A/N: The penultimate chapter

Mike made the trip to Daly City in record time. Lenny kept his eyes closed for most of the way. "You know, it won't do Steve or the girl any good if we end up wrapped around a telephone pole. I thought it was your partner who was Indy* qualified."

Mike dismissed the comment with a smirk and lurched to a stop in front of a brick split level. He was already pounding on the door when Bill Tanner pulled up. Bill and Lenny had just achieved the stoop when a blonde woman opened the front door.

Mike flashed his badge. "Mrs. Powers, I'm Lt. Stone, SFPD. We'd like to speak to you and your husband."

The woman invited them into a tidy living room where a 30 something man was reading the paper.

After introductions, Mike began, "Mr. Powers, when was the last time you saw your brother?"

"He was just here two days ago. He needed to borrow Dora's car. He was going to a friend's funeral. What's this all about Lieutenant?"

Bill took out his note book and interrupted, "That's a '71 blue Torino, license OIT 346." Bill had been in contact with Norm on the trip to Powers' home.

"Yeah that's it, why?"

"Thanks." Bill headed for the door. "I'm going out to the car and confirm this with the State Police and the Highway Patrol."

Mike answered Chris Powers' question. "We're trying to locate him. He hasn't been seen since around 1 pm."

"Why all the fuss? Nobody reported him missing or anything. I don't expect him to bring back the car until tomorrow, maybe the day after. Oh, God, he hasn't been in an accident or something, has he?"

Mike had mulled over how much he needed to tell the Powers on the drive from the city. If they knew what was going on, they might be hesitant to give him the information he needed. He hated lying to people, but thought an edited version of the truth might be more useful in this situation.

"No, nothing like that. Actually, it's not him we are trying to find." That was at least technically the truth. "He gave a lift to a friend of his from school and a police officer when they had car trouble after the funeral Mass. We really need to speak with her."

"Are you talking about his fiancé?"

"Fiancé?" Mike looked at Lenny, who raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Lizzy. We were so surprised when he told us they were getting married. She's such a nice girl, been out here a few times. We had no idea their relationship had progressed to that point. When he was here, he told us about her roommate dying. So sad."

Mike hadn't expected this wrinkle and chose his next words carefully. "Do you know if there is anyplace he would take her after the funeral?"

"It's funny you should ask. He told me he offered her a ride. Said he wanted to take her on a drive down the coast after everything was over so she could get her head together, but a police officer insisted she needed an official escort. He was a little annoyed by it."

Mike tried to get them back to his question. "So no place you can think of?"

Chris sat for moment. "Not really, especially if there was someone else with them."

"Mr. and Mrs. Powers, I understand that Jeff still has a room here, do you mind if we take a look? Might help us figure out where they went." Mike really couldn't compel them to cooperate, he was out of his jurisdiction and out of options.

"Sure, I don't see why not, it you think it will help. Is Lizzy in trouble?"

"That is exactly what we are trying to figure out." Mike had no problem answering the question truthfully.

Mrs. Powers escorted the duo down the hall and into the bedroom, which seemed to be a teenage time capsule. A high school diploma and multiple art awards graced the walls, keeping company with trophies, a large painting and several poster sized art prints.

Mike looked at the painting. "This is beautiful, did Jeff paint it?"

"Yes, he did. He is so talented. I guess after he gets married we will have two artists in the family."

Lenny looked at the prints, stopping at one in particular. Dora Powers noticed his interest. "Ugh, I asked him to get rid of that one. Can you imagine a painting of a murder victim, but he said it was one of his favorites. Go figure." Mike walked over to see what was captivating Lenny.

"This was one of the paintings on the list." he said in a low voice. "Death of Marat." Mike swallowed hard at the image of the murdered man in the tub. Lenny put a hand on Mike's his arm. "We'll find him, I'm sure of it."

Mike continued on from the print, inspecting the room. He paused at a student desk and cork board in the corner, eyes stopping on a photo of two young men in Boy Scout Uniforms. "Ma'am, who is this?"

"Oh, that's Chris and Jeff, they used to camp and hike all the time, they were both Eagle Scouts. Even though they're years apart, they still spent time together. You probably didn't recognize Jeff. That was before he grew the pony tail."

"Where was it taken?"

"I don't know. I'd have to ask Chris, they used to go to all the parks along the coast."

"Can you please get him to join us?"

Mrs. Powers left to get her husband.

"What do you got Mike?"

"Probably nothing. But…"

Mr. Powers entered the room.

"Sir, can you tell me where this was taken?" Mike handed him the photo.

"Let me see. I think this was right after I became an Eagle. Looks like the last time we went camping before I left for college." He studied the photo. "Yeah, I can see the knot on my uniform. It's McNee Ranch State Park, not too far from here. It has the most spectacular view. I recognize the barn. It was the only source of fresh water up there. See the pump and trough in the picture."

Lenny walked over and asked to see the picture. Once he had it, he looked at the background carefully.

Power's continued after ceding the photo. "As a matter of fact, Jeff asked me if we still had the camping gear when he was here. Said that maybe he and Lizzy could use it after school let out. I think he took some of it out of the garage before he left."

Lenny and Mike exited the room. "This is it Mike."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Death of Marat, the water trough."

"I thought so too, but what if we're wrong?"

00000

Jeff walked along the narrow trail with a lantern in hand. The sun was making its final dip toward the horizon and the sea. The angled light created stripes of deep shadows along the path. He held Lizzy's hand. It had been a challenge to rouse her, but he managed to get her awake enough to accompany him to the overlook.

The ambiance was perfect. He now knew Lizzy hadn't read the letter, his declaration of love, but he wasn't upset by it. The turn of events seemed to be the universe's way of correcting his mistake. The fates told him it was something destined to be expressed in person.

Lizzy leaned on him for support. Between the concussive force of the blow to the head and half a Quaalude, focus and balance were problematic. She staggered slightly and Jeff wrapped his arm around her waist. She rested her head on his shoulder as they cleared the trees.

The sun was just kissing the Pacific Ocean to the west. Turning his head slightly north he could see San Francisco, already bathed in a ruby glow. Lizzy had closed her eyes again. He shook her slightly. Now was his moment.

"Gosh, it's really beautiful, um, what are we doing here again?" Lizzy giggled a little. She felt tipsy and silly, but the hint of a headache still bit at the corner of her senses.

"We came to see the sunset, remember? I have something to tell you."

The whole situation seemed a bit off, but she was too loose to care. "K," she grinned and slurred, "What is it?"

Jeff spun Lizzy slightly so the warm light bathed her face. He was overcome by the beauty of it all. "I... I did it all for you. There isn't anybody left in our way except the cop and he will be gone soon too. Now we can be together, forever." Once the words started, it was hard to make them stop. "Lizzy," He brushed his hand gently over her cheek and gazed into her eyes. "I love you."

Lizzy pulled back a little, patted his cheek and started to laugh.

00000

Cold. Not just cold, but teeth chattering, bone numbing cold. And wet. Steve had been floating on a sun-warmed boat, the sea gently swaying. He didn't care to open his eyes and spoil the blissful experience, but suddenly things shifted. The motion grew into a violent tempest. He felt powerless as he was tossed, banged and bruised. A wave swamped his senses.

After cold and wet he noticed the smell, not salty fresh, as he expected, but old, fetid. The incongruity pulled at his brain and forced him to open his eyes. The dream had been real, sort of, because when his vision cleared, he was in fact wet and cold, and he seemed to have lost his shirt at some point.

He tried to remember the day, but his brain felt thick and crowded in his skull. He had flashes of dancing turtles and a comely goddess. Nothing made sense. The last place on the reality timeline he could pinpoint was pumping gas. He had been warm then, ditching his jacket and tie. He'd climbed into the back seat of a car, Jeff's car and then nothing. He couldn't explain how he'd wound up half submerged in a water trough, in the woods at twilight, without his shirt, freezing his ass off. He thought maybe he should just shut his eyes and go back to the vision of the shapely Venus.

Steve wanted to stand up, but gravity appeared to be working overtime. The linen draping the tub felt more like lead. Another flash of being naked and impaled flitted across his consciousness. He shook his head, trying to clear out the cotton insulating his thinking. Hands on either side of the tub, he made another attempted at rising, pushing up to his feet and stepping out onto the grass. At some point, it seemed his shoes had gone missing. Instinct compelled him to reach for his holster, but the .38 was also MIA.

He felt like he had a number of years ago, when he'd mistakenly gone to a bachelor party with Norm Haseejian, but he didn't recall having anything to drink. Staggering over to the car, his thoughts turned to Lizzy and then Jeff. Where the hell were they and for that matter, where the hell was he? Opening the back door, he retrieved his suit coat. It didn't help much, barefoot and sopping, but it was a little bit better.

A wave of dizziness and nausea made him grab for the car door. He was glad it was almost dark, the tiny illumination from the dome light was more than enough to make his head pound. He leaned forward and rested his elbows and forearms on the roof of the car, creating an inviting pillow for his head. His eyes were nearly closed when he heard a piercing scream.

00000

Mike swung the LTD off the highway and onto the park access road. A balding man in a khaki uniform was drawing a gate across the parking lot entrance. He tried unsuccessfully to wave Mike off.

"We close at dusk, you'll need to come back another time."

Mike hopped from the car and flashed his shied as Bill swung his Galaxie in behind. "Stone, San Francisco Police. You been on the gate all day?"

"Mostly."

"Anybody left in the park."

"Uh, Yep. About a dozen permit campers."

"Anybody else?"

"I'd have to check the clipboard, give me a minute." He walked slowly over to the guard shack.

Bill came abreast of Mike and brought him up to date. "We had a report from the highway patrol. One of their cruisers may have seen the Torino gassing up south of Colma earlier this afternoon."

"They're just telling us this now?" Mike was nearly shouting.

"Take it easy Mike, they saw the car before the APB went out." It was not the answer Mike wanted to hear.

"What's taking this guy so long? Mike started to walk to the shack when the guard reappeared.

"Looks like a blue Ford never checked out. Mighta missed em, I was out and about a lot this aftenoon."

"Plate number?"

"Didn't write it down. It's slow this time of year, we don't usually bother."

"Can you tell me one thing?" Mike's irritation with the lax security arrangement was plain to read in his voice and on his face. "Is there a way to get a vehicle up to this spot?" Mike showed him the photo of the Scouts."

The man pulled a pair of glasses from his pocket and stared at the photo in the glow of the parking lot light standards. "Looks like the old riding barn near the summit. Fire road goes up from the end of the lot here, but I don't recommend it in the dark."

Not that Mike had noticed, but the sun had set properly in the last few minutes. He first addressed the Ranger, "Get on the horn and call the State Police and get us some back up. If you can't get them call the Highway Patrol. We're gonna need help."

"Lenny, you stay here, send the cavalry up when they come. Bill, you're with me."

Mike didn't wait for any acknowledgement of the terse orders.

"You heard the man," Bill said to the stunned Ranger as he jogged after Mike to the LTD.

"I guess it wouldn't do any good to tell you to be careful." Lenny shouted as Mike slammed the door.

*Indianapolis 500 (Formula One Auto racing)