XVI.

Officer Canton waited patiently for Fox to arrive. He stood up and offered his hand when Fox entered the room.

"I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this, but I'd like to ask you a few questions about the incident."

"Sure." Fox nodded as he shook the officer's hand.

"All right." Officer Canton said as he got his pen ready. "Tell me what you saw."

Fox took a deep breath. "I was out in the parking lot following Theresa- the woman who was~" Fox's voice was unsteady. "Who was~" Fox bent his head.

"Hit." Officer Canton finished.

Fox exhaled slowly. "Yeah,"

"Why were you following her?" Officer Canton asked.

"She and I had spoken about a touchy issue, and I wanted to make sure she was all right."

"Okay," Officer Canton nodded. "Go on."

"I watched her walk into the parking lot. Then I heard a squeal of tires." Fox felt a lump form in his throat. He swallowed hard. "I saw the car go straight towards her~" Fox's voice trembled. "I told her~" Fox stopped and put his head in his hands. "I told her to watch out, but she didn't get out of the way in time~" Fox's breaths were shaky. He paled as the images of Theresa's body on the ground flashed through his mind.

"And that's all?" Officer Canton asked.

"That's all." Fox replied.

"Okay, Mr. Crane, that's about all I need." Officer Canton stood up.

"All right," Fox said. He got up and turned to leave. "Officer, would you happen to know the driver of the car?"

"I don't think I should disclose that information at this time." Officer Canton replied.

"Please" Fox begged. "I need to know."

Officer Canton relented. "Latoya is her first name."

"She sounds oddly familiar." Fox mumbled. "Thanks, officer."

"Yeah, you take care."

Fox left the room with his brow furrowed in thought. "Latoya," he mumbled.

"Latoya?" Chad asked as he handed Fox a cup of coffee.

"Latoya's the one who was driving the car." Fox clarified. "She sounds familiar to me."

"Oh my God," Chad said in disbelief. "Latoya is responsible for this?"

"Who's Latoya again?" Fox asked confused.

"Puff-Dog's sister." Chad replied gravely. "Where is she?" He asked.

"I don't know." Fox replied.

~*~



Whitney woke up with her head throbbing from pain. She rubbed her eyes and glanced around her. "Where am I?" She asked aloud. She looked down at her clothes and noticed she was wearing a paper-thin hospital gown. "How'd I get here?" Whitney thought confused. She slowly got out and wobbled unsteadily on her feet. She felt dizzy, and held onto the rail of the bed. When the room stopped spinning about her, Whitney took a few tentative steps towards the bathroom. Pain penetrated her eyes and made the throbbing in her head worse. Whitney leaned over and turned the knobs of the sink. She splashed cold water on her face and stared in the mirror. She noticed a bruise on the side of her head. Whitney brought her fingers up to the bruise and winced when she lightly touched it.

When she was through, Whitney turned and headed back to the bed. She laid back and pulled the covers tightly around her. Once she closed her eyes, Whitney replayed memories of what happened that night. Whitney remembered going down to Latoya's car. "I was looking for a box when~"
Whitney sat up suddenly. "Latoya tricked me. She stuck me with a syringe. Why?" Whitney wondered. "And how did I end up here?"

~*~



Officer Canton exited the room and saw Fox Crane talking to someone. Fox looked over at his direction and motioned for him to come over.

"Is there something you need?" Officer Canton asked.

"Do you have Latoya in custody?" Fox asked hastily.

"Yeah, why?" Officer Canton asked warily.

"I know her," Chad replied grimly. "I want to know why my fiancé was drugged in her back seat."

"And I want to know why my girlfriend was run over by her car." Fox added.

"Latoya won't talk about the incident." Officer Canton replied. "I've tried questioning her, but she refuses to speak."

"At least let me try." Chad pleaded.

"You can talk to her once I get her down to the station, but I need to pick up the surveillance tapes from the parking lot. Since it's late, why don't you fellas go on home? Call the L.A. station in the morning and ask to speak with me or my partner Stanley. I'll set it up so that you can talk to Latoya while I observe and record the conversation. That's the best I can do." Officer Canton offered.

"Fine then. Expect a call from us first thing in the morning." Chad said.

"See you boys in the morning." Officer Canton said before disappearing around the corner.

"So what now?" Chad asked tiredly.

"I'm going back to Theresa's room." Fox said. "Why don't you check on Whitney?"

"Yeah," Chad agreed. "Good idea."

~*~



"You're up," Chad said surprised as he entered Whitney's room.

"Chad, honey, how did I get here?"

"The paramedics found you drugged in the back seat of Latoya's car."

"Why would Latoya do that?" Whitney thought.

"Latoya has problems. I'm going to try to find out why she did what she did tomorrow. Fox and I are going down to the station to speak to her."

"Fox too? Why's he going?"

"Uh~" Chad lowered his gaze.

"Latoya hit Theresa with her car."

Whitney was overcome with shock and disbelief. Her eyes were wide as she placed her hand over her mouth. "Is Theresa~"

"Theresa's in a very critical condition. She's in ICU now."

"I have to see her." Whitney said as she struggled to get out of bed. "I have to make sure she's all right." Whitney frantically threw aside the bed covers.

"Whitney," Chad said. "Calm down honey. It's really late, and Fox is there with her now."

"Oh poor Fox!" Whitney lamented. "How is he taking it?"

"He's pretty upset." Chad replied. "He doesn't want to lose her."

"Oh Chad!" Whitney cried as she flung herself into his arms. "Theresa's going to be okay, right?"

"I hope so, honey." Chad said softly. "I hope so."

~*~



Fox reentered Theresa's room and sat beside the bed. "This has been one hell of a long night, Theresa." He admitted. Theresa was almost unrecognizable from the bruises she sustained all over her body. Fox knew that she was in pain. He wished that he could somehow soothe her, but instead he was helpless. "I love you Theresa," He whispered. "You remember that always. No matter what happens, I will love you." Fox leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Forever." He whispered.