After a short knock on the door, Gwen opened it. A man with gray hair, dressed in an expensive suit and eyes that were so dark they almost seemed black, greeted her with a smile. "Yes? Can I help you?". "I'm looking for Hal Munson, is this the right place?".
"We, yeach, but...he isn't in right now. Um...would you like me to tell him you're looking for him, give him a message?".
"Hmmm, well... I really rather speak to him in person. It's rather important, you see? ...You don't happen to know where I could find him, do you?".
"Well, I think your best chance is the station", Gwen replied. "No, no...I already tried there, but...no luck. Look...it's really important I speak with him as soon as possible". Gwen frowned, "Well, you could try –"
"Excuse me...do I know you?", Will stood behind her all of a sudden and looked at the man in the doorway. "I don't think so. You were very small when I – I'm an old friend of your father's".
"mm-hmm", Will replied. "Well, my dad isn't home right now, so – If you like we could tell him you dropped by looking for him. Mr..." "It's really important I speak with him as soon as possible", the man insisted. "I'm sure it is", Will replied.
"Maybe you can try his cellph—", Gwen started but stopped when she met Will's eye. "tell you what", he said while turning back to the man in the doorway. "Why don't you give me your number and I'll ask my dad to call you back the minute I see him".
The man smiled a quick smile and handed Will his card. "I can you you've been well trained, Will. Very well...just...make sure he understands it's very important he calls me immediately".
"Will do", Will replied as he studied the card. The man nodded and left.
'Well...that was weird", Gwen laughed as Will closed the door and turned around to face her. "Did you ...were you about to tell him where my dad was?', Will asked. "Well...yeach... I mean he said it was important, so—"
"yeach of course he would say that, Gwen! I...I can't believe you would just...How can you be so irresponsible!". Will outburst startled her. ...I'm sorry... I didn't see any harm in –". "He's a cop, Gwen!", Will interrupted her. "You do not... b ever /b give out his whereabouts and location to people you don't know!".
"Okay!", Gwen reacted defensively. "I said I was sorry, okay!". "You didn't even get his name", Will went on. "You see how reluctant he was giving that! We don't know what my dad's doing, he could be on an assignment and you could have led that guy straight to him!".
Gwen startled, "Okay...just...take a deep breath and calm down, okay? I'm sorry...I really am. You are right, it was a dumb thing to do and it won't happen again. Okay?".
"It better not", Will replied while studying the card again. "Does it say a name?", Gwen asked. "...No. No, just a numb—", Only now Will saw Adam standing in the doorway.
"Good morning", Adam greeted them with a smile. "or maybe not so good", he added picking up on the tensed atmosphere. "I gotta go get my stuff for work", Will just said and headed up the stairs. Gwen sighed.
"hey... just let him cool down for a a few", Adam smiled. "He really doesn't mean it like that". "Ah, you caught all that, huh?'. "yep". "And you think I'm pretty stupid and irresponsible as well".
"No, not at all, Adam", laughed. "Look...it's okay, I mean... Will, Nikki, Jenn, Parker and me , we've all be drilled, form little on, to never hand out stuff like that to people we don't really know...maybe even before we could walk", he tried lightening her up. "For us, it's like an ...automatism, to the extend people think we're paranoid". Gwen laughed.
"No harm done, don't worry about it, you'll get the hang of it". "I better", Gwen smiled a hesitant smile. "But Will was right you know? I mean thinking of it now...that definitely wasn't one of my smartest moves", she sighed again.
"Hey, Will's just...well... things between him and dad, they're start starting to get back to normal you know? I mean, I don't have to tell you how touchy things were between them when Will ...when he –" "When he came home", Gwen helped him out. "Yeach, and, well ... You of all people should know how rough things got between them for a while there" Gwen nodded.
"And then ...something happened and Will was afraid he'd never have the chance to tell him how much he really loves him""yeach...I remember", Gwen replied. "We all do. So...for the moment...Will's this ultra protective...you know? But, just give it some time and then, well...thing will get back to normal proportion...as 'normal' as things can get in this family, anyway". "Thanks...I think", Gwen laughed. "You're very welcome.
Barbara startled when a man took place in the chair across from her at her table at the Mona Lisa. "Barbara Ryan?', the man asked. "That depends", she answered on guard. "Of what?". "Who wants to know".
"Oh, I'm an old friend of your ex-husband". "...I'm afraid you're gonna have to be a little more specific there", Barbara laughed. 'The commissioner". "Oh...that one. That...that's funny...I don't recall ever meeting you...do I?".
"No...no we go back a very long time...from before he came here". "really? Well, that's...fascinating. And here I was thinking no one knew him longer or better than me", Barbara smiled. "oh...you would be surprised if you knew how many things there are you b don't /b know", the man replied.
"excuse me?", Barbara asked, somewhat bewildered. ""I'm sorry, nothing. Just, when you run into him, tell him I said hi". "Oh... well that might be a problem. We're not really on speaking terms". "well...his loss", the man answered while he got up. "Oh, I'll be sure to pass b that /b on to him", Barbara laughed and looked after him while he walked out.
"Who was that?", Lisa asked and sat at the table. "I have no idea, but I wouldn't mind finding out", Barbara answered laughing mischievously.
While struggling with her bags Carly handed Parker a key. "All right, you go in there". "What are you gonna do?", Parker wanted to know. "I am going to call your father and tell him to get himself over here on the d—oh, hello", Carly smiled when she saw the man standing by the gate.
" Need some help?", the man asked. "oh, no, no, no, no we're fine, we're just...waiting for someone to show up...someone who's fashionably late... you know what you might want to teach your dad how to watch the clock, this week", she added when looking at parker.
The man laughed. "I take it that means he's not home?'. "Well...if you mean Hal...no he's not", Carly answered. "Well, I'll just have to come back another time then", the man shifted his eyes to Parker, who was eyeing him with suspicion.
"And you...must be Parker", he said walking up to him and got on eye level with him. Parker took a few steps back. "Who are you?". "Me? I'm just an old friend of your dad's". "No you're not!", Parker replied backing up even further.
"Parker! Carly said, somewhat embarrassed. "he's not!", Parker replied. "You hush now", Carly said giving him a stern look, then turned to the man. "I'm so sorry about that. I don't have a – He really is a polite friendly boy, usually, I –" "That's quite all right", the man got up. "You can't be careful enough these days".
"Oh, well...You are one lucky guy, pall. I was just about to call you, and—"Carly saw Hal coming though the gate. He didn't reply, walked right over and stood in front o her and Parker. "Carly...take parker and get into the house. Now!". "...What, she reacted stung by the tone of his voice". "Just do it!", he barked. Followed by a more gentle "Please". Carly shot him a look but took Parker with her into the house anyway.
"See? I told you he's not dad's friend", Parker said after they got in. "Parker", Carly sighed. "He's not! You saw dad doesn't like him either", Parker defiantly stared at her. "All right, all right. You...you stay right there, and –" "Where are you going? Dad wanted us in the house". "I'm not going anywhere, I'm just—" "and you're not supposed to eavesdrop on people either", parker said when Carly moved over to the door.
"I'm not eavesdropping!", Carly said with a laugh. "I'm just...gonna make sure you're dad's not gonna do something stupid, that's all. Now... you get that smirk of your face, and be quiet, I can't hear a thing with your babbling"
Outside, Hal walked up to the man.. "I'm only gonna tell you this once, so you better listen, and listen carefully: You stay the hell away from my son!". "Come on, Hal, I was only trying—" "I know exactly what you are trying to do! I also know that wherever you show up, people get hurt, so I'm telling you ; you stay very far away from my family. If one of them gets hurt, if one of them as much as scrapes a knee ...you are gonna get hurt...badly".
"was that a threat...Commissioner?". "No. No, that wasn't a threat. That...was a promise" The man smiled, then left.
Peeking though the kitchen door window Carly had managed to pick up bits and pieces of the conversation. She saw Hal had trouble holding himself together after the man left and quickjly moved away from the door as she saw he was about the enter.
The minute he entered the house, Hal managed to smile at Parker. "Hey you!". "Hi", Parker got up to him and gave him a high five. "I'm sorry I was late, but, there was all this last minute stuff that cam up". "That's okay, I'm cool", Parker answered before Carly could reply. "But mom's pissed at you". "is she now?", Hal answered, having trouble not to laugh.
"I am not – and that is b not /b the kind of language we use around here". "Angry...she's angry with me", Hal corrected Parker.
"I'm not angry eith—Carly sighed, "look, why don't you get your bags upstairs, all right?". Parker picked up his stuff and went up the stairs.
"What was that?", carly asked pointing outside, the minute she thought Parker could not hear them. "That...was a united front. You don't want him using language like that, and I backed you up", Hal tried.
"Don't you even try that with me, hal Munson! You know damn well what I meant!', carly reacted . "Who was that guy!". The look on Hal's face clouded. "No one you should concern yourself with", he replied.
"Hal—" "I mean it Carly. Stay out of this!". "What...what is going on with you? I've never seen you like this, Hal... and it's got to do with that guy out there. It's as if...you're scared of something. Come on...I can tell something's wrong. I just wanna help you".
"Carly, please... Okay... if you b really /b wanna help me, you promise me you will stay as far away from him as you possible can...can you please do that for me?".
"And...that's it...that's all you're gonna tell me?' "It's all you need to know", Hal replied. Carly shook her head. "Carly please...I need to have your word you will stay away from him and that you will keep Parker b and /b sage out of his reach... I need you to promise me that you will".
Carly's concern grew even further when she saw something in his eyes she had never seen before; fear. "okay...okay if it's b that /b important to y—of course I will...I promise. Okay?". She walked over to him and pulled him inot an embrace, "You have my word on that", she said.
"Thanks", Hal replied and held on to her tight.