AN: I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

Thank you so much to all my readers for their support and understanding during my absences. Here is another short update that I hope you'll enjoy.

Tanith


Chapter 54

Steve thanked the driver of the delivery truck, swung the door shut and waited for the vehicle to drive off before walking toward his destination: The Lees. He had to prove his innocence and Kim Lee was his only hope right now. If she only knew what had happened to him that night then maybe, just maybe, she would find the courage to speak out and help him bring down the Holdens. Only then will he be able to save Jeannie, although he hoped Mike was already working ahead of him on the latter. When he reached the street where his friends resided, a loud bang followed by another in quick succession had Steve duck down instinctively and look around for signs of a possible shooter nearby. Another shot rang and this time Steve looked up in time to see the glass window half way up the block of apartments across the street shatter and a body fell through. Steve's mouth hung open in horror as he helplessly watched the figure of what he suspected to be a woman meet the sidewalk with a sickening thud. He started to race across the street, fearing the worst. Was it Kim? Did the Holdens get to her to shut her mouth permanently? The physical trauma from his earlier dealings at the cabin combined with whatever drugs he was given and the state of mind he was in, catastrophically interfered with his perception and judgement. He was halfway across the street before he caught the headlights of a car through his peripheral vision headed straight for him.


Mike sat in Rudy's office, pinching the bridge of his nose as the relentless migraine he'd been suffering from the last few hours became almost unbearable. He had spent the last half hour trying to excuse Steve's actions, trusting that his partner must have a valid reason behind his recklessness. Rudy on the one hand wanted to protect the young Inspector from the repercussions but he was also Captain of the SFPD homicide department and what Steve did was going to draw some unwanted attention from people he would rather avoid.

The phone on Rudy's desk rang suddenly, breaking the intensity of the discussion and with a heavy sigh, Olsen picked up the receiver. The frustration that had been etched on his face morphed into deep concern and making eye contact with Mike, he ended the call to relay what he had just been informed. While there was still a lot of uncertainty as to who was involved and how many casualties there were, the life of one of their own was hanging by a thread.

Mike drew his hand away from his face and looked his captain in the eye. What could possibly have happened now? He thought darkly.

"There's been a shootout at an apartment block in the Mission District. Someone at the scene just put the call through that an officer's down," Olson relayed with a hesitant pause.

Mike had the distinct feeling that Rudy was holding something back then it hit him. The Mission District. Apartment block. Irene! Please don't let it be Irene, he prayed.


Whitney closed the blinds of the out of town hotel room where he had checked in with Jeannie earlier. Turning around, he slowly walked over to the single bed where his fiancé lay in a seemingly deep and peaceful sleep. He had woken up the less than content hotel owner and paid an arm and a leg for the only vacant room left. He had concocted the lie that he and his pregnant wife had run into car trouble and needed a place to rest. The man had at first refused due to the late hour until Whitney gave him a reason to cooperate. A reason that came in large bills.

Jeannie stirred briefly but the thick cloud that weight her down kept her under and all she could utter was a soft moan before being dragged back into a dreamless sleep.

Whitney reached down and stroked Jeannie's cheek, moving a lock of hair behind her ear then leaned forward and kissed her. "I'm sorry, Princess but I promise, everything's going to be okay," He whispered softly in her ear before stepping back into the shadows and settling into the arm-chair at her bedside. In a few hours, they'll be at the airport, just as soon as he had some rest. There, he'll meet up with his contact who owed him a favor or two. The hardest part was going to be creating a convincing story for Jeannie to go along with his plans but he had some time buy and he was his father's son after all - George Holden, the father of lies.