AN: Hello my readers from afar. I just wanted to apologize for not having been able to update in some time. Going through a bit of a stressful process of finding a place for my family and I to move into in the next month or so.

Thank you so much for all the support you've given me, including the reviews you left my story - really appreciate the feedback.

To my dear friend, "Meixel", I hope this chapter will be a welcome distraction for you.

Tanith


Chapter 15

Jeannie barely touched the food on her plate and spent most of her time twirling the straw in her chocolate milkshake. "I don't know what to do, Irene."

While Irene Martin was all too familiar with how stubborn Mike and, well, men in general could be, the last thing she wanted to do was give the wrong advice to someone whom she cared very much about. "Oh, honey, moving in with someone is a huge step and..."

"If I were your daughter, what would you think I should do?" Jeannie blurted out before she could stop herself. Over the last year she had developed a close bond with the detective and she had been hoping that Irene and her father would finally realize they should be together. Nevertheless, Irene became somewhat of a mother figure for the college girl. Not that Jeannie felt anyone could ever replace her mom but it was nice to have someone other than Mike to seek advice in areas that required a woman's intuitive thought process. While she didn't have a shortage of female friends, she needed a more objective and parental point of view.

A little taken aback by Jeannie's words, Irene couldn't help but feel warmed at the same time that the young woman thought of her so highly. "Well, I... I'm probably not the best person to ask. I mean I don't have any children of my own but..."

"No, but I think you'd be a great mom," said Jeannie, grinning.

Irene let out an embarrassed laugh. "Alright, alright, since you're putting it that way." In a more serious tone, she continued. "Jeannie, I think you and Mike should really sit down and talk about your feelings. Giving him the silent treatment will only strengthen his resolve that moving in with Whitney is the worst thing you could possibly do. In all honesty, I also think Mike's not the only reason you have your doubts. And if you can't tell me right now that you are a hundred percent committed to moving in with your fiancé, then maybe you need to also discuss your feelings with Whitney. I mean, is he insecure about your relationship or is he just so head over heels with you that he can't wait a little longer?"

Jeannie let out a heavy, miserable sigh. "To be honest with you, Whitney and I haven't really had the chance to talk about it. And now we're not exactly talking so...I...I don't even know if there will be a wedding anymore!" Jeannie had not expected to break down like this. She dabbed at her teary eyes with her napkin. "I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from."

"Oh honey, you're just nervous and you've had a lot to think about. It's perfectly normal to get a little emotional," Irene said gently. She moved her chair over to sidle up by Jeannie's side and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. "You want to talk about what happened between the two of you?"

Jeannie took a deep breath and regained her composure. "We had a fight last night. First, on our way to the hospital to see Steve." At Irene's questioning look, Jeannie quickly explained what she knew about the attack on their mutual friend and how Whitney had been a victim of a similar nature in a separate incident. "I told Whitney that I was having second thoughts about us living together before the wedding. He didn't take it very well but we made up and agreed to talk about it. Anyway, when Whitney got back after his talk with Mike, we argued on the way back to the car." Jeannie lowered her gaze, glumly. "He was mad that I was siding with Steve about him not going to the police the night he was attacked. I left him in the parking lot and that was when I overheard Mike and Steve talking. Oh Irene, maybe I owe Whitney an apology."

"Hey, look at me." Irene took Jeannie's hand in hers and used the other to tilt the college girl's head to meet her gaze. "Sweetie, you've done nothing wrong and if anyone deserves an apology, it's you. Not just from Steve and Mike for not being honest with you but Whitney was wrong for not doing his duty to report a crime. Whoever roughed him up are still out there and probably think they can get away with it. Look what happened to Steve. What if those guys were the same culprits in both attacks?"

Jeannie nodded. "You're right. But, how can I make Whitney see that? He's normally really easy to talk to but last night, I don't know. He just seemed really on edge and just not himself."

"Then talk to him. I think you two just need to get things out in the open without any interruptions. Tell you what? Let me take care of the bill….no, I insist. My treat! Then I'll drive you home and you can call him. He's probably waiting by the phone," Irene chuckled.

"I feel terrible about ruining our shopping date," Jeannie apologised.

"Nonsense. Let's try again tomorrow? What do you say?"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! Besides, I gotta get back to the office in an hour but I've got the whole day off tomorrow."

Jeannie beamed. "Thanks, Irene!" She reached out and gave the older the woman a heartfelt hug.


Mike arrived at the office in good time. A briefing by Rudy revealed a breakthrough in the Southbeach double homicide case. An anonymous caller had called the station with a tip.

"Did anyone get a trace on him?" Mike asked.

"No, she didn't stay on the line long enough to even give us a chance to start a trace but we got enough information to put together a profile of possible suspects," Rudy replied. "The boys should have some names for you within the hour."

"Did you say she?"

"Yeah, that's what Norm said. Our tipster is a woman. And she sounded scared to death. Nevertheless, she was able to give us the number plate of the car and a description of one of the drivers."

An urgent knock on the door drew the men's attention.

"Come in!" Rudy called out.

Lee Lessing entered the office with a set of photographs in his hand. "Dermot Wakeley, Johnnie Rosco and Francis, also known as Sid, Callahan. And they all have records a mile long each. Sid owns the late model Ford the lady says she saw." He laid the photos down on the desk for Mike and Rudy to see.

"I wonder how close she was to be able to ID these guys," Mike pondered aloud. "Let's not rule out the possibility that these are not our guys."

"What makes you say that, Mike?" Lessing asked, curiously.

"Call it a gut feeling. Something just seems a little easy. Too convenient. Still, I want these fellas brought in. And I want someone by the phone ready to do a trace in case our phantom witness calls again."

"On it," Lessing nodded and made haste to action Mike's instructions.

"How's Steve doing?" Rudy asked.

"I'm picking him up this afternoon," Mike replied then a sudden thought occurred to him. "Which reminds me. I gotta get someone to take a look at Jeannie's car. It's still over at Steve's."

"And how's the Porsche doing? I read about the collateral damage in the reports," said Rudy.

"Steve's still waiting to hear back from the insurance company. Every tyre was slashed and the windows broken. There's some damage to the bodywork as well. Have you heard anything about the case?" At Rudy's disapproving look, Mike added, "I know, I know! I'm not getting involved. I just need to know that whoever did this is not going to get away with it."

"No, nothing yet. But from the damage report - both on the car and your partner - it looks like you're right. Someone did have it in for your partner. Not bad enough to want him dead but he certainly pissed someone off."

Mike refrained from saying he knew it all along that he was right. "I can take a look at all the cases we worked on together in the last six months and see if I find anything I can give to the boys. I promise that's all I'll do. Please, Rudy, you gotta let me do something."

After a brief pause, Rudy relented. "Alright. But nothing more than going over the cases and you do that in your own time. Leave the rest up to the boys. I mean it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Mike smiled in genuine appreciation. He picked up the photographs from the desk and left Olsen's office.