Chapter 9.
Steve looked astounded at Jack for a minute. A shocked silence in the room as they all regarded the doctor. Steve sighed and let him go.
"Why the hell didn't you tell us?" he asked. Jack hung his head.
"Eight years is a long time," He sighed. "And people change a lot in that time and I was afraid of what they would do to Mollie if they found out that I had told you," He ran his fingers through in hair in frustration.
"I think you ought to explain from the beginning," Amanda said there was an edge in her voice.
Five minutes later they were all sat round the table. Jesse had sorted out Jack's lip from where Steve had hit him and Mark had fetched an ice pack from the freezer for Steve's hand.
"It started about a year after I had left here," He told them. "I met Jenny at the hospital where I worked. We got married 6 months later and a year after that Mollie was born," He sighed again, it was painful to relive it again. " A year after that Jenny was killed in a car crash. That left me alone with Mollie managing as best we could,"
Mark sighed and looked at him and shook his head.
"Why didn't you come back then?" He asked with sympathy. "You know we would have helped,"
"I thought about it," He said. "But it felt to much like giving in, admitting that I couldn't cope," He shook his head ruefully and gave a small smile. "Kind of dumb right?"
"That's an understatement," Amanda told him.
"We muddled through. Until three weeks ago," He carried on. "John came to see us, not that I was pleased to see him. Said he had a job for me to do," He looked round the table at people who he hoped where still his friends. "Naturally I told him where to go. Then they grabbed Mollie from the child minders next day," He sighed again. "But they still haven't told me what they want me to do,"
Steve sighed. Things were just getting more complicated. The fear that had been gnawing at him since the phone call threatened to over whelm him.
"What could possibly be happening in the next two days at the hospital that we don't know about?" Amanda asked. Steve looked up at Cheryl realisation dawned on both of them at the same time.
"Martin Stedman," They both said together.
"And who is Martin Stedman?" Mark asked them.
" He is giving testimony at John Stewart's trail," Cheryl answered. " His testimony could bring down most of that family,"
"What's his connection to the hospital?" Jessie asked.
"He's due to have surgery the day after tomorrow," Cheryl continued.
"How come we haven't been told?" Mark asked a little annoyed that his hospital was to be turned upside down again.
"We were to give you the good news tomorrow," Steve told him.
"Thing is we only knew of this today," Cheryl said with a frown. A frown crossed Steve's face to.
"So how in the hell did they know about it three weeks ago?" He said with some concern.
"A leak," Amanda suggested. Cheryl nodded.
"It would have to be in the Chief's office," Steve said. Cheryl groaned at the thought.
"Who's going to him tell though?" Steve gave a shrug, then something of an evil smile. "We'll leave it to the captain,"
"That's one of the reasons he gets paid more than we do," Cheryl said. Her eyes then widened. "You don't suppose that is what Joe Reynolds was trying to tell you,"
"It could have been," Steve said.
"It would make sense," Jesse said. "I think it would have been reasonable risk for who ever it is, killing him,"
"And if it is a leak in Masters office, he would have known straight away if his cover was blown," Mark said.
"It also means its going to be hard to get back up from the station," Steve said. He turned back to Jack. "John didn't give any clues as to who it was?" Jack shook his head. "Have you been taken to see Mollie since your arrival?" Jack nodded.
"A couple of times," He said sadly. "But I couldn't tell where about they have her, I was always put in a crate before hand," Steve looked up at Cheryl, it dawning on both of them at the same time,
"Rachel was right," Cheryl said softly. Steve's face turned bleak and balled his hands into fists, then his eyes widened.
"That's what she meant," He said softly. They all looked to him for an explanation, "They let me talk to her for a couple of seconds when they called me. She said that she felt a little stiff but she was okay," Cheryl gave a grin.
"She's in that warehouse," Mark looked at them puzzled.
"This has gone by me a bit quick," He said.
"We were talking about the case last night," Steve said. "We were trying to figure out just how he was still running the organization but with out seeming to do,"
"We've been watching the warehouse for a month but nothing seemed to happen, no one came there," Cheryl continued. "Other than usual deliveries,"
"That was how you suspected me wasn't it?" Jack said quickly. Steve nodded.
"Yeah!" Cheryl stated. "You were photographed going in the first day you got back,"
"Yeah!" Jack sighed. "John did his nut when I arrived, but when nothing seemed to come of it," He shrugged. Steve carried on.
"Rachel came up with the idea that he might be smuggling people in and out by using delivery crates, and as a joke she said anyone inside them would probably be a little stiff after hiding the crates," Cheryl stood and went on to the deck and made a phone call from her mobile.
Steve sat at the table despite the headway they had made he knew what the chances of getting her out alive were not good, his hands came up and he rubbed at his face.
"I'm sorry Steve," Jack said with feeling. "If I had known," Steve nodded. Despite everything he knew now that blaming Jack would do no good. His friend had been placed in the same situation as he was now in.
"I know," He said. Mark could hear the pain in his sons voice. He moved closer to Steve wanting to offer comfort but not sure if his son wanted it from him. Gingerly he placed his arm around his shoulders, Steve looked up at him, he could see the hurt and pain in his face. Neither said anything, but Steve's hand came up and covered his fathers. Cheryl came back in.
"Got it," She said. "Baker said that a delivery was made about three hours ago. It ties in with the time we believe that Rachel was taken,"