theatrical_muse #224: Mad
"Funny G, hilarious. You should consider stand-up"
"This isn't a joke Detective, Stanley Bolander retired."
Bolander and Beau Felton had been suspended for twenty-two weeks after "actions unbecoming of an officer" at a conference in DC. Everyone in the squad room had agreed that if any two men needed a break from the streets it was Beau and Stan. Beau was even more of a mess than usual since his wife left and Bolander was all over the place after the shooting, but everyone, especially Munch, had believed that they'd be back.
Now sudden realization dawned on Munch's face as the full impact of what the Lieutenant had said started to sink in. He licked his lips, they felt so dry. He could feel all the questions stuck in his throat, unable to escape past his lips. It was like the worst kind of cottonmouth.
"When did this happen?" he finally spit out.
"About a week ago," G delivered the news with the same level of indifference as if he was ordering a pizza or asking for a report from one of his detectives.
"Wa-wait, why am I finding out from you? Why didn't he tell me himself?"
"I don't know."
"Why am I just finding out now?" Munch was barely able to control the slowly rising anger in his voice. He glanced down at his hands, they were shaking uncontrollably as he felt his heart start to race in his chest.
"I am just the messenger. Perhaps that is an issue you should take up with your former partner,"
"I would if he would answer my phone calls," Munch said a little too loudly.
"That is not my problem," G said with a smile. It was a dangerous smile, one that said his patience had been exhausted. The kind of smile that said if you weren't careful you could find yourself with those massive Sicilian hands around your throat.
Munch took the hint and walked out of the office. He looked around the squad room now buzzing with activity as the night shift was leaving and Days was slowly filing in.
"Hey Munchkin, you okay? You're lookin' a little pale and your shakin' like a leaf." Kay was looking up at him with one eye brow slightly raised and a safe two feet away as if he might suddenly explode.
"Yeah I'm fine Kay,"
"Well we're all going across the street to get something to eat. You comin'?"
"I'll be there. I just have to do something first."
Munch made his way over to his desk were Higby was already sitting with his feet perched on top of Munch's coat and the day's paper in his hand. Munch scowled at his as he picked up the receiver and dialed Stanley's number. After a couple rings the answering machine came on. Hearing Bolander's recorded voice for what could easily have been the 100th time shattered what little good will Munch had for him at that point.
"Stanley, it's your ex partner. You know, the guy you rode with, worked along side for nearly fifteen years? The guy who gave you a place to rest your fat head after you got released from the hospital. Yeah, that guy. Anyways, thanks for telling me about your retirement pal! Enjoy spending your golden years on a putting green."
Munch then turned his attention to the rest of the room, "I'll be over at The Waterfront if anyone wants to join me in toasting our esteemed former colleague, Stanley Bolander." He slammed the phone down into the receiver, grabbed his coat out from under Higby's feet, and stormed out of the room.
John Munch
Law and Order: SVU
608
"This isn't a joke Detective, Stanley Bolander retired."
Bolander and Beau Felton had been suspended for twenty-two weeks after "actions unbecoming of an officer" at a conference in DC. Everyone in the squad room had agreed that if any two men needed a break from the streets it was Beau and Stan. Beau was even more of a mess than usual since his wife left and Bolander was all over the place after the shooting, but everyone, especially Munch, had believed that they'd be back.
Now sudden realization dawned on Munch's face as the full impact of what the Lieutenant had said started to sink in. He licked his lips, they felt so dry. He could feel all the questions stuck in his throat, unable to escape past his lips. It was like the worst kind of cottonmouth.
"When did this happen?" he finally spit out.
"About a week ago," G delivered the news with the same level of indifference as if he was ordering a pizza or asking for a report from one of his detectives.
"Wa-wait, why am I finding out from you? Why didn't he tell me himself?"
"I don't know."
"Why am I just finding out now?" Munch was barely able to control the slowly rising anger in his voice. He glanced down at his hands, they were shaking uncontrollably as he felt his heart start to race in his chest.
"I am just the messenger. Perhaps that is an issue you should take up with your former partner,"
"I would if he would answer my phone calls," Munch said a little too loudly.
"That is not my problem," G said with a smile. It was a dangerous smile, one that said his patience had been exhausted. The kind of smile that said if you weren't careful you could find yourself with those massive Sicilian hands around your throat.
Munch took the hint and walked out of the office. He looked around the squad room now buzzing with activity as the night shift was leaving and Days was slowly filing in.
"Hey Munchkin, you okay? You're lookin' a little pale and your shakin' like a leaf." Kay was looking up at him with one eye brow slightly raised and a safe two feet away as if he might suddenly explode.
"Yeah I'm fine Kay,"
"Well we're all going across the street to get something to eat. You comin'?"
"I'll be there. I just have to do something first."
Munch made his way over to his desk were Higby was already sitting with his feet perched on top of Munch's coat and the day's paper in his hand. Munch scowled at his as he picked up the receiver and dialed Stanley's number. After a couple rings the answering machine came on. Hearing Bolander's recorded voice for what could easily have been the 100th time shattered what little good will Munch had for him at that point.
"Stanley, it's your ex partner. You know, the guy you rode with, worked along side for nearly fifteen years? The guy who gave you a place to rest your fat head after you got released from the hospital. Yeah, that guy. Anyways, thanks for telling me about your retirement pal! Enjoy spending your golden years on a putting green."
Munch then turned his attention to the rest of the room, "I'll be over at The Waterfront if anyone wants to join me in toasting our esteemed former colleague, Stanley Bolander." He slammed the phone down into the receiver, grabbed his coat out from under Higby's feet, and stormed out of the room.
John Munch
Law and Order: SVU
608