SACRIFICES (29 page)

              Brad glances over and sees Alex P. Stein. He walks over and takes a seat next to him as the two old friends continue to belittle each other and make remarks about the other one’s horrible appearance and the things they do with the other one’s wife; a true sign of good friends.

              “How are you doing?” Brad asks. Alex looks bad. His eyes are bloodshot and he’s unshaven. He’s trembling and hunched forward rubbing his hands together.

              “I...don’t...know.” He answers back shivering.

              “Can I get you something? Maybe a coffee or something.” Brad inquires as he can’t help but notice the way he’s shaking.

              “Can I have some cigarettes?” Alex turns to Brad.

              John quickly responds from the other side of the room pointing. “I already told him there’s no smoking in here.”

              Brad looks over and says with little expression, but a firm voice.
“Make an exception.”
He continues to stare into the eyes of John Carlson.

              John’s smile disappears and he shrugs his shoulders. “Sure, why not.” Todd walks over and sits down his pack in front of Alex and his lighter. Brad says in a whisper, trying to get this guy to relax. “Hey, I just got this coffee down the hall. You can have it.” He slides it over next to the cigarettes. “Really go ahead.” He smiles as Alex quickly takes out a cigarette and shakes as he tries to light it. Brad smiles and takes a hold of his hands to help him steady himself so he can light the cigarette. He sits the lighter down and takes a sip of the coffee. His hands are shaking so bad that the hot coffee spills over the side of the cup onto his hands, he doesn’t even notice.

              “Why you so scared Alex?” Brad leans closer and talks in a whisper.

              “Why am I here?” He wonders as he puffs frantically on the Camel non-filter.

              “We just want to ask you some more questions. That’s all?” Brad smiles hoping to settle down this obviously terrified young man.

              “Am I going to jail?” He takes a deep breath as his lungs expel a huge cloud of smoke.

              “Now why would you think that?” Brad smiles still trying to settle him down being sure not to give
yes
or
no
answers.

              “I heard some of the officers talking on the ride down here. They said that, that, they think they know where the missing couple’s bodies are. And, and, and,”
Brad places his hand on his shoulder. ‘Just relax. It’s going to be ok.’
“Why am I here? I didn’t do anything.”

              “No one said you did Alex. We just want to talk.” Brad continues his efforts to settle down the petrified Mr. Stein.

              “Then why am I here?” Alex continues to frantically wonder. Todd and John listen but don’t talk.

              “Now Alex understand, we just want to talk. No one said you were going to jail or anywhere. We just want to talk, Ok.” Brad takes a deep breath and signals for Todd and John to leave. He hopes that maybe if they leave it might help him to relax and potentially open up a little more.

              Todd and John walk out. Brad smiles. “Ok Alex. It’s just you and me. Two guys talking, no one else.” Brad leans back into his seat. Todd and John walk into the hallway and into the viewing room. It’s equipped with camera and sound equipment. Not to mention the two way glass.

              “Now Alex I want you to tell me what you know about the missing couple. I know we talked at your house and you said you didn’t know anything,” Brad leans up and whispers. “You can tell me now. It’s ok.”

              Brad sees that the cigarette is just about gone and there are no ashtrays. He stands up and walks over to the other side of the room and sees a soda can. He carries it over to Mr. Stein and tells him. “Here you go. Use this as an ashtray.” He hits the cigarette one more time almost burning his fingers because there is no filter and he puts it in the can.

              “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Stein stresses again as he lights another cigarette.

              “I know you didn’t. What happened wasn’t your fault. There wasn’t anything you could do. I know this.” Brad moves closer.

              “I can’t go to jail Mr. Jostler,”
Brad smiles. ‘Call me Brad.’
“I couldn’t make it in there.” Stein starts to whimper.

              “What makes you think you’re going to jail Alex?”

              “If the truth is known I’ll be going to jail. And, and that
can’t
happen.” Alex wipes away a few tears with his sleeve.

              “Why don’t you tell me what really happened? I’ll do everything I can to help you, I promise. But I can’t help if you don’t tell me.” Brad explains trying to earn his confidence.

              “If, if this story comes out...I’m ruined…my wife will leave me; I’ll lose my job. My life is over Mr. Jostler, its over.” He leans his head to Brad’s shoulder and starts to cry harder.

              Brad softly pats him on the back. “I know you didn’t hurt that couple. So why don’t you tell me what really happened.”

              Stein sniffles and says. “There’s nothing you can do Mr. Jostler. Nothing,” He remains on his shoulder. “I’m ruined. And because of me those kids where killed, I, I, did nothing to help, and, and, and. It’s my fault.” Alex cries louder while Brad places both arms around him. He’s rubbing his back and whispering.
‘Its ok…it’s ok.’

              “I did nothing Mr. Jostler. Those animals tortured that girl and I did nothing to help that poor girl,” He starts to scream. “...I didn’t do anything.
They tortured that girl and I did nothing to help that girl
!”

              Brad takes a deep breath. ‘Its ok son, it’s going to be ok.’ Brad whispers as Stein holds him tight like a scared kid lost at the county fair looking for his mommy.

              “No it’s not ok…no it’s not ok...” Alex swallows hard and catches his breath. “...It’s not ok Mr. Jostler. I didn’t help them, I was scared and, and I did, I also did bad things, and they’re dead and I, and I...”

              From the other room Todd notices as he watches the camera closely that while he’s hugging Brad he has placed his hand on Brad’s gun and undoes the strap. Todd grabs the microphone and yells.
“BRAD WATCH OUT. HE’S GOING FOR YOUR GUN!”
Brad doesn’t respond. Brad can’t hear him. Todd and John quickly jump up from their chairs and start to run toward the door.

              “It’s going to be ok son. Just tell me what happened.”

Brad smiles.

              Alex pushes violently with both hands into Brad’s chest. Brad falls side ways out of his seat and onto the floor. He looks up in terror as he sees Alex holding the gun to his own head.

              The door flies open and Todd and John point their guns at Alex and Todd screams.
“DROP THE FUCKING GUN!”

             
Alex leans against the wall with the gun to his head. “I’m sorry Mr. Jostler. I didn’t mean to push you.”

              Brad gets to his feet and yells.
“TODD PUT YOUR GUN DOWN, NOW!”
Todd ignores him and cocks it.

              With his gun aimed at Alex’s head and John beside him doing the same Brad says. “Now Alex, you don’t want to do this. I will help you son. I know you’re innocent. Just put the gun down.” Todd and John continue to point their guns and Alex has himself backed into the corner. Brad starts to slowly move toward him when Todd says. “Brad stay back.”

              “Alex, I can help you. You have got to trust me on this, but if you kill yourself I can’t do anything for you. Please son put the gun down.” Brad pleads as a crowd has formed outside the conference room looking in.

              Alex takes deep breaths. He’s trying to compose himself. He explains to Brad as he slowly moves closer.

“It’s over for me Mr. Jostler, you can‘t help, no one can,”
‘call me Brad Alex.
’ Brad smiles trying to control this tense situation. “No sir. It’s over. No matter what happens now my life is over. I can’t go to jail and I can’t live with the guilt any more. I just can’t do it, look at what happened to my wife because of me, and look at what I caused.” Alex starts to gain his composure.

              “I promise you if you put down the gun Alex I will help you. Please son, you have a lot to live for. Please don’t do this.” Brad moves closer trying to maintain eye contact.

              Alex smiles and looks at Brad. “I know your right. But so did those kids. And because of me they’re dead.” Alex sits down in the corner and closes his eyes.

              Brad says. “It’s going to be ok.”

              Alex opens his eyes and says. “I know…it will be now.” He takes and places both hands on the gun and opens his mouth. He bites down on the barrel as Brad starts to reach and Alex pulls the trigger. 

CHAPTER 14

JOHN, BRAD AND TODD TALK TO THE SECOND PRECINCTS CHIEF

             
The three officers sit there giving their side of the story to the second precincts chief. His name is Chief Bryant. Along with Chief Carlin of the fifth precinct another of Chicago’s finest. A seasoned veteran of over 35 years and well respected. In his early sixty’s one of the few remaining legends still serving in the precinct. Impeccable service record and it would take two offices to house all of his awards and citations. Grey hair and wrinkles, but don’t let the old man’s appearance fool you. There are few rookies that would dare challenge this senior citizen to a fistfight on the streets or anywhere for that matter. He’s as tough as they come.

              Dylan Bryant sits behind his desk and continues to write. Todd, John and Brad sit waiting for him to finish.

              “Ok guys. What happened in there?” Chief Bryant slowly removes his bifocals and sits them down. He leans back and puts his hand in front of his mouth in the shape of a fist as he gives the officers his complete undivided attention.              John starts by saying. “Things got away from us chief. There was nothing we could do.”

              The chief rocks slowly in his chair and looks toward Brad. “What happened Bradley?”

              Brad still shaken by what transpired explains. “I made a mistake. I should have never taken my gun in there with me after I seen how distraught he was. It was my fault chief; I let my guard down just for a second. I take full responsibility for what happened.” Brad looks toward the chief without any expression on his face whatsoever.

              Todd stands up and walks toward the desk of Chief Bryant. “In all honesty chief as unfortunate as it was it really wasn’t anyone’s fault. After all we were protecting this guy. It wasn’t like we had any reason to treat him like he was a threat to anyone including himself. So I don’t think anyone’s to blame.” Todd sits.

              The chief leans up and says. “I’m inclined to agree with Todd on this one. It’s a terrible thing. But the truth is he was here for us to protect him. You can’t protect someone from himself. And you Jostler… don’t get too discouraged about this son. If he hadn’t done it today he would have done it tomorrow or the next day. It was going to happen eventually.” The chief explains trying to make the guilty feeling Brad Jostler feel a little better by showing him his support.             

              John speaks up and tells the chief. “The recording equipment captured the entire event on tape. So if there are every any questions about the incident we have the tape as evidence that we did what we could. Especially Brad.”

              The chief explains. “The media is all over this. If you’ve been watching the news like I have for the past two hours they have it plastered everywhere. Every local channel has it running and even CNN has sent down a field reporter. The main question the media has is how a guy could commit suicide in the presence of three highly trained and competent officers. These vultures want to know why. There hasn’t been much said lately about the case your working on Brad. So now they are drawing there own conclusions about it. You better pretty god damn quick figure out a statement to the press before this shit gets out of hand. The local affiliates are already crying police cover up.” The chief stands up and says. “You guys get this ironed out,” He starts to open his office door while the three men remain seated. “…Pretty fucking quick…understood?” The chief says as he closes the door.

              Brad answers his cell phone as it’s been ringing every since the story hits the news. It’s been mostly fellow officers from the fifth as well as the Canton PD. This time it’s Chief Carlin, again. “Well, what’s going on? Did Bryant get it figured out?” Chief Carlin quickly asks.

              “We are working it out now chief.” Brad nods as he stands up and follows Todd out of the office while John places his hand on his back and softly rubs it feeling bad for the way he feels.

              “The governor’s office has had an onslaught of calls. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing and the police have had to block off the street over here to just keep the press at bay. So, get your statements figured out quick, I mean god damn quick about what happened with Stein and then you me and Todd have got to figure out how we’re going to tell the press what we have found out about everything.” Chief Carlin reaches into his desk and starts to drink from the bottle his
Peptol Bismal.