Ok so my Internet did go down then I had to fight with our phone company about the price to reconnect, but that's a long story. The main thing is it's back on! Read and review, please! It's been too long not to get any reviews!

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In the truck Hardcastle gathered his wits and took a couple of deep breaths before heading to the local night club where Teddy was working.

Teddy was setting up a table when Hardcastle walked in. He went over to the matradee and said to Hardcastle, "It would be my pleasure to seat you. I haven't seen you in here in quiet some time."

"Thank you, that would be nice." Hardcastle replied.

"Will you be dining alone or are you expecting another party?" Teddy said professionally.

"Alone. Somewhere in the back would be fine." Hardcastle played along.

Teddy said, "Right this way, Sir." As they walked toward the table he said under his breath, "Where's Skid? Everything alright?"

"Cooling his heals. Just follow our plan and things should be fine." Hardcastle replied quietly.

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In receiving, McCormick was uncuffed, strip searched, given County blues to dress in, while his shirt, shoes and jeans were placed in his 'property'.

Frank was waiting for him when he came out from being processed. "McCormick I know you are not going to like being held in holding but due to the things you have helped with and the fact that we are only holding you for questioning, I feel you are safer in a holding cell."

"Lt. neither you nor Hardcastle know anything about being safe here. There is no such place in here." McCormick added, "They knew I was here in cuffs before the agents did. This story is far to good to keep quiet even by your best officers."

Harper replied, "I hope for their sake you are wrong."

McCormick replied flatly, "Trust me. I'm not."

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McCormick hoped that Hardcastle knew what he was doing as he laid on the steel bunk with the thin fire proof mattress. He had mentally figured the size of the cell, which was no more than an eight by six foot area that contained one steel bunk, a steel toilet / sink combo, one six by thirty inch barred window, and the locked barred cell door with a feeder slot so that the didn't have to be open at meals. Minutes turned to hours which turned to timeless boredom and finally sleep. Which was only interrupted by the normal Friday night's goings on, of drunk and disorderly's and DUI's, who had just enough to drink to want to yell and shout obscenities to the guards who had nothing to do with their arrests or their present state of woes.

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It was near 11:00 pm when the man came in the club and took a seat at the far end of the bar where Teddy was helping out. "Give me a beer." he said to Teddy who remembered him from their last meeting.

Teddy poured two mugs of beer. Placing the first in front of the new customer. "Yes, Sir."

The man spoke in a whisper, "You have the file?"

Teddy nodded a 'yes' and replied, "I've got to deliver this beer. It will only take a second." Teddy walked around the bar and to Hardcastle's table. While keeping his back to the man at the bar he said, "Here's you beer you didn't order. Guys at the end of the bar, alone with the jacket."

Hardcastle paid for the beer and nodded. As Teddy left he studied the man's features. He was several years older than Hardcastle remembered. His name was Louie Banks, Hardcastle had sent him up several years ago for Conspiracy. Banks like to think he was at least semi mobbed up, but even the mob stayed clear of him. Now all Hardcastle had to do was find a link between him and McClure, Inc.

Teddy had returned to the bar.

Banks asked, "So where's the file?"

"You don't think I'd bring something that important in here do you?" Teddy asked. "I come into work early tomorrow. How about meeting me across the street in the park at say noon?"

The brainless stooge readily agreed. "Okay, but you are sure you have it?"

"Yeah, I have it." Teddy asked. "I suppose you'll have the money you promised?"

Banks finished his beer and replied as he got up to leave, "It's as good as yours."

Teddy hadn't been worried about the money, but had he acted otherwise it may have looked suspicious. He walked over to Hardcastle's table after the other man left. "Tomorrow, noon, across the street."

"Thanks, Teddy." Hardcastle finished his own beer and headed to the truck.

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Back at Gull's Way, Hardcastle made a pot of coffee before getting started. With Sarah off for a few days, he had the entire place to himself and he didn't like it at all. He pulled Louie Bank's file out and put it on the desk. Taking his seat he looked at the phone. He needed information and there was only one person who could get it. It was just after midnight as Milt dialed the phone.

"Harper." Grumbled Frank expecting it to be the station calling at this hour. He had thought that with luck that Claudia might forgive him for being late from work before they went to bed, but not at this rate.

"Frank sor..." Hardcastle began.

"Milt! You know it's after midnight?" Harper asked.

Hardcastle replied, "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I just need a small favor. Actually it's a big favor but it shouldn't be hard for you to find out."

"Yeah, well let's hear it. The office may be safer than the house at this point anyway." Harper sighed.

"There was a plane that crashed at LAX when the landing gear failed. I need to know who the insurance company for the airlines was." Hardccastle explained.

"It shouldn't be hard to find out. Airlines? As in Aviation? Milt, ... this doesn't have anything to do with McCormick does it?" Harper sighed.

Hardcastle returned the sigh, "Yeah, it might."

Harper asked, "When do you need this information? And don't tell me yesterday."

Hardcastle had to crack just a bit of a smile, "No, by tomorrow early morning? Will that work and keep your marriage intact?"

Frank replied, "It just might if the phone doesn't ring again tonight."

"Thanks, Frank." Hardcastle replied.

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McCormick had been awakened yet again by another new inmate. He tossed his left hand over his face to block the light from the hallway. The touching of his hand to his face not only hurt like heck but the hand was beginning to feel warm. He knew he did not need this hand to get infected and need medical attention or he'd have a lot of explaining to do with a dog bite on a medical record. He could only hope that it was better or at least not worse tomorrow.

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It was just before 7 am when the phone rang. "Hardcastle." Milt said.

"Milt I got your information. It's a Carlton's Group Insurance Agency. A John Carlton is the agent." Frank said, then added, "Yeah, I have a number too, it's 1-800-555-7000."

"That's great. Thanks Frank. I know I said early but this is early even for you." Hardcastle commented.

"Not when you haven't been to bed." Frank replied.

Hardcastle grimaced before asking his next question, "So I figure lunch is out of the question, about noon?"

He sighed, "Is this business or social?"

"Well, I meant for it to be social, but it might turn into business." Hardcastle explained.

Frank replied, "Call me when you got the details worked out. I'm going to try to get a couple hours sleep."

"You got it. Thanks again Frank." Hardcastle said as he hung up the phone, rubbed his hand together, and got ready to get busy.

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It was after 9 am when he finally got an answer at the insurance company's number. Hardcastle's luck running much better than normal when the phone was answered by a man who identified himself as John Carlton. "Mr. Carlton I am Retired Superior Court Justice Milton C. Hardcastle. I have been involved in a case and have stumbled onto some information that I think your company might be interested in. I can be at you office in about thirty minutes."

"Well, Mr. Hardcastle I'm only in the office today to work on an important matter. Maybe you can set up an appointment this week." Carlton suggested.

Hardcastle decided he'd have to give a few details to get this guy to bite. "This is involving the plane crash at LAX where the landing gear failed."

Mr. Carlton replied, "I think I can work you in, whenever you can get here."

Hardcastle smiled, "I'll be right over."

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McCormick loosened the bandage from his hand. The entire back of his hand was swollen, red, and very warm. He hoped that whatever Hardcastle had in mind worked quickly or that he'd at show up and let him in on the plan. Mark covered the wound back up and set with his back to the wall and his arms wrapped around his knees as he watched the new inmates from last night being processed now that they had sobered up.

The morning trustees were going about their jobs and part of a trustee's job as an inmate is scouting for information to take back into the population cell area.

McCormick knew this and also knew that he would either be labeled a snitch or a screw up depending on who told the tail of him being here. The fact he was in a holding cell would make it look like he needed or wanted protective custody which would translate into being a snitch. With this being the receiving unit for the California Corrections system any information inmates got here would be in one manner or another passed up state to the other facilities. This meant that should Hardcastle not be able to pull a rabbit out of his hat, that Mark McCormick, the retired Judge's pool boy gone bad was going to live hard; if not for having been the Judge's pool boy, but for giving it up to rat on someone.

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In Carlton's office, Hardcastle began, "I read in the paper about how the crash at LAX was caused by the landing gear failing. I understand that you represent the airlines." Hardcastle looked thoughtful and continued, "I bet the families are going to try to really stick it to you?"

"That's actually why I'm here today. I'm not sure that my company can handle this kind of settlement and still survive." Carlton replied.

"Do you have the aviation records from where the plane was inspected?" Hardcastle asked, knowing the answer.

Carlton answered before thinking, "I only wish I did. Before I could get it there was a break in at the aviation building and the file was stolen."

"Suppose I told you that I think McClure, Inc wanted this file because they weren't doing the inspections and had a two time looser arrange the break in by blackmailing someone to go get it?" Hardcastle asked.

"I think I'm really interested in what you have to say." Carlton replied.

Hardcastle began, "Mr. Carlton, I'm going to be honest with you. The two time looser that set up the break in blackmailed a parolee into doing the job by offering a lot of money if he did the job and threatened a lot of trouble should the parolee declined the offer. It seems that the parolee bungled the job and asked a second parolee to get the file to keep the first out of trouble. As you know the second was successful in getting the file, however, he has been picked up by police for questioning. Now, the first parolee has the file and is supposed to turn it over today at noon to the man who made the offer. The file has been copied to look like what they want but it leaves out the information on Flight 233. The parolee will give it to the contact and we can follow him to his contact which I figure will lead us right to McClure, Inc."

"So, what do you want from me?" asked Carlton.

Hardcastle simply replied, "Since my retirement, I have kept busy with such cases. I'd like to offer you my assistance in catching these guys that are trying to make your company pay for their mistake. However, my normal assistant, as much as I hate to admit it right now, happens to be the second parolee. Who could have been working with me for your interests had we had this discussion a week ago."

Carlton was seeing Hardcastle's thinking, almost. "Say no more. How much do you charge for you services?"

Hardcastle looked at him mildly confused. "Charge? No. No, you have me all wrong. I like to see the good guys win. This McClure, Inc. signed a contract with the airlines that you insure to do a job which they failed to do. So, now there are a lot of people who are paying a bigger price even than your company will and that's all just plan wrong. I'll be the first to admit that my assistant went about getting that file wrongly. However, if enough good comes out of this, I could only hope that the airline and yourself might just be able to help me convince them to drop the charges against my assistant."

Carlton nodded, "Mr. Hardcastle you have yourself a deal, though I'm not sure of how much help that I can be for your friend."

"Assistant." Hardcastle corrected, "I understand. I'm not sure of that myself but it the only chance I can offer him." Standing and extending his hand, "Thank you for your time Mr. Carlton."

Carlton shook Hardcastle's hand, "Just let me know what I can do."

"I'll be in touch." Hardcastle said he left the office.

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Hardcastle checked the time. It was still early enough for him to stop by the jail to talk to McCormick. He headed the truck across town. After parking the truck, Hardcastle took off his gun and placed it under the seat. He showed his identification and signed into see McCormick. Due to regular visiting hours being later in the day, Hardcastle was the only one in there. He took the last seat and waited for McCormick to be brought around. He saw a brief second of relief when McCormick spotted him.

McCormick took the seat opposite him and picked up the phone. he waited for the correctional officer to move away before speaking, "Judge. Am I glad to see you."

Hardcastle replied gruffly, "It's only been a few hours, McCormick."

"I suppose you were only in San Rio a few hours too?" McCormick asked.

Hardcastle had to smile just a bit. There was the McCormick he was used to. "Point made. Now, let's get down to business. I have been talking with the insurance agent for the airlines of that flight. It seems they would really like to get their hands on the information that you obtained. Teddy has set up a meeting with his contact today. I hope to get Frank and follow his contact back to McClure."

McCormick interrupted. "So, you get McClure and the contact and we all go off to camp together?"

Hardcastle grumbled, "You're smarter than that after we get them, then the insurance company and the airlines can go to bat for you for helping them save a lot of money and getting the bad guys."

"Are you sure that'll work?" McCormick asked.

Hardcastle was honest, "No, but do you have a better idea?"

McCormick shook his head, "No."

Hardcastle rubbed his hands together, "Alright, then, I'm off to see Frank and get things set up."

"Judge." Mark stopped him, "We may have another little problem."

"What's that?" Hardcastle asked.

McCormick pointed toward his left hand that he had kept laying very still on the shelf before him.

Hardcastle could see around the bandage that McCormick had put on that is was swollen considerably and red. "Infection?"

McCormick nodded, "Yeah."

"Get them to have a nurse look at it." Hardcastle replied.

"No way." McCormick said sharply, "Do you know the questions they'd ask and what that information on a medical record could do to me? Just do your thing and get me out of here."

"I can't tell you that its even going to work let alone how soon I can get you out of here, if it does, by some miracle work. That needs attention now, not later." Hardcastle said.

McCormick nodded 'no', "I'm fine for now really. If it gets worse I'll go."

Hardcastle responded gruffly, "I'll be back and if it's worse, I'll tell them about it. Got it?"

McCormick nodded, 'yes', "Yeah. Got it. But, give your thing a chance to work first?"

"Okay. For now." Hardcastle stood as he saw the officer approach.

"Be careful out there. Even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto." McCormick warned.

Hardcastle replied lightly, "Hey, I've got Teddy."

"I know Teddy." Mark paused just a brief second, "Be careful Judge." He hung up the phone at turned away.

Hardcastle watched him walk away before leaving. He had broken his parole and broken into a Federal building, yet, it still bothered Hardcastle to see McCormick here. He knew the kid was wrong but still he was trying to work out a deal to get him out. 'Why? And why does it bother you to see him here? When here is where he should be for what he did. But, if he hadn't gotten that file, then McClure would have it by now. You don't know that, it could have remained right where it was until Carlton picked it up.' Hardcastle decided that arguing with himself over this wasn't doing anyone any good, so he headed toward Frank's office.

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Expecting to have to call Frank as earlier planned, Milt was surprised to see his friend digging in his file cabinet as he opened the office door. "I thought you'd still be at home."

Frank shut his drawer loudly, "I hoped I'd still be at home. Unfortunately, it seems life had other plans."

Hardcastle took this opportunity, "Since you're already hear, how about that lunch I promised you?"

Defeatedly, Harper replied, "Sure why not." He said reaching for his jacket.

"Frank, before we leave, you might want to open that drawer back up and grab a wire." Hardcastle suggested easily. Hoping that Frank wouldn't back out. He could tell that Harper was tired and pretty stressed.

Without a word, Frank opened the drawer and got the wire.

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By lunch, McCormick was glad that he was right handed. Had he been left handed, he may not have been able to have held the plastic spoon to eat. For a second he considered asking the correctional officer that accompanied the trustee who was giving out the trays about seeing a nurse. Then, decided to wait until after seeing Hardcastle.

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Hardcastle and Frank met Teddy for lunch at a small cafe' several blocks from where Teddy was to meet his contact. After a quick lunch, they used the restroom to fit Teddy with the wire. Frank asked, "Are you sure you have it down what we need you to do?"

Teddy said casually, "Yeah, sure. I turn over the file, take the money and get out of there."

It had been a little too casual for a tired Frank, who added, "Once you go into work an officer will pick up the money."

"How will I be sure that he's who I'm suppose to turn it over to? You know it could be just anybody watching and deciding they need the money." Teddy rambled.

Hardcastle stepped in, "Because just anybody wouldn't know the plan or be carrying a badge."

Teddy replied, "Oh, I don't know Judge, ... you can get those things anywhere now days, maybe I should just hold on to it until you guys come for it?"

Hardcastle said gruffly, "And maybe you'd like that officer who is picking up the money to arrest you instead, for being in on the whole thing?"

That got Teddy's attention, "Ah, no, ... no, Judge. I'll hand the money over to who ever asks for it."

Giving him an evil grin, Hardcastle replied, "I thought you'd see things our way. Now, are we ready?"

Frank checked his watch. It was 11:30 am. "Everyone should be in place. We'll go check while Teddy walks over to the park."

With the fake file tucked under his jacket, Teddy left the restroom and walked out the front door heading up the street towards the park where he was to meet the contact.

Frank looked at Milt and said, "You know, for about the hundredth time since this whole thing started I've wished that it was McCormick wearing that wire instead of Teddy."

Agreeing with Frank, Milt replied, "Yeah, I know what you mean." He found the simple admission was too close to talking about how he really felt. He cleared his throat and added gruffly, "Teddy will do alright. At least he had better or he'll have me to answer to."

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Parked a short distance from the park in Frank's sedan Milt and Frank saw Teddy approaching. Frank said into his mic, "Teddy can you hear me?"

Teddy rubbed his hand across his face as he answered, "Yeah, I hear you."

"Good, just listen. Take a seat on a bench near where you work." Frank instructed.

Teddy approached where he worked, checked his watch, crossed the street, he casually took a seat on a bench right in front of where he worked, as if he was killing time before going into work.

It took twenty minutes before Teddy's contact felt comfortable enough to show. Hardcastle recognized Banks as he approached from behind them, "Easy Frank. My side, behind us, heading this way." Hardcastle said as he turned the page of the paper he pretended to read.

Harper folded his paper as if he were finished with it and laid it across the radio in the seat.

Banks never even gave the sedan a half of a glance as he passed it carrying a fast food bag.

Teddy saw him coming, but let the man approach him.

Banks said, "I brought you some lunch."

Teddy sat up just a bit taking the bag. He looked inside to see a lot of money, "Well, good. Money will be tight until payday, but this should help."

Banks replied, "Glad to help out."

Teddy pulled out the folder, "These are all my bills. Thanks for trying to help me straighten them out."

Banks replied, "I'll see what I can do." He thumbed through them.

It was obvious to Hardcastle when he thumbed through the file he didn't have a clue what he was looking for or looking at for that matter.

Teddy took the fast food bag, checked his watch, and said, "Well, I need to get to work. Thanks again for lunch."

Banks replied, "Not a problem."

Teddy walked across the street as Banks walked away in the opposite direction that he'd came from.

Frank let him cross the street at the end of the park before he started the car. Traffic was surprisingly light as Frank followed Banks to a small dinner a few blocks away. Frank and Hardcastle walked into the diner. Hardcastle took a table near where Banks and another man sat.

Harper went to the pay phone towards the back of the dinner and placed a call, "Agent Mason this is Lt. Harper."

Agent Mason said a bit annoyed, "Lt. this is a Saturday afternoon."

Harper replied, "I'm aware of that but I have located your missing file and unless I miss my guess there is about to be a lot of money exchanged for it. If you have other plans my guys will handle it."

Mason asked, "Where are you? I'm on my way. Don't do anything."

Frank gave him the location and said quickly before hanging up, "If this goes down before you get here, we will detain everyone involved and wait for you to get here." He knew in this case he probably shouldn't have done what he just did, but knew this couldn't wait for the two parties to split up. He took a seat at the table with Hardcastle who had ordered them both coffee.

When Banks and his contact made the exchange it was indeed quick. Banks slide the file across the table. The other man passed Banks a manila envelope, dropped a couple of bills on the table and both walked toward the door.

Harper said into his mic as he was moving, "Now. The two at the door."

Hardcastle had moved to block the exit at the back door with his gun drawn.

Just as the two saw the blue uniforms heading towards the diner, Harper who also had his gun out as he said, "Just stop right there. You are under arrest."

If for no other reason but shear surprise, both men stopped dead in their tracks. The money and the file was confiscated as evidence and both men were cuffed and placed into two different cruisers until an agitated Agent Mason arrived.

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Hardcastle had gotten tied up with the arrests and reports. McCormick sat waiting on him to show up as the pain in his hand had gotten worse and had swollen more. He sat up and took the bandage off. A blind man could see the red streaks heading up his forearm toward his elbow. He swore. The next officer that walked by he said, "Officer, I have a cut that seems to be getting infected. Is there any chance of getting someone to check it out?"

The officer replied, "Let me see it."

McCormick swore silently as he uncovered his hand.

Unknown to McCormick the officer was also an EMT who recognized the signs of a serious infection. "I'll be right back", she said.

Much to McCormick's surprise it was only a very few minutes later when the officer unlocked the cell door, "The nurse will see you and get that wound cleaned up. How did it happen?"

"I was doing yard work." he lied.

The nurse took one look at the hand and began gathering peroxide, antibiotic cream, clean dressings and an antibiotic for McCormick to take by mouth. "How did you say this happened?"

McCormick lied again, "Yard work."

"The yard sure has nice sized teeth to make punctures like those, but I'd rather you lie to me than loose that hand." she sighed.

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After a brief conversation with Hardcastle, Mr. Carlton phoned Agent Mason to report that the insurance company had worked with Judge Hardcastle and his 'associate' to get the McClure file for safe keeping but to also test the security of the building which housed the files for the company they represented. Mr. Carlton stressed the point that McCormick, being Hardcastle's assistant retrieved the file, turned it over to Hardcastle who turned it over to Carlton thus the file was in proper hands all the time. Also, a duplicate file had been used as bait to nab a company responsible for several deaths and many injuries who had failed to meet the agreements of the contracts and attempted to defraud the insurance company of the money to settle with the victims and their families. Hardcastle and Carlton also offered to help Agent Mason with upgrading his security of the Federal records. McCormick and Teddy's testimonies would be given in exchange for the charges being dropped against both Teddy and McCormick.

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Two weeks later as the late news was going off McCormick turned the TV in the den off as he stood up, "Night Hardcase."

"Hey, where are you going? Remember, tonight is when we are supposed to go help Mason?" Hardcastle reminded.

McCormick gave a sarcastic laugh, "How could I forget? Nothing like a little midnight run on a Federal building." He had been forced to agree to attempt to break into the same Federal building every so often for the next year and help Mason upgrade the security in return for Mason dropping the charges and the Parole violation. "How do you know I won't just get caught quick to prove how good the upgrades are?"

Hardcastle grinned, "Because you enjoy the game too much."

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As he got out of the truck, McCormick put on his black gloves. His hand was still tender. He asked. "Judge? You did tell him to feed that dog right?"

Hardcastle just smiled.

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See I was back on and in under an hour had the rest posted. Thanks for waiting! Please review. Thanks.