Act 13
Nick was speaking with the officer outside McDaniels' building as Katherine drove up. "Thanks, Thompson, it shouldn't be much longer." He straightened up and walked over to her.
She rolled her window down a crack, told him to get in and watched him navigate through the ice and snow around to the passenger door. A blast of arctic air blew in with him as he sat down.
"Nice car."
"Thanks, I like it, though not too much on these roads. What's been going on?"
"Our favorite couple came and went twice today. Once out for breakfast, the second time, they met with our friend from the park. Still can't get a name on him, but they met at his place."
"Sloppy," Katherine observed. "So she's in on it too. Bet she's after the old man's money. Wonder what the circumstances around the divorce were," Katherine thought aloud.
"Thompson's going to be here awhile, why don't we go pay a visit to Nathaniel Givens."
"Good idea." She turned the key in the ignition as Nick started to get out of the Mustang.
"Stay. I'll drive" she offered.
"All right," he said reluctantly and settled uncomfortably into the seat. *I hate it when other people drive.*
"Heard that!" She smiled and pulled out into traffic slowly.
He looked at her with surprise, then stared straight ahead.
"Hey, I'm a pretty good driver, if I say so myself and you were in here already. Don't worry, I'll have you back in that refrigerator you call a car in no time." She changed the subject. "Natalie's condo's great. Thanks for talking with her." She looked at him while they were stopped for a red light. "I'm glad things are working out for you two. She's a nice lady."
Was it her imagination, or did he blush? *Naw, vampires can't blush, but they do look uncomfortable, and Nick sure did, with the biggest "caught with my hand in the cookie jar" grin.*
"Yes, she IS a nice lady. There's a spot over there." He pointed out an empty space, and Katherine pulled the little car into it without effort.
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"Mr. Givens? I am Detective Knight and this is Detective Collins." Both of them flashed their badges. "We have a few questions about your son and your company."
The elderly man shook both their hands and offered them each a seat.
Katherine took the one across from the great mahogany desk. Nick stood behind her, nonchalantly looking over the office. It too had a homey appearance. His children and grandson's pictures were proudly displayed on the side table. Nathaniel Givens was a family man, one with great integrity, yet now; he was a father whose heart was deeply touched by the tragic loss of his only son.
"What is it you want to know?" he asked wearily as he lowered himself into the oversized leather chair. "Do you have any ideas who might have murdered my son?"
Nick decided to get directly to the point. "Mr. Givens, did your son ever mention anyone trying to blackmail you or the company?" A look of resignation clouded the old man's face. "Has anyone approached you about insurance adjustments on recent fires?"
"How did you find out?" he asked weakly. "They told me if I kept the police out of it that everything would go smoothly. But now that you're here, they'll kill them." He put his face in his hands.
"Who will kill whom, Mr. Givens?" Katherine asked gently, moving to the edge of the chair. "Tell us about it."
"Several months ago, we investigated a fire claim at one of the factories here in town. The adjuster didn't feel right about the situation and sent it up to my son, Daniel. He's been, was, getting a feeling for all the facets of this agency in preparation for my retirement. Now?" He drifted off. "Anyway, he did some digging, it looked like a dirty claim and he forwarded it to the arson squad with the fire department. Two months later, the same thing happened and he again sent a report to the FD. Nothing happened with either of those cases. Daniel didn't like having loose ends and he started checking in with the arson squad periodically to speed things up. We had two outstanding claims and he wanted closure. Ten days ago, he got a phone call from the head of the arson squad. They had a meeting that day. He came back after the meeting very down. He clearly had something on his mind. Well, my son wrestled with his load until the morning of the day he was killed. He finally told me that he was offered money to look the other way on the two fires. He said there was big money being offered to keep him quiet and the potential for more later. He told me he had a meeting that evening to give them his answer."
"Did he give you a name, sir?" Nick queried.
"This is where it gets complicated. Michael McDaniels. My ex daughter-in-law's new husband." He sighed and tapped his fingers on the leather blotter.
"What did he decide, Mr Givens?"
"Of course he wasn't going to go through with it. But at the same time he knew what was going on, and they couldn't afford it. They killed him. They killed my son." His voice was heavy with emotion. Nathaniel Givens stopped and stared at the two detectives. "Yesterday, Laura came to my home and offered me custody of Tommy if I would look the other way. Just like he was a commodity or something. He's a human being. He's a baby, for heaven's sake." His grief-stricken eyes searched Nick and Katherine for answers he knew he'd never find. "She left and then that husband of hers called and suggested I have an answer soon. He told me they were watching my wife and my grandson. He gave me till 7 tonight to give him an answer."
Emotionally spent, he leaned back in his chair and stared at the pictures of his family.
Katherine involuntarily glanced at her watch. 6:30. Half an hour to put something together. "Are they going to call you or are you meeting them someplace?"
"They want to meet me in the park where Daniel was killed. How ironic." He smiled ruefully. He looked like a beaten man. He'd lost his son and now he stood in danger of losing everything.
Nick leaned over the desk and faced the mourning father. "Mr. Givens, give us all the details of what they want you to do. We'll get this taken care of, I promise."
Act 14
A phone call to Reese started the ball rolling. "I just wish we had more time," he lamented.
"Use the guys from the stakeout. Kath and I will be right behind Givens. Thanks." He put the handset on the receiver. "All set. You just do what you have to do, Mr. Givens. We'll have men in the park and detective Collins and I will be right nearby." He looked at his partner. "Ready?"
She nodded and started for the door. Pausing at Mr. Givens, she put her hand on his arm. "Don't worry, sir. We'll be right there with you. We'll get this taken care of tonight."
They headed for the car. "You follow behind him, Kath, I'm taking other transportation."
"What, you don't like my driving?" She smiled at him and watched him take off. *If they could see us now.*
Although it was a short drive, it seemed to take forever. She wanted this to be done and over. Mr. Givens drove into the parking lot of the park; Katherine pulled over discreetly a few cars down the street. Already, the other officers were stationed in the park at various points of view. Reese's efficiency impressed her. He didn't seem to be the type to get things done this quickly.
She moved to a secluded area not far from where Givens had said the meet would take place. In the dim park light she could see the white haired man, standing tall, proud, determined. His heart and mind were racing with fear and sadness. *Poor man, I hope the next few minutes go all right for you.* In the dark she checked her revolver. Standard police issue. Safety off. The black steel was cold and heavy in her hands. Unaware of the action, she drew in her breath and held it.
Nick settled down in a wooded area where he could observe the lot and the designated meet spot. McDaniels and his "friend" had gotten there shortly after he landed and he watched them in silence. "I don't want anything happening to that little kid. Laura would never forgive me."
"Yeah, right," the short man replied sarcastically. He was wearing the same blue wool hat with the pom-pom that Tommy had described. "What happens, happens."
At that point Givens and Katherine had pulled up. Nick noted how careful she was to position herself as close as possible without being seen. None of the other officers had even noticed her.
In the background, another vehicle, a silver Mercedes Benz, pulled into the same parking area it had the other night. The driver was a woman, her passenger a little four-year-old boy, completely unaware of what his immediate future held. "Mommy, why are we stopping here? It's dark and that's where Daddy got hurt."
"Just for a few minutes, Tommy. I'll just be a few minutes. You stay here and don't let anyone in." She unlatched her seatbelt and slid out of the car. The door locked behind her.
"But Mommy, I want to go too." Tommy's pleas fell on deaf ears and he watched her walk away. Instinct told him something was wrong.
Katherine saw the Mercedes pull in and watched Laura McDaniels close the car door. In the muted interior light, she caught sight of Tommy. She listened more intently to their conversation. *Why did she bring him here?* Then she realized why and began to circle to the vehicle.
"Good evening, Mr. Givens. I trust it isn't too cold for you." McDaniels stepped out of the darkness. "Have you thought about what we discussed earlier?"
His voice was strong, sure. Years of being the head of a corporation lent him the confidence to continue. "I have sir. You can go to @#$%. I am not giving you any more than you have already taken from me."
"You're making a mistake, Givens." Laura McDaniels joined her husband and nodded. "We're going to take your family apart one by one until you give in. We've already started with your son. He was too stupid to see the money that could be made here. So are you."
The elder Givens stared at Laura. "How could you be a part of this? After all we've done for you?"
She laughed at him. "After all you've done for me? I suppose you think I should be grateful to you and Daniel for taking me out of the one-horse town I grew up in. Well he showed me what I was missing and I want it all. Michael here is going to give it to me, aren't you honey?"
"Ok. We've got what we need. Let's move in." Reese's voice came over their headsets.
The officers began to surround the suspects in question. Nick stepped out of the shadows. "Metro Police, everyone put your hands where we can see them."
A look of relief and gratefulness went over Nathaniel Givens' face. *It's over. Hurry up and finish it.*
Michael McDaniels grabbed his wife to use her as a shield. He pulled out a gun and pointed it to her temple. "Michael!" she cried out.
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"Katherine! Hi, Katherine! What are you doing here?" His little face brightened as he saw her approach. Impulsively, he pressed the lock release to the car and began to open the door.
"Well, well," she greeted him. "Imagine meeting you here!" She kept half an ear out on the meeting on the other side of the trees. "How ya doing, sweetheart?"
"I'm ok. My mommy went over there." He tipped his head in the direction she had walked. Katherine knew it was the direction where the officers were fast approaching. Distantly, she heard his mom cry out, "Michael!" Katherine reached out for a hug. Somehow, she knew he would be in need of comfort soon.
"You're such a big boy, Tommy. I know your mommy meant well, but you really shouldn't have opened the car door."
"It's OK," he interrupted, "I know you! You're a policeman!" In his little innocent world, she was the good guy. She smiled and hugged him closer.
A second later the lone sound of a gunshot rang through the park. Nick wrenched the gun from McDaniels' hand a moment too late. He had already discharged it into his wife's side. She slumped in his arms, bleeding, and unconscious.
"You are under arrest for the murder of Daniel Givens and attempted murder of your wife." Nick caught Laura in his arms as the officers cuffed McDaniels and his conspirator.
"Tommy," she said weakly and looked in the direction of Nathaniel. "You have always taken better care of him than I. Make sure he grows up with all that he wants." Her voice trailed off and she passed out again.
"Somebody call the paramedics," Nick yelled out, trying to control himself in the middle of all the blood.
"On their way, detective," a disembodied voice responded.
"Mommy, Mommy!" His little voice cried out at the sound of the gunfire. He understood immediately what happened. "Something's happened to my mommy." Huge tears and heavy sobs followed. Katherine held him closer and desperately fought off tears burning her eyes. "It'll be ok, Tommy. It'll be ok."
Nick found them at the car, both in tears. He put his arm around the little child in his partner's arms. "I'm sorry Tommy, your mom's been hurt. The paramedics are taking her to the hospital to get help."
"Will she be ok?" the tiny voice asked through diminishing sobs.
"I don't know. The doctors will do the best they can. Your grandpa's here." Nick moved aside to reveal Nathaniel to his grandson.
"Grandpa! Oh, grandpa!" He reached out of Katherine's arms for his grandfather.
Nathaniel Givens held the child with relief. "Oh, my little one, you're safe. You're safe." He gave a grateful look to Knight and Collins. "Thank-you for giving me my life back. For keeping my Tommy safe."
On the Mend Act 15
"Happy Birthday, Tommy." Tommy's eyes grew as big as saucers when he accepted the huge box Nick and Natalie handed him. Seconds later, the wrapping paper in shreds, he was flying his Millennium Falcon through the house. "Look what Nick got me Gramma! I'm Han Solo! Varoom."
"We want to thank you for all you've done for him." Nathaniel shook Nick and Natalie's hands. "He adores the both of you. Where's Katherine?"
"She should be here any moment. He seems to be adjusting." Nick watched Tommy make another swing through the living room.
"I think Martha and I need the time to adjust. It's a whole different world having a little one in the house again. Martha, dear. Look who's here!"
"Yes, Tommy, we'll blow the candles when Katherine gets here." She dried her hands in her apron. "I'm so glad you could make it. It means so much to Tommy. Oh, dear, I better move the cake. Nate, offer them something to drink."
The doorbell rang. It was Katherine, with several packages in hand.
"Katherine, look what Nick and Natalie got me!"
She laughed as she walked into the house. "Wow, are you going to get the bad guys?"
His face became serious, "I'm going to get the stormtroopers, Kath, watch me!" and he was off again.
"Hi Nate." She brushed his cheek. "I see my favorite four-year-old is doing fine."
"I'm not four anymore. I'm five." he stopped and puffed out his chest.
"Oops, I'm sorry. I mean my favorite five-year-old. That must be why I have five birthday presents here, huh?" She reached into the shopping bag and pulled out five brightly wrapped presents.
"Oh wow, look at these!" he ran off to show his grandmother the five good guys to go with Nick's present.
"Let's sing Happy Birthday to the birthday boy," Martha called from the dining room.
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Natalie watched Nick on the floor playing with Tommy and his birthday presents. He seemed so natural there, fighting the bad guys. Katherine saw the look of longing on Natalie's face as they watched the two "boys" together. "They're cute together, aren't they?"
The question startled Natalie and she looked embarrassed for a second. "Yes, yes they are, aren't they?"
"I think it's time to say goodnight, Tommy. It's been a long day," Martha called from her easy chair.
"Aw, Gramma," Tommy began.
"Remember what I told you, Tommy," Nick put down the toy. "Go to bed when gramma tells you, and I'll come by next week and play with you again."
Natalie came over. "That's right, honey, we've got to get going too. I'll see you next week with Nick, ok?"
He looked from Natalie to Nick and back again, stalling. "Are you two married?" he asked.
They exchanged glances and laughed. Nick brushed his cheek. "No, we're not married." Instead of a statement, a "yet" hung in the air.
"Well, you should be. You go together."
*Out of the mouths of babes.* Katherine smiled to herself. She stood up. "Can I help you with the dishes?"
"No, honey, you've done enough tonight. We'll see you Saturday?" Martha and Nathaniel stood up and hugged her.
"Sure, I wouldn't miss it for the world." She bent down. "I get my birthday kiss."
Nick stood up with his precious cargo still clinging to his neck. "Happy birthday, sport."
Yawning, Tommy tightened his chubby arms around Nick's neck. "Ok, Nick. I love you."
Nick closed his eyes as he returned the hug. "I love you too, Tommy."
The End!!!!