THE ROMAN LEE SERIES
"CRIMSON ROWS"
Twenty-four
12:00PM
The lunch crowd left Tribeca Coney Island packed. A table in the rear section of Canal Street
opened up which was quickly cleared and wiped down. Saul Anagnostopolous owned Tribeca’s and was
a proud New York transplant. He looked
eager to seat us. Lonnie was just about
his favorite customer.
On his wall of memorabilia was a more recent picture
of Derek Jeter. Saul noticed me looking
at it.
“That was his last bat as a Yankee. The Captain autographed it for me.”
“How are they doing without him now?”
“Not worth a shit if you ask me. Never going to find another like him. But enough of that you guys must be
starving. Your table is ready.”
I peered over the menu. Lonnie sat studying his for a moment. I never understood why because he always
ordered the same thing. The house
special which was two of their infamous Coney dogs with fries. Flipping the plastic list back over I was
pleased to finally see a heart healthy section that I could choose from.
“You two started thinking about names for the little
one?”
“We did but it’s difficult. You each suggest one and neither agrees
because of some association in your life that you instantly remember as not
being so wonderful. Monica and I went
back and forth a few times like that until we agreed to stop for now. Maybe look at a different approach by going
through our past family names.
“She may be on to something there. Gordon is not a bad name if you ask me.”
“My Father’s name?”
“If it’s a boy of course.”
“It still haunts me Lonnie. That son of a bitch that killed him still out
there somewhere. I was a world away and
nothing I could do. I glance at his file
every chance I get reexamining the notes.
“I know it does. It’s one of the cold cases we never
solved. Chief Maxwell know you have the
file?”
“I think he suspects I do but he hasn’t said
anything. Been in my drawer ever since I
made Detective. I have a rebuilt file at
home. I copied everything. The earth is going to shrink under that
bastard’s feet because I will find him.”
“I’m sorry Roman, your Dad was a good man. That’s why I suggested the name, I didn’t
mean for it to bring that out in you.”
“I know it’s just..”
There was an explosion and screaming. The crashes of dishes breaking the rhythm of
the ordinary sounds of the restaurant.
Two men with shotguns had entered the front door. Both had dark ski masks covering their
faces. Each had thick coats with gloved
hands and combat boots. One was standing
at the front of the entrance blocking it having locked the door behind
him. The other was already at the cash
register trying to open it so he could clean it out. Most of the patrons huddled together in the
booths or were on the floor under tables.
The doorman checked his watch.
“Three minutes.”
“I can’t get this fucking thing opened.”
“We’re not leaving empty handed.”
“Everyone wallets, keys and cellphones on the tables
now! I see anyone texting or making a
call I’ll fucking drop you right where you sit.”
“We don’t have much time. Grab all you can get.”
“Two minutes.”
Lonnie was facing me with his back to the pair that
had violently taken over his beloved place to eat.
“What do you think?
We have a chance without anyone getting hurt?”
“Everything’s timed, must be a third out there waiting
with a car.”
“I can’t see shit Roman, we have a shot or not?”
“He’s going to have to do something with that barrel
when he tries to retrieve what we put on the table. You grab it and him. I’m already out with the safety off.”
“You sure?”
“I hate assholes like this Lonnie. Always fear with these guys. I’d like to just take the gun and beat the
fuck out of him with it.”
“In a perfect world.”
“Here he comes get ready.”
“This is all you two bitches have between you. A wallet with a couple of bucks?
Time slowed considerably being processed frame by
frame. Lonnie grabbed the barrel of the
shot gun pressing it down using it as leverage to swing him through the double
doors and into the kitchen. Saul’s staff
eagerly jumped on him. The doorman
quickly realized what had happened.
Racking a shell, he was bringing it down to aim in my direction. My first shot from the 9mm hit him in the
shoulder causing him to lose his grip on the weapon but not before it discharged
striking the counter grazing Saul. The
next three reports were grouped center mass.
None penetrated because they were absorbed by a bullet proof vest. Staggering backward using the other hand he unlocked
the door. He started pulling something
from his jacket. Sprinting with
everything I had lowering my shoulder I hit him before he could draw. We knocked the glass door off its hinges as
we spilled out into the parking lot. His
sidearm clattered and bounced on the pavement.
He tried to get up but could not push himself up with the wounded
shoulder. I quickly dropkicked him in
the face spraying blood spilling teeth.
“You picked the wrong day motherfucker. Assholes like you don’t deserve to breathe
air.”
I was blinded by rage in the moment. Lifting him off the ground with his feet
dragging behind him running towards a parked car. I was going to bury him in the grille. Typically, a lookout who senses danger will
flee the scene. Unfortunately, theirs
didn’t see it that way. A screeching of
tires behind me along with an accelerated engine jumped the curb barreling
towards us. I jumped onto the hood but
was thrown off from the impact instantly.
Hitting the cement flush it felt like I fell from a high-rise building. The driver was out now trying to get his
wounded accomplice to safety. Seeing me
standing once more the driver pulled out a tech nine. Eight rapid shots in succession ripped
through the air none of which came from him.
This time the center mass grouping tore open small crimson holes causing
the victim of the ballistic violence to slump down to the ground convulsing in
the final moments of their life.
Lonnie Temple had saved my life. Then everything grew dark as if someone was
blocking out the sun. All I could see
were pinpoints of light then nothing.
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