Daylight Victims

Chapter 6

The family had no resemblance to the Gorens whatsoever. They were a young black couple. The only reason they would've been mistaken for the Gorens was the circumstances of their van that looked like thousands of other dark minivans on the road.

"They don't have access to the license plate records. They were just shooting at random." Bobby said.

"Are we sure they were even targeted because of our case? There isn't a lot of evidence one way or another." Alex commented looking at the wreckage with a sick feeling in her stomach.

Carolyn was bending over the debris in the road earnestly in discussion with CSU tech. She gestured to several places and stood up holding her back. Her gaze swept the landscape along the side of the road and turned to look over to where Bobby and Alex were then further down the road where Karen and Jerry were talking to witnesses. There was a frown on her face.

She walked over to where Alex stood. "Don't you carry a spare suit for Bobby in your car?"

"Yes. We started that carrying extras when we had to drive home nearly naked in a downpour, why?"

Carolyn grinned at her. "Just don't tell Mike why you do that. It might give him ideas. Or maybe just wait until this baby is born and gets a bit older. Can I get that jacket?"

"Are you cold? I can…."

"No, I have another idea."

"It's in the trunk in a garment bag. Here's the keys."

Carolyn walked over to Gorens car. She brought back the keys a short time later and gave them back without explanation. Alex was too busy to mention it right then.

The family was sent to the morgue and the highway patrol cleared up the scene after the detectives left. By the time rush hour traffic hit the scene was only a bare, busy road. Alex and Bobby rode back to their precinct in silence. Alex thought about telling Bobby about the suit coat, but decided just to replace it and let it go.

Captain Ross was at their desks almost as soon as they entered. "Is there any information?"

"Nothing conclusive." Bobby informed him. "Just more pieces. We do have a theory, even if it is a long shot. It fits, it's just very unlikely."

"Does it give you evidence for an arrest?"

"If we can pinpoint the shooter or shooters."

"We're looking at more than one?"

"If this theory is correct. There are still too many holes in this case to make an educated guess. All we know for sure is they seem to have a grudge against us and Alex in particular. I think we have to go on that assumption. It's the most concrete lead we have."

"And keeping you safe." Ross told Alex.

"We're doing everything about that we can." Alex assured him.

"What kind of help are you getting from Wilkes and Wesson?"

"They are investigating a hit on their home turf right now. They will be there if we need them." Alex told him.

"This is our problem. We need to keep it in the family as much as possible."

"She is part of the family, Captain. They're a good friends to our kids, good friends to Mike and Carolyn and good people to have at our backs."

"I just don't like it. It's spread too far out to make a good investigation."

"Only as far as the hits go, sir." Bobby reminded him.

"Don't let this thing get out of control." Ross warned them. He walked away.

"I think he's too late." Bobby told Alex.

tbc