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Katie helped Shay into the car. As she headed around to the driver's side, Frank leaned in and kissed his wife.
"Take care… and help Katie along as best you can. I know I'm asking a lot of you in your current condition, but –"
"You don't need to ask. I'll do what I can to get her to where she needs to go." She kissed Frank in return and looked at Jake as Katie started the car. The poor man… his mouth was set in a tight pressed line and he looked like he was between tears and murder. How hard for him to be in this spot.
"Let's go Shay. Next street behind this one, yes?"
"You got it." She pulled out of the corralled police cars and turned, heading down the street.
--
Frankie watched keenly as Quito allowed her to see Shay and Katie leaving. But, LJ and Ariel were still there… something was up. Shay would never agree to go home without taking the kids with her. Frankie's forehead furrowed in a deep frown – What was that woman up to? Even as tough as that woman was, Shay was in no condition to be trying to pull anything more spectacular than sitting up.
--
Jake watched as the car pulled off down the street. A woman he considered a sister and another woman he considered a friend were about to do something that was incredibly dangerous in their attempt to help him rescue his wife and child. If this worked, he'd have to rub Shay's feet until she gave birth to the new baby. And if Katie pulled it off… well, he'd think of something nice to do for her.
Behind him, Cody paced in frustration. His girlfriend had been hanging out far too long with Shay, Alex and Frankie. She had absorbed some of their guts and stubbornness. In a way he loved it about her, in another way he was terrified for her. She was a US Park Ranger, not a Federal Agent. She didn't have any training for this. What on earth was Shay and Frank thinking in letting her do this? What on earth was HE thinking in not putting his foot down?
--
Katie pulled the car to a stop. "This is the right place?"
Shay sighed and unbuckled her seatbelt. "You got it. Come help me out and let's see if anyone's home."
Katie came around the car and helped Shay out, then followed her up to the front door. After ringing the doorbell, they both waited.
"Hello?" the woman asked as she opened the door. She looked to be about 70 years old and rather fragile looking.
"Good Afternoon Ma'am. My name is Shay Donovan; I'm a Federal Agent with the Justice Department. This is Katie… We were wondering if we could impose on your hospitality for a moment?"
The elderly woman blinked and stepped back slightly. "Y-Yes, what is it?" She looked almost terrified.
"Please, it's OK. Katie here needs to get into your backyard. You are aware that on the street behind you there is a slight situation involving a young woman and her baby?" When the woman nodded, Shay smiled in relief. "Well, Katie is working with the Justice Department and needs to go through your back yard to get to the house behind you. Can she get your permission to do so?"
When the woman nodded again, both Shay and Katie sighed in relief and stepped into the house. "And since I'm rather banged up from an automobile accident, can I just rest here for a while?"
--
Frankie felt the gun in the small of her back and she froze.
"Come on back to the den, Mrs. Jake the Dog. No more watching for you. I don't want you to get the idea you can bolt out of the front door."
Slowly Frankie held her hands up so Quito could see them and she backed up just as slowly. Jessie was still laying on the den floor, half-asleep with her favorite plushie in her tight fisted grip. If they were going to do something outside, then no matter what, Jessie's life came first. She'd died once to save a friend's life, she'd die without blinking to save her daughter's life.
****