Chapter 20

After finding no criminal records on John Spencer, Wade and Kathy decided to take a break from the case to eat lunch. Wade kept glancing at the computer screen, though, watching the clip of the school board meeting where Spencer and Moskovitz argued. After a fourth look, Wade noticed something.

"Is it me or does John Spencer resemble Mark Duval?"

"Hmm, let me see it again."

Wade backed up the video and showed her.

"Yes, I guess there is some resemblance. Probably just a coincidence."

"Maybe." Wade had an idea and called Andie.

The phone didn't even ring once. Andie had already picked up the phone about to call Wade.

"Wambo?"

"Radio?"

"I was just calling you …" they both said at the same time.

"Okay… you go first," he said.

"I found a connection between Moskovitz, John Spencer and the Duvals."

"They're related, right?"

"How do you know!"

"I saw some resemblance when I studied the video."

"Yeah, well hold on to your socks when I tell you how."

CJ stared at the empty fireplace with her arms crossed in front of her as she waited for Matt to come back inside. After she heard the door open and close she swung around and faced him.

"She's the woman you were telling me about earlier today, isn't she?"

"She is."

"She's very pretty."

"I guess. Not as pretty as you."

CJ headed towards the exit until Matt blocked the door with his arm.

"Let me go."

"No way."

"Houston … " CJ said, lowering her voice.

Matt dropped his bar on the door and took CJ's face in his hands, planting a deep, sensual kiss on her lips.

"Houston..."

He moved his hands over her back and around her sides as he kept his lips locked with hers.

"Matt …"

She had stopped resisting by this point.

"Spencer is his middle name. The last name on his birth certificate is… get this … Moskovitz," informed Andie.

"You're kidding?"

"But wait there's more … the name of his biological father on the birth certificate: Marquis Duval II."

"Unbelievable. I'm starting to see how this all fits. The Duvals probably wanted to get Moskovitz out of the way after they saw the way he treated Spencer, and then wanted to get all of us out of the way to prevent us from solving the murder."

"And I think our grieving widow Mrs. Moskovitz knows a lot more than she's telling."

"I think it's time Kathy and I pay Mrs. Moskovitz another visit," Wade said as he glanced at Kathy, who had been listening on speaker.

"Right after I check in at the hospital. I have to see the progress on Mark Duval to see if he's healthy enough for the transfer to the prison infirmary."

"Mind if I tag along?"

"Not at all."

CJ lay in Matt's arms watching the embers of the fire dance upon the logs. She loved the feeling of her skin next to his. Was there really any better place in the world? She was glad he broke through her shell and made love to her. To think that after twenty-five years this man still had the hots for her!

"Matt, has it always been this good with us … between the sheets?"

"Always."

As CJ lay there she realized she had everything she needed. She got a second chance at happiness. She had the love of a great man, two wonderful kids, friends, a beautiful home. So she didn't have such a great memory. Big deal. Not everyone has it all. She was lucky. She was blessed.

"Tell me about our wedding, Matt. Where was it?"

"It was at a chapel in Las Vegas."

"Really?"

"Yep. We eloped."

"So we never had a big wedding?"

"No."

"Why?"

Matt thought back to the months following their engagement. They had returned to work and had been very busy catching up with several projects and cases, not to mention following the dwindling trail of the Duvals. The sometimes 11-hour work days didn't leave much time for opening the mail let alone planning a wedding. Matt and CJ wanted to spend all of their down time with each other and build a home. With what spare time they had, they spent making phone calls, meeting with architects and contractors, and scoping out available land in the surrounding L.A. area.

In the midst of all the wonderful craziness their new relationship was taking them, CJ found herself not feeling as well as usual. For several weeks she tried to chalk it up to their hectic lifestyle of late and a recent battle with bronchitis. Matt noticed how fatigued she was.

"I'm fine, Matt. I just need to take it a little easier, that's all."

"You're fine? When's the last time you've seen a doctor, and I don't mean the kind we frequent at the emergency room?"

"A couple of months ago when I went on that antibiotic."

"CJ … we've been doing a lot since then…"

She saw the way Matt was looking at her and suddenly remembered how antibiotics negate the effects of certain pills.

"Oh, okay. You win. I'll call first thing tomorrow morning and make an appointment."

Those words were music to Matt's ears.

The next morning Matt couldn't wait to meet CJ at the office.

"Hiya, Chris, is CJ in yet?" Matt said as he walked into the penthouse suite.

"She called and said she was coming in later. Something about the doctor having an opening first thing this morning?"

"Oh, good! Any other messages for me?"

"Just one so far: Miller Brothers Architects. Said they wanted a decision on the windows. They left a number you could reach them at."

"Thank you." For a moment Matt caught himself smiling. Instead of phone messages about betrayal and murder, he was dealing with business matters. He used to mind that part of his career. Now? Not so much. He was glad to have a break from all the drama.

A few minutes later Roy came into the penthouse to find Matt sitting at the patio table looking over a mound of paperwork.

"You need some help there, Boy?"

"Ah, hi Uncle Roy. I could use some help interpreting some of this legalese."

"Where's our expect legalese interpreter?"

"She had an appointment and will be in a little later."

"Ya know, she's been looking a little run-down as of late."

"I know. That's why I urged her to see a doctor. She's there right now, in fact, she should be back by now," he said, glancing at his watch. "I wonder what's keeping her?"

"Houston…" Chris called out. "Murray - line one."

"Thanks, Chris," he said grabbing the phone. "Hi there Murray."

"Houston, I was driving in the Valley and I found some land you and CJ might be interested in."

"Okay, well just jot down the real estate company's number and I'll look at sometime with CJ."

"No can do. I know the agent, called her and she said there are two bids on it already. The seller is making a decision by noon today. Houston, it's perfect. You got to come out and see it!"

"Look, Murray. I can't make a decision without CJ and she's not here right now. They'll be other properties. What's so special about this one anyway?"

"I can't do it justice over the phone, Houston. You really should see it right away. I'm telling you it's perfect!"

"Murray …"

"Houston! As your financial advisor I'm ordering you to get out here pronto!"

Matt grimaced at his volume and pulled the phone away a second.

"Okay, okay. I'll come out and have a look. But, I'm not promising anything."

When Matt arrived he was in awe. The property was gorgeous. It was the right size, the right location, the right everything. Close to the city but remote enough to feel removed from all the hustle and bustle of L.A. It had a breathtaking view including a little brook that ran between a grove of trees upon 150 acres of land. So much of the terrain reminded him of his previous ranch in L.A. and of his home in Texas. He could almost picture him and CJ riding horses for hours.

Matt immediately went to his phone.

"Hiya Chris!" she said coming off the elevator. "Is…?"

"He went to run a quick errand. He was trying to reach you. He should be back soon, though."

"Okay."

"Hey, Uncle Roy."

"Hey, CJ. Matt said you had a doctor's appointment. Everything okay?"

"Never better."

"Good. If you're looking for Matt, he just …"

"…went to run a quick errand. I know, Chris told me."

"Oh. Well, I guess you should have a look at these in the meantime…"

Roy handed her the papers that Matt started. CJ glanced over them and took them into her office for further study.

Minutes later, CJ heard Matt step off the elevator with Murray.

"I'm telling you Big Guy, it's is the best deal you've ever made. Every developer in the state would want that property!"

"I just hope CJ likes it."

"Likes what?" she asked.

"Ah, CJ… Murray just gave us a lead on some property and I went out and took a look at it … and I ... well … I bought it!" Matt explained as he braced himself for her reaction.

"You bought it?"

"It had two bids on it already and the seller was deciding by noon today. It's really perfect, CJ. Tell her, Murray."

"Yeah, you'll love it, CJ. It has everything: location, view, space … a little brook that runs between a grove of trees ..."

"Sounds nice."

Matt looked at Murray and spoke under his breath, "See I told you she would be mad at ... wait, sounds nice?"

Before Matt could say any more, CJ turned and headed back into her office.

"Oh boy, she must be really be angry," Matt said. He's seen CJ angry before. It never goes well.

Roy and Chris, who were in audience, ushered Murray out to the lobby and closed the doors. Matt took a deep breath and approached CJ's door, stopping to lean against its frame.

"Everything okay?" he said in a hushed, sincere voice.

"I've been looking over these merger papers. They just need your signature and Murray can have them back," she said, sitting at her desk.

"Okay," said Matt, concerned that she wasn't yelling or throwing something. He cautiously walked over to his fiance and began massaging her shoulders.

"You know, it's really perfect…"

"A little higher please. What's perfect?"

"The property, CJ. I'll take you out to see it when you want."

"Okay."

"How did your appointment go?"

"My appointment?"

"Yeah … your appointment?"

"Oh, that. I had to run an errand on my way back. That's why you couldn't reach me."

"CJ, what did they doctor say?"

She went to a bag sitting on her desk and pulled out a bottle of vitamins. Matt studied the contents a moment before his eyes showed his thoughts.

"Is this what I think it is? Are you ... are we ... pregnant?"

"Yep."

He walked out in front of her and stood in shock.

"We're gonna be parents? You and me?"

"Yep," she said nonchalantly.

"OOWEE!" He shouted, throwing his arms up in the air like an Olympic champion.

"I guess you're happy about this, then?"

"Happy? CJ, I couldn't be happier! WOOOWEEEE!" he screamed, picking CJ up and embracing her.

"What it is? What's going on?" Roy said as he, Chris and Murray rushed in.

"CJ's pregnant!"

Matt set her down suddenly and grabbed her shoulders. "Wait a minute… wait a minute… we haven't gotten married yet! We haven't built the house yet, we haven't …"

"Matt, Matt wait ... there's more."

he set her down and rested his hands on her shoulders. "What do ya mean? Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine ... it's just ... well..."

"What is it CJ?"

"The doctor heard two heartbeats ... besides mine. We're having twins, Cowboy."

Matt suddenly felt the need to sit down.

As Wade and Kathy walked down the hallway toward's Mark' hospital room, they saw something suspicious: no guard at his door. Kathy drew her gun and Wade slowly opened the door and peered inside. No Mark in the bed, not even in the room, only a uniform policeman who lay tied up and gagged on the floor.

Kathy rushed over to untie his gag. Catching his breath between words, he managed to tell them Mark had tricked him, escaping within the hospital.

Wade left to immediately start searching the fourth floor. As he entered the third room, he was struck from behind! Mark, after coming up behind him to club him over the head, now stood over him with Wade's own gun aimed right at him! Wade didn't even it know, though. He lie on the floor out cold. Seconds later, he shook his head, opened his eyes, and saw the pistol just inches from his face. Wildly scrambling to get to his feet, Mark fired a shot that nicked his shoulder.

At the same time, something made the hair on Andie's neck stand up straight. She checked her cell phone for messages and then tried calling Wade. No answer.

Kathy followed the sound of the gun and cautiously neared the room. Through the open door, she could see Mark with a gun next to Wade's head.

"Stay back or he's dead!"

Leo returned to the penthouse office after getting lunch, immediately noticing the concerned look on Andie's face.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't get ahold of Wade."

"There could be a lot of reasons for that."

"Yeah, but I got this eerie feeling all of a sudden - that's why I called him. I think something's happened."

"Wasn't he supposed to meet Kathy Hoyt?"

"Yeah. I'll try to call her."

But there was no answer.

Leo was about to call the police station when his phone rang.

"Hello? Hey, Dad. What's up?"

"Are you with Andie right now?"

"Yes, I am. What's wrong?"

"There's been a shooting at the hospital. The police are on their way. I'm not sure how, but Wade and Kathy are involved."

Leo turned on the TV just in time.

"We're live at Memorial Hospital where unconfirmed reports say that terrorist suspect Mark Duval has taken a hostage in an attempt to escape."

That was all Andie needed to hear. She knew who the hostage was.

CJ smiled against his chest as she lay there listening to his story.

"I'm glad you told me this story, Matt."

"Any memories come back yet?"

"Nothing specific. But, things feel ... different."

"How?"

"Just more ... familiar."

"That's something, CJ."

"Yeah. Maybe. Speaking of familiar, that woman last night … there's something about her I just don't like. Was she bad news or something?"

"No, not really. I just don't think you ever liked her because you were jealous."

"Me, jealous? No. I always liked all of your girlfriends and fiancés, especially Andrea Flynn."

"She gave up her life for me. That's why we named our daughter after her."

"I remember that night. That was the first time I told you I loved you."

Matt planted another long kiss on CJ's lips, then started traveling down along her neck, only stopping when he heard his cell phone ringing. Looking over at the screen, he could see it was from Andie.