Chapter 11

We found a trendy little café a couple of doors down from the gallery and before we'd even settled in, Sara and Lynn excused themselves to go freshen up. Mrs. Koslawski had decided to call it a night and Tim had put her in a cab and sent her off to their hotel, promising to follow shortly.

'So…' he said, the moment we were alone. 'I'm dying to know. What's with the name change?'

I looked away, somewhat ill at ease. 'It's a long story' I mumbled.

That didn't seem to deter Tim in the least. 'You don't know my wife' he said. 'It'll take her forever to touch up her hair and make-up.'

Although Danny Brooks hadn't been a part of my life in ages, encountering people from my past had triggered memories of my youth and just how difficult my life had been back then. My mom had been struggling with her own demons, leaving me to fend for myself much of the time. It had been a sad, lonely existence but I'd never shared just how painful it was with anyone, including Tim.

'I was two years old when we moved to St. Louis' I said, deliberately leaving things vague. 'When I got older, I found out that my mom and I had been relocated there as part of the Federal Witness Protection Program. Something to do with my dad's job as a cop…'

Tim's eyes narrowed as he tried to follow what I was saying. I had no intention of sharing the fact that my father had been arrested for being a cop on the take and that he'd been accused of killing a fellow police officer. I concentrated on giving Tim a bare bones explanation for my name change - frankly that was all I could handle right now.

'Neal is my real name but when we went into WITSEC, I was given a different identity.'

'Danny Brooks…'

I nodded. 'Yeah, Danny Brooks… so when I left St. Louis, I just took back my name, that's all.'

I refrained from telling him that my last name had been Bennett and that once I'd fully understood my father's crimes, I'd rejected both him and his name and I'd made the decision to use my mother's maiden name instead.

'Wow! I had no idea' Tim said.

'So your dad…' I began, eager to change the subject. 'He passed away?'

'About nine years ago… from a heart attack.'

'I'm sorry' I said although it felt like such an inadequate thing to say.

'He spent his life blaming himself for what happened to Anna - and he blamed me. Our relationship never really recovered.'

I could see the regret in his eyes. 'He started to drink heavily until… well, I guess in the end the guilt finally ate him up.'

I shook my head. 'How did you cope… I mean with what happened?'

'I carried around a lot of guilt for a really long time. But Mom… she was amazing. She's always been a glass half full kind of person. She just carried on, did what she needed to do to make sure Anna and I had the best childhood possible. She kept reminding us that we couldn't change the past, that we could choose to be bitter and angry or we could live our lives the best way we knew how.'

'She and Dad… it was never any good between them after that night but Mom was determined not to let what had happened to Anna ruin our lives.'

'So, Anna knows… about what happened that night?'

Tim nodded as he stared down at his coffee cup. 'Mom insisted on there being no secrets between us.'

'You know… for the longest time, I carried around a lot of guilt too' I admitted. 'After it happened, I used to walk down your street to catch a glimpse of Anna. I still feel terrible about my part in what happened.'

Tim leaned in, his eyes dark. 'It was an accident Danny. We were a couple of stupid kids who got carried away and ended up making a giant mess of things. When Anna came out of the hospital, she was just a baby really. It wasn't always easy for her but she grew up knowing nothing else.'

He paused for a moment as the waitress returned to refill our coffee cups.

'Anna's just like Mom. Nothing fazes her. She says she was dealt this hand and she's determined it's not going to keep her from doing whatever the hell she wants to do with her life.'

I listened, fascinated by Anna's optimism and resiliency.

'Is she… happy?'

Tim smiled. 'Dude, she's so happy it drives me crazy. She started taking pictures when she was about eight-years-old. It became a passion for her, a way for her to see the world through the same lens as everybody else. Growing up, she played sports, she was on the regional wheelchair basketball team all through high school and she was fierce. Nothing stopped her, she was determined to live her life no matter what. I don't think I've ever heard her complain once about being in the chair. If someone told her she couldn't do something, she would just plow ahead and do it anyway even if she didn't have a particular interest in doing it.'

I chuckled.

'Once when she was about nineteen, she got it in her head she wanted to go skydiving. My dad was dead set against it but Mom and I went behind his back and helped her find a place that would take her up. Man, you should have seen her face… she was so happy. She is the most determined person I've ever met and when she met Connor, they decided they wanted to travel the world so she started bringing her camera along everywhere she went.'

The knot in my stomach started to loosen and I let out a long slow breath. I didn't want to be indiscreet but I couldn't help but ask.

'Will she… can she have children?'

'Doctor says there's no reason she can't' Tim replied. 'She and Connor have a five-year-plan… more travelling and then they want to start a family.'

'What about your mom? Is she still living in Cleveland?' I asked.

'No. I finally convinced her to sell the house and come live closer to us in Lansing. I found her a nice condo just a couple of streets over from our place. That way, she can see the kids whenever she wants.'

'Tell me about your kids' I said with a straight face - although I already knew their names and ages from having creeped him online. If only he knew just how resourceful Neal Caffrey could be.

'Our son Michael is six, he's a great kid, really into soccer and hockey. And my daughter…' he continued as he pulled out a photograph, '…she's my little princess. Her name is Lindsay and she starts school next year.'

I looked down at the picture and smiled. Both kids were looking a little older than in the photograph I'd found on his company's website.

'Do you and Sara have kids?'

'We do' I said, pulling out a picture of Hope. 'Her name is Hope, she's going to be fourteen months old in a few days.'

I must have been smiling like an idiot because Tim grinned at the sight of me.

'She's beautiful' he said. 'It sure changes your life, doesn't it?'

'You're not kidding.'

He chuckled. 'Who knew when we were in Mrs. Dean's third grade class chasing girls around with garter snakes that we'd eventually stop thinking they were yucky and that we'd both end up being dads.'

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the women returning from the ladies room and pointed, my eyes lingering for a moment on my gorgeous wife looking particularly sexy in the hot little number I'd gotten her.

'Not yucky at all' I said with a grin.

We caught up for the next hour or so. Lynn and Sara made small talk, the way women do and Tim told me all about his job in real estate. Lynn was just preparing to return to work as a school teacher after a couple of years off to be home with their kids. They were both fascinated by what Sara did for a living and my lovely wife threw in a couple of harrowing anecdotes about some of her more exciting recoveries just to keep the conversation interesting. Lynn thought it was great that I was home with Hope and deplored the fact that more men weren't stay at home dads.

We were just about to call it a night when Connor and Anna appeared at the door to the café.

'Here she is!' Tim declared as he got to his feet. 'The star of the show.'

The newcomers joined us and ordered something to eat. Anna had been too nervous to eat before the opening and she was starved. The show had been a success both artistically and financially. She seemed genuinely surprised that her photographs had appealed to so many.

'She sold thirty-eight pieces!' Connor said with pride.

Anna looked away self-deprecatingly and Sara pointed to a brown paper package at her feet - a photograph of a herd of giraffes she'd picked up for Hope's room.

'Your work is truly amazing' she said to Anna who, I'm pretty sure, was blushing.

I was feeling uncharacteristically awkward but Anna made it easy, perhaps sensing my trepidation. I could feel her eyes on me, scrutinizing me.

'I can't say I remember all that much from back then' she explained. 'But as I grew up, my mom would tell me the story of the little boy who would come over to our house and play with me while she tried to get dinner on the table. Tim wasn't very interested in having a baby sister back then…'

'Hey, hey, hey!' Tim said with a laugh, throwing his arm around his sister's shoulder and hugging her.

'He was more interested in cars and trains and not so much in keeping a whiny two-year-old happy… not that I can blame him.'

She stopped and kissed her brother's cheek. Whatever distance there might have been between them back them was obviously a thing of the past.

'Mom would tell me how you'd sit and play patty cake with me, give me toys to keep me busy while you guys played with the big boy toys… She said you were the most patient, kindest little boy she'd ever met. She had this picture she'd taken of you at one of Tim's birthday parties and believe it or not, I used to keep it in my room… I just remember feeling happy whenever Mom told me the story.'

This time there was no doubt about it. I could feel tears welling up and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. It all came rushing back - how her sweet innocence had been destroyed by a stray bullet.

'Anna, I'm so sorry… about everything.'

She moved in closer to me. 'There's nothing to be sorry about' she murmured, leaning in to speak softly. 'It was… just a horrible accident. I don't even remember life before this chair.'

I felt Sara's hand resting on my back, anchoring me as she'd been doing all night. I silently begged her not to stop. The emotions were coursing through my veins faster than I could process them.

Anna continued. 'Whenever I think of that period of my life, all I can remember is living in our house with Mom and Dad and Tim, feeling safe and happy. I try to focus on that.'

I don't know what came over me but I hugged her and she hugged me back. We were two people joined together by a tragic, senseless accident - one riddled with guilt and remorse, the other bursting with understanding and forgiveness.

We talked about staying in touch but, somewhere, we both knew it wasn't going to happen. Time passes and people change leaving behind the past - all except for the bittersweet memories that stay with us for the rest of our lives.

WCWCWC

Sara was surprised to be summoned to her boss' office now that Mitch Dunlop was finally out of her hair. She was still getting back on her feet following the shooting incident the week before but she was keenly aware that she'd been responsible for inadvertently destroying Mrs. Van Dyke's precious sculpture.

Generally speaking, Winston Bosch only had two dispositions: cranky and ornery or downright pissed off. She wasn't sure what she was dealing with as she took a seat across from him.

'I wanted to tell you I spoke with Mrs. Van Dyke. She's perfectly happy with the settlement.'

'Again sir… I'm sorry about what happened.'

Winston Bosch shrugged. 'Not half as sorry as I am for dumping my numbskull nephew on you.'

Sara sighed; apparently the boss wasn't as upset with her as she'd feared.

'Sara, you've been a good sport, taking on Mitch like that. I know he can be a real self-involved son of a bitch and I'm sorry about…'

He pointed to her arm but Sara shrugged it off. 'It's fine sir. No real harm done.'

'Still… I've been looking at caseloads and I'd like to give you a couple of high profile clients' he said, glancing at a sheet of paper. 'I thought you might like to take on Mr. Mirsky for one.'

Sara's eyes grew in surprise. Shawn Mirsky was one of their most high profile clients. As a matter of fact, up until her maternity leave, she had always been the one to deal with him.

'That would be great… but isn't he on Ross' caseload?'

'Not anymore' the man said.

Sara fought to keep from smiling.

'And we have a new client coming in from the West Coast who's going to need some special handling. You'd be perfect for the job.'

Sara had heard rumours about the high tech mogul who was looking to have his personal collection of antique guns insured. 'You mean Terrence Ashby?'

'I see word gets around' Bosch said. 'He's… demanding' he said, obviously a euphemism for something less flattering. 'I know you have what it takes to reel him in.'

Sara sat up straight. This time she couldn't help but smile.

'Yes, of course. That would be great.'

Bosch reached into his desk and pulled out an envelope. 'I know the recovery didn't go as planned but I felt that, in light of events, you shouldn't be denied your commission.'

Sara stood and reached out to take the envelope. 'Thank you sir' she said.

What she was really thinking was that she should probably get shot more often.

Mr. Bosch looked away - shorthand for this meeting is over. 'When you get back downstairs, can you send Ross Greene up?' he asked.

'Sure thing!' Sara said. 'It'll be my pleasure.'

WCWCWC

Hope and I had been practicing her fancy shmancy walking skills for the past twenty minutes or so. I followed a few steps behind, ready to catch her if need be as she toddled along the sidewalk in front of our house… down two houses towards the Masons' place then back to our driveway and back again. She was getting pretty steady on her feet although she still had the odd tumble whenever she got overexcited and started to run off without first getting her balance.

I watched her take off, giggling as she increased her speed and tried to get away from me. I swept in and scooped her up in my arms, tickling her and grinning from ear to ear as she screamed with joy. There was no better sound in the whole wide world.

Ever since my encounter with the Koslawskis, I'd felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. There would always be sadness and regret for my part in what had transpired but knowing that Anna was living a full life had been a huge relief.

Peter had called and asked if I'd agree to give him a hand on a case - no phoney baloney mortgage fraud this time, an honest to goodness forgery case with which he needed my help. Sara had encouraged me to accept and I'd reluctantly agreed to start looking for a part-time sitter for Hope - only a day or two a week, mind you. I was looking forward to working with my ex-handler again. I had to admit my wife had been right - balance is good in all things even parenting.

'Oh no you don't!' I said to my daughter as I lifted her shirt and blew a raspberry on her round belly.

She giggled louder and so did I. It was a moment to cherish, to tuck away in the corners of my mind for another day.

'You want to go get your stroller so we can go to the park?' I whispered in her ear.

She kicked the air, letting me know she wanted to keep walking.

'More!' she cried out, her bright blue eyes full of mischief.

She gave me a pouty look, her cheeks puffed up and she shook her head from side to side, trying to make me laugh.

'Park!' she shouted as if changing her mind.

'Well, we can't do both, sweet pea. The park is too far to walk. But we can get your stroller if you want to go. Mommy won't be home for another hour.'

'Walk!' she repeated as I let out a sigh. Was she playing me or was she not understanding what I was trying to explain. Even at the tender age of fourteen months, she'd developed a wicked sense of humour which always kept us guessing.

I was about to try my luck at explaining it again when I heard my name being called from up the street. I glanced over my shoulder and spotted Charlie Stevens waving his arms wildly and doing his best imitation of a jog towards me. To be honest, I didn't think Charlie had seen the inside of a gym since the turn of the century. His face was flushed and he seemed out of breath as he called out again.

'NEAL!'

I turned in the direction of his voice and Hope slipped out of my arms. I held her hand as Charlie got closer, breathing hard.

'Charlie! What's up?'

'I was… I was looking out our kitchen window and I saw a couple of kids trying to get into the Taylor house… you know… the one behind our place.'

I picked Hope up in my arms to keep her from straying. 'Did you get a good look at them?'

'Not really, they had those hoodie things on their heads.'

I looked at Hope then back at Charlie, trying to decide on the best course of action.

'Here' I said, placing Hope in his arms. I pointed to our house. 'Take Hope inside and call Adam Woods. Get him to send over a cruiser. Right now. I'm going to see if I can hold them off until they get here.'

He nodded. Hope looked up at Charlie, then at me, unsure what was going on. I could see her bottom lip start to quiver - a certain sign that she was about to start crying. I kissed her forehead and broke out into a run away from the two of them and towards the Stevens' place.

'Give her some juice and she'll be okay' I shouted over my shoulder.

I could hear Hope crying as I slid in between our place and the Stevens' house. There was a fence on our side and I crept along it until I got to the back of the house. The Stevens' yard was open at the back, save for a couple of bushes separating their yard from the neighbours on the street behind. I craned my neck and peered into the back door of the Taylor place. I could see the profile of two guys against the sun streaming through from the front of their house. At first blush, it looked like the same two guys I'd found snooping around our place. I took a few steps to get a better look, electing to stay far enough away so they wouldn't spot me. If they found me there, it was a sure bet they'd make a run for it.

I couldn't hear Hope's voice any more - Charlie must have brought her inside. From my vantage point, I could see into our kitchen and I spotted Hope in her high chair sipping juice while Charlie talked on the phone.

The precinct was about ten minutes away but with any luck maybe one of the cruisers was already on the streets nearby. Adam had been good about patrolling at this time of day. I saw Charlie take a few steps towards the large bay window in our kitchen and give me a thumbs up.

Up ahead through the bushes, I could see some commotion in the house as the thieves began to rummage around. I saw one of them tinkling with the television in what looked like the family room while the other was momentarily out of my sight. I stood quietly, not moving, just keeping them in sight and hoped the police would arrive before I had to confront them.

WCWCWC

'Awww, poor baby…' Sara said as she placed a bandage on my forehead.

I shrugged, making light of the situation. To be honest, having her fawn all over me wasn't really all that bad.

'You could have been hurt…'

'I… I was hurt' I reminded her with a pout.

'I mean really hurt.'

Considering she was still recovering from a bullet graze, I had to concede that she had me beat on that score.

'I wasn't expecting him to be that strong.'

'Neal, he was a seventeen year old kid built like a linebacker. It's amazing he didn't hit you harder.'

The phone rang and I reached for it, putting the phone to my ear as Sara continued to fuss.

'We got the other guy' came Adam Woods' voice. 'The guy you tackled was only too happy to give up his buddy.'

'That's great' I replied.

Sara was running her hands through my hair and I let out a soft moan.

'We've already recovered some of the stolen stuff.'

I sighed - whether in response to his comment or to the feel of Sara's nails against my scalp I'm not sure.

'Good job Neal! I knew we picked the right guy to head up our neighbourhood watch program.'

I shrugged - not that he could see me.

'Just don't play the hero all right? You could have been seriously hurt.'

'It's all good' I said, letting my hands linger down my imaginary Superman shirt.

We said goodbye and suddenly Sara was settling in my lap, petting me as if I were a brand new puppy.

'Now who's doting on who?' I said, pulling her into me with a smile.

'I think that's more than enough excitement for today, don't you?'

She made a move to stand up and I held her back.

'Hey, where do you think you're going?'

'I'm going to see what that mystery parcel is' she said, pointing to the package that had been left on our doorstep while I'd been out saving the world.

WCWCWC

Once in bed with Sara in my arms, I began to truly relax. She was finally on the mend and she seemed happy with how things had played out at work, Mozzie had been thrilled if not surprised to get his commission, Hope was mastering the art of walking and would soon be running circles around us and I was about to challenge myself by partnering up with my best friend to solve an honest to goodness crime.

I reached down and placed my hand on Sara's flat belly, rubbing gently.

She laughed. 'Caffrey, what are you doing?'

I shrugged. 'Maybe you're already pregnant' I whispered in her ear as I let my hand linger.

She rolled her eyes and looked up in the direction of our new acquisition. 'I can't believe she did this' she said.

I reached over and picked up the note which had accompanied the framed photograph that had been delivered earlier and was now hanging on the wall in our room.

'Dear Danny' it read. 'I heard you liked this one… In a way, it reminds me of you and me, the strong protective poppa lion and his baby cub. That's how you used to make me feel, safe and secure. All the best to you and Sara. Anna K-P'

'It's like that empty spot on the wall was just waiting for it' I commented.

Sara looked up into my eyes and grinned.

'What?' I said, frowning.

She climbed onto my lap and leaned down to kiss me. I let out a deep groan in reaction to the pleasant sensation.

'You know I've been thinking it might take a few tries before I get pregnant' she said seductively.

'What are you talking about? You've been making out with Super-stud.'

She groaned. 'Seriously?'

I tried to play coy. 'Anyway, I think that ship has sailed for this month, don't you?'

'What? You've never heard of practice makes perfect?' she replied, kissing me again.

I had actually.

I responded to the kiss with one of my own and reflected on how this happened to be just another one of those situations where my wife was absolutely right.

La fin