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TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS - three weeks later

Eve Hilliard walks into the office. “Agent Holmes, I hear Becca Ross has been released from prison on parole. Did she agree to meet with you yet?”

Kari sits back in her chair. “I got a message from her stating unequivocally that she does not wish to speak with me or anyone else affiliated with this task force. She views all of us as the enemy. Why should she think otherwise?”

“I guess I was hoping she would cooperate in light of the evidence linking Charnquist to Bill Walsh’s murder. Surely she would want to pursue it?”

“I’m sure she will. Just not with us! By the way, did you make any progress on locating the two policeman who she says arrested Charnquist in Baltimore?”

“None. One of them left the force and left town - no known address. The other is on a special undercover assignment. He’s incommunicado.”

“How convenient!”

“Don’t worry. He has to surface sometime. When he does, I’ll find him,” Eve says with determination.

Kari looks over at her, wondering if she will follow through. Before Eve can see the her doubts, she changes the subject. “I spoke with Maggie Kimble-Hume and after many schedule conflicts between the two of us, she has finally agreed to meet with me today.”

“How did you manage that?” Eve asks in surprise.

Kari smiles. “I turned on my southern charm!”

“Southern charm? Your accent is hardly noticeable after all the years you’ve worked in Washington.”

“Ah, but the charm is still there, Agent Hilliard.”

“Agent Holmes, we’ve been working together for a while now. Don’t you think you could just call me Eve?”

Kari takes a deep breath. She sees that Eve is being genuinely sincere. “Agent Hilliard, it’s nothing personal. I just don’t get close to my colleagues. I don’t want my personal life to ever be a discussion at the office. I know I’ve earned a few nicknames as a result because some people perceive me as being cold and distant, but I guess that’s the price you pay when you put the case first.”

“It sounds lonely, Agent Holmes.”

“Oh don’t worry about me, I’ve got a cat at home.”

“Like I said, it sounds lonely.”

Kari stands up, terminating the conversation. “Well, I do hate to run, but I have an appointment with Mrs. Hume.”

TIME 10:00 AM OUTSIDE OF MAGGIE KIMBLE HUME’S HOUSE

It is a beautiful day outside. Kari walks cautiously up to the front door. She knocks and it is answered by Maggie Kimble-Hume. They both look at each other for a few seconds and then Kari says, “Maggie Kimble-Hume?”

Maggie nods. “You must be Agent Holmes.”

“Yes.” Kari holds up her ID.

“Come in.” Kari walks into the house and glances around the living room. There are pictures of the family all around, including a wedding picture of Richard and Helen. Maggie says, “Can I get you some coffee?”

“No, I’m fine, Ms. Hume.” Kari glances at a picture of Stuart and Emily. “Are these your children?”

“Yes, they’re with their dad. They won’t be home until tomorrow. Please, sit down. Can we get started?”

Kari senses her distrust and decides to get straight to the point.

“Ms. Hume, the reason I wanted to see you is because Richard asked me to. He told me a while back that you had Helen’s diary. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you sooner, but he wants me to read it on the off chance that there might be something in there that can help him.”

Maggie, looking very stoic, shakes her head. “I’m sorry Agent Holmes, I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Kari looks puzzle. “Ms. Hume, Richard told me that he spoke to you and you told him that you found Helen’s diary. He also said that he told you to trust me. You can, Ms. Hume. Am I missing something here?”

“Agent Holmes, let me tell you what I see. I see an FBI Agent whose life was saved by my brother, is NOW working with Captain Gerard. That man is responsible for destroying what was left of my brother’s life after he was already devastated by Helen’s death. I think maybe my brother is confused as to who to trust.”

Kari nods her head. “I guess this does look pretty bad. I take it he hasn’t called recently?” Maggie shakes her head.

Kari takes a deep breath. “Ms. Hume, when he did call, what did he tell you about me?”

“All he said was that he trusted you with his life because you could have turned him in to Gerard and you didn’t. But you now work for Gerard.”

“Ms. Hume, he obviously didn’t tell you much because he wanted to protect me. He said he trusted me with his life. I trusted him with mine, Ms. Hume.” She lifts her shirt and reveals her scar to Maggie. Maggie looks confused. “Ms. Hume, it hit national news, you know he saved my life. Let me give you a few details. He jumped into a river, pulled me out and literally breathed life back into my body. He then operated on me in a makeshift operating room. I’m breathing and walking because of your brother. I’m not going to forget that. As long as I’m breathing and walking, Gerard will never get him to Joliet.” She lowers her shirt. “As for my being on Gerard’s task force, it’s a blessing in disguise. I have full access to everything pertaining to the case and no one questions why I’m investigating. I want to help him.”

Maggie looks thoughtfully at Kari, then makes up her mind. “I guess my brother isn’t confused. Let me get that diary for you.” She leaves the room. Kari stands up and walks over to look at the wedding picture of Richard and Helen. She has a look of sadness in her eyes. Maggie returns and says, “They were a beautiful couple, weren’t they?”

Kari replies softly, “Yes, they were indeed.”

Maggie hesitates. “Before I give this to you, I’m curious about something. Why are you so sure my brother is innocent when everyone else in law enforcement believes he’s guilty? He told me once that he saved Gerard from being shot in Miami and yet Gerard still believes the worst.”

“I’m a profiler, Ms. Hume. I’ve got personal experience into the mind of a killer. Richard doesn’t even come close to fitting the profile of one.”

Maggie nods, hands the diary to Kari and says, “Do you really think you can clear Richard?”

“I fully intend to Ms. Hume. Charnquist is going to pay for not only what he did to Richard and Helen, but for what he’s done to everyone else he has ever hurt! God help Gerard if he tries to stand in my way!”

Kari says the last part with such conviction that Maggie asks, “Did Charnquist hurt someone you know?”

Kari, surprised at herself for that last remark says, “It would be better for both of us if that isn’t discussed. For you and your family’s protection, the less you know the better. Just believe me that no one is going to execute your brother as long as I’m around!”

Maggie asks matter of factly, “You like my brother, don’t you?” Kari, looking off-balance at Maggie’s last statement, isn’t sure what to say. Maggie smiles and says, “It’s all right, Agent Holmes. I’m glad he’s got you. I hope you can find something in Helen’s diary that can help him.”

“So do I! I should go. I’ll give this back to you once I’ve deciphered what can help Richard so you can share the pertinent parts with a good defense attorney. Someday I hope to be able to explain things a little better to you, ” she adds apologetically.

“I’m sure you will. Knowing Richard, I have no doubt that scar of yours has quite a story behind it.” She smiles as she walks Kari to the door.

“Goodbye, Mrs. Hume. And thank you,” Kari says with a smile as she turns to walk down the sidewalk.

SYRACUSE, NY

A battered pick-up truck pulls into a gas station. Richard Kimble jumps out of the passenger side with a quick wave of thanks and walks toward the gas station. He passes a woman pumping gas. As he does, the gas cap on the trunk of her car slides to the ground and rolls toward him. He reaches over to retrieve and hand it back to her, getting a smile of thanks. He returns the smile as he enters the front door. Inside, he picks up a drink and a newspaper and proceeds to the checkout counter.

“Will that be all sir?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“That’ll be $2.25.” Kimble hands her $5.00 and she returns change.

Once outside, he sees the woman that he noticed earlier talking to a man. He watches from a distance as the man begins to raise his voice at the woman, then grabs her and pushes her to the ground. As the man grabs the woman by the neck, lifting her up and yelling, Kimble rushes to help her.

“Let her go!”

“You stay out of this, mister,” the man says. “This is between me and her. It’s none of your business!”

Seeing that the woman is struggling for air, Kimble rushes over to try to separate the two. As he does, the man pushes the woman to the ground again, this time face first and turns to face Kimble.

“I told you to stay out of this!” he yells as he pushes Kimble with both hands. Kimble trips on the hose and falls backwards, hitting his head sharply on the corner of one of the gas pumps. He falls limply to the ground.

“Oh my God,” the woman screams. “Look at what you did. You killed him!”

The man panics and runs. Jumping into his car, he screeches out onto the highway, leaving the woman running to Kimble to see how badly he has been hurt. “Mister, can you hear me?” she asks. “Mister!” There is no response from Kimble who is lying motionless on the ground.

Watching from inside, the clerk is already on the phone.

“9-1-1- what is your emergency?” the dispatcher says.

“There’s been a fight. We need an ambulance right away…”

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