No Facilities

I want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in the US, Canada, Australia and several other countries.

For the month of May, Sunday’s are going to be different and busy days. As expected, there’s a link to the Thursday Doors Sunday Recap. All the door posts that I could collect from last week’s participants. There’s also a link to the Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC) summary. We’re off to a great start.

In addition, I am planning to post my writing entries for the TDWC here because I don’t want to add an additional day of posting during the weeks. I should also mention that I will be on a bit of a break from May 13th (Tuesday) until the 22nd. I’ll be tending the TDWC entries, but I won’t be blogging or reading many blogs.

The featured image is our first baby bunny of 2025. We spotted him on Friday and managed to get a picture yesterday.

Bad Day at the Crystal Café

Brody Thompson and James Marlow sat in a booth along the side wall of the Crystal Café. They’d been meeting at this place for breakfast for years, a habit that started when Jimmy was Brody’s junior partner. The waitress brought them some coffee and set a cup of cream on the table.

“I know you boys will be ordering but, pardon me for saying, you look like you really need some coffee this morning.”

“Thanks Marie. The aroma is already helping.”

“Were you two out late last night? Not that it’s any of my business.”

Jimmy poured some cream into his coffee. “We were celebrating the end of Brody’s law enforcement career and the start of his publishing career.”

“Did you get that book deal, Brody?”

“I got a book deal, Marie. The publisher took a pass on my attempt at fiction, but they like the ideas I had for a few true crime books.”

“Well good luck with that. Given how many guys from the precinct eat here, I’m not sure I need to read about true crimes. You boys want your usual breakfast?”

They both nodded.

Marie turned back sharply as she was walking away. “You’re still going to come here in retirement, right?”

“As long as your cook knows how to make eggs over medium and you have sourdough toast, I’ll be here at least once a week.”

Marie topped off their coffee before heading back to the counter.

Brody tipped his coffee cup to his former partner. “I want to thank you, Jimmy, for the retirement party. I had a great time. I only wish I had stopped drinking before the shift change.”

“All I did was pick the place and book the room, Brody. Those guys all chipped in. Nobody wants to see you leave the force.”

“It’s time. All good things, and all that. I’ve been on the force almost thirty years. I always told myself I’d retire after twenty-five.”

“But the overtime after nine-eleven was too hard to pass up?”

“You got it. Our pensions are based on our three highest years. Between that and what I’ve managed to save after my alimony ended, I should be pretty comfortable. If Social Security hangs around, I’ll let that kick in at the regular time.”

“I hope you’re rolling in royalties long before that.” Jimmy laughed.

Brody looked over at the counter and caught a pleading glance from Maria.

“Something’s wrong, Jimmy.”

Without any further explanation, Brody walked up to the counter. He asked Marie if everything was all right. The man next to him grabbed his left arm from behind and stuck the barrel of a gun in Brody’s side.

“Everything was just fine until you showed up. Let’s go.”

The man hustled Brody out the door and turned sharply toward a large black pickup truck. He forced Brody to slide over the bucket seats and get behind the wheel.

“Start driving. Hop on the highway. Try anything cute, and I’ll put a bullet in you.”

─●─●─●─

Jimmy walked up to the counter and asked Marie what had happened.

“That man showed me a gun. He told me to empty the register into a bag. I shouldn’t have looked at Brody. I was scared, but I should have just given the guy the money. I’m so sorry, Jimmy.”

“Where was that guy sitting?”

“Over there, Marie pointed to a booth by the window, “with the guy in the blue jacket.”

Jimmy walked over as the man in the blue jacket started to get up.

“Sit down mister!” Jimmy flashed his badge toward the man. “I have a few questions for you.”

“Look, officer. I had nothing to do with what happened over there. I was just having breakfast with an old buddy.”

“Yeah, an old buddy who tried to rob this restaurant and who took a retired police officer hostage.”

“Like I said. I had nothing to do with that. I’d already be gone except that a-hole drove off with my truck.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll provide your transportation.”

Jimmy took out his cell phone and called the station.

“Lois, this is Detective Marlow. Send a squad car to the Crystal Café and tell the Lieutenant that there was an attempted armed robbery here. The wannabe robber got away, and he took Brody Thomson hostage.”

He looked across the table and read the man his rights.

“Why are you arresting me? I didn’t do anything. I didn’t know Richie was going to rob this place and I certainly didn’t know he was going to grab that guy.”

“Did you hear the part about remaining silent?”

“Yeah, but you can’t arrest me.”

“I just did.”

Two officers entered the restaurant. One cuffed the guy sitting with Jimmy and the other was taking a statement from Marie. A few minutes later, Lieutenant David Bostick came in. He and Jimmy took statements from some of the other patrons.

“Jimmy, meet me back at the station. Sorry to ruin your weekend, but we have to jump on this.”

“Right behind you, Lieu.”

─●─●─●─

Richard Burk directed Brody to a motel just beyond a highway exit.

“Pull around the back and park.”

Brody parked in the first spot in the row of rooms. On the side of the parking lot was an old station wagon and a vintage Airstream trailer.

“Open your door, but don’t unbuckle your seatbelt. Put your hands on the wheel. Keep them where I can see them.”

Richie got out and slowly walked around the front of the truck, never taking his eyes off Brody.

“Okay, unbuckle yourself and get down.”

Once out of the truck, Richie pushed Brody toward the door of room twenty-two. Inside, he made Brody sit while he tossed loose items into a duffle bag.

“Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’re getting in that trailer. You don’t need to know where we’re going. Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you. I just need to drop you somewhere where you won’t be able to call for help until I’m gone.”

Richie made Brody him lie down on a little sofa. He tied his hands behind his back, and he tied his feet. He tied Brody’s left arm to the support for a small dining table and tied his legs to the back support of the sofa. He put a strip of duct tape over Brody’s mouth.

─●─●─●─

Robert Morris was waiting in an interrogation room when John Parrish arrived at the station. Jimmy met John at the security entrance.

“I’m Attorney John Parrish from the Public Defender’s office. I’m here to see Mr. Morris.”

“I’m detective James Marlow. Your client is in Interrogation Room Two. Right this way.”

John entered the room and asked to be alone with his client. After five minutes, he motioned James Marlow and Lieutenant Bostick in.

“Detective, after speaking with my client, I don’t see any reason to have him under arrest. He wasn’t involved in the robbery or the abduction, and he has no ties to the person who tried to rob the restaurant. He hasn’t seen the man in three years.”

“Can we start with that man’s name? You said, Richie…Richie what?”

“I don’t want to get him in any more trouble. I’m sure he’ll let the other officer go as soon as he gets moving. He’s probably already on his way.”

“You don’t want to get him in trouble? If I were you, I’d be worrying about your own situation. In a few minutes, Assistant District Attorney Jamie Withers will join us. She’ll explain the nature of the charges filed against you, and the amount of time you’ll be spending in jail under various scenarios—especially if you don’t start helping us. Now, what’s your old friend’s name?”

“Richie, Richard Burk.”

“Where does Richard live?”

“Who knows? He showed up here yesterday. He stayed with me overnight. He asked me for some money, but I didn’t have any I could spare. I agreed to buy him breakfast but told him he needed to go. I swear, that’s what happened and that’s all I know.”

The Lieutenant excused himself. A few minutes later, he returned with Jammie. She introduced herself to everyone and sat directly opposite Robert Morris. As she started to speak, John interrupted.

“Ms. Withers. As I told these officers, you have no reason to hold my client. I’ve advised him to remain silent, and I told him, as I’ll tell you now, I’ll have him out on minimal bail in time for an early dinner.”

“Counselor, let me explain what’s really going to happen if your client doesn’t start cooperating.” She trained her eyes on Robert. “Mr. Morris, you will be arraigned later this morning on charges of attempted armed robbery and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Since the kidnapping is an ongoing crime, you’ll be remanded without bail. If anything happens to former Officer Thompson, I’ll amend those charges to include conspiracy to commit assault or murder.”

─●─●─●─

The trailer came to an easy stop.  A few minutes later, Richie entered. He walked over and ripped the tape off Brody’s mouth.

Brody winced at the pain. “Is this where you’re leaving me?”

“There’s been a change of plans, Officer Thompon. This is where I’m holding you until the city ponies up some money.”

“The city won’t pay a ransom. I only retired yesterday. They’re not going to risk having thugs like you start kidnaping city employees.”

Richie slapped Brody across the face. “Then I’ll have to kill you.”

─●─●─●─

After a few minutes alone with his client, John Parrish invited the crew back inside.

“Mr. Morris is ready to talk. He’ll tell you everything he knows, but I want an assurance from you that you will leave him out of any criminal proceedings.”

Abbie fielded the question. “If his information leads to the timely recovery of Brody Thompson and the apprehension of Richard Burk, I’ll try to convince my boss to let him go. I can’t make any promises here, but I’ll do what I can.”

John nodded to Robert.

“Richie probably went to his hotel. It’s that sleazebag place over on Wilson St. behind Target. He’s driving an old Ford Ranch Wagon and dragging an even older Airstream behind it. That’s where he lives.”

The duty Seargent came into the room and handed Lieutenant Bostick a cordless phone.

“Hello, who is this?”

“The guy holding your officer. You have two hours to gather fifty thousand dollars in unmarked small bills. If you don’t come up with the money, Officer Thompson dies.”

“That may not be enough time. Can I call you back after I look into this?”

“Nice try, cop. You get the money. I’ll call you back.”

“I need to talk to Brody.”

“No.”

“Then there’s no money. I need to know he’s alive.”

Morris put the phone near Brody’s mouth. “Tell him you’re alive.”

“Jimmy, I’m okay, Let Sandra know.”

Morris hung up.

The Lieutenant looked at James Marlow. “Brody called you by name and said to let Sandra know. Is that his ex-wife?”

“No, directions. Sandra’s is a bar we used to go to up near Braddock Bay. There’s a campground near there.”

The Lieutenant looked back at the Seargent. “Does Linda T. still have that camper van?”

“Yes, she was sayin’ how she put new tires on it last week.”

“Call her. Tell her to swing by here on the double. Jimmy, you’re going to take her over there.”

“There’s something else, Lieutenant.”

“What’s that Sarge?”

“We searched for any mentions of a guy fitting this description driving a rig like that.”

“And…?”

“He’s a suspect in two murders. Both started out as an armed robbery.”

“Jimmy.”

“Yes boss?”

“Take along a sharpshooter.”

─●─●─●─

“How’re you enjoying retirement Officer Thompsom?”

“Not exactly the way I thought it would start.”

“Yeah, well it might not be a long run—I might have to kill you.”

“You kill me, and they will never stop looking for you. They will hunt you down and if you’re lucky, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison.”

“My plan is to leave this rig here, with you in it. I’ll get another ride and I’ll be long gone before they find you, but if they screw this up, I’ll kill you for spite.”

─●─●─●─

James Marlow called the Lieutenant. “We’re in position, Lieu. Mark Webster is here, and he has a clear view of that trailer. The registration checks out. You want us to take him when he steps out of the trailer.”

“I have to wait for his call, Jimmy, but hang on the line with us.”

Fifteen minutes later, Richard Morris called. “You got the money?”

“Yeah. I got it.”

“Take the money and a cell phone to Eastview Mall. Give me the number. Walk in the entrance by the theater. I’ll call you and tell you where to leave the money. Come alone or you’ll never see Officer Thompson again.”

“Is that where you’ll let him go?”

“No. After I have the money and once I’m sure no one is following me, I’ll tell you where you can find him.”

“That’s not good enough…”

“Eastview Mall. Thirty minutes or my partner kills this guy.”

Richie hung up. The Lieutenant looked over at Robert Morris.

“Was Richie alone? He says he’s leaving our guy with his partner.”

“He’s alone.”

“Jimmy. Get ready.”

“Richrd Morris put the duct tape back over Brody’s mouth. He stepped out of the trailer but left the door open. He raised the support jack and released the trailer from the hitch. Then he turned back and walked to the trailer door. He had his hand in his jacket pocket.”

Mark Webster was looking though his scope. “He has a gun in that pocket, Jimmy. My guess is he’s going back to kill Brody.”

“I’ll call over to him. If anything goes wrong the Lieutenant’s says to take the shot.”

Jimmy stepped out of the van while Richie was near the corner of the trailer.

“Richard Burk. This is the police. Drop your weapon, turn around and put your hands on the trailer!”

Richie ran for the open door. Mark Webster made sure he didn’t get inside.

─●─●─●─

Later that evening, Brody, James Marlow, Mark Webster, Linda Teris and Lieutenant Bostick  were in the bar at Suzette’s Restaurant. Joy, the bartender, brought them a round of drinks.

“The manager says these are on the house, Jimmy. Thanks for saving our best customer.”

Brody Thompson is the lead detective character in Poetic Justice, a novel by myself and Willow Willers that will be released on June 11th. For more information, please visit Teagan Geneviene’s blog for the delightful post she did for the cover reveal.