The Kids Are All Right
Chapter 1
"You're kidding, right?" Andy Logan looked at his best friend. "I mean, she's kinda like my sister."
Darren stared at Andy. "But, Andy. She's hot. And she's in college."
"Katie? Hot?" Andy shook his head. "You have no idea, do you?" Darren's eyes were pleading. Finally, Andy gave in. "All right, all right. I'll ask her."
There was a knock at the door, and Mike Logan opened it without waiting for a reply. The door was slowed when it hit a pile of dirty laundry on the floor. Mike shoved it open anyway.
"Andy, your mother wants to see you. Hello, Darren."
"Hi, Mr. Logan."
"All right, Dad," Andy said as he stepped around his friend, the laundry, his Dad, and jogged down the steps.
"We've got to plan your service project, or you're never gonna make Eagle Scout."
"Aw, Mom, there's plenty of time!"
Carolyn's face grew stern. "Look here, Andrew Logan. You have worked too hard for too long to let this slide now. And you do know what Eagle can mean for you, right?"
"Sure, Mom. Something nice for my resume."
"And scholarships. And networking. Once you're an Eagle Scout, you're an Eagle forever, Andy. It's important."
"Dad wasn't a scout."
"He would have been if he'd had the chance."
"Still, he made Detective at Major Case. And he's got his own business now. He didn't need Eagle Scout on his resume."
"Think how far I would have gone if I had been a scout," Mike interjected, walking into the conversation decidedly.
Andy rolled his eyes. "Aw, c'mon, Dad!"
Mike got irritated. His voice was harsh. "You're not me, Andy. And I spent a hell of a lot of time and money to make sure you had more and better than I ever did. So don't use me as an excuse to bail on your responsibilities." He turned and grabbed a soda from the refrigerator. "I didn't freeze my ass off in the mountains camping with 20 nine year olds for nothing," he grumbled.
Darren walked in, timidly. "Uh, Mr. Logan? Is it all right if Andy comes to my house for dinner?"
Mike glanced over at his wife. Almost imperceptively, she nodded. "Sure, Darren. Andy," Mike called before the boys could leave the room, "You'll sit down with your Mom and get that project planned this Saturday."
"Yessir," Andy mumbled. "Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad."
After the boys left, Mike put his arm around his wife. "He just burns me up sometimes," Mike complained.
"He's just being a kid," she said. "All the other scout Moms have warned me about this."
Mike looked at her with interest.
"They all need a few swift kicks down the final stretch," she said.
"Uh, Katie?"
"Andy! How are you?!"
"Uh, oh, you know, fine."
"You've got something on your mind," Katie said.
"Look, Katie, my friend Darren, you know, it's Junior year and we've got Prom this year and well, Darren wants to know if you might… go with him… to Prom."
"Does Darren know he's supposed to ask me himself?"
Andy grinned. "I warned him you'd say that. Hold on." He covered the phone with his hand. "She says you have to ask her."
Darren turned red and accepted the phone from his friend. "Uh, h'lo, Katie?"
"Hi, Darren. I hear you've got something to ask me."
"Uh, yeah. Uh… would you… uh, you know… uh… go to Prom with me?"
"Let's see… when is it?"
"May 12."
"Hold on." He waited while she checked her calendar. "Okay, I should be able to do that. But Darren," she warned, "This is just as friends, you know? No romantic notions or anything."
"S-sure, Katie."
"Put Andy on."
Darren handed the phone back to Logan. "Thanks, Katie. You're the best."
"No worries. Andy?"
"Yeah?"
"Is my Dad okay?"
"Y-yeah, I think so. Why?"
"I talked to Mom the other day. She didn't say anything, you know, but I got the feeling she was… worried about him. Could you, try and find out for me?"
"Sure. And Katie?"
"Yeah, Andy?"
"I need a date, too."
"And I suppose I'm supposed to find you one?"
"I'll ask her, don't worry."
She laughed. "All right, Andy. I'll see if my friend Lisa is interested."
"Thanks, Katie."
"Detective Francine Lichter, this is Robert Goren."
Bobby reached out and shook her hand.
"You're the profiler?"
"Uh, consultant," Bobby corrected.
"Well, I hope you're as good as they say you are because this bitch has had us running in circles."
Bobby followed her into the conference room, where she had a bulletin board full of notes and evidence and a slide show presentation. Bobby felt cold fingers wrapping around his heart as he took everything in. It was exactly what he thought it would be. It was exactly who he thought it would be.
"Her name is Nicole Wallace," he said, matter of fact.
"Uncle Bobby?" Andy asked.
"Andy, what's up?" Bobby sounded cheerful, in spite of everything going through his head.
"I uh… you know, I'm doing my Eagle Scout project, and well… I thought I would try to do something for the homeless."
"Andy, that's a great idea!"
"I thought maybe you could help me… get something started."
"Anything you need, son."
"He sounded fine to me, Katie. Maybe you're just… uh, you know, missing home."
"I'm glad he sounds fine. Too bad I haven't been able to catch him to hear his voice myself," she said. "And I do miss them, Andy. I miss you and your folks too, if you want to know the truth. You'll see. Before long you'll leave home, and you'll find out what it's like."
"I guess."
"Hey, Lisa said she's up for the Prom. You have to ask her out, though. I'm not doing it for you."
"Great!"
"Here's her number."
With Katie off to college, they were alone in the apartment, but still Bobby and Alex whispered their conversation in bed.
"All these years, I thought she was dead," Alex said.
"I know it's her, Alex."
"I don't doubt you, Bobby," she said. Their hands were clasped together, and she gave his a squeeze.
"I'm worried about Katie," he said, his voice hushed.
"Maybe she doesn't know."
"It's in the public record, Alex. Our marriage, Katie's birth."
"She's off at school," Alex said, trying to convince herself.
"Nicole has friends in those circles. She taught college, don't you remember?"
Alex's stomach was in a knot. "Oh, I remember," she said, her voice hushed. "Are you suggesting we tell Katie?"
Bobby was quiet a long time. "She's as good with faces as you are."
"And she's as smart as you are," Alex added, giving her consent.
