Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Viper No More

As had been suspected Detective Skinner had many questions to answer. He was given much leniency due to his extensive injuries and he covered the truth well. Officer Warren was given an honorable burial despite what Skinner knew. Internal Affairs came down on nearly two hundred police officers in the city, including the chief and Lieutenant Minter. The District Attorney was going to have his hands full for quite some time. Skinner sat back at his desk before another round of questions from IA. The package that the Viper had left in apparently the right hands had exposed the whole deal and the press was having a field day with it. He put in for his vacation and was granted it easily along with some medical leave to recuperate. This suited him just fine. He had twelve years to catch up for and he honestly needed the rest.

He opened his desk drawer and pulled out the bottle of Irish whiskey and looked at it for several minutes. The glass made a resounding thud as it hit the bottom of his empty metal trash can. He wouldn’t be needing it any more. His badge and gun sat on the desk in front of him in an evidence bag and he opened it, taking out the badge and giving it a quick polish against his sleeve. He put on his long overcoat stiffly and walked out of his office, locking the door behind him. No one said anything to him as he walked through the long room to the elevator. The few straight cops that were left were sitting at their desks wrapping up the paperwork for their shift and they simply looked at him and nodded as he walked by. If they only knew the truth of things.

He wasn’t surprised to see the black Aston Martin parked next to his own car. He walked to the driver’s side and leaned on the open window. “Ride home detective?” Skinner smiled and winced quickly. “Sure” was all Skinner said as he crossed over to the passenger side. The Viper was dressed in a fine white T-shirt and jeans, the first time Skinner had ever seen him in any sort of casual clothes. They drove in silence for the several blocks to Skinner’s apartment. The Viper parked the car easily and got out, Skinner following stiffly afterwards. They walked the stairs side by side and stopped in front of Skinner’s door. “We’re leaving today detective.” The Viper said casually. Skinner simply nodded. He knew that the man would leave soon. Skinner unlocked the door and stepped in to the smell of something wonderful cooking.

Shin Lao and Leona Skinner were sitting at the small battered table that he often ate what few meals he cooked off of. Shin Lao smiled at them, the bandage around her head tinted a little red from the wide wound. “We have a small present for you detective. Just a small bit of thanks really.” Shin Lao stood up and hugged Skinner before crossing over to stand next to the Viper. “Open it Leonard.” The Viper rarely had ever called him by his first name. There was a large box standing beside his table and he picked it up carefully. It was heavier than it looked. Taking the top off he peered inside and there sat two metal boxes. Skinner picked up the smaller of the two and set it on the cracked vinyl top of the table. Peering inside he found two pistols displayed beautifully in a red crushed velvet backing. The image of a snake scrawling across the barrels nearly brought a tear to his eye. He knew that this cemented everything and he turned to the once professional killer. So you’re really giving it all up, eh Viper?” “You can call me Elias detective. I’m the Viper no more. By the way, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduce. Elias Burke. Nice to meet you detective.” Skinner took his extended hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you Elias. I knew a guy that looked just like you once. He was a real prick though.” They both smiled and Elias’ eyes ventured to the box again. “Take good care of them. They’ve been through a lot but they still shoot true. Now open the other box.”

Skinner suddenly remembering the larger of the two boxes turned and pulled it out of the box. He opened the long box and peered inside greeted by the sight of a stack of bonds. “There’s four million dollars in bonds there Leonard. You have to hold onto them for six months before you can cash any of them in. Consider it your share of the ‘Bounty’ on Boss Tanaka’s head.” Skinner was speechless and leaned against the flimsy table; his mouth agape with shock. “We’ve got to get going Leonard. We just wanted to drop those by and to say thanks.” Finding his voice again Skinner stepped forward. “So what about the house and the cars and all of those guns?” “It’s all sold. We closed on the property this morning and I sold the cars except for the Aston Martin to Skeet who will probably get much more for them than he paid me for. I’d like you to make this deposit tomorrow morning though. I set something up at the bank. Deposit this in the account for the Edgar Oswald Community Center. He was a good man put in a bad spot but he made the best of it.” Skinner nodded. He’d heard that the old man had passed away, but he was shocked that the Viper had done so much for the man. “I sure will. So where are you heading next?” “California probably. Good luck Leonard. You’re going to have a full month to get to know your daughter. Make the most of it.” Skinner smiled and stepped forward to shake the man’s hand. Elias took it firmly and they stood there looking at each other for what felt like minutes. “You sure look like shit detective.” “You try surviving a bomb and see how you come out looking. Good luck you two. Drop me a postcard sometime.” “I wouldn’t count on it detective, but we’ll see what we can work out.” Elias smiled and withdrew his hand.

The two of them turned and walked out of Detective Skinner’s apartment for the last time. Shin Lao turned her head as they left and smiled at the detective and his daughter. “Take care of him Leona. God knows he can’t take care of himself.” Leona laughed at the remark and smiled at her. “I will, don’t worry about that.” Shin Lao closed the door behind her with the resounding sound of finality. Skinner watched out the window as the Black Aston Martin drove off into traffic and felt a small tear sting its way down his cut face. He turned to look at his daughter sitting at his table after all of these years. He sat down in front of her and simply looked at the beautiful woman that she’d turned into. “So, tell me daddy. What’s been going on for the last twelve years?” Skinner smiled and closed the metal case bearing the large amount of bonds. “Get comfortable. It’s a long story.”