Authors note: Sorry for the delay, thanks for being patient – hope you're still enjoying it!
Turning the corner, Mark collided with an athletic looking man dressed in the blue uniform of the university porters. Upon impact, the stack of books and files in the porter's arms went flying. Cascading to the floor, with covers depicting maps of the world, ancient civilisations, equations and algebraic formulations, they created a veritable conundrum of colour at the two men's feet.
'Oh my, I'm so sorry' Mark apologised, bending down to help retrieve the situation.
'No problem' the man sighed 'Its me' he shrugged apologetically 'mind's just not on the job today'.
Mark held out his hand to introduce himself 'Dr. Mark Sloan' he said with a smile 'And really it was all my fault'.
The porter shook Mark's hand 'Pleased to meet you Dr. Sloan, I'm John Anderson.' He paused 'You know I recognise most of the academics around here, but your face doesn't look familiar at all.'
Mark smiled 'Oh I'm not an academic, I'm a medical doctor. I help out the police sometimes, you know if there's any medical evidence to investigate'.
At the mention of the police the porter's face darkened. Immediately Mark realised his mistake 'Forgive me Mr. Anderson' he apologised 'That was insensitive of me I'm sorry'.
Anderson shrugged 'It's okay Doctor, just been a tough couple of days is all'.
Mark rubbed his head thoughtfully 'Must be difficult for you, what with all the police and the press around the place'.
John sighed 'It sure is' he rolled his eyes 'and then there's all the other academics, don't forget them' he smiled ruefully 'all the prima donna shouting and screaming, the total panic, all terrified that they're gonna be next'.
Mark smiled sympathetically 'I guess I can see why they'd be worried.'
John shrugged 'I guess, but it doesn't make my job any easier'. He looked at Mark, and there was a slight note of bitterness in his voice 'hell we're all terrified we're gonna be next, what makes them so special?'
'Well' Mark sighed 'It has been all academics so far – Professor Peterson, Professor Summers and now Dr. Schwenk'. He paused 'I guess you can't blame them for figuring it's a vendetta against the faculty.
John shrugged 'I guess you're right' he admitted. He smiled ruefully 'Take no notice of me Doctor, I'm just having a bad day – letting people get to me, ya know'.
Mark didn't answer; sensing there was more. He was right. John lowered his voice 'There's one thing you gotta know about universities Doctor Sloan. They operate on a class system – some people count and some people don't'. He sighed 'I guess some days I just get tired of being one of those that don't count – ya know what I mean?'
With that he hoisted the books and papers onto his hip and continued down the corridor. Mark remained where he was contemplating the man's words. Unaccountably he thought of the hospital and his own staff. Was a class system in operation there? He prided himself on treating each individual on their own merits, but how fairly did he really treat his staff? Did he show the junior doctors and first year nurses the same courtesy and respect he extended to the consultants and the Board of Directors? What about the janitors and the parking lot attendants? He sighed, he was pretty sure he did, but on reflection he was painfully aware that many of his colleagues undoubtedly did not. Shaking his head ruefully he continued on his way.
Rolling over in bed, Tanis groaned and pulled a pillow over her head in a futile attempt to block out the incessant ringing of the telephone. After eight rings she admitted defeat – whoever that was they obviously weren't gonna go away. Tossing the pillow aside, she rolled her eyes 'Should have taken it off the hook' she told herself dryly. Flicking on the bedside lamp, she blinked painfully at the sudden light and groped blindly for the phone.
'Archer' she growled shortly, pushing the hair out of her eyes and forcing her sleep addled brain to get at least a tenuous grip on reality.
'Nice telephone manner' the voice on the other end smirked 'Tell me, do you look as bad as you sound?'
She pulled a face 'This better be good Sloan, you promised me the day off remember'.
As she listened, her expression changed from disgust to incredulity 'Did you just say what I think you just said?'
As he walked down the corridor of Community General, Steve smiled 'I sure did'.
She sat up in bed, all thoughts of sleep gone 'But what? How? Who? ….'
'Whoa there Archer' Steve said teasingly 'You know, you're getting a little excited. May be I should call back later when you've had a chance to calm down?'. He smiled, he could imagine the exact expression on her face right now, that characteristic mix of long suffering indulgence and exasperation that she did so well.
'You're really enjoying this aren't you?' she growled accusingly.
'You bet' he replied cheerfully, turning a corner and narrowly avoiding a gurney carrying a patient and pushed by four hospital staff.
In her mind's eye she could see his lopsided grin and those familiar dimples. He didn't smile that often, but when he did, boy it was a killer.
'Okay Steve give it up' she ordered 'I haven't slept for a week, I feel like hell, I look like hell. If you've really cracked this case then I deserve to be the first to know'.
Pushing the button on the elevator he grinned 'And you will be, but not yet. Before I say anything else, I need you to do something for me'.
She raised her eyebrows 'What exactly did you have in mind?'
Arriving back at the parking lot, Mark was surprised to see a familiar vehicle turn in and pull to a stop. Steve bounded out of the car, and slammed the door shut. Spotting Mark, he strode purposefully towards his father. Mark stared, it was undoubtedly him; but this was not the Steve Sloan he had left at the beach house earlier that morning. At 7.30 am his son had been a wreck on the verge of defeat, now he looked determined and pumped, full of energy and purpose.
'Good sleep huh?' Mark asked blithely, as Steve reached his side.
'Absolutely' he replied succinctly.
'Steve what's going on?' Mark asked. Something was up, that was for sure. Something had sparked off this renewed energy. He hoped fervently that Steve wasn't angry about something. His son had a temper, he knew. A pacifist himself, Mark often found Steve's anger hard to reconcile. Had someone said something to upset him, was that why he'd come storming down here? Mark groaned, maybe he was here to have it out with Chief Masters.
Steve didn't reply to his father's question. Instead his eyes raked the lot and the main street, searching, but for what Mark had no idea.
'Steve' Mark continued, now convinced that he was spoiling for a fight 'Now son, you're not gonna do anything rash are you? Whatever it is that you're upset about, I'm sure there's a simple explanation and …'
'Dad' Steve interrupted distractedly 'What are you talking about?'
Mark paused in confusion 'So you're not upset?'
Steve frowned 'Upset? Why would I be upset?'
Mark smiled sheepishly 'Well after this morning I just thought …'
'You thought what?' Steve asked darkly.
'Er…' Mark floundered. Now that he'd started this conversation, he wasn't sure quite how to get out of it. He looked around searching for inspiration, but nothing came 'I was just …'
'You were just worried about me?' Steve looked at him knowingly.
Mark smiled guiltily and Steve smiled back. There was silence for a moment and then Mark spoke.
'So you're not here to fight?' he asked.
Steve looked at him, bemused 'Of course I'm not here to fight, why would you think I was here to fight?'
'No reason' Mark said innocently, as Steve still puzzled, frowned at him in confusion. Spotting an escape route, Mark smiled sweetly and pointed to another car that had just pulled up 'Isn't that Tanis' car?'
Steve turned 'It sure is'.
'You know son' Mark continued 'You seem a little tense, are you tense?'
'Not now Dad' Steve waved him off as Tanis approached.
'Well?' he said.
'Well' she replied 'I've got what you asked for - the list of fingerprints from Schwenck's office, the records from his phone' she paused 'The prints off of the key chain we're still waiting for. They're gonna call you in five'.
Steve gestured impatiently and she handed over the sheets of paper. He flicked through the pages, swiftly scanning and discarding them. Mark raised his eyebrows and looked at Tanis questioningly.
'Don't ask me' she groused 'He calls me up on my day off, tells me he knows who the killer is, but won't tell me anything until I bring him all the forensic results from the station'.
Mark turned to his son in amazement 'You know who the killer is?'
There was a pause as Steve continued to pore over the list. Eventually he looked up and smiled 'I do'.
'But who? How?' Mark couldn't believe it.
Steve grinned. For once he'd beaten his father to it and it felt great. He smiled 'May be I've picked up a few pointers from you after all'.
'But how'd you do it?' Mark asked, still in shock.
'And more to the point' Tanis interrupted dryly 'Who is it?'
Steve smiled 'As to how, well I've got Amanda to thank for that one. She helped me find a connection that had been in the back of my mind the whole time. Once I'd figured that out it was obvious' he grinned confidently 'couldn't be anyone else'.
'But who is it?' Mark and Tanis asked in unison.
'Oh no' Steve smirked 'for that, you're gonna have to wait a while'. He winked at his father 'It's pay back time Dad, I'm gonna torment you for a change'
Mark turned conversationally to Tanis 'You know when he was small he was always such a pleasant little boy, I can't think how he's developed this thirst for revenge'.
She rolled her eyes and was about to reply when the ring from Steve's cell phone made them jump.
'Sloan here' Steve barked, then 'Thank you Davis, Thank you very much'.
He turned back to Mark and Tanis 'Let's go'.
'Go where?' she growled
Steve grinned 'Follow me'.
As he set off up the hill, Tanis rolled her eyes and followed, but Mark stayed where he was.
'Steve, the archaeology department is this way' he said, pointing in the opposite direction to where Steve and Tanis were headed.
Steve looked round impatiently 'We're not going to the archaeology department Dad' he said. Turning back, he carried on up the hill, Tanis trailing behind.
Mark looked at his son's retreating back in surprise
'We're not?' he said to himself and frowned.