Chapter 9

Jessalyn called Don when he was on his way home. Colby had promised to take care about the piece of paper. The reason was quite obvious. There was this new tech in the crime lab. Her name was Claudia Silverman, they had been working together on another case. No doubt about they felt attracted to each other.

"Eppes?"

"Agent Eppes, Don could you come to my house please. Something terrible happened and I don't know …" she started to cry.

"Jessalyn, for heaven's sake what's going on?"

She gave him a short summary but he couldn't understand much of what she said.

"Try to calm down Jessalyn I'm on my way," he said and hung up.

He made a turn to the left and speeded up the highway.

He dropped out of the car. He looked around and discovered the blue ford two cars ahead.

He rang the doorbell twice. Jessalyn's face was ashen and she trembled. She motioned him in.

"I'm so glad you came here. Please have a seat. Do you want something to drink?"

He could see that she desperately tried to regain her composure.

"I'm fine Jess, I'm fine, just sit down and tell me what happened," Don said worried.

"There was this clown and he gave Cindy this note and a balloon and a lollipop," it bubbled out of her.

Don decided to walk over to her. He sat down besides her and put his arm around her shoulder.

"It's okay I'm here. Sh, sh, everything's gonna be alright."

Suddenly heat flashed through his body, "Jess, where is Cindy?"

"She's upstairs sleeping in her bed. She's angry with me because I was shouting at her and took the balloon and the lollipop away," she sniveled.

He breathed out in relief, "do you want some water?"

She nodded and took out a hanky of the tissue box on the table. He came back with two glasses. She almost drained hers.

"Better," she said, "you must think I'm a hysterical woman." She gazed at him helplessly.

He shook his head and took her hand, "Jess you and Cindy have been through a lot in the past couple of month. Now it's time to unwind. I'm here and I'll protect you as best I can but you must tell me exactly what happened."

"Cindy was playing in the garden, like last time when you were here. A guy dressed as a clown fooled around near the fence. Cindy went over to him and watched him doing his tricks. Suddenly he turned to her and gave her these things," Jess got up and went over to the chest of drawers. She returned with the card, the balloon and the lollipop.

Carefully he took the envelope in his hand, removed the card and started to read out aloud: A special world for you and me a special bond no one could see it wraps us up in its cocoon staying with him will be your doom.

Don turned the card but the backside was empty.

"Do you know the handwriting?" he asked her.

She shook her head, "sorry. And I don't have any clue what the hell this is all about. Up till now no one never ever got that close to Cindy."

She took a swig, her hands were still shaky.

"But what scares me the most is that he had talked to Cindy using sign language."

"He did what?" Don inquired.

She nodded a few times, "I mean this is ridiculous. Cindy is just a child. She doesn't even know what her father had done. What kinda monster he is. Why can't they leave us alone? I don't get it. What about this witness protection program do you see any chance for us? I can't go on living like that. I can't lock up Cindy all the time."

Don fumbled out his cell phone, "This blue ford in front of your house isn't enough," he said to her and dialed the number of the headquarters. Then he asked Jessalyn for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote down a number and hung up.

He then dialed again and got connected to the guy in the blue ford. He asked him if he hadn't seen the clown. The man told him that he took a short break.

"A short break, you took a short break?" Don inquired, "Guess you don't know the meaning of the word observation. I bet this was your last one. Someone will come and take over. I'm expecting a detailed report tomorrow morning."

He put his cell phone back in his jeans's pocket muttering, "Idiot," and turned to Jessalyn, "listen I called for two more observation teams. That's all I can do for the moment. But I promise to find a proper solution. Do you have a ziploc by chance so I can take the evidence with me?"

She went into the kitchen, "want some coffee, Don? I hope you don't mind if I …"

"No, I'm fine with it. And yes coffee would be great."

He turned around as he heard some tiny footsteps behind him. Little Cindy was coming down the stairs. Rubbing her eyes and yawning. She looked really sweet in her Snoopy pajama. Her eyes widened in surprise when she discovered Don on the couch. She jumped down the last three stairs and ran toward him. He got up and caught her.

"Hey how you are doing," he said.

She hugged him and gave him a big smooch in his cheek. Then she made the gesture for "friend" and "I like you". He tried it, too and she giggled.

Don took her to the couch and started tickling her. Her giggling got louder.

"What the hell …" Jess came in with a tray with coffee and cookies on it. Her eyes were full of joy. She just stood there in silence and watched Don and Cindy fooling around. She felt a lump in her throat. She put the tray on the table and drew Cindy's attention to her.

She told her to be careful with Don and what'd she prefer: hot chocolate or milk. She wanted milk.

They sat together around the table and Cindy shoved the Cookies into her mouth one after the other.

"Would you mind if I'm asking her some questions concerning the clown?" Don said, "Not right now, later."

"No, I think its okay," Jess nibbled thoughtful at a cookie, "you know this is what Cindy needs."

Don wrinkled his forehead, "what are you talking about?"

"You, she needs someone like you. She never really had a father. And she likes you very much. You're good with children. Do you have children?"

Don almost choked and shook his head, "I've just a little brother his name is Charlie. He's five years younger than me and a math genius. He teaches at CalSci."

"Wow! That sounds interesting. Tell me more I'm curious. I bet you're a great brother."

Don grinned from ear to ear, "Nah wouldn't say so. He and I attended the same high school and graduated the same day. It wasn't easy at all. I always felt like an idiot if you know what I mean. Nowadays he's working for us in special cases and I still can't get rid of this feeling."

"Don't ask me how I feel about being the sister of a serial," she turned her head a little so that Cindy wasn't able to read her lips, "it's hard and as you can see it's getting even harder. The trial is scheduled to begin in a few weeks. The magazines dig out the old stories and the people are getting mad again," she laughed bitterly, "I hate my brother for destroying our lives. Cindy needs a father. Every child does."

"Don't look at me I'm FBI agent. I've got to get up in the middle of the night if necessary. I spent more time in my office or out on the street than at home. What about you? Isn't there a smart guy in your life…"

She raised her hands, "Jesus, Don. I'm teaching sign language at a kindergarten, I do voluntary work for the parish that we go to and then I have my little girl here," she brushed a strand of hair from Cindy's lovely face and kissed her tenderly, "not much time for romance Special Agent."

He had a spontaneous idea, "what are you doing tomorrow? I mean around lunchtime? What about a barbecue?"

She was surprised, "Honestly said I don't even have a grill."

"No problem, my brother has one," he winked at her.

Her eyes widened, "don't tell me you are going to hook me up with your brother?"

Don started to laugh, "No Jess, I won't do that to you. He's already in a relationship."

She shrugged, "it was just because you're talking about your brother and you were asking me …"

He shook his head and apologized, "Sorry I didn't intend to mislead you. Do you think Cindy would agree?"

The girls started one of those fascinating conversations using their hands and fingers. The door bell rang.

"I go," Don said and jumped up.

He put his hand on the butt of his gun and released the safety catch.

Carefully he opened the door. A female agent stood in front of him showing her badge.

"Special agent Eppes?"

He nodded briefly.

"Agent Irene Faulkner. May I come in?"

Don introduced her to Jess and Cindy. To their surprise Irene was also capable of sign language. They started a lively discussion and suddenly Don felt wasted. He told Cindy and Jess goodbye and said he'd be picking them up tomorrow around lunchtime. Then he had a short talk to Agent Faulkner and speeded her up.

His cell phone rang when he was starting the engine.

"Damned," he cursed.

It was Lt. Gary Walker, "hey Don. How you're doing? Sorry for bothering you. I know it's your free weekend. But we've a homicide at an apartment in Glendale and I'm sure you're interested in it. Some people watched a clown leaving. Ring a bell?"

"Oh no, tell me that I'm on Punk'd or that this is just a sick joke cause you're bored," Don growled.

"I'm afraid it isn't, here's the address …" tbc