*  *  *

Star smiled as she tapped at the computer keyboard.  She knew that her internet buddy would get a kick out of the cyber card she just sent.  He always called her a hippy just because she lived in the Height and the card she chose reflected her sense of humor.  The cartoon characters where dressed in traditional flower child garb and they held up their fingers in a V in front of a Volkswagon bus.

Signing off, she noticed that her time on line just happened to come up to 666 before it closed out completely.  She shook off the eerie feeling that number always possessed and padded her way to the bathroom for a quick shower. 

Catching a glimpse at the clock, she realized that she had spent more time on line than she intended and her friends were due to arrive any minute to pick her up.  She quickly weighed in her mind the pros and cons of getting interrupted in the shower or leaving her door unlocked for a few seconds.  She glanced at the clock again then shook her head.

Leaving the latch to the apartment door open, she grabbed a change of clothes from her bedroom then went into the bathroom.  She closed the door then stared at the handle for several seconds.  The shower turned the bathroom into a sauna.  One of the dual showerheads that the landlord insisted on installing, but never managed to get it working right, only pumped out hot water.  She had been scalded more than once backing up into it and the steam that filled the room made her somewhat claustrophobic.  That was a little too confining for her taste.  Preferring to risk embarrassment, she opened the door a few inches to let in the cooler apartment air then turned her attention to the shower.

It wasn’t long before she heard the familiar thump of the glass table against the wall.  Shirl always managed to bump into the artistic piece within seconds of entering the apartment.  “I’ll be right out,” she called.

He felt his heart lurch into his throat when he heard her voice.  “’K,” he answered nervously.  It was obvious that she was expecting someone and he prayed that the nonchalant word would ease her rather than alert her.  When she went on with her shower, he couldn’t even bear to release a sigh of relief. 

He should get out of there.  She was expecting someone.  He couldn’t risk getting caught.  But one glimpse of her reflection through the open bathroom door was enough to give him pause.  Although she was surrounded by a fog, he could see her hands moving erotically over her stomach.  The clear shower curtain toyed with cascades of water, giving the illusion of a sultry dance as her hands slipped down to her thighs.  He became captivated by her beauty, her grace.  When she threw back the shower curtain, he was stunned by her perfection.  She was simply too tempting to resist.

His heart raced in his chest as he watched her pat away the beads of water from her face with a thick towel.  Now!  Now! the voice inside his head screamed, but he knew he had to wait.  There would be a better moment.  He couldn’t stop the sudden gasp when she flipped her long auburn hair forward and draped a towel over her head. 

She was his in an instant.  He shoved the ends of the towel into her face.  She didn’t stand a chance of seeing him.  Not that it mattered.  It never mattered.  Her arms flailed as he forced her back into the shower, but it did no good.

*  *  *

Nash tossed the thick file onto the gouged table top then walked over to stare out at the bay.  “We inherited a particularly ugly one this morning,” he announced to his crew.

Harvey’s brow furrowed when he picked up the file and saw the case tag.  “Not the Damsel murders?”

“One and the same,” Nash returned without enthusiasm. 

“That string of murders homicide has been following?” Evan chimed in as he leaned closer to Harvey and earned a section of the file to examine.

“I heard about that case,” Joe interjected.  “Wasn’t the first victim dressed up like a damsel in distress or something?”

“It was the doll they found on the site,” Evan returned.  “One of the original Barbie’s, but I think it was called Mitsy or something like that, all hard plastic.  Not like today’s pose-able dolls.  It was dressed up in a Rapunzel  costume and left next to the victim.”  When he realized that everyone around him had stopped moving and speaking, he peeked up from behind his dark shades.  “What?” he asked, but received silence and stares.  “Cassidy mentioned having one of those dolls when we first heard about the murder.”  He shook his head at the speculation that he knew a little too much about dolls.

“Anyway,” Harvey stepped in once more.  “From what I hear, they don’t want to call it a serial because they can’t find any connection between the victims.”

“A lawyer, a waitress, a prostitute and a college student,” Nash volunteered as he turned back to his crew.  “All of them raped and murdered.  The who and why are ours to figure out.”

“I’m on the suspect list,” Harvey announced as he removed a section of the file.  “I’ll have a rough history on each potential before the end of the day.”

“Might as well give me the coroner's reports,” Joe volunteered.  “Inger has me going in for a prostate exam.”  Harvey handed him the thin stack of files on the autopsies.  “At least I’ll have something to look forward to,” he muttered, then cringed at the graphic picture inside the first file.

“Cassidy didn’t know the first victim, but they do have mutual friends,” Evan said with a note of wishful thinking.  “I could talk to some of the students and see what they know.”

“All right Evan,” Nash agreed without hesitation.  “See what you can pick up on campus, but keep a low profile.  Maybe they will be more willing to talk to you if you take Cassidy along.”

Harvey and Joe exchanged a surprised look then saw the same shocked expression on Evan's face.  Nash had made no secret of the fact that he was opposed to Evan dating his daughter, but he readily agreed to put them together.

“Better still,” Nash continued.  “Cassidy said something about a big frat party this weekend.  That would be a good place to mingle.”

“No problem,” Evan answered as he tried to keep the smile from his face.  He had certainly had worse assignments.

“Boss?” Ronnie interrupted the meeting.  “We may have just gotten victim number five in at General,” he reported and saw their resigned expressions.  “The woman was raped, then strangled.  Next door neighbor called it in.”

“Damn,” Nash muttered to himself.  “Harv?  You and Evan head to General.  Joe and I will check out the crime scene.”

“Oh good,” Joe returned.  “That’s way on the other side of town.”

“Not to worry bubba,” Nash returned as he led the team away from the conference table.  “We’ll get to your appointment on time.  I know a short cut.”

Joe’s smile went sour.  “You would.”

*  *  *

“When I told her that I was waiting to get an appointment with Dr. Vermeer, I thought that would be the end of it,” Joe explained as he walked onto the crime scene with Nash.

“That doctor from the Mayo Clinic?” Nash asked in surprise as he glanced back at Joe only briefly.  He was already taking in the crime scene.  A crowd had gathered at the base of the stairs and the patrolmen who answered the initial call were taking down notes from the building neighbors.  “Didn’t he get a huge grant recently for his research in cancer prevention in high risk patients?”

“That guy has a longer waiting list than Lucia’s preschool,” Joe said in affirmation.  “Who would have guessed that the guy’s granddaughter goes to the same mother’s day out program as Lucia?”  Joe shoved his hands in his pockets when Nash chuckled.

“You’re kidding,” Nash asked then chuckled again. 

“Inger had the whole thing arranged in two days.  Two days Nash.”

He laughed again and put his hand on Joe’s shoulder.  “Something like that could only happen to you bro.”

“You’re telling me.”

Nash glanced around the room, his eyes settling on a small glass table askew to the rest of the room.  His gaze dropped to the impression the piece had left in the carpet.  “Looks like our guy might have gotten a little clumsy,” he commented then glanced around for the officer dusting for prints.  “Did you get anything?”

The older man squatting next to the bathroom door as he dusted the frame gave Nash a blank look.  “We might have if a friend of the victims hadn’t come in here and knocked the table over ten seconds after entering.”

“What?” Nash returned in disbelief.

“She was like a tornado, pinging off of walls until someone got her out of here.”

Nash caught a snatch of conversation from just outside the apartment.  “It was a god-awful sound,” she said nervously and she openly gawked at the people searching her neighbor’s home.  “I thought it was that friend of her at first,” she said directly to Nash.  She could tell that he was the one in charge.  There was just something about him.  “Then I heard the door slamming and wondered.”  She couldn’t stop herself from touching her hair when he smiled in her direction and she completely missed the officer’s next question.

“Inspector Nash Bridges,” he said in introduction as he held out his hand to the curious woman.  “And you are?” he said politely.  He wasn’t averse to charming his way through a few quick questions.

“Ah, you can call me Emerald,” she quickly stated as she smiled encouragingly.  “Like the jewel?”

“Try Endora, like the witch,” a man mocked from across the hall.

“Shut up Harold,” she replied then smiled in embarrassment.

Nash shot Joe a glance then cleared his throat.  “Could you describe the sound that you heard?” Nash asked, repeating the question that the officer had just asked.

“Oh,” she said as she gathered up the lapels of her terry cloth robe.  “It was a terrible sound,” he repeated.  “Like the howl of a wounded animal.”

“Yeah, you’d know all about that sound, wouldn’t you Endora?” Harold interrupted.  “And it was a shriek, not a howl,” he corrected her as he leaned around the shoulder of the officer questioning him.

Nash rubbed his fingers against across his forehead.  “Okay.”  It was obvious from the exasperated expressions on the faces of the responding officers that the morning had been filled with just such conversation.  “It was about eleven,” she said hesitantly.  “Maybe eleven-thirty.  Letterman was coming on.”  She folded her arms across her stomach.  “Mister Wonderful over there took his own sweet time going to see what it was.”

“Letterman was on!” Harold insisted, not bothering to lean around the officer.

She rolled her eyes once then fixed them on Nash, leaning in as she lowered her voice.  “This is one of those things, isn’t it?” she said.  “One of those Damsel things, right?”

He looked over at the officer who gave a nearly imperceptible nod.  “Did the coroner give you a time of death?” Nash asked.

The officer appeared stunned for a moment then he leaned closer as well.  “The victim is alive,” he explained.  “The next door neighbor found her naked in the bathroom.”

Emerald’s back became ramrod straight as she glared in the direction of her husband.  “You didn’t say anything about her being naked!”

*  *  *

Harvey growled as he leaned over the deserted nurse’s station desk in the hopes of finding anything that resembled help.  “I don’t believe this.”

“Calm down Harv,” Evan returned as he tested the nearest door, but the handle didn’t budge.  “There’s got to be someone around here somewhere.”

“Half an hour ago,” Harvey ranted.  “They told us half an hour ago that the coroner was on the way down, but we don’t even find a lackey to get the personal effects from.”

“You didn’t seem to want the helping hand of Mister Corpse.”

“Yeah, real mature Evan.”  Harvey shook off the memory of the lifeless hand against him.  “I haven’t had anything that cold down there since Bonnie left.”

“Ouch.”  Evan chuckled as he recalled the moment.  “I thought you were going to lay yourself out when you turned straight into the open door.”

Harvey jammed his thumb into the elevator button then wiped his hand across his upper lip.  “I would hope that, while you’re partying with Cassidy, you set a better example for those young minds instead of encouraging Animal House activities.” 

“Lighten up Harv.”  Evan continued testing handles along the hallway, finding one locked door after another.

Harvey couldn’t believe that he let Evan talk him into looking around the morgue.  He hadn’t felt so claustrophobic since they had been hijacked on the night train.  The dark corridors of the basement level only intensified the feeling.  “The least they can do is let go of the damn elevator so we can get out of here,” he bit out before jamming his finger against the elevator button.  “Finally!” he moaned as the doors opened.  He was in such a rush to get inside that he nearly collided with the young intern stepping off.  “Do you work down here?” he asked sharply. 

The younger man had to swallow hard to get his heart out of his throat.  He had been studying a chart when the doors opened and Harvey’s presence had him frozen in place for several seconds.  “Unfortunately yes,” he finally replied.  His eyes traveled over to Evan warily.  Encountering anyone unexpectedly in the morgue was always a shock.  “Can I help you with something?”

“We’re here to get the preliminary report on a woman brought in this morning,” Evan explained as he strolled closer.

“And you are?” he said timidly.  He hated dealing with distraught family members and these two didn’t look very happy.

“Inspectors Leek and Cortez with the SFPD Special Investigations Unit,” Harvey said succinctly as he held up his badge, then let it drop back to his chest.  “The woman we’re looking for was strangled and brought in within the last couple of hours.”

The intern shook his head slightly.  “Does she have a name?”

“Star Sutton,” Evan added helpfully.

He shook his head again.  “Doesn’t ring a bell.”  He glanced back at the chart in his hand.  “The only body I’ve received recently was a guy who fell off of a turnip truck.”  His eyes darted back and forth between the inspectors doubting faces.  “Literally.”

Harvey gave him a long, cold stare.  “You’re kidding me, right?”

The intern shook his head once more.  “The way I understand it, the driver of the truck tried to beat a trolley and one of his crew fell off the back.”

Harvey shot his partner a look and Evan knew that he was ready to snap.  “Can you do us a favor and check again?” Evan suggested.

“Let me call up upstairs,” the intern replied.  “Sometimes bodies get rerouted with paperwork.”

“Thank you,” Evan said as he moved next to his partner.  “Will you calm down?” he said softly to Harvey once the intern stepped away to use the in-house phone.

“He’s pushing it with the turnip truck thing,” Harvey returned with agitation, then jumped convulsively in an attempt to catch the elevator doors before they closed.  He was too late and frantically tried pushing the button, but the car had already ascended.  “Damn it!”

“What was the name again?” the intern asked once he had someone on the line.

“Star Sutton,” Evan answered.

He spoke softly for a few seconds then hung up the phone.  Without further ado, he turned back to the inspectors.  “Your body is up in recovery,” he said simply.

Evan and Harvey exchanged a look.  “Recovery?” Harvey said in disbelief.

The intern shrugged his shoulders.  “I guess she got better.”

*  *  *

“Harv,” Nash said into the cell phone.  “You’re not looking for a DB.  Looks like we finally have a witness in the case.”

“Just found that out,” Harvey returned as he peeked inside the emergency room window.  “Looks like one of her friends has come in to see her.”

“That would be Shirl Twist,” Nash added.  “Apparently Shirl was running late to pick up Miss Sutton.  The medics on site thought they were going to have to medicate her to calm her down.”

“Sounds like a charmer,” he returned dryly.

“Give the SIU a call and see if Barry can get a decent sketch from Miss Sutton.  The unis are canvassing the neighbors to see if anyone saw anything.”

“Give Barry a ring, will ya?” Harvey said softly to Evan.  “Already on it,” he reported back to Nash.

“Good.  We’ll see you back at the SIU after I drop off Joe for his date.”

Harvey smiled at the thought of Joe going to the proctologist.  “Be sure to give him a kiss before dropping him off.  It would be a shame if he didn’t get a little foreplay.”  Harvey heard his chuckle then the line went dead.  Evan pointed to his cell phone to let his partner know that he was already on with the SIU sketch artist, so Harvey entered the semi-private emergency room.

“You weren’t there Shirl!” Star bit out at her friend. 

“You can’t seriously be blaming me for this?” she said in horror.  She had been devastated when she heard that Star had been attacked.  She would never forgive herself for running late.

“Miss Sutton?”  Harvey broke in quickly.  “Inspector Leek from the SFPD,” he announced himself as he held out his badge.  He hadn’t missed her sudden withdrawal or the self-conscious way she pulled the flimsy paper cover around her more securely.  “I’m sorry ma’am, but I need to ask you a few questions about what happened.”

“Hasn’t she been through enough?” Shirl asked protectively, ready to take on the inspector and anyone else who continued to harass her friend.

“Shirl,” Star began in frustration then let out a heavy sigh.  She knew that she had to talk with the police while everything was still fresh in her mind...although she was certain that horrific memory wouldn’t dull for some time to come.  “Just go home.  Please,” she said with more force than necessary. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Shirl announced as she put her tiny hands on her narrow hips.  What she lacked in stature, she made up for in tenacity.  “How do you know that this guy isn’t the one who did this?” she asked in defense as she eyed Harvey.  “I’ve seen movies where the psycho dresses up and...”

“Ma’am...” Harvey tried to interrupt, but Star was more succinct.

“Get out!” Star ordered her friend.  “Just get out Shirl!  I don’t have the energy to deal with you right now!”  Star felt a stab in her chest for the look on Shirl’s face at the harsh words.  She knew that she would have to apologize later, but she was at the end of her patience level for that day.

Harvey gave Shirl a sympathetic look as she floundered a moment.  “Miss Sutton will be well cared for,” he assured her.  His heart went out to Shirl when he saw her eyes misting over, but that didn’t stop the tiny woman from shooting him a stern look.

“She had better be,” she choked out then quickly made her exit.

Star’s head dropped back onto the pillow as she covered her eyes to staunch the prickle of tears.  Shirl was one of her closest friends and she knew that she shouldn’t have yelled at her, that she shouldn’t be blaming her.  It was her own fault she was attacked.  “I’m going to have to make her the biggest candle you’ve ever seen to make up for this one,” she said with a calm voice.

Harvey was surprised by her small joke.  It was obvious that the woman was devastated and yet she was able to steady her emotions quickly.  He was impressed and gave her an encouraging smile.  “That would have to be a pretty big candle,” he returned lightly.  He glanced back at the door.  “About her size.”

Star moved her hand from her face then and really looked at the inspector next to her bed.  The attire he was wearing was so unconventional and his voice was so soothing that she knew in an instant she liked him. 

“I know this isn’t going to be easy for you, Miss Sutton, but I need to know what happened,” he said softly as he readied his pen and note book.

She shook her head slightly.  “There isn’t much to tell,” she said with more confidence than she felt.  “I had just stepped out of the shower and was wrapping a towel around my head when I felt someone grab me.”  She stopped when a lump caught in her throat and she gave herself a few seconds to keep the tears in check.  “It felt like my head was getting twisted off,” she whispered, blinking rapidly.  There was so little that she could tell him, but the memory was so vivid that it tormented her with its intensity.  “I remember trying to fight, but my head hit the floor pretty hard.”  She cleared her throat the best she could.  “Next thing I remember, I was here.”

“So you never saw the guy’s face?”

She bit at her lip to keep it from quivering.  She didn’t want to lose it again.  She had to stay strong just a little longer.  “I couldn’t even tell you for certain it was a guy if I hadn’t been raped.”  The sound of her voice was so raspy that she didn’t even recognize it.  Her neck and head were throbbing with pain and the stress of the conversation was only making it worse.

“Barry’s on his way,” Evan said to his partner as he entered the room and handed over a thin file.  “Preliminary report from the hospital,” Evan informed him as he looked at Star Sutton for the first time.  The long curtain of auburn hair shrouded her face as she hastily wiped at her nose and eyes.  Even so, Evan could make out the raw red marks around her neck where the towel had been wrapped and the nasty bruise creeping out from under her hairline just above her ear.

“The report said that you had first degree burns on your arm,” Evan said to gain her attention.  “Do you have any idea how you were burned?”

She shook her head trying to remember specifically.  “It was probably from the shower.  One of the shower heads pump out scalding water.  I probably bumped it in the struggle.”

“But you can’t remember for sure?” Harvey asked and she shook her head once more.  He glanced down at his notepad.  He had little to go on since they were expecting to pick up reports instead of interviewing a witness.  “Do you have any idea how the attacker might have gained access to your apartment?”

Star thought about that for a moment then her eyes squeezed shut.  “I was expecting some friends,” she explained as a fresh flow of tears streamed down her face, “and I left the front door open.  I didn’t think….”  Her throat tightened and she was unable to continue.  She covered her eyes with the shreds of tissues balled up in her hand as she fought back the tears once more. 

Harvey reached out to comfort her then pulled back instead.  It was obvious that Star was still frightened and agonizing over what had happened to her.  The last thing that she would want would be another man touching her at that point.  “Don’t do anything silly like blame yourself for this,” he said softly.  “It’s not your fault.”  When he saw the relief in her eyes he knew that she would be okay.  She just needed to hear the words.  “I think we have enough for now, Miss Sutton.”  He closed his notepad and tucked it back into his jacket pocket.  “Do you have someone who can stay with you?” he asked softly.

When she didn’t answer right away, Evan spoke up.  “That little woman who left here a few minutes ago is still outside.  Should I get her?”

Star had to smile then and she shot Harvey a glance.  She wasn’t surprised that Shirl had remained even though she had been harshly thrown out.  That was the kind of person that she was, more heart than body.  “I guess I’d better find a candle.”

*  *  *

“So what’s the verdict doc?” Joe asked as he slipped his jacket on.  He wasn’t expecting to see the doctor again after dressing.  He figured the nurse would fill him in on the standard stuff after the appointment.  “More fiber?  More water?”  He searched the doctor’s face for any indication as to what was on his mind, but he didn’t like the stern features and Joe cleared his throat. 

“Have you had any blood in your stool, Mr. Dominguez?” the doctor asked as he double checked Joe’s file.

Joe shifted uncomfortably.  “No, nothing like that.”

“That’s surprising,” the doctor mumbled as he jotted a note.

“Everything is okay, right doc?”  Joe was becoming anxious as he waited for a reply that he didn’t think would ever come, but the doctor finally looked up at him as he closed the folder.

“I’d like to schedule you for a colonoscopy right away.  There was a cancellation this afternoon which will do perfectly.  The nurse can give you all of the information that you will need before hand.  You will need someone to bring you and take you home, of course.”

“Whoa, wait a minute doc,” Joe interrupted, holding up his hands.  “What’s going on?  Is there something that I should be concerned about here?”

The doctor looked at him in confusion for a moment then realized that he hadn’t discussed his findings with the patient yet.  “I’m afraid that I discovered several large polyps during the exam and I want to have them removed for testing as soon as possible.”

“Polyps?” Joe said in confusion.  “But that’s nothing right?”

“Most are benign, but over time, some types of polyps can become cancerous. Usually, polyps that are smaller than a pea aren't harmful, but, from what I was able to distinguish, the polyps are considerably larger than that.  Because they are so big, they are causing blockage and I’d like to remove them right away.  There’s no way of knowing how long these polyps have been there or how rapidly they are growing since this is the first time they were detected.”  He folded his hands in front of him, clasping Joe’s file.  “I’m not merely being cautious, Mr. Dominguez,” the doctor told him sincerely.  “Caught early enough, polyps are little more than an uncomfortable day at the hospital.  Left alone, you will soon be scheduling an appointment with an oncologist.”

Joe’s mouth dropped open slightly at the blunt statement.  “So you’re saying its cancer?”

The doctor attempted a cautious smile.  “I hope not Mr. Dominguez, but we need to do the procedure and have the polyps tested.  It’s the only way to be certain.”  After a long silence, he started back out of the room.  “I’ll have Colleen arrange everything for you.  Just make sure you have someone driving you.”

*  *  *

“Harv?  Refresh my memory,” Nash stated, leaning back in his chair to see Harvey at his desk.  “Wasn’t there a woman attacked down by Pier 32 a couple of months ago?”

Harvey’s eyebrows shot up and he let out a slow stream of air.  “I know that there was a curfew initiated a few weeks back because of someone nearly getting killed.”

“Find out the particulars on that case,” Nash ordered.  “See if you can find any connection to the Damsel murders.”

“Playing a hunch?” Harvey asked.

Nash shook his head slightly.  “I feel like we’re missing some pieces of the puzzle.”

“I’ll see what I can find out.”

*  *  *

Harvey glanced away from the computer screen to give his eyes a rest then did a double-take.  For a split second, he thought he was looking at Evan’s twin talking to Ronnie at the front entrance.  The clothes and the hair were slightly different, but there was no mistaking the resemblance.  Harvey had to alert his partner.  “Hey Ev.  One of your brothers in town?” he asked with a smile and tossed his head in the direction of the man speaking with Ronnie.

“What?”  Evan turned then stood from his desk to greet the newcomer as he walked over to them.  “How the hell are ya Kev?” Evan asked as he reached in to give Kevin a warm hug, but Kevin took a step back and held up his hand to stop him.  “My doctor said that 30 minutes on a tanning bed would be good for the pulled muscle in my lower back, but he neglected to tell me that I needed to slowly build up to 30 minutes over several visits.”

Evan chuckled at his friend then gave him a firm slap on the back.  “Always leaping before you look.”

“Wow, that sounds familiar,” Harvey interjected.

Evan chuckled at his partner.  “Harv, meet Kevin Crook.  I trained this guy just before I left homicide.”

“Ah!  So you learned how to leap from an expert,” Harvey jeered as he stood and held out his hand. 

“You’re looking good,” Kevin commented as he inspected Evan’s clothes.  “You’ve got an edgier look now.”

“Goes with the territory,” Evan shrugged.  “Is that Bachelli?” he asked as he touched the lapel of Kevin’s tailor made suit.

“Yeah, I appreciate you turning me on to that guy,” Kevin said as he held out his arms for better inspection of his clothing.

“Wa…wait a minute,” Harvey interrupted as he looked at his partner curiously.  “You picked out his clothes while working in homicide?”

“Of course not,” Evan denied then shifted slightly.  “I just…made a few suggestions.”  When Harvey started chuckling, Evan shot him a reproving look.  “You could do with a few suggestions yourself.”

*  *  *

“I spoke with the woman who was attacked down at the pier and she said that the guy tried to strangle her with her own hair,” Harvey informed Nash as he joined him at the coffee pot on the upper deck. 

“That sounds familiar,” Nash returned.

“Three out of the five victims were strangled that way,” he confirmed.  “Now here’s the kicker, the woman said that the guy had a real strange expression on his face when he realized that she was wearing a wig and took off.”

Nash took a sip from his cup.  “Long dark hair?” he prompted.

“You’ve got it.

“Bring her in Harv.  I’d like to have a talk with her myself.”

“I’ve already sent a squad out for her,” Harvey returned then continued by giving Nash a rundown on the suspects concerning the Damsel murders.  “One guy has been eliminated because he has been in jail for the last 48 hours and another one is under surveillance, so he’s cleared.”

Nash tipped his head to one side.  “Can’t get a better alibi than cops watching your every move.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not going to help us much.  There’s an entire list of possibles,” Harvey informed him as he handed over the information that he had gathered.  “most of who have been eliminated for various reasons.  Jail, surgery, out of town, etc. etc., except for this guy.”  Harvey raised the top sheet that Nash was looking at to show him the picture beneath.  “He’s our number one.  Raymond Speaks.  He’s been in and out of one institution or another most of his life.”

“Alibis?” Nash asked succinctly.

“Raymond claims to have been home during the attacks.  He lives with his mother, so you know how reliable that can be.  He’s been brought in for questioning twice, but nothing specific has been linked to him, so they had to let him go.”

“And where is Mr. Speaks today?” Nash asked as he skimmed everything.

“MIA for the last 24 hours according to his mother,” Harvey returned as he slipped on his jacket. 

“Have a face to face with Mom and see if she knows more than she’s letting on.  Take Evan with you.”

“Speaking of which,” Harvey said as Evan and his friend started heading in their direction.  “Evan’s old partner has decided to pay us a visit.”

“Official?”

Harvey shook his head.  “He followed the case,” he explained elusively.  “Apparently, he was one of the original people on the task squad for the Damsel murders.”

That piqued Nash’s curiosity.  It would be helpful to have someone fully versed on the case working with them, but he had to wonder at the reasons behind any officer following a case that he had been pulled off of.

“Nash Bridges,” Evan said as he stepped up to his boss.  “Meet my old partner, Kevin Crook.”

“On loan to you from downtown, if you can use the help on the Damsel murders,” Kevin quickly added as he shook Nash’s hand.

“What’s your interest in the case?” Nash asked point blank.  He was in no mood to pussy foot.

“Strictly professional sir,” Kevin returned with a little more formality.  “I’ve been on this case since day one and I’d like to follow it through to the end.”

Nash scanned his face.  He could tell that he was holding something back.  “Who’s your boss downtown?  Pritcher?”  He couldn’t mistake the flash of panic in Kevin’s eyes and knew instantly that he didn’t have his boss’s approval to be there.

“Yes sir,” Kevin responded with an edge of defeat.  “And I’m sure he will tell you when you call that we weren’t exactly seeing eye-to-eye when I left.”

Nash couldn’t stop the slight curl of his lips at the diplomatic statement.  “Suspended or voluntary leave?”

Kevin shot Evan a beseeching look which Evan returned with an encouraging nod.  “We hadn’t really gotten that far when I left,” he admitted hesitantly.

Nash chuckled.  He could picture Kevin storming out of his boss’s office the moment he discovered that the case had been transferred.  He had done the same thing when the Zodiac murders had been transferred to another department.  “For now you can head over with Harvey and Evan to see if Raymond Speaks mother happens to know where her son was last night.”

“We’d probably be better off checking the crack houses,” Kevin volunteered.  “Speaks has a thing for the needle.  If he has disappeared again, we’ll probably turn him up there.”

Nash looked at Harvey and Evan pointedly and knew they would follow up without saying a word then he turned his attention back to Kevin.  “In the mean time, I’m going to have a chat with Pritcher and, for your sake, I hope everything checks out.”

Kevin swallowed hard.  “Yes sir.  Thank you, sir.”  Kevin leaned in close to Evan as they walked away and released a sigh of relief.

“I told you it would be all right,” Evan assured him.  “I’ve got a way with Nash.”

Nash looked over at Harvey shaking his head as Evan and Kevin walked off.  “Sorry Harv.”

Harvey gave Nash a sideways look.  “That would have been more convincing without the laugh.”

*  *  *

“Hey Toby.  How’s the wife and kids?” Nash asked with a smile as he held his cell phone up to his ear.

“Flash Bridges,” Captain Pritcher said as he leaned back from his desk.  “How the hell are ya?” he asked, then interrupted before Nash had a chance to respond.  “No wait a minute, can’t be a social call with you.  You got stuck with the Damsel Murders?”

Nash chuckled at sharp jab from his long time friend.  “Dropped into our lap this morning,” he confirmed.

His chair came forward again with a thump.  “Can’t envy you there buddy.  That’s one ugly case with few clues.  Don’t tell me you’re already looking for help?” he teased.

“Actually, we already have it from one of your men,” Nash volunteered and heard a heavy sigh on the other end.

“Crook,” he said without question.

“What can you tell me about him?” Nash asked.

“He’s a good cop, but a bit of a hero.  Kind of reminds me of you,” he teased.  “He has been absorbed by the Damsel case since day one.  I’m not surprised he turned up there.”

“So you’re saying I should send him packing?”

“Just keep him on a tight leash,” Pritcher assured him.  “You’re just lucky you didn’t get stuck with Crook and his old partner, Cortez.  Now those two could stir up trouble.”

Nash closed his eyes and rubbed the tip of his fingers against his forehead.  When Nash explained that Evan was one of his inspectors, he had to hang up the phone because all he could hear on the other end was hysterical laughter.  “I feel a betting pool coming on,” Nash whispered. 

*  *  *

“I just don’t know how you do it man,” Evan said to Kevin.  “After a year of homicide, I’d had enough.”

“What are you talking about?” Kevin countered, glancing away from the road to see Evan’s face.  “You were the best.  Not a single assignment left unsolved in the fifteen months you were with the department.”  He shook his head in awe.  “I wish I had that kind of record.”

Evan chuckled.  “Not everyone can be as good as me,” he joked, then shook his head.  “Of course, I didn’t land a case like the Damsel murders either,” he said with a more serious tone. 

“If anyone can solve this case, it’s you, Evan.  You and your sidekick,” Kevin added as he reached into the back seat to grab Harvey’s knee.

“Sidekick?” Harvey repeated.  He had been listening to Kevin spouting Evan’s virtues since leaving the SIU.  He was to the point that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to throw up or shoot someone.  “Look here, buckaroo…” Harvey began, but Kevin interrupted.

“We’re here,” he stated as he jammed the car into park then leapt out.

Harvey sat in the back seat for a long moment muttering to himself before getting out.   He had only taken a few steps when he realized the heavy weight of his badge was missing.  “What the hell?” he muttered and looked at the ground behind him.

“What’s wrong?” Kevin asked as he rounded the back of the car.

“My badge.  It’s gone.”

Evan stopped and turned, peering over his sunglasses at his partner.  “Are you sure you had it with you?”

“Like always,” Harvey returned.  “On a chain around my neck.”

“I’ll bet it’s in the back seat.”  Kevin said, leaning into the car to retrieve it as soon as he opened the door.  “Sorry about that.  It isn’t the first time that seat belt has ripped off a badge.”  He gave a crooked smile.  “Among other things.” 

Harvey gave Kevin a curious look as he bounded up the stairs after Evan.  He stared at his badge for just a moment then pulled out the broken chain and slipped his badge into his pocket.

*  *  *

“Are you the guy I need to talk to, to get my property back?”

Nash’s eyebrows shot up as he looked at the woman standing next to his desk.  She was quite attractive with short blond hair.  “What property is that?” he countered.

“My wig?” she said with a sarcastic edge.  “I thought that was why you people drug me down here…because you found my wig.”

“Miss Plimpton?”  Nash said when he realized that she was the woman Harvey had mentioned.

“That’s right.  You got my wig then?”

He rose from his desk and held out his hand to her.  “I’m Nash Bridges.  Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

She sighed heavily.  “What now?” she asked.

Nash decided to take the direct route since she was obviously not happy about being there.  “I need to ask you about the man that attacked you several weeks ago.”  He saw her freeze and the agitation in her face was replaced by an almost child-like innocence.

“Did…did you get him?” she said hesitantly.

Nash gave her a sympathetic smile.  “I’m afraid not,” he said softly.  “But I’m hoping that you can help us by giving us a description.”

She closed her eyes as her assailant’s face flashed before them.  Her stomach was threatening to embarrass her and she swallowed against the acidic taste.  “What was wrong with the other sketch?” she asked then managed to look at Nash once more.

He shook his head slightly.  He had gone over her case file himself not more than half an hour before and there were vague descriptions and no artist rendering whatsoever.   “I’m sorry to have to put you through this again, Miss Plimpton, but it would be a big help.”  Nash made a mental note to put Ronnie on finding the missing sketch.

She quickly swiped away a single tear that had escaped then cleared her throat.  “It’s not like I’ll ever forget the guy’s face,” she returned.

He gave her another encouraging smile.  “Thank you.”

“Nashman?” Joe said as he walked up to his desk and dropped the autopsy folders on his desk.  “Can you spare a minute?”

Nash started to say that he wanted more time to question Miss Plimpton, but one look at Joe’s face was enough to tell him it was of major concern to his friend.  “Ronnie!”  Nash called out to the officer before even looking in his direction.  He knew that he would be close at hand.

“Yes boss?” he responded, walking over quickly.

“Could you take Miss Plimpton back to see Barry?”  Nash turned his attention back to the woman on the other side of his desk.  “He’s the SIU sketch artist.  Ronnie will assist you if you need anything.  Coffee?” he suggested out of hand.

“No I’m fine,” she said softly and went off into the direction that Ronnie indicated.

“Ronnie.”  Nash stopped him before he could get too far.  “Make sure that Miss Plimpton is comfortable and then find out where the original sketch went.  It wasn’t with the case file.”

“I’ll get right on it boss.”

“Now what is…” Nash began as he turned back to Joe, but his friend was no longer at his side.  Nash held his hands wide as he glanced around quickly, just catching sight of Joe walking out to the fantail.  He knew then that something was definitely wrong.

When Nash caught up to Joe at the railing a few moments later, he took a step back when he saw Joe’s expression.  “Uh oh.  Last time I saw that face Inger had you moving  to Sweden.”

“I wish,” Joe said with a hint of his humor showing.

Nash felt his stomach tighten.  “’K.  Now I’m really worried.”  His mind flashed back to the exam he had that morning.  “What’s going on bubba?”

Joe shoved his hands into his pants pockets.  “Dr. Vermeer has scheduled me for a colonoscopy this afternoon,” he said without preamble.

Nash’s brows drew together.  “And?” 

Joe shrugged his shoulders.  “The doc said he found some polyps and needs to remove them.”  He waved it off nervously.

Nash swallowed hard.  Nick had been through the same thing years earlier so he was well aware of what the doctor was suspecting.  “Is that all?” he asked and forced a smile.  “Hell bubba, you had me worried.”

“Thank you,” he returned as he ran a nervous hand over his forehead.  “Inger is acting like I’m going in for open heart surgery or something.”

Nash chuckled.  That was the one thing that he envied Joe.  Inger was always there to pamper him whenever something like that arose.  “She’s your wife.  She’s supposed to worry about  you.”

“You’re practically my wife.  Are you worried?”

“Not at all,” Nash lied then looked out over the bay.  “You’ll be back on your feet in no time,” he said with another forced smile.

“That’s preferable to the position I was in earlier,” he joked and Nash chuckled.  “I put the autopsy reports on your desk,” he informed him.  “But I can take them with me to…”

“Don’t even think about it bubba,” Nash interrupted.  “As it turns out, Evan’s old partner showed up earlier and he has been working the Damsel case from the beginning.”

“Evan’s old partner?” Joe asked in surprise then let out a soft whistle.  “I heard that the two of them were single handedly responsible for the destruction of the Ringling Brother’s big top.”

“What?”

Joe nodded.  “Inger was pissed too man.  It would have been Lucia’s first time at the circus, but all shows were cancelled because the main tent was ripped in half.

“How in the hell did the two of them pull that off?” he asked skeptically.

“I didn’t get the whole story, but it had something to do with one of the clowns being involved in a murder and they tried to arrest him during a rehearsal.  Apparently shots were fired and the elephants got spooked and backed into the support poles…”  He stopped when Nash started to chuckle once more.  “The whole thing was surreal.”

“Joe?” Inger said as she stepped out onto the fantail.  “Oh Joe, there you are,” she added in relief as she hurried to his side.  “You shouldn’t be standing outside like this.  What if you catch cold?”  She wrapped her arm around him protectively then gave him a light peck on the forehead before looking over at Nash.  “Hello Nash.”

“You look lovely today Inger,” Nash returned with a warm smile.  Inger’s expressions were so easy to read and it was obvious that she was beside herself with worry over Joe.

“Joe, we’re going to be late,” Inger continued as she lightly caressed her husband’s shoulder.  She looked back at Nash.  “I hope that you won’t be too short handed Nash,” she said sympathetically.

“As it turns out, we have a guy here on loan to us from Homicide,” Nash assured her. 

“Oh, I’m glad to hear it,” she said with a sigh.  “Joe worries so much about leaving you.”

“Okay, time to go honey,” Joe said, giving his wife a nudge and ignoring the suppressed smile on Nash’s face.  “I’ll give you a call later Nashman.”

“Take it easy bubba,” Nash returned as he shook his friend’s hand.  He tossed the couple a casual wave as they walked off then he turned away to look out over the bay. 

Cancer.

He allowed the thought to enter is mind for exactly two seconds then he shoved it aside.  No matter what happened, he knew that dwelling wouldn’t help and he had a killer to track down. 

When Nash turned to go back inside, he stopped short at the sight of Harvey standing a few feet behind him covered in what looked like refried beans.  “Do I want to know?” he asked, not sure whether to laugh or sympathize.

“Probably not,” Harvey replied.

*  *  *

“Nick?” Nash called out as he walked down the short flight of steps into his loft.  He hesitated for a second to listen then spotted a note near the phone.  He chuckled when he read it then glanced around the expansive room.  It only took a few seconds for him to zero in on the guitar tucked back in the corner and he hurried over to retrieve it.  Joe had already called twice begging for his beloved instrument. 

“Hi Daddy,” Cassidy said in a singsong voice as she entered her father’s apartment.

“Hi Daughter,” Nash returned with a surprised note.  “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I’m here to see Grandpa, actually.  I have to write an autobiography for acting class and I was hoping to go through some of Grandpa’s pictures to try to jog my memory.”  She leaned in to give him a quick kiss.  “What’s with the guitar?” she asked then looked up again with beseeching eyes.  “Please don’t tell me that Joe is trying to give you lessons again.”

Nash gave her a sour look.  “I’m not quite sure how to take that.”

Cassidy smiled when she realized how that sounded.  “It’s not that.  I had just hoped to get in some study time and Joe tends to fill up the entire apartment when he’s here.”

Nash smiled at the image that popped into his head of Joe staying with them when Inger threw him out.  Joe would play that guitar and sing late into the night, filling the apartment with whatever woman-bashing-carefree-bachelor song he was compelled to sing at any given moment. 

Nash’s grip grew tighter on the neck of the guitar as he hoped for many more sleepless nights.  “No, I’m just taking it over to Joe.  Inger is hovering over him and I think he’s hoping that the guitar will chase her off.  So what is it that you need to know?  Plays?  Recitals?  Birthdays?” he asked to change the subject.  “You’ve got my personal secretary at your service,” he said teasingly as he tapped the side of his head to remind her of his photographic memory.

She gave him a smile.  “Thanks Daddy, but I’m trying to jog my memory, not yours.  Besides, you know how Nick loves to go through those old photos and I haven’t had the chance to spend any time with him this week.”

He wasn’t about to argue with her on that point.  Nick always loved having Cassidy around.  “He should be back in a couple of hours.  He just went down to the hospital to see Warren.”

“Warren Beckman?” she asked in surprise.  “Isn’t he the guy that’s always goading Grandpa?”

“One and the same,” Nash returned.  “He had a stroke and wasn’t expected to make it, so Nick went down to see him.  The nurses ended up throwing him out because Nick and Warren were arguing, but the doctor was so surprised by Warren’s sudden improvement that he asked Nick to come in to visit as often as he could.”  He chuckled along with Cassidy as he waved off the insanity of the idea.

“That sounds like something that can only happen to Grandpa,” she mused with a smile.

“That’s my dad,” he returned.  “So how’s school?”

She gave him a sideways look.  “Don’t you mean ‘have you seen any stalkers lately’?” she asked in a mocking tone.  She wasn’t one to fall for her father’s leading questions.

“Look Cassidy...”

“Dad,” she interrupted.  “I know how to take care of myself.  I don’t go out at night unless I’m with someone and, with this autobiography due next week, I’m going to be burrowed in my room.”

“I’m sure that all of those women who were murdered thought that they could take care of themselves as well.”

“I don’t even live alone,” she pointed out.  She hated the fact that her father continued to treat her like a child.  “Miranda is there and…”  Her face lit up.  “Then again, if you insist on a bodyguard, I’m sure that Evan...”

“Stop right there,” he warned.  “You’re already getting him for the frat party and I want you to keep in mind that Evan has a job to do.”  When Cassidy rolled her eyes, he decided to be straight forward with her.  “The sooner we find this guy, the better and you can help by making sure that Evan talks to the right people.”

He wanted to say more, but his cell phone started to ring and he quickly pulled it out of his vest pocket.  “Nash.”

“We’ve got a problem,” Harvey said without preamble.  “Our witness decided to try to calm her nerves when she went to the bathroom and nearly ODed.”

“Son of a bitch,” he whispered.  “I’m on my way,” Nash returned and flipped his cell phone closed.  “Do you need a ride somewhere?” he asked Cassidy. 

“I’m just going to hang out here and wait for Nick if that’s okay,” she returned.  “I’ve got to study for a chemistry exam tomorrow that I’m totally unprepared for.”

“There are leftovers in the kitchen if you’re hungry,” he told her as he leaned in for a quick kiss before hurrying out of the loft.

*  *  *

“What happened?” Nash asked as he walked into the SIU and Harvey fell into stride beside him. 

“Barry called me over after Miss Plimpton came back from the bathroom.  Everything seemed fine at first then Barry recognized the face that he was sketching.”  He handed Nash the sketch.  It was an unmistakable rendering of Evan. 

Nash stopped next to his desk and sighed.  “You sure it’s not a coincidence?”

Harvey gave him a sideways look.  “I noticed her staring at Evan while she was working with Barry.  That’s when Barry told me what he suspected and I called you.”

“Do you know what she took?”

“I found a prescription of Wellbutrin in her purse.  It’s mainly used to treat depression, but can cause hallucinations when taken in large doses.”  He handed over the empty pill bottle.  “There’s no telling how many were left, but she ended up kneeling in front of the porcelain throne a few minutes later.”

“Did someone take her to the hospital?”

Harvey nodded.  “The doctors say she’s going to be fine.”  Harvey tugged at his ear then leaned a little closer to Nash.  “I don’t know how good her testimony will be when we catch this guy though,” he whispered.  “She’s been seeing a shrink since the attack and even had to be put on suicide watch for several days.”

“So they put her on a hallucinogen?” he asked in surprise.

Harvey shook his head.  “Gotta love the system,” he returned sarcastically.

“This just gets better and better,” he said in frustration.

*  *  *

“Nash, I am so sorry to bother you at work, but I can’t think right now.  I know you’re working on an important case, but I didn’t know who else to call.”

Nash could tell by the sound of her voice that she had been crying.  “It’s okay Inger,” he returned in a soothing voice.  “What’s wrong?  Is Joe okay?”

“He’s not waking up Nash,” she choked out then burst into tears.

“What?”  Nash could feel his heart drop.  “Tell me what happened.”

“The doctor said that there was more blood than they expected during the surgery,” she said with a wavering voice.  “They said that it was nothing to be concerned about, but he should be awake by now and he’s not.  Oh Nash, I’m scared.”

“I’m sure that everything is going to be fine,” he said reassuringly.  “I’ll tell you what.  I’ve got Joe’s guitar in the Cuda.  I’ll be right over and we can talk to the doctors together.”

“Thank you Nash,” she breathed. 

“I’ve got those updates you wanted,” Harvey announced just as Nash was hanging up the phone.

“Uh…”  Nash thought for a moment as he glanced around his desk.  All of the assignments had been given out.  Evan and Kevin were canvassing the neighborhood where Star Sutton lived and Harvey had just managed to finish his assignment.  “Ride with me,” he decided.  “You can update me on the way to see Joe.”

“Everything okay?” Harvey asked with concern.

Nash tried to wave it off as they started out of the SIU.  “I’m sure it is, but Inger is feeling a little scared.”

It didn’t take long for Harvey to update Nash.  The details in the case were limited.   “Cobain is just too sloppy to be our guy,” he concluded.

“I think you’re right on that one,” Nash agreed.  “The guy we’re looking for is far too careful.  Have you found any connection with the victims?”

“The only thing even remotely similar is their looks.  Tall, thin with long dark hair.  No schooling, working or socializing.”

“Maybe we’re looking at this the wrong way,” Nash suggested.  “See what kinds of people come in contact with the various women during the day.  Customers, coworkers, janitorial staff, the works.”

Harvey’s eyebrows rose.  “That’s a tall order boss.  Want me to get on that tonight?”

Nash waved it off.  “No that can wait until morning.  Still no leads on Speaks?”

“Not yet and we’ve had the unis rousting the flop houses all afternoon.”

Nash sighed heavily as he tugged at his lower lip.  “I don’t know why, but I still have the feeling that we’re missing something.”  He glanced over at Harvey.  “Does Speaks have a history with crimes against women?”

“He’s the original mama’s boy,” Harvey returned.  “The kind of guy that the neighbors always say ‘he was so quiet’ when the reporters talk to them after he’s arrested for something just like this.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Nash returned.  Something still didn’t settle right with him.  “So what do you make of Kevin?” Nash asked Harvey as they cruised.

Harvey shook his head.  “That guy has a serious case of hero worship where Evan is concerned.”

Nash shot him a look.  “That can’t be good.”

Harvey would have laughed if he hadn’t been on the receiving end of the duo’s chili fiasco.  “I’m telling you, Nash, Gandhi wouldn’t have enough patience for those too.”

Nash chuckled.  “What did happen to you earlier?”

Harvey sighed.  “Let’s just say that Speaks mom wasn’t that happy to see us.”  He cast Nash a pained look.  “Apparently Kevin has a history with Mrs. Speaks and she doesn’t seem to like him very much.  We weren’t there two minutes when she started throwing full pots.”  His throat rumbled in a low growl.  “Just my luck it was chili day in the cafeteria where Speaks’ mom works.”

Nash tried to contain his chuckle.  “So what’s the deal between Crook and Speaks mom?”

Harvey opened his mouth then hesitated for a second.  “Crook says it’s because he has arrested Raymond on several occasions.”

He shot Harvey another look when there was another long pause.  “But?” he urged.

“I don’t know Nash.”  He shook his head.  “Something about that guy just rubs me the wrong way.  I mean, his idolization of Evan is creepy enough that it makes me wonder exactly what has gone on between Kevin and Raymond Speaks.”  He rubbed at his ear.  “Maybe it’s just the case wearing him thin, but he’s like a raw nerve.”  He thought about it for a few more seconds.  “There was some serious animosity in that kitchen today.”

“How are Evan and Kevin getting along?”

“Great!  Great,” he said enthusiastically then growled.  “Evan is totally blinded by the adulation.”  He shook his head as he recalled the ceaseless praise during the two hours he was with them that day.  “It’s like listening to the same song over and over again until you just want to shoot somebody.”

Nash chuckled at the agitation in Harvey’s voice.  It was rare to see him so disjointed.  “Are you sure you’re not just feeling a little left out?” he asked then shot Harvey another look.  “You and Evan have been together for a couple of years now and this is the first time that someone else has clicked so well with him.

“I don’t know Nash,” Harvey admitted as he rolled his head.  “It’s possible, I suppose.  About as possible as Saddam Hussein simply being misunderstood.”

Nash chuckled at the analogy then pressed the accelerator.

*  *  *

“Oh Nash,” Inger cooed as she met him and Harvey in the hallway outside Joe’s room.  “You are so sweet for coming and bringing Joe’s guitar too.”  She lightly rubbed his shoulder then leaned in for a quick peck.  “You are such a good friend.  And Harvey,” she added, giving him a smile.  “Thank you for coming.”

“How’s Joe doing?” Harvey asked softly as he took her proffered hand and gave it a squeeze.

“He’s awake,” she said with tears in her eyes and a smile that she simply couldn’t remove.  “He’s going to be all right.”

Nash smiled broadly.  “That’s great news Inger.  Can I go in and see him?”

“Of course Nash.  Go right in,” she insisted.

Nash crept into the room and saw Joe lying on his side with his back to the door.  He hesitated for a moment not wanting to disturb him then glanced down at the guitar.  He spotted an empty chair in the corner on the other side of the bed and silently made his way over to put the guitar aside.

“Oh thank God,” Joe whispered as he opened his eyes.  “I thought you were the nurse again.”

Nash smiled down at his friend as he stepped over to the bed.  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Like I’ve been deflowered in a way I never planned on,” he joked as he shifted into a more comfortable position.

Nash’s smile broadened.  “You had Inger a little worried when you didn’t come around right away.”

Joe sighed wearily.  “I figured that when I woke up to her praying over me in Swedish.”

Nash chuckled.  “You’ve got one hell of a woman there bubba.”

“Don’t I know it.”  He glanced over to the door then back at Nash.  “She’s already talking sponge baths and massages,” he confided. 

“Swedish?” he teased.

“Is there any other kind?” he returned.  “I’m wondering how long I can milk it.”

*  *  *

Nash walked out a few minutes later and Inger said a quick goodbye before disappearing into Joe’s room.  Nash gave Harvey a long look.  “Do I want to know?” he asked tentatively.  It was obvious that Harvey had gotten some news while he was talking with Joe.

Harvey took a couple of steps closer as he slipped his cell phone back into his jacket pocket.  “We found Raymond Speaks,” he began.  “He ODed.  The coroner will have a full report for you by morning.”

Nash rubbed at his forehead to try to ease the tension headache that had settled in.  Having their number one suspect turn up dead was hardly good news.

“So what are we supposed to do now?” Harvey asked.  “Wait for this guy to strike again so we’ll know it wasn’t Speaks?”

Nash was getting tired of all of the brick walls that they were running into with the case. “If Speaks isn’t the Damsel murderer, then all the real killer has to do is stop.”  He let that statement hang in the air for several seconds.  “That’s why the Zodiac killer was never caught.” 

*  *  *

“Hi Daddy,” Cassidy chimed as she bounced to a stop.

“Hey Daughter,” he returned as he dropped the file he had been running through onto his desk.  “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” he asked as he checked his watch.  It was only then that he realized that he had worked straight through lunch.  The nagging voice inside that instinctively knew something was out of whack kept him searching for the missing piece of the puzzle.

“We’ve got twenty minutes to get there,” she said a little breathlessly.  “Jennifer is waiting for me out in the car.  I wanted to drop off a picture that I borrowed from Grandpa.  I lost the picture of me and Evan after my last play, but luckily Nick had a copy.  He let me borrow it to get a new one made and I just picked it up at the one hour photo.”  She handed over the film envelope with the original picture tucked inside.  “I don’t have time to run over the apartment, would you mind giving it to Nick for me?  Thanks Daddy.”  She didn’t even wait for a reply as she leaned in to give him a peck.  “I’ve got a chemistry exam that I’m running late for,” she explained as she started walking away.  “Wish me luck.”

Nash held his hands open wide.  His daughter had become a whirlwind in his life.  “Good luck!” he returned then tucked the small envelope into his jacket pocket.

Harvey chose that moment to drop a large file onto Nash’s desk.  “232 pages of students, prosecutors, felons, business men, waitresses, florists, accountants, window washers, janitorial staff, suppliers etcetera and I’ve got nothing.”

Nash rubbed a hand across his face.  Starting over from scratch on the Damsel murders had been wearing on everyone’s nerves all day.  Eyewitness reports from weeks before were being double checked and the loss of the prime suspect had some of his superiors pressing Nash to close the case one way or another.  “What’s the word on Carol Plimpton?”

“She’s supposed to be released from County tomorrow morning, but they’re concerned about her mental status.”  He roughly ran his fingers through is disheveled hair.  “They may have to put her back on suicide watch.”

Nash shook his head.  “I feel like we’re running around in circles.”  He glanced around at the files scattered over his desk.  “Do we have Speaks personal affects yet?” he asked.  The coroner’s report had arrived late that morning, but they were still waiting on the rest of the evidence.

Harvey gave Nash a sly smile.  “I got tired of the intern giving me the run around and sent Ronnie over to see him.  He called a few minutes ago and said he has everything boxed up.  He’s on his way back now.”

“Ronnie certainly has a way with words, doesn’t he?”

*  *  *

“Okay,” Nash said as he dumped out the personal belongings of Raymond Speaks onto the scarred conference table.  “Let’s see if Raymond can give us any help.”

Harvey searched the pungent clothes quickly, turning out pockets and pulling at seams to be certain that everything was out on the table.  Raymond’s packrat ways gave them a large assortment of items to go through.  Nash picked up the small tattered denim backpack and emptied the contents onto the table as well.

“Oh great,” Harvey moaned as he picked up an oily hamburger wrapper.  “I guess this guy never heard of recycling.”

“A cell phone?” Nash said with surprise as he held it up between two fingers and peeled away the used tissue attached to it.  He put the phone back onto the table then pressed at the buttons with the tip of his pen.  “Battery’s probably dead,” he decided when nothing came up.  “Spray that down later, Harv, and see who Mr. Speaks has been talking to.  Or even if he had service to begin with.”

“Hey, take a look at this,” Harvey said as he smoothed out a crumpled paper.  “Raymond Speaks checked into the Urban Valley Rehab Clinic on the day that Star Sutton was attacked.”

Nash took the pale yellow copy of the entrance form for the clinic and scanned it quickly.  “I can’t make out the time up here.”  He held up the paper for Harvey’s benefit, but he shook his head.

“It’s too smudged,” he returned then started digging through the box to see if there were any other receipts.

Nash stared at the faded copy for a long moment.  “Where’s Evan and Kevin?”

“Uh.”  Harvey checked his watch.  “They should be meeting up with Cassidy in the next half hour or so.”

Nash tugged at his lip.  Something in his gut told him that he needed to follow up the lead.  “The clinic is on the other side of town,” he mumbled to himself.  “Since it’s the only lead we have at the moment,” he said more clearly, “we’d better check it out.”

*  *  *

Harvey tapped his fingers restlessly against the receptionist’s desk.  “I understand that you can’t release the information, but I’m not asking for anything personal.  All I need to know is if Raymond Speaks was here that night.”

“I’m sorry Inspector, but I just…”

“What’s the hold up Harv?” Nash asked as he walked into the rehab clinic.

“Just a small matter of confidentiality,” Harvey said as sweetly as he could muster. 

Nash stepped up to the desk and gave the receptionist his best smile.  “Hi.  I’m Nash Bridges with the SFPD.”  He held up his badge for her.  “We completely understand the need to protect a person’s privacy…” 

Nash caught a glimpse of the National Enquirer haphazardly covered on her desk and decided on a change of tactic.  He glanced around quickly.  “I shouldn’t be telling you this,” he said softly as he leaned conspiratorially closer.  “We’re working on an undercover operation,” he confided, then glanced around nervously. 

He hadn’t missed the sudden interest in her eyes or the secretive glances that she darted around the room as well.  “We think that Mr. Speaks is a part of a conspiracy to take over the Home Shopping Network.  Now, we’re not sure, but his whereabouts on the 18th is crucial to solving the case.” 

Harvey was quick to agree when Nash hesitated a moment.  “That’s right.”  His mind whirled to think of anything that he had seen on the home shopping clubs.  “He may be dealing in…stolen…caftans.” 

“Stole…” Nash started in disbelief at Harvey’s choice of contraband then quickly went along with it when the receptionist gasped.  “That’s right.”  He nodded solemnly as he wondered how anyone could possibly believe that story. 

“They sell those all the time on HSN!” she exclaimed and they signaled her to lower her voice as they glanced around one last time.  “That explains the way you’re dressed,” she concluded as she looked at Harvey.

Harvey was stunned into silence for a long moment then he glanced down at himself.  “Again with the clothes?”

“Raymond Speaks on the 18th,” Nash reminded her as she flipped open the date book.

“He signed himself in at 6:25 pm,” she informed him.  “Then his brother signed him out at 11:45 that same night.”

Harvey felt his stomach flip over.  “His brother?”  She looked at the notation again and nodded, unaware that Raymond was an only child. 

“Do you have a signature?” Nash asked hopefully as he leaned over the counter.

She looked at it again curiously.  “There should be one,” she said, but the page was blank.  She thought for a moment then remembered one of the other nurses talking about a relative taking one of the patients late at night.  “That must have been who Mrs. Fisher was talking about,” she said in hindsight.  “There’s a nurse on the third floor that you need to talk to.  She was here the other night when Mr. Speaks was here.”

Nash gave her another of his winning smiles.  “Thank you Patty.  You may have just saved thousands of loudly colored muumuus from reaching the black market.”  Nash shot Harvey a look when Patty sighed at his compliment.

“Do you wear a special cologne or something man?” Harvey asked as they walked toward the elevators.

“It’s in the blood bubba,” he returned.  “Pure animal magnetism.”

“You may want to consider bottling that,” he suggested.  “Maybe Joe can help you with a franchise.”

*  *  *

A few minutes later they were talking with the nurse who was on duty the 18th.  “The entire thing was strange,” she explained, her voice conveying the doubt she still felt.  “It was almost like he had something on the administrator.”

“Why do you say that?” Nash prompted. 

“Mr. Thomas is not a pleasant man even on his best days,” she explained.  “I’ve been working here three years and I’ve never seen him let a patient go in the middle of the night like that.  I thought that I would fall out of my chair when Mr. Thomas wished them a good night and thanked them for coming in.”

“A little out of character?” Harvey asked.

“I’ll say.”  She put her hands on her hips and shook her head.  “No one on staff believed me when I told them.”

“I’m just a little bit confused about something,” Nash admitted.  “Don’t you require a signature when you release someone?”

“We usually do, but the man was a police officer.”  She drew in a sharp breath.  “That must be it,” she concluded.  She quickly walked over to close the waiting room door so that she wouldn’t be overheard by the attending nurses.  “About a month ago rumors started flying around that Mr. Thomas had been caught in a…”  Her eyes darted between both of them.  “Well, let’s just say a compromising position.  One that he wouldn’t want his wife finding out about,” she hinted.  “Rumor has it that he was never charged because he worked out some sort of deal with a cop.”  She straightened and folded her arms over her ample bosom.  “I just brushed it off as idle gossip, but it would certainly explain the sudden change of attitude from Mr. Thomas.

“You’re sure he was a cop?” Harvey asked as his heart started to beat heavily.  He didn’t like where that conversation was heading.

“I saw the badge myself,” she returned, then sighed.  “Can’t say that I’m surprised you’re here.  I knew there was something fishy about the entire situation.  It’s the middle of winter in San Francisco and I’ve seen more than enough burns in my time to know that wasn’t a sun burn.”

“He was setting Speaks up,” Harvey whispered as pieces suddenly started falling into place.

Nash held Harvey’s gaze.  “Did he see Carol Plimpton?” he asked, wondering if that could have caused her sudden overdose.

Harvey’s eyes danced as he searched his memory.  “I’m not sure, but I overheard Evan talking to him about it later as they were going over the case file.  He knows that she can identify him.”

Nash and Harvey immediately started heading for the exit.  “He’s been manipulating the evidence from the beginning.  Get on the phone, Harv,” Nash ordered.  “Get some unis over to the hospital for Carol Plimpton and make sure that there is someone with Star Sutton.”

“Already on it,” Harvey returned, his cell phone pressed against his ear.

*  *  *

“I knew there was something wrong with that guy,” Harvey said as he shook his head and punched at his cell phone numbers once more.  “When he came in yesterday, he said that he had gotten the burn from a tanning bed,” Harvey explained as he cut off his cell, then dialed again.  “He said he hurt his back, but he leaned into the car to get my badge without a problem.  You can’t do that with a pulled muscle.  Damn it,” he muttered.  “Evan’s not picking up.”

“Try Cassidy’s,” Nash instructed as he handed over his own cell so that Harvey could use the stored number.

“I’m sorry Nash,” Harvey said with a shake of his head as he quickly pulled up the number.  “I should have known.”

“Don’t blame yourself bubba,” Nash returned.  “He had us all fooled.”

“Cassidy’s phone is turned off,” he stated as he handed the cell phone back to Nash.  “Damn it!”

“Call Ronnie back and make sure he’s on the way,” Nash instructed.

Harvey had to hold his hand over his ear to hear Ronnie on the other end.  “They’re ten minutes out,” he reported.  “Ronnie said that campus security is already on site.”

Nash held out his hand and Harvey immediately gave him the phone.  “Ronnie.  Tell campus security that they are to watch the house.  No one is to go inside until you’re there.”  Nash flipped the cell phone closed and handed it back to Harvey.

“We’re not going to the campus?” Harvey asked.

“Kevin took the shift watching Carol Plimpton’s room tonight,” Nash informed him.   

Harvey thought about the entire situation for a long moment.  “I don’t get it Nash.  Why would Kevin do it and what was with the whole Damsel thing?”

Nash locked onto the last part of Harvey’s question, his mind quickly filtering through all of the tidbits of information.  A moment later, he dug into his jacket pocket and practically ripped off the envelope to get to the picture inside.  His jaw clenched as he handed the photo over to Harvey.

“Oh my god,” he breathed as he stared down at a picture of Evan and Cassidy.  She was dressed in a period costume that mirrored the outfit of the doll found on the site of the first murder. 

With a screech of tires, Nash changed directions.  “Call Ronnie and tell him we’re on our way.”

*  *  *

“Miranda!” Evan called out to Cassidy’s roommate.  She was barely fifteen feet away, but the crush of the partying students and the blare of the stereo kept him from being heard or seen. 

Evan kept pushing until he got to Miranda’s side then grasped her elbow to get her attention.  “Have you seen Cassidy?”

“What am I my roommate’s keeper now?” she asked sarcastically.

“Cut me a little slack Miranda.  Have you seen her?”

She rolled her eyes at him.  “One of the guys asked to borrow her chemistry notes and she went back to the dorm to get them.”  She started to turn away, but Evan tugged at her arm.

“Was she alone?”

She let out a burst of air.  “As if.”  She couldn’t believe how blind Evan was.  Cassidy was never alone.  “That cop friend of yours went with her.”

“Kevin?” he asked skeptically.  Kevin had gone half an hour before to take a shift at the hospital.

“Yeah,” she said in disgust then turned back to her friends.

“Great.  Thanks.”  Evan started walking out of the frat house as he dug in his jacket pockets to find his cell phone.  He stopped on the front steps when a quick pat-down didn’t reveal his phone.  He looked back into the house and groaned.  “Oh man.  If I dropped it in there…”

“Hey,” a young jock said as he punched Evan in the arm lightly.  “Some guy down there says he needs to talk to you.”

Evan looked in the direction that the student indicated and just caught a glimpse of someone before he stepped into the shadows.  When Evan turned back to the student, he had disappeared as well.  That left him with the choice of trying to find his phone or checking out the mystery man.  Smoothing a hand over his perfectly styled hair, he chose the latter and walked out into the street.

As Evan rounded the corner of the neighboring building, he stopped short at the sight of several squad cars and Ronnie leading the pack.  “What’s going on?”

“Have you talked to Nash?” Ronnie asked instead of answering.

“No, not recently,” he admitted.  “I’ve dropped my cell phone somewhere.”

Ronnie stood silent and brooding for a long moment.  He didn’t want to be the one to tell Evan, but Cassidy’s life was at stake.  “Evan, I don’t know how to say this, but Kevin Crook is the Damsel murderer.”

“What?” Evan returned in shock then started laughing.  “Yeah, that’s a good one Ronnie.  Nice try, but I’m not falling for it.”  When Ronnie’s face remained a stony mask, Evan could hear his heart pounding in his chest.  “He’s with Cassidy walking back to the dorm.”

*  *  *

Kevin discreetly slipped Evan’s cell phone with its battery pack out into the trash bin as he walked with Cassidy.  She stopped and smiled at him as she waited a few feet away.  The light hit her face just right and it lit up.  An angel, he thought.

“Thanks for walking with me,” Cassidy said as he fell into step next to her once more.  “The dorm grounds can get a little creepy at night.”

“I guess that makes me your knight in shining armor,” he stated.

Cassidy giggled.  “Yeah, I guess it does.”

“Are you cold?” he asked courteously, slipping off his jacket before she could even reply.

She smiled a little shyly when his arm lingered around her shoulders a bit too long.  “Thanks.”  She shrugged her shoulders as if trying to fit the jacket more snuggly and his arm moved.  “I guess I’d better get a sweater while I’m in the room,” she said nervously.  She wasn’t naïve enough to miss his flirting.  “So how long have you and Evan known each other?” she asked hoping to press home the point that her boyfriend was supposed to be his friend as well.

“We go back a long way,” he replied as he shifted the weight of the holster at his back by tugging on his belt.  “He was the one that trained me when I joined homicide.”  He glanced around at the deserted street.  “Hey listen.”  He checked his watch then continued to look around.  “I really have to get over to the hospital.  Is there a shortcut we can use?”

Cassidy stopped as she stared down the dark walkway through the woods.  She knew that the path would get her to her dorm room in half the time, but she suddenly didn’t feel quite as safe with Kevin.  “You know what?  It’s okay if you have to go.  I’ll be fine by myself.”

“Don’t be silly,” he returned with a smile.  “What kind of friend would I be if I let my partner’s girlfriend wander off into the night by herself?”

“Ex-partner,” she corrected him then wished she hadn’t.  There was a flash of something in his eyes that alarmed her.

“Yeah right,” he said softly as his smile went cold.  “Leek.”  He nodded his head then chuckled without mirth.  “That guy doesn’t have a clue.  Evan has been carrying him for years.”

Cassidy tried to increase her distance from him.  “Maybe we should just go back to the party,” she suggested.  When she heard Evan calling out her name, her heart bounced into her throat.  “Evan’s looking for us,” she said and smiled nervously, still backing away.

“Why don’t we…” he started as he reached out for the sleeves of his jacket, but Cassidy bolted.

Kevin raced after her as she headed for the nearest building through the darkened woods.  He could hear her heaving breathing as she stayed just out of his reach.  She wasn’t even looking back.  She knew he was there.  She knew what he was going to do.  Just as Cassidy started to call out Evan’s name, Kevin lunged at her.  His arms wrapped around her legs and she dropped face first onto the hard sod.

“You’re just like them,” Kevin bit out as he crawled up the length of her body, never losing his grip.  “I thought you’d be different, but you’re just like them.”

Cassidy was dazed as he yanked her to her feet.  He shoved her back harshly against the trunk of a tree then pressed his body against hers to hold her still.  He grabbed her long braided hair and wrapped it around her throat, yanking her head sideways as he pulled it taut. 

Evan threw the full force of his body against Kevin and took all three of them to the ground.  He didn’t even have the chance to see if Cassidy was all right before Kevin landed a blow against his jaw.  It felt like his teeth were exploding inside of his mouth and he was momentarily stunned.  He recovered just in time to see Kevin coming in for a second shot with a stone in his hand.

Evan deflected the second strike with his forearm and took the opportunity to smash his elbow into Kevin’s nose.  “What in the hell are you doing man?” Evan yelled.  He still couldn’t believe that his friend, the man that he had trained, the man that he had been partnered with for over a year could be the Damsel murderer.  One look at Cassidy’s lifeless body on the ground a few feet away drove the point home.

Kevin landed another blow against the side of Evan’s head the second he glanced away.  It gave him just enough time to roll to his feet and unholster his weapon.

Evan stared up at him as he raised his hands.  Staring down the barrel of a gun was not his favorite position to be in.  “What happened to you man?” Evan asked softly.

Kevin chuckled nervously as he wiped away the blood from under his nose with the back of his hand.  “Not everyone gets things handed to him on a silver platter,” he replied and felt the anger churning inside.  “I’ve worked for three years to try to prove myself.  Three years of busting my hump to prove that I was good enough, but it never was enough.”  His voice rose with each passing word.  “Hell, if I had known that banging the boss’s daughter would get me everything that I wanted, I would have done it a long time ago.”

Evan instinctively started for Kevin, but froze when he heard the click of the hammer being drawn back on his gun.  Kevin’s smile became twisted as the tip of his tongue darted out to taste his own blood.  “I guess we can see now who the better man is.”

Evan jumped at the sound of the gunshot, his breath catching in his throat as he waited for the pain, but a second later it was Kevin who landed on the ground with a thump.  Before he could even register what was happening, Harvey was grabbing Kevin’s gun and Evan looked up to see Nash standing several yards away with his pistol still poised for the shot.

“He’s still alive,” Harvey announced as Nash hurried over to Cassidy’s side.  “You okay partner?” he asked Evan.

“I’m fine,” Evan returned gruffly and struggled to get to Cassidy.

“Come on baby girl,” Nash said softly as he cradled his daughter in his arms.  He could feel her pulse strong at her carotid, but he needed to hear her voice.  “Cassidy.”  He said with more authority.

“Daddy,” she whispered.

“Oh thank god,” Nash whispered as he gathered her close.  “You’re going to be okay baby.”

As soon as Evan knew that Cassidy was all right, he turned to confront Kevin.  The bullet had hit him in the shoulder and, although he was bleeding, Kevin rallied quickly and started to struggle.

Harvey saw the look in Evan’s eyes before he even started to move so he was easily able to stop Evan from reaching Kevin.  “What in the hell is wrong with you man?” he yelled over Harvey’s shoulder.

Kevin soft laugh was almost childlike then he started to sing.  Evan’s brows drew together then he turned to look back at Cassidy.  “Is he singing what I think he’s singing?”

Cassidy leaned closer to her father subconsciously at the eerie quality of the song through the woods.  “That’s from the play,” she confirmed.  “The one the villain sings to justify killing the heroine.”

Harvey slowly released Evan when he stopped struggling.  Evan was more confused than ever when he saw Kevin’s features mimicking that of the college student in the villain’s role.  When had Kevin slipped over the edge and why hadn’t he noticed?

*  *  *

“Ronnie showed Carol Plimpton a six pack,” Harvey said quietly to Evan and Nash.  They were the only ones left at the SIU at that late hour.  “She positively identified Kevin Crook as her attacker.”

Evan harshly ran his hand over his face.  He still couldn’t believe it.  “Okay, so why Speaks?” he asked, hoping to understand how someone he thought he knew so well could be such a complete stranger.

“A needle freak who can’t account for his time,” Nash suggested.  He was fairly certain that they would find that was the case once all of the details are uncovered.  “He needed a suspect so he created one.” 

“It blew a major hole in his plans when Speaks decided to check himself into treatment two hours prior to the attack on Star Sutton,” Harvey added.

Nash nodded.  “Only made matters worse when the case was passed off to us.  He wasn’t able to control the information any longer.”

“Do you think he took out Speaks too?”

Nash and Harvey exchanged a quick glance.  They knew that Evan was blaming himself to some degree.  “We’ll never know for certain,” Nash said as he signed his name for the final time on the reports and closed the file.

“Are you heading home?” Harvey asked when Nash stood and slipped on his jacket.  “Thought you might want to come out for a beer with me and Ev.  I’m buying.”

“Actually, I’ve got a couple of stops to make.”  Nash smiled when Harvey checked his watch, but he didn’t elaborate.

*  *  *

Joe’s slippers shushed softly against the floor as he made his way to the door.  He never would have heard the light tapping if he had actually been asleep.  Even though he made light of it, he was dwelling on the test results from the colonoscopy and couldn’t sleep.  He actually welcomed the distraction even though it was probably his next door neighbor complaining about his living room light shining into his bedroom again.  “Nash?” he said softly in surprise when he opened the door.

“I figured you would be up,” Nash returned and held up a bottle of Joe’s favorite wine.

“Hey!  All right.”  He nodded his approval as he moved back to let his friend enter.  “Where did you find this?” he asked curiously as they headed for the kitchen for glasses.  “The guy I buy from has been out for weeks.”

“A friend owed me a favor,” he returned elusively.  “I figured you would still be up…waiting for an update on the case.”  Nash and Joe exchanged a knowing glance.  Nash was worried as well, but neither wanted to think about the pending results of the biopsy. 

“Yeah, I heard about what happened to Harvey.”  His grin was comical as he gave a quiet “hehehe” in response.  “So what did Evan and Kevin do now?”

Nash’s eyebrows shot up.  “Your sources must be slipping Joe,” he teased then filled him in on the unexpected conclusion of the case.  It was exactly what they both needed to keep their mind off of things out of their control.

*  *  *

Nash looked up from his desk just in time to see Joe strolling into the SIU.  His hands were buried deep in his pockets and he had a grin on his face that practically obscured his other features in its size.  “Uh oh,” Nash said warily.  “Last time I saw that look on your face you had just come up with a get-rich-quick scheme that netted you that gay bar.”

“You’re looking at a man with a clean bill of health,” Joe said as he held his hands open wide.

“That’s great news bubba!” he returned.

“Oh it gets even better,” Joe beamed.  “Remember the salsa that my family bilked me out of?”

“I wish I could forget,” Nash returned.  “I still have nightmares about that commercial.”

“Well I just found out that it was the salsa that caused those enlarged polyps so I’m suing the company for half a mill.”

Nash’s mouth dropped open at the thought.  “Wait a minute.  Since you are part owner in the company, albeit a small part thanks to your cousin wouldn’t you effectively be suing yourself?”

“That’s the beauty of it,” Joe continued.  “Because my percentage is so small, the majority of the money will be coming out of my family’s share.”  He gingerly straightened up his silk tie.  “Now who gets the last laugh?” he said as he strutted off.

*  *  *
Ties That Bind
By Kathy Ritchie
Author