A/N: My first longer story… slightly AU as some of Steve's family members make a short appearance. I tried to stay within "canon" as much as possible. A big thank you to my Beta Reader Tanith 2011 who has a knack of spotting things! And an equally big thank you to all readers and kind reviewers that keep me writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, I just borrow them for a little while.
Cain and Abel
Chapter 1
Mike Stone looked up from the report he was reading and frowned. Not for the first time this afternoon he gazed through the glass partition of his office to stare at the desk right in his line of view. His young partner, Steve Keller, utilised the quiet time catching up with his never ending paperwork, but the progress seemed very slow. So unlike Steve... He always gave it his all, not just the physical aspects of his work but also the mentally stimulating as well as the boring routine tasks. Mike had noticed over the past couple of days that Steve seemed a bit withdrawn, preoccupied, quiet and tired. Steve had just waved Mike's concerned questions away and then tried to pretend that all was well until Mike caught him staring blankly at the wall again.
"That's it! You're gonna tell me what's eating you, Buddy boy, or you're off the job!" Mike muttered and walked out of his office. For once he had two dimes for coffee and filled Steve's favourite mug. "Here, you look like you could do with a break. Come in for a minute and get away from that pile of forms. It must be depressing looking at them all day. Seems like all crooks are on vacation this week and we are stuck with the paperwork!" Mike tried a light hearted approach; he didn't want Steve to clam up before the conversation even started. He moved a pile of papers from his desk to the window sill to make room for Steve's cup then closed the door and gave Steve's shoulders an affectionate pat, before he sat down on his chair. Steve sat opposite him in the visitor's chair, concentrating on stirring his coffee, away in a world of his own.
"Steve? Are you with me?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I just I have a few things on my mind."
"I noticed that Buddy boy, and I noticed it yesterday and the day before, and the day before that. Anything I can help you with? Anything you want to talk about?"
Steve looked up and met Mike's concerned gaze. He smiled.
"I know that I can always talk to you and I promise I will, but I need a little more time to figure out if I'm overreacting." Steve tried to read Mike's face for a reaction.
Mike knew how difficult that admission must have been for his protégé and gave him a reassuring smile. "That's fine with me, Steve, as long as you tell me what's going on when you're ready. I know things are quiet at the moment, but out on the streets I need you to be with it."
"I know, Mike, and I'm sorry…"
Mike didn't want to add to the burden the troubled young man was carrying already, so he chose his next words carefully. "I tell you what! Why don't you go for a walk to clear your head and then we'll both knock off early for once. You can help me eat the last of the casseroles that Jeannie left in the fridge before she headed back to college. How about it?"
Steve nodded gratefully and took off without another word being said, which worried Mike even more.
When Steve returned to the office about an hour later, Mike noted that he seemed in better spirits and he even had a box of cakes he had picked up for dessert. He handed Mike the box with a cheeky smile. "Your favourites!" His partner eyed them suspiciously at first, but then recognised the label of his favourite bakery. Steve must have walked a long way walk to get them.
By the time they reached Mike's house , Steve was more alert and talkative, almost hyper in comparison to the last few days. The young man entered the familiar living room, loosened his tie and kicked off his shoes. He flopped down on an easy chair facing the kitchen, watching his partner going about the dinner preparations. Mike placed the chicken casserole in the oven and handed Steve a beer.
"Okay, I say we've got about half an hour before that's ready. How about you spit out what's bothering you, or do I have to shake it out of you? To be honest, I'm worried about you."
Steve sighed heavily and refrained from rolling his eyes at his mentor. "Really, Mike, it's not that bad."
"Okay then, out with it!"
Realizing that Mike wasn't going to simply drop the topic, Steve swallowed hard and gathered his thoughts. "I think I'm being followed. Well, actually it's more of a hunch..."
Mike was very concerned. Like every detective, Steve had had his fair share of threats. "Steve, how strong is this hunch?" "That's exactly the reason why I didn't talk to you about it before. I wasn't sure at the time but now I'm almost positive. I didn't want to worry you if it turned out to be nothing and-" Steve looked a little sheepishly "I initially thought I was imagining it."
"You should've told me anyway," Mike admonished then softened his tone and switched gears when he saw the look his partner threw at him. "Okay, okay! How about we set the table and see if dinner's ready before we're both in trouble. Knowing my daughter the way I do, I wouldn't be surprised if her hunch is telling her right now that we're not eating. You just wait and see when that phone rings." I have a feeling this is going to be a long conversation, buddy boy.
Mike was relieved when he watched Steve digging enthusiastically into Jeannie's chicken casserole. What a change from seeing him picking at a sandwich and throwing most of it away!
Between bites Steve started telling his story about how he felt he was being watched and how he had noticed a figure disappearing into the crowd whenever he turned around; very subtle and well executed...
"As I said, I wasn't sure for quite some time, but started putting the pieces together. The other day I noticed someone must've tried to get to my mail back at the house. You know, I always keep the mailbox locked and I saw some scratches on the lock."
"Why didn't you tell me before? We might have been able to lift some fingerprints."
"Mike, until this afternoon I still wasn't quite sure, but today at the park I could have sworn a guy in a blue raincoat followed me. I saw a guy matching his description right down to his raincoat standing outside my house last night. That was the first time I actually saw him before today."
Mike leaned over the table and grabbed Steve's arms, an intense look on his face. "Now, think carefully, buddy boy. Did he seem familiar to you at all? Remind you of someone? "
Steve shook his head.
"Can you think of anyone who might be bearing a grudge on you? Work related or personal?"
"No, can't think of anyone and believe me, I have been thinking about this a lot lately."
"That's okay, we'll go through all the files of cases you were involved in, homicide, vice and robbery. We'll check the records to see who was recently released or got out on parole. That will narrow it down."
"To a few hundred," Steve replied with a sigh, not quite able to hide the sarcasm from his voice.
"Then you better start thinking harder about people out there who might make it to our list of suspects. Maybe ex-girlfriends, offended fathers or brothers, jealous boyfriends..."
"Oh, Mike, you're not serious? How did I ever get that playboy reputation?"
For the first time that evening Steve's laugh was genuine.
Mike hated to take Steve's spark away but he was very concerned about his partner's safety.
"Steve, from what you just described, I think your stalker wants to be noticed now. We don't know what his next step is going to be. Until we have a handle on this I don't want you to be alone. Why don't you stay the night? We can stop at your place tomorrow morning for a fresh shirt."
The young man sighed. "I had hoped to try and stalk the stalker on my way home..."
"And you know very well what I think of you using yourself as bait!"
"But we've done it before!" He shot back heatedly.
"I know, I know. But only when there was no other way!" Mike tried to defuse the situation but whatever he said seemed to make things worse.
"Well, do you see any other way? Studying files, conducting interviews? And in the meantime my life will be on hold. What's more, I'll be a sitting duck for whoever's out there."
"Okay, okay, don't get hot under the collar. I understand your point, but we're not doing anything that's going to get you killed!"
Mike got up, walked over to the window and cautiously peered out through the half closed curtains. "I don't like this one bit!"
"Believe me, Mike, I don't like this one bit either! But I need to know what's going on, before it drives me round the bend. Now, how about this..."
A few cups of coffee later the plan was hatched. Mike had phoned for two un-marked units to be on standby in the area.
Mike and Steve stood outside on the porch, having a loud and animated conversation for the sake of the stalker.
Mike started the staged dialog: "You sure you don't want to take the car? You can pick me up tomorrow at seven. Or better yet, I'll run you home and then pick you up tomorrow morning at seven. At least then I know I'll get you out of bed on time!"
"Nah, I'm sure. I really need to walk all the food off. If I get tired I can always take a cab part of the way."
Steve walked down the many stairs, turned halfway to wave Mike goodbye and started walking down the road. Mike went back inside the house, looking through the glass panel in the door. When he saw a figure under cover of the shadows slowly emerging from the bushes at the side of the road, he radioed the patrol cars. Then he picked up his '38 and quickly descended the stairs, intending to follow the stalker. He soon caught up with Steve and the figure tailing Steve.
"Police! Hold it!"
The man in the blue raincoat jumped sideways out onto the empty road and took off running with Steve in hot pursuit, his pistol drawn. The chase ended quickly before Steve took hold of the stranger's arm and twisted it behind his back pushing the barrel of the revolver against the man's neck. "Don't even think about making a move!"
"Hey, easy now, baby, you don't want to shoot your own brother!"