Return to Innocence

Part 12

"Detective Caine, there's a call for you on line three," the night commander's voice broke Peter's concentration. He had been rereading his final report on the raid at Watson's apartment. He grabbed for the handset of the phone at the corner of the desk, "Peter Caine."

"Oh thank God you're all right," he immediately identified the panicked feminine voice on the other side of the line as his foster mother's.

"Mom?"

"It's all over the news that a police officer from the Task Force was killed tonight. They wouldn't say who it was. . .said that the family had to be notified. I thought. . .Oh God, I thought it was you," Peter could hear the fear in her words. She inhaled a quivering breath.

"Mom, I'm okay." Peter berated himself for not having thought about the news reaching Annie. He should have called her to let her know what had happened. "I'm sorry, I should've called."

"No, no Honey. I'm sorry. It's just that. . .I mean, I was so scared that. . .I. . ." Annie was unable to complete the sentence.

Peter had a pretty good idea why Annie was having this reaction. True, Peter had been a cop for a long time, and also true, Annie had learned to accept the inherent dangers of the job, but Peter's assignment to the Task Force. . .to Captain Barnes' command, had created a new uneasiness in the woman. Of course, after the night's events, she probably had every justification in the world to be concerned, Peter reasoned.

"Who was it?" Annie asked softly.

Peter closed his eyes. He didn't want to tell her. She had known Michael; she had met Kathy and Elizabeth. "It was Michael. . .Michael Hampton."

He heard a gasp from his mother, "Oh God, no. Oh Peter, honey, I'm sorry."

Peter was silent for a moment, "It was horrible, Mom. He was standing in front of me. The perp shot and the bullet entered underneath his arm. The doctor said it. . ." Peter stumbled over the words. "Oh Mom, he fell on top of me. . .I tried to bring him back. . .but I couldn't. He was in so much pain. . ." As Peter felt his control begin to crumble, he instinctively knew that Annie's was becoming stronger. . .for him.

"Peter, I know you did everything you could to help him. Sometimes the power we possess just isn't enough."

"That's what Dad said."

"He's there with you?" Annie asked hopefully.

"No. At the hospital."

"Why is he there?" Annie now sounded perplexed.

Peter was not ready to reveal that his father was preparing to help the man who had taken Michael's life, so he avoided answering all together.

"What did Sandra Mason say about the shooting?" he countered. Annie immediately caught Peter's attempt to change the subject. She respected his wishes and didn't press the issue. If Caine was at the hospital, then she was certain there was a good reason for it. "She is saying that the suspect fired upon the Task Force while they were attempting to arrest him; that an unnamed officer was killed. There is going to be a joint press conference by the Mayor and District Attorney at 8:30."

Peter looked at his watch. It was almost 7:00 in the morning. "How can they do that? We haven't even filed our report yet?" he asked, although he wasn't expecting an answer from his mother.

"I don't know, but it appears that they want to jump on this case quickly."

Peter flinched at Annie's words, although he wasn't sure why. He opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by Barnes' roar.

"Caine--I need your report on my desk. . .Now." Peter turned to the man. His face was hard, eyebrows lowered over his eyes. The large man's attitude made Strenlich's demeanor pale in comparison.

"Okay. I'll let you go." Annie had obviously heard Barnes. Peter started to hang up, but then heard Annie's voice calling him back, "Oh Peter, one more thing. How's Kathy? Does she need to have someone take care of Elizabeth for her? Kelly and I could do it."

"Thanks. She was doing okay last I saw. I was going to stop by as soon as I could get out of here. But you might want to give her a call. She's going to need all the support she can get for awhile."

"I'll do that. Bye Peter. Take care of yourself. I love you." Annie's words created a warm feeling within her foster son's heart.

He responded back quickly, "Thanks. . .for everything, Mom. Love you too."

"Caine! The report. . .Now!" Barnes' voice was growing more impatient by the minute.

Peter hit the print key and within minutes the report was finalized. He grabbed a file folder and walked the packet into the Captain's office. Wilson and Pearson were already sitting inside.

Barnes took the folder and laid it with the other three on his desk. "I'll look these over and then get back with you. I want you all to go home and get some sleep. Be back here by 2:00. We'll go over everything that happened again. I'm presuming that the D.A. will want to meet with each of you by then. And, I don't need to remind you that you are not to discuss this case with anyone in the meantime, especially the press. We don't want this situation tainted by gossip and rumors.

The three subordinates nodded. Wilson and Pearson stood and left the room without another word. Peter stalled. Barnes looked up, "Can I help you, Son?"

"Yeah. I was wondering if you knew about the press conference scheduled for this morning."

"Yes. I'll be in attendance to address any questions that might arise about the raid."

"But how. . ." Peter tried to phrase the words carefully, "How can there be a press conference by the mayor and the D.A. when the final reports haven't been prepared by us?"

Barnes smiled, "I've already given them the preliminary report. Frankly, this situation is so straight forward that there is no reason to not hold the press conference. The public has a right to know how that scumbag Watson took the life of one of this city's finest officers."

"But, Sir. . ." Peter started to protest.

"That's enough, Caine. Go home. Get some sleep." Barnes looked back down at the reports on the desk, summarily dismissing the detective. Peter considered staying and arguing with the man, but there was no point. Besides, Peter himself had told his father the same thing that Barnes had just told him. Why, then, did Barnes' words bother him? Peter turned and left the office, a sour feeling growing in his stomach.

 

Peter made his way back to the Stealth. Climbing into the driver's seat, he leaned his head against the steering wheel. He was so tired. All he wanted to do was go home, take a hot shower and climb into bed. Unfortunately, what he wanted to do and what his mind would allow were two different things. He was certain that the minute he closed his eyes his mind would dredge up everything which had occurred during the night. He had also promised his father that he would return to the hospital when he was finished with Barnes.

He settled upon a combination of the two. He aimed his car for his apartment so as to shower and change out of the bloodied clothes he had been wearing since the tragedy began. He would then make his way back to the hospital.

Within an hour, Peter was entering the lobby of the hospital for the third time in the past six hours. The lobby had quieted down. The press was gone, obviously in the process of preparing for the press conference which would be happening in a few minutes.

The young detective made his way back to the fourth floor to find his father still in the hallway, but not alone. The armed officer was still present, as was a woman. Although her back was to the detective, Peter recognized her immediately. It was Stacy Pardchek from the Public Defender's office.

He approached the group, nodding first at the officer, and then greeting the woman, "Hi Stacy."

"Peter, Good morning. Your father said you would be here soon." Stacy smiled and gave Peter a quick hug.

"Oh, he did, did he?" Peter said slyly, looking at his father for confirmation.

"You promised me you would return when you were finished with your report," Caine answered seriously.

"So I did." Peter turned his attention back to Stacy. "So I take it you've been assigned Watson's case?"

Stacy nodded seriously, "Yes. I was just going in to speak with him, but the doctor beat me here. He wanted to check him out first."

"I don't envy your job."

Stacy nodded again, "Yeah. I think this case is going to be a real hot potato. Kind of like yours and Karen's. I don't know why I keep pulling these assignments."

"Maybe because you’re the best," Peter answered

"And you care.". Caine completed.

Stacy smiled and nodded, "Thanks for the support guys, but I'm afraid that those things may not be enough this time."

The doctor exited Watson's room, "Okay. You can see him now. I am going to keep him here for the next 48 hours until I am certain that no infection is going to set in. I don't want him to be in some jail cell in less than sanitary conditions until the wound has done a little more healing." The doctor looked at the uniformed officer, "I assume that is where he will be taken from here."

Stacy interrupted, "He hasn't been formally charged. If the DA files today then yes, he will be taken to jail until the bail and preliminary hearing."

"Then you can understand why I don't want my patient to be subjected to that while he is still recuperating."

Stacy nodded her agreement. The uniformed officer grunted his distaste for the protection the killer was receiving.

The doctor left the group to check in on the next patient. Stacy turned to the two Caines, "Well, I'm going to go see my client."

"May we join you?" Caine asked, hands folded in front of his body.

Stacy frowned, "I don't like spectators. Tends to make the client nervous. And Peter's a cop. Having him in the room," she looked at the detective apologetically, "as much as I like you, would be a violation of my client's rights."

"I am not a. . .cop," the elder Caine pointed out. "And I believe I could be of assistance to you and your client."

Stacy considered the words, then nodded, "All right. You can come in. I can use all the help I can get on this case." Once again, Stacy looked sadly at Peter, "I'm sorry. I wish I could have you in on this, but I can't. You understand, don't you."

"Yeah." Peter nodded and smiled. "I told my father that being a cop would be a problem." He turned to his father, "Go ahead and talk to Watson. I'm gonna run home and try to get some sleep. I have to be back on duty this afternoon."

"I will come and see you when we are finished," Caine offered. Peter knew it was so that his father could tell him about the meeting with Watson.

"Could you make it later today, Pop. I'm really beat."

"I will stop by after you have rested." Caine touched Peter mentally, and the son instinctively knew that the father would be aware of when the right time would be.

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