C1Kay

Pressing his back to the wall, Nash felt Joe's presence right beside him. Plastered to the wall on the opposite side of the door were Evan and Harvey. Nash put his finger to his lips to warn the others to be silent, although he knew they would take every precaution. Old habits died hard. He motioned for Harvey to stand in front of the door, held up a hand and began to count off silently with his fingers. One, two, three!

Swinging his foot up and out, Harvey kicked in the door and immediately ducked in case Trevor had been lying in wait. The door swung open and slammed against the inside wall, but there fugitive was nowhere to be seen. Nash slipped through the door and quickly stepped to the side. Pausing a moment to let his eyes adjust to the darkness, he motioned for the others to follow.

Once inside, they could all see that this building had been abandoned for many years. Debris and plaster from the walls and ceiling littered the floor. They split up to search the first floor, but came up empty. Meeting back near the door, they shared a look of frustration. Nash shook his head in disgust and whispered to the others the plan for catching Trevor.

"Okay, look, I'll search the second floor. Joe, you take the third. Evan, you have the roof and Harvey, you have the basement. Look sharp and be careful. Getting your selves shot would seriously tick me off. There's way too much paperwork involved in that."

Chuckling quietly, the group broke up. Nash and Joe headed for the west stairwell, while the other two took the east. Harvey caught Evan's arm as they headed for the stairs. "Hey, be careful up there, Evan."

"You know I will, Harv. You watch out for spiders down there." Evan chuckled evilly, knowing his partner's aversion to arachnids.

"Ha, ha. Very funny, Ev. Leave it to Nash to give the basement to the guy with claustrophobia." Falling silent once more, Harvey made his way carefully down the stairs. He could hear the creak of the steps as his partner made his way up toward the roof. Pulling a mini flashlight from his pocket, Harvey said a silent prayer for his friends searching the building above him.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

As he reached the bottom step he could hear the sound of water dripping and smell the musty scent of mildew. He wondered how he had let his boss talk him into taking the basement knowing his fear of closed in places and creepy crawly things that lurk in places like this.

His mind went back to a painful childhood memory of 10 yr olds playing cops and robbers with his friends. He remembered how he had opted to be the robber this time and ran off to hide in the neighbors’ old bomb shelter. As he settled in he could hear the other kids running around looking for him. Just then Tommy appeared in the doorway and he squeezed himself back into the corner behind the boxes and tried to make himself invisible. It must have worked because Tommy only stood there a moment, long enough to scan the room and then ran off to look for the robber. Harvey sighed in relief as he heard Tommy’s footsteps get farther away. Just then a gust of wind blew the door shut and he startled.

Half an hour passed and he could hear the kids outside. Albert asked if anyone had checked inside the shelter and Tommy said that he had. He held his breath and laughed to himself. He had really found a good spot. He was usually the best cop when they played the game and was tired of getting picked on so decided to play the roll of robber this time. And now it looked like he would be the best robber.

Another half-hour or so passed and he could hear the kids outside again. This time they were talking about another game. he could hear Tommy saying that he knew Harvey would chicken out and go home because he didn’t really want to be the robber. Albert said that he always knew Harvey was a “chicken shit” and that they wouldn’t ask him to play anymore.

“They think I quit and went home. They stopped looking for me. Damn I AM good.” Harvey thought to himself. Then he decided to let the others know where he was and that he won the game. He jumped up and started to run for the door and slipped on something. The last thing he remembered was a sharp pain in his head then all went black.

Some time later he awoke to hear crickets chirping and felt the bump on his head. “UH OH!!” He felt something wet. It was dark and he couldn’t tell if it was blood or not. In fact it was so dark that he couldn’t see his own hand in front of his face. He made his way to the door and turned the handle. Nothing happened. He rattled it some more and still nothing. He knocked on it and yelled to see if anyone was there. No one was. He yelled a little louder and still no one answered.

“Stay calm. Someone will know you are missing and be out to get you soon.” He told himself trying to comfort himself. What he didn’t know was that his parents had gone to a party that night and were not home yet. What he also didn’t know was what time it was. He tried to read the face of his watch and realized he couldn’t see it. He could hear it ticking but that really wasn’t helping much.

“Ok this is a bomb shelter. They have to have a flashlight in here somewhere.” He began to feel around for anything that might remotely feel like a flashlight. He found nothing. He began to panic. “Any more brilliant ideas?” He sat down and tried to get his thoughts together, but for all he knew that was what he felt running down his face. “I hope this isn’t blood. How much blood can I stand to loose? What if I loose too much? What is too much? What if I have already lost too much? What if I am already dead? NO!!!” He screamed at the thought. Somebody would notice him missing. They had to. He would just wait. He began to whistle a song, to take his mind off the pain in his head. It was hurting VERY badly now. He could feel his heart beating in his head. Every time he moved it felt like his head would pop off of his shoulders.

He felt the bump again and was pretty sure that the wet on his fingers was blood. He confirmed it by touching his wet fingers to his lips and tasting. It tasted like metal. He remembered Mr. Edward, his science teacher, saying that blood had iron in it. Iron is metal and if it tasted like metal it must be blood. He began to panic again. “Stay focused. Just relax.” He thought about what was on the television when he left the house today. Roy Rogers. He began to whistle again. This time it was Happy Trails. Right now his Mom and Dad would be sitting on the couch watching Lawrence Whelk, or maybe Ed Sullivan. He wasn’t sure what time it was, but he knew that it had to be late. They would go up stairs soon and see that he wasn’t in his bed and they would come find him. He would just close his eyes and wait.

He woke to the sounds of the bells from the church down the street. It was Sunday morning. He wondered if they were the bells before or after church. He listened at the door to see if he could hear people outside.

Suddenly a bolt of fear shot through him. No one was looking for him. Everyone was going about their lives as normal. They didn’t miss him. His Mom was probably making bacon and eggs. They didn’t really force him to go to church. His Dad was in the garage tinkering with his lawnmower or the Desoto. He hated that car. Why didn’t they miss him? Why weren’t they looking for him? All of the sudden it hit him. He was supposed to stay at Tommy’s last night. His Mom and Dad were going out of town to a dinner party. They didn’t even know he was missing. But Tommy did. “NO!! HE THINKS I WENT HOME.” He was scared. No one would really notice him missing until late tonight. And when he didn’t come home from Tommy’s house they would know he was never there. “What if they think I ran away?”

Everything went black again. When he woke up again he felt something on his neck. he tried to move to get it but couldn’t. He was so hungry and he felt like his throat was on fire. He had not eaten anything since breakfast on Saturday morning. He thought about his Mom in the kitchen. She made the best blueberry pancakes. And she would always let him have the left over batter. For dinner she would fix meatloaf. All the other Moms wanted the recipe for HIS mom’s meatloaf. Oh and the creamiest mashed potatoes. And a big slice of cherry pie for desert. Hot Cherry pie was his favorite food in the world. His Mom fixed it for him all the time.

The thing on his throat moved again and he realized what it was. It was a spider. He was allergic to spiders, not to mention deathly afraid of them. He willed himself to jump up. It fell off of his neck and he stepped around wildly, hoping that he killed it. That didn’t really matter though because what he didn’t know was that he was standing right under a nest of them. Within minutes they were all over him. They could sense the heat he was generating and tried to get to the source. He only had a moment of panic before he blacked out again. This time when he woke up it hurt to open his eyes. He was sore all over and could feel that the blood coming from his head was dried now and it had matted his left eye shut. He took his shirt off and rubbed the dried blood from his eye. He tried to touch his head but it was too sore. He didn’t think he was bleeding anymore.

He heard a noise outside and ran for the door. He began to kick and scream wildly. this was his last chance. He knew that if now one got him out of there soon he was a goner. “SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!! I AM STUCK IN HERE!! IT IS DARK AND THERE ARE SPIDERS!! PLEASE!! HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP ME”

He screamed with every ounce of energy he had left in him. He could hear voices. Someone was out there. Some of the voices were his friends’. He could hear Tommy. He had to make someone hear him. He screamed again. “TOMMY? ARE YOU OUT THERE BUDDY? IT’S ME HARVEY. I AM STILL IN HERE.” He could hear his Mom’s voice. “HARVEY. WHERE ARE YOU HONEY.” He screamed even louder. “MOM!!! MOMMY!!!” He had stopped calling her “Mommy” a while ago but he didn’t care if his friends picked on him now. “MOMMY!! I AM IN HERE. PLEASE GET ME OUT.”

Just then he could hear his Dad at the door. “Son. Are you in there?” He was filled with excitement. He was safe. His Daddy was there. His Daddy was a strong man. He would save him. “DADDY. I AM HERE. THE DOOR IS STUCK.”

He heard his Dad kick the door. he backed up. Soon the door was open and a shaft of blinding light burst in. He realized he couldn’t see in the bright sun. But he could smell. He could smell his mother’s perfume. Sweet Honesty from Avon. She only wore that because she got it free. She sold Avon and could get all she wanted. And that was her smell. He may not be able to see her but he knew it was her. He heard her gasp and wondered how bad he looked to cause her to react like that. He could hear the tears in his father’s voice as he bent down to him. “How long have you been here, son?” But his voice was gone now. His hearing was going next. He could hear sounds but they were all mummbly. He could tell who was talking for a while but then all the voices became one noise. It sounded like he was in a beehive. The last thing he saw was his mother’s tear streaked face, and then everything went black again.

He woke up in the hospital. His mother was there holding his hand. “Harvey. Honey, how do you feel? You have been asleep for a very long time.”

“How long?”

“Three days, Honey. The Dr. says that you will be ok but it will take some time.”

The sound of a rat running over head brought him back to present day. He would have to remember not to get into basements any more.

He finished up his search of the basement area and headed back up the steps.

As he got to the top step of the first floor he heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. he dropped to the ground and listened for more. He tried to figure out where it came from and who’s it was. It sounded kinda far off and he figured it was at least the third floor or higher. It sounded more like Evan’s gun. He lay there a moment longer and then jumped up. “Nash? Joe? Ev?” He pressed his back against the wall and started up to the first floor. “Coming up.” He could hear voices. It was Nash. His boss had a distinctive voice. “It’s me Harv. Don’t shoot.” He didn’t see anyone on the first floor, and no one had replied to him yet. He heard a noise coming down the steps toward him. He raised his gun and prepared to fire. He knew that if it was another member of the SIU they would have announced themselves. He was shocked to see the face of a 10-yr. old little boy staring back at him with big eyes.

“Don’t shoot me Sir.” I know I am not supposed to be in here. I fell asleep and now I don’t feel so well.”

“Come down here, kid.” He grabbed the kid’s shoulder and saw the marks of a strap on his back. “Who did this to you?”

“The guy that lives here. He said it was his building and I was trespassing. He thought I left but I only went to another room and stayed there until I was sure he was gone. When I heard you I thought it was him coming back. I thought he was upstairs. I can hear people up there. I didn’t know that anyone was down here and thought I should get out before he found me again.”

“Are you sure he isn’t here right now?”

“Well I don’t know who is upstairs now but it doesn’t sound like him.”

“Well I think it is my friends.” He pushed the kid against the wall behind him and they both started up the steps again. “Boss? It is me Harvey. Are you guys ok? I heard a gun shot. Evan? Buddy? You there?”

“HEY Harvey. Come on up. It’s all clear up here.” Nash yelled down the steps to him.

He motioned for the kid to come up the steps with him and they got to the third floor. Nash and Joe were both on their phones when he got there. Evan looked at him and then at the kid then back at him. “Who is that?”

“Well I am not really sure. He says that Trevor left a while ago.” He looked to the kid that was now looking a little less tense. “What’s your name, son?”

The kid looked at him for a while then surveyed the rest of the team. “My name is Jamie. Are you really the cops? The guy that stay’s here says he is the cops and he did this to me.” He lifted his shirt for a better view of the marks on his back that Harvey had seen earlier. “He said that he was doing me a favor, ‘cause he could have taken me to jail and instead he would teach me a lesson. He beat me hard with his belt and then locked me in the elevator shaft for two days. When he let me out he beat me some more and told me if he caught me trespassing again he would beat me and put me in the elevator shaft again and this time I wouldn’t get out.” Harvey shuddered and then walked to the window.

Nash now finished with his phone call came over to listen to the kid’s story. He dug in his breast pocket for the pictures he had there. “Is this the guy?”

The kid looked at the picture and got scared. “Yeah that is him. Only he has a beard and mustache now. And a scar right here on his cheek.”

“I bet he does.” Nash remembered the last time they came up against Trevor and how he had shot him and thought he was dead. He fell over the side of the cliff and landed in the surf below. they never found a body but no one could have survived that fall. Or could they? Trevor must have. Because here was a kid saying that as little as a couple of hours ago he not only saw Trevor but was a victim of his cruelty. “Do you know how long he will be gone?”

“I heard him talking on his phone. He said that he was meeting someone at the airport and that they would come back here and wait for the party tomorrow.”

“How long ago was that?” Nash suddenly realized Harvey standing by the window. He looked at Evan and nodded in Harvey’s direction. “You O.K. Bubbah?”

“Yeah Boss I am fine. Or at least I will be as soon as we get out of here.”

“That is about the best idea I have heard in a while. Call into the SIU and get someone outside. Have them watch this place closely. Call me the first thing if they see anything at all.”

“You got it Boss.”

“You sure you are O.K.?”

“Yeah I’m fine. I just had a bad memory.”

“This place is good for that. All kinds of ghosts running around here. My Wonkey Meter is working over time. Let’s get out of here.”

They headed back to the SIU with the kid in tow. He attached himself to Harvey and began to follow him around like a lost pup. Harvey sat him down and got some information from him. The kid refused to tell him his full name and where he was from. He would have to use his powers of detective work to get it from him. He started telling the kid stories about when he was younger. How his family used to be very close and how he used to enjoy playing with his friends. “You know what I mean? Hey did you ever play in your back yard at night? Uhhhh Hide and Seek? Graveyard? You know? Games like that.”

“No not really. There weren’t alot of places to play like that where I grew up. I didn’t really have a back yard.”

Ok so the kid didn’t grow up in a place where there was alot of room. That only left about a million places.

While he worked on the kid a call came in from the surveillance team. Some one was there at the building. They didn’t match the description of Trevor but Nash wanted to know about any and all activity. Joe and Evan went over to check it out.

Nash told Harvey to go get the kid something to eat and let him talk to him for a few minutes. Harvey took the kid’s order and headed to McDonalds.

Nash sat down across from the kid and done his famous quarter in the ear trick. “Man, Little Bubbah, You got money growing behind your ear.”

“How did you do that?” The kid asked in total surprise.

“Don’t look at me. It was your ear. By the way, Jamie, how old are you?”

“I am ten and a half.”

“WOW. Ten and a HALF? Huh? You are practically at retirement age. You got a wife and kids?”

Jamie laughed at him. “No Sir, I am not old enough to be married.”

“Oh that’s right. So you aren’t. Well how about a job? Do ya work anywhere?”

Jamie laughed again. “No Sir I am not old enough to have a job yet.”

“Oh well? Do ya want one? I am sure I can find some things for you to do around here. If you are interested.”

“Are you serious? You mean like a real job? And I would get paid? Real money?”

“Well of course. Not that you need it though. You got it coming out your ears. Looky there, another quarter.” He pulled another quarter from Jamie’s ear at Jamie’s amazement. “I think I could find some kind of work to give you if you could do me a favor first. We are cops and we don’t want to break the law, so I would need you to fill out an application. This is Ronnie. he looks tough but he is really a big teddy bear. Not so mean as you might think. He will help you with any of the questions on the application that you night have any troubles with. O.K.?”

“Yeah O.K. And then I can start working. And make money?”

“You sure can.” Nash pulled Ronnie off to the side and told him to bring the application to him when it was finished.

“You got it Boss.”

Nash motioned for Harvey when he got back. He told him what he was doing to get the information from the boy.

“I guess that is why you make the big bucks, huh, Boss?”

Nash laughed at him. “Yeah BIG BUCKS” They both laughed for a few then Nash asked him, “What was the zoning out all about there at the warehouse?”

“Ah nothing really. Just some bad memories.”

“What caused it?” Nash was concerned now. he couldn’t have Harvey out there zoning out on bad memories and maybe get himself or someone else hurt.

“Just being in the basement, Man. It was nothing really.” He could see the look of concern in his Boss’ face and knew what he was thinking. “You have nothing to worry about, Boss. It was a one-time thing. I am O.K. And I will be fine from here on out.”

“Well I noticed something about the kid wierded you out too. What was the about?”

“You wanna know? Well when I was ten I was playing with some friends of mine---” He told his boss about what had happened to him as a kid. The whole ordeal. He told him how being in the basement had brought back the memories. “---and then when I saw the kid, he is about the same age as I was, and he had been scared from being locked in the elevator shaft, and he had marks on him that reminded me of the spider bites I had and---”

“You need to tell me these things. I knew you were afraid of closed in places but I never realized just how much. And I am not a big fan of spiders myself. I would have never sent you down there if I had known that.” Nash was concerned about all of his people especially Harvey. He had been the first person he recruited to the SIU. He saw potential in Harvey. “No more basements for you Mr.”

“I appreciate it, Boss. So you think the kid will fall for giving his life history just to get a job here? And what kind of job do you have in mind for him?”

“Oh I don’t know. I was thinking you could use a personal assistant or something. Someone to get your files for you and help you with all your errands. Until we find his family that is.”

“That will work. I just hope the kid isn’t in trouble for anything.” Harvey was getting attached to the kid.

The phone rang. It was Joe. “Whoever was here isn’t now. But they left a calling card. You remember the guy that told us where to find Trevor the last time? His old cell mate?”

“Yeah I think so. Daniels was his name.”

“Yeah that is him. Well it WAS him. He is dead and it was an execution style hit. I am sure they left the body here for us to find. Who ever that kid is may not be safe. Trevor may think that he is the one that led us to the building. Did you find out who he is yet?”

“No not yet. I got Harvey and Ronnie working on that now. We will keep him here until we find out what is going on. You and Evan get back here.”

“Sure thing Nashman.” Nash hung up the phone and noticed Ronnie standing in the doorway. “Harvey, it looks like Ronnie is done. Why not take the boy his food.”

“Sure thing, Boss” he got up and headed to the conference area with the bag of McNuggets and Strawberry milkshake.

“What did you find out?” He held his hand out to Ronnie and took the application from him.

“Just that he is orphaned. His folks died some time ago and he ran away from the first foster home they placed him in. He got a little quiet when I asked why. He gave his address as the warehouse. I guess he has been staying there for a while. I better get back up stairs to the holding cell. They were having some trouble earlier with the ladies they picked up this morning.”

“Good idea. It is a dirty job but someone has to do it I guess. Have fun.” Nash smiled at Ronnie and went back to reading the application. He looked at the name and picked up the phone to make a phone call.

An hour later he walked in on Harvey and Jamie playing a game of cards, Go fish to be exact. “Harvey, can I see you a minute?”

Harvey got up and walked to where his boss was waiting for him. “Yeah. You look like you have seen a ghost.”

“I have. In a way. Guess who we have here.”
“Who?”

“Well let me tell you this way. His adoptive family is the ones that dies and left him an orphan. His biological mother gave him up when he was a year old.”

“Who is/was his biological mother?” Harvey could see the concern on Nash’s face.

“You will never believe it, Bubbah.” He was still in shock himself. “A Miss Tamera VanZandt.”

“Oh MAN. You got to be kidding me.”

“It gets worse.”

“There is something worse than that?”

“Yeah..... paternity.”

“You lost me. You mean the father? Who?”

“That is what I mean, and well that is a little uncertain. But, you can do the math.” Nash gave Harvey a look like he was almost in pain.

Harvey thought for a while and then the light bulb popped on over his head. “You mean you are the father? You are this kids father?”

“Well there is one other person it could be. And somehow that possibility scares me even more.”

“Uhhh let me think a minute.” Harvey closed his eyes and tried to remember what was going on 11 years ago. He remembered how Tamera had done a number on his boss and how she had played cop against bad guy by dating a mobster also. What was his name? Another light bulb and his eyes popped wide open. “Ray Getz?”

“Bazactly, Bubbah”

When Joe and Evan got back they filled them in on the recent development. Nash told Evan to make the usual phone calls to try to find Trevor. He would be waiting for the cops to come after him anytime now. Especially after the calling card he had left. Nash and the rest of the SIU was gonna give him more than what he had bargained for. Evan came back about 20 minutes later with news of a siting. Someone had seen Trevor in the adjacent parking lot to the warehouse while the cops were there. He was being very bold. That was going to be his downfall.

Nash put Harvey on the case of finding out the whereabouts of Tamera VanZandt and Ray Getz, both. And send the rest of the team, including Ronnie, out to scour the area around the warehouse for anything that might lead them to Trevor. He tried to decide what should be done about the boy. He took Jamie with him to the house to check on Nick. “Nick. I’m home. You here?”

Nick came out of the bedroom. Nash pulled him into the outer room and explained the situation at hand. He told him how this kid might be his grand son but he shouldn’t get his hopes up. Just then Cassidy arrived and he stopped her and explained to her also. She was rather excited. “This could be my brother?” A smile spread across her face. He put his hand over her mouth and reminded her that until they found out she should not say anything to the kid about it. She agreed and then went in to meet Jamie.

Nash and Cassidy started to fix dinner. While they were cutting vegetables for the salad Harvey called to tell Nash that he had struck out. “I can’t find them anywhere Boss. All I do know is that the chances of them being together are high. Last time they were seen was here in San Francisco and then they both left town together. No one seems to know where they were going though and when they might be back.” Nash told him to come on over to his house for dinner and they would discuss what should be done about the kid.

When Harvey pulled up out front he saw that Evan was there. “Probably here to see Cassidy.” He thought to himself with a chuckle. He remembered how they had gotten together and how Nash was against it at first. Nash was very protective of his only child. That made him think that now it was possible that Cassidy wasn’t Nash’s only child. How would that affect things that happened in the future. Would that bring Tamera back into the picture. If it did would she still be as conniving as she always was. He remembered how it had almost broken up the SIU the first time. When he and Evan found out about Tamera’s criminal activities and decided to enlist the help of Nash’s partner and best friend, Joe, to help break the news. For a time Nash was in denial. He was very happy being with Tamera and thought that the others were just jealous of his happiness. Then he saw the truth with his own eyes. He was devastated and a little embarrassed. He was tempted to close down the SIU because he didn’t think he could face his friends anymore after the things he had said to them. He promised them that nothing like that would ever come between the team again. And so far it hadn’t. And what if the kid wasn’t Nash’s son. Harvey had grown an attachment for him. He wondered what it might be like to be the kind of father that Nash was. He looked forward to the time when Jerry would be old enough to do the kinds of things he used to do with his own father. And wouldn’t it be nice if Jerry had an older brother to look up to. Joe pulled up as he was about to walk in the door and he waited for him.

After dinner they talked about what they had all found out. Cassidy and Jamie hit it off well and they were sitting on the couch talking while Nash and the crew discussed the events of the day and what should be done. Joe suggested a DNA test since Tamera nor Ray could be reached. Nash agreed but didn’t want to get his own hopes up let alone the kid’s. And how would they explain a blood test unless they told him why.

The party began to break up at around midnight and Harvey asked if Nash wanted him to take Jamie home with him. Nash told him he thought maybe he should stay there. Then, sensing that Harvey felt somehow responsible for the kid he suggested that he stay too. Harvey agreed and bid everyone else good night.

The next morning Harvey woke up to a great smell. It was coming from the kitchen. It was Nash and he was fixing breakfast. “What is on the menu for this morning, Boss? After last night I don’t think I can eat anything.”

“Today we will be having French Toast. And you will eat. That is an order.” Nash smiled at him as he got up off the couch and padded into the kitchen area.

“Where’s the kid?” Harvey noticed he wasn’t in the kitchen or on the blow up mattress that Nash had gotten for him to sleep on.

“In the shower. Cassidy has come and gone already this morning. She brought by some new clothes for him. He was so excited to try them on but we decided he should shower first. He still smelled like the old warehouse.”

Just then Jamie came into the kitchen area, obviously being led by his nose and his “growing-boy” appetite. He ate three platefuls and was starting on his fourth when Nick came out of his room. “Look at that boy eat would ya. Nash used to do the same thing. No one could make French Toast like his mother. He would have eaten it everyday for every meal if we had let him. That boy eats just like you, Son.” He looked at Nash hoping he hadn’t said too much and Nash gave him a smile that all was well. After the breakfast dishes were done they talked about riding arrangements to the Barge. It was obvious that the kid had connected and felt more comfortable with Harvey and Nash was ok with that. He watched as Harvey and Jamie drove off.

As he was climbing in the Cuda Nash’s cell phone rang. “Nash”

“Captain Bridges, what a pleasure it is to hear your voice again. I told you even if you killed me you would never be rid of me. I told you I would haunt you. And here I am back to finish what I started.” It was Trevor. “That was a great party you had last night. It was good to see Joe again. And your daughter is as beautiful as she was the day I took her from you. Maybe she would like to see me again.”

“I kinda doubt that, Bubbah. She doesn’t slum since she got out of her adolescence. And why didn’t you just stop on in last night. There were alot of us there who would have loved to see you again.” Nash was trying to keep him on the line although he wasn’t sure why. He knew that there was no way for him to trace this call. No one was around to help him. And the thought that this man was close enough to his house to know who all was there last night was troubling to say the least. “Since you missed out on all the fun last night why not stop on in past the SIU today and say hi to your old friends?”

“Well I do appreciate the invite Captain, really I do, but I have other plans for to day. A previous engagement that I can’t break. By the way did you get the trash cleaned up at my warehouse? It was beginning to stink.” He was obviously referring to Daniels.

“Funny thing about that, Trevor, the air seemed to get clearer and clearer the longer you were gone.”

“Resorting to teenage taunts are we now?”

“Not really, just haven’t had my coffee yet and you are starting to piss me off.” He was hoping to taunt him into trying something. Calling him out into the open earlier than he had planned. “So what is on the agenda for today?”

“Ahahah, Captain. That is cheating. I can’t give the end away. You have to stay tuned to find out. I so love suspense. And incase no one else tells you today, that jacket isn’t really flattering to you. It clashes with your eyes.” He hung up.

“He can see me.” Nash thought. “He could take me out any time he wanted to and I couldn’t do anything about it.” Nash dialed the office and Evan answered.

“SIU Inspector Cortez speaking how may I help you?”

“Evan this is Nash. Have a trace run on my phone to find out any calls that have come into it in the past 2 hours. It is a long shot but it is worth a try.”

“Sure thing Boss. Are we looking for anything in particular?”

“yes, No maybe. Trevor just called me and told me what I was wearing. He was here last night and saw you and Cassidy leaving. That particular enough?”

“Yes Sir I will get right on it.”

When he arrived at the barge Evan was there to greet him. “He called from a stolen cell phone. Phone belonged to- “

“Let me guess. Daniels” He could see that one coming. Trevor was a parasite. not only did he murder people but he took things from them. Not jewelry or money, he stole things that he could use.

Cars, cell phones, hotel key cards, clothing and things like that. And now he was loose on Nash’s streets again. And he had targeted Nash and the guys for revenge.

“What do you want to do about it?”

“Let’s get inside and get together on this. We have to get him today. He is becoming brave which means he is unstable. I don’t want to be around when he blows. Do you?”

“Not necessarily.”

“I have a little business to take care of first. They walked over to where Jamie was sitting. The nurse had just swabbed his mouth for the DNA test. “Why do I have to do this?”

“We just need to make sure you are healthy. It’s no big deal. See look I will do it too.” He stood there while the nurse swabbed the inside of Nash’s mouth. He winked at her and mouthed a thank you.

“We should have the results in a few hours.”

“Thank you. Don’t forget to let me know the second you find out.” he smiled at Jamie and told him to hang out for a few minutes while he talked to the rest of the team. He looked at Evan and told him to follow him. He motioned for Harvey and Joe to join them and they headed to the conference room. They decided the first best thing to do was to make sure all their family members were safe and that included the boy. They all went back to their desks and began making phone calls. Once everyone’s loved ones were notified and sent to a safe house Nash and Harvey decided to drive Jamie out, themselves.

Inger met Nash at the door. “When can we go home, Nash?”

“Just as soon as we catch this guy, I promise.”

“But you have had other cases like this and we haven’t had to hide.”

“We have had other cases, but not like this. He wants to make us pay. He will stop at nothing.” Inger looked at Nash for a moment and then before she could say anything else Nash gave her a smile, “I promise I will watch after Joe.”

“Bring him back to me Nash. He is all I have.”

“I will, Inger. You can bank on it.” Nash kissed her on the cheek and motioned for Cassidy. “Hey Brat, I have a favor to ask of you. Look after Jamie for me. Things will be a little strange for a while and I need to know that both of you are safe.”
Cassidy smiled at her father and assured him that she would do all she could to make sure Jamie stayed safe while they went after Trevor. She kissed her daddy on the cheek and told him to be careful. Then he was gone.

Driving back to the SIU Harvey asked the question that Nash was trying to avoid. “What if Jamie is yours. What will that mean for us?”

Nash was silent for a second, “Harv, you know we are a team. I made a promise to you guys a long time ago. No one will ever come before the SIU again.”

“Not even the mother of your child?”

“Especially not her, Harv. You have nothing to worry about. We will get through this.”
“What if he isn’t yours. Then what. How can we keep him out of Getz’s clutches. That boy deserves a chance to be something more than a mobster in the making.”

“I know. That is what has been bothering me. As concerned as I have been that he IS my son, I have been even more concerned as to what if he isn’t. But we can’t focus on that right now. We have to worry about getting Trevor. Then we can worry about this other matter.”

“I gottcha, Boss. But-”

“You got a soft spot for him, don’t ya?”

“Yeah I do. I would love to give that kid all the opportunities that he should have. I know he has had a rough life. I want to help him.”

“He’s kinda attached to you too. SO lets not do anything stupid like get ourselves shot. We can’t do much good for the kid if we are dead.”

“Aye Aye Cap’n. We’ll get this guy and then figure out what we can do for Jamie.”

Nash and Harvey got back to the SIU to hear that Trevor was seen close to Nash’s building earlier that morning.

Joe told them that a cleaning lady in the building across the street saw a man fitting Trevor’s description exit the building 5 minutes before Nash and Harvey came out with Jamie. She saw him inside the building she works in later that day and heard him tell someone on the cell phone where to meet him. It was at the pier.

“You mean to tell me that he is not to far from here right now? Then what are we doing here? He wants a fight... we will give him a fight.” Nash got up from his desk and called for Ronny. “Get SWAT and meet us here.” He pointed to the spot on the map that Joe had indicated. “Tell them to come loaded for bear. I think we will need every available man to take him. He didn’t seem to me that he was willing to go quietly, or alive.”

Joe looked at him with a kind of sadness in his eyes, “There’s more. We got a call from the lab. The DNA test? it is negative. You are not Jamie’s father.”

Just then the phone rang. Joe answered it on his desk. Nash started to go on and then noticed the look on his 0-partner’s face. He started to ask him what was wrong when Joe said, “OH Man. You have to be kidding me. Not my house.”

“Joe, what’s wrong. What about your house.”

Joe hung up the phone and sat down in his chair. “Sonofabitch. Nash he blew my house up. My house. Do you know how hard I have worked on it. I want this man. Damnit.”

“Stay calm, Bubbah. We’ll get him. Inger and Lucia are safe though. I promised her I would bring you back to her in one piece. Don’t go off half cocked and make me break my promise. We will get this guy.”

Harvey turned around just in time to see the explosion just off the port side of the barge. Everybody ran for cover. They heard Trevor outside shouting through a bullhorn. “You think you are so smart. Just so you know, after I blow you all to hell I am going out to the safe house and blowing everyone there to hell too. Except for maybe your daughter, Nash. I think she has a sweet spot for me. And besides, with you gone I think she may need someone to take care of her.”

Nash shouted out, “I ain’t gone yet, Bubbah.”

Just then another blast rocked the barge. Nash, in spite of the situation, half laughing yelled, “I really never thought I would have to say this but, ALL HANDS ABANDON SHIP” He wasn’t laughing as the next blast took out part of the aft portion of the barge. It shook with a violent explosion that threw debris and shrapnel through the air. Just as he got up to run he saw Evan drop. Knowing that he could not leave the younger man behind he turned around and saw Harvey grab Evan’s arm. He helped Harvey drag Evan to the rail and toss him in. Ronny was waiting below and grabbed him as soon as he surfaced. Nash ordered Harvey to jump “Go now Harv. That is an order.”

Harvey knew that his boss would not leave the ship if he didn’t take him with him. He quickly wrapped an arm around Nash’s shoulder and jumped. “I am taking you with me.”

When they surfaced Nash was cussing. “Damn it Harv. What the hell was that all about.”

“Remember our chat. We will be no good to Jamie if we get dead.” He knew that Nash would be ok with this once he realized that fact. Then he remembered Evan. “Ronny, where’s Evan?”

They could hear Trevor laughing and yelling again, “Whoooo hoooo just like a bunch of rats abandoning a sinking ship.”

They tried to head for cover under the docks. “He can’t hit what he can’t see.” Nash urged them to follow him. Everyone did.

Once they were under the dock they could hear as Trevor lobbed more grenades at the barge. They figured as long as he thought that they were still close to the barge he would not think to throw them anywhere else. They were safe, but only temporarily. They began to discuss how to get out of this mess. They came up with the plan that someone would have to lure him out into the open. But who, and how.

Harvey began to feel the effects of being in a closed in place. He decided it would have to be him, he had to get out form under there, anyway. Seeing this as his last best chance, Harvey began to swim out from under the dock. He swam out just far enough to where Trevor could see him. He knew that he wasn’t a great swimmer and he would have to get it right the first time. Swimming a little farther away from the docks he began yelling at Trevor. At first it was not effective. No one could hear anything over the noise of the explosions. He watched as the barge was slowly sinking. He became heartsick to think that there might be someone still onboard. He realized if there was he needed to hurry up with his plan and began yelling at Trevor again.

Nash saw what Harvey was dong and decided rather than calling him back he would go along with his plan. He made a mental note to kick Harvey’s ass later, though. He swam around to the other side of the docks where he was sure that Trevor wouldn’t see him as he climbed out. He yelled back at Ronny to stay with Evan and told Joe to cover him. he reached the ladder and began to climb out.

Harvey yelled louder and finally Trevor noticed him. He lobbed a grenade at him but it was too far away to do anything more than cause a huge water spray. Harvey, seeing that Nash was going to go along with the plan, taunted Trevor. “Is that all you got. Come on man, I got kids on the pee wee league with better arms than that.” The next grenade was a little closer but still far enough away for Harvey to be safe. “Awww Man. Are you kidding me? You throw like a little girl.”

Trevor was pissed now. He had lost all concept of focus. His only concern was this obnoxious pig in the water that was calling him a girl. He was going to make him pay. He threw another grenade and this time he saw Harvey sink. With in seconds Harvey came back up and began taunting him again.

Nash could see Trevor now. He watched as he picked up his last grenade and threw it directly at Harvey. He watched as it hit a few feet away from Harvey and watched in horror as Harvey went down. He held his breath waiting to see Harvey to come up. He didn’t. he leveled the gun on Trevor and yelled his name. Trevor spun around, aware that he had made a fatal mistake by not staying focused. he fumbled for the gun in his belt, but it was too late. Trevor spun several times with the impact of each bullet. He finally hit the ground and Nash could hear a gurgling coming from his throat.

Nash approached the near lifeless Trevor with extreme caution. When he was close enough he kicked the gun away from Trevor’s hand and then looked out to the water. He wanted to see Harvey swimming back for the dock. But all he saw was pieces of the barge floating where he had seen Harvey go down. Just then Trevor began laughing. “That was a great plan, Captain. Send a man out as a decoy and then sneak up on me. I have to admit I didn’t see it coming. I thought I got you all. Oh well. At least I got one of you. Maybe more.”

Nash watched as Trevor’s body convulsed a few times and then heard the last breath escape from his lungs. All he could think of was that this man had killed Harvey. He wanted to shoot him some more and make him feel it but it was too late. He knew that Trevor was dead. He ran to the docks to tell everyone it was safe to come out. “Everyone down there O.K.?”

“Yeah we’re OK.” Joe swam out and headed for the ladder followed by Ronny and Evan who had regained consciousness. He looked at the spot where Harvey had gone down and dove in. Ronny soon followed and Joe helped Evan climb the ladder.

The next morning when they were released from the hospital they headed to the safe house to collect their families. As soon as Inger saw Joe she began to cry. He had a few scrapes and bruises on his face but for the most part he was just water logged. Nick and Cassidy ran to Nash. He was covered with cuts but he was a site for sore eyes. When Evan walked in Cassidy began to cry. She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder. Evan jumped from the pain. His arm was in a sling because he had a dislocated shoulder, and he had a bandage on his head and stitches on his chin. Jamie stood off to the side and watched the interactions. He felt out of place. Nash noticed him and held out his arms. Jamie stood for a moment waiting to see Harvey come through the door. he didn’t and Jamie ran to Nash’s open arms and began to sob heavily.

The next day the Officers of the SIU gathered at the docks to bid farewell to an old friend. All of the debris from the barge had been cleared away and all that remained was the burned out shell of what was once their headquarters. As they stood there, some cried and many tossed flowers into the bay. They watched as engineers made sure that the barge would be safe for hauling away. Nash stepped out in front of the crowd and began to speak. “Friends and family we have come here to say good bye to a big part of our lives.” He stopped briefly to look at the group of people that were assembled there. He looked up just in time to see a uni pull up. Everyone turned to watch as two officers got out of the front and opened the back door to let the passenger out. Nash walked over to the wheelchair and said, “I thought you were supposed to stay in the hospital for another week?”

Harvey looked up at his boss and whispered, “Have you ever known me to miss a party?”

Nash took the wheel chair from the other officers and wheeled Harvey over to the waiting crowd. Evan leaned over to hug him and told him how happy he was to see him. Cassidy put her arm around him and patted his shoulder.

Harvey was blown clear by the blast of the last grenade but not without injury. He was badly bruised and had a few broken ribs. One of the ribs had punctured a lung but Dr.s were able to patch him up. He really should have still been in the hospital but he couldn’t miss the turn out to say goodbye to the barge.

Everyone gathered at Nash’s house after the ceremony and discussed where they would meet from now on. Evan jokingly suggested Nash’s house and everyone laughed. Nash made an announcement that the city of San Francisco and the state of California had donated another barge to be used by the SIU. They were all to take a few days to recover and then meet in their new home. It would be docked in the same place as the last. Several awards were given to Harvey for bravery and unselfishness. Jamie found a home with Harvey’s sister and was happy to learn that Harvey, once he was fully healed would be able to see him on a daily basis. Tamera VanZandt was never reached, neither was Ray Getz.

4 Days later everyone turned out to see Nash christen the new SIU headquarters. The SIU still continues to fight bad guys, but they will never forget going up against Trevor.

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