Part VII Charlie Lang
Part 7
Erin didn't know who to trust. She missed Charlie's reliable shoulder even if he was a male chauvinist, and she hated doubting Sam after having grown so fond of him. The only way to confirm Sam's comings and goings were above board was to follow him. Arriving at his apartment building early the next morning in hopes of following him to the suspicious rendezvous from his text. It landed Erin in a parking lot next to a boxing gym. Erin watched him and a few other bulked up men enter the gym with their duffle bags. She waited for thirty minutes without any sign of Sam's leaving the gym so she headed to the office.
Jake brought in Quincy's roommate but he was clean and couldn't be held on any suspicions. Erin was pissed off and on edge because of it. "Shouldn't you be out catching criminals or something?" She barked when Jake tipped over a coffee cup and spilled its contents on her desk. To add to her frustrations , a letter from Allen's lawyer had arrived via messenger. It aggravated her that they were sent to her office. Jake wouldn't give up his needling over her display of anger when opening the letter so Erin had told him about the divorce.
It was difficult, but Erin avoided Sam's invitations, using her pending divorce and their working together as an excuse to keep him at arms length. She finally gave in and accepted one for beers at O'Malley's on the weekend. Making excuses to drive herself she made sure she would be the last to arrive. She found Sam at a high top with Jake and a blonde woman Erin didn't know.
Sam stood to help her off with her jacket. He was a gentleman in every situation. Actions seldom found in men these days. Allen had been sweet and considerate in their early years. Erin was saddened by that thought and wished her divorce was final and the case over so her suspicions of Sam could be proven false. With a smile plastered on she offered her hand to the girl. "Hello, I'm Erin."
"Hi Erin, nice to meet you. I'm Brooke, Jake's sister." Her grip was firm but feminine.
The sister, Assistant D.A. Much too pretty Erin thought. Feeling kind of bitchy, she decided she wasn't going to like the pretty blonde. She would be civil if needed. "So you're an attorney, did I hear that right?"
Brooke angled her pretty head, allowing her hair to fall near Sam's shoulder. "I am or was, a defense attorney until recently. I was just appointed Assistant to the D.A. and loving it! What do you do Erin?"
So that's the way the wind blew. Erin recognized the signs and Brooke was practically steaming, in heat over Sam. "I'm a detective, just like your brother and Sam here." Her cheeks quivered trying to maintain a pleasant smile. Erin didn't appreciate the little green monster rearing up inside her. Sam was off limits until she found the mole. In the meantime this little Assistant DA better watch herself.
"How interesting. Jake and Sam have been telling me all sorts of interesting stories. I suppose you like the action and the intrigue. It must never get boring." Brooke played with her beer bottle and bumped elbows with Sam.
Brooke's low cut top and tight fitting jeans didn't mesh with the picture Erin had of any attorney, especially someone in the D.A.'s office. "It never gets boring but when some slimeball gets released back to the streets for some technicality his defense council pushes through, it can get very frustrating." Erin hoped Brooke recognized the dig. As a defense attorney she'd probably put several criminals back on the street instead of behind bars where they belonged.
Brooke was not amused by Erin's attempt to bait her. "We all have our jobs to do don't we?"
Her nervous energy was palpable. Long red nails tapped on the table top. Her high heeled foot shook so that her knee made the table vibrate. Someone had selected some music with a heavy beat from the juke box. Sliding from her stool she took Sam's hand and pulled him off of his. "Come on Sam, let's see what kind of damage we can do on that dance floor."
Sam resisted at first. "I don't dance Brooke, especially to this. What's it called, hip hop?"
"It's got a great beat. Come on, I'll bet you've got great rhythm."
The two grooved to the music sharing the small dance floor with several other couples. Erin watched in fascination as Brooke ground her way around Sam's legs and backside. She apparently had no shame.
"Hey Erin, you've been to see Lang right?" Jake interrupted Erin's bemusement.
"Oh, yes. Just the once. He's home now and is doing quite well. A nurse visits every day." She tried to ignore the movements on the dance floor.
"So he'll be coming back to work won't he? Do you know when? I've been hearing rumors. Was he really with a hooker?"
"I've been told he's at home for a couple weeks and then he'll be back in the office." She evaded the question about the hooker by offering to get another round of drinks. "We need another round of beers, you ready for another?" Erin wasn't about to gossip about Charlie Lang and headed to the bar even if the waitress was on her way over to offer up more beers, a bowl of free popcorn in hand.
When Erin returned with the beers, Sam was again at the table. Brooke had gone to the lady's room, seemingly more agitated than before when she finally returned. She drank her beer in a few gulps and continued with her leg shaking.
"You feeling alright?" Jake rested his hand on her shaking knee. "You just downed that beer like it was water."
Brooked removed his hand and gave him a blistering glare. "Don't be giving me a hard time big brother, I just need another beer and some more dancing. What do ya say Sam?"
"No more for me Brooke, I'm not too crazy about this new music." Sam and Erin made eye contact, neither willing to look away. Erin did look away when the discussion turned to the I.A. investigating the ninth precinct. Erin was disappointed that Jake was sharing precinct news with an outsider.
Brooke spoke in hushed tones and leaned into Sam, broadcasting her high flush cleavage. "Do you guys have any idea what they're investigating ?"
Jake was too willing to share. "A witness was killed while in County lock-up. The perp confessed so it was all for nothing. He was some low life drug snitch on a big case going down. Not a huge loss in my opinion." Jake continued, obviously the beers loosened his lips. "What makes I.A. think there is a connection with the ninth is just a bunch of shit!"
Brooke sipped her beer adding, "Well you know how I.A. is, they need to justify their positions. So, what drug case?"
"That is classified, we shouldn't be talking to you about a case at all. Jake, this is a conflict of interest so you better be careful what you talk about with your sister." Erin spouted.
Sensing Erin's combative mood, Sam quickly shut it down. "Enough shop talk. Let's go play some pool. Should we team up?" Sam wanted to team up with Erin in more games then pool. Her attitude tonight put a real fire in his libido. She kept glaring at him with those bright emerald eyes as if he were the stripper cop at a bachelorette party.
"I'll be your partner Sam." Brooke took him by the arm and left Erin and Jake to team up.
Erin was pleased with the way it all turned out. Sam seemed oblivious to Brooke's flirting. Her and Jake cleaned up on the pool table, satisfying Erin's competitive side. Heading home alone, she replayed the evening's conversations in her mind, searching for any indication that either of her fellow detectives could be the mole. If in fact there was one in her precinct.
~
"Hi Captain Lang!" Erin cheerfully greeted her boss when he opened his front door. "Have you had your morning coffee? I've got a tall black leaded for you and a half caf with cream for me, unless you want this one." She offered Charlie her cup just in case his doctor had ordered him to cut down on caffeine.
Charlie took his coffee strong and black. "Detective Ramirez. What brings you here?" He wished he'd had on a clean shirt and dress pants instead of sweats and t-shirt but he had done a mile on the treadmill and was ready to sit down at his weight machine.
"I'm just checking in, making sure you're doing alright. I spoke with your nurse yesterday when I called. She said you were out on a walk with your little dog." Charlie looked good in Erin's opinion. He actually looked slimmer in the face and his eyes were clear, giving him a younger, healthy appearance.
"Have a seat, I'm sorry the place is such a mess." Charlie moved some newspapers from the sofa before taking a seat in an easy chair nearby. He picked up Sweetie from the floor, placing her on his lap, he began petting her silky fur. "Nice of you to stop over. How are things at Ninth? Any news from Internal Affairs or leads on the mole?"
"I.A. has been in this entire week. They've interviewed various staff. I'm afraid the mole is completely invisible. Not a single indication of leaks from any department."
"I don't think you or I.A. are going to find what you're looking for at Ninth. I've been trying to figure something out myself and was going to call you today, so this visit worked out well." Charlie felt energized discussing a precinct case and missed the daily challenges he faced on the job. "Carlin Andrews paid me a visit and he told me that Jake Englund's sister had recently been appointed assistant to the DA. " Charlie gave Erin a moment to confirm or deny her knowledge of the fact.
Erin confirmed but kept her personal opinion of the woman out of it. "That's true, I met her just the other night. She's quite beautiful, if you like tall, blonde and leggy."
"That's what I hear. Carlin knows of Miss Englund and a few years back she was the defense council for a man by the name of Frisco, one of the higher ups now involved in that drug case over in Queens. The same drug case Jessie Connell gave up your Quincy Bruns for with his plea deal "
Erin gazed beyond Charlie's shoulder and puzzled it out, "Can I assume that Frisco is on the street based on Brooke winning that particular case?" Her mind raced through her night with Brooke and the boys. Brook's jitters came to mind. The girl hadn't been able to sit still and relax all night.
"Your assumptions are correct. This is a long shot but get some background on her and don't overlook Jake's relationship with her." Charlie liked the way Erin looked in her navy suit and white silky blouse. Her auburn hair was pulled into a neat barrette at the back of her head. She wore sparkling diamond like studs on her lobes. He shook the thoughts from his mind before they landed in the gutter. He recognized the need to clean up his act and it started with his not objectifying women.
Before leaving, she had to talk to Charlie about Sam. "Charlie I need to ask you about Detective Samuelson. I saw a text on his phone and it mentioned a meeting, and a payment. Do I have any reason to believe he's involved?"
"I can assure you Sam Samuelson is as clean as they come Erin. I know he does some personal training at a boxing gym in his free time. Could that explain the text?"
Erin's relief rushed out in a huff of breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Really, a boxing gym huh?" She remembered the gym she followed him to the one morning. "Well thank you so much Captain, I appreciate your clearing that up for me. I'll talk to Sam about Jake's sister and we'll see what we can come up with. " Erin stood and walked to the door. "When will we see you back at work?"
"Not for another week. Doctor's orders." Charlie stood too and carried Sweetie with him.
As Erin opened the door, Charlie's nurse came in. Her friendly smile warmed the room and Erin caught a glimpse of something in Charlie's responding smile.
"Erin, this is Clarice, my nurse."
Clarice shook Erin's hand and said "Hello, how are you?"
"Doing well. Thank you for looking after Charlie, I mean Mr. Lang." Erin had forgotten her station momentarily but considered Charlie her friend now too.
"It's been a pleasure. He's such a good patient. Have you done your exercises yet Charlie?" Clarice smiled while she asked, her voice sweet and clear. "It's raining now so we won't be able to walk Sweetie to the park." Clarice all but sighed in satisfaction when taking Sweetie from Charlie's arms and leading him to his treadmill.
"I'll let you get back to it Captain." Well, well Erin thought, and excused herself, wishing them both a good day.