Partners #1

  Chapter 7

  Herbert sat outside Nate Mckey’s apartment, waiting and watching. Something about Mckey had left an uneasy feeling in the pit of the old detective’s stomach. The day Herbert and Walter had first met Mckey, he’d run from them. All the office girl had told Mckey was that some officers were there to ask him some questions. He’d run because he was guilty of something, had something to hide. Herbert knew that for a fact. And he was going to figure out just what exactly that was.

  He’d done some checking on Mckey, of course without anyone else knowing. Wasn’t hard, seeing as how he wasn’t the most popular detective right now. Especially since he just “lost” Edgar Poole, the number one suspect in the Baker murder. Of course, Herbert knew Poole was now a pile of shit somewhere in the old subway tunnels under Detroit, digested and excreted by Herbert’s partner. Speaking of partners, his other partner, Walter Ryan, was pretty pissed off.

  Herbert had called him and told him the meeting Mckey had set up had gone great and he’d nabbed Poole, but when he tried to arrest him, Poole gave Herbert the slip. Walter had scolded Herbert, saying he’d told the old man to get back up, to not try and do it himself. The kid would calm down, he was too nice of a person, and he actually wanted to help Herbert return to being a top detective in the precinct again. Poor Walter didn’t know that Herbert could give two shits. But he did care about Mckey.

  His research had turned up some interesting information. Turned out Nathan Mckey was a registered sex offender, originally charged for exposing himself to kids around town…and for trying to lure children into his car. So, why had the sick bastard ran? Maybe he hadn’t turned over a new leaf…maybe he was still at his old game. Herbert slid down in his seat as he saw Mckey exit his apartment.

  Once Mckey’s car was safely out of view, Herbert got out of his car and jogged up to the apartment entrance. Pressing the buzzer for the first apartment, he waited but got no answer. On the third try, he finally got a response.

  “Hello” Said a male voice.

  “Hi, UPS here…got a package for you.” Herbert pumped his fist when he heard the door unlock. Quickly making his way up the first flight of steps to Mckey’s apartment level, he pulled out his lock pick set. He’d gotten it a long time ago as a gift from a burgalar he’d arrested. Prison had changed the man, made him better. As a thank you, he gave the set to Herbert as a gift…just in case he ever needed it. Turned out he did end up needing it, or at least the past two years he had. As Herbert began to pick the lock on the door labeled 18, he heard a door open on the level below. The same voice from the intercom called out a curious hello. Herbert unlocked the door and was safely inside Mckey’s apartment before the man noticed he was there. Time to take a look around. It didn’t take long for Herbert to find what he was looking for.

  There was a twin bed set up in the middle of the living room, right where the television should have been. The bed had shackles on the top and bottom, obviously for the feet and hands of Mckey’s captives. Any hope that Mckey hadn’t had anyone in that bed were squashed when Herbert saw blood stains on the bed…they were fresh. Within the last couple days. Herbert had been too late. Shit, he fumed to himself. The bastard probably had some poor kid shackled up here the other day when Herbert and Walter questioned him. Herbert should have trusted his gut…but he was so focused on getting Poole, he had ignored it. And it cost a child their life.

  Herbert wouldn’t make that mistake again…ever. But right now, he needed to make sure that child got justice. And that Mckey got the punishment he deserved. Looked like his partner was going to get an extra meal this month. Checking his watch, Herbert headed for the door. Who knew how long Mckey would be gone, he needed to hurry. Herbert had work to do. Time to get the Skylark.

  #####

  About the Author

  Christopher Lee Cousino is a Licensed Practical Nurse at a group home that services the mentally and physically handicapped population of the Grand Rapids, MI area. He has always loved to write and has finally begun to focus on putting his many ideas and characters onto paper and making them available to the world. He is hard at work on many novels and stories, so stay tuned. Christopher lives in Hudsonville, MI with his beautiful wife and two wonderful children.