One drink too many – GS

 

Scene setting – Big Joe’s Pizzeria

co-written with VunG

 

VunG: God, it was rough seeing poor Frank in this state. He was a good man, and while she didn’t have feelings for him or anything, she definitely wasn’t without compassion and wished that things hadn’t gone the way they had for him. However, aside from looking towards him and making brief eye contact with him, she let it go and returned to her beer, just quietly sipping away at it, trying not to think about her own issues. Those still hurt something fierce.

However, she would be surprised that not only would the men give her direct attention, but they wound up joining her at her table. Of course it wasn’t completely unprecedented and she would gesture for the two of them to go ahead and have a seat even as Frank was asking the question. It was kind of strange to see how the man was walking though, poor fellow looked like a zombie; was probably occupying the same mental level as one at the very least. Oh, Frankie, how far you’ve fallen. You were once the pride of the whole NYPD, now he was drinking so much you could call him a fish.

She was surprised to hear Tommy’s comment about her beer, but she took it in stride, giving him a thin smile and a nod in return… and of course shaking his hand at the introduction. Of course, that left her without an introduction to him, and was just about to pull out her notepad to respond when poor Frank went to take some coffee, and wound up just making a mess, and making her jump like she’d been hit by a cattle prod. Her knee hit the table with a bang and she winced with pain but otherwise made no noise or movement to cradle herself. Sighing and shaking her head at herself, she went ahead and wrote her name down for Tom while Frank inquired about the late hour for her. She sighed and shrugged while she waited for Tom to finish reading, leaning back with her beer in her hand. Once she had the notepad she would write down calmly, “[Let’s just say it’s slow enough that I’m looking into matters for a friend in blue.]” and pass the notepad off to him with thin smile and wink.

What she hadn’t been expecting though was for Tommy to come up and outright state something that had been bothering her for some time. She too had been hearing the stories, and she even went out of her way to look at the locations cited in such manners. Aaaaand… well she didn’t know what to think. Wincing at that, she rubbed the back of her neck while she took a drink, waiting for her notepad to come back. When she did, it was obvious that she was hesitant about whatever she was saying… even if it didn’t come through specifically in her writing. “[Well, I don’t know about invisible forces, but I’d believe the being thrown part. Only things I know of that can do that are pneumatic pistons or animals from Africa. And I wasn’t seeing any thirty pound piles of shit around.]”

While that message was being read, she leaned back with her beer again, closing her eyes thoughtfully as she debated how to go about this. She wanted to offer help to them, but she didn’t know how much use a mute SWAT officer would be to them; heck she wasn’t even that great of a detective (in her mind). She wasn’t terrible, mind, but there were definitely better ones out there, Frank for example (prior to his fall). Wincing, she realized that she could probably have skipped the writing, and signed to them, ~Do either of you understand this?~

 

Razorbackwriter:  Tommy read Elissa’s introductory note that said her name and he mouthed “Oh”, while Frank was trying to take another sip of his black coffee with a slightly shaky hand. As he brought the cup to his lips, he took a small sip and then scanned down with his blood shot eyes at the next note that Elissa had written. Saying how she was looking into matters for a friend in blue. Now that, could mean only one thing and when you married that up with the way she offered Frank a smile followed by a wink he knew that her work was about him and his case. Frank didn’t mean to feel embarrassed by this. Why he did appreciate the fact that she believed in him when so many in his own department didn’t. Side ways glances and whispers followed him wherever he went. It took a lot not to let fly and meet their looks and accusations head on, but that would only see him given a further warning and possibly have him clean out his desk.

Frank’s cheeks darkened to match the color of his nose which was now a slight shade off cherry red. “You should be working paying cases…Elissa.” His voice having a slightly gravely tone to it as though he needed to cough. Truth was, he could feel a ball coming up his throat and his eyes were getting watery. Men don’t cry as a rule, right? Well, Frank was fighting all his being not too. Elissa obviously cared. A lot like Tommy too. The detective reached a point where he needed a moment, and set down his cup before pushing his chair out.

“Need…..to go …shake the weasel.” Frank uttered, before staggering off to the men’s room. Big Joe couldn’t help but watch him go and was about to go and get the mop and bucket ready. He hoped that Frank would be able to hold his stomach till at least by the time he got home, and didn’t take to re decorating one of the stalls. With Frank out of the room, it left Tommy alone with Elissa. Her facial reaction to the mention of flying cars said it all. She was thinking about the same things and this was where the pair would click. Tommy had figured that Elissa didn’t have the power of speech, but when she started to sign, Tommy was quick to come back at her and replied USING sign language. ~My grandmother is deaf and I learnt this at a young age. Mind you some of the ways I sign are a little different since my grandmother is Japanese.~ Tommy was fast with his hands and then paused a moment, now to look over at the men’s room and then back at Elissa. ~Frank is a good man. Whatever it was that killed Rory….was not human, and if you ask me not of this world. Be it a poltergeist or…..something that doesn’t leave twenty pounds of shit behind.~

Tommy continued to sign. ~ I’m a reporter with the New York times, but…I been investigating this case since it happened. I have some people down on the bad end of town seeing what they can come up with, but so far….just a lot of weird bursts of activity. Like where things are being blown up, but not leaving any residue. Whole walls. Gone.~

Big Joe brought over Frank’s tab and tapped Tommy on the shoulder. Taking the paper, he took out his wallet from his coat and then offered Big Joe his credit card. “I got this.” Big Joe was grateful, since Frank usually always paid his tab, but he must have been having a rough week. With the bill paid and the card returned, Tommy pocketed both, as Frank emerged from the men’s room. Thankfully, he didn’t have vomit on his clothes. Big Joe was getting ready to close the Pizza shop for the night, and Frank joined the pair at the table. “Guess this is last drinks?’ he asked uncertainly.

Tommy shook his head. “No…time for you to go home. Need a ride?” He asked, before signing to Elissa. ~ I can give you a lift if you like.~

 

~RB~