Return to Innocence

Conclusion

"Peter?" Kwai Chang Caine's normally gentle voice, was anxious. "Peter, something has gone wrong." Peter shook his head slightly, trying to clear his thoughts of Kathy and Elizabeth for just a moment, to concentrate his attention on his father.

"What?" Peter turned, a look of confusion in his eyes. He had been so emotionally tied to the exchange with Wilson, that he had ignored all other sounds in the cemetery. Before the elder Caine could speak again, Peter saw the Channel 3 Action news van leaving the cemetery like a bullet. "What's going on?"

Caine did not answer; instead, the man had turned and was making his way to Captain Simms and Kermit, standing near her sedan. She was on the radio, having an intense discussion. Peter started to follow, leaving Kathy and Elizabeth to comfort each other.

Other officers from the 101^st were gathering around their captain, trying to find out what was happening. Peter could hear excited chatter. Before he could approach the group of friends, he glanced at the end of the drive and saw Travis Wilson in his car. He had not left the cemetery. He was sitting on the driver's side of the vehicle, staring straight ahead. Peter briefly debated on which direction to head, and decided to go to Travis.

As he came closer to the car, Travis looked up at him, his eyes, dull, face, blank. Travis opened the car door and climbed out of the car. He stood on unsteady feet and leaned against the door for support. "What's happened?" Peter asked anxiously, now fearing what he was about to be told.

"Uh. . .Oh God." Travis's voice shook, "I just reported in. . .Dispatch told me that. . .I don't know how. . ."

"What? What's happened?" Peter repeated, voice rising.

"They just found Theodore Watson's body. He hung himself in his cell."

Peter felt his world begin to spin out from under him. He would have collapsed but for the strong arms that came up from behind him and helped him maintain his feet. He knew, instinctively, that his father was there, giving him the physical and emotional reinforcement he needed.

"How?. . .Why?" Peter stuttered.

"I don't know. . .The facts aren't real clear," Wilson shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Peter. I never thought. . .I never intended. . ." Wilson sank back against the car, as if realizing that he, Pearson and especially, Barnes, had just been given the revenge that they all had wished for. Watson was dead.

Peter, turned away, fighting the raging feelings which were building within him. How could this happen? His heart sank in defeat as it dawned on him that he had failed. Everything he had put Kathy through had been for nothing.

Kwai Chang Caine put his arm around his son's shoulders. "It is not your fault, Peter. You have no control over the actions of another."

"But. . I. . ." Peter was at a loss.

"Peter?" Captain Simms's voice grabbed his attention. "Stacy Pardchek just called. She's asked that you and your father meet her at the jail."

Peter nodded numbly. His father released his shoulders and he felt another hand take hold of his right upper arm. "I'll take you there, Kid," Kermit whispered. "The captain's going to grab a ride back to the precinct with Skalany."

Peter allowed Kermit to pull him to the sedan. He climbed into the passenger side and heard his father shut the door to the backseat. A few moments later, Kermit had started the car and they were on their way to the county jail.

The three men entered the facility and immediately saw Stacy Pardchek having a heated discussion with the warden. Peter took a deep breath, preparing himself for another emotional bout. Stacy turned at the sound of the door opening, her frustration evident on her face.

"What happened, Stacy?" Peter asked.

"Teddy's dead," she whispered, shaking her head in defeat.

"How?" Peter wanted to hear the entire story, from beginning to end.

The warden stepped forward, "I'm Kent Zacharaison." He held out a hand in greeting the new arrivals.

Peter took it and nodded, "Peter Caine. This is my father, Kwai Chang Caine and Detective Kermit Griffin." Now that the niceties were over, Peter repeated his question, "How did this happen?"

The warden shook his head, "The inmates were on their recreational hour. Everyone was outside in the courtyard, except for a couple, who were playing ping pong inside. The television in the main room was on. No one was watching. . . except for Mr. Watson. Apparently, the funeral of the police officer was airing. The guard for that wing tried to convince Mr. Watson to leave the television; to go outside and get some fresh air. But he wouldn't. The guard said he just kept staring at the television. He seemed to be watching ever detail. When the coverage stopped, the guard said that Teddy went back to his cell."

As if feeling the need to clarify, the warden explained, "The cells are kept open in the day hours. Prisoners can go in and out as they please." He turned to Stacy, "We didn't realize he was suicidal. We never would have put him in this facility had we known."

Stacy didn't respond and the warden continued. "The guard hadn't seen Teddy return and so he decided to check to make sure that everything was okay. He. . ." Zacharaison's voice broke, "He was hanging from the light fixture in the cell. He had tied his bed sheets together, tied one end to the cell door and strung the other through the light fixture and around his neck."

The man looked apologetically at the visitors, "I'm sorry. . .I've never had anything happen like this here."

Peter nodded his head and the warden walked off, slouched in defeat. Stacy turned to Peter, "I came to visit him this morning. I planned on seeing him and staying with him during the funeral, but I was called for an emergency hearing on a restraining order at the courthouse. I was late. . ." she swallowed deeply, fighting back the tears, "I didn't get here in time." With her final words, she lost the battle and succumbed to the emotion.

Peter took the woman in his arms and brought her into a comforting hug. "It's not your fault," he whispered and then looked into his father's eyes nodding, "It's no one's fault. Teddy couldn't live with the pain. No matter how much we tried to help. . .no matter how many promises we made, it didn't matter. He couldn’t forgive himself. He tried to tell us that yesterday. . .but we wouldn't listen."

Stacy looked up into his eyes, bit her lip and nodded, "I know. It's just that. . .I wanted so much to help him. To fight the lies that were being told. Now, no one will know what happened."

Peter smiled at her briefly, shaking his head. "I wouldn't count on that."

Peter asked Kermit to drive his father home. When Kermit asked what Peter was up to, Peter declined to answer. Kermit debated leaving his young partner alone, but also knew that Peter was more than capable of handling this situation for himself.

Within thirty minutes, Peter had walked into the squad room of the 63^rd Precinct, preparing to do his final battle with Barnes. He could only hope that Wilson would keep his promise and back him up on what had happened on that fateful night only a few days before.

The roar of the normal noise of the operation came to a sudden stop. All eyes stared at him. Peter had expected to see eyes which held contempt. . .but instead, he saw eyes full of shame. A couple of officers approached the young detective and slapped him on the back.

Peter was stunned. He was not prepared for the reaction. He continued to make his way through the squad room to Captain Barnes' door. He knocked on it firmly, but the door flew open without resistance.

The desk was empty. . .but one person sat in the visitor's chair across from the desk. . .Travis Wilson.

"Hey Peter," the man whispered.

"What's happened?" Peter asked, clearly confused by recent events.

"Barnes just announced his resignation," Wilson muttered, a slight chuckle in his voice.

"What?!?"

"Yep. After what happened at the cemetery. . .and the news of what happened at the jail, I decided that I would not let the truth die with Teddy. Michael does deserve better. So I gathered up my courage and came in and confronted Barnes."

Peter, stunned, plopped down in the chair next to Wilson. "What happened?"

"Before I could get a word out, Barnes silenced me. . .stood up, walked out into the squad room, and. . ." Wilson shook his head, still not believing. "He told him he had an announcement to make. He read this to all of them." Travis handed Peter a folded piece of paper. Peter unfolded it. It was a photocopy of a handwritten letter.

"Commissioner Kincaid:

Please accept this letter as my immediate resignation as a captain of this police department. Events have happened within the past few days which have made it clear to me that I am no longer fit for command. In fact, in looking over my past, I'm not sure I was ever fit for command.

With this letter, I hereby admit to committing perjury. I have filed a sworn statement with the District Attorney of this county which contains inaccurate statements by me. These inaccuracies were made intentionally by me for no other purpose than to deceive. . .to sway the scales of justice.

You will find other reports in the file regarding the case of Theodore Watson which are also inaccurate. These reports were altered in an effort to support the inaccuracies contained in my own. The officers whose names were signed to these reports are not to blame for these lies. They were only doing as I ordered. They were being good officers and following the instructions of their commander.

I apologize sincerely for any disgrace I have brought upon this department and am fully prepared to accept the consequences of my actions.

James S. Barnes"

Peter stared at the handwritten letter for a long time, words escaping him. Travis looked at Peter, and shook his head, "Unbelievable, huh." Peter nodded. Travis stood and took a deep breath, "Well, I guess we can prepare for a major IA investigation now." He chuckled slightly and left Peter sitting alone in the office, the letter grasped tightly in one hand.

Peter sat alone at the water's edge, watching the gentle swells softly kiss the shore. He felt his father's presence behind him, long before he heard the footsteps. "Yes, Pop. You are welcomed," he grinned, patting the ground next to him, encouraging the elder Caine to take a seat in the grass.

"You are feeling better, my son?" Caine asked, tilting his head to the side, examining Peter's face. He instantly knew the answer just by looking at the healthy color of his child's skin, the spark of light in his eyes.

"Yes, I am feeling better," Peter answered.

"You have rested?"

"Yes." Peter closed his eyes, listening to birds chirping in the trees behind them. "Things are still pretty tense at the precinct. Things aren't over yet, but I think we are heading in the right direction. There is a formal investigation being mounted and the Task Force procedures are going to be reviewed."

"And how are Kathy and Elizabeth?"

"They've gone to stay with her parents for the next couple of weeks. Sandra Mason wasn't giving them a moment's rest." Peter said, a hint of anger in his voice.

"It is good that they have a place they can go to for peace," Caine nodded. "And have you found that peace, my son?"

Peter grinned slightly, nodding, "In fact, for the first time in a long time, I'm starting to understand things."

"Like?"

Peter took a deep breath, putting his thoughts in order, "When I was teenager, my ultimate goal in life was being the best damned cop I could be. . .because I wanted to make Paul proud. I had it in my mind that only as a cop could I find truth and honor and integrity. Only as a cop, could I serve and protect. Only as a cop could I gain Paul's respect." Peter picked up a nearby rock and skimmed it over the water, "But I was wrong. Truth, honor, integrity, the capacity to care. . .aren't a career choice, are they? They are the person."

Caine nodded, "Yes my son."

"Like Barnes. He was a cop for a long time. . .but he didn't have the capacity to care. . .the strength to face the truth. . .at least not until it was too late," Peter muttered. "But then someone like Kathy, who has lost her whole world, can set aside her own anger and fear, and strive for the truth, no matter what pain it causes to her."

"And some are willing to sacrifice everything they have, everything they have achieved, to help others," Kwai Chang Caine said gently, putting an arm around his child's shoulders. "You are such a person, Peter. I am so proud of what you did, of how you handled yourself, I could burst with my joy. You have brought honor, not only to yourself, but to the line of Caine. And whether you are a cop or a priest does not matter. . .You are a man, and nothing will ever change what you have accomplished. . .what you have become."

Peter felt tears welling up in his eyes. But this time, unlike those of the past few days, these tears were of joy and love. And he knew, instinctively, that he had just taken his first step on his new path, the path that would lead to his return to innocence.

--fin--