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.


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