Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 15

"Jerry is a problem." Sally said as soon as Kristin told her what had happened while she was gone. When she got home, the television was on, but there was no sign of Kristin until she went to the kitchen and found her in a literal puddle on the floor; in a puddle of water next to a bowl of ice water. She must have used the ice trick, she thought.

"I'm sorry, Sally. I didn't know what else to do. I followed the directions you gave me. I didn't have the TV on too loud. I'm pretty sure he didn't hear it, but he's so nosy that probably wouldn't have mattered any way. He said pretty much that he was watching you and noticed I wasn't with you, then I tuned him out and I guess I had a panic attack." She had tears in her eyes by now. "I fell asleep because this is all new to me. Will it always be this exhausting?"

Sally gathered her up in her arms to comfort her, let her cry on her shoulder again. "I don't know, Kristin?" She said. "I really don't know."

They spent several minutes on the kitchen floor like this when there was a knock on the door. "Shh." Sally whispered. "Just in case it's Jerry again."

She stood up and tiptoed to the door. "It's not Jerry," she whispered. "He would have announced himself by now." She peeked out the peephole and answered the door. "Nice to see you too, Johnston. You could have called first."

Heath didn't wait to be invited in. He made his way to the dining room. "Where's Kristin?" he asked, looking around for her. He looked over his shoulder at his partner as she pointed to the kitchen. When he turned the corner, he noticed her on the floor in the corner farthest from any windows or doors. She looked up at him as he bent to her physical level and then sat. "Kristin?" he asked, taking her hand in his, ever so gently. This was a new side of him that Sally had never seen. Of all the times Heath Johnston had displayed male dominance and being in charge, she had never seen him be secure and gentle all at once. Once she saw him be compassionate, but that only happened because there were young children involved.

Her tears started all over as she slowly looked up at him. "Oh, Heath!" She cried, reaching her arms around his neck, pulling him close to her. "I don't know what happened! I was sleeping and the TV was on and Jerry knocked at the door, then I had an episode. I woke up in here when Sally came home." She blurted it out all at once, sobbing through every word. "I don't even know what he said. I just came and got some ice like the doctor told me to last night." She grabbed his shirt and cried into his shoulder some more.

Heath tried to comfort her as best as he could, knowing it  probably wasn't good enough. He didn't know why she was comfortable enough around him. The captain was her uncle, so she could trust him, but Heath couldn't figure out why him. He thought it was weird, but understood why other men would trigger her. It was part of PTSD. He didn't dare say anything, as to let Kristin lead the situation. He just sat with her and let her sob into his shoulder.

*****

"It's good to see you again, Vanderson." The man said. "My asset tells me that you have a corner on The Electrician." The sources could be anyone, really. The word in the office had gotten around that the electrical cord had been recovered at a crime scene and all the buzz that had gone  on in the last two weeks was more than enough to excite everyone. Even the mayor had called for an update.

"That's right." He was careful not to use the other man's name, for he didn't know who was listening. He made a better master of disguise than Michael Paul. He was good, but that didn't merit other people who were passing by not to bend their ears for a moment or two. "My question to you is why are you asking me if you've been tailing Paul for months?"

"He's given us the slip a few times, Vanderson. Paul is doing his best and I understand he needs some help. His girl is....dead...." the man looked at the captain with a sideways glance, "and Paul needs a body."

"I think you and I both know, Sir, that she's not---"

The man cut him off. "She's dead, or missing, Vanderson," he huffed. "For now, you know what that means." They were silent for a few moments. "I think you know that we need to get her out of the city as soon as possible and you need to pull Paul out as soon as you can. You can't afford to lose one of your best to this...vile human being."

Captain Vanderson nodded. "Yes, Sir. But, why are you telling me the things I already know?"

"I know more than you think, Seth." It was unusual for this man to use first names, so it got the captains attention even more. The captain raised his eyebrows. "I know she's your niece and you can't wait to tell your sister she's alive."

Captain Vanderson drew a sharp breath. No one, besides Sally and Heath knew the Jane Doe was his niece. No one else at the hospital would have heard them, and the officers on guard weren't close enough to hear anything if the door had been left open by mistake. They made certain to use their "church voices" when they spoke about anything specific. "How--"

He didn't even finish half the sentence when the other man interrupted him. "You know I have my ways. We've been following more than just Paul, Vanderson." He took a cigarette out of his shirt breast pocket. He didn't light it, just drew it between his lips and held it there. "I also know she's staying with Detective Loveridge."

Captain Vanderson drew in another sharp breath. He also knew better than to interrupt this man when he was speaking, but that didn't stop him from facing him with a serious look.

The man waited. When it was evident neither one of them was going to speak, he told the captain, "It's okay to ask me how I know this, but I have to warn you right now, I can't tell you everything."

"Yes, Sir." He said. "But why?"

"She can stay with Sally for a while until you get her things squared away because we trust her and her partner. Sally is good, Vanderson. I don't know how much you really know about her, but she exemplifies the things a good detective should show. Heath has improved because of her. I've done my research, and if you're not careful, we just might recruit the both of them," he said with a smarmy smile on his face.

"You know I can't afford to lose them both!"

"Okay, you can keep Heath." the man laughed, prompting Captain Vanderson to laugh as well.

"I don't know that Sally will have it, she's worked hard to get where she is."

"I'll just have to put together a package she can't refuse then."

"Right. What of Michael Paul then?"

"Tell me his plan. I know you were in a meeting with him when you received my package earlier today. I can help you get things in motion. To get things...settled."

The men communicated the needs of the department and the needs of the people involved. Somehow, they would have to get 'Matther Benson' extra time. The Electrician wasn't going to like it, but Matther was going to have to find a live person to take to meet The Electrician.

"It's going to be risky and I can't risk her life a second time, Sir."

"I know. Somehow you have to let him know he picks the place and I'll have my guys in place. I may even be there myself."

"You quit going into the field years ago, though."

"I know. But we're friends. And friends--"

"take care of friends." Captain Vanderson finished. "Your disguise is on point today, Sir." he said to the other man, not ever knowing what he really looked like. He stood without saying another word, brushed some imaginary lint off his suit collar, and began walking away as the other man sat for however long he deemed necessary.