Return to Innocence
Part 25
Peter held the door of the limousine open for Kathy and Elizabeth, climbing into the backseat behind them. His father followed. As soon as the driver had shut the door, Elizabeth reached for Peter and pulled him close to her. Kathy looked at her daughter's sad eyes and then up to Peter's. She saw just a hint of uncertainty in the hazel windows to his soul.
She swallowed down the ever-present lump in her throat and smiled at the detective, "Thank you for doing that. I know how hard it was for you."
Peter closed his eyes and nodded his appreciation. He felt the warm touch of his father and searched for the comfort of his eyes, "Yes, my son. I am very proud of you."
"I wonder where Barnes went?" Peter finally said.
"You have raised questions in his mind which he needs to face and for which he needs to find answers. He must make a decision as to whether he will step into the light of truth or continue to hide in the shadow of his lie," Kwai Chang Caine reasoned.
Within minutes, the funeral procession stopped at the burial site. Peter escorted Michael's wife and child to the chairs next to the grave. Family and friends gathered around. Peter caught sight of the press filming the proceedings from a distance.
The pallbearers brought the silver-gray casket carrying Michael's body to the front and a hush of silence fell over the crowd. Chaplain Mathieson completed the services and the firing of rifles filled the air. Each explosion was deafening and caused Elizabeth to bury her face in her mother's arm.
The flag, which had been spread across the top of the casket, was folded and handed to Kathy by Commissioner Kincaid. Friends and strangers gave condolences to the family and with each hug, pat on the back and handshake, Kathy and Elizabeth appeared to be growing more numb. Peter could only hope that the torture of the service would soon be over for them.
As the last of the visitors expressed their sympathies to the family, Peter felt a hand resting on his shoulder. He turned and found that he was staring into the eyes of Travis Wilson.
"Can we talk?" the large black man asked softly.
Peter swallowed hard and nodded, almost imperceptibly. Travis walked to a deserted spot, a few feet away from the crowd. He kept his back to Peter, his shoulders slumped.
Nothing was said for a long time. Peter had almost decided that Travis had changed his mind about talking. Never being one to stand the sound of silence for long, Peter opened his mouth to speak first. . .hoping to jar Travis. But before the words could be verbalized, the sound of Travis's soft voice met the Shaolin cop's ears.
"What you said this morning. . .I wanted to talk to you about it. I wanted. . .well, I wanted. . ." Travis stumbled, then he turned to face Peter, his soft brown eyes looking for strength in Peter's hazel. "I just wanted to let you know that I admire what you did. . .what you said."
Peter tilted his head, his eyes narrowing with doubt. "That's not it. That's not what you intended to tell me."
"I. . I don't know what you're talking about. . .I just thought that what you said about Michael was. . .well, it was all true."
"Yes, it was. Michael valued the truth. . .and I wanted everyone to know how important it was to him." Peter said, his voice calm. He was not going to let Travis skirt around the real reason he had wanted to talk. "Let's cut to the chase, Travis. You know as well as I do, what's been going on here. . .what Barnes has done. . .what you and Pearson have done."
"I. . .I don't know. . .," Travis shook his head.
"Don't!" Peter said, a little more harshly than he had intended. "Don't lie. Michael deserves better than that."
Travis looked at his feet, but said nothing. Peter approached the man and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Explain something to me." Peter continued, his voice still stern, "Explain to me why you would turn your back on the truth, turn your back on your honor. . .why you would blindly follow Barnes."
Wilson shrugged Peter's hand loose and turned away. "I did it. . .I did it for the same reason as Barnes. Barnes wanted Watson to pay for what he did to Michael. . .and so did I. . .and so did Pearson. And for the life of me, I don't understand why you don't want the same thing."
"That's because I'm not willing to seek revenge. I want justice. I want the truth. That's what Michael valued," Peter explained, trying to remain confident with his words.
"Justice? How can you say you want 'justice'?" Travis spun on Peter, almost violently. "You have a hell of a lot of nerve saying that. That scum killed Michael. Just shot him. He took the life of one of our own. . .and you want to let him walk."
Peter closed his eyes, "No. I want Watson to pay for the crime he committed. But I don't want him paying for a crime of which you and I both know he is innocent. That's not justice. That's vengeance. And I didn't. . .Michael didn't become a cop to seek vengeance."
Travis turned away again, shoulders slumping. His next words were almost inaudible, "I know."
Before Peter could respond, he was startled by a soft, feminine voice behind him, "If you know, then you have to tell the truth." Peter turned around to face Kathy. He had no idea how long the woman had been standing there, listening to the exchange between the two men.
Her voice startled Travis as well. The man turned to her, his eyes red-rimmed, tears streaming down his face, "I'm so sorry, Kathy. I never wanted to. . .I never thought. . ."
"Oh Travis," Kathy approached the man, pulling him into a hug. "I know that you, Barnes and Pearson are trying to do what you think is right. . .for Michael. . .and for me. But please, don't. All I want. . .all Michael would want, is for the truth to come out." He held her tighter, and she continued whispering in his ear, "Michael lived for the truth. . .he valued it. Don't let his death be marred by a lie. Please."
Travis released the woman and stepped back. He searched in her eyes and knew that he could not hurt this woman or his friend. He then looked at Peter standing behind her and nodded. Another tear rolled down his cheek and wiped it away, "Michael was lucky to have had you as a friend, Peter Caine. I can only hope to be as fortunate." And with that, the man left Kathy and Peter behind, making his way to a department issue sedan parked near the cemetery entrance.
Kathy turned to Peter and collapsed in his arms, sobbing. "Oh God, Peter, please tell me this is over. Please, I just want it to be over. I can't take this. . .this. . ."
Peter stroked the back of the woman's head, wishing that he had the power to bring the relief that she so desperately needed. But he was powerless to change the circumstances. All he could do was be here for her now. . .and pray that it would be enough.
"Momma?" Elizabeth approached the two quietly, "Are you okay?"
Kathy released Peter, dried her eyes, trying to regain control of her emotions, but failing miserably. She could not stop the tears. Elizabeth reached a small hand out to her mother, "It'll be okay, Momma. I know it will be." Elizabeth pulled her mother into a hug, and Kathy fell to her knees, holding her child for all she was worth.
Elizabeth tilted innocent eyes up to meet Peter's hazel. Peter smiled at the young girl, giving a silent prayer that the child would never lose that innocence, and praying that someday, he would be able to return to it.
End Part 25
To Conclusion