Back at the campsite

Early dawn slowly crept over the two figures crouched next to the dying embers in the fire pit. Upon returning from the search the night before, they had started a small fire to warm themselves, then found they were unwilling to face sleep and the questioning dreams that would accompany it. Neither man was surprised when Sheriff Tucker walked into their camp.

Ellison rose to his feet, Sandburg only a few seconds behind him. "How's your grandson?"

Tucker shook Ellison's proffered hand. "Wondering why we didn't bring his presents to the hospital for him."

Ellison relaxed at the vision of a typical kid. "That's good, that's very good." Before he could inquire further, Sandburg jumped in.

"Does he remember anything about what happened? Can he describe who grabbed him?"

Shaking his head, Tucker answered him. "Unfortunately, no. Whoever it was came up from behind. Andy never saw a face. He remembers a sweet smelling cloth, then he woke up in the gristmill basement."

Sandburg wasn't ready to give up on tracking whoever was interested in his partner. "Could I speak to him? Maybe if I help him..."

"No." Ellison's words bode for no argument. "That boy's been through enough because of me."

"Jim..."

"Detective Ellison," Tucker's face showed a grudging respect. "I don't really understand what you are, or what you can do, but I do know one thing. You're a good, honest man. I saw that while you were searching for our Andy. It's not your fault if someone tries to use that for their own means." Tucker straightened up and turned to face them both. "Whatever you gentlemen are, your secret is safe with me.

After the sheriff left, Sandburg stoked the fire and put on a pot of coffee. "What are we gonna do, man? What if somebody figured it out? What are we gonna do?"

Ellison studied his partner, his friend, before turning his gaze to the sunrise coming up behind the hills. "We wait."

"Jim?"

"There's nothing else we can do. I can't wonder about every case, every rescue. I refuse to hold back from helping somebody because we think someone could be tracking my abilities."

"I'm not suggesting that you hold back." Sandburg poured two steaming cups before continuing. "I'm just asking you to be careful."

A hint of a smile graced the older man's face. "Aren't I always?"

Stay tuned on January 3rd as an investigation of a series of mall robberies turns deadly when a teenage suspect is found murdered in "Deadly Games" an all new The Sentinel.

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