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.