Vengeance of the Freeway Phantom
Chapter 7
It wasn't long before Jon and Melissa knocked on the door. Ponch quickly finished what he was doing then went to answer the door. He saw that Melissa was holding what definitely would serve as a centerpiece on the table.
"Hi guys! Hey, Melissa, that's beautiful!"
"Thanks. I thought we might spruce up the table a little."
"Ahh, that's terrific!"
When Jon saw how much Ponch already had done, he just shook his head, "So you needed our help, huh, Ponch." It was more of a statement than a question.
Ponch grinned as he parted the two candles he already had in the center of the table to make room for the colorful centerpiece. "Stephanie should really like them too."
Melissa followed him into the kitchen, while Jon checked out some of his choice of music. Baker found something he thought would be soft and relaxing, it was.
Around 6:15 or so there was another knock on the door, which Ponch went to answer, naturally, it was Stephanie.
"Hey, c'mon in!"
"Thanks, Ponch, hope I'm not too early."
"Are you kidding?! C'mon, you can meet and get to know Jon's girlfriend, Melissa. He led her to the living room where Jon and Melissa were sitting on the couch. "Stephanie, this is Melissa Talbot, Melissa, this is Stephanie Wilkes."
"Hi Melissa, very nice to meet you."
"Same here, Stephanie." Then both women shook hands.
All four were now sitting down with the two women chatting with each other like they'd known one another for a long time. The time flew by so fast that Ponch suddenly jumped up, "Sorry, I think it's time to get everything on the table. Excuse me." Actually, both women also got up at the same time to assist, so everything was made ready and on the table in no time.
The food was great; the conversation was light and funny. Ponch really enjoyed hearing Stephanie laugh. Her laughter served as a sign that she really appreciated this 'night out'.
As for Stephanie, this time away from work and home was exactly what she felt she needed. Being able to get to know the real Jon and Ponch off the job and in a much more relaxed atmosphere was nice. She quickly realized that Ponch truly was a great guy. He seemed like such a kind and gentle man, both on and off duty. In some ways he reminded her of her late husband. Of course, Jim was a little more on the quieter side, but he certainly did have a sense of humor.
Stephanie had been so deep in thought at the moment that she hadn't heard Ponch's first attempt at getting her attention. So he tried a second time, "Stephanie! Hey, you okay?"
"Huh, oh yes, I'm sorry. Caught me in la la land, I guess," she apologized with a smile.
He smiled right back at her, "I hope the food's not too spicy."
"Ah, no! Everything's delicious Ponch," she told him truthfully, then went back to her meal. She quietly reprimanded herself for being caught in her reverie.
The dinner conversation was pleasant and naturally at times, comical. Then once the meal was done, both women offered to do the dishes, but since Ponch wouldn't allow that they simply help to clean up the table, leaving everything in or by the sink. Ponch figured the dishes could wait, as he wanted everyone in the living room where they could just sit, relax and continue their conversations.
Melissa found that she really liked Stephanie a lot. She found her very friendly and easy to get to know. She didn't even seem to mind answering her questions. Well, she had to admit both of them seemed curious about each other. But as the saying goes, 'all good things must come to an end'.
Jon was the first one to realize how late it was, "Melissa, I think it's time I take you home. I've gotta get up early in the morning."
"Oh sure," she readily agreed.
Ponch walked them to the door, "Thanks for coming, guys."
"Hey, it was great, Ponch," Jon told him.
Then after a brief, quiet exchange, Jon and Melissa left. Ponch went back to the living room, but Stephanie was nowhere to be seen. Then he heard the sound of dishes clanking and water running. "Stephanie, you don't need..."
"I'm not leaving here till these are done, Ponch," she told him in a no nonsense tone, albeit, with a smile. She felt it was the least she could do in return for the nice evening she had.
He returned her smile, "Okay, you wash, I'll dry."
Those words really struck a nerve. Stephanie did all she could to keep her smile in place. She just couldn't help remembering, 'How many times did Jim say that very phrase?' She shook her head trying to get her thoughts back to reality.
Ponch caught her distant look, "Hey, you okay?"
"Huh, oh yeah, I'm fine."
They were just about done with all the dishes, when the phone rang. Ponch left her to go answer it, "Hello?"
"Ponch, its Jon, you have the TV on?" Baker assumed that his friend was alone by now.
"No, why?"
"Hurry and turn it on to channel seven. See yah tomorrow."
Ponch hung up the phone and then turned on the TV. As he did, Stephanie walked into the room. "What's up?"
"Dunno. Jon just called to tell me to turn on the TV."
At the moment there was the usual string of commercials, then the news finally came on. The newscaster came back on the screen, "Another multiple car accident occurred on the 405 earlier this evening. A total of six cars," at that point the film taken of the accident scene came on the screen, then the newscaster continued, "and a motorcycle CHP officer was involved. According to what witnesses told police, they now have no doubt that this accident was caused, once again, by the suspect police have nicknamed the Freeway Phantom."
Ponch was so tuned in to the news that he was totally unaware that Stephanie had turned away and was trying very hard to quiet her sobbing. He wanted to find out about the officer, who it was and possibly how bad he was injured.
The newscaster continued, "Five people were injured including Officer Anthony Ortega who is in critical condition at Rampart General Hospital. The accident is still under investigation." The reporter continued on with the rest of late news.
When Ponch heard the officer's name, his jaw dropped and he shook his head. Although Anthony was on a different shift, they were still pretty good friends. Ponch was about to say something to Stephanie to that effect when he realized she was no longer standing beside him, she wasn't even in the living room anymore. So he thought he'd go check in the kitchen, and that was where he found her. He could tell by her shaking shoulders that she was crying. He stepped up behind her, put his arm around her and quietly asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"
She couldn't look at him, not yet. "I'm sorry Ponch, I...I just can't take this anymore. I just better go home," then she turned to leave, but he stopped her.
He had changed his position so fast he was standing directly in front of her now. "Uh uh, not like this you won't." He figured it was time for her to talk it out. Whatever was tearing her apart needed to be let out. Still, he knew he had to be careful. He took her by the hand and they walked to the living room where he guided her over to the couch. "Stephanie, I know whatever is troubling you is none of my business. But as a friend it really hurts me to see you like this."
Ponch had been told about a potentially bad situation that Jon and Stephanie had been involved in and how it was defused because of her quick thinking. It showed that she could not only take care of herself but her partner as well. So he began with, "Look, you're a good cop, but if you keep whatever it is that's troubling you bottled up inside..." he stopped when he noticed her lower her head and bite her bottom lip. He reached up to her chin, lifted her head so she had to look at him and then wiped the tear from her cheek, "Take your time, all I'm going to do is listen...if you want to talk about it."
How right he was! She had kept this inside for these few months, but she was afraid if she started to tell him about it, the tears would burst forth and she wouldn't be able to stop them. But then again, she decided that she'd have to give it a try. So she began, "Ponch, I...I was married to a wonderful man for two short years. We were both with the Sacramento PD," she lowered her head again for a moment, the again looked back up at Ponch trying very hard to keep control. "He was...he was killed two months ago...when the pursuit he was involved in went bad. He was...running Code 3 in pursuit of a armed robbery suspect, but a drunk driver ran a red light. He was T-boned....,the paramedics said they did everything they could do for him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. I…I never got to say goodbye." At this point she was crying almost uncontrollably.
Ponch was shocked. He knew from the way she had been acting and reacting to things that had been happening this week that whatever was bothign her had to be something pretty bad. But he was rather unprepared for this, "Ah, Stephanie, I am so very, very sorry to hear of your loss," he told her as he pulled her to him to hug her and let her cry on his shoulder. It turned out that even he shed a tears as his heart really went out to her.
Then he suddenly realized something as he was still holding her. "Stephanie, no wonder this Phantom creep has affected you so much, especially losing Stevenson this week on top of it all. This mess has got to be even harder on you then the rest of us." He continued consoling her as best as he could.
When she felt she finally had pulled herself together, she drew away and rubbed her cheeks, as she still felt bad for putting him through this. "I'm sorry, Ponch, I...I really shouldn't have troubled you with this." It did trouble her even though it was he that had broached the issue.
"Nonsense, that's what friends are for. Stephanie, you can't honestly hold something like this in. There's absolutely nothing wrong with crying when you're carrying the grief over the loss of a loved one. It's one way to release the sadness over such a situation. All of us grieve in one way or another, but we should never hold it in. Especially when we have friends around us that care."
They continued to talk quietly for a long while, then she suddenly realized the time. "Oh, Ponch, it's almost three in the morning!" she almost shrieked. "We've gotta go to work tomorrow, er, today," she added, finally finding a smile.
"Okay, if you honesly think you're going to be all right.
She smiled, "Yes, I'm gonna be fine."
He saw the smile, but he still wondered if she was being completely honest with him. But he figured he should be happy with the fact that she finally let him know the reason for her run away emotions and let it go at that...for now. "Okay, if you're sure, then I'll walk you to your car, c'mon."
"That's not--"
"Yes, it is," he told her with a smile and a no nonsense tone in his voice. They left his apartment and headed to the parking area where she got into her car.
"Just please be careful going home, all right. I want to see you at Central tomorrow in one piece. Okay?" he told her with that determined look, then he gave her a smile.
'Yup, that smile of his sure is contagious.' she thought to herself and smiled right back. "Sure, I'll be careful. Thanks for such a great evening and letting me talk everything out. I appreicate it. See you tomorrow." She started the car, waved and then was on her way home.
Ponch waved back and then watched as she entered the highway and gradually disappeared from view.
He went back into his apartment and went straight into his bedroom. He sat on the bed but figured he wasn't going to sleep anyways seeing as what he learned from her tonight. He started to mull over that very knowledge. Her husband, an on duty cop killed by a drunk driver, plus the recent death of the fellow CHP officer, cause by this Phantom idiot. It sure answered the questions both he and Jon had regarding her reactions to the daily news of the attacks on them by this creep.
Since he felt he wasn't going to sleep anyway, he decided to simply lay back down on the bed with the clothes he had on. He felt he might as well, as it was going to be a long sleepless night, well, what was left of it anyway.