It was a cold and cloudy day in November, Detectives Sloan and Falimoso were driving south on Elmwood and were trying to locate the victim of an armed robbery that the two “strong” detectives had solved with the arrest of Cornelius “Red”. “Williams, a rather notorious thug from the 19th District who was responsible for at least several murders and numerous armed robberies.

Detectives made the arrest based on information provided by one of their many “inside information sources.” In this case, the arrest of “Red” Williams was facilitated by information provided by an “associate of the 19th Squad”, Earl Wilson. Count had provided the skilled and resourceful detectives with information on a number of violent and vicious criminals who are now guests of the state at one of its seventeen excellent correctional facilities.

As is often the case, victims of street robberies are sometimes difficult to locate as the preliminary hearing for the accused approaches. Such is the circumstance in which Sloan and Falimoso find themselves. The victim of the armed robbery had left the confines of the 19th precinct and headed for parts unknown.

Detectives in adjoining precincts knew the victim and were on the lookout, however to no avail.

“Red” Williams’ preliminary hearing was set for next week, and Sloan and Falimoso still had no victims. As usual, Detective Rich Falimoso had a plan to solve that little problem. Sloan and Falimoso were well acquainted with an old drunk, “Look Down Larry”, who made the 9-0-5 liquor store at Sherman and Pine his headquarters.

Unable to locate the victim, Sloan and Falimoso went to the 9-0-5 liquor store and made a deal with “Look Down Larry”, who came up with the nickname because he ALWAYS looked down. No one could remember “Look Down” ever looking at someone above the knee, let alone looking someone in the eye.

The deal was that tomorrow, the day of “Red” Williams’ preliminary hearing before Judge “Cactus Jack” Murphy, “Look Down” would accompany the Detectives downtown. All he had to do was sit in court for a few minutes and after the preliminary hearing on “Red” Williams was over, the two detectives would take “Look Down” back to the liquor store, buy him a case of beer and they would give him twenty dollars. -five scoots for his trouble. “Look Down” was a pretty good sport and amicably accepted the deal. As an added incentive, “Look Down” got to pick the beer brand.

The next morning, Sloan and Falimoso picked up “Look Down” in front of the liquor store and transported him to “Cactus Jack” Murphy’s courtroom. Entering the courtroom, the defendant in this case, “Red” Williams, who was seated at the defense table with his attorney, Howlin’ Ray Nixon, turned to watch Sloan and Falimoso bringing in a “victim.” and an evidence envelope containing a brown wallet that was taken from the actual victim in this case.

“Red” and Howlin’ Ray were having a rather lively conversation and “Red” was pointing at the two detectives and “Look down.”

The assistant prosecutor acknowledged Sloan and Falimoso with a nod and informed “Cactus Jack” that the state was ready to proceed.

After a short rest, Howlin’ Ray asked to come to the bench. Howlin’ Ray stated that since the victim was ready to testify and the evidence was close at hand, his client wished to plead guilty. After careful consideration, Judge “Cactus Jack” Murphy accepted the guilty plea and the defendant, Cornelius “Red” Williams, was remanded to the circuit court level for sentencing.

Sloan and Falimoso once again nodded to the assistant prosecutor and walked out of the courtroom with “Look down, Larry” and the evidence envelope.

True to his word, “Look Down” was transported back to the liquor store, given twenty-five dollars and a case of beer, “Look Down’s” fine-fermented hop choice was Budweiser Select. “Look down,” he said, “any time.”

Detectives Sloan and Falimoso returned to the 19th Precinct Squad and surveyed the mountain of cases facing them. Tomorrow is another day and the two street-smart and street-smart detectives would be back on the job doing everything they can to keep the citizens of the 19th precinct safe and secure.

“God bless you guys”