Chapter Eight

When Mike had heard Steve's tone and saw his face he knew there was something wrong. Other than that it was unlike Steve to ask if he had a minute; alarm bells had gone off at those first words. What Steve had told him after that raised the hackles on the back of Mike's neck and he became very afraid for his best friend.

They headed straight to Palmer's Auto World with Charlie from the lab and whatever he needed. While they were there, fingerprints were taken of Ted Palmer only to rule out his prints being on the brake line. Mike got a look at the damage to Steve's Porsche while they were there and felt slightly amazed Steve was even standing.

Once back at the lab Mike and Steve waited for Charlie to complete his work and were not surprised at how thorough he was being. Charlie confirmed Ted's suspicion that this was a deliberate cut of Steve's brake line. Ted Palmer's prints were immediately ruled out but another print was found of an index finger. Steve took the results and ran it through the computer for a print match. Once he had it and arranged for an arrest warrant he headed back to homicide and found Mike on the phone with Jeannie.

"Sweetheart, we are not sure if we will make dinner, I'm sorry. We both were hoping to get home on time but I can't promise."

"I understand, Mike. I will see both of you when you can, be careful. I love both of you."

When they went to pick up the suspect Bill Tanner, Lee Lessing, Dan Healey and Tony Ramirez went with them to help cover any exits. Once at the address all exits were covered Steve and Bill went to the door. When the man saw Steve he did not go without a fight, another man in the apartment took off out of a window and was caught by Tony Ramirez and Lee Lessing. Mike helped Steve and Bill subdue the other, he was finally cuffed and both were taken downtown for interrogation.

"They are two of the ones that jumped me at the phone booth, Mike."

"I want you to stay out here, Steve. Let us do the interrogation," Mike suggested and saw Steve was about to argue the point. "I am not saying I am worried about your temper; don't get me wrong. I have a feeling with you in there they might try to be more stubborn and be paying more attention to gloating than to answering questions. "

"All right, Mike. When you explain it that way I can't argue. I will wait out here for now."

Steve busied himself with other work while at the same time stealing glances toward the interrogation rooms. Mike and Bill had one suspect in one while in the other Dan and Lee were interrogating the other suspect. It honestly felt like days to Steve that they had been in there; he knew these two were not going to crack as easy as he had hoped.

As he was about to give up hope, he saw Mike make a move and could tell by the glare on his face he had enough games with the suspect he was dealing with and was becoming more hard-nosed. Steve could hear the voice coming from the interrogation room and knew it was the same voice that had caused him to crack more than once.

He saw a slight smile cross Bill's face and then Bill signalled to Steve. Steve gave Bill the okay sign acknowledging he understood. He called and arranged for a stenographer to come to homicide to take at least one and hopefully two statements.

Once the suspect in with Dan and Lee saw a stenographer entering the other interrogation room he knew their gig was up. Dan and Lee saw the look of defeat cross his face.

"Looks like your friend has given up the game, you could be facing the charges all by yourself," Dan observed.

"No, we were just doing what we were paid to do. Doug..."

"Doug who?" Lee Lessing inquired as alarm bells went off in his head as he was afraid he already knew the answer.

"Doug Sanders. He said the cop stole his girl and he was just getting some payback. I am not going down for this by myself."

Lee Lessing got Mike in there quickly to hear what this guy was about to tell them.

"Tell Lieutenant Stone what you were telling us."

"Doug Sanders paid us to cut the brake lines on his car and to rough him up. But the girl - that was Doug and Curtis; we had nothing to do with killing her."

"Where can Doug Sanders be found? If you know you better tell us you are in enough hot water already."

"He said he was going to take back who was his. He thought the guy who took her would not make it through the car wreck with the brakes out. He was heading to her house last time I talked to him."

Mike realized what was being said and told Dan and Lee to stay with the suspects. He hurried out and arranged for extra men to go with him and Steve to his house. Steve heard some of what Mike was saying as he arranged for men and realized something was up concerning Jeannie. Mike ushered him out explaining on the way to their car.

Steve sped to Mike's in record time with more units pulling up almost at the same time. Mike and Steve saw the door ajar and both were afraid they were too late until they heard a scream they both recognized as Jeannie. Steve could not get inside fast enough. Mike and the others brought up the rear.

The sight Steve saw when he got in to where Jeannie was sent him basically off the wall. He wasted no time laying into Doug Sanders. Mike covered Jeannie quickly with his coat as he had seen her clothing had been ripped. Some of the others got hold of Doug Sanders' cohort as he tried to make his escape. Mike hurried toward Steve and Doug Sanders. Ones there thought Mike was going to pull Steve off but they got a surprise when he was trying to help Steve. Once Jeannie had calmed better she hurried to try to stop Mike and Steve before they jeopardized their careers more than they already had.

"Steve! Mike! Please stop he isn't worth it! I am okay I promise he wasn't able to do anything please Steve!"

Steve was finally brought out of his rage induced vacuum and Doug Sanders was taken by Norm who quickly cuffed him and read him his rights. Steve held Jeannie close to him checking her over to make sure she was okay. She clung to both Steve and Mike in turn assuring them she would be alright.

Jeannie gave a statement to Norm before Mike and Steve drove her to be checked out just to be on the safe side. Both paced while Jeannie was in with a doctor. After what seemed an eternity to them the doctor came out to speak with them.

"Your daughter will be fine. She was not sexually assaulted although I feel that was to be the intent. She was struck leaving slight bruising on her face. I am sending a sedative home with you to give her before she lies down. I think she might need it at least tonight, she was pretty shook up. She is going to dress and will be out in a few minutes."

The doctor provided a few sedatives on second thought, just in case she might need them more than one night. When they left the hospital they took Jeannie with them, not wanting her out of their sight. Once at Bryant Street they made sure Doug Sanders and his three cohorts were charged with multiple charges. They included attempted murder of a police officer, assault and battery, attempted rape, destruction of private property, murder of one Meg Sawyer and accessory to murder and all the above.

This time there would be no agreement made for Doug Sanders or any of his cohorts. Once the trial had been held they were all sentenced to countless years, all were sure they would most likely never see the light of day again. Jeannie talked to a counsellor about her experience at the insistence of Steve and Mike. Steve got a slap on the wrist for police abuse of authority, considering the circumstances. All knew it could have been much worse for Steve and were very relieved he was not dismissed for his actions.