Bad News from Alexandra

This post is related to and occurring  in the middle of the timeline of the following post on the Alexandra Blog: http://alexandrarpgstories.blogspot.ca/2016/10/double-shot.html

The Evening of Thanksgiving Monday

Cedar Point Police Chief Nick Callahan is about to sneak off early when Angie blocks him at the side door with a grave expression "Line 3....Nick, you need to take this one." Her dropping protocol and calling him by his first name indicates it's personal. Nick looks worried and steps back in, shutting the door.

"Callahan here?"

Josh went through a woman at the Cedar Point police department and told her only that it was urgent, but given his day, his upset remains in his voice. "Chief Callahan, this is Lieutenant Joshua Green, of the Alexandra Police Department." he pauses to let that much settle in. "I'm afraid I have mixed news." he inhales and looks at Susan, using his thumb to turn on the speaker, so she can hear. It's not like anyone is in the cafeteria. "The Alexandra Pharmacy was robbed earlier today. One of the suspects got away but not before ..." he swallows before continuing. "Not before the other suspect, who we have identified by your eyewitness descriptions as Colin Rankin, exchanged fire with Chief Brate." he pauses again and just wants to get the news out. There IS no good way to deliver news like this. "Chief Brate killed Rankin, but not before Rankin shot the Chief in the head." the suggestion that they fired at the same time is pretty clear.

There is a long pause. Nick pulls the phone from his face and holds it against his chest, closing his eyes. Then he catches his breath and begs the obvious question "Is he...Did Adum survive?"

Josh nods and shrugs. "He is in surgery now, sir." he tells him. "And his wife is on her way. I can keep you informed."

Nick exhaled audibly enough to be heard into the receiver. He knew it didn't mean Adum was in the clear, just that he was still alive. "Thank you Lieutenant Green. There are some folks here, myself included, who will want to know how he's doing."

Josh nodded. "I thought that might be the case, Chief." he replied. "On a couple of levels. I know Adum was one of your cops ... and Rankin is wanted by you." he paused. "We're going to be a bit busy, but I also know Adum's best friend works for you. If you'd pass the news on, as I give it to you?" the request would free him up by giving him a central, high ranking Cedar Point contact.

Nick glanced in the direction of the main office "Yeah, I'll tell Ryan...course I will. Thanks again Green, and watch over him for us."

Josh nods. "Yes, sir, I absolutely will." he swallows audibly. "He's my Chief." he pauses. "I will get a picture of the body for a positive identification as soon as possible. Thank you, sir. Goodbye." and the conversation is over. He looks at Susan. "Is there someone you can text or call to get a picture to me?" he asks.

Nick puts the phone back on the receiver and rubs at his face. He starts walking to the door and it opens. Angie slips in and looks worriedly at Nick "What was it? I had that gut thing going on, I'm sorry."

Nick swallowed hard and eeked out "Adum Brate was shot in the head at an armed robbery. He's alive and in surgery. He killed the perp, who they think is Colin Rankin."

Angie gasps, her hand covering her mouth and then blows out a big breath "You need to tell Yamada...and Douglas, although maybe she knows."

Nick nods grimly "I dunno Ange. Call them in WITH Reinhardt please. Switch Nault to the beat tonight."

Angie gives Nick a look of affirmation "Understood Chief." and heads out. She gently walks around the main office asking Michael, Ryan and Tamela to go to the chief's office.

Michael Reinhardt is sitting at his desk doing up the last of the holiday paperwork. Having already had a pretty good Thanksgiving, he did not mind one BIT working the ACTUAL holiday. Angie goes into and comes out of the Chief's office, asking for he, Ryan and Rams to come into his office. With an arched brow, he stands and heads in there with them.

Nick ushers the three into chairs and then sits himself, rubbing at his face with a look of anxiety. He leans forward and inhales, dropping both hands onto the desk palm down "There's no good way to say this." He glances at them in order he thinks the impact will be hardest to lightest; Ryan, Tamela and then Michael and tries to keep his own voice even "Chief Adum Brate was shot in the head during an armed robbery bust. He's alive but in surgery at Greenwood Park. He shot the guy at the same time. Alexandra PD think it's Rankin..." His phone buzzes in his pocket and he ignores it for the moment, giving them a chance to react.

Ryan hollows into himself, rounding his shoulders and grimacing. His eyes instantly start watering. Did Callahan say in the HEAD? He feels his throat closing.

Tamela turns her gaze upward and mutters "Oh fuck." And then looks urgently at Callahan "I need to go make a phone call.....Meg..."

Callahan holds up a hand "She's on her way to the hospital. But yes, go check on her. Come back after please Douglas."

Tamela nods and steps through the door, pulling out her phone and finding a quiet corner.

It doesn't even seem to register for Ryan that Tamela has moved or spoken. He just looks shattered.

Michael is relatively calm throughout the news. He barely knows Adum Brate except that he is Ryan's best friend ... even more so than he is. It's the name of the shooter that gets him. His thoughts fly to Steph, but he turns towards Ryan, ready to support him. Instead of swearing, he blows out a long breath. "Sir ... do they have any ID on the shooter?" being further removed, he can be more detached. And a positive ID ... he won't speak to Stephanie until they have one. And maybe ... Ryan would rather. He is still a new man in Steph's life, even if he is in love with the woman.

Nick pulls out his phone and glances at the text, about to ignore it further and then holding up a finger to Michael "I think this might be our ID here from Lieutenant Green..." He looks at Ryan before opening the message "Ryan I'm sorry. I know how hard this is for you. If Angie can rearrange the roster, I'd like to give you the time to go see him as soon as we know more." He looks back to the phone and sees the picture "But right now we need your help. Can you identify Colin Rankin from a photo? This is from the coroner's office..." He slides it across.

Ryan takes the phone with a shaking hand and looks at it "Thank you Sir. And yeah that's him...my nephew's father, the man who shot my best friend." He looks at Michael and then at Callahan and sets the phone down "He's fucking lucky he's already dead."

Michael blows out a breath at the positive ID. He's glad there is an ID but ... it was a messed up situation. Agreeing with Ryan, he doesn't comment on it. "I can go talk to Steph." he offers. If Ryan was right about his calming effect on Steph, maybe it would be best for him to be the one.

Ryan nods vaguely at Michael "Thanks man. You have a way with her when she's upset...and this...well...I don't even know..."

Nick looks between the partners a bit confused. He's guessing that through their connection, Reinhardt has connected with the whole Yamada family and he knows himself how welcoming they are. After a small shrug he texts Josh back a thank you and a confirmation that the photo has been IDed by Ryan Yamada as Colin Rankin.

Tamela quietly slips back in and sits down in the empty chair looking worriedly at Ryan and Micheal. Not having heard the conversation before she came back she offers "Do you want me to talk to Steph?" She knows Michael and Steph are dating but in her mind he's way too new boyfriend material to have to take this on.

Nick just frowns at the three of them now like they've all grown an extra set of eyeballs.

Michael nods and, when Tams comes in he shakes his head. "I ... have a way with her." he reports, actually sounding demure. "So I don't mind." he glances at Ryan hoping he is alright enough to have his back on this one. Yamada's were one thing ... but Tams was likely being a protective friend.

Nick looks between Tams and Michael and opens his mouth to speak and then closes it again.

Tams smiles a bit and shrugs "Ok then. Tell her to text me later if she needs anything. Was it Colin? Do we know yet for sure?" Tamela was not in the room when that happened either.

Ryan leans forward and looks Tamela in the eye "It was Colin. And Mike can talk to Steph. He took her statement at the pharmacy after she saw him there so they've already been talking about him."

Nick folds his arms and then just bluntly asks "Officer Reinhardt, did you have a...conflict of interest...in interviewing that robbery witness that you neglected to disclose to me?"

Michael showed no reaction to Tams words and he sighs slightly when his Chief asks about any conflict of interest. "I don't believe so, sir." he explained. "We were on a skeleton crew. When the call came in, Nault got in the car with Ryan and they saw the getaway and pursued. That left me, sir." he paused again a moment. "But I AM dating Stephanie Yamada." he didn't deny it. "When I walked in the door, I didn't know Steph was the witness. But if it is a problem..." he didn't know what he would do if it was a problem ... except take the black mark. It wasn't the first on his record, only the first in Cedar Point.

Nick sighs "Michael, you're not in trouble. With a town this size I just need to know connections when we're taking statements. We're all less than 3 degrees of separation here."

Ryan and Tamela both nodded in agreement, having both been through these conversations with the chief.

Michael nods, just barely showing his relief. "Thank you, sir." he replies. "I'm just ... still adjusting to living in such an intimate place." his eyes cut to Ryan, who found out about he and Steph by simply coming home and seeing her leaving.

Ryan chuckles a bit despite the serious conversation they're all in and gives Michael a little smile. He needed a laugh to keep from falling right apart.

Tamela smacks Michael on the back "Could be worse Reinhardt...way worse." She looks at Callahan now "I was about to head out to meet my community service team Sir. If I need to reschedule them that could be tricky. Permission to be excused?"

Nick nodded "Granted Douglas."

Tamela leaves without another word and Callahan looks between the two partners "I think she just wanted out of that chat before I brought up her as an example. Course the witness in her case was my daughter..." He grins after Tamela's exit and then it fades "Adum. It could be awhile before they know anything. Yamada, go home and do what you need to do. Reinhardt, go break the news about Rankin to your girlfriend. Call it an early night and I'll see you both tomorrow. I'll call if there's any news from Green."

Michael snorts softly as he's patted on the back but says nothing until he is dismissed and heads out of the Chiefs office, his mind full of what to say to Stephanie.