AN: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers for their patience. Special thanks to my beta who has amazingly found the the time to edit this despite a hectic schedule.

Chapter 23

Residence of Father Joseph Scarne, 1972

A knock on the door brought Father Scarne to his feet. He'd only just rested on the sofa after returning from the hotel where he helped Danny settle into a room. Opening the front door of his apartment, Scarne was met by a burly young man who looked to be in his early twenties standing on his doorstep.

"Hi, I was hoping you could help me, Father. I'm looking for my cousin. His name is Dan Williams and he may be badly hurt. He's about my height, with short curly blond hair and is a few years older than me. Please, if you know where he might be, it could be a matter of life and death! I must find him." The young man implored.

"Young man, perhaps you better come inside." Father Scarne invited the youth into his home. He wasn't sure if he believed him or trusted his intentions but he was certain they knew the same Danny who had been his passenger earlier. He wanted to know if the stranger was telling the truth and more disturbingly, how he knew where to look. "Take a seat. Can I get you a drink?"

"No thanks. I won't be staying. I really need to find my cousin."

"What makes you think I know where your cousin is? I don't believe we've met before." Scarne stated calculatedly.

"When I saw him get into your car, I took down your registration number and my sister who works at the DMV got me your address. I don't want her to get into trouble but she knows that Dan is in trouble and needs my help. You see, I couldn't go to the police. He's an addict and I'm trying to find him so I can get him the help he needs." The young man spoke hurriedly, almost stumbling over his own words.

Scarne's suspicions that the young man was not who he claimed to be grew stronger with each scripted word spoken. There was no genuine concern voiced by the young man, only the urgent tones of an impatient and nervous individual in dire need of information to suit his own purposes. "I'm sorry but you must have me mistaken for somebody else. I thought perhaps I knew your friend but I can see clearly now that's not the case. Later tonight I'll be visiting the shelter. Should I come across this Dan Williams, I'll call you. What's your name and how will I reach you?" Scarne replied. He reached for the note pad and pen on the desk beside him and handed both to the young man who hesitated in taking them.

"I haven't checked in at a hotel yet. Do you know of one nearby?"

"I don't think there are any decent places around here –"

"I never asked if there was anyplace decent! I asked if there was a place I could stay? A hotel?" The youth raised his voice almost in a threatening manner.

"A couple of blocks down. On Fremont Street. I have the number for it." Scarne kept his answer short and to the point, hoping that the stranger would take his word for it and be on his way so that he could warn Danny. Something about the young man troubled him greatly.

"I'll be waiting for your call." The young man replied darkly then handed the notepad and pen back to Scarne before hurrying out the door without a thank you or farewell.

Scarne looked down at the note pad and pen in his hands and furrowed his brow, baffled by his visitor's imposing manner. He picked up the phone and dialed the number of Danny's hotel room.

"Danny, it's Father Scarne here. Sorry to wake you. I thought I'd best let you know that someone just came by looking for you. He said he was your cousin but never told me his name. I didn't tell him where you were staying or that we met." Scarne detailed over the phone.

"Father, there's something you should know about me. I ran into some trouble recently and I'm having a difficult time remembering certain things in my life right now. I can't say if I have a cousin but I appreciate what you did for me." Dan replied, his voice thick from sleep. He had dozed off on the bed shortly after checking into the room which he shared with Raven, the hotel manager's dog.

"Be careful, Danny," cautioned Father Scarne before hanging up. Little did he know the young man who had just paid him a visit stood right outside his apartment with his ear pressed against the door, eavesdropping on the one sided conversation that took place within.

…..

Hotel on Essex, San Francisco, 1972

Dan Williams had just replaced the receiver on the cradle when a knock on the door made his head turn. Taking his eyes off the door for a brief moment, he saw to his relief that the jet black dog, Raven, lay unperturbed in the corner with his head rested on his front paws. His owner Walt had told Dan that Raven had a keen sense when it came to strangers knocking on doors. According to the hotel manager he paid little heed to visitors he was familiar with but when it came to strangers, Raven would be at the door on high alert. Dan opened the door and smiled at the thin, scruffy looking man holding a food tray in his hand. "Walt, you really shouldn't. I'm not all that hungry."

"Bah! Not hungry eh? Why, lad, you're looking too peaky for my liking! I have for ye some soup and crackers." Walt practically barged his way into the room and laid the tray down on the small table near Raven whose striking steely gaze drifted up to his owner and best friend. "Try to get some soup into ye. He'll eat yer crackers. Loves 'em." Walt gestured at Raven.

"I still don't know how to thank you." Dan rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little uncomfortable by Walt's kindness.

"I told ye it's ye I should be thanking, not the other way round. I can't go anywhere without him scratching at the door, howling away and waking up my guests! I'm on my way out now so you two better stay nice and quiet." Walt replied with mock seriousness before his weathered face broke into a grin, bearing several missing teeth. "If ye need anything, Ernie is looking after the front desk."

Dan thanked Walt once more before closing the door after him then turned around and smiled at the animal who stared up at the table, smacking his lips with his tongue. "Okay, you can have my crackers."

…..

Riley Griffin drove down Essex Street, his eyes peering out on both sides in search of nearby hotels. Williams has to be staying nearby. He slammed on the breaks as he passed a run-down hotel towards the end of the street. Scarne had lied to him about there being no hotels nearby and there could only be one reason why. Griffin was confident he'd find Dan Williams in one of its rooms. Backing up the car, Griffin parked it across the street. He unzipped his jacket and checked that the .22 nestled in his pocket was loaded then climbed out of the car. Walking at a casual pace, he entered the Hotel foyer and approached the empty desk. He looked around and saw no one in sight but he could hear cheering and the TV blaring from a room behind the desk to the left hand side. Griffin pulled the guest book sitting on top of the counter toward him then opened it and searched for the latest entry. He cursed silently and closed the book when no Dan Williams or Father Scarne was recorded. Noticing the bell sitting on the counter, he rang it three times until an overweight middle-aged man approached him.

"Can I help you?"

"Yeah, I'm looking for Dan Williams. I'm his cousin and Father Scarne is a mutual friend. I was told I could find Dan staying here."

The man stood with a confounded look upon his face as he scratched the top of his head, racking his brain. "No, we don't have anyone by that name, kid, but we do have a Danny staying here if that helps?"

"Yeah that's the guy! He sometimes goes by that name." Griffin snapped his fingers and smiled.

"He's in room 12, just down the hall. He's staying in the boss's room."

Riley Griffin thanked the man who returned to the television set in his office, then he walked briskly toward Dan Williams' room.