Breaking Ties - An Umbrella Mystery

“Mom? What? No. It’s not that at all. It’s just tonight, something happened, that’s why Rory dropped by.”

“Oh, I don’t care,” Jen said in a light tone that JJ knew was phony. “As long as you’re not doing drugs with him, do whatever you want.”

Rory got up from the couch. “Look, Mrs. Deveraux,” he said, “I get I’m not your favorite person, but I’m really a lot more than just a walking joint of weed.”

Jen turned towards Rory. JJ held his breath, praying this didn’t get too ugly. “I’m not trying to judge you,” Jen told Rory. “If my son still considers you a friend after everything he’s been through, I’m sure he sees so much good in you that he’s willing to ignore what you do when he’s not around. But I can’t forget that from the moment JJ met you, whenever the two of you were together, trouble wasn’t too far behind. So no matter how many other sides of you he sees, as long as you come into my house high or planning to get high, I’m sorry, but I can’t see you as anything but a bad influence.”

“Maybe you need your eyes checked,” Rory said. “You think you know it all, but you got it all wrong. When JJ was messing up, it was all his idea. I just came along for the ride. Yeah, I like to mess around, have a little fun, live a little, but JJ’s the one who was flipping out when he first hit Salem.”

Jen’s lips thinned. Rory said, “Look, I’m not any more crazy about you than you are about me. But I’ll put up with you for one night for JJ’s sake.”

“What is he talking about?” Jen demanded of JJ.

JJ reddened. “I kinda told Rory he can crash here tonight. I thought since Abigail’s out for the night and we have that guest room anyway, it would be okay.”

“Honey, I’m sorry ,but I don’t think that’s a good idea. In fact, I think it would be best if Rory went home now.”

JJ crossed his arms. “Mom,” he said, trying hard to keep his temper under control, “if he could do that, do you think he’d hang around here letting you look at him like he’s a serial killer?”

“JJ!” Jen put her hand on JJ’s arm. “Come over here right now.” She started to drag JJ towards the kitchen.

Rory started to pick up his bag. “Forget it, dude. Let’s just hang in the park tonight.”

JJ turned towards him. “Just wait, will you?”

“I don’t stay where I’m not wanted, man.”

“Just gimme five minutes alone to explain it to her. I guarantee you she’ll see it our way.” JJ glared at his mother.

Bev followed Cole almost to the clearing where she and Rory had been hanging out. She ducked behind a tree and watched.

Rory was long gone. In fact, the clearing was empty except for some guy lying on the ground. Bev leaned forward and saw that the guy had tape wrapped around his wrists and ankles. She couldn’t make out his features, but she didn’t think she’d ever seen him before.

Cole looked over his shoulder, so Bev ducked back behind the tree again. She listened as Cole said, “What the hell happened?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” the other guy said. “You said this was some easy money. You’d better not have been lying to me.”

“I wasn’t,” Cole protested. “I can’t believe that scrawny little stoner got one over on you. How - “

“Never mind how. I’m gonna have to go to plan B. Get in the woods and find me my knife.”

Cole headed for the woods. Bev jumped back so he wouldn’t find her, then ran back to the tree she was supposed to be standing against. She leaned against it, trying to catch her breath before Cole came back. She didn’t know what to do about what she’d just heard, but she didn’t have time to think about it. He was going to be here any second now, and going against what he wanted was even more dangerous than she realized. She started to take out her phone, but she heard Cole’s footsteps. She shoved the phone back into her purse and made it look like she had been waiting for him this whole time.

Jen turned towards JJ, her eyes blazing. “You’d better tell me exactly what’s going on before I call Hope to come get your friend. I’m sure whatever’s going on at home, he doesn’t want to spend the night in jail.”

“Mom!” JJ’s eyes flashed. “Would you stop freaking out?”

“I’ve known for months that you were friends with Rory again, but I let it go because I trusted you. But tonight, you showed me that I was mistaken. Not only did you bring him home with you after staying out so late that you worried me almost to death, but you invited him to stay over, knowing that I’m not comfortable with him.” Jen paced back and forth. “You are lucky that you are too old for me to be able to punish you, because if I could you would be grounded for the rest of the semester. You may be 19 years old, but you are living in my house, and you have to live by my rules. I don’t care how bad Rory’s home life is. He is not welcome in this house. Now get rid of him.”

“I can’t do that, Mom. Look, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t an emergency.”

“An emergency?” Jen laughed. “What kind of emergency could he possibly have that - “

JJ took a deep breath to control himself. “Mom, Rory just got robbed. He took that shortcut through the woods and one minute he’s walking, the next he’s facing a knife to his throat.” He swallowed hard. “He got away, but Mom, he’s all shook up. I mean, he tries to act like he’s cool, but I can tell he’s not. I don’t think he should be alone.”

“Alone? Didn’t you tell me he lived with his brother now?”

“Kurt, um, he’s not around right now.” The lie slipped out too easily, but JJ didn’t have time to feel guilty about it. “Look, if it was me, and you weren’t here - “

“Then I’d hope you’d have the sense to go to someone like your Aunt Kayla who really cares about you.”

“Rory doesn’t have anyone like that, Mom. His brother’s useless and his mom, she’ll spit in his face and slam the door on him. If you make him leave, he’s gonna end up sleeping on a park bench and praying he doesn’t get robbed a second time.”

Jen hesitated, thinking. “I feel bad that Rory doesn’t have a family,” she said. “But JJ, choices have consequences. If Rory didn’t make such bad ones, maybe he’d have places to go other than the park.”

JJ turned away from her. “Where do you think I’d be if you’d given up on me like Rory’s mom did?”

“I could never do that, sweetheart. You know that. But as much as I want to judge Rory’s mom for turning her back on him, I can’t. I don’t know how hard she tried before she decided enough was enough or what she put up with. But what I do know, honey, is that Rory’s done a lot of things since then, and that’s what led him to this moment. And it’s sad, it really is. But - “

“Mom, please just stop, okay!” JJ couldn’t help getting loud. “I get why you’re upset with Rory being here. That’s on me cause of all the stuff I used to do. But Mom, it’s just one night, I swear, and I’m not doing that stuff with him anymore.”

“But he still gets high.”

“He knows he can’t do that here. I made that clear to him a long time ago. Look, Rory can get wild, but I swear, he turns all that off whenever he comes over. So maybe if someone like you actually gives him a chance he’ll think twice about what he’s doing.”

“He’s really important to you.” Jen sounded surprised.

“Yeah,”” JJ said. “He is.” He sighed deeply. “So can he stay?”

“One night, JJ. I don’t want him stretching it out into two, or a week, or six months.”

“He won’t. I promise.”

“I‘m sure Abigail doesn’t want him in her room, so he has to stay in yours where you can keep an eye on him. And if I see any drugs--no, if I even smell weed or anything else--I will call Hope and he can spend the rest of the night in jail.”

“Understood. Can I go tell him now, before he gives up and goes to the park?”

“One more thing.”

“What?”

Jen hugged her son tight, surprising him. “If what happened to him happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do. You promise me that you will be careful from now on, you understand?”

She had tears in her eyes as JJ hugged her back and mumbled, “I will, Mom.”


Rafe sat on a tree stump in the clearing, interviewing the latest robbery victim. “So if you know this is where all the stoners hang out, and you don’t do that yourself, what were you doing here?”

“I hope you’re not blaming the victim,” Jeff said. “That wouldn’t reflect well on the police when it gets out.”

Rafe grimaced as he reminded himself that even victims he didn’t like were still victims. “And I hope you’re not wasting my time,” he said. “Now the longer you mess around instead of answering my questions, the bigger head start this guy has. So let’s start again. How exactly did this all go down?”

“I was looking for a story,” Jeff explained. “This is kind of embarrassing, but after your boss wouldn’t give me anything, I thought I’d just have to work up to the big stuff. So I figured I’d come out here and report on the stoner circle and how the university isn’t doing anything about it.”

“Okay, so you came out here to catch some kids smoking weed. Then what?”

“They all scattered; they must have had a signal or something. So I figured, back to the drawing board, right? But before I could leave, one of them doubled back. The next thing I knew, he had a knife to my throat. He made me lie down and he tied me up before going through my pockets.” Jeff’s voice cracked. “He...he must have thought I was an easy mark cause I was here alone at night. I know it was stupid but I was just trying to get a story.”

“Did you get a look at the guy?”

Jeff nodded. “It was dark so it was hard to see, but, um, he smelled really strongly of weed and alcohol, and I could make out some of his features. He had long hair, like shoulder length and a ring on his pointer finger.”

“Ever seen him before?”

“Yeah. He hangs out with my friend JJ sometimes. His name is...um...I forget...but it starts with an R… Randy… or… maybe… I got it. It’s Rory.”

SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 4
- Nicole's plan may lead to a new job for JJ
- Rory and JJ are about to have bigger problems than Rory's continued desire to cheat on the exam
- Eve's response to Paige's plans may bring her face to face with a part of the past she'd rather forget.

I swore I wouldn't read until your story was finished, but I finally caved. Great job. Can't wait to see wait happens next with Rory.

Thanks Red Squirrel!

CHAPTER 4

“Don’t worry, I’ll be there,” Rafe said to someone on the phone as Nicole walked in. “Give me a few to settle this.” He closed his phone.

Nicole threw herself into her chair and said, “Workplace drama this early in the morning?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary.” Rafe smiled at Nicole. “Anyway, never mind all that. How are you?”

Nicole shrugged. “I’m all right. Listen, what can you tell me about the serial mugger on the Salem U campus? I shouldn’t have to rely on what little crumbs the newspaper’s got ahold of when I have a friend in the police department.”

“I can’t tell you a single thing. Not on a case this big where we have no leads--and don’t quote me on that.”

“Come on, Rafe, you know I’ll sit on it for as long as you need me to. Just give me something so that when the time comes, I can have an exclusive.”

Rafe put his hands around his coffee mug. “The brass put us under a gag order yesterday, Nicole. So I can’t breathe a word about this case, no matter how many promises you make to keep it to yourself. You can thank that intern of yours who was nosing around the station yesterday for that.”

Nicole scrunched up her face. “I don’t have an intern, at least not yet, and if I can drag this out long enough that Miles forgets about it, I won’t have one at all.”

“So Jeff Adkins isn’t actually working for you?”

“Nope. He apparently thought he’d get points for creativity after I already threw his application in the trash. Something’s strange about that guy, though. I can’t put my finger on it, but I get a bad feeling every time I even hear his name. I tried running it through all the public databases, but nothing. I thought maybe you’d have better luck.”

Rafe sipped his coffee, thinking. “I trust your instincts,” he said at last. “They’re just about as good as mine.”

“Yep, if I wasn’t a compulsive lawbreaker I would have made a good cop.”

“Yeah.” Rafe laughed. “Okay, this is completely off the record, and if anyone asks, you never heard it from me, but Jeff Adkins is supposedly our latest victim.”

“Supposedly. So you don’t believe him?”

“There’s too much that just doesn’t add up. There were details of his attack that are totally different than the other three, and when I asked him if he’d seen his attacker, a name rolled right off his lips. So no, between you and me, I don’t believe it. But until I can prove otherwise, I gotta go with the idea that he’s the fourth victim of our serial robber.”

“Maybe I can help,” Nicole said. “I’m tracking him down today anyway to let him know that the only person who gets to sabotage my reputation is me. Maybe I can get something out of him.”

“Even if you did, I don’t know how I’d use it. Here’s a free lesson in police procedure: don’t poke the bear unless you’re sure of what’s gonna come out.”

Nicole fake pouted. “Where’s the fun in that? Seriously, though, you really think this guy was faking being robbed?”

“Well, something happened, but I have my doubts it’s what he says it is.”

Nicole shook her head. “There’s just no lengths he won’t go to to try to get a story, and if there isn’t one, make one up. I’d better get to him before Miles does--otherwise he might get named intern of the year and I’ll be stuck with him.”

“Yeah.” Rafe checked his phone. “I gotta get to the station too.”

“Hey,” Nicole said as they got up. “This is crazy, I know, but do you think sometime maybe we can get together without either of us needing something?”

Rafe smiled. “When this case is over, maybe I’ll have my life back...so why not?”


JJ took out his music theory book and did some studying at his desk while he waited for Rory to get up. Since he couldn’t play his guitar right now, music theory was the next best thing--and anyway he needed to review some stuff in case there was a pop quiz.

Rory stretched and opened his eyes. “That’s what you do first thing in the morning?” he said. “Come on, dude, I know you wanna keep your grades up, but when do you have time for, yunno, living?”

JJ bit his lip as he turned a page. “I’m not one to tell you how to live your life, man,” he said, “but there is so much more out there than just getting high and getting wasted.”

“Um, which one of us was it who almost spent the best years of our lives in prison?”

JJ reddened. “Look, nobody knows more than me how much I deserved to be locked up. The reason I’m not is cause someone gave me a second chance, and I took it. Dude, all I’m saying is, after we’re done with school, don’t you want to be doing something with your life?”

Rory shifted his weight. “Yeah, I want enough money to get far away from here. Maybe travel the world or something, I don't know.”

“Well, how are you gonna do that if you’re baked all the time?”

“Why worry about that now, man? When the time comes I’ll figure it out.” Rory’s phone buzzed; he scowled as he glanced at it. “I know one thing, dude. I’m not living with my idiot brother once my money comes in. Look at this.”

JJ glanced at Rory’s phone. Kurt’s text read, Where are u lil bro? Guess u never came home last nite...check in so I know ur alive.

“Guess he was so wasted he doesn’t remember a thing,” JJ said. “Sorry, dude.”

“No biggie. I’m used to it.” Rory picked up his jacket off the floor. ”Hurry up, will you? I wanna roll before your mom has the chance to kick me out.”


When Paige came out into the living room, her mother was looking at something on the computer. “Morning,” Paige said sleepily.

“Oh, hi sweetheart.” Eve hit her phone against her palm. “I was about to make a phone call. Can you excuse me for just a minute?”

“Mom,” Paige said as Eve got up. “I’ve slept on it, and I’m still moving in with Daphne.”

Eve’s face fell but all she said was, “We’ll talk about it in a minute, baby, I promise. Let me just get rid of this sales rep.”

Eve went into the other room and closed the door almost all the way. Paige didn’t notice that she’d left it open a crack or that she was watching her daughter sit down at the computer.

Paige glanced at the computer screen. She saw that her mother had been working on some kind of ad for the online classifieds. She scanned it quickly. “Large bedroom available in spacious two bedroom apartment, affordable rent… need tenant right away as my daughter is moving out,” she read.

Eve came back just then. “Sorry about that. You know how these sales reps are, they’re all the way on the other side of the world and they don’t care that it’s practically the crack of dawn over here.” Paige shot her a look and she said, “What’s the matter, baby?”

“You’re renting out my room?”

“I was thinking about it. You know, with you moving out I thought I might be a little lonely, plus let’s face it, I’m getting up there in years and every little bit of money I collect can help...that settlement from Jack Deveraux’s estate isn’t going to last forever, you know.”

“But I thought I’d leave some of my clothes and stuff here since it’s so close… and that I’d come back to visit sometimes.”

“Well, I’m sorry sweetheart, but if you’re moving out I have to do what I have to do. Of course, if you want to change your mind, I haven’t posted the ad yet.”

Paige crossed her arms. “You know, Mom, sometimes you disgust me. Do whatever you want. I’ll just pack up all my things and hope they fit in my side of the dorm room.”

“Sweetheart!”

“I’ll call you later. I have a lot to do today.” Paige stomped out.

Marissa sat at one of the outdoor tables at the coffee shop, sipping coffee and feeling like it wasn’t doing a thing for her. She opened her purse to check herself in the mirror embedded into the cover. Her hair was a mess and there were dark circles under her big, brown eyes. Great. Everybody who walked by could probably tell she’d barely slept.

Fishing through her purse for a brush, she found a business card she didn’t remember getting. She took it out and looked at it. It was Marlena’s card--that shrink she’d met at the hospital the day of the attack. Maybe talking to someone’s not such a bad idea, she thought. She took out her phone and started to dial Marlena’s number.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two boys walking towards her. Her heart beat faster. Was that JJ? And who was that long-haired kid with him? They were both cute, but her eyes were drawn to JJ and she couldn’t look away.

She closed her phone as the boys came closer. Making an appointment with Dr. Evans would have to wait. Even though a voice in the back of Marissa’s head told her to be careful, she found herself pushing her hair behind her ears to make herself look halfway decent before JJ came close enough to see her.


Roman had called Hope and Rafe into his office for another briefing on the robbery cases. “Before you say anything,” he told them, “I want you to think long and hard about why we’re not making progress on this case. The last victim gave you a name and a description, so you’d better have a good explanation, Rafe, for why the suspect’s free to roam the streets instead of locked up in one of the holding cells.”

Rafe sighed. “I’m still checking out his story. If it all adds up, we’ll make an arrest later this afternoon.”

“Almost 24 hours after the crime was reported.”

“Yeah. I know the timeline. Look, on the surface of it, I’d say there’s been a break in the case. But something about it’s just too neat. None of the other victims even got a glimpse of the guy because he attacked from behind, so how is it that this one not only saw him, but could match a name to his face?”

“Maybe the perp just got cocky.”

“It’s not just that, though. Everything about this crime scene’s all wrong. The other three victims were attacked in the dorms. This one was in the woods.”

Roman shrugged. “You thought he might be hiding out there.”

“Like I said before, the MO’s totally different. The guy we’re looking for uses rope on the arms--which he always secures behind the back, not above the head--and tape only on the legs. He also rips off a piece of the clothing to use as a gag. This victim was bound just with tape and wasn’t gagged. Plus, usually someone finds them and calls campus security and security calls us. This one came in as an anonymous tip on our crime line. You gotta admit, something smells at least a little fishy about all this.”

Roman glanced at Hope. “Hope, you agree with Rafe on this one?”

“I don’t know.” Hope sighed. “The differences certainly sound suspicious, but I wasn’t there--Rafe was. Plus, I don’t know, maybe I just want this guy to be lying.” She checked her notes on her tablet. “The kid he fingered is JJ Deveraux’s best friend, so if Jeff’s telling the truth, there’s a chance JJ’s involved, and I don’t want to think about that.”

“Come on, Hope,” Rafe told her. “You’ve handled tougher cases than this without batting an eye. Besides, if you really thought you couldn’t be objective, you’d be asking to be let off the case, and you’re not.”

“I’m not worried about any of that,” Roman told them. “The question in my mind is, why would someone make this up?”

Rafe shrugged. “I’ve been racking my brains on this one. I don't know, this kid seems desperate to get that internship over at Titan. Maybe he thought faking a mugging’s a good way to do that.”

“That’s a little farfetched, isn’t it?” Hope interjected. “Wouldn’t the story he says he was trying to get about the drug problems be a better way to try to get Nicole’s attention?”

“I don't know. I still say something’s off about him.”

“All right,” Roman said. “With all due respect to your instincts, Rafe, right now we’ve got the name of a suspect and we’re just sitting on it. That’s gotta change before this kid goes to whatever press ties he thinks he has and complains that we’re not doing enough. I’m dispatching a couple of uniforms to pick up this Rory character. That way we can keep the arrest quiet til we’re sure what we’re looking at. Rafe, I want you in charge of the interrogation once we got him. Hope, you poke around the victims’ backgrounds--see if we got enough circumstantial evidence to tie him to any of the other robberies.”

“You know we don’t have enough for a PC hearing,” Rafe said. “Basically all we got is this one victim’s say so.”

“We’ll let the DA worry about that. Once he’s in custody we have 72 hours before we have to cut him loose.” Roman closed the file folder and said, “Tell Jenkins and Horowitz to come in here on your way out so I can brief them on the suspect.”

Rory’s phone buzzed again as he and JJ walked through the square. Rory hit the decline button and shoved his phone back in his pocket.

“Kurt again?” JJ asked. “Dude, he’s gonna be calling me any second asking if I’ve seen you.”

“So don’t answer. Look, dude, I’m not avoiding him forever. Just til I can smoke a joint, clear my head enough.”

Just then, a girl sitting at one of the tables called JJ’s name. JJ turned around. He blushed when he saw it was Marissa. “Hey. Marissa, right?”

“The one and only.” Marissa tried to smile. “You still owe me a sit-down over frozen yogurt,” she said, “but since it’s early, why don’t you join me for some coffee?”

Rory’s mouth dropped open, while JJ looked away from Marissa. “I’d like to, but, uh, I kind of have plans with - “

“Your friend can join us, of course.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice,” Rory said, and sat down before JJ could say anything. “Rory’s the name,” he said, “and whatever you like is my game.”

“Don’t mind him,” JJ said. “He has no idea what’s coming out of his mouth right now.”

“Well, it is early,” Marissa said. “What are you two doing out and about?”

“Just killing some time before class,” JJ told her. “Rory, um...he stayed over last night but neither of us has class til like four, so we figured we’d hang out here today.”

“Oh,” Marissa said. “So that’s why you weren’t into me yesterday.”

Rory giggled. “We don’t swing that way. We’re into girls, well I am anyway. JJ keeps passing up the hottest ones.”

“Dude!” JJ said. “My cousin’s gay, not cool to make it look like a big joke.” He turned back to Marissa. “Anyway, Rory had to stay over last night cause something happened...um…”

“A guy tried to rob me!” Rory sounded almost like he was proud of it.

Marissa’s eyes widened. She picked up her coffee, quickly, and took a sip. “Oh my gosh,” she said. “Are you all right?”

“Better than that. You wouldn’t believe what happened. I got one over on him and now he’s lying in the woods waiting…”

Marissa’s eyes got even wider. JJ could see her hands shaking, and her breath was coming a bit faster. “Can we… excuse me a minute, I just need…” She got up quickly, then grabbed onto the back of her chair.

“Marissa!” JJ said, getting up too and putting his hand on her shoulder without thinking, to steady her.

Daphne and Paige met at the school cafeteria. It was more crowded than usual; Paige had to push through a ton of students to get to Daphne’s table.

“Is something special going on?” Paige asked Daphne. “It seems like everyone’s in here.”

“Didn’t you hear? The robber attacked someone in the woods last night, and rumor has it the cops are about to catch the guy. Everyone’s crowded in here waiting to see who it is.”

“Oh.”

Daphne took a key out of her purse and played with it. “This is great news, Paige. Once they make an arrest, it means the campus is totally, 100% safe. Not that it wasn’t before, but this should put your mom’s mind at ease.”

“Yeah,” Paige said, staring at the key.

“What’s wrong?” Daphne asked her. “Last night you were all excited to come get your copy of the key and this morning you look like someone died. Your mom didn’t talk you out of it, did she?”

“Not exactly.” Paige blinked back tears as she took the key. “I’m still moving in with you, don’t worry. It’s just that my mom already told me she’s renting out my room as soon as I move out. I thought I was going to be able to go back and forth, but it seems like she can’t wait to get rid of me so she can move someone else in.”

“I don’t understand,” Daphne said. “This is a good thing, right? I mean, if she’s gonna fill your room with a stranger, she’s accepted your right to move into the dorms.”

“That’s the worst part,” Paige said. “I don’t even know why I care. But I feel like… if I move in my mom’s just going to forget all about me.”

“But you know she’s not.” Daphne’s voice was soft. “Paige, your mom is always going to be your mom. She’s just trying to make you feel bad so you won’t leave. Don’t you see that?”

“I guess.”

“Look, I bet you anything that by the time the dorms close next summer, there won’t be anyone staying in your room. So come on, after class let’s go get some of your stuff and start moving in. All right?”

Paige took her key ring out and slid the key onto it. “I have my internship this afternoon,” she said, “but maybe I can squeeze a few minutes in to get the boxes I packed last night.”

“Yay! Paige, this is going to be so great.”

Paige made herself smile as she nodded in agreement.

Daniel held Parker’s hand while the nurse prepped his arm. “Make sure the blood panel includes tests for viral disease as well as bacteria,” he told Maxine. “Also, his oxygen has been stable for over 24 hours--can we get someone in here after this to make a decision about trying him out without the CPAP?”

“We’ll get to it as soon as we can,” Maxine said. “Is he ready for the blood draw?”

“Let me check the tourniquet,” Daniel said. Maxine grimaced but said nothing as Daniel slid his finger under it, then adjusted the tightness.

As soon as Parker saw the needle he began to cry. “No, no, no needle!” he sobbed, pulling away from Daniel.

The monitor began beeping like crazy. Daniel ran his hands through Parker’s hair, trying to comfort him. “It’ll all be over in a minute, buddy. How about you, Parker, you just close your eyes so you don’t see it and we’ll tell you when it’s all done?”

“No!” Parker cried harder.

Maxine glanced at the monitor. “Now look,” she said. “Either this boy gets calm in the next five seconds or alarms are gonna be going off and a whole bunch of people are gonna come running in here expecting to need to save his life. Daniel, I know I’m not a doctor, but I’ve seen a lot of kids in his position calm right down with a little bit of medication.”

Daniel shook his head. “He doesn’t need a sedative swirling around his system while we’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with him. Just give me five minutes with him and I promise you he will let us do this.”

“And what makes you think we got time to spare?” Maxine’s voice was soft.

Daniel’s shoulders slumped as he turned back to his son. “He’s getting there, aren’t you, Parker?”

Maxine put her hand on his shoulder. “Move over, Dr Daddy. Let me try something.” She sat down next to Parker. “Now Parker, you’re too big a boy to be making all that fuss. You are old enough to understand we need to take some blood out of you so that the doctors can find out what’s making you sick.”

“No needle.” Parker sniffed.

“I don’t know any other way to get the blood we need. Not unless your daddy here is okay with us putting a whole lot of little worms on your arm to suck out your blood.”

“Ew!”

“I didn’t think so. So you gotta be brave for just a few minutes, Parker. Your daddy is gonna hold your hand and that is all he is going to do.” She fixed Daniel with a look. “And I’m gonna tell Nurse Todd to take a break and I’m gonna take your blood myself. But I don’t want to hear any screaming. You just close your eyes and hold your daddy’s hand and let’s get this done.”

Parker hesitated. “Come on now,” Maxine said. “We don’t have all day.” Parker flopped back on his pillow. He gave his hand to Daniel and covered his eyes with his other hand.

“Thanks, Maxine,” Daniel said.

Maxine turned around as she put on a pair of latex gloves. “I know it’s not easy with a sick child, but sometimes you can’t be so soft on them. That boy just needed to know we meant business, that’s all. And you, Daniel Jonas, you stop trying to do everything else for him and just keep holding his hand. We got this.”


Marissa stiffened. “Could you please not do that?”

“Sorry.” JJ took his hand away. “I… I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean to…

“No, it’s cool. You didn’t want me to break my head if I fainted.” Marissa sat down again. “I’m fine now, though.”

“You sure?” JJ asked. “I can call Daniel or my Aunt Kayla or someone to take a look at you.”

“Nah, no need. I’m embarrassed, I guess, but otherwise okay.” Marissa forced a smile. “I’ve just had way too much caffeine this morning. Sorry to have scared you.”

“Nah, no problem. But you’re sure you’re all right?”

Marissa nodded. “I had a bad feeling for a second, but it’s gone now.”

Rory dug his weed out of his pocket. “How about something to help take the edge off?” he asked.

JJ shot Rory a look. “What?” Rory said. Marissa shook her head slightly and he said, “Guess this’ll last me a while then.” and put it away.

“So you smoke weed,” Marissa said, and JJ couldn’t tell from her tone of voice how she felt about that. “Do you smoke too, JJ?”

Before JJ could answer, two uniforms came up behind them. “Rory Adams?” one of the uniforms said.

Rory hid his fear with a laugh. “Who wants to know?”

“Police officer.” Rory glanced at JJ, who looked as surprised as he did. “Stand up, please, Rory, and put your hands behind your back. You’re under arrest for armed robbery.”

“He didn’t do anything,” JJ protested. “He was - “

“That’s for a judge to decide,” the cop told him, “not you. If you don’t want to get locked up too, stay out of it.”

JJ’s eyes flashed, but Marissa touched his arm. “Don’t, JJ,” she said. “It’s not worth it.”

“Stop touching him,” the other cop told her. “In fact, both of you can sit quietly with your hands on top of the table until we’re done here so we know there’s no monkey business going on.” JJ hesitated and she said, “I’d hate to have to arrest anyone else, but we do have plenty of room in the holding cells if need be.” He scowled but he did as he was told.

“You got it backwards, man,” Rory complained as the first cop cuffed his hands behind his back. “I was the one who got robbed, not the other way around.”

The cop ignored him, patting him down instead. “No weapons on him.” He began emptying Rory’s pockets onto the table. “Well, what do you know?” he said, holding up a dime bag of weed.

“Are you gonna jam him up over that too?” JJ asked.

The two cops looked at each other and the female one standing by Marissa said, quickly, “Step over here with me, please, sir.”

Why do I have to be so stupid? JJ thought as he followed her.


After the blood test was over, Parker fell asleep almost right away. Maxine came back from dropping the blood samples off at the lab to find Daniel sitting by Parker’s bedside. “He’s out,” he said, his voice flat. “All that upset must have tired him out.”

“You look like you’re halfway there yourself.”

“Nothing a power nap won’t fix.”

“Tell you what. Why don’t you get someone to sit with Parker while you and me step out for a cup of coffee.”

“I’m okay for now. Maggie’s gonna come by later so I can see a couple of patients.”

“If you’re talking about seeing patients at a time like this, then you definitely need to step out of this room so you can get your head on straight.”

“Life goes on.” Daniel’s voice was quiet. “Even at a time like this. Other people are depending on me, and I cannot, Maxine, I cannot let them down.”

“You sure there’s no one who can sit with Parker for 20 minutes so you can get yourself some fresh air?”

“I’ll do it,” a voice said from behind them. Daniel turned to see Chloe standing in the doorway. She looked like she’d been crying all the way from Chicago, though she gave him a weak smile. “But first I want Daniel to fill me in on what’s going on with our son.”


The cop took JJ over to the wall of the coffee shop and made him stand against it, facing her.

He said, “Look, that came out wrong. I didn’t mean - “

“If I were you, I’d stop talking before I get any deeper into trouble.” JJ glanced at the ground and then back at her, his expression turning from anger to fear. She said, “I’m not out to get you or your friend. But he’s in a whole lot of hot water, and if you don’t control that mouth of yours, you’re going to end up in it too. Understood?”

JJ nodded.

“So consider this your final warning. You mouth off again, I’m arresting you for disorderly conduct.”

“It won’t happen again. I promise.”

“Good. Now, I had another reason for walking you over here. You and your friend seem pretty tight. I want to know what you know about last night.”

JJ took a deep breath to control himself. “All I know is what he told me when he showed up on my porch last night. Some guy tried to rob him in the woods, and he was pretty shaken up about it. So my mom, she let him stay over so he could chill out.”

“And you think he was telling you the truth?”

“Um,” JJ said slowly, trying to choose his words carefully, “Rory’s not that good a liar. Even if he got one over on me, there’s no way my mom would ever have let him stay if she wasn’t totally convinced he was telling the truth.”

“Okay. I’ll let Detective Hernandez know when we get to the station.” The cop turned to go back to the table and gestured for JJ to follow her.

Eve decided to go for a walk in the park. She’d had to get out of the house so she could stop replaying her argument with Paige over and over. She’ll come home tonight, she thought. Of course she will.

Her phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse quickly, hoping it was Paige. It was a number she didn’t recognize; she started to hit the decline button, but stopped herself. If she was going to put out an ad, she was going to have to let herself get bothered.

“Yes?” she said, answering the phone. She didn’t like what the person on the other end said, but she kept her cool. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. There are lots of reasons you’re not suitable, and I’m sure if you think about it, you can come up with one or two yourself, all right?” She hung up the phone, making a face as she headed for the pub to get a drink.


When they got back to the table, the cop put on her tough girl voice and said to JJ, “No more warnings. Have a seat.”. JJ stared at the ground as he sat down and put his hands on the table again.

The cops were leading Rory away. “You two are free to go,” one of them said. “But a word of advice: both of you--and especially you, young lady--should think twice about the company you keep from now on so that it doesn’t get you into trouble.” They left.

Marissa looked like she was blinking back tears as she picked up her coffee. “You okay?” JJ asked her.

“Oh yeah, fine. This was exactly how I wanted this morning to go.”

JJ pushed away from the table so hard it moved. “I’m sorry, Marissa,” he said.
“What are you sorry for now?”

“If it wasn’t for me and my big mouth they probably would have left us alone. But I rubbed them the wrong way so they had to treat us like criminals. It’s bad enough that cop walked me over there in front of everyone, but that was kinda on me. If the other one did anything to you while I was gone... “ JJ curled his hands into fists.

“Stop it!” Marissa’s voice shook and she looked more scared than angry. “It’s over, JJ, just let it go.”

JJ crossed his arms, turning his back to her. “You barely know me, but you’re already judging me for my temper.” He started to walk away.

“JJ, wait!”

JJ didn’t know why, but he turned around again. “What?”

“Look,” Marissa said. “You’re right, I have no business telling you how to feel, especially when I’m angry too. I mean, I survive a violent robbery, and then this morning they make me show them my hands like I’m the bad guy. What IS that?” She took a step towards JJ, slowly, and said, “I didn’t like having to let them… um, having to do whatever they told us. And they treated you like you were an awful, dangerous person just because you asked them a question. But I’m putting it all aside for your friend’s sake. It’s… it’s even worse for him. We’re free to stand here complaining and he’s locked up for something he probably didn’t do.”

“He didn’t!”

Marissa flinched, but she said, quietly, “I believe you, JJ.”

“You do?”

She nodded. “Rory seems like the goofy type, and goofy and violent don’t really mix. Besides, there’s no way I can ever forget the guy who really did this. Everything about him was different from Rory. His voice… his manners… he wasn’t even as tall.”

“I thought you didn’t see him.”

“I didn’t, but I heard him. I… I felt him.” Marissa’s hands tightened into fists. “God I hate talking about it!”.

“I’m sorry,” JJ said. Marissa stood still, breathing heavily. She uncurled her fists and said, more softly, “I told you yesterday, you don’t have to apologize because you’re not the one who did this.”

“I...I know. I just… I don’t know what to say.” JJ could feel himself blushing. He made himself shut up.

“You don’t have to say anything.” Marissa was standing very close to JJ; she didn’t trust herself not to try to kiss him. She looked into his eyes and her whole body hungered for him, but she shook her head ruefully and made herself move back. “I don’t know which is worse,” she said. “Your friend getting arrested when he didn’t do anything or me knowing that the real robber is still out there somewhere.” She pulled her purse over her shoulder. “I can’t just sit here. I have to… I have to do something..”

“Where are you going?” JJ demanded as Marissa pushed past him.

“The police station. I have to try to straighten this out.” Marissa glanced over her shoulder at JJ. “You coming?”

JJ hesitated for a split second before following her.

Chloe and Daniel stood in a corner of the room, talking quietly, while Parker slept. “He’s gonna be fine,” Daniel told Chloe. “It’s just hard to get good sleep in a hospital, that’s all, plus we just had to take blood.”

“If you say he will be, I’m sure he will. You know more about these things than I do.” Chloe sighed as she walked over to Parker’s bed and ran her hands through his hair. “Mommy’s here, sweetheart,” she said softly. She turned back to Daniel. “I just have one question.”

“I’ll give it my best shot.”

“How did this start?”

Daniel sighed. He turned away from Chloe so she wouldn’t see the emotions fighting to take over his face. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “He was fine when I sent him off to preschool. Kayla, she seems to think it’s his heart, but you’ve got to know that it could be anything. Maybe he picked up a bug at school, maybe he had an asthma attack… we just don’t know yet.”

“But what if it is his heart?” Chloe’s eyes widened. “I mean, you didn’t say it wasn’t, so is it?”

“I can’t, Chloe, I can’t lie… I think the chances are it’s not, I think there are too many other possibilities, but if I say no, and I’m wrong... “

Chloe sat down next to Parker and took his hand in hers. “It’s funny, the other day I was telling someone how big he’s getting… but now he seems so small.” She looked up at Daniel. “If it’s okay… can I just spend a few minutes with him by myself? That way you can get a break and I can… I can make up for not being able to be here sooner.”

Daniel nodded slowly.


Marissa stormed into the police station, followed by JJ. “Where’s Rafe Hernandez?” she demanded.

“Young lady,” the front desk sergeant said, “you’re going to have to calm down if you want to see Detective Hernandez or anyone else.”

Marissa took a breath but she said, “I’ll calm down when you guys stop locking up the wrong people and get the animal who attacked me.”

Hope came out of her office. “I’ve got this,” she told the desk sergeant. She smiled at Marissa and said, “What can I do for you, Marissa? Did you remember something else about the night you were attacked?”

“Kind of,” Marissa wrung her hands, suddenly feeling nervous. “Um, the guy who did this... He’s not the guy I just saw get arrested right in front of me.”

“Come into my office,” Hope said, putting her hand on Marissa’s shoulder. Marissa flinched. “I… um, please don’t touch me.”

“Sorry. Follow me.” Hope looked over her shoulder at JJ. “If you’re here to see Rory, you’re going to have to wait, JJ. I’m sorry.” She walked off with Marissa before JJ could say anything else. He sank down in an empty seat and put his head in his hands.


Kayla was in her office doing some paperwork when her phone buzzed. She glanced at it and saw the notification that Parker’s blood tests were ready. She turned her chair around so she could sign into her computer and see what was going on.

Kayla scrolled slowly through the lab report, taking notes by hand at the same time. Suddenly, she stopped and stared at something on her screen. “That can’t be right,” she said under her breath. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. “Dr. Collins? This is Kayla Brady over at University Hospital. Yes, Parker Jonas’ doctor. We did just get the blood panel back; actually, that’s why I’m calling. I think you’d better take a look at this and tell me what you think.”


“So,” Hope asked Marissa once they were settled in her office. “Tell me exactly what you remembered.”

Marissa fidgeted with the charm on her necklace. “The guy wasn’t too much taller than me,” she said slowly, “and he had kind of a deep voice.”

Hope wrote that down. “But you still don’t remember anything about what he looked like?”

Marissa shook her head. “I told you, I never saw him. But I know one thing--that boy you arrested had nothing to do with it. So can you please let him go?”

“Not up to me,” Hope told her. “But tell you what. How about we put him in a lineup and if you don’t recognize anybody - “

“No.” Marissa got up. “Detective Brady, I don’t need a lineup to tell me who did and didn’t attack me. I was sitting right there when they arrested that kid. Your officers treated me and JJ like we were criminals, like we were in cahoots with him, when the only thing any of us did was have a cup of coffee together! So don’t waste my time asking me if I can ID someone who I know is innocent. Let him go and get back to looking for the creep who really did this to me.”

“Wait, you were with JJ?”

“Yeah. I happened to run into him and his friend at the coffee shop. Why? Is something wrong with him?”

“Of course not. I just didn’t - “

Marissa held her hand up. “You know what, never mind. I don’t want to hear it. After seeing the way your officers treated us, I already know that you all make up your minds about people first and get to know them second. If there’s anything about JJ I should know, I’m sure I’ll find out for myself.”

Marissa’s glare seemed to be daring Hope to argue with her. Hope closed her tablet and said, “I was going to say that I didn’t know you knew each other.”

Marissa crossed her arms. “I told you before, Detective Brady. I know you’re not my friend. So why would you know anything about me, or want to, that doesn’t have to do with finding the creep who attacked me?”

Hope raised her eyebrow. “You’re right. I’m not your friend. But believe it or not, I think I can be.”

“Can I go?”

Hope nodded. “If it doesn’t offend you too much, ask JJ to step in here for a minute. I need to get his statement about Rory’s whereabouts last night on record.”


There was a knock on Kayla’s office door. She looked up and took her glasses off. “Dr. Collins,” she said to the tall woman standing in her doorway. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“Any time a child’s health is involved, I try to make time,” Dr. Collins said as she came in. “What are we looking at?”

Kayla turned her computer screen. “We ran preliminary blood tests prior to - “

“Do you have a print out? My eyes can’t take too much of staring at a screen all day.”

Kayla’s lips thinned. She forced a half smile. “Of course.” She pressed a button to print the results and handed it to Dr. Collins.

Dr. Collins scanned it quickly and said, “I’m guessing you’re concerned about these elevated protein levels.”

Kayla nodded. “Is there any chance the test is inaccurate? Cross contamination or anything like that?”

“Unless the lab mixed up this boy’s blood with someone else’s, that’s just wishful thinking. Come on, now, if you didn’t know the boy’s name and you were just looking at test results, would you even ask a question like that?”

“I guess not,” Kayla admitted.

“I didn’t think so. No, unfortunately this is exactly what it says it is. Bring the parents in here and let’s tell them so that we can get on with it before it’s too late.”

JJ came halfway into Hope’s office before he remembered to knock. “You wanted to see me?”

“Have a seat.” Hope’s tone was all business; JJ didn’t like it. He crossed his arms as he sat down.

“Officer Horowitz said that you have information about where Rory was last night.”

JJ’s face relaxed. “He was with me all night.”

“What time did he get there?”

“I don't know. 11 or a little after. Mom was flipping out about me being on campus so late and then he showed up in the middle of it.”

Hope put her pen down and leaned forward. “Your mom worries because she cares. I hope you took what she said to heart.”

JJ played with his backpack strap. “Are we done?”

“Almost. What’d he tell you about where he’d been?”

“Some guy robbed him in the woods.” Hope gave JJ a look over the top of her glasses. “What?” he said.

“Rory told you the robber I’m investigating attacked him and it never crossed your mind or your mother’s to call me?”

“Mom probably would have,” JJ said, “but I didn’t want her to.” Hope shot him a suspicious look. “Look, he was in no condition to be seeing you guys last night. I was afraid you’d take one look at him and forget about what happened to him cause of how he was.”

“You mean because he was high.”

JJ shrugged.

“If Rory’s story is true, calling me right away could have given us a chance to catch this guy. Now we have to waste time figuring out what the truth is, and if Rory’s innocent, the real robber has had plenty of time to get away.”

JJ’s eyes flashed but he just said, “Can I go now?”

Hope sighed. “I guess. But JJ… hopefully there won’t be a next time, but if you run into any more crime victims, you send them my way, understand?”

“Duly noted.” JJ started to leave. Hope said, “And you can tell anyone who it might affect, we care more about what happened to them than about drug charges.”

JJ turned around. “Oh yeah?”

“Of course.”

“So you’re not gonna jam Rory up over the weed you found when you arrested him?”

Hope sighed. “I’m sorry, honey, but that’s different. Rory broke the law, period. He has to pay the price.”

JJ turned his back to her. “You wouldn’t have even known he was holding if you hadn’t got him mixed up with the guy who put a knife to his throat. That’s messed up. Besides, what price did I pay for all the stuff I did that was way worse than just holding onto a bag of weed for later?”

“Your case was completely different.”

“Why? Because I’m a Horton?”

“No. Because you cleaned up your act. Rory has the same chance to go before a judge and plead his case you did.”

“It’s not fair, Hope. It’s not like you caught him smoking it.”

Hope stared at him. Then she said, quietly, “I think you know better than that, JJ, especially after the problems you’ve had. Off the record--are you using with him again?”

“No!” JJ sounded offended. “Hope, I haven’t touched that stuff in over a year, and honestly I never want to see it again.”

”Okay. In that case, why are you losing it over him getting in trouble for it?”

JJ shook his head but said nothing. Hope came around to the other side of the desk. “I’m not asking as a cop, JJ. I’m asking as someone who cares about you.”

JJ sighed. “Rory can’t get a break, Hope. We didn’t tell you like we should have, I get that, but he’s still a victim and you’re still locking him up anyway. Plus, I did way worse stuff than he’s ever done and at my sentencing hearing, the room was packed. Even Mr. Carver stood up for me. But Rory, when he goes before the judge, he’ll be lucky if anyone but me even cares enough to show up. So I don't know, maybe if he could get a break this one time, he’d… maybe it’d wake him up... ”

“That’s sweet, but I have to tell you that in my experience as a cop, that’s not the way it works. I’m sorry, JJ, but unless something major happens, Rory’s headed for a life in and out of prison.”

JJ’s shoulders slumped. Hope said, “If overlooking the weed he had on him could change that, I’d do it. But it won’t help, honey. If anything, it might make him worse.”

JJ took a deep breath. He turned towards Hope and said, “Can you at least call Mr. Jennings and see if he’ll maybe take Rory’s case? I know Rory can’t pay but - “

Hope blushed slightly at the mention of Aiden’s name.

“Please, Hope,” JJ said. “Mr. Jennings got me out of a 10 year sentence when he barely knew me. If anyone can do anything for Rory, it’s him.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Hope said. “But I can’t promise anything.”

“I know.” JJ pulled his bag over one shoulder. “I can go now, right?”

Hope nodded. She collapsed in her seat as JJ walked out. JJ better not let Rory drag him down with him, she thought, rubbing her temples. She took out her phone and called someone. “Do you think you can meet me at Club TBD in an hour? I have to talk to you. It involves JJ.”


Eve sat at one of the outdoor tables by Brady Pub, nursing a glass of wine. It was a little chilly out; she pulled her sweater closed as she took a sip.

She saw Eric Brady walking across the patio. He had his camera around his neck and was carrying some other camera equipment, lights or something.

“Eric!” Eve said as Eric passed by. “I was just thinking about calling you, but it’s so much nicer to meet over a drink, don’ t you think? Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll order another glass of wine...what do you like?”

“Um,” Eric said, reddening slightly. “I actually may have to take a raincheck.”

“Another one? If I didn’t know better, Eric Brady, I’d think you’re purposely keeping busy to avoid me.”

“Not at all. I just happen to be on my way to a shoot right now.”

Eve sipped her wine. “I understand. This’ll only take but a minute, though. What difference will just a minute make? For all your client knows, their clock is just a tiny bit fast. Besides, I was hoping you’d pray with me, and I know you wouldn’t want to put some grumpy client before a prayer request.”

Eric looked at her like he was trying to figure out if she was telling the truth or not. “What can I help you with?” he asked.

“Well… this is probably me being silly, but they say God answers all prayers and does all things, right?”

“Almost all things,” Eric agreed. “Sometimes He has a different idea of where you should go, so even if He doesn’t answer your prayer, you can rest assured that He’s giving you what you most need.”

“The thing is, Eric,” Eve said slowly, “my daughter Paige is insisting on doing something that I think is too dangerous, and it seems like there’s nothing I can say or do to stop her.”

“That’s always tough. I can’t think of anything harder than seeing clearly where someone’s headed and not being able to turn them from the path they’re going down. It’s at times like these that you really have to trust in God. If Paige is determined to make this decision, just let her do it and trust that God will protect her.”

“How can you have so much faith when you have lost so much?” Eve asked.

Eric sighed. “It saddens me that you have so little. Paige will be fine, and so will you.” He glanced at his phone. “I’m sorry, I have to run. I’d be happy to hear the specifics about what’s going on with Paige later, though.”

Eve’s phone buzzed. She looked at it and made a face. “I actually have to run too,” she said. “A situation has kind of come up.”

After Eric walked on, Eve picked up her wine and said, “I’m going to need a drink to deal with this.” She picked up her phone and texted somebody:

The answer is still NO. Now leave me alone.
T was working behind the bar when Paige and Daphne came up. “So you survived another day!” he said to Paige. “I’m glad you decided to come back. Who’s this?”

Paige wasn’t really in the mood. “T, Daphne. Daphne, this is T. He manages the bar when Sonny and Ben aren’t here.” Daphne looked puzzled. “You know,” Paige said under her breath. “JJ’s cousin and that guy who dates his sister.”

“Right,” Daphne said. “So you’re Sonny’s right hand man?” she asked T.

“Right hand, left hand and anything else he needs,” T said. “Gosh, that didn’t even make sense, did it? Sorry. Don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”

“I would quit while I was ahead if I were you,” Paige told him.

T’s face fell and he said, “What can I get you ladies?” His eyes lingered on Daphne. Paige’s eyes narrowed, though she told herself it was stupid to care since T wasn’t her type anyway.

“We just need some boxes,” Paige said, “if you happen to have any. I’m moving and I want to make sure I have enough.”

“Tall order, but I’ll see what I can do.” T went to the back. Daphne giggled. “He’s cute,” she said. Paige gave her a look and she added, quickly, “in a goofy, not really boyfriend material kind of way.” T came back with a couple of boxes and Paige thanked him before hurrying out of the bar.

JJ doubled back to the police station after class to see whether Rory was still there. The desk sergeant said he could see visitors now and took JJ to the cell to see him. “Five minutes,” she said, and stood by the door watching them.

Rory was sitting on his bunk, staring into space. JJ looked back at him, feeling awkward. “Sorry they haven’t cut you loose yet, man,” he said at last.

Rory laughed. “Don’t look so down in the mouth. We had some good times in this cell, granted we were both on the same side of it then, but still.”

JJ tried to make himself smile, but he couldn’t do it.

“Seriously,” Rory said, “don’t worry about me. They say the judge’ll let me go without any bail tomorrow and then it’ll be back to good times, at least til my date with him over this weed.”

“Good to hear. Listen, man, I called in a favor to get you a real lawyer.”

“Thanks but no thanks.” Rory put his hands on the bars, but took them off again when the guard looked their way. “I already beat the robbery charge, thanks to you and that hot new girl you introduced me to. They’re not gonna keep me locked up for long over one little bag of weed, man. I can face it without paying the steep fees some high class lawyer’s gonna charge me for nothing.”

“This guy’s the best,” JJ argued. “Dude, he got me out of that prison sentence I was facing after he’d only met me once.”

“That guard’s gonna kick you out of here any second, so let’s not waste any more time on this. I need you to do something for me.”

“What?” JJ crossed his arms.

“I’m supposed to meet Bev to… um, to study, in like an hour. I know she’s not exactly your favorite person anymore, but do you think you could go in my place so she knows I didn’t just stand her up?”

“I guess.”

“Look, dude, I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t have a really good reason. Bev’s in trouble, JJ, and that trouble’s name is Cole.”

“Cole! That dude’s coming around again? I thought we were rid of him now that we’re at Salem U.”

“I know, right? But Bev’s been acting real weird and the night I was attacked, I saw him, dude. I think she’s seeing him on the down low again.”

JJ sighed. “All right, where are you meeting her?”

“Probably some place you don’t wanna be. Just text her, man, tell her I told you to. Oh and also, if my brother calls - “

“Time’s up,” the guard said. “Let’s go.”

“If your brother calls, what?” JJ asked, but the guard was coming over towards him, so he had to leave without any answer.


“Thanks for meeting me,” Hope said to Jen as she sat down across from her.

“Of course. Thank you for keeping an eye out for my son.” Jen’s hands were shaking slightly as she put sugar in her tea. “What’s going on?”

Hope sighed. “That’s a loaded question. I’m not sure where to begin.” She sipped her coffee. “What do you know about JJ’s friend Rory?”

Jennifer’s eyes widened. “What did Rory do now, and how is my son involved?”

“We had reason to believe Rory was involved in the campus robberies. It turns out he’s probably not, but anyway, we arrested him a few hours ago. Honey, JJ was with him at the time of his arrest, and, well, let’s just say his behavior left a lot to be desired.”

Jennifer’s eyes widened. “What’d he do?”

“I wasn’t there, but the reports say he was talking back to the officers and making them worry that he was going to interfere with the arrest.”

Jennifer shook her head. “I’m sorry, Hope. I’ll talk with JJ and make sure he knows that his behavior is completely unacceptable.”

“I hope you have better luck than I did. JJ happened to stop by the station, I guess to find out what was going on with Rory, so I pulled him into my office. He is absolutely convinced that the only reason Rory acts the way he does is that nobody gives him a chance to straighten himself out, and he won’t be talked out of that.”

“Yes,” Jen said. “That’s exactly what he told me last night when I didn’t want Rory to stay. I knew I shouldn’t have given in, but JJ was so convinced that all it would take was one night at our house… I just couldn’t bear to say no.”

Hope sighed. “That’s what scares me. Not you, honey. Him. JJ will do anything to give Rory that second chance that he thinks will make all the difference. I’m worried, cuz, that he’s going to end up doing something illegal and get himself into trouble all over again.”

“I can’t take that,” Jen said.

“None of us can.”

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t have any control over him anymore, and anything I say falls on deaf ears, if he’s even around for me to say it.”

Hope reached for Jen’s hand. “Stay strong, cuz. JJ’s not in trouble yet. Hopefully this time you can head it off at the pass.” Her phone buzzed; she glanced at it and sighed.

“The station?” Jen asked.

Hope nodded. “I hope it’s not another robbery,” she said as she stood up. “But listen, let’s talk soon, okay? If we both look out for JJ, and so does everyone else who cares about him, hopefully he won’t go too far.”

Jen stood up to hug her cousin. When Hope left, she sat down again and flipped through the pictures on her phone. She found one from a long time ago of her with Jack and both the kids. JJ had been about eight years old then; he had his father’s mischievous gleam in his eye and he was grinning broadly. She shook her head, blinking back tears as she stared at it.

Eve was in the living room when Paige and Daphne came in. “Uh, Mom, hi,” Paige said. “This is Daphne, the girl I’m moving in with.”

“It is so nice to meet you,” Eve said. “Paige has told me so much about you. Every other word out of her mouth these days is Daphne Daphne Daphne.”

“Mom!” Paige said.

“It’s all right. I’ve heard a lot about you too, Mrs. Larson.”

“Then you should have heard that I expect everyone to call me Eve.”

“Right. I forgot.”

“We’d better get started so we don’t have to be out in the dark,” Paige said. “Mom, we just came by to pick up some of my stuff.”

Eve’s face fell. “Oh,” she said. “Well, all right. I’ll be out here if…” But Paige was already heading to her room. “If you need anything,” Eve said.


While Chloe was with Parker, Daniel decided to get caught up on his paperwork. He was in his office, taking notes on a patient’s chart, when Jen knocked.

“Jennifer. Hey.”

“Aunt Maggie told me about Parker,” Jen said. “I didn’t know if you’d be okay with me coming to visit him, but I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks.” Daniel didn’t look up from the chart he was working on. Jen sighed and said, “You know, when I was pregnant with JJ I was told that he was going to be so disabled that he’d never be able to live a normal life. And look at him now. So I’m sure Parker will make a full recovery.”

“Yeah. So am I.” Daniel put his pen down. “Listen, Jen, I’m sure it would cheer Parker up if you stopped in to see him. Chloe’s with him right now and she wants her privacy, but maybe later - “

“Good. I’m glad Chloe was able to make it.” Jen smiled, but Daniel looked up and he could see the sadness in her eyes.

“Did you need to talk about something?” Daniel asked her. “You look kind of… I don’t know… like the weight of the world’s on your shoulders.”

Jen nodded. “I don’t know that this is the right time to bring it up, but… I’m really worried about my son and I wanted to make sure that you and I are on the same page about him right now.”

Daniel rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Look, Jennifer, I’m not up for anything intense right now, for reasons that should be obvious.”

“Oh no, nothing intense. Of course not.” Jen played with her ring. “I know you and I have had our differences--a lot of them--but the one thing I think we can agree on is that we both want what’s best for my son.”

“Of course. I care about JJ. And about Abigail too. And Jennifer, I don’t think we can ever be what we were, but you do know that I still care about you.”

“I know,” Jen mumbled. She sighed deeply. “But getting back to JJ… Daniel, I think he may be in trouble.”

“What… what kind of trouble?”

Jen shook her head. “It’s starting all over again. The staying out til all hours of the night, the not talking to me, the hanging out with that pothead friend of his. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I keep thinking that if I don’t put a stop to this, one of these days I’m going to wake up to another phone call from Hope that my son is in jail.” Jen blinked back tears. “I can’t bear that thought, Daniel, and if you and I can’t agree on how to deal with him, it’s just going to make it that much worse.”

Daniel’s headache was getting worse; he rubbed his temples and said, slowly, “Okay, Jennifer, first of all, I want you to know that I would never undermine your relationship with JJ. If he comes to me, yeah I talk with him and yeah I keep it between the two of us, but I always… I always encourage him to go to you.”

“I appreciate that.” Jen twisted her ring. She turned away from Daniel, trying to get her thoughts together. “When JJ was a little boy, his father and I just couldn’t see eye-to-eye about his behavior. I thought JJ was getting too wild. Jack thought he was just spirited. At first it was just friendly disagreements but by the time JJ was old enough for boarding school…” she shook her head. “It was either send him away or our marriage was over.”

“That was a hell of a choice,” Daniel said, remembering how JJ had once angrily demanded that Jennifer choose between Daniel and him.

“It was my idea to send JJ to that school,” Jen said softly. “Jack thought we could work things out as a family, but we were fighting all the time and without some space I didn’t see any way… and now, I will always wonder, if I hadn’t made that choice, would my son be so troubled?”

“You were doing the best you could to keep your marriage from falling apart,” Daniel said. “You do know that, don’t you? And also, Jennifer, also, whatever happened then, JJ is an adult now. So I don’t know what it is you expect from me, but I can tell you, he has to make his own choices and we… we have to let him.”

“Yes. His own choices.” Jen turned back towards Daniel. “It’s just, I understand now that you and I are better apart than together… but JJ, he still looks up to you, Daniel… so as far as parenting him goes, I don’t want us to be on opposite sides like Jack and I ended up being.”

“What exactly is it you’re worried about?”

“I… I think I made a mistake last night with JJ. I let - “

Just then, Kayla knocked on the door, then came in. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “Daniel, I have some news about Parker that can’t wait.”

Daniel’s eyes widened. “Did we get his blood panel back?”

“I think you’d better step into my office.”

“I gotta go tell Chloe.” Daniel sounded stunned. “Jennifer, if you wanna look in on Parker for a few minutes, now is… now is probably a good time.” As Jen started to get up, he said, “If you wanna continue this conversation later…”

“Parker comes first,” Jen said, blinking back tears too. “But if you have a free moment, maybe you could call me?”

Daniel nodded.

“Don’t forget, the dorm is a lot smaller than this apartment, or even just this bedroom,” Daphne said as Paige packed a bunch of photo albums into a box. Paige, who was looking towards the living room, didn’t answer. “Um, hello?” Daphne said.

“What? Sorry. I was just…”

“You were just worrying about your mom. She’ll be fine, Paige, and so will you.”

“She was too friendly when we came in. It was almost like she was her normal self.”

“And that’s a problem? Paige, she’s coming around. What more do you want?”

“No. I know my mom. She’s only acting like this because she’s up to something.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Paige put her finger to her lips and tiptoed up to the bedroom door, which she cracked open just enough so she could look through.

Eve opened the door. “I told you,” she said under her breath, “this is not a good time. Now look, my daughter’s still here and - “

The person on the other side of the door pushed her way in. She was young, maybe a year or two older than Paige, and her blond hair looked like a mess even though it was tied back. She was chewing gum. “I know what this part of the house looks like,” she said, “and I’ll take your daughter’s room sight unseen.”

I know that girl from somewhere, Paige thought.

“Now look here, Jill,” Eve said, keeping her voice so low that Paige had to strain to hear it.
Paige’s mouth dropped open and she took a step back. “That’s the girl,” she whispered to Daphne. “That’s the girl that JJ and I broke up over.”

“No way. What’s she doing here?”

Before Paige could answer, Jill turned, and Paige could see how large her belly was. “Oh come on,” Jill said lightly. “You’re not going to turn away a pregnant girl who has no place else to stay, are you?”


There was a tall, dark skinned woman standing next to Kayla’s desk when Daniel and Chloe came in. After everyone was settled in their seats, Kayla said, “This is Emily Collins. She’s a pediatric heart specialist over at St. Mary’s. Since Parker’s symptoms could very well point to a problem with his heart, I wanted her opinion on his blood tests.”

“And?” Daniel asked.

Dr. Collins opened a folder and handed Daniel a piece of paper. “These are the results of Parker’s blood panel. As you can see--” she pointed with a manicured finger at a highlighted row--”Parker has high levels of troponin T in his blood. In addition, his myoglobin levels are elevated, as you can see down here.”

Chloe looked at Daniel. “What does that mean?”

“Are you absolutely sure?” Daniel asked Dr. Collins. “Cardiology’s not my specialty, obviously, but I thought I read recently that there’s all sorts of reasons for false positives, especially when it comes to oxygenation of the blood.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Jonas,” Dr. Collins said, “but that’s only possible if he’d been exercising hard right before the test.”

“Daniel,” Chloe said again. “What does that myo whatever level mean?”

“He cried his lungs out. He was terrified of the needle.”

“That could possibly account for the myoglobin level, though I don’t think so. In any case, how do you explain the protein elevation?”

Chloe turned towards Dr. Collins. “Could somebody please just tell me--preferably in plain English--just what the hell is wrong with our son?”

Kayla glanced at Dr. Collins, who nodded. “Chloe,” she said softly, “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Parker’s blood tests suggest that his heart is damaged. It could be minor, it could be major, but…”

“...I think the chances are high that your little boy’s heart is failing,” Dr. Collins finished for her.

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter 5
Chloe turned and stared at Dr. Collins. Dr. Collins was still talking, saying something about further tests they had to run, but it washed right over her. The talking stopped and she realized Dr. Collins was waiting for an answer, so she nodded and said, “Of course. Whatever he needs,” before turning to look at Daniel.

Daniel had a puzzled expression on his face, or at least that’s what Chloe assumed it was. (Why did he have to be so hard to read, especially at a time like now?) Kayla said, “I know this has to be a shock for both of you.”

“You could say that,” Daniel agreed. He glanced down at his copy of the test results. “Are you sure, Dr. Collins… are you sure that there’s no other explanation? I mean, don’t you think if Parker’s got a heart condition… don’t you think that one or both of us would have, I don't know, noticed something was off about him before today?”

“I know it seems like his symptoms came on all of a sudden,” Dr. Collins said, “but I’m sure if you look back, there were things going on that didn’t seem all that problematic at the time. Many children with heart issues have trouble catching their breath after exercise, tire easily… perhaps have dizzy spells that last only a few seconds. It usually isn’t so dramatic that you would necessarily think it needs to be checked out, until suddenly it is.”

“Maybe for most people, but for me, I’m a doctor. Even though cardiology is not my field, I should know the signs, and I should know when something’s wrong with my son. And Chloe, she runs everything she notices by me. Every cold, every fever, every instance of abnormal behavior… and I know, I know if she saw anything like you’re describing, she wouldn’t waste a second before calling me to get my opinion.”

“I…” Chloe was stunned. “Did I tell you last week he just wanted to lie around watching TV all day? I had to keep telling him no. Oh God, did I forget to tell you?”

“That wouldn’t make a difference,” Dr. Collins told her. “Whether it was last week or this week, sooner or later his heart was going to start to fail. These things are usually congenital, and once they start…” She sighed. “Well, I don’t want to scare you all until we’ve had a chance to run more tests and know exactly what we’re looking at.” Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it. “I’m sorry, another case awaits me. I’m going to have to leave you in Dr. Brady’s hands for now, but I want you to know I will be following up with you once we have more information. In the meantime, here’s my card. If either of you has any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Dr. Collins left. “She didn’t waste any time getting out of here,” Chloe remarked.

Kayla gave Chloe a sympathetic smile. “I know this is a lot for both of you to absorb. If you need some time to - “

“I think I just need to be with my little boy,” Chloe said, her voice breaking. “I need to hold him and… and tell him he’s going to be okay… and...and I need to believe it…” She ran out of the room.

“Go be with her, and with Parker,” Kayla said to Daniel.

“I think she needs a minute alone.”

“And you?”

“I’ll be okay,” Daniel said. “I gotta make a couple calls, tell a couple people and then…” His voice trailed off. “Thanks, Kayla, thanks for everything.” He walked out of the room, slowly. Kayla sighed as she turned back to her computer.


“She’s pregnant?” Paige whispered to Daphne. “Oh my God. You don’t think - “

“I don’t think anything, except for that I can’t believe she showed up at your front door after she messed with your boyfriend.”

“Yeah. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.” Paige leaned forward to try to hear what Eve and Jill were saying. “I want to know how my mom knows that girl and what she’s doing here now.”

Daphne pulled the door closed. Paige glared at her but Daphne said, “You’re moving out, remember? Who your mom moves in here and how she knows them isn’t any of your business. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. I mean, you and JJ are done, right? So who cares what the story is with this Jill?” She handed Paige a roll of tape. “Let’s close these boxes so we can get out of here.”


In the other room, Eve glanced at Paige’s bedroom door, relieved to see it was closed all the way. “This is not a good time. Get out of here.”

“Is Paige here?” Jill took a few steps towards the bedroom. “I’d love to swap stories, find out how the other side lives…I know, I know, she’s not interested in what it’s like to live on the streets, but I’m sure I could spice it up for her.”

Eve blocked the bedroom door. “You mess with my daughter,” she said under her breath, “and that little video I have on you is going to be the least of your concerns.”

“Look, all I’m asking for is a place to stay, and from the sound of it, you’re pretty eager to fill one up, so we can both win. Or--” Jill reached behind Eve to put her hand on the doorknob--”we can both lose.”

“All right, fine. But the room’s not available til the end of the week.”

Jill pouted. “But what am I supposed to do until then? It’s hard to get work in my condition, you know? I have enough to get by, but if I spend it on a hotel, how am I supposed to pay the rent you’re asking?”

“Well, that’s your problem, now isn’t it?”

“Maybe Paige will lend me some money.”

“You know what?” Eve said, “I bet I can pull some strings with a friend to get you into the homeless shelter run by St. Luke’s. Free room and board, now isn’t that better than having to pay hundreds of dollars a month at a place like this?”

“That’s sweet, but no. I came all the way back here cause I want to live in a house, you know? The shelters are even worse than the streets, especially when they know you’ve been knocked up. So if this room isn’t available yet, you know what would be really neat? You take my hotel costs out of my first month’s rent, cause it’s your fault you advertised this room when it wasn’t available yet.”

“What, do you think I’m made of money?”

“You sure seemed to be when you wanted me to do something about that little boy who was after your sweet, innocent daughter.”

“All right, fine.” Eve dug a few bills out of her purse. “Here. Go stay at the Salem Inn and count your blessings that I’m not calling the cops on you right now.” She shoved the bills at Jill, who tucked them into her blouse and said, “Say hi to your daughter for me,” as she left the apartment.

Marissa’s phone was ringing when she came out of the shower. She wrapped her robe around her and looked at the display. It was her mom. She sighed and picked it up. “Hey Mom,” she said, trying to sound cheerful. “Can I call you back? I just - oh.” She squeezed the phone tight as she listened. “Um, no, I haven’t heard.”

Marissa tightened her robe. “I’m sure the papers are exaggerating, Mom. This guy… um… he’s probably only attacked, like, one girl or something.” She swallowed hard. “No, Mom, I don’t think it’s because we’re near Chicago. No, a smaller school wouldn’t have been better. Look, I like it here, okay? And you and Dad agreed I could try it for a year and see if I liked being so close to a major city.” She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the door was locked, forcing herself to breathe deep so she could sound normal. “Of course I lock my door, Mom. I’m not an idiot. Look, I just got out of the shower and I have to get dressed, so I’m going to have to cut this short, okay? Yes, I promise I will be careful. Love you too.”

Marissa hung up and stood holding the phone against her heart. Sorry, Mom, she thought, but if you knew, you’d make me pack my bags right now, and there’s no way I’m coming home.


Nicole had put on her best matronly dress and a pair of fashion glasses without any lenses in them before heading over to Salem U. She checked her hand mirror now that her hair was flat enough to seem conservative, wondering whether she should add a hat to complete her church-lady image. This will have to do, she thought.

She walked into the security office and said to whoever was sitting at the desk, “Excuse me, do you know where I would find a student I’m looking for?”

“Depends,” the security guard said. “Who are you and what do you want?”

“I’m the executive producer of Youth News Today,” Nicole said, trying to sound as stuffy as she imagined the producer of such a ridiculous show would sound. “It’s come to our attention that Jeff Adkins has been doing exemplary work as an intern for Titan TV, and we’d like to talk to him about possibly coming on board. I understand he’s a student here, and I was wondering if you could direct me towards - “

“Absolutely,” the security guard said. “As soon as I finish stamping a sign on my forehead that says sucker.” He grimaced. “Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you, Ms Walker? I watch your news program every day.”

“Well, I’m glad somebody’s watching it,” Nicole said. “Means I won’t be out of a job any time soon, right?” She smiled, but the guard didn’t smile back. “Look, here’s the thing. Jeff’s been - “

“I don’t care what kind of crazy story you come up with next, I’m not buying it any more than I bought the executive producer act. Now, I know it really burns your biscuits that the police are more concerned about protecting our reputation than your ratings, but that’s too bad. You’re not getting your exclusive on how Jeff Adkins was attacked last night or about the arrest the cops made this morning.”

“Jeff was attacked?” Nicole gave the guard a skeptical look. “What’s his story this time?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t already know. You’re a real pretty face, Ms. Walker, but you’re a horrible liar. Now get out of here before I decide to watch your competition tonight. Or worse, arrest you for trespassing.”

“Yeah, right. You don’t want that kind of publicity. I can just see the headlines now. News personality jailed for trying to uncover the underbelly of Salem University.”

“Leave your card and I will tell you if and when Mr. Adkins is available for interviews. Until then, your press pass is revoked, and if you’re not careful, I’ll call your boss and tell him we are no longer interested in that new internship position he’s offering our students. Now get.”

Nicole walked out of the office and leaned against a wall while she thought about her next move. “Horrible liar?” she said to herself. “You really don’t know who you’re dealing with, do you Mr. Security Guard?”

Roman called Rafe and Hope into his office again as soon as he’d got off the phone with the DA. “The DA is going to drop the robbery charges for now. She doesn’t think there’s a whole lot of evidence against the suspect, especially given the fact that both of these boys are accusing each other of being the real criminal. Now, we still have til tomorrow morning before the suspect’s bail hearing on the drug charge, so we might be able to use that as leverage to get something out of him tonight. But that still leaves the problem of not knowing what the hell the truth is about these robberies. Any ideas?”

“I’ll interrogate the suspect again,” Rafe said wearily.

“You really think you’ll get anything out of him we haven’t already got?” Hope asked. “His story’s been pretty consistent, and unfortunately he’s pretty used to being in and out of jail, so a few hours in a cell probably won’t change that.”

“I’m not talking about asking him the same questions again. Maybe we can approach it from a different angle. The kid says he was robbed, correct? So why not put the same questions to him we put to every other victim? If he’s lying, he may slip up. And if he’s telling the truth--which by the way is what my money’s on--he may be able to give us something that helps the case.”

“Makes sense,” Roman agreed. “You think you got rapport with him, or would it be better to let Hope take a crack at him?”

“Let me do it,” Rafe said. “Hope deserves to go home and see that little girl of hers. Besides, if he thinks I’m coming around to believing him he might be more likely to open up.”

“All right. In the mean time, Hope, what do you wanna do about the victim who made the accusation?”

“With all due respect, picking up a suspect just on one person’s say-so didn’t work out the first time, and it’ll just make look weak if we do it again. But we do need to get some questions answered. For right now, I say proceed delicately. Talk to Jeff as if we completely believe his story.”

“I sure wish we could get some more details out of these victims,” Rafe said. “That’s the biggest sticking point. I mean, it could be neither of these guys, and then we’re back to square one. Though with both of them accusing each other, it’s likely that one or both of them are involved.”

Hope’s eyes widened. “I have an idea,” she said. “Give me til after you’ve re-interviewed Rory to check on something with Marlena. With any luck, we’ll be able to get those details after all.”

Parker had woken up and asked for a story, but there weren’t any books in his room. Jen took out her tablet and found a story online for him. “This was JJ’s favorite when he was a little boy,” she said and began reading The Little Engine That Could to him. Parker’s eyes began to close again, but she kept reading.

”The little engine climbed and climbed,” Jen read.

”At last she reached the top of the mountain,” Chloe finished from the doorway, her voice full of tears. She sniffed as she came in. Jen put her tablet away and stood up. Chloe said, “He loves trains. But I guess you know that.” She came over to the bed and just looked at her son.

Jen wanted to put her hand on Chloe’s shoulder, but wasn’t sure if it would be welcome, so she just stood behind her and said, softly, “What did Kayla say?”

“That she was sorry.” Chloe blinked back tears. “That he… something’s wrong with his heart. There are all sorts of fancy medical terms for it that I’m sure Daniel can explain if he ever gets back here, but basically his little heart is giving out, and it has been since… since he was born but we didn’t see it.” Her shoulders shook.

Jennifer’s eyes widened. “Oh, Chloe, I’m so sorry.” She watched as Chloe took a rosary out of her purse. Chloe made the sign of the cross over Parker and just stood there, holding her rosary, her mouth moving silently, praying, while tears rolled down her face.

“Chloe?” Jen said. “They said they could fix it, didn’t they? There has to be medication or something they can do for him.”

“I… I don’t know… they were talking about he needs this test and that test but I couldn’t…” Chloe swallowed hard. “Where the hell is Daniel?” she demanded. “He should be with his son while he… while he still can be, but instead he leaves Parker with us while he goes to do who knows what!”

“He’ll be here,” Jen reassured her. “Daniel… has to process this in his own way. He won’t come in here until he can pull himself together enough to make it look like everything’s fine.”



In his office, Daniel moved the mouse around to wake up his computer so he could do some research into Parker’s condition, but it gave him that hourglass showing that it was thinking, then the mouse froze.

“Come on!” Daniel said under his breath. He hit the reset button on the computer hard to reboot it. His anger grew as he waited; he pushed a bunch of files off his desk.

A picture dropped to the floor. Daniel picked it up; it was a picture of him and Parker from last Christmas, when Chloe had dropped him off for a surprise visit. Daniel blinked back tears as he looked at it.

The door opened; a shadow fell across the room. Daniel looked up at Nicole, who was standing in the doorway. “I guess the news you got about Parker isn’t good,” she said softly, coming all the way into the room.


“Everything’s not fine!” Chloe paced around the room. “That heart doctor said she didn’t want to scare us until she knew more, what does that mean? Does it mean that Parker could, that he’s going to…” She turned back to her son and began smoothing out his blanket.

“You know,” Jen said, “I don’t know what it means either, and I’m probably the last person you want to hear this from, but don’t let yourself even think that. That sweet little boy needs to know that he’s going to feel better again, and if you let yourself believe that he doesn’t have a chance, he will pick up on it.”

“LIke you know anything about dealing with a… a very ill child. Your son’s self-destructive habits aren’t the same thing. Those are chosen. This is… this is not.”

Jen bit her lip. “I’m going to let that go because I know how upset you are. But before my son was born, I was told I’d be lucky if he ever walked or said a word or even smiled at me. And I did my best to act like he was fine, like he was going to be just fine. I know that Parker’s condition is more serious than what they said JJ’s would be, but if you want him to get better, you have to cling to every tiny sliver of hope that his heart is going to keep beating and that he is going to make a full recovery.”


“That serious, huh?” Nicole said after Daniel had told her. “I’m sorry. I… I don’t know what to say.”

“I’ve been on this side of the desk so many times, Nicole,” Daniel said, “looking patients in the eye, giving them bad news mixed in with whatever tiny little pieces of hope I could dig up. I always… I always hurt for them, always looked to see if there was just one more thing I could do to help. But I never, Nicole, I never expected to be on the other side, and from here… those little bits of hope… they just seem like nothing.” His voice cracked and he blinked back tears. “I shouldn’t even be here right now. I should… I should be in that room with my son and his mother… but I couldn’t… I needed… I needed time and…”

“And you needed me.” Nicole fixed Daniel’s collar for him. “That offer of a shoulder to cry on, it still stands. Cause honestly…” it was her turn to fight the tears welling up in her eyes. “...with what’s going on with Parker I need one too.” She took a deep breath. “But, it’s not about me right now. For once, I get to be the pillar of strength that holds you up instead of the other way around.” She put her arms around him and hugged him, but he pulled away.

“Chloe was beside herself,” Daniel said, “and I...I did nothing.”

“What’d you think you could do? Even you can’t make Parker better overnight or erase Chloe’s pain over it… or your own.”

“I should have… I gotta go be with her, make sure she’s okay.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Daniel sighed. “I don’t know whether that’s a good idea. Chloe, she’s pretty private and...”

“Hey. That speech I just gave you wasn’t just words. I meant it. Besides, this is a family emergency, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re family.” Nicole tried to smile. “So what do you say, Jonas? Will you lean on me this one time?”

Daniel nodded. “Yeah,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I will.”

When JJ slid into his seat across from Bev, she glared at him.

“Sorry I’m late,” JJ said. “I got caught up in something.”

“It’s bad enough Rory flaked on me and sent you in his place, but now I have to set foot in the library?” Bev practically spat the word.

“I thought you two were supposed to be studying.”

Bev rolled her eyes. “Here’s an idea. Skip the attitude and get to the point. Where’s Rory?”

“He couldn’t make it.”

“I know that.” Bev crossed her arms. “Wait a second… this is some cute trick by the two of you so that you can hook up with me now that you’ve dumped that sad sack, isn’t it?”

“Bev, no. It’s - “

“It’s too late, JJ. I’m not going to be your leftovers anymore. I’ve moved on with someone who treats me right.”

“You mean Cole.”

Bev’s eyes flashed. “Cole is none of your business! Now call Rory and tell him to get his *bleep* over here! This has gone far enough.”

“I can’t do that, Bev,” JJ said quietly. Bev gave him the look of death and he said. “No, really, I can’t. Rory’s in jail.”

“That’s not funny, JJ.” Bev picked up her phone. “I’m going to call him right now and tell him that this joke has gone too far.”

“No, really.” JJ sighed. “They cuffed him right in front of me, and I’m just lucky they didn’t take me too. They thought he was the psycho who’s been attacking people in the dorms cause - “

“Cause he tied up the guy who tried to attack him,” Bev finished.

JJ stared at her. “How did you know?”

“I hear things. There’s rumors all over campus if you bother to listen.”

JJ glared at her. “You’d better hope that’s all it is,” he said quietly.

“Come on, JJ, I know there’s been bad blood between us or whatever, but don’t you know anything at all about me?” She bit her lip. “Look, someone set Rory up.”

“No kidding.” JJ crossed his arms.

“No, listen.” Bev’s eyes rolled up to the top of her head while she figured out what to say. “I-I was in the woods… and I… I heard…” she blinked hard. “Look, there was a reason Rory was in the woods at the same time as the robber, okay? Someone...else chose him. On purpose I mean.”

JJ stared at her. “It was your new boyfriend Cole, wasn’t it?” He crossed his arms.

“Please, JJ.” Bev blinked hard. “I can’t say any more, don’t make me…”

“Bev,” JJ said quietly, “if he was involved and you knew about it…”

“I didn’t.” Bev’s eyes were wide with fear. “Look, JJ, there are things you don’t understand about me and Cole, okay? You’ve been out of the loop since you took up with that loser Paige, and… and now you think you have the right to judge me?” She got up. “It’s over, JJ. If you think I would ever do anything to hurt Rory on purpose, then the guy I once was in love with… he’s long gone.” She pushed away from the table. “Don’t you dare contact me again,” she said, “or you’ll be sorry.” She ran off.


Rafe was already in the interrogation room when a uniform brought Rory in. Rory stared at Rafe and said, “What’s the big idea, man? I thought we’d been through this, and you got that I didn’t rob anybody.”

“Oh, I believe you,” Rafe said, gesturing towards the empty seat. The uniform sat Rory down. “But you still have that marijuana possession charge hanging over your head. So I thought, maybe if we go over it again, you can remember something that helps us catch this loser, and then I can do something to try to make that charge go away.” He glanced up at the uniform. “Uncuff him please, and give us some privacy.”

The uniform did as he was told. Rory rubbed his wrists as Rafe leaned forward. “Now, let’s start from the beginning. You were in the woods, you had your back to him. Did you hear anything?”

“Just the sound of this girl locking lips with a loser. Too bad he’s not the one who attacked me. I’d love to put him away for good.”

“This loser have a name?” Rafe asked. “Or the girl?”

“Yeah, but they can’t back up my story. All they’re into is each other.”

Rafe sighed. “Look, if we’re not gonna get anywhere, I’m gonna have to put those cuffs back on you and have you escorted to your cell right now. Now I want you to think carefully about anything you can tell me that might actually be useful.”

Rory bit his lip. “I’m trying, man, but how do I know what’s useful and what’s not? Look, if I give out Cole’s name, he’s just gonna make my life miserable. Can’t you pin something on him anyway?”

Rafe wrote something down. “You notice anything during the attack itself? Any unusual smells, the sound of his voice, anything like that?”

“Um…”

“It doesn’t have to be anything big. Just anything that comes to mind.”

Rory’s eyes widened. “He… dude, he was wearing brand new gloves! I… he grabbed me, right, and… I thought, he smells like a new car. And another thing, man. His arms gotta be all bruised up cause I… I had the moves, dude, and I used them to get him off me.”

Rafe took his time with his notes in case Rory remembered anything else.”You tied him up after you got free of him?” he asked.

Rory nodded. “You gonna write me up for that too?” Rafe shook his head and Rory said, “Okay, then. He had a roll of duct tape. When I got the upper hand, I grabbed it, and I just wrapped it around his arms and legs. I figured it’d keep him there a good long while, yunno, so he could think about what he did.” Rory laughed bitterly. “I guess I was a little too buzzed, man, cause from the sound of it he got free pretty quick.”

“Sounds like you did what you had to do to protect yourself,” Rafe said. “Listen, one last thing. When you were taping him up, did you happen to get a look at him?”

“Not a real good one,” Rory said. “It was real dark in those woods. I guess that’s why he struck there. Anyway, all I got is dark hair and his eyes… dude, those eyes were freaky. I don’t mean, like, when you’re coked out and your eyes get real big. They were, like, all gray and… I don't know, just something about the way he looked at me gave me the creeps, dude.” Rory shuddered, but recovered, grinning broadly. “That good enough to get me out of here?”

“Hopefully. I’ll put in a call to the DA right now and see what she wants to do.”