Chapter 13.

Cheryl came to see them the next day; she looked tired but triumphant. Mark invited her in and offered her a drink.

"Looks like you've made some progress?" He said. Cheryl gave him a quick grin.

"Some," She said. She nodded to Steve and Rachel who were sitting on the deck just finishing breakfast. "But if its any help to the current problem I don't know," She sat down at the table and smiled her thanks at Mark as he placed a drink of coffee in front of her.

"What have you found out?" Steve asked ignoring Mark's stare.

"Well!" She looked uncertainly at Rachel.

"Go on," Rachel told her. "Some news is better than none,"

"Well last night I managed to get hold of a Sheriff Thomas Lucas," Rachel looked at her astounded.

"Tommy Lucas made sheriff," Cheryl looked at her puzzled and she grinned. "He's an old friend a career in law enforcement was the last thing that I thought he would have gone into," Cheryl gave a smile.

"Any way he was only to happy to help, as it is the only open murder case in his files," She took a drink from her mug and set it down on the table. She wasn't sure exactly how Rachel would take the news she was bringing. "It seems we both thought a like," She gave a sigh and looked at Rachel. "It would seem that your parents death was a contract hit," Steve looked sharply at her.

"Any proof?" He asked quickly. His hand covered Rachel's.

"Some," She said. "but I'll get to that,"

"It doesn't come as that much of a surprise," Rachel said sadly. "There was some suspicion of it at the time," Cheryl gave an inward sigh of relief.

"Anyway Danny Thompson having that old clipping may have told us who did the contract,"

"What!" Rachel exclaimed. Cheryl held up her hand.

"I doubt we will be able to prove it," She told them.

"Tell us anyway," Steve told her in a tight voice. Mark had sat down on Rachel's other side, one arm resting around her shoulders.

"Danny's uncle a man by the name of David Thompson," She gave a sigh. "I talk with Danny's aunt yesterday, she told me that Danny had gone through his uncles papers. When I went through them I found a catalogue of unsolved crimes, ranging from murders to bank robberies," She gave a yawn. "None here in LA though,"

"So he got that paper clipping from his uncles things?" Mark asked. Cheryl nodded.

"That might tell us who did it but not who hired him," Rachel said.

"Which given the circumstances and everything that has happened is the main question," Steve said.

"Why wait this long though?" Rachel said with a sense of frustration. "It doesn't make any sense," Steve looked up sharply at his father.

"Elizabeth Weston," He said. Mark sighed.

"It would make sense," Mark sighed. Rachel looked at both men.

"And what's the Weston's got to do with all this?" Cheryl asked.

"She's my grandmother from my mothers side of the family," Rachel sighed. "They disowned her when she married my father. I meet her and her son at the charity dance the other week,"

"I still can't see her being involved in the death of her own daughter like that," Cheryl said. Rachel gave a shrug.

"Mum's opinion of her family wasn't that high," Mark looked at his daughter-in-law.

" I have to agree with Cheryl on this one," He told her. "But there are others who have a vested interest in not letting Elizabeth getting friendly with you,"

"John does kind of spring to mind," Steve said softly.

"And he dose have the kind of money that it took to arrange the fake convention," Cheryl said thoughtfully. "But with Thompson's death it might be impossible to prove,"

"Unless he tries again," Rachel stated.

"Which, if he thinks he's in the clear, he well may do," Steve said. There was a tinge of concern in his voice. Cheryl stood.

"I'll get to the station," She told them. "And see if we can get anything to connect him to Thompson," Steve stood up as well.

"I'll see you out," They both walked through the house. Once Steve was sure that neither his father or Rachel could hear them. "I've an idea,"

Mark sat on the deck and thought it was taking Steve a long time to see Cheryl out. Curiosity got the better of him and he went out to see what was going on. Cheryl stood near the door the expression on her face clearly showing that she was not happy.

"Its risky Steve," He heard Cheryl saying.

"I know," Steve said. "And hopefully it won't come to it," Cheryl nodded.

"Okay I'll have a word with the captain and see what we can do,"

"I know Rachel well enough to know exactly what she would do in that situation," Steve said to her.

"Yeah!" Cheryl stated. "Your probably right. We'll get it sorted as soon as possible,"

"Thanks," Steve closed the door behind his partner. Steve turned to see his father looking at him, one eyebrow slightly raised. " A just in case move dad that's all," Mark frowned at his son but Steve wouldn't give him any more information on what he had planned.

Mark found his self on edge at work the next day. Even when he pressed Steve he wouldn't give any information on what he had planned, all he would tell him was that it was a just in case measure. Cheryl still hadn't found out anything to connect John Weston and Danny Thompson, she had questioned Peter Tanner again but again he swore that Danny had handled that side of it and he had never met the person who had hired them. Cheryl believed him, since hearing of his friend's death he had totally honest with what he had told them all he could and now to certain degree was afraid for his own life.

" It just feels like we've hit a stone wall," Jack grumbled as he sat down next to mark and pitting his coffee down on the table. Mark nodded.

"I take it Cheryl hasn't be able to connect John Weston to Danny Thompson?" Jesse asked. Mark shook his head.

"No," he sighed. "Not that is really surprising," He picked up his cup and took a drink.

"What is worrying is that if he thinks he's in the clear he could try anything," Jack said with a worried edge.

"That's what worries me," Mark told them. "I doubt that he will let this rest,"

"Dose he strike you as unstable?" Jesse asked.

"Well what has happened hardly looks like the actions of a stable man," Jack told them. A sudden thought came to Jesse.

"Has Cheryl looked into his medical background?" He asked. Mark looked across at him.

"You know I don't think that she has," Mark answered him. He stood up and turned to leave, but he bumped into Cheryl rushing into the room.

"Thank god you're here," She said quickly. "We've got a problem,"

Rachel watched Steve fetch his coat.

"You don't have to go," She told him. "I could get Mark to pick some up on the way home," Steve smiled.

"But then you won't have it in time for dinner," He told her. She smiled. "I won't be long and remember there's a black and white out front,"

"As if I can forget," Steve gave a quick grin and leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss, he grabbed his car keys and left.

There wasn't much he had to get and soon was at the checkout paying for the food then was heading back to his truck. Opening the door he placed the bags on the passenger seat then walked around to the other side. He was just about to get in when pain suddenly exploded in his head, the world went black and he collapsed to the floor with a grunt.