Chapter 9

Mac was exhausted. The cold was penetrating deep into his bones and every stroke seemed to get harder and harder. He stopped and turned onto his back. Jo floated up to him and he grabbed onto the board. His breathing was laboured. "Almost there," he stammered.

The moon came out from behind the clouds and illuminated the shore around them. Mac looked around. Only another hundred yards to go. He dredged up the last of his energy and struck out once more. Jo shivered uncontrollably as she paddled but the part of her brain that wasn't exhausted recognized it for what it was. She was running a fever. Mac had been right. Her ankle, which was now throbbing painfully, was infected. Her body was reacting by raising her temperature. She hoped it wasn't far to the cottage because she was rapidly running out of energy and she knew that Mac must be too.

After what seemed an eternity they arrived at the edge of the lake where Mac was finally able to stand and pull the surf board to land. Jo felt his arms close around her and help her onto the shore. She settled herself against a tree and allowed her aching arms and shoulders to rest while Mac grabbed the bag she had carried over for him and pulled out some dry clothes. Mac reached up to grab the tab and pull down the zipper on the wet suit. As he did so he thought he heard the faint sound of a helicopter but looking around he couldn't see anything. The moon was now shining brightly and the clouds had all but disappeared leaving a bright night that promised a cool start to the morning. Mac smiled down at Jo who was looking up at him.

He felt himself blush. "Er … do you mind?"

"Not at all," she teased as she flashed him a huge grin. Mac's eyebrows shot up and he bit his bottom lip nervously.

"Jo!" he hissed. Jo giggled and made a show of covering her eyes. Mac shook his head in amusement and turned his back on her. He changed as quickly as he could abandoning the wet-suit in the bushes. As he did up his boots, he could see she was struggling. Her eyes were closed and she winced when she moved her leg. He had seen her struggle to get over to the boat house and he knew that she was lying and that she was not fine. An unease settled at the pit of his stomach. Her ankle was infected and he knew from experience how quickly her condition might deteriorate. He had to get help.

"Jo." Mac touched her shoulder gently. "Do you think you can make it?" Jo's eyes flew open. She hadn't realized that she had been dozing.

"Yes … yes, of course. Is it far?"

"No, just the other side of these trees." Mac helped her to her feet and handed her the stick. He pulled on the back-pack and Jo leaned against him and he took as much of her weight as he could. As he gripped her waist he hoped and prayed that he had made the right call.

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"CSI:NY – CSI:NY – CSI:NY"

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Russ had to duck as he jumped down from the helicopter, the down-wash tugging at his clothes and hair. He followed Don and Brennan as they ran doubled-over to a large 4x4 where two men stood waiting for them.

"Steve Miller, Park Ranger." The older of the two men stuck his hand out in greeting. "This is John Walsh." Steve's young colleague smiled and looked at them nervously, impressed by the arrival of two big city cops and an FBI agent by helicopter. Brennan made the introductions and they all piled into the car. Steve swung them around as Brennan asked how far it was. "It's about three miles. What exactly is this all about? I can't imagine what old Mrs Stone could be involved in. She's just a sweet old lady … slightly loopy if you know what I mean but she wouldn't harm a fly. Just potters around in that garden of hers all day feeding the birds."

"It's not her we're worried about. It's her son Alexander Stone also known as Axel Stein. We believe that he's a serial killer … and the brother of the man who killed Mac's sister."

"What?" Steve looked at them in the rear-view mirror. "So that's why Mac was asking about her?"

Don and BB exchanged glances. "Wait you mean Mac knows about Mrs Stone?"

"Yeah." Steve replied as he swung the car east. "I was stunned when he just turned up out of the blue asking if the cabin was empty. He hasn't been up here in a few years. Then suddenly there he was asking about Mrs Stone of all people. I told him that she's lived here for a couple of years alone. She has groceries delivered every week but I've never seen anyone visit but then it's pretty remote and we don't get round there often." He lifted a hand. "It's about a mile down this track." He pulled the car off the road and they bumped down a narrow track between the trees. "Gotta admit I was pretty surprised that anyone would let their elderly mom live out here like this but we call in now and again when we're out this way and she's always seems happy enough."

"Steve, can you cut your lights and pull us up just short of the house. I'd rather not announce our arrival," Brennan asked causing Steve to frown but he merely nodded.

"Is there anywhere else Mac and Jo could have gone?" asked Russ.

Steve shook his head. "Without transport he would have headed towards the road and thumbed a lift to the ranger station and then on to town, or he would have come here. There are a bunch of rental cottages and a camp ground on the other side of the lake but they're not open at this time of year. I guess he could have gone there but he would have known that he wouldn't find help out of season." Steve slowed the car and flicked off the lights. As their eyes adjusted to the dark they could see the faint outline of a cottage, one of it's windows brightly lit. Steve pulled to a stop and cut the engine. They all got out. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful. Brennan pulled out a bag and they divested themselves of their coats as she handed out the vests. Steve seemed surprised but then he pulled off his own jacket and grabbed a camouflage vest from the trunk. "John stay here. One hand on the radio. Keep your eyes open." Steve smiled grimly and his young colleague nodded nervously as he watched the others don the bullet-proof vests.

"Okay Don and I will take the back of the house. Russ, you and Steve see if you can work your way round to the front."

Steve nodded. "Come on, there's a small path along the edge of the lake." He nodded at Russ who followed him into the trees to their right as Don cut left followed by BB.

Russ cringed as twigs and leaves crunched underfoot sounding unnaturally loud in the stillness. He was impressed that the older man in front of him could move so quickly and so quietly but then Brennan had said he had been a Marine like Mac. The thought of Mac ignited a spark of jealousy. Russ knew it was over for him and Jo. It had been for a long while. He still loved her and he knew that, deep down, she still had feelings for him too. But love wasn't the problem. They were. Their personalities. When they were together their relationship was tempestuous at best and, at it's worst, downright destructive. He knew it had to end and though he didn't like it, he had slowly come to accept it. Although he was jealous at the thought that she would turn to Mac, he harboured no resentment. Mac was exactly the type of man Jo would go for and, though he hated to admit it, he was exactly the kind of man she needed but all of a sudden anger burned inside him at the knowledge that Mac would deliberately bring Jo into danger. Mac knew that this was the Stone's place yet he still brought her here. If anything happened to Jo … His thoughts were interrupted as Steve stopped and pointed. Steve bobbed down.

"The ground is wet. Someone came out of the water here."

Russ pulled out a dark object from the bushes. "A wet suit?"

"And a surf board." Steve indicated the old worn board hidden under the branches at the edge of the water. "They're definitely here. Trust Mac to take the short-cut and swim. Come on." Both men made their way quickly down the path threading through the trees towards the house. As they emerged they were surprised to see Don and BB looking through the window at the front of the house. As though sensing their presence Don turned around and waved them over.

Don holstered his weapon and placed his hand on the doorknob. "Come on. It seems we're just in time for tea." Russ looked at him in astonishment and quickly holstered his weapon too as all four of them trailed into the house.

"Do come through!" The voice was frail and as the four stepped into the large front room with it's cosy interior and roaring fire, they could see an elderly lady enveloped in a multitude of shawls sitting next to Mac who was holding a cup and saucer. All four stared at him in astonishment. "Would you like a cup of tea?" Mrs Stone asked. Mac grinned at Don and the look of utter stupefaction on his face.

"There are cookies too." Mac nodded to the tin sitting next to the tea pot on the table in front of them.

Russ was the first to recover. "Jo!" He rushed over to the couch where Jo was propped up among a multitude of cushions also sipping at a cup of tea. "You're hurt."

"Russ I'm fine. I just twisted my ankle."

"Actually, she's not fine. Steve I think there's a rotten splinter of wood in there. It may be infected. I'd appreciate it if you could take a look." Steve looked at Mac for a second then held an arm up with his finger and thumb in the air. He here? Mac shook his head slightly and Steve nodded and moved towards the couch. Don and BB looked at them both wondering what the hand signal referred to. "Detective Brennan, nice to see you again. Allow me to introduce Mrs Stone."

The old lady smiled up at her new visitors. "Do call me Bertha. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Bertha?" Mac placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "I think perhaps we could do with a refill."

"Oh yes of course. You make yourselves comfortable and I'll go make some more." Mac helped her to her feet and she picked up the pot and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Mac what the hell ..." Don started only to be stopped by Mac.

"Not here," he whispered. "Steve?"

Steve looked up from examining Jo's ankle under Russ' watchful eye. "It's definitely infected and needs to be treated. She's running a mild fever but nothing that a dose of antibiotics won't clear up. I need to take her to the medical centre in town."

Mac nodded. "Do it. Don, Detective Brennan, I need you to stay here and keep an eye on Mrs Stone. I don't think Stein will come here but if he does I need you to be here..." Mac turned away.

"Whoa! How did you know that Stone was calling himself Stein?" Don asked.

Mac smiled and picked up a book from a side-table and showed them the cover declaring it to be by Dr Axel Stein. He turned it to the photograph on the back. "Bertha told me when I visited her yesterday. She's very proud of her son." Mac replaced the book on the table and turned away.

"Where are you going?"

Mac looked back at Don, his face grim. "To end this. Just keep Bertha safe. She doesn't need to know about this. She's already lost one son Don and now I'm about to take away her other."

"Mac you can't go alone." Jo cried.

"He won't be alone." Everyone turned in astonishment as Russ stood up, a determined look on his face. His eyes bored into Mac's. "Because I'm going with you."