Disclaimer: Mary and Marshall belong to David Maples. If they hadn't been misused by others I wouldn't be writing this.

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Chapter 11

Sunday

Mary and Roxanne decided to switch their meeting time and place. Predictability could get them killed. At the gym they chatted amiably between pull-ups and leg lifts huffing only a little on the treadmill. Workouts completed, Roxanne entered a large handicapped changing stall in the dressing room. Checking around the locker room, Mary quickly followed her.

Mary sat on the bench, pulling her feet up so only one pair of feet showed below the privacy panel. Roxanne wordlessly spread out a new batch of photos on the bench next to Mary. Examining one of them, Mary recognized Robert Epps aka Robert Patrone, the former Chicago detective. Mary was relieved when he left WITSEC but not happy that he stayed in Albuquerque. She hadn't seen him in years and wished to keep it that way. Her wishes didn't seem to have much pull these days.

"Who's this?" Mary whispered, pointing to the man she thought was Epps.

Roxanne leaned over to see what had caught Mary's eye.

The photo, taken outdoors, was of a baseball team, with shirts sporting the name Desert Thunder. "Is that... Is that Epps?" Mary asked. She knew Roxanne wouldn't, couldn't forget the man she had thought murdered her partner.

Examining the photo Roxanne replied "Yes," hissing the final letter. Roxanne picked up the photo and turned it over. "Thomas played baseball. This was his team. That's him." She pointed to a tall man on the right. "It must have been in his locker. I grabbed everything, but didn't think this was important." Roxanne looked at Mary wondering exactly what her connection to Epps had been. "Do you think he is involved?"

Mary put her mouth close to Roxanne's ear. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out. Can you meet me at the usual place tonight?"

"Yes. It's still available," Roxanne quietly assured her. "We need to find another place soon. The residents might remember us."

"Hang on to this stuff." Mary shoved the lock box deep into Roxanne's gym bag."I'll get back to you tonight." Changing into street clothes, Mary checked her gun, badge and phone, tying her sweatshirt at her waist to cover them.

Roxanne nodded. "Yeah. I'll be there." Realizing she had said that at a normal volume, she lowered her voice to a whisper and added, "I'm going to inventory this stuff so we know what we have."

"So when it disappears along with our bodies, there will at least be a list," Mary groused quietly. Roxanne smirked.

Mary opened the stall door, not looking down the aisle to her right were an auburn haired woman quietly entered a stall.

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Mary pulled the Probe up in front of a white clapboard house complete with a front porch and rocking chair. A big screen TV with tonight's major league baseball game was visible through the front window. She winced as she remembered her first meeting with Roxanne in that front yard. She had caught Marshall watching their televised catfight more than once.

Epps answered her knock beer in hand. His smile and soft "Hey" faded when he saw Mary's scowl. "Mary," he opened the door wider. "I take it this isn't a booty call."

"Dream on, asshole," Mary grumped, pushing her way in and slamming the door. Not wasting time, she stood, arms crossed and confronted Epps. "Do you know Mike Washington?"

When Epps appeared nonplussed by the name, Mary tried again. "How about Mike Jefferson?"

She saw a flicker of recognition and pounced. "You do know him. What's your connection? What do you know?"

Epps sat down in the leather recliner facing the TV, keeping one eye on Mary and the other on the muted television. Sighing, he turned to watch the game. "He's the one that got away. Bastard." Epps took a sip from his beer then pointed the bottle to Mary, silently offering her one. She shook her head. "You know I bent some rules to get justice. No matter what I tried I could not get him."

Epps gave her the rundown on Mike Jefferson's Chicago organization and operation. His details fleshed out what little Mary knew about the pre-WITSEC Mike Jefferson/Washington. Epps confirmed that Mike was every bit as ruthless and violent as his nickname.

"What do you know about him now?" Mary pressed.

Peering over his beer, Epps frowned. "My usual sources aren't available." He shifted in the recliner, lowering the empty bottle to the carpet. "You know that. I haven't heard anything."

"Yeah," Mary replied. "But have you seen anything?" Epps had been a detective and a good investigator. Even without his 'resources' he was capable of discovering a fair amount if he tried. Mary was certain he had tried since discovering Mike Washington was living in Albuquerque. Epps pretended to be absorbed in the game, but Mary knew he had seen Mayhem Mike. Albuquerque might be New Mexico's largest city, but it couldn't compare to Chicago's 2.75 million.

"Where did you see him, Epps?" Mary persisted. "When did you find out he was here?"

Epps shifted, uncomfortable in his chair, but didn't answer. Mary figured he had been investigating Mike on his own.

Shifting tactics, Mary asked, "Did you know Officer Thomas?" When Epps still didn't answer, she elaborated, "The ABQ police officer who was shot by his own?"

Epps head shot up and he turned to stare at her. "Who says?"

"The coroner's report for one," Mary replied drily.

Epps eyes followed her. "You've seen it?" She nodded. "You saw the coroner's report?" he demanded. While technically, Mary hadn't seen the original report, Roxanne's testimony was good enough.

"Yeah, and not the one you get with a public information request. The first one. The real one."

"Goddammit Tommy." Epps swore, his voice choked. He put his hands to his head, his elbows on his knees, folded in grief.

"What do you know about Mayhem Mike's connection to corruption at ABQPD?"

Mary sat across from Epps while he told her how Officer Tommy Thomas was on his baseball team. They both loved the game and could spot a cop regardless of the uniform. Over years and beers Tommy came to trust Epps and told him about the suspicious activities at ABQPD.

"I told him he was signing his own death warrant. He should have left the department if he couldn't ignore it. Damn boy scout. I knew they had him killed, I just couldn't prove it. Couldn't get close enough to the evidence."

That was enough for Mary. She was certain Epps could help connect Mike Washington and Edwin Talltrees. They just needed time and answers. Maybe with Epps help they'd know which questions to ask.

"Where can I reach you?" Mary asked as she scribbled his number on a piece of paper. "You goddamn better answer when I call." Mary couldn't tell him more than she already had. She had to get back to Roxanne and see where this fit, and find a new place to meet. All the documents had to go back to the safety of the Sunshine Building.

TBC

A/N: Reviews please?