The
Black Knight Squash Fiction League Match #2
The Handouts versus The Tin Ringers
EAST
SIDE A
Collaborative Novel
Chapter 19
It's Over
by Tammy Mehmed
Hank walked into the Upper West Side precinct on W. 82nd Street around
noon on Tuesday. He met with Detective Fazio and reviewed the
video tapes from the garage in Margaret’s apartment. Sure enough,
it was Pike. And while Hank was in there telling Fazio what he
knew about Pike, Fazio wasn’t yet sharing that a body was found in
Margaret’s house in West Islip. The forensic boys were there and
Fazio needed to head over soon.
Sgt. Connor walked into Fazio’s office and said, “Excuse me for interrupting, can I have a word with you Detective?”
Fazio nodded and excused himself to just outside his door. Sgt.
Connor told him that they had just received a confirmation from the lab
that the Interpol fax they received yesterday with Timmy Pendleton’s
picture was a match to the guy in the garage. Fazio said, “Holy
shit, that’s amazing. We need to head over to West Islip and
check on what they found. I’ll wrap up with Reynolds here, and
then let’s head over there. Make sure you request fingerprint
records from our friends at Interpol.”
Fazio finished up his conversation with Hank and told him he would be
back in touch after he followed up on some leads at Margaret’s
house on Long Island. As soon as Hank left, Fazio and Connor made
the drive over to West Islip.
----------------------
Marlene Kucinich was getting dressed in her master suite with her
typical leopard-print outfit, when Jerome walked into the room.
“Hey Hon, well you’ll be happy to hear that our deal has busted on that
Upper East Side building where your damn club is. Happy now?”
“Why did you have to pick that building anyway? There’s so many
buildings in New York – and you go after that one. I’m glad it
blew up in your face. Serves you right,” snarled Marlene.
“It was nothing personal dear. Do you know how many offers I
investigate every week - this was a good deal for me. Whatever –
it’s over.”
Funny thing was, Kucinich really wanted to get rid of that club – but
now that Pike was gone, he didn’t care so much. He wasn’t worried
any longer about Marlene’s extracurricular activities. He had
been having her followed for some time and everything seemed back to
normal. He hoped it was just a minor indiscretion since he had
been working so much. He really wanted to move forward. His
love for her was deeper than she would ever understand.
-----------------------
After more than an hour at the police station, Hank headed to the
hospital to pick up Kate. She had sent him a text that the
surgeon was finally releasing her. He had bought her a new homecoming
outfit since the police took her clothes as evidence. Fortunately
the club had a great pro shop with all the top shelf brands - although
maybe not quite up to her style. Hank was able to grab a modern
black warm-up suit with lime green piping. April had gone to her
apartment and picked up her more personal belongings to last her
through the next week or so at her place.
"Hi Kate, are you ready?" asked Hank as he entered the sterile hospital room.
"Thank goodness you're here. I'm so over this place and ready to
break out. Did you bring me something cool from the club?" asked
a bubbly Kate.
"Of course, only the finest from East Side. Black Knight has this
new clothing line that they’re trying out with us - thought you might
like this warm up. Who knows, maybe you can get a job with them?”
“Thanks dad. Not a bad choice," chuckled Kate. “Now let’s get out of here.”
“Okay, let’s take a taxi over to April’s place. I’m really
exhausted from my time at the police station earlier. Do we need
to stop anywhere else before we go there?”
“Nope, I just want to get settled in and not think about all that has
happened. It’s just too much. I’ll send her a text as we’re
getting in the cab so she knows to expect us. She said she would
be home waiting for us.” Kate got dressed in her new warm-up suit
and the two of them went through the hospital check-out procedures
before getting in a cab. On the way to April’s she sent a text to
Marie letting her know she was finally sprung from the hospital and
heading to April’s.
---------------
Lotte Van Alstyne drafted up a memo to the management at the East Side
Club and copied Hank. In it, she laid out the plans to relocate
the Club to a newly designed space at their Lexington property not far
away. She wrote about some promising changes including a daycare
center and spa services, as well as a cafe, yoga studio, weight
training area, cardio equipment and a PT center. Everything a
squash player could want for cross-training and mental health.
She requested that Hank be part of the design team. It sounded
too good to be true. It was delivered while Hank was with Kate on
Tuesday afternoon, but Jerry had already heard about it through one of
his front office moles. Jerry sent Hank a text telling him there
was great news sitting on his desk. Hank called Jerry
immediately, "Hey Jer, that sounds incredible. I need to talk to
Lotte though and see if we can include a couple courts for my outreach
program. She's on the right track including daycare at
least. I'll give her a call when I get back in later today."
"I asked my friend to sketch up some ideas and I'll get those to you pronto so she knows you're serious and it can work."
"Thanks man," beamed Hank. "I owe you big time - you have been
such a good friend through all of this. I can’t thank you
enough. Will you still be at the club later this evening?”
“No, I do have some dinner plans, but send me a message if you need to talk.”
----------------------------
Sgt. Connor and Detective Fazio spent the afternoon at the crime scene
in West Islip. Identification showed that the body belonged to
Thomas Pike. Now they had to confirm that Thomas Pike was Timmy
Pendleton. The CSI was on site taking fingerprints of the body
and carefully examining the premises.
“Sir, it sure looks like a suicide,” said the onsite CSI
examiner. “You’ve got pills and booze on the nightstand and a gun
in his hand with his brains blown out.”
Detective Fazio spoke, “Well, our Mr. Pike has been quite busy the
last couple of days. Can you tell how long he’s been here?
We lost track of him early Sunday morning.”
“I would say this happened Sunday, sometime in the morning, based on
his body condition. It looks like everything took place right
here in the bedroom,” said the examiner.
“Okay, thanks. I’ll look forward to the full report. I need
to get back to the office and let some people know.” Fazio and
Connor left West Islip Tuesday evening and headed back to their
precinct on the Upper West Side.
On the way back, Detective Fazio called Hank, “Mr. Reynolds, I have
some good news for you. It seems that we found Mr. Pike.”
“Really,” exclaimed Hank. “Don’t be messing with me. Where is he? Did you capture him?”
“I think you’ll find this even better, Mr. Reynold,” said Fazio.
“It seems he shot himself in your wife’s house in West Islip. He
stole her car and drove over there. Must have figured out where
she lived and thought he would hide out or somethin’. Looks like
he called it quits though. Whatever happened, you don’t have to
worry about him any longer. We’re still investigating but the
body checks out to be him.”
Hank was ecstatic. Kate was making faces in the background trying
to figure out the conversation. Finally, Hank hung up and
reported in to Kate and the girls. It was time to celebrate.
Kate decided it was best that she stay at April’s place for a while
even though Pike was gone. She was still nervous about everything
that happened and just feeling uncomfortable about city living.
“Do you want me to stay here for a while longer with you and the girls,
or are you okay now? I’ve got some stuff to deal with back at the
club and finally feel like I can move on,” said Hank.
Kate smiled and said “Of course dad, promise you’ll come visit me tomorrow.”
-----------------------------
Hank headed back over to the club. It was late now on Tuesday
evening, but he realized he hadn’t talked to Yvette all day. He
was so distracted with everything going on that he completely forgot to
check in with her. He dialed her number, “Hi Yvette, it’s me
Hank.”
Yvette put on her biggest smile, “Hi handsome, are you doing okay? I’ve been worried about you and Kate.”
“Yes, it’s been quite a day though. I would love to visit with
you tonight – got any plans? I could use a good back rub and to
see your smiling face.” Hank got warm all over just thinking
about being at Yvette’s place. “I’ll tell you all about it when I
see you, there’s just so much that you won’t even believe. It’s all
quite crazy how this came together, but Kate and I are so happy – thank
God it’s over.”
“I’m here waiting for you. I’ll get your scotch ready and warm-up
my hands. See you whenever you get here,” beamed Yvette.
Hank stopped by the club to pick up Lotte’s paperwork and some
paperwork about the upcoming Master’s tournament, and then headed over
to Yvette’s home. What a crazy month this has been he thought -
but I’m so glad I got my baby girl back.
Tammy Mehmedis
practically a native San Franciscan, having relocated from Michigan in
1981. By day she is a legal secretary at a large international
law firm; by night and weekend she trains people and their dogs and
competes in canine agility and rally obedience. She first learned
that squash existed in the late 70s from her high school boyfriend and
may have even watched a few games. This
is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are
either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead,
is entirely coincidental.
