To Know A Man

Part 8

"So you didn't see anything?" Chief Larkin motioned for Tom and Craig to take a seat in the chairs across from his desk.

"I didn't see the shooter. But I did see the laser sight," Tom answered.

"On you?"

Tom shook his head, "No. It was on the car, between Craig and me. Then it moved to me. . .then to Craig. It never settled on either one of us."

"Then the shooter could have been targeting either of you. . .or both of you."

Tom nodded, "Exactly."

"I think I was an innocent bystander. It's too much of a coincidence that Tom was around during both shootings. Tom's the target. Harry was hit by accident," Craig reasoned.

Tom felt a lump growing in his throat. He did not want to believe that Harry was hurt because of him. He shook his head, trying to make his words strong, directing his attention to the Chief, "I don't think we can assume anything at this point, Sir. "

Larkin nodded, "I agree, Craig. I'm going to order an officer to stick by you until we can figure out what's going on and who's in danger. I want a vest on you, too."

"That's not necessary, Cal," Alexander shifted, suddenly uncomfortable in the chair.

"It is necessary and if you're as smart as you always tell me you are, you'll agree to this." The chief's eyes bored into the district attorney's.

Craig sighed and caved in first, "All right. . .you win."

Larkin smiled and nodded. He picked up the receiver on his phone and dialed a number. "Matthews. . .It's Larkin. I want a couple of your men on special assignment." He paused for a moment, listening to the obedient response. "Protection detail," another pause, "Craig Alexander. Send them to my office as soon as possible. Have them bring a vest."

Larkin hung up the phone and turned his attention to Tom. "I thought Gibson and O'Malley had someone sticking with you."

Now it was Tom's turn to shift with discomfort in his chair. "I asked them to stick with Cassy since she was at the hospital with no backup."

"I don't think that was your decision to make, was it Sergeant?"

Tom responded with an obedient, "No Sir."

The chief sighed and leaned back in his chair, "Sergeant, I don't want you stepping foot outside this building without an escort and a vest. Understand?"

Tom nodded, "Yes Sir. And Cassy?"

"I want the same rules for her. Arrangements have already been made for a guard on Harry's door." Larkin chuckled despite the seriousness of the situation. It's a good thing crime has decided to slow down for us. ..at this rate we aren't going to have enough officers left to fill a patrol car."

There was a knock on the chief's door. "Come in."

Two uniformed officers entered the room, "Officers Huang and Carlson reporting for protection duty, Sir," the first man said stiffly as he entered the room, carrying a black vest in his left hand.

"I want you two to provide protection for District Attorney Alexander until further notice. Understood."

"Yes Sir," both responded in unison.

Craig rose from his chair. "I'm doing this under protest, I want you to know," he grumbled at Larkin.

The chief smiled, "Fine. I can deal with that."

Alexander shook his head, and gave a parting wave to Tom. "Watch your back, Sergeant."

"Thanks. You too." Tom replied, watching Craig leave the room, officers in tow.

Larkin turned back to his detective, "Any ideas on who might want you or Harry. . .or for that matter, Craig, out of the way?"

Tom shook his head, "No. Nothing is active right now. If it's revenge it's from our past. Ellen and Vic asked me to go through Harry's office to see if I could find something which would provide a lead."

"I had my assistant call them at their homes to let them know what had happened. They should be down here to inspect the damage and see what has turned up. In the meantime, why don't you do that search they were wanting. See if there's anything you can dig up for a motive for Harry's shooting. I also want you to be thinking about who would have a motive to kill you. You're dismissed, Sergeant."

Tom stood and made his way to the door. "I'll let you know what I find out."

"Thank you, Sergeant. And like Craig said, watch your back."

Tom left the office and made his way to the stairway leading back down to the squad room. He received several looks of concern. Apparently the parking lot incident had traveled through the gossip network. As he made a move to enter the squad room, a familiar voice called out to him from behind, "Tom!"

Cassy came around the corner, still donning a bullet proof vest and being chased by Officer Jackson and his partner Maria Guerrero. "Sergeant," Guerrero shouted out, "you make it a lot harder for us to do our jobs when you take off like that," the dark skinned woman shouted from behind the blond detective.

Cassy turned and gave her guards an apologetic look, "Sorry." She then turned back to Tom, her hands coming to rest on his forearms, clenching them tightly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. . .fine," Tom nodded.

Suddenly she released one hand and slapped him, hard, on the chest. Tom gasped at the suddenness of the move. Fury burned in her eyes. "You lied to me. You told me you'd be careful. You weren't even wearing the damn vest."

Tom shrank back from her rage, "Sorry Cass. It was an accident. I wasn't thinking."

"No kidding," she grumbled. "When the call came in that shots had been fired at the station I knew you were involved. You almost gave me heart failure."

"Sorry," Tom repeated. He then pushed his way past the woman and entered the squad room.

Cassy took a deep breath, following her partner, "Well at least you're all right. I heard Alexander was involved."

"He's okay. The shooter missed us both." Tom collapsed into his chair. He heard footsteps behind him and knew Officers Guerrero and Jackson had followed.

"Did you see anything?" Cassy asked as she settled into her assigned spot.

"Nothing. Just a laser sight."

"Professional hit?" Cassy frowned.

Tom shook his head, "If it was, the hitter needs to find a new job. He hasn't made a kill yet." He paused, his mind running through both shootings. "How's Harry?"

"No change."

"And Frannie?"

"Her sister arrived a little while ago. When she heard about the shooting, she ordered me to come and check on you. You scared her, too."

Tom looked at his desk, eyes filled with guilt. He turned to the uniformed officers. "I really am going to stay in the squad room for the next couple of hours. I assume Cassy's staying here too." Cassy nodded her agreement. "Why don't you two take a break and check in with us at," he glanced at his watch, "3:00."

"You won't leave," Jackson narrowed his eyes, doubt showing in them.

"Promise," Tom gave him a crooked grin.

"You do and it'll be our badges," Guerrero warned, giving a similar smile in return.

"Understand. Take a break."

The two officers nodded and left the squad room. Tom turned his attention back to his partner, "Have you heard from Vic and Ellen?"

"Yep. Saw them in the parking lot. They were coordinating the search and fending off the press."

"Any leads?" Tom asked.

"Nope. But they said they'd be in later to talk to you."

Tom nodded his understanding. He pushed himself away from the desk and stood, "Well, Partner, I'm under orders to search Harry's office for a lead. Want to join me?"

"Best offer I've had all day," Cassy answered as she followed her partner into the nearby office and shut the door behind them.

End Part 8