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Before It's Too Late
FINAL CHAPTER
Katheryn stood gazing at the Dallas skyline sunset outside of her apartment for the better part of half an hour while sipping on a cup of coffee before pacing back to the sofa where Molly kept busy with their currently ongoing scrapbooking project. Molly turned up a brief smile to her best friend before she reached over to the stack of Polaroid photos and placed it on the blank canvas with a second glance, checking to make sure it was straight. From where she stood looking over Molly's shoulders, Kath instantly remembered the moment she had taken that photo. It was from the day of Tandy's birthday party. A smile flashed over Kath's face as she saw Trent tussling Tommy over in the background of the photo while Tandy posed with Moses for the photograph. Kath had remembered how she wished Trent and Tommy would act right so that the photo would be perfect. But as she looked at the imperfections, Kath realized just how perfect the photo really was. With one photo, she had managed to capture time. While such a mere object could never do a human memory the justice it deserves, Kath was immensely thankful to have a version of the memory to hold, whisking her back in heart and mind to that moment of many that she promised herself she would never forget.
Molly took one look at Katheryn smiling face and turned back to her work, hiding a smile. "Have you talked to Carlos or Trent today?"
"No." Katheryn shook her head and took a deep breath before letting her weight sink into the couch next to Molly. "Before I left his apartment last night, Carlos said he and Trent were going to get together this morning to discuss how they plan on tracking down the killer themselves."
Molly carefully placed the aforesaid photo into its permanent home in the scrapbook as she replied, "Did you and Carlos talk about his future plans any?"
"Yeah. A little." Katheryn set down her coffee cup next to the stack of photos and drew one out of the stack to gaze at as she spoke. "Quitting the force wasn't something he wanted to do. He felt like he had to do it. Still, it will take some getting used to."
"And what about you? Did you tell Trent?"
Katheryn nodded. "Yeah, I did. Although he insists he isn't going to let me off the hook that easy," Kath quipped with an accompanying smile that faded quickly. "But I don't know if I've made the right choice now. I mean, with Carlos no longer at the DPD and me no longer working with Trent, I feel like we are letting everyone down."
"No, Kath, don't say that. You and Carlos aren't in our lives just because you're good at solving crimes. We're friends. No, more than that. We're a family."
"Thanks." Kath smiled from the corner of her mouth, cocking her head to look at Molly. "What would I do without you?"
"I have no idea," Molly chuckled. "Oh by the way…" Molly rose suddenly and hurried to the kitchen and back with a note in hand. "Amy Ochoa said for me to tell you if you ever need time off at the center, she'd be glad to help around the place. With everything that Alex and Carlos did for her, she wants to pay it back in some way."
Katheryn took the note from Molly as she returned and read the little hand-written memento from Amy. Smiling, Katheryn sighed, "See, this is what I'm talking about. I love the feeling I get when I realize I've been a part of helping someone. Even if it's remote."
"Well, just don't let Trent know you have a substitute lined up. Or he'll snag you for an investigation for sure."
Katheryn chuckled, "Oh, I by no means plan to take advantage of Amy's kind nature. Besides, he understands I need to spend more time at the center."
Molly shook her head. "Kath, you don't realize what you're saying."
"What do you mean?"
"You seriously would have me to believe that you will never help the guys with a case ever again?"
"Yeah," Katheryn insisted. But Molly could tell by her shaky voice and wandering gaze that nothing could be farther from the truth.
"Katheryn Beaumont, admit it. Give it a week and you'll be working with Trent like nothing ever happened."
"Okay, alright! So I won't be able to keep myself away from a little action. You're right. But that doesn't mean I can't keep the center my number one priority. Besides, there's something else I haven't told you about."
Molly's curiosity showed through her widening eyes as she turned to look at Kath. "Oh?"
"I've been wanting to add a division of investigation to the H.O.P.E. center's work. I've briefly discussed it with Alex in the past. But I just don't know how it would work. You see, I want to begin a small firm. Nothing big. Just something that would help folks find lost loved ones."
"I still don't understand. Why can't they go to the police for that?"
"No, I mean like parents who are unable to contact their kids. Adopted children seeking their birth parents. Siblings looking for each other after all these years. In other words, I want to take the experience I've gained with Trent and apply it to something I've wanted to do for years now."
"I see." Molly thought for a second, gathering a response in mind. "Did you tell Trent this?"
"No. But Alex likes the idea. So we'll probably move forward with it soon. And there's plenty of other details to work out."
"So basically you're not really quitting what you're doing with Trent. You're just…expanding."
"Yeah," Katheryn grinned. "Something like that. In fact, the more I think about it, I may just need Trent's expertise to make it happen."
"Absolutely," Molly chimed in, leaning back with a raspy sigh to rest from her work.
Both ladies suddenly turned towards the kitchen at the sound of their phone ringing. Kath was the first to her feet, jogging over to the phone to catch in on the third ring. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's me," Carlos' voice drew a smile from Katheryn on the other end.
"Hey, you had me worried. I haven't heard from you all day today."
"Yeah, sorry about that," Carlos apologized and explained as he paced his apartment floor, "Trent just left. We've been sorting through police records all evening."
"Any progress?"
"Somewhat. We'll put in the shoe leather tomorrow and see if we can't track him down."
Katheryn could hear the tiredness in Carlos' voice and offered gently, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Carlos insisted, successfully banishing a yawn. "I just can't get over the fact that we could be tracking down an officer here."
"What makes you think it's a cop you're after?"
"I don't know. But he seems to have a pretty big chip on his shoulder towards me. So that's the only thing Trent and I have been able to come up with."
"Wait a minute," Katheryn interrupted, a thought having struck her suddenly. "You said you've been going through police records?"
"Yeah."
"How? You're not on the force anymore. Do they let civilians use police property now?"
Carlos chuckled. "I stopped by the department to tell Ryan what we had come up with so far."
"I bet that went well."
"Tell me about it. He practically threatened me on the spot. But I managed to convince Marita over in records to help me out though."
"That's great then. At least someone's on your side," Katheryn encouraged.
"Yeah. I just hope I didn't get her in trouble too."
"Hey," Katheryn raised her voice slightly. "It'll be alright. I guarantee after all this is over and they've got that creep in prison that they'll be begging for their best detective to come back. They probably don't even know what they're doing without you as we speak."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Carlos took a deep breath, knowing how much he wished he could agree with Kath but couldn't bring himself to consider how well he was adjusting to being away from the force.
"I mean it," Kath insisted.
"And I love you for it," Carlos made sure to say. "I, um, I just don't know if I want to go back."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I've sort of enjoyed the chance to work for myself without the department hanging over me. It definitely has given me a taste of what Trent does. I sort of like it," he concluded his explanation with a breathy chuckle, much to Kath's relief. "Well, I'd best be turning in. Got a long day tomorrow."
"I'll miss you at church," Kath admitted, knowing it was one of the best moments of their week together.
"Me too. But we've got to get this guy before he hurts anyone else."
"I know." A brief silence fell on the line as Katheryn exhaled. "Stay safe. Love you."
"Love you too. Talk to you tomorrow."
"I'll hold you to it."
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
"I gather that was Carlos," Molly pried once Katheryn returned to the couch after hanging up the phone.
"Yeah. How could you guess?"
Molly deadpanned at Katheryn before laughing off Kath's sarcastic question.
"The guys won't be at church tomorrow," Katheryn continued. "They have a lead and will be doing some traveling tomorrow."
"Oh," Molly frowned. "Well, we'll just have to make the most of it."
"What do you mean?!"
"I wasn't sure you'd want me to, but I may have volunteered you to replace Jenn in the choir tomorrow."
"You did not."
"I did. Please don't hate me."
"Oh, I don't hate you. I just wish you would have asked me first."
"Well, I figured you'd have a good excuse to say no if it came up. But now it looks like you don't."
Katheryn gathered her thoughts as quickly as she could and smiled. "You know, don't feel bad at all. I think it's exactly what I need to distract me from thinking about Carlos tomorrow."
"Same here. For Trent I mean."
"Speaking of Trent…"
"Nope. Don't even start."
"Come on! We're practically sisters. And sisters tell each other everything."
Molly finally smiled. "I went over to the dojo this afternoon while you were finishing up your report about the Silvero case."
"And?"
"Trent was alone. He was having quit the time with the shuriken while waiting for Carlos to get back."
"The shuriken?!"
"Yup. Walker's teaching him."
"That's great! I'm glad Walker finally had that talk with him."
"Yeah. Me too," Molly admitted. "Although, he needs a lot of practice from the looks of things."
"And?" Katheryn urged, somewhat ignoring Molly's latter comment.
"We talked."
"About?"
Molly then exhaled sharply, knowing she couldn't hide her excitement for long. A smile slowly spread across her face as she stood and crossed over to the kitchen where she returned seconds late with a small box. Curiously, Katheryn peered over Molly's hands as she opened the petite case to reveal a pearl bracelet, gently bouncing off the light from the nearby lamp.
"It's pretty," Katheryn doted and accepted the bracelet as Molly handed it to her.
"Trent said it belonged to his grandmother. Thunder's mom. When his father was dating Mrs. Malloy, she gave it to him to give to her...as a gift to express their commitment to each other. I—I also think what Carlos went through had him thinking about his own future some. Although he'd never admit it to anyone."
"So…" Kath urged, a smile spreading across her face. "Does this mean?"
"Yes. Although please don't make a big deal about it. Nothing has changed. We're just slightly more committed than before."
"Oh, I'm so happy for you and Trent," Katheryn exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her best friend. "So why aren't you wearing it now?"
Molly slipped the bracelet on to look at it and smiled over at Kath. "I wanted to tell you first before everyone starts asking me where I got it."
"That's sweet of you." Kath took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement. "Wow. I—I'm just so happy for you two. You do know I've been rooting for y'all since you first met?"
"Yeah I know," Molly chuckled. "And you did everything short of trying to play matchmaker too. And don't think I didn't see you when we were on the Malloy's porch that night several months ago."
"What are you talking about?" Kath chuckled and quickly picked up her coffee again to sip on it.
"You know very well what I'm talking about."
"Well, now. Look at the time." Katheryn chuckled and stood, quickly diverting herself into the kitchen to deposit her mug in the sink. She gave the wall clock a brief glance as she started for her bedroom, throwing over her shoulder, "Got to get my rest. Early morning coming, you know."
Just at the top of the stairs leading up to the loft area of Uppercuts across from the entrance at a fair distance sat Katheryn with Donna directly across from her. The little table that could comfortably seat most of the gang when they came to relax had not long ago been adopted by them. Even Butch himself had begun to kid them that they should go ahead and buy a little plaque to screw into the underside of the end of the table. Yet in the same breath he'd be saying how they would not hear the end of it if they laid a hand on his tables like that. It was all in good-hearted fun of course. Still, none of them dared to find out if the Golden Gloves champ of his day would prove he was just kidding or not. Meanwhile, they had begun to enjoy the little cozy table. It was the perfect spot overlooking the bar downstairs with a direct view of the door while the pool table was in arms reach of the little corner.
It was in moments like this one…a quiet Tuesday afternoon with things final coming to a calm that Katheryn and Donna had escaped from the center early for some dinner and well-deserved girl talk over a couple of cups of steaming hot coffee.
"Alright. Out with it." Donna glared over her coffee cup at Katheryn as she sipped steadily. She kept her eyes pressed on Kath as she set the mug down, raising her eyebrows for emphasis to get her friend's attention. "So?"
"So what?" Katheryn went back to shoving a few bites of food into her mouth.
"Tell me more about your and Carlos' date."
Katheryn scoffed, "Which one?"
"The one that was interrupted by Walker and Alex going AWOL."
"Oh, that one. What's there to tell exactly?"
Donna deadpanned at Katheryn, her eyes widening and a sarcastic smile sweeping over her face.
Making eye contact with Donna, Katheryn slowly set her fork down and gave the room a quick glance over. "Well, I told you pretty much everything already. But, if you insist…."
A thirty minute nap was all it had taken to send Katheryn into a whirlwind of preparations as she awoke to see that the time on the kitchen counter clock was correct…much to her dismay. She quickly hurried to shower, dress, and most importantly calm down so that she would be prepared for the evening the way she wanted to be. She had just slipped into her blouse when a knock on the apartment door sent her heart beating twice as fast. Hearing Molly yell that she would get it, Katheryn immediately began scolding herself. It wasn't like this was their first date. Still, no matter how comfortable she was with Carlos now after nearly a year of friendship…and more…sometimes her heart just decided to remind her how much she was in love. If only the tension would stay away. Unfortunately, one came with the other.
Molly dipped inside Kath's bedroom with a smile. "He's here," she winked.
"I know. I know." Katheryn rushed across the bedroom to slip into her shoes. "How could you have let me oversleep, Molly?"
"You were tired, sis. I figured you deserved some extra shuteye after the day you had."
"It wasn't that bad."
"Kath, you chased a thug down the street of Dallas with Trent."
"True," Kath sighed. "Still, I consider that invigorating not tiring."
"Whatever." Molly disappeared back into the living area of the apartment.
After a few minutes alone to collect herself, retreating quickly into the bathroom for one last look at herself in the mirror, Katheryn stepped out of the bedroom and ambled through the living room to where Carlos was, turning around from looking out over the downtown Dallas sunset to greet her with his broad, infectious smile. He kissed her on the lips briefly and slipped a note in her hands.
"Oh, what's this?" Katheryn quipped as she slit open the envelope and opened the card. Shortly after reading the contents, she gave Carlos a smile. "Aw, that's sweet of you. I'll be right back. I'm going to go put it on my nightstand. Be right back."
"Alright." Carlos watched with pride as Katheryn darted into the bedroom. He briefly made eye contact with Molly from across the room and returned her wink with another continual smile.
Carlos had returned to viewing the sunset for maybe only ten seconds when his cell phone rang from inside his leather coat. He reached for the item, a raspy exhale on his breath as he flipped it open and answered with a quick, "Detective Sandoval."
It was then that Katheryn had returned, slowly approaching him as she watched his face go from happiness to concern. He turned to face Katheryn as he continued to listen to the call. He could see the worry in her eyes and quickly wished to relieve her concern. But as he closed the cell phone and could see her silently urge him on, he wasn't sure how to tell her what he had been told.
"What?" Kath urged. By now Molly had joined them.
"Um," Carlos cleared his throat. "That was Trivette. C.D. just flat-lined. But they managed to bring him back, thank God. And…Walker and Alex's plane has gone missing."
"Missing?!" Molly queried. "Did it—did it crash?"
"They aren't for sure. Trivette is headed over to the airport now."
"Well let's go," Katheryn exclaimed but was stopped by Carlos' touching her on the arm.
"What about our date?"
"Carlos! This is Walker and Alex we're talking about here," Katheryn reasoned. But she sighed and wished she could someone convince Carlos that the last thing she wanted to do was cancel their date. She had looked forward to today for the entire week.
"Kath, there's nothing we can do right now. Trivette will call us if anything comes up. If we have to, we'll cut our date short and head over to help. How's that?"
Kath finally was able to smile about the subject despite the raging thoughts going through her head. "I think I can live with that. On one condition…"
"Name it."
"Can we swing by the hospital first?"
"Consider it done."
Much like Carlos had predicted, Trivette called only once to say they were calling it a night. They could do more searching until daylight arrived again.
As they came to a stop in front of the apartment building in Carlos' Crown Victoria, Katheryn turned to him, a smile spreading across her face. She almost said some fleeting comment about how wonderful the evening had been but changed her mind as the words began to sound cliché in her mind. Instead, she gathered her few belongings and stepped out into the moonlight, Carlos following closely behind her to walk her to the door.
Katheryn was about to conclude that Carlos would think she had gone silent him and would concerned about her when he set his hand on her arm, softly rubbing back and forth before she paused to look into his eyes. Drawing closer, he pressed a kiss on her lips, slipping his other hand around her neck as the moonlight seemed to shine so gloriously in the distance above them.
Donna was lost in a daze as Katheryn finished recounting the evening to her, not leaving one little detail out. Kath watched as Donna stared across into the distance.
"That man has got to be the most romantic man out there," Donna commented, finally pulling herself from her stupor.
"I guess I got lucky," Katheryn replied, turning to see the door to Uppercuts open wide.
Striding into the bar looking tired and done in was Carlos followed closely behind by Trent and Marita Cortez from the department of whom she had met briefly last week.
"Oh my lord," Kath exclaimed, quickly recognizing the look Carlos seemed to get after a fight. And the bruise on his cheek gave him away.
Kath quickly rushed to meet him halfway in front of the downstairs bar counter and reached up a hand to the wound on his face. "What happened to you, Carlos?" she said with concern filling her voice.
"Jack Lesofsky happened."
"Did you get him?"
"Yup," Trent chimed in as he settled on a barstool and took a sip of the drink that Joe set down in front of him.
Carlos cringed and moaned some as Katheryn touched a sensitive spot by his mouth. "Hey, careful."
"Sorry," Katheryn apologized, cringing at the same time. "I guess it hurts some? You may need stitches."
"No, I'll be fine."
"What happened?!" Donna exclaimed, finally joining them at the bar.
"Carlos took down the serial killer," Marita explained. "I owe him my life."
Katheryn smiled. "I'm glad you all made it out okay."
Despite the pain, Carlos briefly kissed Kath on the forehead. "I had to."
Katheryn patted the barstool swiftly as she took one herself. "Now, tell me all about it. And don't leave out one detail."
Carlos chuckled as he took the seat. "You're relentless."
"And don't you forget it, Detective Sandoval. I mean…"
"It's alright," Carlos laughed lightly.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to it," Kath sighed.
"Yeah, me neither. As it turns out, Captain Philipps never turned in my resignation."
"So…you're still a cop?" Donna questioned with a creasing of her brows.
"No," Carlos stated firmly, offering a smile. "I think I need to think it over some."
Katheryn took a second to read the expression on Carlos' face and then replied, "It's going to be okay. You're too smart to be on the sidelines for very long."
"Thanks," Carlos laughed. "Maybe I should try out for the Rangers. But you know, working alone this past week has really opened my eyes to the freedom in working for yourself."
"Then," Kath inserted. "Maybe you and Trent should work together."
"That's not a bad idea," Marita stated confidently.
"Yeah, especially when Trent needs me. Although he'll never admit it."
Just then, the door opened to reveal Ranger Walker. He crossed over to give Trent and Carlos each a firm handshake and then to Katheryn for a quick hug.
"I heard how you two took down the killer. Great job, guys."
"Thanks," Trent and Carlos beamed, answering Walker at the same time.
"Well, what do you say to a little celebration?" Butch grinned, slapping the bar in front of the guys. "I've got a few treats on the house with both of your names on it. You just meet me upstairs. I'll be there in a second."
"Yes, sir," Carlos saluted and eased off the bar stool to comply gladly.
Katheryn rose also and pecked a kiss on Carlos' cheek, causing him to cringe again. "Oh, I'm sorry. Hey, I'll see you later. I've got to run."
"So soon?"
"Yeah. Night shift at the center."
"Have fun," Carlos interjected with a wink and a grin to which Katheryn smiled and went on her way wishing she could stay longer but knew duty called.
They had all entered a new season of uncertainty. But the love among them all was way too strong to separate them anytime soon. The legacy of Thunder still stayed alive and well in each of their hearts, carrying them on into whatever their futures would hold.
