Chapter 29: Big Sky Country

Mac froze. This couldn't be good. His reason reasserted itself: it may not even be true.

"Lieutenant Gray," he said stiffly. "You understand I will have to verify this call."

A brief sigh of disgust came over the line. "You do what you have to, Taylor. I'll be waiting to talk to you when you finish jumping through your hoops." The phone was hung up, none too gently.

Stella had stopped in the doorway, and was watching Mac's face. "Who was that?"

"He says he's Lindsay's father. He had the name right, I'll give him that." Mac, of course, knew the details of Lindsay's career in Montana, including her change of name.

"Trace the call, would you, Stel?" He picked up the phone and requested the official number for the Bozeman Montana police station, and the office of one Lieutenant Evan Gray in particular. By the time he had that information, which agreed with his caller ID, Stella was back with the trace. Seeing as everything checked out, Mac picked up his phone to re-dial the number, then stopped.

"Know what? I think Lindsay deserves to hear this. Go and ask her to come here, could you please, Stella?" Mac leaned back in his chair while Stella rushed off to find Lindsay. He was tired of secrets that hurt his people. Lindsay was going to have to come clean if she was ever going to face her demons. It was time to deal with her past once and for all before it buried her.

Stella came into the lab, her hand pressed to her belly. "Oooh, that's a longer way than it was a few months ago," she huffed. Danny looked at her with alarm written all over his face. "Don't worry: I'm not in labour. Good grief, Messer, I still have nearly three months to go! Lindsay," Stella's laughter stilled as she turned to the young woman, "Your father called from Montana. Mac checked: it seems legit. He wants you in the office when he calls him back."

Lindsay nearly collapsed into the chair behind her. Danny crouched beside her, holding her hand and stroking her hair. "Hey, hey, easy there. You don't have to talk to him, you know. You don't even have to be there, does she, Stella?"

Stella matched his fierce glare with a small shrug. If Mac wanted her there, she'd be there, like it or not. They all knew that.

Lindsay stood up with a gasp, "No. No. I want to be there. It's okay, Danny, I'm okay. It was just a surprise. I want to hear him. Maybe he knows something about this. I mean, why else would he call, after all this time?"

Danny kept an arm around her; she was shaking so hard he was afraid she would fall. "Then we'll go to Mac's office, honey. It's okay; we'll all be there for you."

When they got to Mac's office, a pale Lindsay sat on the couch in the corner where Mac motioned her. Danny sat on the arm beside her, still with his arm around her shoulders. Stella and Hawkes were sitting in chairs closer to the desk. Don was on a call, but Stella would update him as needed.

"I'm going to phone back and see what he wants, Lindsay. If you want to talk to him, just let me know. I'll leave everything up to you. You sure you're okay?" Mac quirked an eyebrow at her and smiled in approval when she nodded. He dialed the number of the Bozeman police station, asked for the extension, and put the phone on speaker.

"Lieutenant Gray? This is Detective Mac Taylor, New York Crime Lab, returning your call. How may I help you?" This was Mac at his most official, Danny noticed, and wondered what Gray had done to piss him off.

The voice that came over the speaker was equally brisk, "Detective. I'll say it again; I have information on Detective Lindsay Gray, who I believe is using the name Monroe in your precinct."

Danny growled low. The man damn well knew she was using the name Messer, as Lindsay had sent a forlorn-hope wedding invitation to Bozeman more than six months ago. Mac shot him a glare.

"Lindsay Monroe is a detective on my team, yes sir." Mac was determined to give no more information than he had to.

"I have been asked to contact you by my captain." Evan Gray's voice left no one in any doubt as to how he felt about that. "The former captain of our precinct, Rod Strangways, has been released from prison. Captain Johnston felt Detective … Monroe … should be informed."

Danny would have sworn he could hear the remaining blood leave Lindsay's face. She swayed against him. Mac glanced at her, but continued with the conversation unperturbed.

"Strangways would be one of the people Detective Monroe put in jail for corruption? How is it that he is out in less than three years?" Mac's voice was cool but non-judgmental. He had dealt with enough cases to know how the court system worked.

They could all hear the sigh, "Made a deal, gave information, usual shit. Point is he's out, he's left the state, and he's pissed, according to someone he talked with in the can. Captain Johnston is concerned he may be coming after … Lindsay." There was another moment's pause before he said the name of his daughter.

"This is the man who threatened her before the trial, is it not?" Mac went on, his voice still cool.

"So she testified, yes."

"Do you not believe her?" Mac's voice was heating up as he watched Lindsay. She stared at the phone as if she could see through the wires to her father's face.

"I did not call to debate this issue with you, Detective. I was asked to pass on a warning, which I have done. I trust that you will tell Detective Gray what I have said?"

Danny jumped up like a rocket about to go off. Lindsay looked around in alarm: Stella had her teeth and hands clenched, Mac looked livid, and even Hawkes, normally the most composed of men, was shaking with anger. If she didn't do something quickly, the speakers on the phone would blow out when they all went off.

"Dad, I'm here. It's Lindsay."

Everyone in the room turned away from her when she spoke, as if to give her the illusion of privacy, except for Danny, who held her hand. To her own surprise, her voice was strong and calm.

Evan Gray's, on the other hand, was not as calm. "Lindsay? I didn't know you were there. Are you all right?" She closed her eyes as she heard his voice break momentarily, and gently removed her hand from Danny's, moving to stand in front of the phone.

"Yes, Dad. I'm fine. Would you thank Captain Johnston for me? Tell him I appreciate the courtesy of letting me know about Strangways. Tell him … tell him I think Strangways may be in New York. Could you have the file faxed to the New York Crime Lab, please?" Lindsay stood, feet apart, hands behind her back, as if on parade in front of a superior officer, which, Danny supposed, she technically was.

"Has he contacted you, Lindsay? Are you sure you're okay?" This time everyone heard the concern in Evan Gray's voice, and around the room, people relaxed.

Lindsay, however, still stood in the "at ease" position, her face calm and set. "Sir. He has not contacted me directly. With Detective Taylor's permission, I will send a copy of the report to you when the case is closed."

There was a brief pause, and when Lieutenant Gray responded, his voice was crisp and clear again. "That would be appreciated. Detective Taylor, with your permission? I'll call again if we learn any more here in Montana." With that, the connection was cut.

Lindsay stood for a minute, then walked blindly out of the room. Danny went to follow her, but Stella beat him to it. "Give us a minute, okay? You can't follow her in to the women's room anyway."

"Wannna bet? You got two minutes before I come in." Danny's husky voice seemed to be stuck in his throat, but his meaning was clear.

Hawkes watched Stella move down the hall after Lindsay, his face still set. "You think they build them all like that in Montana?"

Mac nodded, "Tough, that's for sure."

Hawkes finally smiled, "And a bit bloody-minded."

Danny sighed, "And as stubborn as hell."