Chapter 2

Mike quickly slapped on the handcuffs and patted the man down for hidden weapons. Steve stood motionless, looking ghostly pale in the harsh light of the streetlamp, the gun dangling loosely in his hand.

The older detective dragged the stalker closer to the light.

"Now, what's your name and what are you doing here?"

"The name is Richard Keller and I have been looking for an opportunity to meet up with my baby brother Steve. I thought it was perfectly legal to go for a walk in this city, or am I mistaken?" he added with a smirk on his face.

"A walk, yes, but you were following Inspector Keller over a period of time."

"Did he notice me? Well, the last time we played hide and seek he was pretty useless at it. But then again, he has really grown up hasn't he? "

Mike was completely confused. Steve had never volunteered much information about his family and Mike had never probed, sensing that the subject was extremely raw and painful for the young man. But he definitely didn't recall any mention of an older brother.

Mike radioed for one of the patrol cars to come and take care of the suspected stalker. In the meantime he scrutinised the man, trying to see in him any likeness to Steve. The man had ten to fifteen years on Steve, was taller and heavier, the hair was the same colour and wavy, too. No, nothing conclusive.

Steve stood paralysed, leaning against the lamppost and breathing heavily. Mike urgently wanted to talk to him, but not here. He unlocked the handcuffs, walked the man over to the unmarked car and pushed him down onto the back seat.

"Run a check on his ID and then let him go if there's no warrant on him." He ordered the patrolman.

"And you, Mister Richard Keller, maybe we could arrange a time and place for you to meet up with your brother, that does not involve hide and seek or peek-a-boo."

The man grinned. "Are you my brother's keeper?"Mike grabbed Richard by the lapels of the raincoat and half dragged him out of the car. Face to face he growled low and menacingly, "Be careful what you say or do, mister, if you as much as hurt a hair on his head, I'll come and find you, no matter where you hide."

Pushing him back he added with mock friendliness in his voice:

"How about lunch tomorrow at Tonio's? That will give you a chance to catch up with your brother. "

He turned to the policeman who had just finished his radio conversation.

"No warrant out on him!" the cop informed his superior.

"Well, Bob, give this gentleman a lift to his car or his home then!"

He watched the car pull out and then walked over to his partner. It seemed that Steve hadn't moved during his dealings with the stalker. The older man gently took the gun out of Steve's limp hand, grabbed the young man's elbow and steered him back to the house. Steve lowered himself onto the sofa in the living room, his face hidden in his hands. Mike picked up an afghan and draped it over Steve's shoulders.

"Here's a cup of coffee to warm you up. Buddy boy, you look like you've seen a ghost."

Steve took the cup and looked up at his partner.

"Mike, I think I have. My brother went missing almost 25 years ago and has been presumed dead."

Mike swallowed hard as the information sank in. Someone reappearing after 25 years seemed incredible. At the same time he felt almost guilty that he didn't know about this important part of his partner's past.

"Okay, Steve, give me the full story. I know you never talk about your family. I never asked any questions because I didn't want to intrude, but now you need to spill."

"Mike, there is very little I know of my brother. I was around five when he disappeared, I can't say I remember ever seeing him. He was my father's son from his first marriage, I think he came to visit while my father was alive, but I have no recollection. I have no memory of my father either."

"How old were you when your father died?"

"I was two. He had a fatal car accident."

"I'm sorry, buddy boy."

Mike gave the young man some time to collect his thoughts. He also needed time to get his head around the events of the last hour. Why had he reacted so violently to the man who claimed to be Steve's brother? What was it that got his hackles up and left him with a deep feeling of unease? Mike brought the plate with the leftover cakes to the sofa and urged Steve to take one. Steve looked at the pastry in his hand without taking a bite.

"What happened with your brother then?" Mike continued.

"From what I remember my mother telling me, he came to visit several times after my father died, but I'm not sure if it was a regular arrangement. He disappeared without a trace, no letters, and no phone calls. His mother had him declared dead after fifteen years, I think."

"This must be a pleasant surprise for her then!"

"Well. It would be, but she died less than a year ago."

"Anyone left in your family that might confirm his identity?"

"My aunt, I guess. My uncle - that is, my father's older brother - suffers from dementia now, but my aunt is still pretty sharp."

"Where do they live?"

"In Modesto. They took me in after my mother died. They had a house full of foster children already, so I kind of slotted in. To avoid questions from other children and teachers I referred to them as mom and dad, but I always addressed them as aunt and uncle. This will be some surprise for Aunt Ruth."

Steve's voice didn't sound too joyful about being reunited with his brother. Mike's heart was heavy with compassion for his protégé. What a share of loss and grief for someone so young. No wonder he never wanted to talk about his family- or lack thereof.

Mike took the cooling cup of coffee and the uneaten pastry out of Steve's cold hands.

"I suppose what you need is some sleep and not more coffee. I'll get the spare room ready for you and don't even think of arguing with me. Until we have this guy checked out, I won't leave you out of my sight. You and I will be like Mary and her little lamb, or I'll have you watched by a team round the clock."

"Okay, Mike, okay." Steve was too drained and numbed to put up a fight.

While Mike bustled around organising the spare room and pyjamas for Steve, the young detective sat motionless on the sofa, unsure of his emotions. There had been times in his life when the sudden appearance of a long lost brother would have filled him with joy. So, why did he have this foreboding feeling that something evil was brewing?

When Steve was settled in the comfortably furnished spare room of the Stone residence, Mike came in bearing a glass of water and two pills.

"You look like you have the mother and father of all headaches and could do with a bit of relief." Mike said with a warm smile and handed Steve the tablets.

"More like the brother of all headaches, it seems. Thanks Mike", he swallowed the pills and lay back against the pillows.

Mike took the glass out of his hand and placed it on the bedside table within easy reach, before he sat down on the bed, watching Steve closely.

"Sorry for being such a nuisance and going to pieces. I don't know what's happening to me" Steve sighed heavily.

"Well, buddy boy; if my brother reappeared after 25 years, I'm sure I'd be the same."

"No, Mike, you wouldn't. You would be surprised, maybe shocked, maybe mad at him for letting you all believe he was dead, but then you would be delighted. "

"I suppose, but then again I knew my brother and we were close. I would recognise him and I would know deep down that there must have been a good reason for his disappearance."

"Yeah, I have no way of knowing if he is who he claims to be."

"But we can find out! He is dealing with a fine pair of detectives. Tomorrow we'll interrogate the man himself and then maybe we'll visit the aunt. But now we'd better get some sleep. We'll need our wits about us for tomorrow!"

Mike gave him a playful pat on the cheek, expecting him to swat his hand away, but Steve just closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep