Echoes from the Past
Part 17 of the Vet Series
I had the first twenty five
pages of this story written three years ago.
Not sure why it took so long to finish this story, except it kept
heading towards dime-store thriller territory.
You should thank
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captain Simon Banks’
office
“I hate filling out budget forms,” Banks grumbled to
himself. “I really hate having to fill
out budget forms again… because they decided at the last minute that they wanted them done in blue ink this year instead of black ink like we've done for the last
ten years.”
Out in the bullpen, Ellison exchanged a look with
Everyone immediately grabbed the nearest file or phone to
make sure that they looked busy if the Captain glanced out his windows. Everyone, except for Sandburg.
Sandburg patted Ellison on the shoulder, got up and walked
to the break room to get some chamomile tea and a donut for the Captain. If I
offer him a donut bribe, I bet I can get him to drink the tea. He went to Simon’s office balancing two mugs
and the donut. Blair rapped gently on
the door.
“Come in,” Banks bellowed.
Here we go again. “Simon… I brought you some nice tea,”
Blair said softly.
Banks just grunted at him.
“And a donut,” Blair added.
Banks looked up from his paperwork and glared at Sandburg.
“If you drink the tea,” Blair coaxed, “I’ll give you the
donut.”
“Humph,” Banks snorted.
“I can get my own damn donut... without having to drink any damn tea.”
“This is the last one in the building,” Blair said with a
twinkle in his eye.
Simon looked at the donut and then looked at the tea. “I’m your Captain,” he glared at Blair. “I could order you to give me the donut.”
“Sure you could,” Blair reassured, “but you won’t, because
you’d see it as an abuse of power.”
Banks snorted again.
“Give me the damn tea.” I’m never going to tell him that I actually
like this stuff.
Now if I could just
get him to admit that he really likes tea.... Blair smirked.
Their verbal sparring had the desired results and both men
relaxed a bit, enjoying the tea and quiet companionship.
The tea finished Banks mock growled at Sandburg. “Now give
me my donut.”
“Sure thing Captain,” Blair said with an exaggerated
shiver. “Simon,” Blair asked softly,
“can we help? I mean, you’re just
transferring the numbers onto the new forms, right? Does it have to be in your handwriting?”
Banks looked thoughtful for a moment. “No one said it had to be my handwriting just
that it had to be in blue ink.” He shook
his head and sighed. “I don’t know Sandburg.
Some of this is pretty personal information. I can't allow salaries to become public
knowledge.
“Well sir,” Blair suggested, “it’s not all personal is
it? How ‘bout you keep the salary
information and just give us the paperclips and coffee sections. Then you can double check our numbers after
you finish filling out the pages that you have.”
Simon looked out the window at his team. Ellison and Jackson were both looking at him
and nodding their heads in agreement. I have a great team of people. “Okay Sandburg, let me look through the pages
and see what I can farm out.” Banks stopped and looked up at Sandburg. “Thanks, Blair. I really appreciate the offer to help.”
Blair’s smile could have lit up a stadium and it coaxed a
corresponding grin out of Simon.
A few minutes later, Blair bounced out of Simon’s office
with a stack of papers and a fist full of blue pens. He gave everyone a pen and two pages of
budget forms. “Okay gang, here’s the
deal… one page is filled with numbers and one page is blank. Make sure that I gave you the same forms and
then all you have to do is copy the numbers from the black ink page to the
blank page using a blue ink pen.”
Ellison rolled his eyes at his partner, ruffled Blair’s
hair, and teased, “You can take the teacher out of the school…”
The rest of the gang laughed as Blair whined, “Not the hair
man. Hey, Jim,” Blair teased back, “try to make sure it’s legible okay.”
“I’ll show you legible,” Ellison laughed and made a grab for
his partner.
Blair ducked and laughed as he went back to his desk to work
on his section of the budget.
----
A while later
“Okay gang, I think that’s the last of them. I’ll take this stuff in to Simon and maybe he’ll
be in a better mood soon,” Blair smiled at the group.
“We can only hope,” seemed to be the prevailing comment.
Blair gathered the forms together and put the pages in
numerical order. He turned to take them
to Simon’s office just as Banks answered his phone. Oh
well, I guess this can wait until he’s done with his phone call.
Sandburg sat back down and watched as his Captain’s
expression changed from annoyance to recognition to surprise and pleasure. Hmm,
wonder what that’s about? At least it
put Simon in a better mood. Uh oh,
what’s he doing here?
----
Banks’ Office, same
time
“Banks,” Simon growled into the phone.
“Hello, Simon. It’s
Jack Starnes from
“Jack,” Simon exclaimed. “I’m not sure there is ever a good
time, but I sure could use a break right now.”
He leaned back in his chair and glanced out the window at the diligently
working
Starnes chuckled. “I just wanted to say thanks again for
finding Mike and letting her become part of your team,” Starnes began.
“Jack, that was a long time ago.
“I would love for her to come back here… but, it’s safe… er, better for her to stay there. I know that you’re busy, let me get to the
reason for my call. Our Chief is buddies
with Sam Reed the owner of the Houston Rockets.
They’re having an exhibition game with the Cascade Jags in
two weeks as an opener for the new stadium.
Mr. Reed is a big supporter of the PD and is a bit worried about
security at the new stadium so he gave the Chief several hundred tickets to the
exhibition. I have extras and wanted to
know if you and your unit would like to come.”
“Jack,” Simon sputtered, astonished.
Starnes interrupted. “I mentioned it to Chief Walker who
mentioned it to Mr. Reed who then mentioned it to Coach Brianski of the
Jags. So not only do you have tickets to
the game… you have a spot on the team plane and I’ve already talked to Mike’s
Dad. He has room for all of you at his place. So,” Jack concluded, “Can you come?”
Just then Rhonda knocked on his door. “Captain Banks,” she
said formally, “the Commissioner is here to see you now.”
“Jack, I’m going to have to call you back. The police commissioner just got here,” Simon
sighed.
“Oh, good timing… just put me on hold. This shouldn’t take too long,” Starnes said
confidently.
Jack…What have you
done? “Please come in,
Commissioner,” Banks said as he stood up and pushed the hold button on his
phone. “Can I offer you a cup of coffee,
or something?”
“Don’t worry about that,” the Commissioner said. “Have a
seat Captain, I won’t keep you long. I’m
sure you’re still busy working on the budget, as am I,” he grimaced then
chuckled. “I can’t tell you my surprise when I received a call from an old
buddy of mine from
Simon sank into his chair.
Uh oh.
“Captain Banks, I was informed that you and your unit have
been invited to
“Commissioner,” Simon began.
“No, no Banks…” the Commissioner said, holding out his hands
in a calming gesture. “I know that you
didn’t plan this, but I wanted to inform you in person that I expect you and
your team to take Houston PD up on their offer.
This trip would be a good chance to show the mayor some of that team
building, multi-city communication rah rah crap, she's been spouting for the
last nine months. Your unit is covered
from that Friday afternoon until Monday morning. Enjoy your trip.” The Commissioner then walked out of Captain
Banks’ office and closed the door behind him.
Simon slumped back in his chair. Well
what do you know… he really is human after all. Banks grabbed his phone and bellowed, “Jack,
what did you do?”
“Hmmm?” came the oh so innocent sounding reply.
“Jack. The
commissioner just walked in here and gave us the weekend off. The whole unit. What did you do?”
“What makes you think that I had anything to do with it?”
Starnes asked innocently.
“You know Jack, I may have been promoted, but I’m still a
darn good detective. Some things are
pretty obvious.” Simon grunted and
grinned. “Thanks for your hard work. I’m
sure the gang would love to come to
“Well, Mike would probably rather do something else, but I’m
hoping that the rest of you will enjoy it.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
“Nope, Simon, it doesn’t work that way. This is to say thanks to you. So you say… you’re welcome.”
“You’re welcome, Jack,” Simon said as he looked back out at
the bullpen. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.
So,” Starnes said with a stretch, relaxing now that he’d gotten Simon to
agree with his plan. “Someone from the
Jags should be over in the next day or two with all the details for the
trip. I’m look forward to seeing you
again and showing you the hospitality of my city.”
The two men chatted for a few more minutes then hung
up. Simon had just started transferring
more of the numbers to the new sheet, when someone knocked on the door. He looked up and muttered, “I’m never going
to get this damn thing finished if I keep getting interrupted.” Banks looked out the window and saw Sandburg
standing there. “Come in,” he bellowed.
“Simon,” Blair said gently.
“I’m sorry if this is a bad time, but I wanted to let you know we’re
finished with your forms.” He handed
Banks two sets of neatly stacked papers.
Simon looked up at Sandburg and smiled. “Everyone in my office, now!” he bellowed.
The detectives all jumped then moved quickly into Banks’
office.
Simon looked at each member of his unit and smiled
again. “You’ll never guess where we’re
going to be in two weeks….”
----
Ellison’s side of the
Loft later that evening
“I’m just saying…” Mike grumbled as she helped Blair dry the
dishes. “Sure tickets to a game are great, but why couldn’t they be for the ‘Stros instead? Come
on… it’s the first time in years that they are in the playoffs but noooo,
can’t go to that one… we have to go watch grown men in baggy shorts stroll
around a court playing with their balls.”
“Come on Mike, it’ll be fun,” Sandburg said soothingly. “You get to show us around
Mike snorted. “What makes you think the Jags will win? Kenderson can’t hold onto the ball to save his life…
Lockwood has a bad case of brick hands and Houston, Sloman
and Woodson are starting to show their age. The Rockets will sweep the court
with them."
“Ha,” Blair taunted.
“I knew it. You like
basketball. Everyone likes basketball.”
Mike took a swipe at Blair with the dish cloth. “I never said that I didn’t like basketball,”
she sniffed disdainfully. “I don’t care
to watch professional basketball. I’d rather play. If I have to watch a game I’d rather watch
baseball.” She pulled a bottle of water
out of the fridge and walked over to Jenny.
“You need to drink more water…"
Ellison bristled as
“Both of you chill already,” Jen grumbled. “Geesh, this is
really getting old. Mikey, over there. Jim, you go over there.” Jenny pointed the Sentinels toward opposite
corners of the room. “Calm down both of
you or I’m going to handcuff you together and go stay with Blair and El for the
night.”
“You tell ‘em, Jen,” Blair snorted
from the kitchen. What a night for Connor to be out on a date. “Listen up you
two. I want both of you to sit down and
take some deep breaths for me. That’s
it. Just relax a bit.
Come on, we’ve figured this out,” Blair said, using his
Guide voice to calm the two Sentinel’s down.
“You’re both just letting the stress of the last few days get to
you. Jenny is fine. Neither one of you want to hurt her or each
other. You just got kicked up into BP
overdrive because both of you were too close to Jenny at the same time. That’s it… nice deep breaths.” I
deserve a raise for this. I wonder if
it’s going to be better or worse after the baby is born?
-----
Cascade PD Major
Crime Unit, the next morning
The ringing phone barely registered with
The black-footed
ferret was being chased by jackals. The
ferret was successfully evading the jackals, but there were too many of them…
it was only a matter of time before they cornered him.
“Hey, Mike, you okay?” Blair asked.
“Murf,” the Sentinel grunted.
He looked at Mike sharply. “You’re phone is ringing.” The Guide reached out and gently placed his
hand on Mike’s shoulder to ground her as he glanced around the bullpen trying
to spot Megan. What’s going on now? Where is
everyone?
Mike answered the phone with a growl, “
“Cascade’s loss is
“What?” Mike asked as she tried to ignore the fear her dream
stirred up.
“I have something you want and you have something I want, so
I suggest we trade.”
Mike paled and looked up into the concerned blue eyes next
to her. “Trace it,” she mouthed. Blair quickly grabbed the phone on Megan’s
desk and started the trace procedures.
“Who is this?” the Sentinel demanded trying to listen to the
sounds in the background. Only one heartbeat. What’s
that noise? Shimatta, that sounds like…
Mike fumbled around looking for her cell phone just as Rafe walked by her
desk. She saw the cell phone in his hand
and grabbed it.
He moved to protest and the Sentinel growled at him. What the hell? “Sandburg?”
Blair looked up from his phone call, glanced at Mike then
said, “Brian, find Megan. Now.”
Rafe looked around then hurried out of the bullpen towards
the break room. What now?
Mike quickly dialed a number on ‘her’ cell phone. “What do you think you have that I’d want?”
she growled into her desk phone as she waited for the call to go through on the
cell.
Megan ran into the bullpen followed closely by the rest of
the Major Crime team minus Ellison and Banks.
They gathered around Mike’s desk and tried to figure out what was going
on.
Mike concentrated on her desk phone. She could hear a phone ringing in the
background and then her Dad’s answering machine kicked in. Don’t
panic. Stay calm. She hung up the cell phone, placed it on her
desk and swallowed hard as she spoke to the unidentified man on the other
line. “I repeat, what do you think you
have that I would want?”
Mike pushed the speakerphone and mute button on her phone
and then she grabbed the cell phone and franticly started dialing another
number. This time the phone was answered
with a bored “state the nature of your call.”
"You need to dispatch units to
The bored voice replied, “we don’t show a break-in at that
address.”
The Sentinel got out of her chair. She briefly tuned in to her desk phone to
make sure that the intruder wasn’t waiting for a response. Yeah,
like that threat would scare my dad.
Stupid bad guys, they never learn.
She pushed past H, and
started prowling around the bullpen.
“What is your name and ID code?” she growled to the man on her cell
phone.
“Who wants to know,” he responded.
Mike’s eyes narrowed in concentration. “Collins, is that you?”
“Yes,” the man replied startled. He thought about the address again and
muttered, “oh shit.”
“Collins, this is
Rafe and Brown exchanged confused looks. “Who’d she call if not the cops?” H murmured.
“Don’t know, but I don’t think now’s the time to ask,” Rafe
whispered back.
“Units are on the way,” Collins stuttered. “I hope everything is all right. Good b…”
“Don’t hang up,” the Sentinel growled, “I’m not through with
you yet.”
“
“I don’t need excuses right now. I want to talk to John.”
“He’s not here right now.
I can have him call you back when I find him.”
“Very well,” Mike said softly. “Oh and Collins… you have ten minutes to find
him then I’m calling back and looking for you.”
“Wait, what number does he need to call,” Collins said,
scrambling for a pen and paper.
“He knows.” The Sentinel ended the call, put the phone in
her pocket, and returned to her desk just as Ellison stormed into the room.
The elevated heart rates of his team had the Sentinel on
high alert. I’m never going on a coffee run again. He placed the tray on his
desk. “What’s going on?” the senior Sentinel asked.
Blair motioned his partner over to him and whispered. “Not exactly sure but there’s an intruder
somewhere and he’s threatening Mike’s dad.
Ellison watched as
The intruder was winding down. Megan placed a shaky hand on her Sentinel’s
back. Oh God! Please, don’t let
Shellie lose her dad too. “He says that he has your dad.”
Mike punched the mute button viciously. “And your proof that
you have my dad,” Mike growled, “is that I get to talk to him… Now.”
“I don’t think so.
You have to earn that right first.
I have a list of demands.”
Mike leaned back in her chair with a sigh. “Yadda,
yadda, yadda. No talk, no demands.” Come
on, come on… get there already.
Megan grabbed Mike’s arm in alarm and shook her as the rest
of the team stared in disbelief.
“Jim, can you hear more than one
heartbeat?” Blair whispered anxiously.
Ellison shook his head.
“Maybe I should start taking your attitude out on your dad,”
the intruder said a bit nervously.
“That would work if he was there. But he’s not.
So your threats don’t hold much weight with me.”
“Of course he’s here,” the intruder stuttered.
“Look,” Mike interrupted, “do you have a name? I’m tired of thinking of you as ‘the
intruder’.”
“What?”
“Tell me your name or I’m going to make one up for you.”
“I don’t believe this…” he sputtered, “who do you think you
are?”
“I see the problem now.
You’re having an identity crisis.
You don’t know who you are. You
don’t know who I am. There are people
who can help you with that.” Finally. It
took them long enough.
“This isn’t going like he said it would,” the intruder
muttered.
“Who do you work for?” the Sentinel growled.
“I ain't saying nothing else to
you. You can deal with the Boss
yourself.”
“That’s fine. Who’s
your boss?”
“Ste… Nope. I’m not telling you anything.” The sound of doors being forced open and
voices shouting ‘freeze’ could be heard over the phone. The intruder’s stunned voice came over the
line, “I don’t believe this.” His voice was partially drown
out by the sounds of a struggle. “…rd
can deal with you himself.”
Suddenly the voice on the phone changed. “This is Reece, who
am I speaking with?”
“This is
“Well, if it isn’t little Mikey, long time no see.” Reece
said warmly then paused. “I just got the
all clear. No one else is here. Your dad
is going to have quite a mess to clean up when he gets back. What do you want
us to do with ‘phone man’ here?”
“Take him in and see if you can find out who he works
for. I’m waiting for a call back from
John. He’ll let you know how to dispose
of the guy,” she paused. “Thanks,
Reece.”
“Any time, Mike. Any time.”
Banks walked into the bullpen, annoyed at having had to
attend yet another boring budget meeting.
They don’t want crime to happen, but they refuse to pay a living wage
for police officers. But everything is blue so they’re happy. He
looked up and saw his best team gathered around
Everyone but the two Sentinels jumped and with a quick look
around, Rafe walked towards Captain Banks.
“Sir, there was a break-in at
"Damn, it’s always something. What happened to normal days? Normal, who am
I kidding? Who is she talking to now…
the cops?”
“Umm, I’m not sure who she’s talking to right now.” And I
don’t think she called the cops…
Both men turned and joined the rest of the team gathered
around
The phone was answered by a gruff voice, “Starnes.”
“Jack. It’s
Mike. Where are your parents?”
“What?”
“Jack,” Mike paused.
"Someone just broke into Dad’s place. When was the last time you talked to your
parents?”
“Jesus, Mike! Is your
dad okay?”
“He wasn’t there, Jack.
Your parents?”
“They took a cruise.” Starnes looked at his calendar. “They should be somewhere in the middle of
the
“Don’t bother, Jack.
It’s been handled already.”
“Damnit, Mike. I hate it when you do that.”
“Me, too,” the Sentinel said sadly. “Look, call your dad. Make sure that they’re okay and give him a
heads up. I’ll call you back as soon as
I know more. You be extra careful too.”
“Hey, Mike.”
“Yeah?”
“Keep your head down,” Starnes said gruffly.
“I always do, Jack.”
Jackson hung up the phone and started rifling through her neat stacks of
papers and opening drawers rummaging through them before slamming them closed
again.
“Mike, what are you looking for?” Megan asked sharply,
trying to get her partner’s attention.
“Nahen mai
keita?” the Sentinel growled.
“In English,” the Guide said gently as she stroked her
Sentinel’s arm trying to calm her down.
“Where’s my cell phone?”
“Mike, you put it in your pocket,” Megan reminded her.
“Huh?” Mike grabbed
the cell phone out of her pocket and glared at it. “This isn’t mine. Where did it come from?” She stared at the cell phone in disbelief and
tried to think back to when and where she got the phone.
Che! I can’t believe I did that.
“Don’t worry about it, Mike,” Rafe said. “It startled me for a minute until I realized
that something must be going down for you to just grab it like that. What’s going on? Who’d you call? Some kinda
security company?”
“Those are only a few of the questions I want answers to,”
Simon said forcefully.
Mike nodded at her Captain and started, “I guess you could call them a security
company.” The phone on her desk rang and
everyone jumped. Mike reached out and
pushed the speakerphone button. “
“Mike, it’s John.”
“Ojisan, Doshita no. Shimatta!”
“Mike, honey, either slow down or switch back to English, my
Japanese is pretty rusty.”
“Last time I heard, it was
“He’s retired,” the Sentinel fumed.
“Of course he is, Mike,” John soothed.
“Reese call in yet?”
“Not yet. Mike, give
us a couple of hours and we’ll find out what’s going on. I’m sure that your dad is fine but, if it
would make you feel better, I’ll call the local office in
“Thanks, Uncle John.
I’ll be waiting for your call.”
She hung up the phone and muttered, “just don’t expect me to sit here
twiddling my thumbs while I wait.”
“
Mike started to answer then she looked
up into Ellison’s concerned eyes. What
are you doing here? She looked around. “Where’s Jenny? I thought you had the day off?”
“Jenny’s at work. I
have tomorrow off. Why?” Jim asked with
a frown.
Mike picked up the phone again.
“West Cascade Animal Clinic.”
“Melissa, it’s Mike. I need to talk to Jen for a minute. How’s her schedule for the rest of the day?”
"Hey, Mike, we’re really light today. Dr J. is thinking about giving us the rest of
the day off. Hang on just a sec, here
she is.”
"Hey, Mikey, what’s up?”
“Jenny, Yoroshiku tanom!”
“Mike!” the vet sounded startled as Mike uttered the code
word that Jenny hadn’t heard in a very long time.
“Jenny, lock the front door now. Jim’s on his way. Go get Bushido and tell him ‘usankusai.’ Repeat it Jen,” Mike said urgently.
“Uuh san kuh
sigh,” Jenny pronounced carefully.
Jim looked at Simon and got his approval, not even
questioning Mike's offhanded order. He
gathered up Blair and headed for the door still listening to the conversation
between his wife and the junior Sentinel.
“Go, I’ll wait,” Mike said
“Everyone stay calm," Jenny
said. “Justin, lock the front door and
switch the sign to closed. Stay away from the windows. I’ll be right back.”
“What’s going on?
Does it have something to do with Detective Ellison? What the hell?” These were a few of the exclamations that
Mike could hear as she waited impatiently for Jenny to get back.
“Okay, Mike,” Jenny’s breathless voice came back on the
line. “I’m back and I have Boo.”
“Bushido, taiki. Bushido, kabau!”
The shepherd barked once, then the
sound of his nails on tile could be heard growing fainter as the dog started
‘rounds’.
“Jenny?”
“I’m here, Mikey. Is
Jim okay?”
“Jim’s fine, kouyuu. Someone broke into Dad’s place. I want to make sure they aren’t after you
too. Where are your parents?”
“At home,” came the subdued
response. “Is your dad okay?”
“He wasn’t there.
Look, call your parents and give them a heads up. I’ll call John and have him send a team over
to cover them.” Silence fell on the line and Mike could hear Jen’s rapid
heartbeat. “Jenny, are you okay?”
“Just worried, Mikey.”
“I’m sorry, Jen. I
need to make some more phone calls. Just
hang in there. Jim’s on his way. Don’t open the door for anyone else,
okay? Let Boo check outside when Jim
gets there.”
“You be careful.”
“I will. Tell Jim
that I’ll call later with more info.”
Simon cleared his throat, “
Mike didn’t hear him as she hung up and then immediately
started dialing John’s number. I need one of those headset phones. “Where’s my cell phone?” She was trashing her desk again when Megan
stepped back in and started rubbing her shoulders.
“Mike, take a deep breath.
Where did you see it last?” the Guide soothed.
Mike rubbed her free hand over her face. “I don’t know, last night maybe?”
I wonder if she turned
it off? Megan
walked over to her desk and called Mike’s cell phone number. As the call went through, a chirping sound
could be heard coming from the coat hooks.
Mike looked around in surprise and disgust. “Why didn’t I think of that?” she muttered.
Megan hung up her phone and went over to Mike’s coat. She found the cell phone in one of the
interior pockets, pulled it out and then walked back and handed it to Mike.
“Kourei ritoru tori!”
the Sentinel said squeezing Megan’s hand.
She turned back as the phone was answered.
“Jones.”
“Jones, Jackson.
John?”
“Jackson, John’s busy right now. Can I help with something?”
Mike bit her lip.
“Yeah, I need you to get a team on the Watkins… they’re at home. They still live in
“Mike, I’m not authorized to send out teams.”
“That’s why I asked for John,” the Sentinel growled. “Tell him I’m holding.”
Mike started scrolling through the numbers on her cell
phone’s address book. Moments later John
picked up the phone. “Mike, I told you
it would take a few hours to find out anything.”
“Mike, I can’t go around putting teams on every one you
know. We’re not even sure…”
“Who’s the target?” Mike interrupted.
“We don’t know yet.”
“Well, John, it looks like you have a choice. Either put a team on the Watkins or I’ll call
in some markers and have it done myself.”
“
“I’m not asking for a whole squad. I just want one team on one location.”
“Damn, stubborn… just like your dad.”
“Thanks.”
“One team.”
“That’s all I asked for.
The rest are covered or can take care of themselves.”
John grunted. “Don’t call me. I’ll call you.”
“Love you too, Ojisan.” Mike smirked as she hung up the
phone. There it is. She punched
talk on her cell phone. Please be okay.
Simon growled, “
Mike held up her hand as the phone was answered.
An elderly female voice answered the phone. “Moshimoshi.”
“Obaasan,” Mike said with relief
and reverence. “Shokin kubi ni.
Kakusu.”
“Ritoru neko?” said the startled
voice.
“Hai. Kakasu.”
“Chichioya?”
“Fumei,” Mike responded sadly.
“Gokurousama.”
“Yobimodosu.”
Mike shifted the phone to her other ear.
“Hai, Sayonara.”
“Sayonara, Obaasan.” Mike disconnected the call and sighed. She looked up into Megan’s worried eyes and
sighed again.
“Shellie,” Megan chided lightly, “my language lessons aren’t
that advanced yet. I only got part of the conversation. Who were you talking to? Isn’t Chichioya ‘father’?”
“That was my Obaasan, you would
say grandmother. She adopted me when we
lived in
The Guide moved in and returned to massaging the Sentinel’s
neck and shoulders. After a few moments
some of the tension eased, and Megan cautiously broached the subject. “Shellie, what’s going on?”
“That’s what I’d like to know Detective Jackson,” Simon
growled in agreement.
“Sir, can you give me ten minutes before I brief you? I would like to make a few more phone calls,”
“Ten minutes. Then
meet me in my office.” Simon left
shaking his head. Lord, just when things
were staring to get back to normal again.
We’re going to have a talk about ignoring the Captain.
-----
Fifteen minutes later
Captain Banks’ office
“…and so
“Sir, yes, Sir. I’m really sorry, Sir,”
“Good," he stated staring at his detective. "Now
tell me. What’s going on and how can we
help.”
Mike sighed. “Captain
Banks, I want you to know that I have never regretted my decision to move to
Cascade and become a member of your team.
“No groveling,
“He’s retired. Just
ask anyone,” Mike huffed. “Why he’s in
“Retired from what?”
“He’s a businessman,”
“What kind of business?” Banks asked. This is
like pulling teeth.
“Exotic furniture and household décor. That’s why he travels so much,” she said
absently, repeating the company line without thought.
Sure, he does. I always call my furniture store to report a
break-in. “I see,” Banks
stated. “
“Sir?” Mike turned back around to face her Captain,
a bit startled.
“What’s wrong?”
She sighed. “He
hasn’t called back yet. I paged him and
he hasn’t called back yet.” Mike rubbed
her hands across her face. “I know. I know… he has to finish calling his phone
tree first.” She bit at a corner of her
lip. “But, he hasn’t called back yet and
I’m worried.” That damn dream has me spooked.
He's always been able to care of himself before. She
resumed her seat. “I’m sorry Sir, you asked
to be briefed. Where would you like me
to start?”
“
“Thanks, Sir,” Mike replied with another glance at her
stubbornly silent phone.
----
6th Floor
Conference Room
Mike walked into the conference room and started pacing
distractedly. Every thirty seconds she
would stop and cock her head to listen back into the bullpen. Then she would start prowling again.
What’s she doing? Rhonda
watched the detective pace, then stop again. Oh! “Mike
I can transfer your line over to one of the conference room phones. It will ring in here, okay?” Rhonda said
softly.
“Thanks Rhonda,” Mike said sheepishly. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of doing
that.”
Mike rubbed her hands over her face and sighed. “Okay, I guess ya’ll want to know what’s
going on. My Dad…” she was interrupted
by the phone ringing. She pounced on it,
pushed the speakerphone button, and growled, “
“Michelle,” said a distinguished sounding male voice, “you
are still the apple blossom of my eye.”
Mike sank into a nearby chair as she answered the catch
phrase with a shaky voice, “And you’re my teddy bear. Secure?”
“Secure.”
“Chichioya, shimatta,” Mike took a deep breath and
muttered. “Ichi,
ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi,
kyuu, juu.” She took another deep breath and glared at
the phone. “Hana, dul, set, net, tasot, yasot, iigop,
yodul, ahop, yul. Where
are you?”
“Honey, calm down. You’re going to need to pick up some more
languages or start counting to twenty instead of ten. I’m still in
“Dad, you’re supposed to be retired.”
“I am.”
“Dad,” Mike steamed, “someone broke into the house.”
The group of detectives shifted uncomfortable in their
chairs. They exchanged glances with each
other and were reassured that everyone seemed to be equally in the dark about
the situation.
“So I gathered from your message,” Matthew Jackson
responded. “Who’s handling it?”
“Who do you think?” she responded disgustedly. “It still feels like I’m selling out.”
“John’s a good man, and Jack’s a good cop.”
Mike just grunted.
“Did you get in touch with Walter and Dorothy?”
“Jack said they’re on a cruise. He’s going to call and warn them. I got a hold of everyone in my call tree, how
about you?”
“Everyone was appropriately warned.”
“Dad, do you know what’s going on? Have you heard anything? Why are you in
“Mike, I’m retired.”
“You know Dad, you keep saying that. Why don’t I believe you?”
“Mike,” Matthew Jackson sighed and changed the subject.
“How’s Jenny?”
Mike stood up so suddenly that her chair went crashing to
the ground. She glared menacingly at the
phone. “Who wants to know?”
“Mike,” Matthew said soothingly.
“No Dad, who wants to know?” Mike
demanded. “I meant what I said last
time… they had better leave Ellison
and Sandburg alone or else certain things will come to light that they would rather stay buried.”
Captain Banks started and chomped down on his unlit cigar. They? Who are
they? What kind of information does
Mike resumed prowling around the conference room. Megan got out of her chair and slowly
approached her Sentinel. “Hey there, you
okay, Shellie?”
Mike grabbed Megan and gave her a fierce hug. “I will keep you safe,” she vowed softly to
her partner.
“Easy, Shell,” Megan said as she tried to calm her Sentinel
down. “I’m right here and I’m not going
any where.”
Mike buried her nose in Megan’s neck, scenting her Guide’s
calming presence. I will keep you safe.
“Michelle, muri shinai de,” Matthew commanded. “I
asked the question, because I wanted
to know.”
Mike snorted then stressed.
“They’re fine.”
“Michelle,”
“She’s fine, Dad," Mike replied with a sigh.
"She’s at the office. Boo’s on guard duty and Ellison and Sandburg are
en-route to her location.”
“Thank you, Michelle.”
Mike sniffed and then bent over to pick up her chair. She flounced down in it and asked “Do you
have any idea who was in the house?”
“No, not yet.”
“Very well,” Mike said.
“I’ll let you get back to work then.”
“Michelle,” Matthew sighed, “I’m retired. I’m just out here visiting friends.”
“Glad to hear it, Dad,” Mike replied with patented
disbelief. “Hey, Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Please be careful,” she cautioned, leaning forward to rest
her arms on the table. “And watch out
for jackals.”
What now? Another dream?
“Michelle, I’m always careful.
Keep your head down. I love you.”
“Love you too, Dad,” Mike said. She gently hung up the phone and then let her
head sink down onto her folded arms.
Megan and Rhonda flanked Mike and offered their support.
Mike raised her head and rubbed her face with both
hands. “Sorry about that,” she said with
a slightly shaky voice. “I guess that
dream bothered me more than I thought. I
suppose ya’ll would like to know what’s going on,
huh?”
“Not with the dreams again,” Banks muttered.
“Captain, if you don’t mind… let me run to
the little cop’s room and then I’ll give you a run down on what I know. Would someone give Ellison a call and see how
things are going on their end?”
Banks nodded and
“Rafe, call Ellison. Let’s make sure
that the other dynamic duo is still in one piece.” Bank said.
----
Jenny’s truck on the
way to
“Well that’s the last of them,” Blair said as he brushed his
hands together. “All tucked in safe and
sound safe at home. So Jenny,” Blair
asked with a sideways glance. “What’s
the story with Mike’s dad? I thought he
was a businessman.”
“Umm...” Jenny
responded noncommittally.
“Jenny, you know that you can trust us,” Jim stated firmly.
“Jim,” Jenny replied forcefully. “I do trust you. Both of you,” she said as she turned and
included Blair in her earnest gaze.
“But, I really don’t ‘know’ anything and it’s not my story to
tell.” Jen sighed. “What I can say is that he is the most
danger-prone businessman I’ve ever seen.
I would guess that he’s a spy from the code words that Mikey has for me,
but it’s a guess. And I have no clue
what part of the alphabet soup he works for.
Really guys, you need to ask Mike your questions.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Blair’s
cell phone. Jenny sighed in relief. Saved by the bell.
----
6th Floor
Conference Room
“…you’re kidding?
No, no. I didn’t say that I don’t
believe you. I can see that. I mean you wouldn’t want the poor dog to get
too tired… then
“Hey,
“Huh?”
“They couldn’t figure out
how to leave Boo behind. He managed to
get out every time they thought they had him
contained. The last time, he followed
the truck and Jenny got worried Boo was going to tire himself out, so they
stopped and picked him up.”
----
The Ellisons and Sandburgs walked into the conference room
loaded down with bags of food and drinks.
They were closely followed by one real, four footed furry shadow.
Mike jumped up and pulled the bags out of Jenny’s hands. She
dropped them on the table and then pushed Jen into a chair, hovering nervously
over her. “You aren’t supposed to carry
anything heavy, Jenny. When was the last
time you had your feet up? Have you had
a nap lately? Are you drinking your
milk? What about…”
Jenny reached up and put her hand over Mike’s mouth to stop
the flow of words. “Mikey,
calm down. I’m… we’re fine,” she
amended patting her tummy. “Carrying a
couple of food sacks isn’t going to hurt the baby. Besides all they let me
carry was the bread and chips. Geesh, you’re as bad as Jim. Calm down, sit down,
eat, and then tell me what’s going on.”
Mike stared down a bit anxiously at Jenny until Jim moved up
beside his wife's chair.
"Back off,
Jim and Mike looked slightly embarrassed while Blair frowned
thoughtfully at his Sentinel's wife.
"Are we ready to get down to business here,
people?" Simon interrupted. "We do have other crimes to solve."
----
Thirty minutes later
“I still think that
she should go down to the ladies lounge on three and lay down for a while.”
Mike said mulishly.
“Hey gang, I brought brownies,” Megan said, trying to divert
both Sentinels’ attention from Jenny.
“She should stay here and put her feet up before her ankles
start to swell,” Jim said, using his 'I can take care of my wife, so back off'
glare.
“Cookies, too,” Megan added.
“From that bakery down the street that everyone loves so much.”
“Yummy, I love their cookies,” Blair said as he grabbed the
box and wafted the cookies under Jim’s nose.
By this point the two Sentinels' hovering was beginning to
get on everyone's nerves. Henri threw his hands up. "If I'm ever this bad
when Lisa is pregnant," he said to the room in general, "you have
permission to shoot me in the foot to shut me up."
Jenny laughed out loud as she sent a grateful look at H.
“Hey guys,” El said, hoping to diffuse the tension as she
dropped the remainder of her lunch in the trash and wandered over to grab a
cookie from the box. “I have a class
coming up soon. Can I go or do I need to
get someone to sub for me? I can take a
cab or,” she smiled and gave in gracefully, “I can have one of those nice
uniformed officers run me to the U.
The Major Crime Unit looked around the room at each other
and then everyone focused in on Mike.
She met their questioning looks with a frown. “She should be okay, but I would really feel
better if you would let us put someone on you.”
El wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and smirked, “But how
ever will you explain that to Blair.”
There was silence for a moment and then the room filled with
the sounds of snorts and snickers.
Sandburg reached over and with a moved learned from his
partner, whapped his wife on the back of her head. “Hey, watch it you,” he threatened
menacingly.
El pretended to cower in terror. “Police brutality. Someone, please, help me.” She looked around the room and saw that they
had managed to lesson the tension in everyone, well, everyone but Mike. “Hey Mike, didn’t your Momma ever tell you
that your face would freeze like that one day?”
Mike looked at El for a moment with her head cocked and then
in a somber voice said, “No, she didn’t live long enough to say much of
anything that I would remember.” Mike got
up and threw her trash away.
Oh, hell. The two Sandburgs looked at each other and
then moved closer to flank
“Don’t worry about it,” Mike said with a shrug. “It was a long time ago. So… my face will freeze like that?” she asked
trying to help dispel the returning tension.
“Yup,” El said with a smile as she squeezed Mike’s shoulder
again. “Just ask anyone and they’ll
agree.”
Mike grunted and said “Where are those cookies?” She patted El’s hand and turned toward Captain
Banks. “Sir, about that protection.”
Banks sighed. “It will have to be unofficial. We don’t have enough to go on to warrant
police protection.”
“Blair,” Mike offered tentatively, “I’m sure that you would
like to handle El’s protection yourself, but I know someone who may be able to
do it. He doesn’t scream ‘cop’
either. Would you like me to call him?”
Sandburg and Ellison exchanged glances and then both
nodded. “Thanks, Mike, I’d appreciate
it,” Blair said.
Mike smiled and picked up the phone. She pushed the speakerphone button with a
smirk directed at Ellison. “Might as
well let everyone else hear what’s going on.”
Ellison snorted while everyone else just laughed.
The phone was answered by a young female oriental sounding
voice “Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, may I help you?”
“Moshimoshi, it’s
Mike Jackson. Is Riki
there?”
“Maki! I’ve missed you. Come visit soon, please. Riki is here. Hang on and let me get him for you.”
“Thanks, Kiko. I’ll come soon. I promise,” the Sentinel vowed.
After a few moments of soothing oriental music the phone was
picked up by a male oriental sounding voice “Hello?”
“Riki, it’s Mike, how are you
doing?”
“I’m fine, Maki, my life is yours. What can I do for you,” replied the earnest
sounding Riki.
“I’m free all afternoon and the night too,” Riki’s heart rate spiked, showing the lie. “How can I help you?”
“Riki, we’ve talked about this,”
the Sentinel sighed. “Your life is your
own. When are you really free?”
“It wasn’t anything important, Maki… she will understand,” Riki stuttered.
“Riki,” Mike repeated gently,
“when are you really free?”
“Until about four thirty then I have dinner shift at the
restaurant and a date after my shift,” he finished in a mumble.
“That’s great, Riki. Do I know her?”
“She is the sister of one of Kiko’s
friends. She wouldn’t mind, Maki. I know that she wouldn’t.”
“Don’t worry about it.
I just need help this afternoon.
Can you get over to
“Maki,” Riki sputtered.
“Get over it, Riki, you’ll never look like a cop. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just a fact of life. Use it to your advantage.”
“Maki,” Riki’s subdued voice came
across the line. “It would be my
pleasure to watch over your Professor friend.
I will be at
“Riki, she has two more classes after
the English Lit one. If you will take
her back to the restaurant with you, I’ll bring the rest of the gang for dinner
and maybe Grandfather Nakamura will get off my case.”
Riki snorted. “That will be the
day.”
“Hey, I can hope can’t I?”
Mike asked plaintively.
“Sure Maki… there is always hope.”
“Argh, go on you. I’ll deal with you later… and Riki… thanks. This
means a lot to me.”
“It’s the least that I can do, Maki. See you tonight.” Right before the phone was disconnected Riki’s voice could be heard in the background, “Hey
everyone, guess who’s coming for dinner tonight…”
Mike grimaced and hung up the phone then buried her face in
her hands. Great. I hope they leave something for
the paying customers to eat tonight. “So,”
Mike said calmly, “how about Japanese for dinner tonight?”
“Sounds good to me,” Blair said as he gave El a hug.
“I could eat,” H agreed, grabbing for another cookie.
“Not now, for dinner,” Rafe teased as he poked his larger
partner in his ample stomach.
El looked at her watch and piped in before the teasing got
out of hand, “So, can I go now?”
Blair gave El a hug and a kiss, “Be careful, babe. I love you.”
El returned the favor and then walked out of the conference
room. Wonder what the scoop is on Riki? I’ll have to see what I can find out. She smirked and then went down to the front
desk to find a nice officer who would be willing to give her a ride to
“So, Maki, what’s the scoop with super big
crush boy?” H asked.
“Yes, tell us more,” Jim agreed. “He doesn’t sound old enough to be going to college. High School maybe.”
“He’s old enough,” Mike countered. “Riki and his
family are first generation immigrants.
They run the restaurant that we’re going to eat at tonight.
Riki and his best friend, Jon Hank
decided that they wanted to become police officers. They went through the
She ran her hands down her braid and continued mechanically,
“Jack and I got the officer down call just as we were logging out for the
day. It should have taken about five to
ten minutes to get to their location except it was rush hour. The freeway was gridlocked so we took surface
streets. By the time we got there the
situation was pretty ugly with our guys trapped with only partial cover. SWAT was stuck on the freeway behind a ten car
pile up and the next closest unit was still ten to fifteen minutes away.”
Mike’s voice made the story sound just like a routine call
but the tension in her body gave the others a hint of her true emotions. “By the time we were able to get into
position we could tell by the.…” Mike trailed off as she looked up into Jen’s
worried eyes. I forgot that you were still here.
The Sentinel got up and started prowling around the room rubbing her
arms. “We took down all the perps, but the two older cops didn’t make it. Hank had taken one through the knee and will never
be able to walk normally again much less run after bad guys.
Riki had one bullet through his
left shoulder that nicked his lung and one through his right hand that
shattered several bones in that hand. He
regained most of the use of his hand,” Mike’s voice faltered for a moment
before regaining its former strength.
“The docs told him if he fired a gun on a consistent basis again he
would probably lose the use of his hand.
While Riki was recovering, his
family was being threatened by one of the gangs in
“His family was being threatened and it just so happened
that you knew of a place half way across the
“Pretty much,” Mike agreed, shrugging her shoulders.
“I think that there is more to this story than you are
telling us, Detective Jackson,” Banks said sternly.
Mike shrugged again and started to dodge when they were
interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Saved by the bell.
Rhonda picked it up. “Major Crime, may I help you. Uh huh… okay… just a moment please.” She placed the caller on hold and turned
toward Jackson and Connor, “I have Detective Armand from Boston PD on the line
for you regarding the Nelson case.”
Connor patted
The rest of the group chuckled as Mike glared back and put
her hands on her hips, “I always do.”
Megan snorted and left the room heading for her desk and the
file on the Nelson case.
Back in the conference room, H smirked at
“Yes,” Mike deadpanned.
“Going to go milk a cow for me?”
The rest of the team started laughing as Rafe patted his
partner on the back.
----
Ten Minutes later
There was a knock on the conference room door. Blair’s chair was the closest to the door so
he hopped up and opened the door.
The communications officer poked his head inside and spying
Captain Banks said, “Here you go, sir.
This is a copy of the phone call that you requested. If you could just sign
here.” He held out a clipboard.
Sandburg signed the appropriate line and took the tape. “Thanks John,” Blair said as he patted the
young officer on the back then closed the door.
He walked over and put the tape into the machine and started to cue it
up to the phone call.
“Okay, you both know the drill,” the Guide said, looking at
both Sentinels. “Let’s see if either of
you can find something from the tape.”
The two Sentinels listened intently to the tape trying to
find out who was behind the latest threat.
Mike’s brow furrowed as she tried to glare the tape into
submission. Che, it sounded like he said Ford.
That name stirred up all kinds of bad memories for Mike. The memories on
top of the stress of the day caused the junior Sentinel to lose focus and zone.
“What the hell?
Mike? Hey, Mike,” Blair quickly
looked around the conference room and seeing only Sentinel friendly faces said,
“Brian, guard the door please. Rhonda,
see if you can get Megan off her phone call.
Jim, what did you hear man? That guy Reece said that nobody else was there, right? What caused the zone?”
Jim leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face. He glanced around at the worried faces
looking his direction. “I didn’t hear
anyone in the room but the perp until the other guys showed up. I wasn’t paying attention to
“Umm, Blair, can you zone on a memory?” Jenny asked quietly.
“What?” Blair turned around to look at his partner’s wife.
“Ford’s the name of the guy Mike and Manny were
investigating when Manny was killed.”
Shit. Blair hoped that Megan would get back
fast. Meanwhile, he would see what
another Guide could do to help. “Hey,
Mike,” Blair said using his Guide voice.
“I know that I’m not Megan, but I need you to try to listen to me.” He pulled her chair back away from the table
a bit making room for him to sit on edge of the table.
Everyone was startled when
“
“Megan,”
The Shepherd barked once and headed for the door. Rafe looked at Banks then glanced at Sandburg
and Ellison. He shrugged and opened the
door for the dog. Now I can add dog butler to my resume.
What’s going on with
“Jim, can you tell if Connor is still at her desk?” Blair
asked with a frown as he bent over to check on Mike. Damn,
she’s zoning badly.
Ellison listened to sounds from the bullpen before nodding.
“Yeah, Connor’s there. She just finished
up her phone call and Rhonda’s briefing her.
Sounds like Boo just found her.
Umm, Rafe you may want to open the… door.” Ellison’s warning tapered off as the door to
the conference room was opened with enough force to knock Rafe off balance.
“Thanks for the warning,” Rafe muttered and he started to close
the door after Rhonda entered the room.
He stopped at the sound of a woof and rolled his eyes. “Sure, why don’t you come in, too,” he
grumbled at the dog. The detective took
a quick look up and down the hall before finally closing the door.
Connor quickly looked around and hurried to her Sentinel’s
side. “What the hell? Shellie?
Shellie, are you okay?” Megan
said as she knelt down beside her partner and started to rub Mike’s back.
As quiet concern started to give way to a hint of panic in
the room, Blair stood up and barked, “Okay, everyone but Megan out. Mike’s in a bad zone and we need to reduce
the amount of distractions in the room to help her out.”
Jenny, Rafe and H were the closest to the door and so they
left first. H gently guided Jenny
towards Banks’ office. “Hey Jen, you can lie down on Simon’s couch for a while
and put your feet up. It might get Jim
and Mike off your case for a while.”
“Yeah,” Rafe agreed, “and how about a bowl of soup and mug
of that nice peppermint tea that you like?
I know Brett keeps plenty in stock down in cafeteria since he heard how
much you liked it.
Jenny sighed. “Sure stuff me like a pig and watch me start
to waddle. We just finished lunch, but
the tea...” The rest of their conversation faded out as the three walked out of
‘normal’ hearing range.
Simon, Joel and Rhonda had collected their files and were
heading out the door when Mike finally fought her way out of the zone and back
to her Guide.
“Jenny?" Mike latched on to Megan with a death grip as
she quickly looked around the room but didn’t see her sister. She struggled to
sit up. "Where’s Jenny?”
“It’s okay, Mike,” Blair
soothed. "We just started clearing
the room to limit the input to your senses.
Jen is with Rafe and H. They took her to lie down on Simon’s couch.
“Shellie, calm down.
I’m just fine.” Connor patted
Mike tried to pull herself to her feet. Connor started to hold her down at first but
seeing
Joel’s eyes widened. I
don’t think I’m going to like where this is going. “They let the new kids practice once a
month. That’s it, unless there has been
a specific threat then the whole team does a sweep,” Joel responded with more
calm than he felt. “Do we have a threat?”
“When was the last sweep?”
Joel glanced at the calendar. “Three weeks ago.”
“There’s a possible threat,”
“Yes. What do I need to tell them?” Banks asked with
concern.
“To watch out for bombs on their loved ones,”
Oh God, Daryl. “Rhonda, grab the list,” Simon said with
concern. “We have plenty of phones in
here and I think we may want this contained for a while.”
“Starnes,” Jack growled into the phone.
“Jack, it’s Mike… it was Ford.”
“Damnit to hell!
"Yes, Captain?"
“Start a level one search and get
a call tree started for the Task Force.
Tell everyone that Ford is a threat.”
“Oh God, not again,” said the woman’s voice.
“Jack, tell her to warn them that Ford’s M.O. has
changed. He went after Dad but I’m not
anywhere near
“Hell, that’s just what we need. Are you okay, Mike?” Jack asked.
“I will be, Jack. Be
careful. Please. Be really, really
careful,” Mike begged.
“I will. You be careful too,” Jack cautioned as he hung up.
She pushed the speakerphone button again and punched in a
series of numbers. She waited for a dial
tone and then punched in another series of numbers. She disconnected from that call and then
immediately started dialing another number.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Riki, it's Mike. Do you remember Ford?”
A stream of Japanese curse words could be heard over the
line. “Maki,” Riki
said with an audible swallow. “How’s
your partner?”
Mike looked up at her Guide. “She’s standing right here
beside me and she’s not going anywhere anytime soon,” the Sentinel growled out
the promise.
“Thanks for giving me the heads up," Riki replied firmly. "I need to go, the prof’s getting
ready to start class again. We’ll meet
up and compare notes tonight at the restaurant.”
“Riki, I’m not so sure that’s a
good idea any more,” Mike said hesitantly.
“Sure it is Maki. A
very wise person once told me, ‘that sometimes it doesn’t appear that life has
true meaning and it can get hard when bad things happen and seem to overwhelm
you. But life happens whether you’re
looking or not, so go in with your eyes open wide and find the opportunities
available.’”
“Riki, this isn’t the same
thing. Damn it, this is your family,”
Mike insisted hotly.
“My family came to
“Argh,” Mike muttered as she
pulled on her braid. “It’s not the same
thing at all.” She disconnected from
that phone call and dialed another.
“Collins.”
“Collins, it’s Jackson. Get me John.”
“
“Collins,” the Sentinel growled, “I’m coming to
“Shit, I don’t get paid enough for this crap,” was faintly
heard as the handset was dropped onto a hard surface and the speaker moved away
from the phone.
Moments later John answered the phone, “
Mike interrupted him quietly, “Steffen Ford.”
“SON OF A BITCH!” the agent swore. “Collins, get Reece in here now.
“Ask ‘phone man’ to verify it if you need to. I’m sure enough for me. I’ve already talked to Jack and we’re
starting procedures here to deal with any local problems.”
“Damn, Mike, are you and your partner okay?” John asked, his
voice dripping with sympathy.
“John,” Mike said with a deep sigh. “My partner is
fine. I’m not sure what I am right
now. Can you find out why he’s so
stirred up after all this time?”
“What? Did you lose
all your local contacts when you moved?” John asked, surprised.
“They’re still there, John.
Never fear,” the Sentinel replied. “It just so happens that many of them
can only be contacted in person. So…
what do you say? Will you send someone
on an exploratory mission?”
“How did you get Ford’s name?”
“John, you know me better than that. Have I ever given up an informant?”
“No,” the older man sighed, “not even when
it was in your best interest.
Okay, I'll see what I can find out.
We’ll call it the spirit of cooperation.”
“Umm, yeah, well… I guess in that same spirit I should tell
you that I’m going to be heading back to
“Good Lord, warn the governor… someone call the
marines. No, better yet, I’ll have two
full teams upgraded to high alert status,” John said, only half joking. “Send me the details and I’ll make sure
everything is handled.”
“Uncle John” Mike whined, “I’m not that bad.”
“Sure, honey.
Remember
“That wasn’t my fault.”
“What about
“I was ten,” the Sentinel fumed.
“What about...”
“Okay. Okay, I get
your point,” Mike rubbed her brow. “One
team and they handle all the paperwork.”
“Two teams and you do the paperwork,” John bargained back.
“Two teams is a waste of manpower.”
“Remember Jiddah?”
“I can’t believe you brought that up. That was so not my fault. And anyway the Sheik wanted to adopt me after
that,” Mike stated in her defense.
“John, I’m going to be traveling with most of the Major Crime Unit. How
about one team and we split the paperwork?”
“Done, but I’m going to have the second team on standby.”
“It’s your
budget. And you wonder why I didn’t date
in high school,” she muttered. “I’ll
send you the details later today. Let me
know what you find out.”
“Keep your head down,” John said as he hung up.
“Good Lord, Jackson,” Banks said with astonishment, “it
sounds like you’re as bad as Ellison and Sandburg are. I'd like to hear some of those stories.”
“Umm,” Mike responded noncommittally. “Shouldn’t we get started on those phone
calls?”
Rafe and Brown walked into the conference room.
“Where the hell is Jenny?” the junior Sentinel jumped up and
stormed toward the two men.
“Whoa, chill
“Oh, okay," Mike stuttered. "Um, I’m sure that would help.” She
rubbed at her forehead and tried to ignore the migraine developing there.
Megan got up and headed toward the door.
Mike reached out and grabbed her Guide. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
she growled.
“Shellie, calm down," Megan said, shaking off the
Sentinel's hands. "I’m just going to the loo.”
“Not alone you’re not,”
“I’ve been going to the bathroom all by myself for a long
time now. I don’t need any help,” Megan
insisted firmly.
In one quick move, Mike pulled out her handcuffs and cuffed
Megan’s right hand to her own left.
“You’re not going anywhere without me for the foreseeable future,” the
Sentinel promised. “So you better get
used to it.”
“Unlock this,” Connor fumed.
“You are NOT going anywhere without me.”
“Mike this is insane.
I don’t need a babysitter,” Connor said trying to reason with her
partner.
“Fuck that!” the female Sentinel ranted. “That’s what Manny said shortly before he was
captured and…”
“Shit! Shellie, come
on don’t do this,” Megan begged. She
looked around the room, “Blair can you get these stupid cuffs off?"
“Sure Megan, we’ll have you free in no time,” Blair said
softly. “Man, whatever it was must’ve
been pretty bad.”
Connor eased her partner down onto the floor and started
gently chaffing Mike’s wrists all the while talking softly about anything she
could think of. “Come on, Mike. Slowly lower the dial. You’re safe here. I'm
safe too,” she added since that seemed to be one of the things currently
freaking out her partner.
Jim pulled his handcuff keys out of his pocket and started
trying them one at a time. "I'll
have you free in no time, Connor."
*****
"So," Rhonda stated with a sigh, "we've
gotten in touch with everyone, but Joel's sister and Will Ellison."
Jim growled in frustration. "Steven and I have tried
every where we can think of and left messages at each place. He should call back soon."
Blair gave Jim a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.
Joel walked back into the conference room. "I just got off the phone with my
brother-in-law. He's going to pick up my
sister and they are going to their cabin for the week. He's a former marine. She'll be okay. Safe," Joel stated firmly, willing the
spoken words to be real. Please, God,
keep our families safe.
Megan looked over at her partner. "Still with us?" she whispered.
Mike turned her head and sadly smiled at Connor.
"It's not your fault, ya know mate," Connor
stated.
Mike snorted in disbelief.
"Have you threatened to cause harm to any of our family
members? Did you hire anyone to do
so? No!
So it's not your fault," Megan said forcefully. "I've watched Ellison do this whole
guilt trip thing for years and I'm not putting up with it from you. Is this some sort of genetic Sentinel
thing? Whatever it is, it's stopping
now. Do you hear me?" she demanded.
"I think everyone on this floor hears you, Megs,"
Mike said with a slight grin. She rolled
her shoulders and tried to release some of the tension she was carrying. "I know it's not my fault, but… I just
feel like… we should have been able to take him down last time," she
trailed off in disgust.
"What happened?" Simon asked.
“Jack and I were supposed to go undercover to flush Ford and
the rest of his ilk out. Jack was up for
promotion to captain and one of the other lieutenants who was also up for
promotion got pissy about Jack's lack of status compared to his 'royal'
self," Mike said, rolling her eyes.
"The now former lieutenant leaked a story about a scandal and cover
up. It was a big mess. Jack's picture got plastered all over the
news, so he couldn't go undercover anymore.
On the plus side, after everything was worked out, Jack got the
promotion."
"So, is he former, as in no longer living, or just no
longer a cop?" H whispered to Brian.
Mike smirked, ignoring the whispered question. "So anyway, the brass decided that the
best course of action was to team me up with Jack's complete opposite. And boy, was
he. Manny is… um, was, older than me by
a few years, but he was so fresh out of the academy … and had so little life
experience that he was still shiny."
"Shiny?" Blair asked.
"Like you were before you met me," Jim stated
sorrowfully.
"Jim," Blair exclaimed with dismay. "We've talked about this before. That is so not true."
"Shiny isn't the word you're looking for, Jim," H
said trying to diffuse the tension. "Maybe bright.
Man, those vests, Hairboy."
"Not bright," Brian jumped into the fray. "Bouncy," he stated.
"How about intense?" Rhonda offered.
"Effervescent," Joel smiled.
"Ahem," Simon cleared his throat. "Let's get back to
"See, Jim. I
told you he loved me." Blair
smirked.
Jim whapped his partner on the back of the
head. "Go ahead,
Mike sighed. “The guy
had never been in any danger before… like I said, no real life experiences…
he’d never even been kidnapped before," she said with shocked
disbelief. "He was older than I was.”
“So, Mike, just how many time have you been kidnapped?”
Simon asked.
“Umm, do you mean since I became a cop?” Mike replied distractedly,
still worried about Jim's dad, and the three friends
that she hadn't been able to get in touch with.
“Since you were a cop…” Simon sputtered. “Does that mean you were kidnapped before you
were a cop?”
Mike looked at her watch and answered offhandedly, “Well,
yeah, but it was much easier on Dad after I got my badge. I don’t think he feels as guilty now because
it’s mostly my job that gets me
kidnapped and not his.”
“Good Lord, Jackson.
How many times have you been kidnapped?” Banks asked again.
Mike looked at him and her face scrunched thoughtfully. “I’m not sure,” she said as she bit her
lip. “I stopped counting when I was
about eleven or twelve. By that time I
could mostly get away on my own, so it shouldn’t count. Right?” she asked.
“Wrong,” Ellison growled.
“Jesus,” Rafe muttered in shock, “no wonder she knows all
that martial arts stuff.”
“How old were you the first time?” Blair questioned gently.
Mike shrugged her shoulders and got up to prowl around the
room glancing at her watch every now and then.
“I was three the first time I remember being kidnapped.”
“Three,” the shocked gasp escaped from several of the cops.
“The first time that you remember,” Blair muttered
wide-eyed.
“Umm,” she agreed absently.
“I don’t remember much about it.
It was kinda boring, they didn’t have regular
TV, only video tapes and I was hooked on
Megan walked over to her Sentinel and squeezed her arm in
support.
Mike smiled up at her.
“I thought that Dad was going to kill those guys after he had to give me
‘the birds and bees’ talk at age three.
Anyway,” she glanced at her watch again, “I started taking Jujutsu
lessons shortly after that. When we
moved to
"Just a bit," Blair commiserated, remembering
similar situations. "Wrong
color, shape, hair, and accent."
Jim reached over and squeezed the back of Blair's neck
reassuringly.
"Must've been tough," Joel said.
Mike and Blair both shrugged their shoulders.
"Ancient history," Mike said. "Anyway, we
were talking about Manny before we went down the last bunny trail."
Megan reached out and placed a comforting hand on Mike's
shoulder. "Take your time,
Shellie."
"It was fucked almost from the beginning," she
said, startling the team with her harsh tone.
"We had just gotten our covers set up and started to get a feel for
the players, and…" Mike bit her lip, shot a glance at her partner and then
dropped her bombshell. "I think
Manny may have been a Guide.”
"What?" Megan trailed off startled.
Mike grabbed her partner's wrist and rubbed her thumb over
the pulse point. "He… he sorta felt a bit like you and Blair." She shrugged.
"I… I, just thought… full disclosure, you know," she trailed
off.
Megan took a deep breath and tried to think of something to
say.
"Okay," Blair said with a soothing pat to his
partner's arm and a reassuring smile for Mike and Megan, "that was
unexpected. Let's table that part for
now and go on with the rest of the story."
"Right, um," Mike floundered.
"Hey, Shellie, we're fine," Megan said.
"Okay," Mike blew out a breath and started again. "We'd been under for about six
months. It's…"
"Intense," Jim suggested softly.
Mike nodded in agreement.
"Life gets distorted when you're under sometimes. The nonstop adrenaline, never being able to
tell the truth, so you have to keep the lies straight…. Manny was doing great. We were close. I know we were," she stated
emphatically. "We had to have
been. Because that's the only thing that
makes sense with what happened next…" Mike trailed off.
"What happened next," Joel asked.
Mike jumped up and started pacing around the table. "We were set up. I don't know if there was a leak or if
someone saw me and recognized me… something happened… because suddenly Ford
knew we were cops." She stopped and
leaned against the counter near the coffee pot trying to regain her
composure.
She continued in a monotone. "He got to Manny while I
was meeting with our contact. There was
a note… it was written in Manny's blood.
There was a request to meet Ford at an old abandoned warehouse at
No one knew what to say or how to comfort Mike.
The phone rang causing everyone to jump. Rhonda answered and then turned to Jim. "It's your dad, Jim."
"Dad," Jim said into the phone. "Where are you?"
"He's safe," Mike said to the group, then turned
down her hearing a notch to give Jim some privacy. One down, three more to go. I'll never get used to waiting.
She got out of her chair and started to wander around the room. She took a couple of deep breaths trying to
relax. I need to chill or they're going to think I'm a basket case instead of
a competent detective.
Megan approached Mike and gave her a reassuring smile and a
bottle of water.
Mike rolled her eyes, "stop the melodrama, I want to
get off."
"Mike," Blair laughed, "get your own
show. I've got dibs on the melodrama
life one already."
Jim smirked at his partner as he finished the call with his
dad. "He's fine. He has some business in
"Jim," Mike started.
"You have someone there you can call on to keep an eye
on him?" Jim asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I thought you spent your youth in
"Friends move," she said with a nonchalant
shrug. "Where is he exactly? Never mind, let me
write down the number he called from and make a couple of calls. I think I can get him covered shortly," she
said. "Do you want him to
know?"
"Yeah, he's changed a lot in the last few years. He'll let us put guards on him. If only to make sure that he's still around
to see his grandson born," Jim added with a slight smile.
"Okay. Let me
make those calls." Mike grabbed the
phone and called a local number.
----
Mike hung up the phone.
“Hey, Mike,” Blair said “I didn’t know that you knew Russian,
too.”
“I don’t,” Mike replied.
Jim’s head shot up. Her heart rate didn’t change. Damn, how’d she do that? I’ll never be able to tell if she’s lying or
not.
“Mike,” Blair said shocked, “I heard you on the phone. I’m a bit familiar with Russian myself, you
know.”
“Um hum,” Mike said, distractedly looking at her notes. “I was speaking Russian.”
“
“Ellison,”
“Whoa, guys,” Blair said using his Guide voice and putting
himself between the two Sentinels. “Calm
down both of you."
“I don’t know
Russian," Mike insisted. "Look,
it takes years to know a language and its culture. It usually involves living among the people
for many years to understand all the nuances and idioms. If you look at my records, I’ve never lived
in
“What reason would a guy who buys furniture and knickknacks
have for being in any part of the
“So,” Captain Banks inquired softly, “if I asked you if you
had ever lived in any part of the old
“Sir,”
And that is all we are
going to get on that topic. “Very
well
Jim sighed.
"Sorry
"Everyone," Blair added.
"Tense," Jim said.
Blair snorted in disbelief. "Tense? Major understatement
there."
Jim glared at his partner.
"If I may continue without the peanut
gallery?"
"Moi?"
Blair asked.
"Anyway,” Jim started, "I didn't mean to jump down
your throat."
"Nope, Jim is more of a go for the jugular type of
guy," Blair added under his breath.
Mike turned as Megan walked into the room. "Do you think we'll ever get as bad as
those two?"
Megan looked a bit confused at first then jumped in to
support her partner. "No worries,
Mate. No one can be as bad as those
two."
~~~~~~~~
Ring.
Rhonda answered the phone and then turned to
Mike pounced on the phone like a hungry cat. "Jack, are you okay? What's up?"
"I fine. Ford
didn't change his M.O.," Jack said.
"What?!?" Mike hit the speaker button so everyone else
could here the conversation. "What
do you mean he didn't change his M.O.?
I'm not in
"He thinks you are," Jack said.
"What? How?"
"Hold you're questions for a minute. It gets a bit
confusing so hang with me and I'll try to explain. About twenty minutes ago the front desk sent up
a young woman who was trying to file a stalking/restraining order," Jack
started.
"So
"It's not something I would normally handle, but the
front desk sergeant is an old-timer who'd still be on the streets except for a
bullet in the knee he took about five years ago."
"Sergeant Timmons?" Mike asked.
"The one and the same," Jack said. "He actually reads the memos and keeps
up with current events, so when financial planner Michelle Jenkins walked in
complaining about some crazy man with a tattoo of a shark riding a lightening
bolt … he took one look at her and sent her right up to me.
"A financial planner! You're kidding, right? Wait a minute…Surfer Dude." Mike sat up in her chair and cocked her head
in confusion. "Surfer Dude isn't a
stalker."
"I think I missed something," Brian whispered.
"Me too," complained Jim and
Megan.
"Imagine my surprise when your freaking stunt double
walked in to my office complaining about the overall lack of intelligence of
the
"Two
"The bookkeeper," Mike said suddenly. "Ford
thinks we found the bookkeeper."
"That's my best guess too, Mike," Jack said. "We've got your 'twin' in protective
custody for now. I just wanted to let
you know what we've found. I'm going to go try to find Surfer Dude and see if I
can get him to verify anything. He
should remember me."
"He likes Mr. Zog's Sex Wax,"
Mike said.
Jim and Blair shared an amused look.
"The blue strawberry and the orange pineapple
label," Mike specified. "Get
him a case of each and he'll be doing cartwheels to give you info. Sammy's on 23rd should still have
some."
"Thanks, Mike. I'll call back as soon as I know
more." Jack hung up.
****
Later that evening at
the Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
"No lie," Jenny said emphatically. "So there I am in the stairwell with
papers all around me and I just wanted to stand there and drool. I mean come on… those buns."
Rhonda, El, Megan, and Mike joined Jenny in laughter. The men in the group took one look at the
ladies and decided they'd rather not know.
"Can I get you anything else?" Grandfather
Nakamura asked.
"I'm stuffed," H said as he patted his tummy.
"You're stuffed," Rafe asked in amazement. "I didn't think that was possible."
H growled at his partner while the rest of the people at the
table started laughing.
Mike smiled at her coworkers and friends. "Grandfather Nakamura, come sit down and
relax with us for a while." Oh. She straightened up in
her chair with a sly smile. That will work if anything will. "Grandfather, have I told you how much
Blair would love to hear your stories of Uxocchiman and Sendatsu?"
Blair perked up. "Um, I don't
think I have a chance of being able to pronounce that correctly, but I would
love to hear more of your stories. You
can sit here," he started to shove Jim out of his chair, "Jim was
just moving anyway."
"Hey, watch it, Chief."
Jim got up, stuck out his tongue at his partner and then ruffled Blair's
hair for good measure. "I'm going
some place where I'm still wanted."
Jim moved around the table and swooped down on Jenny. She was still laughing as he scooped her out
of her chair and sat down with her on his lap.
Jenny snuggled more comfortably in Jim’s lap as she purred, "I'll
always want you, baby."
That started another round of table-wide laughter. One Jim joined in, though the tips of his
ears were a bit red.
Simon smiled at the antics of his team as they finally started to relax
for the first time since
Ring. Ring.
Everyone instantly went on alert and started patting pockets and digging
through purses.
"It's mine," Mike stated.
She flipped open the phone. "Hello."
"Mike, it's me," Jack said.
Mike looked at Connor and then did a quick check around the restaurant.
"It's over. We caught Ford,
well, actually the fire department gets credit with the arrest," Jack
snorted.
"Huh? Wait, the fire department caught him." Mike thought for a minute then started to
laugh as she sagged back into her chair.
"Tell me he didn't. He's
lived in
"Nope, he's a bit wet, but I’m sure he'll dry out real nice before
his day in court," Jack said slyly.
"It's over now, Mikey. We have enough to put him away for a really,
really long time."
Mike closed her eyes in relief.
"I don't know what to say."
"Say good night, Gracie." Jack said.
"Good night, Gracie." Mike responded.
Jack laughed. "Oh, and Surfer
Dude said to look him up next time you're in town. He also said thanks for the sex wax."
Mike chuckled. "Take care,
Jack. I'll talk to you in a couple of
days." Mike hung up her phone. "It's over," she said in disbelief.
"The fire
department caught him?" Blair asked.
"How'd that happen?"
"It's been
raining," Mike said in explanation.
"Huh?" was
the general response. Except
for Jenny.
"Tell me he
didn't," Jenny gasped.
"He did," Mike
said, shaking her head. "You'd
think people would learn. I mean the
city even went to the trouble to paint the foot markers on all of the
underpasses."
"Um, confused
here," Blair said with a wave of his hand.
"Every time it
rains in
"Okay….
Huh?" H asked.
"Let me try to
explain," Mike said. "
"He drove into
a flooded underpass?" Joel asked in disbelief.
Mike nodded then
snorted. "And so the fire department had to rescue him and they get credit
for the arrest."
"That should go
over well in prison. Big bad criminal
taken down by a bunch of firefighters and a little bit of water," Rafe
smirked.
"Couldn't have
happened to a better person," Jenny stated then grabbed her stomach. "OH!"
"Hey!" Jim
exclaimed. "The baby kicked
me."
"Already
showing you who's boss." H waggled his eyebrows and laughed.
The laughter was
echoed around the table.
The end
Feedback is appreciated. Cheryl
p.s. Yes,
---
Japanese Words in order of
appearance
Kuwabarakuwabara – God; My
God; Oh God
Shimatta – Damn it
Nahen mai keita – Where’s my cell
phone
Che - Shit
Ojisan – Honorary Uncle
Doshita no - What happened;
What’s wrong
Yoroshiku tanom – I have a
favor to ask from you
Usankusai – Suspicious or
something smells funny about this
Taiki – Alert; on alert
Kabau – To protect someone
Kouyuu – Friend; schoolmate
Kourei – Heartfelt thanks
Ritoru – Little
Tori – Bird
Moshimoshi – Hello (on the phone)
Obaasan – Grandmother; female senior citizen
Shokin kubi ni
– Bounty; There is a reward on your neck
Kakusu – Hide; to conceal
Neko – Cat
Hai – Yes
Fumei – Unknown; uncertain
Gokurousama – I appreciate your effort; Thanks very much.
Yobimodosu – Call back; call home
Sayonara – Good bye
Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi,
kyuu, juu – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Hana, dul, set, net, tasot, yasot, iigop,
yodul, ahop, yul – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in Korean
Muri shinai de – Take it easy
Aritsuku – To get (find)
Uxocchiman –
watchman
Sendatsu - guide