The Mystery Key

[longislanditalian2]

This is a case-centric fanfic. I don't own anything by it, i'm not a great writer but would love to have feedback. If not I'll just delete it. This idea came to me long ago.


THE MYSTERY KEY


Opening song: Frank Sinatra- Summer Wind


An old home-made movie is playing, as we see an older gentleman playing with some kids. The camera then pans in as the black and white images turn into color, from the date of the cars; we assume it’s somewhere in the mid 60’s. A group of women are sitting on the steps, smoking while a redheaded girl with freckles runs by them.

“Norman watch me”, she happily calls out while skipping towards the older man. Norman is a tall man with white hair in his mid to late 60’s; but his features display a grandfatherly face. He laughs before picking up the girl into his arms, while making her laugh.

During the whole time the song continues to play, as it now begins to fade out before going black. The next we see Norman lying dead, as fireworks continue shooting up into the night sky. The camera pans away and into the box room where a man files his case away; Rosen, N.


Present Day, a shot of the streets of Kensington are now being seen. Lilly walks into a boarded up apartment building; that’s been recently raided by a drug bust. Her eyes meet up instantly with Detective Saccardo, a former boyfriend and still a good friend, “Got something for you”, handing her a necklace with a tortoise heart in the middle.

Lilly’s eyes study it before glancing up, “Any clues to why we got dragged down here”, but Saccardo motions to a woman whose standing nearby. A flash happens as we see how she appeared back in the 60’s, but now she’s looks merely older than her real age. Her reddish hair is now replaced by a shimmering copper toned color.

“Everybody had said that Norman Rosen, had died in 1966 but this is proof that he didn’t”, handing Vera the photo, “Turn to the back, it was taken just three days before I discovered his body”.

Lilly inspects the photograph, “It was taken in 1976, where was the body found”?
“In the Port Richmond Section of Kensington, it’s where he lived”


Cut to Credits.


In the warehouse, Stillman opens up the box; “Norman Rosen age 64 found dead in Kensington in 1966. Something we know how isn’t true”.

“Norman had no family, he lived alone but many said that he was like a grandfather to their kids”, as Lilly then studied several of the photos, “There’s something”, looking at the photographs taken at the time of his death, “Could send it to the ID unit”.

Scotty shrugged, knowing that it didn’t want to see the sight of Frankie. The woman had been stalking him for the last few months, too finally she had stopped. His attention then shifted back onto the case, “So what do we have”?

Vera shook his head, “A whole lot of nothing, no witnesses or suspects. Who would want to hurt an old man with no money”?

That was a question that nobody could figure out, but Jefferies had a clue, “What about religion wise, Norman was Jewish, could rub someone the wrong way”, but Stillman begged to differ, “No evidence that this was the case will, according to Neighbors Norman was well liked. I don’t think people hated him”.

Taking the box upstairs, Lilly combed through the rest, as Scotty stood there, “You grew up in Kensington, you knew the guy”?

“I didn’t know him, but maybe my father did. Says here that Norman was seen playing chess, six days before his death; my dad played at the same spot everyday”.

Before Lilly could ask her father, she wanted to find out more about the victim and where he came from. To her, that was more important right now than anything else. Besides she knew that Norman needed his own justice as well.

Somehow the woman returned, but a life of both drugs and alcohol and practically ruined her life. She now was at her wits end and wanted to get more off of her chest, “Norman wanted to help, and he tried but couldn’t stop what was happening. I can’t tell you anymore”, as she rushed right out of headquarters.

Lilly was stumped but news of this information was making her feel like something bad was happening, either the woman’s own past or a murder. Whatever it was nobody had an answer; at least right now.

By lunchtime, Vera was practically devouring his cheese steak outside of Geno’s, located in South Philly. He had been craving one for a long time, until Jefferies came by, “On your forth one today, Nick”?
Vera didn’t look all that pleased, “What do you have”?

At headquarters, Jefferies through down the thick statements, “Norman Rosen’s back accounts. The man did have some money, but he put it to good use. No evidence of anyone tampering with his accounts after his death. The man wasn’t into spending”.

“That wasn’t the only thing”, said Scotty as he stood there, “There wasn’t even an autopsy performed, body was laid to rest in a pauper’s grave. Got to wonder why nobody would give him a descent funeral”.

Indeed that was strange, but what about the necklace; did it mean something or was it for someone that Norman had loved?

It was soon found out that the woman whom had came into headquarters; lived three blocks away. Her name was Melinda Bass, and she didn’t have copper toned hair. That Vera had found the wig, stuffed in a garbage can outside.

She was hiding something, and it didn’t take very long for Scotty and Vera to track her down. Her place of residence was in Fish town; living with her retired army husband. The place was decorated in poor taste; down to the reddish walls.

Upon taking in a seat, Scotty could see the fear in Melinda’s hazel eyes, “Who was Norman trying to help, was someone in danger”?

“A family, the husband beat his kids. I think he eventually killed his wife, Norman told him that he would take the kids. You see that Norman saw the good in people, and kids. He never had any but loved them”.

Vera knew that still nothing was making a lot of sense, “You know of anyone else that might have had a problem with Norman; housewives. We know that he didn’t have any family”.

Melinda then stood up showing the two detectives out, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you”, as she then closed the door.

So that was on dead end, but Lilly had already spoken to another woman from Upper Darby; a suburb outside of the city. After getting some names, she made some calls; tracing the connection to Brooklyn, NY.

While on the ride back, Vera knew that Melinda was clearly afraid of something, “Either she knows who killed him”; Scotty wasn’t so sure, “I think she’s got something wrong in her head, logically nothing she said made a whole lot of sense. Look at her house man, its unclean and very red”.

Clearly, Scotty’s hunch was right; Melinda did have a severe mental illness; the same one that Elisa had suffered from. However he wasn’t one for doubting that she knew something, by all means this was another good piece of the puzzle.

However the trip to Brooklyn never occurred, due to Lilly getting mixed information. It had turned out that the tipster wasn’t informing her about Norman’s case, but about someone else’s. Sighing softly, she turned to see both her partner and Vera standing there, “Melinda add something to the picture”?

Scotty sighed, “I think she’s got some disorder, like what Elisa had. More or less Melinda did say that Norman was trying to help a family in danger. Dad beating his kids, and then eventually murdering the wife, Miller’s checking records”.


Indeed this was going to be a very long day one, but then Miller came rushing in, “Found something, Melinda was right; a man with the last name of Johnson shot and killed his wife, three days before Norman’s body had been discovered”.

Vera automatically wanted to have a chat with him, “He’s up at greater ford, you’re driving”, handing Jefferies the keys. As the continued to bicker, with the nonsense of them both sharing an apartment together, Scotty turned towards his partner, “What Part of Kensington did you grow up in “, he asked?

“You know what part, you were in the car when John Smith announced it; Port Richmond Area”, with both the anger and frustration over this case. Just then a UPS guy arrived with package, after signing it, Lilly opened it up to discover a photo album, attached with a note.

Detectives,
I found these in Norman’s apartment, not long after he had died. These are all the memories that he had left from his childhood days in Brooklyn, NY. If anyone would be after him, it would be his own family. Norman did love someone, but his heart never felt loved. He wanted to be a father but never had gotten that chance, thus why he was the neighborhood granddad of Kensington. Please don’t find me, just find the killer.

Lilly glanced at the note, before checking where it might have been sent from, “Center City, right here in Philly”, opening it up flooded memories of that appeared to be from a loving, Jewish family. Outside as the sun was going down; Lilly devoted her time to search through the family album, hoping for a clue or some evidence.

The first time around, there was nothing. Lilly knew that she needed more to go on with this case, but then a gold key slipped out of the album. Holding it in her hand, she now had wondered if this key that could unlock more secrets into his murder.


tbc, will delete if no reviews. I really would love it, like it said I'm horrible at writing...

[longislanditalian2]

Chapter 2

Inside Homicide 8pm..

Pictures after picture featuring; Weddings, birthday, Bar and Bat mitzvahs, showed Lilly a world that she probably had never known. The idea of seeing that, demonstrated that Norman came from a well- rounded family. Why he left, was also part for the missing pieces. She herself couldn’t grasp, but had a feeling it was a big falling out.

Coming from a messed up family, Lilly never had a home cooked meal, family over during the holidays or a nice get together. She knew that Norman valued that, but still nothing had indicated otherwise anything bad between his families. They looked like normal, happy people. She knew that pictures could also unlock secrets or hide them. Plus people could just be faking being happy for a photograph, as she turned the pages; a photograph of a young Norman and woman was centered alone on a page.

Since the photography had been taken in black and white, Lilly couldn’t make out her hair color, but noticed that she was probably around 5 foot four, and pregnant. Was it possible that this was what made Norman leave?

However the architecture had suggested to her, that the photograph was taken in Philly. With a new suspect, Lilly now needed a name to go with the woman’s face. On the back was something, believed to be written in a different language.

With the use of the internet, Lilly had found that it was written in the Hebrew language; but why. Was it to keep out a secret or vice-versa? Just then Kat slammed the phone down, “Got nothing, from the cop that was first on the scene. Guy barely remembers the case”.

Lilly chuckled, “That’s not hard to believe”, while biting her nails, “Found out that the handwriting is in Hebrew not in English. Here’s something”, showing Kat the photograph. However her own theory didn’t match Lilly’s, “Could be just a friend, it could be worth checking out. I know this guy that can read it, could translate this”, showing her an old letter.

The Next Day- LOCATION OLDE CITY

Miller is sitting with an older man, whom was a former Rabbi. Irving mytermitz is busying translating the letter. He is wearing a yamicha on his head, while his face shows the age of 78. Irving has done well for himself,” I know this woman”, he says, “She was the love of Norman’s life, until that happened”.

“The pregnancy”, asked Kat, as Irving sighs, “Never could forget how hysterical Miriam had gotten, and fled. She returned a year later, and broke his heart. Norman tried to be good to her, even asked her to marry him”.

Glancing at the photo, he shakes his head, “I don’t know why he came here to Philly, but the neighborhood children adored him. He taught them our culture, sharing his love of cooking. Parents felt safe enough to leave their kids with him. The man didn’t have a bad bone in his body, until he came to me about that family”.

Kat had remembered what Melinda had said, “Someone else also knew about it, did you know the family Rabbi”?

“Please call me Irving, I’m retired now. No it wasn’t my business to interfere, but I should have. That man was hurting his children, but you ask me the wife was off as well”.

With now the name, Scotty had managed to track down Miriam Shapiro whom was living in Germantown. Before being retired she was a nurse for many years, but wasn’t eager to speak about Norman.
Her beauty had faded, now with a full display of wrinkles and thinned hair. In addition to that, she was also sick with an early stage of Breast Cancer as well, “I haven’t seen him in years, now please leave”!

Scotty then heard her yelling at him, before he got up and left. If Miriam was hiding something, she certainly was.

[longislanditalian2]

Chapter three, please REVIEW. I need any kind of suggestion or help...


Just as Scotty was going towards his car, Miriam came out, “Detective Valens”, she called out softly, “ Can I tell you something”?

Scotty turned now seeing that this woman’s eyes was full of sadness, as she then handed him a key; along with an address.

OLDE CITY -TWO HOURS LATER

The same golden key, was the inserted into a locked storage facility, inside was furniture, clothing, records, cradle and a locked trunk. Lilly’s eyes were on the cradle, “ Norman made this, guy was good with crafts”.

“ All this junk, you wonder why someone wouldn’t just have thrown it out”, said Scotty as then tripped and fell. Trying not to laugh, Lilly then picked up the album, inside were photographs of various kids and their families in Philly. She remembered what someone had told her on a case, “ The thing about an old photo is that you can look at it a hundred times, and still find a new meaning”.

That part of it was true, but Lilly had wondered now if one of those families were the ones that Norman had wanted to save.

[longislanditalian2]

No Shipping fic, this is strickly a case one. Please Review I could use some reviews, and suggestions. This isn't easy for me to write...

Chapter Four


GREATERFORD PRISION, PA

Fred Johnson wasn’t a happy fellow, his days of being a guy with close cropped, dark hair was now gone. Instead was a bald headed man, whom wasn’t entirely thrilled, being seeing the two detectives. Sure he was serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, but still hated cops.

As both Vera and Jefferies took a seat, they then placed a picture in front of him, “Norman Rosen, his body was discovered in a former neighborhood; that you lived in during the 1960’s through the 1970’s”. Fred’s eyes scanned downward at the photography, “Yeah I knew him, guy spent more time with my kids than anything else. Not to say that I wasn’t gunning for Father of the year. He was good to them, you know”.

On a hunch, Jefferies then posed a question, “Where were you, at the time of his murder”, a question that Fred couldn’t lay, “At home beating my wife, now I’m beyond bars for life. Not to say that she deserved it, but Norman wouldn’t mind his own business”.

Somewhere between 1968- 72; an apartment building in Kensington



“Get your stuff, and the kids. You can stay with me, they can’t be around someone like this”, he says, while blotting Marie’s face, “Love isn’t supposed to be like this”, as Fred now busts through the door. He doesn’t like what is going on, “ GET OUT OF MY APARTMENT”, he yells as Norman now throws him up against the wall, “ People like you shouldn’t be married or with kids”.

Fred tries to fight, but Norman proves that he’s a bit too strong for him to handle. “Leave Marie and the kids alone, they deserve a good life”.

Marie tries her best to but in but, Fred then takes his anger out on her. Her hands go immediately to her stomach; protecting the life inside. Norman also notices this as well, as Marie moans in pain, “She’s having the baby”.

Fred pulls out his gun, “Get out Norman, I’ll take care of her”, seeing how much pain Marie was in; but slamming the door in the older man’s face.

PRESENT DAY

The look on Vera’s face is one that tells, Fred that he isn’t thrilled, “That was the night, which Marie gave me yet another daughter. All I had wanted was at least two sons, lucked out with one. He wasn’t even mine; he was just my stepson at the time.


Jefferies then got up, “Was Norman there for another reason, maybe to help her out”, Fred sighs for a second, “Marie was his niece, he’d do anything to be there for her”.


Headquarters

Both Lilly and Kat are watching a bunch of slides, in the interrogation room. They see just how much the neighborhood children adored him. Also how Norman was in so much of the families lives, it just didn’t’ make a lot of sense as to why someone would want to kill him.

Just then the door had silently opened, as Scotty walked in, “ Nick and Will went to Greater ford, turns out Fred Johnson’s now dead wife; Marie was actually Norman’s niece”; just as photograph of Marie came upon the screen, “ She was in the hospital that day, got the records to prove it”.

Lilly sighed softly, “So Marie’s his niece, you think the kids might remember him”, but Scotty then shook his head, “All three daughter’s had died before the age of eight, the stepson is still alive. He lives in Chestnut Hill, with two kids”.

CHESTNUT HILL

The homes are big, a big indicator that people around this area have loads of money. As both Rush and Valens proceed to walk up the driveway, a man comes out, “Who are you”?

“Alexander Johnson, Detective Rush and Valens we’re here about Norman Rosen”, which had Alex’s mouth drop open, “Norman’s dead”?

Leading them outside into an immaculate backyard, the two see that Alex has done quite well for himself. Although his age is 43, there is no indication that of that. He has a full set of blonde hair, and blue eyes.
Though his height is around 5’10, Alex seems to be worried about hearing about the news, “When did Norman, you know die”?

“On the night of bicentennial, he was murdered”, showing him photos. Alex looks away, “My son’s middle name is Norman, and I wanted to remember them. The guy was like the grandfather that I never had, and then he was gone. I remember not smelling his cooking or hearing his voice”.

Lilly took in a breath, “You think that your father was involved, he’s serving a life sentence for the murder of your mother”?

“No, and Fred’s my step-dad. I never had a dad, and don’t even consider him to be one. You don’t know what happened in that apartment. Losing my sisters, I know that he killed them. Norman knew about one of their deaths”.

Scotty could see that this had clearly taken a toll on Alex, “You remember how they died”?

“I can’t”, as Alex shifts, “All I can tell you is that I cried in Norman’s arms for a long time. He was like the only one whom I could trust. When he died, the neighborhood wasn’t the same without him”.

This to the detectives was puzzling; they knew that Alex might have be a witness to all three of his sister’s deaths. However, without any leads they needed a different approach, “Did Norman ever speak about his family, where he came from. Anything ring a bell”?

Alex shakes his head, “I think that Norman never liked to visit the past, but there was something odd about how he avoided the mail from someone in Brooklyn. I think it was his family, but I found this as my mother was cleaning out his apartment”, pulling out a gold Key.


This key was much different than the storage key, “You know where it goes to”, as Alex turns to see a little boy playing with his sister.
Lilly smiles softly, “Got beautiful kids, they look pretty happy”, which makes Alex turn around, “My wife’s expecting another daughter soon, I’m always had wanted to tell them about Norman. The man who made me the man I am today”.

[longislanditalian2]

CHAPTER FIVE



HEADQUARTERS

Jefferies is looking at the key, “It doesn’t match the keyhole for the trunk, so what else could it be”, trying to figure out all possibilities, before Stillman opened the door to his office. He knew that his squad was on to something, “Is that Key”, he asked before putting down his glasses?

“Yeah but it doesn’t match anything, Boss”, Vera said chiming in, “Nothing, Rush and Valens went to interview Alex Johnson; the step son of that nut job; Fred. Got something except that he might have been a witness to all three of his sister’s deaths”.

Just then the phone rang, as Stillman now looked up, “They found two bodies, one in Kensington the other in Roxbough”.

As the team now split up, Rush and Valens headed on over to Kensington. She didn’t even want on route 76 on the way to Boxborough after, what had happened to her on the Butler Case. For safe reasons, she found that headed back to her old home-town would be a safe bet. Once there, cops were directed several prostitutes away before leading the detectives up into the basement.

There inside were two skelentonized remains of what appeared to be child sized. Lilly’s stomach turned, but glancing around the neighborhood; she knew the distance between the crime scene and where Alex Johnson had once resided in.

Shaking her head, Lilly knew that these skeletons were of his sisters. They had to be, as Scotty continued to look away, he hated the sight of any dead body. It was quite strange for him; being an experienced homicide detective and all.

“Who would do this two little kids”, he murmured, “Dump them here and forget about them”, seeing that this wasn’t a great place to kill someone. Getting up, Lilly shook her head, “They didn’t die here, I think Fred killed them at home, and then carried the bodies here”.

CSU proved that she was right, after spraying some luminal to find nothing; not even any tissue or human hairs were detected. Something was quite strange, but then Lilly stopped dead in her tracks, “Maybe this case isn’t about this, someone purposely let us down a wrong path. Putting the blame on Fred, but someone else wanted Norman dead”.

ROXBROUGH

Kat is standing outside of an abandoned house, “Neighbors state that the previous owners had abandoned it, back sometime in the late 80’s. Bodies were unearthed after a homeless family was searching for something”.

Inside of the cellar, lay the 3rd body but this time it was a skeletionized remains of a baby. Kat quickly then turned away, as her phone now rang.

With all three bodies now being transported to the local coroner’s office, the squad now had other leads to follow as well as this one. Around 7pm, Alex Johnson had arrived as he then followed Lilly into one of them rooms.
Throwing down the note, Lilly then crossed her arms, “You wrote this, wanted to throw us all off track. You want Norman’s case solved or not”?

Alex shivered, he had substantial amounts of guilt; deep inside of him,” I knew that Norman was my great-uncle, my mother told me that. They both had left Brooklyn together; it was the only ways for them both have some peace. I think he was scared about wanting to go home, but then a part of him longed for someone to love him”.

August 1974

Eight year old Alex is sitting on the stood, holding a baseball in his hands. Norman comes out and sits beside him, “I’ll teach you how to play”, as a woman with long dark hair comes out of the car. Norman’s eyes automatically look at her, but she heeds no attention.

“Miriam”, he called out softly, seeing her turn her head. Alex stands up, still watching them. His baseball then drops, and rolls down the stairs and onto the sidewalk.
Norman then walks over to her, but Miriam turns, “I can’t be seen with you, just leave it and leave me alone”.


Present Day

“Miriam, was she from Brooklyn”, as Alex shakes his head, “He wanted to marry her, but she refused. I think him never being a husband or a father, broke Norman. She was cold, and distant. After she left, Norman got quiet, and went back in the building and into his apartment. I never saw him that depressed before”.

Lilly then touched his hand, “Who was the cradle for, the one in this photo”, showing him the photograph. Alex’s hand gently touched it, “It was for his daughter, and Norman took me to her grave once. He went there every day’.

Certainly, Alex’s story held up. There was a grave for baby Rose; but no last name. She was buried in an ordinary cemetery, no list of cause of death. However, if one secret was expelled then what else was there.

With a little bit of luck, Lilly attempted to successfully open up the trunk. Inside were dozens of letters, and a picture of three men; with one holding a gun. She then realized that Norman had a criminal past, but why?

Checking records with the NYPD, Lilly found that he had been jailed for stealing among other lesser charges; nothing that could keep him behind bars for long. Plus that and another person came forward, this time on the phone.

The caller; a woman had a strong Brooklyn Accent. Her age was estimated been 65-78 years old, but was eager to speak, “I knew Norman, someone did want him dead, but it wasn’t in Philly or the old neighborhood. I was there when they killed him; please if I talk anymore they’ll kill me”.

[longislanditalian2]

Chapter Six

Before the detectives could trace the call, the cops had found the woman dead. With her now dead, Lilly had requested to search her home. The family refused, which was acceptable but at the same time suspicious. Nothing out the ordinary seemed to be out of place, which came out the mouth of a cop; but the family had chalked it up to the woman having dementia.

Clearly she didn’t, but Rosemary Rosen; indeed had a connection she was Norman’s older sister. However the NYPD didn’t buy it, and got a search warrant. So did the Philly PD, after Lilly had dealt with ADA Bell. Inside of the home, were also the same old pictures, and another key? There was yet another problem; Rosemary had kept her home so cluttered and dusty, that neither of the detectives had wanted to stay.

Picking up a medicine bottle, Kat shook her head, “This isn’t even hers, who’s Ryan Rosen”, she asked? Ryan was her grandson, about the age of three with jet black hair. Rosemary had been raising him since his mother had abandoned him at birth. Upon hearing the sound a grunt, one of the NYPD kicked open the door; to find an extremely sick little boy.

As the paramedics were wheeling him out, Lilly shook her head, “Nobody knew that Rosemary had this kid, locked up here. A cop over there spoke to all the neighbors, got to wonder what she was doing harboring a young boy”.

Just then a woman broke in, “You opened this case, didn’t you. My aunt didn’t do anything”, she yelled. Lilly could see that she was probably no older than her own age; 39, but her hair was jet black, long and curly, “Who are you”?

“Emma Meyers, you do know that this isn’t a crime scene”, but Lilly had begged to differ, “We’re solving her brother’s murder, from 1976”.
That in itself had completely shocked Emma, “My aunt never had a brother, that’s at least what she had always told me”, as Scotty then chimed in, “His name was Norman Rosen, found dead in Philly. He was the neighborhood grandfather to many”.

Crossing her arms, Emma then took a seat, “It now all makes sense, about the embarrassment and disgrace of the family. I thought that she was speaking out of terms but I guess now it’s true. Aunt Rosemary hated speaking about him”.

Sitting down, Lilly drew in a deep breath, “There’s a lot that you didn’t know, we’re going to find out the truth to who had killed your uncle”, but this made Emma stand up, “Don’t, alright. My family doesn’t need to know about him, he’s dead”.



HOMICIDE DEPARTMENT 10pm

Lilly is determined to solve this case, but nothing is making a whole lot of sense. First with the family that Norman was trying to help, then his own. There was a bunch of possible suspects, but in reality were turned out to be dead ends.

Turning the pages, Lilly begins reading over each and every letter, trying to figure out the last few days of his life

7am, the next morning

Vera places a cup of triple Americano onto Lilly’s desk, “Pull an all nighters, Rush. Haven’t seen that for a long time”?
She sighed knowing that she should have slept last night, “Nothing’s still not making a whole lot of sense, just read recipes; one only looks good”, showing him a few. Vera makes a face, “Noodle Kugal, hope you ain’t cooking for us”.

Shooting him a look, Lilly re-ties her hair back into a ponytail, “I can’t cook, probably a good thing that I can’t.”, just then Alexander Johnson walks in looking very disheveled, He automatically points his finger directly at Lilly, “ WHY CAN”T YOU LEAVE THIS ALONE”, thrusting a piece of paper in her hands, “ KEEP THIS CASE CLOSED,”!!!



Lilly then watches him storm out; she knows clearly that Alex is hiding something. Looking deeper into his background, he has a very long list of assaults; the most recent; physically abusing his daughter; which was just like what his step-dead had done in the past.
Indeed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, neither of the detectives was certain that Alex had killed Norman.

Kensington Avenue

This is known for prositution, but one call girl was brave enough to report an attack. Angela; a long slender redhead in her mid 20’s, had been beating and dumped off of route 76. How she had managed to make it back here was a mystery n itself.

Stillman had already arrived, since another body had turned up; this time it was Miriam’s; not far from the apartment building where Norman had both lived and died.

[longislanditalian2]

Chapter Seven

I don't own any characters except for the ones I made up, please do review and suggestions. I'm not a great writer at all).





Much to their hoping, Alex had a tight alibi which told the detectives that he wasn’t their murderer; at least not Miriam’s. In Norman’s case, he didn’t have an alibi nor did neighbors back up where he was. Lilly knew that either way, Alex was hiding something or he was the killer. Still without any creditable evidence, neither forensic nor physical it was going to be very hard to prove that he was.

Around the body, was blood; literally lots of it. More than what any of the detectives had ever seen, but crouching down lower Scotty shook his head, “its red paint, not blood”, which was commonly odd. However Vera wasn’t having the best time speaking with Angela, whom now just wanted to head back onto the streets.

Looking closely, Vera then spotted a familiar necklace like in one of the pictures, “Where did you get that”, he asked.
Angela grew defensive, “Got it from a thrift mart, why”, she asked, “Thought you were going to find, out who had done this. That’s normal you not finding out since you’re a cop”.
“We will”, grumbled Vera, “You just happen to get the make of the car”?

With a sigh, Angela turned and looked down the alley, “A green car, one of those old 80’s ones”; which translated into the fact that she was less than helpful.

With a new crime scene, the detectives were once again back at square one.

CENTER CITY- HEADQUARTERS


Lilly is comparing the two crime scenes, but neither of them match up, “ Norman’s looks more of a robbery turned homicide, but why would a woman like Miriam turn up on Kensington Avenue”, she said, “ Without her purse”, she said.
“That’s strange, I don’t go anywhere without mine”, chimed in Kat, “Looks like Miriam had been led here, but why “?

Just then Jefferies came in, “ You’re not going to believe who is the owner of that green car, than Angela being so less than helpful said”, as he put down the file, “ Bret Johnson; Alex Johnson’s younger brother”.

Looking at the photography, Lilly shook her head, “He got any record”, which had Jefferies sighing, “Car theft, and get this that happened in Brooklyn. Just happened to be two miles from where Miriam had lived”.

That was something indeed, but that happened in 1999. They needed something recent, “Where’s Bret Living now”?
“Germantown, have fun riding an hour to there”, said Jefferies, “I ain’t going”.

Kat then got up and grabbed the keys, before looking straight at Vera, “You’re riding, but I’m driving”, as Vera started to complain on the way out.


tbc.. please review, it would help me. Beta's are always welcome...

[longislanditalian2]

Stillman has a connection to this story as well..

CHAPTER EIGHT




GERMANTOWN

Bret Johnson, wasn’t an overachiever; in fact he had been through six marriages and divorces in the matter of seven years. By all means, he was also forced to pay child-support to all five of his kids; each from the different marriages.

He didn’t appear to be the age of thirty-seven; due to his bald head and wrinkly face. In fact, Kat found him to be extremely creepy, especially around the eyes. She wasn’t quick to judge, especially since he had a calm way about him. Just as Vera went to sit down on the couch, he landed up sitting on a few crushed cans.

It had also appeared the Bret, kept the place unclean. Drawing in a breath, he sighed, “You knew Norman Rosen, found dead in 1976”.
Bret nodded, “Yeah what about him”, as Kat showed him a photo, “Where were you last night”?
“At work, I work the late night shift. I had nothing to do with his death, the guy was creating his own problems right in our own backyard. My old man hated him, but my old lady was the man’s sister. Murder no, you would have to look in Fish town, more than Kensington. Those Fish town Freaks had something worse on him”.

Kat shook her head, “Why, did he have any connections to there”?
“Plenty and they all hated him for that, you see Norman gambled. One of the men were stupid enough to follow him back, heard the whole thing myself”.

Glancing over at some of the photos, Vera now had realized that Bret was Alex’s older brother; not younger. It was impossible for him to be two years old, at the time of Norman’s death, “You were fourteen in 1976, then how come your little brother; Alex lied”?

Bret’s face changed into a nasty tone, “You’re not accusing my brother of lying, he’s sick in the head. Got some kind of disorder, won’t see a doctor about it. Norman knew the score with that Fish town man; I think he was in the military or something. Had this gun, toted it around but it wasn’t loaded. Stupid dropped it after the loud storm that night”


1974

Twelve year old, Bret peers out the window as a man wearing a long trench coat stands there; Norman is also out there as well.
“I told you I won fair and square, you didn’t need to go and shoot that thing”, Norman yelled. The man’s voice only increases, “Your whole life is a fraud, and you weren’t even born here. Born on that steerage ship on the way to Ellis Island, in that communist country; I have all the proof they won’t even like you after what I will tell them”.

Norman looks up seeing Bret, peeking through the windows, “Then so be it, but America is the only place where I had lived. My mother delivered me right before everyone had seen the statue of Liberty. She said my eyes were open, but next to her my sister lay there; dead. Half of my family was last to the diseases on that ship”.

The man then points a gun on him, “Half, you whole family Norman. Your mother died in childbirth, your dad was abusive. He had killed himself; you know that your sister had died back in Russia. You witnessed it”.

Norman then stomps off, “You want to tell them, tell them. It makes no difference; it’s you that is the real fool”.

Present Day


Bret is chuckling softly, “After that, I let it slip. Norman wasn’t rejected, not after all that. The thing with him was that you couldn’t hate someone that was from a communist country, or the way that they look either. He was ahead of his times”.

“Did anyone else have a problem with that”?

Lighting his cigarette, Bret nodded, “Yeah, that girlfriend of his. Her name was Alice, don’t remember the last name; but I always heard them barking up a creek about something. They were speaking in an odd language, that wasn’t Hebrew”.


Since the trip from Germantown to Center City, would tell about an hour, it had given the detectives time to think about the whole case. Two already had lied, one was dead. Still they were no closure to solving Norman’s case. The Fish town thing wasn’t exactly airtight. It was worth checking out, but Stillman had remembered something.


HEADQUARTERS 3PM

John Stillman used to work in Fish town in 1969, but he still had been in 1974. He knew all the scoop but had seen the victim, just then the door had opened as Lilly then peeked her head into the door, “ Boss”, stepping inside.

Seeing him taking off his glasses, Lilly knew that he had known something, “You knew Norman, huh”, she said sitting down, “So was Bret lying about the Fish town Freak”?

With a small smile, John slowly got up, “Bret Johnson was always in trouble, the Fish town Freak was a murderer who killed twenty before killing himself, and his body has never need recovered. He’s no responsible for Norman’s death, he died in 1975. Norman did however report something to me”.


1969- Fish town

John is patrolling the streets, when Norman comes on over to him; along with a woman whose shaken.
“ She’s was raped, you have to stop this monster officer”, as John looks at the woman whom has two black eyes and blood on both of her hands, “ Who did this to you”?
The woman shakes her head, but speaks in another language as Norman then translates, “She can’t tell you”, as another officer walks up to them, “Move along, before I arrest you”.


PRESENT DAY

Lilly is shaking her head, “So who’s the cop of the year”, as John turns back around, “Some other rookie, got killed in the line of duty three months later. The woman that Norman was with was his sister, whom also killed herself a month later”.

“Too many dead suspects, it’s making us hard to solve this one boss. Maybe it wasn’t about who he was but where he came from”, just then Scotty opened the door, “Got new info boss, I found Norman’s real birth certificate; he’s Brooklyn Born. His mother died in a hospital during childbirth, get this; his sister disappeared when he was ten”.

Now it was slowly starting to make sense, as Scotty then placed the plastic bag onto the table, “Found yet another Key. Got a buddy in Brooklyn, searching the apartments where Norman had lived, turns out that Norman fled when in Aunt to Philly when he was ten; something or someone drove him away”.

“Could be the murder or his dad”, which had Stillman shaking his head, “Don’t float that theory around Lil, until we know for sure. If one of those keys was to a storage facility, where do there rest go”?





tbc..

[longislanditalian2]

CHAPTER NINE


Close to the end, but if anyone has any suggestions for me, please feel free, I would really like some...



With so many different leads to follow, along with the many keys as well; Lilly had wondered if one of them would open a door to who had killed Norman. It had seemed as if people were fabricating who this man really was. Despite that, Lilly knew that no victim would ever be forgotten. Nobody was perfect but the murderer had to be brought to justice.

Just then Jefferies sat down, “Seems as if Alex has a big history with Schizophrenia, had been committed on several occasions’. Get this, his wife tried to file for divorce three times; before backing down. If anything Alex is just like his old man”.

“It couldn’t have been Alex, Will. He was just ten years old, looked up to Norman. I don’t think it’s the Johnson family that had killed him. Someone purposely sent us down the wrong route”, just as Vera was coming while eating out of a Chinese food box. Kat was standing behind him, with her arms crossed.

Jefferies now looked up, “Didn’t bring any to share with the rest of the class, Nick”; Vera made a face, “Someone messed up the original report, according to a hospital record, Norman had been admitted just a month prior with chest pains”.

That immediately caught Lilly’s attention, “So this many not be a homicide after all, maybe he had a heart attack”, glancing at a photo of him, “There wasn’t any autopsy done on him”.

Vera made a face, “Until I found this, seems as if Norman was indeed married. Tragic events unfolded, he had kids with this one but soon left them”.

“Could be his heart was still with Miriam, where was he married”, she asked? Glancing down at the report, “Brooklyn, NY. Wife’s still alive and kicking, in East Rutherford, New Jersey”.

After making a few calls, it was determined that Josephine wasn’t able to make the trip; due to her arthritis, but Lilly and Kat did. Clearly Josephine was living in a nice suburban middle class area. Her home was big, with several nice gardens’ boarding around it.

Inside, Josephine’s hands covered her mouth, “Someone killed Norman, I don’t understand”, her hazel eyes growing brighter? Lilly understood her pain, “That’s what we’re trying to figure out, looking back do you know why Norman had left”?

Josephine appeared to be a lot younger than her age was, combined with color- treating her hair. She was still the gracious woman that she had always been, “I don’t know, we just have our last child. One night he just took off, I never saw him again. Norman was secretive, he always loved children”.

“He was the neighborhood grandfather”, nodded Kat, “Anything that Norman might have been running from, any money that he owed “?
“No, I paid all the bills. Norman was never good at things like that; we met when I was 18. Three months later we were married, and expecting our first child. I never met his family”.

Lilly drew in a breath, before taking out a key that was now in an evidence bag, “Do you know what this key might belong to”.

Shaking her head yes, Josephine nodded, “It was all the keys of our past together, it was his hobby; collecting keys. I thought it was strange, that what my husband was. A part of me knew that he never wanted to really have a family”.

Kat jotted something’s down, “Josephine did Norman had any health problem, like heart trouble”.

“Why yes”, before a red-headed woman came closer, “Time’s up Mom” as she looked at the detectives, “I never had a father, something’s should be forgotten”.
That comment made Lilly want to question the daughter, “Why’s that”, before being shown the door.



HEADQUARTERS – THE NEXT DAY

Emily Goldberg sat there looking pretty angry, for having to drive all the way to Philly. In fact, she began UN cooperative about the investigation into her father’s death. Lilly whom had always had issues with her own, which were now resolved; could understand.

“My dad left when I was young, had an addiction. I got the chance again to see him recently, he cleaned up his act. I know what you are feeling, not being about to have his ever. You were only a week old, couldn’t understand why”?

Emily shook her head, “Are we going to go somewhere with this, I never had a father. He did that’s alright, the man was worth nothing”.

Sitting down, Lilly then pulled out a few photos of Norman with some neighborhood kids, and then the crime scene photo, “A man died, Emily, he was still your father”, seeing how Emily was shaking hard.

Between tears, Emily sniffled back, “My brother David told me never to tell. Beat me when I was little, I knew it was. We were all there, my mother set this whole thing up to make it appear that he had been murdered”, as her demon our changed.

She turned from sad to non-chant in a matter of few minutes, “He never even recognized us, she did it and it was over”, her voice turning into a creepy tone, “They were married but she used him, like she did to everyone else”.


Lilly knew that clearly this was work of psychopath, but Emily was no exception. She had been in and out of jail for numerous charges, including physically assaulting; husband’s one and two. The third one remained missing.


Outside Scotty had found that Emily’s brother; David was no exception as well. He also had been in and out of prison, but something was odd, he was Norman’s only biological son. If anyone would have known him, it would be David.

It didn’t take very long for both Scotty and Vera to find him, down at thirtieth street station. Flashing his badge, David looked at the two men, before lunging at both of them. Luckily Scotty was able to arrest him.


tbc.....

[longislanditalian2]

Ten

Short chapter but more to come..




INTERROGATION ROOM


David Rosen wasn’t exactly, a happy guy; but a pathetic one. He was slender and tall, resembling his father down to a tee. The door then opened as Scotty came in, with Jefferies trailing in from behind.
Slamming the book down on the desk, David crossed his arms, snarling at Valens. He didn’t like this guy at all, especially after being arrested. Not that he cared so much, he wasn’t about to let them break through his fortress. That was the type of person that David had always been. Not even when photography of his father was placed down on table, did he even want to look at the man.

With a stoic look on his face, David’s arms continued to be crossed,” That guy is a conman, I knew the truth about him. Might have been from Brooklyn, but he was the reason why he had left. This sickness runs in the family, Norman killed his sister. He always went a little too far, the rage. The reason why my sister Rose died before birth”.


Scotty shook his head, but Jefferies did the talking, “You expect us to believe that now David, been in and out of mental care. Your own mother committed you when you were thirteen”.

David made no expression, “Told you, we’re all sick. Norman was as well, walked out on his family like we were some pieces of garbage. He never stayed with my stepmother during all her pregnancies, probably guilt”.

“Your dad was loved by a lot of neighborhood children; he tried to help a family. Father was hurting both the kids and wife, Norman was working through his problems. Clearly, nobody had known him as violent man”.

Scotty glanced over at the window, which on the other side had both Rush and Stillman watching. They too exchanged glances but didn’t say a word.


tbc..

[longislanditalian2]

Eleven

One more chapter to go, there will be more case-centered stories in the future



David was clearly a nutcase, but Scotty had enough with his lies. After hearing more to the story, he knew that someone else was involved in Norman’s death. Perhaps it was the wife, Francine; but somehow that theory didn’t hold a lot of water.

In the observation room, Lilly was the handed a piece of new information, by Frankie, “It appears to be a set up of some sort, see the way the light was coming it. I got to thinking; it must have been morning, not night when this photography had been taken”.

Frankie then pointed something out, “There were medicine bottles on the table, and I blew them up. It’s a medication used to stable an irregular heartbeat”, which reminded Lilly of the; Greg Cardiff case. He had been killed by that as well.


Looking at the picture, she then noticed something, “Who identified the body”, Stillman looked through the records, “Someone with a fake alias, just looked it up. Also spoke to who was in charge, a man came in and made positive ID. Just handed some money over and told where to bury his body, it could be David, but don’t float that theory around until you’re sure”.

[longislanditalian2]

* On HOLD*, I've seem to have messed up with this storyline. If anyone could suggest something I'd be more than willingly to finish this.