Thanks to my beta reader, again. On with the story

Chapter Nine

Milt Gibbs was leaning against a cement pillar when Sam Coleman found him.

"So, how is Mr. Dunbar doing?" Sam asked as approached the teacher.

"Oh, it was quite the show," Milt grinned. "First he waited with Hank as some girls oohed and aahed about the dog. Then he tilts his head and smiles and tells them all about Hank. I swear those girls positively swooned and then when he said he wanted to go to Victoria's Secret-- they were falling all over themselves offering to guide him there. He gives them a smile and says he just wants directions. You could see the girls deflate when he said it was for his wife but he got good directions and took off. He got Hank into an elevator and went into the shop and soon Jim has the sales girls letting him finger the lace and feel the silk against his cheek."

"Why are you here now?" Sam looked at the jewellery store where he could see Jim smoozing with the man behind the counter.

"I believe this is for a pair of garnet earrings. Jim thought they would go well with his wife's dark hair and brown eyes." Milt yawned. "Driving today was the pits. Gayle says we're supposed to be here until at least four o'clock, but I'm betting there are more than a few people who are done shopping now."

"Go check in with Gayle, I'll finish with Mr. Dunbar and if he's finished I'll see if he can get to the cab stand and get himself home." Coleman looked closely at Milt Gibbs face. "You look like five miles of bad road, Milt. Let's see if we can get things wrapped up early today. If the kids can have a snow day, so can we."

"First, coffee and then Gayle," Milt headed toward the food court. "I don't think I can face Dragon Lady without some caffeine fortification."

Sam watched as Jim pulled carefully folded money from his wallet and paid for the gift. He slipped the small box in the larger Victoria's Secret bag and spoke to the clerk again. It was obvious by the hand movements that directions were being given and Coleman shook his head. The sighted might be able to give directions without their arms wind milling around, but it didn't happen often. Sam waited until Dunbar exited the store and turned right when he approached.

"Jim, have you got all your Christmas shopping done?"

Dunbar turned toward the voice, "Sam! Yeah, all that I do without my wife. We'll get it finished together or, if I'm real lucky, Christie will get it done by the time I get home."

"Well, I was speaking to your observer and he said you seemed able to handle yourself very well." Sam came beside Dunbar and touched his arm so Jim could orient on him. "I need a cup of coffee, you up for another one?"

"Sure, I was just heading to the meeting spot in the food court." Jim's hand reached down to scratch Hank behind the ear. "This boy needs a drink of water and a chance to rest."

"There's a deli here that has better coffee than any place in the food court. My treat."

"Sure, if you're buying I'll head to a deli but not another cuppa coffee." Jim yawned, "Soda will do me fine."

Sam tapped the back of Dunbar's hand, "Let me give Hank a rest."

"Lead the way," Jim said as he dropped the stiff harness grip and picked up the leash.

"Just how long did you sleep, Jim?" Sam asked as he stirred his coffee.

Jim leaned his head back onto the red vinyl of the restaurant chair. "Sleep, isn't that some kind of hobby other people have?"

"No, sleep is something you need every night. I told you to get some sleep today. What kept you awake today?"

Jim sipped his soda before he spoke. "The troopers came by today. They released Seth O'Brien for lack of evidence and I guess they spoke to Officer Berger. So they actually asked my opinion on what's been going down."

Coleman put his cup down and studied Dunbar closely. "So, do you have an opinion on who murdered Ashley Rush?"

"It was a crime of opportunity. The killer was not planning to kill, but suddenly everything came together, the victim, the tool and the rage needed to do the job." Jim yawned again and scrubbed his face with his hands. "If Ashley had been able to be something other than the ball buster she was, she'd be alive today."

"I know she slept around," Sam took another sip of his coffee, "but Ashley got her first partner here. I was hoping she could put the brakes on her libido for a month."

"You knew? You knew she was… God, I don't feel very good."

"I'll take you back, Jim. Finish your soda and we'll head out." Sam pulled his wallet out. "Come on, Jim, finish up and I'll take care of everything."

"It's time to get out of the car, Jim."

"What," Jim roused himself and felt for the door handle. "I must'a fell asleep in the car."

"I'll get your bags, they're in the trunk. You get Hank." Sam watched as Dunbar stumbled out of the front passenger seat, groped for the rear door handle and stumbled as the door swung open.

"Comme along, liddle doggie, le's get inside," Jim sleep garbled voice was almost unintelligible, "S'nap time."

"Yeah, Jim, just sit over here on the bench and wait for me, I'll park the car and be right back." Sam tapped the back of the park bench and waited for Jim to stagger over and settle on the snowy bench. Soon Dunbar's eyes slid shut.

Sam looked at the pair, reached down and scratched Hank behind the ears. "Sorry boy, but if you weren't here with your partner it would look wrong. Too bad no one can come out here and find you like they did Teddy." With that he reached out, pulled open Jim's coat at the throat then got in his car and drove away.

Hank was cold. He had to stay with his partner but he was so very, very cold. His partner had to be cold too, but he was so still. Partner's hand was not on the handle of Hank's harness; both the hands were laying limp on his lap. Hank rose and nudged the cold fingers with his nose. Those fingers reached for the dog's nose and petted absently before they fell back down.

This was bad.

Hank took the sleeve of his partner's coat and pulled. He pulled and pulled until his partner leaned back to free his arm. Hank grabbed again, this time the other arm, right around the wrist. He shook and growled and finally his partner roused enough to put both hands around his neck and rubbed the fur there.

"Hey, Hank," Jim whispered, "what'da'ya wan. Ss cold here, I wunner where Sam went."

Hank shook his head and kept worrying his partner, trying to get him to get up and move. Finally he gave in and began to bark.

"Woah, you are makin lottsa noise." Jim pulled his coat closed and shook, suddenly feeling nauseous. "Sam's takin' a long time. Maybe we should try ta find'm? Maybe we should?" Yet Jim dropped his hands back in his lap and zoned out again.

This was very, very bad.

Millie Berger stopped at the Seeing Eye campus before heading to police station hoping to talk to Jim Dunbar. Most of the students were gone on an exercise, but Anita Shaw had just finished speaking to Troopers Carson and Kovacs.

"Hello, Berger, what are you doing here?" Carson said as he snapped his notebook shut.

"I just wanted to let Mr. Dunbar know that Seth O'Brien had been released early this morning." A smile, a very smug smile slipped across Berger's face.

"Yeah, you told us we didn't have enough to hold him. Actually, the local animal rescue society lost power and he was there helping out." He absentmindedly scratched his head. "Luckily we came back today and one of the students wanted to speak to us. Now, we are headed to the Fairview Mall."

Berger shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant, "I still have to start my shift, for I am a lowly townie and not a state cop."

"That could always change, if you wanted it to."

Millie's brows shot up, "are you going to give me reference?"

"I might, you make a good cuppa coffee," Kovacs sniped.

Pulling her hat down on her head, Berger looked Kovacs in the eye. "Shove it, jerk wad," she grimaced and turned away from the laughing men.

Authier counted heads, "that's nine students. Where's Mr. Dunbar?"

"He went back to the campus by cab," Coleman said, "he was exhausted and asked permission. Since he is a New Yorker and will probably be using cabs quite a bit, I let him."

Milt Gibbs chewed the inside of his cheek. This was not what Sam had suggested earlier. Even though Milt trusted Sam, Dunbar was his responsibility. He would talk to Ms. Authier as soon as they arrived back to the campus.

tbc