AN: Just wanted to thank all my readers for continuing their support. Sorry for the lengthy delay to get an update posted. I have had to make alternative temporary arrangements for internet access as I am unable to connect my internet at the new place I moved into. It's been an exhausting month with the move itself, unpacking and just getting everything up and running. We also had a few issues and a house related emergency that needed to be attended to. In spite of the challenges, I am happy to say that we love the new place and its location :-)

My heartfelt apologies to those I still owe PM replies - I will get to all of you. It just might take some time. Thank you for keeping in touch and being so supportive.

Tanith


Chapter 19

Mike removed his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. After getting off the phone with Lessing earlier he had started poring over the notes he had on the double homicide case. So far only one of the three persons of interest was located and brought in. A greasy punk in his mid-twenties who made himself known to the boys working the beat on the Tenderloin. Dermott Wakeley. No stranger to being in an interrogation room, he knew better than to mouth off when things got serious. There was nothing of use that Lessing and Haseejian could get out of him and it wasn't long before his parole officer was able to confirm his alibi the night of the murders. Without substantial evidence to link him to the crime, Lessing and Haseejian had no choice but to let him go. Of course, having a strong alibi didn't necessary mean Wakeley was not involved in some way with the murders. Proving it though was another matter. Their best shot was going to be locating his buddies, Rosco and Callahan. What better way to do that than to keep a close eye on Wakeley? And that was exactly what Lessing had arranged.

Mike looked up and gazed at the clock on the wall. Where had the time gone? He decided to check on Steve and see if he was up to eating dinner. He placed the documents in a labelled manilla folder and rested it on the table then made his way upstairs. He gave the guest room door a light knock then slowly pushed it open. He had expected his partner to be rousing from sleep or at the very least looking rested. Instead, Steve was fully dressed sitting on the edge of the bed and in the middle on putting on his shoes. "And where do you think you're going?"

"The office," Steve replied, without looking up.

"Really? At this hour? In your condition?"

"Look, Mike, I'm getting stir crazy here. There's a few things I was meant to complete for Rudy and I figured I better get them done. Don't get me wrong – I appreciate you taking me in and all but I'm not an invalid," said Steve.

"What things? If there were things, I think I would know considering I'm the one who usually has to kick your rear to get them done."

"Oh come on, give me a break will ya?" Steve finally met Mike's gaze, trying to keep what was really on his mind from the older man's prying eyes.

"I know what this is. I've been down this road before so please do me a favour and don't take me for a fool! You're only going to the office so you can start grilling for information about the attack on Dave." Mike's accusatory stare burned Steve where he sat.

"Okay, fine, yeah maybe I am. Look, Mike, who's to say what happened to Dave is not connected to the spate of robberies and assaults out there in recent weeks? We could be dealing with something more serious than a string of random attacks here."

"Need I remind you what department you work in?" Mike's raised voice put an end to Steve's defence.

Steve stood up and glared at Mike. "So you're telling me that we should wait until Dave dies before we do anything? Before he qualifies to be one of our cases, is that it?"

"Don't you play that card with me, Buddy Boy. Don't you…" Mike's voice caught in his throat as his own emotions started to simmer to the surface. He took a deep breath before continuing in a manner of forced calm, "You're upset. I get it. But you need to realize something. You go marching off to the office tonight and what do you think Rudy will do when he finds out? And believe me he will! He'll have your badge before you can even blink an eyelid!" Mike said firmly. "Now you tell me what good that would do for Dave or for all the other victims we should be helping!" When Steve remained silent, Mike was confident he'd hit his mark. "Go on. Do what you gotta do. I won't stand in your way."

Steve ground his teeth together as he stood rooted to the spot before his shoulders finally sagged and he sat back down with a defeated sigh. He kicked off his shoes and gave Mike a reproachful look. He knew his partner was right but it didn't mean he had to like the fact that his hands were tied during the course of the investigation when he believed he could make a difference.

Mike ignored his protégé's glare. "I'll fix you some of that soup Jeannie made."

Steve found he needed a means to let off some steam and right now turning down Mike's gesture of smoothing things over seemed a good place to start. "No thanks. I'm not hungry. I think I'll just go to bed now, Michael, if you don't mind."

Knowing it was probably best to leave Steve be, Mike nodded and wordlessly left the room, closing the door after him. At least he needn't worry about Steve getting into any more trouble. Not tonight anyhow, Mike thought.