Chapter Two

Mike was relieved almost a week and a half had gone by and there was no more sign or sound of Meg Sawyer. Jeannie and Steve started keeping company with each other more. Mike knew while he still was not that keen on his daughter dating a cop, if it had to be any cop he was glad it was Steve, despite the reputation that Steve was supposed to have.

Both of them had tried to go above and beyond the call of duty for each other. That showed him the depth of their feelings as well as that Steve would never let any harm come to Jeannie even if it caused him trouble in different areas.

Eventually though, the sky, as they say, does tend to fall when you are least expecting it. One day Steve arrived at work late having told Mike he would drive in that morning as he and Jeannie had plans that evening. Mike immediately could see something was troubling his partner and rose from his desk heading out toward Steve.

"What's going on, buddy boy?"

"Uh, it's nothing, Mike. I just had a little car trouble; nothing I can't handle."

"Alright, hotshot, my office, come on. No arguments, march!"

"Mike, I need to get on these reports..."

When Mike shot the glare Steve's way, Steve stopped trying to speak as he knew it was useless to argue with Mike and followed him quietly. Once in Mike's office with the door closed, Steve took the customary seat in front of Mike's desk. Steve did his very best to keep his eyes focused on Mike but finally lowered them because he knew he could not keep this ruse going. He thought he was saved from any explanation when Mike's phone rang and he had to answer, but Mike held his hand up indicating Steve was to stay put.

"Homicide, Stone."

"Mike, did Keller finish that report on the Paladin case yesterday? I didn't find it on my desk this morning." Captain Olsen's voice boomed through the receiver.

"Yes, Rudy he did we took it up yesterday before leaving. It was left with your secretary, have you asked her?"

"Oh all right thanks. She just now arrived, had a dentist appointment this morning for her son. I will get it from her now. Thanks again, I needed it before seeing the Commissioner."

"Have a good meeting, try not to lose your temper," Mike answered in a friendly way before hanging up and returning his focus to Steve. "All right, what has happened now? You said car trouble but your eyes said a whole lot more and I saw you when you came in; there is something wrong. Did you hear from Meg Sawyer again? And don't give me that everything is fine spiel you try to give. I know you too well, Steve."

"I can handle it, Mike, I will take care of it." Steve saw the glare darken even more in his direction and sighed softly. "All right, you win. When I came out this morning, my windshield had been shattered and tires were slashed. I have no idea when it happened, the neighbors heard nothing so must have been during the night. I got Palmer's to come get it and take it in for me then I got a taxi here."

"I will drive you to pick it up when it is ready. You have no idea who this could be other than Meg Sawyer do you, buddy boy? I mean I know we can't accuse her just yet but well she is one suspect I would list."

"I have wracked my brain trying to come up with who it could be, Mike, I honestly can't think of anyone. I know recent cases and old cases could be possibilities but there are no definite choices, no. "

"What about Doug Sanders? Have you and Jeannie had any more contact with him?" Mike inquired trying to cover every base he could think of.

"No, Mike I honestly do not see it being him. Since that settlement he has had not one bit of contact with either of us. I mean we have had sightings of him around the city when we are out but never has he even approached us. Unless Jeannie is not telling me, he has not called or written her at all, and I know for a fact I have had nothing from him. I almost wish he would make contact just so I could ask him and see his answer."

"Now hold it right there, buddy boy. Don't even think what you are thinking."

"What am I thinking, Mike? I just said..."

"I know what you just said and I know you, Steve. I know how your mind works for the most part and you are not going to make contact with him if you can help it. All you need is for him to say you orchestrated contact and started trouble with him."

"Alright, Mike I hear you. I will forget that thought. I promise I will not try to look him up myself."

"You better, hotshot. The last thing I need is to have to come bail you out of jail in the middle of the night."

Steve was saved from answering that comment by the ringing of the phone on his desk. He hurried out to answer it hoping to give Mike time to change his line of thinking while he was gone.

"Homicide; Keller."

"Hey, Steve this is Ted Palmer. When you were at your car earlier you didn't happen to see this message left for you did you?"

"Message? No, what does it say? Where was it left?"

"You might want to get some of your lab people to give your seat a going over. It was left on the back of the driver's side seat written in what looks like lipstick. It read stop dating her. "