PART TWO, SCENE TEN

"I just have to go fill out some paperwork," Skalany said, after Kermit and Peter left to talk to John. "Can you two stay here for a few minutes? As soon as I'm done, I'll drive you over to the Blaisdells." At Jake's uncertain look, she grinned. "There's nowhere in this building that's safer than Kermit's office. Even a mouse would think twice about entering his inner sanctum." Lo Si chuckled and the detective left, closing the door firmly behind her.

The Ancient turned to the boy, who sat huddled in a chair. "You are...uncertain of your future?" he asked.

"Why do you care?" Jake asked, his shoulders hunched unhappily. He looked around the room for something to occupy his time, and picked up another of the little toys off the desk.

Lo Si watched as he manipulated the toy, waiting. "Why should I not care?" he asked, wanting to draw the child out. "We must help each other; it is our purpose."

"Yeah? I wish more people believed that." Jake looked up, then his eyes slid away from the elderly Shaolin's steady regard. "It would make life easier for a lot of kids."

The Ancient's gaze sharpened. "Was it so bad, the way you grew up?" Jake's choked off exclamation was his only answer. Lo Si tried again, concern for the boy making him persistent. "Tell me, so that I may understand. What is it like to be left in the care of others?"

Jake looked at him soberly. "Do you really want to know?" As the Ancient bobbed his head, the boy grimaced. "It sucks. Oops. Sorry," he said, peering out from underneath the fringe of ragged hair at the old man.

"I am familiar with the term," Lo Si said placidly. "Go on."

"You really want to know?" Jake asked, surprised. No one had ever actually asked him how he felt about anything for a long time. Except for the Rogers, he reminded himself, flushing as he remembered that he had planned to call them. He looked around the room for a phone, but instead, saw the Ancient, waiting.

"I want to know," the old man said. His eyes were kind and it dawned on the boy that he wanted to tell him about his past. Somehow, he sensed that the elderly man needed to know.

Looking down at the pink sweatpants, Jake started fingering a spot where bleach had worn a tiny hole. "I ended up in foster care after my parents died; we didn't have any relatives," he shared, remembering the little boy he had been. "The people in the first group home were nice...but there were so many other kids that needed attention... I was quiet, so they pretty much fed me and sent me to school and left me alone." The hole was getting bigger, but Jake didn't seem to notice. He stole a glance at the old man, to see if he was really interested or was just being polite. Since Lo Si looked like he was listening, the boy went on.

"My caseworker decided that I needed more individual attention, so they put me in a foster home. The first one wasn't so bad; it was a couple who wanted to help kids. But then he got transferred, so they moved...and I got sent back. Then they put me in another home." Jake put his finger in the hole and absentmindedly twirled it around.

"That one was...bad." He paused and for a moment, Lo Si thought he had finished, but after a brief hesitation he went on. "Not for me, not at first anyway, but for this other kid there. I told people, but she denied it, and the rest of the 'family' said I was lying. I learned to keep quiet; but eventually, someone noticed the...bruises...and I was pulled out of there."

"You were punished for telling the truth?"

"Well, yeah," Jake said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "It wasn't like they wanted the truth coming out, and the other kids were scared. So I ended up in another home, where all they cared about was the money coming in. After the last place, that was fine with me, but they didn't like my attitude, so I was moved again."

The Ancient frowned. "Were you not consulted?"

Jake snorted. "Why? They didn't like me. They were the adults...I got moved. That's the way it works."

Lowering his head, Lo Si contemplated his hands. "It does not sound like a caring system."

"Yeah, well... Anyway, the next place was another bad one... but I ran away, so the pulled me out of there. The one after that was okay; another group home, but it was temporary, and then I got moved to the Rogers." Jake shook himself as he realized he had worried a two-inch hole in the pink sweats.

"Is your experience typical?" The Ancient's voice was unemotional, but something told Jake that the answer mattered to him very much.

The boy pulled his hands away from the hole and sighed. "I don't know. Some kids are placed only once. Some kids are bounced around even more than me. It's not something you talk about...'Hey, my foster father hits me-what about yours?'" he mimicked savagely. "It's embarrassing enough not to have parents...if the other kids find out that you're used as a punching bag too...." He shrugged. "You try to make the best of it. It could always be worse, right?" He looked over at the Ancient and jumped up. "Hey man, you look like you're gonna keel over. Are you all right?"

"I am...fine."

Jake looked at him. "Well, you don't look fine," he said, wrinkling his forehead. "You know, if you're upset because of what I just told you, don't be. I'll survive. I had great parents, before. I know what life is supposed to be like." The old man still looked unhappy, so Jake decided to confide in him. "You know, I haven't told anyone...but I think the Rogers are really good people. If I haven't blown it with this murder thing..."

"You have not," Lo Si said, his voice stronger. "You also have made new friends, who care about you. Peter and Kermit, Mary Margaret and I...we would come to you if you needed help."

Staring at the old man, Jake felt a flood of emotion. "Th...Thanks," he said, forcing the word past the lump in his throat, feeling that one word was not adequate but unable to say anything else.

"Peter was in foster care," the Ancient said, allowing the boy to pull his defenses around him. "Did he tell you?" he asked, bright eyes examining the child in front of him.

Jake nodded. "Yeah. He didn't say anything specific, but I could tell he had a rough time too. He didn't ask me any questions, so I think he already knew the answers. I'd guess he had the same kind of placements as me. He said that this guy Blaisdell we're going to see saved him though."

Lo Si folded his hands together and bowed his head. "That is so."

"Do you know the Blaisdells too? Is that where you met Peter?"

"Paul Blaisdell is a good man and his wife Annie is amazing," Lo Si answered, a smile stealing over his sober countenance, "but that is not where I met Peter. I have known him for a long time."

Skalany opened the door, interrupting them. "Ready to go?" she asked cheerfully. "The bus is leaving!" Jake watched as the ancient Shaolin pulled himself to his feet and walked heavily to the door. Following in the man's wake, he wondered what Lo Si had really been trying to find out in their conversation.

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PART THREE, SCENE ELEVEN

"This is the address," Peter said, peering at the ill-lit numbers on the mailbox. "Maria said she telephoned, so Jennie will be waiting for us."

Kermit pulled the car into a parking place and climbed out. "Not the type of neighborhood you'd expect to find Blair's girlfriend," he said, inspecting the old Victorian homes converted into apartments and duplexes.

"Maybe that's why she's his ex-girlfriend," Peter pointed out, ringing the doorbell. It was opened as soon as his finger left the buzzer.

"Come in," the woman who answered said, pulling the door wide. She glanced at Kermit's badge as he held it out. "Take the first door to the left." They did so, and ended up in a homey living room. The dark mahogany woodwork was left over from an earlier period in the home, but the white walls and bright furnishings contrasted to the gloomy wood, making the room cheerful. Jennie dropped down onto a chair, motioning for the men to take the couch. "Maria said this was about Robert? What did he do?"

Both men looked uncomfortable. Obviously, she hadn't heard about the murder yet. Kermit cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Miss Ford..."

"Please, call me Jennie."

"I'm sorry, Jennie, can we ask you some questions first, before we tell you what he did?"

"Okay," the woman said slowly. "I'm not going to like this, am I?" she said warily, clearly not expecting an answer. Tucking one strand of brown hair behind an ear, she took a deep breath and braced herself. "Ask away."

"Did you date Robert Blair?"

"Yes. We went out for about a year. I thought he was sweet." She smiled at some memory; then pulled herself back the present. "But he...changed about seven months ago. He came into some money and he started being more concerned about appearances and the cost of things, rather than..." she broke off, turning red. "We broke up. I haven't really spoken to him much since then, except at work. Since we work for the same bank, we sometimes run into each other at training sessions or functions."

Peter pulled Jake's sketch out of the envelope. "Do you know this man?"

She took the sketch from his hand and studied it with a frown. "Hmm...he does look kind of familiar." Peter held his breath; Jennie bit her lip and squinted at the picture. I think...he used to be at some of the business functions Robert would drag me to. If I remember correctly, I believe he's a customer at Robert's branch. I think his name is Jimmy. Jimmy..." she closed her eyes and frowned, obviously trying to recall the man's last name. "Jimmy...Curtis, I think."

"Did Robert know him well?" Kermit asked.

"Nooo...well, maybe. The last few weeks we were together, Robert became very secretive. We ran into this guy," she tapped Kermit's computer composite, "at a couple parties. Robert acted strangely around him."

"Strange how?"

"False. Too loud, too friendly, not friendly enough. Fake." She shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it, but it wasn't normal. It was like he was putting on a show for someone. Maybe me, even. Detectives..." she looked at them steadily, "why aren't you asking Robert these questions?"

"Jennie..."

"He's dead, isn't he?" she asked, her lips trembling.

Peter tried to take her hands. "Yes. He is. I'm sorry, Jennie."

She took the tissue Kermit offered and wiped her eyes. "Don't be sorry for me. The Robert I knew died months ago. The stranger who took his place looked like him, but wasn't. Either that or I never knew the real Robert. I'm not sure which is worse." She dabbed at her eyes again. "So, what does Jimmy Curtis have to do with it?"

Peter hesitated, then plunged in, knowing that the situation would be common knowledge by the next day. "Robert was murdered. We're looking for this man for questioning."

Her eyes widened. "Murdered? And you think Jimmy Curtis did it?"

"We didn't say that," Kermit jumped in, "We just want to ask him some questions."

The look Jennie threw him said 'Yeah, right,' as clearly as if the words had been spoken.

"Jennie..." Peter said, placing one warm hand on her shoulder so she would look at him. "We don't want to alert anyone yet to this suspect. We need to protect some of the facts of this case so we can catch the killer. Could you not mention our visit?"

"Yeah, sure," Jennie said, looking overwhelmed. "I won't say anything. Maybe I'll just call in sick to work."

"Can we phone anyone for you?" Kermit asked, glancing around for a phone.

She shook her head, still teary. "My sister lives upstairs; I'll go up there after you leave," she said, obviously pulling herself together. "Was there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

"I think that's it," Peter answered, after a quick look at Kermit. "Thank you for all your help. Are you sure...?"

Jennie's mouth lifted in a brave attempt at a smile. "I said good-bye to Robert months ago. But thanks." She led them to the door. "If there's anything else I can help you with, please call," she said, her voice trembling.

Kermit and Peter watched as she climbed the stairs to the apartment above. A second woman opened at her knock, and they heard Jennie crying as the door closed behind her. Once outside, they exchanged looks. "You think she was telling the truth?" Peter asked.

"Oh yeah," Kermit answered. "I don't think Robert Blair knew what he gave up." They walked down the steps and to the car. Silently they climbed in.

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