Case 18 - A Family Matter

Case 18 - A Family Matter(jpater) Kathleen Diamonds came to the precinct to see her sister, Rebella Lucas. Officer Mallet showed Kathleen the detective’s office. She went into the detective’s office. Rebella Lucas, Tina Cassidy, Susie Young, and Dowzer were in the detective’s office. J.P. Bullet and Harvey Lucas were out on a call.

“Kathleen,” said Rebella getting up to hug her sister. “Dad has not come home for several days,” said Kathleen. Dowzer who had been lying in the corner stood up and started making a barking sound. “It’s okay, Dowzer,” said Tina. Dowzer went up to Kathleen and continued barking at her. Kathleen started trembling and kept putting her hand in her pocket. “Kathleen! What do you have in your pocket?” asked Rebella. Kathleen pulled out a small bag of marijuana. “Kathleen! what are you doing with that?” asked Rebella. Kathleen hung her in shame and did not answer her question. Tina stood up. “I am sorry, but I have to do this,” said Tina taking out her handcuffs. “Kathleen Diamond, you are under arrest for possession of Marijuana. Tina handcuffed her and read her rights.

Tina was taking Kathleen to be processed when J.P. and Harvey came in. J.P. opened the door to the Detective Office. “Rebella, I need to talk to you in private,” said J.P. They stepped outside the precinct. “What is going on?” asked J.P. “Kathleen, came to tell me that dad went to work and did not come home, then Dowzer started barking and we found marijuana on her,” said Rebella. “I want you to go to interrogation room 3 and wait for me,” said J.P. going back into the precinct. J.P. went back to the detective’s office. “Harvey, I need to talk to you,” said J.P. They went to interrogation room 3. Harvey set down beside Rebella. “Here is the situation. Kathleen was arrested for possession and Scott Diamond did not come home. The two of you are related to everybody involved in this case. That is why I am pulling you both off the case. I don’t want either of you going behind my back; if you do and I find out about it you will both face disciplinary action, understood,” said J.P. “yes, sir,” said Rebella and Harvey together. “Now get back to work,” said J.P.

Kathleen was processed and taken to Interrogation Room One. Tina entered the room. “Where did you get the drugs?” asked Tina. Kathleen was trembling and did not answer her question. “Where did you get the drugs?” asked Tina in a harsher voice. “My boyfriend Josh,” said Kathleen. “What’s his last name?” asked Tina. “Rubert,” said Kathleen.

Tina left the interrogation room and went back to the detective’s office. “The guy that sold Kathleen the drugs was Josh Rubert,” said Tina. “Susie, you and Tina go pick him up,” said J.P. Dowzer got up and started towards the door as Tina and Susie started to leave. J.P. sighed. “Take Dowzer with you,” said J.P.

Tina, Susie, and Dowzer went to school and observed Josh selling drugs to a student. They got out of the car and when Josh saw them, he started running. Dowzer took off after him Tina and Susie were right behind Josh and Dowzer running as fast as they could. Dowzer got Josh by the leg and dragged him to the ground. Susie and Tina caught up with them. Susie took out her handcuffs and instructed Josh to put his hands behind his back. He did as he was instructed and she read him his rights.

Rebella was sitting on the couch looking at an old picture of herself and Kathleen. Harvey sat down beside her. “I was thinking about a promise that Kathleen made to me a couple of years ago. Brandon had her abducted to make me crack open a safe. When I and Colt rescued her, I made her promise that she would not grow up like I did,” said Rebella. “There’s still hope for her,” said Harvey. Rebella set the picture down on a coffee table beside the couch. “I hope so,” said Rebella. Harvey put her arms around her. She noticed the smile on Harvey’s face. “You look very beautiful,” said Harvey. “I probably look like a mess,” said Rebella. “But, a beautiful mess,” said Harvey leaning over to kiss her.

The next morning at the 169th Precinct, Tina was pouring coffee when Rebella walked into the room beaming from ear to ear. “You are awfully happy this morning,” said Tina. “Yesterday afternoon was wonderful,” said Rebella pouring a cup of coffee. “Details and don’t leave anything out,” said Tina. Rebella patted her on the back. “Sorry partner, it is something you have to experience to understand,” said Rebella leaving the room. Tina thought for a minute and she put one and one together and knew exactly what Rebella was talking about.

J.P. Bullet was in the detective’s office when his cell phone rang. After J.P. got through talking on the phone he wanted Harvey and Rebella to step outside. “You need to sit down for this,” said J.P. Rebella sat down on the bench and Harvey sat beside her. “Brace yourself, they found your dad’s body this morning at a construction site. Rebella, I am sorry,” said J.P. “No! he can’t be” cried Rebella. Harvey put her arm around her to comfort her. “I’ll take her home,” said Harvey.

The next morning Rebella came into the detective’s office. She set her badge on the desk. “I am sorry, but I am going to go find the rat that killed my father,” said Rebella. She got up to leave. “Sit down!” instructed J.P. Rebella did what she was told. “What are you going to do when you find him?” asked J.P. She did not answer his question. “If you find out who it is, track him down, and harm him, you are no better than the criminal scum you arrest,” said J.P. Rebella knew he was right and hung her in shame. J.P. sighed. “If you will promise me that you will not go behind my back and go by the book. I will let you help on the case,” said J.P. “Thank you,” said Rebella hugging him. “Tina is fixing to go to where your father worked to start looking for clues. You can go with her,” said J.P. Rebella got up and was fixing to walk out the door. “Inspector, you forgot something,” said J.P. She picked up her badge and put it on her belt.

Tina and Rebella went to where Scott Diamond worked. Rebella started looking at the different pictures on Scott’s desk while Tina started looking through records. As Tina was going through the file cabinet she came across a piece of paper with a drawing on it. “Rebella, you need to see this,” said Tina handing her the drawing. Rebella took the drawing and a tear started running down her cheek. “I was five when I drew this picture of me with my parents. They were having problems in their marriage and they separated for a while. There were some pictures that were destroyed and I figured this drawing had also been destroyed,” said Rebella. Tina went back to go through the file cabinet. “Look at this,” said Tina. “What is it?” asked Rebella. “Scott made some bad investments for a guy named Alberto Marquez,” said Tina. Rebella looked at the file. “Wow, Alberto lost a lot money,” said Rebella. “The question now is; did he lose enough that it lead Alberto to kill him?” said Tina. Rebella started putting a smile on her face. “What?” asked Tina. “Oh nothing, I was just thinking,” said Rebella. “That look scares me,” said Tina. “Oh, I was just thinking how that sounded something like something J.P. would say,” said Rebella patting Tina on the back.

Tina and Rebella went back to the 169th Precinct. Tina did a check on Alberto Marquez. Tina discovered that he was a member of a cartel and was wanted in Mexico. She went into the detective’s office and showed J.P. what she had found on Alberto. He made try to go back,” said J.P. “We may have only one shot at catching him,” said Susie. “I know,” said J.P. Tina gave J.P. Alberto’s last known address.

J.P. Tina, Harvey, Rebella, and Susie along with a swat team converged on a house on Apple Seed Street. “The swat team will go in the front door. We will cover the back. The swat team made entry into the house and Alberto Marquez was taken into custody without an incident.

Rebella was standing in the kitchen. Harvey put his arms around her. “Are you okay, baby?” asked Harvey. “It is just going to take some time to heal,” said Rebella. She kept staring at the refrigerator. “Perfect,” said Rebella. She went through the house and got the drawing she did when she was five years old and put it on the refrigerator.

Kathleen Diamond pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and received a five hundred dollar fine and twenty-four hours of community service. Josh Rupert was sent to the Juvenile Detention Center and was required to take a drug rehab class. Alberto Marquez was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.