PARTNERS
The police cars' sirens howled through the night as they raced to the seamy Los Angeles dockland. The cars, one undercover and two black- and-whites, screeched to a halt at the end of a dark alley, the lights of the undercover car picking up a bundle lying in the alley. A tall, dark man leaped out of his not-yet-stationery car and ran towards the crumpled body, the other two teams of uniformed men following, pistols drawn, close behind. Reaching the body, the tall man gently turned the still form over, cradling the man's head on the crook of his arm. "Oh, no." he whispered, as his other hand, supporting the man's back, became sticky with blood. He felt for, and found, a weak pulse in the neck. "Jack! Jack, can you hear me?"
The dying man gave a tiny gasp of pain and opened his eyes. "Jack! Who did this? Tell me! Tell me and I swear, I'll kill him!" Jack tried to speak, but coughed up blood instead. He tried again.
"Heron. Stop - flight of the - heron." and his head fell to the side.
---oo0oo---
Two days later, the Precinct's Captain of Detectives summoned Paul Maguire to his office. "Maguire, I want you to meet your new partner, Detective Hooker."
Maguire turned to look at the smaller man but did not acknowledge his proferred hand. Instead, hands on hips, he turned back to his Captain.
"I thought you said I was on my own on this case, Captain?" His dark eyes flashed with anger.
"No way, Paul. This job has already cost the life of your partner - I don't want any more good men dying before we solve this one. "Says who?" Maguire's anger was still burning.
The Captain pointed skywards and said "It's out of my hands, Maguire. Now, get acquainted with Hooker."
Maguire turned again to the stockily-built man standing quietly by. Hooker again extended his hand and Maguire looked down into hazel eyes sparkling with vitality and - mischief? He wasn't sure, but this time shook the offered hand and was assured by the firm grip.
Hooker, for his part, studied the tall, slim man with strange eyes that were still black with contained anger. The face was lined with worry and tiredness. Hooker reckoned Maguire had not slept since his partner was shot down. He, too, felt assurance as Maguire's big hand strongly grasped his own.
"Dismissed, gentlemen." ordered the Captain, returning to sheaves of paper in his 'In' tray. Maguire and Hooker walked out of the office, heading towards their own desks.
"So you wanted to go it alone, Maguire?" Hooker's eyes were cautious.
"Yeah. I don't want anyone hanging around me for this one, Hooker. This bird's mine and nobody else's."
"Look," Hooker turned to face his new partner, "I understand how you feel - I know you lost your partner the other day. I'm real sorry about that, but I've been drafted over from the 49th Precinct for this job - I've been working on drug running for a while, and your Captain reckoned I could help crack it. We can crack it - together."
"Yeah, sure." replied Maguire, turning away from the sincere and eager expression on Hooker's face, avoiding eye contact. For some reason he found this man disconcerting.
"Look, Hooker," Maguire spun round again, "I wanna make something quite plain to you. I don't need a partner on this case - it's gonna be easier going solo."
"Maguire?"
"Yeah." There was a sharp edge to his voice.
"There's something I've got to ask you - and I don't want you getting up tight about it."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Why was your partner on his own when he got shot?"
"I've already told Captain Pierce." snapped Maguire.
Hooker simply waited.
"He - was officially off-duty for the night. He phoned me to say he'd had a message to go to a repository downtown. I told him not to do anything, I'd be right there with support teams. I was too late ..." Maguire quickly averted his face to conceal the raw emotion written there.
"I see. I had to ask."
"Yeah, sure." and he sat, head bowed, over reports on his desk.
"Do you have a file on the case I could read?" asked Hooker. Maguire pulled out a file from a drawer in his filing cabinet, slapped it down on Hooker's desk.
Wordlessly, Hooker sat down and began to read.
---oo0oo---
Meanwhile, in a penthouse suite in downtown Los Angeles, a very angry man raged at his employees.
"You dumb bozos, why'd you haveta take out a cop? You're gonna have the whole damn LAPD on our tails now."
"Boss, it was either him or us - he'd been to the warehouse and found the consignment ..."
"You've blown the whole operation, you realise that? We'll haveta cut out real fast before his buddies get hot on the trail again."
"Is there anythin' you want us to do, boss?"
"There is, oh, there is, you can be sure. First you, Chico, get down to the wharf, stock up the boat - we're gonna take a looooong ride. These cops'll be combing the area where you shot their buddy for clues."
"Gee, boss, it was dark, but I don't reckon we left anythin'..."
"You sure he was dead?"
"No way we could check - we could hear the black-and-whites on their way, we had to lit out, real fast, but he stopped a couple of bullets, went down like a stone. He was dead, I reckon."
"We'll haveta stay well clear of the warehouse till we pull out. Rico, you get the ship's Captain to plot a departure time and route for Panama."
"Sure, boss." and the two men quickly left.
---oo0oo---
Hooker slapped the case file shut and tossed it onto his desk. Maguire, sitting at his desk opposite, head down as he worked on a report, said nothing. Suddenly Hooker gave a sharp intake of breath, then said "How's your English Literature, Maguire?"
"Huh?" Maguire's eyes were slitted in uncertainty.
"I've just had an idea - I think there's a book called 'The Flight of the Heron'. He lifted the phone, dialled a number, asked for the Book Department. When he heard the answer to his question, his eyes lit up in triumph. "Eureka!" he exclaimed, scribbling down the note on his phonepad. "'The Flight of the Heron' is by D K Broster. They're expecting delivery of copies any day now, but say they've been delayed in transit. Interesting. I think we've got ourselves a lead, Maguire. Let's check out the cargo import/export lists over the last two weeks or so."
Ploughing through the hefty lists, they discovered two companies distributing both hardback and paperback books. One was in Hollywood, the other Downtown.
"Let's pay them both a visit!" said Maguire, who was out of the office before Hooker could stop him.
Running after him, Hooker caught up, saying "This may be a blind alley, you know."
"I know", agreed Maguire, climbing into the car, "but I sure as hell am goin' to find out."
---oo0oo---
They drove first to the Downtown shop, which was just a few blocks away from the Precinct. The manager was friendly and helpful, but had no knowledge of the specific book, or of copies having been ordered. Maguire left his card, then they drove to Hollywood. The shop was near Mann's Chinese Theater, the outside of which was, as usual, thronged with tourists. Maguire went into the bookshop alone. The girl assistant looked up to see his policeman's badge. "Could I see your manager, please?" Maguire asked.
A small, swarthy Italian-looking man appeared, then ushered his visitor to a luxurious flat above the shop.
"You are?" Maguire asked curtly.
"Tony Di Angelo, Officer. How can I assist you?"
Maguire detected nervousness in the man's actions. "Have you ordered a consignment of the book 'The Flight of the Heron' by ..." he referred to his pad "Uh, D K Broster?" Maguire looked quickly at the man's reaction, saw something more there.
"Ah, 'Flight of the Heron'? No, never heard of it. What's it about?"
"That doesn't matter, sir, just wondering if you had ordered some copies. If you hear of any other shop that has, could you get back to me, please? Here s my card. Sorry to have troubled you." When Maguire left the shop, Di Angelo called Rico in.
"Rico, we got trouble. That cop's onto it. Here's his card -" he handed it to Rico. "Here's what I want you to do ..."
---oo0oo---
Maguire eased himself back into the car. "You get that, Hooker?"
"Every single word, Maguire." replied Hooker, tapping the earpiece he was wearing.
"Yeah, well what you didn't get was the look on his face when I asked him about the title of the book. He's scared, Hooker."
"Let's get back to the Precinct." responded Hooker, pulling the car into the flow of traffic. They were held up at a corner of the Boulevard, where a 'Star' ceremony was taking place.
"See who it is?" asked Hooker, craning his neck.
"Nah, but he must be popular, he's got quite a turnout." observed Maguire, as the photographers clustered around a group of people.
"Lucky devil." muttered Maguire as Hooker accelerated away.
---oo0oo---
Evening was drawing in as Maguire and Hooker pulled up at the Precinct. They reported to Captain Pierce their findings, then went to the canteen for something to eat. Maguire poked and prodded his salad but didn't eat, whilst Hooker set about his plateful with enthusiasm.
"Guess there isn't much more we can do tonight, Maguire." remarked Hooker between munches.
"Like hell there ain't!" exclaimed Maguire. "I'm gonna search these warehousing storage lists till I find that book consignment!"
"Look, Maguire, it can wait till tomorrow."
"No way. If Di Angelo suspects that we're onto him, he's gonna lit out faster'n a bobtail."
He left his uneaten meal behind him and made his way alone to the Central Port Records Office and started his search.
---oo0oo---
It was midnight and Paul Maguire was sitting alone under a pool of light at a desk in the Records Office. The bright light had given him a headache and he sat, massaging his temples, fighting a losing battle against exhaustion as the lists of names danced before his eyes. Where was it? Where ... was ... it... Maguire's head dropped forward. A few minutes later there was a movement behind him, and his policeman's instinct for survival made him immediately snap awake. "Whaddayou want?" he growled, annoyed and embarrassed at being literally caught napping by his new partner. Hooker lifted the list that was lying on the desk in front of Maguire and saw, on the very page that Maguire had been searching, the words 'Consignment of books, various titles, Di Angelo Inc.' Maguire was having difficulty getting his eyes to focus as Hooker pointed to the entry.
"Damn!" exclaimed Maguire. "I shoulda known my smart, alert partner would do my work for me!" and he pushed himself out of the chair, walked down the corridor, staggering slightly.
"Where are you going, Maguire?" pursued Hooker.
"Back to the Precinct, of course, to get a warrant."
"It's after midnight, Maguire, and you're all in. Why don't you go home? I see you're married -" Hooker indicated the wedding ring on Maguire's finger. "What's your wife gonna say to you, out till all hours of the night?"
"Mind your own damn business." snapped Maguire, pushing swing doors that led to the foyer.
"Look, Maguire, what's biting you? Is there something wrong at home?"
Maguire stopped, turned abruptly to face Hooker. "My personal life is none of your concern, so butt out!"
"Oh, but it is if it's interfering with our work, Maguire. Get a grip on yourself. Please - sit down and tell me what's bothering you." Hooker indicated a bench seat in the deserted foyer of the building. The security man was patrolling elsewhere. Hooker's hand was on Maguire's arm. There was something in Hooker's eyes that made Maguire's anger instantly deflate, and he sat down with a thump on the protesting bench.
"Good." said Hooker. "Now, Paul, please - tell me about it." It was the first time Hooker had used Maguire' s first name.
Maguire looked up at his partner, then sat, elbows on knees, head down. He began to speak very quietly.
"You're right. I'm - having problems at home. My wife - is behaving unreasonably. She knows what to expect being married to a cop, but she - she fears for my safety. She keeps saying something terrible is going to happen, doesn't want me to go out to work. She's had this recurring dream about me, talks about 'fire and water'. We're having rows - awful rows, and I'm frightened I'm gonna lose her, too, Hooker."
He finally looked up into Hooker's sympathetic face, and with a shock Hooker could see that Maguire' s eyes were filled with unshed tears. He's near to breaking point, Hooker thought. Maguire sat, head bowed again, a long, shuddering sigh shaking his whole body.
Aloud, Hooker said "Look, Paul, you're exhausted. You're doing nobody any good like this. Go home to your wife - what's her name?"
"Sharon."
"Go home to Sharon, then, make it up to her, talk it out if you can, but for Pete's sake get a good night's sleep."
Subdued, Maguire stood, brushing his hands across his eyes, took his overcoat off the peg and walked away, leaving Hooker to gaze after him, a worried look on his face.
---oo0oo---
He was so tired as he drove home that Maguire did not notice the dark blue van following at a respectful distance behind him.
---oo0oo---
Maguire closed the outside door softly behind him in consideration of his sleeping wife. But Sharon was not asleep.
"Paul?" her voice came from upstairs.
"Yeah, honey, I'm home."
"Oh, Paul," she ran down the stairs into his arms, "I've been so frightened - you're so late back!"
"Don't be scared, honey, I'm fine, just fine." and he hugged her tightly to prove it, then he held her at arm's length and, as she looked up at him, he saw her cornflower blue eyes were swimming with tears. "Hey, come oooon, baby, don't get so worked up like that."
"I - can't help it, Paul." She buried her blonde head into his chest. "Look, after this capers is over I promise I'll take you for a holiday somewhere. Where would you like to go, huh?"
"Can't we go now?" she asked, hope lighting her face.
"No, not now, Sharon," he said, patiently, turning and leading her back upstairs to their bedroom. "I won't rest till I've got the man that killed Jack."
She absorbed this information in disappointed silence, then said "Are you hungry?"
"Uh, no. Guess I'll take a shower, then drink a coffee, though."
---oo0oo---
Outside a figure, dressed all in black, watched and waited - waited till the bedroom light went out, then waited some more.
---oo0oo---
Refreshed, Paul slipped into bed beside his waiting wife, and she held him tight. He could feel her still shaking with fear - something was frightening her badly.
"Aw, honey, come ooon - is it still that silly dream?"
"It's not a silly dream. Oh, Paul, it's going to happen soon, maybe tomorrow. I know. Please don't go to work tomorrow."
But I must honey, it's my job and my duty."
She lay silent in his arms for a few moments, then whispered "Paul - love me."
"Of course I love you."
"No, silly - love me."
Paul got the message. "Aw, honey, I'm exhausted - lemme get to sleep..." He tried to turn away, but Sharon had other ideas.
---oo0oo---
Outside, dark on darkness, the intruder made his move. Deeply asleep in his wife's arms, Paul heard nothing, but Sharon, a light sleeper, was jogged awake by a sound downstairs - or was she only imagining it? All was quiet. She turned over and tried to sleep again until a riser creaked on the stairs. She prodded Paul frantically. "Paul - PAUL - there's somebody in the house!" she stage-whispered as loudly as she dared without her voice carrying downstairs. Paul grunted, but was not fully awake when a masked figure clad in black launched himself into the bedroom, gun in hand. Sharon screamed, diverting the intruder's attention for the fraction of a second it took Paul to jump to the attack, and he grappled with the smaller man, trying to prise the gun from his hand. He heard a click as the firing mechanism jammed, then the intruder landed a punch to Paul's stomach that doubled him up and he lay gasping on the floor. The intruder levelled the gun at Paul's head ...
Sharon made to get the gun Paul always kept in the bedside table, but realised just in time if the intruder's gun was jammed he would use Paul's gun to finish the job - and Sharon knew Paul's gun was in perfect working order. She froze in horror as she saw the gun pointed at her husband's head. It failed to fire again, and the intruder brought the butt down viciously on Maguire's unprotected temple as he struggled to his feet, and he collapsed unconscious. Sharon made to run out the door, but the intruder caught her. She screamed, twisting and kicking, but the intruder held the gun to her head. "The next bullet may not be dud, lady. You' re comin' with me - one more scream and you'll be dead!" and he hustled her, arms held behind her back, out of the house and into the waiting dark blue van.
The driver turned to him. "What the hell have you got her for?"
"Damn gun wouldn't go off, boss. Reckoned we could take her as hostage."
"Hostage? That may not be so bad an idea. What did you do to Maguire?"
"Hit him on the head - real hard. He's out cold. Come on, let's get outta here." and Di Angelo gunned the van away.
"Yeah," he mused aloud, "Maybe, with her as a hostage, we could lure him ..."
---oo0oo---
As the van roared into life, Paul came to and stumbled to the window, but all he saw were the van's tail-lights disappearing into the night.
He pulled on his clothes and staggered downstairs, holding his throbbing and bleeding head, but the van was long gone by the time he reached his car.
Still groggy from the blow, Maguire realised it would be futile to try to drive, so he ran back to the house and called Captain Pierce's night number.
"Captain, Sharon's been abducted!"
"What? When?" asked the sleepy Captain.
Maguire gave him the details.
"Right, we'll get the Highway Patrol and CHiPs to watch out, but you do realise, Maguire, that there are hundreds of vans on the streets at this time of night, especially around the dockland. Wait there, I'll be over as quickly as possible." and the phone went dead. A few minutes later his phone rang again.
"Maguire here." he rapped out.
A muffled voice said "If you want to see your wife alive again, be at Union Station, Track 12, in one hour's time. Come alone and unarmed. Understood?" and the receiver clicked. Paul looked at the beside clock. 3.30 am. He could easily reach the station by that time, but what happened when he got there? They wanted him dead. The front doorbell rang and Paul ran downstairs to admit Pierce and two other blueshirts, who combed the house for clues whilst Maguire told the Captain of his phone call.
"Sounds like a trap, Maguire."
Maguire was pacing, arms folded. "Sure it does, but they'll kill Sharon if I don't show."
Pierce sat on the edge of the bed for a few moments, deep in thought, then said "There'll be no killing." He looked at his watch. "I've got an idea, and I think there's just enough time to set it up, if you're willing to go along with it..."
"Sure, name it." Maguire's eyes widened in amazement as Pierce outlined his plan. Pierce then made a phone call, after which Paul drove to the station whilst Pierce drove at top speed to a rendezvous at the Precinct.
---oo0oo---
Union Station, in Downtown Los Angeles, was deserted. Paul looked at his watch - 4.20 a.m. - just enough time to walk up the platform. He shivered as he stood waiting, partly from the chill of the night, partly from nervousness. What if it didn't work? He tried to put that thought out of his overactive mind.
The lights and horn of an approaching Amtrak train diverted his attention momentarily so he did not hear the sound of approaching footsteps until a voice behind him said "Maguire." With a sudden pang of fear he spun round. His eyes widened in alarm as the silenced pistol, pointed straight at his chest, spat once at point-blank range. The impact of the bullet threw him back against the platform wall, a red stain blossoming on his shirt. He slid down the wall, a look of incredulity stamped on his features, and lay unmoving on his side. His assailant disappeared as quickly as he had come. The lights of the arriving train flickered across Maguire' s unseeing eyes. He looked very dead.
---oo0oo---
The first of the early-morning commuters who spilled off the train found Maguire lying there. One of the last off was a man clad in black, who was tightly holding the arm of a petite, blonde, blue-eyed woman. The man's eyes searched the milling crowd for the tall figure of the policeman, and saw instead the crumpled form. As they approached the people clustered around Maguire, Sharon recognised the waxen face of her husband and fainted with shock. He let her fall, puzzlement on his face. Strange - someone else had got to Maguire before he had. His intuition warning him of a trap, he started to run up the platform, but saw blueshirts running down towards him. He turned and saw two others coming towards him from behind. Trapped! He brought out the gun he was hiding in his jacket pocket. Captain Pierce appeared from the crowd and shouted "Drop the gun! Don't move - you are surrounded!" The gunnan whirled, saw his position was hopeless - there was nowhere to hide, as the police were holding back the travellers. The man threw down his gun, raised his hands and waited for the police to come to him.
---oo0oo---
Later that morning, Hooker was sitting, stunned, in Captain Pierce's office. He heard Pierce say "... and he died on his way to the hospital."
Died! The word registered on Hooker's numbed brain. Maguire was dead! "WHY didn't you tell me what was going down?" Hooker's anger flared. "Why wasn't there somebody to cover him?" Hooker sat, arms resting on his legs, hands clasped tight, as he fought to control the grief that was welling up inside him. He looked up at Pierce, eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "He phoned you, why the hell didn't you protect him?" and he stood up suddenly and stood, back to Pierce and the door, fingers pressing against his tight-shut eyes. He did not see the tall, slim figure quietly entering the office.
"But he did protect me, Hooker." came a familiar voice.
Hooker's eyes flew open and he spun around to face Maguire, a look of disbelief and joy filling his face. "Paul! But you ... but he ..." and he indicated Pierce, who was standing with a smile on his face. Impetuously Hooker embraced his partner, making Maguire wince. "You okay?" Hooker's face was concerned.
"Oh, sure, just a coupla stitches to contend with, is all." Composing himself, Hooker managed to say "Would either of you mind please explaining what the hell's going on here?"
Pierce indicated both men to sit, then said "It's a ruse that's been used on a number of occasions. The bullet that appeared to kill Maguire was merely a specially-enforced glass phial containing a chemical that acts as a neural paralyser. Maguire was in imminent danger of being killed by his wife's abductor, so I reckoned we could 'kill' him before he was really shot, but it had to be realistic. As soon as our Police Department ambulancemen arrived on the scene, he was given a shot to reverse the effect."
"But what about your wife? Is she safe?" asked Hooker, turning to his partner.
"I've just seen her. There was no way I could tell her what to expect to see when she was taken to the station, and she had a nasty shock, but I've explained things. She's still shaken, but otherwise unhurt."
"What's more," added Pierce, "she'll be kept here, under our protection, until this whole caper is over. We're having a doctor look her over, but she'll be fine."
"What about the guy you arrested?" asked Hooker.
"We've got him along in Interrogation now. Seems he's quite willing to spill the beans." said Pierce, rising from his desk.
"Incidentally," added Hooker, as he, too, stood up, "I've got to know - who shot you?"
"Why, the Captain, of course," replied Maguire with a wry grin, "and a good job he made of it, too!" he said, his long fingers covering the injury caused by the impact of the glass bullet, acting 'dead' where he sat for his audience of two.
"Just as I suspected," commented Hooker tersely to his Captain as all three went out the door, "He's a better actor than he is a cop!" Their laughter resounded down the corridor as they made their way to the Interrogation Room.
---oo0oo---
Di Angelo was pacing the room like a caged animal. "I don't like it - Rico should've been back by now. Surely he couldn't mess that up, too? Take out Maguire and escape amongst the crowds on the platform with the woman - it should be simple enough..." He stopped pacing. "Chico - we' re movin' out. When's the Captain ready?"
"He said first tide was 0900."
Di Angelo looked at his watch. It was 6 a.m. Three hours to go. "Get into the van, get the rest of the boys rounded up, pack 'em into the back, and let's get outta here!"
---oo0oo---
Warehouse 26, located at the waterside of Los Angeles Port, was a high, corrugated steel building with a flat, wooden roof. Maguire, Hooker and three black-and-white teams were checking it out. Each crew reported back to Maguire that they had not found the books.
"Where the hell are they? Jack found them around here." commented Maguire.
The sound of an approaching motor made them scatter to hide in ambush. The dark blue van slid into the dark warehouse and drove to the other end, backed up to a hatchway in the floor, then stopped. Four men jumped out the back, another two from the front seat.
"FREEZE! POLICE! YOU'RE ALL UNDER ARREST!" commanded Maguire - but the smugglers were ready, and gunfire cracked as the hoodlums spread out, Di Angelo leaping round the front of the van to stairs leading up to the roof. Two of the hoods fell with bullet wounds, but two more tried to escape down the hatchway in the floor onto the waiting ship's deck. One slipped and crashed to the deck, lay unmoving, the other turned and fired at Maguire. Slow at reacting from fatigue, Maguire took the bullet in the calf of his left leg and he fell, rolled over and fired, dropping the man before he could get off another shot. Hooker was chasing Di Angelo up the stairs to the roof. Twice Di Angelo turned and fired, narrowly missing the dodging Hooker. A stray shot hit the petrol tank of the van and it exploded in a fireball. Maguire had reached the foot of the stairs, following Hooker, when the explosion threw him down, but he picked himself painfully up and, dragging his injured leg, followed Hooker slowly up the stairs. Di Angelo reached the door to the roof, opened it, jumped out into the morning sunshine, and lay in hiding behind a metal ventilation shaft, out of which smoke was billowing from the fire now raging down below. Hooker approached the door warily, knowing that an ambush was inevitable. Cautiously, he pushed the door. It swung open and a bullet ricocheted off it, just missing his temple. He leaped out, rolling and firing at the same time, but his bullets went wide. The roof door slammed shut behind him. He ran for cover, hearing the click of the other man's empty gun.
"Got him!" thought Hooker, and he straightened, in full view of Di Angelo. "Come out with your hands up!" he ordered.
Just as Di Angelo stood with his hands aloft, very close to Hooker, Maguire threw open the door to the roof, releasing more smoke. It was enough of a diversion for Di Angelo to lunge at Hooker, grapple for hold of the gun. The smoke was becoming quite thick, and Maguire could not see properly what was happening. Hooker's gun went harmlessly off, but a well-aimed punch winded him, and Di Angelo got the gun.
"Drop it, Di Angelo!" commanded Maguire, but Di Angelo pointed the gun straight at Hooker's heart.
"One step more, Maguire, and Hooker gets it!"
"Don't be a damn fool, Di Angelo. You kill a cop, you'll go to the Chair for sure." reasoned Maguire.
"Hah! What's the alternative? The rest of my life in a stinking prison?" The smoke was billowing around them, and Maguire could not see properly. Hooker, recovered, stood up. He was about six feet away from Di Angelo - too far to jump at him and not stop a bullet. He squinted at Maguire, who was standing, swaying slightly, his gun cupped in both hands in an attempt to steady it.
"Maguire!" called Hooker. "Take him down!"
"You shoot me, Maguire, and Hooker gets it, too - right between the eyes!"
Maguire hesitated, pain and fatigue slowing his mental processes as he decided what to do. He would take down Di Angelo for sure but would Di Angelo's reactions be fast enough to shoot Hooker? This man had already killed, or had a hand in killing, his partner, and he had made the dying man a promise ... The smoke from the warehouse fire obscured his vision for an instant and he felt a surge of panic as he lost sight of his quarry and Hooker. The smoke cleared in time for him to see Di Angelo's trigger finger whitening ...
"Paul - do it!" Hooker's voice was calm.
Maguire fired a fraction of a second before Di Angelo's gun went off. Through the smoke and flames he saw Hooker spin and fall. Di Angelo, thrown back by the impact of Maguire's bullet, fell over the side of the warehouse, straight into the water. Maguire ran over to his fallen partner. The bullet was in his back, near the right shoulder blade, and Hooker was not breathing. The heat was intense from the fire now raging around them, and Maguire was having difficulty breathing. He looked desperately around him, but the hungry flames had engulfed the roof door. A police helicopter was approaching, but the roof was collapsing and he realised he had no alternative. Picking Hooker's lifeless body up over his shoulder, he limped heavily to the edge of the roof and, holding Hooker as tightly as possible, jumped into the water. Underwater, he fought to bring his burden up to the surface and succeeded, and to his delight Hooker was sputtering.
Relax, partner, we're gonna make it!" The pain in Maguire's leg made it impossible for him to kick for the pier, but the police helicopter lowered a rescue line and Maguire placed Hooker into the belt, which was winched up, and then the line was returned to pull him up to safety.
---oo0oo---
Five days later Maguire, leaning heavily on a stick, his wife supporting his free arm, visited his partner in hospital. Hooker was sitting up in bed, eyes closed, a large bandage round his chest. Hooker opened his eyes, recognised his visitors. "Hey, Paul, Mrs Maguire! Pleased to meet you!" he shook Sharon's hand. Then, looking at Paul, he said "I owe you my life!"
"Hey, you told me to pull the trigger - remember?"
"I'm real glad he had a lousy aim!" laughed Hooker, but stopped, wincing.
"Come to think of it, Mrs Maguire," reflected Hooker, "you were worried about Paul and dreamed of 'fire and water'. Guess it all came true, huh?"
"I was so sure something bad was going to happen to Paul but now, thank goodness, it's all over, I think!"
"No more nightmares, waking me up in the middle of the night?" smiled Paul.
"Can't be sure of that! replied Sharon, a twinkle in her eyes. "Oh, no!" groaned Paul in mock horror, making Hooker laugh again. "Hey, Hooker, we've got some news for you - but first, a present!" and Maguire produced a gift-wrapped package.
"What is it?" asked Hooker, turning it round unopened in his hand.
"Here," offered Sharon, "let me help you open it!"
"No, no, I can manage, and, besides, I love surprises!" Tearing off the paper revealed two copies of the same book - one a hardback, the other a paperback of the novel 'The Flight of the Heron'. When Hooker opened the hardback he found it had no pages, its inside was a box.
"Ah, so that's what your partner found out!" deduced Hooker.
"Yeah. They were picked up off the ship which was waiting below the pier. It had to move out fast to avoid being burned by the fire. They found two hundred books filled with heroin. The ship's captain and crew were all arrested, and Di Angelo's body was fished out of the water."
Hooker looked at the paperback book, riffled through its pages. "Any good?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah. It's about a Scotsman and an Englishman who are enemies but become firm friends. Watch out for the sad ending, though!"
"Awgee, I don't like sad endings." complained Hooker, tossing the book down the bed. "Give me a happy ending every time. What's the big surprise you were talking about?"
Sharon dropped her head, blushing, and Maguire wrapped his arm round her slender waist, a huge grin lighting up his solemn face.
I - uh - I'm gonna be a daddy!" he announced proudly, producing from his jacket pocket the largest cigar Hooker had ever seen.
"Here," said Paul, "have a ceegar!" and, peeling of the wrapping, he popped it into Hooker's already-open mouth.
With a black moustache, you'd make a great Groucho Marx!" observed the happy father-to-be. And I thought you said I was a better actor than I was a cop!"
They shared the laughter, then Hooker, holding his aching midriff, looked earnestly up at Maguire.
"Hey," he said, extending his hand, "are we still partners?" Maguire paused for a moment, then, grasping firmly the offered hand, he replied "I'm glad - very glad - to be your partner."
---oo0oo---