Authors: Patrick Abbruzzi
He arrived at work and changed quickly. When he was almost fully dressed he overheard a group of officers talking in the
next aisle.
“So Ben, I heard you met a nice piece of ass the other night,” came the voice of Officer Mike
Bertucci.
“Yeah, I met a nice girl, if that’s what you mean,” replied Officer Ben
Morano.
“Well, you should speak to Charlie about her because he’s spent a lot of time with her. Maybe he could give you some pointers on how to score,” teased
Bertucci.
“I don’t need pointers from anyone.”
Charlie was shocked as well as surprised. He didn’t believe what he was hearing. How did these guys know he had been seeing Terry? If the
y
knew, the whole precinct knew. He thought he had been discreet and wondered who had let the cat out of the bag?
He didn’t want to start asking a million questions because it would appear that he might be jealous and was still interested in her. He had broken off the relationship and secretly hoped she would find someone else so she could get over her obsession with him and move on with her life. He decided to speak to Ben on the side and just engage him in conversation without coming out and admitting to anything.
Charlie quickl
y
descended the front stairs which led out to the desk area. Lt. A. was bus
y
instructing the sergeants on the latest patrol guide amendments concerning the new Stop and Frisk Form. Most cops were against it but Lt. A. believed it could be used as a tool to support all officers as long as the paperwork was filled out properly.
Glancing around, he saw Ben sitting in the SP-10 room opposite the telephone switchboard. Charlie had used the very same phone several times when calling Terry from the station house. He walked in under the pretext of looking for some extra forms and couldn’t help but overhear part of the conversation that Ben was having. It was obvious he was speaking to a female.
“Hi. How have you been? I just thought I would give you a ring before i
t
got too late. I didn’t want to call you later knowing your son has to get up to go to school in the morning,” said Ben.
Charlie could only assume what the other party was saying but it wa
s
obvious they were terms of endearment coming from the other end of the phone.
“I don’t know about that. I don’t think I can come over in the mornin
g
because I have an early class at the College of Staten Island. Remember I told you I’m studying nursing? I figured it’s the best way to get into the Emergency Service Unit. Unfortunately, I don’t have any hooks or Rabbi’s to call to get me in,” Ben said.
Surprisingly, Charlie didn’t feel jealous. If it was Terry on the othe
r
end, he felt thankful that maybe she was beginning to get over him and get on with her life.
“Okay, I’ll stop in and see you tomorrow night before I go in. You kno
w
how I like my coffee, right?” asked Ben.
If it was Terry on the other end of the phone, and Charlie was now almost 100% sure that it was based upon the conversation, he truly hoped she was happy. She was a good kid even though her jealousy caused Annette to experienc
e
so much unnecessary pain and heartache. Charlie knew Ben was a single guy but he wasn’t the type to kiss and tell then boast of his conquests with women like so many other cops did. Ben also had solid goals about rising within the police department.
Charlie felt pretty good and could hardly wait to talk to Lt. A. about it all.
He went into the muster room and stood roll call. After the sergeants addressed the troops, Lt. A. spoke briefly about the new Stop Frisk Report. He made it clear to the men that it wa
s
not meant to handcuff cops in their duties like so many other decision
s
that came down from the ivory towers of One Police Plaza.
After roll call, Charlie walked out to the front desk and retrieved the keys to the RMP. He grabbed his gear and made his way through the double set of glass doors and down the front steps to the street where the 4X12 operator had securely parked the car. He stowed his gear in the back seat and jammed his night stick in its usual place, then waited for Lt. A. to come out. The lieutenant joined him several minutes later and placed his night stick next to Charlie’s then lit up th
e
first of the many cigarettes he would smoke that night.
“Charlie, let’s drive down to Canal Street. We can get our coffee at the new Bodega next to the Staten Island savings bank. They make a strong cu
p
of bustello there and I think I need one of those right now.”
“Okay, Lou. Sounds good.”
They drove along Richmond Terrace, passing the entranc
e
to the Saint George Ferry terminal. The clipper at 40 Bay Street was packed with passengers who took the ride over fro
m
Manhattan as they searched for a place to eat. He continued driving past Victory Boulevard to Bay Street towards Stapleton then mad
e
a right at Tappen Park and pulled into an empty space in front of the bodega.
Charlie wen
t
in and ordered two cups of the steaming coffee as well as two hot
,
buttered Portuguese rolls. He was happy when he learned they had just come out of the oven. Without a word, he gave th
e
young, Spanish clerk $2.00 dollars cash and got back eight quarters in change.
The guy was good and Charlie made a mental note to tell the other guy
s
to give the place special attention. A good cop always watched over th
e
places that took care of the cops. One hand always washed the other.
After getting back in the RMP, he drove down to the end of Canal Street to the water’s edg
e
and parked next to one of the abandoned piers. Both men opened thei
r
cups of the Bustello and, of course, lit up their cigarettes.
“Well, Charlie. How’s it going? Did you ever talk to your wife?
”
aske
d
Lt. A., remembering he had advised Charlie to speak to his Annette about Father Krackowski.
“Yes, Lou, and she said she would try it once!”
“That’s great, Charlie! How soon do you want to go?”
“Whenever you can set it up, Lou,” said Charlie with obvious relief in his voice.
“I’ll call Father
Krackowskiin the morning,” the lieutenant said with a small smile. “Better still, I’ll drop i
n
on him personally.”
“I really appreciate that, Lou, and I have no doubt that whatever I tell you stays in the RMP.”
“That goes without saying, Charlie.”
After hesitating for several seconds, Charlie blurted out, “Lou, I overheard Ben
Moranospeaking to a female on the phone tonight, and I’m pretty sure it was Terry.
”
“What makes you think it was Terry?”
“Well, I also overheard Mike Bertucci talking to Ben in the locker room before the phone call, but I don’t think they knew I was there. From what they were saying, I’m almost certain they were talking about her,” said Charlie.
“How did that make you feel, Charlie?
”
“Well, I’m happy to say that I didn’t feel jealous. As a matter of fact, from what I hear about Ben he seems to be a pretty good kid. At least, he’s not married,” said Charlie with a chuckle.
“Ben is in my squad and under my Span of Support. I hav
e
always rated him high,” said the lieutenant. “He seems like he’s got a good head on his shoulders and is one of the few men in my squad who has a definite career plan mapped out for himself.”
The lieutenant fell silent for a moment, taking his time drinking his coffee and smoking his cigarette. Eventually he continued.
“W
e
all move on, Charlie, every one of us. Life goes on. You have a large tas
k
in front of you. Cheating is one thing but the real question is why di
d
you stray in the first place? That’s what you have to find out about yourself, and I think Father Krackowski can help.”
Both men finished their coffee, lost deep in their own thoughts. The night flew by and it was fairly quie
t
as far as the lieutenant’s duties went. He even allowed Charlie to hun
t
for a few moving violations to meet his monthly quota of summonses. H
e
was scheduled for an upcoming vacation and didn’t need the Commandin
g
O
fficer to deny him his time because of the dreaded quota that existe
d
everywhere except in the minds of the brass at One Police Plaza and Cit
y
H
all.
Twenty-Eight
Morning came quickly and Lt. A. signed out, completely bypassing the usual bullshit session at the desk because he wanted to drive over to the church on York Avenue to see Father
Krackowski.
The drive to York Avenue from the station house took less than five minutes and was a straight run along Richmond Terrace to York Avenue. John made the left and drove up the steep hill then parked directly across the street from the church. He found it strange that every time he parked near this church he recalled the first time he and his partner Frank had been assigned there all those years ago. It had le
d
to his long-time friendship with Father Krackowski, of which he was very thankful.
Lt. A. walked up the flowered walkway and knocked on the rectory door. After a few minutes it was opened and he was greeted by a woman wh
o
appeared to be in her early forties. She was about 5'8", had blond hai
r
and was wearing a colorful, flowered apron.
“May I help you?
”
she asked in perfect English. Although she had no accent, she definitely looked Polish.
“Good morning. My name is John
Audenino. I’m a friend of Father Krackowski’s. I was wondering if I could see him for just a few moments, if it’s at all possible.”
“What did you say your name was?
”
she asked.
“It’s John
Audenino. I’m a lieutenant here in this precinct.”
“John, oh my God! My mother used to speak about you all the time! She told me that you and Father Josef used to sit for hours at a time and talk,” sh
e
said.
“What was your mother’s name?
”
he asked.
“Her name was Anna
Powerski. She was the caretaker here for many years,” said the young woman.
“Wow, I remember her. How is she?”
“My mom passed on several years ago,” she said quietly. “I used to help her here when she wasn’t feeling well. Then, when she died, I just kind of took over.
”
“I’m sorry to hear about your mom,” he said. “She was a real nice lady.
”
“Please, come on in and sit. I’ll get Father Josef. Oh, by the way, my name i
s
Katrina.”
Katrina led Lt. A. into the small parlor where he and his partner Frank ha
d
been all those years earlier. Gone was the pale painting and the wooden crucifix which hung on the opposite wall. In its place were framed photos of Pope John Paul 2
nd
and Father Krackowski, taken at the Pope’s ordination in Rome in the late 1970's.
After a few moments the door to the parlor opened and there stood Fathe
r
Krackowski. He was wearing a NY Giant’s t-shirt and glasses
,
which John had never seen him wear before. He still looked trim but seemed to be a slightly smaller man than he had been. He still ha
d
a smile that seemed infectious, however. John quickly rose up and both men embraced.
“John, my son! You look wonderful! It has been so long since we last met. How have you been? How is your wonderful wife?
”
“Hello, Father. I’m good, thank you, and so is my wife, and I am eternally grateful to you for it.”
The priest nodded as John added, “And it was so good to see Anna’s daughter!”
“Yes, Katrina is such a beautiful person, and she is an even better coo
k
than her mother was,” said Father Josef with a boisterous laugh.
The door opened and Katrina walked in, carrying a tray which held a po
t
of espresso coffee and a small plate of croissants. She placed the tray on the table i
n
front of both men and did not say a word, leaving the room as quietly a
s
she had entered.