A Word to the Wise

Steve walked into the high school and looked around him. There was a secretary's office straight in front of him and so with a sigh he walked up to it and waited.

One lady was working behind the clear security screen and she looked up and smiled. "Yes, Sir, what can I do for you?"

"My name is Steve Sloan; I got a call about my son, Daniel Upton."

"Oh, yes." The secretary seemed to look down over her glasses at him, making Steve feel as if it was he who was in trouble. "If you would just take a seat for a moment Mr. Naegler will be with you as soon as he can."

Fifteen minutes later Steve was still there, and his temper was rising. He had way too much to do to be sitting here doing nothing. He was just about to get up and make his way back to the office when a very tall, angular man came towards him. "Mr. Sloan, I am sorry to keep you waiting, won't you please come this way?"

Steve followed the man into an office that looked in need of a cleaner. There were papers everywhere, and he was relieved when the principal directed him to an empty chair just in front of the desk, and then took the seat opposite Steve himself.

Once they were both sitting down Mr. Naegler put a very sincere look on his face and began to speak.  "I can't tell you how disappointed I am in Daniel's behaviour. He has been getting increasingly difficult to handle lately, but today everything seemed to just go into overdrive."

"And you didn't think to contact either my wife or myself about this?"

"No, nothing that he did warranted a call home, until now that is."

"And what happened today? Mr. Naegler, I don't wish to sound uncaring or uninterested but I really need to get back to work as quickly as I can, so maybe we could try to sort this out right now?"

"Yes, of course, Mr. Sloan." The man's tone was curt, and Steve knew that he had said the wrong thing.  "Daniel launched himself at a young man, in what appears to have been an unprovoked attack, and the other student has been hospitalised. I don't know if the parents will press charges, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do. You are well aware, I realise, the seriousness of any charges that could be brought over this, Lieutenant." He made the rank sound like an insult, and Steve decided that he really didn't like this man.

"Yes, I do understand, and I also understand why you have had to suspend him, but before I make any judgement on why he did these things I will want to hear his side of the story." Steve found that he not only planned to give the boy the chance to speak but that he was willing to bet that there was a very good reason for what he had done.

"Very well, I will go and escort him to you, and then if you would be so kind as to remove him from the premises until next Thursday you can get back to work. Good day, Lieutenant Sloan." Mr. Naegler left the room and Steve followed him out so that he could see his foster son as he came towards him, hoping that maybe he would get an idea as to what the problem was just by looking at him.

Daniel saw Steve standing at the end of the corridor and didn't know whether he wanted to run towards or away from him. He looked so strong and dependable, like nothing or no one he had ever had on his side before, but he also knew that he had let him down, and he hoped that he could make him realise just how sorry he was.

"Daniel, do you have everything that you came with this morning?" Steve kept his voice as level as possible and waited for the boy to reply.

"Yes, I didn't have P.E. today, so just this bag."

"Mr. Upton, I have explained to your foster father that you have been suspended until Thursday. I do not expect to see you loitering round the school gates, or for you to have any contact with the pupils here while you are away, is that clear?" The principal's voice was tight and officious, and Steve had no doubt that he was universally detested by all who knew him.

"Yes, Sir, I won't come near the place until next Thursday." Daniel turned away then and waited for Steve to precede him out of the building, he had tears pricking his eyes, and he didn't want either man to see them, so he kept his head down and followed his foster father's feet, wishing that the ground would swallow him up before he had to explain all that had happened.

"Now, I have to get back to work, and a police station is not the place for a fourteen-year-old boy. I called Dad on the way here, and he says you can stay with him and Alex until I've finished work." Steve turned to the boy sitting in the passenger seat beside him. "Daniel, whatever has gotten into you? You haven't been in trouble in school since you started there, what happened, Son?" Steve found that there was no anger in his voice, and as he looked into the face of the young man sitting next to him all he saw was pain and fear. Reaching out he placed his hand on the boy's arm and felt him shake. "Daniel?"

"Steve, leave it, please, 'til later." Daniel was mortified to hear his voice shake and he turned away.

"Ok, but we will talk, tonight, before I go off to the hotel for the weekend. I'm not sure what to do with you while the ball is on now." Steve shook his head, but he understood. He would always try to get his dad to leave discussions until the air had cleared a little, it was just unfortunate that this weekend was so important to Jo and, he realised, to himself as well. Silently Steve started his car and headed back out on to the highway hoping that maybe Alex would be able to help the young man more than he appeared to be able to do right now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ron and Rae were on their fourth cups of tea and coffee by the time Steve got back, and there were all sorts of notes and memos scattered across the desk. "Hey guys, got anywhere?" Steve plonked himself down in the empty chair that was waiting for him and looked at the two tired faces in front of him.

"Steve, is Daniel all right? You didn't blast him out did you? I have to admit I didn't think you'd come back." Rae was concerned for the young man, she knew that he had a chance of a good and successful life with the Sloans and she hoped that he hadn't blown it.

"I had to, we have too much to do as it is, and yeah, I think he will be. He's with Alex right now, Dad was in the OR. But you were spot on, he was really upset, not that he wanted me to see it. Something's going on, and I will find out what it is."

"I was spot on? I don't think I have ever heard you say that before? It's definitely a British term."

"Mmm, I must be spending way to much time around you." Steve paused and smiled, but then repeated what he had said before. "You're right, something's going on."

"Yeah, well, I've been there, done that, not as much as I would have liked, but I've been there." Rae smiled a wistful smile, and Steve realised that she had missed a lot of her children's' childhood, not just by being in LA but because she was a cop.

"Now, what do you have for me?" Steve knew that there was nothing he could say so he decided to return to the pressing matter of the Todd Case.

"Amanda called, and Crosier was moved or his head was. And, guess what? Denny Harris was killed by the same type of knife that has been used to slice up the bodies, but not until he'd killed Wanda." Ron smiled as he said Amanda's name and Rae and Steve glanced at each other both realising what he was doing.

"Oh great, so what about Wanda?" The smile disappeared as soon as Steve heard what Ron had to say.

"She was killed by a bullet from Harris's gun, no prints on it but his. I guess it's case closed."

"Did he have a permit?" Steve was sure they would have checked while he was out.

"Pardon?" Rae looked confused for a moment and Steve decided that maybe he wasn't sure after all.

"Did Denny have a permit for the gun, or anything to show it was his?"

"I'm sorry, Steve, I don't know, I have to admit we put what Amanda said to one side. We wanted to get the profile finished. I'll get someone on it right away." Rae sounded a little guilty and she picked up the phone to speak to Alison on the desk, it was a bit of a slip but she still thought they had made the right call.

Steve waited for his partner to finish on the phone, and then began to speak. "Ok, so tell me what you have so far. I'm getting a very bad feeling about all of this." Steve could feel his temper rising, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to keep it in for much longer.

"We think that we have someone supremely confident, who doesn't work alone, has no intention of getting caught, and thinks that he has you right where he wants you. He sees you as part of his plan now; you are almost the third member of his group…" Rae had been reading from one of the pieces of paper, but she looked up as she heard her partner interrupt.

"What? How can he think that? I don't have a clue who he is." Steve felt his anger build even more and realised that where this case was concerned it was only ever going to be just below the surface.

"He's building up a relationship with you, gradually, over the period of time that this case has been going on, you just need to re-read the letters to see that." Ron picked up a few sheets of paper and Steve could see that all the letters had been photocopied onto them.

"This is the first one."  Ron paused a moment, gathering his thoughts and then he read the first note out loud.

"Lieutenant Sloan,

I thought I would just deposit my collection of limbs around LA until someone worked out what I was doing, but then you got involved in the case and I decided to play. Is there any way you can beat me? I doubt it. Is there any way you can stop me? I doubt that too, but you are welcome to try. I will even give you a clue. One of the bodies is known to you.

S. Todd"

As Ron finished speaking Rae took over. "He calls you by your rank and, in a roundabout way, he compliments you by saying that he was going to just dump body parts but now he is going to work with you, it has become a game because of you. But I think there is more to this; I think that he had every intention of you getting involved, which is why the limb was in your parking space. Crosier was still alive when this was sent, that wouldn't have been the case if he had just planned to get rid of them without playing."

"The second one is a little more relaxed, he is still asking … double questions, which seems to be a trait of his, and he's enjoying himself." Once again Ron began to read out loud.

"Well, well,

Did you like your gift? Have you opened it yet? Anticipation is a wonderful thing, unfortunately for one of my victims he knows exactly what is coming, and he isn't enjoying it at all. Have you worked out my next move yet? Have I? This is so much fun I plan to make it last as long as possible. So many body parts, so many cars, or maybe I won't use cars, there are plenty of other places I can find for a foot, or a leg, or even … a head.

Enjoy your lunch.

S. Todd.

"He knew that you would know by now that one of his victims was still alive. I would say that there is some at least basic forensic knowledge, as well as a rough idea how to cut someone up, and keep them alive at the same time. But he isn't giving too much away, just enough to keep you dangling." Ron shook his head as he spoke; he was glad that these letters hadn't come to him.

"Double questions…? No, wait, like when he says," Steve leant over and took the piece of paper, "'have you worked out my next move yet? Have I?' That's what you mean isn't it?" Steve paused and handed back the sheet. "Would he speak that way? I don't think I know anyone who talks like that." Steve had picked up a large paper clip and was absently turning it between his fingers, but both Ron and Rae knew that he was concentrating, completely.

"Ok, this next one he starts to get more personal, friendlier, slowly working his way under your guard." It was Rae who had the piece of paper now, and she began to read in the pleasant American/English accent that so became her.

"Lieutenant, or can I call you Steve? I feel we know each other so well,

I was going to save this till last, but somehow I found it a little disconcerting to have on my shelf staring at me as I got my cornflakes. What luck that you were at the bus station at the same time as me, have you worked out who this is yet? Maybe you need a little clue, but not this time, I'm sure that you have checked missing persons, there is just one problem with that, one of the victims at least, hasn't been reported missing, ah well, some times you can't get a break can you?

I wonder, could he be 'a little priest?' No, that would be too easy!

Take care Steve,

S. Todd

Rae looked up as she stopped reading. "Ok, this time there are no double questions, he mentions Sweeney Todd, for the only time so far. And all the while he is probing, asking, without it being a question, like I said, getting under your guard so that you feel like you aren't doing enough to solve this case."

"Yeah, well I can tell you it's working. All this information and we still don't have a clue who he is." The paperclip was now a straight piece of metal, but Rae had a feeling it wouldn't stay that way for long.

"Some of the letters don't tell us very much of anything, in fact the next four or five of them just tell us that he sent a bit and not a lot else." Ron paused for a moment to pick up a pile of letters stacked together. "I'll just read through them, I don't think that there is a lot to comment on. This first one though was the only female part we received."

Steve,

I'll have to get rid of the other foot, she looks so uneven. I thought about using it to keep my umbrella in, it gets so little use in LA, but I changed my mind. Am I joking? Will you find out? I hope not, but you are supposed to be a great detective you tell me.

S. Todd

"I guess we could mention his strange sense of humour, but nothing else." Ron slipped the letter he had read to the back of the pile and continued.

"Steve,

Well, he's not quite armless, but well on the way, and you have a partner in crime to help you solve this. Is she as good as the media thinks she is? Are you? Who knows?

S. Todd

Steve,

An ear, somehow it looks so innocuous, but he did scream when I took it off, so I guess it must have been important to him. What a shame for you that it isn't pierced or anything, or that he doesn't have any tattoos. Or does he? Maybe one day you will find out.

S. Todd"

"So, he was still alive when this was removed?" Steve picked up instantly on the part of the letter that Rae had highlighted on her copy. "That must have been removed before the foot that was found at the bus station, even though we didn't get it in that order."

"I guess there's no reason for him to have removed things in the order that we receive them is there?" Rae cast his eyes over the list of parts she had in front of her.

"No, I guess not, I hadn't really thought of it that way." Steve shook his head; give him a nice simple serial killer any day.

"Ok, moving right along, because I would really like to get past these letters, they give me the whim whams."

Ron looked at Steve and saw him shake his head. "Don't ask!"

Rae cleared her throat and took over the reading duties.

"Steve and Rae,

Remember how uneven she looks with one foot? Well, I think I have that problem again. Still he is taking up less and less space in my freezer.

S. Todd

"You can imagine just how thrilled I am that I seem to be getting a regular mention!" Rae rolled her eyes and then continued.

"Rae and Steve,

It should be ladies first after all, did you guess that this would be next? I have a worry, am I giving you too much information or not enough? I guess if you arrest me today it will be too much. Am I worried? No!

S. Todd"

"We are just feeling our way with this, Steve, there's no other way to do this, no way to get inside his mind apart from his words or the ones he lets us see, and his actions, and again we only see what he wants us to see. This next letter is important because for a start he calls you 'Stevie.'" Ron moved the paper so that Steve could see which one he was talking about and then he began to read.

"Stevie,

Long time no see, and one of my poor house guests can't see either! Oh what a laugh I had, it kept rolling away from me as I tried to put it in the container. I haven't quite decided what to do with the other three.

Well, I have to earn a crust, so there may be a delay before you hear from me again. Mmm, hear, I wonder what you will get next!

Till then, my friend

S. Todd.

"I hate the name Stevie …" Steve stopped talking for a minute and it was clear from his face that he was thinking, hard.

"What?" After a couple of minutes Rae couldn't keep quiet any longer.

"When I was assigned to vice …"

"You worked in vice? Oh, man, then this is personal, this is way more than just you being a good cop." Rae's voice was full of amazement, but both men could hear something else too, worry, and a lot of it.

"Why does that make a difference? I thought you knew I worked there for a while."

"No, it was before my time. Steve, if this guy was there when you were then he'll know how you work, what annoys you, what doesn't, and he knows that Stevie is not a good name for you. This changes a lot of things."

"Well, we'll process that in a minute; let's just get these letters read first." Ron took a deep breath and began to read the next one,

Steve,

Well, this is not good; I have all these body parts and no one to send them to. I would suggest that you talk with your captain, otherwise you may find parts from other bodies turning up, not just those of that whore and her lover.

I guess you are still waiting to hear from me with the next piece to the puzzle. All in good time my friend, all in good time. If I don't find out that you are back on the case, then I might have to find someone else to cut up, maybe you had better keep a close eye on your friends.

Ooh, that was strong, do I mean it? Who knows? Are you brave enough to call my bluff? I don't think so.

S. Todd

"Now this is a completely different type of letter. The double questions are back, but it is threatening, and not to you, but those you hold dear. This was sent, without a body part after the article appeared in the paper, and I would be really worried if this was me. You have a wife and a son to consider, I'm a family man now." Ron paused for a moment, "yeah, if I got this I would be worried."

"And you think I'm not? I don't worry about Jo when she is home, she's safe there, but out and about in LA with this nut running loose, of course I worry about her." The piece of metal was now a flat wound up circle and Steve, realising what he had done, dropped it onto the table and tried to get his temper back under control.

"This is the last one, and again it's different, which shows that this guy is prepared to change things to make it more effective. He sent it to Michael, at your home address, and that is another worrying trend, the foot was in Rae's car, not a real problem, if he's a cop, he could get to it quite easily, but not this, you have to know your address to be able to do this."

Stevie,

I know that this will reach you. A butler. Imagine! Did you get this given to you on a silver platter? Maybe I should serve the next pieces that way.

I have something to confess – no, not that, would you like me to? Ok, Officer, arrest me, I am cutting people up and leaving them everywhere. Will that do?

I was going to send you an ear. You will hear from me, remember? But when I knew you were going to our beloved detective's house, well, I just couldn't help it; I guess I got a bit a head of myself.

But I have decided to up the stakes, to make it more fun. Who will I target next? Who knows? Is there a pattern to what I plan to do? Who knows that either? I guess you will just have to keep watching and waiting.

You are a popular guy; I think I have plenty of potential victims.

The game is afoot.

S. Todd.

"And we got a foot; there was a foot in the front seat of my car." Rae shook her head, whatever she said; there was something about her little car that she didn't like any more.

"So, someone is going to get a letter, probably today or tomorrow, that relates to that foot." Steve stood up and turned from the desk, not really knowing what to do with himself.

Rae looked over at Ron and shook her head. She knew her partner well enough to realise that he wouldn't want anyone anywhere near him right now. She also knew that now wasn't the time to discuss him working in vice. So, instead she began to collect up her notes and the various pieces of information that she would need for her meeting with the Chief, and then when she had done that she tentatively moved across to where Steve was staring at a notice board, his hands in tight fists and his breathing heavy.

"Steve?" Rae waited, knowing that he would either get himself under control and turn with a smile or just bark at her from where he stood.

"What!"

Disappointed that he still wasn't under control Rae shook her head again and began to speak. "I'm off to see the Chief, unless you would like to do it … ok, bad idea. I'll see you in a little while, and we can head to payroll. Did you get the warrant?"

"No, I had family matters to attend to! I'll go get it while you get paly paly with the Chief. Just don't spend all day there!" Steve hadn't changed position at all, and his curt tone cut Rae to the quick, but she decided to just ride with it.

"Ok, partner, see you later." Rae made sure she kept her voice light, even though her heart was heavy and then she turned, smiled at Ron and left the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Debbie was sitting at the bar in the Sunset ballroom, a glass in her hand and a pitcher of drink by her side. "I must say this is the best Texas Tea I have ever had, outside of Texas that is." She smiled at the handsome young man behind the bar and Jo could swear she even batted her eyelashes at him.

"Debs, I could really do with your advice here, if you can spare me the time."

"Honey, now you know I am all yours for as long as you want me, all you have to do is ask." Debbie got down, a little shakily, from her barstool, picked up her glass and moved over towards where Jo was standing, a piece of paper held in her hand.

"Ok, now, I have the main table here, an' Steve an' I are in the middle, then Mark is next to me, and Mrs Baardsdatter will be next to Steve." Jo laughed. "I think I got the better end of that deal! Then, there are a few other major players, either hospital or police admin staff or fund raisers on the top table as well." Jo stopped talking and turned the paper around so it was easier to read the names on the rest of the tables. "I was gonna have the tables in long lines, so that it was almost like a letter E but now I'm not so sure, what do you think?"

"Well…" Debbie appeared to think deeply for a minute, although Jo was sure it was an illusion, and then she began to speak again. "It reminded me of somethin' an' now I know what it is. When I was a little girl I was sent away to boardin' school an', when we ate, the tables were set out like this. I think it would be better to have the tables in little clumps."

Jo shook her head and smiled. "Yeah, I think you're right. I was tutored at home, but I guess they had things like that in Harry Potter didn't they?" Jo and Steve hadn't bothered to go see it at the movies, but a little while after Daniel had moved in they had rented it one night, and to their surprise they had all enjoyed it very much.

"I guess so, I prefer French films myself." Debbie, her duties over for the time being, returned to the bar stool and her friend behind the counter.

"Excuse me, Madam." Michael's voice was a welcome touch of sanity as Jo looked at her piece of paper once again and realised that she had just necessitated the changing of the whole seating arrangements.

"I have put all the auction items into the storeroom at the back of the ballroom; however, it would appear that we have one more than we thought."

"Oh. Do you know which one it is?" Stupid question, of course he does!

"Of course, Madam, it is a box, there is a note with it, would you like me to read it?"

"Yes, please, Michael, if you wouldn't mind."

"Not at all, Madam." Michael picked up his glasses which were hanging on a chain around his neck and placing them on his nose began to read.

Dear Mrs Sloan,

I am very disappointed that I am unable to attend your fundraising ball this Saturday, but trust that you will accept this gift in my place.

I have no idea what it is, but it has been in my family for a very long time. My father assured me that there was a way into it, and I finally worked it out after many many hours of trying.  I will send the instructions to the hotel some time next week, but hopefully the person who purchases it will be able to open it without them.

I hope you have a wonderful evening.

And that is all there is, Madam, no signature, or anything to give us any idea who sent it, but it is a beautiful box, and I know that Mr. Louis Mabriant is an avid collector of this type of thing, and usually pays handsomely for the privilege of owning them. He also says that no box ever takes him more than ten minutes to work out."

Jo smiled, "I wonder if there is somethin' in the box, did it rattle or anythin'? Oh, don't tell me, you didn't shake it? How could you resist?" This time Jo shook her head, amazed once again at the resolve of the man. "Right, I need a black coffee, a sandwich an' a clean piece of paper, I have to re-arrange the seatin' arrangements, thanks to Miss Prissy Knickers over there pointin' out somethin' I should have seen for myself."

"Should I get some sandwiches for Miss Gardiner as well?" Michael looked over to where Debbie was sitting flirting with the barman and still drinking.

"Yeah, she sure needs somethin' to soak up all that tea. Thank you, Michael, I wish Rae was here."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Rae had waited for just over ten minutes for the Chief and he had been very apologetic as she entered the room.

"Rae, I am so sorry to have kept you waiting, I know that you are very busy, and as you are aware, I hate to keep anybody sitting out there past their appointment time, because …"

"…What's the point of an appointment system if you don't keep to it?" Rae smiled.

"Exactly." The Chief nodded his head in agreement with her.

"I know, and I knew you would be angry, but don't worry, I used the time to try and get my head a little further round this case." Rae smiled at her boss and thought of her partner for a moment, she knew that Steve was more than a little curious about the relationship that she enjoyed with the head of the police department and she guessed that he wasn't the only one.

The truth was that they had found, while she was working for him, that they liked each other, they shared a sense of humour, which was to many others totally unfathomable, and the relationship had continued when she had returned to homicide.

"So, Rae, I saw you working with Agent Wagner this morning, have you made any progress?"

"Yes, Sir, I think so." Rae smiled, she hadn't seen the Chief, but she knew that he often checked on different departments without being noticed in stations across the city. "We have been concentrating on trying to form a profile for this guy, it isn't very long, but we think we are on the right lines with it."

The Chief had sat for a long time reading through the letters, then the profile, and then going over the other information that they had. Finally, with a shake of his head he looked up. "You are still convinced that this man is a cop?"

"Yes, Sir, more convinced than ever. He stole my car, he knew we were going to Crosier's place, so he put the head there for us to find. For which I will be eternally grateful!"

"Yes, I'm sure, what about his partner in crime, do you think that he's a cop too?" The Chief smiled as he spoke, understanding her sarcasm and carrying on the conversation around it.

"I don't know. There's been no real indication that he has a partner, it's just that we don't see how he could be in two places at once, and he isn't stupid, he must know that we will get on his trail sooner or later, and check shift patterns, rota's and days off against when the various bits and pieces were left in cars, lockers and freezers."

"Mmm, well, I don't want to tip your hand, so I think that the best thing I can do is instigate an investigation into the cost efficiency of various departments within the police force as a whole. I will start with vice and, as I am stationed here at the moment, I will start with the North Hollywood Division." The Chief was writing as he was speaking, and then with a smile he looked up at Rae. "I think you can take that to mean that I agree with you, Detective. Good work."

"Thank you, Sir. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yes, yes, you will. Ah, could you let Mrs Sloan know that I will be a little delayed, and probably won't make it until after the meal has been served?"

"Of course, I thought that would be the case."  Rae began picking up all the papers off the desk and was surprised to find the Chief looking straight at her as she finished her task.

"Take care, Rae, I get the feeling that this man will be very difficult to catch."

"Yes, Sir, we will do that, my record may show otherwise, but I am always careful, it's just that sometimes things go a little awry!"

The Chief laughed out loud at that and then shook his head. "Maybe I should wish it to happen again, I miss having you in my outer office."

Rae smiled and then turned to go; it was good to be appreciated.

By the time Rae got to the payroll offices Steve was already there, the search warrant in his hand, and a scowl on his face. Rae's heart sank, she had hoped that maybe the time apart would have improved his temper, but she guessed that hadn't happened.

"Rae, we were supposed to be here, together, half an hour ago."

"I'm sorry, the Chief was busy when I got there, and so that held me up. But he has agreed to an investigation of vice, he's going arrange it so that it's an administrative one, that way he hopes nobody will twig."

"Twig?" There was silence for a few seconds but finally Steve smiled, and Rae ventured a smile back.

"Steve, we have about three or four hours left and then we have a weekend off, try to relax, I'm worried about you."

The look on Steve's face told Rae to leave it for now, and then they heard their names being called.

The payroll office was busy, but almost silent. Rae was disappointed that she couldn't hear the constant clatter of adding machines; somehow calculators and computers lessened the atmosphere of the place.

They were led into an office, which had the name Mr. Abbott on the glass, and were warmly welcomed by a young man of about thirty who had a ready smile and an immediately engaging nature.

"Hi, Detective Yeager, Lieutenant Sloan, what can I do for you? Please sit down, won't you. Can I get you a coffee, or a cold drink?"

"No, thank you, Rae, did you want anything?" Steve saw her shake her head and so continued talking. "We need some information on a police officer from North Hollywood, he's no longer in the service, in fact he's now deceased, and we're hoping that you can help us." Steve's voice had relaxed considerably since he had last spoke out in the hallway, and Rae looked over at him and smiled.

"You do realise that even though he is now deceased, that his information is still considered confidential?"

"Yes, Sir, we do, but we have a search warrant." Steve laid the document on the desk in front of him.

"Sir, oh my goodness, you make me sound like my father, please, call me Leslie." He picked up the search warrant and looked over it. "You know, even though I work for the police department, I have never seen one of these before. Do you mind if I read it through?"

"Well, that is your prerogative, but how about if you let us have the files we need, and then we can read them while you read that?" Rae smiled at the young man; she reckoned he would make for a friendly, easygoing office.

"Ok. What was the name of the person?" Leslie Abbott's face broke into a broad smile.

"Crosier, Neil Crosier, he was in the vice department of North Hollywood."

It took ten minutes for the details to be printed off and brought into the office, and in that time Leslie Abbott had read through his search warrant and asked again if they would like a drink. Steve and Rae had nothing to really say and so in the end the room had descended into an uncomfortable silence.

All three of them were relieved when there was a knock on the door, and then they sat in a different type of silence as they began looking through all the information. Finally Steve looked over to the head of payroll and began to speak.

"We'll need to take all this with us; the warrant covers us to do that."

"Ok, that's fine; if he's dead we won't need to be paying him any more."

Rae and Steve stood up and shook hands with the young man and then headed back towards the parking lot.

"You know, that was too easy, surely the guy behind all this must know that we would look into Crosier's background, financial as well as personal, I guess there won't be anything here after all." Rae could feel the despondency she was trying so hard to keep at bay as it forced its way to the fore once again.

"Well, we need to get to his bank before it shuts. Even if we don't get a chance to go through all his statements right away at least if we have them we can go over them at the weekend… After Saturday, ok?" Steve saw Rae's expression and hurried to reassure her.

"Yeah, I guess, but Texas is gonna get mad, you do know that don't you?"

"Oh, I do. But it has to be done, and she'll understand that, she won't like it, but she will understand. And we're all sharing a suite so we can do it there."

As they talked Steve was driving towards the small downtown bank that had received Neil Crosier's wages every two weeks. They had no appointment, not knowing which bank they would be going to, but they had a search warrant, which was vague enough to cover every eventuality.

It took them almost an hour to get in to see Mr. Waddell, the manager of the Bank of America on Sepulveda Boulevard. He was obviously wanting to get away to start his weekend, and Rae and Steve had no intention of holding him up.

"Sir, we have a search warrant so that we can gain access to the account details of Neil Crosier. I have the number for the account his wages were paid into, and I would be obliged if you could let me have statements for the last eighteen for that account, and any other that you hold in his name." Steve sounded efficient and businesslike and the manager replied in the same tone.

"Of course, Lieutenant, if you would just bear with me while I check the warrant, I will get my secretary to organise this for you."

The bank was quicker than the payroll department and ten minutes after they arrived in the manager's office they were back in the car.

"You know, we don't have time to get to the service providers today, it will be Monday before we get to finish this. It used to be an easy job in London. If you wanted information on someone's telephone records you went to British Telecom, gas was British Gas, but now, with deregulation, well, when I lived in London I used to get my electricity through the gas company." Rae shook her head as she spoke. She had no idea how many different companies there were in Los Angeles, let alone California or America as a whole. "This is a job that has to be done in the right order isn't it?"

"Yep, but it is past four o'clock and we need to get back to the station so that we can sort out what information we are taking with us, and then I have a teenage son to sort out." Rae smiled and Steve looked at her. "What? What did I say that warranted that smile?"

"Son, you have called him that a couple of times today, that's how you see him don't you? You like having him around."

Steve was quiet for a minute, thinking over what Rae had just said. "Yeah, I do. I guess I haven't shown him that very much. Maybe I could take him out tonight, I haven't been dirt bike riding for a while, and we could do that together. As long as it's off road on private land it shouldn't be a problem for him to have a go." A broad smile crossed Steve's face. "It'll be fun."

"Look, you go, I'm gonna borrow a car from the pool anyway, so I'll go and finish up, sort out all the paperwork and I'll see you at the hotel tomorrow."

Once that was decided Steve dropped Rae off outside the station and headed towards Community General, noting that the sky was clear and that they should have an uninterrupted evening together.

Steve was surprised to see Jesse, Eliana and Anneya in the ER as he entered and all of a sudden was grabbed round the knees.

"Unki Teve, Unki Teve, Aii."

Steve bent down and swept the little girl up into his arms. "Hey, Sweetie, how are you? And more to the point what are you doing here?"

"Alex called me, he has to go into surgery, and your dad had gone home, he wanted me to come and get Daniel. He tried you, but your cell wasn't answering." Jesse watched as his daughter began to kiss Steve, making loud kissy noises as she did so.

"Oh, hold on." Steve took it out of his pocket and looked at the display. "Seems ok to me, I guess I must have missed it, sorry." Steve shook it with his one free hand. "Call it now, see what happens. Oh, no you don't." Steve moved the phone out of the way of a little pudgy hand as it reached for it.

Jesse pulled out his own phone and punched in the familiar number, and then the two friends waited, and waited, nothing happened. "According to this it's ringing."

"I don't have it on ring, not all the time, I had it on vibrate, I guess it must be broken, great, another job to do. Thanks, Jess. So, where's Daniel?"

"He's just getting his things together in the doctor's lounge. I was gonna take him home with me, us living so close now, but I guess he would much prefer to go with you."

"I thought I would take him off for the evening, Jo and Debbie are staying at the Wilshire, David has a business dinner, and Michael is with Jo, so I figured, well no, actually it was something Rae said that made me think of it."

"Well, have fun, I am going to go home and wait for my wife. If you are finished she shouldn't be long should she?"

"No, she was just finishing up when I left. Hey, Sweetie, do you wanna get down?"

Eliana was beginning to struggle in Steve's arms and so he gently lowered the little girl to the floor and then ran his hand over her hair. She looked up at him, the love shining in her eyes, and then she moved back across to her daddy.

"Steve, what are you doing here?" Daniel's voice cut through the air, and both men turned to see the young man; his backpack slung over one shoulder, walking down the hallway.

"I came to pick you up. I think we need to talk, don't you?" Steve tried to show that he was not impressed without scaring him too much.

"Yeah, I guess so. I'll see you later, Jesse."

"No problem, take care now, it'll be fine." Jesse took hold of his daughter's hand, and then picked up the baby carrier with the other and began to follow them out into the parking lot.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Steve and Daniel had been driving for about ten minutes before Steve glanced at the worried boy beside him. "There's no one home, what say we go and do something fun for a while? We can have that chat when we get back."

There was silence for a minute or two as Daniel wrestled with his conscience. Part of him didn't want to discuss things with Steve at all, another part would love to go and have some fun, whatever it was gonna be, but he knew that he needed to talk first.

"Can we just grab something to eat and talk?"

"Sure, if you want." Steve was surprised and he knew that it showed in his voice. "Barbeque do you? Just don't tell Michael."

Daniel smiled and nodded, not sure if his voice was strong enough to answer.

Bob's was just starting to get busy when they arrived, people finishing work and having a quick meal with colleagues always meant that the evening trade began early on a Friday night. Steve guided Daniel over to a table in the back of the restaurant and handed him a menu.

"What can I have?"

"Anything you like, except beer." Steve watched the boy, he knew that something was bothering him, but it was more than that. He had worked with teenagers, troubled ones mostly, and this child was worried, scared, guilty, and he just hoped that he could give him the guidance that he obviously needed.

"Some of this stuff is pretty expensive." Daniel was looking at all the different things on the menu.

"You think so? Oh, well, we don't normally have any complaints." Steve glanced at the prices; he thought they managed to keep things reasonable but then maybe Daniel never got the chance to come and do this, he and Jo sure hadn't done it with him, with an inward sigh he resolved to spend a lot more of his time with the boy.

"Can I have one of these combo things, and a soda? Then I can try everything." Daniel looked up, a expression of uncertainty on his face.

"Sure." Steve put his hand up and indicated to a waiter, who, to Daniel's surprise came straight over.

"Nathan, can I have one combo and I'll just have a plate of ribs and fries? Oh, and two sodas please."

"Sure thing, Steve. It'll be about five minutes, and I think we could probably do with some sauce for the weekend." Nathan wrote the orders down talking as he did so.

"Jesse was supposed to … oh, never mind, yeah, I'll do it before I leave, ok?"

"I'll let Roy know." With that Nathan headed to the kitchen and Steve turned round to see Daniel looking at him with undisguised confusion on his face.

"Daniel, what's the matter, you look a little … bewildered."

"You make the sauce? What sauce, and Jesse, I don't understand."

Realisation dawned and Steve laughed. "This is my restaurant, I own it, or at least I own a third of it, Jesse owns another third, and Dad is a silent partner. I'm sorry I guess it never came up. I don't tend to eat here as much as I used to, Michael always cooks, and so I guess I've gotten out of the habit of take out."

"If I owned a place like this I would eat here all the time. Wow." Daniel looked around, there were about ten to fifteen people sitting at tables and up at the counter, and all of them were eating and talking and generally having a good time.

Steve cleared his throat and Daniel turned to face him. "I think it's time for you to tell me what's eating you, don't you?"

Daniel just nodded his head, he could feel the tears come rushing to the surface but he forced them back down. He wished that they weren't in such a public place, that way he wouldn't make a fool of himself.

Steve saw the moisture in the boy's eyes and smiled at him. "Shall we move into the office? That way we'll have some privacy." Daniel just nodded his head and so Steve stood up and moved round the counter and into the kitchen behind.

Once they were seated, Steve in his normal place behind the desk and Daniel in front of it, he spoke again. "Do you want me to start you off?" Steve received another nod in answer to his question, and so he continued. "The kid at school, did he say something to you, or did you really hit him for no reason?"

"No, I wouldn't do that, he's been bugging me for ages now, and in the end I just couldn't take it any more, and I snapped. I didn't mean to hurt him; I just wanted him to shut up." Daniel's voice was quiet, but the emotion was there for Steve to see and hear.

"What did he say?"

"I don't want to tell you." Daniel tried to turn away, but he felt Steve's hand come up to his face and he cringed back.

"Daniel, I wasn't gonna hurt you, I was just going to do this." Carefully and with an extremely heavy heart Steve placed his hand on the side of Daniel's face and turned it so that the boy was looking at him. "I can promise you, you will never be hit, not under my roof, or my care, ok?"

"Yes, Sir." Daniel smiled, it was only a half smile, but it was full of meaning.

"Now, nothing that you can tell me is gonna shock me, I was no angel when I was a kid, just ask my dad, in fact, no, don't; I'm not sure I'll ever live it down."

"When you were at school did people make fun of you, or bully you?"

"Yeah, sometimes, I never got suspended, but I came pretty close once or twice. Are they making fun of you or are you being bullied?"

"In a way it's both, I guess." Daniel stopped talking again, partly because Nathan was coming with their order, but partly because he knew that sooner or later he was going to have to come clean.

"Or are they making fun of me, Jo or Michael? Is that it? They're saying things about us?"

"He said that I was a snob, that I shouldn't be going to that school any more, that it wasn't for the likes of me."

"And that is it? You didn't hit someone just for that?"

"No. It got worse." Daniel took a deep breath; now that the moment was here he found that he was desperate to unburden himself. "I don't care what Mr. Naegler said to you, that is a tough school, but I liked it because I just disappeared into it, you know. Nobody was interested in me, I could plod along at a steady pace and probably do well enough to graduate and maybe even get a steady job somewhere. But it is tough, there are gangs and fights and trouble all the time."

"So, something has changed, since you came to live with us?" Steve didn't want to interrupt but he did want Daniel to know that he was with him.

"Yeah, there aren't many kids who get dropped off at Rampart schools by an English butler, and the first week I was here M dropped me off every day. Well, the third day I was spotted and they heard him call me Master Daniel." He stopped talking for a moment and then he was back in the schoolyard the morning when it had all begun.

"Master Daniel, oh my lord, it's Master Daniel! Well, I guess we will all be paying to speak with you now. So, who was the old guy in the car?"

Daniel had found himself up against a wall with an arm across his throat, and then there were hands in his pockets and going through his bag where they found his lunch money, and a letter that Jo had sent in explaining his change in circumstances. He had had it since the Monday and kept forgetting to hand it in.

"Beverley Hills, you live in Beverley Hills, Master Daniel of Beverley Hills. So, who was the old guy? Maybe I should speak with him when he comes to pick you up."

"No, no. Don't do that." Daniel's voice had been faint, and he knew that if this boy, whoever he was, didn't remove his arm quickly he was going to pass out.

"Ok, I'll ask again, who is he?" The boy was right in Daniel's face now, and glared at him.

"He … he works for my foster mom. Arghhh." The boy had thumped his arm across Daniel's throat and then stood and laughed as he fell choking to the ground. As Daniel lay there he watched his assailant rummage in his bag and take out the Discman that Steve and Jo had given him when he moved in with them.  Suddenly one of the other boys who had been keeping watch while it was all going on called out.

"Naegler's coming."

"I'll want your lunch money every day, and a new CD every week, or your mom's 'employee' will get a little visit in the school parking lot, understand?"

Daniel had just nodded, and then to his relief they had left him alone.

He looked over at Steve, and realised that he had spoken aloud, and that his foster father knew exactly what had happened.

"What did Naegler say?"

"Nothing, he just told me to get up, collect my belongings and get to class… I've been paying them my lunch money … and getting them CD's ever since."

"Well, that stops right now, no wonder you always eat so much supper."  Steve decided against mentioning the Discman and was rewarded by a smile, so he kept talking. "There's more, isn't there? It got worse, yes?"

Daniel nodded his head, and once again delved into his memories to tell Steve what he had endured.

"Hey, Master Daniel!" Ever since that fateful day when Daniel had been spotted in the parking lot this boy had called him that name. He had no idea who he was, he didn't attend any of his classes, and so lessons were still peaceful and he could just sit in the middle of the room and get on with his work, but as soon as he left the sanctuary of the classroom he was there goading him and hounding him.

"You're living with a cop, aren't you?"

"What?" Daniel's heart had sunk, it was bad enough that Michael brought him to school sometimes, but now they knew about Steve.

"I saw him, big tall blonde guy; he had a gun and a badge when he dropped you off the other day. So, not only have you got money, you have the ear of a cop, well now, that could prove useful. Where does he work?"

"I don't know. And I'm not doing anything that involves him. So just back off."

"And they did for a while, but then last week it all started again, they were planning a job, I don't know what, and they wanted me to be in it."

"How did they know I was a cop?"

"It was the day that I had my school bag, my sports kit, and the stuff I had to take in for motor shop. You helped me carry it all in, I guess your jacket got caught up or something." Daniel shook his head, he hadn't wanted Steve to get out of the car, and he had been right.

"So what did they want you to do, or me to do?" Steve was getting a bad feeling about all of this, and he knew that somehow he had let his foster son down.

"They figured that if I was there you would pull some strings and get them all off so I wouldn't get into trouble. I got so worried about it that … well, M, he was the only one who knew. He figured it was because I was anxious about something, but I couldn't tell him what." Daniel looked down and the shame he felt made his cheeks burn.

"Daniel, tell me, I need to know it all." Steve's voice was soft and the boy knew that whatever he said, this man would help him.

"I… I wet the bed, and M said that I could stay home, and he would square it with Jo. I thought that if I wasn't there that they would do the job without me. Steve, I don't want to go back to juvenile hall, please, I want to stay with you. Don't send me back."

"Daniel, finish your story, ok?" Steve had taken the young man's hand in his, and he kept it there as he began to listen once again.

"I got into school and he was waiting. Roberto, I found out his name is Roberto. He wanted to know where I'd been, and I told him I was sick. He took my lunch money and left, but then today he was back. He said he'd looked you up, how could he do that?"

"He can't, keep going." Steve's voice was thin and strained now.

"He said that he knew you were a straight cop, and that he would let you know all these things that I had done, but I swear I haven't done anything, not since … well, not since I was with Zeke. He told me that the job was going to be tonight, and I would be there, or my life wouldn't be worth living. I couldn't cope with it any more, so I … I hit him. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." His voice broke as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

"Daniel, you have nothing to apologise for. Listen, I have to go and make the sauce, it won't take long, why don't you use the time to sort yourself out. Ok?"

Daniel nodded his head, and watched as Steve left the room.

It didn't seem more than about five minutes before he was back and Daniel, calm but still worried, looked at him and waited for the axe to fall.

Steve smiled, not realising what Daniel was still worried about. "Right, come on, I think that it is time we went home, we have a weekend to plan for."

"I can still stay with you? I can still come?" Daniel looked over at Steve, he had been looking forward to going to the ball, and thought he had blown any chance of being there.

"Of course, Michael needs you, and it's a family affair, our family wouldn't be complete if you weren't there."

With a huge sigh of relief Daniel smiled. "Can I just ask you one more thing?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Would you mind if I called you Dad?"

A/N: I start a new job on Monday, so I will have to change the way I post a little. I shall still try to put a new chapter up every other day, but it will be in the evening from now on. Thank you for sticking with me and encouraging me with your words.

Tracy.