The Poisonous Ten (19 page)

24

“We got him,” Hardwick said standing in front of Parks and his and Wilkes’s entire team, as well as numerous other members of the LAPD. “We not only found and arrested Victor Kozlov but in the process of interrogation and, maybe a little strong-armed cohesion, have sealed a deal with the two Kozlov brothers that will see them being locked up, in a maximum state facility no less, for the rest of their natural lives.”

“Without a trial?” Fairmont asked.

“No trial. No more publicity. No chance of parole. Lock. Stock. And barrel.” Hardwick was grinning from ear to ear as everyone else cheered. Parks could feel a release from within his entire body, as if he had been holding his breath ever since he had first heard the name Kozlov. He almost felt himself physically collapse as he leaned back in his chair. People were patting Parks on his back and shaking is hand as they congratulated him.

“That’s right,” Hardwick said, walking up to him and offering a hand. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been a long and bumpy road, but we have succeeded. Let it be known the LAPD never gives up. And we have this man to thank for getting that piece of scum shit off the streets of LA. You all better be buying him drinks when you see him out and about. This is good work. Honest work. Parks, you, and everyone else in the department, should be damn proud.”

As the rest of the department continued to celebrate, Hardwick pulled Parks aside.

“I don’t care what you do. Go out and get blind drunk. Call up a friend. Go to a movie. Get laid. Go to sleep for the next twenty-four hours. Anything. Just make sure it’s fun. You’ve earned it. We’ve had a lot of shit lately. This is a win. We accept and celebrate our wins for they are few. Tomorrow’s another day and we still have the Palisades Poisoner out there. But for today, tonight, whatever, you celebrate. You go out and wash your mind, body and spirit of Kozlov. I know he’s been eating away at you and now it can stop. Time to hit the rest button and start afresh. Tomorrow, you show up, you’re going to look at the Poisoner case with whole new eyes. I can feel it. Now get out of here. Go celebrate. And Parks . . . be happy.”  

*
                            *                            *

“Someone’s gonna be late . . .” Jackie said, teasing her son who was rushing throughout the house looking for scattered items that he refused to tell his mother about. Parks thought it was only because he was there and the kid didn’t want to look dependent in front of him. Parks stared at Jackie with a face that could have said anything from leave the kid alone to what’s he looking for? “I think he’s going out on a date tonight and he’s having trouble finding the con—”

“Mom!” Ricky shouted from the neighboring room.

“You do realize you’re probably not doing our new-found relationship any favors by embarrassing him in front of me, right?” Parks was trying to hold back laughter.

“Oh, he’s my son and I’m his mother,” Jackie said, waving Parks’s comment away. “It’s my job to occasionally embarrass him. He wouldn’t remember who I was in the scheme of things if I didn’t.”

Parks was wondering what they were waiting for, simply sitting at the kitchen table, staring at one another. After ha
ving heard about Kozlov he realized there was no where he would rather be. No one he would rather celebrate this victory with. “Are we waiting for him to leave before we start doing something in particular?”

“Well, I’m waiting to rip your clothes off,” Jackie said, not the least bit embarrassed. “But I figure I should at least wait until Ricky leaves for that. Figure my son can only ha
ndle so much shame from his mother.”

“Mo-om!”

“Would you like a drink?” Jackie offered.

“I think I’m going to have to insist,” Parks said, the e
agerness to change the subject displayed across his face.

Jackie got up and began retrieving items from the refrig
erator as she cut limes and salted the rims of two glasses.

“Rocks? Salt?” Jackie asked, holding up a glass. Parks nodded. “I figure while we have this glorious day that we’d head out to the yard, sit back, enjoy some margaritas, and soak in the sun. Relax. Nice conversation. Just . . . take it
easy. Even if only for an hour.”

“Sounds good to me,” Parks said, agreeing. 

“I mean I don’t get why my son gets to be the only one having sex, but whatever,” Jackie said, smiling.

“Mo-
om!
Stop it!”

Parks could hear footsteps stomping across the floor above him.

“You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Parks asked, shaking his head.

“What? I’m his mother,” Jackie said, pouring the two drinks into their respective glasses. “Ready?”

“Yes. Please. Thank you,” Parks said standing up and taking his drink from Jackie.

Ricky came into the kitchen, a gym bag over his shoulder, finally prepared for whatever adventures he had planned for that evening.

“And where are we off to?” Jackie asked.

“School,” Ricky replied, not wanting to elaborate in front of Parks.

“See that?” Jackie said turning to Parks. “You raise them to love you and when they’re older they turn on you.”

“It’s Village of the Damned unleashed,” Parks said, smi
ling.

“I’m going out with some friends from school,” Ricky replied, practically rolling his eyes. “How is that turning on you? Besides, I’m a grown man, mom.” Jackie simply stared at her son, the look of pride and enjoying torturing him a
pparent on her face. “You’re just messing with me, aren’t you?”

“Go have fun,” Jackie said, answering him. “You’re young. Go get wild. Not too wild. Have fun. But not too much fun. And remember, you can call me anytime from any place. I’ll be there, right?”

“Right,” Ricky said giving his mother a hug and a kiss. Ricky caught Parks’s eye line on his way out. “Sure you’re up for this?” 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Jackie said, being purposely mel
odramatic. “Did my son and the man I plan on spending some time with just gang up on me? What’s going on here? My own flesh and blood turning on me. I think it’s time you left. And before I kick you out permanently.”

“Oh, mom,” Ricky called back.

“Don’t you ‘oh, mom’ me. Oh, make sure you have on clean underwear, honey,” Jackie said, harassing her son, calling after him as he walked for the front door.

“Mo-
om!
”

“See? They turn on you.” The front door opened and closed. Jackie turned back to Parks. “Trust me, if you ever have any of your own, you have to do that to them. Was it just me or did my son kinda just have a semi-bonding, not totally hostile moment with you?”

“I, uh—” Before Parks could spoil her moment Jackie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“Let’s take this outside,” Jackie said.

“But what would your neighbors say?” Parks asked.

“Screw em,” Jackie said, laughing. “I don’t care. I meant your drink, silly.”

Jackie playfully punched Parks on the shoulder then grabbed her drink and headed out back to the patio area. There was a little patch of grass beyond the cement deck before the waters of the surrounding canals began. Each of them took a white, plastic lounge chair and relaxed.

“If you need to talk about it—about him—now’s your chance. I’ll let you. But I want you to get it all out. Now. Kozlov is captured and going away. That’s a good thing. But I don’t want him haunting every minute we have together. So speak now or . . . you know the rest.”

Parks stared at her, took everything about her in, before turning and staring out across at the canals. There was nothing more he needed to say. She was right. He would not let that man haunt him any longer.  

“I love it out here,” Jackie said, soaking in the ambiance.

“How’d you end up here?” Parks said, taking a sip of his drink.

“Well my mother’s from Mexico City,” Jackie began. “Father was Italian-Irish. Gee, I wonder which heritage pr
evailed in me?” Jackie twirled her hair through her fingers. “Her family migrated up here. He was already living here. Had left home back in Chicago when he was eighteen. They met, fell in love. And a year later out popped me.”

“Happily ever after?”
             

“Not quite,” Jackie admitted. “I mean my parents d
ivorced. Like most everyone else’s. They remained civil. All things considering. Mother stayed here and father moved back east. Got remarried.”

“Ohhh, there’s an evil step-monster?”

“No. not really. Honestly I think I love my step-mother more than my father. But I never said that out loud.” Jackie smiled. “I think my father remarrying was one of the best things he could have ever done. He’s not the most . . . humane person. Or the most personable person. I think she’s helped bring that part of him out. He’s still distant but at least he tries to make an effort every now and again. We’re fine. Mostly cards. Phone calls once or twice a year. It’s my mother I was always close to growing up.”

“She helped you with raising Ricky?”
             

“She did,” Jackie said, taking another swallow of her own drink. “She was my rock. Couldn’t have done it without her.”

“Surprised she doesn’t live here with you still . . . ?” Parks was fishing and she could tell.

“Oh, she’s still alive and kicking. Lives back down south near Baja or even more south I think. She keeps on migra
ting south. Lives on the coast. Gorgeous views. She loves it there. Closer to her family. All that. I get down there to visit a few times a year. Bring Ricky with me. We love it down there. She gets up here to see me all the time as well. We’re still close. Trust me, you don’t want to see our phone bills. She’s probably my best friend. I didn’t have a lot of those growing up but my mother was defiantly one of them.”

“Even during your rebellion phase?” Jackie eyed Parks, wondering what he was talking about. “I thought Ricky was the result of . . .”

“Oh, that. Yeah,” Jackie said, chuckling. “Not much of a rebellion phase. That was mostly against my father. My mother I still went too. Even during all of that. My father never accepted Ricky. That’s part of what put a rift between us. Ricky’s my son. My father didn’t care.”

“And Ricky’s father?”

“Just some guy,” Jackie admitted. “I mean he was more than that. I knew the guy. He wasn’t some one night stand. We were together almost a year. Surprisingly, as much as I started dating him as a way to piss my father off he was actually a descent guy.”

“Until Ricky came along?”

“No. No. I mean he would have done the ‘right’ thing. Whatever that would have been He would have married me. Or supported me financially. He did actually. For a while. He was there when I needed him to be. But being a father wasn’t one of his strongest suits. See, he never had a good relationship with his own father. Actually his father was a bastard. And he was always scared of turning out the same way with his own children. So he swore he would never have any. I don’t think he would have been a bad father. He would have stumbled, that’s for sure. But not a bad father. But I understand his fear. That is a lot of responsibility to take on. And his father was a bad man. I can understand being scared of passing that on to another generation.  And while it might not always be valid, I think it takes a lot to admit you might not be what’s best for a child’s future. Takes a lot to give up your parental rights for the greater good of the child.”

“Sure that’s what he did?”

“He didn’t bail,” Jackie said, firmly. “I mean that. Ricky’s father was around when I needed him. But as far as Ricky’s concerned it’s just him and me. And I was good with that. Ricky’s had his ups and downs about it but I feel he’s made peace with it. He understands. Might not always agree with it, or like it, but he understands. I think part of the reason I was okay with Ricky’s father not sticking around had something to do with my issues with my own father. ” Jackie paused, as if deciding to admit something or not. “Truth is I say I’m fine with the way things were, and considering how they turned out, how can I not be? But there isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t think I screwed up my son somehow. I’ve been told that’s the same of all parents, regardless of the conditions. I’d like to think things turned out all right. Ricky’s in college. Going to have a bright future ahead of him. But somehow I just keep waiting for the ball to drop and reality to hit me that I screwed him up somehow and everything’s going to turn to shit.”

“You can’t be the only parent to have those concerns.”

“I’m sure I’m not. Sorry to get maudlin on you.”

“Well then, what about you?”

“Me? Oh, me, me. Oh, you know me. I’m a bucket of laughs. Truth is I don’t always connect with people. I think that’s why I got into the field I’m in. Keeps me segregated from everyone else. I get to work alone a lot. I like it like that to be honest. I work best by myself. Growing up I was such a bookworm. A total nerd. Then I had Ricky, got into college, and seemed to blossom. Decided to get out and see what the world had to offer. ”

“Yeah, I understand that,” Parks said, agreeing.

“You know, you’re not as damaged as everyone would like to make you out to be,” Jackie said, eyeing him.