14

Matt had drifted off to sleep not long after C.J., but while she didn't necessarily dream, he did. Only it was more like a nightmare. It started out more or less with a memory. C.J. stood before him dressed in a T shirt and jeans facing away from him in a graveyard. He had looked around for a second before he saw a younger version of himself walking up toward her. It was like he was watching a home movie of the two of them from years ago.

He heard his younger self say, "You ok?"

She turned to face him and he could see tears streaking down her face, "I don't know. I don't remember them that well but..." His younger self then took her in his arms.

She continued to shake as he told her, "I'm right here, don't hold anything back. You know you can mourn however you need to with me. I'm your best friend and I'm not going anywhere."

C.J. told him, "I know, I just..." Then she started to black out as his younger self almost panicked.

"C.J., C.J. what's wrong?" He had picked her up and taken her back to the car about to drive her to a hospital.

At that point the dream changed. Something caught his attention away from the scene of him holding C.J., unconscious in his arms. Back to the grave site itself he saw an older man and woman looking on with him. The male said, "I'm glad she found him. I hope he can help her with this. It will be the hardest fight of her life."

The woman then said, "He will. He loves her, its so easy to see that. But she has to see it again to loose that hold it has on her. I just hope his help and love will be enough. They don't know...neither of them do..." At that point the two disappeared.

The next image was of him in a hospital waiting room. He was pacing and he looked more like he did now. His hands ran through his hair as he wore out the carpet. A surgeon walked in and pulled down his mask, a frown on his face as he said, "We did the best we could..."

At that point Matt woke up with a start, sitting up. Sweat had dampened the sheets around him and he rubbed his face. Looking at C.J., he was glad she had moved just a little in the night and had rolled over so he didn't wake her. Their alarm clock read 4:43 so he decided he might as well get up.

He showered in the other bathroom as not to wake his wife and then dressed. It was still only 5am so he took the book he bought on pregnancy and massage and sat down with it after making coffee. The introduction took long enough to get through, it had details on all kinds of body oils and massage oils one could buy. It actually recommended lavender essential oil and sweet almond oil mixed together for some of the early massages. Then there were all the diagrams and techniques listed. He thought a few of them could use a little modifying and a smile crept across his face as he thought about adapting them to C.J.'s body.

He heard her upstairs and quickly put the book away. Matt wanted to surprise her with the massage. C.J. came down in her blue robe, messed up hair and her eyes barely open. He smiled up at her and said quietly as she started past the couch on that second level, "You looking for the coffee?"

C.J. stopped, rubbed her face, opened her eyes and smiled at him as she went to sit beside him, "Yes, as a matter of fact I am. However did you know?"

His arm had gone immediately around her shoulder as she sat down. He pulled her to him and said, "Because I know my wife very well." He kissed her head and told her, "I got it started when I got up, it should be nice and piping hot for you downstairs. You want me to go get you a cup while you get ready to go in?"

She looked up at him with a sleepy smiled on her face and nodded. He brushed back the hair from her face and kissed her forehead again. Then he got up, helped her up and went to go get that coffee for her.

They would have a long day, he thought. He figured C.J. would want to stop at the hospital first to see Chris, then call Hoyt to check on Blake's status and if they had uncovered anything with the death threats. Then they would probably go together to see this Randy Larson to check on his alibi. He knew how rattled she was after what happened yesterday and would want to stay close to him for the rest of the day. After talking to Larson, he then needed to check on that last suspect, to him, the prime suspect, the husband.

They got to the hospital fast enough. Chris was sitting in bed practically begging the doctor to let her go home. He relented and told her she could leave after another 12 hours of oxygen therapy and testing. He warned her sternly that just because she felt fine now, didn't mean her body was healed.

Matt and C.J. stayed with her just a little while until Warren showed up again. He came bearing her favorites from a little bakery close to her house. He walked in with a box and she almost squealed in delight.

Matt made a sarcastic comment, "I thought the doctor's orders involved her eating only what she got on that hospital tray?"

C.J. slapped his arm lightly and then said as she chuckled, "Yes, and you do that so well when you are in here."

Chris then pointed a finger at Matt, "You say one word to those nurses and I'll make sure you pay for it. You won't know how, but you will. Never tick off your secretary!"

They all laughed then Matt told her as he went back over to her to kiss her forehead and took her hand, "I wouldn't dream of it. Now you just sit back and do everything the doctor tells you to and C.J. and I will be back to see you later."

C.J. walked over and gave her a hug as Matt put his hand on the small of her back and then the two walked out. Warren followed them out to the door and then told them, "I'm technically here to check on Joshua Blake. He's still unconscious and in intensive care. We didn't get any prints or anything off his house or that vent."

Matt then said, "Meaning the police are no closer to finding out who tried to kill him or if its connected to Macy Raven's death."

Warren nodded and then said, "Yeah, well, I'm still not convinced the two are connected. Macy's death looks like it could have been an accident, his wouldn't have. Changing m.o.s like that doesn't sit well with me. I mean, yeah, she was a famous singer, but even famous singers have accidents from time to time. I was actually thinking, despite the fact that most of her fans would never accept it, that's exactly what happened. I just can't prove it yet."

Matt then said, "Ok, but then why would someone make you think it was homicide by threatening and then attempting to take Blake's life?"

Warren told him, "I don't know. Other than trying to make a name for yourself, make it into the history books as the famous killer of Macy Raven and Joshua Blake."

C.J. then said, "So if she did just fall and it was an accident at least Dove would have some peace when she grows up maybe. Knowing that her mother's death wasn't at the hands of someone else." Warren nodded and conceded that but Matt caught something in C.J.'s eyes, something dark as she seemed to stare into space.

He rubbed her back and that seemed to break the trance she was in. They told Warren they'd see him later and went back to his car. As they drove to Larson's Matt asked C.J., "You sure you feel up to this?"

She seemed lost in thought again but looked back at him and said with a smile, "Of course I am. Don't think you're leaving me back at the office today, not after yesterday."

He asked her, "C.J...were you thinking of your own mother back there?" Matt really didn't want to upset her, but being the investigator he is knew this was the time to ask.

She blinked for a second before answering, "No...yes...I don't know." She rubbed her forehead, "I just know what its like to lose your mother at a young age." She shook her head, "You know I think about it a lot. How good a mother will I be if I never really had one myself?" That last question was uttered much softer.

Matt squeezed her hand and told her, "You are going to be the best mother, C.J. I know it. It will come to you and I will be right there with you as we raise our child together."

C.J. looked back in his eyes as they turned in to the driveway and parked the car, "I just hope I can be one at all. I'm worried, Matt."

Matt kissed her hand and then kissed her before saying, "I know you are, but I don't think either of us needs to be yet." Then he got a smile on his face as he told her, "As a matter of fact, I have been reading on ways to make what we do more...productive, if you will."

C.J. smiled and then asked, "And exactly what have you been reading?"

He told her, "Its a surprise, just trust me. You know you're going to like it." Then they got out of the car and she took his hand as they got to the front door, where his hand then went around her back.

Randy Larson answered the door quickly enough. He looked half out of it and was wearing a robe that was mostly closed, but not all the way. First thing he did was smile at C.J. and say as he held out his hand to her, "Well now, isn't this a most awesome surprise. I knew you couldn't resist..."

Before he could say anything else, Matt stepped between them and took Randy's hand shaking it really hard, "Let me introduce myself since you already know my wife. I'm Matt Houston and we were just wondering if you had a moment to talk to us about Macy Raven."

C.J. smiled and tried not to laugh for a second as Larson appeared a little disappointed but showed both of them in. He asked, "What do you want to know?"

Matt asked, "Well, according to a statement you gave to police, you were at home sleeping when Macy fell down the stairs at her place."

Larson then said, "Yeah, and..."

Matt then said, "Well, its just that you sleeping here alone doesn't exactly give you the world's perfect alibi."

Larson then said, becoming more agitated, "That doesn't mean I killed her though. What we had was special, man. She could rock my world anytime she wanted, no strings attached, it was an awesome set up we had."

Matt then said as he looked around, noticing the expensive cigarettes on the table, "Are you sure you didn't want more? See her pass you over for almost any other guy to marry. You sure that didn't bother you?"

Larson then said, "No, it didn't bother me. I'm in one of the world's most popular rock bands. I can have any woman I want, any time I want. I don't need some ball and chain telling me what I can and can't do. I love the life I'm living. Being tied down to Macy might have been different, but it still would have been tied down." Then he looked at C.J. and said, "Only one kind of tying down I like to do."

As he licked his lips, Matt decided the conversation needed to end quickly. He still had one last question, "I see you have expensive tastes here." He picked up and dropped the pack back on the table.

Larson looked at them and said, "Yeah I smoke, its not a crime." Turning back to C.J. he said, "Although some of the other things I do should be a crime."

C.J. rolled her eyes and Matt stepped again between Larson, only half believing the man was still hitting on C.J. right in front of him. He told her, "Ok, I think we have everything we need here."

She told him, "Yes I think we do."

They started to walk out when Larson said, "Whenever you want, babe you know where to find me."

They got back to the car and C.J. looked at Matt and just shook her head. He asked, "What?"

She smiled and told him, "I'm just proud of you that's all. I half expected you to lay into him, but you held your cool. You surprised me."

He pulled out of the drive and said, "I have nothing to worry about I know and no reason to let that scum get me in any more trouble."

They then drove over to Calindis to finally interview who Matt thought was the prime suspect in this whole mess.

They reached the mansion both Calindis and Raven had lived in together, the scene of the crime essentially. Hoyt had told Matt that Calindis was living in a guest house to the back for the time being until the police were finished with the investigation. It wasn't too hard to find him there. He was outside smoking while Dove played on the swing set with the nanny.

Matt pulled C.J. back by the arm for a second and asked her, "We could divide and conquer. You feel up to talking to the nanny about what was really going on inside the mansion?"

C.J. looked at him confused and then said, "Of course I do, Matt. I'm just fine." She squeezed his hand and then left to walk over to Dove and the nanny while Matt talked to Calindis.

Matt said as he approached, "Well, Mr. Calindis, I was wondering if I might have a word with you."

Calindis was putting out his cigarette but turned to him and said, "What do you want? Do you have the test results back yet?"

Matt told him as he refused to shake Matt's hand, "No I don't, not yet. I just wanted to talk to you about that drive you had the day Macy fell down the stairs."

Calindis gave him a dirty look and then walked back inside to the kitchen. "I bought myself a new car. Macy wasn't happy with it. We argued. She went upstairs to get a massage and I left to cool off. Anything else?"

Matt then looked at him and said, "You argued? I don't recall that in your statement to the police."

Calindis then stopped drinking his juice and said, "I didn't think it was important. I wasn't here when she fell. It wasn't even that big a deal. She used to buy me things like that all the time."

Matt then asked, "Used to? You mean she stopped doing it, recently perhaps?"

Calindis slammed his glass down and said, "No, not that recent. Look, I don't have to talk to you but for your information, we were never happier. Every couple fights, and I can assure you, no husband wants to come home and find his wife laying on the floor dead. I'm sure you wouldn't, now would you, Mr. Houston."

That last statement sounded like a threat to Matt so he got into Calindis' face when he said, "No I wouldn't because, you see, if anything ever did happen to my wife, I would hunt down whoever hurt her and make them pay dearly for it, understand?"

The look Matt gave him made Calindis back down. He then said, "Look, I'm just saying no husband wants to live through what I've just gone through, alright? Now if you will excuse me, Dove is only over here for a little while. Sam brought her over to get some things and then run an errand. Left that little girl here with her nanny. You really think he cares about Dove? She barely even knows who he is. If I were you, I'd ask that nanny a few questions. Sam didn't seem to have any idea where she or Dove where when Macy died." Calindis then showed Matt to the door.

C.J. had approached the nanny and Dove as soon as Matt had left her. Dove saw her, smiled and ran up to her, "Hi, this is C., uh,..."

C.J. smiled and finished for her, "Its C.J..." She then held her hand out to the nanny, "Hi there. I met Dove when we had the paternity test done at the hospital. She let me take her to the cafeteria to get some juice."

Dove smiled and ran back to get back on the swing and called out, "Watch me, C.J.!"

The nanny then told C.J., "Hi, my name is Sandy, Sandy Kennedy. I'm Dove's nanny. She is such a sweet little girl." Then she shook her head, "She deserves so much better than this, you know."

C.J. then said, "I think I know that quite well. How has she been doing through all this?"

Sandy told her after a sigh, "Well, she doesn't quite understand that she won't be seeing Macy anymore. She only rarely saw her anyway. In a lot of ways, I've been more of a mother to her than she was. Sam barely keeps up with anything she does. I feed her, potty trained her, am teaching her how to read and well..."

C.J. smiled and said, "You're being a mother to her."

Sandy nodded and then said, "You know, I was going to college to get a degree, in what I don't know. I hadn't figured that out yet. I loved Macy's music and a music professor I took classes from knew Joshua and got me this job. I thought it would be a dream job because, well, who wouldn't want to work for Macy Raven, you know? But now I know that's not really why it became my dream job. It's that little girl. The most beautiful little girl in the world. She's not even mine, but the first time I saw her, I just fell in love. Joshua seemed to feel the same way about her and for a while I thought...well..."

C.J. then prodded, "You thought what?"

Sandy answered, "I thought Dove would have a stable home life with a mother and a father and a nanny to help out from time to time."

C.J. then speculated, "But that's not what happened. You took on that role of mother for her."

Sandy smiled, "Yep, and its been more of a dream job than I had ever anticipated."

C.J. smiled and then asked, "Sandy, I don't mean to pry or make you feel uncomfortable, but...well...were you aware of any problems Macy was having with any of the men in her life?"

Sandy looked back at Dove and then said, "Well, Sam was always giving her problems. Randy...I rarely ever saw Randy unless he was leaving her bedroom. I always slept with Dove in her room over here so I could shield her from that. When she and Joshua split they had a big blow out, but he comes around from time to time to check on Dove. Neither she nor Sam knew anything about that. He tried to make sure Dove didn't even see him. He just wanted to make sure she was ok and was developing the way she should. He still loves her I know."

C.J. then asked, "What about Darrin, her husband. Were they having problems?"

Sandy then got a more sober look on her face, "Yeah they were. She was filing for divorce. She came in about two weeks ago while I was getting Dove breakfast and Dove asked about him. He had told her he was getting her ice cream or something. Macy told her that he wasn't going to be around much longer. Then as she stormed off back to the bedroom I heard her say something about wishing she could find someone who didn't just want her for her money."

Dove started to cry and Sandy ran over to her, bending down to her eye level she asked Dove, "Are you getting frustrated? You want to swing higher don't you?"

Little Dove nodded and said, "I can't do it...why can't I do it?"

Sandy rubbed her back and told her, "Take a deep breath..." Dove did that. "Now, just kick your legs out when you go up and swing them back as you go back down, remember? Don't get frustrated. Its about practice, right? We have to practice at something to get good at it, remember?" Dove nodded again.

C.J. smiled and saw Matt coming out of the house. She told Sandy as she gave her, her card, "Thank you so much for talking to me. Listen if you think of anything else you can tell me, please call. Anytime."

Sandy took it and said as she stood up to let Dove practice swinging, "You know I was with Dove at the dentist when Macy fell. I'm sure Sam didn't tell police that, but here..." She pulled out a card from her pocket, "Here is our appointment card. They never did things like that for her, so I would just take her myself."

C.J. took it, thanked her and then headed to the car with Matt. Once they got on the road Matt asked, "Did you learn anything from the nanny?"

C.J. nodded, "Yes I did. It seems Macy had planned to file for divorce. Calindis tell you that?"

Matt shook his head, "Nope, he told me the opposite, said they were never happier. Told me to look at the nanny."

C.J. then pulled out the card Sandy had given her, "Well, her name is Sandy Kennedy and she gave me this..." She showed him the card, "Claims she was at the dentist with Dove when Macy died. It should be easy enough to check out when we get back to the office."

Matt nodded and then said, "You seem to believe her already."

C.J. nodded, "Yes I do. Matt, she seems to be the only one in this whole mess that is looking out for Dove's best interests."

Matt then said, "Alright, let's go check it out."