7

Matt drove himself and Roy over to the beach house. As he walked in the door he had to take one deep breath. He hadn't returned since finding C.J. had taken all those sleeping pills. Roy found the foam box with the dish he had gotten her in that den area and threw it away while Matt went upstairs to get the metal lunchbox. They had decided that this may be the best place to start.

Matt got upstairs and saw C.J.'s pajamas laying on the bed, the ones she was wearing the night before and just held them for a second. He was putting them down when he noticed a small box on the floor, like a delivery box. He bent down to pick it up and found the note, remember this. He furrowed his brow and picked up the small jewelry box. Opening it, he found nothing, but when he turned it over to examine it, he saw the same stain C.J. had. He felt a knot in his throat and closed his eyes for a second. 'Damn it!' he thought to himself.

That's how they got to her, he figured out. They sent her something to make her remember and it caught her off guard. He was right, someone was using the loss of her parents to control her. The blood...well, he could only guess where it came from. Which death, huh? Her father's or her mother's? His emotions were so twisted up between anger directed toward whoever was responsible and anguish for his best friend and wife, he was starting to have trouble just breathing.

Matt sat the box down and more closely examined the delivery box for a return address. None. He shook his head, figuring he would use Baby later to try to track it, turned his attention over to the closet where he kept the metal lunchbox. He pulled it out and took everything downstairs.

He found his uncle in the kitchen pouring himself a glass of juice. Matt told him, "Looks like we have another piece of the puzzle here." He handed him the jewelry box and note before saying, "This must have come for her yesterday."

Roy told him, "Probably the trigger. We know there was something in those legal papers that were given to her that day she tried to jump, this time they sent an object." Matt nodded clearly upset still so Roy continued, "Perhaps they sent too much. This box could lead us back to whoever is responsible. Maybe they tipped their hand."

Matt told him, "I sure hope so."

After getting a few tools, Matt was finally able to get into that box. It seemed to take forever as the fire had all but welded it shut. But after several minutes of working on it with a screw driver, Matt was finally able to get it open.

Inside the box they found what they guessed were the Parsons' wedding rings, 8 silver dimes, a small key, like a bus station locker key, a small emerald ring, five small photographs of C.J. with her parents, one looked like it was taken at her birthday party when she turned 6 and had ice cream all over the front of her dress. The last thing Matt pulled out, that seemed really unusual were cigar butts and two napkins in a plastic baggie that probably had once held cheesy crackers.

Matt took the small ring and ran it around in his hand. He knew C.J. loved emeralds and this was probably a ring her parents had gotten her when she was really young.

Roy broke him from his thoughts when he said, "We can try to trace this key to see where it came from. Not sure what we can get from the dimes or that ring there. These..." he held up the baggie with the cigar butts and napkins, "are what interest me the most. I wonder if Hoyt can't help us out. Find out if there are any prints."

He put them down and Matt just looked at Roy and nodded, "Yeah, that sounds like a plan." He said softly. They then left to head to Hoyt.

Hoyt took everything down to the lab. They found prints, alright, and adult prints, but would have to spend hours even days to track it all down and put it with an individual. There were also two small blood stains on the napkins, but they doubted whether or not anything could be determined from those now. Warren came in Hoyt's office as Hoyt was trying to explain all this to Matt and Roy.

Hoyt said, rather loudly, "I understand, Houston! I know, look as soon as they have a name I'll call you. Until then, there is nothing more we can do. You know I'm on your side with this."

Matt nodded but said, "I know you are Hoyt and I don't mean to imply that you're working against me, but...this is C.J...I...uh" He just sighed.

Warren then spoke up, "Lt. Hoyt, I was wondering if I could speak with you for just a moment." The other three looked at him and Hoyt nodded getting up and walked outside with him.

Warren then told him quietly, "Look I have a few more days coming for vacation. Why don't I take a couple of those to help Houston out, huh? I can work, on my own time, down with the lab boys and you guys work on that last case of her father's. If they try to match those prints up with everyone arrested in San Fran from 20 years ago, its gonna take forever."

Hoyt took a deep breath and nodded, "On your own time, huh? You really are getting serious with Chris aren't you?"

Warren seemed to blush for a second and looked down before saying, "I'm just offering my services that's all. Deal?"

Hoyt smiled and told him, "Deal. Keep me in the loop, off the record that is." They smiled to each other and Warren went off to the lab.

Hoyt came back into the office with Matt and Roy. Roy asked, "What are you smiling about?"

Hoyt told him, "Det. Warren just asked for a few days off that's all. He plans to work with the lab boys exclusively until we solve this. I think we could be hearing wedding bells soon."

Matt told him, "Well, tell him I appreciate it." Then he looked at Roy, "Come on, Uncle Roy. Let's get to work. We have a whole list of suspects, let's see what they have to say." The men nodded and left.

The building they ended up at was a small business building with the corporate offices for Bill Wrangler. Not nearly as large in scale as Matt's they walked right in and up to a receptionist. She asked, "Is Mr. Wrangler expecting you?"

Matt then answered, "Well, no, but my name is Matt Houston and I...uh...well, I own a large conglomerate and am always looking for the next big investment." He smiled to the lady as Roy looked at him puzzled but then caught on and smiled.

She called back in a whisper on the phone and then smiled before saying, "Mr. Wrangler will see you now. Its the second door to your right, just down the hall there." She pointed to the hallway to their left.

They smiled and walked back. The man from the picture was waiting with his arm stretched out to shake, "Mr. Houston, what an honor. I've read all about you, please, please come in." He led them in the office and they sat down at the chairs facing the desk while Wrangler sat down at it. "What can I help you with today?"

Matt smiled and then said, "Well, Mr. Wrangler, I read a little up on you and your company too. Seems as though, you had some problems a while back." Matt didn't feel like beating around the bush here, he didn't have that kind of time.

Wrangler looked at him puzzled and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Roy then asked, "Well, didn't you get in some trouble for some anti government protests in the 60's?"

Wrangler looked uncomfortable for a moment, straightened his tie and then said rather defensively, "Yes, I disagreed with what we were doing in Vietnam and maybe before most of America really caught on, and yes I spent 5 years in prison for it. But, I did my time, grew up and went back to college earning the degree that got me here." He was pointing almost pounding on his desk.

Matt then asked as he sat up straighter, "Your lawyer, the first one, didn't get to do anything did he? He died, was murdered before you went in, am I right?"

Wrangler looked confused for a second and then said, "Uh maybe, I...wait a minute, yeah, yeah he was murdered. That's right..." He seemed to be concentrating. "They told me he was killed at home or something like that. That's right..." he started nodding his head, "I got all worried because I had given him my plea agreement and was worried he hadn't filed it yet. But he did, I guess it was one of the last things he did do." He looked at Matt, "I guess I owe him more than I thought. If he hadn't practically forced me to take that plea agreement, I would have gone in for much longer. My buddy didn't take it, he's still in. You know, he didn't even take a dime, well actually he did take one and only one, my silver dime. Said it was payment enough, see he felt sorry for me. I sure was mad though, thought he betrayed me when he got that agreement, but it was the right thing. I'm where I am now because of him."

Matt then asked a little taken back, "So you were happy with his counsel?"

Wrangler then answered, "Not at the time, but now...well. See I liked him because he was the only lawyer I had talked to about issues like freedom of speech. He really understood how important that is and what it meant to us as protestors. Said he agreed at least with that part of the case anyway. You know, losing him as a lawyer was probably a much bigger loss than any of us realize. He was really a dedicated guy who got it, you know? I know this world isn't the same place without him."

Matt answered, "You have no idea." He looked at Roy, they thanked him for his time and the two left.

Back at the hospital, C.J. and Chris take a little walk out to the garden. Chris avoided the whole reason C.J. was in the hospital and instead talked about her recent vacation with Warren. "He was so sweet and really understanding. I mean here he is, taking me on this big, and expensive trip, and he really understood why I couldn't, well...you know...just yet."

C.J. smiled and rubbed her back, "I think you found a real keeper. I'm happy for you."

Chris then told her when they stopped, "Ok, so you can't say anything, but...the last night we were there...he asked me if I thought I was ready to get married." C.J.'s face lit up but Chris put her hand up, "Now he didn't ask me to marry him, just if I thought I was ready."

C.J. couldn't help it, "Well! Don't keep me waiting here. What did you tell him?" She was ready to grab her in a hug and squeal with her, excited about this inevitable upcoming wedding.

Chris smiled big and said, "I told him marriage is a very serious subject and that I really wanted that in my life with a man I knew loved me and would always be there for me."

C.J. said, "And...well what did he say to that?" The suspense was killing her.

Chris said, "He kissed me and whispered that he would always be there for me and finally, finally said those three words."

C.J. grabbed her anyway and said, "Oh Chris this is wonderful! So...when is the wedding?"

Chris laughed and said, "I just told you he didn't ask me exactly that night. We sort of started to kiss and then we got interrupted. But he walked me back to the hotel room and kissed me goodnight, respecting what I had told him when we left, and...well...he wants to take me out to Marcel's Friday, so I'm thinking...maybe...oh C.J. I just can't believe I've found someone so wonderful."

They talked all the way back in and C.J. insisted they pick up a bridal magazine in the hospital gift shop. The rest of the day they looked through it at all the dresses, laughing at some of the bridesmaids dresses Chris threatened C.J. with having to wear as her matron of honor.

At one point Chris toned it down and asked, "Maybe I'm going too fast here. He didn't ask, just..."

C.J. shot her a look and said, "Chris we both know he's only making sure you are ready for this. I know he wants to marry you, I see it in his eyes every time he looks at you. And..." she started thumbing through the magazine again trying to downplay what she told her next, "I've never seen any of your former boyfriends read Matt the riot act before."

Chris looked horrified, "What? What are you talking about?"

C.J. smiled and said, "When you got hurt on that last case your detective Warren laid into Matt for putting you in harms way. Not many people confront Matt like that. Its nothing for you to worry about though. Matt took it all as a good sign. You know he's protective of you."

Chris then smiled a little, "I can't believe Jacob did that. Houston's not mad at me, right? I mean..."

C.J. patted her hand and said, "No, Chris Matt would never be mad at you. He told me he was relieved a little. We both want only the best for you and for someone to be as protective of you as we are. Jacob seems to be just that."