No I do not own the Sentinel

No I do not own the Sentinel. I lost the custody battle, but I still have weekend visitation rights. I am got stuck paying Sentinel support, so I no longer have any income. Please don't sue me.

High Priestess Lunatic

Better Late Than Never

Part Two:

It was the kind of story that had so many angles, it could be rehashed like Christmas turkey until Valentines Day, or at least until something more interesting came along. It was the kind of holiday tearjerker that could get national coverage. It was the kind of story that could be her ticket out of channel 5 WKAA Seattle to Dateline or CNN. It was an opportunity Bailey Carr did not intend to miss.

"The scene can only be described as pandemonium here, at Cascade's Red Bird Mall. Forty-five minutes ago, Detective Sandburg of the Cascade Police Department was shot with his own police issue handgun by five-year-old Phillip Michael Fuller IV, son of Senator Phillip Michael Fuller III. and grandson of Governor Phillip Michael Fuller Jr."

Between the cameraman, with he thirty pound Sony V356 on his shoulder and the sound man holding the boom stick - a capsule shaped microphone at the end of a long stick - above her head was a television monitor on a cart. On the screen was the talking head of Aaron Tate, the anchor of WKAA at the channel 5 News desk.

"Bailey, just how did the son of Senator Phillips happen to get the detective's gun?"

"According to eye witness reports, the shot was fired after Detective Sandburg and his partner had arrested two suspects for allegedly robbing the Christie's Jewelry store here in Red Bird Mall. The suspects were dressed like characters the hit holiday movies Santa's Helpers, and Saving Christmas. Believing Detective Sandburg to be a goblin, the Governor's grandson attacked, and incited two hundred other children who had been waiting to sit on Santa's lap to join him. While the Detective was being beaten on the floor, Phillip Fuller IV shot the detective with his own gun."

On the monitor, the news feed cut from live footage of Bailey to the prerecorded interviews with witnesses. The mother of tearful little girl in a red and black plaid uniform told how the blonde elf ran past her, and how her own daughter wanted to run to his aid when he was being arrested. She blamed the media for the children's lack of reality.

"It's just to much you know? Kids are bombarded with this stuff all the time. They're so stimulated with sensory input that they might as well be on drugs, you know?"

The next interview was with a skinny boy who held his litter sister's hand while she sucked her thumb. Both had cherub round faces and large sky blue eyes. They were dressed identically in white turtlenecks, Winnie the Pooh sweatshirts and jeans. He was positive it was the Goblin Hemlock, Jingles Kringles, and Holly. They looked just like in the movies. He did not join in the fighting because he was afraid Clara - his sister - would get hurt.

"I wished I had though. Do you think Santa will forgive me for not helping Jingles and Holly when I had the chance?"

A broad shouldered man with a crew cut, Roman nose who tilted his chin so that he appeared to be looking down on the cameraman haughtily. He wore a navy blue suit tailored to accentuate his gym bought muscles. He said the arresting officers did their job and did it well. The blonde freak tried to use charity raffle prize as a get away vehicle, but the police apprehended him. The situation was under control until the fat boy with the candy sticks got the other kids to lynch the curly haired cop, while he shot him. He blamed Senator Phillip Fuller for leaving his son unattended, and the other parents for letting their kids run wild.

"This never would have happened if the Republicans were in office, that's for damn sure," he said with conviction.

During the taped interviews, Bailey tried to get an interview with Captain Simon Banks of Major Crimes. Detective Ellison had gone with his partner to the hospital, and she knew from past experience never to try to talk to the man. He was just too hostile in front of the cameras.

Bailey had to hustle to keep up with the Captain's long stride without looking like she was running. "Come on, Captain Banks! Just a short statement-"

"No comment," the Captain growled.

Simon pushed through the glass doors of Red Bird Mall, headed toward the patrol car waiting to take him to the Hospital so he could check on Blair's condition. James Ellison was not answering his phone and that was a bad sign.

"You have nothing to say about the fact one of your officers was shot in the line of duty by a five year old? You have nothing to say about the allegations that the patrol officers arrived late? Five minutes after the ambulance? You have nothing to say about the fact this may be related to Detective Sandburg's declaration that he was a fraud last June?"

"I said no comment damnit!" Simon shouted angrily. He snatched the door of the patrol car open so hard it bounced back hitting him as he climbed into the passangers' side. "Don't you buzzards have a carcass to circle somewhere?"

"Who are you trying to protect with your silence Captain Banks, the dirty cops at the Cascade Police Department or the Commissioner's reputation? It obviously isn't Detective Sandburg."

"Are you going to drive or will you get out and let me?" Simon asked the patrol officer at the wheel of the car.

"No sir, I mean yes sir I will." Officer Daniels turned the key in the ignition, put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb with a squeal of the tires, sirens blazing and shrieking. While Daniels weaved his way through traffic to Cascade General Hospital, Simon folded his arms across his chest and leaned his head against the cool glass of the door.

"This never should have happened," he muttered under his breath, his eyes sliding closed. Simon could clearly see the large irregular circle of blood congealing the floor of the Red Bird Mall between the fountain and the BMW Z3 in his minds eye. He opened his eyes, distracting himself with the passing scenery. "This was bound to happen. Why the hell was I so blind?"

He sat up straight, remembering, he buckled his seat belt. Simon leaned his head back against the headrest and rubbed his face with both hands, trying to wipe off the guilt that felt like grimy dirt all over his skin, making him itch.

He had known there were problems, he had known Sandburg's assent to Major Crimes straight from the academy was resented, but it could not be helped. James Ellison needed Blair Sandburg. Regardless of what Ellison said. There was no way he could wait the four or five years it would take for Blair to crawl up through the department and earn his place to the rank and file's satisfaction.

Besides Blair had already paid his dues to Simon's satisfaction. He was the Captain of Major Crimes; his was the only opinion that counted right?

Obviously not.

Simon exited the car as it slowed down under the hospital's circular carport. There was no need to thank or acknowledge Daniels. He was one of the patrol officers that arrive late at the scene. Simon would ream him out and get to the bottom of it later, at that moment he was just too furious. One of the first things they taught at the Academy was never question a suspect while you are angry, armed and can think of three places to hid a body off the top of your head.

Another of channel 5's news crews was at the hospital, camped out near the front desk of the lobby waiting for Simon to show up. The moment the stepped through the automatic doors, they launched toward the Captain waving a microphone at his mouth and a boom stick over his head.

With a frustrated growl, Simon muscled his way through them like a line backer actually knocking the camera man into a wall and the soundman flat on his behind. While he jogged toward the bank of elevators, the people in the lobby stood up and clapped for him.

The news crew personnel picked themselves up and started after Simon but were stopped by four burly orderlies who quietly reminded them of the hospital's policies on noise and disturbances. Then sat the lot of them down in a corner where they would not disturb the friends and families of the patients.

Simon had called ahead from the scene at Red Bird Mall, just before Bailey Carr decided she wanted an interview. He got off on the third floor, took the stairs up the sixth and walked over to the Hematology Department. He did not want to give the media any clue to where Blair was, they would find out on their own soon enough.

He arrived in the waiting room just as a doctor in blue scrubs patted James on the shoulder, stood up and headed back through the metal swinging doors of the ward. Simon crossed the room quickly and sat down in the chair the doctor had just vacated, beside James who had his face buried in his hands and his elbows on his knees.

Simon sat forward mimicking James' position, and leaned toward his best detective until their shoulders were touching. "What did the doctor say?"

"The doctor said," James began in a shaky voice. "The doctor said." His voice cracked on 'said'. James took a deep breath, snuffling what sounded like clogged sinuses; he wiped his red eyes with his fingers then turned his head to look at Simon. "The doctor said we need to find Naomi."

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Comments, and Chinese Crispy Chicken are welcome.

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