Monday 17 September 2018

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - OKAY, SO I LIED...



I wasn't entirely happy with the way the two cops just sort of disappeared from events a few chapters back, so I've come up with what I think is a nice resolution to their role in this tale.  I've moved the ending involving Ted and Karen from the previous chapter to this one.  I think this makes things much more satisfying.  All prior chapters are currently undergoing revision, so check them out in a few hours if you're interested.

******  

Chapter Fourteen:


The next day, Captain Jaconelli and Detective Bronski eyed the gruesome scene that lay before them in 'Hasta La Vista'.

"Someone couldn't have liked the menu," said Joe, and Bronski chuckled.

"The chef arrived around midday to make the boss's meal and called it in when he discovered the bodies.  Looks like he emptied the cash register first though.  He's due it I suppose," said Joe, philosophically.

"What do you think, Captain?  Could Ben Stevens have taken revenge for what happened to his brother?"

"Wouldn't blame him if he did," said Joe, "but how would we ever prove it?  No witnesses.  Besides, he wouldn't even be first in line to settle a score with Benny.  He was a nasty piece of work, and the city's a safer place without him."

"So what do we do?, asked Bronski, "we can't just let it slide - can we?"

"Listen, Detective, I consider myself a good cop, but there are hundreds of innocent victims of crime out there every day who are far more deserving of my time and attention, to say nothing of the city's limited financial resources, than this dead bastard.  We'll go through the motions, interview a few low-lifes, and then close the file - bury it with him so to speak.  Catch my drift?"  Joe looked at him to see if he did.

"Sure, Captain, " said Bronski, looking perfectly happy with the situation.  "Like you say - there are far more deserving people out there in need of justice.  Way I see it, Benedetto got all the justice he was due."

Joe looked at him approvingly.  "Then we agree.  Tell me something, Bronski - do you like fishing?"

"Never more happy than when I've got a fishing rod in one hand and a beer in the other," said Detective Bill Bronski.

"You're going to go far, Bill, you're going to go far," said Captain Joseph Jaconelli.

******

Ted and Karen sat together on the sofa, and looked fondly at one another.  "How was your day yesterday?" asked Karen.

"Oh, not bad," said Ted.  "Tidied up a few loose ends on something I was working on.  I should be able to relax now."

"That's good," said Karen.  "Fact is, you've been more relaxed recently than I can remember.  You're certainly not the man I married."

Ted looked at her and noticed an odd glint in her eye.  "Does she know?" he wondered, "Or does she simply think that Ben's more chilled out these days?"  He could ask her, he supposed, but thought it better not to.  After all, some things are best left unsaid.  At least he wouldn't have to worry about Mary any more.  She'd 'phoned earlier to tell him she wasn't going to wait for him any longer.  She probably had other lovers to occupy herself with - poor saps, he thought.  He still had to work out what he was going to do in the future, career-wise - he was certainly no accountant.  Maybe he'd ring Gloria and see if that offer for an audition was still open?  He could return her gun to her - after all, he hadn't used it so there was nothing for her to fear in being reunited with it.

"You hungry?" he asked Karen.

"Only for you, dear," she said, and taking his hand, she led him into the bedroom.

****** 

Do I really have to say it?  Okay then...

The End.

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