“A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.”
~ The Godfather (1972)
“You need a partner.”
“I… what?!”
“You need yourself a partner. You can’t go out alone, Vincent,” the Captain repeated.
“I don’t need a partner. I have a partner.”
“This isn’t up for debate, Sergeant.”
“What’s his name?”
“
Her name is Josephine MacDonald. She’s waiting for you at your desk.”
Detective Sergeant Vincent Del Arrazio and Captain David King glare at one another.
“I believe you have a partner to save, don’t you, Del Arrazio?”
Del Arrazio grumbles and turns away to the door.
“Vince? Bring her home safe,” the Captain says just before Vincent leaves the office.
“I will, Cap.”
Back in the squad room, Detective MacDonald sits at Del Arrazio’s chair, reading the Riddler case file.
“Let’s go MacDonald,” Del Arrazio says as he walks past her and out of the squad room. She quickly follows.
“You can call me ‘Josie Mac’, y’know. All of my friends do,” she says as she catches up to him.
“Yeah?” he responds as he turns to her.
“Well, I’m not your friend, Detective, so as far as I’m concerned, your name is MacDonald. If you’re smart, you’ll call me Del Arrazio or Sergeant.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“I like that too.”
* * *
“Why are we visiting this guy again?” Josie asks as she and Del Arrazio stop in front of the Gotham Royal Hotel.
“He’s a bomb expert, the Riddler’s used a bomb, the Riddler’s got Joely.”
“What makes this guy so special out of all the other bomb specialists?”
“He was the best,” Del Arrazio responds as they walk into the five-star hotel.
“How do you want to go about it?”
“Cautiously, but we don’t want to waste any time. Who knows what happens to Joely in the mean time.”
“Don’t worry, Sarge, we’ll get her back,” Josie Mac replies, sincerely. Del Arrazio nods, appreciating it.
The two walk to the main desk, where a young, blonde woman is greeting all visitors with a smile.
“Can I help you?” the receptionist asks.
MacDonald and Del Arrazio flash their badges.
“Detectives MacDonald and Del Arrazio. We’re here to see Mr. Rigger.”
“Uhm…” she stutters, a little taken aback. “Does he know what this is about? Should I phone ahead?”
“I’d prefer it you don’t. Just tell us in which room he’s staying.”
The receptionist complies and turns to her computer screen.
“He, ah, he’s staying in the penthouse.”
“That a problem?”
“There’s a… a private lift for that suite.”
“Damn it.”
“What’s the matter, Sarge?” Josie asks with a smile. “It’s only fifty floors up.”
“Very funny, MacDonald,” Del Arrazio responds.
“Thanks for the help, Miss. I guess we’ll take the stairs.”
* * *
By the tenth floor, Del Arrazio is puffing and huffing.
“God… God damn it.”
Josie Mac just keeps smiling, far from being winded.
“I guess you need to lay off the cigarettes, huh, Sarge?”
“Shut up, MacDonald.”
* * *
Finally, the two Detectives reach the fiftieth floor. With their hands close to their guns, MacDonald and Del Arrazio cautiously approach the door. Del Arrazio gives a knock on the door.
“It’s open,” a voice comes from inside. The two Detectives exchange glances, and when Del Arrazio nods, the two slowly walk into the penthouse’s hall.
“Mr. Rigger? This is the Gotham P.D.”
“I know, please, come in, help yourself to something to drink,” Rigger responds, and as the two Detectives round a corner to the living room, they can see him sitting on the couch in a robe, smoking a big cigar.
“You know, I really missed these in the service,” Rigger says with a smile as he shows the cigar and the glass of whiskey he’s drinking. “Please, sit down, take a load off.”
Naturally, the two Detectives are shocked.
“Do you know why we’re here, sir?”
“Yes, of course. C’mon now, sit down. I’ll tell you all about it.”
“You will?” Josie responds, flabbergasted.
“Yes, yes, just sit down.”
Cautiously, MacDonald and Del Arrazio sit on two stools across from Rigger.
“We need to talk, Rigger.”
“I’m sure we do,” Rigger responds as he gets up and walks over to the bar in the room’s corner. The two Detectives never let him out of their sights.
“One drink won’t hurt, will it?” Rigger asks, the smile still on his face as he pours two glasses of whiskey. Adding a little ice to it, he turns back to the Detectives, who look at him incredulously.
“Oh, these? No, they’re not for you,” he says, seeing their confusion, and then quickly gulps down the contents of both glasses. “These will be.” He pours another two glasses full.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we’re on duty. Now, we need to ask you some questions.”
Rigger sighs, but remains standing with the two glasses in his hands.
“Well, get on with it, then.”
“Where were you--”
“I can’t tell you that,” he cuts her off.
“What do you mean you can’t tell us?!” Del Arrazio hisses, rising from his seat.
“We’re on a clock here, Rigger. Tell us what you know about the bomb.”
“I can’t.”
“You will,” Del Arrazio replies as he lunges for Rigger.
“Sarge, don’t!”
Smiling, Joe Rigger takes the glass in his right hand and smashes it against Del Arrazio as he reaches for him. The glass cuts through the Detective’s coat, while other parts cut through the hand that reflexively shields the face. Del Arrazio cries out in pain and the momentum of the blow forces him to the ground. MacDonald is about to rise, when Rigger yells: “Don’t!”
The call comes too late, and MacDonald can hear something click in the seat. Reacting instinctively, she jumps forward, over the couch, rolling over to Del Arrazio. Rigger has already jumped over the bar when the bomb explodes, rocking the room and ripping through the couch and television set.
* * *
When Del Arrazio comes too, the police and medics have already arrived. He’s lying on a stretcher in the penthouse hall, his hand bandaged. Scratched, but still smiling, MacDonald approaches him.
“What… what happened?” he asks, his voice hoarse.
“Pressure-sensitive mine. Bomb squad found loads of them in the penthouse.”
“Rigger?”
“Escaped.”
“And this?” Del Arrazio asks as he lifts his bandaged hand.
“You’re lucky on that one,” MacDonald replies. One of the medics comes up to them.
“You really are, Detective,” the medic says. “The glass didn’t cut through any tendons and you’ve only got a few shallow cuts. You might end up with a scar or two extra.”
“You’ll also need to buy a new coat,” MacDonald remarks with a laugh.
“Yep. You’ve got a good partner here, Detective…”
Del Arrazio is about to interrupt, but the medic continues talking: “…the couch shielded you from the explosion, but, well, she shielded you from the couch.” The medic smiles a bit. “I need to go now. You’ll be okay,” he says as he walks away again.
“Thanks, Doc.”
“Yeah, thanks Doc,” Del Arrazio replies, after which turns to MacDonald
“And thank you…”
“…Josie Mac.”