Sweet Sixteen

Pairing: Lilly Rush and Scotty Valens

Rush and Valens go to Dead Parrot recording studio to talk with Anthony Jackson. Nick Vera discovers something interesting about Kimberly's ex-boyfriend.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Cold Case and any song mentioned. I only own the victim, witnesses, suspects and the actual killer.

Mohawks and Rap Sheets

Lilly and Scotty went to Dead Parrot recording studio where Kimberly Jackson's younger brother and his band were working on their first album. Scotty was grimacing over how many punk rockers were swarming around the place. He thought that the punk look went out with the punk era, but it was still alive and well. One of the punks was flirting with Lilly. She shot him a look of 'I mean business' at him.

There was a young man no more than 29 years of age that bore a slight resemblance to Kimberly. He had a black and red Mohawk. He had piercings in his left ear, eyebrow and nose. There were multicolored tattoos on both his arms. He was wearing leather pants and torn up t-shirt.

"Are you Anthony Jackson, Kimberly's brother?" Lilly asked.

She visualized the punk rocker as a boy barely 12 in 1988. He was more preppy than punk with a full head of ash blond hair. Then she saw the barely 29 year old punk.

"I am Detective Lilly Rush," she said flashing her badge. "And this is Detective Scotty Valens."

"Yeah, is this about Kimberly's case?" Anthony asked.

"Yes, it is," Scotty said as the punk grimaced.

"Is there anything that you could remember of your sister's last days?" Lilly said. "Your sister Monica said that Kimberly was freaking out at the mall when she saw her ex-boyfriend. Do you have anything to add or tell me anything else?"

"When Monica and Kim returned from the mall that day," Anthony said. "Kim was hyperventilating and looked as if she saw a ghost."

(Flashback: 1988 the Jackson home

Song: Keep Me Hangin' On by Kim Wilde)

Anthony Jackson opened the door and his two older sisters enter in a rapid pace. Kimberly looks like she is in a state of shock.

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out of my life why don't cha babe
'cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin'on

Set me free why don't cha babe
Get out of my life why don't cha babe
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin'on

"Monica, what is the matter with Kim?" Anthony asked

"She saw Jonathan Abernathy at the mall," Monica said. "She freaked out and is hyperventilating."

"Earth to Kim," Anthony said waving his hand to her face. "Come in Kim."

Why do you keep a comin' around
Playing with my heart
Why don't cha get out of my life
And let me make a brand new start
Let me get over you
The way you've gotten over me yeah

You say although we broke up
You still just wanna be friends
But how can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again

"He, he just came out of nowhere," Kim said incoherently. "Monica and I were shopping for clothes and stuff. I, I couldn't deal with his presence."

"I want to beat the crap out of him," Anthony said.

"Tony, you are going to make matters worse," Monica said. "Kim has enough to deal with. Besides, I don't want you to get beaten up by this cretin."

"Tony, she's right," Kimberly said and for the first time since she and Monica left the clothing store, she was lucid. "That creep Jonathan Abernathy isn't worth getting yourself hurt over."

"Fine, I won't kick his ass, this time," Anthony said. "If he even lays a hand on you, he will rue the day that he hurt you."

"Thanks, preppy!" Kimberly said giving the boy a pat on the back.

Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cos you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin'on

You say you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom
You wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else

"Kids, I am making dinner," their mother called out. "Kim, Tony and Larissa go upstairs and do your homework. Monica, come help me. Zach is out with his girlfriend so he will not join us."

"Don't tell mom about what happened at the mall," Kimberly said to Monica and Tony. "I don't want her to know about it. She will be freaky about it."

"We won't," Monica said. "You have our word."

Why don't cha be a man about it and set me free
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me - Hey, abusing me
Get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cos you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin'on
You don't really need me
You just keep me - hangin'on

Back to the present day at Dead Parrot Studio

"After Kim was murdered," Anthony said. "Monica and I wished that we had to our mother about the Jonathan Abernathy incident. Maybe Kim would still be alive today if she got all freaky about it."

"You couldn't possibly know what would happened if you did things differently," Scotty said. "You and your sister shouldn't blame yourselves for Kimberly's death."

"I should get going," Anthony said. "We start recording the album in about five minutes. If I could think of anything that could help with your investigation, I'll let you know."

"I would like ask one unrelated question," Lilly asked. "Why is this studio called Dead Parrot Studio?"

"My friend's uncle is a big Monty Python fan," Anthony said. "The guy owns this studio."

Scotty chuckled.

An hour later, Lilly and Scotty were back in the office. Nick Vera approached them with a smile. Lilly gave him a look like she had never seen him before in his life.

"Nick, why are you all smiles?" Lilly asked trying to make sense of his happiness.

"I found Jonathan Abernathy's rap sheet," Nick said. "It should be a bestseller."

"I take it this clown was in and out of the justice system," Lilly said.

"In 1990, he was convicted of burglary," Nick said. "In 1991, he was found guilty of raping an elderly woman, he served only a year of his sentence. He was off the radar for three years. In 1994, he was arrested for molesting a 16 year old girl and served the full time he was given. In 1996, he was arrested for allegedly shooting a police office, but charges were dropped. They eventually got the right person for the crime. Finally in 1999, he was convicted of shoplifting with time served."

"What happened after 2000?" Scotty asked.

"It looks like he either disappeared or decided to make good," Lilly said.

"Or maybe his past caught up with him," Scotty said. "Someone had a score to settle with him and killed him."

"No, he is very much alive," Nick said. "He lives at this address and he now a good standing member of his community."

"Are you serious?" Lilly said.

"I am very serious, Lilly," Nick said.

Lilly could only shake her head. It wasn't the first time she'd known a former criminal doing good things. However, she had a sinking feeling about this one, but she put it out of her head. She didn't want to cloud her judgment before talking to him.

TBC