Breakable SVU 3
John Munch went home from work to an empty house. He’d contemplated before getting a cat or even a dog, but his hours were so unpredictable he didn’t want to put anything in harms way. His answering machine was flashing five messages. He hit the button as he loosened his tie and reached for a drink. “John, it’s Armana. Listen, you son of a dog, you’re late with your alimony and I’m going to go to the judge if you’re late again. You are the one who decided to go back to paying rather than give me the deed to the house so pay up or I’ll ask the judge to raise it. Don’t think I won’t. Call me.” Beep
The second message was from a salesman who thought he was buying a car for Armana, the third one was a credit card company saying that they were on the card together and since she hadn’t made her payments he had to, the fourth one was Armana’s lawyer and the last one was a wrong number. So much for positive reinforcement, he scoffed.
He erased all of them and went to sit on the couch. The room was utilitarian with just small touches of color here and there, more for him to sleep than because he spent a lot of time there. It was getting dark outside so it was getting dark inside as well. It was depressing. He considered changing something, but it just seemed like a waste of time.
He contemplated calling someone just for someone to talk to, but who would he call? He had friends of a sort, but they were more drinking buddies than someone just to talk to. He thought about Elliot who was living by himself now that he’d split with his wife, but judging by the looks he and Olivia had been giving each other all day and the grin on his face all day, he’d either gotten lucky or Olivia had. He had waxed darn near poetic about his visit to that place from the gift certificate Breakable.
On impulse, John pulled the certificate from his jacket pocket and dialed the number. “Hello.”
“I’m sorry. I was trying to reach Breakable.” He said almost hanging up.
There was a heavy sigh on the other end. “You’ve reached the right number. How can I help you?”
“Jennifer, right?”
“Yeees?” she answered cautiously.
“We’ve met. Detective Munch here.”
“Detective Munch, I remember. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Well, actually not so fine, that was why I was calling. It’s probably too late in the evening to book an appointment, but is there a way you could call me in the morning and I could make an appointment?”
Jennifer laughed but it wasn’t the amused laugh he’d gotten from her when he’d met her. It was a sharp, bitter laugh. “You can make one now, if you’d like. I’m apparently not going anywhere tonight. When would you like to come in?”
“Soon.”
“Are you available now?”
“Now. It’s after six.”
“Oh, I guess it is. Well, how about Tuesday?”
“Were you serious about now? I could make it, I just didn’t think you had evening hours.”
She gave a sharp bark of laughter. “If you want to come, it’s fine, if not, I can put you in another time.”
“I can come now. I thought you might need time to prepare.”
“I have an appointment for in the morning, but I’d have time to set it up before then. Are you particular about any specific room?”
“Not really. Do you have anything with a smiley face on it? One of those annoying yellow grinning things?”
“Hallelujah. I have a whole box of them that I want to burn at my next bonfire. They’ve been cluttering up my space forever. For some reason people won’t break things with those on it. Disgusting, little emblem isn’t it?”
“If you put them on things, I’ll do my best to obliterate them for you.”
“Oh, you have a deal. I’ll see you in a bit.”
John hung up the phone. Armana was the one who’d driven him insane with those awful smiley faces. He was looking forward to getting rid of them once and for all. He grinned and went to change into some jeans and a sweatshirt. This was going to be FUN.
Jennifer was coming out of the back room when he arrived. She had on jeans and a T-Shirt, tennis shoes and her hair up in a ponytail. She looked about sixteen when she opened the door and locked it again behind him. “I’m glad you could come.”
“You don’t usually have evening hours, do you?”
“No. But it does some good to have people come around here after business hours. I’ve had a few people eyeing the place, like they’re thinking about coming in to steal things. It makes me nervous. I try to be a good neighbor. If they steal my computer, I’m out of business. I can’t afford to get another one. Oh, well, it’s my problem. Come on back. May I call you John?”
“Sure.”
Jennifer had him sign the papers, made a copy of his paperwork and led him into the weapons room. He selected a golf club and grinned at her. “I hate golf snobs. Golf is a good game that should be enjoyed by the masses not just the celebrity few.”
“If you say so. I’ve never golfed.” She took the club from him and led the way out to the outer room. “You can put your weapon and badge in here, no one will bother it and anything else you think might get lost.”
“I don’t usually take off my weapon.” He said seriously.
“Do you usually got to a place like this in the evening?” she countered.
“No.”
“It’s perfectly safe, John. I don’t want your silly old gun.”
Doubtfully he put the weapon and his badge in the drawer, even if it was against his best judgment. He watched her lock it up and put it in her pocket. He followed her to the back room, but it didn’t look line the one in the tape. It had objects all over the place and at least a hundred smiling faces grinning back at him. He felt his anger rising. He’d been married to her when that emblem was all the rage and he still hated it with a passion.
“Enough emblems for you?” Jennifer asked mildly.
“It’s a start.” He growled.
“Here’s your weapon. Just let me get out of swinging range, please.”
“I am not an animal.” He said.
“We all are. Have fun, watch your glasses.”
She closed the door and he took his first swing at a lamp with the emblem proudly displayed on the base and the shade. The lamp shattered and the shade went flying. He stepped over to a gaudy, plastic monstrosity of a vase with the smile on it and made it more socially acceptable. There was a picture on an end table covered in smiley faces, it landed across the room with a mighty swing. Next was a series of plates and glasses that had been lined up domino style. He went through them like he was whipping down grass. He looked around and there was a notebook from the seventies with a huge smiley face on the front of it sitting on a coffee table. With an overhand blow he drove the club down on the notebook smashing both notebook and table to the floor. This was fun!
“In a similar manner he went through the whole room. One item in particular gave him pause, though. It was a thermos with that hideous grin on it. He got a flashback of coming back to visit his father and coming into the kitchen to find that he had taken his own life with a gun he’d bought on the street. No one heard the shot. The body was already cold by the time he found him. He’d dealt with the police and the other paperwork then gone home to find Armana wondering if there was a will for the little money his old man had had. It hadn’t occurred to her to give his feelings much thought. That was how he’d found out what kind of woman she really was. It was shortly after that that he’d found out she was cheating on him.
The thermos received four vicious blows. One for every man she’d slept with when they were married. Fueled by that thought he worked his way through the rest of the room. He was wishing he’d worn a T-Shirt himself when she told him he had five minutes to finish up. He didn’t see anything he hadn’t thoroughly destroyed already. He nudged a few things, but they sort of crumpled and he was forced to admit he was still ready to smash. He grinned, he figured he’d just have to come back and do this again.
“Five minute cool down. Put your weapon down, please.”
He propped the club against the wall and put his hands on his hips. A thoroughly good time was had by all, he decided with a grin. The door opened and Jennifer cautiously stuck her head inside. She retrieved the club immediately and surveyed the room. “You really didn’t like those emblems, did you?” she asked, mildly.
“They remind me of a cheese log with a grin.”
“I guess they do. I have just one word for you, there champ. Wow.”
He laughed. “I can see why you have such a following. This is a great idea.”
“Have I put your doubts to rest, John? I really am for real.”
“I most humbly apologize.”
“You’d look better in those old fashioned balloon pants, but apology accepted.” Jennifer grinned at him.
John pulled himself up indignantly. “I would never wear balloon pants, madam.” Then he grinned.
John followed her out into the outer office. “I think, if you’ve no objection, I’ll be back another time. I have a specific request this time.”
“Let me know and I’ll have it ready for you.” Jennifer promised opening the drawer so he could retrieve his equipment.
“I don’t suppose you’d like to go have a late supper with me, would you?”
“I can’t. I’m waiting for a phone call to see how my kids are doing. My oldest isn’t feeling well and I’m worried about him. But thank you for the offer.”
“Another time, then.” He was philosophical. “I think I have a call to make. Will you excuse me?”
“Absolutely. You made my evening. Good night.” Jennifer walked him to the door and locked it after him.
John pulled out his cell phone. “Casey, feel like some company tonight?” he asked grinning as he headed to his car, feeling on top of the world.
TBC
