Chapter Four Revelations
Steve and Rae had both been determined to get the weekend off that they were entitled to, and so had worked late into the night on the Friday in order to have no guilt pangs about putting their workload to the back of their minds until Monday.
Jo and Steve had managed to have a chat on the Friday evening and now, the next morning, they were sat at the breakfast table explaining things to Daniel. The discussion the previous night had been difficult, but in the end they had sorted things out.
"Jo, Honey, we need to talk about Daniel and his trip." Steve had been sat up in bed a calculator and white lined tablet resting on his knees and a pencil behind his ear.
"We do? What now? Can't it wait until the weekend?" Jo had been brushing her hair and Steve had watched as she played the brush over the white streak which was gradually getting longer and merging in with the other strands. It would be a while until it was long enough to do anything with, and unless she decided to dye it, Steve knew it would always remind them of her ordeal.
"It is the weekend, and you need to get packed; besides I worked some of it out in my mind on the way home, I just want to discuss it with you."
Jo had got up and walked suggestively across the room. She had on a very pale pink silk shirt which finished just below her panties and Steve felt himself waiver. "An' there is nothin' else you would like to be doin' instead?"
"There are plenty of things I would like to be doing instead, but this needs to be discussed before you leave."
"Why, Lieutenant, an' I was even gonna suggest you bring your cuffs home to play with!"
"Jo, stop it!" Steve tried to be stern, but he knew he was failing miserably. "I do bring them home, but I'll just attach you to the bedpost and then talk to you."
"Meany." Jo sat on the bed with her back to him. "Go on then, I'm listenin'."
Steve leant over and kissed her gently on the neck. "I was going to offer … to pay for Daniel's … keep myself … but I guess … I'll just keep on … spending it … on wine, women … and song!" Steve left one last kiss on Jo's neck and then moved away. He had felt her shiver under his touch, and he knew that the discussion could be really short if he wasn't careful.
"Why do you want to do that?" Jo turned round, her interest obviously piqued and she moved under the covers and tried to look at his notes.
"Jo, Honey, I don't want to hurt your feelings, and I think that however I say this I will, so just let me talk ok?" Steve was glad now that he hadn't let his passion overwhelm him, he needed to say this, probably had needed to say it since their marriage, and now he had his chance.
"Most newly-wed couples have to budget their money, make cuts here and there so that they can pay their bills, their rent, eat now and then, but we aren't most newly-wed couples. I have a well-paid job, my own place, even a share in my own business; unless I get some seriously unsavoury habits I am never gonna be short of money, but its small change compared to what you have, what you earn in interest every day, and I guess I feel … threatened by that."
"Why? Darlin' I can't change who I am or what I have, just like you can't change yourself. You are a cop, always will be, an' I am learnin to live with that. I am a wealthy woman, I could offer to give it up, just like you would have, but I don't think it would be possible." Jo had paused for a moment, almost as if, Steve had thought later, she was actually considering it. "I have money in so many places, an' trust funds, reserves here there an' everywhere, that there is no way I could get rid of it all. But I try not to flaunt it, I'm sorry if I'm not bein' very successful at that."
"Jo, listen to me, ok?" Steve had placed a finger under her chin and lifted her beautiful face up so that she was looking at him. He saw a small nod and so continued talking. "I'm not asking you to give it up, I'm not saying that you rub my nose in your wealth because you don't, and you never have, what I am saying is that I need to feel I am contributing to the financial side of our relationship."
"An' you want to pay for Daniel?" Jo looked a little confused, and then even more so when Steve laughed at her.
"Well, yeah, I guess, if you want to put it that way, although you make him sound like a utility bill. He has school trips to go on, he needs clothes, shoes, things that shouldn't have to come out of his allowance, things he shouldn't have to pay for himself … I'd like to pay for them. And when we adopt him, when he is really our son, well then, I'd like to start a savings plan for him, so that when he gets married, or wants a place of his own he has the money to do that." Steve finished talking and looked at his wife and he saw that some of what he said wasn't necessary. "He won't need money when he gets married will he?"
"No, darlin' he won't. I don't know the legalities of it all yet, an' I need to talk with David, especially now Miss Prissy Knickers is with child, but he will become the heir to some serious money when all the formalities are through with. If we have a child of our own then I think that Daniel will become a slightly lesser heir, if you see what I mean, but there is no way that Deb's child is gonna take what is Daniel's by right."
"Whoah, just for a minute, slow down, I'm talking about a school trip and a teenage boy's allowance, and now you have him inheriting the company? Jo, Honey, I have to say I think David and Debs will fight you all the way, and if the tables were turned I think you would be doing the same thing."
"Are you sayin' that he shouldn't inherit some of what is mine to give him? I could fall pregnant tonight, have a baby in nine months an' he or she be a complete wastrel, never lift a finger in his or her life, an' suddenly when we pass on find that all the money they had ever dreamed about was right there for the takin'. Daniel had no idea what kind of life we led, how much money we had. He came here because we offered him a better life than juvie, an' we knew Alex. If I didn't think he was gonna turn into an asset for Walters Oil, I wouldn't consider what I'm … considerin'… What?"
"I love it when you get passionate about something … come here." He had begun to kiss her then, running his fingers through her hair, feeling the heat of her through the silk of the night shirt. The calculator and pad fell to the floor, and he shivered at the sensation of Jo's hand as she removed the pencil that was in the way of her gently probing fingers.
"Mmm, this is better … if you show me your figures I'll show you mine!" Jo began to kiss him and moved her hands down onto his back, and he felt her kneading his muscles and he groaned.
"Oh, God, Jo, let me finish … mmmm, that is so good." Steve had rolled onto his stomach then and felt Jo's legs as she straddled him and began to massage him properly.
"I agree, you pay for Daniel, but you tell him, explain it all, now, shush, lie still an' enjoy."
Steve had just smiled, he knew he didn't need to say anything more, and the conversation had soon become forgotten as he surrendered himself to her, just as, in the end, he always did.
"Daniel, your dad has some things that he needs to discuss with you." Jo smiled across at Steve and he jolted back to reality.
"Um, yeah, that's right … We need to talk with you about your trip to San Fran." Steve had finished his third piece of toast and for a moment he looked round, wondering where the rest had gone, and then he remembered that he was waiting for some more to be put on the table.
"I know, chores, chores, and then, just for a change, some more chores. I called Jesse yesterday; he said that he would find me something." Daniel looked at his dad with a smile, hoping he would appreciate that he really was trying.
"Good for you. Well, anything that you earn outside of this house can be spending money then, because the rest of it will be taken care of, as long as you fulfil your end of the bargain." Steve returned the smile; he was impressed with Daniel's initiative, and well remembered his time cleaning cars and driveways to earn as much cash as he could, especially around the time of his summer breaks.
"So, what did you want to say about it? I know it's an expensive trip, I really won't go if you don't want me to." Daniel hoped his words sounded sincere, even though they weren't.
"Daniel, Honey, you know you don't mean a word of it, so don't go makin' promises you can't keep." Jo managed to keep the chuckle she felt threatening down in her throat as she spoke.
"Daniel, we know you want to go and we have no problem with that." Steve told him. "We also know you're aware you've joined a very wealthy family, so have I, and trust me it feels really weird. Sometimes I think it always will. But your mom and me, we both appreciate that you ask for very little, always earn your allowance, and try to keep your things in good condition. That hasn't gone unnoticed."
Steve paused for a moment, feeling a little unsure of how to continue, but then he saw the way his son looked so proud at what he had said, how he had smiled in a delighted way, and he found his voice once more. "I spoke to your mom and we've decided that I'll be responsible for your every day expenses. Clothes, sneakers, any additional books for school, trips, things like that, oh, and your allowance once the adoption process has finished."
"So, when I need anything I come to you?" Daniel had a feeling that he might have a problem getting the few extra dollars now and then that he got from his mom. "Why can't I just go to Mom, like I always do? She's home when you aren't, and I'm bound to want something when you're on nights or whatever."
"Ok, let me explain this. You know that the money is your mom's. It's not mine, I married into it, and you … I don't know, fostered into it, I guess. But yeah, when you need anything, come to me, if you want something that's different. You will still have your allowance, and when you are our son, legally our son, then we'll arrange pocket money for you, probably about the same as you're getting now, ok?" Steve saw Daniel nod his head and begin to speak.
"And if I want something, and I'm a little … strapped for cash?"
Steve smiled again, "I just happen to have about my person …" With a flourish Steve pulled out a piece of paper from behind him. "I have worked out a chart, it shows how much I'll pay for each chore, that way there will be no argument when it comes to payday." Steve handed over a sheet of paper that he had printed out and laminated.
Daniel looked down it, and when he got to the bottom of it he let out a laugh. "Oh, you're kidding me." Jo and Steve smiled at each other. Most of the chores on the list would earn Daniel a couple of dollars, maybe five if he was lucky, but if he cleaned the pool he would get twenty dollars. "I guess I'd better go and get the gear." With a deep sigh the young man stood up, looked down at his clothes and sighed again. "And get changed too."
Jo and Steve watched him go and then Jo moved over and stood by the French doors and looked out at her garden. She felt Steve come and stand behind her with his hands on her shoulders and, as she intertwined her fingers with those of her husband, Jo began to speak. "I talked with your daddy the other night, an' he gave me a few pointers as to where I should start with my search."
"And I'll bet he was just delighted to help you out, but, ex-detective Walters, I'm betting you still know just how to run this type of investigation." Steve smiled and kissed her gently in her hair.
For a moment Jo enjoyed the sensation but then she spoke again. "I've looked up a few things on the internet, but I don't think there is anyway to avoid goin' all the way to Texas, at least initially."
"I know, and I also know you have to do this. Jo, if I was in your position I would be going, just … just don't stay away too long." Steve ran his finger down the side of her face, and then rested his hand on her cheek and watched as she turned slightly and laid her head against his chest. "If I can get away I'll come down, I promise, but it's gonna be hard, I have a bad feeling about the body we found on that bit of waste ground, and working with the Chief isn't a breeze either."
"Honey, you know that he chose you an' Rae specially."
"No, he chose Rae specially; I'm just going along for the ride."
"So, let her take the heat, she likes the man, though I have no idea why, he seems a cold fish to me, an' Rae is just so warm an' friendly."
"Well, I've never known the Chief to be friendly with anyone, but with Rae, there seems to be something different. She worked for him for a few weeks, when she was hurt, but even before that they had a … a relationship I guess, and he doesn't have that with any other cop on the force, as far as I know."
"A relationship? You're not sayin' that he an' Rae…" Jo realised it sounded silly, but she had to ask.
"No! Not that kind of relationship, they're, well, I think they're friends." Steve kissed Jo's hair, and wound his fingers in it. "I don't want to talk about him, not on my day off. I would much rather do something nice with you."
Jo looked up at him. "We could go to the glade. Michael will look after Daniel, an' we haven't been there for the longest time." Jo could see that the suggestion was a welcome one, and hand in hand they left the breakfast room to find the butler and tell him of their plans.
Rae and Jesse hadn't slept in the same room for almost six weeks. When Jesse first came home from the hospital Rae had made him up a bed in the breakfast room, but apart from the first night he had been, at his request, alone. The comfort Rae had provided him with initially had disappeared almost immediately. He felt hemmed in, claustrophobic, if she came near him, and all he wanted was the bed, the room, even the floor to himself. He hadn't told her that of course, but the excuse that he was having trouble sleeping and would read until the small hours of the morning had been accepted without an argument, although Rae had insisted the baby monitor was plugged in by the bed, just in case he needed her.
Now though, he was back upstairs, but still he couldn't even consider sharing a bed with anyone, and so they were in separate rooms. The week of nights had meant sleeping together hadn't been an issue, but he knew he needed another reason not to sleep with his wife, and Jesse had been trying to work one out all day on the Friday.
The girls had gone to Sally's for the afternoon, so that they could get used to being with her again before they started back into the normal routine on the Monday. Jesse had been thankful for that because what had happened to him just after lunch had scared the hell out of him, and he wasn't sure how he would have coped if Eliana and Anneya had been there. Right now though Rae was sleeping late, she rarely got a Saturday and Sunday off together, and he didn't want to disturb her. The girls were sitting at the breakfast table eating their toast soldiers and so he was able to let his mind wander back to the previous day.
Jesse had been looking for a letter from a drug company he'd undertaken some trials for in the past. They had written to him asking whether he would be interested in doing so again and, now that work was looming, Jesse realised that he should at least answer their letter. As he rummaged through the drawer under the telephone table Jesse saw a cardboard box on the floor by the backboard, crouched down to pick it up, and as he did so he was back in the garage.
"So, Travis, how do you like your accommodations?"
The voice had sounded so real, the words exactly as he had heard them when he was in the lock up. And before, he'd heard them before that too, when he'd been in danger another time, but he couldn't remember when.
The flashback had been over in seconds, but it had left him weak and gasping for air. The panicky feelings it had evoked had taken much longer to dissipate than the memory had. He'd made his way, very shakily, into the breakfast room and collapsed onto the sofa. His breathing had still been erratic, and he couldn't focus on the world around him. Keeping his eyes tightly closed Jesse had tried to picture happy things, his daughters, the surf when it was high, the sun as it disappeared behind the horizon in a blaze of orange, red and gold. First of all he had thought it wasn't going to work, but gradually he had felt himself begin to come back to the real world, but then he'd wondered whether it was such a great place to be, and that had scared him too.
He had gone back and found the cardboard box, trying to work out why it had caused the flashback. It was the outer wrapping for a set of six gauze wraps, and Jesse had a vague memory of talking about why the ones in his medical bag were just in plastic, but he couldn't remember when it had happened.
"Jesse?" Rae's voice cut into his thoughts and he jumped. "Honey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, but the girls have finished breakfast and I think they want to get down." Rae had enjoyed the luxury of waking without an alarm clock ringing in her ear, and now she was looking forward to a weekend with her family.
Jesse looked over to where his daughters were sitting and saw that the toast had all disappeared, drink had been spilt on the table and both plastic plates were on the floor. "I guess they've been waiting for me, huh?"
"I would say so." Rae rested her hand lightly on her husband's shoulder and felt him stiffen. She kept it there, and gradually he relaxed a little, but Rae could tell he wasn't happy about the physical contact. "It's a lovely day outside, why don't we put them in the play area and then we can talk."
"What about?" Jesse felt himself go instantly on the defensive, but he forcefully shrugged it off. He needed to talk with her too, and however much he kept himself to himself, some of the time he missed and wanted her company. Now she was here, how could he push her away?
"Well, for one thing I'm going to be out of town for two days from Monday, you are going back to work, and for another, we have hardly seen each other for a week, I miss you."
Jesse had forced a smile to his lips, but he didn't reply to her, even though he knew she wanted him to. Instead he got up, took Anneya out of her high chair and watched as Rae cleaned Eliana's face of butter and jelly before heading towards the sunshine.
Once the two little girls had been smeared with sun cream, had hats on their heads and drinks put within their grasp Rae and Jesse sat on the bench inside the confines of the playground and Rae rested her hand over that of her husband.
"Rae, don't." Jesse hadn't meant to sound harsh, but he knew his words had come out that way.
"Jesse, Honey, why won't you let me touch you? I can't kiss you, hug you, in fact I think that you would rather I didn't come anywhere near you… Don't you love me anymore?"
The pause was too long, Jesse knew it. What he didn't know was what to say. "Rae … I do, but it's hard, y'know? Somehow my feelings are all mixed up. I've told Lauren about it, she says it will get better … I'm sorry."
Lauren Yung was the counsellor that both Rae and Jesse had seen over the past couple of years. Rae used to see a man called Brian Dobson, but when he retired she had been referred to Lauren. To her surprise Jesse found her easy to talk to as well, and had visited her a few times. Now though it was a regular occurrence, once a week on a Monday, but that was all Rae knew. She had no idea what they talked about, how long it would go on for, or even if Jesse felt like he was making progress, in fact until that very moment Jesse had never mentioned it before.
"Rae, I don't know what to say to you, all I am doing is trying to get my life back together, and you are rushing me to be just like I used to be. I don't think I'm doing too bad, but you want me to be all 'huggy and kissy' all the time, I never was like that, so why should I suddenly be that way now? All I need is some time, time just for me." Jesse stood up, he needed to move away a little, get some air around him, that way he could think.
Rae didn't know what to say, he had been through a terrible ordeal, maybe he did just needed some time to himself like he said. "Do you want me to leave? I can take the girls and find a place in town. It doesn't have to be for long, just until you feel a little stronger…" Rae closed her eyes for a moment to try to keep the tears in. "Jesse, I love you, I always will, but if it's easier for you if I go then I'll pack up some clothes for the three of us, and stay at the beach house until I find someplace else. I … I don't want to make your recovery any harder for you than it already is."
Jesse turned, he couldn't tell her how his load seemed to lift when she offered to move out, couldn't tell her that he had no idea why, or whether he would ever feel ready to let her back into his life. "No, I can stay at the beach house, I travel as one, it would be better if you stayed here, better for the girls too. Rae, I'm sorry."
Jesse watched as Rae got to her feet, "I need some breakfast, we can talk again later," then as he made no attempt to say anything further she made her way into the house and Jesse wondered whether they would ever be a couple again and for a moment his heart ached.
By Monday at ten both Steve and Rae were in the squad room. There was an overnight bag by the side of Rae's desk which Steve kicked as he moved across towards her.
"Hey, watch it; I'm very attached to that Gladstone bag." Rae's temper flared for a moment and then was gone.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see it, a what?" Steve looked down at the bag which looked as if it was made of a dark cream patterned material of some sort.
"Gladstone bag, named after a prime minister if I remember my history correctly." Rae voice was tense, and then she picked up her tea and took a drink from it.
"Rae? Is there something wrong, are you ok to be going with the Chief?"
"I'm fine, Steve, just fine." To Rae's relief Jesse had decided against moving out of the house, and he had made an effort to join in with the activities that the rest of his family had done over the weekend. It hadn't been a laugh a minute, but Rae was heartened by the fact that he seemed to enjoy himself, and if he wasn't up for hugs and kisses right now, then that was ok too, she loved him and would just wait until he was.
"How many people know you're going with Masters?" Steve realised that his tone wasn't very respectful, and he lowered his eyes.
"Not many, why?" Rae looked confused for a minute but then the realisation of what Steve meant hit her. "Oh, God, no, you don't think…? Oh, that is just gross. The man is old enough to be my father." Rae looked grey for a moment and Steve, concerned, put his arm on her shoulder.
"Hey, relax, I haven't told anyone, I'm sure he hasn't, so, unless you made an announcement from dispatch, your secret is safe."
"WE DON'T HAVE… we don't have a secret." Rae lowered her voice as she saw a few heads turn in her direction. As she did so her desk phone rang and she leant over and picked it up. "Detective Yeager … hi, Margaret … yes, I'm ready, I'll be right there… gee, thanks, bye." Rae put the receiver back down, picked up the attaché case that she had put her laptop, which contained all the information she figured she would need in Santa Barbara, in and smiled at her partner. "Well, have fun without me; I'll be back on Wednesday, about lunchtime I would guess. If you need me call, I'll have my cell on me all the time, and I may well be glad of the chance for some relaxed conversation."
"Don't give me that, Detective, I know you like the man." Steve smiled as he spoke.
"Yeah, I do, he's a nice guy, a little off, but nice all the same. I wouldn't want his job for all the tea in China, I know he is way to political for you, but I think that makes him more aware of the outside world, he sees the broader picture, and he must be doing something right, he still has a job that not many men have held on to for as long as he has."
"Mmmm, well once you have gotten all your fawning out of the way, can you manage by yourself or should I help you?"
Rae picked up the bag and the case and stuck her tongue out at her partner. "You'll miss me when I'm gone, see you Wednesday." With that Rae made her way through the door and out of sight.
Steve had watched Rae leave the squad room and for a moment he felt incredibly lonely. Jo had left that morning for the airport, she planned to drop Daniel at school and then carry straight on to her plane. Their goodbye had been a little tearful, but full of promises.
"I will call you every night, an' if you aren't home yet then I will just keep callin' until you are." Jo had pulled him towards her and begun to kiss him, and after a while Steve pulled back.
"I'll keep the phone by the bed and I might even force myself to call you before I go to sleep for a goodnight kiss."
"Hey, Cowboy, what makes you think I'm gonna be waitin' for you all night?" Jo had smiled at him before pulling him closer again.
"And what makes you think I want to kiss you right now?" Steve had taken a step back and looked into her eyes.
"Oh, I don't think, I know." She had run her hands up and into his hair then and he'd known he was lost and the kiss had become a declaration of how much they loved each other, and how much they were going to miss being together.
Steve shook himself out of his very pleasant trip into his recent memories and, hoping no-one had noticed he'd been daydreaming, went to get himself a coffee.
There was a message on his desk from Amanda saying that the complete autopsy report on Jenna Palmerton would be with him by lunchtime, she had also reported that Paul Green, who, Steve realised after a moment or two of deep though, had been the man in the car holding up traffic the other evening, had died as a result of a wasp sting. A small pile of mail and a note from Cheryl was also waiting for him, but none of it was earth shattering, and so he decided to finish his coffee and tackle some of his paperwork before moving on to the more interesting parts of his day.
The first person that Jesse saw as he entered the ER of Community General was Shannon. She smiled at him but was aware enough to keep her distance and let him come to her.
"Hi, Shannon, have you heard from Alex?" Jesse appreciated the nurse's actions, and moved a little closer than he otherwise would have done. He hadn't seen Alex's girlfriend at all while he had been in the hospital, and somehow that made her easier to talk to.
"Yeah." She checked her watch, "he should be on his way now. His mom's been home a few days, he's happy that she's ok alone, and I know he wants to be back here."
"Good, well, I guess I'd better go and sign in and get the old white coat back on. Page me if you need me."
"Yes, Doctor."
Jesse smiled a broad smile; he had missed being called that.
The journey to Santa Barbara had taken just over two hours, most of it in a comfortable silence. Rae had been thinking over her weekend, and realised that she really had had a good time, and she knew that Jesse had too. She needed to remember that he had been through a very traumatic experience; it was only natural that normal life would be a little difficult at times.
Her thoughts had travelled on to the case at hand, and she had gone over the information that she had so far. Elizabeth Masters had been shot, fatally, in the elevator of a bank building. There had seemed to be absolutely no connection between the place of death and the victim and although she hadn't been involved in that search she trusted both Steve and Cheryl and knew that everything available would have been found.
Since then Rae had been going over financial records, any personal details that she could find, but the woman had been almost as obsessively secret about her life as her brother was. Rae had visited the house in Santa Barbara herself, gained a little more insight into Elizabeth and, although she had divulged none of it, her boss too.
All the pictures in the house had been of either Elizabeth with her brother or just her or her brother alone. They had seemed happy and comfortable together, and Rae had been pleased to see that there were times in the Chief's life when he had relaxed and enjoyed himself.
The car drew up outside the Travelodge where Rae had booked herself a room. She made sure that she had her key, and that there would be no problem getting in late at night, then she put her Gladstone bag in the closet, made sure the bed was comfy and had fresh linen, used the bathroom and returned to the Chief's car.
"You know, these places aren't bad, I don't stay in them very much, but they are always clean, tidy and compact." Rae strapped herself back in as she spoke, and the car drew away from the kerb.
Ten minutes later they were outside the Spanish style house that Elizabeth Masters had called home her whole adult life as far as Rae had been able to find out. As they walked up the driveway after parking the car the door opened on the neighbouring house and a lady came out and up to them.
"John, how are you? I was so sorry not to get a chance to speak with you at the funeral, but I wanted you to know how sad I feel about what happened. Elizabeth was a lovely lady, we will all miss her."
"Thank you, Mariana, thank you." The Chief saw his neighbour, her eyes on stalks, looking his companion up and down. "This is Detective Reagan Yeager, she is investigating the … the case. Detective, this is Mrs Ortega."
Rae, sensing her boss's distress moved slightly in front of him, extending her hand as she did so.
"Ma'am, I don't think I saw you the last time I was up here. I hope we won't disturb you." Rae searched for something to say to give the Chief a chance to either compose himself, or go into the house. "You live in a very beautiful city."
It appeared to be the thing to mention. "We do, I have lived here for over twenty years and it is just wonderful. Did you know it was founded in 1782, as a Spanish garrison? No, well it was and the mission was built just four years later. If your boss gives you any time to yourself you really should go visit it. It is a place of great serenity."
"Thank you, I will. I hoped to do some sightseeing last time, but I wasn't able to."
"You're not from round here are you, dear?" Mariana Ortega took on the personality of an inquisitive bird as she looked at Rae.
"No, Ma'am, I'm from London, but I live and work in LA now."
"Oh, how nice, with John?"
For a moment Rae wasn't quite sure how to answer. "He's my boss, yes. Can you recommend any other places to go? I have two young daughters; I would like to take them and my husband something back with me." Rae had a feeling that the spark of interest in Mariana's eyes dimmed a little.
"You could go to Paseo Nuevo, on State Street, you might find something a little unusual there. Is your husband a cop too?"
Rae smiled, and wondered for a second how Jesse was getting on. "No, he's a doctor."
"Detective, if you could spare me a moment." The Chief's voice floated out of the doorway to the house behind her and Rae turned slightly.
"Yes, Sir, I'm on my way." Rae extended her hand once again. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am. We'll let you know when we're leaving. Goodbye." Rae hoped that she had given an indication that the Chief wouldn't want to be disturbed, but she had a feeling that she may have wasted her breath.
By the time Jesse's shift had finished he was surprised at how exhausted but alive he felt. He wasn't working full time yet, and his day had been interrupted by his weekly visit with Lauren, but the hours had slipped by and he was already looking forward to coming back the next day. With a sigh he sat down at one of the tables in the doctors' lounge, a cup of coffee in front of him and let the day ebb away. As he did so he heard two very familiar voices travel down the corridor towards him and turned, a smile on his face as he stood and watched them get closer and closer.
"Well, well, look who it is. You know, I seem to remember we had a doctor here who looked just like this little guy." Amanda smiled and moved over to kiss her friend on the cheek. Jesse received it and then found himself in a hug which was also very welcome.
"Hey, hey, you know if I stop breathing Mark won't let me come in tomorrow." Jesse tried to extricate himself from Amanda's arms, but all she did was loosen her grip just a little.
Finally Amanda took a step back, placed a hand on each shoulder and looked at him. "You're looking better, you have colour in your cheeks, your hair is mussed up, and you have a stethoscope round your neck, it is so good to have you back."
"Thank you, it's good to be back, I needed the time but this is way better." Jesse turned to Mark and shook his hand. "I'm sorry our shifts didn't match today."
"Me too, Jess, but I'm covering for Alex, and joining my hours on where I can so that I don't spend more time in the car than the hospital. So far it seems to be working, but I'm off next weekend, and I can't wait."
"Me too, that is one good thing about being on reduced hours, although I have a feeling you have something to do with it too, huh?"
Mark was just about to answer when he heard a sound and turned to see his son standing in the doorway. "Steve, what brings you here?"
"Stab wounds, murdered store workers, and a hankering for meat loaf." Steve came into the room, grabbed himself a coffee and sat down opposite his friend. "It's good to see you, Jess, how've you been?"
"Not bad, Steve, not bad, but I have to go pick up the girls in a little while." Jesse looked around him for a few seconds almost like a scared rabbit in the headlights of a car.
"Well, just stay for a minute; I would like your input." As Steve spoke both Mark and Amanda sat down and then the three doctors waited as Steve took some papers out of the file in front of him. "I want to get you in on the ground floor so to speak on this murder that Rae and I picked up the other night." Steve handed round three pieces of paper which had the main details on them. He had been writing it out for himself when he'd figured it would be a good way to show them what he had so far.
"I sent you the autopsy details this morning, did you get them?" Amanda received a nod and so she carried on talking. "Did you see that I finally found some fibres? I've been in court today otherwise I would have worked on them a little more, but I'm pretty sure that they don't come from clothing."
Steve saw Mark scan the information on his sheet of paper. "That's not on here, can I write on this?"
"Yeah, sure, if it helps, just let me have them back when we've finished." Steve handed his dad a pen and watched as he began to write in his off duty handwriting. "You know you would be loved unconditionally by patients everywhere if you wrote like that when you were working."
Mark looked at Steve over the top of his glasses and made a sucking noise with his teeth. "Ooh, no, sonny, no, no, no, it takes years of medical school to learn that difficult script, in fact I should be publicly flogged just for talking about it." Mark stopped talking as Steve and Amanda burst out laughing, and Jesse sat shaking his head.
Steve managed to catch his breath and begin talking again. "You know sometimes I think I would do better sharing all this with Eliana and Anneya."
"Do you want our help?" Mark tried to stare his son down, but it was one of the few things he never won.
"I could just stop asking you, but then you would moan and follow me about town, this way I get to at least believe I'm working to my own agenda."
"Would you like to know about the fibres?" Amanda had her 'mom' voice on.
"Yes, please." Steve put his, he hoped, contrite look on, and found he was having a hard time keeping a straight face once more.
"Ok. The fibres were tiny, microscopic, and I found them in the hair at the nape of her neck. I think they were from a car blanket. The fleecy type, they don't shed as much as ordinary blankets do, which is probably why there weren't any others. If you want my opinion I think she was wrapped in the blanket, and then when she was killed on the waste ground the blanket was elsewhere, maybe in the vehicle she was transported in."
"But you didn't find any other trace of it?" Steve had retrieved his pen and begun writing as soon as Amanda began to talk."
"Some cars have those blankets to shield the seats; I guess they're more comfy than the shiny plastic protectors." Jesse had said nothing since Steve entered the room and his voice seemed extremely loud and intrusive, to him at least.
"Yeah, that's true. What colour was the fibre?" Steve thought for a moment, the information that he'd found out about the club might tie in with that.
"Green. Just an ordinary car blanket, sorry."
"No, problem." Steve thought for a moment, and then began to talk again. "Have you heard of a club called Reds?"
"No, why?"
"Because that's where the stamp you found on Jenna's hand originated."
"Oh." Amanda had pointed out the mark to Steve when she first examined the body in the morgue. At the time it had been difficult to see, but with the help of ultraviolet light the word red had been clearly seen with the outline of something above it, that had been smudged but they had both agreed that it was a flower of some sort.
"I went round there on the way here. They were just setting up for the night, and it was almost entirely empty. It's a big place, classy joint and I would be surprised if anyone remembered seeing a particular person five minutes before let alone four days."
"So you had no luck?" Mark's voice sounded despondent, he was disappointed for his son.
"Well, following on from what Jesse just said, I think that most of the cars that you'd find in its parking lot would cost a lot of money, maybe they would protect their seats, but apart from that, nope, none at all. I think the only way to do it is to go back when the joint is jumping. Maybe someone will remember Jenna, she was a beautiful girl, I'm sure she had guys looking at her."
"When will you go?" Amanda obviously had an idea when she thought he should visit by the tone of her voice.
"Thursday night. Rae'll be back, and we can be the oldest swingers in town!" Steve hoped for a reaction from Jesse, but after his comments on the car rug he had said nothing else.
"Thursday would be the best night, because maybe people go regularly and would have been there last week. That's your thinking, right?"
"Amanda, you should have been a cop." Steve smiled at her; he couldn't believe how much he had enjoyed the talk they'd just had. He knew that it was coming to an end and he needed to get home anyway, but it had felt good to be working things out like they used to.
"Mark, I need to go pick up the girls, I'll see you tomorrow, Amanda, you too." Jesse stood up, put his cup in the sink and headed for the door. "Bye, all."
The three remaining friends watched him go, and then Steve waited for them both to say something about Jesse, but neither of them did. Feeling, once again, that he was reading things that weren't there, Steve collected his papers up with a sigh and stood, "I need to go too, Dad, Amanda, I'll keep you posted on what we find. Oh, Amanda, Cheryl asked me to give you this."
"What is it?" The pathologist now held a thin manilla folder in her hand.
"Some up-to-date medical information on one of her murder victims. She got it from the girl's father, who was also her doctor. Never heard that one before." With a grin Steve headed towards the door, his hand raised in a cheery wave, as he saw his dad lean back in his seat, and heard a chuckle escape him.
Rae had found her boss in the living room of the house unlocking the desk that was situated in the far corner overlooking a beautiful patio garden. She moved to where he was standing and began to speak. "Where would you like me to start, Sir, and what do you think I should do?"
The house looked almost lived in, even though Rae knew that it had been six weeks since Elizabeth's death. She half expected someone to come out of the kitchen and offer them coffee and maybe a cake or two.
"I wondered whether you could check through the mail that's arrived, and then I will need to start arranging for the furniture to go into storage, and for her clothes to be sent to a charitable organisation. Maybe you could help with the clothes, I'm … I'm not sure about them."
"Of course, Sir. I'll just go get the post." There was a black mail box on the front of the house and, as Rae had seen the key hanging where she had left it the last time she had been here, it was an easy find, and in just under five minutes Rae had a stack of letters and bills spread out on the kitchen table. Rae sorted through them and began to separate them into piles. When she had been at the house the first time Elizabeth Masters hadn't been dead very long, and there had been no mail in the box except for a credit card bill and two flyers for dry cleaners. This time however, it was a different matter.
It didn't take Rae very long to realise that maybe the Chief shouldn't have asked her to do what she was doing. She hadn't opened anything personal, but she didn't need to. There were letters from, according to the printing on the back, a couple of local charities, an opera society, a nearby theatre group, someone in Monterey and a local bank. It was the last two that had made her decide that she really needed to go back and talk with her boss. Quietly she stood up and returned to the living room. John Masters was sitting with his back to her, a photo of Elizabeth in his hand.
"She wasn't your sister, was she, Sir?" Rae saw the big man in front of her jump at the sound of her voice, and as he turned she could see tears standing in his eyes.
"No, Detective, she wasn't … she was my wife."