Somewhere along Hwy 89 east of Sacramento

"Maya, I hope this goes okay. Steve isn't expecting me showing up like this."

"You were telling me at the diner that Steve's vacation time was running out and that you needed to understand where things stood. Really, Mike, Steve shouldn't have let it go this long without getting back to you. You've been very patient."

"Well, let me be clear. He did call me when I asked him to, and we did talk for a short time when the Internal Affairs interviewer came out to your place to speak with him. His vacation time runs out at the end of the week. Do you think he is aware of that?"

"I think Steve has fallen into a time warp. He's not himself and he hasn't come to terms with what happened to Connie. Instead, he's distracting himself with the carousing."

"Maya, let me ask you something before we get there. I think I know Steve pretty well, so I'm sure he doesn't have a problem with what I'm about to ask. But I don't know this Randy."

Maya was curious, "Go on."

"There won't be a big stash of pot sitting on the coffee table or something? I mean, if I walk into that, then it's over for Steve whether I like it or not."

"Mike, you do know that Steve went to Berkeley in the sixties, right? But don't worry, he's not done anything like that for a long time. The last time was well before he became a cop." Maya replied. Mike tried to suppress a shocked look.

Maya continued, "But, even if he or Randy did. As far as it being in my home? Both of those boys know better. And besides, I actually don't think its come to that. When I say he's been drinking and carousing, it's just been beer."

SOSF SOSF SOSF SOSF SOSF

Alpine County, California

Maya's home was in the mountain country near Woodfords, south of Lake Tahoe. The road from Sacramento was not at all like the interstate. It was curvy and could be dangerous especially in bad weather. But as Mike drove, he was taken aback by the beauty of the mountains. "This drive is gorgeous. What's it like to live in this area?"

"Well, if you like to ski or enjoy the outdoors, it's great. Steve and I both like skiing a lot. The hunting and fishing I don't get into so much, but Steve does some of that, especially the fishing. He'll sometimes hunt with bow and arrow."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'll bet he never told you."

"No, he makes himself out to be very inept when it comes to the outdoors."

"He's probably working on some sort of a hustle. Just wait. Have you ever been fishing with him?"

"No."

"Be forewarned. He can be a little competitive."

"I'd like to see the bow and arrow. I've always wanted to do that."

"I had a couple of very dear friends - the Bakers," Maya reminisced. "They were an older couple. Oh, how they took to Steve. They just loved him."

Maya's smile slowly faded. "They had a son who was just a little older than Steve. He was killed in Vietnam and with my brother hanging around, I think it helped the grieving process at the time. He became a bit of a substitute.

Anyway, the man was career army and his wife was a part-time secretary. Mr. Baker taught Steve so much about the great outdoors. He was a talented archer. He came close to qualifying for the Olympics."

"Impressive. What happened to him?" Mike asked.

"Well, they eventually moved to Modesto to be near their daughter. Mr. Baker died not long after, leaving his wife alone. Steve stayed out there a couple of summers. Actually, it became his home away from Berkley the last couple of years he was there. Rent was cheap and he liked helping Mrs. Baker."

"Steve's mentioned Modesto before," Mike said as he mentally made the connection.

The pair suddenly heard a buzzing noise. "What's that?" Mike wondered as he looked around. He finally saw two motorcyclists come into his rear view.

"Look, a couple of idiots on bikes," he commented. "No helmets and just look at the way they are riding. If I had jurisdiction, I'd bust them both."

The first one passed their car before they rounded a curve. Maya recognized the large biker as he passed.

"That's Randy."

"What? Steve's friend?"

The second bike passed on the curve. "Now, that was dangerous. What idiot would do something like that?"

Maya saw the other biker with the light brown hair and knew indeed who the idiot was. "That's Steve."

"Why I oughtta…"

"Mike, don't. I mean, I'm not at all happy with what he does because he's being reckless right now. But the main thing is to get through to him. If you come out swinging, he's going to bolt out of here."

"I should come out swinging and knock some sense into that boy's head!" Mike threatened.

"Mike, I swear this is not the right way to go about this."

Mike sighed. "Okay, how much farther?"

"About five more minutes."

SOSF SOSF SOSF SOSF SOSF

Maya's home was just off the main road. It was a frame house that looked more like a large cottage on the side of a foothill. Apparently quite a bit of land came with the house since there were a couple of large outbuildings a few hundred feet away. One was a detached garage and the other was a shed.

As Mike and Maya pulled up, Randy was sitting on the porch still in his biker jacket when Steve appeared from inside with a couple of beers. Randy was probably the same age as Steve, but had quite a bit more bulk, long hair and a very scruffy beard.

Steve stared at the Ford, now recognizing it as well as the owner. "Uh-oh," Steve whispered to himself.

Maya and Mike met the pair with disapproving eyes. No one spoke until Randy tried to break the ice, "Maya, I didn't realize that was you," he chuckled as he flipped his hair back. "I guess your friend isn't used to these roads."

Mike glared at Randy, "I was driving the speed limit."

"Not quite, man. I didn't have to push it much passed fifty to get around you," Randy responded.

Steve offered a nervous grin.

"Randy, why don't you and I go in the house and see what I have by way of food for dinner?" Maya instructed her brother's loudmouthed friend.

Randy immediately complied leaving Mike and Steve alone in the front yard.

Mike walked over to Steve and stared at him solemnly. Seconds seemed like minutes. Steve began to get nervous. He finally looked down and said, "Sorry."

"And just exactly what are you apologizing for?" Mike maintained the serious look.

"I dunno. You've probably got a mental list going right about now."

"Starting with…"

"My passing you back there on the road."

"It was a curve, Steve. You could have been killed."

Steve quickly rolled his eyes. "I know these roads well, Mike. It wasn't that bad."

"You didn't have a helmet and you passed me going sixty on a curve in the mountains," Mike was now shouting as Steve winced. "Okay, okay, calm down. Maya warned me not to get bent out of shape over this. But for heaven's sake, Steve: don't you have any idea that there are some people who would like to see you stay in one piece?"

"I said I was sorry."

There was a pause.

Steve spoke again, "You came out all this way? And how did you connect with Maya?"

"She called me. Buddy boy, she's worried about you and frankly, so am I."

Steve nodded. "I don't know what to say."

"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Mike asked.

Randy walked out onto the porch. The screen door slammed behind him. "Hey, man. Maya's about to hand me my ass on a platter, so I'm gonna split. I'll see you over at the ballfield. We have a 7pm game, so get there a little early. Okay, man?"

"Yeah, okay. See you in a couple of hours." Steve replied and then turned to Mike.

"Come on - let's talk inside."