A laboriously breathing Dietz answered,"Paramedics pronounced Sanguinette DOA. His wife is in a
   coma and on full life support at New York General. Severe head trauma and broken ribs, damage to
   her liver and kidneys."

   Carol could not believe the last piece of information that Dietz muttered.
   "The driver ran them down then stopped. Placed the gear on reverse and run over the bodies again."
A web cam caught the attack a split-second after impact. Its second image showed the car--a
   full-size Chevrolet of indeterminate age--backing up with the victims beneath. The third image
   showed the car speeding away with Garth Sanguinette snagged on the muffler. He was dragged two
   blocks until driven on a raised casting.

   Garth had been a member of the NYPD for 15 years before joining Sullivan's team of investigators.
   Deitz knew that the blues and suits would make every effort to catch the killer.

   The job was not easy, though. The web cam images made the 6 o'clock news, and the tips came in
   by the hundreds. However, the car model was from somewhere in a 15-year run, and finding the
   weapon among the thousands of beater Chevys in Manhattan alone would be an accomplishment.
 

   By 7 PM the police knew that the killer car had stolen licence plates. The web cam images did not
   have a clear view of the driver, but a security video from an all-night restaurant was more promising.
   Deitz made sure that its enhancement received first priority.

   Printouts were ready for the morning shift. The driver had worn shades and a hat, but was clearly a
   large muscular man.

   At 9:14 AM, Deitz received a call from Anita Van Buren. She said, "Commander, Detective Green is
   sure the driver who killed Sanguinette..."

   "Both Sanguinettes," Deitz said wearily. "Marlo passed away half an hour ago."

   "The driver looks like Sam Catchpole," Anita continued, "and I think he may be right."

   "He wants to swear an oath, he's out on a limb," Deitz growled. Even with computer enhancement,
   the match wasn't quite dead-bang. "Still, the build is right. I want you to put a few people on him,
   Lieutenant."

   "Yes, sir. One more thing, Commander: My sister does not want to work for you again!"

   Before Deitz could reply, his secretary's voice sounded on the speaker. "Commander, Judge Sullivan
   is here to see you."
 

   Tucked away in the back of the Tea Rose cafe in the middle of the East Village, Cassi sat reading
   about the grizzly murder of Garth Sanguinette and his wife. It had been all over the TV since the 6
   Pm news the night before and now it was front page on all the newspapers.

   Just as she picked up her cup of java to take a sip, warm arms wrapped around her body from
   behind and she received a peck on her check.

   "Good Morning, I trust you slept okay?" Letting out a little chuckle she replied.

   "I guess, Mike. I slept as good last night as I have any night lately. I trust you've seen the headlines?"
   Mike walked around the table and took a seat accross from Cassi.

   "Who hasn't, considering it's all over the TV, Radio and the newspapers. By the way, Cragen and
   Carol will be here soon. I was talking to Donnie about 45 minutes ago." Placeing a smug smile on his
   face he reached over and took her hands in his.

   "Cassi. How would you like to have dinner tonight, just you and me, alone, in a nice resturant?
   Maybe a bottle of nice wine and then afterwards we could...you know maybe go back to my place
   and ..." A little chuckle escaped Cassi's lips as he cut Mike off in mid sentence.

   "Mike, you know there is nothing I would rather do than have a cosy dinner and well... you know
   with you, but I think we had better tone things down and not see too much of each other. A least until
   this mess is over with."

   "Okay you two, time to hang it up." Cragen chuckled as he and Carol took the two empty seat at the
   table.
 

   Back at Deitz's office, his Secretary opened the door so Sullivan could enter. In a huff Judge Sullivan
   walked past her, thru the door and parked himself in one of the wing backed chairs. Deitz stood up
   from his desk and gave a glance to his secretary.

   "I don't want to be interruped. Understand!" His secretary nodded and closed the door. Deitz looked
   at the Judge and said.

   "Nice to see you too Hiram!"

   "Look Deitz, I'm not here for a social call. We need to have a talk!"

   A chill slid down his spine and Deitz could feel the acid burning inside of him, he wanted to take a
   couple of tums to relieve the pain from the acid the made it's way up his throat, but he wouldn't, not
   in front of Sullivan.
 

   They waited until after orders were replaced to start the conversation. Carol shuddered.

   "Isn't it awful about the Sanguinettes?" Carol remembered Deitz's description of the murder.

   "Well I got word that Mrs. Sanguinette died a few hours ago. I would like to know what is happening
   to the 2-7? None of this freakin crap came down when I was in charge!" Donnie, now the head of
   the sex crimes unit ran the 2-7 while Mike Logan was there. Mike nodded in agreement.

   "Oh say, Mikey. Guess who they're brining in to question?" Donnie sipped on his coffee.

   Mike leaned in, anxious to hear the latest news.

   Donnie whispered, "Ben". Mike's face went blank and Cassi who was drinking her capp, coughed,
   spewing it out on the table.

   Embarrassed, Cassi asked Donnie, "Ben as in Stone? Ben Stone?" Donnie nodded and Mike noticed
   Cassi's face turn ghostly white.
 

   "It's time for heads to roll!" the Judge barked. "Garth Sanguinette was one of my best men and his
   wife was a wonderful woman."

   "Yes, sir." The Judge was showing a new face to Deitz, who felt his heart race.

   The Judge maintained his fury. "You're going to suspend Briscoe, Green, and Van Buren, and you're
   going to do so right now!"

   Deitz gazed firmly and said, "Judge, these people are working hard to find that killer, along with all
   my detectives. If I kick them off it'll disrupt the work and be bad for morale."

   "These people are dirty! They're no longer cops and you *will* do as I say. Always remember,
   corruption and incompetence catch up sooner or later."

   "I'm not going to yank them in the middle of a job!"

   "Fine. Take them on their lunch break. They do not work this afternoon. Is that clear?"

   "Yes, sir."
 

   Grim faces gazed at the television as the noon news came on.

   Lennie, Ed, Anita, and several other detectives watched the recap of yesterday's tragedy and the
   ensuing developments.

   The killer car still had not been found. The stolen license plates had been discovered in a dumpster in
   SoHo, ten blocks from the attack site. Two homeless people had been interviewed and the resulting
   composite sketch of the man who'd dumped the plates bore a creditable, though imperfect,
   resemblance to Sam Catchpole.

   Lennie was surprised at the three familiar faces who appeared next: Aaron, Mary and Chelsea
   Patterson. The Pattersons were setting up a trust fund for the two orphaned Sanguinette children.

   Lennie beamed and wept as he watched 12-year-old Chelsea express her gratitude for the care
   Marlo Sanguinette had given her in the ICU early last September.

   "Bless her heart," Lennie said. He and Atlanta Willow had brought her from the brink of death;
   though she would always be scarred by Kinbasket's attack, she looked well.

   A minute later, Commander Deitz entered the squad room, looking more sour than ever. With him
   was Judge Sullivan, who was prim as usual.

   Deitz said, "Anita, we need to talk in your office. Lennie, Ed...you too."
 

   In the six years she'd lived in New York City, Caitlin Falconetti had never gotten used to how dark it
   became so quickly once the sun slid below the tops of the tall buildings. Shivering in the dimness of
   her apartment, she clicked on a lamp and picked up another stack of books from the shelf, packing
   them carefully away. The photos were already packed, waiting patiently in one of the myriad of
   boxes in the foyer. They wouldn't have to wait much longer; she was trying to finish her packing
   tonight so that everything could be shipped the next day.

   The television was on, the six o'clock news replaying the same footage of the Sanguinette murder
   over and over. Caitlin shook her head sadly, half-listening as the anchor droned on about the lack of
   developments in the case. That was one thing she wouldn't miss about the city.

   A quick rap at the door interrupted her musings, and she hurried through the foyer. Laughing, she
   swung the door open without checking to see who it was. "What did you do, forget the key?"

   The laughter died in her throat as she saw that the second thing she wouldn't miss about the city
   stood outside her door. "I don't have a key anymore," Mike said grimly. "Remember?"

   Caitlin leaned against the open door, arms crossed over her chest. "What do you want, Mike?"

   Mike grimaced, rubbing a hand along his nape. "I need your help, Cait."

   A small burst of bitter laughter exploded past her lips. "My help."

   Impatience tightened Mike's jaw. "Yeah," he said. "Your help." Belligerence darkened his eyes. "Are
   you going to let me in or not?"

   Caitlin waved a hand at him, stepping away from the door. "Sure, why not? But make it fast, Mike.
   I've got things to do."

   He stopped cold in the foyer, his gaze darting from the stacks of boxes to the nearly bare living room.
   "Get a new place?" he asked, casually enough.

   Caitlin was studiously packing books again, and she purposely didn't glance up at him. "Sort of," she
   replied easily. "I took a position with another office. I'm leaving early next week."

   Shock skittered through him. "Leaving," he echoed quietly.

   "That's right," Caitlin said evenly, but when she looked at him, anger glinted in her eyes. "Leaving.
   What I should have done months ago."

   Mike swallowed hard, trying to focus on why he'd come here, not the hard knot of unrational
   betrayal forming in his stomach. "Lennie and Van Buren were suspended this afternoon."

   Caitlin's startled eyes flew to his. "What?"

   "That's why I'm here," Mike told her seriously. "Because they're using the evidence list against
   Lennie. They're saying he did it."
 
Part 5