"So, he didn't turn in his insurance policy either." Steve sighed, leaning against one of the counters with a hand on his hip. As usual, this homicide case was not as cut and dry as he had hoped. "So, where do we go from here?"
"First of all, who would want to kill Joe?" Mark spoke.
"Well, it couldn't be his brother. If Joe was dead, where else is he gonna go now for money to waste on his dead beat life?" Kat remarked.
"He used to be a really rich man." Mark stated. "But all that changed when he wouldn't go through with any dirty deals. He tried to do it right and got shut down for it by the competitors. And he was blamed."
"Maybe some disgruntled former employee or coworker is still bitter." Steve suggested.
"What about Joe's wife, Jane?" Amanda suggested. "Maybe she could enlighten us on some things."
"Minnie was actually patient here at Community General, after she was released from the children's hospital downtown." Kat said. "Her mom told me."
"How is Minnie doing now, honey?" Mark asked Kat.
"Great. She's a pretty normal kid now, which is a miracle! But she has some scars from the accident."
"Well, someone somewhere has to have something that can help us!" Steve pursed his lips.
"I bet I know someone who might be able to help us." Kat remarked.
"Who?" Steve grunted.
"Don't we have a good old friend down in Pediatrics? Who just happens to have Minnie Slighter as a patient?" Kat grinned.
"And who has numerous, questionable resources?" Amanda rolled her eyes.
"That's right!" Stacy exclaimed, and rose from her seat.
Stacy walked up to the receptionist's desk down in the Pediatrics ward and asked if the doctor was available. The receptionist, recognizing who she was, said that Stacy could wait in the hallway. She did so, with her little notepad and pen in hand. She leaned against the wall crossing her arms, waiting. She finally saw a familiar face and smirked as the doctor walked right passed her. "Well, well, look who it is." She chuckled. "Hello, Arnold Bennington alias Dr. Jack Stewart." The dark-haired man turned to face her and gaped. Stacy laughed.
"Stace!" Jack blurted out. "My favorite journalist. Hey, what the heck are you doing here? It's been a while." He asked as he gave her a friendly hug. "You, uh, didn't by any chance come down to release my secret missions to elaborate my heroic image, did ya?" He teased. Stacy shook her head.
"Jack, I already gave you some credit in my press conference, remember?" She chuckled with her hands on her hips, referring to a murder case Jack had helped the Sloans solve a couple months ago. "Sorry, but I can't tell the whole county of your selfless, heroic escapades and sleuthing. Besides, if I exposed your secrets, the bad guys would be tipped off and you'd be out of a job. So, I'm really doing you a favor."
"So, uh, how's everything going? What brings you down to my little world of bumps and bruises?" Jack asked curiously.
"Jack, are you busy? Do you have a minute?" Stacy asked in a more serious tone. "I have a problem, and I need to talk to you about it."
"Sure. I've got plenty of time for you, kid." Jack's brows furrowed in curiosity and concern. "We can talk in my office." Jack told the reception desk where he'd be, then ushered Stacy into his office. It was nice and professional, but nowhere close to being as big as Mark's. She could never help comparing the two. Jack offered her a seat on his couch. He set aside his charts on his desk then pulled up a chair and sat down in front of her. "So, what seems to be the problem here?" Jack asked curiously. "Is anything the matter?"
"Yes." Stacy nodded with a sigh.
"Is there something I can do to help? Have you been feeling well lately?"
"Oh, Jack. It's not that kind of problem." Stacy corrected him. "But thanks for asking. I came to ask you something."
"What is it? I'm listening."
"Jack, do you happen to have a seven-year-old patient in your care by the name of Minnie Slighter?" Stacy asked hopefully.
"Little Minnie? Aw, yeah. Good kid." Jack nodded. Stacy sighed with relief.
"Have you heard about her father, Joe Slighter?" Stacy asked nervously.
"Who hasn't? Yeah, I heard about him. He committed suicide." Jack answered. "Hey, that was some article in the paper about the Slighter family. What a piece of work."
"Jack, don't start. I didn't write that!" Stacy blurted defensively.
"Aw, yeah? Then who did?" Jack asked in that teasing tone of his. "You saying you're a victim of identity theft?"
"Jack! Please stop it. It isn't funny. I didn't write that article!" Stacy's voice broke up. "I didn't."
"Whoa, whoa, hey. It's all right." Jack sputtered, taken aback. Stacy hung her head, sniffling, and tears streamed out of her eyes. Jack touched her shoulder. "Hey, look. I'm sorry." He said earnestly. "I was just foolin' around with ya. I didn't mean anything by it."
"I...I think I know that." Stacy nodded with a quivering voice. "I'm sorry. That whole mess is...it's just a sore spot with me right now." She rubbed her forehead.
"Hey, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Jack stated regretfully. "To tell you the truth, I never really believed that you wrote it." Stacy looked up at him hopefully.
"You didn't?" She asked in a lighter tone.
"Nah. You're not that type. So, what did you want to talk to me, about the Slighters? What do you wanna know?"
Stacy wiped her eyes then she looked up at him. "Joe Slighter didn't take his own life, Jack. He was murdered!"
"Murdered? You're beginning to sound like your grandpa, Mark."
"It's true, Jack! You can just ask Amanda." Stacy sniffed. "He was drugged with phenobarbital then the killer choked him to death. She found skin tissue and blood under Joe's fingernails. The killer tried to make it look like he hung himself."
Jack listened with great interest. "Hmm. Sounds interesting." He remarked casually. "What about the note?"
"Kat convinced Mrs. Slighter to give her an old letter of Joe's." Stacy replied. "Grandpa compared it to the so called suicide note Dad found in Joe's apartment. The handwriting doesn't match at all!"
"Lousy move on the part of the killer if you ask me." Jack stated.
"Yes!" Stacy agreed. "Do you have time to come up and talk with Dad and Grandpa about the Slighters?"
"Sure." Jack said. "I'd love to be invited into the bullpen again." Jack informed his secretary where he would be then joined Stacy upstairs heading for the doctor's lounge.
"Hey, Jack!" Steve greeted as Jack and Stacy came in.
"Hey, Steve. Kat, my favorite Sloan." Jack grinned, giving her a hug. "You look good, kid."
"Thanks." She smiled.
"Jack, what can you tell us about Minnie?" Mark asked.
"Ahh, man. That poor kid was really put through hell with that car accident." Jack began. "Multiple traumas, contusions, and gashes. She's a real walking miracle. Honestly, after her dad losing his position in the city, I don't know how they could afford the extreme therapy and all the medical care she needed!"
"Yeah, well. We do." Steve muttered. They filled Jack in about all they knew.
"Wow." Jack sighed. "That's really rough."
"Jack, from the time Minnie came under your care, can you recall the Slighters' mentioning anyone who might have been 'trying to help out' financially?" Mark asked.
"It's been two years, Mark." Jack said. "But, not off hand."
"Jack," Amanda narrowed her eyes. Jack squinted at her suspiciously. "You have certain 'circles of friends', don't you?"
"Yeah. What about it?" Jack huffed.
"Well, we were hoping maybe you could ask around, see if you can find out anything about Joe's brother while Dad tries to track him down through Records...from some of your shady connections?" Stacy hinted.
"Wha-you all saying I had a bad childhood?" Jack retorted.
"Well," Amanda began.
"Don't answer that." Jack cut her off.
"Jack, could you at least ask around?" Stacy begged.
"Alright, alright." Jack groaned. "Why do I let myself get talked into these things?"
"That's why we all love you so." Kat teased.
"Well, I'd better get to the precinct." Steve said.
At that moment, Jessie walked in. "Hey, guys! What's going on?" He asked.