Title: Blessing in disguise
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: see part one

Friday finally came and with Lonnie's progress the doctors discharged him from the hospital. However he was under strict orders to rest. Once home Lonnie slept for the better part of the afternoon. Around dinner time he showered, changed clothes and grabbed dinner. Lonnie had been surprised that one of his friends had bought groceries and restocked his fridge. With Lonnie having spent most of his time at Colleen's there hadn't been much in the apartment as far as food went. Lonnie needed to find out who it was and thank them. His friends really were the best people he knew.

Feeling ten times better after rest and food Lonnie decided to get some fresh air. He thought about going for a walk then remembered the doctor's orders. He grabbed his car keys opting for a drive. Fortunately the damage caused by the run in with Braxton was minor. Dinged the front bumper and the paint on the hood would need a touch up but nothing urgent. Lonnie got in the car and headed out of the parking lot.

Half an hour later Lonnie found himself at the cemetary. Hadn't been planned he'd just ended up there. Lonnie parked and shut the engine off. He gingerly got out and shut the door. Lonnie walked through the old iron gate and stopped for a moment to get his bearings. Colleen's funeral had been a blur of grief and dark clothing. It took Lonnie a moment to remember where her grave was. Then he started up the path at a slow walk.

Lonnie still couldn't believe that barely three weeks ago he and Colleen had been talking about getting a house of their own. So much hope and happiness for the future that day. Now Lonnie was alone and picking up the pieces. Reaching the simple gravestone Lonnie eased himself down into a sitting position. His body protested the entire time pain shotting through his rib cage but Lonnie ignored it.

"Sorry doesn't seem like enough."Lonnie began. "I miss you like crazy Colleen and it's barely been two weeks...I don't know how..."

Lonnie trailed off not sure how to finish the sentence anyway. Being good with words had never really been his thing. That'd been one of the best things about his relationship with Colleen; she understood. If he stumbled over his words trying to express how he felt she'd just smile and kiss him. He didn't have to try hard with Colleen. They fit together so well.

"I officially applied for Melisa's adoption yesterday."Lonnie stated after a few minutes."LuAnn ran it to the courthouse for me. Now it's in the judge's hands and Virgil hasn't been my biggest supporter."

Reaching forward Lonnie lightly traced the C of Colleen's name with his right hand.

"I promise even if they don't let me keep her; I'll look out for her."Lonnie said his voice barely audible."No matter where she goes in life Melisa will always have me."

The mere thought of somebody else raising that little girl broke Lonnie's heart. Despite Virgil and Bubba's advice that a two parent family would be better for Melisa he still wanted the chance. The chance to prove everyone wrong that he could handle being a single parent.

"I'm going to look at more houses this weekend."Lonnie continued after clearing his throat."I want to do everything I can to show the judge that they don't have to look elsewhere."

Lonnie sat silently for several minutes. Doing police work he knew more than anyone how quickly someone's life could change. Now that it was happening to him Lonnie was torn between grief and numbness. Melisa was the one piece of Colleen that he had left. He couldn't think of the adoption not going through. They were all each other had of the happy family that once was. A few months ago Lonnie hadn't been able to picture his life without Colleen. Now that he had to face that bleak future he couldn't and wouldn't picture not watching Melisa grow up. Fate couldn't be that cruel to take both from him.

With a tired sigh Lonnie stood. He glanced at the gravestone once more Lonnie turned and headed back to his car. Lonnie was weary of the roller coaster of the the past couple weeks. He wanted things to be settled for both himself and Melisa. Deep down Lonnie knew he would never be settled and done with this until Colleen's killer was caught and brought to justice. Sometimes that didn't happen Lonnie understood that but at the same time he and Melisa deserved closure which would give them a chance to heal.


"Thank you for your time."Sweet said with a forced smile as one more hotel door was shut in his face after only a few minutes.

With a sigh Wilson walked back to the main office. He'd had very little luck with Braxton's neighbor's. Most were just passing through and had either just arrived or were long term tenant's who wanted nothing to do with the police no matter what the situation. He knew Bubba and Parker had already searched Braxton's room so maybe Sweet would have better luck with the hotel staff.

"Hi."Sweet greeted as he approached the front desk and smiled at the young brown haired woman behind it. "I know it's getting late in the day but I was hoping to talk to some of your staff."

"Teresa's gone for the day and she lives over in Hampton."The clerk replied. "But Dana is here along with Carlos who's in charge of hotel maintenance."

"Good I'll start with them."Sweet commented as he once again took out his notebook and a pen.


Lonnie returned home and placed his key in the front lock. Or more acturately he tried to. The door pushed open easily as soon as he began to press the key into the lock. Instinct kicked in and Lonnie automatically reached for his gun only to remember it wasn't there. Cautiously Lonnie pushed the door the rest of the way open.

In the light of the setting sun Lonnie saw his place had been trashed and searched. The little furniture he owned was toppled and records and books were pulled from the shelves and bookcases tipped. He grabbed an overturned lamp now unplugged and turned it over using it as a weapon. Lonnie moved through the rest of the small apartment and determined he was alone. Carefully Lonnie made his way back to the living room. He didn't want to disturb evidence on the off chance the intruder had left any. Reaching the phone Lonnie picked up the reciever and dialed a familiar number. Parker answered on the second ring and transferred him to the Chief. It was a short conversation with Lonnie stating what had occurred and Gilespie acknowledging they'd be there shortly. Lonnie hung up and stared at the destruction with a sad shake of his head.

Part of Lonnie knew this could be a coincedence. A robber noticing a mainly vacant apartment suddenly wasn't any longer. But his gut was telling hin that this was all connected. Colleen's murder, the fire, Braxton's attack and now Lonnie's ransacked apartment. Somebody was searching for something valuable that they wanted badly enough to kill. Question was why wait for him to be released from the hospital? Could've searched and trashed the place at any time that he wasn't here. Only option Lonnie could think of was the person that did this and set the fire had left town for a few days. If they were working with Braxton and they realized Braxton hadn't followed through on his end and gotten arrested on top of it the partner might be nervous and speeding things up.

Gillespie, Virgil, Bubba and Dee arrived before Lonnie could reason anything out further. They all flashed Lonnie looks of empathy and sorrow. He could read the same reaction on all of their faces: How much could happen to one person? How much could that person take?Why did bad things keep happening? Lonnie appreciated their concern and worry. He needed all the friends he could get right now.

"You alright?"Gilespie asked quietly.

"Yeah just tired."Lonnie responded rubbing a weary hand along the back of his neck. "I think this is a good thing this happened."

"What makes you say that?"Bubba inquired as he took off his sunglasses.

"Means somebody's dcsperate."Lonnie commented grimly.

"Running theory has been Colleen's death was connected to Abbott."The Chief stated as he stepped into the trashed living room. "That whatever secrets he took to his grave somebody was determined to find."

"We need to talk to Braxton again."Bubba said. "He'd know who the other player is in this mess."

"I'll head back and talk to him."Virgil offered and after Gilespie nodded he turned and left.

"Why don't you pack a bag, Lonnie? Stay at my place for a few days."Bubba suggested. "It'll take awhile to process prints and take photographs and clean up."

Too tired to argue Lonnie nodded and headed to his bedroom. His closet like everything else in the apartment was small and hadn't been as demolished as the rest of the place. He grabbed a small gym bag and began packing three days worth of clean clothes and other essientials. Injured or not Lonnie was going to find out what Abbott had been involved in that somebody years later thought was valuable enough to kill for. Finished Lonnie closed the bag and went back to join the others.


"Just wanted to let you know what was going on and that I'll miss dinner."Virgil said into the phone as he stood by his desk at the station.

"This is just awful. How's Lonnie?"Althea asked worriedly.

"About what you'd expect. Trying to keep it together. I'm glad he's gonna be at Bubba's for awhile."Virgil commented.

"Me too. I'll leave some casserole in the fridge that you can reheat when you get home."Althea offered.

"Thanks hon, I love you."Virgil replied.

"Love you too."Althea said softly.

"Do me a favor?"Virgil began. "Double check the locks on the house and secure the windows."

"You think somebody would come after Melisa?"Althea asked with alarm."She's just a baby."

"I just want all bases covered and to make sure you two are safe until I get home."Virgil responded grimly."Until we get Braxton to give up his partners we won't have the whole picture on this."

"Alright."Althea acknowledged quietly. "I'll see you when you get home."

"Bye."Virgil said as he ended the call and hung up the phone.

For a long moment Virgil stared out the office window at the main part of the station. There were still too many unknowns in this that Virgil didn't like. As sound as their theory was it was still just a theory. They were waiting on Abbot's records from Kansas. Plus if Virgil didn't succeed and get Braxton to talk they'd still be in the dark. Not knowing if Lonnie was right if this was all connected or if they were looking at things entirely wrong. With a frown Virgil left his office and went to the interragation room.