Mickey had ditched her janitor's outfit, pushed the cart back into the cleaning room and rushed downstairs after making a call for backup. She had not overheard all of the conversation, but enough. She held her Smith and Wesson pistol steady and the two kept their hands on their head. Backup arrived in the form of Officers Jenkins and Hadley and Mickey asked them to take the two men downtown and book them and she would be along shortly. She then ran up the stairs to Francine Astor's office. The door was open.

"Francine Astor, you're under arrest for suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder."

Francine looked up from her desk. "Well, well. Officer Hutchinson, I believe. Did you escape from the mental hospital, darling?"

Mickey's eyes darkened.

"No, of course it was a ruse. Congratulations, darling. Apparently, Rosamond is not the only actress in the Hutchinson family. I've seen a lot of the plays Rosamond is in. She's quite good. Maybe not as good as you."

"Good enough to take you down, Mrs. Astor." Mickey noticed that Francine Astor did not seem overly concerned. She began to feel a slight chill. "Where did you get that picture?" she asked, glancing over to the boy with dark hair and green eyes petting his collie.

"I have it because he's my son." Francine's voice turned cold. "And you took him from me! I only just tracked him down and then he was killed! I never got to know him."

"You – Jed's mother?" Mickey's eyes were wide. "He was adopted."

"I know. My father made me give him up. I was only sixteen. I have been looking for my son for several years. Finally, I found him. But before I could tell him, he was killed because of you!" Francine's voice rose dramatically.

"He was killed because of you and your army of thugs!" Mickey said, voice trembling with rage. "I loved Jed. When he died, a part of me died, too. You say you loved him, but it was probably on your orders he was killed!"

Francine sprang to her feet, her long nails formed like eagle talons. "Your mother, Lena, was Hans' obsession. After all these years, he still is in love with her. A dead woman! And here you are, looking just like her and you have cost me my son!"

Her eyes were filled with hate. Then abruptly, she sat back down and changed the subject. "You came here without backup, Officer Hutchinson. Isn't that one of the first rules in the department, call for backup?"

"She has backup," a man's voice sounded as Red stepped in the room. "Jenkins called me and luckily I was nearby."

"Yes, how fortunate," Francine drawled.

"What are you taking her in for?"

"Attempted murder. Conspiracy to commit murder. And we'll add on other crimes later." Mickey's gun trembled slightly. "This disgusting creature said she is Jed's real mother. And she blames me for his death."

Red stepped closer, gun drawn. "Yes, though Jed has been a target for quite a while. He was very smart. And you are as bright as Big Ben said. With the two of you and your brother Ken and Starsky, they thought you were getting too close. Too close to learning about some major players."

Red paused. "You didn't trust me, Mickey. I heard Jed in Caps' office telling him that you and Jed didn't trust me. You both thought I was one of the inside informants. I also heard Jed tell Cap he wanted to marry you. Marry you! You two proved the old partner clique that you so detested."

Francine's voice whipped out. "I would never let my son marry you!"

"You know what I found in Jed's locker, Mickey? A small box with a ring in it. He planned to ask you to marry him."

"Shut up about Jed, Red! He was so much better than anyone else on the force. He was my best friend, my partner," Mickey began.

"And your fiancée, if Jed had his way! You were such a cold fish to everyone else, no one really expected this. No one thought you would fall for a partner! Mickey, I could have married you. It would have been perfect . . . joining the Hutchinson family."

Mickey barely turned her head. "I never would have married you, Red. I would never love you. I didn't intend to fall in love with anyone. I don't want to talk anymore. Cuff Francine and we'll get back to the precinct."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mickey. Put your gun down or I'll shoot you."

"Well, you just confirmed what Jed and I suspected all along. I'll shoot her, Red. And you'll pay for her death."

"And what about your life?"

Mickey turned to face Red. "I was dead the minute you entered the room."

TBC