1Finding My Son, Finding Myself

Chapter Six

It was Thursday afternoon. Bobby and Alex had just returned from lunch and settled back in at their desks. Alex had been keeping an eye on Bobby all week. Aside from his outburst on Monday night, he had managed to keep his emotions "in check," – outwardly, at least. Alex knew that on the inside, he was a wreck and cautioned him a couple of times about keeping his feelings bottled up.

She looked up from the file she was working on to catch a glimpse of Capt. Deakins standing in his doorway. A slight tilt of his head beckoned Alex to his office. She scooped up some papers from her desk, arose from her chair and announced, "I almost forgot, I've gotta' get these into the Captain – he has a two o'clock status conference." She headed towards Deakins' office.

Bobby merely nodded, staring that the papers in front of him.

"Close the door, Alex." She did so and took a seat.

The Captain sat forward, hands folded on his desk. "What's going on," he asked, motioning his head in Bobby's direction.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Bobby. What's wrong with him?"

"Oh, he's okay. I think he's just a little preoccupied this week."

He looked at Alex skeptically. "You're sure that's it? 'Cause something seems to be bothering him. I thought maybe he was just in a bad mood yesterday, but he's the same today. He hasn't told you anything...specific?"

Alex raised her eyebrows and shook her head in the negative.

Deakins leaned back into his chair; his hand rubbed his chin for a moment, and a sly grin emerged on his lips. "I appreciate the position you're in, Alex. You want to be loyal to Bobby..." He paused, looking her in the eye, waiting for a reaction. There was none.

"Okay," he said, holding up his hands, "But if you find out something, lemme' know, huh? If there's anything I can do to help."

Alex nodded, stood and headed for the door. A few seconds passed after she returned to her desk. She busied herself, pretending to be engrossed in a file. Avoiding looking up at Bobby, so that the Captain wouldn't see, she softly said, "Deakins was just fishin' for information. He's worried about you."

"What'd you say?"

"Nothing...just that you were a little preoccupied...no details."

"Thanks." Bobby took great comfort in the trust he shared with Eames. He knew when she got up from her desk that Deakins had no two o'clock status conference – she had said that for the Captain's benefit–so he would think that Alex was covering for him when he motioned her into his office for the private chat.

They worked quietly for another ten or fifteen minutes, until Bobby spoke. "Eames? You have plans tonight?"

"Uh-uh," she shook her head – "Unless Ben & Jerry count," she laughed.

"I, umm, I need to talk," he was almost too embarrassed to say.

"Carucci's, after work?" she asked.

"No, it's umm, it's too noisy...too many people we know. I was thinkin' The Newbridge Inn."

Alex knew the place. Secluded. Quiet. An excellent place to share secrets – and the food was fabulous, too.

"Sounds good! You buyin'?" She said with a smile.

He nodded, with a hint of a smile in return, "It's the least I can do."

"Well, it's a date, then."

xxxxxxxxx

They arrived at the small, riverside restaurant at almost 7 p.m. There was one other car in the lot. Perfect.

Upon entering, the tuxedo-clad Maitre d' smiled pleasantly at the couple, "Good evening!" He lowered is voice, "Detective Goren, it's been a long time. Table for two?"

"Hello, Franco. Yes, it has been," Bobby answered, shaking the hand of the amiable man. "Yes, two, please – non-smoking."

They were shown to a secluded, candle lit table. "Carlos will be with you, right away," Franco assured, and politely retreated.

Alex looked around, surveying the place. "I thought you said you wanted to go somewhere private, where nobody would recognize us?"

Bobby nodded, "We don't have to worry about Franco and his staff. If they weren't so good about keeping their mouths shut, they could write a book about the stuff they've seen and overheard in here."

After placing their drink and food orders, Alex settled back in her chair and asked Bobby, "So, what'cha wanna' talk about?"

He took a sip of his water – he appeared nervous. "I, I have so many things running through my mind, I don't know where to start," he said, shaking his head.

"It's hard being patient, waiting for Sanchez to get back...but Saturday's almost here," she reassured him.

"Wh-what you said the other night...a-a-about Roberto having a father figure..."

"I only meant..." Alex began to explain.

Bobby held up his hand, "I know...I know what you meant." He sighed. "Believe me, Eames, the last thing I wanna' do is upset him — I mean, who knows what he's been through ...what he's been thinking all these years."

Alex took a sip of her recently-served wine, bracing herself. "If she married, ya' know, when he was a baby – or young– he might not even know that this other guy isn't his real father...so maybe he hasn't been through anything traumatic. Maybe he's had a good life...maybe he's happy."

I-I've thought about all that. I-I'm not gonna' — 'torpedo' her happy family — I'm not gonna' do anything mean or, or, or crazy — I wouldn't hurt him for anything!"

"I know you wouldn't, Bobby. I just don't want you to get your hopes up that..."

"I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm just saying that – that no matter what Sanchez finds out or doesn't find out, I've still gotta' get in contact with her. She robbed me of being part of his life! I've got a legal and moral responsibility to take care of him –provide for him, and I've also got a legal entitlement to the enjoyment of being a father!"

Alex took another sip, looking at him sympathetically.

"B-besides," he said, looking even more serious than before, eyes downcast. "She doesn't know ya' know, everything about me...about my family history."

Alex's eyes widened. "You, umm, you never told her about your mother?"

He shook his head, "No."

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Bobby."

"I appreciate your trying to make me feel better. I just can't stop thinking about him— about them. I mean, my mind just jumps from one thought to another an,an, and nothing's getting resolved. It just makes me crazy, ya' know? Knowing he's out there – I just wanna' see him and – and I'm afraid to see him."

Alex nodded. "I know. You have no way of knowing how he'll react."

"How will he ever believe that I love him if I haven't even been there for him his whole life?"

"I don't think that explaining it is your problem, Bobby. His mother has to take responsibility for that. She's certainly not without fault in this whole mess."

They each picked at their salads, silent for a few moments.

"You look exhausted," Alex said with concern. "I think maybe the Captain noticed that."

Bobby nodded, "I am...I just toss and turn and lay awake all night — thinking. I think the last real sleep I got was at your place on Monday afternoon.

"Well, you can crash at my place again, if you want to. Maybe it'll help ya' sleep better – ya' know, not feeling like your alone," Alex offered.

"Maybe I will – thanks. I don't think I can make it through another day feeling this tired."

xxxxxxxxx

Thursday, 9:15 p.m.

1229 Calle Central

Dorado, Puerto Rico

Sanchez had been out for a drive after dinner. He decided to stop by the address and see if anything more exciting went on during the night hours. The two afternoons and the morning he observed hadn't revealed much and the thought of having nothing worthwhile to report back to Alex disappointed him.

He sat in the dark sedan, running through his checklist: "Looks like everybody's home — the old folks' car is in the driveway...sexy lady's car in the driveway...lights on." Sanchez watched as the man stood by the window and closed the drapes. "Well, I guess I won't be seeing anything happening in that room." He continued watching, the pretty lady and the boy walked past the kitchen windows— "Kinda' looked like they were in a hurry," he thought to himself. The lights went out. Sanchez checked his watch, "9:15? Shit, they're a barrel of fun," he said to himself with amusement. He shifted in his seat, reaching forward to turn the ignition. He didn't notice the dark figures approaching from the rear bumper.

"Police! Freeze!"

Sanchez was totally caught off guard and did as he was told – his hands frozen on the steering wheel. The glare of the flashlights blinded him momentarily, but he had no problem seeing the 9mm Glock pointed at his head.

"Keep your hands right there where we can see 'em. I'm gonna' open the door and I want you to slowly exit the vehicle and back up..."

Sanchez made a point to keep his voice calm. "Officers, I know the routine. I'm a cop."

The Officers traded a quick glance. "We'll see about that in a minute. Just keep doing what you're told."

Sanchez exited the car, slowly backing up towards the trunk. He spread his feet and leaned forward, over the rear fender, availing himself for frisking.

One cop patted him down, while the other kept Sanchez in his sight, weapon aimed. The cop retrieved Sanchez' wallet and flipped it open to check for ID. He read aloud, "Darius O. Sanchez, PBA card - NYPD ID. "Where's your badge?"

"Home on the dresser. I'm here on vacation – visiting my family."

"Turn around. Your family live here in this house?" the Officer tested him, pointing at No. 1229.

"No, sir."

"You mind tellin' us what you're doing here, then?"

"I'm...I'm doin' a favor for a friend. They just asked me to check out the house – that's all."

"Who's this so-called friend? One of Benny Vasquez' henchmen?

Sanchez almost laughed. "Benny Vasquez? Is that what this is about?

The Officers traded a glance, surprised at Sanchez' recognition and reaction to the name.

"I just wasted Benny last week, man. He was pullin' a bank heist in Manhattan...killed three or four people...I'm on the S.W.A.T. team man, I'm a sniper...I capped Benny last Friday night."

The Officers seemed to finally relax. One turned to the other and said, "You wanna' go tell the family it's all right." The other cop nodded and headed to the front door of #1229.

The cop who remained behind explained to Sanchez, "The family called in – they noticed you and your car sitting out here the past couple of days – and then they saw you again tonight, here in the dark – they thought they were in danger from Vasquez.

Sanchez grinned, "They don't have to worry about him no more."

xxxxxxxx

The Officer who went to the door explained to the family that they didn't have to worry. He relayed Sanchez' story about Benny being killed during an attempted bank robbery the week before, and that although they still weren't certain of the man's reason for being there, they knew it wasn't to do any harm to the family – he was a New York City Policeman.

Maria Elena's parents looked at each other, their faces full surprise. Suddenly, Roberto yelled, "Mommy! Where are you going?" The grandparents held the squirming boy back from following is mother. They hadn't even noticed when Maria Elena darted past them through the front door, running barefoot across the lawn towards the Officer and the man who were standing by the dark sedan.

They only heard her calling, "Bobby! Bobby! You came for us!"

END Chapter Six