The same disclaimers. Please leave a review!

Chapter 13

On The Move

The bitter cold wind whipped around Alex as she walked home from the bus stop. Her mind was focused on the kitchen table. She furrowed her brow beneath her striped stocking cap, trying to visualize it stacked with letters. It had been a week since her parents gave her their okay to continue to write Bobby. The last of hers had been sent off three days ago. A gust of wind caused her to shudder. Picking up her step, a thought crossed her mind. Is he sick? She took a short breath as she waded through the knee deep snow. Was he shipped off somewhere? She sighed, wishing she knew.

Approaching her home, she noted that her brothers were building a snow fort in the front yard. She slightly grinned, pausing to pick up a handful of snow, she began balling it. As she got closer, one of her brothers tried to yell something above the wind. Stopping in her tracks she yelled back at them. "What?"

One pushed the other into the snow bank before he could respond, diving on top of him. Alex shook her head. Boys, why do I bother? Dropping the snowball, she made her way into the house. Kicking off her boots, she paused. "Mom! I'm home!"

Taking off her coat and cap, she hung them up as she quickly ran her hand threw her hair. Stepping up into the kitchen, she found her mom humming, standing next to the stove. Alex breathed in. "Coca?"

Her mother turned, slightly smiling. "Better than that." She nodded towards the table.

Alex's eyes lit up when she saw the familiar envelope. "He did write!"

She dropped her backpack to the floor as she reached for it. Her mom laughed, as she put a cup of coca and cookies on a tray. "Here, take these up to your room before your brothers come in, otherwise, they'll never leave you alone."

Without further prompting, Alex took the tray and letter heading up the stairs to her room. Entering her domain, she put the tray on her desk, the she ran over and shut the door, locking it. Throwing herself on to the bed, she pushed herself up to the pillow. Reaching in her nightstand, she pulled a pair of scissors out and cut the end of the envelope. She took a breath, holding it for a moment, before slowly letting it out. Pulling the contents out, she opened the letter.

'Dear Alex,

How can I say this, without sounding too sappy? I miss your letters, what's going on in your life? Have you been banned from writing, or receiving them?'

She smiled at the familiarity of his scrawl, and his understanding of her parents. Only for a short time. What happened to you?

'If you have, it is my doing. I should have written to them long before now, to make sure that they understood that I mean no harm.'

Alex frowned. I don't think you could harm anyone, Bobby. Thanks for writing to them, that really helped.

'Anyway, I am hoping you have received my other letters and will be writing again soon.

Sincerely,

Bobby'

Clasping the short letter to her chest, she smiled.

________________________________________

Higgins poured himself a cup of coffee, setting the pot back on the potbelly stove. The day had been long, and winds were bitter. He sat down heavily in the chair, taking a sip of the black liquid. He glanced at his watch. Too late to go out, too early to go to bed. He looked around the room, realizing how lonely it was without his roommate.

His eyes drifted to Bobby's footlocker, quickly averting his eyes he mentally slapped himself. Higgins, don't even go there! Don't even think about it. Drinking the last of his coffee, he quickly undressed and shut off the light. Growling to himself as he buried himself underneath the covers. They're calling my name! Would Goren go for the insanity plea, if I opened the package? He pulled his pillow over his head.

____________________________________________

Bobby began throwing his clothes in the small bag. He looked over at his roommate who was pacing the room, mumbling to himself. He stopped, eying the Sergeant briefly. "You about ready?"

"Yeah. How much of a head start do you think he has on us?"

Gage pursed his lips. Slowly shaking his head. "Can't be sure. The last murder was two days ago, until then, he was averaging two a day."

"But, but what makes you think he's left the country, and not just stopped?" Goren was surprised at Declan's stubbornness to take a look at who had been recently arrested, or hospitalized.

Pulling himself up to his full height, he stepped in front of Bobby, who still easily towered over him. The size difference didn't intimidate Dr. Declan Gage, but it amused Goren, who was beginning to think that this slight man was not afraid of anything, or anyone. Gage wagged a finger under the Sgt.'s nose. "Because, he's clever. He knew we were getting close, and he didn't just stop, he left the country." He swiped a hand over his forehead. "Left, or was..." He snapped his fingers. "We may be looking for someone in the military."

A cold chill ran down Bobby's spine. Picking up his bag, he glanced at Gage. "We can stop by the C.O.'s quarters and get a list of those who had recently left the area."

Gage nodded absently, as he pulled the door open. Setting the pace, they quickly made their way to the Commanding Officer's quarters. The lights were on as they stepped up on the stoop.

________________________________________________

Higgins was awakened by a pounding on the door, and the sharp cold breeze that hit him as it was flung open. He eyed the intruder with disgust, pulling his covers tightly around him. "What is so damn important, Flynn?"

Flynn slightly jumped. "Sorry Higgins. Just got a message that Sergeant Goren is heading stateside and I need to get his things shipped to him."

Elbert bolted upright. "Stateside?"

"Uh huh. Left yesterday, their case is taking them to New York City." The young man, stood in front of the footlocker, staring at the lock. "You got a key for this thing?"

Higgins swung his feet to the floor. "Nope."

The young man ran his fingers through his hair. "Welp, can't be helped then." Higgins watched as the Private wrapped the business end of the bolt cutters around the shank of the lock. It gave with a snap. Moving the package and letters from the top, he flipped it open. He glanced at Elbert. "Which is his closet?"

"Left side. You normally carry bolt cutters with you?"

"When the Old Man says he wanted it done ten minutes ago, yeah, I do." The Private moved quickly to the closet, unceremoniously dumped all the contents into the locker. He picked up the package and letters, biting his lip as he debated. He tossed the box towards Elbert. "These probably won't survive the trip back. I'm guessing cookies."

Elbert caught the package, turning it over in his hands. He looked up, as Flynn dropped the envelopes on top of the contents in the footlocker. "Those, he'll get around to, eventually." Pulling a new lock from his pocket, he glanced around the room. "Anything else?"

Higgins shook his head. "It looks like you got it all."

With that, Flynn locked the footlocker, and went to the door. Pulling in a two wheel dolly, he flipped the end of the footlocker on top of its base. Hooking the bolt cutters to the dolly, he quickly left the room, allowing the door to bang behind him.

Slowly turning the package over in his hands, Higgins quietly thought about Bobby. You lucky dog.

A/N: Well, that's the answer to Higgins and the cookies. :)