CHAPETR 7.
"If the bastard hurts Stella..." Ray tried to focus on the road ahead as he raced through the streets to Stella's neighbourhood.
"We don't know what his plans are at this juncture," Fraser pointed out.
"Oh c'mon, Fraser. He had the two addresses for a reason," replied Ray. "He's gonna make me and Welsh pay by hurtin' the people we love." Ray swallowed hard as he jumped a red light.
Fraser's hat slid across the dashboard as Ray screeched the GTO around a corner.
We should have seen this coming…
Their profile of George Molton had been all wrong. Until yesterday they'd all thought he was nothing but a thug; hired muscle, a guy the big boys turned to when they wanted someone to do their dirty work. Within the space of less than twenty four hours he had become the sole suspect in three murders and was apparently involved in a liquor smuggling ring and a money counterfeiting operation, both of which undoubtedly meant he was connected to some high powered criminals. Now Stella and Mrs Welsh were in danger. Fraser closed his eyes and hoped they reached the two women in time.
They were five minutes away from Stella's building when Ray's phone rang. Fraser answered it. "Constable Benton Fr...oh, yes Detective Dewey. I see...oh dear...but there's no evidence to suspect she has come to any harm? Good...yes...we're almost there."
"What?" snapped Ray, desperate for information.
"Detectives Huey and Dewey arrived at the Lieutenant's house moments ago and discovered signs of a break in and a struggle, but no sign of Mrs Welsh," Fraser explained, his voice grave.
"He's got her," breathed Ray, trying to hold himself together. "And now he's gone after Stella...oh god, Carmen! Fraser, the baby could get...oh jeez..."
Fraser couldn't think of anything to say that would put Ray's mind at rest. It was actually encouraging that Mrs Welsh was missing and Fraser knew Ray would already have realised that. It suggested that Molton did not intend simply to kill her and Stella, but he had more likely planned to kidnap them both to use as bait and as bargaining tools.
At last they pulled into Stella's street. Ray flung the GTO into a parking space at an angle and he and Fraser leapt out of the car, leaving the doors wide open. Fraser flipped his hat onto his head as he ran after Ray. They burst in through the main doors and headed up the stairs.
"Stella!" Ray banged on her apartment door with his fist. "Stella! Are you in there?"
To Ray and Fraser's great relief the door opened. Stella stood there with her hand on her hip and glared at Ray.
"Thank you for waking the baby!" she said though gritted teeth. They could hear Carmen crying from the other room.
Without a word of explanation Ray manhandled Stella back inside the apartment. "Get Carmen," he ordered her. "We need to get you out of here."
"What the hell are you doing?" exclaimed Stella.
"I'm sorry Stella," said Fraser as he ran into the apartment. He picked up Carmen's bag and quickly began to fill it with some of her things. "We'll explain later. You and Carmen are in danger, we need to leave now."
"Oh my god!" breathed Stella. She turned towards the bedroom, but Ray had already fetched Carmen from her crib and he came running out with her in his arms.
"Diapers," said Ray, urgently throwing an opened pack at his buddy. "You got everything else?"
"I believe so," replied Fraser, stuffing two bottles of formula milk from the fridge into the bag. "Let's go."
A bewildered Stella slipped her feet into a pair of old grey sling-backs and grabbed a warm sweater from a hook on the back of a door.
Fraser slung Carmen's bag across his shoulder and held the front door open. Ray handed Carmen to Stella and drew his gun. The baby was still crying and Stella looked at her with sympathy. Hasn't this poor kid been through enough already?
Fraser held Stella back by the shoulder, allowing Ray to go first and make sure it was safe. Ray held his weapon tightly as peered down the hallways, checking first left then right. He turned and nodded to Fraser, breathing a sigh of relief and they all raced along the corridor.
Fraser quickly explained what had happened to Stella as they ran. Stella couldn't believe it; she'd met Mrs Welsh on a few occasions at official functions and she couldn't imagine what the woman must be going through.
Ray paused for a moment by a doorway with a large, green neon 'Exit' sign above it. "Back stairs?" he suggested.
"That may be prudent," agreed Fraser. It would mean going through the underground parking area, which offered less of an escape route if Molton was already down there, but it was a better alternative than running out into the open.
Fraser crouched down and took Dief's muzzle in his hand. "Go. I'll meet you back at the Consulate," he said, looking the wolf in the eye and enunciating perfectly. Dief began to protest, but Fraser shook his head. "No," he insisted. "It's too dangerous. You'll be safer on foot."
Dief hesitated, but deep down he knew Fraser was right and he ran off.
Fraser, Ray and Stella walked down the concrete steps as quickly as they could. The click-click of Stella's heels echoed around the stairwell, as did Carmen's cries. Stella held the baby tightly, trying to calm her, but with little success. Her own heart was beating so fast with fear that calm was the last thing she felt.
xXxXx
"Here, extra strong, two sweeteners." Francesca placed a hot cup of coffee on Lieutenant Welsh's desk. He stared at it for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before nodding appreciatively.
"Thank you, Miss Vecchio," he said, quietly.
"Any news?" asked Francesca.
Welsh shook his head and stared at his coffee again.
Francesca pulled up a chair and sat down at his desk. "You know, we have everyone on this," she said, supportively. "We'll find her," she added with a smile.
Welsh sighed a deep sigh. "If you don't mind, Miss Vecchio, I'd like to be alone. I have some phone calls to make."
"Sure," agreed Francesca, but she didn't get up from the chair.
"Please," insisted Welsh, raising his eyebrows for emphasis.
"Why don't you come and sit at my desk when you've finished on the phone?" suggested Francesca. She didn't think he should be alone at a time like this.
"I appreciate what you're trying to do," began Welsh with another sigh, "but I really don't need you getting in my way. I've been a cop for a long time, Miss Vecchio, I know how these things play out. We need to stick to protocol; it works, trust me. I trust my people to do their jobs and I have to get on with mine."
"But this is your wife, Harding," said Francesca, reaching out and grabbing his arm.
"I realise that," replied Welsh, sharply.
"As long as you also know that…that we're here for you," smiled Francesca.
A sudden lump in his throat caught the usually gruff Lieutenant by surprise. "Thank you," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "Now please, get out of my office."
Francesca went back to her desk just as the phone started to ring. It was Ray calling in with an update. "Thank god," said Francesca when she heard that Stella and the baby were safe. "No…nothing, no sightings yet…yes, I'll tell him."
As Francesca hung up the phone she turned to see Welsh standing in the doorway of his office.
"That was Ray," she explained. "They're taking Stella Kowalski to the Consulate."
Welsh nodded and thought for a moment. It was true what he'd said just now to Francesca; he had been a cop for a long time, but in all those years, this was the first time that his wife had ever been caught up in any danger.
The Lieutenant's marriage had been a long and happy one; happy, Welsh realised, because he and his wife didn't live in each other's pockets. Mrs Welsh led her own life, a series of part time jobs and voluntary work and regular nights out with her girlfriends – the theatre, or a meal at a restaurant - while Welsh had his job with the Chicago PD…and very little time for anything else. They slept together, ate breakfast together and occasionally dinner - if Welsh was home in time - but otherwise they spent very little time together. Welsh had never taken a moment to consider what his life would be like without her, but now he was faced with the very real possibility that his wife could be killed at the hands of George Molton and he couldn't keep a clear head. He desperately tried to keep his emotions separate from his work, but this time he just couldn't do it.
The last time we went out together was my birthday…the show was terrible, but the meal was good. And the company…
Welsh closed his eyes and thought for a moment. He realised Francesca Vecchio and half the squad room were staring at him, but he didn't care.
Francesca glanced at Detective Miyoshi who was sitting at her desk going over all the information they had on Molton for what seemed to her like the hundredth time. Both women were worried about their Lieutenant. No one had ever seen him like this before. Francesca's brother – the real Ray Vecchio – had been deep undercover for almost two years now and it had taken Francesca a long time to put the anxiety to the back of her mind. She could at least take some comfort in the knowledge that her brother had a team of FBI agents watching his back – hopefully not like those idiots they usually send here - but she still worried about Ray every day. Mrs Welsh, however, had no one. She was in immediate danger and Francesca could only imagine what must be going through the Lieutenant's mind.
It was no good. No matter how hard he tried, Welsh couldn't bear to sit around any longer while the one person he cared most about in the world was out there somewhere at the hands of an armed lunatic. His eyes snapped open.
"Miyoshi, get a squad car ready, we're going out there," he ordered and disappeared back inside his office, only to return seconds later with his gun holster strapped around his shoulders and his jacket over his arm. He nodded silently to Francesca and she nodded back. "To hell with protocol," muttered Welsh as he marched out of the squad room, with Miyoshi running to keep up with him.
xXxXx
"Ray…we're being followed." Fraser looked in the rear view mirror one more time to be sure. This is what he'd been dreading.
"Orange SUV?" asked Ray, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
Fraser shook his head. "Dark blue Honda Accord," he replied. "Another rental car, I imagine."
"I'll try to lose him." Ray slammed on the brakes and screeched the GTO around a sharp bend.
"Stella, is Carmen's seat secure?" asked a concerned Fraser, steadying himself with one hand on the dashboard as he spoke.
"Yes," replied Stella, tugging on the seatbelt again just to make sure. She glanced nervously out of the back window. "Has he got Annie Welsh in that car?" she asked.
Fraser narrowed his eyes and tried to see into the car which was still on their tail. "I'm not sure," he replied.
"Get Frannie on the radio," said Ray, urgently. "We need back up, now! If I can't shake him I'll lead him to the old tyre factory."
Fraser nodded and picked up the radio handset as Ray jumped a red light and raced the wrong way down a one way street, narrowly avoiding an oncoming pick-up truck.
Stella looked at Carmen; she'd fallen asleep. How she could sleep with all the noise and movement Stella had no idea. She remembered how Ray always fell asleep on the long drive up to her parents' summer cottage in the mountains. They followed the same routine every time; Ray would drive for the first three hours, then they'd take a break at a roadside diner – the kind that Stella's parents wouldn't be seen dead in – then Stella would drive the rest of the way. Ray would always make two new mix tapes especially for the journey, one for when he was driving and one for when Stella took over. They'd have their fill of pancakes at the diner then Stella would pull the driver's seat upright before setting off again - which always annoyed Ray, although he always moved the passenger seat back so he could get comfortable - and he would be asleep before the end of the second song.
Stella smiled at the memories, but suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a gunshot.
"Get down!" yelled Ray and Stella instinctively laid across Carmen's car seat.
Another gunshot; both bullets missed by some distance, but it was clear that Molton was not about to let his target get away. He fired off another four shots as he swerved across the road.
"If there's any damage to my paintwork, Fraser…" began Ray through gritted teeth, but he decided it was best to keep the rest of that thought to himself.
The abandoned tyre factory loomed ahead and Ray drove into the yard and screeched around a pile of old tyres. Despite Ray's best efforts, Molton was still on his tail and the blue Honda skidded after them. If it had just been Molton in the other car Ray would have tried to force him into losing control of his vehicle, but he couldn't risk it, not with the distinct possibility that Lieutenant Welsh's wife was in the car too.
Molton opened fire again and this time a bullet bounced off the roof of Ray's car. "That is it!" exclaimed Ray and he skewed the GTO round in a figure of eight. "No one shoots my car and gets away with it."
"Ray…" began Fraser, "look out for that…" but it was too late. Ray hit an oil patch on the tarmac and the GTO went into a spin, bursting a rear tyre. Stella screamed and clung to Carmen's car seat; the baby was still fast asleep, oblivious to the unfolding drama.
In the hands of a less experienced driver, the GTO could have ended up on its roof, but Ray knew how to keep control and within seconds he'd brought her safely to a halt. He glanced at Fraser; that had been a little too close for comfort.
"I'm sorry, Ray," said Fraser apologetically. "I was distracted; I should have seen it earlier."
"I didn't see it at all," admitted Ray.
They both leapt out of the car. Ray quickly opened the back door and pulled Carmen from her seat while Fraser opened the other door and grabbed Stella's hand. The sudden disturbance woke Carmen with a start and she started screaming.
"Ssshhh…ssshhh…" Ray tried to calm her as they ran for cover behind a heap of discarded tyres. They heard the screech of tyres and then another gunshot.
"He's crazy!" exclaimed Stella taking Carmen from Ray's arms so he could pull his gun from its holster.
"Quite possibly," agreed Fraser. He took his spyglass and peered around the tyres to assess the situation.
"Where is he?" asked Ray urgently, reaching into his jacket pocket for his glasses.
"About twenty five metres in that direction," replied Fraser, pointing out into the yard.
Ray sneered at him. "What's that in American?"
They all ducked as Molton fired off another round.
"Approximately eighty two feet, Ray," replied Fraser, as he pocketed his spyglass. "He has Mrs Welsh with him."
Ray moved so he could see across to where Molton was standing. Mrs Welsh was standing close beside him with her arms folded in a defiant posture. Ray had only met the Lieutenant's wife once before at a New Year ball arranged by the Captain of the Twenty Eighth precinct. Ray hated formal functions, but he'd felt obliged to attend. He'd spent most of the evening avoiding Stella who, unlike Ray, went to every ball and gala dinner she was invited to and had crossed paths with Annie Welsh on several occasions.
"I don't have a shot," Ray announced, grunting with frustration. Molton was deliberately using Mrs Welsh as a human shield. "So what's the plan?" he asked.
"Shouldn't you wait for backup?" asked Stella.
Fraser and Ray both looked at her as if she'd just said the most ridiculous thing they'd ever heard. Stella rolled her eyes and clutched the still screaming Carmen closer to her. "This is why we never had kids," she muttered.
"What?" Ray wasn't sure if he'd heard her correctly, but before he could press her for an explanation the sound of another three gunshots filled the air.
"Follow my lead," said Fraser suddenly and before Ray could stop him, the Mountie was on his feet and walking out into the open with his hands in the air.
"Fraser!" hissed Ray. Why did his buddy always do this? Just a quick discussion of the plan would be nice beforehand, and why couldn't Fraser follow his lead for once? Ray sighed, now was not the time for this. Lives were in danger; he and Fraser could bicker about this later.
"I am unarmed," Fraser announced in a loud voice.
"You're the Mountie," Molton snarled.
"Constable Fraser, RCMP," Fraser introduced himself. "I first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of my father and for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture I remained, attached as a liaison officer with the Canadian Consulate."
"I want your pal Vecchio," snapped Molton. He grabbed Annie Welsh by the arm and dragged her a few paces closer to Fraser.
"Detective Vecchio does not wish to engage with you at this juncture," began Fraser. "However, in just a few moments you will be surrounded by armed police officers. Please release your hostage and surrender your weapon immediately." He lowered his hands and began walking slowly towards Molton.
Molton laughed. "Are you for real?" he asked.
"Yes," concurred Fraser, seriously. "You have no hope of escape. Your only option is to capitulate."
A smile spread across Ray's face. Oh OK, I got this plan. Fraser distracts him with words like capitulate while I sneak up on him from behind. It was a tried and tested plan that had worked for them many times before.
Ray surveyed the yard for cover, but there was very little. He couldn't see how he was going to move from this heap of tyres without Molton seeing him. Sorry buddy, change of plan…
"Stay down," Ray whispered to Stella. Then, he emerged from his hiding place with his gun trained on Molton. "Here I am," he grinned.
"Ray?" Fraser's head snapped round in surprise.
"Detective, I was starting to think you were a coward," said Molton, deliberately trying to wind him up. "Now get your wife and kid out here too."
Ray shrugged. "Dunno what you're talkin' about," he said, walking slowly across the yard to join Fraser.
"C'mon, I can hear the kid from here!" exclaimed Molton. Carmen was still inconsolable.
"Oh, right," nodded Ray overdramatically, as if he'd suddenly understood. "See, er, thing is…that's not my kid. Come to think of it, that's not my wife either."
"Do I look stupid?" growled Molton.
"Yeah," nodded Ray. "From here you look stupid and…"
"Have you had time to reconsider my suggestion?" Fraser interrupted his friend, acutely aware that throwing insults at Molton would only aggravate him further.
"The one where I come quietly?" asked Molton with a sick laugh.
Fraser nodded.
"Yeah, I've considered it," laughed Molton. Then his laugh turned to a sinister snort and he put his gun to Mrs Welsh's head.
Fraser glanced at Ray. They both realised this man was prepared to murder more innocent people to secure his freedom.
"Get your lady friend and the baby out here right now," he shouted. "Or I pull the trigger."
Annie Welsh looked surprisingly calm. Fraser had quickly realised that she was a very strong person, but although she was doing everything she could not to let Molton see how scared she was, Fraser's sharp eyes saw the pulse in her neck quicken.
Ray held his breath and glanced quickly back at where Stella was hiding with Carmen. He desperately tried to see an easy way out of this mess, but he couldn't. He wasn't going to hand them over to Molton, but he couldn't let him shoot Mrs Welsh in cold blood either.
"An exchange," said Fraser, suddenly. "Ms Kowalski and the baby for Mrs Welsh. Then we can begin negotiations to secure your freedom."
"What?" exclaimed Ray. Now what was his freak of a buddy doing? Surely they weren't actually going to give in to this guy's demands?
"Deal," agreed Molton after just a moment of hesitation.
"Fraser!" Ray couldn't believe he was going to put Stella and Carmen in direct danger. Then he caught the look in Fraser's eye. So this is another new plan I haven't got a clue about…greatness!
"Now if you would both kindly lower your weapons, we can continue in a more relaxed environment," Fraser said. He glanced at Ray, silently pleading with his eyes for his partner to go along with his suggestion.
Ray had to trust his buddy, even though he couldn't figure out exactly what Fraser had planned. He gave a tiny nod and Fraser returned the gesture.
Ray and Molton eyed each other; neither was prepared to be the first to drop their gun. Ray's breathing became heavier as he resisted the urge to shoot. Part of him – the part fuelled with adrenaline – was telling him he could take Molton out before the guy had a chance to pull the trigger on Mrs Welsh, but deep down Ray knew it wasn't worth the risk.
Molton considered Fraser for a moment. He couldn't help feeling that he should take the Mountie at his word. In all likelihood, Molton realised, he was right and there would soon be no other way out of this. He slowly lowered his arm and then, seconds later, Ray did the same.
"Thank you kindly, gentlemen," smiled Fraser. "Now…" he began, but – just as he'd anticipated - he was interrupted by the sudden, loud arrival of two police cars. One carrying Lieutenant Welsh and Detective Miyoshi and the other driven by Tom Dewey, with Jack Huey at his side. Of course Fraser had heard the vehicles approaching and had been timing his actions to perfectly coincide with their arrival.
Molton spun round at the noise and in an instant Fraser rushed forward and pulled Annie Welsh to safety. Molton raised his gun again and fired at Ray, who threw himself to the left to avoid the bullets, firing off two shots of his own. Molton tried to run, firing another round as he fled, but he didn't get far as Huey and Dewey raced to cut him off. Before Molton realised what was happening, he was on the ground, face down, with Ray's knee in his back and three standard issued police weapons pointed at his head. "You are under arrest," announced Ray with a satisfied sigh.
Lieutenant Welsh raced over to his wife. She was shaking now and Fraser had a supportive arm around her shoulder.
The Lieutenant gave Fraser a nod of acknowledgement and thanks. "I heard you needed back-up," he said, dryly.
Tears of relief began to run down Mrs Welsh's face and Fraser left the couple to embrace. He glanced over to see Ray and Dewey dragging Molton to his feet and was about to join them when he heard Stella's voice. The tone made his head snap round and his blood run cold.
Stella was leaning against the side of Ray's car with Carmen in her arms. "Fraser," she said. Her voice sounded shaky and she was staring wide eyed at the baby. "Fraser!" she repeated more urgently now. "Carmen…it's Carmen!"
Fraser ran as fast as he could to join her. As he approached he could see a huge patch of red blood on the tiny infant's pink cardigan. Oh please…no...
Carmen was still screaming, deep sobs that welled up from inside her. Stella had never heard a baby cry like that before and she held her as if she might break. All the colour drained from Stella's face; she'd tried to protect her, how could this have happened?
Fraser lifted Carmen from Stella's arms and laid her on the front of the GTO. "It's alright," he said in as calm a voice as he could muster. "Ssshhh…" She must have caught a stray bullet… He pulled open her cardigan looking for the wound, but what he saw made him stop in his tracks. For a moment he didn't know what to think. Although there was a lot of blood on her cardigan, there was less on the little yellow t-shirt she had on underneath. Fraser stared at her for a second as he began to piece things together in his mind. He had to be certain, though, so he ripped her t-shirt away and then the baby vest she had on underneath it to reveal her tiny body, perfectly unharmed. He ran his hands over the smooth pink skin to be sure and briefly allowed himself a sigh of relief.
"It's alright," he announced, knowing his relief would only be momentary. "Carmen is uninjured…it's not her blood." He turned and looked at Stella, pausing for a moment before continuing. "I think it's yours."
Stella gasped. Suddenly she was aware of an intense, burning pain in her shoulder and she looked down at herself, noticing the blood on her shirt for the first time. "Oh…" she whimpered and slumped against the car.
"Ray…Ray…RAY!" yelled Fraser. He picked up Carmen and crouched beside Stella. "You're going to be alright," he said encouragingly.
Ray ran across the yard, recognising the urgency in his buddy's voice. "Oh jeez, Stella!" he exclaimed when he saw what had happened. He turned back to Huey who had realised something was wrong and was following Ray a few paces behind. "Call 911…hurry!" Ray yelled, throwing his phone to the other detective. Then he fell to his knees beside Stella and took her hand in his.
"Ray, take Carmen," Fraser instructed, but Ray couldn't hear; his focus was entirely on his ex-wife. "Ray, please, hold Carmen," repeated Fraser.
This time Ray nodded and took the still screaming baby from the Mountie's arms. He watched helplessly as Fraser pressed his handkerchief over Stella's wound. The surge of pain caused her head to spin and she slumped forward.
"Stell," said Ray, desperate to keep her awake. "Hey," he smiled when she opened her eyes. "Stay with me," he said and cupped the side of her face with his free hand.
Stella slowly turned her head and looked at her shoulder. Her blood had already soaked through Fraser's handkerchief and she began to panic; she felt her throat tighten as though she couldn't breathe.
"Stella, look at me," Fraser ordered, checking her pulse with concern. "Stella….Stella…"
"Stell…look at me," urged Ray. "I love you," he declared, his voice cracking.
Stella finally turned her head away from her wound and looked into his eyes. "I love you too, Ray," she breathed. "I'm…sorry."
Ray wasn't sure what she was apologising for, but he smiled back at her. "I'll always love you," he said, fighting to hold back tears. "And…and I really want us to be friends."
"Me too," she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Then, as the distant sound of a siren grew louder, Stella's strength finally evaded her and she fell against Ray, her eyes drifting closed.
