Title: Problems with the Past

Author: I AM GRUMPY-BEAR

Rating: PG

Spoilers: None

Summary: Gary meets a girl who's past is quickly catching up to her and that could spell disaster for everyone.

Disclaimer: How many times do I have to tell you. I don't own them. At least not yet. Note to self. *shifts eyes.*

Note: Six chapters. I'm so happy. *wipes eyes*

Problems with the Past

Chapter Six: Coincidence

Rachel knocked on the apartment. Emma had been gone from school that day and she was bringing her homework. Rachel waited a few minutes and then knocked on the door again. She was just about to leave when Emma's father, Mark, (a/n: Mark and Roy, same person) walked towards the apartment.

"Hi, Mr. Jones," said Rachel. "The school had me bring Emma's homework."

Roy looked at Rachel and took the books and papers. "Thanks," he said quietly.

Rachel stared at Roy for a moment and then asked, "Can I go talk to Emma?"

Roy sighed sadly and answered, "Emma is in the hospital; she was in an accident."

"Is she okay?" asked Rachel nervously.

"Right now she is," said Roy. He paused for a moment and then said, "You might be able to visit her tomorrow."

"Alright," said Rachel. She said good-bye and left. Roy sighed and walked into the apartment. He set the books down on the kitchen table and sat down in a chair. He had been up all of the night before and the lost sleep was catching up to him. Before he could stop himself, Roy had fallen a sleep.

******

"How can I help you, Agent Hazel?" Detective Crumb asked the federal agent.

"Yesterday there was a hit-and-run accident," said Hazel. "The girl who was hit was named Robin Mason. I need all the information you have on that accident."

"Am I allowed to ask why?" asked Crumb.

"You're allowed to," said Hazel, "doesn't mean I'm going to answer."

Crumb stared at the woman for a moment and then left the office. Hazel waited for a few minutes until the detective walked back into the office carrying a manila folder.

"There was a hit-and-run accident yesterday," said Crumb, "but the girl hit was named Emma Jones."

"That would be her," said Hazel reaching for the folder.

Crumb kept the folder out of her reach and said, "You said the girl's name was Robin Mason."

Hazel stared at him for a moment not knowing what to say. She had messed up completely. Hazel was mentally kicking herself for that slip.

"Who is Robin Mason?" asked Crumb impatiently.

Hazel remained quiet for another few seconds and then answered, "Robin Mason is Emma Jones and vice versa."

"What are you talking about?" asked Crumb.

"Right now, a man named Frederick Bostwick is walking the streets of Chicago," said Hazel with a sigh. "He is wanted for escaping from jail, murder, and two counts of attempted murder. He has been in jail three times before and has escaped three times. He has killed two police officers, one federal agent, and five civilians. Together he has twelve counts of attempted murder. Four of those are all against one person. Her name is Robin Mason and she is the person who helped to put Bostwick behind bars all three times."

Hazel stopped for a moment to see if Crumb had anything to say. When he didn't say anything, she continued. "In the past week he has shot one police officer and held three hostage. The police officer he shot in now recovering in the hospital. He also hit a girl with a car. I can guarantee you the most important thing on his mind is his plan to kill Robin Mason."

"Now that I know who Robin Mason is," said Crumb," can you tell me who Emma Jones is?"

"Robin and her family were put into the witness protection program," said Hazel. "Emma Jones was her new identity." She stared at the man. "Can I please see the folder now?"

Crumb handed her the folder and she opened it up. "Do you guys always work on hit-and-runs?" asked Crumb sarcastically.

"We do when a psychotic criminal we've been trying to catch commits one," replied Hazel without looking up.

"You're not going to find much information in that," said Crumb.

"You be surprised how much you can learn about Bostwick from some of the simple things he does," said Hazel as she continued to read.

******

"He just hit you?" asked Marissa.

"Yeah," said Gary. "I don't know what the heck is going on."

"I thought you said it was just a hit-and-run," said Chuck.

"That's what I thought it was," said Gary, "but I'm not so sure any more."

"Maybe the guy's just afraid the police are going to catch him," said Chuck.

"Then why would he hit Gary?" asked Marissa.

"Gary saw the accident happen," said Chuck.

"It wasn't an accident," said Gary. "The guy meant to hit her."

"How do you know that?" asked Marissa.

"The car almost hit her a first time," said Gary, "but I prevented that. The same car came back around and hit her. Then he got out of the car and stared at her. He didn't even try to help her."

"Maybe he was a afraid," suggested Chuck.

"No," said Gary as he shook his head. "I saw the look on his face. He looked like he hated that girl. I don't think he would have helped her even if his life depended on it."

******

Hazel carefully read through the police report. She couldn't afford to miss a thing. Bostwick had made a lot of mistakes during his life of crime and he had never made a plan, but somehow he always managed to get away. Since he never made a plan, he never knew where he was going next. He just took his chance when he saw it. The police never knew where to look for him. They just had to keep Robin out of his of reach and pray he would slip-up.

Hazel searched for anything odd in the report, but after she had read through it a third time, she was close to giving up.

"You're not going to find anything," said Crumb.

Hazel ignored him and continued reading. She hated when people told her she wasn't going to find something or someone. That only made her work harder. It was then that she noticed the name.

"Robin said a man named Gary told her not to step out into the street," Hazel thought to herself, "and he's right here in the police report. I've read this three times. Why didn't I make the connection sooner?"

Hazel looked up at the detective and asked, "Have you ever heard of a man named Gary Hobson?"

Crumb didn't respond for a few seconds and then asked, "Why?"

"His name is in the police report," said Hazel. "He was a witness."

"There's another witness," said Crumb. "What's so special about Hobson?"

"His name is Gary," said Hazel. "Robin said a man named Gary stopped her from walking out into the street and getting hit."

"But she was hit," said Crumb.

"Stopped her from getting hit the first time," said Hazel.

"I'm confused," said Crumb.

"She was going to step out into the street," explained Hazel, "but someone told to wait. She was nearly hit. Then when she was crossing the street, she was hit."

"Oh," said Crumb still not quite understanding.

"You never answered my question," said Hazel.

Crumb stared at the federal agent and then said, "I know him, but I can guarantee you that he had nothing to do with this accident."

"A man shouts at Robin not to go out into the street and she narrowly avoids getting hit," said Robin, "and then five seconds later she gets hit anyway. That was not all a coincidence and I can tell that you don't believe it was either."

"I'm telling you," said Crumb, "Hobson was not involved with that accident. He may show up at weird times, but he's not a criminal."

"What?" asked Hazel apparently confused.

"Nothing," said Crumb. "I'm just trying to tell you that Hobson had nothing to do with the accident."

"You're probably right," said Hazel, "but I'm not willing to take any chances. Besides, even if he was only a witness, he could still be in danger. Bostwick is a very dangerous man and his only goal is to get rid of Robin. It's almost sad. He has no other plans."

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

Six chapters. Wow! Well, time to work on seven.