To Know A Man

Part 6

"That's ridiculous," Cassy blurted out. "Harry's the one in ICU with a bullet in his chest. Not us."

Tom didn't respond. He contemplated the dark-haired woman's words. After a few seconds he looked at his partner. "Cass, it's possible. Harry saw something before the gun went off. He pushed us down. Maybe he did see that one of us was the target. "

"It's something we have to consider," Vic Gibson said, running a hand through his thinning hair.

"Are you working on any case that this might be tied to?" Ellen asked, looking back and forth between the two sergeants.

Tom looked at his partner and shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing major right now. We are getting ready to testify on the Moore homicide, but that's a pretty open and shut matter."

"No chance that the perp would try to take a pot shot at you?" Vic pulled out his notebook to write down the case name.

"No. I don't think so," Cassy answered. "The perp is an eighteen year old who killed another teenager in the commission of a date rape. Certainly not the type to be using firepower. Besides, he's in jail. Parents refused to bail him out."

"So you don't think the parents could be responsible?"

"They were so horrified by what he'd done I figured they'd disown him. Never defend him. Certainly never kill to save him," Cassy shook her head.

"Any others?" Ellen pressed.

Tom shook his head. "Nothing active."

"And nothing Lipschitz was involved in?" the woman countered.

"Not that I know of," Tom answered.

"You and the captain are pretty close, aren't you?" Vic asked Tom.

Tom nodded, "I'd like to think so."

"And he hasn't mentioned anything out of the ordinary."

"No. Nothing."

Vic closed his notebook and stood. He then stretched and stifled a yawn. Ellen rose to stand next to him, "Long night, huh."

Gibson nodded and looked at the sergeants, "We're going to call in quits for a while and go get some sleep. This afternoon we'll follow up with some of our snitches and see if anyone's bragging about the shooting. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky."

"Yeah, maybe," Cassy muttered.

"Anything you want us to do?" Tom offered.

Cassy nodded in agreement, "We want to help on this."

Ellen looked at her partner then at Tom and Cassy, "Actually, yes, there is. Could you go through Harry's office and make sure there isn't something there that could help us on this. You two are closer to him than most and might be able to come up with something that the rest of us would miss."

Tom nodded and Cassy answered, "Of course. Good idea."

"I'm going to have a couple of officers bring vests down here for both of you. Wear them and and watch your backs. I'll see if I can get authorization for escorts." Cassy and Tom both started to protest, but a hand from Vic silenced them. "Since we don't have a clue which of you were the target, you two should presume it was one of you. I don't want either of you joining the captain." Vic made his way to the waiting room door and Ellen followed. Before leaving he turned to the two detectives remaining behind, "Tell Mrs. Lipschitz that our prayers are with her."

Tom smiled, "Will do."

Ellen followed up her partner with, "Hey, you two try to get some sleep. You look pretty wasted."

Cassy looked at her partner as if seeing him for the first time. If she looked half as bad as he did at the moment, Ellen O'Malley wasn't exaggerating.

"We will. Thanks." Tom said as he collapsed backwards into the couch, feeling exhaustion overwhelm him.

Cassy plopped down next to him and closed her eyes, "Do you think they could be right?"

"What? That we look wasted?" Tom grinned.

"No, not that" she slapped him lightly on the leg ". . .well, okay, that too." Cassy returned the smile, then became serious. "I meant about one of us being the shooter's target."

Tom was silent, then shrugged his shoulders, "I just know what I saw in Harry's eyes before he pushed us to the ground. He knew the bullet was coming. There was fear there. Beyond that, I don't have a clue who was supposed to be the victim."

Cassy's hand remained on Tom's thigh. He felt her finger tracing a pattern over the top of his leg. Looking down, he realized that her hand was outlining a bloodstain which had soaked into the pants. "So, how do you want to play this?"

Tom shrugged his shoulders again, "I don't think we can ignore the possibilities. But at the same time, I'm not sure how we can cover every case in our collective histories."

"And I don't feel comfortable leaving Frannie here by herself," Cassy continued. I wonder if her sister will stay with her?"

Tom frowned, "Did she call her?"

Cassy shook her head. "I asked her earlier if she wanted to call family, but she said she didn't want to worry them until she knew Harry's condition."

"Maybe she'll call now that she's seen him."

"Maybe." Cassy's hand flattened against Tom's thigh. "Why don't you go to your place, get changed and then go into the station. You can start through Harry's files. I'll stay with Frannie until relief arrives and join up with you later."

Tom nodded. Slowly he started to push himself off the couch. Cassy grabbed at his leg and pulled him back down, "Nope. . .not yet. I don't want you taking off without an escort and a vest."

Tom started to argue but then realized that he would want Cassy leaving under the same conditions. "Okay. But only if you promise to do the same."

"Promise."

Tom leaned back into the couch. Cassy allowed her head to rest on his shoulder, once again, and both allowed their minds to drift slowly into sleep.

How much time had passed, neither knew for sure. The sound of Frannie's voice woke them suddenly. "Tom? Cassy?"

Startled, Tom shot upright, his movement causing Cassy to jump, "Frannie!" He stood quickly and made room for the woman on the couch. "How's Harry?"

Frannie attempted a brave smile. "He's alive. That's all that counts right now."

"Sgts. Ryan and St. John?" the new voice surprised them all. "I'm Officer Jackson. Detective Gibson asked my partner and me to bring you these and to provide you with an escort." The young uniformed officer handed the two detectives bulletproof vests.

"Vests? What?" Frannie looked curiously at her two friends. "What are these for? What is he talking about?"

Cassy shot a worried glance to her partner as she took her vest and handed Tom his. Neither wanted to upset the already distraught woman. "It's nothing, Frannie. We're just taking some precautions."

"Precautions? Is this about Harry?"

"Frannie," Tom's hand rested on the petite woman's shoulder. "We think that it's possible that Harry may not have been the shooter's target."

Frannie's hand flew to cover her mouth, "Oh God, you mean that someone was really trying to kill you?"

Cassy nodded, trying to keep her voice calm and steady, "It's possible, Frannie. We just don't know."

"So the vests are to protect you when you leave here?"

Cassy nodded again, "We want to help find whomever shot Harry."

"I don't want you out there if you're going to be in danger. Harry wouldn't want that either," there was a trace of panic in Frannie's voice. "I don't want to be worrying about you, too."

Tom put his arm around the woman's shoulders, "We aren't handling the investigation, Frannie. We're just going to do some digging through his files and see if we can come up with a lead."

"Nothing dangerous," Cassy added.

Frannie nodded, "Okay. But you remember, if you do something foolish and get yourself hurt, I'll tell Harry. He'll have you walking a beat for the rest of your careers." The woman smiled at the two detectives. She reached around their necks and pulled them to her level. Quickly, she placed a kiss on each of their cheeks. She then whispered in their ears, "You be careful."

Tom winked at the woman as he pulled away. "Cassy's going to stay here with you. I'm going to go to the station and look through Harry's office, see what he was working on."

"You'll stay with me?" Frannie looked at Cassy with hopeful eyes.

Cassy smiled, "Yeah." She wrapped her arm around the woman.

"You won't have to stay for long. I've called my sister. She should be here this afternoon."

"It's okay, Frannie. I don't mind."

"Thanks. I appreciate everything you two are doing for me. . .and for Harry."

Tom nodded, waved to Cassy and followed Officer Jackson out of the room.

End Part 6