Part 18

Cassy St. John slapped the file shut and gathered her notes to brief Harry before heading home for the night. The phone rang just as she was about to leave her desk and head to the captain's office. "Sergeant St. John." She winced at the sound of the voice on the other end of the line.

"Cassy, I'm so glad I caught you in. Is he doing any better this evening? He made me cancel the flight reservation this morning, but I just checked. It's not full yet, so I could still get a seat. I can leave within the hour."

Sighing deeply, she was once again caught in the middle. "Frannie, he seemed much better this afternoon. I really think you should stay where you are. We are making some progress, but it's slow. I was just going in to brief him when you called. You really are safer there at your sister's. I know it's frustrating, but please, just hang in there for a little while longer."

"I just feel so helpless this far away. I know how much he needs me. He told me this morning that there were new pictures of Tom waiting for him when he got in. If I know my Harry, they were probably far worse that he made them sound. All he would say was that it looked like Tom was having a pretty rough time. Do you think. . .Does it really look like Tom is holding up all right? I just get so angry when I think of what Stein is doing to him. And all of it just to get at Harry. Then I get scared. I keep seeing that handsome face, all smiling and eager when I walk into that office with my homemade chocolate chip cookies. The thought of not seeing him ever again. . .We can't lose him, Cassy. We just can't." Frannie was in tears by the time she finished speaking.

Cassy chose her next words carefully. "I'd say Harry's description of Tom was pretty accurate. But I'm sure that Tom will be just fine. We all will. We're getting closer to finding him all the time. He'll be back home safe and sound real soon, and begging you for some of those chocolate chip cookies. I know you feel helpless and that you want to be here more than anything, but you did promise Harry you'd stay put."

"I know I promised him I'd stay here, but I don't feel very good about it. I can't let him go through this alone for much longer. I will stay for now, though, if you promise to call me the minute he gets any worse. Will you promise me that, Cassy?"

"Yes, Frannie. I promise. I've told you every day since Monday that I will call. I'll keep an eye on him for you. That's the best I can do. Now, I really need to go in and talk to him, so we'll have to talk later, okay?"

"Of course, dear. I really am grateful to you for helping me with this. If anyone else can understand what he's going through, I know it's you. I'll talk to you tonight, same time as usual?"

"Yeah, Frannie. I'll call tonight at the usual time. I really have to go now. Bye." Cassy quickly hung up the phone before Frannie could change her mind again. Picking up the notepad, she headed into Harry's office.

Finding the door partly open, she stuck her head in as she knocked. Harry was sitting at his desk trying to finish going through the reports on some of their other cases. "I'm at the end of the line for today. You want the run down now?" she asked. He motioned for her to take a seat.

"So what do you have?" Cassy noticed he was sharper and firmly back in Captain's mode. She felt a little better about having told Frannie he'd improved. She really didn't want to resort to lying. She was trying not to consider what would happen if it got to that point.

Settling into the chair, she began her report. "I've eliminated three of the six possible suspects. One is dead, one is back in prison, and the other is being a model citizen right now. He hasn't missed a day at work or a date with the parole officer in the last year. Out of the three remaining, I think this is the strongest suspect." She paused to hand him a copy of the record faxed from the prison in New York.

"His name is David Willis. He goes by the nickname "Stones" most of the time. According to his record, he's big and mean and not afraid to get into a fight. He was in for manslaughter. Just the type Stein would need. His parole officer hasn't seen him in three months and doesn't have a clue where he could be. There's a warrant out, but no sign of him at any of his old haunts. He could easily have disappeared down here with a little help from Stein."

Harry wanted the full run down on the other two as well. "So what about the other two? What do you have on them?"

"Next, there is a Dr. Gordon Leonard. Served his full five-year-sentence and was released about three weeks after Stein, but I don't think he's the type Stein would want around. There's no violent history here. He was in for aggravated sexual battery. He apparently developed quite an obsession for one of the athletes at a small college where he was the team doctor. The school tried to hush it up, but the good doctor wouldn't stay away from the guy. He stayed with his mother for three weeks after he got out, but things got unpleasant with the neighbors. She says he's staying with a friend in Palm Springs where they don't know about his past. I haven't been able to verify that yet."

Harry nodded for Cassy to proceed with the third candidate. "Last is one Jason Anthony Carter. On parole for attempted murder. Missed his last two meetings with the parole officer, who's been out with the flu for the last couple of days. He's expected back at work tomorrow, so I'll give him a call first thing."

"All right, why don't you head home and get some rest? Sounds like there's nothing more for you to do here until tomorrow. Don't forget your escort, either. I saw you try to sneak out of here without one at lunch time." Harry's tone was stern and Cassy decided not to press the issue.

"Okay, you win. But I really don't need him. I can take care of myself, you know." Cassy knew that he was aware that she was rapidly tiring of her shadow.

"So humor me. You leave without him again and I have you arrested. Got it?" He peered out over top rim of his glasses for effect.

"Okay, okay. I already said you win. Now promise me you won't stay too late, either." Cassy moved toward the door, but suddenly stopped when Harry spoke.

"St. John? Tell my wife that I love her and I really am doing okay when you talk to her tonight." A slight smile remained on his face as the last word was spoken.

Cassy considered protesting her innocence, but instead returned the smile. "Will do, Harry. Good night."

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Tom had been drifting in and out of a nightmare-filled sleep for what seemed like a long while. Upon fully waking, he briefly wondered whether it was night or day. The throbbing and burning in his shoulder had not dissipated, but seemed to spread across to the opposite side and down the middle of his back. His head and jaw throbbed and pounded in symphony with the injured shoulder. It was an effort to think clearly. The bruises on his chest and abdomen made him painfully aware of every breath he took.

He regretted, but couldn't suppress the sharp intake of air as the door opened and panic set in. Tom turned away with a loud groan as the light clicked on. The now-familiar sense of relief accompanied the sound of the doctor's cheery voice. "And how is my patient this fine morning? Did we sleep well? Today is going to be a big day for us, Tommy. A really big day."

End Part 18

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