The
Streets Of New YorkThe
Streets Of New York© Sidney McCabe
Start spreading the news, I'm
leaving today
I want to be a part of it - New York, New York
"Jimmy, have you seen my brown jacket?"
"On the coat rack!"
"What about my black boots?"
"You set them by the door so you could wear them on the plane."
"And my camera?"
"I packed it yesterday."
"What about my satchel?"
James Hickok rose from the living room sofa where he was repacking his carry-on bag for the fourth time. He strode over suitcases and clothes strewn across the floor, and made his way down the hall, where he found Anna Kenworthy in their bedroom, glancing helplessly around her at the chaos she had created.
Jimmy glared at her. "Your satchel is on the kitchen table, your passport and plane ticket are inside, your books are stacked beside it, there's one free suitcase in the hall closet, and yes, you are driving me insane."
"That's very illuminating, Jimmy, but I don't believe I asked for your personal opinion, now did I?" she huffed, turning back to the task at hand.
Jimmy eyed the mess around the room: the clothes in haphazard piles, the suitcases open and barely packed, the woman with her hair in untidy braids and an expression of harried anxiety on her face. "You do realize we leave tomorrow morning, don't you?" he asked.
Nan paused in the midst of folding a shirt to throw him a glance of exaggerated surprise. "No, I don't think I'd realized that. Bloody hell; I'd better hurry then, hadn't I?"
"Cute, Inspector. Real cute."
She responded with a very rude gesture and a smile of corresponding hostility.
Jimmy laughed and headed back into the living room. He could still hear her throwing things around, slamming suitcase lids shut and cursing freely. He chuckled and continued shoving things back into his bag.
"I want to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep," he sang in his best Sinatra impression. "And find I'm king of the hill--top of the heap..."
"Jimmy?" came an exasperated voice from the bedroom.
He grinned to himself and paused. "Yes, Nan?"
"Tell me again why I agreed to this."
"As I recall, you didn't exactly have much choice. Emma sort of hinted that this wasn't something she was going to let you get out of."
"You make her sound like a gangster."
"Well, she did make you an offer you couldn't refuse."
There was a snort of laughter.
Then-- "Jimmy?"
"Yes, Nan?"
"I'm really nervous."
As always, the sudden vulnerability of Nan Kenworthy cut through to Jimmy's heart as nothing else could. He leapt from the sofa again and joined her in the bedroom. She was sitting on their bed now, looking lost and forlorn. She smiled shyly at his entrance.
"Hey," he said, kneeling before her. "You'll be fine. You'll be great. Everyone will love you."
She raised an eyebrow. "Promise?"
"Promise," he laughed.
"I'm a basketcase around new people, Jimmy."
"I remember." Jimmy paused as he reflected. Then he looked at her sharply. "You're not going to do that sarcasm thing again, are you?"
"I don't have a sarcasm thing. What sarcasm thing?"
"That sarcasm thing."
"Oh," she replied sheepishly. "Well, maybe. I mean, possibly. I might. You know, it's um...it's more than likely."
Jimmy groaned in frustration. "Look at it this way - you already know Lou and Kid and Buck and Cody, not to mention Teaspoon. They all like you. Just be your own sweet, lovable, crazy self, and I know you'll win everyone else over."
Nan smiled at the earnest expression in his green eyes. She pressed a kiss to his lips. "As long as I've won you over, I don't care about everyone else."
"Now that's the right answer," he teased, rising to his feet again. He tweaked her nose affectionately. "All right, Kenworthy; we've got less than six hours before we have to be in bed in order to get up at the crack of dawn. I suggest we get packing."
"Yes, sir. Right away, sir."
Back in the living room Jimmy continued packing, an unmistakable grin of pleasure on his face. The New York guidebook Nan had bought last week lay on the table next to him and he picked it up, rifling through its pages. He stopped at a photo of a hot dog vendor and stared at the picture, his mouth beginning to water. A hot dog from a corner vendor. Oh God, a hot dog smothered in mustard - real mustard, not this dijon stuff you got in England - and dill relish, with a sprinkling of cheese and onions, topped off by the most enormous cup of soda to be had. Soda with lots of ice. You never got enough ice in England.
Jimmy continued flipping through the guidebook, pausing now and then to smile at pictures of the city he had left behind so long ago - the packed streets, the crowds of people, the glory of Central Park. His excitement was growing by leaps and bounds. This time tomorrow he would be back in the Big Apple; back in the city of bagels and Broadway and Yankee Stadium.
"You're salivating."
Jimmy's eyes flew open at the sound of Nan's voice. She was watching him, highly amused.
"Care to explain?" she asked.
"Just reminiscing," he replied, indicating the guidebook.
"Ah yes," she said, nodding as she joined him. She took the book from him and sat down at his side. "The city that never sleeps. The city so nice they named it twice. The Big Apple. The Big Easy--"
"That's New Orleans."
"What's New Orleans?"
"New Orleans is the Big Easy. New York is the Big Apple."
"No, I mean--what's a New Orleans?"
"Never mind." Jimmy laughed shook his head. "Your grasp of American geography is deplorable."
Nan grinned in acknowledgement of his decree. "Well, I'm like most Europeans, you know: we know where New York is, we know where Los Angeles is, but then there's this huge bit in the middle that we know absolutely nothing about."
Jimmy threw his head back and laughed. "That's about right."
"But you're no different," she retorted, poking him in the ribs. "A year ago you didn't have the foggiest clue that Scotland was anywhere near England."
"Ah, but now we're going to be on my home turf, which means it's my turn to be condescending when you get something wrong."
"Oh, is it?"
"It's only fair, don't you think? I've put up with it for over a year, you can put up with it for six lousy months. We'll return to status quo once we get back to London."
Nan softened, and the worry eased itself from her heart a bit. Since their superintendent, Emma Shannon-Cain, had announced that Nan and Jimmy were two of the officers being sent to New York, Nan had been silently terrified that once he returned to his former home, Jimmy would regret his decision to stay in England. They had lived together for over a year now, and Jimmy always seemed perfectly content in London, but the nagging fear still bothered her occasionally.
What nagged at her even more was the realization that she should be as willing to leave London as he had been to leave New York. Jimmy had given up his old life without a complaint and had never once made her feel that he regretted that decision in any way. The least she could do was offer him the same if it should ever come to that.
Nan's thoughts were forgotten as Jimmy drew her into his arms and pulled them both back to lay against the sofa. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady, reassuring beat of his heart, and was silent for a while.
"Thank you for agreeing to come along," he said after a moment. He was stroking the bangs away from her face in a gentle, hypnotic gesture.
Nan smiled as his chest rumbled under her ear. "I thought I didn't have a choice."
"We both know Emma wouldn't have forced you to come if you didn't really want to."
She lifted her head and they smiled at each other. "Of course I want to come. I really do, Jimmy. I've never been to New York. And you know I want to see everyone."
He pressed a kiss to the top of her hair. "And I know how homesick you'll be."
"Oh, that."
"You don't have to worry, you know."
She stared down at her hands. "I don't?"
"No. I'm excited to go back to New York, but it's not home anymore. London is right where I want to be."
A broad, happy smile swept across Nan's face as Jimmy's fingers continued to brush through her hair. She dropped her head back down onto his chest and didn't reply. She could never figure out how Jimmy always managed to say exactly what she needed to hear.
* * *
It had been over a year and a half since Jimmy had set foot on American soil. He could still remember his last day in New York with amazing clarity - Lou picking him up from his apartment and driving him to LaGuardia, waiting for his flight, and then stepping onto the plane that would take him to London. Never dreaming he wouldn't be coming back. Never dreaming he would meet a woman like Nan Kenworthy; a woman who would turn his world upside down, infuriate and amaze him on a constant basis, and generally make his life so much richer that he wouldn't be able to bear the thought of not being with her.
She was beside him now, the sunlight streaming through the window and resting on her face as she smiled faintly to herself, staring out into the approaching skyline of New York, still hundreds of miles below. The pilot had just announced their imminent arrival, and after securing their seatbelts and locking their trays in the correct upright position, Jimmy and Nan sat quietly, butterflies bouncing around their stomachs.
She had been silent since the pilot's announcement. He couldn't even begin to imagine what strange and unprovoked thoughts were racing through her brain. With Nan, there was just no telling.
Jimmy reached over and slipped her hand in his. She turned to him with a brief smile and then looked back out the window, her fingers curling around his. He recognized the controlled breathing and clenched fists as signs that she was working herself up into a state of nervousness it would be hard to talk her down from. He carefully stroked the palm of her hand with the pad of his thumb, quietly giving her as much support as he could. There was no use telling Nan not to worry; worry came as second nature to her. It bothered him that she still didn't trust him enough to believe him when he said he would never leave her or their life in London, but so far he hadn't found the courage to confront her about it.
He trusted her implicitly; all he asked was that she do the same.
The plane dropped lower, sending their stomachs sailing into their throats for a moment. Minutes passed and the ground became clearer, the airport nearer, and then they were on the runway, the wheels of the plane skidding along the blacktop as the pilot effortlessly manuevered them to a safe landing.
The familiar rumble of the engines filled Jimmy's ears and there was a lethargic moment as the plane's speed slowed to an easy crawl, inching along the runway. He could feel his own excitement bubbling to the surface and Nan grabbed his hand harder, facing forward, her posture ramrod straight.
It seemed forever before the plane
reached the gate. But finally they stopped, the engines stilled, and there was
the sound of dozens of seatbelts opening simultaneously as the seatbelt sign
was turned off. People rose to their feet, the overhead compartments were opened,
and still Nan had not said a word.
Jimmy grabbed both their carry-on bags in one hand and with the other, reached
back for her. She slipped her hand into his once more, flashing him an anxious
smile, and joined him in the aisle.
The doors had still not been opened, everyone was simply standing impatiently as they waited. Jimmy drew Nan up close against his chest and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"You don't have anything to worry about," he assured her, squeezing her with his free arm.
She drew in a shaky breath. "I know."
"That wasn't very convincing, Inspector."
Nan just smiled as persuasively as she could and turned around to face the doors. Ike and Noah were standing a few feet away, talking and laughing with one another. They caught Nan and Jimmy looking and waved. Ike tapped his watch, mouthing, 'See you in a few'.
The doors were unlocked then, the heavy sound of the suction echoing in the chamber of the plane. There was a small rush of fresh oxygen and then the line began to move. Jimmy slid one finger into Nan's belt loop, following her as she trudged through the aisle.
Ike and Noah were waiting for them in the walkway. Noah was stretching and yawning, trying to shake off the worst of the last few oxygen-deprived hours. They were grinning as Nan and Jimmy approached.
"Bloody hell, it feels good to be off that plane," groaned Noah, stretching his long arms and legs.
"You ready?" asked Ike, his eyes on Nan.
She smiled shakily. "Lead the way."
"You all right, Nan?" Noah questioned, peering down into the ashen face of his friend. "You look a bit green at the gills."
Nan drew her breath in deeply and exhaled. "I'm just fine, Noah, thanks. Come on, let's go." She dropped Jimmy's hand and smoothed down her wrinkled shirt and flyaway hair.
The four of them were quiet as they traipsed through the walkway. The sounds of the airport grew nearer, voices rushing at them, announcements bellowing at them over the P.A. system. As they drew closer to the waiting area, faces started springing out at them. They strained their eyes to search for one that was familiar.
And then they saw Teaspoon.
They were surprised to find him standing by himself, but the broad grin on his weathered face immediately chased away all questions. Nan, feeling calm for the first time in weeks at the sight of the man, rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh, Teaspoon!" she exclaimed. "I'm so happy to see you."
Teaspoon chuckled in delight and embraced her. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes." He released her and drew back to appraise her familiar face. "Welcome to the Big Apple, Nan."
Nan kissed him heartily on the cheek and then stepped away to allow Jimmy, Noah, and Ike the opportunity to greet their old friend. Her heart slowed back to its normal rhythm and her palms no longer seemed clammy. She sighed in relief.
'Get hold of yourself, Kenworthy,' she thought. 'You're in New York, not Purgatory. This is six months' opportunity to work hard and learn a great deal; it's not a life sentence.'
She felt Teaspoon's arm slide around her waist, and she concentrated then on the trek to the baggage claim and the easy chatter of the men as they caught up with one another. She started relaxing. The pesky thought that seemed to reside permanently in the back of her head - the thought that Jimmy would be so glad to be home, he'd decide to stay - was diminishing. Jimmy was happy to be back, and obviously thrilled to be with Teaspoon again, but when he spoke he called London 'home'.
Outside Teaspoon loaded them into an unmarked squad car, startled to hear the sudden yelps from Ike, Noah, and Nan as they slid into the hot, muggy vehicle.
"Christ, it's hot in here!" exclaimed Ike, tugging at his collar.
"For the love of God, what happened to all the air?" added Nan, gasping and wiping at the bridge of her nose, which was beginning to bead with sweat.
Noah merely whimpered.
Jimmy clambered into the front next to Teaspoon and looked back at the three officers in the backseat, all frowning and gasping for air. He grinned devilishly at them.
"Now you Brits can see what a real summer is like," he taunted. "None of this breezy day-blue skies business. The sun is scorching, the humidity is high, and it is miserable."
Nan lifted her thick hair from her neck and glared at him. "You don't have to sound so chipper about it, Jimmy."
"Why not? It is kind of funny."
Teaspoon just shook his head and pulled the car out and onto the highway. He well remembered the snappy banter between Jimmy and Nan; it was amusing as hell to hear it again. "If you think it's so funny, Jimmy," he said, "then I guess there's no point in me turning on the air conditioner, is there?"
"No!" barked Jimmy. "I'll be good, Teaspoon, I promise."
"That's more like it," Teaspoon said with a satisfied nod. He reached over to turn on the air conditioner as Nan, Ike, and Noah snickered behind their hands.
The car was soon filled with sweet, blessed, cool air, and all its occupants sighed in relief. Nan relaxed and slithered down in her seat, loving the feel of the cold vinyl against her face. She was utterly exhausted and rested her head on Noah's shoulder.
"I can't believe you're going to sleep. We're in New York, Nan! Take a look around. Drink in the sights!" urged Noah.
Nan merely mumbled incoherently in reply and snuggled closer to her friend's shoulder. Her eyes drifted shut.
"I'm glad she's getting some rest," Jimmy commented from the front seat. "She's been so keyed up ever since Emma told us we were going, she's hardly slept a wink."
"I heard that," muttered Nan, eyes still closed. The rest of her sentence was lost as her voice fell lower and her words slurred together.
"What did she say?" Jimmy turned around in his seat, laughing as his eyes fell on her exhausted face relaxed in slumber.
"She said she heard that," offered Ike, "and that she really wishes you wouldn't resort to clichés like, 'she hardly slept a wink'."
Jimmy snorted and turned back around. "Everyone's a critic."
The other men laughed.
"It's good to know some things never change," Teaspoon remarked dryly.
"You mean something's changed?"
Teaspoon glanced at Jimmy out of the corner of his eye. They were nearly to the precinct. "You've changed, Jimmy; I can feel it already. I probably don't even realize yet just how much you've changed."
"I haven't changed," scoffed Jimmy.
"You went and got European on us, son." Teaspoon spoke lightly, but there was a hint of sadness to his voice.
"I wouldn't go that far, Teaspoon."
Teaspoon just smiled softly. "A year and a half away from his home changes any man, Jimmy, you're no different." They had reached the precinct. Teaspoon parked the car and cut the engine, smiling over at Jimmy again. "But that's a discussion for another time. For now, boys, why don't you wake up Sleeping Beauty back there and tell her we're here? Your bags are safe in the car; we're just stopping for a while before I take you all to your hotel."
With great difficulty Ike finally nudged Nan awake. She sat up lazily, yawning and looking around through cloudy eyes. "Where are we?" she asked in a sleepy voice.
Jimmy couldn't resist. She was so adorable like this, and in this state he could usually tell her anything and get only a nod of agreement in response. "We're back in London, sweetheart."
Nan's eyes cleared then and her lips set in a firm line. "Ha bloody ha," she retorted with another yawn. "I know we're in New York, funny man, I just meant--where are we?"
Noah climbed out of the car. "It's a big building, Nan - with the words 'police station' on it, and blue and white cars parked all round it. That tell you anything?"
"Yes. It tells me you are all complete gits having fun at my expense."
"You got all that from a sign and a few cars?" asked Ike in mock disbelief.
Nan just slugged him good-naturedly across the chest and rolled her eyes. "Leave me alone! I just woke up."
"I'm sorry," teased Ike, eyes twinkling. "I forgot the eleventh commandment - 'Thou Shalt Not Pester Nan When She First Wakes Up'."
Teaspoon was watching the goings-on with evident amusement. He shook his head at the young officers playfully baiting one another. "If you folks don't mind," he said, "I'd rather be inside getting cool again than standing out here baking under the sun. Shall we?"
The 14th precinct was disappointingly similar to every station they'd ever been in while working with the LMPF. From the harsh neon lights right down to the crumbling doors and the scuffed linoleum floors that had seen better days, it was as recognizable to them as their own living rooms. The officers rushing about were uniformed in pale blue as opposed to the LMPF's dark navy suits, and the accents around them were decidedly New York; but the differences were minimal. Underneath the surface, Nan, Noah, and Ike felt the peculiar cadence and energy found only in police stations. They could feel themselves already slipping into easy, familiar rhythm.
"How come you came alone?" Jimmy asked Teaspoon as he led them down the hallway. "I was kind of looking forward to a big welcoming committee at the airport."
Teaspoon chuckled. "What? You think I can just spare a few boys to go run errands whenever they feel like it? That ain't how things work around here, Jimmy."
"I know," grumbled Jimmy.
"Happy as we all are to have you here, we do have jobs to do, Jimmy. We are employed to protect and serve the citizens of one of the largest cities in America, in case you've forgotten."
"No, Teaspoon, strangely enough, in all my months protecting and serving the citizens of one of Europe's largest cities, that isn't something I've forgotten."
Ike nudged Teaspoon and gestured in Nan's direction. "He gets that snarky attitude from her, y'know."
"I can imagine," replied Teaspoon. "We're just over here, folks."
He opened the door to the team room and the four officers were immediately inundated with boisterous cheers of welcome. There were no decorations cluttering the office, but at least a dozen STF agents - Kid, Lou, Cody, and Buck among them - were grouped in front of the windows, the table in front of them strewn with food and drinks and cake.
Jimmy glanced at Teaspoon. "Jobs to do, huh?"
Teaspoon winked, slapping the young man on the shoulder. "It's good to have you back, son."
Lou was the first to run forward, throwing her arms around Jimmy and laughing. It had been much too long since she'd seen this man, her dearest friend, her closest confidante. Nan was besieged by Kid's embrace, and Cody and Buck were already engaged in deep conversation with Noah and Ike. The other STF officers began to talk amongst themselves, a few of them heading back to their desks, waiting for the inevitable introductions that would follow.
After a moment Nan surveyed the room around her, her keen eyes taking in the blur of new faces. Several leaped out at her--a tall, lanky man with twinkling brown eyes and a smattering of freckles across his nose; a woman with abundant red hair who was already smiling at her in welcome; an older man with a sprinkle of gray in his hair and a youthful face; and a woman with hair as black as Nan's own, her mouth set in a firm, unyielding line as she watched with a gaze so sharp Nan felt it like a thousand tiny pinpricks all over.
She started to call to Jimmy, to see if he thought she was merely imagining it, or if the woman really was scrutinizing her. She turned to say his name, and saw the look on his face. All color had drained away, leaving him pale and motionless. He was staring at the woman, but his gaze was one of horror mixed with sheer disbelief.
"Jimmy, what's the matter…?" Nan's voice trailed off as she watched Jimmy cross the room to stand in front of Lou. After a moment Nan could hear their voices rising in frenzied whispers.
"What is she doing here?" demanded Jimmy. He didn't pause for an answer. "How could you not tell me, Louise?"
"I didn't know how to tell you," Lou said. "I'm sorry, Jimmy, I just didn't know what to say."
Jimmy glanced over at the woman. The woman was still watching Nan. "She's going to cause hell for Nan," he said, dropping his voice lower.
Nan decided she had had enough. She marched over to Jimmy and Lou with staunch determination on her face. "Right, that's it, you two. What's going on? Who's that woman and why is she staring at me like I've just stolen her man, or something?"
"Now there's an unfortunate choice of words," added Kid, who had joined them.
"How could you not tell me?" Jimmy demanded again, directing his words at Kid this time.
Kid raised his hands in an 'I give up' gesture. "I'm sorry, Jimmy. She just arrived yesterday. We were all a bit--a bit confused. We didn't know what to say."
"She's here to try out for Teaspoon's position," said Lou.
"Who is she?" Nan asked.
Kid's eyes were fixed on Jimmy. "Don't be angry, mate. We knew things were a bit mad for you back in London; we didn't want to spring it on you while you were in such a rush."
"Oh, so you thought you'd spring it on me now? Now that I'm back with my girlfriend?"
"Why have I suddenly been relegated to 'the girlfriend'?" Nan inquired witheringly . No one answered her.
"Jesus." Jimmy exhaled deeply and ran his hand over his face. The other STF officers had not seemed to notice anything was amiss. They were still working and talking, waiting patiently to be introduced. "I can't believe this. I mean, I really can't believe this."
Lou put a hand to Jimmy's shoulder, her brown eyes pleading with him. "Jimmy, please. Don't be mad. There was nothing we could do about it."
"Who the bloody hell is she?"
Nan's sudden, furious appeal finally caught the attention of the other three. For the first time Jimmy seemed to notice she was there. Some of his color returned, but his eyes were suddenly dark with worry. Nan sensed that the issue of who this woman was, was going to turn into a matter of great importance to her.
"Nan, come out into the hall with me."
Nan's alarm increased further. Jimmy was taking her by the arm; she could feel everyone watching her now. Not just Kid and Lou, but Cody and Buck and Teaspoon, and Ike and Noah, who had obviously been filled in.
She took in the expressions around her. "So I'm the only clueless one?"
Jimmy didn't know how to reply. His heart was hammering in his ears. 'Jesus,' he thought. 'I guess that'll teach you to relax when things are going good, Hickok.'
He led Nan out into the hallway and closed the door behind them. Then he took Nan by the shoulders and stared into her eyes.
"Nan…sweetheart…hear me out, okay?'
Nan bit her lip and nodded.
"You remember how Emma told us they were sort of, well, auditioning officers to take Teaspoon's place? Well, that woman in there--she's the first to try out."
This time Nan didn't nod in reply. Her mind was working too fast. Pieces were coming together, fragments of conversations she and Jimmy had had about their pasts, things Lou had mentioned about the cold, raspy-voiced woman who had both broken Jimmy's heart and, for a time, destroyed his trust in others. It was starting to make sense now.
"Hang on," she said as Jimmy struggled to explain further.
The thoughts were processing in her head. Jimmy's ex-wife had been a high-ranking officer. Jimmy's ex-wife had eyes like the coldest steel. Jimmy's ex-wife was named Rosemary Burke.
A sly smile stole across Nan's face. She put a hand to the doorknob of the team room, ready to open it.
"Where are you going?" Jimmy asked, startled.
Nan thought of sweet, gentle Jimmy,
hurt and betrayed by that woman, and her blood boiled. She grinned wickedly
at him. "I'm going to make a first impression."
