Chapter Five

Putting her hand over her mouth Eve looked at Natalie in horror. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…."

Waving her protests off, Natalie took a deep breath. "You know for most of my life I loved no one and in turn was loved by no one. I used to laugh when I heard of people being in love with two people at the same time, thinking that they were idiots. I mean come on; you can only love one person at a time right?"

Oblivious to both Natalie and Eve, John was just about to enter the room when he heard Natalie speaking. Unable to help himself, he remained outside the doorway, curious as to where this was going.

"I think the thing I realized this year is you can love two people at the same time, just in different ways. Cris, well he was my first love… the guy who showed me that I could be loved and love in return. We weren't together long, but when we where we were happy, almost blissfully so. But, recently I forced myself to face the reality that what we had never got the chance to become something real. The biggest problem Cris and I ever had to face was his mother hating me. There were never any huge problems or obstacles for us to overcome, never any challenges. Plus, we were both completely different people then."

Although she was unsure why she was suddenly opening up to John's mother, Natalie continued, happy to finally be able to talk about this with someone. With everything that was going on with her mom and Jessica, Natalie really hadn't had the chance to talk things out and get her problems off her chest. And despite the fact Eve was John's mother, Natalie really felt as if she could trust the older woman. "John and I…. Well that's a different story. Right from the start there were problems and obstacles to deal with." Natalie laughed warily. "With John and I, it was always a bumpy road; nothing was ever perfect or blissful. And by the time we got together we knew each other well – well enough to be able to see both the good and bad. I don't know Eve, I guess the more I think about it, and the more I spend time with both of them, I realize that what I had with Cris was romance, something that was easy, and wonderful, but what I had with John was real. Never easy, but still great in its own way. God, I'm probably not making any sense."

Understanding exactly what Natalie meant, Eve nodded. "I understand. Now it just comes down to making a decision… which one do you want?"

Once again Natalie met Eve's eyes. "The thing is Eve; I think I already made the decision..."

Knowing that no matter what Natalie's decision was, it wasn't something he should be hearing through eavesdropping, John chose this opportunity to re-enter the room. "Sorry about that, Bo had to ask me about something." Purposely ignoring the intense look being shared between Natalie and his mother John took his seat across from them and played dumb. "Everything okay?"

Recovering quickly, Eve smiled at her son. "Natalie was just telling me more about that new program, it sounds wonderful."

Shooting a grateful look at Eve, Natalie nodded. "Yeah, and telling her more about what type of work I will be helping you with."

Knowing this was Natalie's way of opening up the conversation for him; John took a deep breath and began. "Actually mom, one of the reasons I am here is because I have decided to re-open Dads case and Natalie is going to help me with it."

Eve was silent for a few moments, taking the opportunity to look between both John and Natalie. Finally she spoke slowly. "I can't say I am surprised, though I honestly hadn't expected for it to take you this long."

Not at all the reaction he had expected from his mother, John looked at her in surprise. "You knew I would do this?"

"The day you told me you were becoming a cop; I knew the main reason was because you wanted to solve your father's murder." Sighing, Eve leaned back on the couch. "So what do you need to know?"

For the next half hour, John asked Eve about a dozen questions – if his father had ever spoke to her about his cases, if there had been any threatening calls or letters sent to the house. Deciding not to trouble his mother with the news that Natalie had witnessed the shooting, John asked about his final lead, that his father had been working on a case outside the department. At this knowledge, Eve didn't seem upset or surprised, instead she just nodded.

"I had a feeling he had been."

Curious about this reaction, John was practically on the edge of his seat. "What made you think that?"

"Well for the four months before his death, your father was distracted, almost on edge. I had seen him acting that way before, mostly during a big cause, but usually Brian – his old partner – would be acting the same way. This time, Brian was fine, acting as if he didn't have a care in the world, exactly the opposite from your father. I asked him about it of course, but he just told me it was nothing he couldn't handle. But then I got that weird phone call from that nurse."

"Nurse?" John questioned.

"Yeah," Eve briefly closed her eyes as if trying to remember something. "It was strange. I had just come in from dropping you boys at school… it was almost 10:00 by the time I got back here. Well, as I was cleaning up the kitchen, the phone rang. I went over to it, said hello, but there was no one there. This happened two more times, before a woman spoke. She asked for your father, and I told her that he was at work and I wasn't sure what time he would be in. She seemed to get upset at this news, so I mentioned she could reach him at the station. That just seemed to freak her out even more. Finally she asked me if I could call him for her and rely a message, she explained that it was important and regarding one of his cases. Normally, I would never have done something like that, but the woman seemed so desperate, I just had too. So I called your father and relayed the message." Eve's eyes narrowed slightly. "The thing is, when I talked to your father he seemed really freaked out that she had called him at home. He didn't tell me directly, but after 15 years of marriage, I could read him pretty well. When he came home that night I asked him again about it, but he clammed up and seemed like he was on edge the rest of the night. Actually come to think of it, he slipped out of bed sometime in the middle of the night and left. When I woke up and realized he was gone, I just assumed he had gotten a call." Eve sighed sadly. "It was actually later that week he was killed."

"How do you know this woman was a nurse?" Natalie asked, wanting to be sure they got all the facts.

"She told me, she said she was the nurse from Trenton General."

"Did you tell this to the other officers?" John questioned as he quickly scribbled down some notes on the pad he had grabbed from his jacket.

Eve shook her head. "Honestly John, I was in such a state of shock it never occurred to me. Plus, I was never questioned. Everyone was more concerned with the fact a drunk doctor had operated, then what had actually led to your father being shot."

Knowing first hand how screwed up departmental procedure could be, John didn't press the issue. Instead he asked one final question. "I know it was a long time ago, but do you remember this woman's name?"

Eve paused for a few minutes, carefully thinking. Finally she nodded. "Alison something. Alison Pickens? Perks?"

Natalie felt her mouth go dry. Finally able to speak she choked out, "Perkins? Was it Alison Perkins?"

Eve's face lit up. "Yes! That was it. Alison Perkins was the nurse that called me." Confused she looked at Natalie. "But how in the world did you know that?"