Chapter Three

The patrol car slowly came to a stop. Two officers climbed out of the vehicle and approached the two men.

"Is that your car?" The driver of the police car asked, pulling out his flashlight to see the two men.  After being assured that neither of the men was hurt, the police officer turned his attention to the wrecked car. "What happened?"

Charles briefly explained.

"We have to return to the precinct, we'll drop you gentlemen off there and you can call a taxi to pick you up to take you to where ever you need to go." The officer opened one of the back doors of the patrol car and waited until the two men were inside before he closed it.

Paul leaned closer to the front seat. "Which precinct?"

The second officer turned his head slightly. "The 101st, why?"

Blaisdell sank back into the seat. "Captain Simms' precinct. I know her."

The officers glanced at each other before turning around to look at Blaisdell. "Captain Simms? Who's that?"

"Karen Simms, your Captain." Blaisdell answered. He had always made it a point to know all the officers who worked under him. It made the daily operations of the precinct run smoother. Simms, on the other hand, was a different Captain. He respected her and knew she was the right person to replace him.

As the car did a U-turn and headed towards its destination, the second officer sighed. "I can hear the Chief yelling now."

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As Paul and Charles walked into the precinct, several police officers were putting the final touches on some of the Christmas decorations. Blaisdell stopped at the front desk waiting for the Desk Sergeant to make eye contact.

John Broderick glanced up from the daily reports he was working on to see who was standing in front of him. Much to Blaisdell's dismay, the Desk Sergeant simply asked. "What can I do for you?"

"Well John, I know it's been almost two years but at least I expected a friendly, Hi Blaisdell or Captain."

Broderick stared at the man. "Captain? Which precinct? I don't know you. Are you from out of state? Do you need to see our Captain?"

Blaisdell was so startled by Broderick's comment, his mouth dropped open. "What is this, a joke?" He glanced around the bullpen. "Where's Frank?"

"Frank who?" Broderick was getting tired of this man and his twenty questions.

"Frank who?" Blaisdell almost screamed. When several heads turned in his direction he lowered his voice. "Frank Strenlich, the Chief of Detectives, that Frank."

Broderick angrily dropped his pen and glared hard at Blaisdell. "Look friend, Frank Strenlich was busted down to foot patrolman twenty months ago. If it hadn’t been for myself and a few other cops speaking up for him, he would have been fired.”

“Fired? For what?”

“If you were a police Captain as you claim then you would have already known what happened to Strenlich.” The Desk Sergeant sighed. "Since it's the holiday season, I'm not going to book you for wasting my time. Do us both a favor and go home. And ease off on the eggnog."

Charles softly pulled on Blaisdell's coat sleeve. "Come on Paul. You're wasting this fine gentlemen's time."

Paul started to protest but thought better of it. As the two men walked outside and down the steps, he waited until the two of them were alone in the parking lot before he spoke. "What's the matter with that man? He acts like he's never laid eyes on me before. I've known him almost fifteen years and what's the deal with Frank?"

"Mr. Broderick speaks the truth, he does not know you." Seeing the shocked expression on the other man's face, Charles continued. "You never lived so how could he have known you?"

"I'm dreaming," Paul raised his hands in the air. "I must have hit my head on the steering wheel when the car hit the guard rail and now I'm hallucinating. That's the only logical explanation for all this madness."

"I am only granting your wish, am I not?"

"Wish? What are you a genie? Where's your bottle?" Paul laughed out loud. "Nothing personal but if I wanted a genie I would have asked for Barbara Eden."

"I'm not a genie, my friend." Charles patted Blaisdell across the back as he looked up into the night sky. "I'm an angel."

"Yeah right," Paul started laughing harder. He felt the hand still on his back. "So does this mean I'm touched by an angel."

"The tv show?" It was Charles turn to laugh. A shooting star suddenly shot across the sky. "Someone else just got their wings." He commented confidently with a heartfelt gasp. "One day it will be my turn, maybe after this little adventure."

Paul rolled his eyes. He was in the presence of a crackpot. Deciding to leave the so-called angel to his holy mission, Blaisdell started to move but car lights caught his attention. He watched as another patrol car pulled into a parking space and the officer stepped out of the car. Paul recognized him immediately, only he was in a uniform. "Frank?"

Strenlich stepped up on the curb and gave Blaisdell one of the most threatening glares Paul had ever seen. "Yeah, who are you, my ex-wife's lawyer?" He reached out and grabbed Blaisdell by the lapel. "Isn't working double overtime good enough for her?" He suddenly released the older man. "Or are you another one of the Captain's so-called friends? I'm shocked the Captain would have you attack me in front of the precinct, possible witnesses didn't scare you?"

"Frank, it's me, Paul. What's wrong with you?" Blaisdell tried to find some recognition in Frank's eyes. "I thought you and the Captain came to an understanding at least that's what Kermit told me."

"Kermit? What are you, some kind of escaped nut? This is all I need." Frank shouted over his shoulder as he climbed the steps to the precinct. "Stupid wacko talking to a green puppet."

Paul stared at the precinct's door almost wishing them to open. "I don't understand." He turned to Charles hoping the man had an explanation. "Can you tell me what just happened? That man is one of the closest friends I have and he just brushed me off as if I were the flu."

"Let's walk to that little corner restaurant. I know you're hungry." Charles suggested. As they began to walk away from the precinct, the angel continued. "Chief Frank Strenlich found out that Captain Stiles was taking bribes and went to Commissioner Cooper with the information. What Strenlich didn't know, Cooper was in on the deal as well, so in retaliation they tried to coerce Strenlich off the force, but the man didn't back down.  Instead of letting them beat him, Frank fought back. With nobody in office to help him, Strenlich was busted down to foot patrol. Some reward, huh?"

"I don't understand any of this. Cooper and Stiles were both arrested for murder." Paul said. "I was there when they went to trial."

"You were never there, Paul." Charles stated. "Remember you were never born. Stiles never commanded the SWAT team. His friend Cooper gave him the precinct, a big salary, perks and a group of dirty cops who watched his back."

"What happened to Blake, Skalany, Powell and the others?"

"Let's finish this conversation over dinner, shall we." The two continued their walk to the restaurant.

TBC