Filling in Swift - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Filling In Swift. A mafia hit man has been shot and now finds himself in the hospital being interrogated by two officers. In a twist of events though the story unfolds to reveal who the true interrogator was and the lengths a man will go to exact a revenge.

Posturing

There was an air of hostility in the tiny recovery room. Detective Swift stared at the prisoner with a viral contempt. The thought of flinging this madman out the window and watching him plummet fifteen stories to a horrible death was becoming irresistible.

"What's the matter Detective?" Tommy egged.

With a jerk Swift leapt up sending his chair clanging around behind him. He managed to land a solid right into Tommy's mouth before McKinley got a hold of him. "That was my cousin you douche bag," Swift yelled as his partner pushed him out of the room. "He had a wife and two kids."

The Cleaver just chuckled, his eyes pinched together as he pulled a tissue from the tiny box on the cart and dabbed his bloodied lip. "Good times," he jested to himself. "Good times."

Outside the room McKinley tried to calm his partner. "Settle down Mike," he said, his hand firmly planted on his partners shoulder. "He knows what the hell he's doing. You gotta stop letting him get under your skin."

Fuming, Swift took in a deep breath and tried to calm down. "Al was a good cop Bill."

"I know," McKinley nodded, loosening his grip.

"If I had known it was that bastard that killed Al I would have shot him in the head and not the shoulder," Swift continued, trying to regain his composure.

"You okay, buddy?" Officer Rice asked as he left his post outside the door and approached the two Detectives.

"Yeah, thanks Jim," the Detective said grinning and shaking his head. "He just knows how to get into your head you know."

Officer Rice nodded as he unsnapped the button of his shirt pocket and offered the two Detectives a piece of gum. "Is the DA really going to cut this clown a deal?" he said with a baffled look.

"Yeah can you believe that?" McKinley remarked taking a piece of Big Red from the pack. "They say if he can help bring down the rest of Sarcozi's cartel then they are willing to bargain with him."

Opening the door to the room, Rice looked in and gave the prisoner an intimidating look. The officer stood six foot five with a broad posture. The sleeves of his navy blue uniform wrapping tightly around the mahogany arms that barreled out of them. "Well I'll be out here all evening if you fellas need anything," he said as his entire body seemed to flex.

Still grinning, Tommy looked over at the door. From his angle he could see the hulking starched chest of the officer. The uniform seemed to fit the man's body like the jacket of a hard covered book, tight and perfectly creased. He took closer notice of the officer's badge, though. The silver ornament stood out on the blue pocket flap like a beacon in the night sky. It read, Officer Jim Rice, in bold black print.

Throwing the bloody tissue on the floor, Tommy reached across his waist and pressed the ringer for the nurse. Within a few moments Ken was excusing himself past the officers. The two Detectives following as he approached the bed. "Did you need something for pain yet?" Ken asked.

"No no Ken. I just need some more water," he said as he looked the nurse in the face.

It was then that Ken noticed the cut on Tommy's mouth. "Are you alright? What happened to your lip?" the nurse asked turning back and directing the question at the two Detectives.

"I'm fine Ken," Tommy remarked before Swift had a chance to open his mouth. "This happens all the time. It must be the weather," he jested with a stoic look on his face.

"Well I'll get you some more water," Ken said shaking his head in a scolding manner as he passed the Detectives again and left the room.

"I would tell you I'm sorry for punching you in the mouth, Tommy, but I'm not," Swift said as the two gentlemen fixed their chairs and sat down again.

"That's alright Detective," Tommy said. "If I was you I would have killed me."