Hope you're enjoying all the new and old threads of this story as they intertwine.
Chapter 52.
House spent the morning fishing with Pete and reassuring the older man in his own way that the future would be fine. They ended up at the diner for lunch around two. "Guess Cameron's off to tea at Pamela's."
"Plannin' her campaign?" Pete asked.
"No doubt. But she also had questions for Pamela and Anna about the Children's Welfare League."
"Not somethin' I know anythin' about. Why's she doin' that?"
"Do you know the Briggs family, Pete?" House expected Pete knew everyone who lived in Shelby.
Pete frowned. "You betcha. That Matthew Briggs. And don't ever call him Matt. Surprised you hadn't heard of him 'fore this."
"What can you tell me?"
Pete scrunched up his nose and scratched behind one ear. "He's anti everything. Don't want big box stores in town. No fast-food joints. Well, I can agree to that long as we got Mo's." He waved a hand to restaurant. "But he don't want stores open on Sundays, no booze sold then either, things like that. Real religious, know what I mean?"
"Ever heard anything about his kids?"
"Only that he keeps a tight rein on 'em. His wife, too."
"What does he do?" House asked.
"Says he's a preacher. Self-ordained, I'd say. Ready to lead a prayer service wherever he is." Pete leaned over the table. "Why the questions?"
"His oldest has been working two days a week with Cameron. Strange kid, with even stranger ideas."
Pete nodded. "Not surprised."
House couldn't stop thinking about Hannah. Her reactions to her abuse, OK, alleged abuse, was very different from his own. He'd rebelled as much as possible. She seemed to accept it and her father's ideas about right and wrong. She'd cowered to his rules while House had refused to obey John House's demands no matter how much or how often he was punished.
Could he help Cameron bring out any hint of rebelliousness in Hannah? What would be a stronger incentive than the punishment she endured? What might she value more than her own life?
The answer was simple, really. The health and safety of her younger brother and sister. So how could he and Cameron use that?
"Doc?" Pete looked his way. "You OK?"
House nodded. "Yeah. Sure. What are we having for lunch?" He tried to catch Linda's gaze so they could order, and tried to focus on Pete rather than Cameron's latest cause.
But instead of Linda, her niece came over. "Where's Dr. Cameron?"
"Why, can't you serve us without her?"
Chrissy giggled. "No. I just wanted to ask her whether she'd been able to get anywhere with Hannah Briggs, since Rachel and I failed so miserably."
"I wouldn't beat up myself for that," House told her. "No one seems to be able to get her to talk."
"That's too bad. She's a smart kid, but she has all these hangups, you know?"
House nodded. He did know. "Cameron's trying another approach."
"Good. I'm glad she's not giving up. So, what do you two fine gentlemen want today?" She flashed a smile.
"What's the special?" Pete looked around for a sign. Mo didn't always put one up, leaving it to her waitresses to tell customers what she'd made.
"Fried chicken and mashed. I had some earlier and it was great."
"You wouldn't be a little prejudiced, would you?" House teased, knowing Chrissy would take it well. Not that it would stop him from teasing someone else who wouldn't.
"Maybe a little." She held two fingers close together.
House and Pete ordered the chicken and Chrissy went to turn their orders in.
"So what kinda approach is Doc Cameron tryin'?" Pete asked. "Does it have somethin' to do with her tea this afternoon? Never took her for a woman what would like that stuff."
"She usually only drinks tea if she's sick." House remembered a vile drink she gave him once when he had a cold. "But she'll do anything to get Anna and Pamela to talk."
Pete shook his head and chuckled. "Bet the three of 'em 'll get up to some kind a scheme."
"No doubt." House only hoped it paralleled the thoughts he'd had but also that Cameron didn't put herself in harm's way to help Hannah.
The chicken when it arrived was delicious. The two men took their time, savoring every bite, taste and crunch. When he was done, Pete patted his stomach. "Can't beat Mo's cookin'."
House hoped he'd be able to continue to enjoy it if he had to undergo any surgery or treatments.
###
Cameron left Pamela's feeling hopeful that she could develop a plan to get Hannah the help she thought the girl needed. She pulled out her phone as she got into the car and called House.
"How was the tea?" House sounded as if his mouth was full of food.
"Talking to Pamela and Anna gave me some clues about how to approach the Hannah situation. I have to convince her the best thing for her brother and sister is to come forward, tell the authorities they're being beaten."
"If they are. Yeah. I thought the same thing."
"So when were you going to tell me?" She laughed.
"Now. I'm telling you now."
"Sounds like you're eating now."
"Late lunch with Pete. Wanna join us? Or did Pamela fill you with cucumber sandwiches?"
She laughed. "Actually, it was pate on toast points and petit fours. But I could handle a bit more food. I assume you're at the diner?"
"Yup. Fried chicken you could die for."
"I'll be there in ten." She ended the call, but before she took off, she called Cullen in New Jersey. She hadn't heard from him in a few days.
"Dr. Cameron, how'd you know I was thinking about you?" His voice held a laugh.
"I didn't, but since I hadn't heard from you, I wanted to check in and find out whether any of your leads panned out."
"Most of them were dead ends." Now he sounded disappointed.
"You say most?"
"Yeah. Remember I told you Dr. Cuddy was being stalked?"
She thought she'd told him that, but let it go. "Yes. Likely by Lucas Douglas."
"Yeah, well we've had our eyes on Mr. Douglas, but unfortunately, we weren't watching him closely enough."
"He ran?" She gasped.
"He was killed."
Cameron almost dropped her phone. "What? What did you say?"
"Lucas Douglas was shot sometime last night. He's dead."
"Oh, no!" Her heart raced and she forgot to breathe at first. When she could finally intake some air, she said, "So now you have a shooting to add to the investigation."
"Yeah. At least it eliminates him as the perp of the bombing."
"I'm not sure it should." She murmured it, almost to herself. "I mean, maybe he did it with someone else who turned on him, or maybe someone else had proof he did it, and was so incensed, he took the law into his own hands."
"I...I hadn't thought of that. Thanks, Doc." The phone clicked off.
Cameron looked at the screen, her eyes frowning. Finally, she drove to the diner. House and Pete were digging into pieces of apple pie when she reached the booth. Pete slid over to make room for her.
"Something happened since we spoke," House guessed.
"Probably long before, but I just heard about it." She still hadn't assimilated the news.
"Hannah." House's face actually paled.
"No." She sighed. "You're old friend, Lucas Douglas."
House's fork fell with a clang. "Tell."
"I hadn't heard from Cullen so I called. I expect he would have let us know if I hadn't."
"I thought they were keeping an eye on him." House picked up the fork and resumed eating. There were at least two bites left on his plate and nothing would cause him to miss eating them.
She scratched her ear. "Guess it didn't take more than a few moments of inattentiveness. He's dead. Cullen thinks that exonerates him."
"But you don't?" He smiled.
One eyebrow went up. "Do you? Someone might have blamed him for the explosion, whether or not he did it. Or maybe even knew he did."
"Yes, that's possible." House's face twisted into a frown. "I hope Cullen hasn't ended the investigation because of this."
She shook her head. "He's shifted his focus to finding Lucas' killer."
Pete had watched their conversation, continuing to eat, but said, "How was he killed?"
"Shot." She bit her lip. "Cullen's looking for the gun, but so far nothing."
"Does Cuddy know?" House asked.
"He didn't say. I have a feeling she'll be more upset than ever about what happened at the hospital."
"Didn't you say she was sweet on him once?" Pete seemed to be trying to understand what they were saying.
"She was." Cameron thought back to what House and Wilson told her about Cuddy's relationship with Lucas. "I don't know whether she still feels something for him, but she tends to hold on to her passions." She looked pointedly at House. "Anyway, Cullen said he'd call when he had any further news." She signaled Chrissy and when the teen came over, she ordered her own piece of pie. Chicken could wait for later. She needed the sugar. And if she didn't finish it, that's what the human garbage pail was for. And finishing what she couldn't didn't just apply to food, which brought her back to Hannah. "I don't know whether Hannah will speak with you, but perhaps someone who's had a similar experience to her might..."
House dropped his fork again. "No." He looked down for a full minute before facing Cameron again. "Only as a last resort."
She nodded. "Understood. Pamela will ask the psychologist the League uses to call me. Maybe she has some suggestions."
House said nothing.
She turned her attention to Pete. "How was the fishing today?"
"Darn good. Caught us some good size striped bass. Won't be surprised if it ain't on the menu here tonight." He pointed toward the kitchen.
"That's great, Pete. How much longer will you go out into the Bay?" She knew nothing about how long the fishing season was.
The old man's smile disappeared. "Depends on what the doctors find."
She hadn't meant her question in that way. What could she say? "Whatever they find, I doubt it'll stop you from doing the things you love."
"Ya think?"
"Sure. How long have you fished in Chesapeake Bay?"
"Most o' my life. 'cept for the time I was in the merchant marines, that is."
"That won't have to change. Maybe, if they have to operate or do any treatments, there'll be a short time when you'll be too busy to go out in your boat. But afterward? You can go back to anything that you enjoy."
He stared at her, then shifted his gaze to House. "That true?"
House paused. "Yeah, she's probably right. You might not be able to lift a bucket full of your catch but you'll be able to drop a line, sit back with a beer, and wait for one of the big ones to bite."
"Well, all right, then." Pete grinned at them both.
Simpson walked in, looking glum.
"What's wrong, Bart?" Cameron asked as he sat next to House.
"Heather and Rocco aren't back yet. Haven't heard from them all day."
"Maybe someone at the hospital commandeered them to help with a patient." It was the first thing she thought of. She hoped that's all it was.
He didn't seem to agree. "Maybe. Are you all the way up to dessert already?" he asked.
House pointed to his plate. "This is dessert for lunch. Don't worry. You're early for dinner."
Simpson tapped the table and looked around for Chrissy or Linda.
"Relax, Bart," Cameron said.
The young doctor grimaced but his tapping ceased.
Chrissy approached with Cameron's piece of pie, and grinned when she saw Simpson. "Hi. Um, can I get you a slice? Or were you ready for dinner? We still have some of the lunch special, fried chicken. Or Mom's fixing some fish that Pete brought us." She indicated the older man with her chin.
But before he could decide, his cellphone buzzed, followed by House's phone. Color drained from his face. "It's Heather." He answered the call. "What's wrong?"
