I just wanted to say sorry for the long delay in posting the final two chapters.
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Part 19:
Amanda walked into the house and looked over at Mark. She could tell that something happened. What she wasn't sure yet. She walked over to Steve who was still standing by the window. "Hey there," she said with a smile.
"Did you get the candy?"
"Hello to you too, Amanda. How are you doing?" Amanda said sarcastically. She handed him the bag of candy. Steve opened it, and took out one of the candy bars. "I also stopped b you place and got you some clean clothes."
Steve continued to devour the candy bar.
"Hello, earth to Steve," Amanda said, waving her hand in front of Steve's face.
"Oh, sorry," he replied with a mouth full of chocolate. "Thanks." He grabbed the bag of clothes from Amanda. "Did you put my razor in here?"
"Everything is in there that you'll need to take a shower."
Steve walked toward the bathroom, placing the bag of candy on a table, but not before taking a couple of bars with him.
Amanda walked over to Mark who was sitting at the dinning room table. "How did things go while I was out?" she asked, sitting down and pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"After a little temper tantrum, Steve decided to calm down," Mark told her with a smile.
"What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything," Mark said. "It was Jesse who told him the way it was going to be."
"Oh, I would have loved to have been here for that," Amanda said with a smile. "Where is Jesse anyway?"
"In the kitchen," Mark replied. "He's on the phone with the hospital."
"Speaking of the hospital," Amanda said. "I have to go in and take care of an autopsy."
Jesse walked out of the kitchen.
"Everything okay?" Mark asked.
"One of my patients needs surgery," Jesse answered. "I have to get back to the hospital."
"Well I have to go back to the hospital as well," Amanda said.
Jesse looked at her and then at Mark. "I could always call and see if I can get someone else to cover for me."
"No, no," Mark said. "You two need to get back to there and do your jobs."
"But Mark, are you going to be okay here with Steve?" she asked, getting up from the table.
"I'll be fine."
"We'll be back as soon as we can." Jesse said.
Jesse and Amanda walked toward the door with Mark following them.
"Guys," Mark said. "I'll be fine, don't worry. Besides we have the unmarked car outside."
"Still," Amanda replied. "If you need anything you give us a call."
"I will," Mark said with a smile.
He watched Amanda and Jesse walk out of the house. He shut the door behind them and locked it.
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Cheryl and Captain Newman arrived at the scene. One of the police officers was directing the ME over to the car where Goodwin was. He saw them, and walked over to their car.
"What do we have here?" Newman asked, getting out of the car.
"Male, in his late thirties, early forties," the officer began. "Looks like a heroin overdose."
"Heroin overdose?" Cheryl asked, walking over to the car. She looked at the body that was still inside and looked up at Captain Newman and the police officer as they walked up to her. "Goodwin."
"Oh, this is for you two," the police officer said, handing Newman the folded piece of paper.
Unfolding it, he looked at it and then handed it to Cheryl, who read it. Handing to back to the police officer, Cheryl ran back to the car with Newman close behind her.
The police officer watched them as the car sped away from the scene. He looked down at the note in his hand. Three words were written on it: Sloan, Torres tonight.
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Torres, Jackson and Franklin sat in their car, watching the safe house from a distance.
"There's just that one unmarked car over there," Jackson said.
"But how many officers are in there?" Torres asked. "Are there four all together or are there only two?"
"From what I saw," Franklin said, "there are only two."
"Okay, Joseph, I want you to go take care of them."
Jackson stepped out of the car and took off to do what he was told. Torres reached over to the passenger side of the car and picked up a black bag. Unzipping it, he took out a syringe, looked at it closely and kissed it. He turned to watch Jackson make his way over to the patrol car.
"Did you hear that?" one of the officers asked.
"Hear what?"
The officer listened again. "I must be hearing things."
Before they knew what hit them, Jackson pointed his gun with a silencer at the first officer and fired.
"Oh shit!" the second officer yelled, trying to get his gun out.
Jackson pointed his gun and the shot was fired. He then motioned to Torres and Franklin that things were in the clear. Once they reached Jackson, Torres issued more orders.
"Okay, I want you two to go through the back way," Torres ordered them. "Once you two are inside, I want you to let me in the front door."
Jackson and Franklin ran to the back of the house.
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Steve emerged from the show, clean shaven and dressed in a fresh pair of clothes.
"How are you feeling?" Mark asked.
Steve smiled, something he hadn't been able to do in a while. "I feel better. The shower really helped a lot."
"Glad to hear that," Mark said with a smile. "Are you hungry?"
"A little bit," Steve said and with that his father started for the kitchen. "Wait a minute."
Mark turned to face Steve.
"Nothing too heavy, okay?"
"One bowl of chicken broth coming right up," Mark said, and he turned and walked into the kitchen.
Steve walked over to the couch and sat down. "Where's Jesse and Amanda?"
"They had to go back to the hospital," Mark called out from the kitchen. "They should be back soon."
"Oh."
Mark walked out of the kitchen, walked over to the couch and sat beside his son. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Hands don't seem to be shaking anymore, have a few aches."
"But?"
"But I still feel that I want to do the drug," Steve said. "I can't shake that feeling."
"How strong is this feeling?"
"Not as strong as before, but it's still there."
"You'll get through it, Steve."
"I know; I just wish I knew how long this was going to take."
"I wish I had the answer for you on that one, Steve, but I don't."
"That's okay," Steve said smiling. "I got you, Amanda and Jesse to help me through this."
"About time you realized it," Mark said, giving his son a hug.
"I knew all along," Steve whispered, returning the hug.
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"Oh, tell me this isn't happening!" Cheryl said in frustration as she looked at the traffic on the highway. "What the hell is going on here?"
Newman placed the receiver to the radio down, and looked at Cheryl.
"Did you get through to them?"
"No one has answered," he said.
"Damn it!" Cheryl yelled. Looking in the rearview mirror, she made a sharp turn and started to ride the median of the highway.
Newman grabbed the dashboard with one of his hands. "Let's make sure we get there in one piece, Banks."
Cheryl ignored Newman and continued to concentrate on the road in front of her. Newman picked up the mic once again. "Dispatch, this is Captain Newman…I need back up at 32 Carlton Avenue. Anyone getting there first should be on the look out for a Rolando Torres. Be advised that he is armed and dangerous – approach with caution." He placed the mic back where it belonged, silently praying that they would get there before Torres did.