Chapter 7.
Jesse sat down with some frustration. He had been trying to talk to Mark all day and had got no where fast, all he had managed to do was persuade Mark not to take his frustration out on Rachel. All that Rachel had told him was that Mark and Steve had a row and at least for now Steve had moved in with her. It had been one hell of a shock to him and he hated the way the two of his best friends had drifted apart, now he was determined to find out what was going on. That was what was behind his plan to speak to Steve in private, and knowing that he was at Bobs tonight seemed a good time to get him alone and find out what was going on. Steve came out of the back carrying two coffees with him and sat down opposite Jesse.
"Okay, what the hell is going on Steve? And I want proper answers not any made up crap," Jesse told him. Steve sighed, he had been glad when Jesse had shown up just before closing time. He had already come to the decision to tell Jesse what was going on, he knew that he could count on the younger man to take care of his dad if the worst should happen.
"Sure you really want to know?" Steve told him. "This isn't exactly easy,"
"Steve how long have we been friends?" The young man said. "We've been through so much together I doubt that one more thing is going to be any different," Steve gave a slight smile that quickly vanished.
"This whole situation is different," He said softly. He gave a sigh. "And tougher,"
"I don't really care," Jesse told him. Steve shook his head slightly.
"I haven't even told Rachel what I'm going to tell you,"
"Is that wise?" Jesse asked.
"I don't want to worry her more than I have to," Steve told him. Taking a drink from the coffee he looked directly at Jesse. "Do you remember the undercover assignment I had just before Ellen and I split," Jesse nodded. "Well it was on a man by the name of John Stewart," Jesse looked astonished at him.
"Any relation to Jack?" He asked quickly. Steve nodded, then continued.
"Well to cut it short. I managed to persuade his main book man to turn states evidence,"
"And there's a possibility that Jacks return could be connected," Jesse said.
"He's been seen at a warehouse that we're watching," Steve sighed. "I've been put under orders that I'm not to say a thing to dad, I shouldn't be even telling you,"
"I kind of thought that it might have been connected to Jack's return," Jesse said to him.
"You know the way dad works if he knew what was going on, the first thing that he would do is say something to Jack,"
"That's not all is it?" Jesse said shrewdly, his eyes narrowing. Steve gave a rueful smile.
"The witness we have got is enough to send him down for a long time. But if something dose happen to him, I can do the job the same," Jesse looked at his friend concern on his face.
"And what would it mean if you do?" Jesse asked, though he could have a good guess at would happen. Steve shrugged.
"I disappear," He told a shocked Jesse. "Along with Rachel," Jesse sat a little dazed by what he had just heard.
"You can't say anything to Mark in case he tells Jack?" Steve nodded.
"The Captain and chief Masters are sure that his reappearance is not just a coincidence and after the shooting of Joe Reynolds,"
"I hope they're wrong," Jesse said.
"So do I Jess," Steve told him with feeling. "So do I. I want you to do me a favour,"
"Anything Steve you know that," Jesse said with feeling.
"If the worst happens, I want you to look after dad for me," Jesse felt shocked; he really didn't know what to say to his friend. They had had tough cases before, but never one that had made Steve ask this.
"You know I will," Jesse assured him.
Steve was a little late into work next morning and he arrived to see Cheryl sitting there with a big grin on her face. Seeing Steve her smile increased.
"Tiffany Walls has come out of hiding at last," Tiffany Walls had been Joe Reynolds girlfriend and they had been trying to find her since the shooting.
"Where?" Steve asked quickly.
"A black and white spotted her going into her apartment about twenty minutes ago," Steve turned back towards the exit Cheryl quickly grabbed her coat and followed him out. "Steve the captain said that we weren't to go alone on these calls," Steve swore, he had forgotten the orders.
"Who was in the black and white?" He asked quickly.
"Dave Peters and his partner," She answered.
"Are they still there?" Cheryl nodded. "They'll be good back up,"
They arrived at the apartment half an hour later, Cheryl was relived to see the patrol car still there. The two uniformed officers came up to them.
"She still in there?" Steve asked quickly,
"As far as we know," One said "Want us with you?"
"Yeah," Steve sighed and looked at his partner, "don't want to get in trouble with the captain,"
"Or your partner," Cheryl added with a quick grin, "I'll go round back in case she tries to do a runner," Steve nodded and made his way to the front of the building along with the two officers. He hoped that the woman knew something about what Joe had wanted to tell him, somehow he felt it was important that he work it out.
Arriving at her apartment Steve knocked on the door. At first there was no answer so he knocked again,
"Miss Walls its the police we just want to talk to you," He heard a sound of chains being taken off the door, the door opened Steve made sure that the frightened young woman could see his badge,
"What do you want?" She asked trying to make her self-sound tough, but only succeeded in making herself sound more desperate.
"We just want to talk with you about Joe," Steve said trying to make his voice sound reassuring.
"He's dead," She snapped.
"We know, we're trying to find out who had him killed and why. Can we please come in,"?
To Steve relief she opened the door and let them in.
"I can't tell you anything," She said "And even if I did I wouldn't tell you anything, I'm not stupid," Steve looked at the frightened young woman.
"It wouldn't make any difference," Steve told her gently. "Who ever is behind this would kill you even if you don't tell what you know," The girl paled Steve put the girls age at about eighteen. "We can protect you,"
"Like you protected Joe," She sneered.
"If Joe had told me that he was in danger believe me we would have been more prepared for what happened and he would probably still been alive now," She sighed.
"All I know is that he had met someone called Sam Walker and it was him that told him what was going on," Steve nodded, He knew that Walker was one of John Stewarts heavies, it was a small connection, but a connection never the less.
"Get some things together," Steve told her. "We'll find somewhere safe for you,"
Suddenly outside the window to the apartment there was a bright flash of light. He dived at the startled girl knocking her to the floor just as the window exploded. The other two officers made for cover as more bullets came through the window. Steve pulled out his own gun then heard Cheryl's shout from outside the apartment,
"Steve," She shouted again concern in her voice.
"I'm fine," He shouted back, he saw her carefully poking her head around the door, "They're across the street,"
"Okay," She said grimly. One of the officers crawled out of the apartment and followed her out. Steve and the other officer where pinned down.
"Always said you plain clothes had all the fun," The man said to Steve with hint of mischief. Steve gave him a sour look.
"Dave you've got a lousy sense of humour did you know," He said.
"Of course, its all part of my charm," He grinned at Steve,
"What charm," Steve told him.
After a few minutes Steve's mobile began to ring, he quickly answered it when he saw it was Cheryl's number,
"Well?" He said sharply.
"They where gone by the time we got here," Cheryl sighed not that she had expected them to still be there. "They've left the gun behind,"
"Get forensic in," Steve told her. "I doubt they'll find anything sounds like a professional. But we may get lucky,"
"Let's hope so," Not that her voice carried any hope in it. It seemed like all they were doing was just running around chasing their behinds in this, while John Stewart had the upper hand.
John Stewart sat in his office staring steadily at the man he had hired to take care of the problem of the girl. The man seemed unconcerned about his situation.
"It was hardly my fault that the police got to her first," He said calmly. He was professional and always took precautions on his jobs, he went missing and all his records of his jobs went to the police, so most of his clients knew better than to try to get rid of him.
Sam Walker came in.
"Well, did you find out who it was?" Stewart asked the man.
"Steve Sloan," He said. At that moment he was trying to make his self-indispensable to his boss trying to make up for the mistake he had made.
"Again," Stewart exclaimed. "That man is getting to be a pain,"
"Want me to take care of it?" The hit man asked him.
"Tempting," Stewart told him. "But he's one of Masters favourites and he would come after me with or with out proof," The man shrugged.
"Sir doing something permanent to Sloan could effect the other job to," Walker said to his boss,
"Why?" He asked.
"Sloan's father is the head of internal medicine at the hospital,"
"Look into it Walker," He told the man "and this time don't mess up,"
"Yes sir,"
Cheryl sat with Steve and Rachel in Rachel's apartment, talking over what was going on. Rachel had gone to make a couple coffees she had just returned when Cheryl said.
"What I can't understand is how he is still operating, he's got to know that we're watching him," She said quickly thanking Rachel for the coffee.
"What kind of operation is he suppose to be running from that warehouse?" Rachel asked curiously.
"Just a normal import export place," Cheryl answered.
"So he has crates of all sizes coming and going?" She said. Steve gave a groan and slapped his hand to his head.
"Yeah wh," She stopped short and she to groaned. "Why the hell didn't we think it sooner," Rachel gave a slight smile.
"Because," Steve stated ruefully. "We overlooked the obvious;" Cheryl gave a quick grin,
" At least the captain did as well," She gave a laugh, "and so did the chief,"
"Well that should make you both feel a little better about it," Rachel said impishly, "Any of his known men should be pretty obvious after seeing him, will probably be doubled up," Looking at Steve she smiled and reached for her coat,
"Time to go?" He asked. Rachel nodded. She was on the night shift at the hospital. Cheryl stood up and made her way to the door,
"I'll see you in the morning Steve,"
"Okay," He gave a quick grin, "Then we'll tell the captain the good news," He picked up his car keys,
"You don't have take me to work," Rachel said to him.
"Yes I do," He told her softly. She shrugged she didn't feel it was worth arguing over and it did feel kind of nice to have someone concerned about her. When they got to the hospital he turned to kiss her goodbye, he lightly brushed his lips over hers and one hand slipped around her waist.
"If you don't get out soon I won't let you go," He said softly to her. Rachel gave slight grin.
"If I don't get out soon, I won't want to," She told him. Regretfully she pulled away from him and opened the door; "I'll see you tomorrow,"
Steve watched her going into the building, totally unaware that they were being watched.
Sam Walker also watched Rachel leave. Picking his phone out of his pocket.
"Got an idea boss," He said when his boss answered the phone.
Steve went into work early next morning and was sitting at his desk when Captain Newman came in,
"Steve don't disappear this morning," He told him, "Chief Masters is coming in and wants to talk to everyone,"
"Okay sir," The man was about to leave and go into his office, "Oh sir we think we may have found out how Stewart is still operating without us seeing," The captain looked at him and gave a quick grin.
"Good tell us when the Chief gets here,"
An hour later Cheryl turned up and sat down at her own desk,
"Morning," She said to Steve when she sat down.
"Morning," He replied, "Late night last night?" He asked with a quick grin,
"Well we know that you were in bed and asleep early last night," She replied quickly, Steve grinned.
"Masters wants to see everyone, so we've been told not to go any where," Cheryl nodded.
"Told the captain what we think about Stewart?" She asked him.
"Not yet, he said to tell both him and Masters when he gets here," She nodded.
"Any idea about what time he wants us?"
"No! Shouldn't be long though,"
With in ten minutes they saw Masters arrive he was talking with Newman for a few minutes. Newman came out.
"Okay people my office now," He shouted across the office,
"It must be something big," One detective said to Cheryl as they entered the room, She gave a shrug. Masters stood looking out one of the windows and turned to face the people in the room.
"Right sit down people," He said and waited until all the people had sat themselves down. "Okay," He looked at everyone making sure that everyone was listening to him. "As you know we've got the trail of John Stewart coming up next week," He looked around the room at the assembled detectives, his eyes resting for a while longer on Steve. "However a problem has come up with the chief witness," Steve gave a start, "A few weeks ago he was found to be suffering from a problem which needs surgery. Therefore tomorrow Martin Stedman will be transferred to Community General," again he looked at Steve, "We have to sort out all the security measures that this involves,"
"Oh great a baby-sit job," The detective who had spoken to Cheryl earlier sighed.
"Yes Graham," Cheryl said to him with a grin, "Just think of all the overtime," The mans expression lightened at this and she chuckled.
"All details will be worked out today," Captain Newman told them, and they rose, "Sloan, Banks can you remain behind," Steve and Cheryl remained seated while their colleagues filed out the room.
"Okay you said you might have found out how he 's still operating," Masters said.
"We think so," Steve said to him, "As crazy as it sounds he may be taking people in and out through the crates," Masters and Newman looked at one another and shook there heads.
"I don't think we thought about it before because it was to simple and daft," Cheryl said. "But to be honest it's the only thing that makes any sense," Steve nodded.
"We've never investigated the shipments, mainly because it is suppose to be a legit business," Steve told them.
"You may be right," Masters said ruefully. "In this day and age you don't expect something like this or as simple," Steve gave a shrug, "but it will difficult to prove,"
"If he goes down at the trail it won't be a problem any way," Cheryl said. Masters expression turned serious.
"Oh he will go down one way or another," He looked directly at Steve, who sighed and nodded.
Rachel had finished at the hospital and was enjoying the walk home; it was one of the benefits of living close to the hospital. Steve had drop hints about her getting a car, but she had not really got a call for one. There was a supermarket just up the road from her apartment, so she didn't feel the need for a car, she knew that it was odd attitude for any one to have in this day and age. It wasn't particularly crowded on the pavements; just in front of her a man leaned against a car and appeared to reading a newspaper. Just as she got level with him he folded the paper up and looked at her.
"Got the time?" He asked politely. She stopped and looked at watch. Suddenly a second man who she had not seen appeared behind her and she felt the barrel of a gun being placed in her back.
"Now we don't want to cause a scene here do we doctor;" A voice sneered into her ear. "Too many people could get hurt;" Rachel swallowed hard and knew that they had got the advantage of her. "We'll be going for a little ride now;" the first man with an evil grin opened the door of the car he was leaning against. Rachel knew that she had no choice but to get in.
Steve and Cheryl were just leaving the station, when Steve's phone began to ring.
"Sloan," He said.
"Arhh Lt Sloan," The voice said. It automatically set him on edge. "We have some one here who wants to talk to you," Steve heard the phone being handed over to some one else, a sick feeling entered his stomach, which increased when he heard Rachel's voice.
"Steve?" Her voice was soft with slight edge of fear to it.
"Rachel," His voice sounded slightly strangled that caused Cheryl to look sharply at him.
"What's wrong ?" She asked quickly.
"You okay?" He asked quickly, grabbing the nearest bench and sitting down on it,
" Just a little stiff, but otherwise I'm okay," He heard the phone being taken away from her,
"Now then Sloan," It was the mans voice again, "This is the deal, lay off the case for forty eight hours, other wise you won't get to see this lovely lady again,"
"You do anything to her Stewart and I swear I'll kill you," He snarled. Cheryl's face paled and sat down beside Steve on the bench, her hand going on to Steve's shoulder.
"What happens to her is in your hands Sloan," He said back. "We'll call you again in forty-eight hours;" the voice then rang off. Steve stared at the phone for a moment.
"Steve," Cheryl said softly. "You've got to tell the Captain what's happened,"
Steve looked at his partner.
"No," He said sharply.
"But Steve!" She said to him.
"No Cheryl," He said again with determination, "I got her into this I'll get her out," Cheryl nodded and knew that there was no point in arguing with him.
"What do we do first?" She asked. Steve gave her a grateful smile.
"We get some straight answers from Jack;" He looked at his watch. "Jesse said they'll be at dads today,"
Cheryl nodded and they made their way to Steve's truck.