"She has no interest in meeting me," Andy sighed and put his head in his hands. He groaned too, and Sharon put her hand on his back. "I knew this could be a possibility."

"True," Sharon nodded, glancing around the bar. She'd moved to his side of the booth when Cody had come back over to talk to them. Stumbling upon him and information about both Michelle and Sarah had been a stroke of luck. Sharon made eye contact with a few people as she looked around the bar, but then, her gaze turned back to Andy. Her hand continued to run up and down his back as he reassured him.

"I didn't see it coming, you know, that she knew who I was and had no interest in me," he said quietly, putting his head up as he sat back. Sharon moved her arm to her lap and shifted to turn slightly toward him where she could look at him as they talked.

"I know," she pursed her lips and nodded. "I agree. In all scenarios, I didn't see Michelle taking off, really behaving the same way her entire life, and then for Sarah to know all about you."

Andy sat back and sighed. Cody was working right now, which was fine after he'd sat down with them for a few minutes and dropped several bombshell statements on them. Andy ran his hand over his face and sat there, going over the conversation in his head over once again.

"Look, we aren't looking for trouble," Andy said raising his hand in defense after Cody had asked them what business they had with his wife. "You are married to Sarah?"

"I am," he nodded. "Thankfully, she divorced that creep," he said with a sharp tone.

"She's been married before?" Andy asked raising his eyebrow. "What, she's 20, right?"

"Hey," he snapped at them, eyeing them both. He looked between them, "I'll ask again-what business do you have with her? Wait a minute," he nodded to himself and gestured at Andy, "you a cop from California?"

Andy's eyes widened, and he looked over the table to Sharon, who mirrored his expression. She just briefly shook her head at him. Andy turned his attention back to the young man, now that he'd come to know as Cody. He narrowed his gaze, "Why are you asking if I'm a cop from California?"

"Why are you asking about my wife?" Cody crossed his arms and looked at him again. "I believe I've already asked that and am due an explanation."

Sharon put her hands over Andy's hand, where he still had them held in front of himself. It was almost as if he didn't realize it. She tried to make eye contact with him, but he was glaring up at Cody and wouldn't look at her. She cleared her throat, "Okay, okay everyone. Let's just calm down and take a deep breath. The two of you look like you are ready to go out back."

"If necessary," Cody said crossing his arms. "I'm not going to ask again."

Sharon cleared her throat again getting Cody's attention, "Let's try this again because I think we can get to the bottom of this quickly. To start, my name is Sharon," she pointed to herself, "and this is Andy. Could you please tell us your name?"

"Cody," he said nodding. "I'd like to know why you are here asking about my wife."

"Of course," Sharon said trying to give him a small smile. She finally caught Andy's eye and gave him a reassuring nod before looking back at Cody. "Cody, it's nice to meet you. My friend, Andy, here," she gestured to Andy again, "and I are looking for Sarah."

"Andy," he said narrowing his gaze and looking to Andy. He nodded again, almost confirming a thought, "Andrew, I presume, and I'm guessing you're a retired cop from California."

"You know-" Andy started to get agitated as he spoke, and Sharon put her hand on his there on top of the table to let her continue. She looked at Cody again.

"I'll be more specific," she said now in a businesslike tone. "I'm Captain Sharon Raydor, and this is Lieutenant Andy Flynn. We are both from the Major Crimes Division of the LAPD. You seem to know more about us, at least Andy here," she nodded, "than we do about you."

"You're here for Sarah," he said looking at Andy. "Scumbag of a father, and you show up over 20 years later. That about right? Michelle didn't tell Sarah much about her dad, just that her name was Andrew, and he was an LAPD cop. Two looked you up a few years ago when Sarah wanted to put a name to a face. She told me all that. I don't know much more. I was honestly surprised Michelle knew Sarah's dad, but she said that she was sure it was this cop, Andrew, because you were the only guy she was with during that time. Times have changed."

Andy looked to him, now his face pale. Sharon could see he was shocked; she was too, but again, she could tell he didn't know what to do or say. She finally nudged his hand to snap him out of his daze. He briefly shook his head at Cody, "Look, I'm not sure what all you've been told."

"Seems I've got the facts, at least the name right and the job. You know, Sarah had a crappy childhood. She basically raised her mother, who is worthless. It's amazing Sarah is doing as well as she is. We're both sober now, and I'm glad her mom took off again. If all of that wasn't enough, she has never had a father figure in her life, but she knew enough to know you had to be trash to know she existed and never do anything about it."

"Wait, wait," Andy raised his hands again in defense. "This is all a shock, to me, and I'm sure to you. I wasn't sure who I'd find or what we would find. Michelle took off as soon as she told me she was pregnant, and we weren't some couple. I'd like to explain, please," he nodded to the table. "Could you maybe have a seat, and we can talk, even for a few minutes?"

Before he could answer, Sharon stood to offer up her seat. She gestured to it, and she moved around behind Cody to sit next to Andy. He moved slightly so she could sit, and with both seated, Cody looked at them and finally nodded. He slid into the booth and looked to the bar, nodding at the other guy behind the counter.

"Thank you," Sharon said with a small smile. She sat forward, but she put her one hand on Andy's leg under the table to reassure him. Almost instantly, she could tell he started to calm down. He moved his hand and laced his fingers in hers, the gesture calming both of them. She squeezed Andy's hand to encourage him. Andy looked over at Cody.

"Look, it sounds like you both have had a rough go of it. Honestly, I get it, and I've been there too. Yes, I'm looking for Sarah. I have been looking for awhile and found a last address here for Michelle. You have to understand that I didn't even have a last name, so my search has taken some time. Granted," he raised his hands in defense, "not 20 years. I'm ashamed of that, ashamed that I waited this long, almost tried to pretend she didn't exist. There's no excuse. All I can say and explain to you is that I was in a bad place then too. Sounds like you know something about that. I'm an alcoholic too, sober over 17 years. You can see that even with Sarah's age, I was drinking then and continued to drink. It took me a long time to get my head on straight. I started to get sober, slipped a couple times, and finally, it stuck. Back then, when," he gestured with his hand, "you know, Sarah was-when I was with Michelle," he said, slightly embarrassed as he sighed, "I'd just gotten divorced. My wife had dumped me, sent me packing, and I didn't have a relationship with my kids. It's been a long road back, and yeah," he nodded, "I should have started looking sooner. Recently, I've been rebuilding things with my kids. I mean, I've always been around and tried to provide for them-my other two kids, but we've had strained relationships. Through all that, through the counseling and all, I couldn't keep my past, Sarah included, a secret anymore. That's why I'm here. My friend here," he looked to Sharon, "she's my boss too, but she's the best person I know. She's made me want to be a better person, and I'm finally admitting everything that I did in my past. So, yeah, I am Sarah's father, but it sounds like she and you too, for that matter, knew that. I'm not here asking for anything, other than for me to explain and offer anything she needs."

Cody looked between Andy and Sharon, trying to determine if the information was true. He looked back at Andy, and he just sighed, looking to the table. He nodded and moved to stand. As he did, he said, "I need to check on your food and check on a few customers. I'll be back."

Now, as Andy and Sharon sat there, they were trying to mentally grasp the last several minutes. Sharon leaned toward Andy and nudged his shoulder, "Tell me what you are thinking, please."

"I'm thinking that I didn't see this coming," he gestured. "I wonder how much she knows. I mean, it seems like she knows a lot."

"True," Sharon nodded and pursed her lips. "You put it out there for him. Sarah has to be around here," Sharon said looking around the place.

"She thinks-and rightfully so-that I'm a creep. Sharon, what have I done? My kid-she's my kid, and it sounds like she had such a crappy childhood. She's been married twice and is an alcoholic?" Andy groaned and closed his eyes. "I'm not sure what I expected, but this is pretty bad."

"Here's your food," Cody reappeared with their fish. "Look, you can eat, but after that, I think it's best you go. I don't need problems here." He sat back down across from them, which was a welcome relief; he didn't turn his back on them. Sharon and Andy both accepted the food, but neither started to eat. Andy gestured to Cody again.

"Look, thanks for talking to us again. I was just telling Sharon it sounds like Sarah, you too," he nodded, "have had a rough go of it. Is she here?"

"She's not," he frowned. "I think that's for the best you not see her. She's on a fishing boat. She works on one, cooks for them. She won't be back for maybe three weeks, could be even longer. She goes out on these often."

Andy raised an eyebrow, "She cooks for a fishing boat? Wow."

Cody shrugged, "She fishes too, but her main job is cooking. Look, I can't promise anything, actually," he sighed, "I can promise she might not want anything to do with you."

"Fair enough," Andy raised his hands in agreement. "Sharon and I came up here to hopefully find her, apologize, tell her that I've been a dirt bag but would like to change. I don't expect anything, but I'd like whatever, to meet her at least."

"Like I said, she's gone another three weeks or so," he said with a shrug.

"Can you tell me anything about her? How long have you been married? You're both alcoholics?" Andy asked. "I'm asking because I am too, as I said, and I get it."

"She married this jerk from high school the day she turned 18," he rolled his eyes. "Guy is such a pain, typical jock. Here, we play hockey. He was all about that. She was drinking heavily then, had been since she was 14, and he was into that when he wasn't playing hockey. We all were, really. I mean, what do you expect? Her mom didn't care and worked here. Sarah had easy access to alcohol. Michelle was never into drinking, just serving it, but as you know, she had other interests. I think she slept with just about any guy who walked through the doors here and was willing. She's flighty, always has been, Michelle that is. She would take off with a couple truckers for weeks at a time, leaving Sarah here with a friend. I've known Sarah for years, but I got to know her better the last few years when her mom started shacking up with my dad. Michelle said she would change for my old man, but of course, that was a lie. She dumped him and took off. My dad bought this bar a few years ago, which is why I'm here, Michelle worked here, all of it."

"So, how did you end up married to Sarah?" Andy asked.

Cody gave a half shrug, "We both got sober. Yeah, I know you aren't supposed to hook up with anyone while getting sober, but we did. She stayed married to the hockey jerk until he cheated on her-saw that coming, and it didn't take long. She might have taken him back, but he got that girl pregnant and told Sarah he was divorcing her to move in with this other girl. I mean, he- " Cody stopped talking, his face flushed slightly, and then, he just shook his head. "It doesn't matter. He took off with that girl, and I hope he never comes back to Alaska. Sarah kept drinking, and it got really bad. I was already working on getting sober. Finally, she was told she would lose her job if she didn't stop, all because it was affecting her work. She's a good cook and enjoys it, taught herself when Michelle wouldn't do anything for Sarah. Sarah learned a lot about cooking here too at the bar. That actually did it for her, the fact she'd lose her job, that and a couple other things, and she wasn't even 19 yet. I think it just all hit at once. We got married three months ago now, but she's been gone with her fishing crew a lot. Married the day after her divorce was finalized. Just meant to be."

Sharon gave him a small smile, "Sounds like you love her and want the best for her. How old are you?"

"27," he said quickly. "I've been sober longer than she has been. Crazy she's almost 21, but is already an alcoholic. We're working it together. Look, I don't have to explain my life or hers to either of you. You didn't care enough to even acknowledge her," he pointed to Andy. "Let me tell you that if I got a girl pregnant, I'd do the right thing. Can't say the same for you."

"You're right," Andy said, nodding at him. "It's something I can't change, can't undo, and I'll never forgive myself for being complacent.

"Look," Cody said, standing again. "I've got work to do. I'd like you to go when you finish. No reason for you to hang around here because as I said, Sarah won't be back for weeks."

"Listen," Andy said as Cody started to walk away. Cody turned, and Andy continued, "Thank you. I'll be in touch. We're in town a couple days."