The Cast

Ezekiel Zechariah “Easy” Jacobson

Destined to be a forth generation police officer, Ezekiel Jacobson (nicknamed E.Z. by his third grade teacher) had dedicated his life to being the best cop possible. He entered the Army directly out of high school and, upon completing basic training, joined the Military Police. In his ninth months of enlisted service, Easy was on patrol around the base when he stumbled across a trainee who, having become unhinged during basic, was attempting to go AWOL. When Easy confronted the young man, the kid pulled a stolen sidearm and shot Easy through his left shoulder. The sound of gunfire brought the base to life. A showdown between the young soldier and several MP’s cost the boy his life.

Due to the damage done to the muscles in his arm, Easy was given a honorable discharge, along with the purple heart. Once his arm was healed (leaving a scar on his shoulder), Easy joined the police academy. While he excelled in all other subjects, he was almost eliminated due to his firing range score; a problem caused by his damaged arm that continues to be a hindrance to this day.

After completing the academy, Easy was accepted into Chicago’s 64th Precinct, thanks largely to the efforts of his father who serves as the station’s desk sergeant. On his first day on the job, his father presented to Easy the gold pocket watch given to his great grandfather - Morris Jacobson - for fifty years of service on the force.

It was soon after this that Easy first met Jennifer Fitzpatrick. During a high-speed chase down 90-94, Easy and his partner was the lead chase car when another squad car cut them off. Taking the secondary slot, Easy watched as the other officers closed the distance. The cop in the passenger seat eased through their window and fired off three shots hitting the rear window, the trunk and the right rear tire. When the chase was over, Easy got the chance to meet the gorgeous redheaded sharpshooter. While the meeting was short-lived, Officer Fitzpatrick made a lasting impression.

After four years as a beat cop, Easy received a break with the vice squad and became a detective. Five days after receiving his gold badge, word spread through the precinct of the death of a fellow officer. Attending the wake, Easy discovered that the officer in question was the driver of that forceful team. Jenny Fitzpatrick and her partner were caught in a gangland crossfire and had attempted what could only be called “cowboy heroics” which ended up costing the officer his life. The result of this was a long-term suspension for Jenny and her eventual reassignment to the mounted police. Due to their contact at the wake and the extended support he provided to her, the two of them began a romantic relationship. The two of them continued to date through the next five years (Easy received the gold claddaugh ring that he wears on his right ring finger on their first year anniversary as a gift from her).

After the instance that causes Easy’s dismissal, he takes his pursuit of law and order into the realm of private investigations, obtaining his license with the help of the Assistant Mayor who is also a former officer who believed that Easy got dealt a raw deal at the hands of Lieutenant Martin. Easy has continued one tradition from his days as a police officer; carrying a standard issue .38 automatic for which he is licensed. He will tend to avoid using his weapon, though will pull it and use it when the need arises.

In many ways, Easy has mimicked the great detectives in the past like Sam Spade, Mike Hammer and Nick Charles - stories read to him by his father in his youth - but with a modern-day attitude and outlook. His love for the written mysteries continues to this day with the owner of Neil’s Novels often referring some new book to the detective. He often charges by the case, based upon the needs and desires of the individual. As such, Easy tends to work out of his apartment which is located above Neil’s Novels and makes just enough to cover his expenses. Likewise, Easy does own a car, but keeps it in storage at his father’s house, and uses public transportation (the “L”, buses or cabs) whenever he needs to get around the city.

Throughout, Easy will show a deep love for Jenny, though their differing religious backgrounds tends to be the one obstacle that keeps them from the chapel. Easy treats his operatives as confidantes and friends, but realizes that not that long ago they were on opposite sides of the law. His relationship with Martin will always be distraught, with the Lieutenant taking Easy’s private involvement personally, even though it is not. Zeke, who’s respect for the organization of the police has put a strain on his relationship with his son, is still loved and respected by Easy.

Jenny Fitzpatrick

Born in the typical Irish-Catholic home and raised on a small farm in the country, people would think that Jenny would have grown up to be an average young lady. People would be wrong. Anyone who knew her as a child would say that she was mean enough to bite the head off a rattle snake at birth ... and only got worse with age. At age twelve, she was able to out-shoot and out-ride any man on the farm.

After graduating from high school, Jenny went to college at the University of Chicago to find her niche in life off the farm. While her first semester was uneventful scholastically, her life was changed, as she was witness to a bank robbery while depositing her paycheck. A passing patrol car was responsible for the apprehension of the robbers and provided Jenny with a view at her future. After finishing up the semester, she dropped out of college and attended the police academy.

Throughout the academy, Jenny’s hot temper nearly cost her a career before it ever began, but thanks to her hard work, dedication and high scores on and off the firing range she graduated from the academy and was assigned to Chicago’s 23rd Precinct. A few days after being stationed, Jenny found herself in the hot seat for the first time after participating in a high speed chase down 90-94. For the next four years, both Jenny and her partner bounced on and off of suspension, but managed to keep their jobs by receiving and equal number of citations as suspensions. Their luck finally wore out however when the two of them were caught in a gang shootout that cost Jenny’s partner his life.

Following his death, Jenny was introduced to the two most important men in her life: Easy Jacobson and Stanley. Easy provided Jenny comfort through her suspension and eventually became her boyfriend. When she returned to work once more, she was assigned a new partner - a stubborn, brown haired horse by the name of Stanley. The two of them were a match made in heaven, as they are both hotheaded and stubborn. Stanley often acts as a catalyst and foil for Jenny. Along with the standard issue saddle, Jenny has added a large pair of saddlebags to Stanley’s “uniform” which often carries various weapons, making a variable arsenal available. The two of them have remained partners for the past five years and, while Stanley probably should have been retired from service a year ago, Jenny has taken great care of him and he remains in excellent health.

For the most part, Jenny is always on duty, down to almost never being out of uniform. During work hours, her hair is kept in a very tight braid down the middle of her back, while off duty she lets her hair down. This and the absence of Stanley are usually the only ways to tell that she is not on the clock. Like Easy, Jenny also wears a gold claddaugh ring, with the only other form of jewelry being a gold cross that always hangs around her neck.

Jenny continues to put herself in the middle of trouble on a regular basis. Her wide range of weaponry has become something of a legend around the precinct, but as of yet she has done nothing to warrant a permanent suspension or termination. While her commanding officer does not approve of her weaponry, he has yet been able to catch her with the merchandise. Meanwhile, her relationship with Easy continues to grow. Easy’s calmness seems to have a soothing effect on her and she often manages to control herself and her gun when around him. When he was released from the force, she was ready to resign as well until he talked her out of it. She provides Easy with help whenever she can, often showing up before she’s ever called.

Bret “The Brickhouse” Travis

Bret Travis had a promising career in boxing. In high school, he won every match he fought. He had offers from colleges for scholarships as well as having the chance to try out for the American Olympic team. Instead, though, he accepted an offer from a professional boxing manager and decided to go for the money.

His professional career as a middleweight boxer started out well enough, and it looked as though he could go far until the day he met up with Big Tony Marconi. Big Tony bought out Bret’s contract and started working towards making him a very wealthy man. Bret was able to buy everything he ever wanted and more, soon living well beyond his means. It was at this point that Big Tony dropped the other shoe; in Bret’s next match, he was to take a dive. Big Tony was going to pay off all of Bret’s debts and give him a quarter of a million dollars to throw the fight. Bret, however, realized that if he won the fight, he would be on the road to the big leagues and wouldn’t need Big Tony.

The night of the fight, Bret knocked out his opponent in the second round. Big Tony, who had a small fortune bet on the game, sent his men to visit Bret, who ended up spending three months in the hospital and was never able to step foot in the ring again.

With enormous hospital bills, along with his debts from before the fight, hanging over his head, Bret didn’t know what to expect. The one thing he didn’t expect was to find Big Tony waiting for him as he exited the hospital. He was there to offer Bret a job as hired muscle. Tony had already paid Bret’s hospital bills and debts, which put Bret under his thumb. Without any other choice and the threat of death looming over his head, Bret had no choice but to accept the offer.

Over the next seven years, Bret served as Big Tony’s personal strong man. Over the years, Bret has done several things that he regrets to this day, the least of which was beating a man to death with his bare hands. Fortunately for Bret, the man was armed and Big Tony had a good lawyer; he was found innocent due to self-defense. But this was the turning point for Bret and he realized that Big Tony’s reign of power had to stop. Having had run-ins with Detective Jacobson in the past, Bret went to Easy with information on Big Tony’s next big scheme: The rigging of the cities next election to ensure that his people got in and authorized the opening of his casinos.

As Easy had no jurisdiction to investigate the case, he acted as intermediary between Bret and the Bureau which led to the arrest of four counsel-runners and Big Tony himself. Thanks to the investigation, a majority of Big Tony’s operations were shut down. Bret ended up serving six months in prison as a result, having refused to testify against his boss and not receiving immunity. As such, Big Tony saw Bret as a loyal employee up to the end and released him from his service.

After spending so much time as a member of the mob, Bret found himself in the strange situation of having to try to make a fresh start. Unwilling to join up with any of the upstarts that were trying to take Big Tony’s place and unable to find an honest living thanks to his past, Bret was forced to take a job as a security guard at a warehouse just to make ends meet.

After joining forces with Easy, Bret will find himself in the unusual position of being held responsible for his actions for the first time in his adult life. Many of his gut reactions will stem from his violent nature and criminal background, having to be held back by Easy’s calming nature. As their partnership grows, Bret will learn how to be responsible for his own actions and will evolve into a good man. Throughout, his loyalty to Easy will grow and a strong friendship will blossom.

Iggabod “Iggy” Stevens

For some, kleptomania is an excuse; for others it’s a way of life. Since Iggy was able to walk he has had the desire to make everything he sees his. While this was a tiresome trait during his childhood, it proved to be a heinous flaw as he grew older and was finally caught and prosecuted. Before his 18th birthday, Iggy had been in juvenile hall seven times. On his birthday, his juvenile record was sealed and his adult record was opened due to Iggy’s “birthday present” for himself. It never occurred to anyone that he would need psychiatric help instead of incarceration.

Iggy found himself once again facing the wrong side of the long arm of the law at the age of 23, having served two prison terms already and looking at the unlucky third strike. He had just lifted a $30,000 necklace when the owner of the store pulled out a .45 automatic and put it in in Iggy’s ear. Easy Jacobson happened to be entering the store at the time to get his pocket watch cleaned and saw the situation. By identifying himself as a police officer, Easy was able to defuse the situation and remove Iggy from the imminent danger. Once outside the shop, Easy confronted Iggy, who he had arrested once before. Stevens, shaken and scared, suffered from a nervous breakdown. Easy, in a rare show of compassion, took Iggy to a psychologist instead of to jail and took personal interest in getting him the help that was needed.

Three years have passed and Iggy has been miserable. Still in therapy and unable to hold down a job for more than two weeks before the temptation overcomes him, he quits rather than face the temptation. This is how Easy finds him when the two run into each other on the unemployment line. While Iggy holds a grudge against Easy for “saving him”, the fact that Jacobson is on hard times softens the ex-con.

When Jacobson opens his detective agency, he gives Iggy a job working for him. While Iggy’s impulses are still overwhelming, he continues his psychiatric treatment. Working for Easy often causes conflicts within Iggy, as his first impulse is to do things the easy way (usually through theft). Jacobson tries to steer him in the right direction, but what Easy doesn’t know doesn’t hurt him. Iggy is usually the comic relief, either relating to his stealing or his lack of physical prowess. He carries his own weight on the team by being a source of information from the streets. When you’ve been in jail as many times as he has, you’re bound to make some contacts.

Sergeant Ezekiel Abraham “Zeke” Jacobson

As the son of Zechariah Jacobson - a Detective in homicide - Zeke was guaranteed a position within the Chicago Police Department. It was at a police function where Zeke met Victoria, Easy’s mother. Every officer at the precinct was in attendance at the couple’s wedding, as well as present at Victoria’s funeral ten years later after she passed away from lung cancer.

While his career on the force wasn’t as impressive as his father’s, Zeke has served the force admirably for over 38 years. It was this record that allowed Zeke to keep his badge after being involved in a high-speed car crash that broke his tailbone seven years ago; getting relegated to desk duty instead of forced retirement. It was also this dedication that enabled him to pull the strings needed to get Easy assigned to the same precinct.

When Easy gets kicked off the force, Zeke has a great deal of trouble dealing with his son, but over time begins to deal with him not as a son a fellow officer, but as a fellow man. With only two years left until retirement, Zeke is still as dedicated as ever to the police force, but also occasionally finds his loyalty to his son and to his job at odds with each other. This often occurs when dealing with Martin, who Zeke sees as a little worm who is more of a politician than police officer. He is also often a source of information for Easy. His reflections on “the good old days” also provide a strong insight to how law enforcement, as well as society, has deteriorated through the years.

Lieutenant Ronald Martin

Martin and Easy had known each other for most of their lives, having first met in second grade when Ronald transferred into the area. While Ronny was a popular kid back in his old school, he was the new kid in town with a lot of attitude. This didn’t sit well with the new kids. So if Ronny couldn’t be the most popular kid, he was willing to settle on being the class bully. This choice lasted about two days until he met up with Ezekiel, who promptly broke the bully’s nose when he made fun of his name.

This feud between Jacobson and Martin continued through the years, running from everything like hall monitor to senior prom king (the latter of which they both lost to the football captain). When graduation rolled around, Ronald believed that he would never see Easy again ... until they both found themselves in boot camp together. Then, when Ronald was assigned to Fort Marshall in the infantry, Easy was assigned to the same base as a MP. So Ronald set out to become the best soldier he could and put Easy to shame. He would have succeeded too, if Easy hadn’t gotten shot and received the purple heart. But finally, for the first time since he could remember, he was on his own. He finished out his two year term, returned home to Chicago, joined the police academy and was sent to the 64th in his old neighborhood. He finally believed that it was his time to shine again ... until he got to role call and saw Easy sitting in the front row.

Setting himself to not repeat mistakes of the past, Ronald set out to make a name for himself by doing whatever it took to impress his superior officers, kissing as much butt as it took to get ahead. Whatever extra courses he had to take, whatever case he had to take credit for (whether he actually solved it or not), and whatever camera he could get his face in front of, he would do it to impress the brass. And it finally worked - within seven short years Ronald became a Lieutenant while Easy still worked the streets as a Detective.

After getting his nose broken (yet again) by Easy, Ronald finally gets his vengeance on Jacobson by getting him kicked off the force. But things go south once Easy gains his private investigator’s license. More so then when they were on the force together, Easy seems to foul up everything that Ronald gets involved in. Not only is Easy out of his reach, but he feels as though Fitzpatrick helps him from inside the force and consistently gets away with it; any time he thinks he’s got her, the proof disappears and she gets away without any punishment.

Charles “Charlie” Armour Sr.

Charlie had two dreams in his life: to own his own business and to have a loving family to come home to at the end of the day. It looked as though he was going to have both until his son joined up with a gang. Before he really knew what was happening, the neighborhood became overrun with violence, prostitution and drugs. Charlie was never one to just stand by and let others hurt him and his, so he formed a neighborhood watch. The gang didn’t appreciate this and set out to torch Charlie’s Deli. This was too much for Chuck to handle. Going to Easy, who was a beat cop who had made attempts to stop the gang activity, Chuck told him everything and managed to get police interference in time to save his father’s shop and life.

Ever since that fateful night, Charlie keeps a sawed-off shotgun under the stool that he always sits on. While his relationship with his son has become stronger from the experience, Charlie maintains that he will do whatever it takes to protect his family and business from the evils of the world. The neighborhood is still filled with violence, but the watch group continues to fight for their homes. A strong friendship has formed between Charlie and Easy, with the former providing free lunches whenever possible to the former cop. His feeling for his family are extended toward Easy and his crew, and both he and his son are willing to help out in any way.

Charles “Chuck” Armour Jr.

As a child, Chuck felt as though no one in the world understood him. While his father worked all day in his deli - and expected Chuck to follow in his footsteps - the young boy just wanted to have some fun. By the time he reached his teens that desire transformed into outright rebellion. It was at this time that the neighborhood gang approached him. Seeing his opportunity to turn his back on everything that his father held dear, Chuck joined without a second thought.

The gang ruled the streets and quickly expanded, getting a piece of the action from every-thing that followed them in. Soon the groups had their fingers in everything from prostitution to drug dealing and they all lived high on the hog. But when Charlie gathered together the people of the neighborhood to stand against the crime, the gang decided they were going to strike back. With his father’s life on the line, the truth finally became clear to Chuck. Going to Officer Jacobson, he revealed everything he knew about the gang in exchange for protection for his father.

Because of his involvement in the gang activity, Chuck had to serve a six-month term in jail. But upon his release, his father greeted him with open arms. With a renewed respect for Charlie, Chuck went to work with his dad transforming the deli into a father and son business. With the growing friendship between Charlie and Easy came a great deal of respect from Chuck, who now looks up to the lawman who put him behind bars.

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Monroe

Neil Monroe wanted to open his own bookstore. He and his wife Lizzy had moved to Chicago during the great depression in search of work from New York. Finding an apartment building that was in need of a superintendent, the two moved in for free room and board and took care of the building. While Neil worked two other jobs, Lizzy took care of the building. This arrangement continued for fourteen years until the owner of the building, an elderly man without any family, passed away and left the building to the couple. Taking their life savings, the Monroe’s renovated the structure to include a bookstore on the first floor and apartments above. By renting out the apartments and selling books, the couple were able to make a modest living.

Two decades later, a life of hard living finally caught up to Neil and he passed away, leaving everything that he and his wife had built together to her. It was very soon after that when a young teenage boy named Easy started making regular trips to the bookstore. Lizzy watched as Easy grew up into manhood and, when he returned from is turn in the military, she was more than willing to rent one of the apartments to him. Even when he was kicked off the force a decade later, she was there for him with a bit of wisdom, a kind word and open arms.

When Easy isn’t out solving a mystery, hanging out with Jenny or his associates, or spending time with his father, he helps Lizzy out around the building or is found reading in the bookstore. While Zeke was the one who introduced Easy to his love for mysteries, Lizzy nurtured it and expanded it into a passion for literature. Whenever she sees him, Lizzy always has a new book to recommend to Easy. Lizzy is the grandmother figure for Easy, providing him with insight and wisdom from her era.

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