"One of Their Own"

**Immediately follows "A Daughter's Quest"**

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life.
A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."
Mark Twain

Mattlock William Houston stood looking down on the freshly-dug grave, the voice of the Chaplain drifting through his head, but not really being acknowledged by the private investigator who had spent the last few years working as an advisor to the LAPD. His mind was a jumble of emotions, the first one hatred for the creep who had taken a veteran cop away - from the city that he had loved and served, his brothers and sisters in blue, and his family. Fear was also present for the other officers who were now left to carry on, a man down. Determination was also lurking inside him; he had already promised the man's widow that he would find the person responsible for the senseless attack.

The widow was a complete wreck. Although she had known from the start that he stood a chance of being killed in the line of duty, she had never expected him to be shot down while off duty and shopping at the grocery store. Their daughter was clinging to her mother and was completely devastated.

It isn't fair. That thought was going through the mind of many who stood graveside paying their last respects to a man who had helped so many people through so many trials of life. He had trained a lot of officers over the years, many of whom were present for his last few minutes above ground.

Houston felt a hand gripping his own, squeezing it, trying to give him support. He turned loose of it but put his arm around CJ instead, pulling her closer, needing that support that she had always given him. A lump rose in his throat as the thought that the twins that CJ was now carrying would never get a chance to know the man that was lying in the flag-draped casket in front of him. He had teased Houston for so long about CJ, and then when they had finally gotten married, he teased the PI about kids. When Catherine Rose was born, he had been ecstatic, but it wasn't long before he wanted to know when there would be brothers and sisters for the little girl that he demanded to see pictures of every time he saw Matt.

As the flag was folded, taps played, and the final salute given, the private eye began to come out of his reverie. "Go get him." He could hear the man's voice in his head calling out for justice. When the service was over he and Roy helped Rosa Novelli and CJ to the Navigator that was parked at the curbside and then went back to stand with several others who stayed until the casket was slowly lowered into the ground and the earth poured in on top. When all was finished, Matt turned to his friend Lt. Michael Hoyt. "I'm taking CJ and Mama home. Meet you at the office in an hour."

"I'll be there – so will Jennings and Trenton." Hoyt loosened his tie. His wife and daughter had already left.

"I'm riding with him." Vince Novelli nodded toward Michael.

"I'll be there, too." The voice of another longtime friend of Matt sounded. Larry Carlisle was white-faced with grief and anger. He and the fallen officer - Bob Peterson - had gone through the academy together and had been partners on patrol for three years.

"Me, too." Roy Houston usually had an air of calmness about him but not now. The fire of anger flashed in his normally twinkling blue eyes.

Matt nodded. "Be there as soon as I can." He turned and walked back to the Navigator.

"How's Larry?" CJ reached over and took her husband's hand as they waited for the light to turn green.

Houston shook his head. "Upset."

"He's not alone." She watched as Matt's jaw twitched, something that didn't happen unless he was boiling mad. "Baby, I know you're upset – we all are; but please keep your temper in check and think things through, okay?"

Although he didn't speak, he nodded and began rubbing her hand. She watched as he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled trying to relax. It was a quiet ride to the house and he stayed just long enough to change into a pair of jeans and a blue denim shirt, putting on a pair of duty boots before grabbing his LAPD ball cap and coming back into the den where he kissed CJ, Catey, and Mama goodbye. "I'll call you later. Love you, Babe."

"Love you, Cowboy. Be careful – please?"

Matt nodded and left through the kitchen door, going to his truck and pulling out his holster and pistol and putting them on before sliding behind the wheel.

Mama had gone to the kitchen and watched as the man that she considered as much her son as Vince got ready to leave. She crossed herself and said a little prayer – not just for Matt and Vince – but all of the others that would be working with them, trying to find Bob Peterson's killer. Going back into the den she caught a glimpse of CJ, sitting cross-legged in Matt's recliner, now ten weeks pregnant with their twins and holding her daughter Catey on her lap, kissing the top of her head while tears silently slipped from her eyes and down her cheeks. The older lady sat down next to her, putting an arm around her. The lawyer-turned-PI laid her head on the Italian lady's shoulder, not trying to hide the tears as Sheila Wentworth walked into the den.

"Is he gone already?" The mocha-colored face was creased in lines of worry. Both women nodded and the nanny sat down on the couch to CJ's right, reaching over and patting her knee. "They're gonna be okay, sweetie." CJ nodded but didn't reply.

Trying to change the subject, Sheila patted on her friend's belly. "Have you two been talking about names?"

"No. Matt came up with two really good ones." She gave a little laugh and dried her eyes. "He, uh…" Clearing her throat, she went on. "Right before the big showdown with Oxford and Hooten, he had climbed up in a tree." She pulled a tissue out of her pocket. "He really thought he wasn't going to make it out that time." The other two women nodded. "While he was sitting up in the tree waiting for Michael to move into position he wrote me a note. I swear it's about the most beautiful thing I've ever read. Who would have thought that he would come up with something like that in just a few minutes?" All three women smiled, as the PI was not known for his flowery speech. "Matt asked me if I minded if we named the boys…well, I can't tell you. It's a surprise." She gave a shaky laugh. "He made me promise not to tell anybody until they get here."

"So how was Tahiti?" Rosa Novelli smiled, knowing that CJ would soon be smiling herself.

"Absolutely wonderful." She smiled. "It's hard to believe that in just five more days we'll have been married two years. In a way it seems like it was just yesterday but it also seems like we always have been."

"You mean should have been as soon as you were of age…" Rosa laughed. "Oh well, at least you finally came to your senses. And now I have a beautiful granddaughter and maybe a couple more handsome grandsons."

"Houston keeps saying that they're boys." Sheila smiled and shook her head.

"I believe him." CJ nodded. "He's proved himself several times now."

"Do you really believe in that, CJ?"

"Mama, if you had seen what I've seen…you would, too."

"He's got me convinced after the rattlesnake in the barn in Texas." Sheila shivered. "You know, I believe he almost scared the poo outta Chuck." All three women laughed and then CJ explained what had happened to Rosa. "Are you convinced now?"

"I don't know…" She looked at CJ's growing baby bump. "Maybe if he's right about the boys I'll believe."

Matt pulled into the garage of the Houston Industries Building and parked in his usual spot, getting out and heading over to the elevator. After punching the button for his penthouse office, the PI closed his eyes. He had only had a couple of hours of sleep since getting the phone call two days before that Bob had been killed. He had flown his family back from Tahiti to Honolulu where he refueled the jet and then flew to LA. Although Vince had flown the leg of the journey from Honolulu to LA, Matt had spent the time talking with his best friend about what had happened. He couldn't sleep once they got back to the ranch.

The doors on the elevator opened and he headed up toward his office. Their secretary Chris Chase was off on vacation still and the office was officially closed. As he reached the top of the stairs into the main part of the office he turned left, grateful that someone had made the mandatory pot of coffee. The others were gathered at the bar. "Y'all heard anything new?" Matt walked behind the bar and poured a cup of the steaming brew, taking a long sip.

"Nothing." Michael Hoyt shook his head.

"Let's go fire up BABY and try to piece things together." Matt refilled the cup and headed across the office and over the back of the couch as usual, sitting down and opening up the computer that he used to help with his cases.

Carl Trenton had never seen the computer that swiveled up from under the coffee table, much less the blinds on the windows that closed and turned into a giant monitor. "Crap." He realized that everyone else had walked over and stepped over the couch just like Matt and he followed suit.

As he began punching keys, the PI looked down the couch at the men that he considered friends, two of which he considered brothers. "Y'all keep your mouths shut about what you're fixing to see." After a little more work on the keyboard he pulled up the LAPD computers. A minute passed until he found what he was looking for: the report on Bob Peterson's homicide. He read through it. "Okay, let's look at the security footage." He found that as well and put it up on the screen.

Bob had gone into the grocery that was on Glendale Boulevard, just one street over from his home on Silver Lake Boulevard. According to his wife Pam, they had been going to the store since they had moved into their home over twenty years before. They knew everyone who worked there by name. Bob walked in the front door at 4:37PM and stopped to talk to the manager for a couple of minutes before pulling a list out of his shirt pocket and grabbing a shopping cart. He went up and down the aisles, tossing items into the cart. His last stop was on the dairy aisle where he picked up a gallon of milk and then a carton of eggs. Suddenly he looked up. It was then that a suspect entered the view of the camera on that aisle and approached the cop. Bob spoke to the person and shook his head before starting to put the eggs in his cart. Within seconds he was falling to the floor, blood gushing from his neck and the suspect ran out of the back door. Matt turned off the video and lowered his head, closing his eyes for a moment. He looked back up at the computer and began going through the video from the other cameras.

Michael spoke up. "The shooter entered the store about five minutes after Bob. This right here…" He reached up and stopped the playback, "…is the best shot we've been able to get of him. Cheryl tried to work on it but the quality of the original isn't good; they're still using video tapes - keep using the same one over and over."

Matt punched a few keys and the sound of the printer in CJ's office could be heard. The PI got up and brought back the picture that he had printed out. Standing at the end of the couch, he reached down for the mug of coffee and drained it. "Okay, so he looks like your standard guy on the street: black jeans, sneakers, a black t-shirt…" He squinted and moved the picture first closer then farther away. "What is that on his shirt?"

"Don't know. Cheryl is trying to figure it out." Michael shook his head.

"Bob wasn't scared of this guy." Matt sat back down and began going through the rest of the footage. "Look…" He rewound the video a little bit. "Watch the shooter. See? He pulled the gun out while this lady here had her back turned and then he put it away." They all watched as the man went down each aisle of the store. "There…he did it again."

Lee spoke up. "He was looking for the right target."

The elevator chimed and Matt immediately closed up the computer, causing the images to disappear as the blinds turned back to their normal position. He got up and walked toward the lobby as reporter Tamara Placer and her cameraman Roddy Hampton got to the top step. She plastered the fake smile on her face. "Mr. Houston – I finally caught up with you."

"You need to leave." Matt's voice took on the low gravelly tone; Michael and Roy exchanged a look and headed back over the couch to help. They were quickly followed by Vince and the others.

"Our viewers…"She began again.

"I asked you to leave. As a matter of fact, I'm telling you to never come to this office again. Go."

"Perhaps Lieutenant Hoyt or Detective Jennings would…"

"No." Hoyt stepped in front of Matt. "You were asked to leave. Do it now." Jennings, Trenton, and Carlisle stepped forward and herded the two to the elevator and rode down to the first floor with them.

"Ms. Placer, you've been asked not to return to Mr. Houston's office. I suggest you comply." Lee opened the door and held it as the pair walked out onto the sidewalk.

Matt in the meantime had called the security desk in the lobby and left orders that the reporter and cameraman from Channel 12 were not welcome.

"Mattlock, maybe you should talk to CJ and…"

"No, Uncle Roy. I don't want to bother her. She's been through enough lately." He turned and waited by the elevator for the three cops to come back upstairs before using the lockout option on the elevator; that way no one would be able to come up to the penthouse. He went back in and pulled up BABY, this time making copies of all the files pertaining to Peterson's murder. "Like I was saying, Bob didn't take this guy seriously even though he was pointing a gun at him. Why?"

"Maybe it was someone he knew and thought it was a joke?" Trenton sat back down on the couch.

"Did the area around the store get searched?" Matt drank down more of the coffee.

"For the guy? Yeah." Lee looked around Vince and Michael at the PI.

"What about for a weapon?"

"Cheryl and Bob were both working the scene." Hoyt pulled out his phone and called the CSI techs. After a short conversation he disconnected the call. "They did a search but the two idiots from IA ran them back inside – said they were taking care of the outside. She gave them an earful."

"Why in the hell did this get sent to Internal Affairs anyway?" Matt closed the computer and leaned back rubbing his eyes.

"I asked the same thing and didn't get an answer."

The PI blew out a breath. "Well I'm going to go look around." Matt stood up and headed toward the elevator.

Everyone else stood up. "Mattlock…" Roy looked at the group and then his nephew as he stopped and turned around. "I realize you're used to working mostly by yourself, but this time it's a team effort. We need to get a little more organized."

Houston looked at the group and back at his uncle. "Okay – you're nominated to organize it."

"Alright. Vince, why don't you go with Matt and look for a gun. Michael, you and Larry go talk to Pam and see if she has any idea why Larry wouldn't have taken the shooter seriously. Carl and Lee: you two look around the neighborhood and talk to folks – see if they have any idea who it could be. I'm going to go back through what we've got here and see if I can make sense of it."

All of the men headed out to the elevator and Roy turned back to the bar and refilled his coffee cup before going back over to once again pull up the computer.