CHAPTER 7
HONOR
Highest esteem for the principles upon which the California Highway Patrol has been built
Early Wednesday morning Tina's shift was in full swing. She headed down the hall to room 1217 and unlocked the door. She shook her head in dismay as she surveyed the room, picking up a crumpled bed sheet from the floor with her thumb and forefinger in disgust. "I am so not cleaning this place alone."
She headed back to her cleaning cart for her rubber gloves and then went over to the phone and called the housekeeping office. "Hey Marisol, its Tina. I'm in 1217… yeah, the one we couldn't clean for a week. I'm gonna need some help in here."
Tina set to work, gathering the sheets from the bed and floor. Marisol joined her about five minutes later and started picking up the trash that was strewn across the room. She grabbed a handful of papers and started to throw them away when something written on the top sheet caught her eye.
After a minute Tina walked out of the bathroom. "Good Lord Mar, would you belie- hey, what's wrong?"
"Look at this." She handed the stack of papers to her friend and waited for her reply.
"Oh my God."
"I'm calling a supervisor in here."
"Screw the supervisor, Mar. Call the police!"
-oOo-
Joe and Will sat in the sergeant's office going over reports when the phone rang. "Getraer."
"Joe, its Sue Maddux with LAPD."
"Hello, sergeant. To what do I owe the honor of this call?"
"I need you and the captain to come down to the Sleep Tight Inn off of Lankersham and 9th right away. We've gotten our first lead on Craig."
Joe stood quickly and motioned for the captain to get ready to leave. "We'll be there as soon as possible."
They took an unmarked car and were at the inn twenty minutes later. A small crowd had gathered to watch the investigation, forcing them to park across the street and walk over. Just as the reached the other side, a news van pulled up and a reporter and cameraman hopped out. "Great, just great. The vultures have arrived," Will said tersely.
The CHP officers walked up to the caution tape and were admitted right away. They quickly found Maddux who led them into the hotel room and to the king size bed. She handed them each a pair of surgical gloves and pointed to the papers spread out upon the beige blanket over the bed.
"You know how I said yesterday that I thought Craig had this all planned out? Well, here's your proof, and then some."
They put on the gloves and carefully looked through the papers scattered on the bed. There was the map of the industrial complex where Craig led them the day before, and a list of places and times with Bonnie's name on the top. Several other sheets had random notes and drawings depicting all sorts of gruesome methods of torture or death.
The captain picked up another paper and stared at it until he couldn't see through the tears. Sgt. Maddux noticed and put a hand on Sgt. Getraer's arm, nodding towards the captain.
"What is it, Will?" Joe asked.
He held out the paper for them to see. A CHP badge was drawn in detail. Below it was written the CHP Code of Honor in neat handwriting interspersed with an angry looking print.
To serve the United States of America and the State of California honestly,
and conscientiously; and fulfill my oath as a soldier of the law; To uphold
and maintain the honor and integrity of the California Highway Patrol
THERE IS NO HONOR; Be loyal to my fellow officers WHO WERE
NEVER LOYAL TO ME; respect and obey my seniors in rank WHO
DON'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS FOR ANYONE OR ANYTHING BUT
THEMSELVES; and enforce the law without fear, favor, or discrimination
MY LAW WILL BE INFORCED; Assist those in peril or distress, and if
necessary lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty
(I don't want to die); My personal conduct shall at all times be above
reproach and I will never knowingly commit any act that will in any way
bring discredit upon the California Highway Patrol or any member thereof
JUST LIKE LAST WEEK ON THE 405 FREEWAY PEOPLE!; To all of this
I do solemnly pledge my sacred honor as an Officer of the California Highway Patrol."
THERE IS NO HONOR!
"May I see that, captain?" Sgt. Maddux held out her hand for the paper and he handed it over. She scrutinized the page once more. "Look here in the middle of the code where he writes an aside that isn't in print. '...and if necessary lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty (I don't want to die)'. What do you think that means?"
Will stared at it then shook his head. "I wish I could tell you, sergeant. But I think Craig is the only one who has that answer."
"And look at this. The badge is missing a point at the 7 o'clock position. Why that point?"
The two men looked at each other before Joe finally voiced an answer. "That would be the point that corresponds with honor."
-oOo-
The next day, Craig sat on the rocks overlooking the ocean and sighed. He had the LAPD and the CHP running in circles, paranoid and jumping at shadows. He was all over the news and there was even a hotline to call if anyone spotted him, but no one cared about a mangy looking bum down in Newport Beach. He wasn't a threat to anyone except Steve McLeish.
He thought back over the past week with a smile. Every plan had so far gone flawlessly and he was now waiting for things to die down again before hitting McLeish. Craig stood up, stretched and started slowly walking back towards the beach.
After a ten minute walk, he went back to the beat up green VW van he'd bought at a local junk yard and climbed inside. The previous owner had obviously used it as a rolling motel room which suited Craig's needs just fine. He sat down on the old mattress and drew the dark blue curtains so he could light the lantern. The patterns the light made had fascinated him since childhood and this small space reminded him of the tree fort his dad had built him for his seventh birthday. No one ever bothered him there. It was safe and secure.
Pulling the box of papers up onto the bed, Craig started laying out his plans for McLeish. As he sorted through the papers, he became agitated. "Where are they? Where the hell are the plans from Tuesday? And where is my new CHP Code of Honor?"
Within minutes the peace of the van was gone. Craig tore everything apart but couldn't find what he was looking for. "Where did they go, damn it? I needed those to-" he stopped short as a flash of memory crossed his mind. "Oh, no. You little bastard. You didn't."
He closed his eyes and thought hard. Meek, what the hell have you done, little man?
I threw the papers away like we always do.
No. Not 'like we always do'. You left them in the room, didn't you? Didn't you!
He could feel the fear from the one he called Meek and that was answer enough. He opened his eyes and grabbed his hair and pulled hard.
"So you thought you would leave them a clue, did you? Well, I won't allow you to make that same mistake again Meek, I promise you." He visualized torturing his weaker self and laughed at his pain. "Oh, don't worry, Meek. I'm saving the good stuff for Steve."
-oOo-
It had been a week and a half since the last attack, and there had been no notes from Craig or any indication that he was after any of the officers. This grated on the officers who were still considered targets, and Steve in particular was getting more and more frustrated with every passing day. He had LAPD following him during his off hours, and when he was on duty, he knew that someone was always close at hand to protect him if necessary. But Craig seemed to have vanished into thin air.
"Maybe he's forgotten all about us," Sindy said one afternoon at lunch. "I'd love to be able to stop worrying about watching my back."
Turner shook his head. "Not likely. My guess is he's just trying to psyche us out so we make a mistake and then he makes his move."
"Thanks for the comforting thought," Steve said dryly. "At least you aren't being watched around the clock or being forced into desk duty 'for your own safety'."
"What's wrong with desk duty?" Grossie asked as he took a bite of his gyro. "You find out all sorts of interesting things working the front desk. For example-"
"Not now Grossie," they chorused and then laughed.
"I'll take a slow beat over desk duty any day of the week," Steve said with a wave of a french fry.
"Hear hear," Sindy and Turner replied.
"So, what are our plans this evening," Steve asked. "Are we still getting together at Kathy's?"
Turner nodded. "As far as I know we are. Are bringing anyone Sindy?"
"I thought I'd bring my LAPD shadow. He would probably enjoy an evening personally guarding a pretty lady instead of just sitting in his squad car."
"You wish," Steve said and they all laughed. "So you're on the solo beat with Baker and Poncherello then?"
She smiled, "I sure am. How about you Steve? Are you bringing anyone besides your shadow?"
"Lindsey, who else?"
Grossie laughed, "I think Bruce might have a problem with that, McLeish. They're an item now, remember?"
The three officers grinned at the shocked expression on their friend's face. He swallowed and then said quietly, "Right. We… we were all going to go together." He quickly scooped up the remains of his meal and stood to go. "I've gotta get back out there before someone misses me. I think its TC's turn to watch me today."
"Steve, wait." Sindy stood with him.
"Forget it Cahill. I'll see you back at the station."
He threw his trash out and walked out front to his bike, grabbed his helmet and got on his motor. As he tightened the strap under his chin, he thought about what Sindy had said.
"What am I so upset about?" He said aloud. "She and Bruce make a cute couple. Hell, she even makes him feel tall." He tried to laugh but couldn't. Come on McLeish, snap out of it. She's your best friend. Plus you already tried dating years ago and it wasn't right. So quit freaking out. If you chase another guy away she'll never forgive you.
He started his motor and pulled out onto the street, unaware of the green VW van that was watching his every move.
-oOo-
Steve sat in his car in front of Lindsey's condo and stared up at her living room window. He'd thought a lot about their relationship after what had happened at lunch that afternoon, and he'd decided the two of them needed to talk about it.
His left foot bounced nervously as he tried for the fourth time to get out of the car. "This is ridiculous. What the hell am I afraid of?" He ran a hand through his hair and thought back to the night he 'proposed' to her.
"I love you. I've always loved you. No one is good enough for you but me and you know that. Marry me."
"I do love her. We've been friends forever, and the last time we tried dating was a disaster. We decided then we do much better as friends than lovers, so why go and mess up a good thing McLeish? Oh good, I'm talking to myself. I must be insane." He put his arm on the door and rested his head on it, thinking about what else he had said to her.
"Lindsey, I'm sorry. Hey, I was kidding."
He sighed and forced himself to speak the words aloud. "The problem is, I don't think I was kidding."
A shadow crossed the window and sat on the sill. Scooter looked out and stared right at him then jumped out of the window again. "Great. The cat's outta the bag now." He glanced at his watch. "Seven o'clock. That gives me about half an hour to talk to her before we go to the party."
With a calmness he didn't truly feel, Steve got out of his car and approached her front door.
The driver of the green van smiled and watched the officer in the unmarked squad car put a call into the station on his radio.
"Who watches the watchers, my friend? That would be me. And your tour of duty has just about come to an end."
-oOo-
As Lindsey was getting ready to leave there was a knock at the door. "Oh great, just what I need. Just a minute," she called out.
Scooter was at the door pawing it and meowing in the tiny kitten voice he only used whenever Steve was around. "Ah, so its Mickey is it?" She opened the door with a smile. She noticed he was wearing her favorite dark blue button down shirt and dark grey slacks. "Hey there brown eyes. My, don't you look spiffy this evening. The party's at Kathy's place, not mine."
"Yeah, I know, but I wanted to talk to you beforehand." He hoped she didn't see his hands shaking and quickly put them in his pockets.
The seriousness of his tone made Lindsey's smile fade slightly. "Is everything all right, Steve?"
He sat down on the couch and Scooter jumped into his lap purring happily. Scratching the cat behind the ears, he hoped that petting Scooter would calm his nerves. Lindsey sat down next to him, and he took a deep breath before speaking.
"I'm jealous."
Her eyebrows rose in shock. "Jealous? Of what?"
"Nevermind. Just forget I was even here." He started to stand up causing Scooter to jump down and Lindsey grabbed his arm.
"No Steve. I won't forget about it. What are you jealous…"
The pained but loving look in his eyes told her instantly. Her heart raced causing her to flush and she remembered what Bruce had said to her the other day on the phone.
"I've liked you from the first time I saw you, but I didn't say anything because I thought you were dating McLeish. I'm telling you, Lindsey, he's in love with you but he's too stubborn to admit it. And I think you feel the same way about him too."
"Oh Mickey," she gently squeezed his hand.
He looked down at their entwined hands, unable to look at her face. "Sindy asked me today at lunch who I was taking to the party tonight, and without hesitation I said you. Then Grossie said that Bruce might have issue with that and I got upset and walked out. I know I said I was fine with you dating him and I am. Well, at least I thought I was. I don't think I can share you. Oh hell, Buck, I don't want to share you with anyone."
She couldn't say anything for several seconds as she tried to control her emotions. Fear and joy clashed within her and made her heart race. Steve was watching her with a sad yet confused and frustrated look on his face, and that's when the impulse struck her. Before she could change her mind, she leaned forward and kissed him.
Shocked, Steve tried to pull away but Lindsey placed her hand behind his neck and applied gentle pressure to keep him there. Emboldened by her gesture, he deepened the kiss and caressed the side of her face, enjoying every new sensation she sent through him.
When he finally broke the kiss, he slowly opened his eyes and tried to stop his spinning emotions. He didn't know what he had expected to happen this evening, but he wasn't prepared for this.
A self-conscious smile played on his lips. "So, why didn't it feel this good six years ago?"
Lindsey shook her head slowly, then stood up and started pacing the room.
"Remember when we all went to dinner last weekend and then went dancing? Well, I guess Bruce got jealous when you and I were dancing together. I told him he had nothing to be jealous of and do you know what he said to me, Mickey? He said that you're in love with me and you're too stubborn to admit it." Steve looked stunned as she continued. "Oh but wait, there's more. He also thinks I might be in love with you too. He said that since I need to figure out what or who I want, he's going to 'bow out gracefully' so I can make up my mind."
"He broke up with you?"
"Yes, Steve. He broke up with me."
"Why?"
"Because I think he might be right, Mickey. Think about it. You proposed to me two and a half weeks ago, or did you forget already?" Now it was his turn to blush. She sat beside him again and placed her trembling hands in his. "You told me that night that you've always loved me and that no one was good enough for me but you."
"I've always hated that perfect memory of yours," he said wryly as he tried to keep his heart from beating out of his chest.
Lindsey stuck her tongue out at him then became serious one more. "I thought you might be teasing me that night, but somehow I knew you were serious, too." She took a deep breath and looked directly in his eyes. "I think we should really give it a try."
Steve didn't say anything, but continued to stare at her. Lindsey squeezed his hands.
"Mickey, say something. What are you thinking?"
"I, I'm not sure."
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
He leaned back on the couch, looking frustrated. "I don't know what I wanted, Buck. That night when I 'proposed', you told me that you like things just the way they are, that you liked being best friends and you didn't want to lose that. Now you're telling me that everybody thinks we're in love so we should just go ahead and try dating again?" He sat up now, his tone harsh. "Don't you remember what happened the last time we dated? It nearly ended our friendship! What makes you think it'll work this time?"
The accusatory tone struck her hard and she lashed back at him. "What the hell was I supposed to say to you that night, Steve? You embarrassed me in front of I don't know how many strangers and you wouldn't let up."
Unable to contain her frustration, she stood again giving her an all-too-rare height advantage and she pointed an accusing finger at him.
"You tease me about us being a couple all the time and I couldn't be sure if you were serious that night or not. I was flustered and upset. And by the way, I also told you that if you wanted me to marry you, then you needed to court me. Take me on dates and make me feel special. How much more clearly do I have to spell it out for you? Anyway, you're the one who just said you don't want to share me with anyone!"
Steve stood suddenly and walked quickly to the door."I've gotta go. I'll see you at the party."
"Steve wait. Don't do this!" She tried to follow him but he was out the door before she could stop him.
He stormed out to his car and sped off, unaware that his friendly LAPD shadow had been replaced by a demon bent on his utter destruction.
-oOo-
Scooter looked up at Lindsey and hopped onto the couch so he could rub her hand against his head.
She scooped him up and held him tightly trying not to cry. He squirmed in her grip to no avail so he finally growled at her. She dropped him on the couch and walked to her bedroom with the intent of staying home. Sitting on the bed, she thought back to this morning when she awoke from a terrifying dream.
She was crawling under the trailer looking for Bruce when she heard Steve call out to her. He was pinned under the other set of tires and the fire was raging. She knew she only had a minute at the most and she couldn't possibly save both of them. They yelled for her to save them as the fire moved closer and she was frozen in place, unable to make a decision. With the fire nearly on top of them, she awoke in tears with a shriek of terror.
"Don't make me choose between you!"
Scooter jumped onto the bed, startling her back to the present. He had brought his green catnip mouse to her to play fetch. Lindsey threw the toy across the room and Scooter vaulted off the bed after it, proudly returning with his catch for his human to throw again. This went on for almost ten minutes before Scooter failed to return to the bed.
Sighing heavily, she started to take off her loafers. "Why did you do this to me, Bruce? Lord, I'm so confused. Why did I kiss Mickey? Lindsey, you're a fool. Bruce was wrong; I'm not in love with Steve..."
She thought back to the kiss and suddenly gasped as she remembered what he said to her afterward.
"So, why didn't it feel this good six years ago?"
Her heart leapt as she felt the happiness flood her. "The first time we kissed like that six years ago, it made us both uncomfortable. But this time was different. He liked it. And I think I did, too." She slipped her shoes back on, grabbed her purse and headed for the door. "Scooter, don't wait up for me. I'm going to get to the bottom of this if it kills us."
-oOo-
Lindsey was on the back canyon road about ten minutes from Kathy's place when she ran into some traffic. There was a brush fire on the side of the road and she saw several people standing at the edge of the grass. She pulled over and grabbed her emergency kit from the trunk and approached a man standing at the edge of the small group watching the fire.
"I'm a nurse. Does anyone need assistance?"
He shook his head. "I don't think so ma'am. The fire department should be here any second and no one was in the car before it caught on fire. I checked myself."
"Car? What car?" She walked around a few people to face the fire and saw a silver Corolla that had apparently had a head on collision with one of the larger trees, the front end now engulfed in flames. Her heart was in her throat as she looked at the license plate and realized whose car it was.
Ponch and Jon pulled up followed by Bear and Grossie. As Ponch started to get out he turned to his partner. "Call it in Jon. I'll see if they need any help. And no heroics from you either. You're still healing."
Jon sighed. "Yes sir, Dr. Poncherello."
Ponch approached the group and suddenly heard Lindsey scream.
"Oh my God. Steve!"
She ran toward the burning car and Ponch raced after her. "Lindsey, stop!" He grabbed her around the waist and picked her up.
She fought him wildly, screaming and crying. "That's Steve's car. He might be trapped in there. Let me go Ponch, let me go!"
Barry came running over followed more slowly by Jon, and Grossie with his crutch.
"Ponch, what's wrong?" Barry looked at the car, then the struggling woman in his friends grasp.
As Ponch turned to look at them Lindsey wrenched herself free from his grip and ran back towards the car.
"I have to find Steve. That's his car!"
"Lindsey!"
Bear chased her this time and tried to grab her arm, causing her to lose her balance. She hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of her. Bear quickly picked her up and carried her to the side of the road, away from the burning vehicle. She started fighting him and he stood her up, pinning her arms between their bodies and held her tightly.
"Go see if you can find him," he said to the others. "I've got her."
The sound of sirens filled the air as Barry tried to calm the hysterical woman down.
"Lindsey, stop it! Look at me. It's gonna be okay."
"I have to find Steve. Let me go!" The harder she struggled, the tighter Bear held her until she could hardly breathe. "Bear, please. Oh my God, Mickey…" Her knees buckled and she clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably.
He loosened his hold on her slightly and she slid her arms around his waist. Bear placed his right hand on the side of her head and spoke soothingly to her as she cried. Laying his head on top of hers, he watched as the others looked for the missing officer.
Ponch had grabbed the fire extinguisher from the back of his car and was attempting to put out the fire around the hood of Steve's car while Jon and Grossie searched the surrounding area. The fire department pulled up and within minutes had the fire out. Ponch connected with the fire captain and they helped search for the missing driver.
-oOo-
The pain was intense and cut through the fog in his brain, bringing him to full alertness. Steve tried to take a deep breath but couldn't with the gag in his mouth. Trying not to vomit, he attempted to roll to his knees but realized he was bound hand and foot and when he moved, the pain intensified. He groaned and tried to reposition himself to lessen the pain when a light was suddenly thrust in his face, momentarily blinding him.
"So, you finally came to, huh McLeish? Good. 'Cuz it's always more fun to hurt people when they're awake."
Craig roughly removed the gag and his captive gulped the air greedily. The light moved to the side of the bed he was lying on and Steve squinted to focus on the man standing before him. "C-Craig? What happened? Help me..."
"Help you?" Came the scornful reply. "Help you? You mean like this?" He thrust the handle end of a baseball bat into Steve's midsection, causing him to gasp and retch. "Damn it McLeish. Those were clean sheets."
He grabbed a towel and casually wiped the mess from the sheets as Steve fought to stay conscious. Craig smiled, "Aw, poor baby. Did you get injured when you hit that tree? Good! It just makes my job that much easier. But more of that later. Right now, we need to keep moving."
He walked back to the driver's seat and started the van. Craig gunned the engine and roughly pulled out onto the highway. He had to put as many miles between them and the accident scene as possible before he could finish this.