Bad to Worse

The totality of his situation hits him when he pulls away from the station. His hands begin to shake, his stomach churns with fury. Beads of sweat pop out across his forehead as the brutal interrogation continues to replay in his mind. I almost went down for a murder I didn't commit. Tommy then recalls his narrow escapes with the homeowner and the vicious dogs. Shivering he thinks,  Things should be better now that I'm with Hernandez again. 

Tommy is heading toward home when he sees his friend hobbling across his yard. I probably should see how he's doing. Jimmy's been out of work since his accident a few months back.

Jimmy hobbles over to greet him as he pulls into his drive. "Long time no see."

"I've been meaning to stop by, but with Jen being in the hospital I haven't had the time."

"Jen is in the hospital?"

"She'll need an operation soon, within a few weeks or so, they say. They're trying to hold off as long as they can for the baby."

"Oh, man If I'd known…"

"I know you'd have helped. And I appreciate it, really I do, but I figure you have enough to deal with your injuries and all. How are you doing with all of that?"

"I'm still waiting for the insurance to kick in. Thumbing over his shoulder he says, Hopefully, before I loose this place." 

"You can always stay with Jen and me."

"I appreciate the offer, but it sounds like you have enough on your plate as it is."

"The satellite company canned my ass, so I'm back with Hernandez again."

"You are? How does Jen feel about that?"

"She doesn't know. I think I've found a solution to your problems. Let me talk to someone, see what I can do." Tommy grabs his cell from his dash and quickly makes a call.

Jimmy is trying to picture what it'd be like to work for Hernandez when Tommy walks up beside him. "I just talked to the boss and he's agreed to hire you on."

"What am I going to do exactly?"

Leaning closer, Tommy quietly says, "Everything I tell you from here on out has to be kept between you and me, alright?"

"I knew it, you are a gangster."

Glancing around, Tommy says, "It's not like that."

"What is it then?"

"I've been setting up cameras in homes I install satellites in."

"Yeah," he excitedly replies.

"Once we know the homeowner's habits we pick a time to rob the place. The boss sells the merchandise then gives us our take."

Jimmy gets a grim look on his face, takes a step back and says, "I don't know man. I mean I need the money and all, but stealing people's stuff? It just isn't right."

"Their insurance company reimburses them for the loss."

"It's still a theft, Tommy."

"You're stealing from the insurance company, not the homeowner and you know they can afford to pay."

Jimmy thinks back to all the money he's paid and the countless times his claim has been denied. This could be my revenge. Smiling he says. "I'm in."

"Now that's settled, I have a big favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"Can I borrow your car, mine overheated on the way over?"

"Use it as long as you like." Jimmy tosses him the keys.

Holding it up, Tommy smiles and says, "I sure appreciate this, man."

"You can keep your car in the barn until the fuzz is off your tail." Seeing Tommy's expression he chuckles and says, "I know how you gangsters work."

"I'm not a gangster Jimmy."

"Yeah, whatever"

***

Rachel walks in to find James Cornell fidgeting in the chair. She then notices sweat dripping off his forehead with wet patches under his arms and around his collar. It's not that warm in here. She watches him squirm a little more. He must be coming off of drugs. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No."

"It'll make you feel better."

"I said I don't want anything."

"Suit yourself. So how long have you been using?"

"I don't do drugs," he replies, as he squirms around in his seat.

She grabs his arm and flips it over. "Why do you have track marks then?" 

"I use to, but I don't anymore."

"They look pretty fresh to me." She slams his arm on the table.

"What are we going to find at your apartment?"

"Nothing, I swear."

"The worried look on your face tells a different story."

'Search all you want, but you won't find a damn thing."

"Where were you between four and seven this morning?"

"I was at home asleep."

"Can anyone verify that?"

"No."

"Not even your neighbors?"

"They might, I don't know." He scratches his arms and then his legs.

You're going to wish you had something sweet real soon. "You better find someone to verify your whereabouts, otherwise, I'm going to charge you with murder."

"Murder, no I didn't kill anyone, I swear I didn't."

"Just like you swear you don't use drugs?" Staring him square in the eye, she says: "Stop lying to me. I know you use and I know you killed the Harris's."

"I didn't, I swear!"

He tries to look away; Rachel turns his face around. "Murder is an automatic death sentence, but if you confess we might take the death penalty off the table."

"I didn't do it."

Hearing the door open, she turns toward it.

"You'll never believe what we found." Kirk steps into the room.

"I love to play show and tell, don't you, James?"

"We found four baggies of meth and an assortment of paraphernalia."

"So we can add drug possession with intent on top of the murder rap."

"I didn't kill anyone."

"We'll just see about that," she says, storming out of the room.

"What do you think, captain?"

"Check with the neighbors and the security cams to see if anyone can verify his whereabouts."

Hearing someone coming towards them, they turn around. "Captain, sergeant, the fingerprints on Tommy's pop can match the one found on the window." 

"Pick him up."

***

Tommy decides to visit Jen before the big heist. He doesn't like going behind her back, lying to her the way he is, but he figures telling one little white lie is worth saving her life.

"Is this for real?" she asks. Grabbing the phone from Tommy's hands, she looks at it again. The go fund me account showed over eight thousand dollars. Hernandez suggested this type of account to make the money seem legit.

"It is, baby, and it's all for you."

"I...I can't believe it, I'm going to live, I'm going to live. This is a dream come true, Tommy, a dream come true."

"I told you I'd get the money. Now I need to find your doctor, tell him to put you on the list."

"Speaking of."

Tommy looks up to find the doctor standing in the door. 

"We just got the latest test results." 

Realizing Jen is shaking beside him, Tommy cups her hand in his. "What is it doc?"

Glancing down at his paper, he looks back up and says, " Your condition is rapidly declining. We need to do the surgery within the next few days, otherwise, you may be too weak to undergo the procedure."

"No!" Jen yells. Collapsing against Tommy, she begins to sob.

Tommy wraps his arms around her and pulls her in tight. "It'll be alright, baby."

"How, Tommy, how will it ever be alright again? Damn my stinking heart, damn it all to hell," she cries.

"We've gotten this far, baby, we'll make it through the rest."