disclaimer: I don't own Rollie, Angie, Francis, or Mira. I only take
credit for Julia. Barnet Baff, Harry Baff, Abraham Graff, and Harry Coehn
were all real people (in 1914) no infringements on their memory or family
is intended.
classification: Definitely a story dealing with a Rollie Angie
relationship, but there's a cop story in here too.
summary: This is after Grandpa. Rollie's plans for Julia's birthday get
interrupted by a murder investigation.
*************************************
Rollie Tyler felt way in over his head. It was less than a week before
his daughter's second birthday. He had decided that he was going to get
her EVERYTHING she wanted, which wasn't easy.
"Hey Rol do you really think all of this is a good idea?" Angie asked him
as she sat on the floor wrapping what seemed like the hundredth present.
"I know I'm probably spoiling her Ang, but this is the first birthday
that I get to celebrate with her. I'm sure every child expert would say
I'm a horrible father for giving her all this, but I don't care. I just
can't wait to see the look on her face."
"She won't remember it though, years from now." Angie commented as she
finished the last present.
"That's what cameras are for Ang. I plan on capturing every minute of
this birthday. So that ten years from now she can look at the pictures."
Rollie replied.
Angie stood up and walked over to him. "You are a wonderful father for
wanting to give her everything, it's perfectly normal. And no expert
could argue with that." She said as she wrapped her arms around his neck
and kissed him. Rollie didn't let her go, instead he wrapped his arms
around her waist and held her in a long embrace.
They were interrupted by the sound of someone at the door.
Rollie grumbled. "Come in." But did not let Angie go. Francis and Mira
came into the shop.
"Are we interrupting something Rol, Angie?" Mira asked amused.
"No, we were just...uh.." Rollie tried to explain. He and Angie just let
go of each other, and Rollie started to laugh.
"Doing nothing." Angie finished.
"Never mind." Mira interrupted.
"So what did you two come over for?" Angie started before the
conversation of what she and Rollie were doing could get any further.
"Well we need your help." Mira said.
"How did I know that's what you were going to say?" Rollie replied.
"Alright how can we help?"
"Well about a month ago Barnet Baff the 'Chicken King of New York' was
murdered outside one of his stores." Francis started.
"Ya I read about that in the newspaper," Rollie said.
"He was shot twice, by two men who escaped in a car. They were chased but
they got away. One of the witnesses got a license number, and we
eventually tracked down the car, with the two suspects."
"So where's the problem?" Angie asked.
"We're pretty sure the two suspects were hired. See the car belonged to
Baff's son Harry. When we questioned him about it, he claimed the car was
stolen out of the parking lot, and the two suspects verify the story."
Francis ended.
"But you still think the son's involved." Rollie said
"Harry Baff stands to inherit his father's whole business, because they
were partners, along with insurance. He was also mixed up with a
questionable group of people. He has a record for possession of illegal
substances, and weapons. Maybe he got in over his head and needed the
money. And why would two suspects already indited on a murder charge,
also admit to a stolen vehicle charge, unless they were paid off
already?" Mira explained.
"So what can I do?"
"We need you to get the two suspects to implicate Harry Baff. Admit that
he hired them. We've offered them several deals, but they won't crack."
"There's nothing else linking him to the shooting?" Rollie asked.
"No, except the car. He has an alibi, he was in a meeting when it
happened. There's not even any phone record of him contacting the
suspects."
"The two suspects confessed to the actual shooting though?"
"Ya, they didn't have much choice though. They had the getaway car, and
the murder weapon was found in the street with their finger prints all
over it." Francis said.
"So all you need is for me to get them to name Harry Baff as the one who
hired them?"
"Yep."
"Well I think I can handle that."
"Does that mean you'll do it?" Mira asked.
"Sure why not."
"Thanks Rol. We owe you one." Francis thanked him.
"Do you have a picture of this guy, Harry Baff?" Rollie asked.
"I'm sure we can find one. What do you have in mind?"
"What if Harry Baff pays these two a little visit? Maybe they can talk
about his 'stolen car'?"
"I think that's a good idea, we'll get that picture for you right away."
Mira answered.
"Okay, good."
"Well we have to be going now. We'll let you two go back to doing
'nothing'." Mira said as she and Francis let themselves out. After they
had left Angie turned to Rollie.
"I have a feeling I know what your plan is, but I hate to have to tell
you that you have to do it all in three days."
"Oh my God, I totally forgot it's-"
"Julia's birthday in three day."
"Bloody, how am I supposed to finish all of the party preparations, and
work on this case all at the same time?"
"I thought maybe you had a plan for that too."
"No, do you?" He asked very worriedly.
"You know Rol, I don't think I ever told you how cute you look when you
realize that you've gotten way in over your head." She said as she placed
a light kiss on his slightly open mouth.
"Will you-"
"Help. Yes we can get it all done together." Angie finished, which made
Rollie immediately more satisfied.
"Thanks sweet, I guess that's why I love you." He replied as he headed up
the stairs.
Angie just sighed. Yes it was definitely going to be a very long three
days.
After Mira had gotten a few pictures of Harry Baff for Rollie, he
immediately got started on making a mask of him. It was harder than usual
cause there was just pictures to use as reference. The plan was for
Rollie to play Harry Baff and pay a visit to the two suspects, Harry
Coehn and Abraham Graff. Then get them talking about the murder and have
them implicate Harry Baff, while being observed and taped.
-------------------------
Rollie could tell Angie wasn't happy about something. There was
definitely something wrong, she had barely spoken a word to him that day
since she came over. She wasn't any less affectionate with him, but when
he looked in her eyes there was worry carefully hidden in them. He
couldn't take it anymore, he was getting worried about her!
He walked over to where she was going over a list of things for Julia's
party. "Ang what's wrong?"
She looked up at him "What do you mean what's wrong? Nothing's wong."
He put his hand on her arm, "Ang I've known you for too long, I know when
something's wrong. Now tell me what has been bothering you. You've been
distant and worried all day now."
Angie sighed, she knew this would have to come up eventually. Rollie saw
this was going to take awhile so he sat down across from her. "Rol I'm
just worried about you. I mean it's not like I never worried about you
before we were 'involved', but it's just different now. You know?"
"Ya, but I mean this isn't going to be dangerous. I'll be in a police
station the two suspects don't have weapons. I'll be safe. I promise."
Angie shook her head. "I realize that, this time you're more safe. But
what about the next time, or the next time after that? Rollie I love you
and I don't want to lose you, ever. Theres's a little girl whose already
lost her mother, and she can't afford to lose her father too. And neither
can I."
Rollie just pulled her into an embrace. "Oh Ang, I know. I don't want to
get hurt now or anytime. I have no intention of leaving my little girl or
you behind. I love both of you too much." Rollie paused before he
continued. "I never told you, but not long after I got custody of Julia I
really started to evaluate my lifestyle. I never really thought about the
things I did, or considered them dangerous. That was just how I lived.
I've helped out Leo and Francis and Mira a lot, and I don't regret that.
I've wanted to bring these criminals to justice as much as they have.
When I realized if something were to happen to me, I would be leaving
behind my little Julia, and YOU, I just couldn't bare to think about it.
I mean I'd never stop helping Mira or Francis in the future. I just want
you there beside me, keeping me from going too far, helping me, loving
me. That way we'll both be okay." Rollie stopped a moment to look at
Angie, who seemed relieved to know that Rollie shared her fears. "I also
wanted to ask you if it would alright if I made you Julia's legal
guardian in the event that something would happen to me?"
Angie just smiled at Rollie's aprehensive look. "I guess I've figured I
would anyways. But yes, I would love to officially be named as her legal
gaurdian in case something happens to you."
"Good." Rollie replied. They held each other a little longer before they
got back to work.
---------------------------------------------
"Julia, no. Don't touch that." Rollie warned, slightly distracted. He was
deeply imersed in his work and talking about the case with Francis (Mira
was at the station okaying their plan with Capt. VanDuran), and he wasn't
able to put his full attention toward what Julia was getting into.
The little girl toddled over to Angie's work area and lifted herseld up
into Angie's chair, and then pushed a few keys on the keyboard of the
computer. Rollie turned around. "Julia, no playing on the computer." She
listened and climbed out of the chair and over to more equipment, where
she found a PDA. Angie came downstairs just in time before Julia could
cause any real damage.
Angie picked up the girl, "Julia no. Remember what Daddy and I have told
you, this is not a toy." Angie looked down at Julia who really didn't
seem phased by the constant reprimands, she just looked bored. Angie
looked over at Rollie, "Hey Rol why don't I take her out, keep her out of
your way."
Rollie got up and walked over to Angie and Julia, "Thank you sweet, you
are life saver." He said giving her a kiss on the forhead. "Just don't be
long I need your help with some things."
Angie walked to the door with Julia in her arms, Julia looked up at her,
"Where go?"
"Just out for a little while, so Daddy can get some work done."
After Angie walked out of the shop Rollie stopped what he was doing and
looked at Francis, "Rollie what is it?"
Rollie considered how he was going to word his question. "Francis when
did you know that you wanted to marry Sarah?"
Francis just smiled, "As soon as I met her. Well maybe a little bit
after. I just sort of realized it, it's something you just know..."
Francis paused and then looked at Rollie with a bit of shock, "Do you
mean? Are you and Angie considering?"
Rollie laughed, "I haven't seriously talked about it with her no, but I
want to. I realize we've only been 'dating' for less than six months, but
we've know each other for thirteen years. We practically grew up
together. Until I realized how much I was in love with Angie I never
really thought about marriage. But now, I can't imagine living a day
without her. There's no other person who I feel so in synch with, so
comfortable with, who complete's me."
"When I first met you two a couple years ago now, I thought you two were
involved. When I mentioned that to Leo he laughed and said 'not yet' he
said you two acted like a married couple all the time, but hadn't
realized it yet."
Rollie shook his head,"I bet Leo's laughing now."
"Are you going to ask her?"
"I'm not sure. I want to, but I don't want to pressure her. She'll
probably know before I ask, she somehow knows what I'm going to do before
I do it." Rollie paused, "One things for sure, she's a wonderful mother
to Julia."
Mira came into the shop and looked at the two men who seemed caught up in
a pretty important conversation. She cleared her throat, "Am I,
interrupting something?"
Rollie laughed, "No Mira, Francis and I were just talking, about
something.... something very important."
Francis nodded, "Ya something very important."
Mira shook her head, "Whatever."
Rollie looked at her expectantly, "So?"
"So what?"
Francis interrupted, "So what did the Vanduran say?"
"He said go ahead and do it, although he was skeptical that Coehn and
Graff would crack. How much more do you have to do Rol?"
"Not much. I'm just about all set now."
"Good." Mira said.
"We just have to wait for Angie to get back, and then we can start."
