The usual disclaimers. I want to thank everyone for patiently hanging in there! I hope it was worth the wait!

Chapter 17

Questions

John pushed himself back from the kitchen table, totally satisfied. He glanced curiously at his wife. "Hon, do we know a Sergeant Goren?"

Alex's stopped mid-chew, she looked at her dad with her mouth wide open. Mrs. Eames looked at her daughter, slightly shuddering at the sight. "Alex, in this house, we chew with our mouths closed." She then reached over and patted her husband's hand. "You remember dear. He's that..." She paused, looking back at Alex, who was now having trouble swallowing. "That fellow that Alex has been writing to."

Mr. Eames raised his brows in surprise. "That's where I heard the name before!"

Taking a quick sip of her milk, Alex shakily set her glass down. Trying to appear nonchalant, she reached for her fork. "Uhm, why do you ask, Dad?"

By now, all eyes were on him. John leaned back in his chair a little bit further, enjoying the moment. "Oh, we busted this perp by that...."

"Dad!" Alex wailed.

He laughed and waited until he was sure he had everyone's attention again. "He was at the precinct today."

Alex gasped. "You, you saw him? You really saw him?" Her heart was beating feverishly against her chest. "Did you talk to him?"

John Eames shook his head. "I caught a glimpse of him. He was with some funny little fellow, by the name of....Sage...no, no, it was Gage." He stopped, hesitant to mention the serial killer that was on the loose. "Ah, working on a case, I guess." He gave his wife a worried side-glance.

Mrs. Eames took a deep breath, knowing that her worst fear had come true. She patted John's hand again, giving him 'we'll talk about it later' look. He nodded.

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Bobby quietly closed the door behind him. "That went well."

Gage glared at him. "Don't start, Bobby."

His warning was ignored. Goren pulled himself up to his full height. "What possessed you to, to act like that?"

Declan quickly stepped in front of him, wagging his finger under Bobby's nose. His voice was loud and demanding. "Drop it, drop it now!"

Bobby held his ground. His voice was a low growl. "Declan, if I can't count on you to keep it together with the NYPD, how can I be sure you will keep it together to catch this sick bastard?"

Gage's shoulder's slumped. "You mean if we find him." With that, he moved towards his bed and sat on the edge of it. Taking off his fedora, he ran his free hand through his brown hair. Suddenly aware that he was being watched, he looked up at the tall detective, who was still standing in the same spot he had left him. Goren's posture was that of defiance. Gage cleared his throat, not taking his eyes off his partner. He picked his words carefully. "Bobby, there's a chance that we won't find him."

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Higgins took a sip of coffee before taking the envelope out of his pocket. Pulling his pocket knife from his pocket, he carefully slit the envelope open. Unfolding the letter, he smiled.

'Dear Corporal Higgins,

I suppose with with Bobby out of the country for a long time, it would be alright for you to eat the cookies.'

Elbert chuckled. Thanks, but, we beat you to it.

'Do you have any idea when, or if he'll be back? It feels strange not to be able to write to him, or get any letters.'

Higgins shook his head. She's got it as bad as he does! It would be a shame if they don't meet. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. He glanced back at the letter. Great, now I'm trying to play cupid with those two, half way around the world. Better yet, with someone under aged! Jeesh, that would look good in my file! Higgins took a gulp of coffee as he mentally pictured himself in prison garb, shuddering at the thought.

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Wrapped in her bathrobe, she sat on the bed with her legs curled underneath her. Mary watched as her husband began removing his shirt. "John, is there a serial killer?"

He could feel the worry beginning a battle with his police training in his gut. He paused, as he pulled his shirt off. Looking over at his wife, he silently nodded. His voice was soft, so the children wouldn't hear their conversation. "That's why Gage and Goren are here in New York. They followed him from Korea."

She buried her face in her hands, feeling a shudder move through her body. "What do I need to do to keep us safe?"

A grin worked its way across his face. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he pulled her next to him. She nestled close to him. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he rested his chin on top of her head. "Keep the doors locked, especially when your home. I'll talk to Alex, she can help keep an eye on the others."

Mary nodded, feeling safe in his arms. "How long?"

John sighed. "There's no way of knowing. Hopefully, he'll slip up soon and get caught." He bit his lip, not sure what to tell her if the serial killer doesn't get caught. He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze before standing to resumed changing his clothes.

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Francis paced the small bedroom, muttering to herself. She paused, looking at the footlocker, that was standing on its end near the bed. "What would he have in there?"

She sat on the edge of the bed, tapping her chin with a finger. "Why is it locked? What is he hiding?"

Abruptly standing, she placed her hands on her hip. She began her pacing the room again. Stopping in front of the footlocker, she raised her slippered foot and kicked it in frustration. The heavy locker barely moved.

She tapped her chin again. "He'd have clothes in there. Yes, he'd have clothes. But, what else?" Her brows shot up. "What if he has something, something he shouldn't have?"

Frustration turned into panic. She quickly moved to the window, squinting as she looked out into the bright reflective light of the snow filled yard. "Something illegal in my home. They'd blame me!"

She glanced up the street, trying to see through the house tops and tree limbs. Francis couldn't see any movement, but then, she wasn't sure. They may be out there, watching, quietly watching what I do. Her pacing became frantic, as the fears rushed into her being.

"My home! They'd blame me!" She stopped, feeling her heart beating against her chest. "They'd arrest me!"

She sat on the bed, trying to find her composure. Taking a deep breath, her mind was made up. "It's his room. I'll say, 'Officer, it's his room. I have no idea what he keeps in that locked trunk.'" She nodded her head adamantly as the words rushed out of her mouth.

Skewering her lips, she felt that wasn't quite enough. Opening the closet door, threw the shoes out of the way. Pushing the locker over on its bottom, it hit the floor with a heavy thud. It took all her strength, but she finally worked the locker into the closet. Grabbing a blanket from a shelf in the closet, she quickly threw it over the footlocker. Slamming the closet door shut, she left the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind her.

TBC