Second Shot by Adam Carpenter

Author:Adam Carpenter [Carpenter, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2022-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

Part 2: Justice Served

Chapter 9

They caught the light, if not the eye. Shiny, majestic in their way and in what they represented. Even with the florescent lighting beaming down from the diner’s ceiling, there was a glow cast upon them.

The two men were seated in a corner booth. So far, only served a glass of water. That was okay, neither was in a hurry to order, much less to leave. There was a reason for their visit, more than catch up, what was on display between them on the Formica table was emblematic.

Two badges. Silver in color, with a sheen coating them from being un-used. Recently they had been polished.

9701

1023

Jimmy McSwain.

Joseph McSwain.

Everyone possessed an identity within the blue ranks of the NYPD, and these two badges were bonded by family, by history, and by a legacy, and yeah, maybe a tinge of regret. What father and son were denied because fate had grabbed hold of a different outcome.

“Can I add to this?”

Jimmy said nothing, a mere nod said it all. He watched as Jonathan Tolliver pulled out his old badge from within his blazer’s pocket. Count Jimmy among the unsurprised that Jonathan still carried his honor on him. Once a cop, always a cop. Retirement meant pension kicked in. It didn’t change the justice that still lived within you.

Staring at the three NYPD badges, Jimmy felt overwhelmed by their impact. What he said next wasn’t about them. But it kind of was.

“Everything’s changing.”

“Given your mood, maybe we should have met at Paddy’s.”

“Nah. I’m swearing off beer and other shit for a bit. Two cases, lots of complications. I’m happy with the Cosmic Diner. It’s old world.” He paused. “Thank you for coming all the way up to Fifty-third Street. I know it was an effort.”

“Not to mention a couple avenues,” Jonathan said. He smiled. He didn’t mind the effort.

Still, Jonathan Tolliver put a fist around the top of his cane that lay next to him in the booth. As though both loving its aid and loathing its necessity. He suffered from ALS, he had his good days and bad days. That was the progression of the disease. Ultimately the bad days would win out until there were no days. But right now, sharpness won out, and Jimmy was glad to see his father’s former co-worker alert, confident, and steady. Of course he missed Ralphie, his voice of reason for the past several years. But Jonathan offered a fresh point of view. Ralphie had been reactionary. Jonathan was persuasive.

“I don’t know how my world spiraled out of control so fast,” Jimmy said.

“If I’ve learned anything in this life, we’re not in control.”

Truth. It punctuated his hurt.

“Talk to me, Jimmy. Let’s explore this case you’re pursuing. The one you’re being paid for.”

“The Portnoys.”

It had been two days since he and Brenden had discovered the slain body of Rebecca, and while the police and investigators pursued their questioning, nothing much was known. Other than she was dead, and in being so, out of the running for the Portnoy fortune.

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