Rick awoke to an empty bed. He rolled over and touched the sheets which were very cold to the touch. Looking at the clock he was astonished to see that is was almost noon. No wonder Kate was not in the bed with him. Rick thought over the facts he learned. He would need to talk to the older man again soon. The thought of he might have had a Brother a person who would go on those grand adventures with him in his childhood filled him with remorse. There is nothing he could do now. How can you mourn someone you did not even know existed except for a few days ago? Well Rick concluded you can't you can only imagine a world where you did know him.
Rick yawned and stretched and the pain in his back returned with a vengeance. Luckily he noticed that there were two tablets laid out plus a glass of water on the night stand. He smiled thinking that Kate loved him so much that she knew he would be in pain once he had awakened. He loved that she took steps to make sure he did not suffer too much. Rick reached over then downed the two pills followed by a huge gulp of water to wash them down. As he quenched his thirst with the last of the water he turned around to survey the room. There was a sliver of light penetrating the still darkened room. Rick watched fascinated by the dust motes which swirled in the brilliance of the beam.
Rick got up dropped his pj into the hamper and grabbed a towel. He stepped into the steam shower first to loosen those tight muscles then he switched it to his preferred stream to invigorate him. He shampooed his hair then began to feel some blessed relief. The pills must have started working in deadening the pain to almost tolerable levels.
Rick got out of the shower and dressed very casual today. He chose his Batman t-shirt along with very comfortable lounging pants. Rick racked his brain to think if there was anything on his itinerary. Thinking of nothing he emerged from the bedroom to the living area. There were signs of life here but no occupants. He ambled into the kitchen to find a very pregnant Alexis sitting at the breakfast table. Her face was deep into her tablet and was muttering to herself.
"Good Morning Pumpkin" Rick called out as he kissed his Daughter's forehead.
"Good Afternoon Dad. Mom was wondering when you would get your lazy bones out of the bed." Alexis comment by pushing a cup of coffee toward him without removing her eyes from the tablet.
Rick picked up the cup and immediately felt the amber liquid soothe his soul.
"That is a great cup of coffee…So where is your Mom gone today?" Rick asked.
"She and Card took the babies for their 6 month check up." Alexis said still having her eyes riveted to the screen.
"Wait you mean 5 months? I mean we have only had them since Christmas and to my calculations that would be exactly 5 months…" Rick replied a bit confused.
Alexis looked up at her Father with an exasperated look on her face.
"Come on Dad it is the name of the Checkup not the time. Besides Mom said she wanted to get that out of the way since May is going to be a very busy time with your Anniversary and getting ready for this massive European Summer trip. There would be no time to get the kids into see the doctors. Besides they have to get their shots too. How would you like it to have two cranky babies along with you for two weeks? At least this gives us time at home before the traveling to begin to get the babies less cranky." Alexis said returning to her tablet.
Rick sat back and thought of the wonderful logic of the woman he loved. Everything made sense. Rick was quiet and a bit contemplative. Alexis ignored his presence.
"So Pumpkin what are you doing?" Rick asked as he returned with another cup of coffee.
Alexis looked at her Father then blew a long strand of hair which had dropped over her face as she looked down.
"I am editing Card's and mine new book." Alexis announced.
That piqued Rick's curiosity.
"Can I get a glimpse?" Rick pleaded.
"No Dad I need to get back to correcting these numerous syntax errors! If Card wanted you to see it she would have given you the rough draft herself. So go away." Alexis commanded.
Rick feeling full chastened by his Daughter removed himself to the living room then ended up in his office.
Rick picked up his laptop and soon he was immersed in the world of Nikki, Derrick and Rook all in one book. It was going to be the ending of both series. After 35 books combined it was time to set them aside. Rick had recently been interested in the life of his Wife and the certain events which only a trained investigator should bring to it. It was going to be another non fiction book. Steven had been begging him for 7 years to get back to that genre. Finally, he took the advice of this quirky gov't scientist. He would devote his attention to Kate's continuing story. How could he not? She was one of the most fascinating persons he was ever able to meet.
As Rick finished the last statement which would be ever written by him on Nikki and Rook along with Derrick he felt a bit of satisfaction. He had tied up the stories quite nicely and though his legions of followers will complain he feels he did them justice. Their ending was a completion. Rick sat back and then sent the finished manuscript to his publisher thus ending his contract with his publishing empire. For now on he would let the business run itself. He had managed to insert a superb management. He no longer needed to concern himself with the day to day operations. He had both Izzy and Chris to do that for him.
Alexis walked in the office to see her Father deep in thought.
"So sorry I was cranky out there…So you have finished it?" Alexis asked.
Rick looked up a bit startled. It seemed kind of fitting that Alexis would be the one to be next to him when this series was complete.
"What Pumpkin?" Rick asked as he set the laptop aside.
"I said so it is finished?" Alexis looked at his eyes which sort of had a gleam to them.
"Yes Pumpkin it is finished. I think I gave Rook and Nikki the ending they deserved." Rick said.
"That is great Dad…It was time…I know they are like an old friend but it was time." Alexis said hugging her Father.
They both got a bit emotional.
"You know Pumpkin you have been with me since I created Derrick. It was with your birth that I had the idea of a person like Derrick. I wonder if I was not actually channeling the life of a relative." Rick said. "Well it is only fitting that you were here at the completion. You were only Emily's age when Derrick was created. You were placed in a bassinette next to my foot right here."
Rick pointed at the spot where Emily's basket sat. Things had changed.
"Dad I did not come in here only to apologize but I got word that the doctors think Eric might be waking up. I would like you to come with me to the hospital please. I don't think I could stand to be there by myself." Alexis said.
"Of course Pumpkin let me get changed out of these duds and I will be right with you." Rick said squeezing his Daughter. "Oh you should text your Mom and Card to tell them where we will be. You know how Kate and Card both worry about us."
"Don't worry… Dad I will… now go get changed." Alexis commanded.
Rick got up and left the office as Alexis left to go her things next door. She left Eric Jr. with Martha who would take him to the park later. Returning to the living room she found Rick dressed and ready to leave. They gathered up their things and were driven to the hospital.
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The case against the rest of the Fillini group was quickly concluded as Captain Esposito looked over the paper work. He was reluctant to take the position. However, the needs of the NYPD and of his old Captain were more than he or Lanie could resist. He was Captain of the 172 it was branch in the suburbs of New York well as much as New York City had a suburb. It consisted of mostly residential areas with lots of little shops and not much else. There were no abandoned warehouses or even a defined industrial area either. Crime was limited too since the advent of Massive camera surveillance petty crime was non existent. However, what was still prevalent is Crimes of passion which meant Homicide. There was plenty of Man killing Man despite the surveillance. So it kept his officers very busy.
Capt Esposito rubbed his eyes. They got blurrier every year. However, he was still reluctant to get the modern eye treatment. Lanie still insisted. He sighed he would have to finally break down and get it done. He reflected on the changes to police work. Technology had made their job easier however it did not make the crooks any smarter. The dumb ones were put away long ago. This new breed was experts in using the technology against the police. This is what confronted Espo and had him so concerned.
He reached over to the phone pad and punched in a number he knew too well. The phone alerted the user.
"Hello?" the gruff Man's voice said.
"Jackson… Is that you?" Espo inquired since it did not sound like the man.
"Yeah it is me so what do you need from Hunt Enterprises Captain?" Jackson said sounding much more like himself.
"Well it might be something or nothing I am not sure…" Espo said.
"Well what is it Man speak up…" Jackson implored.
"Well ok do you remember telling me if an Anthony Impozzi ever cropped up on my system to give you a call?" Espo asked.
Jackson remembered and listened intently to the Captain.
"Yes I do what do you know?" Jackson said.
Well in a phone intercept between a Homicide victim and a third party his name was mentioned. Espo said.
"Can you get me that excerpt of that conversation?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah it is not really part of our case so I am sending it now." Espo said.
"I got it and Captain Espo…Thank you for this help." Jackson said.
"Ok so who is this Anthony Impozzi anyway?" Espo asked.
"He is a ruthless assassin who killed someone I loved very much and almost killed me too." Jackson said. "Leave everything to me."
Jackson hung up as Espo reflected on what the old man said.
Sophie looked up from her station. She could see the beads of sweat popping up on the older man's forehead. It was totally unlike the cool operator she had known for years.
"What is it Jackson?" She calmly asked.
"He is back…" Jackson said turning a shade of white.
Sophie knew which person Jackson was referring. It was the only man who ever bested him. He was the one who would have finished him off in Bulgaria if it was not for her interference. She arrived in time to prevent him from making the killing blow. However, she did not get there in time for poor Paul. He lay dead decapitated next to the weaken Jackson. She dismissed those images from her mind as she had to concentrate on locating this elusive criminal.