Chapter Eighteen (No Surprises)

Previously, on "Heat":
Ch. 17 (You And I)
-Joseph decided to come home to be with Sarah.
-He filled her in about the new developments in the case
and his outing with the boys.
-Joseph sang "You And I" by Stevie Wonder to her as
they slow danced, bringing back warm memories of 
their wedding.
-Sarah learned that she was wrong about Lyn
after finding out what really happened between
her and Brad, as well as Luke's feelings for her.
-They reminisced about the early days in their
marriage when they struggled, knowing they got 
through it, and no matter what, they would be happy.
-Because they have each other.



Location: Bridgeport Community Fire Department
Date: Monday, 11/7/2011
Time: 5:48 p.m.

After spending most of the afternoon at the burn site (the charred remains of Alexander's home), Joseph decides to head back to the fire station. As he steps out of his car, the raindrops pick up even more---landing on his face, arms and leaving cold splatters on his bare scalp. At the sound of thunder whipping from a distance, he picks up his stride towards the front entrance. In about an hour, the day shift will end, freeing half of his crew to go home.  Soon after, the night shift will take over until seven in the morning. 

There's still so much to do. Reports to finish up, a briefing to prepare for tomorrow's morning meeting, a crew to check in with before they leave and a license plate number to run in the system---if he can find it. If he's lucky, he may be able to come home before 11 tonight. If anything else comes up, he may have to stay over, like he usually does. Lately this arson case has plagued Joseph's mind, especially after meeting Alexander and finding out the deceased victim is his brother. Instead of leaving it in Marley's hands, he's been following leads on his own and outside the normal hours. 

His thoughts become interrupted at the sight of a black SUV in the parking lot, which appears to be a Tofunda Wagon. For a moment, he considers the possibility that this vehicle could be---no. It couldn't be. What would it be doing parked here at this hour? Joseph shakes off this crazy notion as he passes by the vehicle, but he catches something in his peripheral vision. Right there, on the right side of the rear bumper, is a white playboy bunny logo---and a license plate that says "Boss".

Instead of calling Marley to report the license plate number, Joseph decides to jump back in his car and wait discreetly, in case the driver shows up. Within minutes, the headlights of the black Tofunda shine brightly as it slowly pulls out between the green sedan and white truck.

Joseph decides to follow it.

"A heart that's full up
Like a landfill
A job that slowly kills you
Bruises that won't heal"



Careful to leave at least one car in front of him, Joseph watches the black Tofunda pull up into a parking lot surrounded by an eight foot chain length fence. As he watches the doors open, he lowers his body into the seat, careful not to be seen parked right across the street. He can't make out the faces of what appear to be two men walking towards the back of a run-down warehouse. This baffles Joseph even more since the two cars parked in an otherwise empty parking lot---an SUV and a luxury sedan, both relatively new---don't exactly match the condemned look of the building. Either this place is a hideout for crackheads or a secret haven for drug dealers. That could be the most plausible explanation for the nice cars.

As Joseph sits in his car with the engine and headlights off---the rain beating on the windshield---a cold wave of dread travels up his neck as he ponders what he should do. He can leave it at this for now, call in the license plate numbers and go home. Or...he can actually identify the suspects tonight by inconspicuously following them inside and finding out who they're working with---and who they're working for. An apartment unit, an empty warehouse and a single family home---all destroyed intentionally. What's next? Will another person be homeless because of this? Or worse yet---another senseless death?

The thought of Luke, Nate or Jake dying because of this pushes Joseph over the edge in fear---and fury. If this is what it takes to protect his crew, then so be it. Taking a deep breath, he takes the keys out of the ignition and opens the car door.



Location: East Tradewinds Shipping Co.
Time: 7:55 p.m.

A few yards from the gate on the other side of the parking lot, Joseph finds a rusted steel double door nestled between wooden crates piles on top of each other. The crates, which  have been exposed to the elements for a while, have taken on a dull, gray color. He carefully presses his ear against the door to see if anyone is behind it, only to be met with silence. They must be in another room. With his pulse quickening, Joseph twists one of the knobs, yielding easily to his surprise. They left it open. 

Scanning the area one more time to make sure there's no one else present, Joseph quietly slips inside, knowing he's entering unchartered territory as a fireman and as a captain. This is something that the police should be doing, but at this point, they don't have enough evidence to be granted a search warrant. It could take months before law enforcement are in jurisdiction to get involved, and if they do (during an arson investigation), they may take over the case, especially when there's homicide involved. All of the evidence and witnesses could be turned over to authorities, and that may leave Joseph and Marley with nothing to work with.

As Joseph carefully closes the door behind him, he finds himself standing in a large room teeming of crates. Rows of them, lined up endlessly for at least 50 by 50 feet. The ones near the door are just as old and faded as the ones outside. The ones in the middle of the room, however, appear new with straw colored pine wood. Whoever these belong to, it's clear that they are hiding it in the run-down warehouse, and it's something valuable. After thoroughly scanning the dusty brick walls and taking in the damp smell, Joseph's eyes stumble on another steel double door flanked by stacks of crates. As he approaches, the voices become more distinct.

"---don't even know where he is."

 This voice. It sounds familiar to Joseph, and he knows he's heard it before. 

"You have three days to get rid of Alexander." The man behind the desk orders coldly, his eyes shifting back and forth between his subordinates. "Or I get rid of both of you."

"Yes, sir." 



One glimpse of this man's face and Joseph feels like he's just been whacked on the back with a heavy snow shovel, leaving him frozen and fighting for oxygen. It's not possible. It just can't be. Something is telling him to get out now, while he can, but Joseph can't shake off this nagging need to confront them. 

Without thought, he bursts through the double door and cries out, "How could you??" Stunned, everyone jumps out of their chairs in a flash, eyeing Joseph like an unwelcome intruder. He's not supposed to be here. He's not supposed to see this not-so-condemned set-up of shiny marble floors, leather chairs and mahogany desk. He's not supposed to know about the big screen t.v. accompanied by the leather sofa or the high-end computers lined up against the brick wall. And he's certainly not supposed to know about the mini-kitchen area boasting a stainless steel fridge, stainless steel sink, microwave and bar adorned with expensive wines and liquors.

"Joe, what are you---" The man in the gray button-up shirt turns around, his eyes wide and  drenched in panic. 

"Mr. Rossi. So we meet." The man in the black blazer smiles, not at all rattled by Joseph's presence.

"Bring down the 
Government
They don't
They don't speak for us
I'll take a quiet life
A handshake of 
Carbon monoxide"



"This whole time. This whole---" Joseph can't even look at this man in the eye, the man he thought he knew and trusted. Now they're planning on doing something to Alexander, the only witness he and Marley has. Something reminds Joseph that he still has time to walk away, that he's in over his head and if he doesn't do it now, it might be too late. It's a nauseous feeling to the pit of his stomach that he can't shake, no matter how much he tries to brush it off. But he wants answers. Now that he's been betrayed. Now that he has seen the eyes of the man that's responsible for all this.

"You shouldn't have come here. You should have left things alone." The man in the black blazer interrupts, shaking his head, looking at Joseph with pity. "Now you know too much."

"You will not get away with this."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken," He turns to the man in the gray button-up shirt. "Finish him."

"You're better than this, Jim. I know you." Joseph pleads, holding his hands up, stricken in horror as his eyes meet the barrel of a .45 caliber pistol. "Don't do it, please!"

"I'm sorry, Joe. I'm so sorry." 

CRACK.



"This is my final fit
My final bellyache
With no alarms
And no surprises"

*Copyright 2013 Lyn C.S.*
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Author's Note: Ugh, this chapter just broke my heart. I almost didn't want to go through with it but I had to remind myself why it was necessary. And you guys will find out soon enough. R.I.P Joseph :( You will be deeply missed.

Ch. 45 (I'll Stand By You) , Ch. 46 (Love Won't Let Me Wait) and Ch. 47 (You And I) from Memoirs Of A City Girl covers Lyn being there for Luke in Bridgeport.

"No Surprises" by Radiohead
Video by: parlophone