Only Time Will Tell
Part 18
Harry spotted Nurse Roth at the ICU nurses' station, studying a chart. Hearing his approaching footsteps, the woman looked up with a smile, "You're still here, Captain? It's awfully late. Why don't you go home and get some rest. I promise to call you if there is any change in Mr. Ryan's condition."
Harry shook his head, looking into Tom's room, "Actually, I'm looking for Sgt. St. John. Have you seen her?"
"Earlier. Perhaps twenty minutes ago or so. I figured she was with you."
"No, she never came back to the waiting room." Harry felt a knot growing in his stomach, but did not know why. He started to make his way back to the waiting room, when the nurse called out, "Captain?" Harry turned. "I asked Sgt. St. John to take these flowers with her, but she left them here. We can't have them in ICU."
Harry frowned and returned to the desk. "Who sent them?" he asked.
The nurse smiled slightly, "I couldn't help but read the card. It was on the counter. Someone named Janet."
Harry was certain he felt his jaw hit the floor, "What the Hell?"
He snatched the envelope from the holder. The envelope was addressed to 'Tommy Ryan.' He removed the card from inside and read the words typewritten within: "My Dearest Tommy, Get well soon. All my love, Janet." And with those words, Harry had no doubt about where Cassy was at now.
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"Where is she?" Cassy had to keep her struggle to keep her voice down to a loud roar.
The booking Sergeant looked up, startled by the loud intrusion, "Cassy, how's Tom?"
Cassy said nothing, instead she repeated the question, "Where is she?"
The officer's eyes narrowed, "Who?"
"Janet Angelini," Cassy answered sharply, her patience wearing thin.
The officer shook his head in confusion, "I don't know who. . ."
Cassy slammed her fist on to the desk in frustration, then she realized her error. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and corrected herself with a calmer voice, "Janet Cardinal."
"Oh," the man nodded his understanding, "she's with her attorney in Interrogation 3." Cassy made her way to the room. Cassy reached for the door handle. "You can't go in there, Sergeant," the guard standing nearby warned.
"Like Hell I can't," Cassy growled and opened the door to find herself facing a startled rotund man and Janet Angelini. Cassy looked at the man with steel blue intensity, "Who are you?"
"Pardon me?" the man said, still shocked by the abruptness of the intrusion.
"Who are you?" Cassy repeated.
Janet looked at Cassy, and in a pleasant voice responded with, "This is my attorney, Stewart Maxon. Stewart, this is Sgt. St. John."
The man's face grew grim, "She's the one?"
Janet nodded, "Yes."
The man took a step towards Cassy, "Do you always break the noses of those you are taking into custody, Sergeant?"
Cassy was taken aback by the question. She gave a stunned look to the man, and then looked at Janet, noticing the severe bruising which surrounded the woman's brown eyes. Cassy recovered quickly, "Only when the suspect tries to kill my partner."
"Well, that's a subject for another time," Stewart answered smugly. Janet said nothing. She maintained eye contact with Cassy, not showing any sign of intimidation. "But I think it is only fair to warn you that we will be filing a complaint against your use of force during the arrest."
Cassy had to refrain from leaping on the man. She closed her eyes, the little voice in her head reminding her that he was only saying these things to get her riled. . .to create a reaction. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction. "You can do what you want," she muttered. "We are going to charge your client with the kidnapping and attempted murder of Sgt. Thomas Ryan."
"Take your best shot, Sergeant," Maxon said smugly to the detective.
Cassy turned her attention to the woman, "How dare you."
"What?"
"The flowers. How dare you send those to Tom."
"Is that a crime?" Janet asked innocently.
"From you it is," Cassy spat. "You’re the reason he's in the hospital."
"Don't respond to that, Janet," Stewart interrupted.
"How did you get those to him?" Cassy ignored the lawyer's comment, her anger rising.
"My client asked me to send them to Sgt. Ryan. She's very concerned about him."
"Yes, I care a great deal for him," Janet nodded.
"YOU BITCH! YOU'RE THE REASON HE'S THERE!" Cassy's fury exploded and she took an angry step forward. Before she could make contact with the woman, a firm arm grabbed her around the waist, halting her in her tracks.
"CASSY! CASSY, STOP IT!" Harry's yell penetrated the blind rage which had overtaken her mind.
Cassy fought against him for a moment and then her struggles stopped. Maxon looked wide-eyed at the Captain, "I think I've seen enough. It's apparent to me you have an out-of-control officer here, Captain. You can expect to hear more from me about this in the near future."
"Fine." Harry responded, more concerned with Cassy's state of mind at the moment.
"Harry, let me go." Cassy snarled. Harry held on a moment longer. Cassy repeated herself, calmer the second time, "Let me go. . .please."
Harry released his officer, giving her a disapproving look over the top of his glasses. He then looked at Janet Angelini sitting at the table. During Cassy's entire show of outrage, the woman had never moved. . .never flinched. "Did you get that out of your system, St. John?" the woman said smugly, knowing that she had won this particular battle.
Cassy, biting her tongue, didn't respond. Janet looked at her lawyer, "Stewart, I'd like to talk to Sgt. St. John alone."
"No, Janet," the lawyer firmly refused.
"Stewart. . .I pay you. I'm your boss. I'm telling you I want to talk to Sgt. St. John."
The attorney's head dropped in defeat. Harry looked at his officer, "Cassy?" He was inclined to refuse the request, especially after the recent explosion of anger. Cassy turned to Harry, her eyes cold.
"I'm fine, Harry. It won't happen again. I promise," Cassy nodded and gave a slight smile to the older man.
"I'll be right outside if you need me," Harry offered.
"Thanks, Harry." Cassy was truly grateful for her Captain's trust, especially after her recent behavior.
Maxon looked at his client, "Janet, I have to warn you that anything you say to Sgt. St. John can be used against you."
"I understand that Stewart. Now leave us," Janet ordered. The attorney shook his head and left the room.
Harry followed him out and shut the door behind him. The rotund man took a seat at an empty desk in the squad room. Harry made his way to the observation room, fully intending on monitoring everything that would take place in the interrogation room.
"How is he?" Janet asked the blond woman.
"What do you care." Cassy grumbled.
"I care." Janet responded.
Cassy shook her head, amazed at what she was hearing from the woman. "If you 'cared' you would have never done this to him."
"I just want to know how he is," Janet repeated.
"He's in a coma. The doctors are afraid that he suffered brain damage."
"From the fall?" Janet asked, her voice sounding genuinely concerned.
Cassy shrugged, realizing she didn't know the answer.
"Oh God," Janet whispered.
Cassy looked into the bruised eyes of her enemy, "Why? Why did you do that to him?"
Janet said nothing. Cassy leaned on the table, getting close to Janet's face, "Don't tell me you're going to deny what you did."
Janet was silent for a long while, and then answered with a simple "No."
Cassy was stunned. She was certain that Janet would try to deny her actions. She didn't know how to handle this situation. "You aren't going to deny it?"
Janet lowered her eyes, and repeated with a whispered, "No."
Cassy could feel a weight lift off her shoulders. She could take some comfort that this woman would be punished for what she did to Tom. "Unbelievable," Cassy muttered, collapsing in the chair across from the woman.
Janet kept her head lowered, "I. . .I really don't remember what happened. I was. . .I was so angry. . .and hurt. He. . .he accused me of murdering my husband."
Cassy's feeling of relief was starting to turn to dread. "What are you saying, Janet."
"I. . .I couldn't believe that Tommy, of all people, could accuse me of something so horrible," Janet looked up at the blond woman, tears streaking down her face. "I think I. . .I just lost control. I really don't remember what happened after that."
Cassy sat back in the chair and closed her eyes. A sudden piercing headache found its way between her eyebrows.
"I just hope that. . .that someday Tommy can forgive me for what I've done," Janet whispered.
Cassy couldn't stop the angry laughter that escaped her lips, "You honestly think Tom will ever forgive you for what you've done to him?"
Janet smiled smugly at the blond detective, "Of course. He forgave you."
End Part 18
To Part 19