Author's Note: As always, thank you so much for reading and following this story. Thank you especially to everyone who has left reviews on the last chapter: max2013, BMSH (and for your review on chapter 18 as well!), Tinee Dancer, EvergreenDreamweaver, and Cherylann Rivers (also for your review on chapter 18!).

As you'll notice, this chapter is short. I sort of felt it didn't need to be long, though. I wrote more, but then I decided that it wasn't really necessary and a short chapter here would be more effective anyway.

Chapter XX

Fifteen years earlier

A week had gone by since Kate and Nancy had gone back to River Heights. Carson was glad that he had a lot to keep his mind occupied because he felt their absence sharply. As it was, he had kept busy investigating the Moriare family. He had also spent most of his time in the past week with Fenton and Mitch – he had come to call Hardy and Johnson by their first names – and their constant bantering had helped cheer him.

Today hadn't been a particularly exciting day. For the most part, Carson and the two officers had spent the entire time going through the records for all the members of the Moriare family with a fine-tooth comb, as well as reviewing the case of Randy Moriare's murder. By late afternoon, all three of them felt as if their brains were cramped from the monotonous work.

Each was getting ready to suggest calling it a day when the phone rang. Fenton answered it. Although he didn't say much into the receiver, it was obviously good news.

"What's going on?" Mitch asked, stifling a yawn, as Fenton hung the phone up.

"We've got it," Fenton replied. "We've been issued warrants for the arrests of Clifford and Daniel Moriare."

"All right," Mitch said gladly. "That's great. I say we go celebrate."

"We've still got to catch them," Carson reminded him. "That might not be too easy."

Mitch shrugged. "We know where they are. All our work this last week did that much, at least. I still say we go celebrate. Steak sounds good to me. You two coming? I'm buying."

The others couldn't deny that steak did sound good. After reporting to the detectives' superior where they would be, the three of them headed for a steakhouse that Mitch knew well.

The news about the arrest warrants was really a great relief to them, even if they were too tired to say much about it. However, their relief could be seen in how much more relaxed they were at their meal than they had been for what seemed a long time.

"So how are you enjoying the bachelor life, Carson?" Mitch asked after a while. "It's nice to be able to come and go when you want, huh?"

"I wouldn't know," Carson replied. "When I get home in the evening – or the early morning, whichever it is – I just go straight to bed."

"Boring," Mitch told him. "You really need to learn how to enjoy this part of your life. It's not going to last forever."

"Thank goodness for that," Carson said. "You know, being married isn't as bad as people like to make it out."

"See?" Fenton interjected. "I've been telling you that for years, Mitch. You shouldn't knock it if you haven't tried it."

Mitch shrugged. "Eh. If I ever feel like I'm ready for my life to be over, I might think about getting married."

Fenton shook his head. "I should just give up. You're a hopeless case." He turned to Carson. "How's Kate doing? Do you have a place back there already?"

"A friend helped us rent a place," Carson replied. "Kate was able to move right in. She says she's keeping herself busy decorating it and making the rounds of all the thrift stores to get furniture."

"Hopefully you're not going to be too broke by the time you get there," Mitch said.

"I graduated from law school not too long ago," Carson told him. "I don't think we can get much more broke after that."

"Excuse me." A waitress came up to their table. "Is one of you Carson Drew? I have a phone call for you from a Sergeant McGinnis. He says it's urgent."

A knot formed in Carson's stomach at the words. McGinnis was an old friend of his and a sergeant in the River Heights Police Department. Urgent calls from police officers back home were seldom good news. Excusing himself, he followed the waitress to take the call.

"This is Carson Drew," he said, picking up the receiver.

McGinnis identified himself again. Any hope that Carson's fears were unfounded were crushed by McGinnis's somber tone. "Carson, I'm afraid I've got some bad news. There's been an accident. Kate was involved."

Carson felt as if he was being suffocated. He only barely managed to ask in a frightened, high-pitched voice, "Is – is she –?"

"I'm sorry, Carson," McGinnis said.

With a sudden lightheadedness and trembling in his knees, Carson grasped the edge of the counter that the phone was on, for fear he wouldn't be able to hold himself up otherwise. "You mean –"

"Yes," McGinnis told him.

The world seemed to be reeling around Carson now, but it didn't matter to him. Right now, nothing much mattered to him. If the entire world came to a sudden, crashing end at that moment, Carson probably wouldn't have even noticed. Finally, into his shocked and benumbed mind came another thought – the one thought that could make a difference now.

"Is Nancy all right?" he asked, his voice cracked.

"She's fine," McGinnis replied. "She wasn't in the car. She was at a friend's house. She is pretty scared, though. We didn't tell her what happened, but she seems to have figured it out."

"Where is she now?" Carson asked.

"She's with your neighbors, the Marvins," McGinnis said. "They have a daughter just her age and they're willing to let her stay with them until you can get there."

"I'll be on the first plane," Carson replied mechanically.

He tried to hang up the phone, but he missed the receiver's cradle altogether. Forgetting that he hadn't brought his own car, he dazedly headed toward the entrance of the restaurant. Fortunately, Fenton and Mitch noticed and they were at his side before he reached the door.

Noticing Carson's stricken expression, Fenton asked him, "What happened?"

"Kate." Carson's voice cracked so much that the word was barely audible. "There – there was an accident." He took in a shuddering breath and felt his eyes grow watery as he was forced to say the words.

Neither of the officers said a word for a moment, being too stunned by the unexpected tragedy. Then they seemed to shake themselves and realize that they needed to take charge of the situation.

Fenton placed a hand on Carson's shoulder. "I'm really sorry. I – Let's get out of here."

While Mitch paid for their only half-finished meal, Fenton ushered Carson out of the restaurant and to the unmarked police car they had come in. As they waited for Mitch, Fenton prudently didn't say much.

Mitch arrived a couple of minutes later and climbed into the driver's seat. "Where do you want to go?" he asked Carson.

"I need to get to River Heights at once," Carson replied absently.

"Right," Mitch agreed, "but where do you want to go until we can get you a plane to River Heights?"

Carson tried to collect his thoughts. "Uh. My sister's, I guess. She lives in my apartment building."

It took them over an hour to reach the apartment building. Carson was grateful that the two officers had taken the front seats and left the back seat all to him. As good friends as they had proven to be, Carson felt the need to be able to sit out of their line of sight. He was glad, however, that they were there when they arrived at Eloise's apartment, because he didn't feel that he could tell the terrible news a second time. The officers broke it for him.

Eloise, naturally, was shocked. Fenton and Mitch did their best to console both her and her brother, but there never is much that can be done at such a moment. Finally, Carson said again that he needed to get back to River Heights as soon as possible. Immediately, Eloise said that she'd go with him. Mitch offered to call the airline and get tickets for them.

Present day