Missing Scene I

Eve's POV

Strange, being so nervous about meeting an old friend...

I came to Denver to stand by my daughter Suzanne who is accused of murder. Sooner or later I will meet Ed Brown, after twenty-two years.
In retrospect I recognize that we were exceptionally good colleagues. For both of us it was a privilege to work for the famous Chief Robert T. Ironside, the best investigator west of the Rocky Mountains... and probably east of them too. But I think I always took Sgt. Ed Brown for granted.

Suzanne has been working with Ed for some time now, and I have peppered her with questions, but she has been less than thrilled about him.
She described him as a tall man with haggard, craggy features which let her think of a stomach ulcer or something, and looking older than his age. He seems a little too much by the book to her, but very competent, and protective and friendly with his officers, yet nervous around McManus. Not everybody is sympathetic toward his caring for the rascals at the juvenile prison, but they have to admit that he is successful. He is an old-fashioned gentleman, she pointed out... which made me smile. Yes, he has always been an old-fashioned gentleman, even as a young Sergeant!

"Compared to dad, he doesn't look like anything," she said. For Suzanne, her father will always be the super cop, and that's a good thing. Being born rich he was a hobby policeman who loved high risk jobs and car chases... and that finally cost him his life. His physique was indeed impressive, he was a hunk with a broad chest and brawny arms and legs. He liked parachuting and deep-sea diving, he could lose a thousand dollars in a casino in one day and laugh it off, he could dance an entire night and do silly things when inebriated. He swept me off my feet after my years with grumpy, cantankerous Robert Ironside whom I loved wholeheartedly, but who made it clear that there would never be more between us, and with earnest, upright Ed Brown, whose gentleness was no competition to Greg's spirit of adventure... in fact Ed didn't even try to compete for me. Ed is deputy chief of detectives now, which doesn't come as a surprise. He was Ironside's prize pupil all along, he sure has his qualities.
But why am I so nervous now?

The doorbell rings; this has to be the Chief and Ed!

Hugging Ed I am startled about how bony he has become. But I feel comfortable with his long, still strong arms hugging me back, even though just for a second. It's obvious that this man's strength is not physical, but mainly mental. He has always been kind and caring, but now life has made him a mature person of great integrity.

Suddenly I know that I have never ceased to love him.


Missing Scene II

Ed's POV

"Yeah, we both done good!"

Ironside's dry humor makes me chuckle.

My old mentor and model is still controlling himself. He must be hurt, I just don't know how badly. It's admirable how he has beaten that strong, healthy cop who is so much younger than him. I doubt that I could have handled him. I had my hands full with McManus. I will never be able to fully understand this man's incredible strength, physically and mentally. But now he needs a doctor, although he doesn't admit it – of course he doesn't. I want to get him to a hospital as quickly as possible, but how?

I am here in the middle of nowhere on a train with two semi-conscious cops who have turned bad, lots of innocent bystanders and right now I'm alone with an injured man.

"Chief, can you hang on?"

"Of course I can, or do you see an alternative?"

He watches me censoriously while I am bending down to handcuff McManus. I can hardly breathe. These bruised ribs are all I needed. But I won't admit that to anybody either, of course.

To my immense relief I see Mark and Jerry approach with Mike. They all look a little worse for wear. Judge Sanger is probably a little out of practice for stunts like jumping off trains... But together we will manage. We had a good teacher, after all. The very best there ever was...