RANDOM ACT BY A PEER SPECIALIST: PART 13
(October 11, 2023) by Howard Diamond
This is the latest installment of a multipart story by Howard Diamond.
To view the whole story so far, click here.
New team new investigation
Last night, Holly left a sealed box with Mary at the Police Station. From the moment Officer Grey walked into the station, Mary began nagging him about the contents in the box. Alex let her know that she needs to be patient and he will get to the package when he has time. His concern has to be the murder near the lake last night. Reluctantly, Mary agreed, but every hour, she asked him.
There were no witnesses or any type of identification on the John Doe. He was around six foot four weighing about 225 lbs. with scars from other previous encounters with knives. One was on his left chin and two on his left thigh and a fourth on his left ankle. Joining Officer Grey was Scott Davidson, a twenty three year veteran and eight year head of the Narcotics Unit of Lake Town Police. He is 48, 6 foot about 190 lbs. of solid muscle with short grayish blonde hair and brown eyes.
Also, Scott is a widower with identical twin boys, Jason and Lance, 20. They are built like their dad, almost 6 foot one inches about 185 pounds with darker brown hair and brown eyes. The biggest noticeable difference is that Lance has a full grown brown beard with longish brown hair while Jason has short reddish hair and a pencil thin red mustache. Currently, Jason is away at Stanford studying criminal law and Lance is studying to be a forensic cop at the local community College in nearby Paramount. His plans for the fall are finishing his undergraduate studies at either John Jay in NYC or Johns Hopkins in Maryland. Since being in high school, both of them spent a lot of summer days poking around the police station helping everyone they can.
Officers Grey and Davidson believe that the murder was over drugs, money or a combination of
both. First witness was a man named Sal “Short Stuff” Bonino who turned to point to a picture of
the victim, but he was unsure who it was. Mary kept the rowdy crowd quiet, but there must have
been over thirty men and women trying to state the identity of John Doe. Doctors, Fred and Laura Salazar from the Medical Examiner’s Office, came downstairs and discussed John Doe to the officers. His name was Antonio (Tony), “Short Scars”, Mario Fortino and his age was 52 with lots of shaved teeth and shortcut marks who was believed to be a drug runner for the area mob scene.
Antonio belonged to a gang called, “The Scars”. Since the 1950s this gang has been causing
problems for Lake Town residents. Upon further investigation, over the last twelve years, several other members of “The Scars” have been stabbed, shot to death or disappeared without a trace. Another member was found dead hanging from his prison cell, while another was found in a dumpster and two were found naked in the trunk of a car after having sex with a sixteen year old male plus each other. In addition, over the years, a few have been hung naked from trees or lampposts.
Currently, the head of “The Scars” is Donnie, “Chiefscar”, Turner who has been leading them for about eight years. His pair of scars are matching pairs of Indian chief heads, one for each shoulder. Before him there was a leader named, Ronaldo, “Twinscar” Bonno, but most members did not know his real last name, which was believed to be, Bonnibonbonno, or something similar to that. “Twinscar” died of natural causes at age 82. Coincidentally, all members dead or alive have multiple scars on the body and their insignia is a knife wound in the shoulder or legs. Also, the group was known to sell a variety of drugs to neighborhood teenagers, middle school age and older.
Although it was cold for most of the rest of February, Ruth continued to take walks almost every afternoon, especially when she did not work at the diner. Undaunted from what transpired, Ruth thought it would be a good idea to clear her head plus do some exercising, too. Several instances she believed that someone was lurking behind her. She described him as a strange looking fellow, with a hat, a full mask almost completely covering his face and a dirty oversized raincoat. When Ruth turned around for the second time, the man was not in back of her; however, she saw a shadow on the pavement and surmised that it was the mystery man hiding near one of the stores.
Instantly, Ruth received a call. It was of course, it was the mystery man as he forcefully mentioned his all too familiar phrases, “BEWARE THE STREETS! I CAN GET YOU ANYTIME! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! REMEMBER, I KNOW YOU! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE! I KNOW WHERE YOU WORK! BEWARE THE STREETS!” At that point, the mystery man slammed the phone down, went to the bus depot and left this area of Lake Town. Did he really take the bus? Did no one see him enter the bus and leave? No one knew for sure.
PRESIDENT’S DAY ARE NOT ONLY FOR PRESIDENTS
Due to inclement weather with heavy winds and rain were forecasted for February 15, causing a
cancelation of the President’s Day festivities, which had included a parade honoring presidents. Many years people would dress up in presidential attire, with white wigs and tall hats as headgear along with flags plus red, white and blue outfits. Most years, the parade ends inside the Lake Town Mall hosting a food fest in the food court. As the fifteenth arrived, the food court was prepared for a bigger than usual crowd and more food was ordered. The weather people were actually correct! How about that!
President’s Day is also the birthday of Frank Ford, 47 people think. For Frank, the day is nothing super special. Office Manager, Steve ordered an ice cream cake to be delivered at 12:30. Only his team participated and left almost half for others to partake. Only Taylor had seconds, so Steve put the remainder in the freezer. Imagine, Frank thanked everyone for coming. Besides the cake and a card, Frank’s birthday was hardly acknowledged by his estranged family and Frank was fine. His attention was on the murder last night, so he spent time at the local school, interviewing staff and students about the killing.
There was no allegiance between Frank and Lake Town School District because none of his family or friends were born, lived or spent time in the schools there. As a Peer Specialist and a father of two who graduated high school, Frank felt he can relate to pupils differently, but his attitude was not his strong point. However, he did better with the staff, many who were often parents of kids of similar age. Due to this, on Wednesday, February 24, he was partially replaced by another Hunter Peer Specialist, Jeff Johnson. Frank was still able to talk with staff and administration.
Jeff is 31, looks about half that, 6 foot 4 inches, weighing about 165 soaking wet, with wavy, blonde hair and blue eyes, medium complexion, a longish drawn face, including smile dimples plus and small hands and his feet. His boyish looks makes it appear like he has never shaved. Actually, Frank found that he has not shaved and never had a serious relationship. Also, Jeff was invited because he is assisting wherever he can. Plus when either Holly or Frank are on vacation, he will likely be covering the caseloads.
Two days later, at Hunter Case Management, Frank and Holly attempted to settle their differences between each other. However, it was getting loud and heated, but no one was screaming. These continual bickering episodes made it difficult and caused so much unnecessary tension around the office, so Karen asked them to go to the conference room and continue. Often Karen had to be their mediator, a role she did not want nor appreciate. Spending almost thirty minutes, Frank left the room upset with Holly, mainly because he was not getting his way. When they were finished in the conference room, they went to each appropriate bathroom, washed their faces and hands of the situation and spent the afternoon finishing the schedule.
PEER SPECIALIST POW WOW AT HUNTER
On Friday morning from 10am to 1pm, Holly and Frank were running two groups on the role of a Peer Specialist with staff at Forest View. Here also, many of these disagreements spilled over and progress was slowed down to a crawl with staff at Forest View going to supervisors. They both agreed, somewhat tentatively, to follow what was suggested by Karen. At 3pm, Karen arranged a get together with Holly, Frank, Steve, Taylor and newcomer Jeff to be present to discuss some of the many concerning issues. Everyone attending thinks that some compromises are definitely possible plus peace and harmony at Hunter and at Forest View can be accomplished successfully. Each has to give in a little.
All arrived on time for the get together. In addition, there were thirty in the room attending this
meeting. Around twenty minutes later, Karen began and did all the talking by stating that she was very disappointed in the attitude of a few of Hunter’s employees. Constant arguing and bickering is neither professional nor a good business plan. Each of the Peer Specialists has a role. There is no, “I“, in TEAM, no, “I“, in HUNTER, and definitely no, “I” in, SUCCESS! From this discussion forward, Hunter will combine the words for Forest View and everywhere else where necessary. Adopted as the words going to be pushed are, “TEAM HUNTER SUCCEEDING“! As it is Friday afternoon, I want everyone to think about what was said and make the right choice to move forward. Do not discuss this with anyone else at the meeting or family and friends for the immediate time. Think about this phrase only as, “TEAM HUNTER SUCCEEDING” and write a small report on the feeling this evokes and its practical aspects. No questions or further discussion today. See everyone in a week or so. Have a good weekend. Meeting adjourned.
That evening, Holly received a phone call from her brother, Andrew. Among other things discussed, he wanted to visit Lake Town next month to see his sister. His proposed dates are from Wednesday March 16 to Monday March 22. Then, if possible, the plan was to take her to visit their parents until Saturday afternoon, March 27. Holly said she would ask Taylor on Monday and then call him back during the evening. Of course, Andrew stated. Then, Holly went on to inform Andrew that she was reinterviewed for the Assistant Supervisor position. Naturally, Andrew was very delighted, but he had cautious optimism because they had gone down this road several times before, with no one hired. Teamwork makes the dream work.
Random Act Part XIV will be here soon.
Howard Diamond is a Certified Peer Specialist from Long Island New York
To download a PDF of just Part 13 click here.
To download a PDF of the full story to date, click here.
Random Act By a Peer Specialist: PART 14 will be arriving here soon.
Howard Diamond is a Certified Peer Specialist from Long Island, New York
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