Wrestling the Kraken

Mahone

Mahone

City of Fox Hollow.

March 24, 1963

The waiting room was crowded. Coughs broke up the irregular rhythm of magazine pages turning, small chatter, and a baby crying. Frank Mahone looked over to his side at his wife, buried deep in some article. He had been busy at work for countless nights and her work kept her busy most days. The waiting room of her doctor's office would have to suffice for a date.

"Lisa Mahone." The nurse called out.

His wife set her magazine down and squeezed his hand. Her smile was all he needed in the world. He would gladly sludge through countless more nights, if only to come home to that smile. She followed the nurse to the back and disappeared behind a closed door. Picking up her magazine, he sifted through the pages.

After nearly forty-five minutes, she was out again. Her smile was still there, but her eyes said it all. Mahone stood up and walked her out.

"They should still be serving breakfast. How about we go to the diner and get somethin'?" He asked, opening the car door for her.

"Sounds great." She answered. Her voice was hoarse and barely above a whisper.

Mahone settled into the car. The dispatcher on the radio was calling for any available units to a possible homicide. No one was available. Apparently it was a busy morning. All mornings were busy. All mornings, afternoons and nights. Their precinct saw the most activity. Some small and petty, but most were severe in scale. Everyday was bad and they could survive without him for at least one hour. The dispatcher came on again.

"It's okay." Lisa said, placing her hand over his. "Go. We'll have dinner when you get home."

"If I go, I might not make it for dinner. Depends on the case and the way they've been going on lately..."

"Go. They need you. Just drop me off at home. The kids will be coming home early today."

Mahone sighed and started the car.

♦

Arriving on scene, Mahone stepped out of his car and headed over to the river bank. The Captain was there waiting, throwing him off. He never showed up on scene. This was either a complicated case, or government suits would soon be swooping in.

"Mahone, there you are." The Captain said, waving him over. "We got a real mess on our hands."

They stood back as the medical examiner made his way over to the body.

"What's so different about this one?" Mahone asked.

"Don't you see who that is? That's Joe Detti's kid."

"You're pullin' my leg. Please tell me you're pullin' my leg."

The Captain shook his head. "Went from a missing persons to a homicide in a matter of minutes. I just got off the phone with Detti himself, worried sick about his son. Then I get this call. By the way, this is your new partner." The Captain tipped his head over to a young rookie standing beside them.

"Wait, no. Come on, Cap. you know I work just fine on my own." Mahone turned to the rookie. "No offense. I'm sure you're a great kid and all."

"You work fine, alright, but the cases pile up all the same. He's your partner and that's that." The Captain said and left to talk with the divers.

"The name's Johnny Stavo." The rookie said, extending out his hand.

"Yeah, sure kid." Mahone said and bent over the body to get a closer look. What it looked like was him missing dinner yet again.