Chapter 9

While Randy was in the hospital, injured, Stottlemeyer was busy interrogating the suspect who survived.

"So, tell me, Clive," said Stottlemeyer, in his best captain voice, "what were you and your partner doing at the restaurant last night?"

"I ain't got nuthin' to say," said Clive, stubbornly.

"Listen to me, you worthless piece of shit," shouted Stottlemeyer, grabbing Clive by the front, "you are in a boatload of trouble. Your partner shot a cop and you attempted to kill a cop, me. You are going down for this."

"Whaddaya wannna know?" asked Clive, a little fearful of the crazed cop.

"Why were you in the restaurant?" questioned Stottlemeyer again.

"Me and Tommy, we got a tip," explained Clive, "and I ain't sayin' no more, 'til I get me a lawyer."

As soon as Clive finished saying that, he clammed up and Stottlemeyer couldn't get him to talk no matter what. Turning to the officer in the room, Stottlemeyer told the uniform to escort Clive to his cell.

Going to his office, Stottlemeyer poured himself a cup of coffee on the way, glancing at Randy's empty desk, with graffiti still on it from Joy.

Sighing, Stottlemeyer sat down in his chair and rubbed his tired eyes. A knock at his door caused him to straighten up. "Come in," yelled Stottlemeyer. In walked the ballistics technician, Jana Fisher.

"Captain Stottlemeyer, here is the ballistics report you wanted," said Jana. "There was something interesting that I found out about the gun used in the shootout."

"What was interesting?" asked Stottlemeyer, curious to know.

"The gun that was fired in the shootout, was the same one used in an unsolved case," stated Jana.

Taking the folder from Jana, Stottlemeyer stared at the two reports, one from the previous night's shootout, the other from the Julie Robertson murder. "Sonabitch," muttered Stottlemeyer, and got up to leave.

Meanwhile at the hospital……

Sharona was waiting for Randy out in the waiting room. Looking at him, she asked, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," said Randy.

"Is Joy gonna be ok?" asked Sharona.

" I think so," said Randy, optimistically, "she and I talked some things out and we plan to work on it while I recover."

"Well, let's go then, cowboy," smiled Sharona.

The drive back to 125 Lakeside Avenue was in companionable silence. Neither occupant felt the need to talk. Sharona was concentrating on driving and was a good driver, despite Adrian's complaints to the contrary. She was also thinking what a beautiful day it was and how lucky she was to be alive. Randy was lost in his own world. He was thinking of how lucky he was to have survived and wondered where his new relationship was heading. Clearing his head, Randy came out of his reverie when Sharona pulled into his driveway.

Getting out of the car, Randy walked up to his front door and unlocked it. Stepping inside, Randy saw the mess that Joy had created and remembered what his bathroom looked like. Sharona walked in behind him and stopped suddenly, startled by the upended house before her. Not one to resist a jab, Sharona looked at Randy and said, "Gee, Randy, I didn't realize you were THAT bad of a housekeeper."

Randy turned around, amazed, at Sharona's statement. "Sharona," said Randy, " I didn't make this mess. Joy did, looking for her book."

"Oh," shame and embarrassment crossed Sharona's face. "Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

"Uh, yeah, but you'll need to use my bathroom, off of my bedroom," stated Randy, remembering the condition of the main bathroom.

"Ok, show me the way," said Sharona, not believing that she would see Randy Disher's bedroom.

Leading her to his room, Randy pointed out to her where the bathroom was. Sharona just stood in awe at the décor of Randy's room. She couldn't fathom that Randy's house really looked nice, like someone with taste decorated it. Sharona always kidded him about his clothes and such but, never dreamt that Randy would actually know how to make a house look warm and inviting. Nodding her thanks, Sharona went into the bathroom and shut the door.

Randy walked back out to the living room, looking for the phonebook along the way, when a knock at the door interrupted his train of thought. Opening the door, Randy stood face to face with his boss.

"Sir!" exclaimed a surprised Randy, "come in."

Stottlemeyer walked through the door and surveyed the mess in Randy's house. " I was about to call a cleaning crew," explained Randy.

"Uh, yeah, listen, Randy, I have something to tell you," said Stottlemeyer, hesitantly.

"What's up, sir?" asked Randy, curious to know what was making his captain act so strangely.

"It's about Julie Robertson," said Stottlemeyer.

"What about Julie?" asked Randy, tense.

Stottlemeyer gently told him of the results the lab had found. The force of the news staggered Randy, as if someone had hit him in the stomach with a baseball bat, so that he had to sit down. Coming out of the bathroom, Sharona was surprised to see a grim-faced Stottlemeyer. She was equally concerned about the paleness of Randy's face. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Randy? Are you alright?"

Randy just sat in his chair, almost as if he were glued to it.

"What did you say to him?" demanded Sharona to Stottlemeyer, getting angry at the lack of response from either man.

"We had a development from last night's case that involves an unsolved case," replied Stottlemeyer, evading Sharona's original question.

"One of the guns used in the shootout was used to kill Joy's sister," said Randy, finding his voice.

"Oh," said Sharona, quietly, her anger subdued.

"Captain, I need to talk to the suspect," said Randy, suddenly animated.

"He's lawyered up, Randy," said Stottlemeyer, "we can't question him without his lawyer present."

"Well, then, tell him to get his lawyer there because I have some questions for him," replied Randy, vehemently.

Surprised by his lieutenant's outburst, Stottlemeyer paused for a moment and then said, "Fine. I'll talk to him and get him to have his lawyer present. You do realize that he might not know anything about this, don't you?"

"Yes, but I'm willing to take that chance," said Randy, determined to see Julie's killer brought to justice, for Joy's sake.

Taking his leave, Stottlemeyer promised to call Randy with the arrangements. Sharona closed the door behind Stottlemeyer and watched as Randy sat brooding.

"Would you like something to drink?" asked Sharona, trying to break the silence that had overcame the room.

"Huh?" asked Randy, startle by the question.

"A drink? Are you thirsty?" repeated Sharona.

"No, thanks, besides, if I were to drink something now, it wouldn't be water," said Randy, humorlessly, remembering the bottle of scotch he had consumed after receiving news that his mother had gotten married.

Walking over to Randy, Sharona placed her hand on his shoulder to give him comfort. Grabbing hold of her hand, Randy pulled Sharona onto his lap. Looking into her blue eyes, Randy held her hand, as if he were holding onto a life raft.

"Thank you," said Randy.

"For what?" asked Sharona, confused.

Sighing, Randy placed his lips against Sharona's forehead, inhaling the scent of her raspberry shampoo. "For being here, for helping me through this. I need you, Sharona. I don't know how I will get through this without you," Randy murmured against her skin.

Breaking apart from him, Sharona looked down into Randy's eyes and saw the love for her there. The swelling in her heart almost caused her to cry, as she finally realized that she had found the right man for her. Leaning down and placing her forehead to his, she whispered, "You're welcome."