PART 9:

Goodwin was once again sitting at a table in the visiting area of the prison. A guard brought Torres over and he sat down across from his lawyer.

Torres watched the guard walk away and then looked at Goodwin. "Well, everything taken care of?"

"There's bee a little problem."

"Problem?" Torres said angrily. "What the hell kind of problem was there?"

"Lower your voice. Do you want everyone to hear you?"

"Tell me that Sloan is dead, and I'll be out of here by tonight. Then I'll lower my voice."

"That's the problem. Sloan's not dead?"

"Why not?"

"He got away."

"Did I hear you right; he got away?"

Goodwin nodded.

"How the hell did a man who was doped up on heroin get away?"

"We were on our way to the alley downtown," Goodwin started explaining. "I had to stop for a red light and he kicked Franklin in the face and got out of the car and started running."

"Didn't you go after him?"

"Yes, but a patrol car spotted him running across the street and they went after him."

"You mean the cops have him?"

"I'm afraid so."

"I don't believe this," Torres said as he sat back in his chair. "You had him and all you had to do was dump him in an alley shot up full of heroin, and you couldn't even do that." He looked at Goodwin. "You able to find him yet?"

"No," Goodwin said. "The cops aren't going to be stupid enough to take him to the hospital. They probably have him at one of their safe houses."

"Oh great! Just great!"

"Look, there's someone at the police department I've been working on for certain information. If I offer him enough money, I can get the location of the safe house."

"Offer him whatever he wants," Torres said. "And tell him when he delivers the information, he'll get more."

"I'm working on getting you out of here tomorrow; I think I have a judge who will listen to the case. I'm just waiting for him to return my call."

"I don't care if you have to buy off a judge," Torres told him. "Just get me out of here now!"

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Cheryl and Mark sat silently in the living room. Jesse came from the kitchen carrying a tray of coffee. He put it o the table and sat down.

"Thought we could use some," he said.

"Thanks," Mark said, taking a cup.

A crashing sound came from the back room. Jesse was the first one up and on his way to the room Cheryl and Mark followed him.

Jesse opened the door to the bedroom and saw Steve standing by the dresser. He was trying to stand the lamp he knocked over back up. He looked at Jesse with a confused expression. Cheryl and Mark hung back in the doorway.

Slowly Jesse started walking over to him. "Steve." He noticed that he was sweating and shaking.

Steve wiped his sleeve across his forehead. "Jess…I need some of…of that shot."

"No, you don't need any of that, Steve. Let's just get you back in bed so you can rest."

"I don't…don't want to rest, I need…need that shot…shot that…that guy gave…gave me."

Jesse continued to move closer to him.

Steve looked over at Cheryl. "You…you can get me…me some of…of that stuff," Steve pleaded. "The…the evidence locker you…you can get it…it from there."

"No, Steve," she said. "Let us help you back into bed."

"If…if you want…want to help…help me," he said angrily. "Then…then you will…will get me…me what I…I need."

"Please, Steve," Jesse said.

"No! I need that…that shot it…it will take…take away the…the pain." Steve put his hand out to stop Jesse from moving any farther. "Don't…don't come any closer."

Jesse stopped in his tracks, but he wouldn't take his eyes off of him.

Steve let go of the lamp he was holding, and it fell to the floor again. He stumbled across the room toward the door. Cheryl and Mark moved to block the door so that he couldn't leave.

"Move…move out of…of my way," he told them.

"Where do you think you're going, Steve?" Mark asked.

"To…to find that guy…guy with the shot."

"I'm sorry, Steve, but I can't let you do that."

Steve looked at both of them, not noticing the tears in his father's eyes. He suddenly groaned in pain and grabbed his stomach as he fell to the floor.

"Go call Amanda," Mark told Cheryl. "Tell her what's happening, she'll know what to bring."

Cheryl left the room, and Jesse and Mark reached Steve's side at the same time.

"Steve," Jesse said.

"Go…go away," he cried.

"Please, Steve," Mark said. "Let us help you."

"No!" Steve yelled. He moaned in pain again and continued to hold his stomach.

"Let's get you into the bed, Steve," Mark said, and he touched Steve on the shoulders.

Steve moved away from him. "I…I said leave me…me alone. Just…just go…go away."

Mark went to move toward him again, but Jesse stopped him. "Let's do what he says," he told him.

"But…" Mark said looking at Steve.

"He doesn't want our help right now," Jesse said. "Let's not push him."

Heart aching, Mark got up, his eyes on Steve who remained on the floor. He and Jesse slowly walked out of the room.

Once outside the room, Jesse closed the door. Mark went over to the wall, and leaned his head against it, and he started to cry. Jesse sagged against the door as Cheryl came up to them.

"Amanda is on her way," she told him. "Jesse?"

Jesse looked at her with tears in her eyes. "Thanks, Cheryl."

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Once again Mark and Cheryl stood nervously in the living room, waiting for Amanda and Jesse to come out of Steve's room Mark stood by the window, his mind racing. He couldn't stop thinking about the report that Amanda had brought on Steve's lab results. He looked it over, Amanda reporting that it was definitely heroin in Steve's system. The thing that bothered Mark the most was that Amanda had reported that Steve was most likely given eight to ten bags, if not more, a day. More than enough to get him hooked on the drug and put Steve through painful withdrawals.

Cheryl hated this waiting. All she wanted to do was get out there and get Torres and his lawyer for what they did to Steve. She knew that she didn't have much time to get the proof she needed. Still once everything settled down here, she would make them pay for what they had done.

She heard the door to Steve's room open and close. All eyes were on Amanda and Jesse as they walked into the living room.

"How's Steve doing?" Mark asked.

"He's sleeping now," Jesse said. "I gave him a sedative to help him sleep."

"Is that a good idea, giving him more drugs?" Cheryl asked.

"It's not going to hurt him," Amanda answered. "He'll probably sleep for the rest of the night, just continue to watch him. He still doesn't need a hospital, but if his withdrawals get bad enough, he's going to need to be transported to one as quickly as possible."

Before Mark could say anything, Jesse spoke up. "We will."

"I still have some work to get done at the hospital," Amanda said. "I'll come back when I'm done."

"Thanks, Amanda," Mark said.

After Amanda left, the three of them stood quietly, each lost in thoughts of worry and pain.

Cheryl broke the silence. "I need to get back to the office.

She started to walk towards the door, and Mark followed.

Turning to face Mark once she reached the door. "You going to be okay here alone?" she asked him.

"We'll be fine."

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Cheryl said. "After Amanda comes back, don't let anyone in, and lock the door behind me. I'll use the key when I come back."

Cheryl walked out of the house and Mark locked the door once she was gone.