Chapter 18

The investigation stalled in the next days. Claret encountered a strong willed judge who had hauled herself up the ladder by her own bootstraps and was ill inclined to listen to his lawyer's claims of harassment and pleas that his client had close times to the community. She remanded Claret to the not so warm arms of Riker's, where he spent much of his time in protective custody while his lawyer unleashed a blizzard of motions and appeals. Angela Corelli took her first tentative steps towards recovery with her release from the hospital. George Huang remained one of her doctors, and he reported to the detectives that she was doing far better than anyone expected, but she still suffered terrible nightmares and couldn't bear to ride in a car at night. Bobby, quietly obeying the doctors and Alex, got better each day.

The fourth day of his stay Alex arrived home and opened the door to discover a wonderful smell wafting from the kitchen. She stepped into it to discover Bobby ladling sauce over pasta.

"Hey," she said. "You're supposed to be resting…"

He looked up guiltily. "I…I was going a little stir-crazy," he confessed. "I needed to do something…And I wanted to do something for you…"

It was impossible for her to be angry with him. She smiled at him and pulled out a bottle of wine. The good food and a second glass of wine relaxed Alex to the point that she told Bobby something of her day.

"I'm sorry you're stuck with paperwork and reviewing statements," he said.

"It's ok," she said.

"I never thought I'd want to do paperwork," Bobby said. "But I even miss that…"

Alex sipped the wine. "You must really miss work…"

"Yea," Bobby said. "I miss it…I miss it a lot…"

"You see Dr. Phillips tomorrow, right?"

Bobby nodded.

"I'll give you a lift," Alex said and twirled another strand of pasta on her fork. "Although there are a lot of people willing to do that…"

"I hope I'll be able to come back to work…"

Alex frowned.

"Don't worry," Bobby assured her. "I won't push things."

"It's just." The wine had lowered her defenses. "The Claret case…I'm afraid…They…or you…might push you…"

"I'll be careful," Bobby promised.

Later, as Alex drifted into sleep, she realized Bobby hadn't pressed her for any information about the Claret case. She rose from her bed to the guest room and looked down on him; he slept fitfully, tossing and turning.

"Maybe," she thought. "He's finally taking care of himself…"

Bobby murmured in his sleep, and Alex slipped beneath the covers next to him; his restlessness ended when her hand gently touched his back.

Dr. Phillips was pleased with Bobby's progress and cleared him both for driving and limited duty. Alex helped Bobby settle back in his apartment.

"Well," she said as she deposited his duffel bag on his bed. "The Army taught you how to pack…"

Bobby smiled at her.

Alex stared at the floor. "I'm going to miss having you around…You will…still…come by…and…"

"Of course," he said. "That is…if you want me to…And…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "If you would…sometimes…stay here…"

"Of course," Alex replied. She was deeply touched by his shyness. "What are you going to do for the rest of the day?"

He stiffened. "I…I really need to see my Mom and her doctors…"

"I'll drive you," Alex said. She sensed the trip to Carmel Ridge was the last Bobby wanted or needed to take.

"No," Bobby said forcefully and quickly. He saw the dismayed look on Alex's face. "I appreciate it," he said softly. "I really do…Everything you've done…You need to get back to work…and maybe a break from me…"

"Bobby," she said patiently. "It's a two hour drive…I don't think this is what Dr. Phillips had in mind when he told you to take it easy…"

"Alex," Bobby replied with equal patience. "I have to go…You have to go back to work…I'll be careful…I go back to work tomorrow…I won't jeopardize that…"

Alex fumed, but Bobby was right that she needed to get back to work, if only to continue to fight against his involvement in the Claret case.

"I'll be careful, Alex," Bobby continued. "And I'll rest when I get back…I promise you…"

"All right," she reluctantly conceded. "But if you don't call me regularly I'll have every cop in the area looking for you…And I'll be leading the search."

Throughout the afternoon, Bobby wished several times that he'd listened to Alex and not gone to Carmel Ridge. He'd brought his mother several things she needed and wanted, and he appeared in her hospital room laden with packages. His mother scarcely acknowledged the items and ignored his still visible injuries. She wanted his brother: Frank would treat her right; Frank would make the doctors and nurses take care of her. Bobby tried to speak with her, to reason with her, but she was far beyond his words. Dr. Shimo and others tried to help, but his mother regarded them as part of the conspiracy against her. Pain and exhaustion pounded Bobby as he stood by his mother's bed; the nurses watched him with frightened and sympathetic eyes. The doctors finally told Bobby to leave; there was nothing he could do to help, and his presence might even be making his mother's condition worse.

Anyone observing Bobby for some time could have learned to judge how well his visits to his mother went by his driving habits when he left Carmel Ridge. If he drove with his usual care, the visit was a good one. If he sped away recklessly, the visit was bad. Today, he left a small shower of stones as he pulled out of the parking lot, and his tires shrieked as he turned on to Route 15. He drove furiously for several miles until he remembered his promise to Alex. He slowed, eased the car to the side of the road, and sat trembling for several moments. He stared at the road and realized he was only a few miles away from Claremont and the Claret farm.

"The scene's cold…freezing," he thought. "But…maybe…maybe…" He rubbed his eyes. "And I'm so tired…I couldn't find anything even if the scene was fresh…but I have to…if only for Mrs. Czechowski…"

Alex Eames was not a moody person. Her usually even temperament and tolerance were two of her strong points; both were in use throughout the Claret case. The case remained in limbo, and George Huang reported that the waiting was not helping Angela Corelli's recovery. No additional physical evidence appeared to strengthen the murders' link to Claret. Sitting at a borrowed desk in the SVU squad room, Alex stared at several crime scene photos and tried to will them to give her more information. Her head snapped up as a thought jabbed her mind.

"What is it?" Olivia asked.

"Mrs. Czechowski," Alex answered thoughtfully. "Maybe…We keep trying to find something to connect Claret to the other victims…but maybe we should be looking for something to connect him to Mrs. Czechowski…"

Her phone ran; Alex saw Bobby's number displayed. "Oh…" she thought. "I hope his Mom is ok…"

"Eames." Bobby was in professional mode, but his voice was both excited and exhausted. "Don't get mad…I need a CSU at the Claret farm…"

"What?" Alex tried to catch her spinning thoughts. "What!"

"Please…don't get mad." He sounded like a small boy trying to placate his mother. "When I was coming home…I had this thought…And I stopped at the Claret place…"

"Bobby!" Even as she fought not to scream at him, Alex waved at Olivia.

"Eames…please…I know…It was stupid…But I may have found something…a way to connect him with the murders…that he knew…at least Mrs. Czechowski and maybe the others…"

END Chapter 18