Early Saturday morning:
Ann
is busy fixing breakfast in the kitchen when Maggie walks in. She looks up
and smiles. "Did you and Richard have a good visit?"
"It's
wonderful to see him. I was so worried when I heard about the amnesia. Is
he really OK?"
"He seems
to be. Just a few memory gaps."
"I can't
begin to thank you. For everything."
"No need.
It's what Paul would have wanted. Maggie, is there anything else I can do?"
Maggie covers
her face with her hands, masking her discouragement. "Richard is working
on some things…."
"Is his
lawyer working on an appeal?"
"Dinwiddie
took Richard's case for the publicity and the money. He never really cared
about Richard and when Becca's accounts were frozen, he dropped out. He has
lots of other rich and famous clients," she adds bitterly.
"It'll
be all right, Maggie. I know Richard is going to be cleared someday."
She starts to say something, then changes her mind. "I have to go to
the hospital today. You enjoy your time with Richard. I'll be back in time
for supper."
LATER OVER LUNCH:
Maggie hands
Richard a second ham sandwich and sits down to finish her own. "Here,
you need to put some meat on those bones, " she says jokingly, but her
eyes are filled with concern. "How are you, really?"
"I'm
OK. Really!" he answers, avoiding her eyes. "I don't always get
three meals a day, but I manage."
"How
is everything else? I mean….have you found anything else out about Charnquist?"
"I've
found a link between Charnquist and Ross. They're
both involved in what looks like illegal diamond smuggling. But I can't prove
it."
"I'll
get you another lawyer! We can hire another private detective. I'll find the
money somehow."
"No,
you can't! You need the money for the kids! And I don't have enough proof
to justify an appeal."
"Don't
give up, Richard," she says with concern, grabbing his hand. “Kari assured
me that she won’t stop until you’re exonerated.
Something could happen any day that could break the case. I know she's working on things.”
"You
talked to her?"
Maggie looks
at him knowingly as he tries unsuccessfully to mask his interest.
"She
kept the surveillance team busy so I could get away to come here. " Kimble
continues to eat his sandwich and Maggie looks at him with trepidation as
though she is hesitating to say something. Kimble looks at her questioningly
and says, "What?"
"She
was really worried about you."
"I know.
She's helped me more than once."
Maggie looks
puzzled. "She showed me her scar. But I get the feeling there's more
to the story than that. Richard she
is very close mouthed about what’s between you two.
Will you tell me what is going on with you and her? Is Kari your girlfriend?"
Kimble
laughs slightly at the irony of the statement.
“No Maggie, she’s not my girlfriend.
I can’t even sit in a Starbuck’s and drink coffee much less have a
real date with anyone.”
“Do
you want her to be your girlfriend?”
“You
don’t miss anything, do you Maggie? Yes,
there are things I’d like to do with and say to Kari Marie Holmes, but as
long as my life is what it is, I can’t allow myself to dwell on it.”
Maggie sees Richard look outside longingly like he’s wishing for something
else.
“I’m
sorry for both of you, Richard. Just so
you know, I trust her."
Kimble's
expression lightens and he smiles. "So do I."
“So
how come you haven’t called her?”
“Well,
this is rather embarrassing but I forgot her phone number in my amnesia!”
Maggie can’t
help but laugh slightly at the irony of if all but she takes a cell phone out
of her purse and puts it on the table with a business card next to it. She
yawns, "I had a long day yesterday. Do you mind if I take a nap?"
Without waiting for an answer, she walks out of the room. Kimble watches her
go. He glances at the business card and then reaches for the phone, punching
the numbers anxiously.
"Holmes."
"Kari? Its
Richard."
“Richard! Thank God!
I have been so worried about you.
Are you safe? Are you all right?”
“Yes
Kari, I’m fine. Can you talk?”
“Yes,
I’m in my hotel room.”
“Good. Bring me up to date on everything. Start with what was in Helen’s diary, then tell
me what’s new with my case and Gerard and then…then just tell me something
about yourself that I don’t know about!” He smiles as he says that last statement
- if he can’t date Kari like a normal guy, he at least can have a date on
the phone.
LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT - POLICE PRECINCT
Inside an
interrogation room, a policeman is angrily threatening a young man. "So,
you don't know nothing about a drug ring, you lying …" He turns around
as he hears the door open and another policeman enters.
"You
gettin' anywhere, Charlie?" he says, eyeing the drug
dealer. "Let me talk to him."
"He's
all yours, Jack." Charlie answers, stomping out and slamming the door.
The new man
turns to the dealer, who eyes him warily. Suddenly he springs across the room
and grabs him, slamming him against the wall. He holds him there and says
softly but intensely, "You worthless piece of garbage! You think I'm goin'
to protect your ass? We got a good deal and you're screwin'
it up!" He pushes him against the wall again and turns to walk away,
calling over his shoulder, "You're on your own, smart boy."
"Wait!
I'll tell! I'll tell them all about our deal, the kickbacks, everything."
"Don't
cross me, punk!" the cop says, his voice filled with menace. 'Cause I
got friends that will make sure you never see the light of day again if you
do. You hear me?"
The man's
face blanches in fear. The cop strides over to the door.
"Wait!"
the man says more desperately. "I know something, something big."
The cop sneers.
"A two-bit punk like you doesn't know what big is."
"Kimble.
Richard Kimble."
The cop turns,
curious in spite of himself. "The doctor? What about him? He's dead!"
he says heading for the door.
"No he's
not! I saw him. Two night's ago! At the drop."
"You're
lyin', " the cop answers, but he doesn't leave.
The dealer
senses his interest. "It's true! I swear it! I was putting the squeeze
on the new kid when this guy jumped me. I cut him with my knife. I saw him
plain as day, but I didn't know who he was 'til I saw the news later. It was
Kimble. I'm sure of it. The kid was hurt pretty bad. I followed his car, but
Kimble took him to the hospital. There was nothin'
I could do."
"That's
a good story," the cop says sarcastically. "I'm goin'
to check it out. And if you're lyin' to me…"
"I swear
its true!"
"You'd
sell your grandmother for a dime bag. Get outta
here. And if I find out you're lyin', you better
say your prayers. If you know any!"
Emergency room - Sunday afternoon
The corrupt cop walks up to the admitting nurse,
flashing his badge. "Officer Jack Maloney. I'm investigating a knifing
that occurred two nights ago. I understand the boy was brought here. Can you
tell me anything about it?"
The
nurse looks at the badge, then starts to scan her records as another nurse
looks on, listening. "Here it is. Alex Sharp, brought in at 1:45 AM.
He had a knife wound in the abdomen."
"I'd
like to talk to him. Is he still here?"
The nurse
taps on her computer keyboard and scans the screen. "Sorry, he was released
this afternoon."
"You
got an address for him?"
"I'm
sorry. I can't give out that kind of information on patients without a warrant,"
she says apologetically.
"Who
brought him in?"
The nurse
checks her computer screen again. "Hm, it says
here, Medic-Rescue."
"Thanks,"
Maloney says with a grim look on his face. He starts to turn away, when the
other nurse calls over to her. "That must be a mistake. I saw him getting
out of a car with another man. The medics just brought him inside."
"This
other man, what happened to him?" Maloney asks intently.
The nurse
helpfully comes over to look at the computer screen. "This would be him
- the cut on the arm. That's odd, it has Dr. Bowers down as the attending
physician, but there's no diagnosis or test results and no record of a formal
discharge."
The
first nurse breaks in. "He probably changed his mind and walked out.
It happens more often than you think. Some people just don't like hospitals."
Maloney has
a speculative look. "Thanks for the information," he says, turning
and walking out.
NEXT