Closer to Home

Chapter 2

The next killing was closer to home than any of the other three. Bobby was up early to work on the woodcarving he was making for Sammy's birthday. It was a set of hand carved toy vehicles. He had been spending time with Lewis and was fascinated by all the different kinds of cars. The toys were simple renderings, but Bobby had found relaxation in working with his hands in the quiet mornings when everyone else was fast asleep. He was alert for the sounds of stirring in the apartment, sure signs he was about to be intruded upon. So far he'd managed to keep these toys a secret from anyone but Alex, but the kids could be out here in 15 seconds flat. He'd timed them.

He was intent on listening for sounds of movement. When the phone blasted in his ear, he jumped and stabbed himself with the wood gouge. He snatched the phone up with a muffled "Goren." as he sucked on the blood on his thumb.

The phone ringing at 5:15 in the morning brought everyone in the house awake. Bobby had to hurry and jam the car down into the couch cushions so no one would see it.

Mitzzi came out with her hair all tangled and yawning, followed immediately by Sammy.

Alex was right behind them, in her fluffy blue bathrobe. Bobby liked to see her in it, because even though she'd teased him about trying to make her into a dumpy old lady when he bought it for her. She enjoyed wearing it because it was soft and warm. He enjoyed hugging her in it and then taking it off again….

Bobby hastily jerked his thoughts back to the phone call. "….another one. The captain wants you there asap."

"Give me the address again." He said.

Alex's face went tense and she disappeared back into the bedroom. He knew she was getting ready to go. He wrote the address down and promised they'd be right there. He hung up the phone. Mitzzi was looking at him with her head cocked to one side. "You hurt yourself?"

"Just a little bit. It's not bad. How come you're up so early? It's Saturday."

"Phone." She said succinctly. "Are you playing with knives? Mommy said they're bad to play with."

"Mommy's right. But I can use them because I'm an adult."

"Uncle Mike says you're a big kid sometimes, so you shouldn't play with sharp things."

"Uncle Mike should mind his own….."

"Mitzzi, Sammy, come get your clothes on. Grandpa is coming to pick you up in a few minutes." Alex called.

"I was going to have waffles with you, Daddy." Mitzzi pouted.

"This is our weekend to work, Squirt. Remember?" Bobbby told her. "Maybe we can do it tomorrow."

"Alright." She sighed heavily. "I call front seat in Grandpas car." She streaked off after her brother.

"You got it last time." Sammy yelled back.

They blasted past their mother into the hallway. She stepped aside for them and came into the living room. "What's up? Or do I even need to ask?"

"That was Ross. There's been another killing. A records clerk. She was gunned down in her driveway as she left for work. Her kids heard the neighborhood dogs barking and came out to see what was going on and found her."

"Oh, my God. Are they alright?"

"Her son swears he heard someone take a shot at them. He's eight and I guess he's fascinated by the job his mother did. It may have been his imagination…"

"Or shock. If he's eight, that could've been what he thought he heard. Did they say if the kids saw anything?"

"No. We'll have to interview them. So your dad is on the way over?"

"He was out getting something for breakfast when he saw the news and headed over here. He knows this is our weekend to work and what's going on."

Mitzzi came back out all dressed. Her hair was half combed in the front giving her a halo effect and she was yawning. "You didn't finish combing your hair, Squirt." Bobby said.

"I combed the part everyone looks at." She informed him reasonably.

Alex had to laugh at the perfectly logical response on her daughters part. "But everyone sees the back too."

"Why are they looking at my back?"

"Where are my tennis shoes?" Sammy called. "Grandpa told me he'd teach me to play basketball next time I came over."

"Shoes or comb?" Alex asked her husband with an amused smile.

"Comb. I can never find his stuff. Sit down here, Squirt. Now when people see you…."

Sammy was buried half under his bed when Alex got there. "Sammy, come out of there. Your shoes should be in the closet."

"I looked there. Here's one."

"Sammy."

Sammys bluejean-clad butt wiggled in the air. "Here's the other. And look I found a stick of gum and my book." He backed out from under the bed and waved the gum in the air. He began to unwrap the gum.

"Don't eat that!" Alex scolded, but Sammy happily finished unwrapping it and popped it into his mouth.

"It's still good, Mom."

"Get your shoes on. Grandpa will be here in a minute."

"Good. I can show him my book."

Sammy snatched up his shoes and rocketed out to the living room. Alex sighed and followed. The door knocker sounded and Alex and Bobby tensed, looking at each other. Alex had her gun at hand when Bobby answered the door. It was her father. He saw her gun and nodded. "Hey, Alex, Bobby."

Mitzzi and Sammy came running back out of his room. "Hi, Grandpa."

"Hi, Sammy. Are you ready to go? Did you get your new book?"

"It's in my room. I'll be right back."

"Hi, Grandpa." Mitzzi told him more quietly than Sammy had. She had seen Alex with her gun out.

"Hi, Mitzzi. How are you?"

"Mom, why did you pull a gun on Grandpa?"

Bobby and Alex exchanged a glance. "Come here, Squirt. Let me explain what's going on."

Bobby sat down on the couch and pulled Mitzzi onto his lap. "There is someone out there that doesn't like police like Mom and I. They are hurting police and we are being careful. That's why Mom had her gun ready. She didn't pull a gun on Grandpa, she was ready in case it wasn't him. Sammy doesn't know this and I don't want him to worry. Can you be a big girl and not tell him?"

Mitzzi's eyes were huge, but she nodded. "Are you going to get shot again?"

"Not if I can help it. In fact, we're going to catch them. But I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" Mitzzi asked suspiciously.

Bobby exchanged a look and acknowledgment with his partner. It was going to have to come down that way. "How would you like to go to day camp for a week?"

"Day camp? What is that?"

"Well, it's like a camp where you do things with other kids all day and then come home at night."

"What about Sammy?"

"He'll be there too."

"And so will I." John Eames told Mitzzi. "I'll be helping there."

"Really? Where do I have to go for it?"

"That's the best part, Baby. It's at Karens house."

"Really? Is she going to be there?"

"Part of the time, I guess. She has her duty times, too."

"Is she going to have to wear her gun, too?"

"Sometimes. Does that worry you?"

"We had someone come to school and give us a lecture about playing with guns. They said guns hurt people and we shouldn't be around people who play with guns." Mitzzi said. "I told them that you and Mommy only hurt bad people. They said we shouldn't even have guns, that even police shouldn't have guns. I wanted to tell them that you've been hurt by bad people, but the teacher made me sit down and not talk to them any more."

"How long ago was this, Mitzzi?" Alex asked crouching in front of her daughter.

Mitzzi shrugged. "Just before you and Daddy got really worried."

Alex and Bobby exchanged a concerned look. "Listen, sweetie, some people have a different view from other people and we can't change their mind, but you don't have to listen to them. We don't shoot just anyone or we would've shot Uncle Mike a long time ago. And you know how annoying he can be. If anyone says anything bad about us you don't listen to them. If you have any questions you can come to either Daddy or me or Uncle Mike….."

"Or me, Mitzzi. I'll tell you the truth." John Eames put in.

"That's right, Mitzzi, Grandpa, too." Bobby hugged his daughter. "Is there anything else bothering you?"

"No." Mitzzi said quietly.

Bobby knew his daughter well and knew there was something else, but she would have to think on it and bring it to them in her own time. He hoped she would feel like she was able to talk to them in her own way.

"You better get going. I'll take the kids to my house. Take care."

"We will." Alex kissed her fathers cheek and Bobby grabbed the rest of his things. Mitzzis goodbye hug was extra tight for a moment and she made sure not to touch their weapons. It was not unnoticed by anyone. The two detectives left John trying to get the kids coats on.

"Is it a coincidence that that lecture came about the same time that those articles started? I wonder if there were any more officers whose kids had that lecture and let some personal information slip without meaning to." Bobby said.

"We're going to find out. As soon as the school office opens." Alex growled.

The CSU unit was already at the crime scene when Alex and Bobby arrived. Bobby knelt next to the woman. She wore civilian clothes, a skirt and blouse. Unless you knew she was a clerk with the NYPD you would think she was just an office worker from any office anywhere. She had dropped her keys on the ground and her purse was under the vehicle.

Three shots to her torso were visible but one was directly to her head. Bobby cocked his head to consider this. "She was shot in the head first. These others are after thoughts. Whoever this is wants us to be afraid."

"They're playing mind games?"

"I think they are trying to keep us guessing. I don't think they are as sure of themselves as they'd like us to think they are."

"But they tortured this woman."

"No, they shot her in the head first. Then after she was dead they did these. She didn't suffer and the blood wasn't as fresh or had the same volume as the head wound. She was just incidental in this crusade."

"Hell of a reason to get killed. As a game piece in a sick game."

Bobby stood up. He stepped back and moved around the womans body to study her position. "What is it? Bobby, what do you see?" Alex asked.

"Don't you see it?" he asked alarmed.

"See what? Bobby, talk to me."

Bobby looked at his partner and there was just a shade of panic in his gaze. "In this light, from the angle the shots came from…she looks like you. Her general build, her hair style and even the car would look like ours in the light at the time that she was killed. Someone has chosen us, or more specifically you, as the next target."

Alex felt a chill of fear run down her back. "They shot her thinking she was me with her kids in the house. Whoever it is, they are a sick bastard. This means Mitzzi and Sammy aren't safe with me."

"We'll catch them, Alex. I can guarantee that. They won't harm a hair on your head or the kids, either." Bobby said coldly. "Let's go talk to the kids school. I want a lead on who it was that tried to scare the hell out of our kids."

Bobby gave the technicians final instructions for the scene clean up and joined his partner at the SUV. He could see that she was worried. So was he, but he pulled her into his arms. "We'll get them and we won't stop until we do."

Alex pushed him away after a minute. "We don't know who's out there and who might try what next. You could be shot at any minute."

Bobby put his arms back around her. "I'd rather go down hugging you than any other way. But you're right. Let's go find this jerk."

TBC