my ass for wasting time here, I gotta go. Lennie, you want to get dinner tonight, to celebrate?"

Lennie grinned. Two dinners in two days. Maybe there was something here? "Sure. But if you're just catching a case now, you might be late � tell you what, meet me at Annie's. I can get in some practice while I'm waiting for Mr. Tight-ass to let you go."

Ed laughed. "Sounds like a plan." He turned to the kid. "Joey, you take care now, ok? You got a second chance, thanks to Mike. Don't waste it."

Joey nodded and shook his hand. "I won't. I promise."

As Ed left, Joey gave Lennie 'the look.' "He likes you."

// Now where the hell did the kid get that? Not that he wasn't hoping it was true �// "We were partners for seven years, Joey. We're good friends."

Joey shook his head. "More than that, man. Did you see the way he smiled when you agreed to meet him for dinner? And I've seen the way he looks at you. He wants you."

Lennie just shook his head, embarrassed. "Listen, kid, at my age, nobody WANTS me, not like that."

Joey laughed. "That's what you think. Don't � don't be afraid, Lennie. Mike would've wanted to know that you were happy. That you had somebody to care about you. He'd want you to LIVE, Lennie. The way he was always tellin' ME to live instead of hiding in the drugs and sex."

Lennie just shook his head. The kid was right. But did he have the courage to go for it?

A tap at the door startled both of them. Fin pushed the door open. "Hey, Lennie. Got somebody here who wants to see Joey." He stepped aside and Edith Krolinsky walked in. "Joey? Oh, god, Joey, you're all right!"

Before Joey knew what hit him, his mother had him wrapped in her arms and was weeping on his shoulder. Fin watched the proceedings with a carefully suppressed smile. Seeing a family reunited touched that soft spot that he tried so hard to keep hidden. Of course, Munch knew all about it. He wasn't surprised to feel his partner's hand on his back. Lennie looked up at them, grinning, both at the family reunion, and at their obvious affection for each other. The world was looking like a much friendlier place these days.

Mrs. Krolinsky finally let go of her baby boy and just stood there looking at him. "Joey, are you ok? My god, you're so thin �"

Joey nodded. "It's been rough � Mom, I'm so sorry � I � I got mixed up in some bad stuff � can you forgive me? I think �. I think I'm ready to start over, if you'll give me the chance �"

"I made mistakes too, honey. I � yes of course, we can start again." Again, she hugged him so tight Lennie was afraid she'd squeeze the boy to death. When she let go, she turned to the detectives. "Can I take him home with me?"

They looked at Lennie. "He's in a rehab program right now; but after this week he should be able to go out-patient."

Joey turned to Lennie, almost panicked. "Lennie? If I go back to Jersey, I won't see you again �"

Lennie placed a calming hand on Joey's shoulder. "Yes you will, Joey. Maybe not as often as we'd like, but I promise I won't disappear."

Edith turned to the oddly familiar stranger. "Do I know you?"

Lennie offered his hand. "Lennie Briscoe. I was Mike Logan's partner back when your husband was arrested �"

Edith nodded. 'I thought you looked familiar. You've been helping Joey?"

"Well, Mike started the process. When he got killed protecting Joey, I kinda inherited him. Caught him hiding out in Mike's apartment."

Wide-eyed, Edith cast a scathing glare at Fin. "Det. Tutuola told me Joey had witnessed a crime and was in police custody for his own protection � "

Joey put a shaky hand on his mother's arm. "It's ok, Mom. They got the bad guys. I'm safe now �"

She looked at the detectives, who nodded.

Looking out the door, Lennie saw Van Buren coming their way. "Lieu? All done?"

His words alerted Munch and Fin that she was coming, giving them a moment to step just a bit apart before she entered the room, a broad smile on her face.

"Both of them pled out. There won't be a trial. We're done here."

Lennie gave a huge sigh of relief. It was over, well and truly. Joey looked like a deer in the headlights. "Over? I don't have to testify?"

Anita shook her head. "Nope. They're going to jail for a very long time, Joey. Thank you for helping us. Mike would have been proud of you."

Joey ducked his head, embarrassed by the praise. Lennie put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Let's get you back to rehab, then. Make him even prouder, kick this stuff."

"I will, Lennie. For Mike."

As they were leaving, Lennie turned to the other detectives. "Hey, Ed and I are getting together at Annie's tonight to celebrate. You ought to stop by." // Now why the hell did you do that, Briscoe? I thought you wanted to be alone with Ed? // Maybe some part of him wasn't ready yet? Using these two as insurance?

Fin grinned. "Wouldn't miss it." Munch nodded agreement.

Continue on to Chapter 12

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Chapter 11