Chapter 9

Bang! Bang! Bobby jumped up out of bed. The same dream he was soaked in sweat.

"Why do I keep having the same dream? It must have some meaning." He thought to himself. He thought about talking to Father Paul or Mother Mary Kate, but that would mean having to tell them about Mark Ford Brady and that was one secret he wasn't ready to share with anyone. He looked at the clock, "Damn, I am going to be late for work," he headed for the shower.

One Police Plaza

"Must have been a rough weekend for you to be late," snarked Eames.

Goren just shook his head, placed his binder on his desk, and started to sit down.

"Don't get comfortable we have to go deliver good news. Let's go," Eames grabbed the SUV keys and started heading for the elevators.

"So where we going, I didn't even get a cup of coffee yet," whined Goren.

"Don't worry they have lots of coffee at Doctor Rossi's clinic," said Eames.

"Doctor Rossi's Clinic? Why are we going there?" asked Goren nervously.

Thoughts of last night and his dream were running through his head.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No, Bobby, didn't you hear me say we were going deliver good news? Dugan's body was found this morning. In an abandoned warehouse. He has been dead about two weeks judging by decomp. So now Dr. Rossi is out of danger. Captain wants us to tell her in person," explained Eames.

"Uh, that's great," Goren said, but had a worried look on his face.

"You don't look like you think it's great. Something wrong?" asked Eames.

"No, nothing's wrong," replied Goren. But he still worried about his dream; he still felt she was in danger.

They drove to the clinic. Eames did all the talking. First they approached the officer on guard.

"Officer, you're relieved of duty. Dugan's body was found, so Dr. Rossi no longer needs protection. You can report back to your precinct," said Eames.

He left, and Eames asked the nurse to speak to Dr. Rossi. She was in session with a patient, and would be out in a few minutes. Eames and Goren fixed themselves a cup of coffee and had a seat.

"Eames, you didn't tell me. How did Dugan die?" asked Goren.

"Suicide, self inflicted gun shot wound to the head," said Eames, looking at a magazine.

"M.E. is sure?" said Goren.

"Really Bobby, after what that guy did, you think anyone cares," replied Eames.

Well Bobby did.

Dr. Rossi came out her office, and Bobby got nervous. Eames got up and walked right to her. Bobby was slowly walking behind; his heart was beating out of his chest. He was afraid Eames would see how he felt about her.

"Dr. Rossi, I don't know if you remember us, Detectives Eames and Goren," she turned around to point to her partner but Goren was far behind. Eames gave him a funny look and just shook her head. "We came to inform you that Roger Dugan is dead. It seems he took his own life. So there is no need for you to have an officer with you anymore. You're safe now," said Eames.

"Wow, thank you so much Detective. I appreciate it so much you coming here and telling me," she shook Detective Eames' hand, and glanced at Bobby. "I have to get back to work now, but thank you so much, for everything." She looked right at Bobby when she said this.

She returned to her office. Eames looked at Goren, "That just seemed strange."

"What do you mean?" said Goren, fooling around with the coffee machine.

"I don't know, maybe it's just because of where she was raised, I just found her reaction strange. Oh well we did our good deed for the day, let's get back to work."

They drove back to One PP and started on their next case. Goren started getting info from the other precinct about Roger Dugan's case; he wasn't convinced it was a suicide.

He also made a stop at the evidence room; he had something that needed taking care of.

The 2-4 faxed him the info they had on Roger Dugan case. From what Goren could tell it wasn't a suicide, the angle of the entry wound was wrong. There was no way he could have held a gun in his hand and got that angle of entry. He was murdered. Goren looked at the clock. It was 11 PM. He was supposed to have called Angela today; he rubbed the back of his neck. The squad room was about empty, he picked up his cell phone. He melted when her sleepy voice came over the phone.

"Hello?"

"Uh, oh, I woke you,

"Bobby, you OK? Were you hurt?"

"Oh, No, just got tied up at work, lost track of time. I promised to call you. I didn't want to break my promise," he said.

"Awe, that's ok, I know things happen, your job is important. I understand,"

"Just wanted to let you know, I was thinking about you. I wanted to make sure your ok, and tell you, I, I, love you," he ran his fingers through his hair and waited to see what she would say.

"I love you too, Bobby. Goodnight and get some rest, Ok?"

"OK, Goodnight."

He hung up his cell, picked up his files, and went home.

The next day, he came in bright and early. He approached the Captain with the evidence he had on the Roger Dugan case.

"Correct me if I am wrong Detective, this is not your case?"

"But Captain," he started pacing back and forth "He was murdered. They wrote it off as a suicide, but if he was murdered, the person who killed him might still be stalking Ange...Dr. Rossi."

"And what evidence do we have that she was even being stalked? Did the officer ever report any suspicious activity?"

"Uh, no, but she is distracting in her own right. Maybe he just didn't notice," said Goren.

"So you want me to put security detail back on Dr. Rossi just because you feel Dugan, a low life scum, was murdered by who the hell knows who. And that person might be stalking Dr. Rossi," yelled Ross. "The Chief will never go for that Goren. You have to have some proof."

"I had a dream, these reoccurring dreams," explained Goren.

"Oh yeah that will go over well. Just move on to your next case Goren. This one is off limits."

Goren walked out of Ross' office. Everyone was staring.

"I told you he wouldn't go for it," said Eames.

"I know I am not wrong, Eames. Something is going to happen."

"God talking to you Goren?" snarked Eames.

"Maybe," Goren said with a straight face.

Bobby called and checked on Angela a few times during the day. He invited her out to dinner that night. If he couldn't get the Captain to issue protection for her, he would have to do it himself. Before going to her apartment for dinner he made a stop at the jewelry store. He arrived at her apartment. Once again she looked beautiful.

"You have to stop doing this," said Bobby, gazing at her.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Looking so drop dead gorgeous," he said.

She laughed, "You're so good for my ego,"

"Hmm, but something is wrong," he replied.

"Really, what?" she said, looking down at her dress. She turned around and looked in the mirror, trying to figure out what was wrong. "I don't see it, what's wrong?"

"You look naked," he smiled. "As he held up her crucifix and St. Christopher Medal on a chain."

"Oh my, Bobby, you got it back for me! Can you put it on?" she turned around so he could put it on for her, and she started to cry.

"The clasp was broken, so I took it to the jewelers and had them fix it and clean it for you," he smiled.

"Thank you so much," she replied as she hugged and kissed him on the cheek, then the lips.

"If we are going to make it to dinner we, better get going," he said clearing his throat.

They arrived at the restaurant.

"Would you like some wine?" asked the waiter.

"Well you're not on duty tonight, so do we dare?" laughed Angela.

"Yes, we will have a bottle of Tenuta dell'Ornellaia," ordered Bobby.

"Very good choice sir," said the waiter.

They enjoyed their wine and their dinner. Angela excused herself to the lady's room.

Bobby stood up and kissed her "Hurry back," he said.

He sat there thinking "I am the luckiest man on earth." He even allowed himself dream what if would be like if they married, had kids and even grew old together.

Then he realized she had been gone for a long time, he started to get nervous.

He walked over to the lady's room. A woman was just walking out.

"Excuse me ma'am, is there another woman in there?"

"No, I was the only one in there," she responded.

Bobby went into the lady's room. He opened the stalls; nobody was there. He saw her purse on the lavatory he picked it up. He held it to his chest. He knew something was going to happen. Why didn't he follow her to the lady's room? It was entirely his fault. He opened his cell phone and dialed.

"Eames."

In about 30 minutes, squad cars, Eames, Logan, Wheeler, and Ross were at the restaurant.

"So let me get this right, your partner was dating her why she was under police protection. Doesn't he know he could lose his badge for this, plus the officers who were suppose to be guarding her at the time, could lose their badges as well," yelled Ross to Eames.

"Captain right now that is the last thing on his mind. He knew something was going to happen and he really loves her. Can we just keep this under the wraps for now and worry about Angela?" pleaded Eames.

Bobby was in shock, sitting in a chair face in his hands. He didn't care if he lost his job; that was the last thing on his mind. He had lost Angela, it was his fault.

Logan came back to talk to Ross and Eames. Goren noticed and ran up to see what he found out. Logan was apprehensive to say what he heard in front of Goren.

"Go ahead Logan," said Ross.

"The cooks saw her walk out with a woman; she had a scarf over her head, and sunglasses, so they couldn't identify her. They said she didn't look like she was forced. They got into a black BMW in the back alley, but nobody noticed the plates," finished Logan.

"It's Nicole. It must be Nicole," panicked Bobby.

"Bobby, don't jump to conclusions. You haven't known Angela that long. How would Nicole know? We didn't even know about you and Angela. It's probably someone else. Let's check out Dugan's wife," said Eames.

"Can't be her, how would she get a black BMW. It has to be Nicole," insisted Bobby.

The investigation went on for three days with no word. Bobby kept in touch with Mother Mary Kate. He wasn't sleeping. The Captain ordered him to take time off, but even though he was off that didn't stop him from working the case. He kept staring at her pictures. On the fourth day, Mother Mary Kate called Bobby.

"Bobby, she called me!" cried Mary Kate.

"What did she say?" Bobby was ecstatic.

"She said she was so sorry she didn't call sooner, but she was OK and she would be home in a few days, not to worry, she would explain when she got home."

"That's all she said?" questioned Bobby.

"Yes, I tried to get more information, but she just hung up. But she is alive Bobby, thank God."

Bobby called Eames and told her about the call; the investigation was cut down, but not called off. This could just be a hoax. But three days later, Bobby's phone rang.

"She is home Bobby," Mary Kate was so relieved.

"Where, where is she?" demanded Bobby.

"She is with me at the convent. But she isn't ready to see you yet Bobby. Give me a few days with her; she has been through a traumatic event. I can't explain, but trust me," explained Mary Kate.

"Traumatic event? Was she raped? Attacked again?" asked Bobby.

"Nothing like that, just trust me. She needs time,"

"Ok, I am trusting you," Bobby hung up the phone; he wondered why she didn't want to see him. He sat in the dark he felt all alone. He thought about the day he went to church with Angela then he went to the closet, he dug through one of his mother's boxes, and found her Bible. He opened it and begun to read.

Three days later Angela went back to her apartment and back to work at the clinic. But she didn't call Bobby.

Bobby decided to call Mother Mary Kate to check on Angela.

"I know I am suppose to give her time, but I just want to know how she is doing?" he asked.

"She hasn't called you?"

"No, Mother Mary Kate, she hasn't. Was she supposed to?"

"Dear Lord, she went back to her apartment three days ago. She was supposed to call you. Maybe you should make the first move,"

"If you think it's the right thing to do,"

"Yes, I think it is,"

Bobby hung up the phone and headed for Angela' apartment. Wondering what had happened in those days that she was gone. He felt his world slipping away, what if she didn't want to ever speak to him again? What if it was Nicole and she told her about Mark Ford Brady. Nicole had away of finding out all about Bobby's life secrets.