Chapter Eighty-One: My Fallen Idol, Part One
Richard Dickson walked
into the police station, looking around suspiciously. The suspicion
was returned wholeheartedly, except for Constable TJ who had his head
down and buried in paperwork.
into the police station, looking around suspiciously. The suspicion
was returned wholeheartedly, except for Constable TJ who had his head
down and buried in paperwork.
“You look hard at
work for once.” TJ heard his boss, the stupid Inspector Dingbat,
standing over him. TJ groaned inwardly. He wished like crazy Dingbat
would just leave him alone.
work for once.” TJ heard his boss, the stupid Inspector Dingbat,
standing over him. TJ groaned inwardly. He wished like crazy Dingbat
would just leave him alone.
“Just taking after
you Sir.” He suddenly heard slip from his mouth. Uh-oh…
you Sir.” He suddenly heard slip from his mouth. Uh-oh…
Dingbat narrowed his
eyes at the younger man and was about to start a triade when Dickson
walked over.
eyes at the younger man and was about to start a triade when Dickson
walked over.
“I'll deal with you
after work Jacobs.” Dingbat sneered at TJ, who groaned. Now there'd
be trouble, and he probably wouldn't get home until well after
dinner-time!
after work Jacobs.” Dingbat sneered at TJ, who groaned. Now there'd
be trouble, and he probably wouldn't get home until well after
dinner-time!
“Good Morning Mister
Dickson, glad you've decided to visit our little establishment.”
Dingbat said in his most wheedly, suck-up voice.
Dickson, glad you've decided to visit our little establishment.”
Dingbat said in his most wheedly, suck-up voice.
“I want to speak to
your men. Individually. Privately.” Dickson narrowed his eyes and
got straight to the point.
your men. Individually. Privately.” Dickson narrowed his eyes and
got straight to the point.
“Oh really?”
Dingbat narrowed his eyes back.
Dingbat narrowed his eyes back.
“You've been told to
cooperate with the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service
on this exercise Inspector, I suggest you do.” Dickson looked
intimidating. TJ knew though that Dingbat was too stupid to be
intimidated by anyone, and too ambitious to let anyone get in his
way. Everyone else was trying not to giggle.
cooperate with the Presidents Entrusted National Intelligence Service
on this exercise Inspector, I suggest you do.” Dickson looked
intimidating. TJ knew though that Dingbat was too stupid to be
intimidated by anyone, and too ambitious to let anyone get in his
way. Everyone else was trying not to giggle.
“I think I should
join my men. For emotional support. They need to know they have their
leader with them.” Dingbat stated. TJ tried not to snort. He knew
full well that Dingbat wanted to make sure nothing was said against
him!
join my men. For emotional support. They need to know they have their
leader with them.” Dingbat stated. TJ tried not to snort. He knew
full well that Dingbat wanted to make sure nothing was said against
him!
“I want them to know
that anything they say won't be used against them. I can't assure
them of that if their boss is breathing down their neck.” Dickson
fired back. TJ allowed himself a small smile. “Now if you'll excuse
me, I'll start with your lowest-ranking officers, so you have less
time to threaten them.”
that anything they say won't be used against them. I can't assure
them of that if their boss is breathing down their neck.” Dickson
fired back. TJ allowed himself a small smile. “Now if you'll excuse
me, I'll start with your lowest-ranking officers, so you have less
time to threaten them.”
The giggling stopped.
Dingbat looked beyond
ropeable. Dickson motioned to the newest young recruit to the force,
a pimply little weasel of a kid who reminded TJ of a school snitch.
The little weasel quickly looked at Dingbat, terrified, not sure what
he should do, before looking at the much more intimidating Dickson
and bolting out of the room.
ropeable. Dickson motioned to the newest young recruit to the force,
a pimply little weasel of a kid who reminded TJ of a school snitch.
The little weasel quickly looked at Dingbat, terrified, not sure what
he should do, before looking at the much more intimidating Dickson
and bolting out of the room.
TJ quaked a little
himself. This was going to get very, VERY ugly.
himself. This was going to get very, VERY ugly.
—
Petunia was stirring a
beef casserole in her kitchen when TJ finally trudged home.
beef casserole in her kitchen when TJ finally trudged home.
“Again?” She asked
sympathetically.
sympathetically.
“Again.” TJ
groaned.
groaned.
“Your father called
earlier, he asked for you to call him back after dinner.” Petunia
said, checking the rice.
earlier, he asked for you to call him back after dinner.” Petunia
said, checking the rice.
“Swell. He probably
heard about Dingbat and Dickson.” TJ slumped onto the couch,
feeling defeated.
heard about Dingbat and Dickson.” TJ slumped onto the couch,
feeling defeated.
“Dingbat and
Dickson?” Petunia began to dish up the dinner. TJ sighed, and got
up to set the table.
Dickson?” Petunia began to dish up the dinner. TJ sighed, and got
up to set the table.
“Dickson wants to
interview all the cops privately without Dingbat involved, and
Dingbat wants to make sure the truth doesn't get out. There was a
huge blowup, Dingbat was screaming at Dickson and Dickson didn't even
break a sweat.” He told her as he set out the cutlery.
interview all the cops privately without Dingbat involved, and
Dingbat wants to make sure the truth doesn't get out. There was a
huge blowup, Dingbat was screaming at Dickson and Dickson didn't even
break a sweat.” He told her as he set out the cutlery.
“Damn. Sounds like
Dickson is one cool customer.” Petunia said.
Dickson is one cool customer.” Petunia said.
“You should have seen
him. He totally had Dingbat scouted. Although I'm worried about what
this means for the force.” TJ sighed.
him. He totally had Dingbat scouted. Although I'm worried about what
this means for the force.” TJ sighed.
“You really should
talk to your Dad.” Petunia brought out two big bowls of steaming
casserole and rice. TJ was beginning to feel better already.
talk to your Dad.” Petunia brought out two big bowls of steaming
casserole and rice. TJ was beginning to feel better already.
The pair happily talked
during dinner (TJ nearly spitting his out laughing when Petunia told
him about a rather disgusting mess she had to clean up in the
childrens ward). Afterwards, they cleaned up together before Petunia
settled down to her jigsaw puzzle and TJ called his father.
during dinner (TJ nearly spitting his out laughing when Petunia told
him about a rather disgusting mess she had to clean up in the
childrens ward). Afterwards, they cleaned up together before Petunia
settled down to her jigsaw puzzle and TJ called his father.
“Heya Teej.”
Theodore Jacobs Sr. greeted his son.
Theodore Jacobs Sr. greeted his son.
“Heya Dad. I guess
you heard about the big blow up today.” TJ chuckled as he settled
down in his favourite easy chair to talk.
you heard about the big blow up today.” TJ chuckled as he settled
down in his favourite easy chair to talk.
“You bet. I've heard
a few different versions, including one involving a gunfight and
Chuckles and Giggles getting involved.” Theodore chuckled along
with his son. “So the government is running an inquiry eh?”
a few different versions, including one involving a gunfight and
Chuckles and Giggles getting involved.” Theodore chuckled along
with his son. “So the government is running an inquiry eh?”
“Yeah, Dickson wants
to talk to us all privately.” TJ pulled up his footrest and leaned
back.
to talk to us all privately.” TJ pulled up his footrest and leaned
back.
“Teej, let me give
you some advice. Don't say anything. Plead ignorance.” Theodore
warned his son. “It's for your own safety, and a good career move
too.”
you some advice. Don't say anything. Plead ignorance.” Theodore
warned his son. “It's for your own safety, and a good career move
too.”
“Dad…what?!” TJ
suddenly felt uncomfortable.
suddenly felt uncomfortable.
“You're at a stage of
your career where you can't afford to be making waves, and believe
me, when this is all over there'll be a tsunami. Minimise the damage
to yourself.” Theodore continued.
your career where you can't afford to be making waves, and believe
me, when this is all over there'll be a tsunami. Minimise the damage
to yourself.” Theodore continued.
“But what about
Pleasantville?!” TJ sat up. “If I have a chance to do something I
have to do it!”
Pleasantville?!” TJ sat up. “If I have a chance to do something I
have to do it!”
“You've been
listening to those Knights of the Last Order.” Theodore groaned.
“TJ, let them take care of Pleasantville, you need to take care of
yourself and Petunia. How do you think I got so far?”
listening to those Knights of the Last Order.” Theodore groaned.
“TJ, let them take care of Pleasantville, you need to take care of
yourself and Petunia. How do you think I got so far?”
TJ felt himself boil
inside. His father would never know that he was in fact a Knight of
the Last Order, otherwise there would be no end of trouble. Theodore
Jacobs Sr. was a career man, and he had hoped his son would be the
same.
inside. His father would never know that he was in fact a Knight of
the Last Order, otherwise there would be no end of trouble. Theodore
Jacobs Sr. was a career man, and he had hoped his son would be the
same.
“Dad, I can't. I
joined to serve and protect, and I can't do that by clamming up and
letting morons like Dingbat get away with murder!” TJ cried.
Petunia looked up from her puzzle.
joined to serve and protect, and I can't do that by clamming up and
letting morons like Dingbat get away with murder!” TJ cried.
Petunia looked up from her puzzle.
“TJ you start
blabbing and it's gonna get ugly!” Theodore also raised his voice.
“Don't think for a second that those private talks are actually
private, you talk and you're going to find yourself so deep in
trouble you won't be able to breathe. Especially if it goes up the
City Hall and the Mayor gets involved.”
blabbing and it's gonna get ugly!” Theodore also raised his voice.
“Don't think for a second that those private talks are actually
private, you talk and you're going to find yourself so deep in
trouble you won't be able to breathe. Especially if it goes up the
City Hall and the Mayor gets involved.”
TJ growled.
“I'm telling you this
to protect you. There are dangerous people in Pleasantville who will
easily destroy you if you make trouble, and for added pain they'll
take down your whole family too.” Theodore pleaded. “Think about
it. Do you really want to risk your Mother and I? Petunia? Could you
honestly live with yourself if anything happened to her?”
to protect you. There are dangerous people in Pleasantville who will
easily destroy you if you make trouble, and for added pain they'll
take down your whole family too.” Theodore pleaded. “Think about
it. Do you really want to risk your Mother and I? Petunia? Could you
honestly live with yourself if anything happened to her?”
“I'll think about
it.” TJ groaned.
it.” TJ groaned.
“I only say this
because I care about you kid. Look, your mother is having a fit, she
needs to call a friend to organise their next Bridge game. Catch ya
later.” Theodore said.
because I care about you kid. Look, your mother is having a fit, she
needs to call a friend to organise their next Bridge game. Catch ya
later.” Theodore said.
“Love you too Dad.
Catch ya.” TJ hung up.
Catch ya.” TJ hung up.
“That sounded
controversial.” Petunia sat down next to her husband.
controversial.” Petunia sat down next to her husband.
“He wants me to put
my head down, bum up and shut up.” TJ sighed. “He worries if I
talk and cause waves it will get back to me and put me in danger.”
my head down, bum up and shut up.” TJ sighed. “He worries if I
talk and cause waves it will get back to me and put me in danger.”
Petunia said nothing.
“But I have to say
something! If I don't, nothing will change!” TJ cried. “Dickson
HAS to know where the problems are, and I have to tell him, I'm the
only one on the force who actually cares about the people of
Pleasantville! Everyone else just cares about their pay packet and
half of them are under the employ of the Mob!”
something! If I don't, nothing will change!” TJ cried. “Dickson
HAS to know where the problems are, and I have to tell him, I'm the
only one on the force who actually cares about the people of
Pleasantville! Everyone else just cares about their pay packet and
half of them are under the employ of the Mob!”
“Yes. Dickson needs
to know, but you're not going to tell him.” Petunia said.
to know, but you're not going to tell him.” Petunia said.
“If I don't, who
will?!” TJ cried.
will?!” TJ cried.
“Sir Dark and the
Noble Knights of the Last Order.” Petunia grinned.
Noble Knights of the Last Order.” Petunia grinned.