SILK STALKINGS:
THE PHOENIX SAGA
BY SHERRY L. SHUPP
The dream has returned again. She sees her father, foster
parents, friends, and most of all her beloved husband. They seem to be
beckoning her home. Telling her to go back to what she had left behind.
She awakes with a start and looks at the clock on the night stand next
to the bed. 4:30 am. No time like the present to get up and get
packed. By 6:30 she is ready to go and waiting for her friend in the
kitchen.
When Diana walks into the kitchen she is surprised to see Rita
sitting at the table reading the Ft. Myers NewsPress, sipping on a glass
of juice.
"Good morning, Rita" the tall black woman says walking to get a
cup of coffee.
"Good morning, Diana." Rita starts "I have to tell you that I'm
going to go. Thanks for being here for me when I needed you."
Diana looks a little surprised since Rita hadn't mentioned any
plans earlier.
"Where are you going to? What are you going to do?" she asks.
Rita smiles a small smile and replies "I'm going to go back to Palm
Beach and see if I can get my job back."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Diana asks sipping her
coffee.
"Yeah, I've thought a lot about it? And this is what I'm ready
for ." Rita replies.
"Well, then I'm happy for you and I wish you the best." Diana
says giving her friend a hug.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I told you what would happen if you messed around behind my back,
Jared!!" The red haired woman screams, throwing her hands in the air.
The tall, muscled blonde man looked confused.
"What the hell are you talking about? I haven't been messing
around." he yells back.
hey are in the living room of a large and expensively decorated
house. Jared Jonathes had just returned home from his teaching position
at one of the local high schools when his wife, Devon started her
tirade.
"Of course your going to deny it. She said you would. Damn you,
with my best friend too!" Devon continues.
"Who told you I was having an affair with Nicole? Why would I
even want too?" Jared countered to his wife.
"I want you the hell out of MY house now! You and I are thru."
She yells. He looks a little shocked but he knows trying to talk to her
now will get him nowhere.
"Fine, I'll leave for now, but I will be back to get to the bottom
of this." Jared tells her with a quiet calmness as he heads back out
the door.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After driving for the last hour and a half Rita decides to stop
get some gas and stretch her legs and back. With one hand she pats her
bulging stomach as she talks to her unborn child.
"Okay little one Mommy's going to stop. We're almost to
Clewiston."
Another 2 miles and she sees a small Circle K mini mart and pulls in.
She fills up, grabs an apple juice, pays and is once more pulling out
onto Sugarland Highway. As she has been driving along she has been so
lost in her thoughts that she has hardly noticed the acres and acres of
citrus groves and sugar cane. That is until she is coming into the town
of South Bay and she sees a bus of migrant workers.
"You know little one, I wonder if people realize how hard the
migrants work to pick their fruits and vegetables. Or what terrible
conditions some of the families live in." Rita tells her unborn child.
The trip from Diana's home on Sanibel Island to Palm Beach is a long
one, but it's given Rita time to think about how she plans to ask for
her job back.
3 hours after leaving Diana's place Rita pulls into the cemetery
where Chris is buried. She hasn't been here in the months since she
gave Harry Lipshitz her shield and told him she was leaving Palm Beach.
She pulls up to the road by the grave and gets out taking with her the
single red rose she bought along the way. She puts on her sunglasses
and heads to where her husband is buried. His headstone has been placed
in the last four months and there are fresh flowers on the grave. Rita
places the rose on the ground and places a kiss on her hand and then
touches Chris's name on the tombstone.
"Hi Sammy, sorry it's been so long since I've come last. I
needed to get away and get myself together." She says with a slight
smile on her face.
"I got the message you sent me in my dreams. Thank you Chris. It
feels good to be coming home. And the baby will be surrounded by
people who knew and loved you." Rita tells him, the entire time she is
fingering Chris's wedding ring which she wears on a chain around her
neck. "Chris, I’m gonna go now, but I'll be back again soon." With
that said Rita rises and leaves. "One more stop before we head to the
apartment little one." she says gently stroking her stomach. 20
minutes later Rita pulls her blue green convertible into a very familiar
parking lot. Palm Beach Police Department headquarters- where she spent
10 years of her life and met her Sam. After turning her car off she
sits and looks at the building for a few minutes thinking about the
times she spent here with her partner cracking Silk Stalking cases.
There were so many. With a sigh she gets out of the car and heads for
the lobby. There she is promptly greeted by a smiling yet surprised
familiar face.
"Rita, oh my god is it you?" Bonnie McAllister, the
receptionist/dispatcher asks cheerfully.
"Hi Bonnie. How's it going?" Rita responds and quickly follows
with "Is the Captain in?"
"Yeah, let me call up and tell him you're here." the blonde says
with smile still fixed firmly on her face.
"Do me a favor, don't tell him it's me. I want to surprise him."
Rita says with hint of a laugh in her voice. Bonnie continues to smile
and nods.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain Harry Lipshitz sits in his office oblivious to the
organized chaos outside of it. He is looking at the newest framed
picture on his desk. It holds the images of himself, his wife, Chris
and Rita. It was taken at a anniversary dinner Lance and Lorenzo had
thrown for them two years ago. Frannie, his wife, had just recently
found the roll film that the picture had been on. Once she saw what was
contained on the celluloid she surprised him with this picture. There
was a similar one that she gave to the D.A George Donavon. Although
that one held George's smiling face with that of the two Sgt.’s. The
Lipshitz's and Donavon have really felt the loss of their friends. They
were good cops - the best as a matter of fact. And Chris was such a
great friend and so excited about becoming a DAD. Chris and Rita had
such a bright future ahead of them and it was all taken away by two
small bullets. As for Rita, Harry wasn't even sure where she was these
days. No one had heard from her since she left Palm Beach 4 months
earlier. Harry is brought out of his reverie by the shrill ringing of
the phone.
"What?!" he answers grumpily.
"Captain, you have a visitor, are you busy?" the voice on the
other end asks. Harry replies shortly "No, send them up."
5 minutes later Harry is working on filling out one of countless
reports that he always seems to find on his desk when his visitor walks
in.
"Hi Cap. I hope I'm not disturbing you." Rita says with a slight
smile on her beautiful face. The sound of the familiar and sorely
missed voice surprises him. He quickly looks up and comes around to the
front of his desk.
"Rita! It's you!" he sputters and his walks to give her a hug.
"How are you?"
Laughing Rita answers "I'm doing...good."
"Sit, sit." Harry tells her motioning to the couch as he turns a
chair around to face her. Rita complies and sits in the same spot she
sat in the day that she and Chris told the Cap. about their
relationship.
"So, where have you been? Frannie's been worried." he says as he
sits in the chair opposite her.
"I'm sure that Fran's the only one that was worried too, huh Cap."
Rita says losing most of the smile she had on her face. Harry's only
response in one of his famous "Captain over the glasses looks" Rita's
response to this surprises him. She quickly stands and walks over and
kisses him on the cheek then returns to her seat.
"I've missed you Captain." she tells him simply. Harry is
beginning to become impatient.
"So, you haven't answered my question yet." he tells her sternly.
"I'm sorry that I didn't write or call. After Chris died I felt
like I was dead inside too. He was just so big a part of me. I needed
to get my emotions back in some semblance of order." Rita explains with
an apologetic hint in her voice.
"So, have you?" he asks with a tinge of concern evident in his
question. Her smile returns, but not only to her mouth, but to her eyes
as well. Harry had almost forgotten how easily her emotions could be
read thru her eyes.
"Yes," she begins "After I left I went to Italy."
"Italy?!" Harry says very surprised.
"Yeah, I went to see Chris's mom. I thought it would be best if I
told Anna everything that had happened face to face." she tells him.
"How did it go?" Harry asks curiously.
"Obviously she was upset to hear that her only child had been
killed. She did a lot of blaming herself for not spending enough time
with him. But I told her that he knew that she loved him and that he
loved her. That seemed to help. She said she was happy that Chris and
I had at least a short time of happiness together. But she also said
she is not old enough to be a grandmother, but plans to spoil the baby
rotten." she tells him. Harry laughs believing the last part
especially after hearing the stories Chris always told about his mom.
Rita continues.
"Then I went and stayed with Diana for the last 3 months." the
familiar name strikes a chord with Harry. He had worked with Dr. Diana
Roth when he first came to Palm Beach. Curiously he inquires.
"Where is Diana now?"
"She is the M.E. for the Lee County Sheriff's Department and has a
place over on Sanibel Island." she answers.
"So," he starts "What are your plans now?"
"Well, I was hoping to get my job back ." she replies hopefully.
"The Chief of Detectives job, huh?" he says slyly.
"Yeah" is Rita's reply with the small nod of her head.
"Well," he begins as he gets up from his chair " that position is
already filled. So I can't hire anyone new."
Rita looks crestfallen as she replies "Oh, okay." Harry continues
toward the back of his desk. He opens the upper left hand drawer and
pulls something out.
"But," he says as he closes the drawer and begins toward his
friend again "I can pull my current Lt. off of her personal leave." He
hands her the gold shield that she carried for 5 years.
"What!?" she asks very clearly surprised.
"I didn't have the heart to do the paperwork after you quit the
force." Harry explains "So, I placed you on an indefinite personal
leave. And I hoped that you might decide to come back." There are tears
flowing freely from Rita's eyes and down her cheeks. She responds to
her Captain as she fingers the badge in her hand "Thanks Cap." Harry
Lipshitz is happier than he has been in months. He knows naturally that
he can't have his best homicide team to ever grace PBPD back, but at
least he now has half that team home where she belongs.
"When do you want to start back, Rita?" he asks her.
Her answer is firm and resolute. "Tomorrow." He smiles at her and
gives her a quick hug. Then in his jokingly serious tone of voice he
tells her "Rita, you are coming over to our place for dinner tonight.
No if, ands, or buts about it your coming over. I'll invite Donavon
too. Fran will be so surprised." Harry has just made it very clear to
Rita that he won't take no for an answer. Not that she would even think
of saying no. She was home where she belonged. Wiping the remaining
tears from her face she smiles at him.
"Okay, that sounds great. But I best get over to my place and get
myself settled then. I'll see you tonight at what.. 6:00?" she tells
him.
"Yes sir, dinner time hasn't changed at our house any." he replies
and they both laugh. Rita heads for the door and a place filled with
almost as many memories of Chris as the station.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devon has left the maid have the rest of day off so she has the
place to herself this evening. After the blow out she had with Jared
this afternoon she needs the time to herself.
"A nice hot bath will be perfect to calm my jangled nerves." she
says aloud. She makes her way up the grand staircase and down the hall.
She enters the spacious master bedroom with the adjoining bathroom. Her
coral colored tub looks very inviting. The curvaceous red head begins
to run the water and adds a few dollops of rose scented bubble bath.
Returning to her room she begins to undress while walking toward the
stereo system. She pops in a disc and begins.
"Classical music is so relaxing." she thinks to herself. Devon
continues to undress and proceeds to the bathroom. As she steps into
the large sunken tub of steaming water she sighs.
"This is going to feel so good." she remarks as she sinks into the
water up to her neck. With her eyes closed she lets the water and
Holst's The Planets do their magic and help her forget the betrayal she
is feeling. As her favorite part of the opus begins she smiles and
sighs once more. It seems so appropriate that the track she loves best
is titled Jupiter The Bringer of Jollity. She needs a lot of jollity
just now. As the music begins to crescendo a thin sharp cord is looped
around Devons alabaster throat. Her eyes fly open and she tries to
grasp the cord which is digging into her windpipe. She is having a hard
time breathing. As she continues to struggle now trying to grasp her
attacker she slips under the water and everything goes black.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Harry, who is this mystery guest you've invited over for dinner?"
Fran Lipshitz asks her husband for the fifth time in the last two hours.
"I told you Frannie it's the new Chief of Detectives down at the
shop." he answers exasperated by her persistence and trying hard to keep
from smiling. They exit the kitchen and enter the dining room where
their friend George Donavon is looking at the latest set of framed
baseball cards that Harry has acquired. He turns toward the couple as
they enter the room.
"Any luck Frannie?" he asks with a grin. George had spent much
of the afternoon racking his brain on who the other dinner guest could
be to get such top secrecy out of Harry.
"No, he's being very tight-lipped about this, and I don't think I
like it one little bit." she responds while giving her husband a very
pointed look. Just as the inquisition is about to begin again the door
bell rings.
"Ah-ha, saved by the bell, quite literally. I'll get it." Harry
says as he walks toward the door. He opens it and smiles at Rita.
Before she has a chance to say anything Harry starts.
"I haven't told them who was coming because I wanted to surprise
them. So, stay out of sight until I introduce you." Rita smiles and
nods her agreement to his plan. They walk back toward the dinning room.
Upon reaching the entryway from the living room to the dinning room Rita
moves to the side so she is out of sight. Harry stands right in the
doorway and starts his introduction.
"If I may have your attention," he begins sounding very formal "I
would like you two to meet the new Chief of Detectives... Lt. Rita
Lorenzo!" On that note Rita steps into the doorway with her Captain.
She is immediately engulfed in a tearful hug from a very emotional Fran.
"Rita honey, I've missed you. I've been so worried. Are you
really back to work? Are you staying?" she rattles out without
stopping to catch her breath. Laughing Rita answers her questions.
"Yes, I'm back to stay and I return to work tomorrow." Fran
releases her younger friend who is quickly caught up in hug by George.
"It's so good to see you!" he tells her as he steps back.
"Thanks George, it's good to see you too." she replies. Harry is
standing back with his hands on his hips grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, since were all here now, let's eat. I made lasagna." Fran
informs them as she heads toward the kitchen with Harry right behind
her. George pulls out a chair at the table and holds it for Rita.
She smiles at him and says "Thanks George. Your such a
gentleman." He smiles back at her with genuine love and friendship
present in his eyes and on his face.
"Your welcome." he pauses for a second and continues "It really
is good to have you back where you belong." Even as he says it he is
thinking about her husband and his dear friend Chris, who was taken from
them too soon. As he pushes her chair in the Lipshitz's return
carrying the dinner. They sit it on the table and find their seats as
does George. The time around the table eating the delicious dinner is
spent talking and enjoying being together. Although at various times
thru out the meal each of the four thinks about the missing person in
there lives. After the food had been finished and the dishes cleared
the gathering moves into the living room. Finally the time to ask the
question that had been weighing on Harry's mind since Rita left his
office is here.
"Rita" he starts hesitantly "don't get me wrong. I'm glad to have
you back, but why?" As soon as the sentence is out of his mouth he is
promptly hit by Frannie in the arm.
"Harry, who cares. As long as she's home." Frannie says her
voice filled with outrage.
"No, it's fine Frannie. Cap has a point." Rita replies looking
first down at her hands and then to her friends she continues.
"When I left I said I needed to go someplace where the baby would
be safe. I thought it was the best thing to do, but then I went and
visited Anna. It was very weird. I could tell her more about her son
than she could tell me." She is gently stroking her bulging belly as
she is talking. She takes a long shaky breath before she goes any
further.
"I started to think about what little one here would know about
it's Daddy. I want it to really feel like it knows Chris, then I
realized there is no way that I can do that by myself. This baby needs
to be surrounded by people who knew and loved Chris the same as I did.
With all of you around as it's "family" it will know it's father." she
finishes with a slight smile and looks at the three of them. Harry
clears his throat, knowing that if he doesn't he may begin to cry at the
touching speech Rita has just completed.
"Well now that we have that question out of the way. What are you
going to name my godchild?" he asks. Rita's eyes immediately light up
as she starts to tell them.
"If it's a boy Christopher James Lorenzo Jr. It seems only right
that he be named after his dad. And if it's a girl Caitlin Rose. Rose
for Chris's grandmother."
"Those are such beautiful names." Fran responds almost in tears
once again. The friends continue to visit for a while longer before
Rita and George say that they need to head to there homes. Good byes
are said and everyone goes their own way.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A continent away a young man stares out the window of the room
that's been his home for the last 4 months. His chest is still a little
tender where the bullets pierced his skin. He touches one of the sore
spots and winces at the pain. He leans his head back, resting it
against the high back of the chair, and closes his eyes. In his mind he
sees her face - the lovely smile and her expressive green eyes. Those
eyes that could penetrate deep into his soul. The eyes thru which he
could always read her emotions and often what was on her mind. He can
hear her laugh, feel the softness of her skin and taste her kiss. As he
opens his blue eyes tears well up in them. The handsome man sighs as
he continues to think of her. He misses his soul mate, best friend,
partner, - wife so much it hurts. He remembers vividly every minute
with her. It is the one thing that keeps him from going crazy. He
thinks about some of the best times with her. The first time they made
love, the day she told him they were going to be parents, and the day
they were married. He smiles a wistful smile as he remembers how lovely
she was in her white dress and he put his ring on her finger. Absent-
mindly he feels for his wedding ring which he knows won't be there. His
thoughts turn to times when he was so scared for her. The time she was
shot in the shoulder, when he thought she had been killed, when she was
shot at after they knew she was pregnant, and when that animal had
kidnapped her. He was so frightened and then when he got her back he
felt such relief. That was the last time he held her. The last things
he could remember was telling her he'd never leave her, the gunfire, the
pain, her crying out his name and then waking up here. He begins to
wonder what she's doing now, what she looks like and how she's doing.
"Oh God Sammy, I miss you so much." he says aloud. Before he can
sink back into his musings he is interrupted.
"Hey Lorenzo. You going to sit in here all day?" FBI agent Jorge
Trask asks from the door.
"Huh?" he says not really hearing what was said to him. The
slightly balding middle aged man has a sour look on his face. He hates
to be ignored and thinks that what his "guest" has just done.
"I said, you staying in here all day?" he repeats. Chris
Lorenzo's eyes flash with a variety of emotions at once as he retorts.
"Why is something exciting going to happen today? Like maybe
you'll let me go home and resume my life." Trask looks disgruntled as
he answers Chris.
"Your not going home yet, but you'll be getting a visit from a doc
to check your wounds."
"Yeah, yeah how exciting. Any word on Montoya?" he responds.
"Our contacts say we should have him in custody soon." the FBI
agent retorts. He storms out of the doorway and heads down the hall
to the kitchen of the rancher style house. His partner, David Cubbler,
is sipping a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. Cubbler is in his 50's
with a beer belly and glasses.
"Is he in a surly mood again?" he asks the slightly younger agent.
"Naturally, he has been for the past 3 months. All he does is ask
if he can go home yet. I'd sure as hell would like to know what he has
back there." Trask says.
Cubbler laughs as he replies.
"Maybe he has a wife?" Trask laughs too as he answers.
"Yeah sure, then where is his wedding ring?" Down the hall Chris
overhears the two men and wonders the same thing. " Where the hell is my
wedding ring. And if these two idiots don't know about Rita then how
can I be sure that they know what's going on with Montoya." he thinks to
himself. Back in the kitchen the conversation has continued. Trask is
asking the questions again.
"When is the new doctor due to get here Dave?" Before an answer
can be given there is a knock at the door.
"How about now." Cubbler tells his partner as he walks toward the
front door. The silhouette of a man can be seen thru the stained
glass window that encompasses the top half of the door. Cubbler opens
the door to reveal a skinny dark haired man carrying a medical bag. He
takes off his sunglasses and looks up at the agent who answered the
door.
"Agent Trask or Cubbler?" the man inquires. The FBI agent smiles
and answers.
"I'm agent Cubbler. And you are?"
"I am Roger Deneral. The doctor you asked for, but I'm a little
confused. You do know that I am a pathologist don't you?" he asks.
"Can you see if a wound is healing up right?" the agent asks.
"Yeah, sure." Roger answers.
"Well then you'll do just fine. You do understand that Mr. Smith
is in protection here don't you." the FBI agent says to the doctor.
"Yeah, yeah. I understand keep my mouth shut when I leave here
today." he says as he closes the door.
"Okay then follow me." Cubbler starts as he begins down the
hallway.
Roger nods his head in reply and follows after. The two men stop at the
2nd door on the right. He motions to the closed door and says
"He's in here, but be prepared he is in a bad mood." Roger laughs
and replies. "He can't be any worse than some of the police
officers I've worked with in the past." The caucasian older man just
nods his head and heads back toward the kitchen. Roger Deneral knocks
on the door and enters before the person inside can answer. He begins
with a greeting, but it never gets any further than "Mr." That is when
Chris turns toward the familiar voice. Roger's eyes get to be the size
of half dollars as he sputters
"Chris?!" at the same time an equally surprised Chris says
"Roger?!"
Both men are shocked and surprised to see the other. But Roger is
much more visibly rattled. The color has drained from his face and his
eyes, which are still very large, have all but popped out of his head.
Chris is the first to recover and begins to speak again.
"Roger, what are you doing here?" he smiles and continues "It's
so good to see you!" After another few seconds Roger is finally able to
speak a coherent sentence.
"My God in Heaven! You're dead!" he mutters. Now Chris is the
one to look thoroughly shocked.
"I'm what!?" he asks in a loud voice. Then looks quickly toward
the door happy to see that it is closed and the agents in the kitchen
haven't heard the exchange. The shock of seeing his friend is beginning
to wear off as Roger explains.
"You died after being shot by a rogue cop. Dr. Lincoln was at
your funeral. "
Chris is dumbstruck by the revelation that has just been revealed to
him. His next thought hits him with the force of a ton of bricks.
"Oh no, Rita." he says aloud thinking of the pain his wife must
be going thru. Everyone she has ever loved in the past has died and now
she’s added him to that list. His poor Sammy, she makes people believe
she is so tough, but she's actually very vulnerable. He can feel his
eyes filling with tears again. He tries to regain his composure as he
looks his old friend dead in the face and inquires.
"How's Rita? Do you know if she's okay? You know she's pregnant
don't you." Roger can see the raw emotion on Chris's face as he
answers
"As far as I know both she and the baby are fine. But I haven't
talked to Linc lately." Roger opens up his medical bag and continues to
talk to his patient "Now let me check your wounds."
Roger examines where the bullets had penetrated his friends chest.
Chris remains quite during the exam, but his mind is racing as he
formulates a plan. After the examination of his wounds is complete
Roger asks the 25,000 dollar question.
"Chris, what the hell is going on here? And why have you let
everyone think your dead?" Chris looks a little distracted as he
continues to think about Rita being all alone, hurting, and pregnant.
"Roger, to tell you the truth I'm not exactly sure how I got here
. The last thing I remember is getting shot and trying to protect Rita
and the baby. I felt the bullets go thru my vest and Rita was crying
then everything goes black. When I opened my eyes next I expected to
find her sitting there but, instead here I was. I was told that I am in
protective custody to testify against Jesus Montoya. What I am supposed
to know I'm still not sure of, but I can't seem to get these guys to
understand that. And as for thinking I'm dead. Oh, God that is the
last thing I would want to put anyone, especially Rita thru." Chris
tells his friend. The look on Roger's face tells Chris he is thinking
about something.
"You say that your supposed to be in protection against Montoya?"
he asks. Chris nods his head in response.
"I'm not sure, but I think he was killed the same day you died."
he offers. The look on the officers face speaks volumes before he opens
his mouth. "Great! I should have known those two idiots out there
wouldn't know what's going on. They don't even seem to know about my
wife. Although I haven't shared that information with them either." he
takes a breath to regain control of his temper and starts again "Rog,
you have got to find out about Montoya for me. If he's dead then I can
get the hell out of here and go home to my wife and baby."
"Okay, I'll make some calls back to Palm Beach and see what I can
find out. I'll tell those two that I'm a little concerned about your
wounds and want to see you again in a few days. Until then take it easy
buddy." the young doctor tells him. Chris gives a wry smile and says
"All right. I'll try, but it won't be easy."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rita has been up and getting ready for work for about the last
half hour when her phone rings. She answers
"Hello." On the other end of the line is Harry Lipshitz.
"Rita, are you ready to get your feet wet on a homicide?" he asks
her. She has a slightly clouded look on her face but answers the
affirmative.
"Okay, since Price and Rawlins are both out of town it'll be you
and I on this one. Meet me at 2334 Glades Blvd." He tells her his
voice sounding very grim at the prospects of the long day ahead of him.
"No problem Cap. I'll be there in 20 minutes." she says to him
and hangs up the receiver. She grabs her purse and starts for the scene
of her first Silk Stalking case without her Sam.
When Rita arrives the Captain is already there and waiting for
her. The look on his face is even grimmer than he sounded on the phone.
She parks her car and says good morning to the startled police officers
who are controlling traffic. Harry makes his way over to her and begins
talking immediately.
"Rita, I'm not sure you want to be here." She looks at him
puzzled as she pulls a pair of latex gloves out of her purse.
"Why's that Cap?" she asks still walking toward the house. Harry
puts his hand on her arm to stop her as he turns to talk to her.
"The person who found the body is none other than Eric Russell.
Are you sure your up to seeing him?" Rita is a little surprised to
hear the name of a former boyfriend, but knows she has no residual
feelings left for him.
"That's fine Captain. We have a murder to solve and that is what
matters to me right now." she says with a resolve that convinces Harry
and puts his mind at ease. The last thing he wants is for to get to
upset. Chris's death has been more than enough for her to handle in her
condition. Convinced that she can handle seeing a man who hurt her
very badly in the past he tells her to follow him and leads her to the
crime scene. She follows him up the steps and into the master suite
that is so very obviously the scene of the crime. Police swarm over
the place like ants at a picnic. They walk into the bathroom where they
see the bloated dead body. The medical examiner approaches the Captain.
"Hi Captain." she says in a quiet and respectful voice. She is
new in the last few months so she and Rita haven't met yet. Harry
quickly introduces them.
"Rita, this is Dr. Aurora Maldonado. Aurora this is Lt. Rita Lorenzo."
The two women smile at each other and say hello. Rita ever ready to
solve a crime jumps right in with her questions.
"What would you say is the cause and time of death Dr.?"
Aurora looks over at the once beautiful woman lying in the tub and
answers
"Strangulation with a thin sharp cord, in the ball park of 8:30 and
10:00 last night. And Lt. Lorenzo please call me Aurora."
Rita smiles, nods her head and replies "Sure, but you call me Rita
then." The M. E. smiles and nods her agreement. After looking around
the crime scene Rita decides it's time to talk to Eric. She is more
than a little curious of how he came to find the body. She heads down
the stairs and out the back door to where she is told that he is being
questioned by the uniformed officers. She is getting a fair number of
surprised looks and just as many smiles of welcome. Rita lets out a
long breath before she moves to the other side of the pool. Before she
can begin the short walk to Eric an officer comes up to here with a big
smile on his face.
"Lt. It's good to see you. " he starts and then continues with a
question. "Are you going by Lance or Lorenzo?" She smiles back at
Jeremy Shelley and replies.
"Thanks Jeremy, it good to see you and it's Lorenzo. You can let
the others know. I figure they are all curious and you got elected to
ask."
He laughs and nods to the affirmative. She continues to move toward the
man that once meant so much to her. He is looking the other direction
as she approaches.
"I'll take over, Holland." she informs the officer. At the sound of
her voice he turns to face Rita. Officer Derek Holland replies
"Okay Lt." and he walks off. Eric has noticed her swollen
stomach, but says nothing about it.
"So, your a Lt. now." he says standing up and offering her the
chair he was sitting in. She sits down and he grabs another chair. As
soon as he sits down she begins to ask him questions.
"I understand that you found the victim. How do you know her and
what were you doing here so early in the morning?"
"Devon is married to my cousin Jared. I have a standing
invitation to stay here when ever I am in town. I got in early this
morning and found the front door ajar and being a former cop I
investigated. That's when I found her and called 911." he tells her.
The look on his face is that of a man who has just come face to face
with the best thing to ever happen to him and that he let go. Before
Rita has a chance to finish making notes on the small black pad Eric
asks the next question.
"So, how did Chris take you getting a promotion?" a slight cloud
passes quickly over her face, but she answers him.
"He was very happy for me naturally." Eric seems to have not
noticed that she is uncomfortable with his line of questions and follows
with another one.
"Where's your partner?" Officer Holland begins to walk toward
them after he hears the question, but Rita raises her hand to tell him
that it is okay. Rita takes a deep breath and simply states
"Chris was killed in the line of duty 4 months ago." she tries to
cover the look of pain that she is sure is evident on her face and get
back into the "cop mode".
"Where is your cousin?" she asks him. Eric is stunned by the
revelation she dropped on him as he answers.
"Rita I'm very sorry. I know how close you two were." Rita
shakes her head and tells him
"You don't know the half of it. Please just answer the question
Eric."
"Yeah, I don't know where Jared is, he wasn't here when I got
here and am a bit worried." Rita again makes some notes on her pad.
"What can you tell me about your cousin?" she asks him.
"Jared and Devon were married about 3 years ago, he's loved her
from the day they met. Which was in college in New York, Cazenovia to
be exact. It's a small school near Syracuse. Devon's family has a lot
of money. But even with all the money, Jared insisted on working. He's
a music teacher at West Palm High School." he tells her. Eric is still
looking down at her stomach occasionally. Rita stands to leave and says
"Thank you for your help, but please don't leave town we may still
have questions for you." As she begins to turn he touches her arm and
hesitates before beginning
"Rita, um... the baby.... is it...?" Before he can finish what he
is asking she knows what he is about to say and it fills her with
outrage.
"You think that this baby is yours?! You took off from here
almost a year ago!" With that she turns and storms off to the house.
From the door leading to the patio the Captain has watched the exchange,
he shakes his head in concern as his Lt. heads toward him. As Rita
approaches him he tries to catch her eyes.
"Rita, we're done here for now, let's say we go get some
breakfast. I don't know about you but I had to leave before I got to
eat." he tells her. She knows that it is ,at least in part, an excuse
to get her to leave, but she is hungry and judging by the kicking the
baby is doing so is it. She smiles and replies
"Sounds good. Little one was just letting me know how hungry it is. I
think it's going to have an appetite like Chris." They both laugh
remembering some of the very strange meals Chris used to eat.
They turn and start for the cars they arrived in, from across the
pool Eric watches them leave. He knows that he's going to need to
apologize to her for this blunder, but how.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The music plays softly in the background at Donnie "Dogs"
DiBarto's club Dream Girls. The rotund man sits in his accustomed seat
holding his miniature doberman pincer Dutchie. He watches as a young
woman dances, trying out to be one of the new dancers that he is hiring.
The phone on the bar rings and it is answered by a tall and imposing
figure who works as one of Donnie's bodyguards. He has a quiet
conversation and then turns to his employer.
"Mr. DiBarto there is a Roger Deneral on the phone to speak with
you. He says that you two have never met, but have some mutual
friends."
Donnie looks away from the girl dancing on the stage and toward
his guard.
"Well, ask him who the friends are you idiot." he says with
irritation evident in his tone. The man asks the question to the person
on the other end of the phone. When he has received an answer he looks
at his boss.
"He says they're Chris Lorenzo and Rita Lance." The names startle
Donnie. He hadn't seen either of the detectives in more than 9 months.
He had been in the Caribbean working out some business deals. When he
returned a month ago he had heard about the marriage, the death, and the
departure. It had saddened him. He quickly takes the phone out of the
other mans hand.
"Yeah, I'm listening." Donnie says into the phone.
"Mr. DiBarto, my name Roger Deneral. I am a friend of Rita
Lance's.
I worked with Chris and Rita a couple of years ago and they always
said that you had the most reliable sources in Palm Beach." Roger says
.
"Yes, so what do you want?" Donnie says with a bit of irritation
seeping thru. Donnie is thinking of the only two cops he has ever
liked, be it here or in New York. The voice on the other end begins
with the reason he called.
"A friend of mine had a slight run in with Jesus Montoya a few
months back. We had heard a rumor that he was dead. My friend would
like to return home to Palm Beach, but he needs to know if Montoya and
his organization are still up and running around. I was hoping you
could help me." Donnie has a sudden intense flash of anger at the name
of the man responsible for making his doll Rita a widow.
"I have heard the same rumor, but being out of town until recently
I can't be sure. Do you have a phone number where I can reach you at?"
he replies both curious and suspicious. Roger on the other hand is
elated that he will be able to get the information that he needs for
Chris to return home where he belongs.
"My cellular number is area code (226) 674-2545 please call me any
time." he says before saying good bye and hanging up. Donnie hands the
phone back to his bodyguard who hangs it up. Petting Dutchie, Donnie
sits trying to decide what his next move should be. Then it hits him,
Harry "the lip" Lipshitz.
"Get my car pulled around NOW!" he says with more forcefulness
then he had intended, causing his guard to jump.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger pulls up to the front of the house where the FBI is keeping
Chris. He grabs his medical bag and heads up the front steps. He
knocks and is let in by Agent Trask.
"You back already?" he asks annoyed.
"Yeah, I told your partner I'd be back. I want to check those
wounds again." Roger patiently replies. Trask looks toward the couch
where he had been watching television and then back at the younger man.
"He's in his room. You know the way so go ahead on back." The
medical examiner heads down the hallway and knocks on the closed door of
his friends room. From the other side of the door comes a disembodied
voice.
"Yeah, who is it?" Roger whispers "It's me" and enters the
room.
Chris looks anxiously as his friend approaches.
"So, what's the word" he asks voice filled with the hope of
returning to his Sam.
"I'm waiting for a call back from Donnie DiBarto. You always said
he was the best so he's who I called." Roger tells him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the homicide division of the Palm Beach Police Department the
usual activities are being attended to until the large imposing figure
of a man enters carrying a small dog. He ignores the looks he is
receiving from the police officers and detectives in the room and
continues to walk straight to the Captain’s office. He walks in without
knocking and promptly addresses the man behind the desk.
"Harry, I need your help." Donnie says . Captain Harry Lipshitz
looks a bit surprised by the man standing in front of him and the
statement that was just made.
"What?" he replies more than slightly confused.
"I said I need your help." he repeats. "I received a phone call
from a guy claiming to be a friend of Chris and Rita's. I want to know
if you ever heard them talk about him. His name is Roger Deneral." he
says to the man still sitting behind the desk. Harry runs his hand thru
his slightly graying hair as he thinks a minute, then answers.
"Yeah, I remember them talking about him. He was a medical
examiner here years ago. Why?"
Donnie looks slightly relived as he begins to answer.
"As I said I received a call from him today inquiring about
Montoya and his organization. Said he had a friend who wanted to return
home to Palm Beach, but had crossed Montoya in the past. I told him I
look in to it and get back to him." Harry's curiosity is peeked.
"Do you have his phone number with you?" he asks as he rises to
his feet. Donnie nods his head in response. The skinnier man picks the
phone off the hook and says
"Let's call him now." Donnie fishes the phone number out of his
pocket and hands it to the other man. Harry dials the number and waits
for someone to answer.
In California Chris and Roger have been chatting when a low
chirping sound begins to emanate from the inside pocket of Roger's
jacket.
"Let me get that." he says as he pulls out the phone and
activates it.
"Hello," pause "Yes, this is Roger Deneral. Who is this?"
another short pause. "Captain Harry Lipshitz, okay." At the sound of
his friend and Captain’s name Chris's eyes light up as he moves closer
toward the phone so he can hear too. From the other end of the line a
familiar voice is saying "Mr. Deneral I understand your interested in
Jesus Montoya and his organization."
Roger replies "Yes."
"He's dead and the organization crumbled within days of his
death."
"You're sure he's dead?"
"Yes, he was shot by me and one of my detectives. He's dead all
right." As Harry finishes his sentence and before Roger can say another
word another familiar voice is heard. One that makes Chris ache.
Upon entering the room that houses the homicide division Rita
spots the portly and easily recognizable figure of Donnie "Dogs"
DiBarto. She immediately heads toward the office he is standing in and
enters.
"Donnie, what are you doing here?" Donnie is stunned to see her
since he thought she had left town.
"Rita Doll! Look at you! You look wonderful. Expectant
motherhood agrees with you. When did you get home?" he asks truly
happy to see her fit and looking well. Even with the little bit of
sadness present in her eyes, she was a sight for sore eyes.
"Thank you, I got home yesterday, and came back to work today."
she replies. On the other side of the desk Harry has ended his
conversation and has hung up the phone. The two men look at each other,
neither really liking the other, but both very fond of the lovely young
woman in front of them. Harry addresses Donnie
"Well, that's taken care of." Donnie nods and says
"Thanks for the help. Rita darling, I hope to see you later. You
know where I am if you need anything." then looking at the little dog
in his arm says "Come on Dutchie our work here is finished." With that
he turns and walks out of the office and disappears out the doors. Rita
looks slightly confused and turns toward her superior officer.
What was that all about?" she asks. He replies in a very
nonchalant tone "An old friend of yours called Donnie concerning the
status of a known criminal. So he came to me to see if his information
matched ours." He resumes his seat and picks up a pen to return to the
paper work he had been doing before he was interrupted. But Rita's
curious of what old friend of hers would call Donnie.
"Cap, who was the friend?" she asks. He looks up at her over the
top of his glasses.
"Roger Deneral, now unless you have solved all the crimes get out
of here." he tells her with forced gruffness. Laughing she turns and
leaves his office. Lipshitz is very glad she didn't ask what criminal
he wanted to know about. He didn't want to open wounds that weren't
quite healed yet.
"Roger, that was her in the background. Oh, god." Chris says as
his friend hangs up the phone. He smiles at him and says
"Yeah, I know Chris. I also know that those two idiots out there
have no idea what's going on in Palm Beach. So, I guess we'll get you
home ourselves." The two men smile at each other and begin to plan the
trip home.
"Chris, what's the set up here at night?" Roger asks
thoughtfully. Immediately Chris launches into what the routine has been
for the last 4 months.
"After dinner, around 8:30 or 9:00 one of them goes home. They
both live close by apparently. The other one usually watches TV and
falls asleep about 11:00." Roger smiles.
"That's perfect! Can you sneak out of here with out waking anyone
up?" he asks. Chris gives him a cockeyed grin in return and say "Of
course!" Roger then proceeds to brief his friend on the plan. After
another 15 minutes Roger leaves and Chris is elated with the prospects
of going home to his Sam.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Rita works on her notes from the murder case she currently
assigned, a knock comes on softly on the door. She looks up to see
Eric standing there with his right hand behind his back . He is smiling
at her and the only emotion she can muster is anger. She is still angry
at him for thinking that he could be the father of her child. Of
Chris's child.
"Can I help you?" she asks shortly. He brings his hand out from
behind his back and she sees the bouquet of flowers clutched there.
"These are for you." he tells her quietly. Eric doesn't get the
response he is hoping for and expecting.
"I'm sorry Mr. Russell, but I can't accept them." she says. He looks
a little hurt and surprised by her reaction.
"They're a peace offering. I want to apologize for this morning.
I guess my thinking it was my baby was just wishful thinking on my
part." he tells her. His words have done nothing to soften her
expression, if anything it seems to have gotten harder. She is now
sitting back in her chair , hands resting on the bulge of the baby.
"That's for sure." she states.
"Have you come up with anyplace that your cousin might be other
than school?" she asks him making it clear in her tone that she does not
wish to discuss her baby. He takes the hint. Shaking his head he
replies to the question "No, sorry I just don't know where to look for
him. You don't seriously think that Jared is responsible for Devon's
murder?"
"You know that I can't discuss an open investigation with you.
You haven't heard from him either I suppose." she says her voice heavy
with anger. Eric knew he had hurt her with his deception last year, but
he didn't think that the feelings continued to be so deep. Once again
he shakes his head.
"No, I haven't. If I do I'll be sure and have him get in touch
with you." he says. As he is preparing to turn toward the door to
leave comes a voice.
"Rita, Can I come in or is this a bad time?" George Donavon asks.
Eric is surprised by the quick change in Rita's mood as she smiles and
responds to her friend.
"No, come on in George." The assistant DA is holding a small
wrapped box in his hands. He walks over to the desk and hands it to
her. She looks at him confused as she accepts it.
"What's this?" she asks with a sly look and a smile. He smiles
back at her and says "Oh, just consider it a homecoming gift." She
opens the box, ripping the brightly colored paper. Eric looks on a
little confused, not knowing that today is only her first day back on
the job. Rita sets the unwrapped box on her desk and takes the lid off.
Inside is a very ornately decorated silver hinged frame. In the one
side is a picture of her and Chris. It is one of the ones published in
the Daily Beach. The other side is empty. Tears begin to form in her
eyes and she blinks them away.
"It's beautiful, but how did you get this picture?" she inquires.
He chuckles as he responds "I have my connections, as a matter of fact I
have the entire set of them for you. I'll give them to you later. And
in case you didn't figure it out the other side is for the baby's
picture. I figured that way you can have the whole crew smiling out at
you." Rita gently sets the picture frame on the side of her desk. Eric
is trying to nonchalantly catch a glimpse of the picture in the frame.
Rita looks back at the box to move when she notices another object
wrapped in blue tissue paper. She picks it up and unwraps it smiling
over at George as she does so. When it is clear of the paper she finds
it is a name plate. It reads: Lt. Rita Lee Lorenzo Chief of
Detectives.
"George, how did you get this so fast. It really wasn't
necessary, but I love both gifts." she tells him.
"Your welcome for the frame, but I can't take credit for the
placard. Chris ordered it the day you got promoted. It came after you
left. I just held on to it until you came home again." he responds to
her.
Her eyes are filled with that same pain that was evident the day Chris
died. She runs her fingers across the lettering and sets it down on the
front of her desk. Eric for the first time is aware of who the baby's
father is and quickly snatches the frame off her desk and views the
smiling images of Chris and Rita on their wedding day. Outraged Rita
grabs the picture back, but before she has the chance to respond
verbally he starts.
"YOU MARRIED LORENZO!!!" the sound of disbelief in his voice is
shocking. And Rita takes great offense at his remark and implication.
"Yes, I did marry Chris and he's the father of this baby. What's
it to you?" she says the anger once more edging her voice.
"You broke up with me and married your partner?" he repeats.
Rita's response is in a low and dangerous voice.
"I didn't break up with you. You ended the relationship, and I
married the man who I loved more than anything else in the entire world.
The man who was my best friend and who also happened to be my partner.
If you have a problem with that...tough. Now, please get out of my
office." she says. Eric makes no effort to move and is ready to start
again when Donavon jumps in.
"I believe the lady asked you to leave. If you can't do that on
your own I'm sure one of these nice police officers will be glad to help
you." he says gesturing to the cops in the office all standing very
still. This is the first time that Eric notices that everyone has heard
his reaction to the news that his former lover was married to her
partner. He shakes his head and walks out the door of the office and
out of the homicide division. Rita collapses into her chair and leans
her head back. George is concerned and starts to move around her desk.
"Are you all right?" he asks as he is moving toward her. She
looks at him and smiles a weak smile.
"Yeah, I actually feel pretty good, a little tired emotionally,
but good. Thanks George." she says to him. He kind of laughs and
replies
"I was just trying to keep someone out there from shooting him.
That's all. Are you going to be okay if I go? I have a meeting."
Rita nods her head and he walks out. She sits in her chair for a
few more seconds then reaches for the frame. She holds it close to her
heart and talks to the living being inside her.
"Well, Little One I think your Daddy would have been proud of me.
What do you think?" as a response the baby kicks. She smiles and
touches the source of the movement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jared Jonathes enters the high school and heads directly to the
music suite. He's sure he's going to take a lot of flak from the choir
director, Terri Bends, for being almost four hours late. If it weren't
for the fact that the marching unit had a major competition in three
weeks he would have just called out for the entire day. It's 5th
period, lunch time, so the music suite is quiet. There won't be any
children back in here for another 35 minutes and for that he's very
grateful. He walks into the office he shares with Terri and looks thru
his messages. There are none from Devon. It seems very odd that she
hasn't answered his messages. He'd been calling her since early this
morning. He decides to try one more time. The phone rings once, twice,
three, four times and the machine picks up again. Jared listens to the
message knowing every word by heart.
"Listen Devon, if your there please pick up. Come on honey,
please." he pauses and takes a deep breath. "Okay, I guess your not
home. I'm at school. Please call me, I'll be here until at least
6:00." he finishes leaving the message and hangs up.
About five miles away Lt. Rita Lorenzo receives a call from
dispatch saying that Jared Jonathes' car has been spotted at the high
school on 2nd and Washington. She responds that she understands and is
en route to the location. She enters the school and heads directly to
the office. A smiling woman with long dark hair greets her.
"May I help you?" she asks politely.
"Yes, I'm Lt. Lorenzo of the Palm Beach Police. I would like to
know where I can find Mr. Jonathes." she says to the woman.
"Mr. Jonathes is in the music department. Go out the door and to
the left. Follow the curved hallway and you can't miss it. It's on the
left side, it has a set of double doors." she tells Rita who thanks her
for her help and heads to find her prime suspect. She walks the short
distance and finds the room as easily as the woman said she would. She
enters and quickly noticed the office sitting just past the row of
practice rooms. Knocking on the door a tall fair haired young man waves
her in.
"Yes, can I help you?" he asks beginning to rise from his seat.
"Are you Jared Jonathes?" she inquires. He nods his head as he
responds.
"Yes, and you are?" She pulls out her identification and shows it
to him as she introduces herself.
"I'm Rita Lorenzo with Palm Beach Police." He is very puzzled as
to why he would be getting a visit from a police officer.
"Is there something wrong?" he says starting to worry.
"Sir, I'm sorry to tell you, but your wife was murdered last
night." she tells him. He collapses into his chair and holds his face
in his hands and begins to cry. Rita understands the pain he is feeling
just now, it wasn't that long ago her own spouse had been murdered.
"Mr. Jonathes, I need to ask you where you were last night and
this morning?" she says going back into her cop mode. Dazedly he
looks back at her.
"I was staying with some friends of mine in Moore Haven last
night. Devon and I had a fight so I left and stayed with the
Stapleton's. You don't think I killed her do you?" he is shaking as
the realization hits him that not only has he lost his wife, but he's
also a suspect.
"Mr. Jonathes, it is standard procedure to question everyone who
knew the victim." Rita explains to the grieving man. He nods his head
in an effort to show he understands.
"I will need to ask for the phone number of your friends." she
tells him and he quickly jots the number down on a slip of paper and
hands it to her. She gives him a small smile in way of thanks.
Seeing this Rita decides it's best to go with the next question.
"Did your wife have any enemies?" she asks. His response is merely a
shake of his head. She continues.
"You said you and your wife had a fight. Can you tell what it was
about?" He looks up, his eyes wide with shock and grief. He nods and
begins:
"Devon accused me of having an affair with her best friend Nicole.
She was stark, raving mad." Rita looks at him intently before she asks
her next question.
"Were you having an affair?"
"NO" he says firmly and then continues "No, I wasn't and if I ever
did it wouldn't be with Nicole." he sounds almost discussed with the
mere thought of sleeping with this woman. It peeks her professional
curiosity even more.
"Why do you say that?" she counters.
"She is a total nutcase! I've never liked her, she and Nicole
have been friends since they were small children. I always thought that
Nicole was jealous of everything that Devon had, including me." he says
his voice thick with the tears that he hasn't had the time to shed yet.
He continues with something that he has just remembered.
"Devon said someone told her I was having and affair with Nicole.
As a matter of fact her words were, She said you would lie. Maybe
Nicole had finally gone over the deep end, maybe she told Devon the
lies." Rita has carefully written down everything that was said. She
closes the small note pad and places it back in her jacket pocket.
"Mr. Jonathes I am very sorry about your lose. Thank you for your
time and the information, but I must ask you not to leave town. We may
have more questions for you at a later time." she tells him as she
shakes his hand. He nods and she heads out of the office.
Rita returns to the station and heads directly to her office to
call Mrs. Linda Stapleton to check on Jared's alibi. She sits down in
her seat and picks up the phone out of the cradle. As she does so she
catches a glimpse of the picture and smiles as she dial the number.
In a preschool classroom adjoining the office in Moore Haven,
Shirley Wright is working with her group of 5 children. They are
coloring pictures of the farm animals they saw at the 4-H barn earlier
that day. When the phone rings she stands and goes to answer it since
no one is in the office. The tall woman moves into the office still
keeping an eye on the children as she picks up the phone.
"Good Afternoon, RCMA ." she says. The voice on the other end asks to
speak to Linda Stapleton. Shirley asks the person to hold and moves to
call out the door for the other woman.
"Mrs. Stapleton, phone call for you on line one." she yells, as a
response Linda nods her head and heads across the playground to the
office. Shirley picks up the phone and says "If you can hold on one
minute she'll be right with you." At that Shirley sets the phone on the
desk and returns to her group of children.
"Five minutes to clean up time. Ms. Wilcox will be bringing lunch
soon." she tells the eager children who immediately begin to put the
crayons away. In the office Linda, a tall woman with white blonde hair,
picks up the phone.
"Hello," she starts expecting to hear her younger sons voice instead she
is greeted by a woman's voice she doesn't recognize.
"Is this Linda Stapleton?"
"Yes"
"Mrs. Stapleton, My name is Lt. Rita Lorenzo of the Palm Beach
Police. I'm investigating a murder and need to confirm if Jared
Jonathes was at your house last night." Rita says to the startled
person on the other end. Linda answers her quickly and with enough
conviction in her voice that Rita has no doubts.
"Yes, Jared was at our house last night. He arrived at about
6:30. He told us that he and Devon, his wife, had a fight and he needed
a place to sleep the night. He left this morning at 10:30." she says to
the Lt.
"Thank you Mrs. Stapleton, you have been very helpful." she is
told.
Linda merely replies "Your welcome." with that the ladies hang up
their phones.
After hanging up Rita sits back in her chair and thinks about what
her next move is going to be. She had talked to Aurora earlier in the
day and had been assured all the results from the autopsy would be in by
morning. Maybe there would be some new clues there, because she had
come to the end of the road where Jared Jonathes was the killer. His
friend, Linda Stapleton, didn't show any of the signs of someone who
was lying. Rita had been at this game long enough to be able to hear
it, even on the phone. As she sits there pondering the situation
Captain Lipshitz walks in. He smiles before he begins to talk.
"It really is good to see you back in this office with that, I
have a crime to solve, look on your face." he tells her. Rita smiles
back at her captain.
"Thanks Cap." she replies. But Harry wags his finger at her and
continues.
"As great as it is to see you here, get out now. Your shift is over and
I don't want you to over due it on your first day back."
Rita knows that the Cap, George, and the rest of the cops in the
department are going to be treating her differently for the next 3
months. She sighs, lifts herself from the chair and begins to gather
her stuff.
"All right Cap. I get the point, but are you going to continue to
'baby' me for the rest of my pregnancy?" she knows the answer even as
she asks the question. Harry frowns at her as he replies.
"Naturally, that's my godchild your carrying there." The two
officers turn and head out of the department heading home for the night.
Rita enters her dark and lonely apartment with a sigh. She closes
the door and hits the light switch on the wall by the entrance. Being
back in her old apartment has stirred more memories. Everywhere she
goes memories coming boiling to the surface. As she stands just inside
her door she thinks about the night she came home to find police tape
across the door and Chris inside with his gun drawn. Then he lifted her
into his arms and hugged her. She had been nearly as surprised as he
was. She also remembered him telling her what it was like when he
thought she was dead. He was right, losing the other was like losing a
big piece of your life. Some days the only thing that kept her going
was the baby. Her last remaining piece of her Sam. Rita has decided
that she will tell the baby every last story about Chris that she could
think of and she'll start before the baby was ever born.
"Well little one are you ready for the first story about your
Daddy?" she says walking toward the kitchen. Almost as in response to
the question the baby kicks. Rita laughs and strokes her stomach.
"Ok, so let's see, where to start." she pauses and catches a
glimpse of an old photo of her and Chris. "I know let me tell you about
how excited he was when he found out we were going to have you." As she
makes herself a salad for dinner she tells the baby about it's father
and how much he loved it and it's Momma.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Roger left the safe house Chris started his preparations to
get out of here. He decided to take a walk outside around the grounds.
Trask didn't seem to mind this fact. As he traversed the area he took
in the fact that there was no alarm and no surveillance cameras. This
would make his exit much easier. He felt as though he was walking on
air. He was going home to Rita and his life. Chris was slightly
worried about how he was going to break the news to his wife that he
wasn't dead. Normally he'd just walk up to here and say HI, but with
her being so far along in her pregnancy he didn't think it would be a
very good idea. After walking outside for an hour he returned to the
house. Trask and Cubbler are waiting for him in the kitchen.
"So, you finally decided to get out of the house and enjoy the
nice weather." Trask says in a sarcastic tone. Chris merely shrugs his
shoulders as a reply.
"Well, what do you think of California?" Cubbler asks their
guest. Chris's temper is stoked by this remark.
"How would I know, I've seen the yard to this house. That's it."
he snaps. With that he turns on his heel and returns to his room. He
lays down on the bed and closes his eyes. As always when he closes his
eyes he sees Rita. With his memories surrounding him he drifts off to
sleep.
At 1:30 in the morning Chris sits wide awake in his room. He's
been watching the time slowly tick by for the last 2 and a half hours.
But now the time is here, he quietly opens his window and pushes out the
screen he has already loosened earlier in the evening. He goes thru the
window, turning to close the window once again, and starts toward the
road where Roger is to be waiting for him. He jogs the mile to the
meeting place and sees the car sitting there. Chris smiles as he opens
the door and climbs in.
"Any problems getting out?" Roger asks him. Chris smiles and
laughs as he shakes his head.
"No way, it was easy as pie." he tells his friend still smiling.
Roger smiles back at him and starts the car up and drives down the road.
"Well, we better get ourselves to the airport. We are booked on a
3:00 flight nonstop to Palm Beach." he tells his very anxious friend.
The two men leave the FBI safe house behind and head back to the life
that one of them has had ripped away from him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rita arrives at her office bright and early the next morning ready
to find the person who murdered Devon Jothanes. She had an appointment
with Nicole Niksley in just a few hours. She was the young woman who
had apparently been Devon's best friend and who the victim believed was
having an affair with her husband. At least she didn't need to see
Eric for any reason today. That was a relief. His reaction to the
news she had married Chris still shocked her. Especially the part about
her leaving him. Where was he when she thought she was pregnant with
his baby? Where was he when she was so sick? He was too busy using
Chris as an alibi and letting her believe he was dead. As Rita makes
herself a cup of hot tea the Captain walks in to the division. He is
obviously surprised to see her in the office so early.
"Rita, my office, NOW." he says very firmly. Taking a sip of her
tea she nods and follows him to the office. She closes the door and
sits down. Harry is facing away from her.
"Good morning Cap. What's up?" she says noticing his perturbed
attitude.
"You being here nearly 2 hours before your shift starts. That's
what's the matter." he says in his concerned father voice. Rita knows
that he will keeping on her if she doesn't just go ahead and tell him
the truth.
"The fact of the matter is I was up and awake so I came in to get
started on the day." she tells him. The worry lines on his face
deepen.
"Why were you up so early? You need to get your rest Rita." he
tells her concerned for her and the baby's health. She takes another
sip of her tea and looks back at him.
"I know Cap. and I am, but I'm having a bit of trouble sleeping
with out dreaming of Chris. Then I wake up and think he's right beside
me and he's not. So, I get upset and can't fall back to sleep. I think
it's just being back in a place with so many memories." she tells him
simply. The older man nods his head in understanding.
"Have you thought about getting a new place?" he asks. She nods
her head and explains.
"I did, but I can't bear to leave behind the good memories. Do
you know Chris once came over a couple of nights in a row and read to
me. I was battling a serious bout of insomnia and he was right there
for me. And when I thought Eric was dead, it was in the dinning room
Chris held me as I cried my eyes out. It's going to take a little while
to readjust, but I'll do just that and be fine."
"You promise that you're going to take good care of yourself and
that baby." he says looking at her over his glasses. She gives a
little laugh and tells him
"Naturally, this is my living piece of Chris. And I will love
this baby enough for both Chris and myself." Satisfied with her answer
he tells her to go and find a killer. She once again laughs and exits
the office.
3 hours later Rita is in her office when Nicole Niksley knocks on
the door.
"Excuse me are you Lt. Lorenzo?" she asks her eyes are red as if she had
been crying for several hours. Rita looks up from her paperwork and
smiles.
"Yes, and you are Ms. Niksley?" she responds. Nicole merely nods
her head. Rita stands up and motions to a chair as she says "Please
come in and have a seat. I just have a few questions to ask you
concerning your friend Devon Jonathes." The younger woman pulls a
tissue out of the pocket of her silk skirt and begins to dab her eyes
and sniffles.
"I'm sorry. Losing Devon has been very difficult. We were best
friends since we were 5 years old." she tells the Lt. Rita nods her
head in understanding thinking about losing her best friend.
"Yes, I understand this in hard and I appreciate your coming down
here to answer my questions." she starts "Can you tell me where you
were two nights ago?"
"Yes, as much as I hate to tell you this I can. I was with Jared
Jonathes. He and I have been having an affair for the last two months.
We never wanted to hurt Devon, but we are so in love." she tells Rita
who merely nods as she jots down a few notes.
"Okay, do you know of anyone who might want to hurt Devon?" she
asks. Nicole looks as though she is contemplating the question for
several seconds before answering.
"Well, maybe Jared's cousin Eric Russell." this little
announcement surprises her.
"Why do you think he would want to kill Devon?" she asks
curiously.
"He wanted her bad, but she didn't even like him very much. As a
matter of fact he tried to seduce her last year. He hasn't dated anyone
since he first met Devon 4 years ago." she says with such calmness that
Rita could believe her if she didn't know better. Then she remembered
what Jared had said about her yesterday and it all started to fall into
place.
"Thank you very much, I don't have any more questions just now.
But I may need to get back in touch with you so please don't leave
town." Rita tells her and Nicole stands and leaves the office. Having
seen the young woman leave Captain Lipshitz heads towards Rita's office.
"So, how it go?" he asks her from the office door.
"She's lying. She thinks that Eric killed Devon because he's so
in love with her and she turned him down. She also told me that Eric
hasn't dated anyone in almost 4 years." Rita tells him with a very
straight face. Harry had just taken a sip of his coffee and nearly
spits it out due to the surprising revelation that this latest interview
has brought.
"Gee, I guess what you did wasn't considered dating?" he ask
after finally swallowing his mouthful of coffee. Rita gives a little
laugh
"Yeah, I know. I didn't realize that I was a nobody. Besides
that lie, she also said she was with Jared and I have already confirmed
his alibi. Nicole Nikesly has just moved to the top of my list of
suspects." she tells him. The Captain’s response is a simple nod of
the head.
"Now, all I have to do is prove it." she states. The conversation
doesn't have a chance to go any further before Aurora comes up behind
the captain.
"Excuse me I hate to interrupt, but I have the autopsy report."
the blonde young woman tells them. "I found something very interesting
too." she finishes handing the report across the desk to Rita.
Opening the file up Rita asks.
"What did you find?"
"Rosin in the neck wound." she answers picking up the frame on the
desk. "This is a lovely frame. Is this your husband with you?" she
asks. Rita looks up at her smiles and replies,
"Yeah, that's Chris and I on our wedding day. George gave me that
yesterday. Do you mean Rosin as in the stuff used on violin?" Setting
the frame back on the desk Aurora nods
"Exactly." with that the medical examiner looks at her watch and
continues "I'm sorry, but I have a lunch meeting and I have to go."
"Thanks for the report Aurora. I appreciate the speed." Rita
says to the younger woman who is headed out the door.
"No sweat." she replies over her shoulder. The captain had
remained quite throughout the entire time that Aurora was there, but as
Rita begins to read the report he clears his throat.
"Rita, it's lunch time and you need to get something to eat." he
tells her in his father tone. She only half pays attention and
continues to read as she answers him "No problem Cap, I just want to
read this first."
"NOW!" he says forcefully. She is surprised and quickly rises
and heads for the door.
"Okay, I'm going. Will you join me?" she asks him. He replies
to the affirmative and they head to the lunch wagon together.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the plane touches down at Palm Beach International Airport
Chris's heart is beating faster than normal. He's back in the town he
calls home and is very near the most important person in the world to
him.
"I can't believe it. I'm back in Palm Beach" he says to his
friend as they taxi to the gate. Roger smiles a wan smile and nods.
Chris noticing the pale color of the other man's face looks concerned.
"Are air sick again?" he asks. Roger swallows hard and replies.
"Only on take off and landing. I'm starting to feel better
again."
Thirty minutes later the two former residents of the town are renting a
car and getting ready to head out of the airport. They head towards
town and Chris broaches the subject of seeing Rita.
"Roger, we're gonna have to talk to someone besides Rita first.
I don't think seeing your supposedly dead husband is the best thing for
a pregnant woman without some warning."
"Okay, I agree. But who do you trust to break the news to her."
he asks. Chris sitting in the passenger seat looking at the familiar
sites thinks about it for a minute when the person hits him.
"The Captain. He knows me, and Rita. Plus she trusts him." he
says pleased and eager to contact his former superior officer. Roger
hands Chris his cellular phone
"Well, why not call him and have him meet at the hotel?" Chris
wants more than anything to make the call, but realizes it wouldn't go
over well.
"I think you better call and have him meet us. We'll spring the
surprise of me being alive on him face to face." Chris tells him as he
dials the number to the "cop shop". When it begins to ring he hands to
phone to the driver of the car. Roger's call is quickly directed to the
Cap. who has just returned from his lunch with Rita.
"Yeah, Lipshitz here." the Captain says into the phone as he
answers it.
"Captain Lipshitz, this is Roger Deneral. We spoke yesterday."
he says and waits for a reply.
"Yes, I remember. What can I do for you?"
I'd like you to meet me at the Glades Inn on Colonial Blvd. if you
can. I have a matter I need to discuss with you face to face."
Skeptically he replies
"Ok, I'll be over as soon as Rita gets back in the office. It should
only be a few hours." With sheer panic in his voice Roger almost yells
No, please don't even tell her that I'm here. Not yet. Sir,
you'll understand when I see you." Harry is a little unsure, but knows
that Roger is a good friend of Rita's and decides to trust him.
All right, I'll meet you. Give me 45 minutes." he says looking
at his watch. With a time set the men hang up their phones. Chris is
now to the point where he is having a hard time containing his
excitement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
45 minutes later on the dot there is a knock on the door of room
317 of the Glades Inn. Positive that it is Harry, Chris goes into the
bathroom before Roger answers the door. Upon opening it Roger finally
has a face to put with the name.
"Captain Lipshitz?" he asks cautiously to the man with the slightly
graying man. He nods and is looking very serious
"Yes, and your Dr. Deneral?" he responds putting his hand out to
shake Rogers hand. The younger man returns the gesture and Harry walks
into the room. Roger is anxious and knows that Chris is too so he
begins right away.
"Sir, I'm sure your curious as to why I've asked you to come here.
And I'm gonna tell you in just a minute, but I'd like you to sit down
first." Harry sits down curious, but says nothing. Roger continues "I
know this is going to be a surprise to you because it was to me, but
it's real. A few days ago I was asked by the FBI in California to check
on the healing of some wounds on a person in protective custody. When I
went to see this person imagine my surprise when there in front of me
was Chris Lorenzo." On cue Chris saunters out of the bathroom with a
cocky grin on his face. The color drains from Harry's face and his
mouth falls open in shock.
"Hi Cap!" Chris says to his very surprised captain. He slowly
rises to his feet and begins to walk over to Chris.
"Is it really you? " he starts but goes on before he can reply "
No, can't be I was at your funeral. Fran and I put flowers on your
grave 2 times a month. It can't be you." Harry says not knowing how
else to respond to the obvious fact that he must be dreaming.
"No Cap, it's really me. I don't know exactly how I got to
California and God knows I would have never knowingly let y'all think I
was dead, but it really is me." Chris says the smile no longer on his
face. In response Harry reaches out and hugs his friend in a rough bear
hug, tears streaming down his cheeks. Then he pushes himself away from
the younger man, "How can I be sure it's you?" Roger chimes in quickly
"Just look at him. There's no mistaking the fact that it's Chris." But
Chris understands the Captain’s reluctance to accept him. And he let's
this be known.
"No Roger, I know what he means. I could be some impostor who
has had plastic surgery. Plus I also know that Cap.'s not gonna tell
Rita I'm alive until he's 100% sure I am who I say I am. And I'm glad
that he's looking out for my Sammy." The smile on Chris's face is one
of sheer joy. He's home and the reunions have begun. Harry stands
thinking for a minute when the solution hits him. "Fingerprints!" he
exclaims. "Your fingerprints will be on file at headquarters if you're
really Chris. All we have to do is take your prints and I'll run them
thru the computer." Suddenly there is a chirping sound from Harry's
pocket. He pulls his phone out and answers.
"Lipshitz." On the other end of the line is his Chief of
Detectives. "What's up Rita?" Hearing his wife's name Chris's face
lights up. On the other end of the line Rita is filling her Cap in on
the details she has just found out.
"Cap. I was hoping your were going to see this case out with me. It
seems that Nicole played the violin in the orchestra in school. And it
seems that Devon was strangled with a violin string. George is getting
me a search warrant. Can you meet me at 3452 Medford Place?"
"Sure. I'll be there in 30 minutes." then he hangs up the phone.
he turns back to the two other men.
"Well, the fingerprints are gonna have to wait. Duty calls, but
I'll be back later tonight." He tells them, says good bye and then
leaves.
Harry arrives at Nicole's condo shortly after Rita and the
uniformed officers. Nicole is standing in the doorway of her home with
Rita fuming.
"What the hell is the point of you searching my home? And who the
hell gives you the right to come in here?" Calmly the police Lt. holds
up the paper in her hand and tells her
"This search warrant says that we can search the premise." Nicole
has decided not to let up and continues to block the entry way of the
home.
"But why do you even want to search here? I told you where I was
the night of the murder." she says now pleading with Rita. The captain
has walked up behind his Lt. as the last statement is spoken. He stands
there quietly.
"Yes, you did tell me where you were the night Devon died. But we
have reason to believe that your lying. We also have reasonable doubt
that you maybe the person responsible for the murder." Rita tells her
in her most calm voice. Nicole is now crying and pleading with Rita not
to search her apartment. Instead she sends the 4 officers in to carry
out the warrant and pulls Nicole to the side to try and calm her.
"Ms. Nikesly, you need to calm down." she says to the hysterical
woman.
"I didn't hurt Devon. " she sobs back covering her face with her hands.
"If you didn't do it then you have nothing to worry about." she says in
a calm and reliable voice.
From the bedroom at the back of the house Officer Joseph
Cirigliano calls to Rita and the Captain.
"I think we found what we're looking for." They walk down the
hallway taking Nicole with them. There the tall young officer stands
holding a violin case open. Rita picks up the instrument and touches
the strings. She notices one is missing and looks back in the case.
There is the string with blood and skin on the piece of fiber.
She picks up the string and puts the violin back in the case.
Joseph hands Rita a ziploc bag for her to put the evidence in when she
is done looking at it.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" she asks looking over at
Nicole. Seeing the damning evidence Nicole's final grip on reality
gives out. She begins to scream.
"I had to do it! He loves me, not her, he loves me. I had to get
rid of her. She was so mean to him. I would take care of him, not like
her." She is crying and screaming this over and over again. Rita turns
Nicole around and puts the handcuffs on her.
"Nicole Nikesly, you are under arrest for the murder of Devon
Jonathes." she tells the raving woman and then continues by reading her
the Miranda rights. Officer Cirigliano and his partner Officer Jeffrey
Bailey take her out to their patrol car, to drive her to the station.
Rita looks drained, but pleased.
"Good work Lorenzo!" Harry tells her. "Now you need to go home and get
some rest." he continues. Rubbing the back of her neck she smiles and
nods in agreement.
"You know Cap. that sounds like a very good idea." she tells him
and heads out to her own car. Harry on the other hand has bigger plans
then heading home. He is going to find out if the man in room 317 at
the Glades Inn is really Chris. That is exactly where he is headed as
soon as he stops at the station to gather the necessary supplies to do a
finger print card. Two hours after leaving the hotel Harry Lipshitz is
pulling back into the parking lot. The ink and card for the 'test' are
on the seat next to him. He parks the car and heads for the door. A
minute goes by before the door is answered after he knocks. Upon
entering he sees why. Chris has once again gone to hide in the
bathroom. When he hears his friends voice he comes out of his hiding
spot.
"Hi Cap." he says smiling. Harry smiles back despite the fact
he's trying hard not to think of this man as his friend, not yet anyhow.
"Hi. I brought the stuff to do the finger printing. So let's get
it done so I can be sure one way or the other if you are Chris Lorenzo."
Chris nods his head and they do the finger printing. As the younger of
the two men cleans the ink off his hands, the older man packs up his
supplies again.
"I want to take this back and run it thru the computer right
away." he says holding the card in his hand. He says good bye to Chris
and Roger and heads back to the cop shop.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry is sitting in his office doing some paperwork while he waits
for the results of the test. There is a knock on his door. Standing
there is George Donavon. Looking at his watch he asks "Harry, it's
5:30. What are you doing here still?" Harry puts down his pen and
leans back in his chair. Grinning he tells George "You wouldn't believe
me if I told you. What's happening with Nicole Nikesly?"
"She's being referred for a psychiatric evaluation. She seems
like she's pretty far gone." the deputy D.A. says. The Captain nods
his agreement to the statement. The phone rings and Harry jumps to
answer it.
"Yeah" he says hoping it the fingerprint results. Instead it's
Julie Jennifers, the evening desk person/ dispatcher.
"Sir, there are two FBI agents to see you." she tells him.
Confused as to why the FBI would want to see him he tells her to send
them right up. George hasn't missed the variety of different and
unusual reactions his friend has exhibited.
"What's up?" he asks.
"There are a couple of FBI agents on their way up here." he
replies still confused by this visit that is about to take place.
"What do they want?" George asks now looking as confused as
Harry.
"I don't know, but why don't you stick around." he replies seeing
two strangers enter the squad room. "Looks like they're here now." he
finishes. The two new men head over to the office and tap gently on
the frame of the open door.
"Captain Lipshitz?" the older of the two men asks. Harry nods
his head and motions for them to enter. They do and close the door
behind them, looking cautiously at George as they do. The younger agent
with the slightly balding head begins to speak as both men show their
badges.
"I'm agent Jorge Trask and this is my partner agent David Cubbler.
What we need to talk to you about is of highest priority and in the
strictest confidence." he says looking pointedly at George. Before it
can go any further Harry introduces Donavon.
"This is George Donavon, Deputy District Attorney, and I want him
to stay. If you guys are going to working in our town, he needs to know
too." he says firmly. The graying, slightly balding agent nods his
head.
"Fine." he says as he reaches in his jacket pocket and pulls out a
picture. He continues "This is a man who up until yesterday was in
protective custody in California. He disappeared and we believe he's
headed here." Cubbler hands the picture over to Lipshitz who is joined
by Donavon to look at the picture. George is obviously very stunned.
"This can't be right. This man died 4 months ago. " he sputters
in total disbelief. Trask shakes his head "No, Mr. Lorenzo is alive.
And we need to find him before Jesus Montoya and his cronies do."
George is still having a hard time comprehending this information.
Harry on the other hand has begun to get angry.
"You mean that all this time the FBI has been holding a man against his
will to protect him from a man who is DEAD!?" he asks his voice
beginning to rise. The two agents are obviously confused by the
reaction of the police officer.
"Sir, what do you know about Mr. Lorenzo and Mr. Montoya?" Trask
asks Harry.
"Oh, let's see. What do I know about Chris Lorenzo? How about
that we have mourned him. We buried him or so we thought. How about
the fact that because of you I lost one of my best friends and
detectives. And let's not forget the fact that his pregnant wife thinks
that she is going to have to raise their baby on her own. And as for
Montoya he's dead. How do I know this you may ask. Well, I was one of
the cops who shot the scum. Now, what else would you like to know?"
Harry is fuming mad, George is beginning to come out of his stupor.
"Excuse me." Cubbler begins "You know Lorenzo, he's married and a
cop?" Both Harry and George nod there heads.
"Gentlemen, I think you better start from the beginning." the
D.A. tells the agents. All four of the men find seats and sit down.
Trask and Cubbler look almost as confused as Donavon did a little
earlier. Cubbler starts to relate the story of how Chris came to be in
protective custody.
"We arrived at Mr. Lorenzo's hospital room with an agency doctor.
When we got there he was not hooked up to any machines and no one was
around. The doctor checked his vitals and found a weak heartbeat. We
figured that whoever took him off the machines worked for Montoya and he
needed protection. So we moved him to a safe house in California. We
had no idea that he was married or that he was a cop." he tells them
very seriously. George decides it's time to start the line of
questioning.
"Didn't you ever ask him anything about himself or his life?
Christ, after he and Rita were married we were lucky to shut him up.
Even when they were partners he sang her highest praises. And Chris has
never been one to be tight lipped about the people he cares about." he
asks anger oozing thru the forced calmness of his voice. The balding
agent shakes his head as he answers.
"No, we never asked, but he also never shared any of that
information. It does explain why he's been in such a hurry to get back
to Palm Beach."
"Okay, next question. Why didn't you call this town to find out
about Montoya? We could have ended this whole fiasco months ago."
Harry says now sure the man in the nearby hotel room is Chris. The
graying, beer bellied agent gives a snort.
"Yeah right. We knew Montoya had bought off officers in this
department, why risk the life of a witness. Besides we have street
contacts too." he tells them. Harry laces his fingers behind his head
and leans back in his chair before giving his next statement.
"Well, obviously your contacts aren't that good. But now that you
know that Jesus Montoya is dead you don't have to worry about Chris do
you?" Before either of the two agents can respond George jumps in with
a question.
"Wait a minute. If you took Chris from his hospital room, he has
no money or id. How did he get away from you two?" Looking a little
embarrassed they look at each other and the older agent replies.
"We think a doctor we hired to check on his wounds helped him.
The man's name is Roger Deneral." George is so surprised at the
familiar name he lets out a long chuckle. The agents are looking at
this man with confused looks on their faces.
"Would you like to let us in on the joke?" Trask asks him in a slightly
hostile tone. Still laughing George nods his head
"Sure, Roger used to be one of our M.E.'s. He and Chris were good
friends." he says thru the laughter. Agent Cubbler begins to get to
his feet and puts his hand out to Harry as he does so.
"Captain Lipshitz, since the threat of Montoya is gone I guess we
are no longer needed on this case. So we will return to California. We
apologize for any inconvenience we have caused you and Mr. Lorenzo's
family. The four men shake hands and the agents leave the station
heading back to the airport. George is standing shaking his head and
watching the men walk out of the homicide dept. squad room when the
phone rings. Harry answers it.
"Yeah." he says. The person on the other end relays the news
he's been waiting for. The prints are a match. He hangs up and turns
to George.
"How would you like to go and see Chris?" he asks a big smile on his
face. The other man turns quickly.
"You know where he is?" he answers the question with a question.
"Yeah, and I just got back the results of the fingerprint check I
ran on him. So, do you want to go with me. We can tell him he doesn't
have to worry at about the FBI anymore. Then I want to take him to see
his wife." he says. the younger of the two men shakes his head and
they head out to the parking lot and a meeting that will lead to a very
happy reunion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Across town at the hotel room Chris is pacing the floor.
"What's taking the Cap so long to get those results back?" he
asks to the other man lying in the bed watching television. Roger looks
up at him as he responds
"I don't know Chris. Maybe whoever is in records today knows you
and keeps running the prints because your dead. Anyhow I'm sure we'll
hear something real soon." with that there is a knock on the door.
Chris immediately heads for the bathroom as Roger goes to open the door.
The doctor is surprised to see the A.D.A. there with the captain.
"George, it's good to see you. Please come in both of you." he
says shaking his old friends hand. Chris has come out of the bathroom
and smiles at Donavon.
"Hi George." he greets him simply. Overcome with emotion he silently
walks over to the detective and gives him a rough bear hug.
"Oh God, Chris it is so good to see you." he says trying to keep
his emotions in check. The captain decides to get right down to
business.
"So, are you ready to go home to Rita?" he asks. Chris's eyes
light up.
"Yeah, this means that you got the results of the prints and you now
know for sure I'm me." he says excited. Soon he'll be seeing his
Sammy. Holding her and loving her again. Harry nods his head and adds.
"Plus a little visit from your friends Trask and Cubbler." Chris
looks a little panicked now.
"I'm not going back." he tells the three men.
"No, your not. They told us their side of the story, we told them
ours and they are returning to California today." Lipshitz tells him
and then continues "So, what are you waiting for let's go." George
turns to Roger
"Can you give me a lift back to the office? I don't think they
need an audience for the reunion. I'll buy you dinner on the way."
Roger nods to the affirmative.
"Sounds good." turning to Chris he continues "I'll see you before
I leave. Give Rita my love." Chris smiles and hugs Roger.
"Thanks so much." he tells him honestly. The captain is standing
in the doorway waiting for Chris.
"How much longer are you keep dawdling?" he asks jokingly.
Smiling Chris looks at Roger and George and says
"See Ya!" then heads out the door and on his way back to his Sam
- the love of his life.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ten miles away in her apartment Rita is putting a CD of the
Beatles in the stereo and then heads towards the kitchen. Stroking her
belly as she walks she begins to talk to her unborn child.
"So, little one what would you like for dinner tonight?" The
baby stirs deep inside her. She looks thru a variety of cabinets when
there is a knock at her door.
"Coming." she calls. Opening the door she is surprised to see
Harry Lipshitz.
"Hi Cap" she says as she gestures for him to come in.
"Hi Rita, how are you feeling?" he asks glancing towards the
hallway. She laughs figuring he is just being overly concerned again.
"I'm fine. I was just trying to decide what I was going to make
for dinner." she tells him. He looks very serious as he asks her to sit
down. She complies and begins to feel like something is wrong.
"Cap, what's wrong. You act as though something has happened. Is
Fran ok?" she asks suddenly afraid for her friend. He puts his hand on
her arm to calm her down.
"Fran's fine. But I do have some news for you." he takes a
breath and starts again. "What I'm gonna show you is going to be hard to
believe, but trust me I checked it out thoroughly." He stands and goes
to the door and motions for someone outside to enter. Rita curiously
watches the actions of the man. Then a tall and very familiar person is
standing inside her doorway. She stands slowly while keeping her eyes
fixed on the handsome and sorely missed face. He smiles at her and she
feels her knees quaking.
"It can't be you!" she mutters in disbelief. Her vision begins
to blur as tears fill her eyes. Her emotions are jumbled - she is
feeling joy, surprise, fear that it's not real, and of course disbelief.
"Sammy, it's me." Chris tells her his voice thick with emotion.
She continues to stand and stare at him shaking her head.
"No, your not my husband. My Sam wouldn't have left me. My Sam
would never have let me think he was dead. My Sam promised me we'd be
together forever." she says thru her sobs. Chris looks helplessly at
Harry, not sure what to do next. The older man knows it's time to step
in.
"Rita, it really is Chris. I've checked his fingerprints. And
I've talked to the FBI agents who have kept him in protective custody
for the last 4 months. It seems after you left the hospital room his
heart started beating again on it's own. They came in and took him.
I'm not sure who we buried, but it wasn't Chris." he tells her in a
quiet and sincere voice. She has stopped shaking her head and is
looking very hard at her Cap. Then she turns her gaze toward Chris.
She takes a step forward and reaches out her hand to touch his face.
Shakily she asks
"It's really you Chris?" He smiles and nods his head. She takes
a step closer and he gathers her in his arms and hugs her gently.
"Yeah, it's me. Oh, God Rita. I love you so much and I'm gonna
spend the rest of my life showing you how much. I've missed you." he
whispers in her ear. She takes a step back and looks deep into his
eyes.
"I love you Sam. And we are never going to let you go again." she
says as she laughs. He responds with a long lingering kiss. He can
hardly believe how sweet and wonderful her kiss tastes. Then he leans
down toward her stomach.
"Hi there baby. This is your Daddy. I've been away for awhile, but now
I'm home to stay. Promise." he tells the unborn child and almost as if
in response the baby kicks. Rita laughs once more the tears still
flowing freely down her cheeks.
"It heard you and let me know it." she tells her husband. Then it hits
her. The ring around her neck. She reaches for the chain and pulls it
off and undoes the clasp letting the ring fall into her hand.
"I think this belongs to you." she says to him as she takes his
left hand and puts the ring on his finger where it belongs. So happy to
be home and with the love of her life he lifts her up hugging her close.
He kisses her again long and hard reveling in every last second of it.
Then Chris suddenly remembers the Captain, but when he turns he notices
that the older man has quietly left the apartment so they can be
reunited in privacy. Chris walks to the door and locks the deadbolt
then returns to gather his wife in his arms and they head upstairs
toward their bedroom.
THE END
BACK TO THE STALKER ON-LINE