AN: Well, I squeezed this short one in..

thanks so much to my readers and reviewers who have been such an engaging audience that I simply had to post this before I went to bed.

Tanith


Chapter 46

"What? No way! Not Steve. Mike, are they sure?" Irene said incredulously as they drove toward General Hospital.

"Yeah they're positive it's him," Mike replied.

"Well, I don't believe it!" Irene crossed her arms across her chest as though that was her final word.

"Neither do I and I'm going to find out who set him up," Mike vowed.

"We are," Irene corrected.

Mike was touched by his companion's words and her willingness to believe in him and his partner. He gave her a warm smile and reached across the partition between them to squeeze her hand reassuringly.


Whitney walked down the staircase as quietly as he could. Jeannie had fallen asleep again and he had business to attend to. He found his father with a glass of scotch in one hand, staring into the fire place in the living room. "Where's the kid?"

"She's fast asleep. I've called for Mandy to pick her up and care for her until she's to be returned to her mother," George replied.

"Mandy?" Whitney raised an eyebrow, questioningly. "She hates kids."

"Not when the price is right, she doesn't. You best let me worry about the child. You have enough on your plate to contend with. "

"What did you do to the cop?"

"Taught him a lesson about sticking his nose in where it's not wanted. There's no need to be concerned. I didn't kill him if that's what you're thinking," George chuckled mirthlessly. "You better keep that woman of yours on a tight leash. I can't afford any more slip-ups."

Whitney remained tight lipped. "Jeannie won't be a problem."

"Good. Seems like a nice girl. Make sure she stays that way." George splashed the rest of his scotch into the fireplace, placed the glass down on the table then buttoned up his sports jacket.

Whitney ignored his father and listened to his footsteps receding down the hall. He stared at the embers in the fireplace, mesmerized by the way they glowed angrily, a reflection of his present mood.


Steve would have leaped out of bed at the sight that greeted him when the door burst open had it not been for the cuffs. "Mike, am I glad to see you!" he said hoarsely.

Mike took one look at the hand cuffs then walked back to where the guard stood at the doorway, "For goodness sake, get those cuffs off him, will you?"

The guard looked from Mike then to his superior who had just arrived.

"It's okay, Harry, you can remove Mr. Keller's restraints," Chief Riley acknowledged.

Mike stepped back and waited until Harry had uncuffed his partner and left the room before he moved closer to the bed and searched Steve's face for some answers. "Steve, are you alright?"

Steve's relief wilted as he thought about all that he'd been through that day and now this. It was enough to get anyone riled up. "Not really, no. Why the hell was I cuffed to the bed and what's with the guard, huh?" He sat up and winced as his ribs protested.

"Okay, okay, just calm down!" Mike placed a hand on his protégé's shoulder to keep him from flying out of bed.

Just then, a nurse arrived with a glass of water for her patient.

Steve uncharacteristically rounded on the young nurse. "Well, it's about time! A guy could die of dehydration here."

Mike apologised for his partner's rudeness and took the glass from her. "Could you tell me which doctor is taking care of my partner? I'd like to ask him some questions."

"Dr. Andrews. He should be back with Mr. Keller's bloodwork soon," the nurse replied politely.

"Thank you, Miss," Mike said with a smile.

Once the nurse had left, Riley decided it was time to get some answers. "Steve, do you remember where you were or what you were doing before you got here?" He asked procedurally.

Steve took a large gulp of water then recounted what had happened, "I was at a cabin several miles out of town getting the stuffing knocked out of me because I stumbled on a kidnapping! Mike, they've got Jeannie and Christina Lee. They're holding them against their will! You gotta go over there right now!"

"Who's got them against their will, Steve?" Riley asked calmly.

"The Holdens and their cronies!" Steve snapped then he turned to Mike and almost pleaded, "Mike, you believe me, right?"

With a sigh, Mike voiced the question that was on all their minds. "Steve, what were you doing at this cabin?"

"I was following Whitney. I realized he was the one who jumped me and I guess I was worried about Jeannie so I decided to tail him."

"And you went out all on your own without telling anybody where you were going. Buddy Boy, what were you thinking?" Mike concluded disapprovingly.

Before Steve could respond, Dr. Andrews knocked on the door and Chief Riley walked over to him.

Mike and Steve watched in silence as the two men spoke quietly then the physician handed a file to the Chief who turned back to the detectives and his frown deepened. "Steve, you tested positive for heroin."

Steve's jaw dropped and his mouth hung open. All the air was suddenly sucked out of the room and for the longest minute, Steve thought he'd never breathe again.