Location: Chicago, Illinois

TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS 8:00 PM

Kari Holmes is sitting at her desk reading her email.

Eve Hilliard walks into the office. “Agent Holmes, Vic just went downstairs to get the ballistics report and we still haven’t heard from Philip.”

Kari sits back in her chair and says, “I hope the report confirms our suspicions. Don’t despair about the good Captain. He’ll show up.

Eve, her arms folded front of her, clearly has something on her mind. “I’m curious, Agent Holmes. You’re the profiler. In light of everything that happened today, do you think Kimble could have been telling the truth all along?”

“I think there are more questions than answers. This isn’t the open and shut case that Capt. Gerard wants to believe it is. I don’t think it ever was, especially after today. As for Kimble being innocent as he says he is…my personal jury is still deliberating. How about you, Agent Hilliard?”

Eve hesitates. “I agree with you on the questions. My jury doesn’t know what to think either. However, he is wanted and it is our job to bring him in. He should be going through the appeal process like a normal person.”

“Point well taken. However, now that we have witnesses who swear that Charnquist exists, I think the ‘one-armed man’ is worth some investigating. For instance, Becca Ross told you that she and Kimble set Charnquist up to be arrested. She says they saw him arrested, yet he was let go and the arresting officers denied they ever picked him up. Do you think you could track down those Baltimore officers? Maybe if they’re confronted by a government agent who has proof that Charnquist is alive, they might be willing to talk.”

“I’ll see what I can do to track them down. Personally, I’ve always been puzzled about the passports that Kimble sent Phillip.”

“That’s puzzled me too. I think we both know that when someone has that many aliases, he’s either working for the government or he’s very rich and involved in organized crime at an international level. Then again you don’t have to be rich for the latter, just move in the right circles.”

“What if it’s both? And why would killing Helen Kimble be beneficial to national security or to some organized crime family?”

“From your report on Becca Ross, it was a kidnapping gone wrong. That would fit more with the organized crime family scenario, but then again, why would two arresting officers let him go and then deny they ever arrested him?”

Eve shrugs her shoulders. Kari continues, “Like I said, there are more questions than answers.”

Vic pokes his head in the door. “Eve, the captain just walked in.”

Kari, Eve, Eddie, and Vic all walk into Gerard’s office as he’s taking off his coat and is sitting down. Gerard says, “What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?” All of them except Kari, look at him with disbelief.

Eddie speaks first. “Philip, we’ve all been worried. We’ve been back here for two and a half hours. The search was called off three and a half hours ago. They found the stolen car abandoned. Where have you been?”

Kari says, “Agent Miles, that’s kind of a personal question. I’m sure Capt. Gerard is going to tell us that he was just checking on his daughter to make sure she was all right.”

Gerard corrects her. “Actually, I continued to look. I haven’t spoken with Alex or Sara.”

Kari flashes him a look of disbelief that borders on one of anger. She turns to the rest of the task force. “Well, it appears I owe each of you twenty dollars. I’ll pay up tomorrow after I get to an ATM.

Gerard, very irritated, says, “Look, it’s been a long day. I’d like to get started on my report.” He turns to his desk in a gesture of dismissal, but Vic interrupts him.

“Captain, we’ve found out some information that I think you need to know before you fill out your report.”

“Like what?”

“I got the ballistics report on the gun that was found on Charnquist. We’ve hit pay dirt, Captain. This gun was registered to FBI Agent Dennis Gagomiros and it’s the same gun that wounded you and killed Agent Gagomiros.”

“And what does that prove?”

Eve breaks in. “Isn’t it obvious? Charnquist killed Gagomiros. Maybe there was a connection between the two that we’re not aware of. We did find out that Gagomiros once worked for Ross. This is definitely worth pursuing.”

Gerard, still thinking about Kimble, does not seem interested. Eve turns to Kari. “Do you want to take it from here? You’ve done most of the legwork.”

Kari hestitates. “Can Capt. Gerard and I have some privacy for this?”

“You’ve got it, Agent Holmes,” says Eddie, turning for the door. “I don’t want to be here when the fur starts to fly.”

As the others leave, Kari sits down in the chair in front of Gerard’s desk, staring at him intently.

Gerard stares back. “Agent Holmes, don’t keep me in suspense.”

“Capt. Gerard, what do you plan on putting in your report?”

“Exactly what happened. Kimble and Charnquist took my daughter hostage to get to me and it’s apparent that they are co-conspirators in the murder of Helen Kimble.”

Kari stands up abruptly, fighting to remain calm. “Captain, are you even interested in what the witnesses said? I have signed statements from your daughter, Thomas Keroman and Jude Gavinski stating that Kimble was trying to protect the students, including your daughter, and that Charnquist tried to kill Kimble. I also have a signed statement by an English teacher Marjorie Winston, who honestly thought that Kimble was a substitute teacher named Todd Sanders, who came in late. She took him to the classroom. There is no way Kimble could have known that the school needed a substitute teacher and that he was going to be put in Alex’s class.”

Satisfied she has made her point, Kari sits back down before continuing. “Now, so far Charnquist’s accomplice is attempting to cut a deal. He admits that Charnquist called him to help him find Kimble, but he claims he had no idea that murder was part of the deal. No doubt he’s trying to cover his back side. What say you to all of this Captain?”

“That does nothing to exonerate Kimble, Agent Holmes. The jury said he’s guilty and, believe me, he’s guilty! I was there! And he did this to get back at me! Obviously Kimble and Charnquist have had some kind of falling out because he botched Helen Kimble’s murder.”

Kari shakes her head in disbelief. “Why are you so close-minded when it comes to Kimble?”

Gerard expresses surprise at her remark. “I beg your pardon, Agent Holmes?”

“I spent over an hour talking to your daughter and to your wife, Sara. When was the last time you did the same? You are so wrapped up in this that you have no idea how close Sara is to serving you with divorce papers and demanding custody of Alex. And Alex gave me every indication that she’d be perfectly fine with that arrangement.”

Gerard stands up angrily and glares at her. “Agent Holmes, my family is none of your business!”

“Yes it is! When your personal life interferes with an investigation, you’ve made it everyone’s business. Let me enlighten you on what I found out at the coroner’s office. The autopsy pictures were manipulated. Dr. Jones, who testified that Helen Kimble was beaten by a right-handed person, is now conveniently dead. The real pictures show that Helen’s fatal wound was on her right side which implies a left-handed person beat her. You testified at Kimble’s trial that there was no evidence to support an intruder. Now we have proof the intruder does exist and without any evidence to support it, you’ve decided that Kimble and Charnquist are co-conspirators. As a detective, you disappoint me, and as a father and husband, don’t get me started!”

Gerard sits down and is very quiet at what Kari has just told him. “Agent Holmes, I’m not really sure how to react to what you’ve just said except, in light of all of this new information, I think it would be prudent for you in addition to profiling Kimble to also start a profile on Charnquist. Would that be a problem?”

Kari raises her eyebrows and says, “No sir, no problem at all. Consider it done! I’ve already instructed Agent Hilliard to find those cops in Baltimore who supposedly arrested Charnquist and let him go. I’d like to know why.”

Gerard nods in agreement and says, “That would definitely be a good place to start.”

Kari says, “I’m glad you agree. Now, why don’t you go see your wife and daughter. I realize it’s late, but I think they’d appreciate it.”

Gerard looks at her in puzzlement and says, “What exactly did they say to you?”

“If I tell you, you won’t go see them. Now go talk to them. You might try showing up with flowers and truffles. Women like that kind of thing.” She starts to walk out of the office when Eve Hilliard comes walking back in.

“I’m sorry to be interrupting.”

Kari says, “No, Agent Hilliard, we’re finished.”

Eve raises her eyebrows and says, “Maybe not. I think I know why Charnquist and Kimble were in Chicago. We just got this from Homicide. They found Bill Walsh’s body in an apartment on the west side just six blocks from Alex’s school.”

Kari replies, “Bill Walsh, alias Smith282?” Eve nods affirmatively.

Gerard says, “Smith282 has a name?”

Kari and Eve look at him perplexed. Eve says, “Philip are you telling me you never read my write up on Smith282 and what I uncovered?”

“Eve, the profiler at the time said Smith282 was Kimble. I didn’t see the point.”

Kari then says, “Forgive me Capt, but what is the point in you being a cop?”

“That’s enough Agent Holmes! OK I admit I should have read Eve’s report. I promise from here on out to read everything that you two ladies uncover.”

Kari leans in and says, “I’ll hold you to it…Agent Hilliard how did Mr. Walsh die?”

“Gunshot wound, they’re running the ballistics right now but I’m pretty sure that the gun Charnquist had will probably be the murder weapon used on Bill Walsh as well.”

Gerard says, “Let me know the results as soon as they’re in.” Kari and Eve walk out of Gerard’s office looking at him with disappointment as they know his concern is too late.

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