Part 21

A knock at the door caused Harry to stop and look over. He signaled to his visitors to enter.

"So how are the newlyweds?" He came around the desk and hugged Cassy and shook Tom's hand.

"Wonderful, Harry." Feeling extra happy, Tom pulled Harry in for a hug.

Harry pushed himself away. "Watch it with the arms, Ryan."

Cassy noticed that they weren't alone in the office. Tom noticed it too. "Harry, are we interrupting?"

Harry cleared his throat. "I wasn't expecting you back until tomorrow...."

Cassy didn't like the vibes she was picking up. "We came back a day early because of my doctor's appointment tomorrow. Harry, is there something wrong?"

"Suppose to return tomorrow," Harry mumbled to himself. He forced a big smile. "No, nothing's wrong. Tom, Cassy, I'd like you to meet Caroline Masters. Caroline, these are two of my best homicide detectives, Tom Ryan and Cassy.... is it Ryan or St. John?"

"It's Ryan." Tom stated proudly.

"Yeah it's Ryan." Cassy said with less enthuisaim. She had tried to explain that keeping St. John didn't change anything but the hurt look on his face was more than she could bear.

Harry glanced at his guest, who had yet to say a word. "Guys, I had planned to this differently, starting with you two returning tomorrow as planned, but since you messed things up for me...again, I'm just going to have to do this now. Caroline Masters is Tom's new partner."

Harry waited for the fireworks to begin.

"What new partner?"

"What do you mean, Tom has a new partner?"

Harry raised his hands to settle the irate detectives. "Please, you two. I'm too old for the squabbling."

Cassy was annoyed. "We're not squabbling, Harry. We simply want to know what you were thinking?"

Before another word could be spoken, Caroline stood up. "I can see that this has come as a surprise to the two of you. I think I'll go in search of a cup of coffee and leave the three of you to discuss this."

Harry nodded his head and Caroline was gone.

Tom placed his hands on the Captain's desk and looked Harry dead in the eyes. "What's going on here, Harry? Because the last time we talked we decided that I would have a say on choosing my new partner."

"Thomas, you need to calm down and listen to me." Harry swore under his breath. "I didn't want the two of you to find out like this. And you wouldn't have if you had stayed the extra day like you were suppose to. I had planned to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night and explain that this did not come from me."

"Wait a minute, Harry" Cassy spoke up. "You didn't assign Tom a new partner?"

Harry took a deep breath. "No, that's what I'm trying to tell you."

Tom eyes were full of fury, but he remained silent.

Harry rubbed his eyes and wished for a bottle of aspirin. "The day after you left for California I had a visitor from Robert Oxenberg."

"Robert Oxenberg, the Governor?" Cassy was stunned. "Why would the Governor come see you?"

"He came by one afternoon, no appointment, no warning and heard that I had a homicide detective position open. When I confirmed, he hands me a file on Caroline Masters. He tells me that she would be perfect for the job. When I try to explain office procedure, he tells me to give it some thought. Within five minutes of the Governor's departure, IA and the other brass are in here telling me that it would be in the department's best interest to appease the man."

Tom finally spoke. "So you did."

"Yes, I did. I didn't see where I had much of a choice, unless I wanted to be out on my kiester."

Cassy was angry. "Just exactly who is this Miss Caroline Masters anyway?"

"It's Mrs. Caroline Masters and she's the wife, excuse me, the ex-wife of Grant Masters, the Former Ambassador of Brazil."

Tom closed his eyes and tried to ignore the headache forming. "So, I get stuck with a new partner simply because some political hotshot's ex-wife is bored?"

"That's not fair, Tom. Do you think I would have agreed to this if everything hadn't checked out? Caroline was a homicide detective in Seattle until she married Grant Masters seven years ago."

Cassy had a thought. "So why is she here of all places?"

"Because when Grant Masters retired last month, he moved to Palm Beach and that included bringing his six year old son with whom he shares custody with Caroline."

Cassy nodded with understanding. "And unless Caroline was willing to go back to court and try to regain total custody, which would have been unlikely seeing who the ex-husband was, she was better off moving to Palm Beach too."

Cassy looked over at Tom, who looked exhausted. "Honey, you okay with this?"

"No, but I guess I'll get use to it. Harry, is there anything else because Cass and I would love to go home. We've been up since...hell, I don't remember how long we've been up. I lost track somewhere over the Grand Canyon."

"Tom, I wish I could let you go. But since you're here and Caroline is here, I would really appreciate it if the two of you went out for coffee or something. Just to break the ice. As a favor to me."

Thoughts of taking a nap in his own bed vanished from his head. "Come on Harry, we haven't even been home yet. We came straight from the airport."

"Please Tom. I'll have one of the men take Cassy home. I'm only asking for an hour tops."

Tom looked at Cassy who nodded her head in approval. "Fine. But remember just because we're back a day early doesn't mean that I return to work a day early."

"Yes, Thomas, I'm aware of that. But I expect to see you, both of you, tomorrow morning on time. Cassy we have a ton of work to do and Tom, there are a couple of loose ends to tie up on some cases. Now scram."


Tom handed Caroline a cup of coffee and sat down opposite her at the picnic table.

"Thanks." She took the coffee and glanced at her surroundings. "This is a beautiful park. Since it's within walking distance of the precinct, I bet this place is popular with your coworkers."

"It is."

Caroline took a sip of her drink and waited for Tom to say something. After a minute she realized that was not going to happen. She decided to take an alternate approach.

"Tom, I know you think the situation stinks but I'm really not a bad person."

As upset as he was, there was no reason to take it out on Caroline. Besides, Cassy would tell him to stop acting like a spoiled child who didn't get what he wanted.

"Caroline, I apologize for my behavior. I'm angry over the situation, not you personally. It's just that Harry had told me that when I returned, together we would select my new partner."

Caroline nodded with understanding. "And the day you return, you are introduced to your new partner."

"Yeah, exactly." Tom grinned. "You know, you might not make a bad partner."

Caroline could see Tom's mood change and decided to match it. "Gee thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Of course you will never be as good as my previous partner."

"A tad biased there, Ryan?"

"Absolutely."

They both started laughing.

Caroline picked up her empty coffee cup and tossed it in the trash can. "You might just be an all right partner yourself, Tom Ryan."

Tom threw his empty cup into the trash can. "Two points."

Caroline started to get up but sat back down. "Wait a minute, wait just a second. Tom Ryan, Tom Ryan, why does that name sound so familiar to me?"

Tom looked at Caroline with amusement. "Because he's sitting right across from you?"

"No, that's not it." Caroline closed her eyes and tried to think. She opened them quickly. "I've got it. Did you ever play football for Florida State in the early 80's?"

"Yeah I did." Tom was always pleased when someone remembered him from his former glory.

"I knew it. When Harry first mentioned your name, there was something familiar about it but I let it go."

"So, did you ever see me play?"

"Never missed a game."

Tom's face lit up.

Caroline continued. "But that was mostly because my sister was head cheerleader. In fact, you dated her."

"I did? What was her name?"

"Tricia Adams."

Tom's face fell along with his stomach and every other internal organ. "What did you say?" Tom voice came out in a whisper.

"I said that Tricia Adams was my sister." Caroline took a close look at Tom. "Are you all right?"

Tom tried to sound normal. "I'm fine. That means that you're little Cara Adams."

Caroline laughed. "No one has called me Cara in years." Caroline turned serious. "Look Tom, I can see that this has affected you. I want you to know that no one blames you for what happened to Tricia. Not me, and certainly not my parents. We know it was an accident."

Tom stood up suddenly and banged his knees on the table. "I have to go now. Cassy is waiting for me."

Caroline was confused by his sudden departure. "Sure thing. I'll see you tomorrow."


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