Chris and Rita were exhausted as they sat at a table in the small conference room of the Idaho Falls Police Department. There were nearly a dozen chairs in the room, all but one of them occupied. Captain Winston, head of the Jackson Police Department, sat next to Rita. Then it was Captain Clement, head of the Idaho Falls PD. Lieutenant Montross, who headed up the assault team, was there along with his two team leaders. Captain Hudson sat next to them, along with a couple of IFPD officers. There were two members of the FBI - one man and one woman, the leads on the case - then an empty chair, and then Heidi Pressley, who was sitting next to Chris.
It had been a very long day and the night was getting longer, with the clock pushing towards 10pm. It had been a mixed bag of success and frustration.
The assault team was in place and ready to move in on Hearts of Love Adoption when Chris and Rita arrived at 11:45, not from the entrance of the building, but in a green Suburban driving down the street. Chris jumped out and ran to Hudson, quickly explaining what had happened. The assault team immediately moved in to secure the office, but were too late. Everyone was gone, the babies were gone, the file cabinets were empty, and the computer system destroyed - completely demagnetized and useless.
Fortunately, Heidi's diligence paid off. The diskettes she recovered from under her car seat provided a treasure trove of information and linkages. By mid-afternoon, Tammy Colson - the night nurse – was in custody. The three baby boys were with her and were rescued unharmed. Bill Stafford was dead; he barricaded himself in his home and then committed suicide when the assault team breached the place. Three other employees were also in the city jail, having given up without a fight.
Robert, Jeff, and Janice were also dead. While Captain Hudson and his team had begun the rounding up process, Chris and Rita - with some directional help from Heidi - led Idaho Falls authorities back to Ririe Reservoir to process the bodies and crime scene there.
When Captain Winston was introduced to the two detectives, he shook their hands and then hugged each of them. "You have no idea what this means to me. I'm not usually one to speak about vengeance, but I feel like I've gotten some. These people tore our family up, but you two have helped bring a little justice. My son-in-law and granddaughter will be forever grateful - so will I. Thank you!"
Heidi Pressley initially felt terrible for the part she had played in the danger. "Had I just remembered to take that paper out of my purse...I thought about it when I laid down last night, but figured I would take care of it when I got up. Then I was late this morning...three - no, four - people died because of that and the three of us almost died! I'm so sorry."
Chris rubbed her back as Captain Hudson responded. "You did great, Heidi, considering you got thrown into the middle of a situation that was never meant to be yours. We hope that you got enough information to really help us put the clamps on these people. They did get a bit of a head-start - having several hours to warn others and prepare for us - but we're optimistic."
The depositions, interviews, interrogations, and processing the data Heidi had saved continued through the afternoon and into the evening, and now they were trying to finish up the first part of an arduous task.
"Well, this has been an incredible day." Captain Hudson looked at each of them before turning to the FBI, "I hope we've given you enough information to continue breaking up this crime ring. The marijuana and cocaine we found in that back room may have opened up a potential drug-dealing angle we weren't aware of. You guys will have plenty to keep you busy."
The FBI man spoke. "We found a couple of California addresses in one of the files from the diskettes - one in Long Beach and the other in San Francisco - so we had teams hit those places earlier this evening to see what they could find. We should know more about those tomorrow." He turned to Chris and Rita. "We appreciate the excellent work you did. It was invaluable. The FBI will take it from here, but we would like you to remain in Jackson...let's see...maybe through Friday, in case we need anything else. It'll probably be two days of vacation, but you're getting paid, so enjoy it!"
Captain Hudson added, "I will get your return flights set for Saturday afternoon...through Portland, remember. The flight from Portland to Palm Beach will be Sunday morning. I'll send the itineraries to the Lodge, and you'll be travelling as the Stones for the return flight to Portland. I'll call Harry with the good results and let him know that, unless something drastic happens, you'll be back in the office Monday morning."
By the time everyone cleared out of the building, it was after eleven and Heidi was dragging as she walked toward her car with Chris and Rita. Chris yawned, and turned to his partner. "I'm not looking forward to a two-hour drive back to Jackson. You want to drive?"
"Absolutely not! I'm beat. And look at us!"
Chris laughed. Exhaustion and the lengthy debriefing caused him to overlook the condition of his partner – she was still a mess from the fight at the reservoir. Heidi was a mess, too.
"Say, you guys want to stay with me tonight? I've got a second bedroom and a hot shower."
"Thanks, Heidi, that's very sweet, but not necessary. Chris and I will get a room somep..."
"No, please, come stay. You guys saved my life today after I nearly got us all killed. It's the least I can do." She looked at Rita. "I have some sweats you can borrow. Chris, I don't have anything for you..."
Chris accepted the invitation gratefully. It beat driving back to Jackson by a long shot. "I'm presentable. I can run to the Wal-Mart quick and grab a couple things for me. You two go ahead and get cleaned up. Give me directions and I'll be there shortly. Sam, I'll get you a toothbrush and deodorant - you need anything else?...underwear?...a nightie?" He was laughing as he finished.
"You are not picking out underwear for me, and you're definitely not doing it at Wal-Mart!" She shook her head. "You are crazy! Just go and hurry back."
"You have a nice place here, Heidi," Rita said just after Heidi turned on the light in her apartment. "Cozy and comfy."
"Yeah, it's nice, and it's pretty cheap. I suppose that's good, now that I'm unemployed. Wow, I have to get another job and everything. A lot has changed in eighteen hours!"
"You won't have any trouble finding work. So tell me about Alex."
"Maybe after we clean up. The shower is down the hall to the right. You're the guest, so you can go first and I'll find you something to wear."
Rita was soaping her hair when Heidi brought in some sweats, set them on the sink, and spoke over the noise of the water. "I put some things on the counter here. I don't have any underwear for you, but if you're alright with it, I'll wash all our things when Chris gets here so everything will be clean for tomorrow."
Rita answered from behind the shower curtain. "Thank you, sweetie. That's very kind of you."
Heidi sat down on the toilet. "Is it weird if I talk to you in here?"
"Not at all, though you'll have to speak up a little. Tell me about Alex."
"Ok. He's really funny and he's really nice. It helps that he's really good looking...well, you saw him. We met last August and started dating a couple months later."
"How did you meet?"
"Some girlfriends were shopping with me in Jackson, and we ate lunch where he was a waiter. A chance meeting, but it has worked out so far."
"Older or younger?"
"He's twenty-four – about two years older. He has a forestry degree and is trying to get on in the Park. But so far, it hasn't happened." She laughed. "As handsome as he is, you'd think they would hire him on the spot." Rita heard her laugh. "I keep talking about his looks, like that's all there is. He's really smart and a really nice man."
"Yeah, he's definitely cute. Have you given any thought to moving closer to him? Two hours is quite a distance, especially in the winter."
"Oh yeah, I think about it a lot, but with work and my lease not being up until June, I definitely had to wait a bit. Jackson is more expensive than Idaho Falls, but now, I have one less thing holding me here. Maybe I can find work here for a couple of months, and then see about moving over there. I know Alex would love to have me closer, too...at least he better love the idea..." she added with a laugh.
"Has he met your parents?"
"They know about him and have talked to him a couple times on the phone, but Boynton Beach is a long ways from here and it's expensive to get back there."
There was a moment of silence before Heidi spoke. "So, what about Chris? What's your history with him?"
Rita rubbed the washcloth over the scrapes on her knees and elbows. "Well, we both did stints in vice and then in narcotics and we knew each other there. Then we were put together several years back investigating high-society murders in Palm Beach. We've been together ever since."
"Together...?"
"Together as partners, Heidi. We have the added benefit of being best friends as well, but we are partners. We really understand each other. Kind of read each other's minds and all. He's terrific!"
"You guys do this kind of undercover-husband-and-wife work very often?"
"Um...just one other time that I can think of. We also posed as an engaged couple once. This kind of work doesn't come our way much."
"Hmmm...ok. Does Chris have a girlfriend?"
"Not for a little while."
"Hmmm...you have a boyfriend?"
Rita laughed. "Not for even longer than Chris."
"Hmmm..." Heidi paused, as if thinking. "Has he saved your life many times?"
"He saved it today, and he has on several occasions. You read about another time in that newspaper article. Had Chris gone home instead of coming back to my place that night, I would be dead now. As it was, I only just survived. But I've pulled his fat out of the fire, too." She laughed. "That's what partners do."
"And you like him?"
Rita hesitated, knowing where this question would lead, but wanting to be honest with her new friend. "Yeah, of course I like him. He's a great guy - considerate, gracious, you name it."
"You love him?"
She shut the water off and grabbed the towel. "Yes, but no...that's a bit complicated. Maybe we can discuss it after you clean up. Thank you again for the shower. I feel human again."
"You're welcome. See you in a minute..." and Heidi closed the door behind her, smiling to herself.
When Heidi walked out of the bathroom after cleaning up, Chris still hadn't arrived and Rita was beginning to wonder what was taking him. "Ok, so I'm showered and sparkly clean - it's really gross having a dead guy's blood all over you! Now fess up! What is so complicated about loving Chris?"
"You don't give up."
"I called you at three in the morning to try and catch you off-guard. I drove two hours Jackson to ask you one question about being cops."
"Point taken. Look, I love Christopher. He loves me, too, but I don't think we are actually in love with each other. That's altogether different."
"Ok. I'm only twenty-two, so there's probably stuff I don't know, but that sounds silly. I really like my boyfriend. I like him a lot, but I don't love him. Not yet. If I loved him, I would be in love with him – same thing. Wait, you don't 'think' you're in love with Chris? So you might be?" Heidi paused, looking around. "Ok, where is Chris?"
"I don't know. He should be here by now and I'm starting to worry."
"Ok, you're in love with your partner. That's my observation. He is gone twenty minutes longer than you figure, and you're worried. Ok, that's love."
"You say 'ok' an awful lot."
"Bad habit. But it's a lot better than smoking and drinking."
It was after 2am when the last light in Heidi's apartment went off. Chris had grabbed some pizza from a local late-night place he happened to pass on the way, which was why he didn't return until midnight. They ate and visited before Chris headed for the shower. Heidi insisted they each take a bedroom, but Chris refused to leave the couch, saying a pillow and blanket was all he needed. Rita got the spare bedroom.
Chris did not think there was much to be said for sleeping on the sofa, especially after spending nearly a week in bed with Rita. But the case was winding down, and the need for Greg and Samantha Stone was pretty much over. He felt a little sad. It would be great to be back home, but he would miss this place. He would miss the beauty of the landscape and the skiing, which he fully intended to embrace as much as possible in the remaining time he and Rita had here. However, if he was being honest, he was going to miss Samantha Stone the most. He looked at his left hand in the dark, not able to see it, but knowing the wedding band was still there. That would have to come off sometime - maybe tomorrow, he decided. Or maybe the next day. He closed his eyes.
"You awake?"
The whisper, in the absolute silence of the night, startled Chris and he jumped. He whispered back. "You scared the crap out of me, Rita! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"I'm sorry. I can't sleep. Can I sit with you?"
Chris was sure he could easily sleep, but nodded and sat up on the one side of the sofa. She sat down, leaning into him and pulling his blanket over them. He rubbed her hands, his hands running across the diamond on her ring finger before moving to rest on her hip.
"Mmmm, this is more comfortable than the bed..."
"Somehow, I doubt that," he said, smiling in the dark before adding, "You smell really good...again."
"Thanks! You do, too. So...are you going to miss this when we get back to Palm Beach?"
"Not a bit...you?" Chris replied with as straight a face as he could muster.
"Liar!" she whispered back with an elbow to the stomach. "You're a liar!"
"If you already knew the answer, why did you ask me?"
She was silent for a bit.
"Thank you for saving my life - again."
"Thank you for saving my life, Rita." When she cocked her head, puzzled, Chris continued. "If you hadn't knocked Robert down when you did, he probably would have shot and killed me before killing you. So thank you." He kissed her hair and then her ear.
She twisted and put her hand to his face and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, Christopher." She so badly wanted to say something more, but couldn't. She so badly wanted to kiss him - as Samantha Stone had done so many times already - but didn't dare. Samantha Stone was gone now...so was Gregory, her magnificent husband. Or maybe...her heart fluttered...
Heidi walked quietly out of her bedroom and into the kitchen at 6:15. It wasn't as though she had to go work, but force of habit woke her up, and she needed to start the dryer to finish their clothes from the night before. She wanted to turn on the local news to see if there was anything about Hearts of Love, but didn't want to wake Chris just yet. She turned on the kitchen light to start her coffee, and then noticed the sofa. She was sure only one body was there when she turned in earlier, but now she could clearly see the outlines of two individuals. She tiptoed quietly out there and shook her head with a knowing smile: Chris was lying propped against a pillow and Rita was lying on his chest, his arm draped over her. Both were sleeping.
"Just partners..." she whispered to herself, smiling and shaking her head.
They left Heidi's apartment just after eight. A partial story on Hearts of Love had made the morning news, and Heidi's name was mentioned. 'A raid that netted a substantial quantity of drugs' was the story and Chris chuckled. The theft of infants and illegal adoptions wasn't even mentioned. When Heidi asked why, he explained. "The FBI isn't saying anything about the babies because of the obvious backlash. Reporters would somehow get the list of affected families and then descend on them like sharks. It would be horrible."
Rita continued. "Yep. So the FBI is only releasing the drug stuff only to explain the raid. That buys them time to do the work of tracing babies back and figuring out how to - potentially - take a bunch of little children from families that don't rightfully own them. This case might have a lot of collateral damage."
When they walked out of her apartment, her phone was ringing again. Heidi had suddenly become very busy and very popular. She had already called her parents to give them a quick update, but writers from other stations and local newspapers were starting to check in, all wanting interviews. Rita laughed, "This is fun right now, but you'll grow to hate it. The press can be relentless."
Then Heidi hugged her tightly, "Thank you. Thank you for my life. Thank you for saving me from being raped." Her voice cracked a bit. "Thank you for being a friend."
Rita whispered in her ear. "Come to Jackson tonight if you can. You originally asked to meet Greg and Samantha, but we're just about as nice as them. I think we're staying until Saturday." She pulled away as a thought struck her. "If you want, bring a change of clothes and stay at the Lodge with us tonight. You alright with that, Christopher?" When he gave an enthusiastic nod, she continued. "You can spend time with Alex today and tomorrow. I know you have a story to tell him. Christopher wants to ski again, so join us...just a thought. If you decide to come over, call the Lodge and leave us a message with what time you plan to be there...I'm pretty sure you have the number."
They spent a little time with Captain Hudson and IFPD that morning, but there was little to report, and all of the news was bad. Hudson shook his head, "The addresses in Long Beach and San Francisco turned up empty - files cleaned out or burned and computer equipment destroyed. We got there too late. Clearly, they had warning. The 'I' part of the FBI is going to get a workout. I have a bad feeling that if they uncover more names of the families that adopted, they will have to go in and remove the children until they can figure out what to do. This is probably going to hurt a lot. I know how we often feel about them, but the FBI is going to look bad in this, and it won't be their fault."
"We got your depositions and reports yesterday. You might as well head back to Jackson. Enjoy a couple days and do nothing. I'll meet up with you Saturday morning before you leave - unless something else comes up."
Just before eleven, Chris and Rita left Idaho Falls. When Chris got to Swan Valley, he turned off the main road onto State Road 31. Rita looked at him, "Hey, where..."
"Well, I was thinking. We have been taking the low road back and forth to Idaho Falls. Since this is probably our last trip, maybe we should try scenic route over the Pass. It's just a few minutes longer." He took his foot off the gas. "If you don't want to, I'll turn around and we'll go the normal way."
"Well, we're not on elephants, but if you want to make like Hannibal, I'm game."
"What? Hannibal Lecter?"
"Good grief, Christopher! Don't you know anything about history? Hannibal was a great military general from Carthage way back - I think first or second century. Legend tells that he crossed the Alps on elephants when going to battle." She rolled her eyes and half-whispered, "Hannibal Lecter..."
"Well, I can't remember everything I learned in high school. My brain is full of stuff, and when something new comes in, something else has to go. 'Hannibal riding elephants' doesn't really rank up there in the 'worth keeping around' category."
"Really? Ok, what are the names of the girls you made out with in high school - senior year only? I bet they rank high enough to keep."
Chris was quiet and didn't look at her, so she pounced. "I bet you can name all of them and sort them in order of preference."
"You're hilarious. Just so you know, there are only a few."
"I'm waiting..."
Chris got an evil grin and gave her a glance from the corner of his eye. "I made out with you the other night - actually, a couple different times out here - and you're way better than anyone from my senior year."
"Christopher!" He could see her face turn slightly pink and there was a bit of a smile behind the surface of outrage.
He squinted, as if thinking. "Yeah, well, maybe there was one that was better..."
"Christopher!" she said a little louder, hitting his shoulder with the back of her hand.
He pretended to flinch and started laughing. "Hey, I just wanted to take the road over the mountains. You started it with all that 'Hannibal and the Alps' stuff."
"Maybe we should change the subject."
"Good idea, Rita."
The new subject turned out to be 'silence', and it lasted about sixty seconds. Then Rita spoke in a quiet voice. "So...was there a girl that was bet..."
"Rita..."
"K..."
